#not even in the richest of oil exporting nations

[helplineqatar]

How can I start a small business in Qatar?

One of the richest nations in the world, Qatar's economy is primarily driven by the oil and natural gas sectors. Qatar ranks in the top 5 countries with the highest per capita GDPs in the world with a GDP of up to $94,000. This is possibly the reason why many entrepreneurs and businessmen want to start a business in Qatar. The Qatari government is always working to improve the business climate in the nation, making it an attractive investment for entrepreneurs and investors. Doing business in Qatar has a lot of benefits.

Benefits of setting up a business in Qatar

There are many benefits to setting up a business in Qatar.

The distinctive feature of the business environment in Qatar is the Qatar Business Zone. Before choosing where to launch a business in Qatar, entrepreneurs must understand the differences between setting up the business in the free zone or outside it.

The laws, policies, rules, and regulations that apply to businesses are considerably different between the two zones. There are many advantages to operating in a free trade zone, including full foreign ownership of shares, no restrictions on the use of foreign currencies, and the absence of income tax, corporate tax, and foreign trade taxes. The free business zone is the location of choice for most entrepreneurs looking to launch a business in Qatar. Technology, logistics, maritime, manufacturing, and even petrochemical companies are located in this area.

Aside from having access to the free business zone, there are many advantages to establishing a business in Qatar. Here are just a few of starting a business in Qatar:

Qatar rightfully brags about its highly developed corporate infrastructure and its skilled but low-cost labor force.

Qatar has no income tax on earnings.

The income from exports is not taxed.

The corporate tax rate in Qatar is under 10%.

Foreign entrepreneurs are allowed to send all of their profits home.

There are helpful financial services out there that are aware of the requirements of business owners.

Requirements to start a business in Qatar

Setting up a business in Qatar involves a lengthy and complicated process. A business owner must first fulfill a number of conditions set forth by the Commercial Companies Law in order to conduct business in Qatar. These specifications include:

A founding partner from Qatar.

the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's proper commercial registration (MOCI).

Arabic and English must both be used in legal contracts.

A minimum share capital is required.

A minimum of two or more owners, with 51% of the company owned by Qatari stockholders.

Types of Business Structures in Qatar

Qatar allows a variety of business structures and companies, like most other countries. They are:

General partnership company

Holding company

Joint venture

Limited liability company

Limited share partnership company

Joint partnership company

Public shareholding company

Branch office of a foreign company

Representative trade office

Real estate

Commercial agency

How can we help?

If you are wondering how to start a small business in Qatar, Helpline Group is ready to help. We help you with all the formalities and assist you at every step – from creating the business, setting it up, and even beyond taking your company to new heights. Our professional experts will handle all the formalities so that you can focus on other aspects. From company formation to recruiting manpower to financial consulting, we handle it all.

Want to know more? Call us today and let us guide you.

[depravitymoon]

Tabletop Fantasy AU Bucci Gang AU (Part 3)

Author’s Note: This part’s about explaining more about The Kingdom of Passione, how outsiders view Passione, and how the country functions.

Passione actually has 5 economic classes: 

Nobles = Old Money. Feudal lords with serfs who work the fields. 

Guild masters = New Money. Runs the guilds. Typically, the wealthiest merchants in the country. 

Guild members = The Middle Class. Merchants, manufacturers, and professionals. 

Peasants = Freed serfs/slaves. Mostly farmers and servants. Unskilled labor. Living paycheck to paycheck. 

Beggers = The poorest within cities. Barely scrapping by. Drug addicts, hookers, etc.

Combining the pic above with the 5 Econ classes:

Nobles = 5%

Guild Masters = 5%

Guild members = 40%

Peasants = 40%

Beggers = 10%

Passione's Politics

Passione is officially a Plutocracy, where 100 of the richest people rule. However, it’s actually a dictatorship. King Diavolo doesn’t give a fuck about their opinions and they know better than to argue against him.

So King Diavolo was initially loved by the people for for bringing so much prosperity to the cities, but after a while, crime got out of hand and the guards became too corrupt to stop it. Of course, crime never reaches the tourist areas. After all, the Kingdom's newfound wealth stems from tourism.

The rich know about Diavolo's dirty secret: He rose to power by using criminals and mercenaries to overthrown the previous king. He kept his end of the bargain and gave criminals free reign over the citizens. Yes, Passione has the lowest taxes in world, but that’s just for good optics. Thugs are allowed to shake down businesses and peasants for themselves, as long as Diavolo gets a 60-40 split.

Throughout the years, the newly formed middle class has been decreasing and the poor is getting poorer. Drugs are the biggest issue in Passione Cities. They're highly addictive, they ruin lives, they make criminals richer, and it sparks turf wars with very high casualties. This even affects the upper class due to rich kids becoming addicts and dying from overdose.

Why hasn't the people revolted? 

1. Diavolo tricked most of the population to believe he has nothing to do with rise in crime in the cities. 

2. Anyone who opposes him, rich or poor, young or old, will "mysteriously" be missing or found dead. Again, not traced back to Diavolo, so no one can prove his involvement.

How outsiders view Passione:

Meanwhile the tourists are like, "Oh! And they dont have public executions here! How civilized!" Tourists also like how Passione doesn't invade countries! In fact, Passione has an army of Orcs and they still have never invaded nations! He doesn’t need to. Diavolo sends out mercenaries to perform coup d'états throughout the continent in an attempt to install puppet leaders. Diavolo is well known for making "peaceful alliances"!

Rich people from other nations either love Passione or fear Passione with nothing in between. All of them have a strong opinion about the country. For half the rich, Passione is the best vacation spot in the world. For the rich people in-the-know, the Passione Noble and Guild Masters are extremely dangerous. Yes, most of the affluent are corrupt to some degree, but Passione takes it to a new level. It's one thing for the rich to fuck over the poor, but Passione's rich are willing to fuck over EVERYONE, even their own children. 

Other Info

Passione's main exports are grapes, wine, olives, olive oil, and durum/pasta wheat Also, mercenaries and drug, shhh.

While the prejudice of the rich is race-based, the prejudice of everyday people is culture-based. Most people would accept a half-orc born and raise in Passione over an elf from another country. 

[pierrehardy]

COVID-19 x Poor Countries

This is a short post on the effects of the Covid-19 on poor countries. This is an essential focus because even though richer countries are being ravaged, historically, it is the poorest that gets the worst of it. Poor countries cannot whip out $2 trillion [1] like what the US did. As John Nkengasong said, the director of Africa CDC,  for poor countries, this is a “national security crisis first, an economic crisis second, and a health crisis third.”

I’ll keep it short and concise so you can get a clear picture quickly, but I’ll include sources at the end to serve as a reading list if you want.

First, I will enumerate the problems that the pandemic is causing in poor countries. Second, I will TRY to look at the “bright side” of things. Third, the possible solutions. And lastly, I’ll end with two examples of doing their part in taking this seriously. 

Problems

Poor people cannot social distance. It’s simply impossible if you live in the slums. [2]

Hand washing is a difficult habit to form if you live in a place with no running water. [3]

The poor cannot isolate themselves at home. These are people who live day to day, and without going out to work, they will not have food to eat. If the government forces them to stay at home, a riot is bound to happen. What the virus can’t kill, hunger will. [4]

Some countries, usually the better off, are becoming nationalists and shutting down their exports. The last thing a global pandemic needs is for global trade to get gummed up. [5][6]

The spread of fake news. Most notably, the two kinds: religious fake news and quack cures. For example, Tanzania’s president refuses to close down churches because he believes the virus is Satanic and cannot survive in a place of worship. [7] He is not alone in thinking this way. Another is the false information that garlic, ginger, and lemon can cure the virus. This is false and does nothing but drive up the prices for these goods. [8]

There has been a rise in xenophobia among countries as they start to attack foreigners and immigrants. [9]

There have been opportunistic autocratic wannabees that are taking advantage of this mess. They will use the virus as an excuse to ban political rallies, postpone elections, and increase the surveillance of its citizens. [10]

Several companies and businesses cannot survive this and would need credit to stay alive. [11] This can mean a lot of lost jobs. 

Lastly, which is the worst problem, is the fact that poor countries are, well, poor. The healthcare system of poor countries can barely function without a crisis, the pandemic makes it worse [12]. And for a quarantine to work in a poor country with a population that needs to work every day to feed their families, they require social safety nets in the form of food or allowance from the government. Similarly to businesses affected by this, they need a lifeline of credit from the government to stay alive.  In short, it is expensive, and poor countries can’t afford it. [13]

To make it worse, the sources of income of poor countries are taking a hit too. Many of these countries rely on tourism [14], which is obviously dwindling [15]. They count on commodities like raw materials and oil, whose prices are fallings. [16] (To clarify, the low price of oil is not primarily caused by the virus but by the price war that Saudi Arabia and Russia are having. [17] It is likely that this will last beyond this pandemic). Remittances can also get affected, as overseas workers can’t work too [18]. To top it off, foreign investors are fleeing from developing countries and into safer investments, aka richer countries [19]. This caused a depressing outcome of making credit cheaper in wealthier countries and more expensive to poorer countries. This pandemic is shaping up to be worse than the 2008 financial crisis.

Bright Sides (there is none, really)

Most poor countries have younger populations (only 5% of Africa is old while in Europe, it’s 24%). So if you’re morbid, you may find comfort in this. But not too much since most of the youth in poor countries are malnourished and don’t have a robust immune system. 

Most people in poor countries are in rural areas, where it is less dense and is better for social distancing. But again, a caveat is that it’s only a matter of time before the virus arrives in rural areas.  

Most poor countries are hot, and the infection spreads slower in warm countries. Then again, findings for this are inconclusive at worst, and the effects are modest at best. [20]

Nations hit with a health crisis tend to keep the excellent hygiene habits they were forced to form. 

Possible Solutions

The simplest one that is absolutely necessary is transparent information. That means no cover-ups, no downplaying, no arresting of people exposing unsavory news. [21]

There’s no going around it. The richer countries must help the poorer countries, either through credit or forgiving debt. [22] Three main motivations for rich countries: (1) Compassion, (2) if you leave the poor to deteriorate, the poor will inevitably reinfect you, and (3) whoever helps the poor now will dictate their allegiance in the future. The poor will remember who helped them. 

Positively, the rich world is doing just that. The IMF readied $1 trillion in aid. [23] The G20 pledged to inject $5 trillion to the world economy. [24] China has been active in giving assistance [25], and so is its richest man, Jack Ma, in donating testing kits, protective suits, and masks. [26] 

Positive Examples: Brazil and Africa

The president of Brazil does not take the Covid-19 seriously. Nonetheless, congressmen ignored the president’s downplaying of the virus and declared a state of calamity anyways. LGUs have locked down several cities and turned football stadiums into hospitals. Universities and private labs have dedicated their efforts to producing testing kits with private companies supplying the required materials for free. A brewery in Brazil has also started manufacturing hand sanitizer. Activists have been roving around with loudspeakers, telling people to stay in their homes. They have also proposed turning empty schools into quarantine centers and with renting mansions to house the elderly in a far off district. Even the gangs of organized criminals have imposed curfews in their territories and stopped selling drugs in open-air markets. They’re doing all of this while being heckled by their president, whose approval ratings have tanked as a result. [27]

In Africa, the governments’ actions were much swifter compared to Europe. Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency for the whole year, even before confirming a single infection. Uganda locked down schools even before being infected. South Africa locked the country down earlier than most European countries. They also immediately beefed up testing facilities. They now have 40 countries capable of testing, from only 2. This can all be attributed to Africa’s experience with epidemics (like Ebola). [28]

To summarize: basically, poor countries are especially vulnerable to the pandemic. They would likely require the assistance of wealthier nations to survive this and still have a livelihood afterward. Keep in mind the nine main problems we face so that we can form a more informed solution. Thanks for reading, I hope you learned something new today.

