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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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UAE Calls for Urgent Gaza Ceasefire in Rare Meeting with Netanyahu at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

According to the UAE’s state news agency, Sheikh Abdullah stressed the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, the protection of civilian lives, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. He reiterated the UAE’s commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which he said was essential to fulfilling the aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis.

The meeting marked Netanyahu’s first with a senior Arab official since Israel’s recent military escalation, which has drawn widespread condemnation across the region. While many Arab states have taken a confrontational stance, the UAE has opted for direct engagement, reflecting its strategy of balancing dialogue with pressure under the framework of the Abraham Accords.

Analysts note that the UAE’s call for de-escalation underscores growing international frustration with the conflict’s humanitarian toll, as well as concerns that prolonged fighting could destabilize broader regional relations.


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