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Tajik Migrants Find Unlikely Success Acting in Turkish Films, Soap Operas
Despite facing unemployment in Tajikistan and abroad, three Tajik migrants have found success as stuntmen and extras in Türkiye.
NilCeutica: A New Skincare Brand by Azerbaijani-American Dr. Nilufar Rahimova
How a Doctor of Pharmacology decided to open her own skincare brand after ten years of creating skincare products for herself, friends, and family.
Faig Nasibov: Explorer of Azerbaijan’s Hidden Gems
Azerbaijan is an open-air museum with many historical and natural wonders, but some are less well-known than others. Faig Nasibov has been exploring, documenting, and working to protect and preserve these treasures for the last 20 years.
Culture
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Vardanyan: A Peace-Loving Prisoner or Someone Standing in the Way of Peace?
Russian-billionaire turned Armenian activist-politician Ruben Vardanyan has reportedly been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in a move that seems aimed at persuading the world’s media to reassess his situation: he is currently awaiting trial in Azerbaijan for “terrorism-funding” charges.
Caspian data
Politics & Economy
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Central Asia in The World Press Freedom Index 2024
The latest annual World Press Freedom Index produced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has revealed the current media landscapes in 180 countries and territories, including the five Central Asian republics; the results have revealed a deplorable situation in most of these countries.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan press ahead with ambitious electricity export plan
The European Union seen as the primary export market.
Opposition Groups Rally with Archbishop Galstanyan Against Demarcation
Thousands protest in Yerevan against Armenia-Azerbaijan border demarcation, led by Archbishop Galstanyan, demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation.
Saiga Steaks: Kazakhstan to Cull Thousands of Once-Endangered Antelope as Numbers Rebound
Due to the once-endangered saiga antelope population increasing tenfold, the Kazakh government plans to cull 337,000 to protect farmers from agricultural damage caused by the animal’s grazing habits.
Uzbekistan’s Tourism Villages
Uzbekistan’s tourism village scheme is highlighting best practice in community-based tourism by supporting the rural tourism industry, with one village, Sentob, winning the 2023 UNWTO award for Best Tourism Village.
Are Glamping Yurts Yet Another Cultural Appropriation in The West?
Traditional housing used among many Central Asian nations today is utilized as an eco-friendly glamping option in the Western world. This is not the first instance when the heritage of the oppressed and underrepresented ethnic groups is used for profit. Yet who is to say what makes it cultural appropriation?
Caspian Region Gets New UNESCO Listings
On September 18, Unesco unveiled 27 new World Heritage features including three in the Caspian Region countries, plus the extension of another in Azerbaijan.
How Kazakhstan Is Reviving the Aral Sea that the Soviet Union Destroyed
Kazakhstan is leading the charge in reviving the Aral Sea, which while once a vital ecosystem, now remains a stark reminder of environmental consequences.
In Kazakhstan, the Fight Against Animal Cruelty is Far from Over
Despite new laws regarding animal abuse, incidents continue to make headlines in Kazakhstan, but what more is being done to prevent these horrific acts of cruelty?
Opinion
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Kazakhstan: Will The New Amendments to the Law “On Mass Media” Infringe Media Freedom Even More?
RFE/RL’s lawsuit against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, a potential ban on foreign media, and discrimination against journalists—Kazakhstani media’s troublesome reality.
The Latest Misogynist Remarks from Kazakh Politicians
As the government in Kazakhstan is reviewing a new bill with harsher sentences and penalties for domestic violence, Kazakh politicians continue to shock the public with their misogyny.
Zhana Adamdar: Tokayev’s New People?
The rally against violence organized by the youth movement Zhana Adamdar on 25 November received a lot of backlash from Kazakhstan’s civil society and activists, calling the movement pro-governmental and the rally performative activism.