References

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/world/coronavirus-news-live.html 

[2]https://www.rediff.com/news/special/how-can-there-be-social-distancing-in-slums/20200324.htm 

[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51929598 

[4] https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/28/social-distancing-is-a-privilege/ 

[5]https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-eu-limit-exports-medical-equipment/ 

[6] http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/25/c_138913230.htm 

[7]https://www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/tanzanian-president-criticized-refusing-close-places-worship 

[8]https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/who-pushes-back-on-coronavirus-misinformation-and-bogus-cure-claims.html 

[9]https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-covid19-xenophobia-racism/607816/ 

[10]https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-and-autocrats-never-let-pandemic-go-to-waste-11585400400 

[11]https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/business/economy/coronavirus-business-credit-access.html 

[12] Personally visited the Philippine General Hospital in the past. 

[13]https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-is-advancing-on-poor-nations-and-the-prognosis-is-troubling-11585149183 

[14]http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20130320-how-tourism-can-alleviate-poverty 

[15] https://www.unwto.org/tourism-covid-19-coronavirus 

[16] https://www.fastmarkets.com/commodities/coronavirus 

[17]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/the-saudi-crown-prince-s-plan-to-win-the-global-oil-war 

[18]https://think.ing.com/snaps/philippines-remittance-growth-hits-4.1-in-2019/ 

[19]https://www.wsj.com/articles/emerging-markets-take-hit-as-investors-flee-for-safety-11584529200 

[20]https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/12/asia/coronavirus-flu-weather-temperature-intl-hnk/index.html 

[21]https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/commitment-transparency-pay-off-as-south-korea-limits-covid-19-spread/ 

[22]https://www.ipsnews.net/2020/03/rich-countries-must-protect-developing-nations-coronavirus-pandemic/ 

[23]https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/imf-says-its-ready-to-mobilize-its-1-trillion-lending-capacity-to-fight-coronavirus.html 

[24]https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/g20-leaders-pledge-usd-5-trillion-united-response-to-coronavirus-crisis/articleshow/74835666.cms 

[25] https://time.com/5812015/china-medical-aid-pakistan/ 

[26]https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/africa/jack-ma-donate-masks-coronavirus-africa/index.html 

[27]https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2020/03/26/brazils-president-fiddles-as-a-pandemic-looms 

[28]

https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/03/26/africa-is-woefully-ill-equipped-to-cope-with-covid-19

[morethanaprincess-a]

3, 4, 7, 20

Character Solidifying (accepting)

3. Brothers, sisters? Who do they like? Why? What do they despise about their siblings?

Sonia is an only child, actually! Considering how much her parents despise each other, they couldn’t even be prevailed upon to make both an heir and a spare. To that end, she’s always been overprotected as she is the King’s sole heir, and is why she’s been kidnapped so many times. However, Sonia does have extended family on both sides. If she dies and does not produce an heir before that time, her uncle (her father’s brother) is next in line for the throne, followed by her two younger male cousins.

4. What type of discipline was your character subjected to at home? Strict? Lenient?

Sonia was subjected to being very well looked after as a child, with the future monarch of Novoselic needing the utmost protection. However, things that Sonia was disciplined for aren’t quite what I think most children are punished for. For example, children (especially children of the upper class and aristocracy) are raised to drink wine from a young age and alcohol abuse is rather common, as are drugs and extravagant spending. If you’re familiar with Mean Girls, the line Regina’s mother says “If you’re going to drink, I’d rather you do it in the house?” That’s Sonia’s upbringing. Drink, engage in drugs and sex (At least in a non-historical AU. Her virginity is far more prized in those!), and so forth...as long as it’s done out of the public eye and does not reflect poorly on the family, her parents were and are far too preoccupied with their own duties (and affairs) to care.

Unless, of course, it’s leaked to the press/public and will cast a negative light on the family. This is why the knowledge of the princess’ interest in the occult is so frowned upon by her parents, especially her mother, to the point that most of her memorabilia is relegated to one of the former jail cells-turned-recreation room in the castle’s underground secret passages, so it’s well out of the way of the staff and any guests they may have. Sonia tries to set out things like her tarot cards and runes whenever she’s home but they tend to get hidden in various places as a punishment for interests that aren’t appropriate for a princess to have. 

She’s able to get away with a lot, as long as it’s kept quiet. Otherwise it’s usually the removal of her personal interests from her living space (as grounding her and keeping her confined to her room and the library to read and watch movies? That’s not really a punishment for Sonia, that’s more like her normal life before she attended Hope’s Peak).

Sonia, like many of her aristocratic peers, had to grow up far too fast. It’s only her very big heart and compassion for others that tends to keep her grounded.

7. What was the economic status of their family?

Hoo boy. Yes, the Novoselic Royal Family are Rich with a capital R. As absolute monarchs, they are permitted to have their own business ventures and investments, not to mention inherited properties and priceless heirlooms, taxes, and various other forms of revenue. Most importantly, the Royal Family are the biggest stakeholders in all of the country’s exports, including the wine and chocolate favored worldwide. Novoselic’s secured borders and neutrality in most international disputes make it a great place to keep money and other valuables, and so the Royal Family also owns the banks throughout the country as well. However, it should be said that Novoselic will not sell military-grade weapons outside of its borders (no matter how much some members of the Royal Family believe they should. Luckily those people are not the monarch). 

That said, the King of Novoselic’s net worth (and Sonia’s eventual net worth in a non-despair AU) is about $4 billion USD (I’m American so I think in USD, easier to wrap my mind around). Not the richest royals in the world, especially those that sell in oil, but nothing to sneeze at. To put it in perspective. Byakuya Togami has made that much on his own, regardless of the various companies he’ll inherit from his family. So Sonia is not the wealthiest student at Hope’s Peak, but she’s probably in second place on that front. And really, once your net worth (or family/future net worth) is in the billions and you can afford whatever you wish, does it matter too much?

Of course, post-despair that net worth has gone down some, but Sonia is still solvent enough to be necessary in order to help rebuild the country and start adding to both the country’s wealth and her personal wealth once more. 

20. What were the most deeply impressive political or social, national or international, events that they experienced?

So, this is a bit difficult to answer as Sonia hasn’t really lived through a war or any major threat to herself or her country, barring when she was a Remnant of Despair. So in a canon storyline, it’s definitely becoming a remnant and then having to fix her wrongdoings after the Neo World program. I don’t think anything else could make an impression on Sonia quite to that degree (and frankly, most of the world too. That’s pretty much the equivalent of a world war on an even more massive scale). 

That said, meeting those who have survived or are struggling to survive despite dire circumstances leave a lasting impression on her. Victims of human trafficking, those succumbing and surviving from horrible diseases, visiting orphanages and hospitals, visiting sanctuaries that protect Novoselic’s unique animals...all of those things leave a very lasting impression on Sonia and can often be a haunting reminder of how she wants to improve access to healthcare services, protect animals, create opportunities and assist the underprivileged, etc.

She won’t bring it up in conversation unless prompted, but at home she makes it a point to visit the ICUs and mental health wards of hospitals across the country, especially for children and young adults, to meet them and listen to what they’ve endured. While she’ll usually bring gifts, it’s her time that’s the most important. She also tries to keep in touch with any of those patients who wish for a pen pal, complete with handwritten letters. She gets a lot of hand cramps writing them all out, but they’ve made a difference in the lives of many just to know that someone is listening and they care. She can’t save everyone, which hurts her, but she feels like she’s making a difference just by giving her time as well as her influence to make a greater impact on helping those suffering from such conditions in the future.

[alexsmitposts]

