The Panama Canal administrator touted the canal’s logistical capabilities and plans to improve supply chain readiness as the Strait of Hormuz reaches a near standstill due to the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. 

Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, the authority administrator for the Panama Canal, sat down during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital and noted the canal’s anticipated improvements as the world’s busiest commercial shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, has seen little to no traffic over the past few days. 

“We have been through the years a major channel to move LNG from the U.S. to Asia,” Morales told Fox News Digital. “Qatar usually supplies Asia, and after the Ukraine war, most of the American LNG has gone to Europe to replace the Russian LNG.”

The Panama Canal administrator said the waterway is prepared to help stabilize global energy supply chains as the Strait of Hormuz slows dramatically following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. (LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“What we see is that probably prices are going to go up for LNG, which means that the current cost of the inventory on the vessel is going to increase,” he continued. “Fuel prices are going to go up.”

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Morales predicts that transit will increase in the Panama Canal as restraints in the Strait of Hormuz have continued to hold.

“The Panama Canal should get one or two transits a day, which is, in the old days, we had about three transits per day,” Morales added. “So it’s gonna come up a little bit and moving from the East Coast of the United States to Asia.”

The Strait of Hormuz normally facilitates the transit of roughly 20–21 million barrels of oil per day. Since last Friday, only four cargo ships have successfully traveled through the strait, and one of those ships was carrying corn.

With roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil normally passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the near standstill in traffic has heightened global energy concerns and underscored the Panama Canal’s strategic role as an alternative shipping route. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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By comparison, approximately 2.3 million barrels move through the Panama Canal each day. 

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and a quarter of the world’s total seaborne oil trade travels through the Strait of Hormuz.

As for the Panama Canal, the administrator said that they have plenty of water and a maximum draft that will allow more vessels to pass through.

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The administrator also addressed the threat of tariffs that has shocked global trade with the U.S. since President Donald Trump took office, noting an increase in traffic due to tariff threats. 

An aerial view of the Port of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, in the Strait of Hormuz. (REUTERS/Stringer / Reuters)

“Over the last 12 months, it increased volumes through the Panama Canal because people were anticipating tariffs, and they tried to front load the cargoes, especially for the later part of the year for Christmas demand in the states,” the administrator told Fox News Digital. “Now what we have is that essentially with the Lunar Year, they clear up all the inventories in Asia, so some of that has been moved into final destinations.”

President Donald Trump signaled his willingness to reopen the strait while speaking with reporters on Monday, pointing to Chinese reliance on the route, saying he wants to keep the passageway open.

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“We’re really helping China here and other countries because they get a lot of their energy from the Straits,” Trump said. “We have a good relationship with China. It’s my honor to do it.”

President Trump emphasized that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open benefits major energy consumers like China, warning Iran that the U.S. would respond forcefully to any attempt to block oil shipments through the critical waterway. (The White House via X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“I mean, we’re doing this for the other parts of the world, including countries like China,” Trump added. “They get a lot of their oil through the straits.”

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The president posted to Truth Social on Monday night that the U.S. would retaliate “TWENTY TIMES HARDER” against Iran should they take any actions that stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. 

“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen! This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait,” Trump posted. 

It touts the cleanest restrooms in America and a brisket sandwich that built a cult following, but Buc-ee’s received the worst possible grade from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The BBB recently gave the Texas-based convenience store brand an “F” rating, citing a failure to respond to nearly 90 complaints filed against the business. The BBB assigns a rating between A+ and F, and although customer reviews do not impact the final grade, the company’s interaction and responsiveness to complaints are considered.

According to the BBB’s website, many recent complaints cite overpriced items, various product issues, poor or rude customer service, and the inability to return certain items.

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“Bought the chicken, bacon, avocado ranch wrap, it was so disgusting that I had to throw it out the window,” a complaint from Feb. 4 to the BBB reads. “There was no bacon, or ranch, and only a few pieces of chicken… [asked] my husband if he wanted some and he tried it too, and said it was the worst thing he’s ever ate. It tasted like the most flavorless mush, and on top of it it was $9.49.”

Visitors shop for brisket sandwiches at the first Buc-ee’s to open in Virginia on July 2, 2025. (Getty Images)

“Buc-cee’s has TERRIBLE customer service,” a January complaint says, referencing a lost or stolen gift card. “They have no phone number for you to call, only email. I have filled out their form with all of the information multiple times and have yet to hear back from them. I just want my gift card that I paid for and want them to treat their customers better.”

