The Kremlin's economic indicators are causing unease, while smaller states in Russia's sphere of influence are eyeing opportunities to reduce their reliance on Moscow. What will the year ahead bring?
From education and infrastructure to housing, culture, construction, creativity, technology, workforce participation, and innovation, the country is rapidly moving beyond oil
What was cutting-edge in 2000 now sits in museums. From wires, dial-up, and fax paper to the world in the palm of your hand, tech empires have risen and fallen in just a generation.
Economic and technological dynamism characterised 2025, with ambitious initiatives aimed at accelerating non-oil growth, diversifying national economies, and ushering in regional integration
There are common themes between those states experiencing growth and those facing crisis and instability. It pays to look at the success stories and to think bigger, including on a regional level.
Oil markets in 2025 traded headlines for fundamentals, as OPEC+ supply management, a cautious pivot by the US Federal Reserve, and resilient global demand kept prices in a narrow range
Whether American military action triggers a rapid collapse of Iran's regime or gradually erodes it over time, all paths lead to one destination: the end of the Islamic Republic
Those who somehow managed to survive starvation, bombs and disease now face a punishing winter in 'shelters' as battered as Palestinian existence itself
If history is any indication, then yes. While much of modern-day America was acquired through conquest, large chunks of the country were also bought from reluctant sellers under pressure.
The economy is a mess and the politics are askew but the Lebanese are once again learning how to celebrate, these days to the tune of Badna Nrou, meaning 'We need to calm down'