Informality allows people to change their immediate circumstances for the better, but it locks the state and society in a vicious circle of reproduction of a weak state, promising insecurity for the majority and prosperity for the few, Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic and Denisa Kostovicova write for openDemocracy. To deflect criticism for …

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan at the beginning of February to discuss bilateral economic cooperation. A business forum Turkey-Kyrgyzstan will be held during the visit.

Albania’s parliament approved on Monday two appointments to fill cabinet posts of deputy prime minister and economy minister. In a 72-0 vote, lawmakers in the 140-seat parliament endorsed the appointment