Water shortage “serious”, says environment chief

TEHRAN – The country is facing a serious water shortage, said Isa Kalantari, the chief of the Department of Environment.

Iranian messaging apps reportedly removed from App Store

TEHRAN – Two Iranian messaging applications have been reportedly removed from the Apple’s iOS App Store from Monday, according to local media.

Ilam to host 2nd Intl. Conference on Dust

TEHRAN — The second edition of the International Conference on Dust will be held on April 25-27 in the city of Ilam, western Iran.

Stop dam building and water transfer projects: environmentalists

TEHRAN – A group of environmentalists have issued a statement, urging all dam building and water transfer projects around Zayanderud, Karun and Dez rivers to be halted in a bid to deal with the severe drought conditions that have affected western part of the country.

Councilors finally accept mayor’s resignation, name caretaker

TEHRAN — Despite all the efforts to convince Mohammad Ali Najafi to keep his post as mayor of Tehran, eventually the Tehran City Council accepted his resignation on Tuesday.

RoboCup Iran Open reaches finish line

TEHRAN – Winners of the 13th RoboCup Iran Open competitions were announced on Saturday.

Only 2% of devices affected by recent cyberattack: IT minister

TEHRAN – “Only two percent of devices in Iran were affected by the recent cyberattack and the attack was neutralized in two hours,” Iran’s Communication and Information Technology Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi has said.

Seven substandard zoos shut down

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment has shut down seven zoos across the country which didn’t live up to the required standards set by the department, ILNA reported on Saturday.

Plans underway to renovate taxi fleet

TEHRAN – There are plans underway for renovating the taxi fleet nationwide by replacing some 40,000 old taxis with new ones in the current [Iranian Calendar] year 1397 (March 2018–March 2019), said head of the taxi drivers’ union on Sunday.

Tehran, Caracas ink pharmaceutical MOU

TEHRAN – Iran and Venezuela signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation in pharmaceutical sector.

Tehran mayor’s resignation rejected

TEHRAN — The Tehran City Council on Sunday rejected the resignation of Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi.

22,000 Azerbaijanis arrived in Ardebil during Noruz

TEHRAN – Some 22,000 Azerbaijani nationals arrived in Iran’s northwestern Ardebil province during the two-week New Year holidays, Noruz, which ended on April 2, IRNA reported.

Minimizing car accidents on agenda: MP

TEHRAN — Disabilities incurred by car accidents in Iran are shockingly high and Majlis (the Iranian parliament) is pursuing an agenda to reduce traffic-related injuries, MP Salman Khodadadi has said.

Some $12.6m donated for Kermanshah quake relief

TEHRAN — Iranians have made a contribution of some 630 billion rials (nearly $12.6 million) to recovery efforts in the quake-hit province of Kermanshah, Iran’s Red Crescent Society secretary general Mahmoud Mohammadi-Nasab has said.

Tehran may experience less clean air days this year: official

TEHRAN – The air quality of Tehran may deteriorate in the current [Iranian calendar] year 1397 [March 2018–March 2019] and accordingly days with unhealthy air pollution may increase compared to the year before, said the director of Tehran’s Air Quality Control Company.

Proper cloud seeding can yield economic benefits: expert

TEHRAN — Deploying proper techniques for cloud seeding can produce economic benefits for the country, an expert with the Meteorological Organization has said.

By Setareh Behroozi

Telegram, time to 'left'?

Telegram, the familiar blue icon on cellphones of most Iranians, is being turned into a challenge on the national level.

City council in pursuit of #Tehran_without_plastic

TEHRAN – Tehran’s city council has launched #Tehran_without_plastic campaign in a bid to fight detrimental effects of plastics on the environment, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

‘Wildfire during Noruz holidays unprecedented’

TEHRAN – Wildfire swept through some 150 hectares of forests across northern Iran during Noruz holidays (March 21 – April 2), said an official with Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization, noting that the extent of fire was unprecedented for the last decade.

Over 17m Iranians toured the country in New Year holidays

TEHRAN – Over 17 million Iranians hit the roads, boarded trains, planes and ships to travel across the country from March 15, one week before the official New Year (Noruz) holidays, which ended on April 2.

Ex-addicts can apply for business loans

TEHRAN — Iran’s Welfare Organization is providing ex-addicts with loans to start a business, head of the addiction prevention and treatment center of the organization has announced.

The hardships of families with autistic children

TEHRAN – Although awareness towards autism has increased in Iran during recent years, families with autistic children are still voicing complaint about lack of support by national organizations.

Unprecedented air pollution in Tehran during Noruz

TEHRAN — For Tehraners, the New Year holidays (Noruz) are typically synonymous with clean air, but this year’s air quality went down for five days out of the thirteen-day holidays.

Child adoption up by 25% in Tehran: official

TEHRAN – The number of children adopted in Tehran increased by 25 percent in [the past Iranian calendar] year 1396 (March 2017 – March 2018) compared to the year before, deputy head of Tehran’s welfare organization for social affairs said.

‘Downgrading, downsizing protected areas encourage communities to safeguard environment’

TEHRAN — Downgrading and downsizing protected areas would in fact encourage local communities to conserve the environment more effectively, Department of Environment's (DOE) deputy director for hunting and fishing Ali Teymouri has said.

Teahouse arson attack in Ahwaz leaves 11 killed, 6 injured

TEHRAN — An arson attack on a teahouse in the city of Ahwaz, southwestern Iran, killed 11 and injured 6 others, including three firemen, Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday.

RoboCup Iran Open 2018 to open

TEHRAN – The 13th RoboCup Iran Open competitions kicks off on Wednesday at Tehran Permanent International Fairground, Tasnim reported.