IMF has raised its forecast for 2026 GDP growth in Russia. To me that signals an elevated average price for crude in 2026. The IMF sees a conclusion to the Iran crisis soon as unlikely?
https://tradingeconomics.com/russia/news/news/541893
I hope that won't happen. The strait of Gibraltar is only 9 miles wide. I don't want the US navy blockading the strait, paralysing Europe-Asia trade until the king of Spain goes to Washington to kiss the king of America's feet.
Trump seems to take the view that NATO forces are there to do what US forces do - carry out the wishes of the US C-in-C ie execute US foreign policy.
Attacking Iran may be US policy (because the US is following Israeli policy) but US foreign policy is not neccessarily the same as that of other...
Are you talking of supply chain problems with just the IN20 version of F404 or are T-7A and Hurjet facing supply problems, too?
I find it difficult to believe a 2+ year delay on delivery of F404 to India is due solely to supply problems. No doubt there were supply problems but I wonder if...
On the ground Russia continues advancing this year but by how much is not agreed
https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/russia-claims-capturing-1700-sq-kms-of-ukrainian-territory-in-2026
A Swedish view of Russia's economic situation, source UK newspaper Daily Mail
The downward slide in Russia continues. Keep going, Putin, you can bring Russia still further down.
As I remember things, Gadaffi threatened to annihilate a faction in Libya which triggered the Europeans to intervene. He was killed by Libyans who caught him while attempting to flee. Why do you claim the Israelis had him killed?
I don't think the Zionists will be responsible for a world...
If the US renews attacks with possible invasion of part of Iran, could those troops wipe out Iran's ability to strike ships in the Gulf? If not, I don't see the point of a limited invasion of the country.
My guess is that most of the ships stuck in the Gulf will still be stuck there when the ceasefire ends. If there is a longer ceasefire agreed in the next few days how many ship owners would sail their ships into the Gulf? They might end up being stuck there for weeks or months.
I see the...
Yesterday from BBC correspondent Frank Gardner
Today from BBC news:
Iran's military says it will close the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US maintaining its blockade, Iranian state media reports
Iran's foreign minister said on Friday the Strait of Hormuz would "completely open" to...
This sort of thing is done too often by Israel. The people involved seem to be sociopaths yet other Israelis refuse to condemn their actions. Some even celebrate. I am certain Israelis would be outraged if similar murder were committed against them.
Good news - if true and it lasts more than a few hours. I bet there are hundreds of ship's crews just itching to get out of the Gulf. The sooner they get moving, the better. You never know, Trump might say something antagonising or insulting to the Iranians and suddenly the Gulf will be closed...
I hope that you are right in predicting that all Ukrainians will be able to regain their freedom.
Putin planned a Blitzkrieg to seize power from the Ukrainian government but that did not succeed. Instead of then looking for pretexts to disentangle the Russian army, Putin opted to conquer the...
Putin acknowledges that data show that the Russian economy is contracting.
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/russias-putin-scolds-top-officials-economic-contraction-2026-04-15/#:~:text=Russian%20growth%20slowed%20to%20about,country's%20revenues%20from%20oil%20sales.
European and Canadian support for Ukraine appears solid.
I wonder if Russia has been able to mitigate the loss of use of the Starlink facility. Are Ukrainian reports of increasing daily Russian casualties connected to this?
Unless there has been some unreported turnaround in the Russian...
I think that ROK has adopted an intelligent approach to developing KF-X. Design an airframe that can be converted to an IWB airframe without re-starting design from scratch, resulting in an aircraft that is very competitive cost-wise with sophisticated 4G fighters, then modify the design to give...
There is much evidence of Israel provoking starvation in the enclosed population of Gaza. Some settlers actively blocked provision supply, too. Denial by Israel supporters is confounded by the evidence.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YkGi31kibJM
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/11/1166295