Stories from Quick Reads
A small town in Tajikistan continues to live in fear of serial killers
By the end of 2024, a total of 23 people from seven families, including eight children, were killed.
The fall of symbols: Toppling Hafez al-Assad’s largest statue in Syria
For decades, statues of Hafez al-Assad symbolized power and repression. Today, they fall as Syrians reclaim public spaces from the shadows of dictatorship.
Belarussian leader Lukashenka reduced his total votes in the ‘elections’ to not surpass the ‘big brother’
“He still did not dare to surpass his ‘big brother’, but came close to his result: Vladimir Putin, according to the official version, gained 87.28% in last year’s elections.”
From Russia to the EU: The high stakes of Meta’s content moderation shift
As Mark Zuckerberg rolls out an “anti-censorship” policy for all Meta subsidiaries, we must be careful to not repeat Vladimir Putin’s playbook.
On January 10, all eyes will be on Venezuela
Venezuela's presidency feels like a toss-up as both candidates call for massive protests ahead of inauguration day on January 10.
Kusturizatsiya: One word that explains Kyrgyzstan’s fight against economic crimes
The term is a combination of the Kyrgyz word “kusturuu” (to induce vomit) and the Russian suffix “-zatsiya,” which is used at the end of words to describe a process.
Mongolia's free trade deal with the Eurasian Economic Union gets postponed after backlash from businesses
The consequences could be catastrophic with hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs and sources of income.
In conversation with Kenyan poet and storyteller Njeri Wangari
Njeri Wangari shares her changing interests and thoughts about a range of issues, including Kenya today, the future of social media and citizen journalism.
Kazakhstan's best film of 2024 explores harms of its unique and centuries-old adoption tradition
It is customary for young parents to give away their eldest or youngest child to their grandparents or older relatives.
Failed assassination attempt sparks speculations of power struggle in Uzbekistan
The timing of the incident stirred discussions of a possible power struggle unfolding among different groups close to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to solidify their position as his future successor.
Ecuador grapples with 14-hour blackouts, climate change, and alleged corruption
Ecuador's energy crisis has deepened to 14 hours a day without electricity, while Daniel Noboa's government blames the drought and past governments.
First the flag and now the anthem: How Kyrgyzstan's leadership is changing its national symbols
“Why don't we now write an anthem for future generations about the fact that our people have a five-thousand-year history?” concluded Japarov.
Moldova's presidential elections face the second round
Only slightly more than 50 percent of voters supported the inclusion of the European course in the Constitution. Moldova will hold the second round of the presidential election.
‘Buy solar panels,’ Cuban officials say as the island faces another critical blackout
In several parts of the island, people are staging nighttime protests against the regime, seeking the cover of darkness for security.
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.