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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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Sudan's Famine Crisis Worsens Amid Ongoing Conflict

 

War-hit Sudan is sliding deeper into a famine crisis, with worsening starvation and a surge in acute malnutrition, according to an independent group of food security experts. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has identified famine in five areas, including the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, where about half a million people are taking refuge. The crisis has been exacerbated by a 20-month civil war between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The IPC report highlights that 24.6 million people, about half of Sudan's population, urgently need food aid. The conflict has severely disrupted farming activities, resulting in farmers abandoning their crops and widespread looting. The situation is particularly dire in Darfur and South Kordofan, where violence has led to scores of civilian casualties and displacement.

The Sudanese government has suspended its cooperation with the IPC, accusing it of issuing unreliable reports. However, the IPC warns that without an end to the conflict, the situation could worsen, with famine potentially spreading to additional areas.

The international community continues to call for urgent humanitarian aid and a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further suffering and loss of life.




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