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Worldnews

What Is Canadas Digital Tax And Why Is Trump Killing Trade Talks Over It?

Trump says Canada’s new tax will cost US companies billions; he will announce new tariffs on Canada within days. As Canada pushes ahead with a new digital services tax on foreign and domestic technology companies, United States President Donald Trump has retaliated by ending all trade talks and threatened to impose additional tariffs on exports from Ottawa. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump called the new Canadian tax structure a “direct and blatant attack on our country”, adding that Canada is “a very difficult country to trade with”. “Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,” he wrote. He added that he would announce new tariffs of his own for Canada in a matter of days. US companies such as Amazon, Meta, Google and Uber face an estimated $2bn in bills under the new tax. Trump’s decision marks a sharp return to trade tensions between the two countries, abruptly ending a more cooperative phase since Mark Carney’s election as Canada’s prime minister in March. It also marks a further escalation in the trade-as-pressure tactic under Trump’s second term in Washington. The US is Canada’s largest trading partner by far, with more than 80 percent of Canadian exports destined for the US. In 2024, total bilateral goods trade exceeded US$762bn, with Canada exporting $412.7bn and importing $349.4bn – leaving the US, which counts Canada as its second-largest trading partner, with a goods deficit of $63.3bn. A disruption due to tariffs on products like automobiles, minerals, energy or aluminium could have large ripple effects across both economies. So, what is Canada’s digital tax? Why is Carney facing domestic pushback on the taxes? And how is Washington responding? Canada’s Digital Services Tax Act (DSTA) came into force in June last year. It is a levy on tech revenues generated from Canadian users – even if providers do not have a physical presence in the country. The DSTA was first proposed during the 2019 federal election under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and received approval in Canada on June 20, 2024. It came into force a week later, on June 28. The first payments of this tax are due on Monday, June 30, 2025. Large technology firms with global revenues exceeding $820m and Canadian revenues of more than $14.7m must pay a 3 percent levy on certain digital services revenues earned in Canada. Unlike traditional corporate taxes based on profits, this tax targets gross revenue linked to Canadian user engagement. Digital services the levy will apply to include: Online marketplaces, social media platforms, digital advertising and the sale or licensing of user data. One of the most contentious parts of the new framework for businesses is its retroactive nature, which demands payments on revenues dating back to January 1, 2022. On June 11, 21 US Congress members sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to pressure Canada to eliminate or pause its Digital Services Tax. “If Canada decides to move forward with this unprecedented, retroactive tax, it will set a terrible precedent that will have long-lasting impacts on global tax and trade practices,” they wrote. Then, in a Truth Social post on Friday this week, Trump said Canada had confirmed it would continue with its new digital services tax “on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country”. He added that the US would be “terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately” and that he would be levying new tariffs of his own on Canada within seven days. “They have charged our Farmers as much as 400% Tariffs, for years, on Dairy Products,” Trump said, adding, “We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period.” Later, at the Oval Office, Trump doubled down, saying: “We have all the cards. We have every single one.” He noted that the US holds “such power over Canada [economically]”. “We’d rather not use it,” Trump said, adding: “It’s not going to work out well for Canada. They were foolish to do it. “Most of their business is with us, and when you have that circumstance, you treat people better.” Trump also said he would order a Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act to assess the DSTA’s effect on US commerce, which could potentially lead to other punitive measures. On Friday, White House National Economic Council director, Kevin Hassett, told the  Fox Business Friday programme: “They’re taxing American companies who don’t necessarily even have a presence in Canada.” Calling the tax “almost criminal”, he said: “They’re going to have to remove it. And I think they know that.” Relations had seemed friendlier between the two North American neighbours in recent months as they continue with trade talks. Trump and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had clashed previously – with Trump calling Trudeau “very dishonest” and “weak” during the 2018 G7 talks in Canada. But newly elected Carney enjoyed a cordial visit with Trump in May at the White House, while Trump travelled to Canada for the G7 summit in Alberta on June 16 and 17. Carney said at the summit that the two had set a 30-day deadline for trade talks. In a brief statement on Friday, Prime Minister Carney’s office said of Trump’s new threats to suspend trade talks over the digital tax: “The Canadian government will continue to engage in these complex negotiations with the United States in the best interests of Canadian workers and businesses.” Last week, Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters that the digital tax could