Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, have teetering economies. The Economist Intelligence Unit says that the risk of sovereign debt default in Kyrgyzstan is high. Meanwhile, poverty, unemployment, austerity, electricity shortages, and political repression are sources of possible destabilization in 2024-25 in Tajikistan.
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Boat with refugees and migrants sinks off Greece
At least 78 people have died and more than 100 were rescued after a fishing boat carrying refugees and migrants capsized and sank off the southern coast of Greece. The Greek coastguard said on Wednesday the vessel sank in international waters, 47 nautical miles southwest southwest of Pylos, off the Peloponnese coast. About 100 people had been rescued.
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Israel officially declared a state of war on Hamas
Israel officially declared a state of war after Hamas launched 5,000 rockets and ground attacks on Saturday, October 17, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would suffer unprecedented consequences.
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Millions vote in Nigeria election
Long queues have formed at polling stations in Nigeria as millions vote in the most competitive presidential election since military rule ended. Since 1999, Africa’s most populous country has been dominated by two parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party. But this time, there is also a strong challenge from a third-party candidate, the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who is backed by many young people.
