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The Rate Cuts Are Over — Is a Hike Coming?

  July 23, 2026 Oil shocks, sticky inflation and a technical recession are pulling the Bank of Canada in opposite directions at once. For most of the past two years, the only question about the Bank of Canada was how far and how fast it would cut. The overnight rate fell from 5.00% to 2.25% between June 2024 and October 2025, one of the sharpest easing cycles in the Bank's history, and it has held there through six consecutive decisions since. That story is now over. The question on the table for the rest of 2026 isn't whether the Bank cuts again — it's whether the next move is actually a hike. Two conflicting signals, one Bank The case for staying put — or even cutting — comes from the growth side of the ledger. Statistics Canada data showed the economy contracted in both the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, meeting the informal definition of a technical recession. That was enough to have some economists warning the Bank had no room to raise rates at a...

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UN Demand for Gaza Ceasefire Sparks Tensions Between U.S. and Israel



In a historic move, the United Nations Security Council has issued its first demand for a ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This resolution, passed by a 14-0 vote, aims to halt the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, it’s the U.S.'s decision to abstain from using its veto power that has ignited the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began.

The UN’s call for a ceasefire was met with mixed reactions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly canceled a planned high-level delegation visit to Washington in protest. The resolution not only demands a cessation of hostilities but also calls for the release of all hostages taken captive during Hamas’ surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7. Notably, the resolution does not explicitly link the release of hostages to the ceasefire during Ramadan, which concludes on April 9.

The U.S. decision to abstain from the vote has drawn criticism. Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from its “principled position” by allowing the resolution to pass without conditioning the ceasefire on the release of hostages held by Hamas. White House national security spokesman John Kirby clarified that the abstention was due to the resolution’s failure to condemn Hamas.

This clash underscores the delicate balance between diplomacy, humanitarian concerns, and geopolitical alliances. As negotiations continue, the world watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution that preserves human lives and averts further suffering and destruction in the region.



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