1 month ago
Euro 2024: German beer strength warning for British fans
The Foreign Office warns football fans that "stronger" German beer could get them barred from stadiums.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68687789
1 month ago
Is The Dollar Finally DEAD, Or Will We Go to WAR Again?
• On Aug 15, 1971 Nixon Took USA Off Gold Standard
• To BACK Dollar, 1974 Kissinger Closed Deal With Saudis: ”Petrodollar“
• For Military Protection, Oil Sold ONLY for Dollars (U.S. Treasuries)
• ALL Oil Consuming Nations Then HAD to Buy US Treasury Notes
• To Get OIL, WHOLE WORLD Had to Finance Profligate US Govt DEBT
• IRAQ Tried to Sell Oil For Euros - We INVADED; Killed Saddam Hussein
• LIBYA Tried to Sell Oil for Gold - We INVADED; Killed Muammar Gaddafi
• 2021: RUSSIA Agrees to PROTECT Saudis - We Can’t Invade & BULLY Them!
• NOW — Saudis Join BRICS, Sell Oil for YUAN — WWIII???
• On Aug 15, 1971 Nixon Took USA Off Gold Standard
• To BACK Dollar, 1974 Kissinger Closed Deal With Saudis: ”Petrodollar“
• For Military Protection, Oil Sold ONLY for Dollars (U.S. Treasuries)
• ALL Oil Consuming Nations Then HAD to Buy US Treasury Notes
• To Get OIL, WHOLE WORLD Had to Finance Profligate US Govt DEBT
• IRAQ Tried to Sell Oil For Euros - We INVADED; Killed Saddam Hussein
• LIBYA Tried to Sell Oil for Gold - We INVADED; Killed Muammar Gaddafi
• 2021: RUSSIA Agrees to PROTECT Saudis - We Can’t Invade & BULLY Them!
• NOW — Saudis Join BRICS, Sell Oil for YUAN — WWIII???
2 months ago
#Pakistan
"The number of Pakistani nationals running global smuggling rackets ranging from supplying missile parts to fake currencies to human trafficking is rising, something noted after the Spanish police recently busted a major global fake currency racket with the arrest of several Pakistani citizens who had been supplying 100 Euro notes worth $1.1 million across Europe and beyond.
The Pakistani gangsters made the banknotes by hand, using special inks, watermarks and different elements to hoodwink detection mechanisms.
The gangsters were based in Naples and Rome in Italy and Barcelona in Spain. The fake notes were distributed in Italy, France, Greece and Spain.
The police authorities in Spain, Italy and Greece were alerted last November when a large number of counterfeit notes were found circulating in Barcelona. The arrests were made at Barcelona airport and the city bus station when the distributors were found carrying 70,000 Euros in counterfeit notes.
The latest case involving Pakistanis in a global human trafficking racket was detected in Italy early this month. At least nine members of the gang were detained for smuggling migrants along the Balkan Road."
The arrested were part of a criminal organisation engaged in bringing illegal migration along the Balkan route. The gangsters were also found to intimidate hapless victims of their thuggery. One of the victims was held in an apartment located in the centre of Siena..."
"The number of Pakistani nationals running global smuggling rackets ranging from supplying missile parts to fake currencies to human trafficking is rising, something noted after the Spanish police recently busted a major global fake currency racket with the arrest of several Pakistani citizens who had been supplying 100 Euro notes worth $1.1 million across Europe and beyond.
The Pakistani gangsters made the banknotes by hand, using special inks, watermarks and different elements to hoodwink detection mechanisms.
The gangsters were based in Naples and Rome in Italy and Barcelona in Spain. The fake notes were distributed in Italy, France, Greece and Spain.
The police authorities in Spain, Italy and Greece were alerted last November when a large number of counterfeit notes were found circulating in Barcelona. The arrests were made at Barcelona airport and the city bus station when the distributors were found carrying 70,000 Euros in counterfeit notes.
The latest case involving Pakistanis in a global human trafficking racket was detected in Italy early this month. At least nine members of the gang were detained for smuggling migrants along the Balkan Road."
The arrested were part of a criminal organisation engaged in bringing illegal migration along the Balkan route. The gangsters were also found to intimidate hapless victims of their thuggery. One of the victims was held in an apartment located in the centre of Siena..."
Pakistani-run international smuggling gangs are rising in number | VT Foreign Policy
The number of Pakistani nationals running global smuggling rackets ranging from supplying missile parts to fake currencies to human trafficking is rising, something noted after the Spanish police recently busted a major global fake currency racket with the arrest of several Pakistani citizens who ha..
https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/03/pakistani-run-smuggling-gangs/
3 months ago
#Austria
"Is it something to do with all the schnitzel and the fresh mountain air? The cliches foreigners harbor about the small central European nation of Austria probably have little bearing on it, but its residents are the most satisfied people in the European Union — at least according to the freshly published findings of EU statistics agency Eurostat.
