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European Powers Reject U.S. Call for Military Role in Strait of Hormuz

                                                         Tankers sit anchored in Muscat, Oman amid the conflict European resistance to U.S. calls for military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz is growing, with Greece, Spain, Germany, and Italy all publicly rejecting participation. Their stance underscores a widening divide between Washington and key European partners over the legality and strategic wisdom of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. A group of major European nations— Greece, Spain, Germany, and Italy —has firmly declined to join U.S.-led military operations in the Strait of Hormuz , a critical global shipping route currently strained by conflict. Greece Greece announced it will not engage in military operations in the Strait. Officials clarified that Greece will only participate in the EU’s naval mis...

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GST Holiday Fails to Deliver Economic Lift, Data Shows Minimal Impact

                                               

New figures reveal that Canada's GST/HST holiday yielded little boost in consumer spending, falling short of expectations. Payment processor Moneris reported a 4% decline in overall spending during the tax break period compared to the previous year, with both the number and size of transactions dropping slightly. Similarly, a survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) found that only about 5% of small businesses experienced a noticeable sales increase, while the majority reported no significant change in business activity.

Despite the intended relief, many retailers found the initiative more burdensome than beneficial, citing last-minute adjustments to point-of-sale systems and increased administrative challenges. Although certain sectors, like children's apparel, saw minor gains, these were not enough to offset the overall downturn in consumer spending. The data suggests that the tax holiday may have merely shifted the timing of purchases rather than stimulating additional economic activity.


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