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Canada's New Grocery Benefit Starts July 3 — How Much Will You Get?

  If you've been receiving the GST/HST credit, something is changing on July 3, 2026 — and it's actually good news. The federal government is replacing the old credit with a new program called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) , and it comes with payments that are 25% larger. More than 12 million Canadians qualify. No application is required. Here's everything you need to know before the first payment lands. What Is the CGEB? The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit is the federal government's replacement for the GST/HST credit, which has been around since 1991. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the new benefit on January 26, 2026, and it received Royal Assent on February 12 under Bill C-19. The legislation commits $11.7 billion in additional support to Canadians over six years — $3.1 billion immediately through the one-time June top-up, and $8.6 billion over five years through higher quarterly payments. The name change is deliberate — it signal...

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A major power outage is reported in Spain and Portugal, disabling their capitals

 

A major power outage has struck Spain and Portugal, including their capitals, Madrid and Lisbon, causing significant disruptions across the Iberian Peninsula. The blackout has affected subway networks, phone lines, traffic lights, and ATM machines, leaving millions of residents grappling with the sudden loss of electricity.

Spanish power grid operator Red Eléctrica and Portuguese distributor E-Redes are working to restore power and stabilize the network. Early reports suggest the outage may be linked to issues in the European electricity system. The blackout has also impacted parts of France, further highlighting the scale of the problem.

Authorities in both countries have urged residents to limit travel and prioritize safety as traffic lights and public transportation remain non-operational. This rare and widespread outage has disrupted daily life, with courts halting work and mobile networks experiencing outages.

Efforts to restore power are underway, but the cause of the outage remains under investigation. This developing situation underscores the vulnerability of interconnected power systems and the need for robust infrastructure to prevent such incidents in the future.

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