be negotiated as part of the broader, ongoing US-Canada trade discussions. “Obviously, all of that is something that we’re considering as part of broader discussions that you may have,” he had said. Those discussions had been expected to result in a trade deal in July. However, they are now in limbo. Carney has been facing pressure from domestic businesses as well, which have lobbied the government to pause the digital services tax, underlining that the new framework would increase their costs for providing services and warning against retaliation from the US. The Business Council of Canada, a nonprofit organisation representing CEOs and leaders of major Canadian companies, said in a statement that, for years, it “has warned that the implementation of a unilateral digital services tax could risk undermining Canada’s economic relationship with its most important trading partner, the United States”. “That unfortunate development has now come to pass,” the statement noted. “In an effort to get trade negotiations back on track, Canada should put forward an immediate proposal to eliminate the DST in exchange for the elimination of tariffs from the United States.” Yes. Prior to the DSTA, Trump has used tariffs to pressure Canada over what he says is its role in the flow of the addictive drug, fentanyl, and undocumented migration into the US, as well as broader trade and economic issues. On January 20, in his inaugural address, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods and a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy resources. Trump claimed that Canada has a “growing footprint” in fentanyl production, and alleged that Mexican cartels operate fentanyl labs in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. These tariffs were paused for 30 days following assurances from Canada that appropriate action would be taken to curb the flow of fentanyl, and then re-imposed in early March. Yes, several countries around the world have introduced digital services taxes (DSTs) similar to Canada’s. France was one of the first to introduce a DST in 2019, eliciting an angry response from Trump who was serving his first term as president. The French tax is a 3 percent levy on revenues from online advertising, digital platforms and sales of user data. The UK followed with a 2 percent tax on revenues from social media platforms and search engines. Spain, Italy, and Austria have also implemented similar taxes, with rates ranging from 3 to 5 percent. Turkiye has one of the highest DST rates at 7.5 percent, covering a wide range of digital services such as content streaming and advertising. Outside Europe, India has a 2 percent “equalisation levy” on foreign e-commerce operators which earn revenues from Indian users. Kenya and Indonesia have also created their own digital tax systems, though they’re structured slightly differently – Indonesia, for instance, applies Value Added Tax (VAT) – or sales tax – on foreign digital services, rather than a DST. The US government has strongly opposed these taxes; some of these disputes have been paused as part of ongoing negotiations led by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organisation made up of 38 member countries, which is working on a global agreement for taxing digital companies fairly. Canada held off on implementing its DST until 2024 to give time for the OECD talks. But when progress stalled, it went ahead with the 3 percent tax that applies retroactively since January 2022. The European Union is likely to be watching this situation closely as digital tax is likely to be a key concern during its own trade talks with the US. Trump has repeatedly warned that similar tax measures from other allies, including EU countries, could face severe retaliation. Trump’s administration has previously objected to digital taxes introduced by EU member states like France, Italy, and Spain. In 2020, the US Trade Representative investigated these taxes under Section 301 and threatened retaliatory tariffs, though those were paused pending OECD-led global tax negotiations. The European Commission has confirmed that digital taxation remains on the agenda, especially if a global deal under the OECD fails to materialise. President Ursula von der Leyen said on June 26 that “all options remain on the table” in trade discussions with the US, including enforcement mechanisms against discriminatory US measures. The high-stakes trade negotiations ongoing between the US and the EU have a deadline for July 9 – the date that Trump’s 90-day pause on global reciprocal tariffs is due to expire. Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs of up to 50 percent on key European exports, including cars and steel, if a deal is not reached. In response to these threats, the EU has prepared a list of retaliatory tariffs worth up to 95 billion euros ($111.4bn), which would target a broad range of US exports, from agricultural products to Boeing aircraft. EU leaders have signalled that they will defend the bloc’s tax sovereignty, while remaining open to negotiation. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

Hey Daddy: How Different World Leaders Massage Trumps Ego

