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5 Things to Know Today: July 29, 2026

  Wednesday, July 29, 2026 A fresh Iran missile attack has oil swinging again, the TSX just set another record, the Fed decides this afternoon, Microsoft and Meta report tonight, and your CPP deposit lands today. Here's what it means for your wallet. 1. Your CPP payment lands today Wednesday, July 29 is a Canada Pension Plan deposit day — the seventh of twelve scheduled payments this year and the last one before the August cycle. If you're collecting the maximum retirement pension starting at 65, you'll see $1,507.65 land in your account. The average new beneficiary starting at 65 receives $877.01 . Your amount will match what you received in June: CPP is indexed only once a year, in January (this year's bump was 2.0%), so there's no mid-year change. The next adjustment arrives with the January 2027 deposit. What it means for you: If your deposit is smaller than expected, it's almost always something individual — an early-start reduction, tax withholding, or a...

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Aid World in Turmoil: USAID Contractors Face Layoffs and Cash Crunch Under Trump Overhaul


In a dramatic shakeup of U.S. foreign assistance, contractors working with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been forced to fire staff and grapple with severe cash shortages amid sweeping changes imposed by President Donald Trump. Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a comprehensive review—and subsequent freeze—of nearly all U.S. foreign aid programs. The move, aimed at realigning spending with “America First” priorities, has led to blanket stop-work orders that left hundreds of contractors without incoming payments for approved projects.

Contractors, who normally front project costs and then invoice the government, suddenly found their revenue streams drying up. As a result, companies reported laying off large portions of their workforce and initiating furloughs, with some citing unpaid invoices worth millions of dollars. The financial crunch has not only jeopardized the livelihoods of thousands of aid workers but also threatened critical programs abroad—from nutritional support for malnourished children to life-saving health initiatives.

Critics warn that these abrupt changes risk undermining decades of humanitarian work that has saved millions of lives, while supporters argue that the review is necessary to eliminate waste and ensure that aid spending directly supports U.S. national interests. As the situation unfolds, uncertainty looms over the future of U.S. foreign assistance, with contractors and aid organizations bracing for further disruptions and potential legal battles over lost benefits and unpaid debts.


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