Iran’s Defiant Protests Persist After One Month

Welcome to today’s Morning Transient, where we’re Iran’s resilient protest movement, the beginning of China’s twentieth Party Congress, Britain’s economic policy whiplash, and the world this week. 

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Iran’s Protests Persist After One Month

Welcome to today’s Morning Transient, where we’re Iran’s resilient protest movement, the beginning of China’s twentieth Party Congress, Britain’s economic policy whiplash, and the world this week. 

In the event you would really like to receive Morning Transient in your inbox every weekday, please enroll here.

To crush dissent, security forces have pulled from a brutal playbook, including firing assault rifles at demonstrators, forcibly shipping dissenting students off to psychiatric institutions, and even sexually assaulting a protester. Authorities have also cut web access and punished celebrities who back the demonstrations with arrest and travel bans.

That’s done little to quell the outpouring of anger, especially as Tehran’s repressive tactics kill more children and protesters begin to demand broader political change. The recent deaths of two 16-year-old teenage girls after they took part in protests has further fueled the general public’s fury, the Latest York Times reported. 

On Saturday, gunshots and loud blasts were heard throughout Tehran as a hearth engulfed the infamous Evin prison, known for holding distinguished political prisoners and other dissidents. 4 detainees died after inhaling smoke while greater than 60 others were wounded, in keeping with state media. 

Exactly what happened beforehand still stays unclear, although the Wall Street Journal reported that prisoners had been shouting anti-government messages. A few of the detainees’ families allege that state forces stoked the fireplace and imagine greater than 4 people were killed; Iranian officials insist that the incident is unrelated to the continuing unrest. 

As reports emerged on Saturday, U.S. officials expressed their concern for the Americans currently confined within the prison. “We’re following reports from Evin Prison with urgency,” tweeted U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price. “Iran is fully answerable for the security of our wrongfully detained residents, who needs to be released immediately.”

The European Union is anticipated to levy sanctions today on Tehran over its response to the protests, following within the footsteps of america, Britain, and Canada. 

“Violent repression must stop immediately. Protesters should be released,” Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign minister, tweeted. “Web access and accountability are needed.”

Monday, Oct. 17: Sweden’s Parliament votes to substantiate a recent government led by Ulf Kristersson.

NATO begins a nuclear deterrence exercise that features 14 alliance countries.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: The U.N. Security Council discusses Mali and Kosovo.

Wednesday, Oct. 19: The U.N. Security Council discusses the Central African Republic.

Thursday, Oct. 20: Israel and Lebanon will reportedly sign an agreement resolving their maritime dispute.

Friday, Oct. 21: U.N. Security Council discusses Libya.

Xi cements his power. Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to deepen his control by securing an unprecedented third five-year term at China’s twentieth Party Congress, a six-day event that began Sunday. In his opening speech, he emphasized his commitment to zero-COVID and made pointed remarks over outside “interference” in Taiwan, while omitting any references to Ukraine. 

Foreign Policy has gone behind the scenes on the twentieth Party Congress, covering the whole lot from Xi’s enemies to China’s sluggish economy. Follow our coverage here. 

Britain’s economic disarray. Britain’s economic policy has undergone one other major shift under recent Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, whom Prime Minister Liz Truss appointed to the role after firing Kwasi Kwarteng on Friday.

Facing mounting criticism, Truss made the move as a last-ditch try and prop up  her crashing status. Hunt, who had signaled he would likely raise some taxes, gave an emergency statement Monday morning that appears to reverse just about all of Kwarteng’s tax cuts. More controversially, he announced a discount of the federal government’s energy-support scheme with household guaranteed price caps lasting only six months somewhat than two years.

Markets reacted immediately and bond yields on gilts fell because the pound rose against the dollar. Even when Hunt manages to reassure markets, business leaders and Conservative MPs are already calling for Truss’s removal and substitute—a move that some Truss allies warn could precipitate an early general election. 

Russia’s faltering war effort. Russian authorities are pulling men from homeless shelters, cafes, and even straight from the streets to fight in Ukraine, leaving many racing to cover and escape, the Washington Post reported. Out of the 300,000 people required for partial mobilization, 222,000 have already been conscripted, President Vladimir Putin announced last Friday. 

Tunisia’s IMF deal. Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund have agreed to an initial deal for a $1.9 billion loan because the country struggles under surging inflation and food shortages. Once ratified, it can be the 2 parties’ third such deal in nearly a decade. 

• The Thaw on Russia’s Periphery Has Already Began by Daniel B. Baer

• Who Are Xi’s Enemies? by Deng Yuwen 

Over a thousand pairs of twins donned matching outfits and traveled to Igbo-Ora, Nigeria, to participate in an annual twins festival last weekend, the Associated Press reported. Most of the twins were from Igbo-Ora, which is home to an exceptionally large variety of twins. 

John Ofem, an Abuja-based gynecologist, told the Associated Press he thought eating regimen could help explain town’s high twin birth rate. “There are things they eat there which have a high level of certain hormones that now end in what we call multiple ovulation,” he said.