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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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Rebel Group Seizes Key Myanmar Border Town, Dealing Blow to Military Regime


A powerful rebel group has seized control of Kanpaiti, a key trading town in northeastern Myanmar on the Chinese border, marking a significant setback for the military-led government. Witnesses report that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has taken over the town, which is a lucrative rare earth mining hub.

The loss of Kanpaiti leaves Myanmar's military in control of only one town with a border crossing, Muse, and deprives it of potential profits from the mines that provide China with rare earth minerals critical for various high-tech applications. Video clips circulating on social media, which could not be independently verified, showed a KIA member raising the group's flag at the tunnel through the mountain to China.

The military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering intensified fighting with long-established armed militias organized by Myanmar's ethnic minority groups. The KIA's recent success is part of a broader offensive by an alliance of powerful militias that has led to a series of unprecedented defeats for the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's armed forces.

The ongoing civil war and military restrictions make travel for journalists nearly impossible, but the reports were confirmed by witnesses by telephone. The fall of Kanpaiti is another blow to the regime, but analysts suggest it may not significantly affect the military's ability to wage war.


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