2,000 Iranian elites abroad back to domestic business environment

TEHRAN – The progress, made in startups, research, and academia since 2015, has led to the return of 2,000 Iranian specialists and graduates from 400 prestigious and top universities in the world.

Religious minorities urge people for high turnout in presidential elections

TEHRAN – Representatives of religious minorities in the parliament have invited all the Iranian nation to participate massively in the upcoming presidential elections.

National document on promoting environmental protection culture unveiled

TEHRAN – The national document on promoting environmental protection culture was unveiled on Sunday by Department of Environment Chief Issa Kalantari, and Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Abbas Salehi.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Every child has the right to a childhood

TEHRAN – Despite laws banning child labor, available statistics show that over the years, many children have worked in underground workshops, on the streets, or scavenging on rubbish dumps, while every child must benefit from childhood.

COVID-19 prevalence on a downward trend

TEHRAN – The spread of coronavirus is slowing down in Iran, as the daily toll has fallen to 115, the lowest figure since April.

Cabinet approves bill on protection of animals

TEHRAN – A long-awaited bill on protection of animals which had been proposed over 5 years ago was finally approved by the cabinet of ministers, IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

Isfahan, Porto to sign sister city agreement

TEHRAN – The cities of Porto and Isfahan will soon sign a sister city agreement as the two cities have common cultural, architectural and historical features, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

Over 180 forest reserves identified in a year

TEHRAN – Some 182 forest reserves with an area of 410,000 hectares were identified and registered across the country over the past [Iranian calendar] year (March 2020-March 2021), according to a recent report by the Forests, Rangelands, and Watershed Management Organization.

Environmental stamps exhibition underway in Tehran

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment opened a stamp exhibition titled ‘half a century of Iran's ecosystem protection’ in Tehran on Monday to mark the occasion of World Environment Day.

Iranian universities advance in QS Rankings

TEHRAN – All six Iranian universities have improved their positions among the world’s top 1300 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2022.

Fakhra vaccine begins second human trial

TEHRAN – The second phase of the Fakhra vaccine’s human trial started on Wednesday by being administrated to 500 volunteers.

Over 22,000 PCR tests conducted at border points

TEHRAN – A total of 22,064 passengers have so far undergone PCR tests based on a plan launched on March 10 to rapidly identify suspected cases of coronavirus and prevent the spread of new variants.

Some 800 knowledge-based firms active in biotechnology

TEHRAN – Nearly 800 knowledge-based companies in the country are currently operating in the field of biotechnology and supplying their products and services to the domestic market, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

World's rarest flower grows in northern Iran

TEHRAN – Lilium ledebourii (known as Sousan-e Chehel Cheragh in Iran) is one of the rarest species of the Lilium genus worldwide, which grows in two habitats in Iran, one is Damash in northern Gilan province and the other is in the northwestern Ardebil province.

Tehran to host revitalization ceremony of ECO Park

TEHRAN – The revitalization ceremony of ECO Park will be held in Tehran on June 9, with ambassadors of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries in attendance.

COVIRAN vaccine closer to completing human trials

TEHRAN – Eight thousand volunteers in four cities will receive the first dose of the COVIRAN vaccine on June 10, moving toward completing the third phase of human testing.

36 Iranian universities among world’s top 1,000

TEHRAN – Thirty-six Iranian universities have been listed among more than 1,000 major universities worldwide, according to the Center for Science and Technology Studies Leiden Ranking for 2021.

Some $2m earmarked to create 33 accessible cities

TEHRAN – A total budget of 82 billion rials (nearly $2 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been allocated to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities in 33 cities, the secretary of the accessible cities coordination headquarters, has announced.

IRCS ready to vaccinate 3 million refugees, rare disease patients

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has announced readiness to vaccinate some three million refugees and people with special diseases against coronavirus if the required doses of the vaccine are provided.

By Sadeq Lavasani

Iran's fertility rate alarmingly low

No more than a decade ago, Iran boasted one of the world's youngest populations all thanks to a baby boom that began in the mid-seventies and reached its peak soon after the revolution of 1979. Millions of Iranian baby boomers are now either reaching middle-age or are well into it.

Some €450m allocated to tackle SDSs in 3 years

TEHRAN – A total budget of €450 million has been earmarked to contain sand and dust storms (SDSs) nationwide over the past three years, deputy head of the Department of Environment (DOE) for the human environment has stated.

Preparing national document on ecotourism ‘necessary’: official

TEHRAN – It is necessary to prepare a national document and provide the legal infrastructure for expanding educational and cultural activities to develop ecotourism in the country, the director of the Natural History Museum and Genetic Resources of the Department of Environment, has said.

Iranian university grants scholarships to Afghan girls

TEHRAN – Al-Zahra University in Tehran has approved granting scholarships to 50 graduates of an Afghan girls’ high school, which was targeted by a terrorist bomb attack on May 9.

Spicogen vaccine to begin human testing in Iran

TEHRAN – The second and third phases of clinical studies of the Iranian-Australian Spicogen vaccine for coronavirus will be performed in Iran, Iranian Food and Drug Administration spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said.

COVID-19 inoculation to rollout by homegrown vaccine this week

TEHRAN – Health Minister Saeed Namaki announced that immunization against coronavirus by the domestic vaccine (COVIRAN BAREKAT) will start by the next week, ISNA reported on Monday.