** IRAN DAILY
-- Iran to join Shanghai alliance with China, Russia next week: Lavrov
Iran will be formally approved as a member of the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organisation with China, Russia and Central Asian countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
“At the meeting of heads of state on July 4, the full membership of Iran will be approved,” Lavrov said at the opening of an SCO centre in Moscow.
-- Iran aims to capture 10% of global decorative stones market by 2030: Executive
The president of Iran Stone Association stated that with the right infrastructure in place, Iran has the potential to secure a 10% share of the global trade in decorative stones by 2030.
Bahram Shakuri added, “Currently, the annual global trade of decorative stones stands at approximately $30 billion, and industry projections estimate it to reach $54 billion by 2030.”
-- AFC U17 Asian Cup: Iran coach Abdi remains positive despite last-four heartbreak
AFC – Head coach Hossein Abdi was far from dismayed despite Iran’s 3-0 defeat to Japan in the AFC U17 Asian Cup semifinals in Thailand on Thursday.
Iran had to concede to Japan’s superiority at the Thammasat Stadium with Abdi admitting some of his players were unable to focus after finding themselves 2-0 down going into the break but said the experience gained in the tournament would not only help them in this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Indonesia but also in the progress of their careers.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- 26th ELECOMP Expo Wraps Up in Tehran
The 26th edition of the International Exhibition of Electronic, Computer and E-Commerce (ELECOPM) concluded in Tehran. Some 500 domestic and foreign companies participated in this round of the exhibition and displayed their latest achievements and products in the relevant field.
More than 30 new technological products in the electronic, industrial, computer, software and hardware fields, communications and telecommunications equipment, audiovisual equipment, telecommunications and measuring equipment were showcased to the public.
-- Zahedan Showcases Treasures of Burnt City
Zahedan has unveiled three ancient objects on the ninth anniversary of the world registration of the Burnt City. On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the world registration of the Burnt City in UNESCO, three historical monuments of the 5000-year-old civilization of eastern Iran were exhibited.
The bronze figure of the Lady of the Burned City, the accounting tablet and the Moarraq comb were unveiled on the occasion of the 9th anniversary of the global registration of the Burnt City at the Regional Museum of Southeast Iran in the city of Zahedan.
-- Mobarak Puppet Theater Festival Opens
The 19th edition of the Mobarak Puppet Theater Festival has unveiled its lineup for the international competition, generating excitement among theater enthusiasts.
The festival, which opened in Tehran on Thursday, features seven captivating performances by acclaimed troupes from around the globe. Brazilian director Fábio Superbi’s ‘Treasure Island’ is among the showcased puppet shows.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- 65 Iranian universities among top Asian institutions
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023 has placed 65 Iranian universities among the top Asian institutions. The Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2023 use the same 13 performance indicators as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, but they are recalibrated to reflect the attributes of Asia’s institutions.
The universities are judged across all their core missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook – to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons available.
-- Tehran museum to put Sasanian relief recovered from smugglers in UK on display
A Sassanian relief returned by the UK after being recovered from smugglers in Stansted airport will be on display at the National Museum of Iran in the near future. The relic is arranged to go on show at the National Museum following a two-day 14-day quarantine to curb possible transmission of viruses to other museum objects, Mehr quoted a cultural heritage official as saying on Thursday.
The smuggled relief of a bearded man was bought home on Wednesday, days after it was delivered to the Iran embassy in London by the UK National Crime Agency.
-- Iran’s gas production grows 2.5 times more than global average
Energy Institute (EI), which is a UK-based company active in the energy sector, said in its latest annual report that Iran’s natural gas production has increased 2.5 times more than the global average over the past 10 years.
According to the EI report, natural gas production in Iran has been on an upward trend since 2011, and the U.S. sanctions have not been able to stop or reverse the growth of gas production in Iran. Between 2012 and 2022, natural gas production in Iran has grown by an average of 5.2 percent annually, which is more than 2.5 times the global average growth. The world's natural gas production has grown by an average of two percent per year during this period.
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