Author: ALJAZEERA

The measures allow independent entrepreneurs to open and access US bank accounts online to support their businesses.The United States has lifted some financial restrictions against Cuba, in a move designed to boost private businesses on the island. The measures, announced on Tuesday, will allow independent entrepreneurs to open and access US bank accounts online to support their businesses. Other measures include steps to open up more internet-based services and expand private companies’ ability to use certain financial transactions. “These regulatory amendments update and clarify authorizations in support of internet-based services to promote internet freedom in Cuba, support independent Cuban private…

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The United States has once again issued a strong warning to Israel over its lack of a post-war strategy for Gaza, leaving open questions about how the territory will be governed and stablised. Speaking at a news conference in the Moldovan capital Chisinau on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was “imperative” for Israel to have a plan to ensure the defeat of Hamas and restore security and governance in Gaza. “In the absence of a plan for the day after, there won’t be a day after,” Blinken told reporters. He added that the Israeli military has achieved…

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New tax thresholds and hike in corporation tax are expected to raise about 2.6 trillion rubles ($29bn) a year.Russia has announced plans to raise taxes on businesses and the wealthy as it scrambles for additional revenue to fund its invasion of Ukraine. Government spending has exceeded revenue by tens of billions of dollars since Moscow ordered its troops into Ukraine in February 2022 as sanctions have cut off lucrative energy sales to Europe. The Ministry of Finance proposed on Tuesday new tax thresholds for top earners and a hike in corporation tax. The amendments are expected to raise about 2.6…

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Days after the Netherlands suspended funding to the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees, Dutch officials expressed fears that pausing support for too long could lead to “great human suffering” and regional destabilisation, newly released documents reveal. In a memo written after the Netherlands joined more than a dozen countries in pausing funding to UNRWA following Israeli claims of links to Hamas, foreign ministry officials stressed the need for the UN agency to continue its work. “Humanitarian assistance and basic services provided by UNRWA to Gaza and the wider region must be maintained at this stage of the conflict.…

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Israel’s national security adviser says the continuing war on Gaza is likely to last through the end of the year. In an interview with Israel’s Kan public broadcaster on Wednesday, Tzachi Hanegbi said “we are expecting another seven months of fighting” to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group. His remarks came as Israel finds itself increasingly isolated on the world stage nearly eight months into the assault, with even the United States and other close allies expressing outrage over the civilian death toll. Hanegbi defended Israel’s ongoing operations in Rafah,…

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Singapore’s Ministry of Transport says Boeing aircraft experienced 54-metre altitude drop during incident.Dozens of passengers suffered injuries on a Singapore Airlines flight due to “rapid changes” in gravitational force and a 54-metre altitude drop, a preliminary investigation has found. A 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of passengers were injured last week when Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 was buffeted by severe turbulence, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement on Wednesday that a rapid change in G-force resulted in passengers who were not wearing…

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EXPLAINERAn AI generated image with the text ‘All eyes on Rafah’ has been re-shared over 40 million times amid Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s Rafah.An image with the text “All eyes on Rafah” is on every other Instagram story, dominating social media discourse on Israel’s war on Gaza. Here’s more about the trend and the image, which has been re-shared on more than 40 million Instagram stories since Monday, a day after Israel’s deadly offensive on Gaza’s Rafah. What does ‘All eyes on Rafah’ mean? “All eyes on Rafah” is an image with a slogan calling attention to the situation in…

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Philanthropist says it is ‘frustrating’ that some believe it is not the right time to discus gender equality.Melinda French Gates has announced that she will donate $1bn over the next two years to people and organisations working on behalf of women and families, including on reproductive rights. In an op-ed published in the New York Times on Tuesday, French Gates said she felt “compelled” to support abortion rights in the United States after the US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade. “For too long, a lack of money has forced organisations fighting for women’s rights into a…

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