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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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Starship's Fiery Setback: SpaceX Faces Another Explosion

SpaceX's ambitious Starship program encountered another hurdle as its massive spacecraft exploded during its eighth test flight. The incident occurred shortly after liftoff from the Boca Chica launch site in Texas. The upper stage of the rocket spun uncontrollably before breaking apart, scattering fiery debris over the Caribbean.

This marks the second consecutive failure for the Starship program this year, following a similar mishap during its seventh test flight. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to refining the rocket, which is central to Elon Musk's vision of future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, temporarily halting air traffic in parts of Florida due to concerns over space debris. SpaceX has described the explosion as a "learning opportunity" and plans to implement safety improvements for future launches.

While the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch pad, the failure of the upper stage highlights the challenges of developing cutting-edge space exploration technology. SpaceX continues to push the boundaries, undeterred by these fiery setbacks.

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