Oleg Barabanov

From power generation and agriculture to infrastructure development, Africa is a continent of immense potential for external economic engagement. Now, the very character of Russia’s trade and investment on the continent is undergoing change as African economies mature and develop. Denis Degterev, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, explores the hopeful prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and the countries of the continent.

One of the key characteristics of the modern world is the trend toward the increasing internationalisation of higher education, particularly at the master’s level. More and more universities are entering the international market for education and establishing themselves. Competition for international applicants is becoming increasingly intense, both between countries and within individual universities. International university rankings have contributed to this.

Seven lessons from the US-Israel campaign against Iran reveal that major powers can retreat, diplomacy still works, and nuclear deterrence is evolving—but exit strategies remain harder than entry, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Ivan Timofeev.