In the Zanjan province, in northwestern Iran, work to restore the interior of the Soltaniyeh dome, which is on the UNESCO list, will begin soon after a contractor is selected in the coming days, an official representative for cultural heritage in the province reported.
Seyed Mikail Musavi, the general director for cultural heritage, tourism, and crafts in Zanjan province, stated on Friday that the next stage of preserving the monument will include the restoration of the eastern and western parts of the structure, the installation of a new wooden entrance door, work on the tiles in the eastern sector, and the organization of an archaeological excavation zone.
According to Musavi, the project will also focus on restoring the inscriptions and internal decorations of the monument. He added that completing this stage will allow for the dismantling of scaffolding, which has occupied much of the interior for years, a priority emphasized by the Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage.
The next planned phase of work will be dedicated to the restoration of damaged tiles and other elements of the monument requiring conservation.
The Soltaniyeh Dome, also known as the Oljaitu Mausoleum, is located approximately 40 kilometers southeast of the city of Zanjan. It was built between 1302 and 1312, when Soltaniyeh served as the capital of the Ilkhanate, a branch of the Mongol Empire. This monument, commissioned by Sultan Muhammad Hodabandeh (Oljaitu), represents the only surviving structure of the former royal citadel.
The mausoleum was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005 and is considered one of the outstanding achievements of Persian architecture and an important milestone in the development of Islamic architecture in Central and West Asia.
This 14th-century monument is known for its double brick dome covered with turquoise tiles, which rises approximately 50 meters above the base. It is widely recognized as the largest brick dome in the world and one of the most significant mausoleums of the Islamic period.
Nismo, Nissan's performance arm, hired a London-based jewelry company to create four grillz—dental adornments linked to hip-hop culture—designed based on street and racing models from the Japanese manufacturer.
These pieces are exclusive and will not be sold; they will be displayed in the British capital before the conclusion of the Formula E World Championship, scheduled for August 15th and 16th.
The collaboration was established with LOUD MOUTH LDN, a studio specializing in custom grillz located in Peckham, South London, which uses silver and gold in its work. Nismo participated in the development of the four designs, with each one inspired by a specific element of a Nissan vehicle.
One of the grillz, colored blue, replicates the front grille of the Skyline GT-R R34, including the black details and amber points that simulate the vehicle's turn signals. Next to it is a red piece, whose inspiration comes from the front of the competition Nissan Z GT500.
The other two models refer to different milestones in the brand's sporting history. One features the yellow tone of the Pennzoil Nismo GT-R, the Skyline GT-R R34 that dominated the GT500 category of the Japanese championship JGTC in 1999, alongside Érik Comas and Satoshi Motoyama. The second design combines silver, white, and red, using the colors of the e-4ORCE 05, with which Nissan participates in the current Formula E season.
According to both companies, the collection consists of unique items, with no plan for commercialization. The grillz will be exhibited in a Westfield chain mall located in East London in the days leading up to the race. Visitors to the exhibition will compete for a personalized piece made by the jeweler.
The finale of the so-called 'Formula 1 of electric cars' will take place at ExCeL London, located at Royal Victoria Dock, concluding the 12th season of the championship. This event marks the end of the Gen3 car generation and the category's departure from the London complex, which will leave the calendar starting in 2027. Currently, nine drivers still have mathematical chances of winning the title.
Nissan attends the weekend as the team of the current champion, British driver Oliver Rowland, who partners with French driver Norman Nato. The automaker was the first Japanese company to enter Formula E in 2018 and won the drivers' title in the previous season.
For Reece Garcia, founder and director of LOUD MOUTH LDN, this project required a change in the studio's initial approach. Instead of focusing on letters or logos, the team chose to analyze the shapes and details of the cars, translating them into jewelry. He describes the grillz as one of the few accessories created entirely for each individual.
