In a bold move set to alarm Israel and the broader international community, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced plans to reveal two advanced military facilities—an underground missile city and a “floating city” capable of housing an array of ballistic and cruise missiles. According to IRGC officials, these facilities will be strategically positioned along the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
While Tehran insists it is ready for war, IRGC spokesperson General Ali Muhammad Naini emphasized that Iran will not be the one to initiate conflict in the region. However, he described the nation as “fully prepared for large-scale, complex battles.”
Military Drills and New Arsenal
The announcement coincided with the IRGC’s Beit al-Maqdis 19 military exercise and a series of war games scheduled for January. During these drills, the IRGC Aerospace Force plans to unveil both underground missile and drone storage facilities. The southern region of Iran will also host a cutting-edge underground city designed to accommodate the latest in missile technology.
Notably, the IRGC Navy has scheduled a war game in the Persian Gulf from January 18–23. Prior to that, 300 combat vessels are set to participate in a January 11 drill focusing on “smart traffic control” in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Later this month, on January 27, a naval parade featuring 2,000 military and civilian vessels will showcase Iran’s maritime strength. Two new warships, named in honor of martyrs Behman Bakeri and Reza Ali Delari, will join the IRGC Navy’s fleet.
A Warning to Israel
General Naini did not mince words when addressing Iran’s potential for retaliation. Referring to past operations against Israel, he claimed that the IRGC has only displayed a “small portion” of its military capabilities. He warned that Iran could strike Israel with “greater accuracy, speed, and destructive power” than ever before.
In 2024, Iran launched two major retaliatory operations targeting Israel. The first, on April 13, was named Operation True Promise and involved an attack on Israeli positions in the Golan Heights, conducted in collaboration with Hezbollah and other allies. The second, Operation True Promise 2, took place on October 1, with 200 ballistic missiles striking targets across Israel. General Naini suggested these actions were just a prelude to what Iran could unleash.
Israel Grapples with Conflict’s Mounting Toll
Meanwhile, Israel faces its own challenges. As the conflict in Gaza stretches into its 15th month, the death toll among Israeli soldiers continues to rise. On Monday, two soldiers from the Nahal Brigade’s 9302 Battalion were killed, and four others were seriously injured during combat in the northern Gaza Strip. This brings Israel’s military casualties in Gaza to 397.
According to the United Nations, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has been among the most devastating wars of the century, killing tens of thousands and leaving at least half the population in famine-like conditions. Approximately 7% of Gaza’s population has been killed or injured since October 2023. The World Health Organization has verified 654 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in 886 deaths.
Despite mounting international pressure, Israel has resisted calls to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Negotiations brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators are ongoing, with the outgoing U.S. administration making a final push for a ceasefire before President Joe Biden leaves office.
Vatican Breaks Barriers: First Woman Appointed to Major Leadership Role
In a historic move for women’s empowerment, Pope Francis has appointed Italian nun Sister Simona Brambilla as the prefect of the Vatican’s department overseeing Catholic religious orders. This marks the first time a woman has held such a senior position within the Church’s governing hierarchy.
Pope Francis has been consistent from the start of his papacy that women matter as much as men in the church, emphasising the role of the laity in church. He has been clear that the teaching of his predecessors, Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, on the exclusion of women from the priesthood remains in force. However, he believes that allowing females to serve on the altar, read at Mass, and serve in canonical tribunals is insufficient. The debate over the ordination of women as priests has been ongoing since the 1970s, when push for greater involvement of women in ministry began to be heard in the Vatican. The current Pope’s stance on this issue has been met with resistance, with some believing that it would rupture the unity of the Catholic Church. here
Sister Simona’s new role places her in charge of 600,000 nuns and 129,000 priests worldwide who belong to religious orders. Her appointment is part of Pope Francis’s broader effort to promote gender equality within the Church, though the ban on female priests remains firmly in place.
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Motorbike-Sized Tuna Fetches $1.3 Million at Tokyo Auction
Issei Kato/Reuters
In a testament to Japan’s enduring love for premium seafood, the Onodera Group, a Michelin-starred sushi chain, shelled out $1.3 million for a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market. The New Year auction is a celebrated tradition, with this sale securing the second-highest price ever recorded.
Michelin-starred sushi restaurateurs Onodera Group claimed the 608-pound (276-kilogram) fish with its million-dollar bid at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on January 5, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported.
The bid marks the second highest price since the seafood wholesale market, considered the world’s largest, began to collect data in 1999, according to Kyodo. The highest bid on record is $3.1 million (333.6 million yen) for a 278-kilogram tuna in 2019.
Vendors from across the country put their best catches up for auction at the market most mornings of the week. But the prestigious new year auction carries a special meaning for bidders who converge to vie for the honor of claiming the first batch of the year.
“The year’s first tuna brings good luck. We want to make people smile with food,” said Shinji Nagao, the president of Sushi Onodera, cited by Kyodo.
The prized tuna will be served at the Onodera Group’s high-end restaurants across Japan, underscoring the industry’s recovery following years of pandemic-related setbacks.