The federal government says it will lift the GST on certain items for two months. The prime minister also says Canadians who earned less than $150,000 last year will get a $250 cheque. It could mean more sales. But will it do anything to help a crisis of affordability?

And: Matt Gaetz takes his name out of contention to be attorney general of the U.S. Faced with a storm over allegations he’d paid for sex with an underaged girl Gaetz, said Donald Trump, withdrew because he did not want to be a distraction.

Also: The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for the prime minister of Israel and his former defence minister. The court says there are reasonable grounds to try Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant as being criminally responsible in the "war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. There is also a warrant for Hamas military leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, although Israel has said he was killed in the summer. Canada, as a member of the ICC, would be obliged to arrest any of them if they arrived in the country.

Plus: COP29 agreement delayed, a report says Canadian scientists shouldn’t work with Chinese counterparts, Taylor Swift ticket fraud, and more.