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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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Israeli Troops Reach Strategic Hill in Lebanon Amid Escalating Conflict

 

Israeli ground forces have reached their deepest point in Lebanon since the invasion began on October 1, according to Lebanese state media. The troops captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, approximately 5 kilometers from the Israeli border, before pulling back after intense battles with Hezbollah militants.

The National News Agency reported that Israeli forces detonated the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet and several homes in Chamaa before their withdrawal, although these claims have not been independently verified. The Israeli military stated that their operations in southern Lebanon remain limited, localized, and targeted.

This ground push coincided with Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other areas in southern Lebanon, including the port city of Tyre. The strikes targeted sites used by Hezbollah, with residents receiving advance warnings to evacuate.

The escalation comes as Lebanese and Hezbollah officials review a U.S.-drafted proposal aimed at ending the conflict. The proposal, based on U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, calls for a ceasefire and Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Since the conflict’s escalation in late September, over 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, with 80% of the casualties occurring in the past eight weeks. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has urged Iran to persuade Hezbollah to agree to the ceasefire deal.


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