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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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Humanitarian Pause in Gaza: Israel Announces Daily Ceasefire for Aid Delivery

 


Israel Implements Daily Tactical Pause in Gaza to Facilitate Humanitarian Aid

In response to mounting international pressure and a worsening humanitarian crisis, Israel announced it will pause military operations daily for 10 hours in three key areas of Gaza—Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. The suspension, effective from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, aims to allow aid convoys safe passage to deliver food and medicine to the war-ravaged enclave.

Aid Corridors and Airdrops

  • Secure routes for humanitarian convoys will operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
  • Aid airdrops have resumed, with packages containing flour, sugar, and canned goods.
  • The Egyptian Red Crescent is sending over 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tons of food through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Dire Conditions and Rising Death Toll

  • Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 133 deaths from malnutrition, including 87 children.
  • A five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital.
  • Thousands of Gazans are gathering in anticipation of aid, though concerns remain about safety and distribution effectiveness.

Global Reaction and Political Tensions

  • A coalition of 25 countries, including France and Canada, condemned the limited aid flow as unacceptable.
  • UN officials stress that humanitarian pauses must lead to scalable and sustained assistance.
  • Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the decision, calling it a “capitulation” to Hamas.

Ceasefire Talks Stalled

Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have faltered, with both Israel and the U.S. withdrawing negotiating teams. While the tactical pause offers a glimmer of hope, many Gazans and aid workers emphasize that only a permanent end to hostilities will truly alleviate the suffering.


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