By Canadian Press

In the news today: Israel’s bombardment in Gaza surges, reducing buildings to rubble

Oct 25, 2023 | 2:24 AM

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…

Israel ramps up airstrikes across the Gaza Strip

Israel has ramped up airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, reducing residential buildings to rubble and crushing families. Airstrikes have killed dozens at a time in levelled homes, according to witnesses.

The surging death toll foretells even greater loss of life ahead in Gaza, where Israeli forces are expected to launch a ground invasion seeking to destroy Hamas. Fuel shortages and the bombardment forced the shutdown of medical facilities, Gaza officials said.

The war, in its 19th day Wednesday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Health Ministry said Tuesday that at least 5,791 Palestinians have been killed and 16,297 wounded. 

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More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, according to Israeli officials, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage on Oct. 7. In addition, 222 people including foreigners were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, Israel’s military has said. Four of those have been released.

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Here’s what else we’re watching …

BoC widely expected to hold rate steady today

The Bank of Canada is set to announce its interest rate decision this morning.

Forecasters are widely expecting the central bank to hold its key interest rate steady as the economy weakens and inflation slows.

The key rate is currently sitting at five per cent, the highest it’s been since 2001.

The Bank of Canada’s aggressive rate hikes since March 2022 are weighing on consumers and businesses, as the economy shrank in the second quarter and the labour market eased.

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Canadians want to maintain Ukraine spending: poll

A new survey suggests more Canadians want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to maintain Canada’s current level of spending on helping Ukraine fight its war against Russia rather than boosting financial support.

Polling firm Leger recently asked Canadians their thoughts on Canada’s presence on the world stage, including efforts to assist Ukraine.

The results show that 45 per cent said they thought Canada should maintain the same level of spending, compared to 30 per cent who said Canada ought to decrease spending.

Only 12 per cent of respondents answered they thought the federal government should boost Canada’s level of spending, while another 12 per cent said they did not know or refused to answer.

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Prison staff intervened to stop Bernardo statement

Newly released documents show the Correctional Service of Canada stopped Paul Bernardo from making a statement to the media as controversy swirled around his transfer to a medium-security prison. 

The Canadian Press obtained emails through access-to-information that shows staff in the prison service expressed concern that Bernardo may making a statement through his lawyer back in June. 

Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in the early 1990s.

In an email to the Privy Council Office, a correctional service staffer wrote “we are told that Bernardo had talked to his lawyer about speaking up publicly to media on his behalf.” 

The staffer went on to say officials “have since intervened and spoke to him about victim considerations,” saying Bernardo would advise his lawyer.

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Alberta looking at AI to predict wildfires

A provincial wildfire management specialist says Alberta is investing in artificial intelligence to try to predict where a wildfire may ignite before it happens.

Ed Trenchard, who plans responses to wildfires in the province, says that traditional predictions were lacking precise fire location forecasts.

He says the province partnered with software company Alta-M-L, which uses Microsoft’s Azure A-I technology, to develop a next-day fire-likelihood forecast system.

He says the A-I software provides additional information to fire officials which enables them to make critical decisions quickly. 

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Police investigate five deaths in Sault Ste. Marie

A police investigation remains underway into shootings that left five people – including three children and the shooter – dead in the northern Ontario city of Sault Ste. Marie.

Police have described what happened Monday night as a tragic case of intimate partner violence. 

Investigators have not released any information on the identities of those involved but say the shootings were not a random act of violence. 

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2023.

The Canadian Press