Nepal Disaster Toll Drops, Bank of Canada Interest Rate Decision Looms

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the number of Australians missing in the Nepal disaster has fallen from 43 to 38 after five were confirmed safe overnight. Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, reported that at least five other foreign tourists who were previously reported missing had contacted authorities by email or telephone in recent days.

Canadian families are still waiting for answers one week after the disaster. Neeral Patel, an Ontario woman, is particularly concerned as her cousin Ishan and three Canadian family members he was traveling with remain unaccounted for. The federal government has 10 officials on the ground in Nepal to support Canadians affected by flooding and help locate the missing.

The Bank of Canada will make its sixth interest-rate decision of the year today, with most economists expecting another hold. Inflation climbed to three percent in July, while the economy and labour market are showing signs of improvement despite trade tensions with the U.S.