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Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour sentenced to over 3.8 years behind bars for ‘propagation against Establishment’

Shervin Hajipour

He has also been banned from leaving the country for two years and ordered to produce music about the United States’ crimes against humanity and read books such as “The System of Women’s Rights in Islam.”

Hajipour rose to fame after the release of his single ‘Baraye’ (for the sake of) which has been described as ‘the anthem’ of the Mahsa Amini protests and deadly riots in Iran.
In 2023, he won the first Grammy Award for Best Song for Social Change at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for ‘Baraye.’

The death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022 set off a wave of Western-backed street protests aimed at triggering unrest in Iran and pushing the so-called ‘regime change’ agenda.

Many protesters and security forces were killed in the unrest.

Iranian officials say, the Western-provoked move was part of the hybrid war against the Islamic Republic, involving massive disinformation campaigns and political pressure in coordination with local and foreign terrorist and separatist groups as well as thugs on the streets.

French leader stands by remarks about sending troops to Ukraine

Russia Ukraine War

Macron swept aside the barrage of criticism he has faced in France and on the international stage and insisted his statements on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine were carefully thought out.

“These are sufficiently serious issues; every one of the words that I say on this issue is weighed, thought through and measured,” Macron told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the 2024 Olympic village near Paris. But he refused to answer any further questions on the topic.

On Monday, Macron said — after a leaders’ conference on support for Kyiv — that there was “no consensus” on sending ground troops to Ukraine in an “official manner”, but that “nothing was excluded”.

The prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine was rejected by other NATO members, including the U.S., U.K. and Germany, and sharply criticized by French opposition parties, but not dismissed by Estonia and Lithuania. French officials also downplayed Macron’s comments, pointing to activities such as demining and arms production which might involved a Western presence in Ukraine.

The speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament even warned Macron against sending troops to Ukraine, saying they would meet the same fate as Napoleon’s army.

Iranian couples hold wedding ceremonies in polling stations

Iran Election

Another newly-wed couple also cast their votes at a landmark polling station in the capital, Tehran.

The polls began on Friday morning and will continue until the end of the day.

Russia claims UK ‘directly involved’ in Ukraine conflict

Russia Ukraine War

The outlet RTVI asked Peskov to comment a report from The Times which claimed that Admiral Tony Radakin, the head of the UK armed forces, has helped make “battle plans” for Ukraine.

“In general, it’s no secret that the British really provide different forms of support [to Ukraine]. People on the ground and intelligence and so on and so forth,” Peskov said.

“That is, they are actually directly involved in this conflict.”

According to the British outlet, citing a Ukrainian military source, Radakin “is understood to have helped the Ukrainians with the strategy to destroy Russian ships and open up the Black Sea”, and seen as “invaluable in coordinating support from other senior chiefs in NATO”.

The admiral also reportedly visited Kiev and met with President Vladimir Zelensky, to discuss Ukraine’s strategy and the ways in which the West could help.

The Kremlin doesn’t have specific information related to Radakin, but “probably our military knows about this”, Peskov added.

Radakin, 58, was due to retire in November after three years as chief of the defense staff, but will stay on the job for another year at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s request, the Times reported. One source told the outlet that the British government considered it important to retain “continuity” ahead of the upcoming general election.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this week inadvertently confirmed the presence of UK troops on the ground in Ukraine, noting that British fire control operators were directing Storm Shadow cruise missiles. A British lawmaker subsequently denounced Scholz’s comments as “a flagrant abuse of intelligence” that put UK personnel in danger and gave Russia a pretext to escalate.

Polls open across Iran in parliamentary, Assembly of Experts elections

Iran Election

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballots as soon as polls opened on Friday morning.

“I emphasize today what I also said in previous elections. Take this opportunity as soon as possible. And go cast your ballots in the very early hours as soon as possible,” said the Leader after he cast his vote.

“My second recommendation is that vote for as many candidates as designated for each constituency. Don’t vote for fewer candidates,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

“Today, many people around the world, including the general public and politicians as well as well-known political and national figures, have set their eyes on Iran. They have set their eyes on you. They want to see how you will do in these elections and what the outcome of these elections will be; both our friends and those who like the Iranian nation, and ill-wishers alike,” Ayatollah Khamenei explained.

“Make our friends happy and disappoint the ill-wishers,” said the Leader.

“My final recommendation is ‘Do not hesitate to do good deeds’,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

As many as 290 parliamentary seats are up for grabs in 208 constituencies, and 144 candidates are also running for 88 seats at the Assembly of Experts whose task is to elect the Leader and monitor his performance.

Yemen’s Houthis promise ‘military surprises’ in Red Sea operations

Houthi Leader

“Our military operations will continue and advance and we have surprises that our enemies will not expect at all,” al-Houthi said in a televised speech on Thursday.

Yemeni forces have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against Israeli and Israel-bound ships since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s war on Gaza.

