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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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Russia Rejects Trump's Ukraine Peace Proposals

In a significant diplomatic development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected the peace proposals floated by President-elect Donald Trump's allies to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Lavrov stated that Moscow has not received any official signals regarding a settlement in Ukraine but expressed dissatisfaction with the unofficial ideas being circulated. 

The proposals reportedly included delaying Ukraine's NATO membership for 20 years and stationing British and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. Lavrov emphasized the need for reliable and legally binding agreements that address the root causes of the conflict and prevent future violations. 

Trump, who campaigned on ending the war by the time he takes office, has not officially released any proposals to end the conflict. However, he has claimed that he could end the war within 24 hours of taking office. Despite these claims, Lavrov expressed skepticism about Trump's ability to restore ties between Russia and the U.S., citing the current bipartisan consensus on deterring Russia.

The rejection of these proposals marks a setback for Trump's hopes to freeze the conflict and highlights the complexities of achieving a lasting peace in the region.



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