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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...

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Potential Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza as UNRWA Faces Ban

 

Israel’s recent decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within its borders has sparked significant concern among international organizations. The ban, if fully implemented, could lead to severe humanitarian consequences in Gaza, particularly for children.

UNICEF’s Warning: UNICEF spokesperson James Elder emphasized that the inability of UNRWA to operate could lead to the collapse of Gaza’s humanitarian system. Elder, who has extensive experience in Gaza, warned that this decision could result in more child deaths, describing it as a new way to harm children.

Collective Punishment: Jens Laerke from the UN humanitarian office suggested that the ban could be seen as a form of collective punishment against Gazans, adding to the existing hardships imposed on the region.

No Alternatives: Other UN agencies, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have stated that they cannot replace UNRWA’s role in Gaza. While IOM is willing to increase its relief efforts, it acknowledges that UNRWA’s services are indispensable and irreplaceable at this point.

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