Blackouts, hyperinflation, dissent: Iran considers perilous prospect of peace

Conditions that led to bloody prewar protests have been made worse, commentators say

Iran is already preparing for the perilous transition from wartime unity to a fractious peace marked by hyperinflation, a 10% contraction in the economy, power cuts and calls for a triumphalist government to end its unprecedented hunting down of dissent.

With peace not yet secured, the debates within the regime about Iran’s future are only just starting to emerge but its rulers are clearly thinking about how after surviving the war, they can survive the peace.

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Man dies after shark attack off Western Australia coast near Albany

Government department says man was in the water around Michaelmas Island, near Albany, when he was bitten by a suspected 4.5-metre shark

A male diver aged in his 30s has died after being bitten by a shark in Western Australia.

The state’s police force confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the 35-year-old man had died, after being treated by paramedics at the scene for more than two hours.

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Germany’s UN humiliation marks death of old order – UnHerd

  1. Germany’s UN humiliation marks death of old order  UnHerd
  2. Germany blames Russia for 'bitter defeat' in UN Security Council bid  BBC
  3. Did Germany lose its UNSC seat because of support for Israel?  Al Jazeera
  4. Germany fails to win UN Security Council seat in major diplomatic setback for Merz  politico.eu
  5. Five countries elected to UN Security Council; Germany misses out  Reuters
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Australian snow season begins amid El Niño fears

Webcams showed snow blanketing the ground in some areas. In others, it was patchy or nonexistent

Australia’s snow season has officially begun, with resorts predicting a good season despite climactic threats and the cost-of-living crisis.

Between 20cm and 40cm of snow fell across the Victorian and New South Wales alps before the long weekend, with the falls bolstered by snowmakers.

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Von der Leyen warned about China. Europe didn’t listen. Will it now? – Euronews.com

  1. Von der Leyen warned about China. Europe didn't listen. Will it now?  Euronews.com
  2. EU and Chinese Trade Chiefs Meet To Defuse Heightened Tensions  Bloomberg.com
  3. Europe has had enough of China’s export surge  Atlantic Council
  4. EU weighs rules to cut reliance on China through broader supply chains  Reuters
  5. Why Europe should put up trade barriers against Chinese goods  Noahpinion
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Armenia heads to polls amid Russian pressure and threat of ‘Ukrainian scenario’

Relationship between Vladimir Putin and traditional ally has slowly unravelled under current PM Nikol Pashinyan

The bottling line at the Abovyan cognac factory in Armenia is running at full tilt.

Women in white coats and hairnets work the conveyor with practised speed – labelling, stacking, loading pallets – racing to fill a truck.

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Gulf countries targeted by Iran after exchange of fire with US, in latest threat to fragile ceasefire – The Guardian

  1. Gulf countries targeted by Iran after exchange of fire with US, in latest threat to fragile ceasefire  The Guardian
  2. Live updates: Tehran strikes Gulf neighbors after US attack on Iranian military sites  CNN
  3. Iran Fired Drones Toward Strait of Hormuz With U.S. Shooting Down at Least 4, U.S. Military Says  The New York Times
  4. Missiles, Sirens: Videos Show Kuwait, Bahrain's Response To Iranian Attacks  NDTV
  5. Middle East: Iran says targeted US bases in Gulf  DW.com
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India’s ‘Cockroach’ youth movement founder arrives in New Delhi to protest Modi – Reuters

  1. India's 'Cockroach' youth movement founder arrives in New Delhi to protest Modi  Reuters
  2. India’s youth are fuming. A Boston University graduate wants to fix that  CNN
  3. India news: 'Cockroach' party holds protest at Jantar Mantar  DW.com
  4. Why India’s Gen-Z ‘Cockroach’ Movement Is a Worry for Modi  Bloomberg.com
  5. Cockroach Janta Party protest LIVE: 'Youth of the country will no longer fear' Abhijeet Dipke leads students, youth at Jantar Mantar protest  The Hindu
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