Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for regulation of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, saying they carry “serious risks.” “Cryptocurrencies are issued by an unlimited number of anonymous bodies,” Putin said in Sochi on October 10. “Thus buyers of cryptocurrencies could be involved in unlawful activities.” Source: Radio Free Europe
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday “Italy has a backlog of 500,000 illegal immigrants and if we don’t manage to expel more than 10,000 a year we’ll take 50 years to make up for the past”. He said there had been “no concrete results” from EU initiatives in Africa. Source Ansa
Demonstrations which began in Basra have extended to Najaf, Nasiriya, Baghdad and Amara, where two protesters died. Protests against high unemployment, poor government services and corruption that began in Basra have extended to several other Iraqi cities, including Najaf, Amara, Nasiriya and Baghdad. Source Middle East Eye
On July 13, special forces from the counterterrorism unit arrived in Basra to protect the oil companies and oil fields in the province. Equipment from the oil fields has also been stolen in the ongoing protests, but demonstrators managed to arrest eight of the perpetrators on July 11, handing them over to the authorities in an exchange of confidence between the protesters and security forces. Source Al Monitor
