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Zelensky Urges Stronger U.S. Pressure After Strikes Freeze Kyiv

  People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian missile and drone attack, in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for intensified U.S. pressure on Russia after a new wave of missile and drone strikes left parts of Kyiv without heat, electricity, and water. The attacks, which targeted critical infrastructure during freezing winter temperatures, plunged several districts into darkness and disrupted essential services. Emergency crews worked through the night to contain fires and restore power, while city officials warned residents to brace for further outages. The strikes are part of Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine’s energy grid, a strategy that has repeatedly exposed civilians to dangerous winter conditions. Zelensky urged Washington and other Western partners to respond with a unified and forceful message to Moscow, arguing that only increased diplomatic and economic pressure can deter further attacks. He emphasized that the latest stri...
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Bank of Canada keeps interest rate at 5%, warns of future hikes

 

The Bank of Canada (BoC) announced on Wednesday that it is maintaining its key interest rate at 5% for the eighth consecutive time, citing the need to balance the risks of high inflation and a slowing economy.

The central bank said that inflation has been running above its 2% target for several months, mainly due to higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions. However, it also noted that the economy is facing headwinds from the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has led to renewed public health measures and uncertainty.

The BoC said that it expects inflation to moderate in the second half of 2024, as the effects of transitory factors fade and the output gap closes. It also said that it will continue to monitor the evolution of the economy and the pandemic, and that it is prepared to raise interest rates further if needed to achieve its inflation objective.

The BoC’s decision was widely expected by analysts, who have been speculating on the timing of the next rate hike. Some believe that the BoC will raise rates as early as January, while others think that it will wait until April or later, depending on the impact of the Omicron variant on the economy.

The BoC’s key interest rate affects the cost of borrowing for consumers and businesses, as well as the value of the Canadian dollar. A higher interest rate tends to attract foreign investors, boosting the demand for the loonie. The Canadian dollar was trading at 79.32 US cents on Wednesday, up slightly from 79.25 US cents on Tuesday.


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