Author: yreape

According to a report, 47,600 social houses are to be provided over the next five years in an attempt to deal with homelessness. Reportedly, the housing crisis has contributed to emigration. According to statistics, 25-30,000 people emigrated in the years between 1997 and 2005, rising until 2009. Reportedly, 83,000 emigrated in 2012, decreasing to around 65,000 in 2017, and around 50-60,000 have emigrated per year since 2018. Reportedly, predominantly young; reasons given, employment and accommodation.

According to reports, Ireland became a destination for migrants from europe, many from eastern europe, and the rest of the world during the 1990s. According to statistics, in 2018, 90,000 people migrated to Ireland. Reportedly, from April 2020-21, 30,200 Irish citizens, 16,600 europeans, 4,300 uk citizens and 14,100 people from the rest of the world came to live in Ireland.

According to a report, a former British diplomat and lead Brexit envoy quit her job in 2019 because she was unwilling to peddle half truths on behalf of the uk government.

According to a report, at the end of the post brexit transition period, the uk government intend to implement the internal markets bill, passed in December 2020. Reportedly, the bill contains provisions to override parts of the northern Ireland protocol section of the Brexit deal in areas relating to state aid and the movement of goods from northern Ireland to the rest of the uk.

According to a report, a new northern Ireland poll to discover people’s attitudes to brexit and the new trade protocol showed 52% of respondents consider the arrangements to be a good thing.

According to a report, central banks around the world are now producing their own digital currency. Reportedly, after registering with a cryptocurrency, users create an ewallet to store, save and send money, a feature is instore transactions achievable by scanning a qr code on user’s phone. According to reports, the Nigerian central bank are piloting the first digital currency in Africa. Reportedly, the adoption of central bank digital currency and its underlying technology blockchain, a decentralised indelible and transparent data base could increase Nigeria’s gross domestic product over the next ten years.

According to reports, the uk colonised Nigeria during the nineteenth Century. Reportedly, the bombardment of Lagos was followed by missionaries in the mineral rich south, leading to the formation of the royal Niger company in 1879. According to the report, the uk paid the rnc £865,000, revoked their charter and allowed them 50% of mining rights in a large part of the areas, for ninety nine years.

Reportedly, uk military campaigns dealt with resistance. According to reports, the north and south Nigerian protectorates were administered seperately, the petroleum rich Niger delta became part of the southern territory. In 1954 the eastern region inhabited by Igbo, Isaw from the Niger delta and Ibibio from the south was divided from southern Nigeria.

Reportedly, northern Cameroon opted to join Nigeria in 1961. According to a report, imbalances and corruption of the electoral and political processes led to two military coups in 1966. Reportedly, Abubakar Belawar, prime minister of Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, premier of northern Nigeria and other officials were assassinated. According to a report, Belaware had been chosen to study at the university of London, Bello studied governance in England.

According to reports, a counter coup and anti Igbo pogroms led to many fleeing to the eastern region, the breakaway state of Biafra was declared. Reportedly, General Yakukbu Gowon of Nigeria declared war, listed as one of the deadliest in history. According to a report, Nigeria was backed by Britain and the soviet union. The thirty month war was described as a long siege, isolating Biafrans from supplies. The war ended in 1970.

According to reports,during the 1970’s Nigeria joined the organisation of petroleum exporting countries and received huge revenues but the people remained poor. Reportedly, two coups in 1975 and 76 were followed by a new constituent assembly. Reportedly, Shehu Shagari won the 1979 elections, but his government became viewed as corrupt. According to a report, in 1983 state petroleum inspectors began to notice a slow poisoning of the waters of the country.

Reportedly, Nigeria has 159 oil fields,78 in the Niger Delta and 1,481 oil wells. According to a report, conflicts first arose in the 1990’s between Nigerians who feel they are being exploited and international oil corporations. Reportedly, oil accounts for around 87% of Nigeria’s exports, yet oil revenue contributes only 9% to the gdp or total value of goods and services made in Nigeria.

