📰 What’s next for Iran’s terror army, the IRGC, after devastating military setbacks?
The article discusses the evolution and current challenges facing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Initially formed as a revolutionary militia, the IRGC has grown into a powerful and feared force within Iran, with close ties to the clerical elite. Recent military setbacks, including strikes by the U.S. and Israel, have raised questions about the IRGC’s future. Experts like Dr. Afshon Ostovar and Behnam Ben Taleblu highlight the origins of the IRGC, its role in preserving the regime’s values through violence, and its deep mistrust of Iran’s traditional military. The IRGC’s regional influence has been significantly weakened by strategic defeats, leading to a potential shift towards domestic repression and reliance on China and Russia for military capabilities. Despite these challenges, the IRGC is unlikely to turn against the regime, with a focus on maintaining power through a combination of ideology and material interests. The future of Iran and the IRGC may involve increased domestic repression, potential generational shifts within the organization, and differing visions for the country’s direction, ranging from isolationism to normalization and growth.
📰 Tearful Kim Jong Un seen mourning North Korean troops killed fighting for Russia in war against Ukraine
The article reports on footage showing North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un mourning over the coffin of North Korean troops allegedly killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The footage, aired on state media, showed Kim placing a North Korean flag on a casket during a cultural performance at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater. Kim was joined by Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and the broadcast included images of North Korean soldiers with Russian troops and a bloodstained notebook recovered from the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region. The notebook contained a message referencing Kim as the Supreme Commander. Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova was also present at the ceremony, seen wiping away tears, along with others in the audience. Analysts suggest the images were meant to shape a “victory narrative” following joint operations in Ukraine.
📰 Danish national wanted in Germany arrested after allegedly spying on Jewish targets for Iran
A Danish national named Ali S. was arrested in Denmark for allegedly gathering information on Jewish locations and individuals in Berlin for Iranian intelligence. German and Danish authorities announced the arrest, with German prosecutors stating that the suspect was directed by an Iranian intelligence service to spy on Jewish sites in Berlin, potentially for planning terrorist attacks. The Iranian Embassy in Berlin denied the allegations, calling them unfounded and accused third parties of trying to divert public attention. German security authorities increased protection for Jewish and Israeli sites following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran. Ali S. will be extradited to Germany and face an investigating judge of Germany’s Federal Court of Justice after being remanded in custody until July 23.
📰 Siberian Jesus’ sentenced to Russian prison after harming followers in bizarre cult
Sergei Torop, also known as “Vissarion,” a Siberian cult leader claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison camp for harming his followers physically and financially. Along with two aides, Torop used psychological pressure to extract money from followers and cause harm to their mental and physical health. The Church of the Last Testament, founded by Torop in 1991, attracted thousands of followers who lived in a settlement called the “Abode of Dawn” or “Sun City.” Torop instructed his followers to avoid meat, alcohol, smoking, swearing, and money usage. Torop and his aides were arrested in 2020 and convicted in Novosibirsk, with Torop and one aide sentenced to 12 years and the other to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp.
📰 Twenty dead bodies discovered in Mexico, including corpses hanging from bridge
Mexican authorities found 20 dead bodies, including five decapitated, in Culiacan, a city plagued by cartels. Four decapitated bodies were hung from a bridge, with their heads found nearby. On the same day, 16 more bodies with gunshot wounds were discovered in a van, one decapitated. The violence is attributed to a war between rival drug trafficking groups in the Sinaloa cartel. The U.S. government has taken a new approach, using terrorism charges against drug cartels, including imposing sanctions on Los Chapitos for fentanyl trafficking. The chaos has led to hundreds of animals fleeing a wildlife refuge, and residents feel authorities have lost control of the situation. Military and police forces are working to restore peace in Sinaloa, where violence has escalated, including the recent killing of a U.S. Marine veteran.
0개의 댓글