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5 Things to Know Today: Canada Enters Recession, Oil Slips on Iran Ceasefire Talk

Saturday, May 30, 2026 — Your quick-hit Canadian financial briefing for the day. 1.Canada Officially Meets the Definition of a Technical Recession Statistics Canada confirmed Friday that real GDP contracted 0.1% on an annualized basis in Q1 2026 — following a revised 1.0% drop in Q4 2025 . That's two straight quarters of negative growth, which meets the technical definition of a recession. The miss was a big one: economists had forecast growth of 1.5% . The main culprits were a surge in imports (up 2.9%, largely gold), declining business capital investment (down 0.7% — its fifth consecutive quarterly drop ), and weakness in resource extraction and construction. On a per-capita basis, GDP actually edged up 0.2% as Canada's population shrank for the second quarter in a row. Not everyone is ready to call it a full recession: some economists note that three of the four weak months were isolated, and early April data points to a sharp 0.4% rebound . Still, the numbers ...

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Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico Survives Assassination Attempt

 

In a shocking turn of events, Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded in an attempted assassination. The incident occurred on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, after a political event in the town of Handlova. Mr. Fico was immediately rushed to a hospital in Bratislava, the country’s capital, approximately two hours away.

The assailant reportedly fired at Mr. Fico as he emerged from a meeting, leaving him with five gunshot wounds. Authorities swiftly arrested a suspect at the scene, but the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The incident has sent shockwaves across Europe, especially considering its timing just before the upcoming elections.

Slovakia, a small country in Central Europe, has been grappling with political tensions and societal divisions. Prime Minister Fico, a prominent figure in Slovakian politics, has faced both support and criticism during his tenure. His survival in this assassination attempt will undoubtedly have significant implications for the nation’s political landscape.

As the investigation unfolds, citizens and leaders alike are left wondering about the underlying reasons behind this brazen attack. The next few hours will be critical for Mr. Fico’s recovery and for understanding the broader context of this violent act.

Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops. Our thoughts are with Prime Minister Robert Fico and his family during this difficult time.



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