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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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Israel’s War Cabinet Deliberates: Responding to Iran’s Unprecedented Attack

 

Israel’s war cabinet convened urgently to address the unprecedented drone and missile attack launched by Iran. The situation has escalated tensions in the Middle East, leaving the world on edge.

On Saturday night, Iran unleashed a barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israeli territory. The Israeli military, with support from the US, UK, France, and other allies, successfully thwarted most of these attacks before they reached their targets. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and the damage remained limited.

However, the gravity of the situation cannot be ignored. Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, asserted that Iran’s actions would not go unanswered. Speaking from the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which sustained damage during the attack, Lt Gen Halevi emphasized that the launch of so many missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would indeed prompt a response. Yet, the specifics of that response remain undisclosed.

Analysts speculate on Israel’s potential moves. They range from a limited cyberattack or targeted infrastructure strike—designed to send a clear signal without provoking a full-scale military response—to more extensive actions. The war cabinet’s deliberations aim to strike a delicate balance between asserting Israel’s security interests and avoiding further escalation.

World leaders have urged restraint. US President Joe Biden reaffirmed “America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel” but also emphasized the need for a ceasefire to bring home the 130 hostages still held in Gaza since October 7. The US, however, declined to participate in any counter-strike against Iran.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak echoed this sentiment, calling on “all sides” to show restraint. As tensions persist, the international community closely watches the unfolding situation in the Middle East.

Separately, violence continues in the occupied West Bank following the killing of an Israeli teenager, Benjamin Achimeir. His disappearance while tending to sheep near Ramallah has added to the region’s instability.

As Israel’s war cabinet weighs its response, the world holds its breath, hoping for de-escalation and a path toward peace.

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