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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Hike Bets, TSX Slide, Oil Near $100 (Oct. 23)

  Canadian Money Brief • Friday, October 23, 2026 The Bank of Canada decision is five days away, the TSX gave back most of Wednesday's gains, and oil is flirting with US$100 again. Here are the five things Canadian wallets need to know today. 1. Markets Lean Toward a Bank of Canada Hike on Oct. 28 A decision that looked like a ninth straight hold is now a genuine coin flip with a hawkish tilt. After Governor Tiff Macklem warned that there is "no resolution in sight" for the Middle East conflict, BMO and Desjardins flipped to a hike call, Scotiabank firmed up its call and Goldman Sachs joined them, all looking for a quarter-point move to 2.50%. Overnight swaps priced about an 87% chance of a hike earlier this week, though other economists still argue for a hold, pointing to September's 68,000 job losses and a 6.5% unemployment rate. What it means for you: A quarter-point hike adds roughly $21 a month in interest for every $100,000 of variable-rate borrowing (HELOCs an...

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Gaza Aid Crisis: Soup Kitchens Shut Down Amid Israeli Blockade

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened as World Central Kitchen, a leading aid organization, announced the closure of its community soup kitchens due to Israel’s ongoing blockade. The kitchens, which had been serving 133,000 meals per day and baking 80,000 loaves of bread, have run out of food supplies, leaving thousands without access to daily sustenance.

The blockade, imposed by Israel on March 2, has severely restricted the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition. Aid agencies warn that the situation is pushing the population toward starvation, with nearly 10,000 children already treated for acute malnutrition this year.

José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, expressed frustration over the stalled aid deliveries, stating that trucks loaded with food and supplies are waiting in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, but cannot enter Gaza without permission. The Israeli defense body overseeing aid has indicated that the blockade will remain in place unless government policy changes.

The shutdown of soup kitchens marks another devastating blow to Gaza’s war-battered population, as bakeries close and water distribution grinds to a halt due to fuel shortages. Rights groups have condemned the blockade as a “starvation tactic”, calling for immediate humanitarian intervention.

With no clear resolution in sight, the people of Gaza continue to face worsening conditions, relying on dwindling resources and international pressure to ease the blockade.

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