Vladimir Putin’s momentous constitutional reform proposals are seen as a means of enabling him to retain power and influence after he steps down from the presidency in 2024. The proposed changes are wide-ranging, overhauling the country’s system of governance. They will be put to a referendum but, even if they are approved, their sheer scale may make them difficult to implement. Alaco's Head of Content, Yigal Chazan, and one of our Russian experts, Nathan Andrews, discuss the risks and challenges Putin faces in pushing forward with his plans.

The US killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad has put the spotlight on Iran's involvement in Iraq, in particular its support for Shia militias, or Popular Mobilisation Forces. They played a key role in defeating Islamic State, but their continued presence poses a serious challenge to the Iraqi authorities. Alaco's Head of Content Yigal Chazan and Middle East analyst Kavar Kurda discuss concerns over the militants.

Rogue states subject to punitive international sanctions are reportedly turning to cryptocurrencies to try to mitigate their impact. Iran, Venezuela, Russia and North Korea are said to be experimenting with blockchain technology to get around prohibitions on dollar-denominated transactions. Yigal Chazan, Alaco's Head of Content, and Henry Burrows, co-founder of Alaco subsidiary Alaco Analytics, discuss these digital efforts to blunt economic sanctions.

The Turkish incursion into northern Syria has left the leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq in a difficult position.

While the KRG has expressed concerns for ethnic kin in Syria, it has to be careful not to jeopardise its crucial, some would say lifeline, commercial trade with Turkey.

Alaco Head of Content Yigal Chazan discusses the dilemma with one of Alaco’s Middle East analysts Kavar Kurda.

Sanctions have steadily increased in recent years yet the Russian economy, though struggling, appears to be surprisingly resilient.

Alaco's Head of Content, Yigal Chazan, interviews our senior Russian expert Daria Plakhova-Freshville on the impact of western sanctions on Russia.

Why Ukraine struggles to keep a lid on corruption by Alaco

Army's key role in Venezuelan power struggle by Alaco

US Iranian sanctions waivers by Alaco

Alaco's Director of Research James Birkett discusses the impact of the re-imposition of sanctions on the Iranian economy and the impact they will have on Iran's other trading partners.

Alaco's podcast looks at the background to President Putin's controversial plans to raise the retirement age and assesses the political and economic implications of the public outcry provoked by the move.