The Economist reports about government initiatives aimed at using blockchain technology in the public sector. Possible uses include land registries, identity-management systems, health-care records, or elections. Proponents expect the technology to improve efficiency and transparency and foster trust. Adoption requires significant investments. According to a survey “nine in ten government organisations say they plan to invest in blockchain technology to help manage financial transactions,...
Read More »European Central Bank gold reserves held across 5 locations. ECB will not disclose Gold Bar List.
Submitted by Ronan Manly, BullionStar.com The European Central Bank (ECB), creator of the Euro, currently claims to hold 504.8 tonnes of gold reserves. These gold holdings are reflected on the ECB balance sheet and arose from transfers made to the ECB by Euro member national central banks, mainly in January 1999 at the birth of the Euro. As of the end of December 2015, these ECB gold reserves were valued on the ECB...
Read More »Europe Debates The Burkini: “We Will Colonize You With Your Democratic Laws”
[unable to retrieve full-text content]"We will colonize you with your democratic laws." — Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Egyptian Islamic cleric and chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. "Beaches, like any public space, must be protected from religious claims. The burkini is an anti-social political project aimed in particular at subjugating women.
Read More »