It has the second largest oil reserves among the former Soviet republics after Russia, and its oil exports are expected to soar as its huge Kashagan oil field, in the Caspian Sea, develops.
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has announced he is to introduce curbs on the use of employment agencies in the National Health Service as bills for temporary staff soar.
Having started 2012 at about 4.5% Nigel Farage's party has seen its support soar as euroscepticism has spread among voters, against the background of the eurozone crisis and arguments over the EU budget.
According to charities that are part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), the death rates will soar unless the situation is turned around.
Temperatures are set to soar to 28C (82F) next weekend with the weather at holiday resorts in the UK to rival those in the Mediterranean.
But there is one speech which does all of these – sing, sear, speak and soar – sometimes simultaneously and, as a result, stands alone: President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, delivered on the East Portico of the White House on March 4, 1865: It is my favorite political speech of all time.
Environmental campaigners ratcheted up the pressure for a judge-led inquiry into undercover policing today, after the last two protesters in the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station case were given community service orders.
This is a lovely take on the latest Snowman TV film, as you soar above London and other cities collecting snowflakes.
Soar is quoted as saying "theoretically we are banned from lobbying ministers … we call it something different".
But the consequence of this policy is the creation of thousands of new benefit-dependent tenants while the £24bn housing benefit bill will continue to soar.
There are no nominations for comeback albums from Kate Bush (50 Words for Snow) or Dexys (One Day I'm Going to Soar).
