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Kazakhstan's stifling calm is shattered, and the fault lines have long been visible.
Kazakhstan’s illusory stability has cracked
Latest stories
#helloTürkiye — Turkey's latest attempt to rebrand itself
The branding campaign follows a presidential circular signed on December 4, 2021, requiring the use of "Türkiye" instead of "Turkey" in all correspondence with other states, international institutions, and organizations.
An overview of Indonesia’s coal export ban and Asia’s energy crisis
All coal mining companies in Indonesia are required to reserve 25 percent of their coal supply for domestic sale, which they have been shirking since coal prices skyrocketed internationally in 2021.
These podcasters are carrying African Languages into the new audio world
When it comes to podcasting language, English is the dominant choice for many African podcasters due to its broad appeal at both a continental and global level
Australia’s refugees react to double standard over tennis star Novak Djokovic's treatment
"It's sad that so many contacted me about Djokovic. I've been in a cage for 9 years, I turn 24 today, and all you want to talk to me about is that."
Twitter's deal with Nigerian government sacrifices digital rights
Considering the Nigerian government’s temperamental past, violation of citizens' online freedom of expression will be much easier because Twitter is now a registered and taxable company under Nigerian laws.
Bulli Bai, Sulli Deals cases highlight rising communal misogyny in India
More than a hundred Muslim women in India woke up to find themselves up for auction on an app on the morning of January 1, 2022. It has since been taken down.
Women weavers in Assam weather the pandemic and climate change through community groups
Women across 210 villages in Assam have created a network of self-help groups to promote traditional skills such as weaving and gardening to supplement their family income during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Typhoon Rai aftermath highlights Duterte’s sluggish disaster response
Duterte and his officials have failed to respond to the crisis, deflecting blame with excuses such as depleted governmental funds, media underreporting, and impassable roads.
Excitement, misgivings over Japan's newest bullet train
The public is questioning the very utility of the new West Kyushu shinkansen line, which complicates travel in certain areas and remains only partially completed.
‘I didn't ask for it!': Four women fighting against gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The spontaneous decision to host a page where women would anonymously share their experiences of sexual assault and harassment has received a response far beyond anything the activists expected.
Syrian survivors of torture rejoice over German court indicting ex-intelligence officer
Raslan was found guilty of killing over 30 people, and torturing thousands between 2011 and 2012, when he was head of investigations in a notorious prison.
‘Our activism won't stop': The Oyan movement recounts the January protests in Kazakhstan
Accused of stirring up the protest by the president and political analysts, activists from Oyan, Qazaqstan! tell their version of the story of the protests and violence that shook Kazakhstan.
How e-bikes can promote cycling in Tbilisi
One factor that could soon change this is the increasing prevalence of e-bikes.
A 2019 Kazakh song about Nur-Sultan reads like news commentary in January 2022
A three-year old song describes in prophetic tones the violence that rocked Kazakhstan in January 2022 and speaks about the state of mind of many Kazakhs.
Death of a student sparks debate on religious community-run housing in Turkey
With Kara's death, controversy over private religious community-run housing has emerged, with critics calling on the AKP to abolish these dormitories and turn them into public student housing.
Typhoon Rai overwhelms the Philippines’ Queen City of the South
A month after Typhoon Rai rampaged through the Philippines, residents of Metro Cebu continue to struggle to overcome the devastation brought by the storm on December 16, 2021.
In Georgia, six months after the tragic death of journalist, authorities blame drug overdose
The same day, authorities claimed Lashkarava died from drug overdose, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Laskharava's name to its observatory of killed journalists in 2021.
Heavy snowfall kills tourists at a hill station in Pakistan
At least 23 people, including women and children have died in cars that were stranded due to heavy snowfall in the Murree hill station area near the capital of Pakistan.
Undertones: From ‘Satanic’ QR codes and ‘public enemies’, navigating the pandemic in Russia
Protests erupted throughout the country in late 2021 and polarization is deepening, as government members and state media label anti-vaxxers “enemies of the people,” a term loaded with negative historical connotations.
Iranians demand justice on anniversary of airplane downing
Protesters in Tehran and Toronto, where many of the victims lived, called for justice against those responsible, as April's court ruling did not reveal identities, ranks or punishments of those convicted.
Erdoğan and the AKP's war with art and culture
In the years since the ascent to power, President Erdoğan's, ruling, Justice and Development Party (AKP) has slowly taken under its control much of the country's art and culture scene.
China’s Belt & Road Initiative: Deal or steal?
Our latest Civic Media Observatory investigation examines the ways China is advancing its interests as a global power and projecting its ambitions in other countries. Chinese diplomacy took a key turn in 2013 when it announced the strategy now known as the Belt and Road Initiative, which is widely considered the cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy. Our investigation looks at the intersection of Chinese technology transfer, soft power, communications technology buildout, and public information.
