According to a report the tánaiste has appointed Catherine Zappone, the minister for children in the former fine gael government as the new foreign minister. The position will entail being a u.n. special envoy reportedly for freedom of opinion and expression. The taoiseach and some m.p.’s were said to be complaining that the post wasn’t advertised, that there was no transparent process and no other applicants. Ms Zappone was reportedly recommended by former minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney. According to a report the position will include giving the Irish government’s position in a variety of situations abroad but will entail working in a team with the u.n. Also said to be working with the u.n. on Irish human rights issues.
The u.s. and u.n. in Israel
According to a report, amid u.n. condemnations and sanctions against Israel the Israeli alternate prime minister and minister for foreign affairs has recommitted to nato, who reportedly police un. sanctions, in the areas of intelligence, surveillance, maritime and counter terrorism.
Reportedly the u.s. recommend equal rights for all with regard to security, freedom and opportunity, highlight a need for humanitarian and urgent reconstruction in Gaza and recommend a two state solution, though Palestinians live in two enclaves, not connected geographically, and are subject to two different authorities.
Freeing up state owned land a factor in delaying Housing for all
According to a report a budget of said to be multimillion euros has been agreed by the government for their Housing for all strategy. The housing budget is part of a national development plan reportedly including the redevelopment of rural towns, retrofitting and planning reform. Revealing the plan scheduled for Tuesday has been delayed until August. According to the report problems are freeing up state owned land and financial matters. The tánaiste said that many billions of additional resources will be allocated to housing and it made sense to allocate the additional money to government departments under the new communities partnership.
Delta variant in the uk
According to a report, on Monday British pubs, nightclubs and sports venues were allowed to open and the government removed all social distancing rules and the mandatory wearing of masks. Reportedly it is better to have an exit wave of infections now rather than later, say the government.
According to the report there are 600,000 people self isolating in the uk as close contacts, including the vaccinated. Some of whom are legally obliged to do so. The delta variant now accounts for 99% of covid cases.
Of 1,788 delta positive people admitted to hospital during a period in June/July, 58% were unvaccinated, 23% were fully vaccinated. Reportedly the latest uk data shows that the fatality rate in the unvaccinated is 0.08%. Less deadly than the average flu.
Saint Anne and Saint Joachim
According to ancient writings Emerentia used to visit the essenes on Mount Carmel and she met and married an essene. It was believed that the essenes would produce a messiah from Mount Carmel, reportedly a stronghold of the essenes of Nazareth. Emerentia gave birth to Anne, grandmother of Jesus and Elizabeth, grandmother of John the baptist.
Anne married Joachim and Mary was born with thanksgiving after a period of infertility. At the age of three she was taken to the temple to be educated. From the age of about twelve the priests and elders wanted to find a husband for her. She may have been fourteen years or so when Joseph, who had one son was chosen. He took her home to his house to guard her. The priests gave her thread to spin. According to an ancient script she became pregnant at the age of sixteen and spent her pregnancy with her cousin Elizabeth because no one knew. Joseph visited her in her sixth month and was very upset at her pregnancy but he took her back. The high priest was angry about her condition, first blaming Mary, then Joseph. They survived the priests anger and returned home. They were married before Jesus was born.
Anne is the patron saint of poverty, unmarried women, child care providers, childless people, grandparents, homemakers and pregnancy. Joachim is the patron saint of fathers and grandparents. Their feast day is on Sunday 26th July.
No water
According to a report water shortages have resulted in six nights of protests in the Iranian province of Khuzestan and three civilians have died at the hands of the authorities. According to the report there is no water for many citizens in Khuzestan, also power outages; and internet interruptions which was the case during the nationwide protests about oil price rises. The water problem, thought to be only occurring in Khuzestan is being blamed on drought.
Palm oil in dispute
According to a report the supermarket Iceland released a video in 2018 featuring forest clearances on an industrial scale in Borneo, the result of which was that palm oil has reportedly been eliminated from Iceland’s instore products.
The production of rapeseed oil means that we are not dependant on palm oil, a product which has reportedly caused the widespread clearance of rain forests, the natural habitat of many endangered species including elephants, tigers and rhinoceros.
George Floyd’s murderer sentenced
Minneopolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22 1/2 years for the murder of George Floyd. Reportedly Chauvin has been involved in multiple shootings where people have been killed and has multiple complaints of excessive force. On the night in question Chauvin knelt on the back of George Floyd’s neck for nine minutes while he was laying face down. Kneeling on the neck is a dangerous thing to do, said the judge, and unnecessary as George was wearing handcuffs.
Water for Africa
Reportedly 844 million people in Africa lack access to clean water causing disease and famine. Donate to water for Africa.
info@waterforafrica.org.uk
Accusations of supporting terrorism
According to a report, eighteen people in Ireland have been charged with supporting terrorism, though in one case money was sent to Afghanistan and it is not known what was bought with the money. If an Afghan man sends money home can it be classed as supporting terrorism or is this an ontological argument? The same report described other groups such as dissident republicans as ethno-nationalists, dissident seemingly with respect to not sharing the same views as the state.