Russia

A generation after the Soviets limped out of Central Asia, and only five years after the Americans followed suit, Russia is back in Kabul with a deal to train and equip the Taliban's fighters

China understands that North Korea is no longer the besieged ally with no gateway other than Beijing, and that leaving the field entirely open to Russia carries a mounting strategic cost

When it comes to killing politically prominent people, countries are often best placed to do so, as a long history of state assassinations attests. But is there any evidence that it is effective?

African fighters in the Russian army reveal a global system of human disposability, where economic inequality, migration, and war make certain lives visible only in moments of selective outrage

Satellite technology from China and data analysis from Russia have helped Tehran be far more precise with its missiles and drones in its war against the US and Israel.

A coordinated attack by an Al-Qaida-linked group and Tuareg rebels was the most serious on Mali's Russian-backed military junta in years. After years of dominance, this puts Moscow on the back foot.

Moscow saw oil and gas revenue double in April and was happy to see US resources diverted away from Ukraine. But an extended war could have carried serious costs for the Kremlin.

Rising oil prices will boost the Kremlin's coffers as costs over Ukraine mount, but a total defeat of Iran could lead to the deployment of radar stations in the north, near Russia's border

The conflict has forced Russia to scale back its global footprint and NATO to boost its defence spending. Meanwhile, China and Middle powers have emerged as key beneficiaries.

Unsustainable defence spending is causing problems beyond the industry itself. As the war in Ukraine rages on, growth has slowed sharply, and few good options remain, as recession and stagnation loom.