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Lebanon Seeks to Distance State from Hezbollah After Cyprus Drone Incident

                                                         File photo: Youssef Ragg Lebanon has urged Cypriot authorities and the public not to conflate the Lebanese state with Hezbollah following a drone strike that originated from Lebanese territory and hit Cyprus six days earlier. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the attack was carried out independently by Hezbollah and does not reflect the policies, values, or intentions of the Lebanese government.  Raggi stressed that Lebanon rejects any attempt to use its territory for external agendas and reiterated that Hezbollah’s actions fall outside the state’s legal authority. He called on Cyprus to distinguish between the official Lebanese government and groups operating autonomously, noting that Lebanon has consistently affirmed its sovereignty ...

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Ottawa Orders 100-Day Overhaul to Tackle CRA Service Delays

 



Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne has directed the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to implement a 100‑day action plan aimed at resolving what he calls “unacceptable” service delays at the agency’s call centres.

In a letter to the chair of Parliament’s finance committee, Champagne acknowledged mounting complaints from Canadians struggling to reach CRA agents, with wait times reportedly stretching to more than three hours in some cases. The plan will focus on measures such as reallocating or adding personnel, piloting a call‑scheduling system, and expanding digital service options.

The directive comes amid broader federal spending cuts, with over 3,000 CRA jobs lost since May of last year. While the agency recently extended contracts for 850 call‑centre employees, the Union of Taxation Employees warns that further cuts could worsen service levels.

Champagne and CRA officials are expected to update Parliament on the plan’s progress when the House of Commons resumes on September 15.


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