According to a report, France will give back items taken by the french army during a war in Benin, then the wealthy African kingdom of Dohomey in present day Nigeria. Reportedly, the 26 items which include a royal throne and statues were taken from the former french colony’s royal palace. According to the report, members of the french national assembly, the lower house of parliament have voted unanimously to return the items, the matter is now heading to the senate.

Reportedly, the president of Benin told Jeune Africa magazine that he was not satisfied, though he recognised small steps on behalf of France. According to reports, the items are part of 70,000 African objects in the Quai Branly museum, Paris.

According to reports, the uk have faced calls to return artefacts such as the Elgin marbles to Greece and the Benin bronzes to the president of Benin. Reportedly, the Elgin marbles are a collection of classical Greek sculptures dating from the 5th Century bc., originally part of the parthenon and metropolis of Athens. According to a report, between 1800 and 1803 the seventh earl of Elgin removed some of the surviving sculptures and transported them to Britain, they are currently on display in the Duveen gallery of the British museum. According to reports, in 1887 British troops looted thousands of art works, known as the Benin bronzes. Reportedly the British museum holds around 73,000 Afrcan objects stolen during wars and colonisation.

According to a report, european state owned institutions require legislation to return their collections which has been innitiated in France and Germany. Reportedly, uk legislation does not allow British museums to do the same.

According to reports, quarrels between political factions caused the coup in Sudan, dissolving the joint civilian military government and causing mass protests.

Reportedly, protestors have blocked the main country’s port for weeks. According to reports, Sudan who experienced 70% inflation have been struggling with economic measures called for by international financial institutions.

Reportedly, from around 1500 bc Sudan had egyptian influences. According to reports, during uk rule in Egypt, Britain ruled Sudan through egyptian administrators until 1882 when sudanese and egyptian forces conjoined in an uprising, Britain won. According to reports, the 1952 revolution resulted in an end to colonialism in favour of pan-arab nationalism.

Reportedly, Sudan’s Islamic rule created a rift between the north which held the seat of government and the animist and Christian south. Political differences resulted in the south fighting for independence, creating two states, the republic of Sudan and the republic of south Sudan.

According to reports, Omar al Bashir who ruled Sudan from 1989-2019 is accused of directing a brutal campaign against residents in Darfur, 2003-present. Reportedly he is charged in his own country of corruption.

According to a report, following a coup in 2019 a joint military civilian council and chief justice was authorised. According to the report, the newly appointed prime minister, an economist worked for the u.n. economic mission for Africa.

Reportedly, Darfur is situated in the petroleum basin belt from the gulf of Guinea to Sudan.

According to a report, representatives from France, the u.s. and Niger arrived in Mali on Saturday for a weekend of talks aimed at persuading the military government to return to civilian administration. Reportedly, the delegates are pressuring for an election by February.

There is an unknown number of u.n. troops in the Sahel region. According to reports, fifty three french soldiers have died since 2013. Reportedly, France who have 5,000 troops in Mali are planning a 50% reduction by 2022, and are pulling out of their northern bases in Kidal, Tessalit and Timbuktu. According to the report, the task force takuba, a european military task force will move from Mali to Niger. Reportedly, a Russian military group may eventually take France’s role.

Reportedly, poverty in Mali and Burkina Faso was a factor in a border dispute over the 180 kilometre mineral rich Agacher strip, settled by Algerian mediation and the international court of justice in 1986.

According to a report, Mali is the third largest producer of gold in Africa. Reportedly, Africa has been exploited by european powers since 1881. According to the report, African goods have resulted in a trade surplus and a market that buys from a colonial power.

Reportedly, the u.n. presence is to target islamic state and affiliated groups. According to a report a 2012 coup following the assassination of Colonel Gadaffi was related to western policies.

Reportedly the 2020 coup followed protests about conflict and poverty. Another military coup in 2021 was led by Assimi Goïta who became president. According to a report, he had experience working with the u.s. army special forces.

Reportedly, since May 2020 over 2,000 people have been killed, 300,000 have been displaced. According to reports, conflicts arise over resources. Farmers and herders make up 80% of the population.

According to reports, atleast six people have died on the Belarus-Polish border. Reportedly, the eu have accused Belarus of people smuggling. According to a report, migrants from Syria and northern Iraq, possibly Kurdish paid €7,000 to travel via Belarus into Poland where they were met by cars, they are seeking asylum.

