Articles

HSBC's chief executive says the Strait of Hormuz could become "unnecessary" within five years. We tested that idea against the facts of this year. What did the September drones show? Why is a pipeline not the same as security? And what does a fair order for all parties have to do with any of it?

What the Banker Said

The region is not abandoning the dollar, but it is increasingly refusing to rely on it alone. Argentina keeps a yuan credit line, Brazil is building direct payment channels with China, and Cuba and Venezuela are hunting for workarounds. How does it all work? What do the numbers show? And how is Washington responding?

The Dollar Stays, but Not Alone

If you think the protests in Europe flared up by chance, you are mistaken. But there is no single hand on the remote control either. Who gains from the fires? Why did Washington deliver its diagnosis in advance? And what does Russian gas have to do with it?

What Was Actually Burning

In 2026, Latin America became more than a raw-materials region. It is now a place where oil, sun, wind and critical minerals converge. Who is building, who is selling, and who is buying? Let's break it down by country and by player.

The Big Picture

A second front of the Iran war has opened on the Arabian Peninsula, and the tone there is set not by Saudi skyscrapers but by Houthi missiles. What is happening between Ansar Allah, the Yemeni government and Riyadh? What does it mean for Russians and for business? How long will it last, and who is responsible for what?

How the Truce Collapsed

The region is growing slowly, and inflation is diverging across countries: Colombia and Argentina are fighting rising prices, Brazil has broken through the ceiling of its target range, and Mexico is staying within its band. What do the latest data from the IMF and central banks show? Which currencies are under pressure? And where is the region headed?

The Big Picture

The Republican Party has no collective leadership, but there is one person whose word carries more weight than anyone else's: Donald Trump. The party's headquarters is flush with cash and free of debt, and money flows through MAGA Inc. and the Senate fund. Where are decisions made? How are the limits circumvented? Is it true that the fight against the Democrats is moving to Europe?

The Charter and the Reality

Prospects for a change in the US approach to Ukraine received concrete confirmation over the past week: a diesel deal with Moscow, a speed limit on Starshield, and discussion of easing sanctions on tankers. What exactly happened? How much of a turning point is it? What does it give Russian business and the budget? Let us go through the facts.

What Happened This Week

For Russians, a vacation in Latin America comes down to route, season and area of stay, not visas. Where is the weather right now suitable for travel, which countries admit Russians without a visa, and what real threats does a traveler face? We begin with the journey and documents, because they determine the budget.

Visas and Getting There

I have worked with specialized thermal engineering structures for 34 years. In that time I have seen several crises, but the current one is different: the entire chain is breaking at once, from design to supply, installation and operation. A heavy-duty furnace for petrochemicals, aluminum, cement or power generation was never an off-the-shelf product. Today it has also become a project with an unpredictable budget and timeline.