National observatory to come on stream by mid-June 2021

TEHRAN – The national observatory of Iran, which is being built near the city of Kashan, central Isfahan province, will be put into operation by mid-June next year.

Iran hopes to introduce coronavirus vaccine within 4 months

TEHRAN – Health Minister Saeed Namaki has expressed hope that the country will introduce the home-grown COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 19, 2021).

SDSs affect 43% of wetlands nationwide

TEHRAN –Wetlands across Iran measure about 3.4 million hectares in area, 1.4 million hectares of which, equivalent to 43 percent, have become sand and dust storm (SDS) hotspots.

FAO holding eLearning program on Real Water Savings in Iran

TEHRAN – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is holding an eLearning program in Iran to equip experts with the requisite knowledge and skills to implement the advanced approach of Real Water Savings (REWAS) in the agriculture sector.

43 cities in Iran go into tough coronavirus lockdown

TEHRAN – The National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control started strict restrictions for a week as of Monday in 43 cities that have the highest rate of infection in the country.

Air pollution has no effect on coronavirus spread: expert

TEHRAN – Air pollution has no special effect on the spread of the coronavirus disease, and studies have shown that there is no connection between these two issues, Ali Maher, deputy chief of Tehran special working group for coronavirus control said.

Govt. supports women breadwinners during pandemic: VP

TEHRAN – Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar stressed the need to further empower women, breadwinners, in the context of the economic war and the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Italian envoy highlights role of art in commemorating healthcare workers

TEHRAN – Italian Ambassador to Tehran Giuseppe Perrone has said artisans can play a great part in commemorating the healthcare workers who were sacrificed during the battle against the coronavirus.

Iran, Afghanistan underscore need to boost anti-narcotics fight

TEHRAN – The Iranian commander of border guards Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, and the Afghan deputy minister of interior for counter-narcotics Mohammad Hashim Aurtaq, emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation to fight against drug trafficking.

National Network of NGOs formed to promote ‘sport for all’

TEHRAN – The National Network of Non-Governmental Organizations has been formed to promote sports, especially cycling, athletics, and swimming, in society.

Iranian researchers produce nano-mask with 99.9% lethality to coronavirus

TEHRAN – Researchers at the Institute of Materials and Energy affiliated with the Ministry of Science, produced nano face masks that can kill coronavirus by 99.9 percent.

National festival of Maryam Mirzakhani planned for November

TEHRAN – The 3rd National Festival on Women and Science will kick off in November, commemorating the late Iranian mathematician, Maryam Mirzakhani.

35 Iranian universities among world’s top 2,000 by subject

TEHRAN – The Islamic World Science Citation Database (ISC) published the results of the ISC World University Rankings 2019, according to which 35 Iranian universities were listed among the world’s top 2,000 in various subjects.

Iranian-made COVID-19 vaccine to enter human trial in early November

TEHRAN – Iran will start testing its homegrown coronavirus vaccine on humans in early November, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Tuesday.

“Park of Life” created to vanish drug peddlers

TEHRAN – A newly-created park was inaugurated on Monday in a neighborhood of Tehran which had long been notorious for being a place for thugs and drug peddlers in a bid to combat narcotics and boost security.

Pakistan responsible for 363 malaria patients in Sistan-Baluchestan

TEHRAN – Some 363 patients infected with malaria have been identified in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21), all of whom had visited Pakistan.

Iran most active country in WHO study for COVID-19 treatment

TEHRAN – Six months after the World Health Organization's “Solidarity” clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments, Iran was ranked first among the 30 study partners in the “Patient Participation” platform.

210 special education schools to open by March 2021

TEHRAN – Some 210 schools for students with special education needs will be constructed across the country by the end of the next Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2021).

WHO provides Iran with ventilators, PCR systems

TEHRAN – The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered 150 medical ventilators and 100 high-performance real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermal cyclers to Iran to further support the health system and help respond to the pandemic.

Governor says COVID-19 violators will be forced to work in hospitals

TEHRAN – People who endanger the whole society due to non-observance of health protocols will be forced to work in hospitals to provide services to coronavirus patients, the governor of Zanjan has said.

UN Special Rapporteur criticizes U.S. for unilateral sanctions on Iran during COVID-19

TEHRAN - Alena Douhan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, has said the adverse effects of unilateral sanctions could hamper the delivery of, and access to, medical equipment needed to combat COVID-19 in countries such as Iran.

Welfare Organization launches radio channel for visually impaired

TEHRAN – The Welfare Organization has established a radio channel for the visually impaired, providing them with exclusive news and informative content, Masoud Asima, head of the international affairs of the Organization, has said.

Foreign couples welcome infertility treatment in Iran

TEHRAN – Foreign couples from neighboring and even European countries highly welcome infertility treatment in Iran because of the favorable cost and successful test results compared to other countries, Abdolhossein Shahverdi, head of Royan Institute has said.

Zanjan University to host IWGM 2020

TEHRAN – The University of Zanjan will virtually host the 6th International Workshop on UI GreenMetric World University Rankings (IWGM 2020) on October 13-15.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Ashk Island, a haven for Persian fallow deer

TEHRAN – The Ashk Island of Lake Urmia, which is considered one of the most important habitats of rare Persian fallow deer, has become a safe place to protect the species from extinction due to the difficult access of illegal poachers.

By Marjan Ghanbari, Assistant FAO Representative

Celebrating a different World Food Day on FAO’s 75th Anniversary

Each year, the international community, national partners and local associates across different corners of the globe commemorate World Food Day, making it one of the most celebrated international days. However, this year, World Food Day is no ordinary day.

Literacy rate in rural areas grows significantly

TEHRAN – The difference in literacy rate between urban and rural areas has decreased from 34.9 percent in 1976 to about 12 percent in 2019, which demonstrates a significant rise in the literacy rate of rural areas.

IRCS holding online courses for earthquake preparedness

TEHRAN – The Red Crescent Society (IRCS), in collaboration with the Medical Council, is holding an online training course on how to be prepared for an earthquake.

FAO calls for promoting climate-smart agriculture to deal with pandemic

TEHRAN - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has called on countries around the world to deal with the widespread effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic through promoting climate-smart and environmentally friendly agricultural practices, such as agro-ecology, that preserve the Earth’s natural resources.

By Prof. Mehdi Zare

Earthquake hazard zoning: An international effort conduction in Iran for Western and South Asia 

As an international effort, this article is aimed to represent the important controlling factors for seismic hazard analysis (SHA) performed over the last 3 decades in Iran, Western, and South Asia.