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How the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Hitting Your Wallet Right Now

Published May 17, 2026  |  Category: Oil Prices & Energy  |  By MoneySavings.ca If you've winced lately at the gas pump or noticed your grocery bill creeping up, you're not imagining it. A geopolitical crisis unfolding halfway around the world — at a narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman — is directly squeezing Canadian budgets. Here's everything you need to know, and what you can do about it. What Is the Strait of Hormuz? The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway just 33 kilometres wide at its tightest point, connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Despite its modest size, it is the world's single most critical energy chokepoint. Before this crisis, roughly 20 million barrels of oil moved through it every single day — about 20% of all the world's seaborne oil supply, plus significant volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Think of it as the world's energy jugular vein. When it gets blocked, the entire planet feels it. What Happened? On Februa...

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Starship's Fiery Setback: SpaceX Faces Another Explosion

SpaceX's ambitious Starship program encountered another hurdle as its massive spacecraft exploded during its eighth test flight. The incident occurred shortly after liftoff from the Boca Chica launch site in Texas. The upper stage of the rocket spun uncontrollably before breaking apart, scattering fiery debris over the Caribbean.

This marks the second consecutive failure for the Starship program this year, following a similar mishap during its seventh test flight. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to refining the rocket, which is central to Elon Musk's vision of future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, temporarily halting air traffic in parts of Florida due to concerns over space debris. SpaceX has described the explosion as a "learning opportunity" and plans to implement safety improvements for future launches.

While the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch pad, the failure of the upper stage highlights the challenges of developing cutting-edge space exploration technology. SpaceX continues to push the boundaries, undeterred by these fiery setbacks.

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