By Xavier Villar

First presidential debate gets off to a good start

MADRID - The first televised debate preceding the Iranian presidential elections, scheduled for June 28th, took place on Monday, the 18th. This event focused on economic issues, presenting various proposals to address the most urgent challenges in this field.

Gaza kids at risk of death from malnutrition

Local authorities in Gaza on Tuesday raised the alarm of over 3,500 children across the Gaza Strip being at risk of hunger amid Israel’s ongoing tightened siege and the closure of aid crossings.

UN: Situation in West Bank drastically deteriorating

The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday warned that the rights situation in the West Bank is rapidly deteriorating, while there had been "unconscionable death and suffering" in Gaza.

Lapid calls for Netanyahu’s ouster

Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, is optimistic that opposition forces can unite to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. “This government should be overthrown, I think it can be overthrown,” Lapid said in comments carried by Israel’s 103FM radio.

Moroccan authorities pushed asylum seekers into ‘death trap’

Moroccan authorities took a series of fateful decisions that led to the deaths of dozens of asylum seekers attempting to scale the border fence into the Spanish north African territory of Melilla two years ago, survivors and an investigation by an NGO have claimed.

North Korean soldiers cross border, South Korea fires warning shots

South Korean soldiers on Tuesday fired warning shots to repel North Korean soldiers who temporarily crossed the rivals' land border for the second time this month, South Korea's military said.

By Batool Subeiti

Sayed Raisi’s death was a reflection of how he lived

BEIRUT - Sayed Ibrahim Raisi and his companions were killed whilst on active duty – a reflection of how they lived their lives.

Ilam launches handicraft training for conscripts

TEHRAN – Ilam province, situated in western Iran, offers handicraft training to conscripts, enhancing their post-service employment opportunities.

Ardabil’s historical bazaar restoration accelerates

TEHRAN - The governor-general of Ardabil province has issued directives to accelerate the restoration and renovation of Ardabil’s historical bazaar.

Revival of Chador-Shab weaving brings new hope

TEHRAN - The traditional craft of Chador-Shab weaving, once a fading memory in a village in Gilan province, has been given new life through a comprehensive training program.

Rosawater distillation festival perfumes centuries-old Chalabi Oghlou

TEHRAN – In the last days of spring, the historical Chalabi Oghlou complex, nestled in Soltaniyeh, northwestern Iran, is playing host to a rosewater distillation (known as Golab-Giri in Persian) festival.

Mashhad is poised to welcome pilgrims for Eid al-Ghadir

TEHRAN – The holy city of Mashhad where is a main hub for religious tourism in Iran, is all set to host pilgrims in the course of days between Eid al-Adha and Ghadir.

PGPL: Iran to use VAR next season

TEHRAN – The 2024/25 Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL) is set to use Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the next season.

Hiking in pristine nature

As the weather becomes pleasant in the spring, mountaineers embark on hiking to enjoy the pristine nature, fresh air, and serenity.

Iran, Namibia to cooperate in nanotech research, education

TEHRAN – The secretary of the headquarters for the Nanotechnology Initiative Council, Emad Ahmadvand, and the special advisor to the Namibian president have discussed avenues to enhance cooperation between the two countries in nanotechnology.

Precipitations close to normal after four years

TEHRAN –After four years of consecutive low precipitations, the amount of average rainfall is getting close to normal long-term figures, the head of Metrological Organization has said.

Tehran, Beijing explore paths to enhance environmental co-op

TEHRAN –A delegation headed by Wan Gang, the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, met in Tehran on Monday with Ali Salajeqeh, the head of the Department of Environment, to foster collaboration under the 25-year cooperation agreement which was signed by the two countries in March 2021.

Bank loans to economic sectors rise 36%

TEHRAN - The Iranian banking system has paid 7.2 quadrillion rials (about $14.4 billion) of facilities in the first two months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20 -May 20, 2024), registering a 36.2 percent rise from the figure in the same period of the previous year, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) announced.

Chamanian named Iran U17 football team coach

TEHRAN – Abbas Chamanian was named as head coach of Iran’s U17 football team.

By Mahnaz Abdi

Foreign journalists participate in football friendship match at Chaoyang Park

BEIJING- A number of foreign journalists participated in an internal football friendship match at Chaoyang Park in Beijing on Monday.

NDF to deposit $60m into capital market stabilization fund

TEHRAN - The National Development Fund (NDF) is going to deposit $60 million into the stabilization fund to support the stock market, a member of the NDF board of directors said.

Iran calls for removing barriers in way of implementing IP pipeline

TEHRAN - Iran’s acting president Mohammad Mokhber says that Pakistani officials are expected to closely pursue the implementation of unfulfilled deals including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project (IP) expressing Iran’s readiness for cooperation to remove the hurdles.

By Mahnaz Abdi

CIPCC holds briefing on Xinjiang visit for foreign journalists

BEIJING- China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC), that is organizing a visit to Xinjiang province for a number of journalists from different countries, held a pre-departure briefing session for the upcoming visit, on Monday (June 17).

Iran's private sector eyes co-op with France in non-sanctioned areas

TEHRAN – The Head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Samad Hassanzadeh has called for cooperation with the Paris Chamber of Commerce in non-sanctioned areas.