The “Corruption” Narrative: Who’s Afraid of Isabel Dos Santos? And Why? The words they use to describe her are nasty, cliché, but all too familiar. They call her “Princess,” “Oligarch,” and accuse her of “embezzlement” “peddling influence” etc. The truth is that Isabel Dos Santos, the richest woman in Africa, has for decades been on the hit list of the most powerful people in the world.  In the first month of 2020, the international media has doubled down, taken aim, and decided to go for the kill. And who are the hitmen? The same folks who brought you the Panama Papers, the shady International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The outlet with ties to the Democracy Fund of the United Nations, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and George Soros’ Open Society Foundation is repeating their same old mantra. They accuse independent leaders around the world, from Russia, China, Latin America, and Africa of being “corrupt.” They display in rather convenient “leaks,” as if it is somehow shocking, that the leaders of countries with massive populations and resources in-fact possess lots of wealth. The international audience is led to the conclusion that the targeted leader should be removed. Misuse of government funds and other malpractice is certainly a plague rampant in many developing countries. When nations are working to raise themselves out of poverty, shady practices often become a kind of way of life as the population learns to “take care of each other.” The result is often widespread inefficiency. But what is the obvious goal of these Soros, USAID backed ICIJ operations? To keep intact the corrupt, monopolistic global financial order that exists by selectively targeting those who challenge it. The deeply corrupt global order where Wall Street and London bankers rule the world, keeping it poor so they can stay rich, pushing policies of “de-regulation” and “free markets” that have failed over and over, never gets called into question. “Corruption” charges were used to oust Dilma Roussef, to imprison Lula Di Silva who would have won the 2018 election according to every poll, and install autocratic free market demagogue Jiar Bolsanaro in Brazil. “Corruption” allegations are constantly used to stir up opposition to the Putin government by forces who were quite satisfied with the free market looting during the Yeltsin-era, and dislike that Russia has been restored as an economic power and energy exporter. Leftist Vice President Christina Kirchner in Argentina was also hit with a series of “corruption” charges by supporters of the IMF and the free market policies, who attempted to undo her progressive reforms during the Mauricio Macri. Meanwhile, many politicians in the “free” western capitalist countries have offshore bank accounts, take care of their relatives and business associates, and otherwise engage in notably corrupt behavior. The President of the United States is pretty obviously tied to a chain of “Trump Hotels” around the world, and many questions have been raised about that since the 2016 elections. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s son conveniently got a well paying job at a Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian Natural Gas corporation, at the very moment when the USA was backing the “EuroMaiden” events that toppled President Yanukovych. An Oil Rich Country, Kept Poor by Western Capitalism Angola is not a poor country. It has lots of oil. Its natural gas potential is just being realized. It has minerals and a vast population. However, poverty is widespread in this southern African nation. Until 1975, Angola was a colony of Portugal. The population lived as colonial slaves, worked to death, kept in poverty, as their resources were utilized to line the pockets of Portuguese businessmen. The People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) was formed in 1956 to throw off the colonial chains. The MPLA was a Marxist-Leninist political organization backed and armed by the Soviet Union. It waged a guerilla insurgency, fighting Portuguese troops, right up until the Carnation Revolution.  When the fascist government of Portugal fell in 1975, colonial territories were granted independence. The MPLA took power as the elected government of a newly free Angola. Immediately following independence, the apartheid government of South Africa invaded Angola. Over 65,000 Cuban soldiers were sent to support the MPLA in fighting off this and subsequent invasions by the apartheid regime. Cuba continued to maintain a military presence in Angola to support the MPLA. At the time of independence, the United States government had already been arming and training a group of terrorists and extremists called the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) that conducted assassinations and other acts of violence against the MPLA.  UNITA at first claimed to be Maoist Communists and had relations with China, but by the late 1970s they were Evangelical Christians and advocates of western capitalism. The United States was their primary supporter, and anti-communism was their rallying cry. The leader of the CIA trained and armed UNITA terrorists like  Jonas Savimbi. Savimbi murdered civilians, bombed schools and hospitals and committed horrendous atrocities. Savimbi was a practitioner of witchcraft and a literal cannibal, who ate the corpses of MPLA soldiers. The horrendous atrocities of Jonas Savimbi has been well documented, but this did not stop the Reagan White House and other US administrations from embracing them as freedom fighters. The goal of the MPLA was to peacefully develop Angola into a prosperous socialist country. This was not possible in a state of total civil war, as US-backed terrorists ravaged the country for 27 years. Even when peace was finally declared in 2002, the United Nations noted that Angola was littered with landmines, and most of its bridges and essential infrastructure had been destroyed. “Angola Starts Now!” In 2002, with peace declared, the MPLA declared “Angola Starts Now!” and began to eradicate poverty and economically develop the country. Their efforts were aided significantly by the highest oil prices in world history. The GDP increased at a staggeringly high average of 11.1% from 2001 to 2010. China worked with Angola to build new railways connecting previously isolated parts of the country. The capital city of Luanda became a prosperous business center. Millions of Angolans were lifted from poverty. Who was key in making all of this happen? Isabel Dos Santos. Isabel is the daughter of the country’s first elected President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos. It is largely because of her efforts that Angola now has a state controlled mobile telecommunications corporation, Unitel. She also helped to set up Banco de Fomento Angola and Banco BIC, two private banks based in Angola. These are banks subsidized with state oil profits, that have provided loans allowing the domestic economy of Angola to flourish. Isabel Dos Santos has traveled around the world working to bring foreign investment into her homeland. In 2016 Isabel Dos Santos moved out of the private sector and was named as the director of Sonangol, the state-run oil company that remains at the center of the Angolan economy. Much like Putin did in Russia with Gazprom and Rosneft, Sonagol is a “national champion.” It is a state-controlled energy corporation utilized to create economic growth and stabilize the market. It was with Sonangol’s proceeds that the mining and agricultural sectors were stimulated. Nigeria is now the top oil exporting country in Africa. It has been a playground for Chevron, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, and Exxon-Mobile for years. Nigeria has a few billionaires, but the population is overwhelmingly poor and illiterate. While lots of oil is extracted and lots of profits made by western corporations, nothing like Angola’s economic boom of 2002-2014 has ever happened in Nigeria, despite decades and decades in the oil business. The successes of Angola cannot be blamed on high oil prices alone, but rather on state central planning, utilizing oil proceeds to eradicate poverty and construct. Isabel Dos Santos has spent very little time working in government. She prides herself on her success as a businesswoman in the private sector. Her dynamic leadership and strategic management of private companies, in coordination with state central planners, created all kinds of spectacular results. “There are thousands of people whom we gave their first job,” she told BBC. When a new President took office in 2017, the Wall Street Journal celebrated Isabel Dos Santos’ departure. It accused her of running “turgid bureaucracy.” American oil companies were angry that she “required that they buy supplies from select domestic firms.” Dos Santos enforced environmental laws, and would not privatize the newly discovered natural gas resources that “by law belongs to the government.” Immediately before  the ouster of Isabel Dos Santos from Sonangol, Total, BP, Haliburton, and Exxon-Mobile had terminated their relationship with the state-run firm. It appears that the big oil bankers almost demanded her ouster from the new administration of President Juan Lourenço and their wish was granted. A Failed Administration Scapegoating Its Predecessors Lourenço promised to usher in an “economic miracle” with his free market reforms once elected. The opposite has occurred. Unemployment has risen. Strikes and social unrest are also increasing. 28% of Angola’s population lives on less than $1.90 per day. Lourenço has signed on with the International Monetary Fund, known for pushing deregulation and Milton Friedman style economic reforms in exchange for “development loans.” Since he cannot fix the economy, Lourenço seems to be focused scapegoating his predecessors, who presided over huge economic achievements. President João Lourenço calls himself “the terminator,” and he has worked hard to single out members of the Dos Santos family and their allies for prosecution. 45 cases are currently in court, and Isabel Dos Santos is now among those facing charges, as is her younger brother. However, a BBC article published on January 16th seems to have revealed that the campaign against Santos isn’t simply about retaliation against the Dos Santos family. During  an interview, Isabel Dos Santos “declined four times to rule out” running for the Presidency. Later she told a Portuguese network “it’s possible” that she may intend run for head of state in 2022. And what else, she could very well win, despite massive huge efforts to besmirch her reputation with the convenient “Luanda Leaks” presented by the Soros, USAID tied outlet. To Angolans who have endured decades of civil war followed by miraculous amounts of growth, the name “Dos Santos” is associated with the legacy of the anti-colonial struggle, as well as a decade of exciting hope. The “Iron Lady” Southern Africa Needs? Indicating why she might consider a Presidential run, she told BBC “President Lourenço is fighting for absolute power. There’s a strong wish to neutralize any influence that [former] President Dos Santos might still have in the MPLA…. If a different candidate would appear [ahead of the 2022 presidential election] supported by former President Dos Santos or allies linked to him, that would really challenge [Mr Lourenço’s] position because his current track record is very, very poor.” In fact, Isabel Dos Santos could be the kind of leader that Southern Africa desperately needs. Her father was a guerilla fighter who fought the Portuguese and went into exile. Her mother was a Russian Communist. While the MPLA backed away from Soviet-style Marxism-Leninism in 1991, it remains a Democratic Socialist Party, and its members are dedicated to building a society where all Angolans have what they need. Already, from both the private sector and as the head of Sonangol, Dos Santos has put into practice a successful implementation of policies that could be called “petro-socialism” i.e. using state-run oil profits to centralize and build up an economy. On the northern end of the continent, Libya flourished under such policies. The Islamic Socialist government of Moammar Gaddafi built the world’s largest irrigation system, “the man-made river.” Libya had the highest life expectancy on the African continent until 2011 and had achieved universal housing and literacy. Libya worked hard to suppress Al-Qaida and terrorist groups and provided financial support to the Irish Republican Army, the Nation of Islam, the Black Panthers, and many other socialist and anti-imperialist forces around the world. In his final year, Gaddaffi openly spoke of establishing an African currency and an African bank, laying the basis for independence from western financial power. All of this culminated in the USA funding an uprising against him, and NATO bombing campaign that destroyed the country. During Gaddaffi’s leadership, Africans from across the continent piled into the Libya where the state provided them with employment. Now, in a war-torn, newly impoverished and destroyed post-Gaddafi, pro-western Libya, Africans are trying to get out on rafts, and drowning in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe. Russia and China were both deeply impoverished countries at the beginning of the 20th Century, but it was with state central planning, mobilizing the population and rationally organizing the economy that they became superpowers. Both countries have learned the lessons of the Soviet Union’s demise, and recognize the need for foreign investment and a private sector, which will  allow more entrepreneurialism. However, Russia and China continue to get stronger because they have not fallen into the trap of “profits in command” and the chaos of the market. All across the developing world, the absolute failure of Milton Friedman-style economics can be seen. Even the Bretton Woods institutions now admit that they have been “too Neoliberal.” All out “free trade” Adam Smith-style capitalism is not the answer, for Angola or any other country. If Isabel Dos Santos, a savvy businesswoman was elected, carrying with her a family name that is associated with better times, and resilient leadership, she could very well turn things around. As Russia becomes more involved in helping strengthen African countries, and  as China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank works to build infrastructure to help the development of independent economies, Isabel Dos Santos has great potential as a leader. With her strength and boldness, she could bring economic growth, financial independence, and hope to millions of people, not just in her own country, but throughout the region.

[the-shubham-world-blog]

Separatism.

Kashmir, Kurdistan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Catalonia, Palestine, Taiwan, Kosovo, Greenland and Scotland All these places have one thing in common There have been slogans for freedom in all these places By different means in different situations,But there have been separatist demands in all these places.There have been demands for the creation of a new independent country I'd like to talk about separatism in this Blog By taking examples from worldwide, let us examine how countries are formed, how they break down and how this affects the people.

1. How to Create a Country ?

In today's times, if someone has to create a country There are no international laws that guide you through the process of creation of a country But the 1933 Montevideo Convention specifies four criterion for the formation of a country A permanent population, a well defined territory, the existence of a government,and the capacity to maintain relations with other countries But there are lot of countries worldwide that satisfy these four criterion but are not a country Because the other countries do not recognize them as "countries”

Let us take the example of Taiwan.

 Taiwan is almost a separate country on its own But only 17 countries recognize Taiwan as a country For any new country to get a seat in the United Nations,they need the approval of the Security council of the United Nations which can be vetoed by any of the permanent members of the United Nations So Taiwan never got a seat in the United Nations because China always vetoed it Because China believes that Taiwan is a part of China The same situation applies to Palestine and Kosovo Speaking broadly, for your country to be recognized as a separate country,An important criteria for this that the rest of the countries of the world to recognize it as a "country"and accept it as an independent country Even regarding this, some countries have formulated rules of their own For example, the British government says that if any new country wants recognition from the British government,First, it would have to fulfill the Montevideo Convention and after that it would have to sign upon the human rights obligations,respect International laws and UN resolutions and give rights to the minorities So some countries have specified requirements of their own And then there's international politics

 For example, Catalonia, that wants to become an independent country.

 lies within Spain Now, Spain would never want a part of it to become an independent country So the countries that have good relations with Spain would never recognize Catalonia as an independent country because they would not want to spoil their relations with Spain So the game of international politics also gets embroiled in between Considering these things, it is a very tough task for any country to gain recognition from the rest of the countries.

2. Why Separatism Happens ? 

A basic question here is why does separatism arise?  Why do some people in the country feel like they should create a new country?Experts have suggested several reasons behind this and I divide them into three categories The first category is cultural reasons Some people feel that their religion, ethnicity or cultural is in danger if they continue to be a part of a big country So they wish to form a separate country of their own Another cultural reason is that some people hate other cultures And in order to consolidate their identity they want to form a separate country and drive out the minorities The second type of reasons are economic reasons Either the people feel that they're extremely poor and that they're being exploited economically,and the rich are extorting money from us,Or, on the second hand,

 like the in example of Spain.

