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Why Interest Rates Matter for Canadians

Interest rates are the single most powerful lever in Canada's economy.  When the Bank of Canada adjusts its policy rate, the effects reach every household—from the cost of carrying a mortgage to the return on a savings account. With rates currently at 2.25% and significant uncertainty ahead, understanding how rates work has never been more important for your finances. What Is the Bank of Canada's Policy Rate? The Bank of Canada sets the overnight policy rate—the interest rate at which major banks lend money to each other. This rate serves as a benchmark that influences borrowing and lending costs across the entire economy. When the Bank raises or lowers this rate, commercial banks adjust their prime rates accordingly, which directly affects the rates you pay on mortgages, lines of credit, and other loans. The Bank's primary goal is to keep inflation near its 2% target. When inflation runs too hot, the Bank raises rates to cool spending. When the economy slows, it cuts rates...
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Hamas Demands Path to Permanent Ceasefire Amid Stalled Truce Talks

 

Hamas has declared that it will not agree to any interim truce in the Gaza conflict unless negotiations include concrete steps toward a permanent ceasefire. In a televised statement on Friday, Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, emphasized that the group favors a temporary truce but warned that failure to reach an agreement could prompt Hamas to insist on a comprehensive deal to end the war entirely.

The ongoing talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. backing, have centered around a proposed 60-day ceasefire. The deal would involve the release of 10 hostages held in Gaza and the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for Israel freeing a number of detained Palestinians. However, key sticking points remain, including Israeli military withdrawal maps, aid delivery logistics, and guarantees that any truce would lead to a full cessation of hostilities.

Hamas insists that any agreement must ultimately end the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that the conflict will only conclude once Hamas is disarmed and its leadership removed from Gaza. With no breakthrough in sight, the prospect of a partial deal appears increasingly uncertain.

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