QtrendsEthiopia holds election amid civil war legacy
Polls have opened in Ethiopia for a general election that the ruling party of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is widely expected to win. Abiy, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who later stoked a devastating civil war, faces voters as the country remains deeply fractured along ethnic lines. CNN notes the paradox of his trajectory from peace prize to conflict, while AP News reports on the ruling party's expected victory. Al Jazeera provides a visual guide to Ethiopia's ethnic groups and active conflict zones.
Colombia's presidential election is headed to a runoff between leftist senator and a pro-Trump far-right candidate. The first-round results showed the far-right candidate pulling ahead, with the ruling party sowing doubt in the outcome. The runoff could redefine Colombia's relations with the United States, according to CNN. BBC and The Guardian both report on the polarization between the leftist and pro-Trump camps as the country approaches a pivotal vote.
President Trump is considering whether to move forward with a proposed deal to end hostilities with Iran and has requested edits to the agreement. CNN reports that the US and Iran have exchanged renewed fire even as diplomatic channels remain open. AP News notes Trump has not yet made a final decision on the deal. BBC and China Daily both confirm that the US is seeking revisions to the proposed framework.
Israel has seized a Crusader-era castle in southern Lebanon as part of its deepest incursion into the country in 26 years. Netanyahu ordered forces deeper into Lebanon, capturing the strategic fortress. AP News and NPR both report this as the deepest Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon in over two decades. The Guardian confirms the seizure of the medieval castle as Israel expands its major offensive in the region. The operation marks a significant escalation in cross-border hostilities.