Despite sanctions, a brain drain, investor withdrawal, inflation, high interest rates, falling oil prices and reducing reserves, Vladimir Putin thinks Russia's economy is A-grade. Is it?

No stranger to a world in flux, the West's alliance has grown since the Cold War. It has fresh challenges from an old foe and a new global power to address.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have several moves left to alter the war's outcome. The ability to do so largely depends on the commitment of resources and the will to fight.

The deep divisions within British politics in 2024 suggest it will add to the instability of the Western alliance as it grapples with major challenges from mass migration to the Ukraine war.­

While Russia's war machine has suffered greatly, it has not collapsed. In fact, it is thriving and is making advances in some places.

The Ukraine war has shrunk Russia's ability to export weapons, but Western sanctions and Moscow's damaged global image have also made importers more reluctant to buy Russian arms.

Kyiv now controls state-of-the-art armour. Its strategies will determine if the hardware can help change a complex war under skies it does not control, or if the arrival is just symbolic.

Moscow's edge over Kyiv has been its naval power, as Ukraine has virtually no navy. But over the past few weeks, a successful Ukrainian offensive has helped tip the scales in the conflict.

It can be argued that Russia's war on Ukraine started in 2008 when it invaded Georgie. Al Majalla explains why the South Caucasus is an important missing piece of the discussion.

Erdoğan's visit shows that, though Russia may be diminished, Putin is still able to put pressure on the Turkish president and flex his muscles. Al Majalla explores the complicated dynamics at play.