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  The central Gaza city is gearing up for a historic municipal election, but residents say they want tangible solutions, not political slogans. Residents of Gaza’s Deir el-Balah are heading to the polls on Saturday for the territory’s first municipal elections in more than two decades, hoping to restore local governance while still reeling from Israel’s devastating war. The central city was selected as a testing ground for a revival of the democratic process because it sustained less infrastructural damage than other areas in the besieged enclave. Nevertheless, the scars of  Israel’s genocidal war  there are stark. In December 2024, Israeli forces bombed the Deir el-Balah municipality building, killing then-Mayor Diab al-Jarou and 10 staff members as they worked to provide essential services for displaced Palestinians. The deadly attack was carried out despite the Israeli military having designated the city as a “safe zone”. Today, the Palestinian Central Elections Commis...

Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final. A US envoy has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup this summer, despite Italy's failure to qualify. US special envoy Paolo Zampolli said he made the request as it would be a "dream" to see four-time World Cup winners Italy at the final tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada. "I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA President Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup," Zampolli told the FT. "I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion," he added. Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final. Iran's participation in the Worl...

  The two-month-long impasse over the €90 billion for Ukraine came to an end on Thursday after Hungary lifted its contentious veto. Brussels says the first payment will be made "as soon as possible". The European Union has given final approval to the €90 billion loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its veto, ending an explosive saga that saw Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in his last months in office, push the bloc's internal norms to the breaking point. The internal procedure  was launched  by ambassadors on Wednesday and finalised on Thursday. No objections were raised, and the last pending regulation, which needs unanimity to amend the EU budget, was approved. The sought-after breakthrough came two days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that  the Druzhba pipeline , which carries cheap Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, had been repaired and could resume operations. The interruption of oil flows through Druzhba was at the core of Orbán's deci...

  Due to Greece and Malta's concerns, the full ban on maritime services will be left on hold pending an agreement at the G7 level. The US, however, is going in the opposite direction by providing sanctions relief to Russia. The European Union agreed on Thursday to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia after Hungary and Slovakia lifted their respective vetoes over an unrelated dispute with Ukraine involving the Druzhba oil pipeline, which is now repaired. However, the centrepiece of the long-stalled package – a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers – was left on hold pending an agreement by the G7, significantly dampening the economic impact of the bloc's latest move. The ban is meant to prohibit EU companies from providing any type of service, such as insurance, shipping or port access, to vessels carrying Russian crude oil. In practice,  it will replace the G7 price cap , which allowed servicing under certain conditions. Sweden and Finland took the le...

  The former Shah's son is in Germany to drum up support for his global campaign to overthrow Iran's leadership. During a speech in the capital, he called the German government's refusal to meet with him "a disgrace." Reza Pahlavi, the  exiled son of Iran's former Shah , urged European governments not to appease Iran's leadership, saying continuing to negotiate would only keep the current power system in place. "If you think you can make peace with this regime, you are sorely mistaken," he said during a press conference in Berlin on Thursday. "There will never be stability, even if a watered-down version of this system survives."  Europe faces a choice   "between a dying regime that endangers us all and a free Iran," the 65-year-old said. "The regime has never been as fragile as it is now," he added. "It is a wounded beast." Pahlavi said there were no pragmatists or reformers among Iran's current leader...

  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 37 as Oklahoma City beat Phoenix Suns 120-107 in the Western Conference playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and dished out ‌‌nine assists, leading Oklahoma City to a 120-107 home win over the Phoenix Suns and giving the ⁠⁠Thunder a 2-0 lead in ⁠⁠a first-round Western Conference playoff series. The victory on Wednesday, however, might have been a costly one for the hosts. Thunder player Jalen Williams, who was limited to just 33 games during the regular season due to injuries, left the ⁠⁠game midway through the third quarter due to a left hamstring injury. “We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys appropriately,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said of Williams’ status post-game. Williams pulled up during ⁠⁠a drive towards the bucket and then grabbed at his hamstring as action went the other way. Williams, who did not return, missed two long stretches of the season with injuries to hi...