Science and Technology

Al-Arabia – Iran on Wednesday announced temporary travel restrictions on five major cities including Tehran as the country hit new single-day records in both Covid-19 deaths and new infections. Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section. As well as the capital, the measures include banning travel to and from Karaj, Mashhad, Isfahan and Urmia, the health ministry’s Kianoush Jahanpour …

theguardian.com – Iran, the crucible of coronavirus in the Middle East, smashed two grim records this week, reporting its largest number of deaths in a single 24 hours since the outbreak started in March, and the largest number of new infections. Iranian health officials openly admit Iran is deep into its third, and biggest, wave of the disease, and evidence suggests an …

RFL/RE – Internet freedom has declined for the 10th consecutive year as governments around the world are using the coronavirus pandemic as a “cover” to expand online surveillance, crack down on dissent, and build new technological systems to control society, Freedom House says in a new report. The Washington-based human rights watchdog’s annual Freedom Of The Net report, released on …

Al-Arabia – Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, a top economist and adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, said he has tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. Nobakht, an Iranian vice president and the head of the country’s Planning and Budget Organization, tweeted that his overall health is “favorable,” but added that he is currently hospitalized for further examination. Coronavirus has infected and …

Al-Monitor – The US government seized the domains of 92 websites allegedly operated by the Iranian government, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. The websites were hosted by US companies and spread disinformation to American and international audiences, according to the department. “Iran cannot be allowed to hide behind fake news sites,” said David Anderson, the US attorney for the Northern District …

Twitter said this week that it has removed accounts purportedly originating in Iran that sought to influence the US presidential election. Other social media giants have also taken action recently against Iranian information operations. Twitter announced Wednesday that it had removed around 130 accounts Tuesday night from its platform that “appeared to originate in Iran.” The information on the accounts …

Radiofarda – Reporters Without Borders called on Iran on Thursday to halt discussions on an “anti-liberty” parliamentary motion that would restrict social media. The organization, which internationally advocates for free media, said that the motion, entitled “Organizing Social Media,” was presented to the presidium of Iran’s Majlis parliament and is set to be delivered to its floor after being approved …

VOA – The U.S. Department of Justice has announced criminal charges against three Iranian men for their alleged participation in state-sponsored identity theft and hacking by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization.  The men are all residents and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, U.S. authorities said Thursday in a press release. Officials also say the …

RFL/RE – The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against an Iranian hacking group, a front company, and more than 45 individuals accused of carrying out a years-long campaign targeting Iranian dissidents, journalists, and international travel companies on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The September 17 announcement said that the ministry used the hacking group, Advanced …

Radiozamaneh – Since the US reinstated economic sanctions on Iran it has been next to impossible for European companies to maintain trade relations with Tehran. Import as well as export to the Islamic Republic has plummeted according to Eurostat and the transfer of money in or out of Iran has practically stopped. After a lot of head scratching European leaders …