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Israel Links Return of Lebanese Displaced to Security of Its Northern Communities

                                A dog looks on next to displaced people at the corniche after rainfall, in Beirut, Lebanon. Israel has stated that tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians will not be able to return to their homes in southern Lebanon until Israeli residents evacuated from the country’s north can safely go back to their own communities. The position underscores how deeply intertwined the two displacement crises have become amid ongoing cross‑border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli officials argue that any long‑term arrangement must guarantee security along the northern frontier, where months of exchanges of fire have forced widespread evacuations on both sides. They maintain that Hezbollah’s military presence near the border remains the primary obstacle to restoring stability. Lebanese authorities, meanwhile, have warned that prolonged displacement i...
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New Ontario real estate rules give sellers more options

 

Ontario has introduced new rules for real estate transactions that aim to provide more clarity and choice for buyers and sellers. The rules, which took effect on Friday, include the following changes:

  • Open bidding option: Sellers can now choose to disclose the prices of submitted bids to potential buyers, instead of keeping them secret. This is supposed to make the bidding process more transparent and fair, but it is not mandatory. Some experts say open bidding could reduce overbidding and lower prices, while others say it could have the opposite effect or harm sellers’ interests.
  • Designated representation: Buyers and sellers can now choose a designated representative from the same brokerage, instead of being subject to multiple representation. This means that the agent can advocate more actively for their client, instead of acting as a facilitator with limited advice. This is supposed to avoid conflicts of interest and improve the quality of service.
  • Improved disclosures: Brokers and brokerages have to provide more information to their clients, such as their role, duties, and fees. They also have to give them an information guide from the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), the regulatory body that oversees the industry. RECO also has new enforcement tools to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
  • Amended code of ethics: Agents have to follow an updated code of ethics that reflects the new rules and promotes professionalism and ethical conduct.

The new rules are part of Phase 2 of the changes under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, which was passed in 2019. The federal government has also promised to end blind bidding as part of its home buyers’ bill of rights, but it is still consulting with stakeholders.

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