The Bank of Canada delivered a widely expected interest rate cut today, marking the second consecutive time it has lowered its policy rate. The central bank's quarter-percentage-point cut brings its policy rate down to 4.5 per cent. The Bank of Canada says the decision was motivated by continued progress on getting inflation down as well as weakening economic conditions. In his prepared statement, governor Tiff Macklem says as inflation edges closer to its two per cent target, the central bank is trying to avoid the risk of the economy and inflation weakening by more than expected.

Two Alberta men have been charged after death threats were allegedly directed at top federal politicians, including the prime minister. RCMP say a social media user on the platform X had allegedly posted threats in May to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Twenty-three-year-old Mason John Baker of Calgary has been charged with uttering threats. In a separate case, police say someone on YouTube allegedly posted threats in June to kill Trudeau along with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Sixty-seven-year-old Garry Belzevick of Edmonton is charged with

President Joe Biden is dropping out of the 2024 race following a disastrous debate with Republican Donald Trump, throwing the Democratic Party into chaos just months before the election. The Democrats are left with no clear candidate, a shocking development for an election many in the party argue is among the most consequential in a lifetime because of Trump's plans for a dramatic government overhaul formed around his grievances. Biden won the vast majority of delegates and every nominating contest but one, which would've made his nomination mostly a formality. Now that he's dropped out, those

A large explosion rumbled through the streets of central Tel Aviv early Friday morning, raining down shards of shrapnel and injuring at least 10 people, first responders said. Israel's military said that they were reviewing the explosion and increasing air patrols after the incident, which its initial inquiries determined was caused by “an aerial target." It was not immediately clear how the strike evaded Israel’s air defenses or how Israel might respond. Yemen's Houthis have repeatedly launched drones and missiles toward Israel throughout the nine-month-long war in sympathy with Hamas. Bu

Two sources with knowledge of the situation say federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan is stepping down from cabinet and will not be seeking re-election. A Liberal Party source says O'Regan is expected to resign as minister at a cabinet meeting Friday. Another source with knowledge on the matter says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a replacement for the position, but a broader cabinet shuffle is not expected. O'Regan will remain the MP representing the Newfoundland riding of St. John's South Mount Pearl until the next federal election, set to take place by the fall of 2025. O'Regan

British Columbia's government has introduced new guidelines for public post-secondary education institutions, capping the number of international students at 30 per cent of their total enrolment. In a statement, the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says the new limit is meant to make sure that "international student enrolment doesn't strain an institution's ability "to provide appropriate services." The ministry says the new guidelines call for public universities and colleges to submit international education strategic plans to the government, which the provin

A rare shooting by multiple attackers at a Shiite mosque in Oman killed five people and wounded many more including a police officer, authorities said Tuesday. Pakistan's government said four of its nationals were dead and 30 hurt. The Royal Oman Police said in a statement mentioned no motive or suspect and said the shooting occurred Monday night in the Wadi Kabir neighborhood of the capital, Muscat. The state-run Oman News Agency said three attackers were killed. It reported 28 wounded of “different nationalities.” The shooting occurred on the eve ofAshoura, a remembrance of the 7th centu

Quebec RCMP say they seized 62.7 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the walls of a grand piano during searches in the Lanaudière region and the Sherbrooke, Que., area. They arrested four people on July 12 allegedly involved in a conspiracy to import and traffic the drugs, following a tip from Homeland Security Investigations, a United States law enforcement agency. RCMP say they also seized $10,000 in cash and several electronic devices. The four arrested are Billy Donais Cadieux, 26, of St-Félix-de-Valois; Pablo Hernandez, 52, of Baie d'Urfé; Michael Dubois, 37, of St-Denis-de-Brompton; and Ju

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says supervised consumption sites are just "drug dens" and that he will close them if his party forms the next government. Poilievre visited a park near such a site in Montreal this morning and said he would close all locations near schools, playgrounds and "anywhere else that they endanger the public." The first supervised injection site opened in Vancouver more than 20 years ago. The sites are intended to try and prevent overdoses by allowing people to bring drugs to use under the observation of trained staff. A 2011 the Supreme Court ruling said that clo