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• The circle is complete: BOJ joins Fed and ECB in preparing rollout of digital currency
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• Bank For International Settlements' (BIS) march towards a central bank digital currency continues to advance

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Israeli media reported that an estimated 700 Palestinians have been protesting near the closed Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, with the IDF reportedly using flares and stun grenades to contain people without giving them a chance to get close to the security fence.

Video allegedly showing the IDF firing flares near the security fence was shared on Twitter.

Mass demonstrations were reported throughout the Gaza Strip, as thousands of Gazans hit the streets to express support for the Palestinians who live in Jerusalem. Photos and video said to have been taken in different parts of Gaza were shared on social media.

Protests also took place across the West Bank, where people marched to Israeli checkpoints, including Jenin's Jalameh checkpoint, Nablus's Huwarra checkpoint and Hebron's Bab al-Zawiyeh.

Around one hundred Palestinians were reported protesting near the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). According to The Times of Israel, citing a spokesperson for the border police, "rioters" were using firebombs, stones, and fireworks, while police were responding with "riot dispersal means".

Meanwhile, a new series of encounters between Palestinians and Israeli police has started at the Damascus Gate outside Jerusalem's Old City. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, six Palestinians were hurt during clashes at the gate. According to The Times of Israel, two police offciers were injured during a rock-throwing incident in East Jerusalem and one was hit in the face in the Old City.

PNA President Mahmoud Abbas is set to chair a meeting of Fatah's Executive Committee on Sunday to discuss the ongoing dynamics.

"This meeting will discuss the dangerous events in Jerusalem, and to review the movement's preparations for the electoral process, especially in the context of the Palestinian leadership's insistence that there will be no elections without Jerusalem," Fatah Central Committee member Sabri Saydam said, cited by The Times of Israel.

Palestinians are preparing for their first general elections in 15 years. The parliament elections in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are set to take place on May 22, with the presidential election scheduled for July 31.

• Footage shows Israel's continued attacks on Syria's Damascus - reports
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Moreover, the very theory of the potential involvement of foreign intelligence in the 2014 ammo depot blast emerged only three weeks ago, Zeman revealed. Before that, such an idea had been never mentioned even in "non-public" reports by Czech intelligence services. Inept handling of ammunition remained the main theory of the cause of the blast. At the same time, it has been established that the cache of ammunition destroyed by the blast was destined for Bulgaria.

It certainly is notable that it's only now that this new theory comes into being; seven years after the blast, right after an escalation of hostilities by the US, and amidst a growing rift by the Baltic states against Russia. And it seems it has been building for a while, because, months before this baseless spat, Russia expelled a Bulgarian diplomat over spying accusations.

"The ammunition from the depot should have been delivered to Bulgaria," Zeman said. "There are trade invoices, a local arms dealer had made a deposit. We can consider the Bulgarian link confirmed."

© Reuters / David W Cerny
FILE PHOTO. A national flag of Russia flies on the Russian embassy in Prague, Czech Republic.

The ammo depot incident must be "thoroughly investigated," the president stated, expressing his full confidence in Czech police and security services.

"When the investigation is over, the citizens of the Czech Republic will be fully informed and nothing will be kept secret," Zeman said. "Whether this suspicion is justified, and in that case, while I support fair relations with all major countries, the Russian Federation needs to pay for this possible terrorist act - for example, Rosatom's non-participation in the Dukovany tender."

The Rosatom corporation has been already barred from the contest for the renovation of the Dukovany nuclear power plant, which is valued at $7 billion.

Moscow has strongly rejected the accusations, retaliating with the expulsion of 20 Czech diplomats, while Russian media reported looming economic sanctions against the Czech Republic. The spat has apparently entered a downward spiral, as Czech authorities now want to send home even more staff from Russian diplomatic facilities. Moscow, in turn, has signaled that such a move won't be left without a response, with talk emerging of restrictions on Czech exports, such as beer.