Bitcoin – Chronicle of a Failure Foretold

Transaction malleability – a fraudulent, though most lucrative, way of receiving money without anyone actually sending it – is driving another nail into Bitcoin’s coffin. The digital money is by no means dead (yet), and could even perform a Phoenix

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Chinua Achebe (1930-2013): A Great Tree Has Fallen

In the mid-20th century Africa was starting once more to find its own voice, having been gagged by centuries of colonial oppression. For all that time, the story of Africa had been told by Europeans. The narrative they presented was

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World Bank: Helping Electrification Efforts in DRC

Sub-Saharan Africa is blessed with large hydropower resources that can bring electricity to homes, power businesses and industry, light clinics and schools, and spur economic activity, creating jobs and improving human well-being. Yet, only 10% of this hydropower potential has

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Volume of Investments Boosting the Real Estate Sector Reflected at Largest Ever Edition of Cityscape Egypt

Egypt’s leading international property event to Feature more than 100 Exhibitors. Cairo 24th of March 2014: This April will witness one of the most important events on the industry calendar, Cityscape Egypt 2014 in association with Next Move. Following 5.9% growth

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Barry E. Silbert: Going Out on a Limb, Reinventing Capital Markets

SecondMarket was set up in 2004 and has since expanded into multibillion dollar trading platform with well over 53,000 registered participants. The exchange offers a bewildering array of securities ranging from public debt instruments to bankruptcy claims and credit derivatives.

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2014 Set to be Turning Point for Saudi Real Estate Sector

2014 Edition of Cityscape Jeddah Set to be Largest Event Ever Held Jeddah, March 2014: The year 2014 is all set to witness huge achievements in the Saudi real estate industry, especially the housing sector in which the private sector

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Blythe Masters: The Risks of Spreading the Risk

Out of a tragic oil spill came forth a new financial instrument: The credit default swap – to some a financial weapon of mass destruction; to others a nifty way to spread, and thus diminish, credit risk. The credit default

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WEF Recognises Young Global Leaders from Africa

The World Economic Forum announced last week the new members selected to join the Forum of Young Global Leaders. From Africa, this year’s class includes: Bernice Dapaah, Ghana, Executive Director of the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, a social enterprise which

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World Bank Support to Promote Transparency, Accountability and Job Creation in Jordan

A US$250 million loan, approved last week, will ease Jordan’s fiscal strains, which have been deepened by the influx of Syrian refugees and by regional turmoil that has disrupted its hydrocarbon supplies from Egypt. The World Bank’s support to Jordan

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How to Tame an Unruly Bear

You heed Teddy’s advice: Speak softly and carry a big stick. That’s how a bear is brought to its senses. Hardly rocket science. With his simple, yet effective approach to foreign policy, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) – the 26th US president

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