Science and Technology

Al-monitor – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s reasoning for not appointing any female ministers to his Cabinet — as he had promised he would in the May presidential election — has prompted a backlash from his supporters. AUTHOR Al-Monitor Staff On Aug. 15, the moderate Rouhani defended his proposed list of ministers to members of parliament and tried to persuade them to vote in favor of his Cabinet. “I will tell all the ministers …

RFL/RE – Iran’s parliament has ended the death penalty for certain drug violations, raising the thresholds that can trigger capital punishment in a move that could prevent thousands from being executed. The long-awaited amendment to drug trafficking laws was approved on August 13 after months of debate and must still be ratified by the powerful clerical body, the Guardians Council, and …

PayvandNews – Tehran metro line 6 is among the four finalists at International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA) Tunneling Awards 2017 in the category of ‘major project of the year’. Tehran metro line 6 is vying against three other major project of Confederation LRT Line in Canada, Delhi Metro Phase 3 Expansion of networks, and Qatar Rail Metro. The winner will receive …

VOA – Iran successfully launched a satellite-carrying rocket into space on Thursday, the country’s state media reported without elaborating. Iranian state television described the launch as involving a “Simorgh” rocket that is capable of carrying a satellite weighing 250 kilograms (550 pounds). The state media report did not elaborate on the rocket’s payload. “Simorgh” means “phoenix” in Farsi. The website YJC.ir, …

PayvandNews – Iranian teams managed to scoop 16 titles in the biggest and most reputable robotic competitions in the world held this year in Japan’s Nagoya from 27 to 31 July.  After four days of intense competitions, Iranian robotic teams managed to win 16 titles in Japan’s RoboCup 2017 in the two junior and adult categories. Adult category In Rescue Simulation …

Amnesty – Iranian lawmakers must not miss a historic opportunity to reject the use of the death penalty for drug-related offences and save the lives of thousands of people across the country, said Amnesty International and Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation today. In the coming weeks, Iran’s parliament is expected to vote on a bill that amends Iran’s anti-narcotics law, but fails to …

PayvandNews – Young Iranian physicists have won two gold and three silver medals in the 48th round of International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2017) held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Iranian team consisted of Alireza Darvishi and Amin Ravanbakhsh, who won the gold medal, and Seyyed Arshia Razavi, Seyyed Alireza Mousavi Hosseini, and Erfan Abbasgholinezhad, each receiving a silver medal in the international …

PayvandNews – Two teams of Iranian students won several medals in the 49th International Chemistry Olympiad and the 58th International Mathematical Olympiad, which were held in Thailand in Brazil respectively in recent days. Iran ranked third in the chemistry Olympiad, which was held from July 6 to 15 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, ISNA reported. The event hosted 297 students from 76 …

CHRI – President Hassan Rouhani’s Telecommunications Minister Mahmoud Vaezi has refuted criticism that he has been unwilling to block online content deemed immoral by state authorities and has pledged to “get rid of” foreign-based social media networks despite previous failed attempts. At the same time, the minister admitted that some of the demands being made of him by state officials outside the …

PayvandNews – Twenty Iranian and 22 European universities have signed an agreement to continue cooperation in the area of higher education, an Iranian deputy minister of science, research and technology says. Peace Dove (artwork by Fatemeh Madani, Iranian daily Ghanoon) Hossein Salar Amoli, deputy minister of science, research and technology for international affairs, added that a large science and technology delegation from …