Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.

RFL/RE – Iran has launched a rocket carrying three satellites, Iranian state television reported on December 30. It was unclear exactly when the reported launch took place, what kind of launcher was used, or whether any objects had successfully entered Earth’s orbit. Independent satellite images of Iran taken earlier this month seemed to show that a launch was imminent, AP …

VOA – With Iraq’s October parliamentary election results now ratified, political parties are negotiating the composition of the country’s next government. Observers say they see alliances between different groups changing, not based on ideology but on narrow political interests. The central focus now is on who will become Iraq’s next prime minister as the country struggles over its future direction. …

Iran-HRM – Iran’s football federation threw its weight behind former national team captain Mehdi Mahdavikia Wednesday after he faced criticism for wearing a jersey bearing an Israeli flag during a friendly game. “He is one of the greats of Iranian football” and “a symbol of pride for the Islamic Republic of Iran”, secretary-general Hassan Kamranifar said in a statement on …

Iran-HRM – While rents in Tehran and its suburbs have risen by more than 50 percent, according to the central bank, official reports from the capital suggest that some people are forced to sleep in high-speed buses at nights. According to state-run Tejarat News website, homeless Iranian men have taken to sleeping in Tehran buses for 12-25k tomans (under$1) a …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s national airline banned today travelers coming to Iran via four European countries.  IranAir said it will not receive non-Iranian citizen passengers coming from the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Denmark, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.  The ruling refers to travelers coming to Iran via the banned countries — not necessarily citizens of the countries. Iranian citizens are …