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By: Brianna Quinonez For centuries, repaying one’s debt has always been an issue. Whether it was between two neighbors, family members, or between countries, the loaner expects to get paid sooner rather than later and wishes for their payment to be compensated in full. While this is usually done in monetary form, two countries in Africa just made an agreement to allow one country to repay the other using cattle. Chad, a Northern central country in the continent of Africa, has an economy that is abundant in livestock. According to Britannica, “The government has tried to improve livestock by introducing stronger breeds and production by building new slaughterhouses.” This African country’s monetary wealth is not displayed in cash, but in resources. Angola, a central country South of Chad, has an economy that is primarily based on oil. According to Index Mundi, the country exports immense amounts of oil, accounting for 90% of its total exports. With oil being the foundation of the economy, it’s no wonder that the country accepted cattle from Chad, which is abundant with the animal, as a form of payment. Chad and Angola came to this agreement which allowed Chad to repay its $100 million debt in the form of cattle. Angola was happy to accept back in 2017, as the country often finds itself in droughts due to the natural heat that greatly affects its livestock and people. The country is hoping to restart “fresh and new” with its newly welcomed assets. That being said, the animals will be used to not only help with farming and breeding, but in feeding hungry villagers that often do not get to have a fully satisfied stomach during the harsher months of the heat. According to BBC, “In total, Angola would receive 75,000 cattle over 10 years, meaning it has accepted payment of $1,333 per animal.” With that being said, both countries greatly benefit from the debt agreement, as one gets to have less pressure on its shoulders and the other being given the opportunity to reestablish itself with a weakened natural resource.
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![]() Photo: The Famous People By: Saira Canales There have been many allegations of financial fraud or financial impropriety towards King Felipe VI of the Spanish royal family. Despite this, he still seems to be after the personal inheritance from his father Juan Carlos I. Felipe also rebounded his right to shares, investments, or any financial related qualities that are a part of the royal family itself. According to a statement released Sunday, this “may be inconsistent with the law or the standards of honesty and integrity which govern his institutional and private activities and should inform the activities of the crown”. Juan Carlos tried to renounce his throne because of all the scandals and allegations going around the royal family. As Felipe took over the royal throne, he did promise to improve the amount of understanding and transparency around himself and the royal family in general. This was being said as the financial crisis of 2014 began to grow bigger and bigger. The statement that was made during Sunday’s press conference was an attempt made by Felipe to distance himself and the royal family from the allegations that they benefited from the two financial funds linked to Juan Carlos. And according to the aforementioned statement, Juan Carlos will no longer receive any form of payment from the royal family. This is just fine for many of us, because he was a former monarch, but no one ever said he was a good one. Whenever the press questioned the royal family on the matter, they declined and made no further comments. Juan Carlos did not end his reign in the best light because he was being accused of corruption and excess plaguing of the royal family. It has been said that Felipe VI hadn’t distanced himself far enough from Juan Carlos and because of that, Spain is taking its toll. The fact that King Felipe wants to renounce his inheritance is putting Spain into a really bad shape for the economy, considering that the royal family has the third smallest budget of the ten, even with taxpayers paying 9 million dollars a year. They truly believe Juan Carlos is influencing King Felipe on wanting to renounce his inheritance and to give him part of his money since he was cut off from the family funds. Photo: CNN
By: Inez Jaime On January 21, 2019, famous footballer Emiliano Sala was killed in a plane crash. He was killed by a pilot who had not been licensed to fly that aircraft. When the plane had crashed the both of them had been killed. According to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation unit, Sala was likely “deeply unconscious” from the carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the crash. The chief inspector of the unit stated that they had conducted a very “long and complex” investigation to piece together why this crash had happened. The investigation unit looked into the possibility of a member of the (CAA) Civil Aviation Authority playing a part in the death of Sala. The CAA was known for tackling illegal activities for those who were involved in that club. Through this whole tragedy, the famous football player’s family remained strong. Though they were distraught by Sala’s death, they were grateful that a statement had been announced about what they have found so far. When word spread that Sala had passed away, the Cardiff City Football Club established a memorial trust. Nantes, France also paid tribute to him. The aforementioned investigation unit had found out some stuff about the pilot. His name was David Ibbotson. He was not qualified for fly at night and was very inexperienced at using the plane's instruments. His rating to fly expired in November of 2018. Lastly, the pilot should have been labelled “inoperative” (meaning not able to work). The day of the plane crash, Sala had been heading to Cardiff City for his training session after signing a £15m deal. While on the plane, he voice messaged friends and told him that he was scared. Despite this tragedy, Emiliano Sala is still remembered by his family, friends, and teammates. Photo: Reuters
