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<p>Iran on Saturday (January 20) successfully launched a satellite, said official news agency IRNA citing a minister. The launch is being described as a milestone for the country's aerospace programme. The West has often criticised the Iranian space programme.</p>

<p>The United States, in particular, has been vocal in its criticism of the space programme saying that Iran may use the same technology for ballistic missiles which could possibly carry nuclear warheads. Iran denies this saying that it has no ambition of developing nuclear weapons capability and that its rocket launches are only for civil or defence purposes.</p>

<p>"The Soraya satellite of the Iranian Space Organisation... was successfully launched with the Qaem 100 satellite carrier of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," the official IRNA news agency said.</p>

<p>"This is the first time that Iran has successfully placed a satellite in orbits higher than 500 kilometres (310 miles)," IRNA said.</p>

<p>IRNA quoted Iran's Telecommunications Minister Issa Zarepour who said that the satellite weighing 50 kilogrammes was placed in an orbit 750 kilometres above Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Israel's Strike in Damascus: Iran claims 4 of its officers killed in attack</strong></p>

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<p>Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards has developed the Qaem 100 rocket. It is a three-stage solid-fuel satellite launcher which is first of its kind for Iran.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-israeli-strike-on-damascus-kills-guards-syria-spy-chief-along-with-4-others-681852">Iran says Israeli strike on Damascus killed Guards’ Syria spy chief along with 4 others</a></strong></p>

<p>Iran hasn't always tasted success in its satellite launches and there have been several failed attempts in past. In April 2020, it was successful in launching Nour-1, the country's first military satellite.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/turkeys-first-astronaut-launched-on-flight-to-international-space-station-681841">Turkey’s first astronaut launched on flight to International Space Station</a></strong></p>

<p>The United States and Iran warmed up to each other after the landmark nuclear deal struck during the tenure of former US president Barack Obama. But his successor former US president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled US out of the deal and re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran and its economy. After US Presidents Joe Biden took office, efforts began to revive the deal but the talks have not yielded much so far.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Iran on Saturday (January 20) successfully launched a satellite, said official news agency IRNA citing a minister. The launch is being described as a milestone for the country's aerospace programme.

Iran on Saturday (January 20) successfully launched a satellite, said official news agency IRNA citing a minister. The launch is being described as a milestone for the country's aerospace programme. The West has often criticised the Iranian space programme. The United States, in particular, has been vocal in its criticism of the space programme saying that Iran may use the same technology for ballistic missiles which could possibly carry nuclear warheads. Iran denies this saying that it has no ambition of developing nuclear weapons capability and that its rocket launches are only for civil or defence purposes. "The Soraya satellite of the Iranian Space Organisation... was successfully launched with the Qaem 100 satellite carrier of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," the official IRNA news agency said. "This is the first time that Iran has successfully placed a satellite in orbits higher than 500 kilometres (310 miles)," IRNA said. IRNA quoted Iran's Telecommunications Minister Issa Zarepour who said that the satellite weighing 50 kilogrammes was placed in an orbit 750 kilometres above Earth. Watch | Israel's Strike in Damascus: Iran claims 4 of its officers killed in attack × Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards has developed the Qaem 100 rocket. It is a three-stage solid-fuel satellite launcher which is first of its kind for Iran. Also Read | Iran says Israeli strike on Damascus killed Guards’ Syria spy chief along with 4 others Iran hasn't always tasted success in its satellite launches and there have been several failed attempts in past. In April 2020, it was successful in launching Nour-1, the country's first military satellite. Also Read | Turkey’s first astronaut launched on flight to International Space Station The United States and Iran warmed up to each other after the landmark nuclear deal struck during the tenure of former US president Barack Obama. But his successor former US president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled US out of the deal and re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran and its economy. After US Presidents Joe Biden took office, efforts began to revive the deal but the talks have not yielded much so far. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran launches satellite, places it in 750 km orbit: Official news agency

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Two high-ranking Iranian military advisers along with three others were killed in a strike launched by Israel on the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday (Jan 20), according to Iranian media reports.