Reportedly, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are experiencing a rapid increase in people trying to cross their borders. According to reports, the polish parliament have approved a bill allowing border guards to expel migrants trying to cross the border illegally.

Reportedly, Poland have accused Belarus of deliberately abandoning migrants near its border in an attempt to destabilise the eu, because of sanctions. According to a report, the eu,who say they are in favour of dialogue have subjected 166 persons and 15 entities to an assets freeze.

Reportedly, Belarus has been under the scrutiny of the u.n. who detailed torture and ill treatment of detainees. According to a report, some complaints from protestors were the arrest of opposition candidates and economic and social policies.

Reportedly, on 23 May a Ryan air flight from Athens to Vilnius, Lithuania was told there was a bomb on board that would detonate in Vilnius, resulted in a detour to Minsk. According to reports, on board was a journalist accused of partiality and fighting with the Ukraine in the Russian-Ukraine war, which he covered.

According to a report, homelessness in Ireland, an evolving issue began to affect women and children in the nineties. According to the report there were ten thousand homeless people in 2019, a third were children. Reportedly, in 2021, 8,212 adults and children were registered as homeless. Figures relate to those living in emergency accomodation.

According to reports, the housing for all plan aims to eradicate homelessness by 2030. Reportedly, the government say they will complete 17,000 to 18,000 homes. According to a report, the inspector general of the construction industry federation said it is up to the government to put plans and funds in place.

Reportedly, rents have been rising by 13-18% annually. According to a report, rents throughout Ireland, outside the cities average at €1,117 per month, to €2,000 per month in Dublin. Reportedly the rental accommodation scheme to suit long term housing needs will be replaced by hap. The housing accommodation payment is said to pay eligible tennants’ rents minus 30% of their income.

Reportedly, rental accommodation is very scarce and investor funds are continuing to buy up homes. Small changes in government legislation, tax etc, often diluted and delayed has been an ineffective incentive to land and property owners.

According to reports, the u.s. are appealing an earlier decision not to extradite Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks. The case will be heard on 27/28 October. Reportedly, the u.s. want to put Julian on trial for publishing a series of leaks provided by a u.s. army intelligence analyst. The first leaks in 2010 were named the diplomatic cables leaks. According to the report a 2006 memo on Ireland discussed the Irish government’s attempt to oppose u.s. military use of Shannon airport, later leaks relate to the Iraqi war and the war in Afghanistan.

According to reports, following the u.n. invasion of Iraq, troops found mass Kurdish graves. Reportedly, the Anfal campaign, Saddam Hussein’s offensive in northern Iraq was known to the west. According to a report between 50,000 and 182,000 Kurdish people died. Another report stated Kurds trying to leave Iraq died of starvation on the border with Syria. Reportedly, Kurdish people originate from an area that became northern Iraq, south eastern Turkey, north western Iran and northern Syria.

According to a report, the demonisation of Saddam Hussein set the stage for western offensives. Reportedly, sanctions came into effect 100 hours after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In 1991, security council resolution 687 requested a plan for the immediate deployment of a u.n. observation unit in Khawr abd Allah, a region in the Persian gulf bordering Iraq and Kuwait. Reportedly, following the Iraqi war around 2011, combined task force 158 was established in Khawr abd Allah to protect Iraqi waters and oil infrastructure.

According to resolution 687, all states shall prevent sale and supply to Iraq. Resulted in dependence on aid. The resolution made lifting the embargo conditional to acceptance of a redefining of the border between Iraq and Kuwait. Reportedly, according to a Kuwait newspaper Iraq complained to the secretary general and the u.n. security council in 2019 concerning geographical changes to its maritime border. According to a report, conceding the Khawr abd Allah to Kuwait has constituted a crisis.

According to a report, at peak Iraq was selling 2.1 billion barrels of oil per day. In resolution 687 the executive decides that all states including Iraq shall take the necessary measures to insure that no claim shall lie at the instance of the government of Iraq, or of any person in Iraq in connection to any contract or other transaction where its performance was affected by reason of the measures taken by the council in resolution 661.