Skip to main content

Featured

Ottawa Backs Down on Digital Tax Dispute Amid Pressure from Trump White House

Canada has reportedly agreed to delay its planned digital services tax (DST) following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a recent statement from the White House. The tax, which was originally slated to target tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google, had been a major sticking point in U.S.-Canada trade discussions. The White House claimed Canada “caved” to U.S. demands after months of negotiations, with Trump’s team arguing the tax unfairly targeted American firms. The Canadian government, however, framed the delay as a strategic move to preserve economic stability and avoid retaliatory tariffs. Critics within Canada argue that the government’s decision reflects a growing trend of yielding to U.S. economic influence, while others say the delay is pragmatic given ongoing global talks about a coordinated approach to taxing digital revenues. The issue remains contentious, and observers are watching closely to see whether Canada will revive th...

article

Yahya Sinwar: From Militant to Hamas Leader

 

Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks on Israel, has been announced as the new leader of the militant group Hamas . Here are some key points about Sinwar:

  1. Background and Early Life:

    • Born in 1962 in a refugee camp in Gaza’s Khan Younis, Sinwar was an early member of Hamas, which formed in 1987.
    • He led the group’s security arm, working to eliminate spies for Israel.
    • His ruthless reputation earned him the nickname “The Butcher of Khan Younis.”
  2. Imprisonment and Release:

    • Israel arrested Sinwar in the late 1980s, and he admitted to killing 12 suspected collaborators.
    • He was sentenced to four life terms, but in 2011, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released him in exchange for an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas.
  3. Rise to Power in Gaza:

    • Back in Gaza, Sinwar quickly climbed Hamas’ leadership ranks.
    • He orchestrated the 2016 killing of another top Hamas commander, Mahmoud Ishtewi, in an internal power struggle.
    • Sinwar became head of Hamas in Gaza, aligning the group with Iran and building its military capabilities.
  4. The October 7 Attack:

    • Sinwar, along with Mohammed Deif (head of Hamas’ armed wing), engineered the surprise attack on Israel.
    • The attack killed about 1,200 Israelis (mostly civilians) and sparked a war that claimed nearly 40,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza .
  5. Challenges Ahead:

    • Sinwar has been in hiding since the attack, making day-to-day operations challenging for Hamas .
    • As the new leader, he faces complex geopolitical dynamics and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In summary, Yahya Sinwar’s journey from a refugee camp to Hamas leader reflects both resilience and ruthlessness, shaping the group’s future under his leadership.

Comments