Israel's Strike in Damascus: Iran claims 4 of its officers killed in attack

<p>Two high-ranking Iranian military advisers along with three others were killed in a strike launched by Israel on the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday (Jan 20), according to Iranian media reports.</p>

<p>"Two high-ranking Iranian advisers were martyred in today's attack by the Zionist regime (Israel) in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus," Iran's Mehr news agency said, quoting an informed but unnamed source.</p>

<p>The attack claimed the life of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' intelligence chief for Syria, his deputy as well as two other Guards members on Saturday, reported Iranian media.</p>

<p>"The Revolutionary Guards' Syria intel chief, his deputy and two other Guards members were martyred in the attack on Syria by Israel," Iran's Mehr news agency said, quoting an informed but unnamed source.</p>

<p>The Revolutionary Guards also released a statement saying that four of its members were left dead in the strike on the Syrian capital further condemning Israel for the attack.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-get-real-slap-in-the-face-if-aggression-expanded-warns-hezbollah-681717">Israel to get 'real slap in the face' if aggression expanded: Hezbollah</a></p>

<p>As per the official Syrian news agency SANA, a residential building was targeted in the strike which was situated in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus.</p>

<p>However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that the Israeli strike hit a four-storey building where "Iran-aligned leaders" were holding a meeting.</p>

<p>"An Israeli missile strike targeted a four-storey building, killing five people... and destroying the whole building where Iran-aligned leaders were meeting," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based organisation that relies on a network of sources on the ground.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Pakistan and Iran agree to 'de-escalate' after trading air strikes</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Israeli air strike in Syria kills senior Iranian general</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier in the month of December, an Israeli air strike killed a senior Iranian general in Syria, said the military.</p>

<p>Razi Moussavi from the Quds Force was the most senior commander of the Guards' foreign operations arm to be killed outside of Iran after a strike launched by the United States on Bagdad on January 3, 2020, killed the Force's commander, Qasem Soleimani.</p>

<p>During the civil war in Syria, which has now been going on for a decade, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on the conflict-torn country majorly targeting Iran-backed forces as well as Syrian army positions.</p>

<p>However, there has been an upsurge in the number of strikes in Syria ever since the war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Two high-ranking Iranian military advisers along with three others were killed in a strike launched by Israel on the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday (Jan 20), according to Iranian media reports. "Two high-ranking Iranian advisers were martyred in today's attack by the Zionist regime (Israel) in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus," Iran's Mehr news agency said, quoting an informed but unnamed source. The attack claimed the life of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' intelligence chief for Syria, his deputy as well as two other Guards members on Saturday, reported Iranian media. "The Revolutionary Guards' Syria intel chief, his deputy and two other Guards members were martyred in the attack on Syria by Israel," Iran's Mehr news agency said, quoting an informed but unnamed source. The Revolutionary Guards also released a statement saying that four of its members were left dead in the strike on the Syrian capital further condemning Israel for the attack. Also read: Israel to get 'real slap in the face' if aggression expanded: Hezbollah As per the official Syrian news agency SANA, a residential building was targeted in the strike which was situated in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that the Israeli strike hit a four-storey building where "Iran-aligned leaders" were holding a meeting. "An Israeli missile strike targeted a four-storey building, killing five people... and destroying the whole building where Iran-aligned leaders were meeting," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based organisation that relies on a network of sources on the ground. WATCH | Pakistan and Iran agree to 'de-escalate' after trading air strikes × Israeli air strike in Syria kills senior Iranian general Earlier in the month of December, an Israeli air strike killed a senior Iranian general in Syria, said the military. Razi Moussavi from the Quds Force was the most senior commander of the Guards' foreign operations arm to be killed outside of Iran after a strike launched by the United States on Bagdad on January 3, 2020, killed the Force's commander, Qasem Soleimani. During the civil war in Syria, which has now been going on for a decade, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on the conflict-torn country majorly targeting Iran-backed forces as well as Syrian army positions. However, there has been an upsurge in the number of strikes in Syria ever since the war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran says Israeli strike on Damascus killed Guards’ Syria spy chief along with 4 others

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<p>South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon-hee is facing criticism within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) over accepting a Dior handbag from a pastor in 2022, a report by The Korea Times said on&nbsp;Saturday (Jan 20). PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon told reporters that First Lady Kim's handbag controversy can be a matter of public concern.</p>

