It`s Wednesday. I`m Carl Azuz. This is CNN STUDENT NEWS. Today, we`re starting with economics.
When people want to see how a country`s economy is doing, they can study different indicators.
The stock market or retail sales, for example. Two other indicators are government reports
that come out every month. The national unemployment rate and the number of jobs added or lost.
This month`s report says that in September the economy added 148,000 jobs. That`s fewer
than the previous month. Also, the unemployment rate went down a little bit to 7.2 percent.
The numbers in these reports don`t always match up, that`s because the two numbers come
from separate surveys, one asks businesses about hiring, the other asks individual households
about their employment status.
The same day that a government report came out, a CNN ORC poll came out. According to
that, 71 percent of Americans think that U.S. economy is in poor shape, 29 percent say the
current conditions are good. What do you say? If you are thirteen or older, go to our blog.
If you`re already on Facebook, go to our Facebook page. Tell us, do you think the U.S. economy
is getting better, getting worse or staying the same?
Earlier this week, we reported on wildfires burning in Australia. Authorities expect today
to be about as bad as it gets. High temperatures, low humidity, strong winds. When you`re talking
about wildfires, that`s a forecast for disaster. These fires stretched nearly 1,000 miles.
They`ve destroyed hundreds of homes.
A CNN reporter asked one victim about what she wished she could have saved.
My photos. Photos from the computer with -- on the computer or the laptop, whatever, wherever,
I could have gotten from my photos. Yeah. Photos of what?
A honeymoon, wedding, my wedding album, photos of me as a baby, Jake as a baby. We don`t
have a record of any photos to show to my children, of, you know, me growing up.
More than 1,000 emergency crews are on the ground. Officials are bringing in 1500 more
firefighters to help.
It`s time for the "Shoutout." What is this? If you think you know it, then shout it out.
Is it a blobfish, dragonfish, lionfish or tigerfish? You`ve got three seconds, go!
This is a lionfish. It`s native to the South Pacific. But the species has been found in
other parts of the world, too. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout."
They may sound funny, but lionfish are not joke. The spines on their fins are filled
with venom. They eat anything, they have no natural predators. In the Pacific where there
are native species, other fish know to steer clear of them. But in the Atlantic, where
lionfish are an invasive species, it`s a whole different story. One that has some conservationists
concerned.
The Atlantic Ocean is on the brink of what could potentially be one of the biggest disasters,
and most people aren`t even aware of it. All of this thanks to one fish, the lionfish.
An evasive predator species was actually thrown into Atlantic waters by pet owners decades
ago. Now, it`s up to teens like those here in Bermuda to take matters into their own
hands.
The lionfish invasion into the Atlantic is most likely the worst environmental disaster
that the Atlantic will ever face.
Bermuda got lionfish in 2000. From 2000 to 2013, they have spread their way from Bermuda
all the way out through the Caribbean. We had no idea that could spread so fast. They
even caught the top scientists off guard. And there are no predators except human beings.
All of this fish in the Atlantic from what they can tell from the DNA only came from
six to eight females. It was from pet owners, released a pet shop got wiped out, maybe let
a few go, but really, it was a combined effort of just human beings, just being irresponsible.
So, that`s another problem. These are almost the perfect predator: venomous, ferocious
appetite, big mouth that can eat almost up to three quarter of its size -- this fish
can eat a fish that big.
We know that the fish in the Pacific where their native range comes from, are DNA-coded
from the million years of evolution, they know to stay away from the lionfish. Instinctively,
they are born with that instinct. If you go near the lionfish you`re going to get eaten.
Our fish have never seen a lionfish. So they stream right up to them, they don`t recognize
them as an enemy. Therefore, that`s why they are eating so well, and that`s how they are
doing so great.
We are trying to do as much data collecting as possible. We leave no lionfish behind.
We try to kick every single one that we can. We are videotaping, so therefore the scientists
can go back through that videotape later on and look at it at their own leisure and be
able to stop and freeze frame it and look at the different things that are going on
down there. We`re trying to observe different behavior, we`re also trying to see what other
species of fish are leaving with this lionfish. We`re doing fish counts down there to see
what the populations are. Lionfish are destroying ecosystems. And they are doing it very quickly.
And this isn`t the battle that we can win. We only hope to be able to maintain their
populations and Mother Nature isn`t going to come up with a wonderful cure all for everything.
This is something that we have to take responsibility and try and fix or try to control ourselves.
Time for a "Shoutout" extra credit. What do all investments have in common? Do they all
involve profit, loss, dividends or risk? Put another three seconds on the clock, and go!
The only guarantee when you (inaudible) in investment is that it comes with some level
of risk. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout Extra Credit."
You can make all sorts of investments, you can put your money in the stock market or
in real estate. You can invest your time. And now one company wants to give you the
chance to invest in your favorite athlete. Of course, the athletes have to agree. This
month, one did.
On the fields, he`s explosive. Off of it, charming.
What`s your favorite food?
My mama cooked some (inaudible) enchiladas.
And if one company has its way, he`ll soon be a publicly traded asset.
We`re interested in working with Arian because he has attributes that are beyond just being
a pro-ball running back. His approach to life and things off the field make him an attractive
candidate for us.
Start NFL running back Arian Foster is the first athlete to sign up with Fantex, a San
Francisco Bay startup that will allow fans to buy and sell shares of their favorite athletes.
Fantex will pay Foster $10 million upfront. In exchange, investors get the opportunity
to earn 20 percent of Foster`s future income, including money from playing contracts, endorsements,
and appearance fees. Fans can buy a stake at $10 a share, but veteran sports (inaudible)
consulted Robert Tuchman is punting the Foster stock.
It`s very difficult to monetize athlete`s brands post-plane daze. It`s very difficult
to monetize athlete`s brands while they are playing.
Fantex says, it`s looking for taunted athletes with significant growth potential.
How you play or the performance of your play gives you a platform, in which to have a voice
in the marketplace, which impacts your brand. So, what`s in it for the athletes?
For players, this is a complete homerun for Arian Foster. I mean he`s basically buying
himself insurance in terms of his playing days.
So, why Arian Foster? Well, he`s one of the NFL`s biggest stars? His (inaudible) with
the popularity of (inaudible) football. He is a master running back for team owners and
Fantex wants to make him a must buy for investors.
Investors, though, should tread carefully. Fantex lists 84 risks factors on its website
including the risk of athlete getting injured and unforeseen issues with its trading platform.
And, if Fantex doesn`t raise enough money in the initial offering, it says it`s scrapping
the deal.
Still, the company is bullish about bringing sports investing to the average Joe.
We really embrace this concept of him being a trailblazer, and it fits his brand and how
we see him and we think that there is a desire for that out in the marketplace.
Zain Asher, CNN, New York.
Check it out, schools from three continents in this worldwide Wednesday edition of the
"Roll Call." First up, Estonia and the students at Rapla Uhisgimnaasium. I hope I said that
right, I was practicing. That is down to South Africa, to say hello to the Eagles from the
American International School in Johannesburg. And we`ll wrap up in Malaysia with the Raffles
American School in Nusajaya (ph)
Combining an iconic dance move with an ambitious marching band, you get something like this
YouTube video. As Michael Jackson. Well, it`s the Ohio State Marching Band paying tribute
to Jackson and pulling off the king of pop signature moon walk. The band has a reputation
for impressive half- time performances, but with that floating foot ward formation it
really stepped up its game. People in the stands might have expected a good show, but
I doubt anyone was anticipating that kind of thriller. We took a chance showing that
video. After all, it was a band performance. Either way, it`s the final note in today show.
Hope you`ll enjoy the rest of your day.