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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 Approves Ceasefire Deal with Gaza, Hostages to be Released

 

In a significant move towards peace, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas, paving the way for the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza. The agreement, which is expected to take effect as early as Sunday, aims to halt the 15-month-long conflict that has caused widespread devastation in Gaza.

Under the terms of the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly men, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The ceasefire is set to begin with a six-week phase, during which Israeli forces will withdraw from several areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes.

The approval of the ceasefire deal comes after intense negotiations and last-minute complications. Despite opposition from hardliners within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, the deal was ultimately approved by the security cabinet and is now awaiting final approval from the full cabinet.

The ceasefire and hostage release are seen as a crucial step towards easing hostilities in the region and providing much-needed humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza. The international community has welcomed the agreement, hoping it will lead to a lasting peace in the Middle East.




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