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Canada's Economy Just Grew 3.3% — Here's Why That Makes a September Rate Cut Even Less Likely

  Published August 29, 2026 If you've been holding out hope that a slowing economy might finally push the Bank of Canada toward a rate cut, Friday's numbers just closed that door a little further. Statistics Canada reported that the Canadian economy grew at an annualized pace of 3.3% in the second quarter — the fastest rate since 2023 — and revised figures show the first quarter expanded 0.3% rather than shrinking as originally reported. That confirms Canada never actually slid into a technical recession this year. It's good news for the economy. It's less good news if you were counting on lower borrowing costs anytime soon. What actually drove the growth The rebound was broad-based. Exports posted their strongest performance in 39 months, business investment in factories, equipment and commercial real estate jumped, and consumer spending held up as well. On a per-person basis, output grew at a 3.8% annualized clip — the quickest pace since late 2021, even with Canada...

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Trump's AI-Generated Pope Image Sparks Controversy Online

 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stirred debate after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope. The image, which first appeared on Trump's Truth Social account and was later shared by the official White House social media account, has drawn mixed reactions from the public and religious communities.

The timing of the post has added to the controversy, as it comes just days before the Vatican's conclave to elect a new Pope following the passing of Pope Francis. Many Catholics and religious leaders have criticized the image, calling it disrespectful and inappropriate during a period of mourning. The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in New York, condemned the post, stating, "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us".

Trump, who attended Pope Francis' funeral in Rome last week, has previously joked about wanting to be Pope, further fueling reactions to the AI-generated image. While some of his supporters defended the post as a harmless joke, others saw it as another example of Trump's unconventional approach to public discourse.

The Vatican has declined to comment on the image, and discussions continue online about the implications of AI-generated content in political and religious spaces. As the conclave approaches, the controversy surrounding Trump's post remains a hot topic of debate.

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