officials vow never to stop searching for answers. we need to get her home session be at least have that at least have that. you know, that's our responsibility to bring her home. gone, but never forgotten. rob reynolds al jazeera on the europe reservation in california. a sandstorm has blanketed iraq's capital baghdad, sending dozens of people to hospital with breathing problems. flights were suspended of a baghdad international and niger airports authorities have also postponed university exams. the increasing number of sandstorms is being blamed on climate change and the destruction of agricultural lance. ah, bad lines on al jazeera, the last votes of being counted in lebanon's parliamentary election, initial results indicate winds for the christian lebanese forces party and

independent candidates. is the 1st selection since and economic meltdown in 2019 and at the be able to port explosion. resource adar has more from beirut. go, now the preliminary results are surely some of the, the small changes. we know that the good, the forces of the change, those are the independents who came out of the, the crisis, the economy. crazes that we rob that through 2019 and then making some games over there. not being the case that counties the political spectrum in the country. yet, on the other hand, you're seeing that who's bulletproof, iranian, or his will law and their allies are the cleaners. some of the weaker is, but so far we do not know how many seats they also got so far. marches, marking the 74th anniversary of the creation of the state of israel known to palestinians. ella as al mac bow catastrophe have ended in violence. palestinian students were arrested at tel aviv university on sunday, after confrontations with bite wing act of his staging counter. protests.

demonstrations have also been held in various american cities in solidarity with palestinians. many protesters, voice or anger against the killing of al jazeera journeys, cheering abu acclaim. now the news, a new round of sanctions against russia is on the agenda is e. u. foreign ministers meet in brussels. they're also likely to discuss increasing military aid to ukraine . the brock's foreign policy chief wants to add another $500000000.00 to the support fund, bringing the total to more than $2000000000.00. and molly is pulling out of a regional military alliance fighting onto groups in the sahara region. molly's military wellness made the announcement, citing a lack of progress. the nation was due to hold the g 5 president in february, but there's been criticism of its military since it took power in a cool last year. and those are the headlines on al jazeera mon use as always, on al jazeera dot com at next, sits inside story, say, with this on counting the cost for design marco's junior is set to lead the

philippines. what will it mean for the economy? yes, present, joe biden, tay fighting station top domestic priority. so can you bring down the cost of living and what's keeping india and counting the cost on out here is an election the uncertain labrons many challenges voters are relaxing in your parliament in the middle of a devastating economic crisis, but from its management to corruption, to outside interference, will this note make any difference? this is inside story. ah, hello, welcome to the program. i'm hash him a holler, lebanon is a country in crisis. it suffered an economic mel down in 2019,

and was hit again. during the pandemic in 2020, that same year i'll graphic exposure and one of the largest in human history killed more than $200.00 people and destroyed much of the capital beirut. unable to find accountability for the exposure, the entire government resigned. lebanon's current political system dates back to the end of its civil war in 1990 put into place to bring stability after years of fighting. but now that same system designed to protect if fragile peace is seen by many as an obstacle to real change. we'll get to our guests in a moment. first, this report from a so says there in beirut, as the protocol instability and the economy crisis continue in lebanon, these elections are being seen by many as a task real change. indeed, the country,

a total of $718.00 candidates, are running for $128.00 seats in the parliament, which is equally divided between muslims and christians. however, the need of the christians nor the muslims are united in lebanon, traditionally to compete in camps have been dominate in politics for nearly 2 decades. the march 8 coalition at which includes the pro iranian and pro syrian parties such as the christian free pat, you're tick, moment, and the sheer muslim, his will, law and m l moments on the other side has been much 14 coalition, which consists of the anti iranian anti cillian parties, such as the christian lebanese forces and this, the name was them a future movement. and doris bruce, muslim a progressive socialist party, but things how changed now? so did the leader of the future moment with the site?

how did he, who was also the former prime minister and once was holding the largest sunni block in the parliament and said that his party will not run up for the election and is going to boy court the election, which this is a decision that effectively put an end to march court much 14 coalition and also left the sudanese in the country without a leader. while the ship was them. parties are trying hard to gain the majority in the parliament once again. so, in lebanon, there will be a presidential elections in, in, in october. and so the election that the outcome of this elections are not going to only determine who will have the majority in the parliament, but also it will have a remarkable impact on, on who will be the next president and the prime minister of the country was. so sad

that for an inside story, lebanon's economic situation is dire. the united nation says nearly 80 percent of his people live in poverty. and more than 300000 lost their homes in the twenty's when to port explosion. medical stuff buys are running low and some hospitals are in ruins, and those that are functioning are usually overwhelmed. the lebanese currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value, devastating for a nation that impulse, most of its goods. the world food program says nearly half of lebanon's population is struggling to find food. and banks have been blocking people from accessing their money. ah, let's bring in our gas the or joining us from beirut alley. abraham is a co founder and ceo of the large dot com and independent digital media platform