The rich people there feel that their money is being used unwisely and that their money is being uselessly distributed among the poor The region of Catalonia is one of the richest regions in Spain This is one of the biggest reasons behind their independence movements The third category of reasons is injustice. That is, the separatists believe they are being treated unjustly This could be due to a variety of reasons but usually it is related to a political decision That is the government makes a decision that, socially, economically, in the case of freedom as well as in the case of democracy,affected the people in a negative manner.

3. Separatism success vs Failures.

What are the results of a separatist movement? 

Let us examine on a case by case basis In 2017, a referendum was conducted in Catalonia The people were asked if they wanted to make Catalonia an independent country More than 90% of the people said that they wanted to become an independent country, separate from Spain What was the result of this? Spain declared it illegal and unconstitutional and completely rejected the referendum There were protests against this and 17 people were killed in the protests Spain said doing this was obviously, sedition against the nation and anti national.

A similar thing happened in 2017 in Kurdistan .

Kurdistan which is a region with in Iraq  A referendum was conducted there as well More than 90% of the people said that they wanted Kurdistan to become an independent country,separate from Iraq What was the result of this? Once again, Iraq government completely rejected it and instantly the Iraq government closed off air access in Kurdistan Even if Kurdistan becomes an independent country, but if its neighbors do not accept it,it would become very difficult to self sustain itself economically If it would not be able to do business with oil pipelines,It would not be able to export if the surrounding countries do not allow it to come on the road sand not let it export These are more reasons why the separatist movements, even if they become an independent country,It would be very difficult for them to sustain.

South Sudan.

South Sudan is the world's newest, officially recognized country It got its independence from Sudan in 2011"officially recognized", because almost all the countries of the world accepted it as an independent country and The United Nations also offered it a seat What was the result of this? It became independent in 2011 and up till 2015,for 4 years, there raged a civil war which caused the deaths of lakhs of people In today's times, there prevail conditions of hyperinflation, famine, extreme violence And it is one of the most underdeveloped countries of the world.

Eritrea.

Eritrea- a new African country formed by breaking away from from Ethiopia in 1991 It, too, has a similar story When this new country was formed, a civil war followed in which more than 10% of its population was killed In today's times, this country is under a dictatorship with one party rule.

Kosovo.

Kosovo is a country in Eastern Europe which may be a slight success in this regard It was formed in 2008 by breaking away from Serbia But even today, problems in its politics are perceptible Kosovo and Serbia have different ethni cities So you can understand why they separated: one ethnicity hates the other ethnicity Even In today's times, the politics in Kosovo is hate based So much so, that he Serbian prime minister is not allowed to set foot in Kosovo.

Timor Leste.

You could say that Timor Leste is a proper successful example of separatism This country was formed in 2002 by separating from Indonesia It is a successful democracy today Many experts believe that the reason behind its success is the intervention of the external countries That is, international organisations supported it and hence it is so successful.

Bangladesh.

You could say that Bangladesh is another proper successful example of separatism But even here experts believe that the reason behind its success is the external help from India So the countries that have remained successful after separation have remained successful only because of external help Even it the case of Kosovo, it got a lot of external help But, in general, upon averaging out, all the places that have witnessed separatist movements have also witnessed civil war, violence and economic depression The president of European Commission said that if every region starts to act of its own accord like Catalonia Then Europe would gradually become unmanageable Upon inspection of the whole world, this seems somewhat true Because there are 8000 ethni cities worldwide If each ethnicity begins to demand its own separate country,then the world would need 8000 countries.

Reaction Of Main Country.

The success or failure of a separatist country also depends upon the reaction of the parent country  If the parent country reacts with violence against the separatist movement,then historically, it has been noticed that this causes the separatist movement to become stronger Because the separatists get another reason to show how the country is committing atrocities and injustice against them.

Hongkong.

The same thing happened in the case of Hong Kong The protesters of Hong Kong were extremely peaceful and China reacted with violence against them So with the international eye and in the opinion of the bystander countries They feel that the Hong Kong protesters are very peaceful China is reacting in a terrible manner so we will side with the Hong Kong protesters and separatists Obviously, other things are considered too.The case of Hong Kong is a special one because it is under a 100 year contract with China that ends in 2047 And right from now, China is trying to exert its influence upon Hong Kong It is framing laws that include Hong Kong under its purview Hong Kong is a democracy while China is a dictatorship So it is trying to foist its rules upon Hong Kong What the countries generally do is try and seek a middle ground with the separatists So that they're able to give the region more autonomy and fulfill their wishes in any manner because there are multiple stages between forming a separate country and remaining within the same country.

Greenland.

Let us take the example of Greenland Greenland isn't a separate country. It is under the Kingdom of Denmark In 1979, Denmark gave Greenland its autonomy but retained some critical areas like foreign affairs, currency And defence. But gradually, over the years, Greenland was provided with more autonomy from Denmark For example, in 2009, the official language on Greenland was changed from Danish to Greenland  In today's times, Denmark has given full freedom to Greenland and if they want independence,they would be given that after conducting a referendum But when a poll was conducted to ask the people whether they wanted independence,then 75% of the people said that they want full independence But when the people were informed that their life quality might fall after independence,then majority of the people said that they don not want full independence Because 2/3rd of the Budget of the government of Greenland is supplied by the Danish government Because the economy of Greenland is not so huge that it could earn so much money on its own 1/3rd of the GDP of Greenland gets accrued because of Denmark So all this money would be cut off from them if they opt for full independence.

Conclusion.

In the end, what do you think is the most important thing in this political matter?

In my opinion,  the life of a common man is the most important thing here the life quality in the life of a common man might improve or become worse then historically, it has been noticed that after separatism, there ensue civil wars, violence and economic depression follows Economically, growth improves when borders are reduced This is why I am against separatism because, generally, it results in worse conditions when viewed from the perspective of the life of a common man.

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Keeping the Oil in the Soil

Digital Elixir Keeping the Oil in the Soil

By James Boyce, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

Efforts to reduce demand for fossil fuels by promoting energy efficiency and clean energy can do a lot. But to meet the Paris Agreement target of holding the rise in average surface temperatures to 1.5-2 °C, we need to curtail the supply of fossil fuels, too. This means capping the total quantity of fossil carbon that we allow into the economy each year, and tightening the cap over time on an emission-reduction trajectory anchored to the Paris target.

Curbing the supply of fossil fuels means raising their price – effectively putting a price on carbon emissions. This is a feature of the policy, not a bug: higher fossil fuel prices spur greater energy efficiency in the short run and more investment in clean energy in the longer run.

Yet some climate activists who embrace the slogan “keep the oil in the soil” have been deeply skeptical about carbon pricing.

One sensible basis for this skepticism is the reality that where carbon pricing has been implemented to date, the price typically has been too low to make much of a difference. But this points to the need for more robust prices, not a price of zero. It’s not a reason to oppose carbon pricing across the board, any more than having tasted weak coffee is a reason never to drink coffee again.

Sometimes the skepticism is also a result of muddled thinking. Rather than charging a price, the argument goes, wouldn’t it be fairer and more effective simply to keep the oil in the soil and the coal in the hole, to “just say no” to fossil fuels? Why should anyone be able to pay to pollute?

In thinking through this objection, it is useful to consider what would happen if one were to succeed in keeping fossil fuels in the ground in a place big enough to make a difference. Imagine, for example, that the people of Nigeria somehow manage to shut down that country’s oil production, compelling their government and its multinational partners to keep its oil in the soil. Imagine, for good measure, that the people of Angola do the same. These two nations are the top oil producers in sub-Saharan Africa, together accounting for about 4% of world supply. What would happen to oil prices if they stopped production? The answer, of course, is that they would go up.

We saw something like this happen in October 1973, when the newly formed Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries announced an embargo on oil exports to nations that supported Israel in the Arab-Israeli war. By January 1974, the world oil price quadrupled to almost $12/barrel, an episode remembered as the world’s first oil shock. Five years later a second shock was precipitated by the Iranian revolution and the Iran-Iraq war, and the world oil price rose to about $40/barrel.

On both occasions, the increase in prices far exceeded the decrease in oil supplies. World crude oil production was basically flat in 1973-74, and declined by only 4% in 1979-80. Yet prices soared. This was passed along to consumers in higher prices for transportation fuels and everything else that uses oil in its production and distribution.

The lesson was clear: when fossil fuel supplies are cut, their prices go up. A lot.

If some major producing countries managed to keep their oil in the soil, pushing up prices to consumers around the world, where would the extra money go?

The answer, of course, is that the money would flow to producers who do not keep their oil in the soil. The biggest beneficiaries would be oil companies in Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States, the world’s top three producer countries. As the price of oil goes up, their profit margins would rise accordingly.

The net result would be a transfer of money – lots of it – from consumers to some of the richest and most powerful corporations in the world, including some of the most stubborn opponents of effective climate policies. Oops.

The just-say-no strategy would reduce emissions, at least until other producers step up output in response to the higher prices. But in terms of who pockets the money, few would call this outcome fair.

The price effect occurs regardless of the cause for the reduction in supplies or its motivation. If oil producers cut supply to punish adversaries or fatten their profit margins, the end result is higher prices for consumers. If some oil-producers were to “just say no” to further extraction, the outcome would be the same. If carbon pricing is implemented by means of a cap or a tax, again we get the same result.

The crucial difference is where the money goes. In the case of the just-say-no strategy, as in the case of a producer cartel, the extra money paid by consumers goes to fossil fuel producers in proportion to the amount they continue to produce. In the case of carbon pricing, there are more attractive options. One policy, recently adopted in Canada and increasingly discussed in the United States, is to return the money directly to the public as carbon dividends: equal annual or quarterly payments to every person.

The case for carbon dividends rests on three pillars.

The first is political. Carbon dividends would protect the purchasing power of the majority of households in the face of rising fuel prices, bolstering public support for effective climate policy. The importance of this feature is underscored by the “yellow vest” movement that broke out in France in November when the government announced increased fuel taxes. The rationale for the tax hikes – about 12 US cents on a gallon of gasoline and 35 US cents on a gallon of diesel – was to combat climate change by promoting fuel efficiency. The government “talks about the end of the world,” the protesters declared, “while we are talking about the end of the month.”

The second pillar is economic. Dividends turn what would otherwise be a regressive tax, hitting the poor harder than the rich as a percentage of their incomes, into a progressive one. Everyone receives the same dividend regardless of their personal carbon footprint. But in absolute dollar terms (rather than as a percentage of income) the rich have outsized carbon footprints as a result of lifestyles that include bigger houses and more jet travel. With dividends most low-income households come out ahead, the middle class breaks even, and the rich pay more into the carbon revenue pot than they get back. The net result is a modest dent in income inequality, the other crisis of our time.

The final pillar of the case for carbon dividends is ethical. Dividends give concrete expression to the principle that the gifts of nature – in this case, the limited capacity of the biosphere to absorb carbon emissions safely – belong in equal and common measure to all.

All in all, not a bad way to keep the oil in the soil.

Keeping the Oil in the Soil

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[its-me-canada-blog]

HOW IS CANADA TODAY?

Canada is the world’s second-largest country by surface but relatively small in terms of population. Is one of world’s top trading nations, and one of its richest.

