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Archive May 31, 2025

Hamas says ceasefire proposal offers ‘no guarantees’ for end to Gaza war

A senior Hamas official said the proposed ceasefire offer offered “no guarantees to end the war,” but the Palestinian organization has responded to it.

Basem Naim, a spokesperson for Hamas, told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the Palestinian organization had “reacted positively” to the most recent proposal that was presented to it by US special envoy Steve Witkoff despite the Palestinian group claiming that it differed from the one that it had discussed with Witkoff a week prior.

According to Naim, “We met with Mr. Witkoff and we discussed one proposal and said, “This is acceptable, we can consider this a negotiating paper,” we said. He addressed the Israelis to the opposing party to ask for their response. He instead sent us a new proposal that had nothing to do with what we had proposed instead.

Hamas had stated in a statement earlier on Saturday that it had written to Witkoff and that the proposal “aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid” to Palestinians in Gaza.

In exchange for an “agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners,” Hamas added that the agreement would allow for the release of 10 living Israeli prisoners and the bodies of 18 dead Israelis.

Witkoff characterized Hamas’ response as “completely unacceptable.”

In a post on social media, the envoy wrote that “Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity discussions that can begin immediately this week.” The only way to conclude a 60-day ceasefire agreement in which the families of the dead hostages and the survivors of the dead will return home, and where we can engage in sincere negotiations in good faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire is through the proximity talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas’ response, saying that it “sets the tone” and was inconvenient. Israel will continue to fight for the release of our hostages and Hamas’s demise.

Since Israel gave up its humanitarian aid in mid-May, it has now killed more than 54, 000 Palestinians. Gaza is currently a starved area because of the Israeli blockade that has been ongoing for weeks.

Starvation

After imposing a total blockade for more than two months, Israel only allows a small amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza as hopes for a permanent truce seem to be waning once more. The UN issued a warning on Friday that Gaza’s 2. 3 million people are currently in danger of starvation. That came after it announced in mid-May that one in five Palestinians there were starving.

The World Food Programme (WFP), which has prepared food close to Gaza’s borders to feed the besieged territory’s entire population for two months, has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire as the only way to provide the food to famined Palestinians.

77 trucks loaded with flour were brought into Gaza overnight and early on Friday, according to a statement from the UN food agency, but their arrival was met with protests from their hungry families.

Other aid organizations accuse the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) of continuing its own contentious aid distribution, which it claims would defy humanitarian law and militarize the delivery of desperately needed food. At least 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces while attempting to get aid, according to the Gaza Government Media Office’s report this week.

Residents Layla al-Masri and Layla al-Masri described a new GHF distribution point as “we went to this new area and we came out empty-handed.” What they are saying is lies about their desire to feed the people of Gaza. They don’t give people anything to drink or feed them.

Abdel Qader Rabie, a third Palestinian who fled the besieged region, claimed that no one had anything to feed their families in the area. No food, no bread, or flour are present. He claimed that there is nothing at home.

Rabie claims that hundreds of other people are attempting to get him a box of aid at the GHF each time. “You get aid if you are strong.” You leave with empty-handed if you’re not,” Rabie continued.

There are also potential problems. People have vanished after reaching GHF distribution points, according to families.

According to Hind Khoudary, who is reporting from Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, “One of these cases is a man from the al-Mughari family. The family is appealing to the ICRC, OCHA, and the civil defense teams to go and search for him in that area, which is very close to the Netzarim Corridor.” Khoudary continued, adding that Israel’s authorities refuted the claim.

forced displacement and bombing

According to a spokesperson for the territory’s civil defense, about 60 homes have been bombed in Gaza City and northern Gaza in the last 48 hours. The Israeli army is continuing its attacks on the country.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli bombing, according to reports from Gaza on Saturday. Since Israel unilaterally ended a ceasefire in March and resumed its destruction of Gaza, more than 3,900 Palestinians have died, despite growing international condemnation.

The Israeli army has also ordered “all residents” of southern Khan Younis, Bani Suheila, and Abasan to leave right away since Friday’s early hours, according to reports that rockets had been fired. According to military spokesman Avichay Adraee, “the]army will aggressively attack any area that serves as a launching pad for terrorist activity.” He continued, noting that the southern Gazan area has been “awarded several warnings in the past and has been designated a dangerous combat zone.”

Nearly 200, 000 people have been displaced in the last two weeks alone, according to the UN, with displacement orders now enforcing all of Gaza’s northernmost and southernmost governorates as well as the easternmost regions of each of the three governorates in between.

It suited PSG, but was new Champions League format a success?

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Paris St-Germain has emerged as the new champion of the Champions League after the campaign has come to an end.

Since the format was introduced in the 1991-92 season, the competition’s biggest change occurred this year.

Before a knockout stage (or straight final in 91-92 and 92-93), the competition featured a mix of groups of four teams playing each other both home and away.

Eight different teams, four at home and four away, were competing in one big league phase of the expanded 36-team tournament this year.

Was it a success or did it reach its climax at the end of January, just before the customary knockout stages were set to emerge?

