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June Jobs Report: What It Means for the Bank of Canada's July 15 Decision

  Friday, July 10, 2026 Statistics Canada releases its June Labour Force Survey today, and the timing couldn't matter more. This is the last major economic data point before the Bank of Canada's next interest rate decision on July 15, 2026 — and whichever way the jobs numbers break, they'll shape what happens to borrowing costs for the rest of the summer. What Economists Are Expecting Consensus forecasts point to a modest but positive jobs report. Economists expect Canada added around 10,000 jobs in June, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 6.6%. That would follow a much stronger May, when the economy added 88,000 jobs and the unemployment rate actually fell by 0.3 percentage points. In other words, June's report is expected to show a cooling-off after May's surprise strength — not a reversal, but a return to a more modest pace of hiring. Indicator May 2026 June 2026 (Forecast) Net Employment Change +88,000 jobs +10,000 jobs (expected) Unemployment Rate 6....

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Inferno in Tai Po: 13 Dead as Hong Kong High-Rises Burn

 

                                        Hong Kong fire horror: 13 dead as blaze engulfs high-rise tower blocks

A devastating fire tore through multiple high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, leaving 13 people dead and dozens injured. The blaze erupted at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, which consists of eight blocks and nearly 2,000 apartments. Authorities reported that the flames spread rapidly across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the buildings, sending thick smoke and towering flames into the sky.

The fire was first reported around 2:50 p.m. local time and quickly escalated to a No. 5 alarm, the highest severity rating in Hong Kong. Firefighters battled the inferno late into the night, rescuing trapped residents and evacuating approximately 700 people to temporary shelters. Tragically, one firefighter was among the dead, and several others were hospitalized with injuries.

Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before the fire spread uncontrollably. Residents watched in horror as flames engulfed entire blocks, with some unable to escape. “My wife is still inside,” sobbed one elderly man, highlighting the desperate situation faced by many families.

The Hong Kong government has pledged a full investigation into the cause of the disaster, while emergency teams continue to search for survivors. The tragedy has shaken the city, raising urgent questions about fire safety in densely populated housing estates and the risks posed by construction scaffolding during renovations.

This catastrophic blaze stands as one of Hong Kong’s deadliest residential fires in recent years, leaving the community mourning and demanding stronger safeguards to prevent such tragedies in the future.


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