Latest news with #USRetaliation
Khaleej Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Qatar waives traffic fines issued to residents on day of Al Udeid attack
On Monday, June 23, Qatar residents were facing unprecedented circumstances, as they saw Iranian missiles lighting up the night's sky on their way to hit Al Udeid US base that the Gulf country hosts. Explosions were heard over Qatar's capital Doha after Iran has issued threats to retaliate against the United States after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on the country's underground nuclear installations, while President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled. After the attack, Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador and condemned the attack. During these exceptional conditions, many Qatar residents hurried to reach their homes to make sure their loved ones are fine or rushed to their workplaces to pursue their duties—and their responsible attitude amidst the events was appreciated by the authorities. The Qatari Ministry of Interior announced the waiver of all traffic violations issued on that day for motorists. "This decision comes as a gesture of appreciation for the swift and responsible response demonstrated by citizens and residents in promptly reaching their workplaces and service centres, under pressing circumstances that required urgent movement by a broad segment of the public to fulfil their national and professional duties," it stated. Authorities, however, urged motorists to adhere to traffic laws, stressing that this waiver is a one-time, exceptional measure that applies exclusively to violations committed on the day of the Iranian attack on the US base.
Bloomberg
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Iran Launches Missiles at US Base in Qatar: State Media
00:00 This is not a surprise. The US has been bracing for and positioning for some kind of retaliation. Well, and Iran has been warning of one scarlet. The important context here is that the chief of staff of Iran's armed forces in a video message earlier today, promised that Iran would be responding to the US attacks on its nuclear sites proportionately and decisively. And perhaps the Wall Street Journal here is indicating that that retaliation may potentially be coming soon, as it were. Iran, according to US officials briefed by the Wall Street Journal, is moving missile launchers into place for a potential attack. And the Department of Defense is tracking what they describe as, quote, a credible threat to US forces in the Middle East. This also comes as we're tracking a number of developments centered around Cutter in particular. Cutter, of course, closed off its airspace earlier today in a move that they said was precautionary. The US embassy in Qatar has also issued a warning to Americans to shelter in place. And China's embassy has urged citizens in Qatar specifically to avoid a loaded airbase. This is important because that base houses house hosts, hoses, thousands of US troops. It is our largest installation in the Middle East. It's actually headquarters of US Central Command, in addition to housing Qatari air forces, as well as the Royal Air Force. And so that is very a very key military installation that the US has that there is a lot of buzz about could potentially be targeted. Keeping in mind, of course, that President Trump had previously promised if there were retaliation, the US would respond with even greater force than the attacks we saw over this weekend is the administration has issued repeated warnings not to target U.S. military assets or personnel. But again, the The Wall Street Journal is reporting here that Iran does look to at least be moving into a position in which it could do so. And as you're speaking, Kelly, some other headlines have just crossed as well, according to Axios. Iran has launched a six missiles toward US bases in Qatar. And Reuters has also reported that there have been explosions heard over Qatar's capital of Doha. So again, you reference how Qatar has stopped some flights. That would make sense given they had anticipated some kind of retaliatory action. And again, according to Reuters, the explosions have been heard over covers capital of Doha. Kelly, tell us a little bit more about the mindset in Washington. Clearly, the weekend attacks is what everyone's talking about. But as we were just discussing with Max Layton of City, there's a lot of, I guess, expectation within the commodities market that now that the strikes are over and the US kind of waits to see how Iran responds, there's very much an expectation that the administration will return its focus to domestic matters. What are you seeing in Washington? Well, much of that will depend on the way in which Iran responds. Scarlett, I would note that as we're seeing this reporting about explosions outside Doha, the Arabic baby air base, which I just mentioned, is just southwest of Doha. So it very much could be included in whatever this materializes to be. And if there are any U.S. casualties, that could be something that President Trump feels compelled to respond to. Again, to quote him directly from this weekend, he warned any retaliation will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed during the initial attack on Saturday night. So that does indicate that the US could still be prepared to act militarily if necessary. The President likely will be getting input from his National Security Council team. He is supposed to meet with them in the Oval Office. That will be closed to press just about 20 minutes from now at 1 p.m. Eastern time so we could get more of a readout then as to what exactly the US is thinking. But of course, the president has to keep in mind various political pressures. There is not much appetite in the US for the US to get involved in another direct war in the Middle East. The MAGA base of the President's party in particular, of course has much more of an isolationist bent, doesn't want to see the US be that interventionist. So he has to consider those domestic political pressures as well as he surveys the geopolitical geopolitical landscape here. But a lot is going to depend on what we can confirm around these reports as to whether or not Iran has decided to attack U.S. military assets and if there are any casualties that could result from that.
