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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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New Alliance Against ISIS: Turkey Joins Neighbors in Syrian Fight


In a bold regional move, Turkey announced it will join forces with Syria, Iraq, and Jordan to confront the lingering threat of the Islamic State group in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that this coordinated effort aims not only to dismantle ISIS’s remaining footholds but also to recalibrate U.S. involvement in the region, particularly by reducing support for Kurdish-led militias that Turkey deems as extensions of the PKK.

Speaking at a press conference in Doha alongside regional leaders, Fidan criticized the current role of the Kurdish YPG, arguing that instead of actively combating ISIS, the group is largely occupied with guarding thousands of ISIS detainees. He suggested that a united regional front would be more effective in eradicating the extremist threat and would allow the United States to reconsider its long-standing alliance with the Kurdish forces.

Preliminary talks among the four nations have already taken place, setting the stage for joint military operations and intelligence sharing. The proposed alliance reflects Turkey’s strategic pivot in the region—seeking to reinforce its national security while pushing for a realignment of external military support in Syria. Critics of U.S. policy, including Turkish officials, hope that this new coalition could prompt a reassessment of Western engagement, especially concerning Kurdish forces in Syria.



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