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Oil Just Hit $110 — Could Canada's Energy Boom Offset the Tariff Pain?

  Published September 13, 2026 · 6 min read Brent crude touched nearly $110 US a barrel when trading opened Friday morning — its highest level since the spring — as renewed Iran-linked strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure rattled global supply. It settled back down to close the week around $104.61, but the direction of travel has been unmistakable: oil is up roughly 9-10% in the past week alone. That's bad news at the pump. But according to a CBC News analysis published this morning, it might not be bad news for Canada's economy overall. The argument: the roughly 0.5% hit to GDP from Trump's tariffs could be more than offset by the windfall Canada earns as one of the world's biggest oil exporters. For a personal finance reader, that's really two separate stories — one that costs you money, and one that might be quietly making some of your money back. Here's how to think about both sides of your own ledger. Why oil is spiking again The latest leg up traces to ...

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Cuba Plunged Into Darkness as Oil Pressures Mount

                                            Mass blackouts in Havana, Cuba, March 4, 2026

A sweeping power outage has left most of Cuba without electricity, stretching from Pinar del Río in the west to Las Tunas and Camagüey in the east. The state electricity union reported that the blackout began after an unexpected failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the island’s key power sources. 

The crisis unfolds against the backdrop of tightening U.S. restrictions on oil shipments, which have sharply reduced the island’s fuel supply and strained its already fragile energy grid. Cuban officials say years of economic sanctions, combined with dwindling oil deliveries from allies like Venezuela and Mexico, have deepened the country’s energy shortages and made the grid increasingly vulnerable to large-scale failures. 

Residents in Havana and other major cities reported darkened streets, non-functioning traffic lights, and widespread disruptions to daily life. While authorities say recovery efforts are underway, the blackout highlights the island’s ongoing struggle to maintain stable power amid geopolitical pressures and aging infrastructure. 


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