Economics

Queuing is the fundamental form of social organisation and political control in Russia. It offers an image of communal existence, where the all-powerful state distributes benefits from the top, and the people, like supplicants, are organised in a single chain at the bottom.

In the first six months of the year, there was a 74 per cent increase in trade volumes. As well as investing in road improvements and logistics, Dushanbe is focusing on the digitalisation of transport services through a cooperation agreement with South Korea.

President Tharman’s visit to Kuala Lumpur provided an opportunity to reaffirm their shared concern regarding freedom of navigation, including in South-East Asia. The special economic zone currently being developed between the city-state and Johor is a visible sign of their determination to overcome past disputes.

A cryptocurrency magnate and financial beneficiary of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Sentenced in Moldova to 15 years’ imprisonment for a fraud worth one billion dollars, he was also considered a criminal in Russia. Until 2023, when he put his ‘talent’ at Moscow’s disposal to circumvent sanctions and bolster pro-Russian movements.

In Tajikistan, over 50,000 people are to be resettled to make way for the construction of Central Asia’s largest reservoir. It is due to come into operation in a year’s time, but the inhabitants of the villages that will be submerged still do not know either the amount of compensation or the date of payment.

The Norwegian centre-forward is all the rage on websites and social media. This success is also a boost to China’s image and has prompted Chinese companies to recruit him as a brand ambassador. The contrast between the national team’s absence and the prominent presence of Chinese companies in Mexico, Canada and the United States.