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Mojtaba Khamenei: The Rise of Iran’s New Supreme Leader

                      A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has emerged as Iran’s new supreme leader following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes. His appointment by the Assembly of Experts comes at a moment of profound crisis for Iran, as the country faces regional war, internal instability, and intense international scrutiny.  A Secretive Heir With Deep Establishment Ties Mojtaba, long considered influential behind the scenes, is a mid-ranking cleric with strong connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His political rise signals continuity of Iran’s hardline establishment, despite the country’s ideological discomfort with hereditary succession.  A Leader Shaped by Conflict and Loss His ascension comes amid the “Ramadan War,” during which he was reportedly wound...

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Trump Halts U.S.-Canada Trade Talks Over Digital Services Tax Dispute

In a dramatic escalation of trade tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration is terminating all trade negotiations with Canada, citing Ottawa’s new digital services tax as the catalyst for the decision.

The tax, which imposes a 3% levy on revenues earned from digital services such as online advertising, social media platforms, and the sale of user data, is set to take effect on June 30. It targets large tech firms with significant Canadian user bases—many of which are American giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon.

Calling the tax “a direct and blatant attack on our country,” Trump posted on Truth Social that Canada is “a very difficult country to trade with” and accused it of mimicking the European Union’s approach to taxing digital services.

The move threatens to disrupt a trade relationship valued at over $760 billion annually. Trump also warned that new tariffs on Canadian exports would be announced within a week, further straining economic ties between the two nations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has yet to issue a formal response, but the decision is expected to have ripple effects across industries, particularly in technology, automotive, and energy sectors.

This latest development marks a sharp turn in U.S.-Canada relations, reigniting trade friction that had cooled in recent years.

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