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Oil Prices Are Spiking — Here's What It Means for Your Gas Tank and Grocery Bill

  Published July 17, 2026 Crude oil is trading near one-month highs this week, and if you've filled up your tank recently, you've probably already felt it. The culprit: an escalating conflict in the Middle East that's disrupting one of the world's most important oil shipping routes — and it's starting to show up at Canadian pumps and, eventually, on grocery store shelves. What's happening with oil prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the North American benchmark, has been trading around the $79–$80 per barrel range this week — up roughly 5% over the past month. Brent crude, the global benchmark that matters more for what Canadians pay at the pump, has been hovering near $85 per barrel, also near a one-month high. The spike traces back to renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and has intensified strikes, while Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. bases and threats to disrupt regional energy shipments further. ...

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Hamas Rejects Israel’s Ceasefire Response, Sticks to Main Demands



The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has firmly rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal. In a statement issued on Saturday, Hamas conveyed its response to the proposal to mediators in Egypt and Qatar. The group remains steadfast in its core demands, which include:
  1. Permanent Ceasefire: Hamas insists on a lasting cessation of hostilities.
  2. Israeli Troop Withdrawal: The complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
  3. Return of Displaced Palestinians: Ensuring the safe return of displaced Palestinians to their original areas and places of residence.
  4. Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction: Intensifying the entry of relief and aid and commencing the much-needed reconstruction efforts.

Hamas’s readiness to engage in a prisoners-for-hostages swap deal with Israel, involving the release of 133 hostages, underscores the gravity of the situation. However, Israel has already dismissed some of these demands as delusional.

As tensions persist, the region remains on edge, awaiting further developments in this protracted conflict. The stakes are high, and the delicate balance between peace and continued strife hangs in the balance.

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