Environment

Al-Monitor – Much of the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz remains inundated by floodwater after being struck with nearly four hours of heavy downpours earlier this week. The Shahrvand newspaper said rain of up to 80 millimeters (3.1 inches) Dec. 17 thrust the city in a state of lockdown, disrupting nearly all public services and prompting a closure of schools, banks and the city’s …

Radiofarda – A blackout caused by lightning and the failure of the hospital’s emergency power system claimed the lives of four elderly women in the intensive care unit of Khomeini hospital of Ahwaz, the capital of the oil-rich Khuzestan Province. The women had been hospitalized for respiratory problems caused by air pollution, another problem the province has been plagued with. …

Radiofarda – Referring to the unprecedented air pollution in the past few days the Mayor of Tehran on Tuesday said the capital would have had to be evacuated if it had not rained last night. Speaking at a meeting of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Pirouz Hanachi said the average concentration of hazardous airborne particles hit 200 micrograms per …

RFL/RE – Heavy smog has caused Tehran officials to order the closure of dozens of schools and suspend outdoor sporting activities in the Iranian capital. The decision to shut schools was announced December 14 by deputy governor Mohammad Taghizadeh, after a meeting of an emergency committee on air pollution. Schools will also close on December 16, Taghizadeh said in an …

CHRI – Detainees Punished for Complaining That They Were Forced to Make False Statements, Says Lawyer Iranian authorities are refusing to transfer imprisoned conservationist Sam Rajabi to the hospital to treat a serious medical condition, and are continuing to hold three of his colleagues in solitary confinement without legal justification, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned. “It appears …

PayvandNews – Two Asiatic cheetahs, kept in captivity at Tehran’s Pardisan Park, have reached the bitter end because they have lost their ability to regenerate and should be returned to nature.  Female Asiatic cheetah, Delbar, and the male one, Kushki have lived in the capital for the past few years. Female Asiatic cheetah Delbar In 2015, the female Asiatic cheetah …

Radiofarda -Tehran Mayor on Sunday said results of the investigation to find the source a foul odor periodically plaguing various areas of the capital since January have been sent to the Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization. In an interview with the state-run television (IRIB) last night the mayor Pirouz Hanachi said there is still no definite answer about the source …

PayvandNews – Asiatic cheetah, the planet’s fastest mammal, are facing extinction as their population has dramatically shrank to less than 7,000 in the world over the past few years, with a small remaining population in Iran. internationalcheetahday.com Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have long, slender bodies covered with unique black spots scattered across their tan coats. The name cheetah comes from the …

rferl.org – Schools and universities have been shut in parts of Iran including the capital, Tehran, due to high levels of pollution, state media report. The decision to shut schools and universities in the capital on November 30 was announced late on November 29 by Deputy Governor Mohammad Taghizadeh, after a meeting of an emergency committee for air pollution. “Due …

Radiofarda – An Iranian official has confirmed a major leak off an oil rig near Kharq Island in the Persian Gulf and said considering the spread of the contamination more equipment and reinforcement is required for the clean-up operation. The leak started at least a week ago but neither the Iranian Oil Ministry nor the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) …