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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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Trump Trial: The Quest for an Impartial Jury

 

Donald Trump, the first former president to ever go on trial, faces an unprecedented criminal case. The courtroom drama began on Monday, with half of a group of potential jurors swiftly ruled out due to impartiality concerns. Mr. Trump denies falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Challenges in Jury Selection

Sixty out of 96 potential jurors promptly declared their inability to be impartial. Those remaining underwent rigorous questioning, including inquiries about their news consumption and reading habits. The dismissals underscore the difficulty of assembling a panel of 12 unbiased jurors for a case centered around a high-profile sex scandal involving a divisive former president who is once again eyeing the White House.

The Allegations

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office alleges that Mr. Trump directed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to pay Daniels $130,000 (£104,000) in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter—a claim the former president vehemently denies. Prosecutors contend that this payment was an attempt to “unlawfully influence” the 2016 election. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Jury Selection Process

Jury selection commenced in the afternoon. The judge first excused jurors who expressed partiality, leaving approximately 34 individuals. The remaining pool faced a comprehensive 42-question questionnaire, covering topics such as news preferences and familiarity with Trump’s writings. Eighteen prospective jurors were randomly placed in the jury box, where they answered questions one by one.

One juror, a Wall Street Journal reader, and another, an NPR listener, survived initial scrutiny. However, a woman candidly admitted her strong opinions about Donald Trump, leading to her dismissal. Despite objections from Mr. Trump’s legal team, she exited the jury pool.

Anonymity and Trump’s Reaction

All jurors will remain anonymous due to the case’s high-profile nature. While Mr. Trump maintained a stern expression in court, outside, he labeled the trial “nonsense” and an “assault on America.”

The difficult search for an impartial jury continues, as the trial unfolds in one of the bluest parts of the country—Manhattan, where Democrats dominate. The outcome rests in the hands of these 12 jurors, who must navigate a politically charged landscape and weigh the evidence before them.


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