Dynasty begins
The week's news at a glance.
Baku, Azerbaijan
In an emergency session this week, Azerbaijan’s puppet parliament named the son of ailing President Heidar Aliev to be the new prime minister. The appointment means that Ilham Aliev, 41, will become acting president upon the death of his 80-year-old father, a KGB general who has run the oil-rich country since it was a Soviet republic. The democratic opposition denounced the “neo-monarchist” move, and some activists said they feared the elder Aliev might have already died in the Turkish hospital where he’s been lingering for weeks. The opposition has reason to be alarmed. The younger Aliev recently called the democrats “mediocre and amoral people” who would “never” be allowed to assume power.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
What to know when planning an awe-inspiring hike on the Inca Trail
The Week Recommends Peru's most famous trail leads to Machu Picchu
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Lead poisoning remains a threat
The Explainer The toxin is built into our lives
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Should you use a 529 plan? What to know about this college savings option.
The Explainer This tax-advantaged savings account can be used to pay tuition or buy textbooks
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published