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Palestinians in one of the only Gaza cities not overrun by Israeli ground forces during the war will vote this weekend in municipal elections that will feature some pro-Hamas candidates, offering a rare barometer of the militant group’s popularity. The vote in Deir al-Balah is part of Palestinian Authority municipal elections that Palestinians have cast as a display of national unity against a US plan for Gaza that they believe intends to entrench their separation from the occupied West Bank. It will be Gaza’s first vote of any kind since 2006, when Hamas won the PA’s legislative elections and later seized control of Gaza following a brief civil war with PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, dominant in the West Bank. The polls will be the fifth municipal elections in the West Bank since 2005. In January, the PA said it would extend those elections to Gaza “wherever possible”, a move analysts see as a symbolic effort to show Gaza remains part of a future Palestinian state. For Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, including Adham Al-Bardini, the vote on Saturday marks an opportunity for political expression after the Hamas-led storming of Israel that sparked two-year assault on Gaza. “For the first time in my life, in 20 years, I will have this feeling. I have been hearing about elections since I was born but because of the circumstances no elections are done,” said Al-Bardini, 34.“We are eager to take (part) so we can change the reality imposed on us.” In Deir al-Balah, large banners bearing the logos of rival candidate lists decorate the streets. Voting will be held in 12 polling centres including open fields and tents. Fareed Taamallah, spokesman for the PA Central Elections Commission, said roughly 70,000 Palestinians were eligible to vote in Deir al-Balah, a city he said was chosen because it suffered less damage than the rest of the largely ruined territory. Four lists are fielding candidates in the election, including one that has several candidates who residents and analysts regard as pro-Hamas. Hamas has not explicitly fielded a list or endorsed any candidate, citing disagreements with Abbas over a PA decree that requires candidates to accept terms including recognition of Israel. Other factions are also boycotting the vote, meaning Fatah is expected to sweep larger city councils in the West Bank. But despite its official boycott of the vote, Hamas “may be betting on winning in this election” and could use pro-Hamas candidates’ performance to gauge its popularity, said Hani Al-Masri, a West Bank political analyst. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group would respect the election results. Sources in the group told Reuters that it will deploy police and security forces to secure voting sites. Hamas reasserted control of Deir al-Balah and other areas in a stretch of Gaza’s coast from which Israeli forces withdrew under an October 2025 ceasefire. Israel retains control of more than 53% of Gaza. Some public opinion polling shows Hamas remains popular in Gaza and the West Bank, despite the devastation wrought by the war. In Gaza, an October 2025 poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 41% of Palestinians there support Hamas, followed by 29% for Fatah. The vote comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” pushes a plan for Gaza’s future that would see the territory rebuilt from scratch under the administration of an apolitical committee of Palestinian technocrats. The plan calls on Hamas to hand over Gaza governance to the committee as it lays down its weapons and Israeli forces withdraw from the Strip. Hamas has so far rejected disarmament, accusing Israel of failing to abide by the October ceasefire. The plan notably does not mention the West Bank, which, along with the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have long sought for a future state, and where the PA exercises limited self-rule. Palestinian political analyst Reham Owda said the municipal elections were “a symbolic step to send a message to the world, to the Board of Peace, and to Israel that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the Palestinian political system.” For 25-year-old Abdul-Rahman Al-Shaaf, the vote, even at the local level, offers an opportunity to rebuild lives after conflict. Source link
President of the Olympic Council of Asia HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani met with State Councilor of China Shen Yiqin, in the presence of Chinese Olympic Committee President and Minister of Sport Gao Qidan to enhance cooperation between the two sides. The meeting focused on strengthening strategic partnerships to support the Asian Olympic Movement, boost its international presence, and expand collaboration in hosting major sporting events across Asia. The OCA president expressed appreciation for China’s efforts in hosting the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, praising the high level of organisation and readiness, reflecting the country’s growing global sporting stature. Discussions also highlighted China’s increasing focus on sport and its ambition to host events at all levels, reinforcing its role as a key partner in advancing the Asian Olympic Movement. The meeting was attended by First Vice President of the OCA Timothy Fok Tsun-ting; Vice President of the OCA, Otabek Umarov; Vice President of the OCA, Norza Zakaria; Director General of the OCA, Husain Al-Musallam; and Head of the Office of the OCA President and Director of International Relations, Sheikh Faisal bin Ahmed al-Thani. This meeting comes as part of the OCA’s efforts to strengthen relations with member countries and support initiatives that advance Asian sport and promote unity across nations. Source link
An Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, bombings in Beirut, massive displacement and rising sectarian friction. The year is 2026, but for those who lived through Lebanon’s civil war five decades ago, it may as well be the 1970s.Lebanese who fought in the 1975-1990 war or documented it as journalists told Reuters they feel echoes of the intercommunal tensions and violence they witnessed then, and see a risk of renewed fighting among Lebanese. The latest war that erupted on March 2 between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has deepened enmity between the Iran-backed group and its domestic opponents, pushing Lebanon’s fragile state and society towards breaking point. A short-term ceasefire is meant to allow for peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, with the US to host a second round of talks on Thursday. But it is also sharpening the divide between the government and Hezbollah, which is firmly opposed to such negotiations.Lebanon’s civil war erupted in April 1975 when sectarian and economic tensions boiled over into clashes between Christian gunmen and Palestinian fighters, then expanded to draw in other communities and countries. Around one million people fled their homes, a figure the most recent conflict, with 1.2 million displaced, has already surpassed. Beirut became a battleground. Israel invaded in 1978, occupying a strip of southern Lebanon similar to the territory it has just reoccupied. From 1976-2005 Syria deployed troops to Lebanon — an idea that was floated to Damascus last year. Ziad Saab, 68, squinted as he read a handwritten letter he received in 1981 from a friend on the frontline, detailing Israeli bombardment on some of the same southern villages Israel recently struck.”This letter could be written today,” said Saab, who fought alongside Lebanon’s Communist Party at the time and now heads Fighters for Peace, an organization founded by former combatants. Internal divisions underpinning Lebanon’s civil war were never reconciled, he said, warning Lebanese against turning on each other.”Don’t repeat our experience. Because you’ll be surprised where it will take you,” Saab said, speaking to Reuters at his home in Beirut. “We ripped the country apart.” For Saab, the bombardments of April 8, when rapid Israel strikes across Lebanon killed more than 300 people, “basically brought back the scenes of the whole civil war in seconds”.Hezbollah was founded in 1982 at the civil war’s peak and was the only group to retain arms after it ended. After Israel withdrew in 2000, Hezbollah expanded its arsenal and deepened its sway over Lebanon’s government. Internal clashes broke out in 2008 and 2021.But after a 2024 war with Israel badly weakened Hezbollah, a new Lebanese government backed by the U.S. vowed to disarm it. Lebanese troops began to confiscate its arms gradually, fearing a confrontation if they seized Hezbollah’s arsenal by force. When Hezbollah fired into Israel on March 2 in support of Iran, some Lebanese blamed it for pulling the country into a new conflict. Some also blamed the wider Shi’ite community, from which Hezbollah draws its popular support. Meanwhile, Shi’ite Muslims, who have borne the brunt of wars with Israel and see Hezbollah as their only defence, have criticised the state for failing to protect them. Several Shi’ites displaced by Israeli strikes told Reuters they saw Lebanon’s top officials as “traitors”. Patrick Baz, a Lebanese photographer, said divisions among Lebanese youth made a new internal conflict possible, citing scenes of armed Christian men, angry at Hezbollah over the war, firing in the air during a funeral of a Christian politician killed in an Israeli strike this month. Baz, who learned the craft in the civil war’s early days and spent his adulthood documenting it, pointed to universities, often a microcosm of broader political tensions. “I’m sure if you go to universities today and you tell them to carry guns and go and fire at your political opponents or someone you don’t like, they will do it,” he said.Last week’s announcement of a temporary ceasefire brought welcome respite after more than five weeks of Israeli strikes that killed nearly 2,300 people.But the deal leaves key issues unaddressed. It neither requires Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanon nor explicitly demands Hezbollah’s disarmament. It sets Beirut on track for peace talks with Israel, fiercely opposed by some Lebanese across sectarian divides.A diplomat working on Lebanon described the text as a “detailed recipe for internal confrontation.”Rafic Bazerji, a senior figure in a Lebanese Christian armed group during the civil war, said deals that don’t have “a good foundation” are doomed to reignite tensions, citing the Taif Agreement which ended the civil war but was never fully implemented, and the government’s unfinished plan to disarm Hezbollah.Bazerji now owns a guesthouse in the mountains southeast of Beirut and heads the Latin League in Lebanon, which represents Latin Christians, one of the country’s many religious groups.He taught his two adult sons to shoot and sees a young generation that could take up arms.”As much as we were, in our days, fanatics and we were excited to fight, I’m seeing today a new generation that is scary. We’re kids compared to them,” he told Reuters.Lebanese were worried about reliving the 1975-1990 war, when around 150,000 were killed, he added, but splits over Hezbollah, Israel and other key issues could tip into violence.”In the end, if we can avoid it, we avoid it. But if the razor reaches our throats, we’re also not going to take it lying down,” Bazerji said. Related Story Source link
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A Palestinian was martyred and three others were wounded today as a result of Israeli occupation forces shelling Khan Younis in Gaza.Palestinian medical sources reported that one Palestinian was killed and three others were wounded when the Al Maslakh area, south of Khan Younis, was targeted by an Israeli drone, amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.Since the ceasefire was declared October 2025, 786 Palestinians have been killed and about 220 others have been wounded. Source link
