As old energy routes buckle under the pressure of war and geopolitical disruption, governments and companies are converging on the Caspian region as the corridor that could keep Eurasia's energy flowing.
Uzbekistan's economy grew 8.5% in the first half of 2026, driven by structural reforms since 2017, with significant increases in investment, exports, and sectoral growth, alongside improved credit ratings from Moody's and Fitch.
The European Central Bank presented ten finalist designs for future euro banknotes, inviting public participation in a vote between "European culture" (featuring historical figures like Callas, Beethoven, Curie) and "nature" (symbolic birds and EU institutions). The new banknotes are expected to enter circulation from late 2026.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) struggles to empower small businesses due to infrastructure and border issues. Meanwhile, Togo is boosting its tech sector by assembling local computers, and Egypt's "Garbage City" recyclers are thriving from increased demand for local plastics amid import disruptions.
Many leaders perceive a talent problem, but the core issue is a mismatch between AI-driven skill changes and outdated hiring/management practices. Companies must adapt how they recruit, lead, and organize work to leverage AI effectively and address the evolving labor market.
France experienced a net loss of 800 millionaires in 2025, driven by political instability, wealth tax debates like Gabriel Zucman's proposal, and attractive tax regimes abroad, despite a large wealthy population remaining.
Indeed data shows AI-labelled job postings are rapidly increasing across major European economies like Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, and Spain, with the majority now found outside traditional tech occupations, indicating AI's mainstream integration into the labor market.