Al-Houthi stated 54 ships have been targeted in Yemeni operations in support of Gaza so far, adding rarely does any ship associated with the Israeli enemy pass through Bab al-Mandab.

“We have launched 384 missiles and drones at the ships that were moving towards the occupying regime in the Red Sea.”

The United States and Britain began striking Yemen last month in order to dissuade the country from targeting Israeli ships which carry arms and logistics for the onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Al-Houthi said the Americans and the British have received “painful blows” from the Yemeni armed forces in retaliation.

“The American and British attacks have not affected our military power in any way. On the contrary, the process of increasing and expanding our attacks continues.”

“The Americans are now admitting their failure to achieve their aggressive goals against our country and are surprised by our strength,” he added.

Al-Houthi said what insures the navigation security in the Red Sea is for any country not to participate in the Israeli aggression against Gaza.

He said the Americans and those who drag the United States towards the militarization of the Red Sea are the ones who undermine international navigation.

Al-Houthi also criticized the silence of the regional countries on the “crimes committed by the Zionists against the Palestinians”.

He added if Muslims and Arabs helped the people of Gaza, “these people could finish off the enemy in the war fronts”.

“Why is the Islamic Ummah’s level of support for the Palestinian people not the same as that of the United States and the West for the Zionist enemy?” he asked.

Arab countries, al-Houthi stressed, cannot shirk their responsibility, “because this has serious consequences for them”.

“Genocide and heinous crimes in Palestine reveal the truth of Zionists’ hatred of Muslims, especially Arabs. The Arabs are the first to be targeted by the Zionist Jews and they should act quickly… unfortunately, among the Arabs, they are very indifferent to the conspiracies against them.”

Al-Houthi also added most Arab-Islamic countries have not done anything about the Israeli threat to the Islamic Ummah, adding “Iran was the first country to support Palestine against the Zionist enemy”.

The Islamic Ummah, he said, should wake up from its slumber and fulfill its responsibilities with wisdom and insight.

“The Islamic Ummah should learn from the resistance of Iraq, which defeated America. The Ummah should learn from the efficiency and effectiveness of the Yemen front, which even the enemy has admitted.”

Al-Houthi also touched on the developments in southern Lebanon and the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel on the northern borders of the occupied Palestinian territories.

“The south Lebanon front has proven its efficiency with the operations of Hezbollah which has scored many victories. The war and conflict continues, and its real consequences will be the despair of the enemies and their inevitable defeat,” he said.

Al-Houthi added the Americans have lent enormous support to Israel in its war on Gaza, and they are the ones who have prevented a ceasefire despite widespread international demands.

“The behavior of Western countries, especially America, is in complete contradiction with their slogans about human rights.”

Al-Houthi stated the dimensions of Israeli crimes, in which the US is directly involved, is beyond any imagination and breaks all taboos.

“The West makes contradictory decisions about human rights, and the aggression against Gaza proves the truth of this claim. America’s decisions about humanity and human rights are the most contradictory,” he continued.

The Houthi leader said Israel has failed in forcing the Palestinian to migrate from Gaza despite killing, destroying and starving the people.

“The occupying regime has also failed miserably in eliminating Gaza fighters and returning its captives despite the massive support of the Americans.

“Although five months have passed since the invasion and siege of Gaza, the resistance fighters in Gaza are fighting bravely and effectively against the enemy,” he continued, adding the “occupiers have committed 2,735 massacres in the genocidal war targeting civilians in Gaza, including the latest massacre on al-Rashid Street”.

“As a result of the aggression in Gaza, there are more than 100 thousand martyrs, wounded, missing and prisoners.”

He touched on the outbreak of infectious diseases in Gaza, saying they have infected about one third of the population of the besieged strip.

Most of the children in Gaza suffer from hunger and disease, with the occupiers continuing to deprive them of food and intensify the siege, he added.

According to al-Houthi, the aid allowed to Gaza does not meet 5% of the population’s needs, while trucks are prevented from entering the Gaza Strip.

“The occupying regime continues the hunger war in Palestine, which has led to the death of some children who were forced to eat animal feed instead of flour due to starvation.”

“All the people of Gaza are going through a real tragedy, and what is happening in the north of the Gaza Strip is beyond a disaster,” he said.

Nevertheless, the people of Gaza and their resistance are steadfast in spite of the support of the West for Israel and the despair of the Arabs, and according to the occupiers, they have dealt significant damage to Israel, al-Houthi noted.

Pentagon chief admits 25k Palestinian women and children killed in Gaza

Gaza War

The statement came as an answer to a question from Congressman Ro Khanna in a hearing called, “A Review of Defense Secretary Austin’s Unannounced Absense”, by the House Armed Services Committee.

The hearing focused on the extended delay in Austin informing both legislators and President Joe Biden of his whereabouts after being admitted to hospital for treatment of prostate cancer in December.

“About how many Palestinian women and children have been killed by Israel since October 7th?” Khanna asked.

“It’s over 25,000,” Austin responded.

