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5 Things to Know Today — September 24, 2026

  Thursday, September 24, 2026 5 Things to Know Today Bond yields are hitting levels not seen in decades, Trump and Xi just extended a trade truce, and the Bank of Canada is mired in a near-100-day strike. Here's what Canadians need to know this morning. 1 · Markets TSX Sinks as Bond Yields Hit Multi-Decade Highs The TSX dropped 584 points on Wednesday — a 1.61% slide — closing at 35,751.43 and breaking through its 25-day and 50-day moving averages. It was the worst single-session performance in weeks, reversing three straight days of gains. The selloff was driven by rising energy prices and a global bond market rout that has sent U.S. 10-year Treasury yields toward 5.1%, their highest since 2007, while Canada's 30-year yield hit a level not seen since 2004. Higher yields pull money out of equities and push up borrowing costs across the board. Big bank stocks led the decline — RBC fell 2%, TD dropped 2.4%, BMO shed 2%, and Scotiabank retreated 1.6% — while gold miners added to ...

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Yahya Sinwar: From Militant to Hamas Leader

 

Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks on Israel, has been announced as the new leader of the militant group Hamas . Here are some key points about Sinwar:

  1. Background and Early Life:

    • Born in 1962 in a refugee camp in Gaza’s Khan Younis, Sinwar was an early member of Hamas, which formed in 1987.
    • He led the group’s security arm, working to eliminate spies for Israel.
    • His ruthless reputation earned him the nickname “The Butcher of Khan Younis.”
  2. Imprisonment and Release:

    • Israel arrested Sinwar in the late 1980s, and he admitted to killing 12 suspected collaborators.
    • He was sentenced to four life terms, but in 2011, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released him in exchange for an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas.
  3. Rise to Power in Gaza:

    • Back in Gaza, Sinwar quickly climbed Hamas’ leadership ranks.
    • He orchestrated the 2016 killing of another top Hamas commander, Mahmoud Ishtewi, in an internal power struggle.
    • Sinwar became head of Hamas in Gaza, aligning the group with Iran and building its military capabilities.
  4. The October 7 Attack:

    • Sinwar, along with Mohammed Deif (head of Hamas’ armed wing), engineered the surprise attack on Israel.
    • The attack killed about 1,200 Israelis (mostly civilians) and sparked a war that claimed nearly 40,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza .
  5. Challenges Ahead:

    • Sinwar has been in hiding since the attack, making day-to-day operations challenging for Hamas .
    • As the new leader, he faces complex geopolitical dynamics and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In summary, Yahya Sinwar’s journey from a refugee camp to Hamas leader reflects both resilience and ruthlessness, shaping the group’s future under his leadership.

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