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BoC Opens the Door to Rate Hikes: What It Means for Your Mortgage

  Published September 4, 2026 The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% on September 2 — the seventh straight hold — but Governor Tiff Macklem didn't sound like a central banker done for the year. He told reporters the Bank is "prepared to raise interest rates, and if it takes more than one increase, we're prepared to do that," if inflation stays too high. That's a real shift in tone, and it lands right as a wave of Canadians hit their mortgage renewal date. Here's what changed, who's forecasting what, and what it actually means for your payment. Why the Bank Suddenly Sounds Hawkish Canada's annual inflation rate has climbed to around 3% — a full point above the Bank's 2% target — and the Bank is pointing squarely at energy prices. Oil has stayed elevated because of the Iran conflict and disruption near the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gas prices up and dragging headline CPI with it. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, is still s...

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Putin: Islamic Extremists Behind Moscow Concert Hall Massacre, But Masterminds Remain Elusive

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly attributed the horrifying attack at a suburban Moscow concert hall to “radical Islamists.” The assailants, who mercilessly claimed the lives of 139 people, left the city in shock and mourning. However, the mystery surrounding the orchestrators of this bloodshed persists.

On Friday night, the Crocus City Hall music venue on the western outskirts of Moscow turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. The attackers, armed with deadly intent, unleashed chaos, leaving more than 180 injured in addition to the fatalities. This tragedy stands as the deadliest attack in Russia in years.

Putin, addressing government officials, emphasized that the perpetrators were “extremists whose ideology the Islamic world has been fighting for centuries.” Despite the arrest of four gunmen attempting to flee to Ukraine, investigators have yet to pinpoint the masterminds behind this calculated assault. The critical question remains: Who ordered the attack?

While Ukraine vehemently denies any involvement, Putin has not ruled out their potential role. He asserted that it is crucial to understand “why the terrorists after committing their crime tried to flee to Ukraine and who was waiting for them there.” The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack, and U.S. intelligence corroborated their claims. French President Emmanuel Macron also pointed to “an IS entity” as the force behind the Moscow tragedy.

Putin warned that this incident might not be isolated. He suggested that more attacks could follow, hinting at possible Western involvement. The U.S. confidentially shared a warning about imminent terror attacks with Moscow two weeks before the raid, but Putin remains skeptical. He criticized the U.S. Embassy’s prior notice to Americans, viewing it as an attempt to “blackmail” the Kremlin.

Putin further accused Ukraine of launching cross-border attacks on Russian regions, using terror as a tool. He framed the Moscow concert hall massacre as a “logical part of this chain.” As the investigation continues, the world awaits answers, and the victims’ families seek justice.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the haunting question lingers: Who orchestrated this bloodshed, and what motivated them? Until the masterminds are unmasked, the shadows cast by this horrific event will persist, leaving a scar on Moscow’s collective memory.

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