Khanna then quoted UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, saying that any transfer of any weapons or ammunition to Israel violates international law and asked Austin how many transfers of precision-guided munitions the US had sent to Israel since the beginning of the war.

“I don’t have that number at my fingertips,” Austin began, when he was cut off by Khanna saying, “It’s about 21,000 precision-guided munitions.”

In response to a question regarding the measures Israel is implementing to safeguard civilians, Austin stated that “based upon the results and the significant loss of life, there’s more that should be done”.

The number mentioned by the US defence secretary seems to greatly exceed the casualty figures previously released by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

The overall death count has just surpassed 30,000, while at least 7,000 are still missing, according to the health ministry.

Although a detailed breakdown has not been provided, the health ministry has indicated in recent weeks that approximately 70 percent of the fatalities are women and children.

Based on Austin’s comments, it appears that over 80 percent of the casualties in Gaza are women and children.

Deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement: “The Secretary’s answer was citing an estimate from the Hamas-controlled health ministry that more than 25,000 total Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. We cannot independently verify these Gaza casualty figures.”

This comes on Thursday when the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that an attack by Israeli forces on an aid convoy in Gaza City’s al-Rasheed Street resulted in at least 100 Palestinian deaths and injuries to hundreds more, describing the event as a “massacre”.

In Gaza City, residents had assembled in search of food, as Israeli soldiers had entirely blocked access to aid in the area.

Non-governmental organisations and United Nations experts have expressed concerns over a potential famine in northern Gaza, with incidents of starvation reported, affecting individuals of all ages, including infants.

Germany prepared Russia-NATO conflict scenario: Report

NATO

Bild has claimed to have obtained a 13-page risk analysis for civil defense supposedly prepared for the German parliament.

Germany would be among the top targets in the event of a Russian attack on NATO, according to the newspaper, with officials allegedly deeming such a risk “plausible”.

The first phase of a strike by Moscow would purportedly involve a disinformation campaign aimed at dividing the German population and destabilizing society. In addition, Russia would supposedly conduct cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

According to Bild, the Kremlin would then deploy troops to the border with NATO – a move mirrored by the US-led military bloc. Cyberattacks and sabotage on German soil would take place in parallel to this, with satellites also targeted, it claimed.

Phase three would entail “selective attacks with conventional weapons and non-conventional means, also on targets on the territory of Germany”, the media outlet alleged.

The peak of the hypothetical Russian invasion would see “hostilities on land, at sea as well as in the air on German territory”, with the conflict taking on a global scale, it was predicted.

The article further alleged that the German government has not ruled out the use of chemical and nuclear weapons by Russia.

The claims follow a Bild report last month in which it described a month-by-month outline of a possible “path to conflict” between NATO and Russia, alleging that Moscow could launch an “open attack” in 2025.

Commenting on the report at the time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Bild “doesn’t shy away from publishing various hoaxes”.

In recent months, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has on several occasions predicted that Russia could attack NATO in five to eight years’ time.

In January, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom called on his compatriots to prepare for a potential military confrontation between NATO and Russia. Elsewhere, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has also predicted a global conflict between the West and Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea within five years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted in December that Moscow “has no interest… geopolitically, economically or militarily… in waging war against NATO”.

30k Israeli soldiers treated for mental health since start of war in Gaza: Report

Israel Army

A military statement said that around 85% of the soldiers who sought psychological treatment had returned to active duty.

“Around 200 soldiers were discharged from the army due to the psychological problems they suffered” from the war, it added.

The Israeli army’s Medical Corps plans to inaugurate a new mental health center for soldiers, amid fears of troops developing post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the Gaza war.

The new mental health center will include a clinic to treat PTSD among troops, the army said.

On Feb. 2, Yekhiel Levechitz, the head of the army’s clinical department for mental illnesses, stated around 3,000 soldiers had been examined by mental health experts since Oct. 7.

Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and injured over 70,000 with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Iran successfully receives signal from groundbreaking Pars 1 satellite

Iran Pars 1 satellite

Spearheaded by the Iranian Space Research Institute, the Pars 1 satellite’s design, construction, assembly, and testing have paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in space research.

Weighing 134 kg, Pars 1 is part of a series of research-measurement satellites with a focus on functional imaging, advancing the domestic measurement data market, and testing essential technologies for indigenous operational measurement satellites.

Equipped with three imaging cameras capturing ground resources in visible, short-wave infrared, and thermal infrared spectral ranges, Pars 1 boasts impressive capabilities.

The color spectrum and short-wave infrared camera can cover 95% of Iran’s lands in under 100 days, while the thermal infrared camera, operational at night, achieves imaging of the entire territory in less than 45 days.

Pars 1’s missions go beyond imaging, encompassing solar panel mechanism tests, orbit correction with cold gas propulsion, independent position determination without GPS, power management tests, and dosimetry for measuring spacial radiation.

The satellite introduces advanced technologies such as telecommunications links in various frequency bands, positioning sensors, star sensors, magnetometer sensors, and gyroscope sensors.