Islamic Republic of Iran has  become a further concern to the international community. Aside from the recent uprising and protests in Iran, another subject that has put the Iranian government under spotlight is their arm trades with Russia.

In spite of the denial strategy that Iranian authorities have used not to receive any indictment for selling weapons to Russia, records demonstrate that Russia was provided with the Iranian drones, including Shahed-136, Fateh-110 and Zolfagar, which are ballistic missiles. Beside these missiles, Arash-2, which is a fixed drone and holds a technology of attacking targets from a higher distance of 200 Km, was also provided to the Russian army. The Russian defense observer also claimed that due to the new features of Arash-2, even the Israeli air defense system is incapable of detecting it. The former head of the US Central Command, General MacKenzie, has analyzed and confirmed these claims about the new features of Arash-2.

In defense of Iran, some Russian authorities have stated that Iran should not be accused of supplying drones to Russia. This is because NATO is perceived as a western enemy to both states and has also interfered in the conflict and supplied weapons to Ukraine.

By: S.R.

China aims to become self-sufficient economically and shift its outward-looking approach. An article by David Lubin on Chatham House describes China’s inward-looking as bad news for the world economy. Self-reliance has been an essential principle for Chinese leaders who believe in building a great modern socialist China and act independently in all aspects of economic and political battlefields.

President Xi Jinping of China declared that they “should adhere to self-reliance, put the development of the country and nation on the basis of strength, and firmly seize the initiative in development.”

David Lubin, an associate fellow of global economy and finance programme in Chatham House, also indicates that geopolitics pushes China to become more inward-looking as Beijing looked for less economic contingent on the West after limitations imposed by the Trump administration on the country, such as tariffs and export controls. Yet, Russia-Ukraine war influences China and drives them to eagerly go for further self-reliance. Chinese leaders will put an effort to be a source for its semiconductors, food, and green energy in a few years to come.

From Beijing’s perspective, China’s private sector does not align with the Communist Party’s objectives for the country anymore, thus they seek a new system in which they allow a particular private sector in China’s economy.

If China reaches its dream of becoming a state with less dependence on importing, other countries will experience a fall in economic activity per unit of China’s GDP.

In terms of the cinematic experience around the globe, the most prominent ones have always looked at Hollywood for genuine inspiration. Apart from the high-end production capabilities of the massive companies which produce many films in such a small plot of land, Middle East has always had its fair share of turning on lenses to recreate social and political moments that capture an audience.

Middle East has had a very long and historical past with filmmaking. From Egyptian landmarks like Cairo Station to the Iranian new wave that shaped the perfect craft for so many films.

Filmmakers like Abbas Kiarostami and Majid Majidi manage to produce films directed to showcase the affairs of the lower strata in Iran even after the events of the Iranian revolution.

Children of Heaven, a film by Majidi, speaks of the story of two siblings who live in a lower-income family and face multiple situations. It is indicated throughout the film that due to the class-conflicting divide within the lower and upper strata, chances are that children who grow up in communities bound to face economic frustration will develop hyper-mutual and inter-personal connections with family members transcending efforts to accumulate money.

The cinematic style of many Iranian films is infested with this political message to use the medium as a self-sufficient tool to describe the political situation in various countries in the Middle East.

Stepping into the age of young adulthood is mainly about making it to the top, working hard, being productive, using every bit of energy into work to survive the hustle culture. When you have the hustle mentality, you put forth consistent effort to move forward, work, and do something. Consequences result from the tendency to put work before everything else, prioritize it above all else, and sacrifice your mental health for the sake of intense competition and recognition. Fast-paced environments are required by the hustle culture, yet they don't always provide productive outcomes and may even be disadvantageous.

According to a research published in 2018 in Current Cardiology Reports, people who work more than 50 hours a week have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. There is also a chance of developing mental health illnesses, and some of the issues are signs of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes burnout as a syndrome brought on by continuous stress, and hustle culture causes workers to feel it and has a severe impact on their health. That’s why the art of slow-living  flourished.

The main pillars of the slow-living lifestyle are simplicity, minimalism, mindfulness, and sustainability. Unlike the common misconception, “slow” doesn’t necessarily imply being unproductive or lazy, it simply involves slowing down to turn off the automatic pilot mode we frequently find ourselves in. As a result, we are able to arrange our priorities and allot the proper amount of time per each task and activity. It’s a lifestyle to encourage a more intentional & meaningful approach to life, it’s about being present, and spending time on things that align with our internal values.

Some simple ways to incorporate “slow-living” in your daily life include taking time for yourself, getting back to hobbies, reading, taking walks in nature, spending quality time with family and friends, and cutting down unnecessary distractions. As an old saying goes, “slow and steady wins the race.”

September 16 ^th ,was the death date of Mahsa Amini and the birth date of the so-called - new revolution of Iran. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini a Kurdish-Iranian who was arrested by moral police in Tehran due to her non proper dressing. She then died from cerebral bleeding, brain hemorrhage, after being injured by officers. Her death was followed by consistent and frequent protests all around the country, especially in the Kurdish regions, which later expanded to protests in Europe, UK, US, Canada and many other countries.

As witnessed before, the Islamic Republic of Iran had responded to protests with brutality by militarizing the cities. For instance, in Baluchistan which is a Sunni populated district, more than hundred deaths from direct shooting of the IRGC have been recorded . It is worth mentioning that the uprising of Baluchis fired up after a 15-year-old girl was raped by an officer in Baluchistan.

The change of the regime in 1979 brought many changes to the system, but what remained the same is the suppression that minorities are subjected to on a daily basis.Similar to the monarchy, the Iranian Islamic regime imposed a persian identity and suppressed other identities, languages, and cultures  prohibiting non-Persian names, restricting cultural practices and prohibiting  teaching in mother languages for different regions are examples of the continuous suppression and denial strategy imposed against different ethnicities living in Iran. Reaction to Persian/Shia protests has been indifferent compared to, for example, those of Kurds, Arabs and Turks. According to the records, in non-Persian regions, heavier arms were used against the protestors and the protesters have been identified as extremists or separatists, who allegedly seek independence and are a threat to the national security of Iran.

By: S.R.

The right to education is one of the most basic human rights; however, some women are still unable to exercise this basic right. In Afghanistan, women's educational opportunities are limited.This year, the Taliban banned girls from choosing certain subjects in Afghanistan's national university entrance exam.The VOA Afghanistan Service received a form from the exam that showed female students could not choose civil engineering, journalism, veterinary, agriculture, or geology. According to Save the Children, 80% of Afghan secondary school girls were denied education by Taliban, who took power last year. However, female students were allowed to return to universities and study in gender-segregated classes.Olivier Franchi, acting Asia Regional Director for Save the Children Afghanistan, stated: “if girls are not allowed to go back to school, this will be a shocking violation of their rights. All children have an equal right to education regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion or economic background.”

There are certain subjects that men can take whereas for women it is not an option This shows the undeniable gender inequality issue. New restrictions imposed by the Taliban on female students have been deemed "concerning" by Human Rights Watch. Olivier Franchi explains that, “the international community also has an essential role to play and must continue to provide funding to support and protect girls who are still in school. The education system in Afghanistan is hanging by a thread and now is not the time to back away.” Gender equality and the right to an equal education are issues that cannot be ignored, as they contribute to the sustainability of the world.

By: Baniz Wasman