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It makes no difference if you don’t make the top eight.

Nedum Onuoha, a former Manchester City defender, was pleased with the new format and thinks it has worked.

Onuoha told BBC Sport, “I’ve enjoyed it. “There were a lot of good games and lots of big moments,” he said, not just when the big teams also played each other.

The league stage’s one-time play between teams was what I thought would be the biggest change. No one was affected by that outcome, and the energy level on the lesser teams was drastically different from what it was when the teams were aware that they would play each other once more in a few weeks.

“Aston Villa’s victory over Bayern Munich was a shining example. Bayern was able to recover the points they had lost even though they had not had a second chance to defeat them.

Eventual champions PSG lost three of their first five games before coming out on top with a late win to place them in a play-off spot with fellow Ligue 1 side Brest.

After winning that, Luis Enrique’s side faced Liverpool, the team that finished first in the division, in the last 16.

While PSG are undoubtedly a top-notch side, Onuoha remarked, “Our journey shows that finding form at the right moment is what counts.” They finished in the top 24 until they won their final game before moving on to the play-off round.

That’s another feature of the format that I like, because PSG has demonstrated that it won’t matter if you don’t make the top eight in the future.

The new format, which Luis Enrique’s side, was a point made by journalist Nicky Bandini.

Without this structure, Bandini said, “We might not have seen this PSG team that has developed over the course of the season because they might have already left,” This allows us to follow their progress, which makes the journey more enjoyable.

“Every time, it’s about coming in good at the right time,” according to the Champions League, “it’s always been about improving your spring form rather than your tournament start.”

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Luis Enrique embracingGetty Images

The seeding system appeared to work, with Barcelona (second), Arsenal (third), and Inter (fourth) all reaching at least the semi-finals, aside from Liverpool’s early exit.

More danger and excitement?

This year’s league phase produced a much more unpredictable, thrilling, and emotionally charged conclusion than previous editions, which saw many teams qualify for qualification or elimination before the final round.

13 teams had already secured qualification for the last 16 of the previous year’s group games.

Only Liverpool and Barcelona were guaranteed a spot in the last 16 this term, though, as only the top eight league positions were achieved.

An exciting league phase finale was anticipated as a result of 27 teams still having money on the line.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said, “Typically, you find these games in the quarter-finals or semi-finals. ” “During the league phase, you found rematches of four of the last five Champions League finals.

Manchester City’s dominance in the final league game resulted in Real Madrid’s stunning defeat in a thrilling match, earning them three points in the dying phase of the competition.

Every game counts, right?

According to Uefa, the new format would make sure that each match had the potential to have a significant impact on a team’s standing in the end. The precise wording used in every game counts.

On the one hand, matchday eight featured only two true dead rubber games: Sturm Graz’ 33rd vs. RB Leipzig’s (30th), Young Boys’ 36th v. Crvena zvezda’s (32th), and RB Leipzig’s (30th). Even if it meant just fighting for position, the other teams each had something to contend with. If taken alone, this is the strongest selling point of the most recent format.

On the other hand, Shakhtar Donetsk, who was practically out before the final matchday, had to defeat Borussia Dortmund and take advantage of an improbable five-goal swing to qualify. Nine other teams were already eliminated.

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PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 with Doue double to win Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain are the champions of Europe after beating Inter Milan by a record 5-0 score line in the Champions League final.

At long last, the club that was transformed by Qatari billions, and bought and sold a succession of the world’s greatest players in an extravagant bid to get to the top, has its hands on the big one.

It was not only PSG’s first triumph in the final of European club football’s grandest prize, but the winning margin in the match in Munich is also a record for the competition’s final.

The trophy that not even Lionel Messi, Neymar or Kylian Mbappe could deliver to the French club was finally claimed by Luis Enrique, the Spanish coach who has overseen PSG’s shift from the era of galactico signings to one of genuine team-building.

Fitting then, that Desire Doue, the 19-year-old French forward emblematic of the club’s new generation, was the chief inspiration on a balmy night. He became the third teenager to score in a Champions League final, following Patrick Kluivert and Carlos Alberto.

Doue scored twice and set up another goal in little more than an hour on the field, before being substituted in the second half.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue scores their third goal]Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters]

Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and substitute Senny Mayulu, the fourth teenager to score in a final added to Doue’s double as PSG recorded the biggest win in a final in the Champions League’s 69-year history.

Now PSG can truly sit alongside the royalty of European football. Not by virtue of turnover or merchandising, but on the merits of its achievements on the field.

The Champions League is the ultimate barometer of the continent’s elite clubs, and up until now, PSG has been a flashy contender that always came up short.

That all changed at Allianz Arena, the home of Bayern Munich, one of the titans of Europe, and a fitting stage for PSG’s crowning moment. Not least because it was against Bayern that it lost its only other Champions League final in 2020, leaving Neymar in tears in an empty stadium in Lisbon where fans were locked out because of the pandemic.

