US Immigrants Generate 36% of Nation’s Innovation, Study Finds

Augusta Saraiva

December 28, 2022

Immigrant inventors in the US are “substantially” more productive than native-born scientists, according to a paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research.

شاهِ شاهان Shah of Shahs

وقایع اخیر در ایران بُعد جهانی‌ پیدا کرده است. آنچه که در خارج از ایران کاملا مشهود است فعالیت‌های گستردهٔ خاندان پهلوی برای بازگشت به سلطنت است. در تظاهرات داخل ایران نیز نمونه‌های بارزی از این همبستگی‌ به چشم میخورد. با توجه به اینکه رژیم ددمنش آخوندی روی هر سلسلهٔ سلطنتی را که در ایران حکمرانی میکرد سپید کرده است، شاید عده‌ای انتخاب خود را بین بد و بدتر می‌بینند. آنچه که این انتخاب را آشفته‌تر می‌کند خط کشی‌ و جانشینیِ قدرت‌های سیاسیِ کنونی در جهان است، که با یک جنگ جهانیِ دیگر فاصلهٔ چندانی ندارد. از آن سوی، با نگاهی‌ به تاریخ امپراطوری‌ها می‌توان این پیش‌بینی‌ را به حقیقت نزدیکتر دید، که اضمحلال امپراطوری‌های پیشین فقط با یک جنگ جهانی‌ گسترده و خانمان‌سوز به وحلهٔ عمل رسیده‌ است. از آنطرف چون دولت‌های آخوندی تحت فشار بسیار از طرف کشور‌های غربی هستند، بالاجبار به چین و روسیه روی آورده‌ا‌ند، گرچه تمایل آنها به غرب بیش از هر رژیم پادشاهی است. با توجه به نفرتی که اکثر ایرانیان از رژیم آخوندی دارند، به تضاد آنها با این دو کشور، به خصوص با چین که در راه جانشینیِ آمریکا است، و به ستیز آنها در رابطه با رژیم آخوندی با این دو کشور شکل میدهد. همین باعث آشفتگی‌ بیشتر در ذهنیت افراد میشود، که البته تبلیغات هوشمندانه و وسیع غرب بر ایرانیان نیز بسیار تاثیرگذار است.ا

Iran brags about its missile export to Palestinians, Hezbollah

Seth J. Frantzman

December 25, 2022

Iranian pro-government media published an article on Sunday bragging about its “integrated missile network” and how it has armed the “resistance” in the Middle East. By “resistance,” the report was referring to a network of pro-Iranian groups and proxy groups it supports, particularly Hezbollah, the Palestinians and Yemen.

The article begins as a tribute to Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, an Iranian IRGC general who was killed in an explosion at a missile facility near Tehran on November 12, 2011.

What Really Saved the Democrats This Year?

Progressives and moderates both have a theory of the case.

Thomas B. Edsall

Dec. 21, 2022

In the Democratic Party, despite its better-than-expected showing in the 2022 midterm elections, internecine combat has been playing out in disputes over the party’s nominees and the policies they propose. At the nuts-and-bolts level of candidate selection, the debate has become intensely emotional and increasingly hostile.

There’s a Reason There Aren’t Enough Teachers in America

Many Reasons, Actually. We are going about education reform all wrong.

Thomas B.Edsall

Dec. 14, 2022

Teachers are not only burnt out and undercompensated, they are also demoralized. They are being asked to do things in the name of teaching that they believe are mis-educational and harmful to students and the profession.

East Bay Iranians organize local condemnation of state violence against women and others in Iran

Ricky Rodas

December 22, 2022

Several Bay Area cities have passed resolutions decrying ongoing human rights abuses in Iran. The effort started in Berkeley and Oakland.

US hits more Iranian officials with human rights sanctions

Associated Press

December 21, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday slapped sanctions on Iran’s chief prosecutor, four other Iranian officials and a company that supports the country’s security forces for their roles in an ongoing violent crackdown on antigovernment protests.

The Treasury Department announced it is targeting the Prosecutor-General of Iran, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, two senior commanders in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, and two members of the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer group that often enforces strict rules on dress and conduct.

Iranian Director Asghar Farhadi Demands Release Of Arrested Actress Taraneh Alidoosti

JesseWhittock

December 20, 2022

Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi has demanded the release of actress Taraneh Alidoosti, who was arrested in Iran.

Iranian Filmmakers Are Preparing Hijab-Free Movies

Nick Holdswort

December 19, 2022

Iranian filmmakers are secretly filming dual versions of scenes from their movies in anticipation of a regime change after months of protests against hard-line Islamic rule in their country.

The hijab-free scenes – where actresses are portrayed without the head covering that is mandatory for women in the country – are part of a widespread protest movement in Iran sparked after Masha Amin’s death in police custody in September.

Iran arrests famous actress Taraneh Alidoosti over protests

Deutsche Welle

December 17, 2022

The actress, who starred in the Oscar-winning film "The Salesman," had made a post expressing solidarity with an executed protester. Pro-government media said she was accused of "spreading false information."

Iranian authorities have arrested prominent actress Taraneh Alidoosti, state media said on Saturday.

Alidoosti, who starred in the Oscar-winning film "The Salesman," made several Instagram protests expressing support toward protests over the death of young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody.

