The Intelligence from The Economist Suspension of this belief? Iran’s morality police
14 snips
Dec 6, 2022 
Nicholas Pelham, Middle East correspondent, and David Rennie, Beijing bureau chief, dive into the evolving social landscape of Iran and China. They discuss the disbandment of Iran's morality police amid ongoing protests for women's rights and freedoms. Pelham highlights public defiance and the struggle for reform, while Rennie contrasts state-controlled media narratives in China with the reality of widespread unrest. They also explore the surprising influx of women into the funeral services industry and how it reflects broader societal changes.
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China eases COVID rules, state TV ignores protests
- China eased some zero-COVID rules after widespread protests, which were widely reported globally.
- Chinese state television, specifically the national nightly news, ignored the protests.
Xinwen Lianbo's portrayal of China and the US
- Xinwen Lianbo, China's nightly news, focused on positive news like equipment manufacturing, downplaying COVID.
- They presented an orderly image of COVID control, contrasting it with negative coverage of the pandemic in America.
Xinwen Lianbo's focus on America's COVID struggles
- Xinwen Lianbo consistently highlights America's COVID struggles, using grim imagery.
- This deflects attention from China's own challenges and reinforces a narrative of China's superior handling of the crisis.