<p>"Basically, the matter was a planned set-up using a spy cam. However, there were several misdeeds in handling the issues," Han said to the media on Thursday&nbsp;(Jan 18).&nbsp;Neither Kim nor her husband and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have spoken on this controversy so far.</p>

<h2><strong>What happened</strong></h2>

<p>Voice of Seoul, a YouTube-based news channel, said in November last year that Kim had been gifted the Dior handbag from a Korean-American pastor in 2022. The bag was valued at 3 million won ($2,240). A video of the first lady accepting this gift was filmed secretly by the pastor using a camera disguised as a watch. The handbag was provided by the Voice of Seoul, The Korea Times reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-opposition-leader-was-stabbed-to-keep-him-from-presidency-678724">South Korean opposition leader was stabbed to stall his bid for presidency: Police</a></strong></p>

<p>This controversy re-erupted after newcomers to the PPP were critical of the bag issue, the report added. In an interview with JTBC broadcaster on Wednesday, Kim Kyung-yul, a member of the PPP’s interim leadership, said that President Yoon or his wife should state their position about the bag controversy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The French Revolution was an outcome of public uproar over Marie Antoinette’s luxurious life and disorderly privacy. There is no way of defending the first lady from this controversy. The only option is begging for the people’s mercy," said&nbsp;Kim Kyung-yul.</p>

<p>Another PPP leader Lee Soo-jung said that the First Lady Kim should explain the situation, return the gift if she still owns it, and apologise to the people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the PPP had maintained the bag controversy was a planned setup and the first lady was a victim, hence there was no need to address the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kim not new to controversies</strong></h2>

<p>Kim Keon-hee was embroiled in multiple controversies before she even became South Korea's first lady. Some of the controversies date back to Kim's college days when her academic writings came under scrutiny for suspected plagiarism. She has been named in cases related to tax evasion and stock market manipulation.</p>

<p>She even had to make a televised apology for overstating her work experience for jobs.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon-hee is facing criticism within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) over accepting a Dior handbag from a pastor in 2022, a report by The Korea Times said on Saturday (Jan 20).

South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon-hee is facing criticism within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) over accepting a Dior handbag from a pastor in 2022, a report by The Korea Times said on Saturday (Jan 20). PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon told reporters that First Lady Kim's handbag controversy can be a matter of public concern. "Basically, the matter was a planned set-up using a spy cam. However, there were several misdeeds in handling the issues," Han said to the media on Thursday (Jan 18). Neither Kim nor her husband and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have spoken on this controversy so far. What happened Voice of Seoul, a YouTube-based news channel, said in November last year that Kim had been gifted the Dior handbag from a Korean-American pastor in 2022. The bag was valued at 3 million won ($2,240). A video of the first lady accepting this gift was filmed secretly by the pastor using a camera disguised as a watch. The handbag was provided by the Voice of Seoul, The Korea Times reported. Also Read | South Korean opposition leader was stabbed to stall his bid for presidency: Police This controversy re-erupted after newcomers to the PPP were critical of the bag issue, the report added. In an interview with JTBC broadcaster on Wednesday, Kim Kyung-yul, a member of the PPP’s interim leadership, said that President Yoon or his wife should state their position about the bag controversy. "The French Revolution was an outcome of public uproar over Marie Antoinette’s luxurious life and disorderly privacy. There is no way of defending the first lady from this controversy. The only option is begging for the people’s mercy," said Kim Kyung-yul. Another PPP leader Lee Soo-jung said that the First Lady Kim should explain the situation, return the gift if she still owns it, and apologise to the people. Earlier, the PPP had maintained the bag controversy was a planned setup and the first lady was a victim, hence there was no need to address the issue. Kim not new to controversies Kim Keon-hee was embroiled in multiple controversies before she even became South Korea's first lady. Some of the controversies date back to Kim's college days when her academic writings came under scrutiny for suspected plagiarism. She has been named in cases related to tax evasion and stock market manipulation. She even had to make a televised apology for overstating her work experience for jobs. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea's first lady faces criticism within govt over receiving Dior bag from pastor

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