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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...

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Russia's Conditions for US Talks on Ukraine: A Path to Diplomacy?

 

Russia has recently outlined its demands for potential negotiations with the United States regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to sources, Moscow has presented a list of conditions aimed at ending the war and resetting relations with Washington. These demands include barring Ukraine from NATO membership, prohibiting the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine, and recognizing Russia's claims over Crimea and four Ukrainian provinces.

The discussions between Russian and American officials reportedly took place over the past three weeks, both in-person and virtually. While the exact details of the demands remain unclear, they are said to align with Russia's long-standing positions on NATO's eastward expansion and the "root causes" of the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed openness to a 30-day ceasefire as a preliminary step toward broader peace talks. However, concerns persist among U.S. officials and experts that Russia might use such a truce to further its strategic objectives.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides exploring the possibility of diplomacy while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics. Whether these talks will lead to a resolution or further entrench existing divisions remains to be seen.

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