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Brazilian Prostitutes Take Foreign Languages Classes To Prepare For World Cup

BBC MUNDO (UK), CLARIN (Argentina)

RIO DE JANEIRO - The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is just 18 months away, and the entire nation is preparing. Local prostitutes, for their part, are getting ready to make sure they can keep up with the expected influx of international visitors by studying English, French, and Italian, as well as brushing up on proper Portuguese, Clarin reports.

The courses will be offered by a sex workers’ union in the state of Minas Gerais. The union’s president said that 20 women have signed up for the classes already. The courses are expected to begin in March, and the union is trying to find language teachers to give classes on a volunteer basis, BBC MUNDO reports.

The union president explained that it is important for the girls to be able to explain to clients how much they will charge, and to be able to understand what services they like. She hopes that the classes will last for eight months.

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Geopolitics

How Iran's Supreme Leader Is Short-Circuiting Diplomacy To Forge Alliances In Arab World

Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei recently sent out a special envoy to ease tensions with wealthy Arab neighbors. He's hoping to end the country's international isolation and dismal economic conditions that contributed to last year's mass protests.

Image of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei smiling, a portrait of himself behind him.

Ayatollah Khamenei on March 21st, 2023, delivering his annual speech in the Imam Reza's (pbuh) shrine, on the first day of 1402 Persian New Year.

Kayhan-London

-Analysis-

Needing to revive its diplomatic options and financial ties with the Middle East, Iran's embattled regime recently sent a senior security official and former defense minister — instead of members of the diplomatic corps — to talk business with regional powers that have been keeping Iran at arm's length.

After a surprise deal in mid-March to restore diplomatic ties with the Saudi monarchy, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, traveled to the United Arab Emirates, meeting with officials including the federation's head, Sheikh Muhammad bin Zaid Al Nahyan. His meetings are expected to ease the flow of regional money into Iran's economy, which is practically on pause after years of international sanctions. After Abu Dhabi, Shamkhani went to Baghdad.

Shamkhani was effectively acting as an envoy of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and supplanting the country's diplomatic apparatus. This wasn't the first time an Iranian foreign minister has been sidelined in crucial international affairs.

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