Groceries Relief Rollout: Canada begins paying the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, replacing the GST/HST credit, with the first installment landing in accounts of about 1.6M Canadians (including ~200,000 Vancouver Islanders) and quarterly payments set to rise 25% over five years. AI Strategy Push (and Trust Gap): Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “AI for All” plan targets $200B in added growth and 250,000 AI jobs by the 2030s, but critics flag delivery and public trust as the sticking point. Gordie Howe Bridge Timing: The Gordie Howe International Bridge is “essentially complete,” but legal and certification steps mean opening could slip to 2027–2028, keeping political pressure and cross-border frustration high. Markets Mood: Tech-led weakness hit equities as stronger US jobs data kept rate expectations restrictive; Canada’s jobs news also fed volatility. Alberta Separation Debate: Economists weigh whether Alberta could survive financially outside Canada, while data on tax transfers fuels separatist support. Defence & Municipal Coordination: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities launches a defence task force to align city support with federal military spending. Elder Fraud Warning: BC Crime Stoppers highlights rising scams targeting seniors and urges anonymous reporting. India Tax Boost for Investors: India exempts foreign portfolio investors from tax on interest and capital gains from specified government securities, aiming to deepen its sovereign debt market. AI Data Centres: AirTrunk plans a $30B, 5GW India data-centre build by 2030, backed by Blackstone and CPPIB. Cricket Canada Fallout: Cricket World Cup qualifying matches in King City go spectator-free amid security concerns, as Cricket Canada faces turmoil.