Turkmenistan
The ‘Gates of Hell’ Could be Closed After Blazing for 50 Years
Maybe they shouldn't have been opened in the first place?
Inside the Weird, Opulent World of Turkmenistan’s Dentist-DJ Dictator
“This is a repressive, totalitarian regime that doesn’t care about what the United Nations or the rest of the world may think of it.”
The President of Turkmenistan Unveiled a Gold Statue of His Favourite Dog
The country has one of the worst human rights records of anywhere in the world and has claimed, totally improbably, not to have recorded a single case of the coronavirus this year.
Turkmen President Dispels Rumours of His Death by Doing Doughnuts at the 'Gates of Hell'
The 62-year-old proved he's alive by racing a rally car around a flaming crater in the desert.
Here Are Some Uncomfortable Photos of Putin Trying to Hold a Puppy
Is he making it dance around on the floor or something?
Turkmenistan’s Government Is Forcibly Demolishing Homes to Host a Martial Arts Tournament
‘The Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games’ are usually a celebration of Asia's relationship with martial arts. However, its 2017 edition has taken a sinister turn.
Uzbekistan Is Forcing 'Volunteers' to Toil in Its Cotton Fields
Documents show that the world's fifth-largest cotton exporter is forcing students to sign contracts "volunteering" to work during the harvest season or face expulsion.
Turkmenistan’s 'Gates of Hell' Now Attracting Tourists, Spiders
The gas crater has been ablaze for over 40 years.
Turkmenistan’s Horse-Loving President Built a Giant Gold Statue of Himself Atop His Favorite Steed
Mounted on a column of white marble that towers nearly 70 feet above Turkmenistan’s capital, the extravagant statue portrays the president and his horse White Khan.
Syrian Regime Desperately Trying to Rescue Troops Stranded in Town Captured by Islamist Rebels
More than 200 regime loyalists are holed up in a hospital complex encircled by rebel fighters in the northwestern city of Jisr al-Shughour.
Reporters Without Borders Unblocks Censored News Sites
The press freedom advocacy group created duplicates of the banned sites, which have been suppressed by the governments of 11 countries.
Iranian Submarine Warfare Is Not the Dumbest Thing in the Caspian Sea
The international disputes around the Caspian resemble a game of King of the Hill, played on a water slide covered in oil, in the dark.