Image source: https://www.plant.ca/insights/171911/ 

Economy:

Canada is the 10th largest economy in the world and the 8th freest economy. It closely resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system, patterns of production, and high living standards. Also, Canada is the third in the world in proved oil reserves behind Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, being United States the main importer of this oil, and about three-quarters of Canada’s exports go there, so the successful 2018 renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement was crucial.

Image: Thelinknewspaper.ca @ 2017

Social:

Canada is famous for its free Healthcare system, although there is no pharmacare policy. The country has very permissive Abortion laws, where a woman can interrupt the pregnancy at any stage, even the final weeks. The legal drinking age is 18 years old in some provinces (Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec) and 19 years old in the rest of the provinces and territories. Marijuana was legalized in 2018 but there are laws dictating when, where and how marijuana can be bought, sold and used, and can be prescribed for medical reasons too. Gun ownership is allowed but carrying them is illegal. 

Canada has laws that prevent discrimination against race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, and protects those discriminated in their jobs and social environment. Since 1969, most legal bans on sodomy were lifted and in 2005 same-sex marriage was legalized. Also, gender dysmorphia is a legitimate medical condition so the cost of sex reassignment surgery is covered. There are a variety of pension and welfare programs to assist the less fortunate.

Image: Government of Canada (Source: TheTyee.ca@2016)

Politics:

Canada’s style of government is based on the British system, with the national government run as a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Also, Canada is divided into 13 provinces and territories with their own head of government called Premier.

Most Canadians can identify the Prime Minister and the Premier of their own province, and the vast majority of adults Canadians participate in politics by voting in elections. Canada has a “two party-plus” system which means that the country is usually dominated by two large parties (left wing: The Liberal Party of Canada, right wing: The Conservative Party of Canada) and a third one either on the further-left or further-right.

Image: Justin Trudeau (Source Kalinga-TV@2019)

Today, Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister and he is the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada since April 14, 2013.

Sources of information: https://www.indexmundi.com/canada/economy_overview.html https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/economy https://www.heritage.org/index/country/canada http://www.thecanadaguide.com/culture/social-issues/ http://www.thecanadaguide.com/government/ http://www.thecanadaguide.com/government/political-parties/

WHAT IS LIKE LIVING IN CANADA?

Canada enjoys a positive global reputation as one of the world’s safest, most comfortable countries, with citizens who enjoy generally contented lives free from substantial hardship. Canada is the 6th most peaceful country in the world (According to the Global Peace Index, 2018) with low crime and homicides rates.

Canadians are generally healthy people, their life expectancy is 80 years for men and 84 years for women. This is accompanied by the fact that Canadians have free health care system.

Despite this, Canada is not a perfect country. Canadians of both genders are declared legally equal under the law but women are always less likely to work than men, and continue to be over represented in stereotypically female professions, such as teaching, nursing and waitressing, and because of this, discussion about pay gap are common.

Regarding work life, the balance between work hours and leisure is in an ill position compared with other countries, with long working hours. 

Sources:  http://visionofhumanity.org/indexes/global-peace-index/ http://www.thecanadaguide.com/basics/quality-life-canada/ http://www.thecanadaguide.com/culture/religion/ http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/canada/

Image: Tent in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (source)

Image: Luxurious Mansion in Vancouver (source)

ARE PEOPLE POOR OR RICH IN CANADA?

Canadians enjoy a high standard of living, and that this has been true for the entire postwar period. But Canada has generally high levels of economic inequality, with the gap between Canada’s rich and poor having steadily increased since the 1990s. 

The richest fifth of the Canadian population hold close to 50% of the entire wealth of all Canadian families. On the other hand, 1 in 7 people in Canada live in poverty. So Canada is a wealthy country but only for the top percentiles of the population.

Sources: http://www.thecanadaguide.com/basics/quality-life-canada/ https://www.opencanada.org/features/inequality-explained-hidden-gaps-canadas-education-system/ http://www.cwp-csp.ca/poverty/just-the-facts/

ARE THERE MANY DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN CANADA?

Canada is a multicultural country. Most people living in Canada self-identify as “Canadian”. However, Canada is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, and responses to ethnic origin surveys are incredibly diverse. According to the 2016 census form, there were acknowledged multiples groups of origin.

Ethnic groups above the one million mark: Canadians (32,3%), English (18,3%), Scottish (13,9%), French (13,6%), Irish (13,4%), German (9,6%), Chinese (5,1%) Italian (4,6%), First Nations (4,4%), Indian (4%), Ukrainian (4%), Dutch (3,2%), Polish (3,2%). The are also at least 21 other ethnic groups in Canada that have between 200,000 and 1,000,00 habitants. 

It is important to mention the Indigenous Peoples in Canada, who are also referred to as Aboriginal peoples. They formed complex social, political, economic and cultural systems before Europeans came to North America. There are three recognized Aboriginal groups in Canada:

- Métis: Métis are people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, and one of the three recognized Aboriginal peoples in Canada.  While the Canadian government politically marginalized the Métis after 1885, they have since been recognized as an Aboriginal people with rights enshrined in the Constitution of Canada and more clearly defined in a series of Supreme Court of Canada decisions.

- Inuit: Inuit — Inuktitut for “the people” — are an Indigenous people, the majority of whom inhabit the northern regions of Canada. An Inuit person is known as an Inuk. The Inuit homeland is known as Inuit Nunangat, which refers to the land, water and ice contained in the Arctic region.  

- First Nations: Is a term used to describe Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are not Métis or Inuit. First Nations people are often known by other names like Indians, Natives, Native Canadians, Native Americans, American Indians and Amerindians. There are 634 First Nations communities in Canada, speaking more than 50 distinct languages.

Video: “Walking in Downtown Vancouver BC Canada. City Life on Granville Street - Youtube”

Sources: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/metis https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuit https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations

[helplineqatar]

Is Qatar a good country to start a business?

One of the richest nations in the world, Qatar's economy is primarily driven by the oil and natural gas sectors. Qatar ranks in the top 5 countries in the world with the highest per capita GDPs. This is possibly the reason why so many business owners and entrepreneurs want to launch a firm in Qatar. The Qatari government is always striving to enhance the business climate in the nation, making it a lucrative market for entrepreneurs and investors. Doing business in Qatar has a lot of benefits.

If you are wondering how to start a business in Qatar, then this is for you.

Benefits of starting a business in Qatar

The Qatar Business Zone is one distinctive feature of the business environment in Qatar. Before choosing where to launch a business in Qatar, entrepreneurs must understand the differences between setting up a shop inside or outside the free business zone.

The laws, policies, regulations, and compliance that apply to businesses are considerably varied between the two zones. Benefits of the free business zone include 100% foreign ownership of shares, no restrictions on foreign currency, and the absence of income tax, corporate tax, and foreign trade taxes. The free business zone is the location of choice for most entrepreneurs looking to launch a business in Qatar. Technology, logistics, maritime, manufacturing, and even petrochemical companies are located in this area.

Aside from having access to a free business zone, there are many advantages to establishing a business in Qatar. Here are just a few of Qatar's many benefits for business:

Qatar is proud of its highly developed corporate infrastructure and its skilled but low-cost labor force.

Qatar has no income tax on earnings.

The income from exports is not taxed.

The corporate tax rate in Qatar is under 10%.

Foreign entrepreneurs are allowed to send all of their profits home.

Requirements to start a business in Qatar

Incorporating a business in Qatar involves a lengthy and complicated process.

A business owner must first fulfill a number of conditions set forth by the Commercial Companies Law in order to conduct business in Qatar. These specifications include:

A founding partner from Qatar.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's proper commercial registration (MOCI).

Arabic and English must both be used in legal contracts.

A QAR 200,000 minimum share capital is required.

A minimum of two or more owners, with 51% of the corporation owned by Qatari stockholders.

How can Helpline Group help you?

Don't be afraid or disheartened if starting a business in Qatar seems difficult. Such procedures can be delegated and outsourced to company registration services, which can make the entire process seem simple. We at Helpline Group are one of the best registration service providers worldwide. Once your firm is established, we can assist you with all of your EOR and POR needs to ensure the efficient operation of your enterprise.

One may argue that the real challenge begins after the company is set up. We understand that. But don’t worry. We can help you maintain employee benefit programs, maintain workforce records, manage payrolls, and assure regulatory legislation compliance with the aid of Multiplier. It is a one-stop shop for all of your commercial needs in Qatar.

Need to know more? Call us today to know how we work.

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Marijuana in Turkey- How to Buy Weed Legally in Turkey?

One of the few nations that are situated on two continents is Turkey. The country's distinctive past is what makes so many citizens ardent patriots and proud of their country.

With recently uncovered evidence suggesting that Turkish soil had seen this herb even before it reached modern human civilization, this nation is also possibly the origin of marijuana.

Among the richest and most advanced countries in Europe is Turkey. You may therefore believe it is safe to presume that cannabis possession, use, selling, buying, and cultivation are all permitted or, at the very least, unpunished in this country.

Unfortunately, since the early 1900s, cannabis items like seeds have been heavily criminalized in Turkey and are subject to strict legal regulation.

Medical and Recreational Marijuana Laws in Turkey

Medical Cannabis Laws

These days, medical use is permitted. However, since the announcement of this new policy in October 2016, the details have not been fully worked out. The good news is that Sativex is accessible to patients who have a valid prescription from a doctor.

It's great news that there are plans to advance things! 19 provinces are now permitted to cultivate carefully regulated and closely watched crops according to government laws. Licensed producers must demonstrate that they are law-abiding and have no criminal histories.

Recreational Cannabis Laws

Recreational cannabis use is still largely outlawed. Any substance, including cannabis, is illegal in Turkey, and anyone caught in possession of it faces up to two years in jail. The movie "Midnight Express" is fantastic, but be aware that this is the edited version. Don't just go there. Sale and supply as well as unlicensed manufacture or trafficking will earn you a minimum of five and up to ten years in jail.

You'll be subject to penalties. If you're fortunate and only have a little amount with you, you might at the very least be recommended for treatment and/or probation for up to three years. Both of these will result in the sentence if not followed.

Is CBD Legal in Turkey

Whether CBD oil is legal in Turkey is a subject of much confusion. According to the stated statement, it is only permitted if the oil has a THC content of 0.2% or less.

Pharmacies also sell various medical items containing CBD oil, and some doctors are ready to write prescriptions for these.

Laws for Weed Possession

Those found in possession of cannabis face rather harsh penalties under Turkish legislation. According to the Turkish Penal Code, persons who possess or buy cannabis will face prison sentences. Currently, this ranges from two to five years.

Instead of receiving a prison sentence, offenders might choose to receive treatment. If they demand treatment from a doctor before being captured, the doctor is not legally obligated to report them to the authorities. Additionally, the offender has the option of selecting probation rather than imprisonment (up to three years). Repeat offenders, however, are not permitted to choose probation a second time.

Laws for Cannabis Growing

The Turkish government authorized the growing of marijuana in 19 provinces nationwide in 2016. The government controls every cannabis grown in these regions, and authorized farmers are required to destroy every portion of the plant after harvesting to prevent it from being distributed as a psychoactive substance.

In 2019, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the nation would later begin to cultivate industrial hemp.

