According to reports, parliamentary elections will be held on April 3 in Hungary. Reportedly, Viktor Orban has served as prime minister since 2010. According to the report, between 2010-20 Hungary dropped 69 places in the press freedom index, as a result in 2019 his party, Fidesz was suspended from the European people’s party. Reportedly, in March 2021 Fidesz left the european people’s party in a dispute over the rule of law.
Deal or no deal?
According to a report, the us special envoy for Iran said he was in the middle east to talk to Saudi Arabia about the joint comprehensive plan of action or Iran nuclear deal. Reportedly, Riyadh and Tehran ended diplomatic ties in 2016 when Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran was stormed following the execution of a shia leader. According to reports, the two countries stand on opposite sides in the war in Yemen where a Saudi coalition has been fighting the Iran supported Houthi movement since 2014.
According to a report, the u.s., who are seemingly very attached to the 2015 joint plan of action are not dealing with Iran directly. Reportedly, Iran is in negotiations with other members of the u.n. security council.
According to reports, the jcpa which intends to curb Iran’s military program and supplies the u.s. with uranium doesn’t really deal with the previous threat of a nuclear attack on Israel. Reportedly, in 2007 Israel was building air raid shelters.
Compromise
According to a report, the president of Ukraine said he wanted a compromise with Russia over the Donbas region. Reportedly, russians appear to have scaled back ambitions in Ukraine to concentrate on Donbas, though uk military intelligence said air bombardments are likely to continue in the short term. According to the report, the next round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place in Turkey starting Tuesday. Reportedly, the ukrainian president said there could be a quick end to this conflict if president Putin would meet him face to face.
Northern Ireland protocol
According to a report, talks regarding northern Ireland protocol
between the secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs of the uk and the European commission vice president have stalled, though there are currently ongoing talks between the uk and eu on ways to reduce red tape.
Reportedly, the foreign secretary is in favour of invoking article 16 which would be a precursor to a new negotiating mandate. According to the report, the uk government have suggested they are reluctant to deepen the dispute due to the war in Ukraine. Reportedly, northern Ireland elections are scheduled for May.
Electronic visa requirement
According to a report, following a proposal for an electronic visa requirement for uk or non irish people crossing the northern Ireland border, mp’s at Westminster voted for a u.s. style visa waiver. Reportedly, the irish minister for foreign affairs said he was looking for an exemption for british and non irish people who are resident in Ireland. According to the report, the british northern Ireland secretary said, ‘no one is going to be stopped at the border’. Reportedly, the sinn féin leader said the electronic visa proposal would create a disgraceful situation and undermine the Belfast agreement.
Safety and environmental concerns regarding nuclear electricity
According to reports, the u.s. president’s four day trip to europe to strengthen resolve, particularly with regard to sanctions ended with a visit to Poland. Reportedly, there is strong disagreement about imposing sanctions on russian gas and oil. According to reports, the u.s. president said european nations should end their dependence on russian gas supplies and wean off fossil fuels. Reportedly, the u.s. are heavily involved in nuclear electricity. According to reports, concerns are of safety and the environmental impact. According to a report, the eu have agreed to a quantity of shipments of u.s. gas.
Russian losses 15,600
According to a report, 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine. Reportedly, ten humanitarian corridors are open today, Saturday. According to a report, protests erupted when russian troops arrived in the northern city of Slavutych. Reportedly, ukrainians have staged a counter offensive around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city. According to the report, russian shelling has hit military targets in three areas, and east and west suburbs of Kyiv.
Reportedly, according to Ukraine up to seven russian generals have been killed. According to the report, Ukraine have a military intelligence team dedicated to targeting Russia’s officer class. Reportedly, the russian military have said they are now concentrating on winning full control of the Donbas region. According to a report, as of March 23 russian losses were 15,600.
Truce in Ethiopia
According to reports, the prime minister of Ethiopia has declared a surprise truce, saying he hoped the move would ease humanitarian access to Tigray. Reportedly, tigrayan militants have agreed to a cessation of hostilities and urged the ethiopian government to send emergency aid to Tigray where hundreds of thousands are on the verge of starvation.
According to the report, the conflict erupted in November 2020 when the ethiopian prime minister sent troops into a Tigray to topple the Tigray people’s liberation front in response to attacks on army camps. Reportedly, Ethiopia was the largest contributor to as called u.n. peace keeping troops in Africa, many serving in Darfur which became a subject of controversy.
Ukraine wishes to discuss ceasefire
According to a report, the president of Ukraine has repeated he was ready to have a meeting with the russian president to discuss terms of a ceasefire and end the war. According to the report, a ukrainian presidential adviser said on Thursday morning that the front line was practically frozen. He said many russian troops lack the resources to be on the offensive, leading to a slowdown in hostilities. Reportedly, Russia have taken heavy casualties and are running low on supplies. According to the report, ukrainian forces destroyed a russian ship named the Orsk, near the occupied port of Berdyansk. Reportedly, it was large enough to carry 45 tanks and 400 people.
According to the report, in the part of Mariupol captured by russians, a grass area between charred apartment buildings has become a makeshift graveyard. Reportedly, trucks arrived with food supplies and hundreds of people, many elderly emerged to queue in silence while russians distributed boxes.
According to the report, the u.s. president said he is committed to identifying additional equipment, including air defence systems to help Ukraine. Reportedly, u.s. sanctions have extended to include members of the russian parliament and military contractors such as wagner.
According to a report, the eu imports 90% of its natural gas, used to generate electricity, heat homes and drive industry. Reportedly, russia supplies almost 40% of eu gas and a quarter of its oil. According to the report, the eu is looking to diversify suppliers.
Grain shortage
According to reports, Russia, Canada, the u.s. and France are the world’s largest wheat exporters. Reportedly, millions of tons of wheat and corn has been earmarked for export by June, but russian forces have blocked the ports.
According to a report, the availability of wheat is of particular concern in east Africa. Reportedly, Russia and Ukraine supply 100% of Eritrea’s wheat and almost 90% of Kenya’s wheat imports, the trend is similar in other countries in the region.