Atika Shubert

Pope Leo XIV Last week, I had the privilege of witnessing a truly historic moment: the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost to Pope Leo XIV. The announcement came as a surprise to many (an American?!), and quickly turned into a celebration. I played only a small role in CNN’s coverage of the papal conclave, but what a thrill to be there in person. That first Sunday of his papacy, St.

Pope Leo XIV

Last week, I had the privilege of witnessing a truly historic moment: the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost to Pope Leo XIV. The announcement came as a surprise to many (an American?!), and quickly turned into a celebration. I played only a small role in CNN’s coverage of the papal…

Blackout Last week, we had a blackout. Not just a blown fuse—this was the real thing. No lights, no wifi, no way to communicate. So, I popped out onto my balcony to find out more. My neighbors were all leaning over their railings, passing information faster than a telegram service. The auntie downstairs shouted up to the mom of three upstairs, who then told me it wasn’t just my house, my building, or even the neighborhood.

Blackout

Last week, we had a blackout. Not just a blown fuse—this was the real thing. No lights, no wifi, no way to communicate. So, I popped out onto my balcony to find out more. My neighbors were all leaning over their railings, passing information faster than a telegram service. The auntie…

Disaster Strikes: Are We Listening Yet?

Watching the fires engulf Los Angeles, I’ve been reflecting on natural disasters, preparedness, and how often we fail to heed warnings. I posted this on LinkedIn. This piece draws on my experience covering the 2004 South Asian tsunami in Aceh and the…

Berlin Reset A few days in Berlin for a gentle reset. Which may sound surprising given the ferocious use of fireworks by Berliners on New Year’s Eve. I arrived on the big night. Passengers on the U-bahn boarded with wooden sticks of fireworks jutting up out of their backpacks, grinning and jostling each other in anticipation. Later, safely ensconced in a friend’s warm apartment, I watched these incendiaries bloom across the city, reaching a frenzied crescendo at midnight to the glorious strains of the Blue Danube Waltz, thanks to my friend’s excellent stereo system.

Berlin Reset

A few days in Berlin for a gentle reset. Which may sound surprising given the ferocious use of fireworks by Berliners on New Year’s Eve. I arrived on the big night. Passengers on the U-bahn boarded with wooden sticks of fireworks jutting up out of their backpacks, grinning and…

… How it’s going.

How it started …

Fiction Kitchen Berlin Home - Fiction Kitchen Berlin Step into the realm of the unexpected with Fiction Kitchen Berlin, the podcast that brings flash fiction to life. All stories under 15 minutes!

If you don’t know Fiction Kitchen Berlin, it’s a great source for short and flash fiction, graphic novels, and anthologies based out of Berlin. The kind of community a writer can feel instantly at home. Definitely check them out: www.fictionkitchenberlin.com

Day 6: The Fox Outside her Door by Atika Shubert Fiction Kitchen Berlin · Episode

The Fiction Kitchen Berlin podcast series is up and running! They have a new story every day until Dec 24. Excited to have my story featured alongside some amazing writers. open.spotify.com/episode/3cTL...

Spain’s siestas-and-late-nights lifestyle is making some people unhappy. Here’s why | CNN Spanish culture is known for its late nights. Now there are calls to reform a “crazy” lifestyle seen by some as an unhealthy use of time.

Gloriously long summer days. Tapas, wine and dancing into the early morning hours. So far, so Spanish. But the country’s long working day and late-night culture comes at a cost. Here’s what I learned researching this story for @CNNTravel.
www.cnn.com/travel/spain...

How this beautiful Spanish tourist city became the green capital of Europe | CNN It’s one of Spain’s sunniest cities, thanks to its Med location. Now, Valencia can also claim to be the most sustainable after winning the Green Capital of Europe title.

Learned a lot about the city I live in while reporting on this story for CNN Travel:  97% of residents in Valencia, Spain live less than 300 meters from a major green area!  But there are still big challenges to achieve sustainability goals:  www.cnn.com/travel/valen...

An eye-opening glimpse into how the levers of power are pulled inside Gojek, Indonesia’s hugely popular app for on-demand services.

Less than 30 minutes. That’s how long it took for a single fire in one apt to engulf this entire building in flames. A terrible day for Valencia. Spent the last 24 hrs reporting on this for CNN.

Homer finds out that Indonesia is at a crossroads. Homer reads The Economist

Also, how did I not know about this clip before? 😅
youtu.be/9KJSnd8VzQw?...

Indonesia’s Democracy Is Stronger Than a Strongman Why Prabowo would find it hard to rule as an authoritarian.

A clear-eyed analysis of Indonesia’s election and what to expect in the days ahead.

A ‘Democracy Party’ Like No Other: One of the World’s Biggest Elections The celebration of the act of casting a vote has particular resonance in Indonesia, which until a few decades ago was a brutal dictatorship.

Oh, the riot of color when Indonesia votes! Where else do election officials dress up as superheros? Yet, democracy is a fragile thing. Hard-earned and easily lost. This election is a particularly difficult one for voters. Watching from afar, hoping for the best.