Background Info The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, has become the epicenter of a global energy crisis. This critical chokepoint is just two miles wide at its narrowest navigable point yet handles approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day , representing roughly 20-27% of the world's seaborne oil trade. The strait also carries 93% of Qatar's LNG exports , making it indispensable to global energy markets. In normal times, around 24 oil tankers transit this...

On January 16, 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up two days of meetings in Beijing with a deal that had been years in the making. Canada would cut its tariff on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% down to 6.1% for a set quota of imports. In return, China agreed to dramatically lower tariffs on Canadian canola and remove duties on several other agricultural products. It was the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017 , and it came at a time when both...