The Strait of Hormuz shows how everything is now about leverage
lavizzara//ShutterstockIran’s military might was never going to be a match for the US and Israel. So instead it turned to the highly effective weapon it has at its disposal – geography.
National/regional news and analysis
How personal finance advice is getting political, thanks to ‘finfluencers’
Young people increasingly get their financial advice from social media -- and it's taking a political turn. Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesOnce seen as often dry and sometimes intimidating, personal finance advice is a far cry from what it was in your grandparents’ day.
With talk of closer EU alignment, the UK is signalling to Europe that it’s a partner worthy of trust
PM Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have reset the UK-EU relationship – but UK alignment would take things a step further. Alexandros Michailidis/ShutterstockIt is now almost a decade since the UK voted for Brexit and since the tariffs of US president Donald Trump’s first term increased global trade frictions.
Signs of economic instability emerge in Oakland County, one of Michigan’s wealthiest
Oakland County is known for its affluence, but some of its communities are experiencing changes in socioeconomic status. Notorious4life (talk) (Uploads), CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsOakland County, home to nearly 1.3 million residents, ranks among Michigan’s wealthiest counties.
The old adage that people leave managers, not companies is true – but only up to a point
Meeko Media/ShutterstockIt has been said that “people leave managers, not companies”. It’s easy to believe that this is true, either from personal experience or observation. Many workers can easily point to a line manager who dismissed their concerns or treated them unfairly.
Want to cut your energy bills? Here’s how five experts are doing it
Monkey Business Images/ShutterstockRising prices are putting pressure on people to try and use less energy. But what are the most effective ways of cutting bills? We asked five experts for their practical advice.
1. Insulate your home
The problem with vet bills – a dog-owning economist explains
Kamil Macniak/ShutterstockWhen my dog Buddy ate a tub of chewing gum – around 60 pieces – we rushed him to the vet, where he stayed overnight. Thankfully he was fine. The same could not be said for our wallets.
Strait of Hormuz: why even neutral and distant countries like Switzerland can’t escape the fallout
Glaciers in the Swiss alps are experiencing rapid melt due to climate change. Manuel Wild/ShutterstockThere is often a perception that geographical distance reduces vulnerability – an idea that can be particularly appealing in neutral countries with long-standing stable and strong economies.
How Iran cryptocurrency demands explain a key role of money throughout history
When Iran began demanding payment in exchange for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it offered the option to pay in cryptocurrency. Likewise, the shadowy network of tankers that have smuggled Russian oil to world markets since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have often been paid this way.
How Trump’s repeated efforts to fire Federal Reserve Chair Powell harm the economy – and make battling inflation harder
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
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