Growing marijuana at home is prohibited, even if it is only for personal consumption.

Laws for Cannabis Selling

The location of Turkey creates a special circumstance for the supply of cannabis. It acts as a channel for cannabis distributors to distribute illegally in Europe because it is situated close to countries that produce drugs in the Middle East. The Turkish government is under a lot of pressure to stop this trafficking, so harsh penalties are in place.

Cannabis import and export are punishable by 20 to 30 years in prison. A term of 10 years or more is imposed for selling or supplying it inside Turkey. If cannabis is sold to a minor, this rises to 15 years or over.

Buy Cannabis Seeds in Turkey

Turkish law prohibits the shipment of cannabis seeds, even though it is lawful to do so in the majority of European nations. Other than if you are a registered grower, buying marijuana seeds is prohibited in Turkey.

Even if you have a valid prescription for medicinal marijuana, you shouldn't buy seeds for your plants.

In Tarlabasi, locals frequently buy marijuana seeds. However, Tarlabasi might need to be left off of your schedule if you're a tourist and/or traveling alone because it can be rather dangerous for individuals unfamiliar with the region.

Instead, you could visit places like Taksim Square and Beyoglu. There are many bars and cafes where it is simple to buy marijuana. You can place an online order and choose discreet shipping.

We advise ordering from reputable seed suppliers like Crop King Seeds, ILGM, Sensi Seeds, or MSNL for that.

Final Thoughts

Turkey, which has one foot in Asia and the other in Europe, is still a long way from adopting a more tolerant stance toward marijuana than its Western neighbors.

Although still almost hard when it comes to marijuana, Turkey has gained tremendous momentum as of late. Currently, marijuana is legal to possess, sell, buy, and grow for medical purposes.

Recreational cannabis use and related activities are still strictly prohibited, and the penalties—including steep fines and lengthy prison terms—are severe.

[newstfionline]

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Inflation sparks global wave of protests for higher pay, aid (AP) Rising food costs. Soaring fuel bills. Wages that are not keeping pace. Inflation is plundering people’s wallets, sparking a wave of protests and workers’ strikes around the world. This week alone saw protests by the political opposition in Pakistan, nurses in Zimbabwe, unionized workers in Belgium, railway workers in Britain, Indigenous people in Ecuador, hundreds of U.S. pilots and some European airline workers. Sri Lanka’s prime minister declared an economic collapse Wednesday after weeks of political turmoil. Economists say Russia’s war in Ukraine amplified inflation by further pushing up the cost of energy and prices of fertilizer, grains and cooking oils as farmers struggle to grow and export crops in one of the world’s key agricultural regions. As prices rise, inflation threatens to exacerbate inequalities and widen the gap between billions of people struggling to cover their costs and those who are able to keep spending. “We are not all in this together,” said Matt Grainger, head of inequality policy at antipoverty organization Oxfam. “How many of the richest even know what a loaf of bread costs? They don’t really, they just absorb the prices.”

The housing market squeeze pushes renters into bidding wars (NPR) Many forces have combined to create a rental market that’s setting records for a lack of vacancies and high costs. A big one is a historic shortage of housing. Jessica Lautz of the National Association of Realtors says the United States “has been underproducing both rental units and homes for purchase for more than a decade now,” since the last housing crash. The shortfall is in the millions. Meanwhile, rising mortgage rates are making it more expensive to buy a home, forcing many to stay in the rental market. And adding to all of this, the massive cohort of millennials hitting their late 20s and early 30s are eager to move out on their own. In the first quarter of this year, a time when the rental market usually cools, apartment occupancy hit another all-time high—an extraordinary 97.6%. Asking rents for new leases were up 15.2% nationally, and far more than that in many places. “There’s a severe shortage of rental housing at all price points and in essentially every city across the country,” wrote Jay Parsons, the head of economics and industry principals for RealPage.

Americans Celebrate and Mourn Abortion Decision as New Fights Loom (NYT) The overturning of Roe on Friday, stunning even as it was long predicted, set off waves of triumph and of despair, from the protesters on either side massing in front of the Supreme Court, to abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers, and in texts with friends and bursting social media feeds. The split-screen reaction reflected a polarized nation: jubilation and relief on one side, outrage and grief on the other. “If I had confetti I would be tossing it high,” said Dale Bartscher, the director of South Dakota Right to Life. “Today, we’re celebrating a day that we’ve long dreamed of, advocated for and worked for: the overcoming of Roe v. Wade.” On the other side, supporters of abortion rights worried for the millions of women living in the wide swath of the country where abortion will be illegal or essentially unavailable because of layers of restrictions that have added expense and delays for women seeking the procedure. The court’s ruling, which had been foreshadowed in oral arguments in December and again when a draft opinion was leaked in May, means that within a month abortion will be banned except for rare exception in 13 states. Opponents and supporters alike say it will quite likely become illegal or inaccessible in about half the states.

Latin America’s kids slid into education black hole during pandemic (Reuters) In Bolivia’s highland city La Paz, Maribel Sanchez’s children spent much of the last two years huddling over a small smartphone screen to attend online classes amid a lengthy lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two boys, aged 11 and eight, frequently missed lessons when their timetables collided as the family had no computer. Bolivian school children only finally returned to in-person classes in March this year, many still not full time. The story is echoed around the region from Mexico to Brazil. Latin American has one of the worst records of school closures globally, according to a World Bank report, which shows children here faced almost 60 weeks of fully or partially closed schools between March 2020 and March this year. That’s behind only South Asia and twice the level of Europe, Central and East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa or the Pacific. That threatens to take a generation of children in the region back a decade, some experts say, in terms of education levels, weighing on incomes and job prospects for years to come. “With virtual classes, the little ones didn’t learn anything. They were distracted. My son, who’s in first grade, hasn’t learnt anything. Nothing!” Sanchez said.

Strike snarls UK trains for a third day (AP) Train stations were all but deserted across Britain on Saturday, as the third day of a national strike snarled the weekend plans of millions. Train companies said only a fifth of passenger services would run, as about 40,000 cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and station staff walked off the job in Britain’s biggest and most disruptive railway strike for 30 years. The same workers held 24-hour strikes on Tuesday and Thursday in a dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union is seeking a substantial pay raise as workers face a cost-of-living squeeze amid four decade-high inflation rates. Train companies, meanwhile, are seeking to cut costs and staffing after two years in which emergency government funding kept them afloat during the pandemic.

A Sleepy Baltic Rail Line Gets a Geopolitical Wakeup Call (NYT) As war rages in Ukraine, fueling ever-growing tensions between NATO and Russia, a sleepy Baltic railway station with no passengers and few trains this week found itself at the center of a perilous new confrontation between East and West. The station stands on the border between Lithuania, a NATO member and strong supporter of Ukraine, and Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea stuffed with nuclear-capable missiles but physically disconnected from the rest of Russia. From the Lithuanian town of Kybartai, decked with Ukrainian flags, the railway tracks extend west into Kaliningrad, bringing goods into the region, but also tracing a potentially volatile strategic fault line on the edges of Europe. This week, long dormant tensions over Kaliningrad erupted, further fraying Russia’s relations with the West, after claims by Moscow that Europe was choking off train and trucking routes bringing vital supplies to Kaliningrad—and would, as a result, face retaliation. The threat set off a frantic scramble by Washington and in European capitals to head off something they have sought to avoid since Mr. Putin invaded Ukraine four months ago: a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. “Nobody wanted or expected any of this,” said Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of Lithuania’s defense and security committee. “We all know how sensitive Kaliningrad is for the Russians.”

The fall of Sievierodonetsk (NYT) After months of furious street battles and a heavy death toll, Ukraine will withdraw its forces from the largely ruined city of Sievierodonetsk, according to the local governor. The fall means that only the city of Lysychansk across the river stands in the way of Russia gaining full control of the eastern Luhansk region. Once Russia has Luhansk, it could then turn its attention to the neighboring Donetsk region. Together, the two regions make up the Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland. Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk region’s military administration, said that it “does not make sense” to hold on to positions in the city any longer. “The number of people killed will increase every day,” he said. The Kremlin has devoted a large portion of its forces to taking Sievierodonetsk and the 30-mile-wide pocket of land surrounding it. To take the city, Russia has had to devastate it with artillery strikes. About 90 percent of the buildings have been destroyed and only 8,000 civilians remain, according to Ukrainian officials.

Romania tries to fill the grain gap (NYT) With the war blocking Ukraine’s grain exports and famine threatening millions, the world is scrambling to find new suppliers and alternate shipping routes. Romania is one country trying to help fill the gap. In many ways, it is well positioned. Romania’s port in Constanta, on the western coast of the Black Sea, has provided a tiny but critical transit point for Ukrainian grain since the war began. During a visit to Kyiv last week, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, said that since the beginning of the invasion, more than a million tons of Ukrainian grain had passed through Constanta to locations around the world. But logistical problems prevent more grain from making the journey. Ukraine’s rail gauges are wider than those elsewhere in Europe. Shipments have to be transferred at the border to Romanian trains, or each railway car has to be lifted off a Ukrainian undercarriage to one that can be used on Romanian tracks. Shipping by truck also has its challenges. Trucks entering and exiting Constanta from the highway must share a single-lane roadway. An attendant oversees the gate, which has to be lifted for each vehicle. When the bulk of the Romanian harvest begins to arrive at the terminals in the next couple of weeks, the congestion will get significantly worse.

Afghan earthquake response (Bloomberg) Three days after Afghanistan’s 6.1-magnitude earthquake, which killed at least 1,000, injured at least 1,500 more and left thousands homeless, the humanitarian response is in trouble. Efforts have lagged in both size and speed due to the lack of pre-positioned supplies and the level of hunger and poverty that already exist in the devastated nation. Heavy rains and winds have also hampered rescue efforts.

[elleharperbcu]

Critical Thinking Lectures 2

During this lecture we discussed what the future holds and how the prediction of current social changes impact on fashion & textiles.

Today's objective we are going to start to investigate current social factors, and we will try to predict the impact that these drivers will have on the future of fashion and textiles.

The key causes of changes to the industry are: Sustainability, consumerism, innovation, division of wealth, social media, politics & power.

Politics and power - As a group we spoke about the most powerful people in the world. We decided that governments are the most powerful. A government is an institution where leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws. A government's basic functions are providing leadership, maintaining order, providing public services, providing national security, providing economic security, and providing economic assistance.

WATCHMOJO.COM said that the following people are the most powerful people in the world:

Xi Jinping: China’s president

Vladimir Putin: Russia’s president

Angela Merkel: German Chancellor since 2005. Compassionate leader. Powerful lead over European Union’s.

Pope Francis: Fairly progressive leader; pro women & spoke in favor of LGBT community

Donald Trump: Massive following, continued to make headlines.

Jeff Bezos: Founder of Amazon. Worlds richest person.

Bill Gates: Microsoft Founder high profile. Charitable trusts (reported a wealth of 120 billion).

Larry Page: Co-Founder of Google (reported a wealth of 78 billion) 6.9 million searches on google every Fay.

Narendra Modi: India’s longest serving prime minister.

Mark Zuckerburg: Founder of Facebook.

