Stories about Breaking News
The life sentence handed to Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala is a dark day for the civil society in Turkey
Turkey's renowned philanthropist Osman Kavala was sentenced to life in prison after having spent four and a half years behind bars for baseless crimes.
Russia’s cyberwarfare remains limited, while Ukraine is crowdsourcing its own
Since 2008, Russia has been lauded as a cyber superpower. In the past, Russian cyber attacks have taken out electric grids, hacked elections, bankrupted corporations, and disabled military infrastructure. Nations across the world have been bracing for increased levels of cyberattacks, fearing that Russia will retaliate against sanctions by infiltrating global...
Following invasion of Ukraine, Russia declares war on its citizens
Draconian punishments and social persecution are making it increasingly more dangerous to speak out against the official government narrative.
Jamaicans anxious as the government attempts to get nationals out of Ukraine
"My soul is in joy and peace despite all the pain and sadness I have encountered here in Ukraine."
Unexpected reaction in Prague after Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Quite unexpectedly, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shifted the position of Moscow's most influential supporter in the Czech Republic: President Zeman, who has just described Moscow's actions as a "crime".
Russian discourse about the war in Ukraine is not monolithic
While Putin’s voice might seem to represent the Russian discourse, he only speaks for himself. Russian people’s views on the situation in Ukraine and about Russia’s military attack vary widely.
Ukrainian refugees gather at the borders with Moldova, Slovakia, Poland
"At five in the morning, friends called us to tell us this is war. We packed what we had and took to the road."
Belgium introduces new passport design featuring characters from domestic comics
"The introduction of this new passport is also an opportunity for us to highlight the 9th art, the comic strip, which is a central element of our culture and our influence abroad"
Belarusian cyberactivists claim railway system hack to protest Russian troop movements
The hacker collective said it would be prepared to hand over encryption keys if 50 Belarusian political prisoners were released and the presence of Russian troops in Belarus was “prevented.”
Fuel protests spill over into political demands across Kazakhstan
A regional dispute over higher fuel prices turned into a mass protest across Kazakhstan, where people demand more freedom, while the government sent special forces to disperse the crowds.
Independent Hong Kong news outlet Citizen News announces shut down
Citizen News was established by a group of veteran journalists in 2017. In its shut down announcement the news team said they can not fulfill their ideals without any worry.
Azerbaijan's controversial media law has grave consequences for media freedom and independence
Hailed by its proponents as the reform bill, its impact on the media freedom and independence in Azerbaijan is going to be extensive, critics of the law say.
Hong Kong police raid pro-democracy Stand News, arrest six on sedition charges
"Founded in December 2014, Stand News is an independent, non-profit, Cantonese-Chinese news website that undertakes to defend fundamental Hong Kong values – democracy, human rights, freedom, rule of law and justice."
Russian censors block website of legal aid non-profit OVD-Info
"We see this as a continuation of the state's attack on civil society. It is no surprise that the attack is now focused on OVD-Info."
Hong Kong: Pillar of Shame is gone, along with the city’s freedom of expression
A most evocative monument to the Tiananmen Massacre, which stood in the University of Hong Kong for 24 years, since June 1997, was removed by the school administrator before dawn on December 23, 2021.
The Turkish Lira continues to lose value at a breakneck pace
Turkey's largest business group urged President Erdoğan's government to "return to rules of economic science."
Russian filmmaker Sergei Solovyov dies at 77
Solovyov is best known for films portraying the turbulent transformations in Russian and Soviet society that occurred during the late 1980s during the perestroika and glasnost era.
Russia blocks access to Tor browser website
The push for greater online censorship is part of the country's "sovereign internet" strategy which seeks to cement centralised state control over internet infrastructure and online spaces.
The US government confirms diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
The US government announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, citing concern over “egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang.” More countries will likely follow.
Protest in support of jailed opposition activist in Baku turns violent
Scores of activists gathered in the capital Baku to protest the unlawful imprisonment of political prisoner Saleh Rustamov, demanding his immediate release. Rustamov himself is on hunger strike since November 6.
Armenia’s ex-president Serzh Sargsyan faces bribery charges
The ex-president charged with bribery, in what his lawyer describes as an an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing political and military crisis between Armenia and Azerbaijan.