Author: yreape

According to reports, Ursula Van Leyen’s European people’s party won the most votes in the European election. Reportedly, in France Marine Le Pen’s anti immigration National rally party won double the votes of Emmanuel Macron’s Alliance party, he has dissolved parliament and called for a national election to be held later this month though his presidency will run for 3 more years, whatever the result.

According to a report, the European people’s party of which Fine gael is a member won 189 seats and Renew of which Fianna fail is a member won 80 seats, a decrease of 20. Reportedly, in Germany the eurosceptic and anti immigration Alternative for Deutschland usurped Olaf Scholz’s Social democrats.

According to a report, with almost all votes counted the African national congress party who needed 50% of votes to form a government have only received 40% and will have to share power. Reportedly, the Democratic alliance received 22% of votes, the uMkhonto we sizwe (mk) party led by former president Jacob Zuma 15% and the Economic freedom fighters party (eff) 9%. According to the report, since south Africa’s first election in 1994 which saw Nelson Mandella become president the anc always won 50% of the vote but support for the party has dropped seemingly because of corruption, unemployment and crime.

Reportedly, the anc said that any coalition partner would have to agree to the national health care insurance bill which promises health care to all south africans and prohibits taking out private health insurance for any treatments paid for by the fund. According to the report, the da are ìn favour of an economy that treats the private sector as partners. Reportedly, the eff and the mk party advocate seizing white owned land while the leader of the da said a coalition with these parties would result in the same policies that destroyed Zimbabwe and Venezuela.

According to the report, 70 parties and 11 independents ran in the election and the da has signed a possible coalition pact with 10 of them but does not include the eff or mk who would be needed to form a majority.

According to a report, a new israeli proposal submitted by mediators based in Qatar is being considered by hamas. Reportedly, the 3 part proposal would begin with a 6 week ceasefire, an isreali withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza. 600 trucks of humanitarian aid entering Gaza per day and an exchange of hostages and palestinian prisoners, eventually leading to the remains of deceased hostages returning to Israel and a reconstruction plan for Gaza.

According to a report, israeli officials said hamas have 6 remaining battalions in Gaza, 4 in Rafah and 2 in central Gaza in the Nuseirat and Deir al Balah camps. Reportedly, the isreali defence force said they were conducting targeted airstrikes against hamas in Rafah, 26 people have been killed. Reportedly, israeli tanks have entered Rafah but appear to be limited in scope according to an egyptian official.

According to the report, the idf have asked residents of Rafah to evacuate where 3 of hamas’s battalions are situated. Reportedly, flyers announced the expansion of the humanitarian zone at al-Mawasi and warned civilians not to approach the borders with Israel or Egypt.

According to a report, hamas launched a rocket attack killing 3 israeli soldiers near the Karem shalom crossing, one of the main crossings for delivering aid into Gaza. Reportedly, according to the israeli defence force 10 missiles were fired from near Rafah.

According to the report, israeli strikes on Rafah have killed 12 people. Reportedly, the idf are using media, posters, phone calls and texts to ask civilians to move to a designated humanitarian area. According to the report, they have expanded the humanitarian zone at al Mawasi to include field hospitals and tents.

Reportedly, there has been no progress via talks in Cairo but discussions resume on Monday.

According to a report, a russian bomber jet has been shot down over Donetsk. Reportedly, Russia said they have taken control of the town of Ocheretyne, Donetsk.

According to the report, the institute for the study of war said Russia have advanced near Arkhanelske, the latest in a series of villages west of Avdiivka. Reportedly, Ukraine said they have destroyed 23 out of 24 russian drones. According to the report, Russia launched several attacks on and near Kharkiv.

According to a report, the Geneva conventions say that combatants who are out of combat for reasons such as surrender, injury or capture are no longer lawful targets for attack. Reportedly, the u.n. said they were told that atleast 32 ukrainian prisoners of war had been executed. According to the report, in March the u.n. said that ukrainian prisoners of war were subject to repeated beatings, electric shocks and mock executions.

Reportedly, according to the u.s. based human rights watch, footage shows 15 surrendering ukrainian soldiers were killed since December 2023. According to the report, they asked for 5 incidents of executions to be investigated as war crimes. Reportedly, hrw said drone footage posted on social media in December and February showed surrendering ukrainian soldiers being shot by russian troops. According to the report, in the village of Ivanivski, Donetsk footage shows atleast 7 ukrainian soldiers removing their weapons and facing down, 5 russian soldiers shot them. Reportedly, hrw were able to differentiate between the troops because ukrainian soldiers wear blue tape on their arms, russians wear white or red.

According to a report, atleast 9 people including 7 children were killed in an attack on a displacement camp in the Democratic republic of Congo. Reportedly, the drc’s army and m23 blamed each other for the attack. According to reports, the March 23 movement abbreviated m23 is made up of tutsis and operates in the mineral rich eastern region. Reportedly, their rebellion against the congolese government led to the displacement of many. According to the report, in 2012 m23 took control of Goma, an important city in the eastern region but drc and u.n. troops advanced and they called a truce.

Reportedly, Rwanda which borders drc was accused of supporting m23, and the u.s. has blamed the Rwandan army and m23 for the strike. According to the report, a spokesman for the congolese army said the attack was retaliation for an earlier drc attack on the rwandan army. Reportedly, following heavy fighting with government troops, this week m23 said they had taken the town of Rubaya. According to the report, drc is the world’s second largest producer of coltan, mostly coming from Rubaya; coltan is an essential ingredient in mobile phones and electric vehicles.

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According to a report, talks are going ahead on Saturday in order for a ceasefire and the return of hostages. Reportedly, hamas are said to be deciding on the latest innitiative, whether the ceasefire would be permanent or temporary is an issue. According to the report, hamas insists that a ceasefire means an end to the war but Israel will not agree while hamas are active in Gaza.

According to a report, three indians have been arrested and charged with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar whom the indian government have accused of murdering a priest. Reportedly, canadian police arrested the three in Alberta, they had been living in Canada for 3-5 years. According to the report, police say there may be others involved with the killing and investigations are ongoing.

Reportedly, Mr Nijjar was a sikh seperatist who campaigned for the creation of an independent sikh homeland in the Punjab region. According to the report, his friends said he was warned by canadian intelligence that there had been threats on his life. Reportedly, the prime minister of Canada said there were credible allegations potentially linking the indian state to the killing.