Does Trump’s personal relationship with world leaders have any bearing on his policies towards their countries? Describing Israel and Iran fighting each other at his NATO pre-summit news conference in The Hague this week, US President Donald Trump drew an analogy with children fighting in a schoolyard, who eventually had to be separated. “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language,” Mark Rutte, NATO secretary-general, chimed in. Asked about the comment after the summit, Trump said: “No, he likes me. I think he likes me. If he doesn’t I’ll let you know. I’ll come back and hit him hard, OK? He did it very affectionately. Hey Daddy. You’re my Daddy.” The White House decided Rutte was flattering the US president, and made a reel of Trump’s visit to the Netherlands, set to the music of Usher’s Hey Daddy. Rutte’s flattery of Trump didn’t stop there. On tackling the Russia-Ukraine war, Rutte told reporters before the NATO summit: “When he came in office, he started the dialogue with President Putin, and I always thought that was crucial. And there’s only one leader who could break the deadlock originally, and it had to be the American president, because he is the most powerful leader in the world.” But how sincere are world leaders’ statements about Donald Trump? Do they genuinely serve to improve bilateral relations and does flattery work? Neither Rutte, nor any other European leader, engaged in any kind of dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time after the summer of 2022, the year of his invasion of Ukraine, believing it pointless. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was severely criticised as “defeatist” for phoning Putin last November, while Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, the only European leaders to have visited the Kremlin during the war, have been viewed as openly collaborationist. Yet when Trump started talks with Putin, many Europeans paid him the same compliment as Rutte when they made their inaugural visits to the White House after he took office in January. “Thank you for changing the conversation to bring about the possibility that now we can have a peace deal, and we will work with you,” said the United Kingdom’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, in the Oval Office in February. Starmer pulled a few rabbits out of hats. Knowing Trump’s fondness for the notion of hereditary power, he drew from his jacket a letter from King Charles III containing an invitation for an unprecedented second state visit to Windsor Castle. Trump was momentarily speechless. “Your country is a fantastic country, and it will be our honour to be there, thank you,” Trump said when he’d gathered himself. Starmer and Trump exchanged a few handshakes while speaking and Starmer repeatedly touched Trump’s shoulder in a sign of affection. But did all this flattery have much effect? Trump announced he was freezing military aid to Ukraine the following month, much to the outrage of the UK, along with Nordic and Baltic countries. Both Starmer and Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, identified Ukraine as a key issue for Trump, who has made it clear he wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize by ending international conflicts. So far, he has claimed credit for ending this month’s “12-Day War” between Israel and Iran, preventing nuclear war following the May 7 air battle between India and Pakistan, and overseeing a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Meloni, therefore, tried a similarly flattering approach to Trump. “Together we have been defending the freedom of Ukraine. Together we can build a just and lasting peace. We support your efforts, Donald,” she said during her White House visit in April. Meloni astutely punched all of Trump’s hot-button issues in her opening remarks, saying Italy had policies to combat Fentanyl, an addictive painkiller that Trump has blamed Canada and Mexico for allowing into the country, to invest $10bn in the US economy and to control undocumented immigration. She even adapted Trump’s slogan, Make America Great Again, to Europe. “The goal for me is to Make the West Great Again. I think we can do it together,” Meloni said to a beaming Trump. None of this has translated into a state visit by Trump to Rome, a move which would cement Meloni’s position as a major European leader, however. Meanwhile, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was both flattering and firm with Trump last month. He complimented Trump on being “a transformational president” who had sided “with the American worker”, but also shut down Trump’s territorial ambition to annex Canada as the 51st US state. “It’s not for sale, won’t be for sale ever,” Mark Carney said. Relations seemed to have taken a turn for the better following Trump’s friction with Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau. Trump called him “very dishonest and weak” at the 2018 G7 summit in Canada before storming off early. But Carney may not have had much effect at all. On Friday, Trump ended trade talks with Canada and threatened to impose additional tariffs on exports over Canada’s new digital services tax. There was little warmth in Trump’s White House meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in February. Braced for confrontation with a leader who claims to lead Europe in strategic thought, Trump spoke from lengthy, defensive, scripted remarks which attempted to justify his Ukraine policy. Macron preached that peace in Ukraine must not mean surrender – a sentiment shared by many European leaders, but not expressed to Trump. Trump was cordial with Macron, but not affectionate. Meanwhile, France is holding out on any sort of capitulation to Trump in European Union trade talks. Other members of the EU want to settle for an “asymmetric” trade deal that might benefit the US more than the EU, just to get it done. What’s more, following the G7 meeting in Canada two weeks ago, it was clear no love was lost between the two leaders: Trump called Macron “publicity seeking” in a social media post on June 17. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was mauled by Trump and Vice President J D Vance on February 28, when he went to the White House to sign a mineral rights agreement he hoped would bring US military aid. He and Vance clashed over direct talks with Russia over Ukraine’s head, and Vance lambasted Zelenskyy for failing to show enough “gratitude” to the US. “You’re playing with millions of people’s lives. You’re gambling with World War Three,” said Trump. However, Zelenskyy and Trump appeared to have patched things up a little when they held an impromptu meeting while attending the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican in April. A White House spokesperson described the encounter as “very productive”. Last month, Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House when he played him a video of a South African opposition party rally in favour of evicting white farmers. Trump accused South Africa of carrying out a “genocide” against white farmers. Ramaphosa was visibly discomfited, but he patiently explained that under a parliamentary system, different viewpoints are expressed, which don’t represent government policy, and that South Africa is a violent country where most victims of violence are Black. “You are a partner of South Africa and as a partner you are raising concerns which we are willing to talk to you about,” Ramaphosa said, calming Trump a little. Trump was sidetracked into talking about a Jumbo Jet that Qatar had gifted him during his Middle Eastern tour. “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you,” said Ramaphosa, as if to make a virtue of his absence of flattery. Some experts believe that flattery may help to prevent confrontation with Trump. Some observers have argued it helps “to contain the American president’s impulses”. But flattery does little to change actual US policy. Rutte and other NATO leaders failed to draw the US back into the Contact Group helping Ukraine with weapons. “A summit dedicated to the sole aim of making Trump feel good is one with very limited aims indeed. All it does is push the difficult decisions forward for another day,” wrote Andrew Gawthorpe, a lecturer in history and international studies at Leiden University, the Netherlands, in The Conversation, a UK publication. Those who do have good relations with Trump don’t necessarily come away with the things they want, either. Starmer’s US-UK trade deal keeps tariffs in place for British companies exporting to the US, albeit lower ones than Trump had been threatening. Meloni is still waiting for Trump to bestow her a visit. Respectful firmness, on the other hand, does seem to work. Trump has dropped his campaign to redraw US borders by absorbing Canada and Greenland, which is owned by Denmark. Carney’s firmness helped, because it carried a sense of finality. Carney had just won an election and Trump acknowledged “it was probably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics. Maybe even greater than mine.” Denmark has been similarly firm. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said existing agreements with the US already allow it to station military bases there, while Greenlanders don’t want to be colonised by Americans. Trump’s attempts to embarrass Zelenskyy and Ramaphosa also backfired. Europe has stepped in to make up the shortfall in US military aid to Ukraine, casting the US as a fickle ally. Trump’s “white genocide” video did little to convince Americans that South Africa was committing a genocide against Dutch Boers, and his offer of asylum to a number of them has been roundly criticised in the US. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Julys Big-Screen Fireworks: From Gangsters And Galaxies To The Return Of The Sardaar And A Genre-Breaking Underdog

From long-awaited sequels to fresh narratives, this month has something for everyone. A daring and eclectic lineup will light up the big screen in July, ensuring moviegoers are in for a real treat. Immerse yourself in one of the many stories to choose from, from the gritty Maalik universe to the touching romance of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan and the poignant rhythms of Saiyaara. Fantastic 4 gives Marvel’s magic a cosmic makeover, and Son of Sardaar 2 is promising action, comedy, and pure Desi swagger. Tanvi the Great is a quiet, strong underdog who tells a heartwarming tale of bravery and tenacity. There is something for every moviegoer on July’s slate, including superheroes, love stories, sequels, and debuts. Starring: Rajkumar Rao & Manushi Chhillar As one of the most anticipated releases of July, Maalik—hitting theaters on 11th July—is a full-on action-entertainer that showcases the rise of a man from the shadows of society to ruling the gangster world. The film delves deeply into themes of power, ambition, and fear against a turbulent socio-political backdrop. Rajkummar Rao takes on a bold new persona and gives a powerful and unforgettable performance. Starring: Vikrant Massey & Shanaya Kapoor Set against a delightful urban backdrop, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, releasing on 11th July, is a touching romantic drama that explores the relationship between two visually impaired individuals as they navigate the highs and heartbreaks of modern love. Vikrant Massey, with his subtle intensity, comes along with Shanaya Kapoor as she makes a promising debut in a story that’s tender, layered, and refreshingly unconventional. Starring: Sara Ali Khan & Aditya Roy Kapur Metro In Dino…, arriving in theaters on July 4th, depicts the myriad nuances of contemporary love in a city that never stops moving. It explores the transient, messy, and significant nature of urban relationships through a series