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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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Trump and Zelensky to Sign Landmark Minerals Deal at White House

In a significant diplomatic move, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to meet at the White House today to finalize a minerals deal. The agreement aims to grant the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals in exchange for American investment and potential security guarantees for Kyiv.

The deal is seen as a strategic win for both leaders. For Trump, it represents an opportunity to secure valuable resources and potentially reimburse American taxpayers for the substantial military aid provided to Ukraine. For Zelensky, the agreement could bolster Ukraine's economy and strengthen its security amid ongoing tensions with Russia.

However, the deal is not without controversy. Critics argue that the actual mineral wealth in Ukraine is uncertain and that much of it lies in war-torn regions, making extraction challenging. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of clear security guarantees in the current framework of the agreement.

As the two leaders prepare to sign the deal, the world watches closely, anticipating the potential geopolitical and economic impacts of this landmark agreement.

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