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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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Russia's Missile Barrage Forces Power Grid Shutdown in Ukraine

 


In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched a major ballistic and cruise missile attack on regions across Ukraine on Wednesday. The assault targeted critical energy infrastructure, compelling Ukrainian authorities to shut down the power grid in several areas despite the freezing winter weather.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that it aimed at "critically important facilities of gas and energy infrastructure that ensure the functioning of Ukraine’s military industrial complex". The barrage included 43 missiles and 74 drones, with Ukrainian air defenses managing to shoot down 30 missiles and 47 drones.

The attack spanned from the Lviv region in western Ukraine to Kharkiv in the northeast, causing emergency power outages in six regions. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko condemned the attack, describing it as an ongoing effort by Russia to terrorize Ukrainians and disrupt the nation's energy grid.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western partners to accelerate the delivery of promised air defense weapons, emphasizing the need to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the harsh winter months. The attack has further strained Ukraine's already eroded power generation capacity, with efforts to rebuild ongoing despite the relentless assaults.

The nearly three-year war has seen long-range attacks become a feature of the conflict, with both sides engaged in a war of attrition along a front line stretching about 1,000 kilometers from northeast to southern Ukraine. As the conflict continues, the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the support of international allies remain crucial in the face of ongoing aggression.



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