On a scale of 1 to 10, Austrians rated their overall life satisfaction at 7.9, putting them ahead of Finland, Poland and Romania, each scoring 7.7. The EU average, calculated using survey data from each of the 27 member states gathered in 2022, was 7.1..."
"Is it something to do with all the schnitzel and the fresh mountain air? The cliches foreigners harbor about the small central European nation of Austria probably have little bearing on it, but its residents are the most satisfied people in the European Union — at least according to the freshly published findings of EU statistics agency Eurostat.
On a scale of 1 to 10, Austrians rated their overall life satisfaction at 7.9, putting them ahead of Finland, Poland and Romania, each scoring 7.7. The EU average, calculated using survey data from each of the 27 member states gathered in 2022, was 7.1..."
Austrians happiest in EU, while Germans grow glummer – DW – 01/16/2024
Despite the pandemic and war, most Europeans reported they were quite satisfied with their lives in a 2022 survey. Austria came out top, while Germany and Bulgaria brought up the rear.
https://www.dw.com/en/austrians-happiest-in-eu-while-germans-grow-glummer/a-68005343
4 months ago
#DeutscheMarks
"As everything seems to be getting more expensive through inflation, many Germans have a secret stash of cash at home. They're holding on to their long-expired currency instead of exchanging it. What are they waiting for?
Germans will start 2024 with a few extra billion stuffed between sofa cushions. No, not euros, but old deutsche marks.
People in Germany are famous for their attachment to cash, but more than two decades after the introduction of the euro, millions of deutsche mark (DM) coins and colorful bills are in sock drawers or have been lost down sewer drains.
While some of this old money lies with nostalgic Germans or collectors, another chunk can be chalked up as souvenirs taken home by tourists over the years. Experts say countries that once used it as a reserve currency may still hold some. No one really knows for sure. Though these marks can no longer be used, they can be traded for euros..."
"As everything seems to be getting more expensive through inflation, many Germans have a secret stash of cash at home. They're holding on to their long-expired currency instead of exchanging it. What are they waiting for?
Germans will start 2024 with a few extra billion stuffed between sofa cushions. No, not euros, but old deutsche marks.
People in Germany are famous for their attachment to cash, but more than two decades after the introduction of the euro, millions of deutsche mark (DM) coins and colorful bills are in sock drawers or have been lost down sewer drains.
While some of this old money lies with nostalgic Germans or collectors, another chunk can be chalked up as souvenirs taken home by tourists over the years. Experts say countries that once used it as a reserve currency may still hold some. No one really knows for sure. Though these marks can no longer be used, they can be traded for euros..."
Why are Germans hoarding billions of useless deutsche marks? – DW – 01/08/2024
As everything seems to be getting more expensive through inflation, many Germans have a secret stash of cash at home. They're holding on to their long-expired currency instead of exchanging it. What are they waiting for?
https://www.dw.com/en/free-money-why-are-billions-of-german-marks-still-floating-around/a-67875558
5 months ago
#Ukraine #Ransomware #Hackers
"European cyber police have arrested a 32-year-old suspected of being the ringleader of a ransomware gang operating in Ukraine.
In raids across the country authorities seized laptops and arrested four other alleged hackers.
The gang are accused of successfully extorting "several hundred millions of euros" from victims in 71 countries.
The arrests are the latest efforts by international police to control the rising problem of ransomware.
Ransomware is malicious computer software that locks up systems until a ransom is paid to a hacker, usually in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
Europol says officers searched 30 properties last week resulting in the arrests of the five Russian speakers.
Investigators have not said which nationality they were."
"European cyber police have arrested a 32-year-old suspected of being the ringleader of a ransomware gang operating in Ukraine.
In raids across the country authorities seized laptops and arrested four other alleged hackers.
The gang are accused of successfully extorting "several hundred millions of euros" from victims in 71 countries.
The arrests are the latest efforts by international police to control the rising problem of ransomware.
Ransomware is malicious computer software that locks up systems until a ransom is paid to a hacker, usually in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
Europol says officers searched 30 properties last week resulting in the arrests of the five Russian speakers.
Investigators have not said which nationality they were."
Ransomware hackers 'wreaking havoc' arrested in Ukraine
Cyber police carry out raids to dismantle gang responsible for hacking hundreds of organisations.
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67556607
