** IRAN DAILY
-- Iranian firms double their presence in business fairs in Moscow
A Russian official announced that the number of Iranian companies attending business and trade exhibitions in Moscow has doubled during the first five months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Acting Director General of Russia’s EXPOCENTRE Alexey Vyalkin said at a preliminary meeting held in Moscow that the increased presence of Iranian firms in fairs in Moscow indicates a willingness to expand trade ties with Russian trade partners.
-- Iranian, Algerian economy ministers hold talks in Vienna
The economy ministers of Iran and Algeria held talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Thursday, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.
During the meeting, Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ehsan Khandouzi highlighted the policies adopted by the administration of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi on the development of economic relations with Muslim countries.
-- Iran’s crude output up by 350K barrels per day in 2023: IEA
Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that Iran’s crude oil output has increased by about 350,000 b/d since the beginning of 2023, in spite of U.S.-led sanctions targeting the country’s oil sector.
“Despite tough financial restrictions, Iran managed to increase crude oil output by about 130 kb/d in 2022, to an average [2.55] mb/d,” the IEA said in its latest report dubbed Oil 2023.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Iraq to Launch Joint Water Projects With Iran
Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab said the Arab Country is seeking joint projects with Iran, including construction of dam on Arvand River, to address the water-related problems.
Blaming Turkey as the main culprit for the shortage of water in Iraq, Aoun Diab said in an interview with Al Forat that Turkey has the key and major role in supplying most of Iraq’s water resources, especially in the Euphrates by 90 percent.
-- Iranian Cartoonist Wins Italian Art Award
Iranian cartoonist Ehsan Cheraghi whose work was displayed at the XVIII edition of the Trento Festival of Economics has won the special prize of the Italian artistic event held on May 25 to 28.
The Trento Festival of Economics this year was held on the theme of the challenges of the new world, the world after COVID-19 and the challenges that have faced by the people.
-- Iranian Victims Sue Dutch Firms Over Chemical Attacks
Iranian victims of chemical weapons, used by the regime of Western-backed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980s war on Iran, are suing two Dutch firms for supplying chemicals to Iraq back then.
The five victims say the two firms Melchemie (now known as Otjiaha), and Forafina Beleggingen (formerly known as KBS Holland) supplied Iraq with chemicals between 1982 and 1984 and were aware that their substances were being used to manufacture mustard gas.
** TEHRANTIMES
-- Iran celebrates Aras as new UNESCO Global Geopark
On Wednesday, Iran celebrated the recent designation of Aras as the country’s third UNESCO Global Geopark in a ceremony held in Jolfa, northwest Iran. A host of Iranian officials, parliament members, foreign ambassadors and envoys, cultural heritage experts and media personnel attended the ceremony in the Imperial Aras Hotel.
Aras inscription was one of 18 new sites from across the globe, included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in 2023.
-- Winners of UNICEF-Iran cultural contest honored
The winners of the third edition of the UNICEF-Iran cultural competition were awarded, the UNICEF Iran office in Tehran announced on Thursday. The contest is organized every year for Iranian journalists and photojournalists by the office and Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
The award ceremony of this year’s competition, which was held on the theme of “Refugee Children, Iranian Hospitality”, took place at the UNICEF office in Tehran last Tuesday.
-- 3,680 antiquities seized by police at Tehran airport
Iranian police have recovered hundreds of coins and artifacts while inspecting the suitcases of departing travelers in the Imam Khomeini International Airport, southern Tehran. Security officials at the airport have seized 3,680 objects from the luggage of two travelers leaving the airport for an Arab country, ILNA reported on Wednesday.
The items, which were delicately embedded in suitcases, date back to various historical eras, including the Elamite and early Islamic epochs, the report said.
6125**7129