Champions League - Final - Paris St Germain v Inter Milan - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 31, 2025 Paris St Germain players celebrate winning the Champions League by throwing Luis Enrique in the air
Paris St Germain players celebrate winning the Champions League by throwing their coach Luis Enrique into the air]Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters]

On this occasion, thousands of PSG supporters were there to revel in the moment, waving flags, lighting flares and drowning out their rivals from Inter, many of whose supporters left the stadium long before the final whistle.

They’d been partying in the streets of Munich throughout the day, but that was nothing compared to the scenes of joy when Marquinhos held the trophy aloft in front of teammates, with fireworks and golden confetti exploding behind them.

PSG truly delivered when it mattered after so many setbacks in this competition. If there were any nerves from Luis Enrique’s players, it did not show as they dominated Inter from the start.

Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Ousmane Dembele during the UEFA Champions League Final
In a show of respect for his former club, Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain muted his celebration after scoring his team’s opening goal.

When Vitinha’s threaded pass into the box found Doue’s feet, the French champions advanced with a move of speed and precision in just 12 minutes. Instead of shooting, the forward slid in Hakimi into an open net.

Hakimi’s celebrations were subdued, but PSG’s fans erupted.

Eight minutes later, Doue’s shot from the right of the box deflected off Federico Dimarco and past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who had the advantage of more luck than precision.

When he broke the 63rd, he slammed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

In the 86th, just two minutes after starting, Mayulu added his name to the list of teenage scorers in a final and added a fourth to Kvaratskhelia’s list of 10 minutes later.

Champions League - Final - Paris St Germain v Inter Milan - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 31, 2025 Paris St Germain's Marquinhos before lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Champions League
Marquinhos, who won the Champions League, prepares to lift the trophy with teammates. [Photo by Annegret Hilse/Reuters]

DJ Fat Tony and Stavros Agapiou wedding day details revealed as couple officially tie the knot

DJ Fat Tony and Stavros Agapiou were accompanied by stars like Davina McCall, Kelly Osbourne, and Claire Sweeney as they wed on Saturday, with Boy George serving as Master of Ceremonies.

DJ Fat Tony and Stavros Agapiou are officially married(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage)

Now that the couple has tied the knot, details about DJ Fat Tony and Stavros Agapiou’s lavish wedding have been made public. On Saturday, the couple formally reconnected with friends, family, and A List stars.

Night club DJ Tony, whose real name is Tony Marnach, 58, and creative director Stavros, 32, held a ceremony at Limelight nightclub in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue – a venue where Tony’s track-spinning career began back in the 1980s. The wedding was presided over by Boy George, who served as Master of Ceremonies.

Davina McCall, Kelly Osbourne, Neneh Cherry, Patsy Palmer, Claire Sweeney, and David Furnish were just a few of the star guests. The wedding guests were transported by taxi to a nearby hotel for a lavish reception and after party, and the grooms donned custom Dior suits.

DJ Fat Tony and Stavros Agapiou were seen walking out of the ceremony after tying the knot
DJ Fat Tony and Stavros Agapiou were seen walking out of the ceremony after tying the knot(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)

HELLO has also posed for photos with the couple. a magazine where they interviewed the interviewee. Tony explained why he chose the nightclub as the location for his big day during their marriage conversation.

We really wanted it to be a full circle, he said to the outlet, “because so much went on in that building that was a big part of my life.” We wanted to show the people we care about our love to others.

Further details are set to be shared via the magazine on 9 June. Ahead of the wedding, a number of celebrities took to social media to share their excitement about the big day. Brookside icon Claire Sweeney was one such star – taking to Instagram to share snaps of herself posing in a shimmering summer dress.

The 47-year-old soap star posed for a dress by Eliza Jane Howell Evening Wear. She beamed as she posed for photos online, which included a floral design and shimmered with sequins.

The actress posed with her 13-year-old son Jaxon, who she shares with her ex-boyfriend Daniel Reilly, and said, “Ready for the wedding of the year @dj_fattony_ @stavrosagapiou.”

Others from the worlds of fashion, music and reality shows were expected to join the ceremony. A list icon Kate Moss and former The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins were tipped to be taking on roles of bridesmaid at the wedding, while other reports suggested Claire too would be in the role of a bridesmaid.

The Daily Mail claimed: “The event is said to be taking place at a church in West London, with the likes of David and Victoria Beckham and David Furnish mingling alongside Alison Hammond and Jedward, while Tony previously revealed that he wanted Boy George as his best man.”

And a source told The Sun that Tony is one of the most well-known celebrities in London, and his wedding is going to be packed with stars.

However, this year, no one had Kate, Gemma, and Claire playing in a bridal party on their bingo cards. It will be incredible to see them converge.

They continued, “Tony and Stavros have given a lot of thought to their big day, and it’s going to be one to remember.” It’s iconic because Kylie sang at their evening performance. Additionally, the couple shared a social media post to celebrate their wedding day.

The professional DJ shared a slide with the words “Love Wins” written next to Tony and Stavros’ names and the date. Here we are at the beginning, he captioned it. The most joyful time of my life.

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