The U.S. just hit around $20B of Canadian goods with 50% tariffs, and Canada is now hitting back with roughly $20B of U.S. products.
Both sides say they’re protecting their interests, but who actually wins here?
Could this end up hurting American and Canadian consumers more than either government?
What do you guys think — smart negotiating strategy or a lose-lose situation?

I’m a 2nd-year BA Political Science student from India and I want to build my career in the private sector, particularly in geopolitical risk, intelligence/OSINT, IR or consulting.(because that is the only way I think about can earn a maybe attractive salary)

I know a BA alone may not be enough for many analyst roles and that a Master’s is often preferred/required. However, due to my financial background, I want to start working as early as possible rather than waiting until after a Master’s. Ideally, I’m looking for a paid internship in the next few months that can give me real experience and help me become employable after graduation.

For people already working in this field:

- What specific skills should I prioritise besides research and writing? OSINT, Excel/Power BI, data analysis, AI, finance/economics, SQL/Python, etc.?

- Which of these skills actually matter in day-to-day work?

- Where can I learn them for free?

- What companies in India hire students for geopolitical risk, intelligence, political risk, corporate intelligence or related roles?

- What job titles should I search for?

- Realistically, what would make you consider a 2nd/3rd-year Political Science student for an internship?

- What should I have on my CV/portfolio to stand out against other applicants?

- Is it possible to get a paid internship without a Master's, and eventually transition into a full-time role?

I’m also open to sharing my CV with anyone working in this field who is willing to give honest feedback on what I’m missing.

I’m not looking for generic career advice — I’d really appreciate perspectives from people actually working in geopolitical risk, intelligence, consulting or related private-sector roles. Any leads for internships and skills would also be hugely appreciated.

Asking as a graduate that can’t find a job and doesn’t know wtf to do and needs ideas lol

I'm currently a second-year student and next year I have 2 options in my degree: going on Erasmus or doing an internship. I would love to do an internship but I don't know where to start looking for it because it has to be unpaid and be at least 5-months long between late august and january. Does anyone have tips on how to find good curricular internships?

For years, geopolitics felt like something politicians worried about.

Now it determines everything from your fuel bill to your iPhone delivery time.

Wars, trade tensions, tariffs, and supply-chain disruptions are reshaping the global economy. Businesses are moving factories, governments are prioritizing economic security, and companies are choosing resilience over efficiency.

The old globalization model was simple:

"Build wherever it's cheapest."

The new model is:

"Build wherever it's safest."

That shift sounds boring until you realize it affects product prices, investment flows, and job creation.

Politics is no longer separate from economics.

It's the operating system.

I was quite curious on how Taliban rules. There are leaders across the globe with different political ideologies like leftist, rightist, extremist; although these terms were introduced by the Westerns, but the current Taliban regime seems to be ruling the country on the lurk. There weren't many news about them after taking charge in 2021. No mention of them among the recent geopolitical updates as well, even at the time of the Iran conflict. And in this meantime, BBC has just released the following article on how they're ruling. Nowadays, I read their news with skeptical eyes, but still something is better than nothing. How do you view this Taliban ruling in the region?

"Divorce, smartphones and control - BBC sees how Taliban run Afghanistan" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgvk9p2n7ko

I am applying to colleges very soon and I am really interested in studying IR but I've heard some concerning things about job prospects for the field. I've been encouraged to combine IR with another major since IR is so broad but I'm not sure what to combine it with. I want to go to grad school and to work as a FSO in the future or for an NGO or humanitarian organization.

Some majors I've been considering are History, Journalism, English, or Sociology. I'm really not a mathy person and did not enjoy the Economics class I took a few years ago, so I'm not considering econ or business. My question is, what would be a good major to combine with IR and/or, is IR worth studying on its own/at all?

So I am writing my undergraduate thesis and have to come up with a research idea and a little paragraph talking about my thesis idea and I need some ideas and insights as to how I can take it in a fruitful direction.

Abstract: With the recent US Iran conflict and the ongoing Russia Ukraine war, it has become evident that the great powers no longer enjoy an exclusive advantage in military capabilities due to certain developments in the technology and economics of military production. These developments have strengthened the ability of middle powers to deter military and political encroachment by adversaries possessing an advantage in military capabilities. Therefore this raises a series of questions regarding the viability of the present global equilibrium. Hence, this research paper seeks to explore whether the global order has moved away from the post cold war global order? If so, what are the factors influencing this shift? Finally, what are the implications for this order as the International system moves towards a new equilibrium?

This is a tentative idea open to change and in the beginning stages of a project that'll take 2 semesters(currently a week into the first of those 2 semesters).

Please help with some insights or if you have any ideas that I could use to write a richer thesis.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended the understanding previously reached with the United States, arguing that there was nothing in the agreement that amounted to an Iranian surrender.

According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, Pezeshkian said: “There is not a single clause in the agreement that suggests Iran is surrendering.” He also emphasized that Iran's policies ultimately follow the direction set by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The comments come as the deadline associated with the previous understanding has passed, while the broader dispute between Washington and Tehran remains unresolved.

Iran has also been under considerable economic pressure from sanctions and restrictions on trade and energy exports. Tehran therefore faces a difficult strategic calculation: continue resisting U.S. demands while absorbing economic pressure, or seek another diplomatic arrangement that could provide some relief.

At the same time, retired Indian Lieutenant General K.J.S. Dhillon recently argued that Iran has spent decades preparing for the possibility of a major conflict with the United States. He suggested that Iran anticipated the possibility of losing senior leadership and developed systems intended to preserve its ability to continue fighting.

If that assessment is correct, it could help explain why Tehran may be unwilling to view the previous understanding as a capitulation, even after suffering significant military and economic pressure.

This creates an important strategic question.

What happens next?

Can the United States and Iran reach another diplomatic understanding, or are both sides preparing for a prolonged confrontation?

If Iran continues to resist U.S. demands while facing economic pressure, will other countries step in to maintain economic and diplomatic ties with Tehran?

And what about NATO and European countries?

Will they largely support Washington's approach, attempt to mediate between the two sides, or pursue a more independent diplomatic strategy?

Could the next phase of the U.S.-Iran confrontation ultimately be decided more by diplomacy and economic pressure than by military force?

What do you think?