Azima Akhmatova

Pacific Islands are facing a serious debt crisis that has been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown of the tourism industry. Research based on International Monetary Fund country reports shows that average debt-to-GDP ratio for Pacific states has risen from 32.9 per cent in 2019 (before the pandemic) to 42.2 per cent in 2021. Fiji, Vanuatu and Palau all have debt-to-GDP ratios greater than 70 per cent.

May 11, 2020 An unstable Afghanistan threatens all kinds of trouble for its neighbours. For Russia, it may be a golden opportunity. Three months have passed since the United States and the Taliban signed an “Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan”. For the Americans, it aims to put an end to the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan, which has lasted more than 18 years.

With U.S. Afghan Exit, Russia Eyes Central Asian Security | RealClearDefense