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After two days of lengthy negotiations in Doha, Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as its new overall chief, replacing Ismail Haniyeh who was assassinated in Tehran last week.

Since 2017, Sinwar has served as the group's leader inside the Gaza strip. He will now become leader of its political wing.
The Hamas leadership unanimously chose Sinwar to lead the movement, a senior Hamas official told the BBC.

The announcement comes at a moment of soaring tensions in the Middle East, as Iran and its allies threaten retaliation for the killing of Haniyeh, which they blame on Israel. Israel has not commented.


Over the course of two days in Doha, intensive meetings involving Hamas’s leading figures hammered out the options for the group's next chief.

Many scenarios were discussed, but ultimately, just two names were put forward: Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Hassan Darwish, a shadowy figure who heads the General Shura Council, a body that elects Hamas's Politburo.

The council voted unanimously to choose Sinwar, in what one Hamas official described to the BBC as “a message of defiance to Israel”.
“They killed Haniyeh, the flexible person who was open to solutions. Now they have to deal with Sinwar and the military leadership,” the official said.

Prior to his death, Ismail Haniyeh was viewed by regional diplomats as a pragmatic figure compared to others in Hamas - a key driver of the group’s political outreach.

Yahya Sinwar, on the other hand, is viewed as one of Hamas’s most extreme figures.
Sinwar currently tops Israel’s most-wanted list. Israel's security agencies believe he masterminded the planning and execution of the 7 October 2023 attacks, which left over 1,200 people dead and 251 taken back into Gaza as hostages.

"The appointment of arch-terrorist Yahya Sinwar as the new leader of Hamas, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, is yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organisation off the face of the Earth," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on X.

“Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist, who is responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history," Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya.

Sinwar has not been seen in public since the attacks in October, and is believed to be hiding “10 storeys underground” in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in June.
Sinwar was born in Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza in 1962.

In the late 1980s, Sinwar founded the Hamas security service known as Majd, which among other things targeted alleged Palestinian collaborators with Israel.

He has spent much of his life in Israeli jail - and after his third arrest in 1988 he was sentenced to four life terms in prison.

However, he was among 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners released by Israel in the 2011 exchange for Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held captive for over five years by Hamas.

The 61-year-old was appointed head of the group's political bureau in the Gaza Strip in 2017, a position he served in until now.
The US includes Sinwar on its blacklist of "international terrorists".

Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as her running mate for the November election against Donald Trump, according to sources close to the matter.

Walz, 60, was a surprise contender for the vice-presidential spot, gaining momentum in recent days, particularly after a cable news interview where he criticized some Republicans as "weird" - a phrase later echoed by national Democrats, The Hill reports.

This choice comes after initial speculation focused on other prominent Democrats, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (D).

Walz's selection as Harris's running mate was also seen as a strategic move to appease the left, given his strong liberal credentials.

Other contenders, such as Shapiro and Kelly, had faced criticism from progressive groups - Shapiro for his handling of pro-Palestinian protests during the Israel-Hamas conflict, and both for their stance on union issues.

Additionally, Walz's Midwestern roots make him an attractive choice, as Trump has been actively campaigning in Minnesota, a state Biden won by 7 points in 2020. With Trump and JD Vance intensifying their efforts to flip the state, Walz's presence on the ticket could help bolster support in a critical region.

Harris is set to announce her vice-presidential running mate today (Tuesday), ahead of a week of joint campaigning in crucial battleground states.

kestolove95:
May his soul rest in peace

oteim:
this is evil

The Bauchi Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the Katagum Local Government Area of the state following the violence that trailed the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Demonstrators on Monday set parts of the local government secretariat on fire, destroyed vehicles, and vandalized the home of a former Deputy Governor Baba Tela, looting properties in the process. The unrest spread through several streets of Azare town in Katagum LGA.

Worried by the significant damage to government buildings and residential properties, the state governor, Bala Mohammed, imposed the curfew to avoid escalation of the situation.

This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim.

“Due to the deteriorating situation in Azare and its environment, leading to the destruction of public property, stealing, and victimisation, His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, has approved the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in the Katagum Local Government Area to contain the situation,” the statement read

The governor has also directed all security agencies to address the unrest and apprehend those responsible for the violence, urging law-abiding citizens to cooperate with security forces during this period.

