WHO to laud Iran on elimination of trachoma

TEHRAN — Concurrent with the 11th Festival of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of Professor Mohammad Gholi Chams (The father of modern ophthalmology in Iran and the founder of Farabi eye hospital) on February 21 World Health Organization (WHO) will laud Iran on elimination of trachoma, Mehr news agency reported.

Plans on agenda to address sand and dust storms in 4 provinces 

TEHRAN — Studies to combat sand and dust storms are almost completed and next year (starting on March 21) plans will be implemented in four provinces of Khuzestan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Kerman and Hormozgan, director of the national headquarters for combatting sand and dust storms has said.

Biotech products save Iran $1 billion: official

TEHRAN – The domestically manufacturing of biotechnology products has so far saved one billion dollars for the country, Mostafa Qanei, secretary of biotech development center (BioDC) at science and technology vice-presidency said, Tasnim reported on Wednesday.

Automated organ donation system to start in a month

TEHRAN- The first stage of establishing an automated database of organ transplantation will begin on March 1st, said the head of the transplantation and treatment of diseases department at the Ministry of Health. 

$4m earmarked for Asiatic cheetah conservation

TEHRAN – A total budget of $4 million will be allocated to prevent the remaining precious species of Asiatic cheetah from extinction, through a five-year plan, deputy environment chief for Department of Environment (DOE) natural environment and biodiversity directorate has announced.

Tehran tourism exhibit offers must-see places for Noruz

TEHRAN – Hundreds of potential travelers for Noruz holidays are choosing, bargaining or even negotiating prices with travel markets at the 12th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition, which will be running through February 16.

Iranian universities to turn knowledge into wealth and technology: Minister

TEHRAN – Iran aims to turn knowledge into wealth and technology in universities, the Science, Research and Technology Minister, Mansour Gholami announced, ISNA reported on Sunday.

Support packages underway for SMA patients

TEHRAN- Support packages have been planned for SMA patients, said the head of the Transplantation and Treatment of Diseases Department at the Ministry of Health.  

1,250 ha of central Alborz Mountains undergo reforestation

TEHRAN – Reforestation will be conducted on 1,250 hectares of 1,800 meter altitude of central mountain range of Alborz, to prevent illegal constructions and land grabbing in mountainous areas, head of Tehran Parks and Green Space Organization, affiliated to the municipality has said.

Relief Foundation, vice presidency for science, technology sign MOU to enhance job opportunities

TEHRAN – The Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and the vice presidency for science and technology inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand cooperation on generating jobs by the means of knowledge-based companies in the underprivileged areas, Mehr news agency reported.

‘Satellite data efficient to contain environmental issues’

TEHRAN – Satellite images and acquisition of various satellite data makes many solutions available to reduce or even prevent environmental issues, while requires a timely utilization, head of Aerospace Research Institute (ARI), affiliated to the Ministry of Science, has said.

Unofficial employment rate among women high despite low economic contribution

TEHRAN – Despite women’s low rate of economic contribution which stands at 12 percent, it seems that they play an outstanding role in different sections so that unofficial employment rate among women is high, vice president for women’s and family affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar has said.

Iran, Iraq seeking UN recognition of Arba’een pilgrimage

TEHRAN - Iranian tourism and cultural heritage authorities in collaboration with their Iraqi counterparts are implementing a plan to promote the recognition of Arba’een pilgrimage on the UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, CHTN reported.

Yazd hosting intl. workshop on earthen architecture

TEHRAN - The historical Iranian city of Yazd is hosting an international workshop on earthen architecture with its related conservation problems and challenges coming into focus.

Persian antiquities found in almost all museums worldwide

TEHRAN – People around the world visit countless pieces of antiquities from the Persian Empire in different museums every day, without ever asking themselves how those relics ended up thousands of kilometers away from their home in Iran, Press TV wrote in a recent article.

$1b proposed for developing Tehran public transport fleet

TEHRAN – A total budget of 45 trillion rials (nearly $1 billion) on development of transportation fleet has been proposed in Tehran Municipality’s budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 21, 2019), Sakineh Ashrafi, deputy mayor of Tehran for planning, urban development and council affairs has said.

LEZ scheme cuts black carbon in Tehran air by 44%

TEHRAN – The low emission zone (LEZ) scheme, mandating vehicle inspection, to reduce emissions which went into effect in the capital three months ago, has led to a 44 percent decline in black carbon emission, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Yazd hotels, museums offering discounts to Chinese visitors

TEHRAN - Hotels and museums in the city of Yazd are offering deep discounts on accommodation and entry fees for Chinese travelers on the occasion of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

National network of NGOs and charities for cancer plans to join UICC

TEHRAN — Joining the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has been a matter of importance for the members of Iran’s national network of NGOs and charities for cancer, CEO of MAHAK, a charity society dedicated to treating pediatric cancer in Iran, has said. 

Economic structure should be in favor of startups: VP

TEHRAN – The current economic structure of Iran is not in favor of startups and the situation should be changed, the vice president for science and technology Sourena Sattari said, ISNA reported on Monday.

‘Organ donation rate grows 60-fold in 18 years’

TEHRAN – Organ donation rate has increased by 60 times over the past 18 years, though the growth is not considerable compared to the global scale, head of the transplantation and treatment of diseases department at the Ministry of Health has announced.

‘Water transfer from Sea of Oman entails no considerable environmental risk’

TEHRAN – Transferring water from Sea of Oman to central drought-ridden provinces of the country, provided that the environmental requirements are met, will not poses threats to the environment, Issa Kalantari, the Department of Environment (DOE) chief has announced.

Anzali Free Zone, a popular spot for Azeri, Russian and Iraqi travelers

TEHRAN - Anzali Free Zone, which is located in northern Iran, is a popular destination for travelers from Azerbaijan, Russia and Iraq.

Ebtekar hails achievements in women, family arenas

TEHRAN - Vice president for women’s and family affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, has hailed achievements made by the country in the field of women and family affairs.

Online autism screening website launched in Iran 

TEHRAN — Iran’s Welfare Organization launched an online autism screening website on Monday, ISNA news agency reported. 

Soil erosion reaches 16.7 tons per ha annually

TEHRAN – Soil erosion and pollution are the two major important environmental problems in the country, as some 16.7 tons of soil per hectare erodes annually, head of soil protection unit of the Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization has announced.

Tehran, Baghdad to expand scientific, technology cooperation

TEHRAN – Iraq’s Higher Education Minister Qusay Abdul Wahab al-Suhail and the Iranian vice president for science and technology Sourena Sattari discussed ways to boost cooperation in the field of science and technology during a meeting on Sunday, Mehr reported.

Tehran Municipality proposes new plan to tackle air pollution, traffic jam 

TEHRAN — Tehran Municipality has prepared a new traffic scheme for the capital in an attempt to address persistent air pollution and traffic congestion in the metropolis, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday. 

By Setareh Behroozi

Space technology, future market for Iranian entrepreneurs

About half a century ago, human left footprints on the moon. For years, space technology was associated in the mind of public with launching satellites, astronauts in their weird costume exploring other planets. Space technology was unreachable and done behind closed doors!

Zarivar wetland designated as a Wetland of International Importance

TEHRAN — Zarivar wetland, in western province of Kordestan, was designated as a Wetland of International Importance on Ramsar list, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.