World's Shortest Man, Who's 20 and From Iran, Says Guinness World Records Fame Is 'Like a Dream'

Maria Pasquini

December 15, 2022

Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh is celebrating big news: he's officially been named as the world's shortest man.

The 20-year-old from Iran, who is 2 feet, 1.6 inches tall, recently earned the title after visiting the Guinness World Records offices in Dubai — but first, the record-keeping organization says they tripled-checked their measurements.

کاش همه مثل من فکر میکردن

سالها پیش مقاله‌ای نوشتم و آنرا در این وبلاگ پُست کردم. از آنجائی که این مقاله با وقایع اخیر در ایران ارتباط مستقیمی‌ دارد، آنرا مجددا در اینجا به چاپ میرسانم. در سمت راست این وبلاگ، لیستی از پُست‌های پیشین است، که می‌توان این مقاله را در تاریخ زیر نیز یافت:ا

January 2, 2014ا

The young Iranians facing death penalty over protests

 AFP

December 14, 2022

A doctor, rap artists and a footballer are among around two dozen Iranians who risk being hanged as Tehran uses capital punishment as an intimidation tactic to quell protests, rights groups say.

The executions in the past week of Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both 23 and the first people put to death over the protests, sparked an outcry, especially as Rahnavard was hanged from a crane in public rather than in prison.

Iranian footballer sentenced to execution for 'campaigning for women's rights'

Jack de Menezes

December 13, 2022

Professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani is reportedly facing execution in Iran for "campaigning for women's rights and basic freedom in his country".

FifPro, the international players union, said it was "shocked and sickened" at the reports and called for the punishment to be revoked.

Iran publicly executes protester tied to anti-government uprising

Babak Dehghanpisheh

December 12, 2022

Iran publicly executed a protester in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Monday, a chilling warning to those still participating in the anti-government demonstrations that have swept the country for nearly three months.

Majid Reza Rahnavard, 23, was hanged from a construction crane. A video of the execution spreading across social media shows his suspended body, dressed in white with his hands bound behind him, slowly spinning in the predawn dark as a crowd gathers around.

Iran’s currency falls further against the dollar amid unrest

 AP

December 10, 2022

CAIRO (AP) — Iran’s currency fell to a record low against the dollar on Sunday, with nationwide anti-government protests now in their third month. A breakdown in negotiations to restore Tehran’s nuclear deal has also hurt the value of the rial.

Traders in Tehran were exchanging the rial at around 370,000 to the dollar on Sunday, up from 368,000 on Thursday. Iran’s currency was trading at 32,000 rials to the dollar at the time of the 2015 nuclear accord that dropped international sanctions in exchange for tight controls on Iran’s nuclear program.

At least 24 Iranian protesters face possible execution for their participation in protests

Daniel Stewart

December 10, 2022

At least two dozen Iranian protesters face possible execution as a response by authorities to their participation in protests critical of the government, according to a report published Saturday by local daily ‘Etemad’.

The newspaper published a list drawn up by the Iranian authorities accusing 25 demonstrators of «waging war against God», a charge that, according to Iranian law, is punishable by death.

بریتانیا تیره روز است، اما بریتانیایی ها در حال مبارزه هستند

(این ترجمه یک نوشته انگلیسی‌ توسط "راشل شبی‌" است، که در همین وبلاگ آمده است).ا

لندن - بریتانیا در حال از بین رفتن است و علائم در همه جا دیده می شود

تورم دو رقمی است و انتظار می‌رود که رکود - بدترین رکود در بین کشورهای "گروه هفت" - تا سال ۲۰۲۴ ادامه یابد. سازمان "خدمات بهداشت ملی‌" در حال احتزاز است، حمل‌ونقل عمومی در حال پراکندگی است، و کمبود کارگران پس از "برکزیت" گسترده است. صاحبان خانه با افزایش نرخ وام مسکن روبرو هستند، مستاجران در معرض اخراج بدون تقصیر هستند و میلیون ها نفر نمی توانند خانه های خود را گرم کنند. بانک های مواد غذایی، که به سختی یک دهه پیش وجود داشتند، در نقطه شکست هستند و چهارده و نیم میلیون نفر در فقر به سر می برند. زمستان اینجاست و تاریک  است.ا

Britain Is Miserable, but Britons Are Fighting Back

Rachel Shabi

December 8, 2022

LONDON — Britain is languishing, and the signs are everywhere.

Inflation is in double digits, and the recession — the worst of all Group of 7 countries — is expected to last deep into 2024. The National Health Service is on life support, public transport is sputtering, and post-Brexit worker shortages are widespread. Homeowners face soaring mortgage rates, renters are subject to no-fault evictions, and millions can’t afford to heat their homes. Food banks, which barely existed a decade ago, are at breaking point, and 14.5 million people are in poverty. Winter is here, and it’s bleak.

The United States internalizes Iran's unrest

 M.K. Bhadrakumar

December 9, 2022

The ongoing unrest in Iran since mid-September following the death of a Kurdish woman in police custody shows no signs of abating as of now. The unrest has drawn support from all social strata and assumed anti-government overtones. The efficacy of suppressing the unrest is doubtful. Iran is entering a period of turmoil.