God1000:
This is the result of bad governance, I hope our president will learn from this and do the right thing.

All I see in Nigeria today from politicians is complete lack of respect for the people, pervasive corruption and arrogance among the political class.


I don't any military takeover, violent protest and looting, protesters should be peaceful while expressing their grievances

oteim:
the North is not happy at all

Day 5: Kaduna Residents Defy Security Personnel, Take-over Major Roads As #EndBadGovernance Protest Continues

#EndBadGovernaceInNigeria

This happened yesterday day 3 of the protest in Kano, according to Sahara reporters 13 people lost their lives during the attack

efighter:
Useless parents will always have children they cannot take care of, and lazy youths like the OP will always post such nonsense here

My daddy can't afford biscuits, school fees anymore, 8-year old girl joins protest in Lagos

okomile:
Lucky man

Not ungrateful lady

Your home is blessed IJN

Amnesty International has condemned the killing of 13 protesters allegedly killed by security personnel across Nigeria, describing the incident as “unjustified and unacceptable”.

Outraged by the unjustified attacks and tragic loss of life among peaceful protesters, who were rightfully demanding action against worsening hunger and poor governance, Nigerian Twitter users are now demanding the immediate resignation of President Bola Tinubu.

They expressed deep disappointment that despite the brutal crackdown by security forces nationwide, including in the capital city of Abuja, President Tinubu has failed to publicly acknowledge the protesters' grievances or address the nation's concerns.

@GovShina wrote, "I, Abraham Adeshinayomi Balogun Fully SUPPORT the End Bad Governance PROTEST In Nigeria.

"If the President and his Gang Can Not Fix the Economic, Security and other Issues being Faced by Nigerians, they Should All RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."


@TheSeraphIbrahim, wrote: "LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE is only a FORCE on peaceful protesters.

"When they see robbers, bandits and terrorists they become cowards that they are.

"Every pro government protest this week, including the fat daughter of the drug baron, they didn’t tear gas anyone but when they hear peaceful protesters they show their cowardice and shoot.



"They are so surprised the peaceful protesters are not relenting.



Gas Masks OPPOOORRRRR



KEEP SHOOTING



"Tomorrow, WE BRING MORE MASKS



Our demands are clear.



AND LET THE World SEE THAT NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE ARE THE ONES BEING AGGRESSIVE.



We will remain PEACEFUL protesters."



@chiditweets042 wrote: "After all the deaths caused by Tinubu and his police officers, the story has changed!

"IT IS OFFICIAL #TinubuMUSTGo"



While the #Tag TinubuMUSTGo is getting attraction, other tweeps suggested that the President must take responsibility for those killed and all the looting that occurred following the unprovoked attacks on peaceful protesters.

@BrightlykeIMO wrote: "At this juncture, it's not enough to ask Tinubu to resign. He should be arrested immediately."



@JVeebrand wrote, "Harry @chiditweets042 please if you get the mic to chat on Space... Help call attention to something being wrong in Aso Rock or T!nvbv himself, if he can't speak to the public on Live Broadcast.

"Jokingly, this guy might be in comatose or something.

"Wike isn't the President so his announcement carries no water."



For @stanvicar, wrote:



"Tinubu is not going anywhere.

"On his mandate, cripples must stand.

"Who will now refund Tinubu the money he used to buy the seat?"



@Peace2Freda wrote: "He is no longer welcome. The seat he bought, that's his business. He wasn't forced to buy it either was he asked to do so but his greed and selfish aim made him do so, another name is long throat.


#EndBadGovernaceInNigeria



#TinubuMUSTGo"


But @swaggerlez1 stated that the president cannot be removed by mere protest, advising that such an agenda shouldn't be pushed out.

He wrote: "You can’t remove a sitting president by protesting we all know it’s not going to happen make una no push this agenda abeg change the govt tru elections as usual but yes kindly protest& make achievable demands that are reasonable."

Sharing the same thoughts with @swaggerlez1, @FelixAniemeke stated that President Tinubu must be allowed to complete his two terms of eight years in office.

He wrote: "Tinubu is going no where. He must complete his two term tenure and if need arise should be allow for third term"