** IRAN DAILY
Owji: $20b investment in needed SP gas pressure boosting projects
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji on Thursday stressed the need for investing $20 billion in gas pressure boosting projects in the South Pars (SP) field.
Delivering a speech at the National Conference on Production Growth, Inflation Control with Governance Model and Roadmap for Having Knowledge-Based Big Industries by Taking Opportunities to Produce National Brands to Compete at Regional Level, the minister added, “To this end, there is a need to use domestic expertise and therefore 753 contracts were signed with knowledge-based companies involved in oil industry last year.”
The number of domestic knowledge-based firms cooperating with the government stood at 150 when the 13th administration took over, but the figure has now risen to 650, he was quoted as saying by Shana.
-- Tehran-Baku nine-month exchange of goods via rail up 33%: Official
The director general of Iran’s North Railway Administration-2 said that the exchange of goods between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan registered a 33-percent growth in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2023).
While expounding on the nine months’ performance of imports, exports and the transit of cargo at the Astara Border Terminal, Gholam Hossein Valadi said the exchange of non-oil products via rail between Tehran and Baku increased 33% from March 21 to December 22, 2023 compared to the same period last year.
-- Shiraz designated as Asian Capital of Environment in 2024
Asian Mayors Forum (AMF) has designated the Iranian city of Shiraz in southern Iran as the Asian Capital of the Environment in 2024.
The decision was announced by the AMF, which is an international non-governmental organization that seeks to expand and exalt relations and cooperation between mayors and city managers in Asia.
Eram Garden, Afif-Abad Garden, Tomb of Hafez, Tomb of Sa’di, Jaame Mosque of Atiq, and Persepolis are among the historical, cultural, and ancient sites of Shiraz that are of interest to domestic and foreign tourists.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Ammar Film Festival Opens With Focus on Palestine
Ammar Popular Film Festival’s opening ceremony has been held in the Iranian capital city of Tehran. The event took place on Thursday at the Felestin (Palestine) cinema, iFilm reported.
The executive secretary of the festival, Hamid Salehi, earlier announced during a press conference that the 14th edition of the festival received an overwhelming response of over 3,300 works, including documentaries, animations, and scripts.
-- Snowfall Sparks Joy in Some Parts of Iran
Iranians mainly in western and northern cities of the country are cheerful after seeing snow in a dry winter which is characterized by very low rates of precipitations. In the capital Tehran and some other cities people felt blessed to see the snow this year.
Iran has been experiencing an alarmingly dry winter with precipitation much lower than average. As most parts of Iran experience severe drought, the scientific community is drawing attention towards the root causes of the country’s water crisis.
-- New Poster of ‘Hotel’ Unveiled
A new poster for the Iranian comedy film ‘Hotel’, directed by Masoud Atyabi, has been unveiled. As per the Public Relations department of the film, the poster was unveiled in tandem with the celebration of 100-plus days since the movie’s theatrical release.
‘Hotel’ has been a box office hit since its premiere, consistently topping the weekly cinema charts in Iran. With an audience of over 5.2 million nationwide, the film has grossed an impressive 2,250 billion rials.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Iran start 2024 Asian Handball Championship on high note
Iran handball team defeated New Zealand 40-13 in their opening match in the 21st edition of the Asian Men's Handball Championship on Friday.
In the match held at the Sheikh Khalifa Sports City Hall, Isa Town, Bahrain, Milad Ghalandari was Team Melli’s top goalscorer with 13 goals. Iran will play China and South Korea on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively in Group B.
-- Ammar Popular Film Festival kicks off in Tehran
The 14th edition of Ammar Popular Film Festival kicked off at the Felestin (Palestine) Cinema in Tehran on Thursday. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of cineastes, officials, martyrs' families, and enthusiasts and the festival winners in various categories received their awards.
In total, eight awards were presented including Golden Lantern awards to the winners of different sections as well as Nane Esmat Gloves (Granny Esmat’s Gloves), the special award of the festival given to the activists in the cultural front of the Islamic Revolution.
-- Iranian economy expands 4.2% in 2023: WB
The World Bank, in its latest Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report released on January 9, said the Iranian economy grew by 4.2 percent in 2023, despite a sharp, long-lasting slowdown in the global economy.
Based on the WB data, the economic growth of West Asian and North African countries has decreased from 5.8 percent in 2022 to 1.9 percent in 2023, indicating that Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2023 has been more than twice the economic growth of this region.
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