Police identify ringleaders of organized smuggling gangs

TEHRAN – The Iranian police chief said on Tuesday that his forces have identified ringleaders of main smuggling gangs inside and outside the country.

Tehran Municipality holding program on Islamic unity week

TEHRAN – Tehran Municipality is holding a special program to celebrate the Islamic unity week on November 11-14, ISNA news agency reported.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Meeting of ECO heads of meteorological organizations held in Tehran 

TEHRAN – The 3rd meeting of heads of meteorological organizations of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states held in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iranian students shine at RoboCup Asia Pacific 2019

TEHRAN – Two Iranian students managed to win first place in the individual section and second place in the group section of RoboCup Asia Pacific 2019 Rescue and Humanoid competition.

New ILS to enhance safety of flights at IKIA

TEHRAN – The Imam Khomeini International Airport has installed a new Instrument Landing System (ILS) in order to improve the safety of flights, IKIA deputy director for airport operations has said.

Govt. approves $71m in loans for quake-hit East Azarbaijan

TEHRAN – The government will provide some 3 trillion rials (about $71 million) to make up for the damage caused by earthquake in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan, Majid Joudi, an official with the Housing Foundation has said.

Tehran, Bern ink MOU on tourism co-op

TEHRAN – Iran and Switzerland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand cooperation in the tourism sector, CHTN reported.

Two streets in Tehran named after Hejazi, Persepolis

TEHRAN – The city council of Tehran approved on Sunday a proposal to name two streets in the city after Esteghlal football club’s legendary goalkeeper Nasser Hejazi and Persepolis, the most popular football club in the country founded in 1963.

Foreign ambassadors, diplomats invited to tribes festival

TEHRAN – A number of foreign ambassadors, diplomats, as well as cultural and economic attaches have been invited to attend a regional nomadic festival, which opens today in Iran’s northern Golestan province.

First flock of white pelicans landed in Kani Barazan wetland

TEHRAN – The first group of white pelicans, amounting to 150, have flown to the Kani Barazan wetland, located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan.

Traditional Russian textiles on show at Tehran exhibit

TEHRAN – On Monday, an exhibition of traditional Russian textiles, including handwoven needlework and embroideries, opened to the public at the Niavaran Cultural-Historical Complex in northern Tehran.

Iranian on round-the-globe camelback journey hoping to save the animal from extinction

TEHRAN – Mohammad Amiri-Roudan, an Iranian traveler and athlete, who has commenced a journey across the globe on camelback, aims to draw worldwide attention to the Iranian Bactrian camel, which he says, is on the verge of extinction.

Naval guards seize over 30,000 liters of smuggled fuel in Bushehr

TEHRAN – Bushehr Province’s Navy commander said on Sunday that maritime guards have seized a vessel and a tank-truck smuggling 30,500 liters of diesel fuel.

Migratory birds arrive in Gulf of Gorgan, Ashuradeh Island

TEHRAN – The Gulf of Gorgan, the largest Gulf in the Caspian Sea in northern Iran, is hosting flocks of migratory birds once again which have flown long distances to spend the cold season.

From generation to generation: The art of Tanbur in Kermanshah

Tanbur, a long-necked fretted lute, is an inseparable part of the lives of the Kurds in Iran, so much so that the children learn how to play it before they learn how to read and write.

New archaeological season begins in Burnt City

TEHRAN – A group of Iranian archaeologists and fellow international experts have recently commenced a fresh round of exploration in the Burnt City, a UNESCO-registered site in southeastern Iran.

"Science for All" festival opens in Tehran

TEHRAN – The 5th festival of "Science for All" kicked off in Tehran on Saturday concurrent with the World Science Day for Peace and Development.

Charity foundation to open up 120,000 jobs for villagers

TEHRAN – Barekat Charity Foundation, affiliated to Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, will generate 120,000 jobs for the people residing in rural areas by the end of this year (March 20), the foundation’s head has said.

Electricity back on in quake-hit regions in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – An official with Iran's Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (known as Tavanir) said the parts of the power grid damaged in earthquake-hit regions of East Azarbaijan Province in northwestern Iran are completely fixed and back on stream.

Foreign arrivals in Aran-Bidgol jump 50% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN - The number of foreign arrivals in Aran-Bidgol soared 50 percent in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) from a year earlier, governor of the Iranian oasis town said on Saturday.

Mustafa Prize 2019 goes to Iranian, Turkish scientists

TEHRAN – Three Iranian and two Turkish scientists were announced winners of the Mustafa Prize 2019 during a ceremony which was held at Alzahra University in Tehran on Wednesday.

International contribution ‘not sufficient’ for Urmia Lake restoration

TEHRAN – International contribution to revive Urmia Lake is not sufficient, as only Japan has provided an annual financial assistance amounting to $1 million since the past six years, National Wetlands Conservation Project manager, Ali Arvahi, has said.

Visit ‘Owpart’ where jungle borders desert in Iran

TEHRAN – Amongst wanders of the nature is sudden climate change when you pass Iran’s northern Mazandaran province for Semnan in its south. Here the Owpart region acts like an elevated natural barrier, dividing lush jungles from the harsh, sun-scorched desert lands.

IranAir to resume flights to Rome after ban on rival airline

TEHRAN – Iran’s flag carrier Homa, known internationally as IranAir, is scheduled to resume flights to the Italian capital Rome after rival airline Mahan Air was banned from the European country’s airspace, Press TV reported.

Khorramabad festival featuring tribal lifestyle, crafts and arts

TEHRAN – Various lifestyle, rituals, crafts and arts of Iranian tribespeople and nomads are under spotlight in a five-day exhibition, which is underway in Khorramabad, the capital of western Lorestan province.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Why you cannot afford to miss Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque

JAKARTA (MNA) – Sure there are many must-see destinations in Indonesia but one special mosque in Jakarta is a visit that will never be forgotten.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

A peek at three astonishing national parks in central Iran

TEHRAN – In Iran, a whopping 30 national parks are scattered all over the country, each offering their unique blend of flora, fauna, heritage and natural beauty. Here we will take a look at three national parks located in central Isfahan province.

Indian journalists on fam tour across Iran 

TEHRAN - A delegation of Indian journalists and media personnel has commenced a familiarization tour across Iran with the aim of getting acquainted with its medical tourism potentials, tourist destinations, natural landscapes, local people and their traditions.

Iran to attend Tashkent international tourism expo

TEHRAN – A number of Iranian exhibitors will attend the 25th Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF 2019) --“Tourism on the Silk Road” – which will be held in the capital city of Uzbekistan from November 13 to 15, Fars reported on Thursday. 

Six dead, hundreds injured as 5.9 magnitude earthquake hits northwestern Iran

TEHRAN - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck northwestern Iran early Friday, killing at least six people and injuring 584 others so far.