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I always enjoy reading The Economist’s Science and Technology section. Generally speaking, I find most of the articles interesting, even if they are not practically relevant to anything and I am working on. In a recent edition (27th of July) however I found the piece that absolutely fascinated me. Nothing to do with computers, orContinue reading “How to make a flat lens – The seed of light”

Amongst the voices calling for something to be done about the lack of a digital identity infrastructure (voices that include, for example, mine and Mark Carney’s) is that of the former Prime Minister Tony Blair who has called for “a proper identity system in the UK” to underpin digital government. I’m not sure what he meansContinue reading “The Blair which project”

xxx “In this industry, you got clubs. You got bottles. You got models. You have strippers,” [Mr. Floyd “A1” Bentley] said. “They want to get paid right away, and they really don’t be wanting them checks.” From Rap Music Ditches Dollars for the Cash App Mobile Payment System – WSJ. I really don’t be wantingContinue reading “Rap Music Ditches Dollars for the Cash App Mobile Payment System – WSJ”

xxx PBoC officials voiced worries that [Libra] could have destabilising effects on the financial system and stated the bank would step up its own efforts to create an e-currency. From PBoC sounds alarm over Facebook’s Libra – Central Banking. xxx

xxx The [Bundesbank] took a light-touch approach to digital currencies such as Libra… Other central banks, such as the People’s Bank of China, have been more hostile towards Facebook’s digital currency project. From Bundesbank takes light-touch approach to Libra – Central Banking. xxx

xxx But how will IBM, Mastercard, Microsoft, or anyone else initiate its own consumer-centric digital identity model if the consumer’s identity is already locked up tight inside the Apple ecosystem? From Uh-Oh! Is Apple Expanding the Restriction on NFC to Include Mobile Identity?. xxx

xxx Britons have called for the scrapping of 1p and 2p coins after it was revealed the Royal Mint made none last for the first time in nearly 50 years. From ‘I throw them in the BIN!’: Britons call for scrapping of 1p and 2p coins | Daily Mail Online. xxx

xxx As Apple has ramped up its privacy push, it has targeted Facebook From Facebook Hit by Apple’s Crackdown on Messaging Feature — The Information. xxx

xxx A majority (58%) of Australians are ‘somewhat concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about biometric data being used to gain access to a licensed pub, club or hotel From Preventing another Australia Card fail | Australian Strategic Policy Institute | ASPI. xxx Checking into hotel in Canberra for Tech in Gov conf identity stream. Hotel: DoContinue reading “Preventing another Australia Card fail | Australian Strategic Policy Institute | ASPI”

xxx North Korea has generated an estimated $2 billion for its weapons of mass destruction programs using “widespread and increasingly sophisticated” cyberattacks to steal from banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, according to a confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters on Monday. From North Korea took $2 billion in cyberattacks to fund weapons program: U.N. report –Continue reading “North Korea took $2 billion in cyberattacks to fund weapons program: U.N. report – Reuters”