Skip to main content

Featured

Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

article

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.

Comments