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Bank of Canada Rate Decision Countdown: What to Expect on July 15

  Published July 4, 2026 In eleven days, the Bank of Canada will make its fifth interest rate call of 2026. If you've got a mortgage renewing, a variable rate that moves with the Bank's decisions, or savings sitting in a high-interest account, this is the date to have circled. Here's where things stand heading into July 15, and what the smart money is expecting. Where the rate sits right now The Bank of Canada has held its policy rate at 2.25% since its last two decisions, with the Bank Rate at 2.50% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The July 15 announcement, released at 9:45 a.m. ET, will also come with a full Monetary Policy Report, since the Bank publishes its detailed economic projections quarterly alongside the January, April, July, and October decisions. Why most economists expect another hold The case for standing pat comes down to two forces pulling in opposite directions: Inflation is running hot, but mostly for one reason. Canada's headline inflation rate jumped...

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Israel’s Intensifying Military Operation in Rafah Sparks International Concerns

 

In a recent escalation of conflict, Israel has intensified its military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Despite U.S. warnings about the risk of mass casualties, Israeli forces have pushed forward, bombarding towns in the north of the Strip and vowing to broaden their ground operation in Rafah. Here are the key points:

  1. Intensified Conflict: Israeli forces have made a new push in central Gaza, leading to intense battles in Jabalia, a northern Palestinian enclave. At least 23 people have been killed in the latest fighting.

  2. Rafah’s Importance: Israel considers Rafah, located on Gaza’s border with Egypt, as Hamas’ last stronghold. The city has become a focal point of the conflict, with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians seeking shelter there.

  3. International Concerns: Western powers are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Rafah. Despite Israeli assurances, civilians have been caught in the crossfire, and the United Nations estimates that over 810,000 people have fled the city since the conflict escalated.

  4. Allies at Odds: Israel’s plan for an all-out assault on Rafah has strained its relationship with its main ally, the United States. Washington even held up a weapons shipment due to fears of large civilian casualties.

  5. Prime Minister’s Stance: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with sending troops into Rafah, rejecting international pressure. He emphasized that Israel is determined to realize its war aims, regardless of the risks.

The situation remains tense, and the world watches closely as the conflict unfolds. The fate of Rafah and its civilian population hangs in the balance.

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