Scrapping foreign ownership caps and qualifying criteria will bring in more capital, with markets reacting positively to the latest reforms that build towards a more open country
With seasonal rainfall easing pressure on agriculture and nearly 20 million international tourists visiting the country, there are reasons for optimism, but youth unemployment remains a big problem
Debt is colossal but there are promising indicators, not least in inflation, legal reforms, the sale of government assets, and monetary stability. Will these green shoots be allowed to grow and bloom?
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.
If the ceasefire collapses, China has an interest in getting the two sides back to the table, but it would be a difficult task given Tehran's deep mistrust of the US and Israel.
Israel's parliament approved a draconian death penalty law last week that only applies to Palestinian prisoners, in a move that the UN says "would constitute a war crime"