1 Xi Jinping (General secretary to China’s communist party) 2nd largest economy and inhabited country

Amended constitution to broaden his power, scrapped term limits

“Chinese Dream - personal & national ideals for the advancement of Chinese society” Ewalt, D (2018)

2 Valdimir Putin (Ruled since 2000 4 terms)

Putin set up constitutional changes allowing him to remain in power in Russia beyond 2024

FBI investigation ref influencing Trump’s presidential campaign Trump

Europe is dependent on Russia’s oil and gas supplies

Nationalistic focus

Rise of wealth and standard of living

Stamped out democracy – controls media, critics and journalists of opposition have been killed

“Socially Conservative” negative regarding homosexuality according to Wikipedia (2019)

3 Trump Zurcher, A BBC (2018)

Immigration: closed border to some Muslim countries & building a wall between America & Mexico

Healthcare: repealing Obamacare

Environment; reduction in commitment, to save USA costs

Intention to make America a great nation by increased infrastructure, reducing imports whilst expanding exports

Huge following

Division & Wealth

Global inequality = poverty and social conflict

The richest 1% of the world is twice as wealthy as the poorest 50%. The world richest 1% have more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people, almost half of humanity is living on less than $5.50 a day. Global inequality causes poverty and social injustice. The inequality may affect the fashion industry as not everyone will have the chance to study fashion, due to not having the money or opportunity.

Consumerism:

The rise of fast fashion: As online clothing sales increase during the rise of Covid-19, our unsustainable habit is proving hard to stop. This shows that even the pandemic couldn't solve the fast fashion issue. Online clothing sales in August were up 97% versus 2016 consumer's mindset is returning to unsustainable habits. Boohoo's profit increased by 50% during the pandemic, despite the factory scandal. The Boohoo supplier was involved in 'multi-million-pound' fraud scheme. Leicester clothing factories with links to Boohoo and Select Fashion have been involved in a “multi-million pound” money laundering and VAT fraud scandal, an investigation has found.

Sustainable Fashion:

The Global Goals for Sustainable Development:

“These goals have the power to create a better world by 2030, by ending poverty, fighting inequality and addressing the urgency of climate change. Guided by the goals, it is now up to all of us, governments, businesses, civil society and the general public to work together to build a better future for everyone.” Global Goals 2020 

The pandemic has definitely grown the understanding for sustainable fashion.

Innovation: 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. Rouse, M 2018. 

Robotic technology - the use of computer-controlled robots to perform manual tasks. If AI and robotic technology could equate to massive job cuts, i.e. Amazon are already testing drones to complete unmanned delivers to customers, this will mean many people will lose their jobs. The cost of producing and maintaining these machines and this new updated technology may mean people who are already not being paid fairly will be paid even less. If robots are used in war there is nothing stopping robots from being able to design fashion. 

How AI is transforming the fashion industry?

Chatbots 24/7 fashion advisors 

Analysis of social media conversations

Forecasting - AI being used to plan the nest trends

Real time data analysis to assist retailers 

Stocking systems - what to keep in stock and restock 

Khaite merged AR, film and traditional mediums, sending presentation boxes to editors and buyers, including lookbooks and fabric samples with QR codes revealing fashion films and AR 3D renderings of their new shoes.

Farra. E. Vogue Runway 2020 This Is the First Augmented Reality Experiment of Spring 2021

https://www.vogue.com/article/khaite-spring-2021-augmented-reality-experience 

Social Media

Social media is very important to have when starting your own brand, it is an easy way to grow connections and loyal customers by promoting your business online. However social media also has its dark side. The documentary The Social Dilemma on Netflix taught me this. “If you are not paying for the product you are the product”. Social media uses persuasive technology to manipulate the product/ people. Technology engineers use addiction & manipulation psychology to control the user. The user is controlled to look at more adds to get more money. Social media is a drug. 

How are we being manipulated? 

Everything online or on social media is watched, recorded and monitored building a model of each of us - to enable the technology to predict what we will do & how we will behave. 

Machine learning algorithms that are getting better & better so that they can engage humans on social media more & more; learning from our internet searches to suggest the next leading topic...leading us down the rabbit hole. 

Technique have been designed to get people to use their phones more i.e. likes, photo tapping, notifications etc... 

We were asked to type into google “climate change is” we all have different results based on our individual algorithms that have been developed by the platforms. 

What can we do ?

Products need to be designed humanly.

We have a responsibility to change what we built.

People (users) are not a product resource. 

Introduce more laws around digital privacy. 

Introduce a tax for data collection.

Reform so don’t destroy the news.

Turn off notifications. 

Don’t use social media after 9pm.

Always do an extra google search - double check your resources.

Don’t follow just follow suggestions. 

How does the fashion industry use social media? 

For the fashion industry, social media has brought connectedness, innovation, and diversity to the industry. Instagram, for example, functions as a live magazine, always updating itself with the best, most current trends while allowing users to participate in fashion rather than just watch from afar. People are influenced by social media when it comes to there fashion through trendsetters like, celebrities and fashion influencers. 

Although social media has many positives, there is also many dangers that comes from it as well. People become obsessed and addicted to social media, always needing to post and show off everything they are doing. Everything people post on social media is mainly the best parts of their lives making people who have struggles feel even worse. Especially for the young generation there is a need for having the most followers, likes and comments and if you don’t you’re not ‘popular’. Due to social media the younger generation mainly compare themselves and their lives to the ‘perfect’ people they see on social media, which is not the reality. It is all a lie, everyone has good and bad parts to their lives but no one shows the negative sides on social media. This is what creates a depressed generation. Everyone then just hides behind screens wishing they were someone else which then leads to jealousy and evilness. Most trolls on social media are those who are just jealous of the love and support these high followed people on social media receive and the high quality of life they live but what they don’t see is the bad side to these people's lives that is not shown half the time.

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2021/02/12/can-a-new-administration-reunite-war-torn-libya/

Can a new administration reunite war-torn Libya?

THE DRIVE from Benghazi to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, should take ten hours. But the coastal road connecting the two cities has been impassable for most of the past decade because of an on-and-off civil war. Since Libyans toppled Muammar Qaddafi, their old dictator, in 2011, various groups have fought for control of the country—and for parts of the road. Today, near the road’s mid-point outside Sirte, militias, boulders and landmines block the way.

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Opening that road is one of many tasks facing the new Libyan administration unveiled in Geneva on February 5th. Holding presidential and parliamentary elections in December is its primary job. The body, led by a three-person presidential council and a prime minister, was chosen by 74 Libyans in a forum representing the country’s regions at talks sponsored by the United Nations. It was the UN’s fourth attempt to establish a unified government in Libya since the revolution. But the new administration faces some old problems.

The biggest of these is meddling by foreign powers. Turkey and Qatar back the Government of National Accord (GNA) and its allied militias, which control the west (see map). The GNA was the UN’s third attempt at a unified government. But it has been challenged by the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar, a renegade general who dominates the east. He is backed by Egypt, France, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Even so, the general’s siege of Tripoli was broken last year by forces loyal to the GNA, which then pushed the LNA back to Sirte.

Some of these foreign powers probably do not want the new administration to succeed. But there has been cause for hope in the past six months. A ceasefire negotiated by the UN in October has largely held and prisoners have been exchanged. In September General Haftar lifted a blockade on oil exports, the country’s main source of income. A separate government in the east, allied to the general, agreed with the GNA on a single exchange rate for the Libyan dinar and the resumption of flights between east and west. Countries are reopening their embassies in Tripoli.

When the UN created the GNA in 2015, it met behind closed doors and imposed Fayez al-Serraj, a largely unknown politician, as prime minister. It was more inclusive and transparent when setting up the new administration. The proceedings of the 74-member forum were broadcast live on the UN’s website, as were interviews with candidates for the presidential council and prime minister, who ran on four-person lists (and who agreed not to stand for office in December). “When we began the process in November, the delegates were cursing each other,” says a UN official. “By February they stayed up after midnight laughing and chatting together.”

The delegates took observers by surprise, rejecting a list of powerful politicians from east and west in favour of people who had never held high office. The presidential council will be led by Muhammad al-Menfi, a former diplomat. The new prime minister is one of the country’s richest men, Abdul Hamid Dabaiba. During the Qaddafi era he ran the state-owned Libyan Investment and Development Company, responsible for some of the country’s biggest public-works projects. His brother-in-law, Ali Dabaiba, has been investigated for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars from public funds, perhaps with the help of his family. Ali sat on the forum and is accused of trying to buy votes for Abdul Hamid. He denies all of these claims.

Critics of the Dabaiba family believe it will use its influence to hog contracts and increase its wealth. “He’ll try to get as much as he can,” says a UN official, referring to Abdul Hamid. Others, though, liken him to Rafiq al-Hariri, the businessman who led and rebuilt Lebanon after its long civil war—and who also was dogged by corruption allegations.

General Haftar and militia leaders in the west encouraged their representatives on the forum to choose the winning list because they reckoned it would make for a weak administration. It will certainly struggle to persuade the warlords to give up their arms. It may also have trouble winning over Libyans in the east, many of whom distrust the new prime minister because he comes from the western city of Misrata. Abdullah al-Thani, head of the eastern government, says he is waiting for instructions from the old parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Tobruk.

The foreign powers pay lip-service to the political process, but they ignored the UN’s deadline of January 23rd to withdraw. Turkey wants to maintain influence in Libya. In 2019 it signed a deal with the GNA that supposedly gives Turkey the right to drill for oil and gas in waters off Greek islands. It views Mr Dabaiba, who has business interests in Turkey, as an ally.

Russia, meanwhile, wants to preserve its access to air bases and ports facing NATO’s underbelly. It dispatched more mercenaries to Libya shortly after the new government was voted in. And it continues to help General Haftar dig his “Maginot line”, a fortified trench running from Sirte into the desert. That will not make the new government’s job any easier. ■

Source

[khalilhumam]

Algeria must prioritize economic change amidst COVID-19 and political crisis

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/algeria-must-prioritize-economic-change-amidst-covid-19-and-political-crisis/

Algeria must prioritize economic change amidst COVID-19 and political crisis

By Yasmina Abouzzohour, Nejla Ben Mimoune In the midst of widespread popular discontent with the regime led by the Hirak movement, resource-wealthy Algeria continues to struggle with the same socioeconomic challenges it has faced for a decade. Only now, the country’s economic standing has been further complicated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the recent drop in oil prices. The former has slowed investment and consumption, while the latter has decreased export revenues. What is at the root of the oil and gas giant’s current struggles, and what steps can the Algerian regime take to address them?

