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Iran Arrests Actress for Wishing Netanyahu Quick Recovery

Iranian actress Shohreh Ghamar. (Social media)
Iranian actress Shohreh Ghamar. (Social media)
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Iran Arrests Actress for Wishing Netanyahu Quick Recovery

Iranian actress Shohreh Ghamar. (Social media)
Iranian actress Shohreh Ghamar. (Social media)

Iran has arrested actress Shohreh Ghamar over charges of “spreading psychological insecurity in society” after she wished Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a quick recovery.

The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim and Fars news agencies declared that the actress was arrested for publishing content that supports rioters, offending officials, wishing a quick recovery for the Israeli prime minister, backing the Zionist entity, and provoking chaos in the street.

Mehr News Agency quoted Iranian Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib as saying that the Iranian judiciary is looking into several cases related to psychological security on the Internet.

When asked if he was monitoring the internet himself, he replied, “I can’t be a minister if I don’t.”

The actress was arrested days after posting a story on her four-million-follower Instagram page and wishing the Israeli PM a quick recovery. She wrote on his picture, "I prayed a lot for your health. Stay alive."

Last week, Netanyahu underwent a heart procedure. He left the hospital and resumed work.

Weeks before, the actress published another post criticizing the officials for threatening to eradicate Israel. She urged them to feed the hungry people in Kurdistan and Baluchistan first.

Dideban website - close to reformists - revealed that the actress took part in a propaganda video in favor of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in the latest elections. The video went viral on Telegram.

Journalist and political analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi criticized the arrest of Ghamar, saying on his Telegram account that the recovery wishes are in fact “prayers for the destruction of Israel”.

Zeidabadi stressed that Netanyahu is bringing the Hebrew state closer to instability and collapse like no other leader and if he dies, then a moderate politician would replace him and work on an international coalition against Iran.

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Taiwan Reports Chinese Balloon, First Time in Six Months

A woman holds flags amid celebrations of the 130th foundation anniversary of Taiwan's largest opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), in Taoyuan, Taiwan November 24, 2024. (Reuters)
A woman holds flags amid celebrations of the 130th foundation anniversary of Taiwan's largest opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), in Taoyuan, Taiwan November 24, 2024. (Reuters)
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Taiwan Reports Chinese Balloon, First Time in Six Months

A woman holds flags amid celebrations of the 130th foundation anniversary of Taiwan's largest opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), in Taoyuan, Taiwan November 24, 2024. (Reuters)
A woman holds flags amid celebrations of the 130th foundation anniversary of Taiwan's largest opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), in Taoyuan, Taiwan November 24, 2024. (Reuters)

Taiwan's defense ministry on Monday reported that a Chinese balloon had been detected over the sea to Taiwan's north, the first time since April it has reported such an incident in what Taipei views as part of a pattern of harassment by Beijing.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, complained that in the weeks leading up to its presidential election in January Chinese balloon activity took place at an "unprecedented scale".

It described the incidents as part of a Chinese pressure campaign - so-called grey-zone warfare designed to exhaust a foe using irregular tactics without open combat.

Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.

The ministry, in its regular morning update on Chinese military activities over the previous 24 hours, said the single balloon was detected at 6:21 p.m. (1021 GMT) on Sunday 60 nautical miles (111 km) to the north of Taiwan's Keelung port.

It then vanished some two hours later, having flown at an altitude of 33,000 ft (10,000 meters), but without crossing Taiwan itself, the ministry said.

China's defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

China has previously dismissed Taiwan's complaints about the balloons, saying they were for meteorological purposes and should not be hyped up for political reasons.

The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a global issue last year when the United States shot down what it said was a Chinese surveillance balloon. China said the balloon was a civilian craft that accidentally drifted astray.