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Evacuation in the Snow: Fears of Conflict Drive Mass Exodus from Pakistan’s Tirah Valley

Residents from Tirah valley, who fled a remote mountainous region bordering Afghanistan, gather to get themself registered, in Bara, Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan A wave of displacement is sweeping through northwest Pakistan as thousands of families flee the Tirah Valley after mosque loudspeakers warned residents of possible upcoming military action. The sudden announcements triggered a rapid and chaotic departure, with many families leaving in the middle of harsh winter conditions. Residents describe a tense atmosphere in the valley, where fears of renewed conflict between security forces and militant groups have been simmering for months. Entire communities have packed their belongings onto trucks, donkeys, and makeshift carts, heading toward safer towns such as Bara and Peshawar. Government officials insist that no military operation has been ordered and attribute the movement of people to seasonal migration patterns. Locals strongly dispute this, sayi...

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Trump's Tariff Man: What Howard Lutnick's Appointment Means for Canada

 

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street heavyweight and co-leader of Trump's transition team, as his Secretary of Commerce and the point man for his tariff and trade agenda. Lutnick's appointment signals a significant shift in U.S. trade policy, with potential major implications for Canada.

Lutnick has publicly shared his views on tariffs, emphasizing that they will not be applied indiscriminately. Instead, he envisions tariffs serving two main purposes: influencing specific industries and acting as a negotiating tool to lower trade barriers with other countries. This approach aims to create a more level playing field for American businesses, particularly in the automotive sector, where Lutnick has highlighted the need for fairer competition with European and Japanese manufacturers.

For Canada, the impact of Trump's tariff plan could be substantial. Estimates suggest that the tariffs could cost Canada's economy anywhere from a half-per cent to five per cent of GDP, depending on their design and implementation. The energy sector, a major Canadian export to the U.S., might see less impact, but the automotive industry could face significant challenges.

As Lutnick takes on his new role, Canadian officials and businesses will be closely monitoring the developments to understand how these changes will affect cross-border trade and the broader economic relationship between the two countries.

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