hike of women is a project director for iraq, syria, lebanon, or the international crisis group. and jamal lawson is political commentator and former editor about a bar english newspaper. welcome to the program. earlier, is this election going to do liver, the change that many lebanese have been hoping for? well, we shouldn't expect any miracles to happen. the results of this elections aren't a large extent. a pre determined by one was a 100 or 228 seats, and that's because of the law that has been adopted by the political in this by lay differences, despite the contradictions they have put together a nod that guarantees that he generation of the same for the ticket class that's not to undermine the importance of, of, even as little as the number of seats that could be gained by new faces. it should not be undermined. we have to look to be acting out which until this hour continues

to be very low. we have to see what is what kind of margins and loss between or between the representatives or the candidates. if is anything new opposition groups versus the and the political any. if we're looking at thousands of votes that security, the news is from the winners. then. then we can easily say that, that this is, this is a big win for the connecticut advertisement. if the loss is allied in, in a few 100 boards, it's another landscape. but to say that the full, full for the last we have seen how did the political establishment, the who has spectrum has been acting the last few weeks. they have used everything to intimidate, do you motivate a voters from, from having to be to the working force? and again, magic is not gonna happen today. we're not going to see it was natalie. impossible to see it and slamming victory for the opposition. but we have to look at

indicators because this is what's going really to earth kind of dictate how change could be, are happening and ended on were in the future. i co, earth, the voter turnout is going to be low hooker to benefit from that. are in so typically are not in any environment, a low voter turnout, benefits parties, efficient organization efficient, efficient an actual machine. and who can or have also committed voters logic to take the committed voters and will always get their turn off and it's less. so that's good for parties that i've done that these means. so right now, i mean, i left my home hours ago to walk around and look at the polling stations. and i mean, i've seen in some areas quite a lot of people coming to go to now they are yes. miss the at $121.00. in

some areas you have already above 20 percent. quite good. so 50 percent, if you get to 50 percent, that is a good turn out. we have a 25 percent already at noon either one in some places. maybe it's not going to be so about jermel. this election comes against the backdrop of growing an establishment. sentiment across lebanon. could it be an indication that the traditional political parties with a setback to, in this election? i think there is a false dichotomy that says, being promoted specially in the western media. that there is, you know, the anti establishment opposition and an establishment that united this is completely inaccurate and does not reflect the reality on the ground level. and there are political parties that i mean,

i are being grouped together that are in no way. see i to i on many critical issues and vital issues in the country and the same with the opposition groups. so this is not really a fight against says stablish ment or i growing resentment of united establishment that we're not talking about the one party system like we have in other countries or area have talk chrissy is that in many countries around the region? so now we have, actually, it's a very diverse country with a lot of different political groups, and we have alliances have shifted and change with time. sometimes they form national unity government. sometimes they don't, that the idea is that there is one establishment that is in cahoots against any new opposition. that's a little bit absurd and it's reductive and is really far from true.

aaliyah. are you the same view? let me go ahead. yeah, i actually, i think i would, i would very much the cd with there's a mile to very quick. for example, we have the c patio movement and the amendment to traditionally, so i told years at, at each other's neck as the enemies that cannot support each other. we see them today and i can be elections. we have seen many members of, or bankers for example, like in my one fabian, at ending on the election on the on biggest of a has more law and the, and the, and, and to shide the opening. and that's basically because they aren't coming interested in political type now and never know it has been challenged in the streets for doing longer than stations in 20 to a 2019. i agree. it may be that it was it's, it's impossible to think that or without the framework of political parties that

could generate new political parties. it's impossible to stand against that. but again, establishment that has been there for 30 years and with thing itself so strongly. but to say that this stadium that is in lebanon is representative of been at the nice people that actually, that students were talking about, that population that has been, it of its money. a basically, it's kept it that completely destroyed. been now 2 people who are actually accused of being in void on that. he's in a position of, of, of, of the responsibilities of this, this, the debate with explosion. i running a and i today on the, on the exit in this off of this political establishment names that alice and finance. and i decided to say that this is the present of the population of blackness population is that it is not at all a description of what's happening in iran right now. hi, co. it, traditionally, the future movement led by saddle. how did he used to control somehow 2 thirds of

the sydney seats in the parliament? now he's not participating in the election. he's asking his own people to boycott the elections. the question is, who do you think is going to inherit the legacy of the future movement? who's going to take advantage of that absence? that's one of the 1000000 dollar questions. so as you said, right, he said more or less called on the support, those 2 boys approach the post. now, not all people in that camp or that used to be people, are he being dot com? right? right. the blame i lucian, typically running and used to be higher ranking officer. and the most part in the future movement is very popular. you have watson, you are on the used to be tenants maybe and running and do

so. but i think we can expect is surely that we are still new vote if you want to describe it out way is going to be fact that we will have in your parliament the 2728 seats that are reserved for so nice will be will be held by several small groups and there, and there will be a part of that of those sees of these 2028 seats that are held by employees who are sympathetic for sure as well, la model and, and, and the block of as well. not more than f, e m. m, and may actually help this block to maintain its majority, which may otherwise lose her. some of the alliance between his valor and the free patriotic movement has been quite instrumental in the sense that it has been widely seen as a,

