By Ganapathy Shanmugam, Ph.D. The recent U.S./Israel-Iran War, which began on February 28, 2026, triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical oil chokepoint—halting roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids supply and effectively stopping oil and LNG exports from the Persian Gulf. This sudden disruption has caused sharp price spikes in fossil… Continue Reading
By Vijay Jayaraj The island nation of Timor-Leste, located north of Australia at the eastern extreme of the Indian Ocean, is blessed with stunning beaches along a rugged mountainous terrain. It is famous for producing some of the world’s finest organic coffee, grown in high-altitude, shaded environments, producing a smooth, low-acid brew with notes of… Continue Reading