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According to reports, local elections were held on May 18 in northern Ireland, turnout was 55%. Reportedly, Sinn fein are the leading party with 102 councillors in place by Saturday morning, the dup have 85, alliance 41, Ulster unionists 34, the social democratic and labour party 24 and 19 others.

Thoughts of a united Ireland may reoccur as the tv cameras showed the vice president of Sinn fein together with the president of Sinn fein in the south. But what kind of united Ireland? Michelle O’Neill is deputy first minister inspite of Sinn fein being the leading party in the 2019 general election, and the dup have stopped the northern Ireland executive in favour of Britain due to eu border protocol.

According to a report, the greek parliamentary election is scheduled for 21 May. Reportedly, the ruling conservative New Democracy party who currently hold 158 of 300 seats have promised to build on tax cuts delivered in its first term, achieve 3% annual growth, boost foreign investment and cut unemployment to less than 8%.

According to the report, the main opposition Syriza party want to increase wages and pensions, cap profits in the energy sector, reduce weekly working hours, protect minority rights and abolish Greece’s bank research fund, a loan fund.

Reportedly, the Pasok-Kinal party or movement for change are pushing for a movement away from coal and natural gas.

According to a report, Jerusalem is one of the poorest cities in Israel with 42% of residents living under the poverty line, double the national average. Reportedly, 60% of the city’s muslim residents live under the poverty line compared with 31% israelis, the israeli poverty rate is 43% in the orthodox community. According to the report, despite efforts to persuade israelis to live in eastern Jerusalem, ethnic makeup has remained similar to when under Jordanian rule, israelis generally live in western Jerusalem.

Reportedly, the two parts of the city are distinct in character. According to the report, when Israel reunited Jerusalem in 1967 it granted the residents of eastern Jerusalem permanent residency, they are eligible to apply for citizenship. Reportedly, they are entitled to vote in municipal elections but less than 1% do, consequently of the city council’s 32 members not one is muslim.

According to reports, partnership for peace is a nato program aimed at creating trust between nato and various countries, including post soviet countries. Nineteen countries have membership. Reportedly, the program asserts areas of cooperation, especially military cooperation, training and relations with civilian government.

According to a report, the program was launched in 1994 following the failure of the north Atlantic cooperation council, established after the dissolution of the soviet union in 1991 as a forum for cooperation with ex soviet states.

Jerusalem day is celebrated on May 19. Reportedly, it celebrates the day Jerusalem was reunited with Israel in 1967. According to reports, under foreign occupation Israelis were barred from the temple. Reportedly, 1967 saw the return of jewish prayer rights to the western wall, the only surviving original wall of the temple Jesus frequented. The temple had become a mosque, Israelis gave palestinians the key.

According to reports, Jerusalem day has been taken over by extremists rather than by promoters of peace and co-existence in Israel.

According to reports, the 49th g7 summit will be held in Hiroshima from May 19-21. Reportedly, participants are the uk, u.s., Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the eu plus invited guests from nine countries. Mainly focusing on the global economy, pressure is put on participants to switch to nuclear electricity, termed green electricity though it is the most pollutant form of power.

According to reports, on Tuesday morning Ukraine repelled a russian offensive with newly boosted air defence, the american patriot air defence missile. Reportedly, Kyiv was the main target. According to a report, air defence forces shot down all 8 russian missiles including hypersonic missiles, said to be ten times faster than the speed of light, and nine drones.

Reportedly, the latest russian attack came as the president of Ukraine completed a tour of western europe to advocate for more air defence and fighter jets. According to reports, only $6 billion of the original $48 billion u.s. aid package approved in December remains. Reportedly, the u.s. who currently have two iron dome batteries would need Israel’s permission to send an iron dome system to Ukraine. According to a report, Israel have been reluctant to provide Ukraine with weapons and have been criticised by Kyiv for sending diplomats to Moscow.

According to a report, a planned ukrainian counter offensive has been delayed though members of new brigades were said to be ready, some having received training abroad. Reportedly, expectations for the new counter offensive have been very high, and according to a senior ukrainian analyst at the international crisis group it would be a good thing if president Zelenskyy tries to tone down expectations.

According to the report, on May 9 the u.s. secretary of state said Ukraine had everything needed for the operation, including equipment and soldiers trained in the west, and said it was up to the armed forces command to draw up a plan for success. Reportedly, the international crisis group said it was not just a military supplies issue but an industrial issue.

According to a report, the israeli home front command relaxed restrictions on southern Israel following a ceasefire reached on Saturday night between the palestinian islamic jihad and Israel, though rocket attacks may have continued. Reportedly,there were from 1100 rockets launched since Wednesday.

According to the report, an objective of Israel’s is keeping hamas out of the fight. Reportedly, a long article in the iranian news site Tasnim provided a list of threats to Israel from Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Judea, Samaria, at sea and in other parts of the middle east. According to a report, iranian strategists see the public protests surrounding judicial reform as a sign of weakness, though the right to protest is a freedom.

According to reports, vote counting is underway to determine the next president of Turkey. Reportedly, the challenger to Recep Erdoğan’s twenty year leadership is Kemal Kiliçdaroğlu, a candidate chosen by a united opposition and the predicted leader in a pre election poll. According to a report, with almost 99% of the votes counted, apart from those luving abroad neither candidate has the 50% necessary to win outright. Reportedly, there may be a second election on 28 May.

According to a report, negotiations for Turkey to join the eu came to a standstill in June 2018. Reportedly, Turkey’s operations in Cyprus and in the Libyan and Syrian conflicts as western allies has exacerbated tensions due to what has been described as democratic and rule of law issues. According to a report, Turkey’s relations with nato have become problematic due to their opposing of russian sanctions, though Turkey who sent drones to Ukraine tried to help in peace negotiations.