Kenya's exposure to climate risks and fiscal volatility has raised concerns about the pricing of its sovereign Eurobonds in global markets. This study investigates the impact of green finance announcements, ESG risk scores, and inflation on Kenya’s sovereign Eurobond yield spreads over U.S. Treasuries from 2015 to 2024. Employing a quantitative explanatory research design, the study analyzed secondary monthly data on yield spreads, macroeconomic indicators, and ESG metrics using multiple linear regression. Descriptive statistics and diagnostic tests confirmed data suitability, while correlation analysis revealed expected directional relationships. Findings show that green finance announcements significantly reduce Kenya’s sovereign risk premium, aligning with signaling theory that credible sustainability communication enhances investor confidence. ESG risk scores were also found to have a statistically significant negative effect on yield spreads, underscoring the importance of non-financial performance in sovereign debt pricing. Conversely, inflation had a significant positive effect, reflecting heightened risk aversion toward macroeconomic instability. The study concludes that climate and ESG signals now influence investor pricing behavior in African debt markets. It recommends that the Kenyan government institutionalize green finance disclosures, improve ESG reporting systems, and enforce effective inflation-targeting policies to reduce borrowing costs and enhance debt sustainability. The findings offer vital information for policymakers and investors in understanding the evolving dynamics of climate-adjusted sovereign risk.
Correlates of War (COW), an ongoing project initiated in the United States to monitor all the wars around the globe, covers the Estonian and Latvian wars of independence, and the war between Poland and Russia, but does not represent the Lithuanian War of Independence in detail. It only includes one episode of the war, the Polish-Lithuanian war. The article points out that this is partly correlated with the lack of a single term for these events in Lithuania. The author assesses the names of the war or wars of independence circulating in Lithuania, asking to what extent their differences have had an impact on the external (non)recognition of the War of Independence. After reviewing the paradoxical situation with war names circulating in Lithuania, the essay concludes with a reflection on what caused the establishment of the plural name in Lithuania. Despite this, the author argues that, from the perspective of external recognition, a singular name would better represent the nature of the processes that occurred in 1919 and 1920, and would contribute more to the consolidation of the national identity.
Phillip J. Haubrock, Ismael Soto, Irmak Kurtul
et al.
Abstract Background Long-term biomonitoring of macroinvertebrates is a popular and valuable approach for assessing the status of freshwater ecosystems, identifying the impact of stressors, and evaluating ecosystem health. Although macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring can be effective in detecting changes in distribution patterns and community trends over time, crayfish often remain undetected or unreported by biomonitoring efforts despite their importance in maintaining the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Results By analyzing a comprehensive database of long-term macroinvertebrate time series, we found that most sampling methods and assessment schemes can detect both native and non-native crayfish in running waters if sites are continuously sampled. However, native crayfish were detected to a lesser extent and by fewer methods. Kick-net sampling and assessment techniques prevailed as the most efficient methods for capturing crayfish. However, the substantial number of time series lacking crayfish data calls into question whether these methods are sufficiently comprehensive to encapsulate crayfish populations accurately. The use of other targeted methods such as baited traps or hand catching may provide a more reliable estimate of their presence. Conclusions Given the detrimental impacts of non-native crayfish and the decline in native crayfish populations, we strongly recommend that stakeholders and managers incorporate a combination of these approaches into their monitoring efforts. The use of different taxonomic levels (family vs. genus vs. species level) in estimating biological indices and biomonitoring tools can cause delays in identifying new non-native specie’s occurrences, hindering effective water quality assessment and ecosystem management by governments and stakeholders. Therefore, whenever possible, we call for standardized taxonomic levels for biomonitoring studies and management strategies to accurately address these issues and make recommendations going forward.
Introduction
Ireland has been one of the worst affected countries affected by COVID-19 in Europe. Many primary studies from Ireland have documented prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders during the pandemic and their correlates.
Objectives
To study the prevalence range of anxiety and depression in Ireland, and their correlates during the pandemic.
Methods
We systematically searched Pubmed, PsycInfo and the WHO COVID-19 global research database using key words ( January 2020 - September 2021). We removed duplicates and extracted data into an excel database and carried out a narrative synthesis of the extracted data.
Results
From a total 127 studies, we included 22 studies that met our criteria in our narrative review. Depending on the tool used and the type of population studied, the prevalence of general anxiety disorders varied between 20% and 49.5% while prevalence of depressive disorders ranged between 20.4% and 53.8%. Younger people, health care workers, those who had to give up physical activity, people who had lost income, those who lived alone, infected by COVID-19, or had a higher perceived risk of the disease had a higher prevalence of both anxiety and depression disorders during the pandemic. There was conflicting evidence on prevalence levels among men and women and on whether they had children or not.
