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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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Gaza Aid Crisis: Soup Kitchens Shut Down Amid Israeli Blockade

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened as World Central Kitchen, a leading aid organization, announced the closure of its community soup kitchens due to Israel’s ongoing blockade. The kitchens, which had been serving 133,000 meals per day and baking 80,000 loaves of bread, have run out of food supplies, leaving thousands without access to daily sustenance.

The blockade, imposed by Israel on March 2, has severely restricted the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition. Aid agencies warn that the situation is pushing the population toward starvation, with nearly 10,000 children already treated for acute malnutrition this year.

José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, expressed frustration over the stalled aid deliveries, stating that trucks loaded with food and supplies are waiting in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, but cannot enter Gaza without permission. The Israeli defense body overseeing aid has indicated that the blockade will remain in place unless government policy changes.

The shutdown of soup kitchens marks another devastating blow to Gaza’s war-battered population, as bakeries close and water distribution grinds to a halt due to fuel shortages. Rights groups have condemned the blockade as a “starvation tactic”, calling for immediate humanitarian intervention.

With no clear resolution in sight, the people of Gaza continue to face worsening conditions, relying on dwindling resources and international pressure to ease the blockade.

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