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Gas Is Still $1.81 a Litre: Why Pump Prices Won't Fall (and What to Do Before Winter)

  Canadians hoping for relief at the pump got bad news heading into this week: it isn't coming soon. The national average for regular gas was $1.81 a litre on Friday, according to Kalibrate, with provincial averages ranging from $1.557 in Alberta to $2.156 in Newfoundland, per GasBuddy. That's after a big policy move. On Friday the G7 announced plans to release 100 million barrels of oil right away, starting with diesel. Brent crude dipped on the news, then climbed back to about US$102 a barrel by the afternoon. Don't expect the release to show up at your station, because crude is only half the story. Crude oil explains only half your pump price Wood Mackenzie's Jim Mitchell says crude makes up 50 to 60 per cent of the retail price of gas. The rest is the cost of refining it, and that's where the squeeze is. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem pointed to damaged refining capacity worldwide in a Sept. 21 speech, noting that pump prices reflect crude roughly US$40 a ...
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Iran and Hezbollah Reinforce Assad Amid Rebel Offensive in Homs

As rebel forces intensify their offensive towards the strategic city of Homs, Iran and Hezbollah are stepping up their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The recent surge in rebel activity has prompted thousands of residents to flee Homs, fearing the escalating conflict.

Iran has pledged to send additional military equipment, including missiles and drones, along with more advisers to bolster Assad's regime. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, has also dispatched supervising forces to Syria to assist in preventing anti-government fighters from seizing Homs.

The city of Homs holds significant strategic importance as it connects the capital Damascus to the coast, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect. Losing Homs would sever this crucial link and deal a severe blow to Assad's control over the region.

Rebels, led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have vowed to continue their advance, aiming to "build Syria" and bring Syrian refugees back home from Lebanon and Europe. The offensive has already seen the capture of key cities such as Aleppo and Hama, further challenging Assad's rule.

The international community watches closely as the situation in Homs unfolds, with humanitarian concerns mounting as civilians bear the brunt of the conflict. The United Nations has called for immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need and a return to a political process to end the bloodshed.

As the conflict continues, the geopolitical stakes remain high, with Iran and Hezbollah's support for Assad underscoring the complex web of rivalries and foreign interventions that perpetuate Syria's turmoil.




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