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

CHRI – Websites affiliated with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were blocked in Iran and the country’s most widely used state-approved video-sharing site barred users from accessing Ahmadinejad-related content after the politician criticized state officials in a recent speech. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has also learned that Parsijoo, a domestically created Iranian search engine, is redirecting users …

Al-Monitor – Saudi Arabia attracted significant media attention when it announced that it would finally allow women to drive as of June 2018. It was also announced later that women will be allowed into some of the country’s sports stadiums next year. Many have since drawn comparisons between Saudi Arabia and Iran, where women have long been allowed to drive …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran is seeking to solve regional problems through negotiation and not confrontation. In a live interview with Iran’s state TV on Nov. 28, besides domestic issues, Rouhani addressed the crises in the region and other foreign policy matters. In a reference to Tehran-Riyadh ties, Rouhani said, “We have improved relations with [most] countries …

Al-Monitor – The international governing body of soccer, FIFA, does not grant any individual or legal entity the right to control more than one member club at the same time. However, this rule has often been ignored in Iran, where two of the capital’s most prominent soccer clubs, Esteghlal and Persepolis, are owned by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and …

ABC – In a square in a poor eastern Tehran neighborhood known for its drug addicts and dealers, psychologist Atefeh Azimi draws another drop of blood from a worried passer-by’s finger. She works on a nearby bench, where a sign next to her in English and in Farsi urges the public to receive free voluntary counseling and HIV testing. But …