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The World Cup Promised $3.8 Billion — Here's What Canada Actually Got

       Monday July 13, 2026 FIFA promised Canada a $3.8-billion economic windfall for hosting the 2026 World Cup. Two weeks into play in Toronto, the receipts tell a very different story — and there's a lesson in it for anyone thinking a "big event" boost is coming to their city, their rental property, or their business. The Billion-Dollar Bill Came First Before a single ball was kicked, Canadian taxpayers were already on the hook. According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, governments across the country will spend roughly $1.07 billion hosting the 2026 tournament. Toronto alone budgeted $380 million to host six matches at BMO Field. British Columbia's tab for Vancouver's seven matches at BC Place came in even higher, at about $578 million. Ottawa is chipping in $473 million of that total — including $220 million in direct grants to Toronto and B.C., plus another $145 million earmarked for security costs during the tournament. Net of federal help, Toronto and B...

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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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