Iran’s Loyalists Promote a Wider Nationalism, Unveiled Women Included
Government supporters are showing off new ties with alleged former dissidents in a bid to show that they can withstand enemies at home as well as abroad.
Propaganda
The Ex-Mayor of Arcadia, Her Boyfriend and the Chinese Government
Eileen Wang pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent. But what could Beijing want from the mayor of a small California city known as the “Chinese Beverly Hills”?
Glitz and Boycotts at Eurovision
The song contest has camp, glitter and pyrotechnics. And, this year, protests over Israel’s participation.
How Israel Turned Eurovision’s Stage Into a Soft Power Tool
Israel’s efforts to influence Eurovision’s vote were broader and started years earlier than previously known.
American Commentator Who Worked for Russian TV Challenges Biden-era Charges
The Biden administration called Dimitri Simes, a former Trump adviser, a Russian propagandist. He says the charges against him violate free speech.
How Lu Xun, a Famous Chinese Writer, Became a Cute Communist Mascot
The Chinese Communist Party has turned Lu Xun, a Mao-era hero who excoriated the establishment, into a bland, Disney-style character.
How Pakistan Is Trying to Reshape Its Image Abroad
New, friendly media operations and expanded state-run television are pushing Pakistan’s message while independent news outlets face repression.
Hacked App Part of US/Israeli Propaganda Campaign Against Iran
Wired has the story:
Shortly after the first set of explosions, Iranians received bursts of notifications on their phones. They came not from the government advising caution, but from an apparently hacked prayer-timing app called BadeSaba Calendar that has been downloaded more than 5 million times from the Google Play Store.
The messages arrived in quick succession over a period of 30 minutes, starting with the phrase ‘Help has arrived’ at 9:52 am Tehran time, shortly after the first set of explosions. No party has claimed responsibility for the hacks…
Russia Celebrated Him. Now He’s Accused of Having Troops Shoot Themselves.
A lieutenant colonel is on trial after being accused of skimming payments for battlefield injuries. He denies the specifics of Russia’s accusation but acknowledges engaging in a payouts scheme.
U.S. Allies Are Drawing Closer to China, but on Beijing’s Terms
As Washington unsettles its partners, Beijing is reaping diplomatic gains, without backing down on human rights, trade or security.