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

Iranwire – In our “Did You Know?” series of articles, IranWire collects, analyses and compares reliable data to produce illuminating infographics on current events in Iran. *** Did you know that the government’s draft budget plan for the next Persian year starting in March allocates 1 1/2 time more resources to religious seminaries than to the Iranian Red Crescent Society? …

Iranwire – Imprisoned Iranian civil rights activist Farhad Meysami vowed to continue his hunger strike, a fellow activist says, days after pictures emerged on social media showing him emaciated, with his ribs protruding. The shocking photos triggered outrage and warnings that Meysami risks death. “In a phone call, he thanked those expressing concerns and urging him to end his strike …

VOA —Iran-based singer Shervin Hajipour’s Grammy Award for a song he produced last year in honor of Iran’s peaceful protest movement against Islamist rule has prompted an outpouring of positive reactions from Iranian social media users. U.S. first lady Jill Biden announced Hajipour’s win of the U.S. Recording Academy’s first-ever Song for Social Change Special Merit Award at Sunday’s annual …

RFL/RE – Russia and Iran are moving forward on plans to establish a factory in Russia aimed at producing some 6,000 Iran-designed drones of the type Moscow has used in the Ukraine war, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited officials in a U.S.-aligned country. Moscow and Tehran seek to produce a faster drone to better challenge Ukrainian air defenses, …

RFL/RE – Iranian authorities have detained a journalist at a reformist publication, local media reported on February 5, as her sister, also a journalist, remains in custody after reporting on Mahsa Amini’s death. Elnaz Mohammadi, a reporter for reformist newspaper Hammihan, was detained at the Evin prosecutor’s office in Tehran after she had gone there “for an explanation,” reported Shargh, …