**IRANDAILY
--Some $1.4b attracted in investment for ports development: PMO
Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) attracted 700 trillion rials (about $1.4 billion) of foreign and domestic investment for development of Iranian ports, announced Jalil Eslami, the deputy head of the organization.
According to the official, 200 trillion rials (about $400 million) of the figure will be invested by the country’s private sector as the remaining is supplied by foreign investors, IRNA reported.
--US pro-Israel veto further undermines UN
The Biden administration's backing of Israel in the aftermath of the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, reflects a consistent pattern in recent US history. Despite the humiliation faced by Arabs, their leaders continue to vie for American approval.
Amid the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Arab and Muslim leaders could have taken steps to protect innocent lives. For instance, Turkey could have halted the crude flow from Azerbaijan to Israel, creating a 40% oil shortage. Additionally, the UAE, Jordan, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Qatar could have shut down Israeli embassies, isolating Tel Aviv diplomatically. Such measures could have compelled Israel to yield to a cease-fire.
--Iran developing chopper, replacing assault rifle in Army: Minister
Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said on Wednesday Iran “was taking measures” to develop a new homegrown military chopper.
“We are making an indigenous helicopter at the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Co.,” Ashtiani told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting in Tehran.
**KAYHAN
--Houthi Warns Ships to Avoid Traveling to Israel
A senior Yemeni official on Wednesday warned cargo ships in the Red Sea to avoid travelling toward Israeli occupied territories after the country’s armed forces targeted Israeli vessels.
Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, head of Yemen’s Ansarullah supreme revolutionary committee, said that ships should avoid heading toward Occupied Palestine and that any that pass Yemen should keep radios turned on, and quickly respond to Yemeni attempts at communication.
--Minister: Iran to Cancel Visa Requirement for 32 Countries
Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami said Wednesday that the government has approved unilateral cancellation visa requirements for 32 countries.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Zarghami said the ministry of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts had suggested waiving the visa requirement for 32 countries, which the cabinet gave its seal of approval to the proposal.
--Saudi Arabia, Iran Call for Urgent Ceasefire in Gaza
Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, here Wednesday underlined the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.
Amir-Abdollahian said the Muslim world needs to “exert strong pressure on the Zionist regime and the U.S. government in order to immediately implement the ceasefire and send immediate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.”
**TEHRAN TIMES
--Second national congress on women of influence slated for January
The second national congress on women of influence will be held on January 3, 2024, marking National Women’s Day.
According to the organizers of the congress, a woman of influence is a dynamic and active woman who does not give up trying, while maintaining her feminine spirit and playing an effective role in the family, she makes great achievements.
--11 Iranian police forces killed in terrorist ambush in border province
In a tragic incident, a terrorist assault on a police outpost in southeast Iran has resulted in the brutal murder of 11 police forces, with at least six others wounded.
The attack unfolded at around 2 AM local time on Friday in Rask County, located in the southern part of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, as reported by Iranian media. The Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
--FIFA chief hails access for women to Iran stadium
FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes the global governing body's policy of engagement with Iran over the treatment of women in football is bearing fruit after some were allowed into the Tehran derby on Thursday.
Women's rights campaigners Open Stadiums and another group of former Iranian athletes last year called on FIFA to ban Iran from the World Cup because of the continued exclusion of women from football matches.
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