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that the United States will not dictate the terms of the upcoming trade talks with his country, but rather that they will be based on serious negotiations between the two parties.The US and Canada are set to meet soon to discuss a revision to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The US had reportedly asked Canada to make concessions so the two sides could hold talks. This came on the back of previous negotiations that failed to yield a breakthrough.Washington had imposed tariffs on key sectors of the Canadian economy, but kept more than 85 percent of the trade volume between the two countries tariff-free, under the free trade agreement.Washington announced that it is seeking to make substantial changes to the agreement during the upcoming review rounds, which are expected to intensify after Jul. 1. Source link
Newly appointed Home Minister Sudan Gurung poses for a picture after taking oath at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building in Kathmandu. (Reuters/File Photo) Nepal’s home minister stepped down Wednesday over growing criticism of his finances, the second member of the cabinet to leave the new government just weeks after it was formed.Sudan Gurung, a key figure in the Gen-Z protests in September that toppled Nepal’s previous government, said he was leaving his post ensure a “fair investigation”.”For me, morality is greater than a position and there is no greater power than public trust… Public life should be clean, leadership should be accountable,” said 38-year-old Gurung, who took office on March 27.Gurung is the second minister to leave the new government after the labour minister Deepak Kumar Sah was dismissed over allegations of committing misconduct by getting his wife appointed to a health insurance board.Dipa Dahal, press adviser to Prime Minister Balendra Shah, confirmed Gurung’s resignation had been received.Gurung participated in the deadly protests that began as a demonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider grievances over corruption and a poor economy.At least 76 people were killed and more than 2,500 wounded during the two days of violence in September.In January, Gurung joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and won a seat in parliament after the party swept to a landslide victory in the March elections.Gurung made headlines a day after taking his oath of office for arresting former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak for their alleged involvement in the deadly crackdown on protesters in September.’Impartial’ probe But soon he himself was beset by allegations over his financial investments and assets, as well as links with a businessman being investigated for money laundering.Last week, Shah and his cabinet disclosed their assets to the public, in line with local laws requiring lawmakers to declare their financial status.Soon after the disclosure, local media reported that Gurung had not revealed some of his financial investments.At least two Nepali websites published a government-stamped document that listed Gurung as an investor in a company that he did not specifically name in his disclosures.Gurung claimed that he had lumped his investments together in the disclosure documents.Public pressure had since been mounting on the government to investigate Gurung.The opposition Nepali Congress said it would not be possible to carry out an impartial probe if Gurung remained in his position.”It is natural that there will be doubt over direct or indirect influence over the investigation process,” it said in a statement on Monday, calling for an “independent and impartial” probe.On Monday, Gurung dismissed the allegations as “rumours” and denied withholding information regarding his investments.”I would just like to say that accusations and truth are not the same thing. Decisions should be based on evidence, not emotion,” he said on social media.Earlier this month, the government formed a five-member commission led by a former Supreme Court judge to investigate the assets of politicians and officials.The commission was a part of the government’s 100-point reform agenda issued after Shah took office to tackle corruption in the Himalayan nation.Nepal currently ranks 109th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Related Story…
Filipina star Alexandra Eala enjoyed a strong start to her Madrid Open campaign Wednesday, moving past Russian qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round at the event for the third straight year.The 44th-ranked lefty needed one hour and 31 minutes to dismiss Pavlyuchenkova, who was a semi-finalist in the Spanish capital in 2021.The 34-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, a former French Open runner-up currently ranked 116 in the world, is 0-6 in tour-level main draw matches so far this season.Eala saved all four break points she faced and broke Pavlyuchenkova twice in a tightly-contested 54-minute opening set.The 20-year-old phenom briefly lost her advantage in the second set but swept eight points in a row to regain her lead and book a clash with 19th seed Elise Mertens.’I feel really great. I love Madrid, it's an amazing tournament,’ said Eala, who has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for almost eight years.’Every time I come here, I feel very comfortable, I feel like I'm at home.’Pavlyuchenkova, who was playing with a heavily-strapped right upper thigh, committed close to 40 unforced errors in what was her first meeting with Eala.’Every match at this level is a battle, all of us players we fight until the end and she's been on the tour for many years. So I'm really happy with this win. She's a great player and I'm really happy to be in the next round,’ Eala added.In ATP action at the Caja Magica, 2021 Madrid finalist Matteo Berrettini crashed out to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 6-3, 6-4.’It's definitely a big thing for me and it's a pleasure to share the court with him,’ said the 20-year-old former Roland Garros junior champion. Prizmic will next take on American fourth seed Ben Shelton.Meanwhile, former US Open champion Marin Cilic claimed his first Madrid Open win since 2022 with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 performance against world number 44 Zizou Bergs.It was the 37-year-old Croatian's first top-50 victory on clay in four years and it earned him a second-round meeting with Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca. Source link