of related tales. This film gently reminds us that connection can blossom in the most unexpected places with its relatable characters and grounded tone. Starring: Ahaan Pandey & Aneet Padda Set against the backdrop of youth, rebellion, and love, Saiyaara—releasing on 11th July—tells the story of two dreamers trying to find their way in a world full of challenges. It marks the debut of both Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda and follows the emotional journey of a young rockstar who falls deeply in love. With beautiful visuals and a powerful soundtrack, the film explores passion, heartbreak, and healing—capturing the spirit of a love that’s bold, intense, and unforgettable. Starring: Ajay Devgn & Mrunal Thakur The iconic Sardaar is back—and this time, the madness is bigger, bolder, and twice as fun. Ajay Devgn returns in full form, bringing his signature charm and swagger to the action-packed sequel. With Mrunal Thakur adding a vibrant new twist, Son of Sardaar 2—releasing on 25th July—blends laugh-out-loud humor, high-octane action, and heartfelt family moments for a wild ride that delivers on both nostalgia and freshness. Releasing on 18th July, Tanvi The Great tells the inspiring story of Tanvi Raina, a young woman with autism who discovers her late father’s unfulfilled dream—to salute the national flag at the Siachen Glacier. Determined to honor his legacy, she sets out on a journey that challenges every limitation society has placed on her. Tanvi the Great is a stirring tale of courage, resilience, and quiet rebellion. All eyes are focused on this unexpected gem as it breaks barriers and redefines the genre. Releasing on 25th July, Marvel’s Fantastic 4 Reboot introduces the iconic superhero team to a new generation. Blending stunning visuals with emotional depth, the film follows the heroes as they battle to protect Earth from Galactus and his mysterious Herald, the Silver Surfer—all while holding onto the bond that makes them a family. Releasing on 18th July, Smurf kicks off a bold new chapter in the beloved animated franchise. When Papa Smurf is mysteriously kidnapped by the evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette—voiced by global icon Rihanna—leads the Smurfs on a daring mission into the real world to bring him back. Alongside new human friends and magical challenges, the Smurfs must uncover what defines their true destiny. Bursting with color, comedy, and heart. I Know What You Did Last Summer, releasing on 18th July, revives the classic slasher spirit with a modern twist. A group of five friends finds their darkest secret resurfacing as they’re hunted by a mysterious figure tied to a deadly mistake from the past. Seeking answers from survivors of the original Southport Massacre, they soon realize history may be repeating itself—and this time, there may be no escape.

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Futbol

Get Women's Football Notifications, Social Media And More With BBC Sport

Want all the biggest women's football news, analysis and scores sent direct to your phone or tablet? Then download the BBC Sport app. The app also comes with all our website content along with a radio player, Chromecast integration, a widget and personalised menu options. It's free and easy to download - simply head to the relevant link below: Download the BBC Sport app: Apple, external - Android, external - Amazon, external The BBC Sport app offers two types of notification. With news notifications you can have the biggest women's football stories and the best content right at your fingertips. Stay in the know by picking from our offering of top sport headlines, football news - including the biggest updates, features and analysis from the Women's Super League, as well as the best from each nation of the United Kingdom. You can also sign up to get alerts to our latest Insight in-depth features. Along with general women's football and Scottish women's stories, we also offer notifications for every women's national team and every Women's Super League team. The BBC Sport app's coverage of women's football is bigger and better than ever before. You can now: Follow our Women's Super League and Scottish women's football pages for the Get the latest news from your favourite team sent direct to your device. If you are using the BBC Sport app, Follow to add them to MySport and select the bell icon to sign up for notifications. By signing into the app, you can create a personalised sport experience. You might want to add Commonwealth Games, cricket, tennis, boxing and squash - by doing so your My Sport area will display the latest articles and videos from those topics, and also relevant information such as latest scores and results. To set up a BBC account, set up a BBC account - if you've already got one, you're halfway there. Whatever your sporting interests you'll discover more with BBC updates. We'll tell you about future coverage and returning programmes, and bring you sporting news, views and events from across the BBC. Sign up here. So what are you waiting for? Download the BBC Sport app: Apple , external- Android, external - Amazon, external BBC Sport recently launched a Women's Football TikTok account,, external where you can find daily content, behind-the-scenes insights, and exclusive updates. BBC Sport are, of course, also on Facebook., external And Twitter., external And Instagram., external And YouTube., external And TikTok, external where there are regular women's football updates. If you are using a VPN, this may report your location as outside of the UK, meaning some video content and other content with rights restrictions will not be available.