Globe and Mail
13-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Business groups urge Carney to pause Digital Services Tax in fear of Trump backlash
A group of Canadian business associations are pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney to pause the implementation of 'discriminatory' taxes that have spurred U.S. President Donald Trump to retaliate with proposed tax hikes. In a letter sent to Mr. Carney on Thursday, six industry associations representing a wide variety of businesses – including Canada's major banks, life insurers, retailers and the venture capital community – asked the government to pause the scheduled June 30 payment of the Digital Services Tax, which was introduced in 2024 and targets large U.S. technology companies. Canada passed the DST retroactively to 2022 after the Liberal government said it could no longer wait for a multilateral agreement to emerge from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for taxing global tech giants, most of which are based in the U.S. The deadline for filling the first DST return for 2022-2024 and paying the tax is June 30. Canadian business groups press Ottawa on digital tax as U.S. bill targets investors Canada's Digital Services Tax and online regulation bills are likely Trump trade targets Implementing a DST in Canada was intended to ensure digital businesses that monetize the data and content of Canadian users are 'paying their fair share,' the federal government said in its 2024 budget document. The Canadian business groups said pausing the DST would allow negotiations ahead of – and at – the G7 summit next week, to continue without the 'risk of further escalation by the administration on current tariff actions that place considerable risk on Canadian businesses and families.' The DST is just one tax among a broader group of 'unfair' taxes Mr. Trump has flagged in his recent One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Other taxes on Mr. Trump's hit list are diverted profits taxes and the undertaxed profits rule, both of which are global initiatives meant to ensure multinational firms pay enough tax. Canada released draft legislation last year to implement a UTPR as an amendment to Canada's Global Minimum Tax Act, but did not table it in Parliament. The Canadian business associations' letter expresses concern that the DST, UTPR and GMT run counter to Mr. Carney's plan to build a single Canadian economy, strengthen relations with the U.S. and reduce costs for Canadians. 'The unintended consequence of the DST and other digital taxes is that they have handed the U.S. Administration a ready-made issue to rally support from U.S. lawmakers who are now working to retaliate,' the letter says. A key example is Section 899 of Mr. Trump's bill – a U.S. tax proposal that is targeting foreign jurisdictions that have implemented a discriminatory tax. The bill was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, but still requires Senate approval. If Section 899 becomes law, Canadians could see withholding and income tax increase by five percentage points in the first year – rising to a maximum of 20 per cent for income tax and up to 50 per cent total for withholding tax, on any holding of an American asset held by a Canadian or the U.S. subsidiary of Canadian company. 'Every pension fund, retirement fund, investment account, and deeply interconnected investment funds with American holdings, held by the likes of teachers, municipal workers, elected officials, and regular everyday Canadian families, are at risk,' the Canadian business associations' letter says. If Canada wants to commit to building stronger ties with the U.S., the group said it cannot be achieved if Ottawa proceeds with its current timeline to collect a punitive retroactive tax on digital service companies on June 30. 'The dire downstream effects of this are still avoidable,' the letter says. Meanwhile, 21 members of the U.S. Congress have sent a letter of their own urging Mr. Trump to push Canada to drop the DST before the end of the month, when the first payment is due. In a June 11 letter, the U.S. Congress group said 90 per cent of what Canada would collect under its DST will come from U.S. firms. 'Allowing Canada to proceed with this unprecedented, retroactive tax on U.S. firms would send a signal to the rest of the world that they have the green light to proceed with similar discriminatory cash grabs targeting our firms, workers, and tax base,' the letter says. The June 11 letter, alongside another letter sent last week to the U.S. administration from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other trade groups, say that Canada has the regulatory authority to delay the date of payment and other provisions of the DST without having to pass new legislation. Canada's Department of Finance did not respond Thursday to a request for comment on the tax. The Canadian group of business associations – which consists of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Venture Capital Association, Future Borders Coalition and Canadian Bankers Association – said the current political climate and risks to the Canadian economy could not have been foreseen when the DST was first introduced. 'There is still time to correct course and demonstrate that Canada is serious about strengthening alliances, improving competitiveness, and restoring affordability,' the letter says. 'The alternative will lead Canada down a very difficult path.'
