Author: yreape

According to recent news, a group of men were tried in the US for sending millions of dollars to war- torn Yemen, but have not received custodial sentences. Cash transfers, according to the same report were sent on behalf of Shell oil. Hopefully Exxon Mobile/Esso will follow suit.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2015, and said to be sparked by intergovernment differences.
North Yemen was a state that existed from 1918 following the breakup of the Ottoman empire. The North Yemen civil war from 1962-1970 was fought between royalist partisans and republicans which is said to have resulted in a republican government that is inclusive of royal delegates.
South Yemen, or the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen was a country that existed between 1967-1990. South Yemen was ruled by the British under various delegates from 1858-1963 after which it became a Marxist socialist republic, the only communist state to be established in the middle east.
According to a source, the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, involved an exploration for oil along unspecified border regions. Four years after unification, South Yemen fought for independence but were defeated, resulting in the supposed exile of many of the socialist party, and reunification under the northern government, believed to be a Yemen Arab Republic and recognised by the u.n.
South Yemen is being bombed, reportedly by a Saudi led coalition who are targeting civilians and infrastructure.

A bombing at an Afghanistan mosque has resulted in dozens of fatalities including elders and children. It is not known who is responsible but according to some there might be a connection with previous attacks on mosques in Afghanistan and the US.

The Taliban were ousted from power in Afghanistan in 2001 and a bicarmel government is now believed to be in existence. The bicarmel body of government as described is composed of the house of the elders which is said to play an advisory role but has the power to veto; and the house of the people, which is democratically elected and modelled on the UK house of commons. According to internet sources the first elections in decades were held in 2005 and is still under u.n. supervision.

Under the confines of the proposed new Brexit deal, according to the news eu tarrifs will only apply to unnecessary goods. Has the eu really agreed to this?
The deal is that the UK collects eu tarrifs at point of entry to northern Ireland, but checks to be applied to both sides of Irish Sea border, the idea being that that a north-south border is therefore unnecessary.
According to news the new deal is that northern Ireland will remain in the eu customs union but not legally. Legally they will be under Britain who have cautioned of little incentive to declare eu destined goods that might therefore have to pay British tarrifs. The financial incentive for northern Ireland seems to be the possibility that local companies might benefit from free trade agreements with China.

What is consent regarding a border on the island of Ireland? It seems the dup are dictating. The Irish backstop is the familiar name aiming at preventing an evident border on the island of Ireland. It is reported to have been signed as a stand alone agreement in November of last year by the UK and the council of Europe. The council of Europe is one institution that the UK have said they intend to continue to be involved with after Brexit.
The Irish backstop draft, according to reports has been appended to the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement but has not been ratified.

Reports of an oil spill contaminating many of Brazil’s beaches has been described as criminal by a spokesperson for the sustainability party who said, “We have to strengthen not suffocate the environmental monitoring institutions”.
The oil spill has occurred shortly after unexplained wild fires which reportedly have been worse since Jair Bolsonaro became president in January of this year.
Mr Bolsonaro, a Brazilian of Portugese descent is a member of the Social Liberal Party which is an advocate of economic liberalism. Brazil, which has a colonial past is a newly industrialized country. It has the second largest known oil reserves in South America.

Bioterrorism is the intentional release of a virus or toxin which may be naturally occurring or specially modified. One aspect of biological warfare is the use of a disease agent, often a flea which transmits a virus. Can be used to contaminate water supplies, destroy crops or target civillian populations.
Entomological warfare is used in conjunction with biological warfare because pests need bacteria in order to thrive. Targeting property can lead to loss of livelihoods and homelessness. Bioterrorism and entomological warfare is used to disperse populations.
Solutions would centre around homelessness and new water supplies.

Homelessness in Ireland have been exacerbated by a rent cap with regard to rent supplements, not to be confused with the rent cap of 2016 which caps rent increases to 4% per year in zones where rents are highest, on the increase, or supposedly where affordable accomodation is difficult to attain.
Its hard to accept the current situation of homelessness, especially in view of the death of Mr Hourihan following a brutal assault in Cork city at the weekend.
Political discrimination has been blamed for similar assaults.
Is it time the government studied the cause of the Irish housing crisis?
Statistics last year revealed enough vacant properties to house the homeless yet they remained empty. Explanations were that the vacant properties were owned by nama, and it has become clear that in spite of government innitiatives to the contrary, the properties have, until recently remained unoccupied.
A reported high influx of tennants this year has not alleviated the homeless situation.

The Polish parliamentary elections are being held today and according to polls, the conservative law and justice party (PiS) are predicted to gain the majority. PiS is expected to form a coalition with a more liberal party.
Poland has stood fast to its pro-life stance in the face of pressure to conform.
After the invasion of Poland by Germany and by the soviet union in 1939, a government in exile was formed. This was the end of the Second Polish Republic which was divided between Germany and Russia. A unitary Marxist-Leninist communist government was imposed by the Soviets. The end of communism in Poland resulted in parliamentary elections in 1991.
The government of Poland is described as a bicarmel system. The president heads what is termed the senate or upper house. The senate appoints three members of the Monetary Policy Council of the National Bank and has the power to pass legislation.

There is a coup in Ecuador, and according to news, a curfew in Quito. Access roads to Quito’s airport are blockaded.
Civillian protests over the years and currently escalated, are reported to be due to foreign corporations in Ecuador’s oil market.
Reports are that sales of EP Petroecuador, a state owned company are down by about 30%. Texaco is thought to own 37.5% of Ecuador’s oil production.
According to legislation Texaco used to own 62.5% of Ecuador’s oil market but government policies now limit foreign ownership.

Another Iranian oil tanker has been the subject of subterfuge. The tanker, owned by the National Iranian Oil Company was attacked by 2 missiles which resulted in oil spilling into the Red Sea. This follows a former hijacking of an Iranian oil tanker by the UK in July. Iran said it seized an oil tanker carrying 700,000 litres of oil in August. It is not reported who’s oil. There are details of other seizures over the past month. Sanctions are prohibiting Iranian oil networks. The US navy are said to be surveying the area.
Reportedly, companies fear breaking US sanctions by trading with Iran and Venezuela because, according to legislation this can result in the freezing of all their assets. Last month the US sanctioned COSCO for transporting Iranian oil; and a recent order prohibiting Venezuela from trading has resulted in Abode cutting off services until such a time as sanctions are lifted.
Reliance oil, founded in 2004 is planning to begin loading Venezuelan oil this month in spite of sanctions. The company is described on the internet as India’s richest company and has over 8 billion shares for sale.