Iran to host intl. course on GAP for women farmers

TEHRAN – An international training course on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for women farmers will open today in the city of Damghan.

Plans to reinforce Tehran’s subway fleet underway

TEHRAN – Supplying Tehran’s underground transport fleet with 1,000 new subway cars is underway for the next Iranian calendar year 1397 (March 2018-March 2019), the head of Tehran’s Planning and Budget Organization has said.

70% of hospitals in Iran dilapidated: official

TEHRAN — Some 70 percent of the hospitals in Iran are old and in bad condition, an official with civil engineering affairs department of the Ministry of Health has said.

Tehraners consume 12m liters of gasoline per day

TEHRAN — Citizens of the capital consume some 12 million liters of gasoline each day, chief of Tehran department of environment Mohammad Hossein Bazgir has said.

Cheetah cub saved from smugglers cannot return to wild

TEHRAN – Asiatic cheetah that was saved from an animal-trafficking gang in Tehran on December 26, 2017, cannot return to the wild at least for now, Iman Memarian, the chief veterinarian of Pardisan Rehabilitation Center said.

Some 760,000 foreign nationals acquired literacy in Iran in 33 years

TEHRAN – As per a special literacy program developed for foreign nationals in Iran some 759,625 refugees have attended literacy courses over the past 33 years, the director of the Literacy Movement Organization (LMO) said.

Ahvaz to host specialized handicrafts exhibit

TEHRAN – The city of Ahvaz, southwestern Khuzestan province, will play host to a specialized handicrafts exhibit in February.

‘Virtual tour operators’ to get off the ground

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has unveiled a campaign to enroll eligible students and graduates in all fields of study as ‘virtual tour operators’.

By Setareh Behroozi

Great craft gift ideas for your beloved ones

Iran is the land of miscellaneous creative handicrafts made by artisans in different parts of the country in the forms of enamel, tile, metalwork, leatherwork and wood carving.

Traffic fines to help curb Tehran’s air pollution

TEHRAN — Majlis (the Iranian parliament) has mandated Tehran municipality to spend traffic fines on implementing measures to abate air pollution in the capital, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

State-run organizations to report on measures for citizenship rights

TEHRAN – Annual reports of state-run organizations on measures taken for adoption of citizenship rights will soon be published, IRNA quoted the presidential aide for civil rights affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi as saying on Tuesday.

Iranian engineers develop electric stair climbing wheelchairs

TEHRAN – A group of Iranian engineers have developed the technology for manufacturing electronic stair climbing wheelchairs as well as electric hand-cycles.

Entrepreneur women to study methods of empowerment

TEHRAN – Methods of improving women’s job situation is to be studied by entrepreneur women during a national congress which is to be held on July 11.

Abolishing VAT for inbound tours on agenda

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism body is pursuing to waive a controversial value added tax levied on inbound package tours as the taxation is deemed a “serious threat” to the county’s budding tourism sector.

More jobs, free education, and less working hours highlighted

Bill ensuring rights of persons with disabilities approved

TEHRAN – Majlis [the Iranian parliament] approved both general outlines and details of a bill on rights of persons with disabilities which raises hope for improvement of their living conditions.

Budget deficit impeding disaster reduction efforts: official

TEHRAN – Shortage of budget has been impeding many projects needed to implement disaster reduction plans, especially during earthquakes, YJC quoted Ahmad Sadeqi, director of the Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization, as saying.

Inspiring fashion designs add glamor to Golestan Palace

TEHRAN -- There is a common ground between the design elements involved in both architecture and fashion and many fashion designers around the world are inspired by architecture in their works. Now some young fashion designers in Iran display their designs inspired by the Golestan Palace at the venue during an exhibition.

Warmer winter looms large amid low precipitation, high air pollution

TEHRAN — Iran’s Climatological Research Institute has projected a warmer winter accompanied by lower precipitation rates and consequently more air pollution incidents for the last season of the year in the country.

Iran sees a decline in health tourist influx

TEHRAN – The number of medical tourists traveling to Iran is estimated to fell some 10 percent in the current Iranian calendar year 1396 (March 2017-March 2018) in comparison to the previous year, IRIB reported on Thursday.

Iran to scrap paper visas for all countries

TEHRAN – Iran will stop issuing paper visas in favor of electronic ones for all countries by May 2018, said Hassan Qashqavi, the deputy foreign minister for consular affairs.

Installing seismometer stations in quake-prone areas prioritized

TEHRAN – Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has said setting up new seismometer stations and GPS systems all over the country especially in quake-prone areas is a priority, Mehr reported on Thursday.

By Sadaf Abbassi

“Candy Thursdays” pouring kindness into people’s lives

TEHRAN — Hospital waiting rooms are not lively places, it even gets worse when it comes to children’s hospital. Usually, pale, sick and exhausted children with their tensed parents are wishing to get out of this horrible place as soon as possible.

Restricting diesel engine trucks eases Tehran’s air pollution

TEHRAN – Following consistent air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran trucks running on diesel engine were temporarily banned from the streets, which dramatically reduced pollutants in the capital.

By Marjan Golpira

Dreamy Dizin has great offers for ardent ski fans

High on the Alborz mountains north of Tehran, the prestigious Dizin Ski Resort is one of the winter attractions of Iran, offering an exciting destination for ski lovers from beginners to professionals.

Tehran quakes: Tehraners tremble with fear

TEHRAN — Tehran was shaken with yet another minor quake at 00:54 a.m. local time on Wednesday stoking up fear once again into the hearts of terrified citizens.