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Canadian Money Brief: 5 Things to Know Today — May 18, 2026

  A quick scan of the five stories shaping your wallet right now — from the Bank of Canada's next big decision to your mortgage renewal and a brand-new federal agency hunting financial criminals. 1 Bank of Canada Rate Holds at 2.25% — Next Decision Is June 10 The Bank of Canada kept its overnight policy rate steady at 2.25% at its April 29 meeting, citing a rise in energy-driven inflation and ongoing uncertainty from U.S. tariffs. Governing Council held firm while acknowledging a rate hike could become necessary if oil-linked price pressures prove persistent. The next announcement lands on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — mark your calendar. Why it matters: Your variable-rate mortgage, HELOC, and lines of credit are directly tied to this rate. With bank prime rates sitting at 4.45%, every meeting counts. 2 Markets TSX Slips Below 34,000 as Bond Yields Spike The S&P/TSX Composite Index finished last week down close to 2%, sliding under the 34,000 mark. A global bond market selloff...

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Escalation in Gaza: Hospital in Flames Amidst Conflict

 

In a tragic turn of events, Israeli troops stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Friday, forcibly removing staff and patients before setting parts of the hospital on fire. The hospital, one of the last operating in the area, has been repeatedly targeted over the past three months as Israeli forces continue their offensive against Hamas fighters.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the troops forced medical personnel and patients to assemble in the hospital yard, where they were stripped of their clothes in the cold winter temperatures. Some patients were relocated to the nearby Indonesian hospital, which had already been knocked out of operation by an Israeli raid earlier in the week.

The ministry's account, which could not be independently confirmed, described fires being set in several parts of the hospital, including the lab and surgery department. An audio message from an unidentified staff member posted on social media highlighted the dire situation, with patients unhooked from oxygen and at risk of dying at any moment.

This incident is part of a broader offensive that has seen northern Gaza areas like Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya virtually sealed off, with large parts of these districts leveled. The ongoing conflict has raised fears of famine, with the U.N. reporting only four humanitarian deliveries to the area from December 1 to December 23.

The Israeli military has claimed that their operations target Hamas infrastructure and fighters, though they have provided no evidence to support their accusations that Hamas fighters were operating inside Kamal Adwan Hospital. Hospital officials have denied these claims.

The situation remains dire, with thousands of Palestinians forced out of their homes and the health sector in Gaza devastated by the nearly 15-month-old campaign of bombardment and offensives. The international community continues to watch closely as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.


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