“Continue the pressure” on Iran
The United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran after the attack launched against Israel last weekend, the White House announced this Tuesday, April 16, indicating “ to expect » that his allies will soon do the same. “ In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its drone and missile programs, its Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Defense Ministry “, detailed Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, in a statement. And to add: “ These new sanctions, along with other measures, will continue the ongoing pressure on Iran to contain and degrade its military capabilities. “.
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He also indicated that the American armed forces would endeavor to increase their level of preparation to face possible new drone and missile strikes from Iran. “ We expect our allies and partners to quickly follow us with their own sanctions “, further notes the press release from Washington – which seems to be in progress on the side of Brussels. “ The idea is to expand the existing (sanctions) regime against Iranian drones “, for his part declared the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, after an extraordinary meeting, by videoconference, of EU foreign ministers.
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israeli territory on the night of Saturday April 13 to Sunday April 14, in response to a strike on April 1 on the consular annex of the Iranian embassy in Damascus. , in Syria, attributed to Israel. Almost all of the missiles and drones were destroyed before hitting Israeli territory. This was Iran's first direct attack on Israel. The Israeli army warned on Tuesday that Iran would not leave ” not unharmed » of this unprecedented attack.
“Their hard work is not paying off”
This Tuesday, April 16, Canada unveiled new taxes on the richest to finance housing in particular and attract younger people hit by the increasing cost of living, by presenting its federal budget. Justin Trudeau's government is forecasting more than 20 billion Canadian dollars in revenue over five years, mainly thanks to this new tax system. It is also counting on a slowdown in its economy in 2024 but believes it can avoid recession despite relatively high interest rates which are weighing on the economy. Most of the new spending is aimed at the education, housing and jobs sectors, all pressure points for young voters.
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With more than 10 points behind his main rival, conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, in the polls, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must regain the support of Canada's youngest voters who propelled him to power in 2015 in order to win the election scheduled in just over a year. “ Today, a carpenter or a nurse can pay taxes at a marginally higher percentage than a multi-millionaire. It is not fair. This must change, and it will change “, declared Chrystia Friand, the Minister of the Budget. And to add: “ For too many young Canadians, especially Millennials and Gen Z, it feels like their hard work isn't paying off ”, promising “ equity for every generation “.
The government has also committed, in the context of the housing crisis, to building 3.87 million additional homes by 2031. at a pace and scale not seen since post-World War II “, Freeland told Parliament. To do this, Ottawa will open public land for housing, convert federal offices into apartments, and tax vacant properties. New home prices fell slightly in March, but not enough to offset rising mortgage interest costs that kept many new buyers out. Inflation has been below 3% since January, but for the moment without leading to a reduction in the interest rates set by the Bank of Canada.
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Junta releases 3,300 prisoners
In Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi was taken out of her cell and transferred to a house, an official source announced to Agence France-Presse this Wednesday, April 17. The former head of the Burmese government had been imprisoned since the 2021 coup. This source did not specify whether this was placement under house arrest or a reduction in her sentence.
But according to junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun, Nobel Peace Prize winner aged 78 must ” receive care due to heatwave “. In a press release this Wednesday, April 17, the junta in power in Burma also announced the amnesty of 3,300 prisoners on the occasion of the Burmese New Year. The other prisoners benefit from a reduction of one-sixth of their sentence, except those convicted of murder, terrorism and drug trafficking, the press release specifies.
