Takaichi leads LDP to decisive majority in landslide election

TEHRAN – Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, has guided the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a commanding victory in Sunday’s snap House of Representatives election.

FBI records reveal informant claims that Jeffrey Epstein was a Mossad agent

An undercover FBI informant “became convinced” that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was an Israeli spy, according to Department of Justice documents released recently.

Zahedan hosting handicrafts exhibition

TEHRAN - An exhibition showcasing the capabilities of handicrafts producers, cooperatives and skills trainees opened on Saturday in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province, southeast Iran.

255 tourism projects inaugurated concurrent with Ten-Day Dawn

TEHRAN-- Head of the Investment and Economic Affairs Center of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage Ali-Asghar Shalbafian announced the inauguration of 255 projects with an investment of over 210 trillion rials ($140 million) and generation of 3,062 jobs during the Ten-Day Dawn, marking victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Preserving historical monuments is necessity in country with ancient past: restoration graduate

TEHRAN - The appropriate restoration of historical monuments is not a matter of choice but a necessity in a country where every corner contains layers of history, a young restoration specialist says.

Semnan tourism department to revamp surroundings of Shah Abbasi caravanserai

TEHRAN – Semnan’s cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts department has begun plans to reorganize the area surrounding the centuries-old Shah Abbasi caravanserai which is located in the north-central Iranian province.

Tehran, Baku consider reopening passenger border crossings

TEHRAN - Iran and Azerbaijan are considering reopening of passenger traffic across their shared border following talks between senior officials, Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said on Saturday.

Somali president vows military confrontation over Israeli base in Somaliland

TEHRAN — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has issued a warning against Israeli “interference” in the Horn of Africa, vowing to militarily “confront” any attempt by Israel to establish a foothold in the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Suspect in his 60s extradited from Dubai over Russian general shooting

A suspect in his 60s has been arrested in Dubai and extradited to Russia for the Moscow shooting of senior GRU officer Vladimir Alekseyev, The Guardian reported Sunday.

U.S. withheld life-saving medication from toddler following ICU discharge

An 18-month-old Venezuelan girl identified as “Amalia” was released Friday from the Dilley Immigration Processing Center following a federal lawsuit, NBC News reported Saturday.

Iran to roll out 110 smart irrigation projects, expand solar power on farms

TEHRAN – Iran is implementing 110 pilot smart irrigation projects covering about 10,000 hectares nationwide as part of a broader push to boost water efficiency and deploy renewable energy in agriculture, a deputy agriculture minister said.

Iran hosts pavilion at Baghdad international trade fair

TEHRAN – Iran has set up a national pavilion at the 49th Baghdad International Trade Fair, the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO) said, as part of efforts to expand commercial ties with Iraq.

TPO plans operational steps to boost trade with Africa

TEHRAN – The head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) said Tehran is preparing operational programs to facilitate and expand trade with African countries, following talks with senior Zimbabwean officials.

Iran attends Intl. Mediterranean Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

TEHRAN – Iranian professors and students of Persian medicine have participated in the 12th International Mediterranean Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MESMAP-12) in Thailand.

National working group convenes on environmental protection

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) held on Sunday the first national working group on promoting environmental protection.

Spain, Palestine, Italy, and Germany red cross societies condemn killing of IRCS member

TEHRAN – Red cross societies of Spain, Palestine, Italy, and Germany have condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Iran, which led to the martyrdom of one and injuries to five other staff members of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS).

Welfare Organization, UNICEF discuss ways to boost ties

TEHRAN – The head of the Welfare Organization, Javad Hosseini, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ad interim Representative in Iran, Monika Oledzka Nielsen, have explored the potential to expand cooperation, particularly regarding children aged below 18.

TEHRAN PAPERS:

Why is the space ready for a new agreement?

TEHRAN- In a reference to recent developments, reformist political activist Ali Bagheri told Etemad: The public atmosphere in the country and also international reactions show that the prevailing perception of a war atmosphere has given way to hope for diplomacy. A series of unofficial news reports from inside and outside the country indicate that the horizon of negotiations has become brighter than in comparison to the past, and this issue has noticeably changed the psychological atmosphere prevailing in the country and the region.