Buc-ee’s did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Despite the recent failing grade, Buc-ee’s has not dampened its expansion momentum. The company currently has 54 U.S. locations across 11 states, with plans to expand into Ohio, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Buc-ee’s large-format stores span tens of thousands of square feet, featuring 120 gas pumps on average and 700 to 1,000 parking spaces. Signature items like Beaver Nuggets and “fresh brisket on the board” have become regular road trip staples.

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The company ranked No. 5 in the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction Index for convenience stores, beating out major brands like Shell and ExxonMobil. In late 2025, Buc-ee’s earned America’s No. 1 quick-service restaurant spot in dunnhumby rankings, outperforming fast-food giants like In-N-Out and Chick-fil-A for customer preference.

The chain has also gained notoriety for its transparency in wages – starting pay can range from $16 to $20 per hour and full-time managers may earn $100,000 to $225,000, according to large hiring signs often posted at store entrances. Employee benefits include 401(k) plans with 100% company matching and three weeks of paid time off.

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The latest round has been led by growth capital investor BGF

Cardiff-based medical devices firms IQ Endoscopes has been boosted with a multi-million-pound new equity round to support its commercialisation drive.

The company is developing a single‑use gastrointestinal endoscopy platform designed to improve patient access to endoscopy and help healthcare providers respond to growing demand.

Its latest round of funding led by BGF, which has also seen follow on investment by the Development Bank of Wales, will be used to support IQ Endoscopes’ early commercial rollout in selected UK centres, strengthen manufacturing and supply chain capability, and build a robust commercial pipeline, as the company prepares for future scale‑up in the UK and overseas. The investment will also support further regulatory work and market validation in the US.

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Existing reusable endoscopes create significant time burden and carbon emissions due to complex decontamination and transport processes, contributing to hospital capacity constraints and workflow inefficiencies. IQ Endoscope provides sustainable alternative designed to do the opposite, freeing up beds and physician capacity.

Since being established it has secured key regulatory approvals and commenced production. The company has identified its first customers, received initial orders and is now preparing for early commercial use of its platform. The business currently employs 20.

The exact value of its latest funding round has not been disclosed.

Matt Ginn, IQ Endoscopes chief executive, said: “This investment is a significant step forward as we move into the next phase of our growth. It allows us to begin early commercial rollout in the UK, strengthen our operational foundations and build momentum for future expansion.

“Support from BGF and the Development Bank of Wales has been instrumental in helping us reach this point, and we’re excited to continue to work closely alongside them as we bring our technology into real‑world clinical use.”

Maggy Lau, investor at BGF said: “IQ Endoscopes is addressing a clear challenge facing healthcare systems, with a product that has the potential to make a lasting, positive impact. We’re pleased to continue to support Matt and the team as the business moves into this exciting next stage of growth.”

Tom Davies, investment executive with the Development Bank of Wales said: “We’re proud to continue supporting IQ Endoscopes as it enters its next growth phase. The team’s progress in manufacturing and early clinical use is impressive, and this investment will help accelerate adoption of a technology that could enhance patient access and strengthen endoscopy services across the NHS and beyond.”

The company said its newly launched Bond Provider Platform will allow investors to invest in government securities, PSU bonds and corporate bonds through a dedicated digital interface.

The move comes as the domestic bond market expands and investors increasingly seek predictable returns and capital preservation alongside equity investments.
India’s bond market has grown to nearly USD 3 trillion, making it the third-largest in Asia after Japan and China, and equivalent to roughly 100-110 per cent of India’s GDP, a release said.
“With Indian households increasingly allocating savings to financial assets and the inclusion of Indian government bonds in global indices expected to bring strong foreign inflows, the opportunity in fixed income is becoming more compelling,” said Ajay Menon, managing director and chief executive officer of wealth management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

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The new bond platform comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and global market uncertainty that have increased volatility in equity markets, prompting investors, particularly high-net-worth individuals, to increase allocations to fixed income, the company said.
Ashish Malaviya, head of distribution at Motilal Oswal Wealth Management, said that amid rising equity market volatility driven by global developments, investors, particularly HNIs, are increasingly seeking capital protection, predictable income, and portfolio stability.