** IRAN DAILY
-- Iran allocates $100m for fiber optic projects: TCI
Iran has allocated about $100 million for the development of a fiber optic network across the country, announced the managing director of the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) on Saturday.
Talking to IRNA, Majid Soltani said the implementation of fiber optic projects in Iran has been kicked off and the plans will be implemented in small provinces in two years, while the projects will be completed in large provinces in three years.
-- IME weekly trade nears $791m
The Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME) announced that over 3.16 million tons of commodities, worth nearly $791 million, were traded in its domestic trading and export halls in the week closing on May 19.
A total of 2.62 million tons of various products, worth over $560 million, were traded at IME’s domestic and export metal and mineral trading hall.
-- Iranian Navy to deploy first flotilla to Antarctic
The Iranian Navy announced plans to deploy its 86th flotilla of warships to the Antarctic for the first time ever “in the near future”.
The deployment of Iranian warships to the Antarctic was apparently one of the main goals of the recent mission by the 86th flotilla, which returned to the country a few days ago after a round-the-world voyage.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- 13th Iran Int’l Stone Exhibition to Kick Off Next Week
Head of the Iran Stone Association Bahram Shakouri said on Saturday that the 13th Iran International Stone Exhibition dubbed “Iran Stone Expo” is set to be held at the Shahr-e Aftab International Exhibition site here in Thran from May 29 to June 02.
Shakouri said that the exhibition will be held with the participation of 110 Iranian companies along with companies from five other countries including China, India, Italy, Turkey and Greece.
-- Russia, Iran Conclude Bilateral Agreements for Mutual Use of Mir Payment Card
Iranian Deputy Tourism Minister Ali-Asghar Shalbafian said Russia and Iran have finalized all necessary bilateral agreements for the mutual use of Mir payment cards.
“All bilateral agreements between the countries have been reached. We are waiting for confirmation from the central banks of both countries as to when the system will go live. The launch date depends on the decision of the central banks of the two countries.” Shalbafian told the TASS News Agency.
-- Official: Iran, UAE to Promote Bilateral Trade Using FTA
Chairman of Iran-UAE Joint Chamber of Commerce Erfan Shakeri said on Saturday that Iran and the United Arab Emirates have high capabilities to enhance their trade using a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and bartering of goods.
The existence of common economic interests between Iran and the UAE will help expand trade and economic activities and in the meantime, an FTA, tax exemptions and bartering of goods can boost trade between the two countries, he said.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Iran learn fate at Asian handball qualification for 2024 Olympics
Iran handball team discovered their opponents at the Asian qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday. Team Melli have been drawn in Group B along with Kuwait, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Japan, and Kazakhstan.
Group A consists of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the UAE, India, and China. The competition will be held in Doha, Qatar from Oct. 18 to 28.
-- Venezuelan minister launches Persian translation of his book in Tehran
Venezuelan Culture Minster Ernesto Villegas Poljak launched a Persian translation of his book “April, Inside the Coup” in Tehran on Friday. The book launch celebration held at the Tehran International Book Fair was attended by Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili and several other Iranian officials.
Published in 2010, “April, Inside the Coup” (“Abril Golpe Adentro”) is a journalistic essay that narrates the events surrounding the coup against President Hugo Chávez Frías on April 11, 2002 and his return to power not yet forty-eight hours after his overthrow.
-- Seventh National Development Plan unveiled
The final document of Iran’s Seventh National Development Plan was unveiled on Saturday, in a ceremony attended by more than 500 government officials, experts, and scholars, ISNA reported.
Members of the cabinet, parliament members, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, and Head of Iran’s Planning and Budget Organization (PBO) Davoud Manzour, along with representatives of the country’s private sector were among the attendees of the event.
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