How much the Gaza war has cost Israel and its allies
An analytical look at the human toll and fiscal burden of Israel’s Gaza campaign, from battlefield expenditures and reserve mobilization to the projected cost to rebuild the enclave
News
Montreal salon faces tribunal ruling over gendered booking system and $500 payment
A Montreal hair salon was ordered to compensate a non-binary client after its 2026 booking form required selecting male or female; the decision highlights legal recognition of non-binary identities and leaves room for appeal
IDF says digging in Gaza cemetery unavoidably disturbed Canadian war graves
Canada, families and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission are seeking answers after the Israel Defence Forces said they dug 20 to 30 metres into a Gaza cemetery to disable a Hamas tunnel, impacting a plot with 22 Canadian peacekeepers
Deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe leaves eight dead and one presumed missing
Eight backcountry skiers died and one is presumed missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe; rescue teams recovered six survivors amid hazardous conditions
How the dhs funding gap is affecting fema support and local emergency services
The DHS funding pause is halting some FEMA operations and grant reviews, creating gaps for local emergency managers and lengthening recovery timelines after disasters such as Hurricane Helene in fall 2026
GOP pushes stricter voting rules tied to fraud allegations
Republicans are moving to impose stricter voting requirements, including proof of citizenship, while local Illinois politics mirror national divisions over election legitimacy and federal funding
GOP pushes voting limits as federal system misidentifies citizenship
Republicans have moved to tighten voter requirements as a revamped Department of Homeland Security system, SAVE, has flagged citizens as noncitizens, complicating election oversight and local administration
Geneva negotiations stall as France investigates murder linked to political militants
A Geneva negotiation on 18/02/2026 ended without compromise and a separate French inquiry into the killing of a far‑right student has produced nine arrests, including a parliamentary assistant, raising political pressure across parties
Trump gathers global officials to review Gaza plan amid tariff and detention controversies
President Donald Trump will assemble officials from dozens of countries in Washington to receive a status update on his Gaza plan while domestic policy battles over tariffs and immigration detention escalate
How Mayor Mamdani framed a fiscal test: property tax threat versus Albany revenue
Mayor Mamdani presented a fiscal 2027 preliminary budget that signals a 9.5% proposed property tax increase as leverage to secure state-authorized revenue while spotlighting ballooning costs in education, shelters, and public assistance
Why U.S. air power and support for Israel could deepen the Iran conflict
As U.S. forces concentrate unprecedented air power in the Middle East and leaders debate intervention, experts warn that joining Israel’s offensive against Iran could backfire strategically and diplomatically
How epibatidine was used in Navalny’s killing and what it means for international law
Independent testing linked Alexey Navalny’s death to epibatidine, a potent frog-derived neurotoxin; a former OPCW laboratory chief explains the science, possible motives, and the limits of international enforcement
US backs Chagos transfer as Trump and Chagossians clash over Diego Garcia
The United States has renewed support for the UK-Mauritius arrangement on the Chagos archipelago, prompting a public rebuke from Donald Trump and a determined return by Chagossian residents to Diego Garcia and other islands
How the Board of Peace pledge reshapes Gaza relief and regional dynamics
An analysis of the Board of Peace’s $5bn pledge, international troop commitments, recent Gaza fatalities and parallel US-led pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon
Security Council moves meeting to address Gaza ceasefire and West Bank plans before Trump board
The UN Security Council shifted its session to review the Gaza ceasefire and Israeli West Bank policies ahead of President Trump’s Board of Peace meeting, as countries and organisations urge a halt to annexation efforts
Rescuers reach six survivors after Castle Peak avalanche; frantic search continues for nine still missing
On Feb. 17, 2026, an avalanche near Castle Peak swept through a group of skiers; six were rescued and brought to safety while authorities continue searching for nine others amid dangerous storm conditions.