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Vancouver Budget Balances Books Without Tax Hike

Vancouver city council approved a 2026 budget, which includes a freeze on municipal property taxes. Vancouver City Council has approved a new budget that pledges no increase in property taxes, a move welcomed by many residents facing rising living costs. However, the financial plan comes with significant trade-offs: millions of dollars will be cut from arts programs, park services, and other community initiatives. City officials argue the budget reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility while easing pressure on households. Critics, however, warn that reductions in cultural and recreational funding could erode the city’s vibrancy and limit access to public spaces. The decision highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing affordability with investment in community life. As Vancouver grows, the debate over how to fund essential services without raising taxes is likely to intensify.
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Israel Kills 25 Palestinians in Gaza Airstrikes Amid Fears of Wider War

 

On August 8, 2024, Israeli forces intensified their strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people, according to Palestinian medics. The conflict escalated as Israel engaged in battle with Hamas-led militants, and there are growing concerns about the potential for a wider war in the region.

The airstrikes targeted various locations within Gaza. In central Gaza’s Al-Bureij camp, a cluster of houses was hit, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. Nearby Al-Nuseirat camp also experienced casualties, with four people killed. Both camps are considered strongholds of armed militants by Israel. Additionally, a house in the heart of Gaza City was bombed, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinians. Another airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed one person and injured others.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the armed wings of Palestinian militant groups, responded by firing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli forces operating in Gaza. Israel’s military reported striking dozens of military targets across Gaza, including rocket launching pads.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October of the previous year, at least 39,699 Palestinians have been killed, including 22 within the past 24 hours, with 91,722 injured. The Gaza health ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its death tolls.

As tensions persist, Israel is bracing for another attack, prompted by recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah along the northern border now poses a risk of escalating into an all-out regional war.

More Burials in Gaza

On the same day, dozens of Palestinians rushed to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to bid farewell to their slain relatives before carrying them away for burials. Relatives were seen moving the bodies of their loved ones in plastic bags, with names written on them, and holding special prayers before the funerals.

The situation remains tense, and the international community closely monitors developments in the region as fears of wider conflict persist.

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