Resource curse

The widespread popular discontent sweeping through Algeria is partly triggered by multidimensional inequality and economic hardship. The repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdown measures, together with the 2020 drop in oil prices, have exacerbated the vulnerabilities of the Algerian economy. The economy suffers from several structural issues relating to a mismanagement of accumulated rents in the 2000s, an unfavorable business environment dominated by the military, and a constrained private sector. Most importantly, the economy is overly dependent on oil and gas, which are susceptible to price fluctuations. Indeed, oil and gas rents represented 19% of Algeria’s 2018 gross domestic product (GDP) and an estimated 40% of the 2018 government budget, while fuel exports accounted for 94% of the merchandise exports in 2017 (see Figure 1). Given recent strains on the national budget, it is projected that Algeria’s state-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach (which controls more than 75% of total hydrocarbon production) must set the price for a barrel of oil at $118.20 in 2020 and $135.20 in 2021 to break even fiscally. FIGURE 1: Fuel and merchandise exports However, Algeria continues to accumulate a significant fiscal deficit projected to reach 16.5% of GDP in 2020 and 14.8% in 2021, due to lower hydrocarbon export revenues. Oil and gas demand has plummeted: In the first two months of 2020, crude and condensate export volumes were down by 27 percentage points year-on-year while gas export volumes were down 26 percentage points. Furthermore, COVID-19 harshly affected some of Algeria’s key gas customers; as of April 2020, piped gas exports to Spain were down by 44% year-on-year. This situation has been exacerbated by the fall in oil prices, which dropped to a record low of $16-17 per barrel in April 2020 and are expected to remain below $45 through 2021. Furthermore, the lower demand on fuel exports coupled with falling prices are expected to further deplete Algeria’s foreign exchange reserves. These are projected to reach $44 billion by the end of 2020, continuing the downward sloping trend since 2014 when they stood at $195 billion (see Figure 2). Overall, according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, the economy is estimated to contract by 5.5% in 2020. FIGURE 2: Total foreign reserves minus gold (current, billion US$)

Persistent inequality

These revenue cuts have forced the state to review its fiscal policy. In May 2020, it announced a 50% cut in public spending and the postponement of several promised economic and social projects. Such moves might cause greater discontent within the ranks of the Hirak, which is demanding root-level reforms that would eradicate corruption and socioeconomic inequalities. Indeed, Algeria suffers from multilevel disparities including between genders, regions (urban/rural), and income brackets. Over the past decade, total male unemployment has leveled at around 10%, and youth male unemployment at 26%; for women — especially young women — unemployment continued to rise, thus widening the gender gap (see Figures 3 and 4). Hence, Algerian women who wish to enter the labor market have fewer and fewer chances of being hired, compared to their male counterparts. FIGURE 3: Total unemployment rate and youth unemployment rate (15-24) That said, the state has tried to enhance the business regulatory framework in favor of women to grant them higher access to economic opportunities. Algeria’s Women Business and Law Index score increased by 17 points over the last 20 years (but it continues to lag behind neighboring Morocco and Tunisia). The country has also shown improvement in terms of income distribution. According to the latest available data, income inequality has decreased far below its neighbors’ levels. Yet, while the richest 10% of the population accounted for 23% of the 2011 income, the poorest 10% accounted for only 4%. In terms of inequalities in consumption, the gap between the rich and the poor is almost 28%. Moreover, Algeria still faces disparities between rural and urban areas. Although the gap in terms of access to basic infrastructure and utilities has decreased over time, other disparities persist. People living in Algeria’s Sahara and the Steppe, for example, suffer from double and triple the national poverty average, respectively.

Outlook: Diversify, diversify, diversify

With limited fiscal space to cover government expenses and finance national projects, the state has little option but to cut spending and raise more domestic debt financed through its central bank. Coupled with the ongoing political crisis, this will likely fuel further social unrest. The regime can address this temporarily by seeking long-term loans from foreign lenders. However, this is an unlikely scenario as the regime has avoided selling debt abroad since 2005 due to its negative experience borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the 1990s and having to restructure billions of dollars in foreign loans. To achieve long-term change, the Algerian state must prioritize deep reforms that restructure the economy away from oil and gas dependency. Algeria’s non-hydrocarbon exports are equivalent to around 2% of its total exports, meaning it is one of the most hydrocarbon-dependent countries in the world. However, according to the IMF, its current oil and gas reserves will be depleted by the mid-2030s and mid-2050s, respectively. Algeria should have set the stage for a massive diversification plan two to four decades ago like other resource-wealthy states such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Yet, the regime still has some space to make reforms if it slows the rate of domestic consumption growth by lowering subsidies on hydrocarbons, thereby slightly delaying those depletion dates. A potentially profitable sector in Algeria (post-COVID) is tourism, which can serve as an alternative source for foreign currency. To make the country an attractive international destination and encourage investment in this sector, however, the regime will have to invest heavily in security, accommodation, and its image; it will also have to reform its strict visa rules. Another way to achieve long-term change is to promote a private-sector-led growth model. Currently, the Algerian economy follows an oversized public-driven growth model, which has constrained the business environment and the development of the private sector. On the Ease of Doing Business Index, Algeria scores poorly and ranks far behind neighboring countries by 20 to 25 points. The country ranks short specifically in terms of access to credit (181 out of 190 economies), protecting minority investors (179), registering property (165), and starting a business (152). Such constrains limit entrepreneurship opportunities and chances of startup survival, which are crucial to developing a sustainable private sector able to absorb incoming cohorts of young graduates and contribute to non-oil and gas related growth. In the meantime, over the medium term, the state needs to gradually diversify its stream of revenues, rebuild fiscal buffers, and continue reorienting non-priority spending.

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A Look At Aramco IPO And Non-Linear Disruptions

Whitney Tilson’s electronic mail to buyers discussing Tony Seba’s presentation on non-linear disruptions; Kim Iskyan’s ideas on the Aramco IPO.

mohamed_hassan / Pixabay

1) On the Robin Hood convention final week, I loved the presentation by writer and entrepreneur Tony Seba, which he posted right here (31 minutes – an earlier, longer model is right here). He mentioned “S” curves and the way we are likely to underestimate the speed of adoption of recent expertise.

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Q3 2019 hedge fund letters, conferences and extra

Listed here are two examples:

One, Google estimated that its Lidar system, which value $150,000 to construct, would value $70,000 by 2012. Analysts mocked and scoffed on the estimate – however Google was proper: that is precisely what it value in 2012. However what’s extra spectacular is that by 2013, that very same tools value $10,000… solely a 12 months later, a mere $1,000… after which three years later, $250!

And two, in 2000, a prime pc used for nuclear warfare simulations had a capability of 1 teraflop (1 trillion floating level operations per second), value $46 million, used 850 kilowatts of vitality, and took up 1,600 sq. ft. By 2017, Nvidia had developed a 2.three teraflop pc that value $59, used 15 watts, and was sufficiently small to slot in your hand.

The lesson right here is that people assume in a linear vogue – but sure programs, together with tech disruptions, are non-linear.

Seba’s conclusion concerning electrical automobiles is that they may account for almost all of recent automobiles offered inside six years.

In a associated prediction, he sees oil costs falling to $25 per barrel (from the present stage of round $56). If he is proper – a giant if! – there might be big implications…

Based on the U.S. Power Data Administration, 69% of all oil consumed globally was used for transportation in 2018: 61% for automobiles and vehicles, the opposite eight% for airplanes. Decrease oil costs could be an enormous windfall for airways, as jet gas is their second-largest expense after salaries. Different companies with oil as a serious enter value would probably profit, too: chemical substances, fertilizers, and so on. However it will be devastating to the oil business.

2) Talking of oil… My pal Kim Iskyan, a Stansberry Analysis analyst who lives in Singapore and focuses on rising and frontier markets, despatched me these fascinating ideas on Saudi Arabia’s IPO of its state-owned oil firm, Aramco:

Saudi Arabia is the linchpin in world oil markets. By way of Aramco, the nation has the second-biggest oil reserves (after Venezuela). It is the second-biggest oil producer (after the U.S.) and the most important oil exporter. It is crucial member of oil cartel OPEC.

And now, Saudi Arabia is seeking to promote a part of Aramco in what may very well be the largest IPO in historical past – of the world’s largest, and most worthwhile, firm.

Because the Monetary Occasions explains concerning the Aramco IPO:

Saudi Aramco launched its long-awaited preliminary public providing on Sunday, kicking off the centerpiece of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s [MbS] formidable plan to overtake the dominion’s oil-addicted financial system.

The Saudi Arabian authorities is promoting Aramco partly as a result of it wants money. The Worldwide Financial Fund says the nation will put up a finances deficit equal to 7% of GDP. That makes the U.S., at round four% final 12 months, appear downright frugal.

That it is promoting in any respect is a troubling signal. Saudi Arabia is the final word insider in international oil markets – and it is not often a constructive indicator when insiders promote. In coming years, oil will face more and more stiff competitors, as the costs of alternate vitality sources proceed to fall. It would take many years, however oil is slowly going the way in which of cigarettes and high-sugar drinks. I feel we’ll look again to the Aramco IPO because the long-term peak of the oil market.

What’s extra, with solely three% of the corporate being offered, there might be an enormous overhang. How is the share worth going to rise when many multiples of the prevailing float may hit the market at any time?

And that is not all. Round one-third of complete Aramco oil manufacturing comes from one area, Ghawar, which is much and away the world’s largest oilfield. It has been yielding three.eight million barrels per day for many years, however sooner or later that is going to say no. However you may make certain that Aramco will not be highlighting this to buyers…

And do not forget that lower than two months in the past, an Iranian drone assault on two large oil Saudi amenities knocked out half of Aramco’s manufacturing, which took weeks to revive. What is going to occur to the Aramco share worth if (when?) that occurs once more?

Then there’s the query of how you are feeling about Saudi Arabia because the steward of your capital. I do not want the bulk house owners of a inventory I personal to be good individuals. However Saudi Arabia makes Turkey and Russia – two of the extra roguish regimes on Earth – appear like Snow White by comparability. (Recall that the Saudi authorities was behind the homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.)

Lastly, there’s the matter of valuation. In 2018, Aramco generated earnings of $111 billion. On the goal (fairytale) valuation of $2 trillion, the shares could be buying and selling on a trailing price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 18.

By comparability, ExxonMobil (XOM), the most important publicly traded worldwide oil and fuel firm, trades at a P/E of round 15 occasions 2018 earnings. Rivals BP (BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS) commerce at even decrease 2018 multiples of 14 and 11 occasions, respectively.

Whereas they do not management the richest oil fields on Earth, as Aramco does, these three firms’ property are broadly diversified, so a couple of drones will not materially impair them. What’s extra, they’ve extremely skilled administration that does not reply to the top of a murderous authorities that murders opponents. BP and Shell’s 6% dividend yields are at the least as a lot as Aramco will be capable of supply. Why would anybody pay extra for Aramco?

A greater comparable for Aramco is likely to be Gazprom, the world’s largest fuel firm, which is majority managed by the Russian authorities. It trades at a P/E of three.5 and yields about 6%. Even when we give Aramco the good thing about the doubt and worth it at twice the a number of of Gazprom… this may solely counsel a complete firm valuation of round $800 billion – far under the Saudis’ goal.

Valuation won’t matter if Saudi insiders and buddies of MbS are “encouraged” to take part within the providing at the next valuation. (The risks of not chipping in are fairly clear.) And for now, there are not any plans for a global providing – the IPO is slated to be on the home market solely – so that may restrict worldwide investor urge for food anyway. But when Saudi Arabia is attempting to behave like an actual nation, this can be a awful begin.

Incredible insights. Thanks for sharing, Kim!

Greatest regards,

Whitney

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