Stories from Quick Reads
Iran sees 80% spike in executions two years after protests
From October 2022 to September 2024, at least 1,452 people were executed, a significant rise from 779 in the two years prior to the 2022 protests.
Twenty-five new cases of whooping cough in a week in North Macedonia, mostly unvaccinated babies affected
“It's essential to remember the lives at stake, especially our little ones. Vaccines against pertussis have proven to be safe and effective, and every action we take today shapes the health of tomorrow."
Mongolia’s new minister is determined to reform its education sector
Since becoming a minister in July, he has already introduced dozens of changes covering everything from pre-school to higher education.
Central Asians display unprecedented regional solidarity at the Paris Olympics
This level of solidarity showcased that Central Asians have developed a common regional identity and view each other as more than just adjacent nations.
Belarusian stand-up comedian who compared Lukashenka to a sparrow is accused of defamation
The comedian is well-known for his outspoken criticism of the Belarusian regime and its security forces, particularly in the wake of the 2020 opposition protests
Meet the US boxer who laid the foundation of boxing in Uzbekistan
Thousands of children went through his boxing school, and some of them went on to become world and Olympic champions, not to mention dozens of boxers who won national championships.
Belarusians in exile dismayed that no Belarusian was included in the prisoner swap
The plight of Belarusian political prisoners is often overlooked, and although 18 were released last month, an estimated 1,400 remain behind bars.
Venezuela's civic space hangs in the balance with election results
The stakes are very high for civil society, as the civic space risks being completely shut down under a new Maduro administration.
Mongolia’s olympic uniforms draw praise abroad and criticism at home
Mongolians criticised Michel&Amazonka designers for lack of creativity and blamed it for replicating Manchu clothing of Manchu people, an ethnic minority from China.
Two Moldovan archers will carry the country’s flag at the Olympics
The Moldovan team will consist of 26 athletes in the following sports: wrestling, canoe and kayak rowing, equestrian sports, athletics (track and field), shooting, archery, and weightlifting.
One of the last liberal universities in Russia shuts down its political science department
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, a lot of formerly progressive universities had to adopt concervative policies under the pressure of the state or by own initiatives
Mongolia's new electoral system results in greater representation in the parliament
It was the first time in the country’s history as many as five political parties won seats in the parliament.
Kyrgyzstan’s president’s niece undermines his efforts to remold national traditions
The over-the-top engagement ceremony delivered a blow to the authorities ongoing work to remold local traditions surrounding the celebration of major life-cycle events.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway: Between optimism and concern
The proposed route will further integrate Kyrgyzstan into Central Asian trade routes and potentially open new transport avenues to European and Gulf countries.
Poland plans to close the last border crossings with Belarus as migrant crisis continues
‘Like in Finland, the talk in Poland is of instrumentalized migration driven by a hostile foreign state, not of the humanitarian needs of those on the move.’
Russian LGBTQ+ activist attended the Pride march in Moldova
According to the organizers, it was the largest march in Moldova's history, with over 800 participants
Where are the unusual swarms of bees in Chișinău, Moldova, coming from?
Similar occurrences have been observed in previous years, and the appearance of bees in urban areas is largely coincidental
Wild horses return to their historic natural habitat in Kazakhstan
This initiative became a major milestone in global wildlife preservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horses from extinction and reintroduce them to their natural habitat.
President Zelenskyy’s first interview with Central Asian journalists warns of dangers of being in Russia’s orbit
The interview came at a time when people in Central Asia remain divided regarding their opinion on the war in Ukraine.
The jury from Moldova gave highest points to Ukraine during Eurovision 2024
Viewers and the jury from Moldova awarded the maximum number of points — 12 points each — to the performance of representatives from the neighboring country, Ukraine
An activist translates Minecraft, manga, and Harry Potter from Russian into the Chuvash language
Recently, interest in Indigenous languages has intensified in some republics of Russia. Communities appear on various social media, helping to learn languages and use them in everyday life.
