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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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Judge Holds Trump in Contempt, Fines Him $9,000 in Hush Money Trial

 

Former President Donald Trump faced a stinging rebuke in court today as Judge Juan M. Merchan held him in contempt and fined him $9,000. The charges stem from Trump’s repeated violations of a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors, and others connected to his New York hush money case. Prosecutors had alleged ten violations, but the judge found nine to be substantiated.

The historic trial centers around Manhattan prosecutors’ claims that Trump and his associates participated in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by burying negative stories. The allegations involve hush money payments and attempts to suppress unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The courtroom was tense as Trump, accompanied by his son Eric, faced the consequences of his actions. The judge’s warning loomed: if Trump violates the gag order again, he could face jail time.

Prosecutors are meticulously building their case, relying on detailed testimony about email exchanges, business transactions, and bank accounts. Their argument is that Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments. The trial is leading up to crucial testimony from Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, who went to federal prison after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and other crimes.

As the trial unfolds, the world watches closely, witnessing a former U.S. president facing criminal charges in a courtroom. The outcome will have far-reaching implications, shaping the legacy of a presidency marked by controversy and legal battles. Stay tuned for further updates as the trial continues.

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