October 19, 2022 Eurasia, South East Asia
The Return of Beijing’s Dubious Economic Growth Targets For most of the past four decades, economic development has been the Chinese government’s lodestar. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has implicitly justified its rule by pointing to expansive growth. Indeed, since the Chinese leadership first unveiled an annual growth target, in …
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October 19, 2022 Eurasia, Iran, Middle Orient
Iranians Have Had Enough of Theocracy The current protests in Iran sound the death knell of the Islamic Republic. The killing in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was arrested for wearing the hijab incorrectly, has unleashed a wave of angry and bloody demonstrations, boycotts, work stoppages, …
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October 19, 2022 Africa, Eurasia, Magreb
Algeria seeks to breathe new life into its investment landscape with a new investment law. Published at the end of July, the updated legislation aims at boosting investment flows in a bid to enhance the country’s economic performance and, more importantly, break with its hydrocarbons dependence. Following years of social …
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October 19, 2022 Eurasia, Middle Orient
Iraq’s new president commenced his duties, and the designated prime minister will form his Cabinet next week. Latif Rashid, a veteran political leader in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who was elected Oct. 13 as Iraq’s new president, commenced his duties in Al-Salam Palace in Baghdad on Monday. Rashid …
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October 19, 2022 Eurasia, Iran, Middle Orient
EU sanctions over Iran’s clampdown on dissent unsettled Iranian authorities, which are grappling with one of the biggest domestic challenges they have faced since the 1979 revolution. The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanani, condemned sanctions slapped by the Council of the European Union on a number of Iranian …
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October 19, 2022 Eurasia, Middle Orient, Turkey
Amid Ankara’s overtures to Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — the radical group controlling Idlib — has seized Afrin and is seeking a deal to expand its control further into territories held by factions allied with Turkey. A dramatic shift of control has been underway in Afrin and other areas held …
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October 18, 2022 Eurasia, South East Asia
The following are major takeaways from Xi Jinping’s report to the ongoing 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). — Our Party has dedicated itself to achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation and committed itself to the noble cause of peace and development for humanity. Our …
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October 18, 2022 Eurasia
The Council today agreed to set up a Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The aim of the mission is to contribute to enhancing the military capability of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to effectively conduct military operations, in order to allow Ukraine to defend its territorial integrity within …
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October 18, 2022 Balkans, Eurasia
Serbian President Aleksander Vucic has once again doubled down on his refusal to align with EU sanctions against Russia, despite growing pressure from the EU. The Western Balkan country has refused to align with sanctions laid down following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war crimes carried out against citizens. …
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October 18, 2022 Eurasia
The European Sky Shield Initiative will enable nations to jointly procure air defence equipment and missiles. Defence Ministers representing 14 NATO member states and Finland have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in Belgium to develop the European Sky Shield Initiative. The multi-national initiative, led by Germany, is intended to …
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