Eurasia

Iran’s Nationwide Uprising Is Not ‘Leaderless’ – OpEd

More than a month ago, “morality police” in Tehran accosted 22-year-old Mahsa Amini over the arrangement of her mandatory head covering, subjected her to such physical abuse that she fell into a coma and died three days later. Since then, international media have attached ever greater significance to the ensuing …

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Albanian PM seeks Israel’s cyber expertise after Iranian attacks

The Iranian cyberattack on Albania earlier this year threatened to paralyze public services and digital systems, hack into state records and further sow chaos. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived in Israel on Sunday to strengthen his country’s cyber defense after a series of attacks from Iran that led his …

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Israeli officials claim to have destroyed 90% of Iran’s military operations in Syria

According to officials, Israel has succeeded in almost completely curbing Iran’s ability to transfer weapons to Syria and to manufacture weapons there. The Israeli military has destroyed about 90% of Iran’s military infrastructure and attempts to entrench itself – with Hezbollah – in Syria, top officials in the defense establishment …

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The Costs of a Presidential System: The Impact of Hyper-centralization on Turkey’s Educational and Cultural Affairs

Key takeaways Turkey’s transition to a hyper-centralized presidential system has given rise to a growing malaise in the educational and cultural fields, manifested through purges, witch hunts, and the erosion of university autonomy and resulting in an exodus of the creative classes and cultural institutions. Academic and cultural impoverishment not …

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The economic backdrop of Iran’s protests

Iran’s ongoing protests were sparked by the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in a hospital in Tehran one month ago after she was detained by the so-called “morality police” (Gasht-e Ershad) for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.

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Iran protests: how far can they go?

On an early autumn day in Tehran, the morality police arrested in a city park a 22-year-old Iranian woman who was in the capital on a family visit, bundled her into a van and drove her to the police station. The detention of Mahsa Amini on September 13 set in …

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A Year After Elections, Iraq May Finally Be Set to Form a Government

The country’s political class now stands at a crossroads: Will it seek to heal the country’s deep divides or go back to business as usual? Iraq hit two anniversaries this month. Three years ago in October, Iraqis rose up to protest the failure of the Iraqi government and political class …

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Ethiopia’s civil war is raging. How can it get on track toward peace?

As the conflict enters its deadliest phase, U.S. leadership and collaboration with African partners are desperately needed to stop the slide. In August, the devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia resumed, effectively ending the March 2022 humanitarian truce between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan forces, which many hoped would pave …

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In a War Over Global Order, Russia Bombs Ukraine Cities

Ukrainians face new crimes and a punishing winter in their defense against dictators’ wars. Over the past 48 hours, Russia again escalated its rain of explosives on Ukrainian cities and civilians. As Ukraine’s soldiers drive back Russia’s invasion forces, Vladimir Putin is trying instead to bludgeon millions of Ukrainians into …

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China reaffirms Xi’s dominance, removes No. 2 Li Keqiang

China’s ruling Communist Party reaffirmed President Xi Jinping’s continued dominance in running the nation Saturday, one day ahead of giving him a widely expected third five-year term as leader. A party congress effectively removed Premier Li Keqiang from senior leadership. Li, the nation’s No. 2 official, is a proponent of …

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