This column features excerpts from news articles, editorials, commentaries, and interviews of the leading Iranian newspapers and websites. 

TAFAHOM: Farshad Heydari appointed as managing director of Bank Melli 

KAYHAN: 4 million people withdraw their application for receiving subsidy payments

JAVAN: Ali Motahhari resigns as Majlis representative

KHORASAN: 1000 kilometers of railway to be constructed this year, says railway network director 

EGHTESAD POOYA: We will resolve traffic problem in 4 years, (Tehran mayor) Qalibaf says

HAMSHAHRI: Iranian officials’ reaction to new scenario of White House

TAFAHOM: Gas prices will not change this winter

SHARQ: Wall St. movement will ‘knock down’ U.S. capitalist system, says Leader in Kermanshah

MELLATEMA: Leader advises people to turn out in large numbers for Majlis election and uphold the law 

KHORASAN, in a news report, has said that addiction and divorce are on the top of social ills in the country. In fact, according to the director of the Association of Social Workers, addiction is chiefly to blame for 40 percent of divorces. The association director says other social ills are directly related to addiction and divorce. Some sociologists and psychologists believe that the nature of social problems over the last two years has not changed and the society is still suffering from the same old problems which have not been resolved yet. Experts say officials have not been able to find a solution to addiction and divorce and this has exacerbated the situation. Abbas Mohammadi-Asl, a sociologist, calls divorce the first social problem in the country and says the divorce rate has increased by 5.5% and the marriage rate has decreased by 6% during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21), compared to the previous year. 

According to MEHR NEWS AGANCY, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf says despite the fact that renovation of dilapidated buildings has increased by four times, “crisis camps” have been built in all districts in Tehran, and two camps have been constructed which can house 100,000 persons, the situation in Tehran is still far from ideal in the face of an earthquake. He says he has no intention to cause anxiety among the people but earthquake may happen in Tehran and other cities anytime so “we should find a solution instead of being worried about it.” The mayor adds Tehran, with 700 square kilometers and 8 million population, is prone to natural disasters and this entails cooperation by citizens in the face of a natural calamity.