Europe

In Bitcoin we trust: The Berlin district where virtual currency is as easy as cash

"Start-ups like Berlin-based 9flats.com, a 'share economy' platform, say that the Bitcoin concept is working in their favor. 'The main advantage for our business is that we do not lose money on transaction fees because with Bitcoin there are none,' said Alexander Lossenko, lead developer at 9flats.com. To avoid the risk of devaluation and strong fluctuation in Bitcoin prices, companies like 9flats.com often use services that convert bitcoins into euro or dollars instantly. 'It also opens new markets for us. In Russia, for example, PayPal does not exist, so Bitcoin offers another alternative for payments,' Lossenko added." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn Bitcoin we trust: The Berlin district where virtual currency is as easy as cash

Cyprus Depositor Bail-In Set At 47.5%

"The government of Cyprus, the Bank of Cyprus and international lenders have come to an agreement that will recapitalize the bank and allow it to remain solvent: all depositors at the bank will have 47.5% of all funds above the deposit insurance threshold of $100,000 seized to pay for the bank’s bad debts. Since the original depositor bail-in plan was announced in March, the idea has been very warmly received by governments around the world. The governments of Japan, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand have all endorsed or taken preliminary steps toward potentially implementing similar plans if necessary in their own countries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCyprus Depositor Bail-In Set At 47.5%

EU planning to ‘own and operate’ spy drones and an air force

"The European Union is planning to 'own and operate' spy drones, surveillance satellites and aircraft as part of a new intelligence and security agency under the control of Baroness Ashton. The controversial proposals are a major move towards creating an independent EU military body with its own equipment and operations, and will be strongly opposed by Britain. The use of the new spy drones and satellites for 'internal and external security policies', which will include police intelligence, the internet, protection of external borders and maritime surveillance, will raise concerns that the EU is creating its own version of the US National Security Agency." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEU planning to ‘own and operate’ spy drones and an air force

French farmer’s industrial snail-slime harvesting process to feed cosmetic industry

"The French have long appreciated snails on a plate with butter and garlic. But one rural snail farmer believes the humble molluscs have more to offer alive than dead. Louis-Marie Guedon says the mucus secreted by snails are full of collagen, glycolic acid, antibiotics and other compounds that regenerate skin cells and heal cuts. He is busy turning the innovation into France’s first industrial-scale snail mucus extraction operation with a target to harvest 15 tonnes of it next year. He has secured three supply contracts with local cosmetics labs and a Paris company that mixes cosmetics for some of the biggest names in consumer beauty products." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench farmer’s industrial snail-slime harvesting process to feed cosmetic industry

World’s first fleet of marine drones being tested in the Mediterranean

"Under the scrutiny of their masters, whose eyes are glued to computer screens, the world’s first fleet of 'marine drones' is being put through its paces. Five European countries — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal — have sent prototypes here under a four-year, four-million-euro ($5.32-million) programme to build a squad of unmanned underwater rovers. Deployed from a surface vessel, but communicating among themselves and using artificial intelligence, the wireless scouts would spread out in a surveillance network." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWorld’s first fleet of marine drones being tested in the Mediterranean

Malta: new residency scheme for foreign buyers & renters

"The new residence scheme, referred to as Global Residence Programme, will allow people who buy or rent a property in Malta and direct their income to Malta to benefit from a residence permit (and thus income tax at 15 per cent). In order to qualify for residency, under the new Global Residence Programme, a non-EU foreigner will need to buy a property of €220,000 or over. Foreign nationals who are interested in renting a property, can also do so and they are eligible for residency given that the annual rental value is of €9,600 (or €800 monthly). The new Residence Scheme for Foreigners replaces the High Net Worth Individuals Scheme." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMalta: new residency scheme for foreign buyers & renters

Iceland proposal to write off debt triggers S&P outlook downgrade

"Standard & Poor’s yesterday added its voice to a chorus of warnings against a pledge by Iceland’s new government to write off as much as 20 per cent of all its citizens’ mortgage debt. The promise of debt relief was the main campaign pledge of the Progressive party and the Independence party. They focused on inflation-linked loans, payments on which soared following the country’s deep financial crisis owing to a 36 per cent depreciation of the currency. Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson said before the April election he would pay for the mortgage write-off through funds raised from imposing a haircut on foreign creditors of Iceland’s failed banks." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIceland proposal to write off debt triggers S&P outlook downgrade

Snowden Gets Whistleblower Award in Germany

"Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has become the winner of this year’s Whistleblower Award established by German human rights organizations, the German branch of Transparency International said in a statement. The award, established in 1999, is sponsored by the Association of German Scientists (VDW) and the German branch of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA). A VDW spokesperson told RIA Novosti on Monday that the award money, amounting to 3,000 euros, would be passed to Snowden through his representatives – either a lawyer or a 'friendly' organization." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden Gets Whistleblower Award in Germany

James Corbett with Sibel Edmonds: Gladio Revisited

"As one of the most thoroughly-documented examples of a decades-long program of officially-sanctioned false flag terror, Operation Gladio remains a woefully under-reported piece of the War on Terror puzzle. Today we go behind the trite summarizations of this program to look at it in-depth, examine its roots, and discover how it is continuing to operate right through to the present day." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJames Corbett with Sibel Edmonds: Gladio Revisited

Uber Unveils On-Demand Boating Service in Amsterdam

"During last week's heat wave in the U.S., Uber modified its on-demand car service by letting residents in cities around the world order up ice cream trucks. Now the team at Uber has come up with another twist on the service called Uber Sloep. Launched as a special program in Amsterdam, the Netherlands' capital and largest city, Uber Sloep will allow anyone to use the Uber app to order up a private boat to travel the scenic canals of the city. For one day over the July 4 weekend, Uber offered $3,000 helicopter rides from New York City to the Hamptons under the 'Uber Chopper' moniker." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUber Unveils On-Demand Boating Service in Amsterdam