Conclusions
COVID-19 has had a profound effect on the mental health of the Irish population. Some population groups are more affected than the others. Addressing mental health concerns of Irish population during and post pandemic should remain as one of the top public health priorities.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Entre 1829 y 1840 tuvo lugar el primer exilio centroamericano en la república mexicana, como resultado directo del fin de la Primera Guerra Federal Centroamericana (1826-1829). Este trabajo presenta una panorámica de esa experiencia al profundizar la geografía de sus vínculos políticos en México, sus actividades económicas, vicisitudes e inserción institucional en México. El evento destacó por su precoz temporalidad en la historia latinoamericana y el gran número de exiliados, algo no superado hasta el siglo xx. Se incluye un anexo de todos los exiliados registrados en México entre 1829 y 1840
This paper looks at the changes in Catholic rites of passage as they faced pressure from modernization and the secularization of society in the second half of the 19th century. It focuses on the transformation of three key rituals – christenings, weddings and funerals – and charts changes in them during the second half of the 19th century. These changes were noted in Catholic journals and pastoral guides for clergymen in the parishes, which provide a series of testimonies to the transformation of these rituals. These sources show a clearly observable struggle between the Catholic Church and the faithful, whose devotion was gradually weakened under secularization. This put pressure on clergymen to adapt rituals to the congregation's needs and ideas, and in so doing started the journey towards the privatization and individualization of rites of passage.
Auxiliary sciences of history, History of Central Europe
Recent debates on the upcoming review of the Constitution have determined us to pay close attention to the basic institution in a democratic state, that is the Constitutional Court. Being caught in the crossfire between power and opposition, the Constitutional Court had a hard time lately, facing severe attacks. The aim of our study is to analyze the evolution of the Constitutional Court within the inland constitutional system, particularly bringing up the flaws describing the Court’s activity. We have also analyzed the proposals put forth by several bodies or experts regarding the constitutional contentious court. At the end of our study, following an analysis of different constitutional types of constitutional review, used by a number of states in Europe, we introduced several resolutions that may improve the role, the course and, last but not least, the activity of the Romanian Constitutional Court.
Zsófia Bán and Hedvig Turai, eds. Exposed Memories: Family Pictures in Private and Collective Memory. AICA: International Association of Art Critics: Hungarian Section: Distributed by Central European University Press, 2010, 193 pp. Reviewed by Katalin Kádár Lynn, Senior Researcher, ELTE.
Feliks Badowski (born on 17th May 1923 in Warsaw) was a soldier who fought in ZWZ-AK (Union of Armed Struggle-Home Army). His account concerns his education and work, war experiences and life after the war.
This witness describes in great detail his work in industry in occupied Warsaw and his struggle for independence in the frames of ZWZ-AK. He also mentions his studies within Towarzystwo Kursów Technicznych
(Technical Courses Association). A vast part of the narrative is devoted to Feliks Badowski’s participation in the Warsaw Uprising – he tells us, amongst others, about preparations for armed resistance against the occupier, how the army units were organized in the first days of fighting, and about the attack on the citadel.
A lot of focus is given to partisan activity in Kampinos Forest – the witness explains, for example, the structure of partisan forces, their help for the fighting Warsaw, sabotage actions and how they received deliveries by airdrops. This account gives us also some insight into the way the inhabitants of villages and towns near Warsaw perceived the Warsaw Uprising. Also, it relates the marching-out of partisan units and their way towards the Świętokrzyskie mountains, during which – near Żyrardów – they were defeated by Germans. A separate part of the narrative is devoted to reminiscences from post-war Wrocław – Feliks Badowski explains why he came to the Lower Silesia and pictures relations in his new place of work – Pafawag (Państwowa Fabryka Wagonów – National Rail Carriage Factory).
The “Little Homeland” in the consciousness of the Ukrainian citizens displaced from Poland after the Second World War
As a result of the Polish-Ukrainian agreement signed in Lublin on 9 September 1944, mutual exchange of citizens of both countries inhabiting the borderlands took place in the years 1944-1947. It was a tragic chapter in the history of both nations. The majority of the people were forced to leave behind their “little Homelands” and journey into the unknown. The change of the dwelling place had a dramatic impact on all spheres of their life and was reflected in their consciousness. This aspect of the consciousness can be studied with the application of oral historical methodology, by collecting and analyzing the eyewitness accounts of the displacements. Presented in this article are the results of a study conducted in a village of the Lviv Oblast, of how those relocated from the Nadsanie region perceive their “little Homeland” today. The testimonies are often contradictory, filled with trifles from days long passed. The image of the “little Homeland” is not homogenous. It concerns the household, farming, Ukrainian villages and ethnic territories within Poland. The memories of life before the displacement prevail, which is particularly evident in the elderly people’s accounts. Despite the harsh living conditions in the 1940s – ethnic conflicts, poverty during and after the Second World War, displacements, etc., the majority of those interviewed describe their time in Poland as good or neutral.
History of Eastern Europe, Ethnology. Social and cultural anthropology
Aquest article recompossa la formació del pensament polític conservador en Mèxic des de la Independència fins a la promulgació de Las Siete Leyes. Mostra com el projecte conservador de creació nacional es va definir en el si del llenguatge lliberal, encara que contava amb particularitats pròpies. Va adscriure la soberania a la seva peculiar comprensió de la nació (unívoca, uniforme, trascendent) i la seva concepció de la representació primava la idea de “govern eficaç”. Després dels succesos ocurrits entre 1828 i 1830, especialment la revolta del Parián, va reforçar el seu discurs al voltant dels principis de seguretat, ordre i autoritat, des dels que es va justificar una acció política orientada principalment a la defensa de la legalitat, la prosperitat econòmica i la restricció del cos polític.