Eurasia

Iran’s FM meets with Iraqi, Kurdish officials over border security

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iraq is “committed to keeping terrorists away from Iran’s borders.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke to reporters today at the Foreign Ministry, addressing a wide range of issues. On the protests that have rocked Iran over the last few months, especially the …

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Iran deploys heavy weaponry to crush Kurdish protests

The Iranian government’s escalating violence against protesters in Kurdish cities has led to chains of funerals. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deployed helicopters and rows of military vehicles and machine guns to the Kurdish city of Javanroud as part of its clampdown on anti-government protests that have gripped the …

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Inflation continues to rise in Iran

Inflation may be higher than the government is letting on due to US sanctions and government fiscal policy. Inflation in Iran increased 1.1% in late November to reach an annual rate of 44%, according to the Iran Chamber of Commerce. The chamber attributed the rise in inflation in recent years to …

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Syrian Kurdish commander says Kobani likely target of threatened Turkish ground offensive

Following Turkish airstrikes on his headquarters in northeast Syria, SDF commander Mazlum Kobane spoke with Al-Monitor about Erdogan’s threats of a new ground offensive. In his first interview with international media following Tuesday’s drone strike on his main headquarters in northeast Syria, Mazlum Kobane (also known as Mazloum Abdi), the commander …

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Italy as Inspiration for the Balkan Far-Right

Far-right groups in the Balkans have long had a soft spot for the Italian fascism of the past. The new government in Rome can provide fresh inspiration. The end of the COVID-19 emergency, the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and the inflation crisis in Europe have all boosted support for …

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AMERICA IS NOT GOING ORBAN’S WAY

The US midterm elections went badly for Trump. That spells trouble for Hungary’s prime minister, who has foolishly gambled on a Trump return. As the only remaining superpower, the elections in the US are the most consequential for countries outside of their own, in particular for the future of the …

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‘Tale of Two Sophias’ Portrays Hope for Albanian-Serb Relations

A historical drama by young Albanian film director Eduart Grishaj suggests that shared culture and human understanding can offer Albanians and Serbs a counter-narrative to prejudice, hatred and ethnically-motivated violence. Although more than 70 years apart in time, two women called Sophia are connected through an incident dating from one …

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China, Russia, and the Bomb

Even international alliances can unravel when nations confront the insanity of a nuclear holocaust. An illustration of this point occurred recently, after Vladimir Putin once again threatened Ukraine and other nations with nuclear war. “To defend Russia and our people, we doubtlessly will use all weapons resources at our disposal,” …

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A Time for Europe to Look Inwards

In 1945 from the ruins of the second world war emerged a new world and initially, for the people of world aspiring for democracy, freedom and justice the USA emerged as the most important center of hope. This is not because these people were not aware of several highly suspect …

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After Ukrainian missile strike on Poland, NATO surges weapons to Eastern Europe

Last week, Ukraine fired at least one missile into Poland, killing two Polish civilians, with the aim of blaming Moscow and drawing NATO directly into war with Russia. While the US and other NATO members rejected the claim by Ukraine that the missile strike was launched by Russia, the European countries …

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