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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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Israeli Attack on Rafah Tent Camp Draws Global Condemnation

 

In a tragic incident, an Israeli airstrike killed at least 35 people in a tent camp in the Gaza city of Rafah. The strike occurred late on Sunday night, setting tents and rickety shelters ablaze. As Palestinian families rushed to hospitals to prepare their dead for burial, scenes reminiscent of the ongoing war unfolded. Women wept, and men held prayers beside bodies in shrouds.

The area targeted in Rafah had been designated as a safe zone, yet the attack occurred despite this. European leaders swiftly condemned the strike, urging the implementation of a World Court ruling to halt Israel’s offensive. Despite the global outcry over civilian casualties, Israeli tanks continued to bombard other areas of the city, resulting in eight more deaths on Monday.

Israel’s military claimed that the air attack, based on “precise intelligence,” had eliminated the chief of staff for Hamas, the militant group operating in the West Bank. However, many of the victims were women and children, and the death toll is expected to rise as some remain in critical condition with severe burns.

Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, and the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, emphasized that international humanitarian law applies to all parties involved in the conflict. Israel’s top military prosecutor also called the air strike “very grave,” and an investigation is underway.

Despite a recent ruling by the top U.N. court ordering Israel to stop its attacks on Rafah, the country has continued its offensive, arguing that the court’s decision allows for some scope of military action. The situation remains dire, and the world watches as Rafah burns.

By daylight, the camp lay in ruins—smoking wreckage, twisted metal, and charred belongings. Residents, grieving their lost loved ones, expressed their frustration at being misled about safety in Rafah’s western areas. The tragedy underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, one that prioritizes civilian lives and adheres to international law.

Let us hope that global leaders take decisive action to prevent further loss of life and bring an end to the suffering in Rafah. 

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