Black Immigrant Daily News

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona have sold off even more of their club assets in the hopes of meeting the Spanish league’s financial rules so Robert Lewandowski and their other signings can play in the season opener.

Barcelona said Friday that they had agreed to sell 24.5% of their Bar?a Studios production hub to Orpheus Media in a deal that would earn them 100 million euros ($103 million).

Last month Barcelona sold an initial 25% stake in their production hub to Socios.com, a blockchain provider, for another 100 million euros as well as 25% of their Spanish league television rights for the next 25 years for nearly 670 million euros ($689 million).

All told, the heavily indebted Catalan club has mortgaged its future for 870 million euros ($895 million) in order to sign Lewandowski from Bayern Munich along with other talented newcomers.

Regarding the sale of nearly 50% of their production hub, Barcelona said in a statement that “with this investment the strategic partners in Bar?a Studios show confidence in the value of the project and the future of digital content in the world of sport.”

It also comes with Barcelona yet to register their new signings with the Spanish league. Barcelona open the season on Saturday at home against Rayo Vallecano.

Thanks to the money they have made by selling their assets, Barcelona have been able to strengthen their squad by signing Lewandowski, winger Raphinha and defender Jules Kound? for a combined 160 million euros ($165 million).

But the Spanish league has strict financial requirements that limit the amount clubs can spend on players’ salaries and transfers based on the clubs’ financial health. Despite efforts to reduce costs and pay down their debt, Barcelona still hold 1 billion euros ($1 billion) in debt and have seen their salary cap slashed by the league in recent seasons.

So, as of Friday morning, they had not registered Lewandowski, Raphinha, Kound?, free agent arrivals Franck Kessi? and Andreas Christensen, or Ousmane Demb?l? and Sergi Roberto, who both signed new contracts recently after their old ones had expired and so are considered new signings by the league.

This new injection of another 100 million euros should help Barcelona’s financial balance that they present to the league and increase their chances of being able to register all those players.

The club is also pushing to sell players such as Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite that are either unwanted by coach Xavi Hern?ndez or have big salaries like Frenkie de Jong.

Teams have until the end of the month to register new players if they want to play in the Spanish league this season. Real Betis are also still waiting to register several players.

Barcelona club president Joan Laporta said recently that he was confident that his club will be able to field its latest acquisitions.

But it would be yet another blow to Barcelona’s reputation if their star signings are not able to play at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Orpheus Media is run by Catalan businessman Jaume Roures, the owner of Mediapro, a major television company involved in Spanish football but whose 2020 broadcast rights deal for the French league collapsed. Roures was a major financial backer of Laporta when he returned to run the financially troubled club in 2021.

Roures said on Friday that he was not sure if the money he paid Barcelona would be sufficient.

“The league won’t have any problems with this operation,” Roures told Cadena SER radio. “If the 100 million euros are enough, I don’t know. If it isn’t, the (necessary) amount must be close to that.”

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

The rowdy couple videotaped in a brawl with the Police at the Woods Mall, in May, has been sent to Her Majesty’s Prison for missing their scheduled court date – even after being reminded the day before.

The matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, August 10, and 24-year-old Chantel Sibilist and her partner, 35-year-old Jahwer Christopher, both of Marble Hill, were not present in court.

Reportedly, a police officer who works at the court had advised them, on Tuesday night, August 9, that their case was to be heard the following day.

At the time, the couple was watching a football match at King George V Ground, reports say.

After the duo learned that the court had issued a bench warrant for them, they reportedly showed up on Wednesday afternoon to make inquiries.

When Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh asked why they had not shown up to court that morning, they reportedly told her they thought the case had been set for Thursday, August 11.

However, the Chief Magistrate, being aware that they were lying, saw their action as disrespect for the court. Accordingly, she remanded them to prison to ensure that they will be present for their next court appearance, set for sometime in September.

The Police had charged both accused with several counts of battery on police, resisting arrest and malicious damage, among other related offences, following the brawl outside the Payless Store at Woods.

The woman has several more charges than her partner. However, both have pleaded not guilty to all.

The couple had been refused entry to the store for not wearing face masks, which was a policy of the business place and was so indicated on a poster.

After they became confrontational with one of the workers, the Police were summoned; a fracas with the lawmen then ensued, and was caught on video.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

DE REGERING VOERT al vanaf haar aantreden een zodanig beleid dat moet resulteren in verbetering van het beheer van staatsfinanciën.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Every year, International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 to mark the contribution of today’s youth to the development of society. The significance of this day is also to raise voices against the injustice faced by the youth worldwide as the young people aren’t only tomorrow’s leaders, but they are also making huge changes in society right now. This year, we celebrate under the theme “Intergenerational solidarity: creating a world for all ages.”

Fostering intergenerational solidarity between generations is more than ever necessary to ensure an inclusive and sustainable recovery. As we navigate the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important to recognize and address these age-related barriers to “build back better” in a manner that leverages all generations’ strengths and knowledge.

As a Fresh, New and Dynamic Organization, the DNA is committed to creating an enabling environment for all youth to grow, thrive and to let their voices be heard. We are committed to working with youth groups to develop and deliver proactive policies and programs to address these issues and create an equitable, sustainable and continuous path that will develop, empower and restore hope to the youth of our nation. The Objectives of our Youth Empowerment Policy is to connect key areas of our Vision 2040 development strategy with an aim to create equitable, sustainable and viable communities where youth can excel, thrive and participate in the overall transformation of our country and our People.

DNA President Joanne Massiah noted “Given the multiplicity of challenges presently facing the world, as governments seek solutions and craft policy prescriptions, it is imperative that the voices and recommendations of our youth are heard and included at the decision-making tables since it is to them we will pass the baton of leadership.”

The participation of youth in politics, governance, community and national life and social development is a critical component of the DNA’s Vision 2040 for Antigua and Barbuda.

For far too long policies geared towards youth are designed with minimum consultation and contribution from youth themselves. This failed top down approach has limited and stifled the potential of our youth and has led to a cycle of mediocrity in the development of youth in Antigua and Barbuda. The DNA intends to integrate education, sports, culture, the arts, entrepreneurship and industry, coupled with youth participation and the strengthening of our social environments to create a linear path for our youths to achieve success and be globally competitive as we seek to collectively transform our nation.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

El jefe de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés), José Baquero, confirmó en RADIO ISLA que han aprobado 38 sometidos por la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (AEE) y LUMA Energy para la reparación del sistema eléctrico.  

José Baquero expuso que, al momento, la AEE y LUMA han sometido más de 80 proyectos, pero la mayoría aún no han sido avalados por la agencia. De estos, 28 son para mejoras a los sistemas de transmisión y distribución manejados por LUMA, y 10 son del sistema de generación asignado a la AEE.

“Nosotros tenemos aprobados, queriendo decir que ya son proyectos específicos que tienen fondos asignados, unos 38 proyectos. El subrecipiente de los fondos de Fema sigue siendo la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica”, explicó Baquero. Esto, debido a que FEMA solo entrega fondos a entidades gubernamentales.

[embedded content]

NewsAmericasNow.com