DCHQ, UNICEF highlight developing partnership model

TEHRAN – Brigadier General Hossein Zolfaqari, the Secretary General of Iranian Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ), and Monika Oledzka Nielson, the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ad interim Representative in Iran, have underscored the need for the development of a cooperative model between the two organizations to be able to realize joint objectives and enhance the efficiency of collaborative measures.

Average age of first-time mothers in Iran is 27.5: report

TEHRAN –The average age of women in Iran giving birth to their first child stood at 27.5 years in the past Iranian calendar year that ended on March 20, according to a report by the National Organization for Civil Registration.

Welfare Organization develops plan to improve elderly’s quality of life

TEHRAN – The Welfare Organization is planning to implement a forty-day training program for old people to improve their quality of life.

Iranian-made pentavalent vaccines to be distributed nationwide

TEHRAN –The health ministry will start distributing domestically made pentavalent vaccines across the country on Tuesday, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.

Over 32,000 marriages after age 50 registered in a year

TEHRAN – A total of 32,196 marriages over the age of fifty were registered across the country in the past Iranian year (March 2024 – March 2025), according to the Civil Registration Organization.

Iran prioritizes neighboring countries in science diplomacy: official

TEHRAN – The current administration places a priority on fostering scientific collaborations with neighboring countries, an official with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, has said.

GIEWS releases report on food security in Iran

TEHRAN –The Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) has released a report, providing up-to-date information on the food security situation in Iran.

Farabi International Award extends submission deadline

TEHRAN – The deadline for submitting articles to the 16th Farabi International Award (FIA) has been extended to May 21.

DOE develops data bank of over 5,000 species in Persian Gulf, Oman Sea

TEHRAN –The head of the Department of Environment (DOE), Shina Ansari, has announced the provision of a data bank of more than 5,000 creatures in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea, saying that it will serve as a regional and even international platform for the preservation of the biodiversity in these waters.

Russia needs to enhance cooperation with Iran in emerging technologies: presidential aide

TEHRAN –Russian Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko has underscored the significance of promoting partnerships and collaborations with Iran in emerging technologies.

Iran attends 2025 BRS COPs in Geneva

TEHRAN – A delegation of officials from the Department of Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Oil has participated in the 2025 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (2025 BRS COPs) which opened in Geneva on April 28 and will run until May 9.

Preparatory meeting for intl. congress on AI to be held

TEHRAN – The fourth preparatory meeting for the second International Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Medical Science will be held at Smart University of Medical Sciences in Tehran on May 11.

Tehran, Havana follow up on joint biotechnology, vaccine production projects

TEHRAN – Cuban Ambassador to Tehran, Jorge Fernando Nicolás, in a meeting with Alireza Biglari, the Iranian deputy health minister for international affairs, discussed ways to follow up on joint projects, especially in biotechnology and vaccine production projects.

Turkmenistan seeks to boost co-op with Iran in fight against drugs

TEHRAN –The minister of internal affairs of Turkmenistan, Muhammet Hydyrow, has announced the country’s readiness to expand cooperation with the Iranian anti-narcotics police in combating drugs.

Vitamin A supplementation program targeting two million kids

TEHRAN – Supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund, mega-dose vitamin A supplementation program, being implemented across the country for four years, has reached two million children under the age of 5 so far.

ICRC ready to offer relief services to families of Shahid Rajaee Port incident victims

TEHRAN – Vincent Cassard, the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iran, has announced readiness to provide relief services to those injured during the massive explosion that occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port on Saturday.

Iran ready to boost co-op with Africa in health sector

TEHRAN – Ali Jafarian, the senior advisor to the health minister, has announced the country’s readiness to enhance ties with African countries in the field of health.

Islamic nations to approve first joint document on AI: science minister

TEHRAN – The first multilateral document on artificial intelligence (AI) among Islamic countries is scheduled to be approved during the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-15) Dialogue Platform, which will be held in Tehran from May 18 to 20, Science, Research, and Technology Minister, Hossein Simaei-Sarraf, has said.

UN ESCAP adopts Iran’s proposal on protecting Zagros forests

TEHRAN –With the approval of Iran’s proposal on protecting Zagros forests at the eighty-first annual session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the issue is placed on the agenda of the Asia-Pacific Center for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM).

Initial studies: Failure to observe safety standards blamed for inferno in Iranian port

TEHRAN - Initial studies show that “negligence” in observing “safety standards” is the cause of the Saturday huge inferno at Shahid Rajaei Port in southern Iran, the committee tasked to investigate the incident said in press release on Monday night.

Tehran, Moscow hold talks on promoting health co-op

TEHRAN – Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi and Russia’s deputy health minister Oleg Salagay have discussed ways of enhancing ties in the health sector.

Iran, Turkey explore paths to beef up scientific ties

TEHRAN –Iranian and Turkish officials have conferred on ways to further scientific and technological collaborations, focusing on setting up a joint research center for digital economy.

Iranian schoolchildren succeed in Intl. Mathematics Olympiad

TEHRAN –Attending the second International Mathematics Olympiad for high school students in Turkmenistan, Iranian students managed to win seven bronze medals.

Pezeshkian convenes crisis management meeting on Shahid Rajaee incident

TEHRAN - President Masoud Pezeshkian traveled to Bandar Abbas on Sunday to visit Shahid Rajaee Port, where a massive explosion caused tremendous damage and fatalities on Saturday.

Iran discusses boosting health ties with India, Uzbekistan

TEHRAN – Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi and his Indian and Uzbek counterparts have explored the potential for the expansion of health cooperation, holding separate meetings.

By Maryam Tavassoli

AI, digitalization revolutionizing health, safety at work

TEHRAN – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging digital technologies are contributing to improving occupational health and safety (OSH), as well as fostering efficiency at workplaces by operating in hazardous environments, doing the heavy lifting, managing toxic materials, and working in extreme temperatures.

Iranian students win medals at TIMO 2025

TEHRAN – Iranian students won two silver and two bronze medals, ranking fourth at the Turkic International Mathematics Olympiad (TIMO) held from April 17 to 22, in Antalya.

By Maryam Tavassoli

Maternal health literacy secures family health

TEHRAN – Maternal health literacy is one of the main key factors in ensuring the health of the family and society. It involves engaging in preventive behaviors, adopting healthy nutrition and lifestyle, as well as promoting mental, sexual, and reproductive health.

85 Iranian universities in THE Asia university rankings 2025

TEHRAN-The Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025 has placed 85 Iranian universities among the top Asian institutions compared to 75 universities in 2024.

Iran, Russia ink MOU on cell, gene therapy

TEHRAN – The Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Hematological Research Center” of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote scientific cooperation.