By: Inez Jaime On Feb 27, 2020, Guatemala's President Alejandro Gimmatteti had signed a new law that now increases government oversight of non-profit groups as operations in the Central American country. The Congress had passed the bill on February 12, with support from the ruling party and other conservatives that want the bill passed through. A senior official by the name of Michael Kozak, known as a senior official for the U.S State Department's Bureau of Western Hemispheres Affairs, stated that “the bill was as putting onerous requirements on the NGOs in Guatemala.” They have been putting a lot of hard work into this bill. NGOs are the groups in Guatemala that support the democratic sides. The groups would be playing big roles in functioning democracies, meaning that they would be able to run the big parts as in functioning the democratic side. He later had called on the country to look at the bill and see what the international standards were going to be for this law to be passed. Many urged the president to veto the bill, which linked the legislation to rules passed in Russia and Venezuela. The bill was made to “limit freedom of assembly, and efforts to improve democratic governance, also potentially contributing to the increased migration to the U.S”. This law had also required the “NGOs” to register to also donate funds, and allow their accounts to be inspected and searched. Under these rules, several government powers can have the authority to cancel their registration if they fail to follow the order. The Guatemalan President declared that he would not bow to foreign pressure. Photo: FinalCall
By: Saira Canales The indigenous people in Canada are fighting against Canadian officials. The Canadian officials want to build a pipeline running through their land. The indigenous Canadians argue that this land is rightfully theirs and the pipeline could affect the land, water, and community. For the past couple of weeks there have been riots going up and down the country of Canada. Because of the riots and constant blockades that are taking place, it is beginning to harm the economy. The disputes began with one protest in Ontario by a small group of indeginious people called the Mohawks. This initial protest was simple and nonviolent. It soon blew way out of proportion. These once small protests meant to keep indegiounes rights have become huge riots. Ports have been temporarily closed and cities are being affected. The protests were originally just small groups of indegious people. Soon after the protests began, many non indigenous people began to show up to the protests with opposing views. The non-indigenous people are arguing that this pipeline is necessary because they would provide energy for Canadians. The indegiounes Canadians say this pipeline would be unethical since the land is rightfully owned by them. Adding pipelines in this area would go against their rights and the agreement which states the land as belonging to the indegiounes people. The Canadian officials now want to take down the block aids, which the indigenous protesters are using to block off roads to cities and ports. Taking these block aids down would require enforcement and would create more tensions between the Canadian government and the indegiounes people in Canada. As of right now the blockades have remained up and are peaceful. But they are negatively affecting Canada’s economy. With ports being blocked off, importing and exporting has been made imposible. Many cities are also being affected because they are blocking off major roads that connect them. The chiefs and community of the indigenous people of Canada have been trying to block the construction of the pipeline for almost a year now. Canada is trying to go forward with the construction though. A of right now we don’t really know what is going to happen between them but so far it has brought many riots and economic harm. Photo: Getty Images
By: Brianna Quinonez Immigration has been a topic mainly discussed in reference to the United States and Mexico. Refugees or people in need of a better economic situation seek to find a better life in a new “mother” country. However, protests have been found in a new country as their need for detention centers is on the rise. The Greek Islands are now being filled with protests, mainly in the islands of Lesbos and Chios, which, according to Fox News, has protested “for the fourth consecutive day Thursday,” that is, the 27th of February. The reason for these protests is that the people of these Greek islands wish to institute new detention centers. The number of immigrants flowing into the country is quickly on the rise, since refugees are turning to Europe for shelter, and the space in Eurasia is minimal due to the amount of people who are escaping their situations to find a better life. In addition to this, new detention centers will provide more space. The current ones that they have now pose health and safety risks. Refugees from Turkey are originally from Syria, as religious intolerance and violence occurs often in the country. Turkey is in no position to hold all the refugees pouring into their borders. Getting into a new country is not an easy job. Refugees take many risks to ensure that their new life in a new country will be worth it, sometimes even putting their lives on the line to ensure this dream. According to PBS, “Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted that no illegal border crossings will be tolerated...” Of course, buses, boats, and hiking in uninhabited regions are just a few of the routes that are being taken to guarantee their entrance into the Greek country. Although violence should never be used to get one’s point across, nothing can stop the tension between the protesters and the police. While protestors were demonstrating on different islands, the fights that broke out were quite similar. According to the Guardian, “On Lesbos, locals engaged in hand-to-hand combat with police who attempted to disperse demonstrators,” and, “On Chios, irate locals stormed a hotel used by a police unit dispatched from Athens, injuring at least eight officers.” With all that being said, the authorities in Lesbos and Chios are simply trying to do what’s best for their country as they find out what procedures should be taken with the rapidly growing number of refugees. |
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