As the U.S finally leaves Afghanistan, China could fill the vacuum
As the last American troops prepare to leave Afghanistan, Taliban militants continue to make gains. The insurgents have escalated their offensive against government forces this...
Under the cover of Coronavirus, democratic backsliding
Democracy in decline A new report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) bears a sombre headline: global democracy has had an awfully bad year in...
Russian retail investors flock to stock market for easy gains, creating a bubble
Maybe it is just COVID. Sitting at home during lockdown stimulates the search for excitements that one can enjoy without having to go outside. Trading...
Ankara & Brussels: Turkey cannot afford a confrontation
Turkey’s economy remains in dire straits. Its currency, the Lira, has lost thirty per cent of its value against the US dollar just this year...
China, Uyghurs, forced labour: a recipe for litigation?
China’s treatment of its Uyghurs population could spark a wave of lawsuits. (more…)
In Donald Trump, North Korea loses an unlikely ally
“When Donald Trump first strides into the Oval Office as president, his perfect day is likely to be ruined by a file marked “North Korea.”...
Foreign investors harassed and fleeced in Kyrgyzstan under new regime
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan, which quickly embraced progressive economic and political changes, was initially seen as a beacon of democracy and...
Kazakhstan’s International Financial Centre: A Hub Too Far
Creating an international finance centre out of nothing is not an easy task. Kazakhstan made a daring bid in 2018 to launch a financial hub...
What President Biden could mean for Central Asia
As President-Elect Joe Biden prepares for government, his transition team looks to reclaim American foreign policy from Trump-era isolationism. President Trump had famously declared “America...
All quiet in Turkmenistan
Earlier this month, as his neighbours struggled to contain the coronavirus, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov unveiled a golden statue of a sheepdog. It appeared a...