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June 20th - According to Russian media reports, starting September 1st, the Russian government will impose an 8% export tax on certain diamonds in an effort to protect its domestic diamond cutting and processing industry. The policy stipulates that the Russian government will levy an 8% export tax on uncut and partially cut diamonds weighing between 0.45 carats and 10.8 carats, as well as diamonds of special sizes exceeding 10.8 carats. However, this measure will not apply to member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.On June 20, the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Mandalay issued a statement saying that recently, several Chinese citizens were arrested by Myanmar police after entering Myanmar through Mandalay Airport for illegally traveling to areas prohibited or restricted to foreigners. Simultaneously, several Chinese citizens using entry and exit permits to enter northern Myanmar through relevant land border crossings were also arrested by Myanmar police for suspected illegal entry while en route to other inland areas. The Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Mandalay reminds Chinese citizens traveling to Myanmar to fully understand Myanmars national conditions and laws and regulations, and not to travel to areas prohibited or restricted to foreigners. They should also strictly abide by the scope of use of their travel documents, especially those entering Myanmar through China-Myanmar border crossings with entry and exit permits, who are limited to activities in relevant border cities on the Myanmar side and should not cross the border into inland areas to avoid violating Myanmar law.According to Syrian state television, the Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that an attack by unidentified gunmen in northeastern Aleppo resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.On June 20th, Tencent customer service stated that WeChat Xiaowei (intelligent assistant) is a native AI assistant being tested on a small scale by the WeChat team and is currently still in the testing phase. The customer service representative stated that WeChat Xiaowei supports operating native WeChat functions via text or voice dialogue, such as adjusting settings, sending messages, and making phone calls. Xiaowei currently uses multiple AI models, including Tencents self-developed and high-quality open-source models. "Currently, WeChat Xiaoweis gray-scale testing covers multiple systems; please refer to the actual page display for specific participation eligibility," the customer service representative said.Israeli military officials: Following the attack, the military has launched strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Cuba Allows Cryptocurrency Services but Requires A License From the Central Bank

Cory Russell

Apr 28, 2022 09:50

After approving the personal use of cryptocurrencies last year, the Cuban central bank released rules for virtual asset service providers on Tuesday, a move that some experts believe might help the Communist-run Caribbean island avoid hefty US penalties.


Cryptocurrencies, which enable financial transactions to be carried out anonymously and decentralized, have previously been used to circumvent capital regulations and improve the efficiency of payments and transfers.


Those intending to use cryptocurrencies must get a license, according to the bank authorisation, which was published in the government's official gazette on Tuesday.


Before giving a license, the bank said it would assess the legality, socioeconomic interest, and project features of every request. The license would be valid for one year at first.


The introduction of mobile internet three years ago paved the path for cryptocurrency transactions in Cuba, and the number of cryptocurrency fans on the island is rising as the currencies assist the nation overcome difficulties posed by US sanctions.


Cubans are blocked off from traditional international payment systems and financial markets by the US trade embargo, which has been in place for decades. On the island, Cubans are unable to get credit or debit cards for foreign usage, and they struggle to do so overseas.


"If the central bank is developing a cryptocurrency-friendly legislative framework, it is because they have already concluded that it may help the nation," said Pavel Vidal, a former Cuban central bank economist who now teaches at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali in Colombia.


El Salvador, the first nation in the world to embrace bitcoin as legal cash, is one of Cuba's Latin American neighbors to be interested in cryptocurrencies.


Vidal said he doubted Cuba would follow El Salvador's lead and adopt bitcoin as its currency of choice or create its own cryptocurrency, instead preferring to focus on enabling remittances and international foreign trade activities.


"This may lower the cost of these international transactions and provide an alternative to dollar-based operations that are less susceptible to sanctions," he added.

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