Skip to main content

Featured

Bank of Canada Holds at 2.25% — What the Fine Print Means for You

  July 15, 2026  |  Canadian Money Brief The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% today, exactly as every economist surveyed expected. The number didn't move — but the story underneath it did. Between renewed oil-market chaos, a stubbornly hot inflation reading, and an economy that's finally showing signs of life, this "boring" hold decision was anything but simple. If you've been following our preview piece from earlier this week , this is the follow-up: what actually happened, and what it means for your mortgage, your savings, and your grocery bill. The Decision, in Plain English This marks the sixth consecutive hold since the Bank's last cut back in October 2025. The overnight rate stays at 2.25%, the Bank Rate at 2.5%, and the deposit rate at 2.20%. Bank prime — the number that actually determines your variable mortgage or line of credit rate — stays put at 4.45%. Governor Tiff Macklem has described this level as sitting near the bottom of the Bank...

article

Israeli Tanks Push Deeper into Gaza’s Rafah Amid Displacement Crisis

 

Israeli tanks have intensified their offensive in the southern border city of Rafah, pushing deeper into eastern neighborhoods. This escalation comes as more than a million civilians, who had sought refuge in Rafah after being displaced during seven months of war, face renewed danger. Here’s are the details: 

  • Humanitarian Crisis: Israel’s international allies and aid groups have repeatedly warned against a ground incursion into Rafah, fearing a potential humanitarian catastrophe. The city has been a refuge for displaced Palestinians, but the recent offensive threatens their safety and well-being.

  • Evacuation Orders: Israel issued evacuation orders for people to move from parts of eastern Rafah, extending to further zones. Displaced civilians are relocating to designated areas, including Al-Mawasi, a strip of land along the coast. However, these zones lack proper facilities to accommodate the influx of people.

  • Hamas Resistance: Despite international pressure, Israel continues its operation in Rafah. The goal is to root out the remaining Hamas battalions holed up in the city. Clashes persist as Hamas’s armed wing retaliates, destroying an Israeli troop carrier with an Al-Yassin 105 missile.

  • Ceasefire Efforts: Qatar and Egypt are mediating ceasefire talks, but Israel’s actions in Rafah have complicated the negotiations. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani expressed concern about the impact on reaching a truce.

  • Intensified Conflict: Fighting across Gaza has intensified, with the Israeli military re-entering areas previously claimed to be dismantled. Israel aims to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capacities, but the toll on Palestinian lives continues to rise.

In summary, the situation in Rafah remains dire, with civilians caught in the crossfire. As the conflict persists, the international community must redouble efforts to find a peaceful resolution and alleviate the suffering of those displaced by war.

Comments