During the 'Greatest Rivalry in Rugby' tour match, the Stormers faced the All Blacks. Although the New Zealand team ultimately won in the second half, the match began with a fierce confrontation, demonstrating a high level of intensity throughout the first hour of play.
The Stormers, currently in pre-season preparation, managed to exert significant pressure on the visitors, confirming the depth of the local team's squad. However, the Cape Town franchise faced serious injury problems: promising midfielder Imad Khan was taken out of the game within the first five minutes, and his experienced replacement, Devaldt Duvenage, was also forced off the field. This was compounded by the injury to center Ruhana Nel in the second half, leaving the Stormers severely stretched in the defensive line after opting for a 6-2 substitution scheme.
Despite these difficulties, the majority of Stormers players set a powerful physical standard, especially during ball play, meaning the All Blacks must return to the Mother City with more tactical challenges before their debut match against the Springboks at Ellis Park on August 22nd.
Several key points were identified during this intense match. Firstly, the Stormers caused damage to the All Blacks both during scrums and rucks. Stormers supporters noted that the Stormers' front row, particularly young player Louzheda Vernon Matongo, managed to completely dominate the All Blacks in the first half.
Although the All Blacks scored the first try after a series of strong rucks, it was the Stormers who exposed the guests' ruck defense weaknesses with a well-planned breakthrough.
Secondly, the discipline of the All Blacks was overwhelming, although they showed resilience. During the Stormers' period of dominance, the All Blacks squad was reduced to 13 men. After the Cape Town team gained territory through a series of penalties, the visitors lost two players due to yellow cards following a hard tackle and a cynical infringement while defending a ruck near their try line.
Nevertheless, the All Blacks managed to withstand the Stormers' onslaught thanks to superb sliding defense. This resilience will be the biggest positive point for the coaching staff, but they must understand that they cannot afford to receive yellow or red cards from the clinical Springboks team.
Furthermore, the All Blacks successfully utilize quick taps and go balls. Simon Parker helped the visitors gain a seven-point lead by halftime.
Deon Fourie displayed masterful play despite his age. Deon Fourie's previous match against the All Blacks took place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, where he played 77 minutes at hooker with a seriously injured shoulder. The past thirty months have been a tough test for the veteran, who has spent much more time in rehabilitation than on the field.
However, on Friday evening, the 39-year-old flanker, who turns 40 next month, exceeded expectations, demonstrating outstanding play for the Stormers. He fought tirelessly, made crucial turnovers, and executed a powerful run that drew cheers from the fans.
The final score did not reflect the immense efforts of the Stormers, as they remained in the fight for an hour before substitute midfielder Duvenage sustained an injury. The Cape Town team had already lost key player Imad Khan in the first five minutes due to a knee injury.
It was always a difficult task for 38-year-old Duvenage to play the entire match, considering he had largely transitioned into coaching. When Ruhana Nel was also taken out of the game, the home team faced the need for a major restructuring of the defensive line after the 6-2 forward-to-back substitution scheme was adopted before the match.
The physical test served as a vital signal for the All Blacks. The young talents of New Zealand no longer have the opportunity to regularly test themselves against South African franchises weekly, and the Friday match served as an introduction to this unique physical culture of the Republic.
This match proved to be a sharp shock to the system, especially given that the Stormers are still in the process of pre-season training. Nevertheless, it provides an ideal platform for the visitors to become tougher before facing far more serious tests, including the most physically demanding test—the match against the Springboks.
The design team described that the project concept is based on a carefully adjusted relationship between the different architectural volumes. The use of materials, light, and shadow was employed to create a passage between the vastness of the external landscape and the introspective atmosphere of the internal space.
This approach lends the wine production process a quality that is both precise and transcendental.
The project was cited as "Vinícola La Vigilia / González Olsina & Vega Arquitectos" (or Bodega La Vigilia / González Olsina & Vega Arquitectos) on August 7, 2026, according to the record on ArchDaily in Portuguese, accessed on August 8, 2026.
