Hormuz traffic rises slightly—but remains far below normal
Reuters reports today that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has increased slightly while diplomatic efforts continue.

Approximately 23 commodity-carrying vessels crossed on Wednesday, compared with 16 Tuesday. Before the conflict, roughly 100 commodity vessels normally crossed daily.
Oil and LNG traffic therefore remains severely constrained despite the modest improvement.

Why it matters:
Hormuz continues to provide a near-perfect modern demonstration of the difference between a resource and access to a resource.
Oil can exist.
Tankers can exist.
Buyers can exist.

But if the connecting route becomes restricted, the value of every other component changes.
RESOURCE → ROUTE → CHOKEPOINT → ACCESS → LEVERAGE

That mechanism belongs not only to modern oil markets but to ancient harbors, river crossings, canals, gates and caravan corridors.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Meta agreed Wednesday to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement that ended a trial over teen social media addiction and settled claims filed by nearly every state.

The settlement resolved a pivotal case years in the making that sought to hold the tech giant accountable for the role its platforms played in undermining children’s mental health. The effort targeted features designed to hook young people’s attention.

The agreement “institutes real change, real transparency, real protections for children and teens across the country,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

If approved by the court, the deal will stop an avalanche of litigation by states against Meta, although the company still faces lawsuits from individuals and school districts throughout the U.S. For the states, the settlement delivers money for mental-health programs for kids, including after-school or summer activities and digital literacy counselors.

Advocates cheered the new protections, including default time limits and the disabling of features such as “like” counts...

might run the risk of causing countries like China, Russia, and Brazil to join BRICS.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada immediately said it would retaliate, after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in already tense relations between the historic allies...

Keeping up with the situation across the Middle East right now is proper chaotic, with the regional standoff widening across air, sea, and diplomatic channels over the last 24 hours.

​According to reporting by Euronews, the UAE tracked two ballistic missiles offshore near its territory, triggering the first emergency air sirens in months, though both fell into the sea and Tehran firmly denied launching any strikes. Meanwhile, Donald Trump posted online claiming total US naval control over the Strait of Hormuz and branding it new American territory, which drew an immediate pushback from Iranian diplomat Kazem Gharibabadi, who called the statement pure delusion.

​On the diplomatic track, Al Jazeera reported that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Iraq for high-level security talks across Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf. In Europe, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats following earlier embassy disputes. Out on the water, The Cradle confirmed Iranian naval units seized five fuel-smuggling vessels off Sirik, while CBS News reported that US officials issued stark warnings to Oman over its independent bilateral transit talks with Tehran.

​How do you see these alternative Caspian supply lines and Omani mediation efforts playing out as maritime pressure intensifies?