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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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Power begins to return after huge outage hits Spain and Portugal, Cause Still Unclear

 

Power has been almost fully restored across Spain and Portugal following one of the most significant blackouts in European history. The outage, which began on April 28, 2025, disrupted daily life for millions, grounding flights, halting metro systems, and leaving cities in darkness. By early April 29, over 99% of energy demand in Spain and all power substations in Portugal were back online.

Despite the restoration efforts, the root cause of the blackout remains a mystery. Initial investigations have ruled out cyberattacks and sabotage, with experts pointing to potential anomalies in the interconnected European power grid. Spanish and Portuguese authorities continue to work closely with energy operators to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the unprecedented outage.

As life returns to normal, questions linger about the resilience of the region's power infrastructure and the measures needed to prevent future disruptions. For now, the Iberian Peninsula breathes a sigh of relief as lights flicker back on and daily routines resume.

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