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According to a report the conflict between the Tigray peoples liberation army and the Ethiopian federal government expanded to involve Eritrea, thought to be following a change of leadership when nobel prize winner Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in 2018. The Tigray regional government who reportedly broke away from the Ethiopian federal government in 2019 accused Eritrea of attacking them at the invitation of the Ethiopian government. According to a report they fired rockets in or around the airport in Asmara, and two airports in Ethiopia, thought to be on Friday /Saturday.

The Tigray regional government have described accusations of the mass murder of southern Ethiopians made by Mr Ahmed and amnesty international as malicious. Reportedly the conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths on both sides. An estimated 25,000 refugees are said to have travelled to Sudan for help.

China and believed to be 14 countries have signed a trade partnership which many in Asia hope will help alleviate the effects of the pandemic. The deal is described as less comprehensive than the 11 nation trans-Pacific deal the u.s. pulled out of 4 years ago. Reportedly members include ten members from the Association of South East Nations, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Hopes are that India who pulled out, thought to be due to prerequisites will rejoin. Asia is committed to multi nation efforts for freer trade. The signing of the the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement has been hailed as a victory against protectionism, and for multilateralism and free trade.

Nagorno-Karabach is believed to be of vital importance because of the Sugovision Reservoire, now reportedly occupied by Azerbaijani armed forces. Various elements believe the region to belong to Azerbaijan, though records describe Armenian towns in the area during the middle ages. Nagorno-Kerabach is usually known by Armenians as Artach. Reports describe Azerbaijani colonisation. One report describes a group of artisans settling: Turkey, France and the u.s. appear to be backing Azerbaijan. Russia are believed to be neutral. Could be u.n. involvement though not specified.

According to a report, the cross community executive is one of four northern Ireland executive parties and the only one to veto extentions to the covid lockdown. The veto mechanism, said to have been engineered in the 2006 St Andrew’s agreement means only one veto is necessary to stop a motion and isn’t restricted to inter-community disputes but can be used elsewhere. According to the report, changes reinforcing the mechanism were rushed through by the dup and sinn fein in July. Dublin have questioned sinn fein’s directive.

Apart from shared objections to covid restrictions, both the dup and sinn fein reportedly wrote a letter to the european commission asking for a mitigation of paperwork for food at ports. The answer was no. The house of lords has rejected clauses in the so called internal markets bill which acknowledge eu border protocol.

Nato, the north atlantic treaty organisation reportedly implements the north atlantic treaty of 1949 which states that member nations must not threaten or use force against u.n. forces or their allies. Described as an international alliance of thirty states; the use of the word state rather than country implies a suzeraine relationship or hierarchy. The chairman of the committee is chief marshal of the royal airforce, and members consist of the u.s., Canada and 28 european countries. All members reportedly have armies except Iceland who are believed to allocate a small number of specialists for unspecified jobs.

Nato began with said to be 12 founding members. As the years passed, more joined. Only three members are nuclear weapon states. The u.s., France and the u.k.

Reported nato forums believed to be for interaction with member states and others include as called Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and the Euro- Atlantic Partnership Council. Partnership for peace was reportedly launched in 1993/4. According to one source the focus was eastern europe, possibly with membership in mind. According to nato the objective was and is training on all levels.

Mediterranean Dialogue focuses on the middle east and north Africa and is thought to have seven members including Israel who were involved in as called Operation Active Endeavour; maritime operations in the middle east, now replaced by the u.k lead as named Operation Sea Guardian. Reportedly involving the prohibition of oil exports according to u.n. sanctions. An additional report is that as of April 2020 the u.n. issued an arms embargo and an oil export prohibition to Libya: Programs were signed with Egypt and Jordan. No details.

The as called Euro-Atlantic partnership council has fifty members including Ireland and reportedly works alongside mediterranean dialogue. Said to be a sucessor to the north Atlantic cooperation council, the first meeting of which was hosted for eastern european nations and the ussr in December 1991. According to one report, during the meeting the soviet ambassador relayed a message that the ussr was dissolving and would cease to exist.

Another initiative is the as called Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe which reportedly employs over 3000 people in various institutions globally and is involved with governments, human rights organisations, the press and elections. According to nato, seven more members joined from an as described Baltic Vilnius group and seven eastern european countries in 2004.

The reported budget for 2019 was set at €1.67 billion. Figures were, the u.s. paid over 22%, Germany 14.76% and the u.k. and France around 10%.

The reported conflict zone of Artsach or Nagorno Karabach spans Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former states of the Soviet union. Some sources say Azerbaijani intellectuals colonised the area during the Russian era. The u.n. are believed to be supporting Azerbaijan. A reported enforced truce has resulted in Armenian anger and aggression. An Artsach Armenian interviewed on tv was worried about being displaced. The main deal according to one source is for a so called land corridor including Shushi, to Azerbaijan. According to the report the u.n. expect Azerbaijanis to repopulate districts which they are believed to have fled during a former conflict beginning in the late 80’s, when reportedly Azerbaijanis and Armenians fell out about which country they were a part of.

The u.s. are seemingly adhering to extensive sanctions on Iran, said to be because of their nuclear program. The implications are that the u.s. are distancing themselves from the u.n. though they are not. According to reports they police unpopular mandates such as crippling sanctions on poor countries.

Epidemics in 19th and 20th Century Ireland are the probable cause of mass graves. According to a report, regular and lethal outbreaks of cholera sprung up in Ireland during the 19th Century. Various outbreaks around the country were reportedly blamed on British soldiers who had previously been stationed in India. Resulted in many deaths, one conservative estimate was that 30,000 died.

Workhouses existed because of evictions and for those who had fallen on hard times. A member of the British gentry reported on one 19th Century Mayo workhouse as being in a constant state of extreme poverty. Thousands lived there including children. The reporter witnessed a burial which he described. Two children had died two days before and were being buried in the grounds by two young men. Two others were present, possibly parents. No ceremony. Possibly infected with cholera or typhus.

The Spanish flu pandemic reportedly began in 1918 and on reaching Ireland was thought to have infected 800,000 individuals resulting in 20,000 deaths. A possible cause of the fatalities in Tuam and other mother and baby homes. Reports were that skeletons were found in the grounds of Tuam, and the remains of 222 children from the Bethany home were found in an unmarked grave. Probably infected by Spanish flu or/and another epidemic. Tuberculosis was reported to be the leading cause of infant death in 1930’s Ireland.

Reportedly there is a delay in the issuing of 2,500 felling licences which is creating a crisis in the wood industry. The Irish Farmers Association say the immediate issuing of licences will rectify the situation. The present target time for the issuing of licences is believed to be four months.

Felling can be done sensitively, that is with balance in mind. Much of Mayo’s woods for instance are too crowded for the trees to develop. Wood is a very clean and therefore environmental fuel and can be sustainable. Eight thousand hectares of new forestry is planned for this year according to Ireland’s environmental policies.

According to a report Armenians are losing the fight for Artsakh, named Nagoma-Karabach by Turkish backed Azerbaijan forces who are thought to have moved forward and taken the city of Shushi. Reportedly Turkey are talking with Russia, believed by some to concern a peace keeping mission with the intent of creating a conflict free zone.