Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt severed relations with Doha last week, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and their arch-enemy Iran. Several other countries later followed suit. The recent dispute between Qatar and some of its neighbours is the most serious dispute among them in years, and has the potential to further destabilise an already turbulent region. But the crisis also presents a potential opportunity.
The U.K. has officially begun the formal process of leaving the European Union. It promises to be a messy breakup, with wrangling over shared assets, finances and the future of trade. Top EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, has warned that Britain faces severe disruption to air traffic, nuclear fuel shortages and delays in moving goods across the channel if an agreement on Brexit cannot be reached.
Located on Africa’s east coast, Kenya has been labeled the “cradle of humanity”. From a young age, children’s eyes are open to the real world, where they are taught to stand on their own feet by making their own decisions to survive in the wild. The country has the potential to become one of the most prominent African success stories thanks to its new constitution, dynamic private sector and growing youthful population.
Morocco’s steady growth and political stability represent major factors of the country’s growing influence in Africa. Since 1999, King Mohamed VI has initiated major political and economic changes with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable development.
Greece became the nucleus of Europe’s debt crisis following the implosion of Wall Street in 2008. Many mechanisms that EU members took for granted, and believed in, ended during the latest financial crisis.
The recent and widening meat scandal is shaking the Brazilian corporate sector in a big way, already struggling with the worst recession to hit Latin America`s biggest economy. The country’s meat selling scandal has brought to the fore BRF and JBS, two of Brazil’s most successful companies, which are currently under investigation.
Venezuela is besieged by international scorn and popular protests as its government has grown increasingly dictatorial. President Nicolas Maduro claims that his country is a victim of an "economic war" led by opposition businesses.