Secretary of Biotechnology Development Headquarters of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology Mostafa Ghanei said that Islamic Republic of Iran is among top five countries in Asia in the field of biotechnology.

Turning to the eye-catching progresses and developments of the country in the field of biotechnology, he reiterated, “Islamic Republic of Iran is among top five Asian countries in the biotechnology field.”

He made the remarks on Sun. in the inaugural ceremony of 3rd International Biotechnology Conference, held at the venue of Razi Intl. Conferences Hall, and added, “Iran stands at the second rank in Asia in terms of production of biotechnological medicines in a way that the country has so far produced 22 medicines in this field.”

Ghanei pointed to the production of vaccine for poultry and aquatic animals and added, “production of vaccine for poultry and aquatic animals has started in cooperation with the private sector, some of which have hit the market.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to the 3rd Intl. Conference and 11th National Biotechnology Conference, which will be held at Razi Intl. Conference Hall on Sept. 1-3, and added, “the Conference will focus on knowledge-based and entrepreneurship topics.” /MNA/

A system working under Iran’s domestic cybersecurity project ‘Dejfa’ has identified 19 million cyberattacks against Iran from 24 countries since its launch in May, according to a report.

In May 2019, Iranian ICT Ministry unveiled a cybersecurity project codenamed Digital Fortress (Dejfa in Persian) to shield the country from increasing cyber threats targeting Iran’s infrastructure and online businesses.

A report published on Sunday detailed the performance of four systems working under Dejfa since the cybersecurity project was launched in May.

“Dejfa Teleware System” has identified 19 million cyberattacks against Iran from 24 countries. 10 million attacks were launched from inside Iran.

“Kavoshgar System” has analyzed 3,000 suspicious files and evaluated 140 applications. The system issued warning on 322 cases, and contacted vulnerable sections on 2,550 other cases.

“Dana System” with a nationwide coverage of the country’s IP addresses, has identified 20,000 vulnerable facilities inside the country.

“Detection and Countering System” has identified 39 million cyberattacks, suspicious or illegal activities. The system has also identified 18,000 malware.

According to Deputy ICT Minsiter Hamid Fattahi, Dejfa has improved monitoring and detection of cyberthreats by 200 percent. / MNA/

“Child Eater” by Iranian director Mohammad Kart has won the HCA award, the grand prix of the OFF – Odense International Film Festival in Denmark, the organizers have announced.

“Child Eater”, also known as “Pedovore”, is about a teenage boy laborer who falls in love with a teenage girl.

It was picked as best short film at the Iran Cinema Celebration last year.“Fun Factory”, a co-production between Norwegian-German co-directed by Lisa Brooke Hansen and Even Hafnor won the OFF Storyteller Award.

The OFF Artist Award went to “Nursery Rhymes” by Tom Noakes from Australia.The OFF – Odense International Film Festival OFF, which is an Oscar-qualifying short film event, took place in Odense from August 26 to September 1. / Tehran times /

Iran national wheelchair basketball team won the 2019 World Challenge Cup in Tokyo, Japan.Team Melli defeated Australia 84-58 in the final match.Iran had already defeated Australia 75-62 in the tournament.The Persians also beat South Korea 76-59 and lost to hosts Japan 63-57 in the event.

The World Challenge Cup took place for the third year in Tokyo, Japan.Organized by the Japanese Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the tournament is aimed not only to assist in strengthening the men’s national team but held for the purpose to prepare the teams for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

An expansion of the movement of wheelchair basketball, such as increasing the level of international referees, table officials and managing scores and time, training of competition volunteers.

It is an international convention that is also positioned as an opportunity for the local residents including children to participate in the Paralympics interests, to activate local communities and legacy, including overseas teams participating in the competition and experiencing during pre-camping in neighboring municipalities. / Tehran times /

Iranian feature “Douch”, directed by Amir Mashhadi Abbas, has made it into the competition program of 10th DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival in Ukraine.

In its second international screening, Iranian feature “Douch”, directed by Amir Mashhadi Abbas, will take part at the competition section of the 10th DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival in Ukraine.

The film will compete with 15 other titles from Germany, Belarus, Singapore, Estonia, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, Finland and Uzbekistan.

“Douch” narrates the story of a ten-year-old boy, Gholamreza, who is looking for money to replace his old bicycle. During his pursuit, he comes upon a contest that promises enough money for a new bicycle if he can manage to teach an illiterate person in the village how to read and write. Gholam decides to take part in the contest, and his pupil is a grouchy 90-year-old woman with really poor eyesight and hearing, who does not want to learn anything.

The film had previously taken part at the 59th Zlin International Festival for Children and Youth in the Czech Republic.

Founded in 2009, DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival brings together creative children and young people from different countries to the First Capital of Ukraine.

The 10th edition of the event will be held in Kharkiv on 4-7 September 2019. / MNA/

Iran’s vice president for science and technology says Tehran now sits among the world’s top technological cities, thanks to the tireless efforts by the city’s knowledge-based companies and academic institutes.

“Tehran has been ranked among the 50 top technological cities of the world for the second year,” Sorena Sattari said at the 17th festival of Best Companies of Pardis Technology Park on Saturday.

“This is a result of the abundant universities and research and scientific centers in the city,” he added.

Sattari noted that Tehran’s considerable human resources, along with its immense academic potentials, grant the sprawling capital a unique opportunity to develop its innovative plans.

This is of great significance since the knowledge-based sector can greatly contribute to oiling the wheels of the economy, he said.

The 17 festival of Best Companies of Pardis Technology Park is held annually to highlight the best businesses and products developed at Tehran’s first technology park, which is located 30 km east of the capital.

The park has a stellar record and has signed collaboration deals with academia to help promote the technology sector.

Selected companies picked by a panel of industry heads will be offered meetings with investors and awarded incentives to boost their potential.

Pardis Technology Park created a decade ago, is supervised by the Vice-Presidency’s Office for Science and Technology.

Tehran currently has 21 operational technology parks across the city affiliated to universities like Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran University, and Amir Kabir University. /MNA/

Foreign arrivals in the northern province of Gilan has increased by 10 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21), from the corresponding period a year earlier.

About 26,000 foreign tourists stayed in resorts and hotels of Gilan since the beginning of the current Iranian year until August 22nd, showing a ten-percent rise year on year, provincial tourism chief Shahroud Amirentekhabi said, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Bounded by the Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the north, Gilan, in the far past, was within the sphere of influence of the successive Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid empires that ruled Iran until the 7th century CE.

Gilan is divided into a coastal plain including the large delta of Sefid Rud and adjacent parts of the Alborz mountain range. Paddy cultivation dominates the region. Tobacco, fruits, vegetables, and tea (grown in the foothills above the rice fields) are also being cultivated in the lush region.

The Islamic Republic welcomed 2,030,523 foreign nationals during the spring that shows a 40.66-percent increase year on year, according to data provided by the tourism ministry.

/ Tehran times/

Iran made history on Monday by claiming the bronze medal of 2019 West Asia Championship Women Basketball which was the team’s first medal in an international event after the Revolution.

In the third-place playoff match against Jordan in Amman, the Iranian team gained a 71-52 victory to write its name in the history book. Edna Issaeian led the Iranian team with 24 points and 18 rebounds.

The team which participated in the competition with Islamic dress code had gained one victory over Jordan (70-62) and conceded two defeats against Lebanon (88-75) and Syria (68-61) in the preliminary round.

It should be noted that the permit to attend international events while observing the Islamic dress code was granted to Iranian women basketball teams some two years ago. / MNA/