a platform that paved the way for his bella to consider date. it's political clout 11. and do you see that alliance holding in the near future with all those reports about signs of disintegration within the free press movement? i think those are also grossly exaggerated. the patriotic movement will see the results today, but it's not. i mean, it's demise. the cold for it's of its demise is a bit premature. i think the freedom to go, but there's still one of the biggest parties in lebanon. they will have definitely have one of the top 3 parliamentary blocks after today's election. and that's not a disintegration by any means. and this is the we have to keep in mind that this comes after an all out attack by major power against pressuring the free movement and in order to break their lives. and has bala, we've been sanctioned by the us against the leader of the people throughout the

vent. bromberg, we've seen a lot of foreign forces, invest a lot in the opposition and forces that are opposed to the m. and yet, despite all of that, it has held together and it will have a strong showing. and i think the idea was that they wanted to de listed the legitimize brumby sealed bids to become a serious candidate for president of lebanon as the representative or leader of the strongest christian party in lebanon. and despite all these efforts, i think he still has a legitimate case to be that despite the media conglomerate in lebanon. busy all trying to at it was an all out attack basically in the last 2 years, i guess the f, b, m and they still have no, we'll see how far they've lost. and this is what's gonna dictate whether your brand

can be considered as the president of the presidential candidate or not idea. do you agree with those who say that the liberties forces lead by assuming his judge are likely to continue to bite into the power base of the 3? patrick took movement and established them so well, what i think even funded in and from the statistics that we have we see now are the biggest question. mike is going to be a good christian for today because even at this hour at the stand, the hour, the rates are very high in the kitchen area, or whether or not we know super well that night nouns, the besieged is being supported by a, by his law and it's and eyes and the, or the even order to sit in essence inland or not, whether or not how much will stay a big lot they will be able to,

to the pain. this is what you would see in the coming hours that has been a lot said over the last few months about who possibly could become president in the coming future. this will be reflected her property in this election. but again, i was this afternoon and this is the point that needs to be that, that need to be made because it's about the village, the migration of, of this political establishment. i went to chickadee today in north lebanon to go to my cell. and on the way i stopped in different areas to see what was what, what is happening. and you could easily see with the naked eye that it appears impatient on the gown. when, when the representatives with delegates, et cetera. is it easy for the political parties that had the means? it's for the people and it's not true that the media that have been used, mainstream media has supported the opposition that had been used mainstream media support and those will have the financial means to appear on t v because it was or date and it was, it was undertaken, it was, it was knowing that candidates who have the means could make it on

t. v for the longest. and the prime found a plan time slots. this means that this is not to say that this is not good. hey, good elections that, that, that we need to keep an eye on. okay. this is to say that we have to dvd that and then it, when we look at these as becoming fuel out it to say, but ok, i co when you have in 2018 the into better independence saying that they would, they're going to vi for a bigger say that didn't happen to day. do you think that the anti establishment candidates or the prose? october 17 candidates? will maker somehow a difference in the selection? i mean it's, it's hard call, but i think it's, it's pretty clear that the competition that you're seeing now in several districts between different lists that all claim the man, so of october 19 movement,

the protest movement doesn't help. right? i mean, if you have an electron threshold of, let's say, 8000 votes and then you have 4 or 5 lists competing for the same constituency, for the same number of people who will do one chain. it may give them one seat or even 2 depending on how it goes into counting and acidic get nothing. because all for abigail, the threshold that could very well be. and now there are many reasons why they were unable to wear on these unified lists or at least tactical alliances. but i'm in that is really, really a failure. i would say it is a failure of these groups. and there are many reasons why and some reasons make sense, but if today we're not getting getting the results that we're offering for that. most people weren't support up as movement all to for some of the. the reason is also of them as jamel. if the results just consolidate the fears of the people

which has been in about the same oligarchs party leaders traditional in leave, there has been the man, ting, sectarian issues in the country. the international community might take a back stage when it comes to delivering the urgent economic rescue package that live in and needs to be able to move forward. there you just touched on it it's. it's not an establishment and a tab listening division, it's a pro neo colonial power, western elite or pro western elite. and there are popular forces that have maintained their presentation and their division and their strength despite and all out the back on them. and the results that they were reflect that you got to see in the numbers that the pro sovereignty forces led by the resistance

movement has bala and its allies are gotten if you look at the popular voice, because you keep talking about the people, the people, the people just count the boats and see the popular vote that's going to be you're going to see that they're going to be under represented despite winning. they're going to win the majority in parliament. and yet they're going to be under represented because a lot of the people are get marginalized in the lebanese electron system in favor of the center of the roof, at least. and the rich neighborhoods in the room that get a more favorable count in the election. and that's why you're going to see some people are going to get reach and then the 3rd approach, social around 6000 and get to parliament while others will reach 20000 in areas outside the root and not qualify. because this, the system is biased. the words, the old elite and we're talking here about the bankers who brought the collapse and

bankruptcy. that level is going to clone it. and now we're not talking about it. we're talking about an imaginary establishment that doesn't exist. why do you know people happy? think those are things and there are different characterizations anyway. as far as the political and scape 11 is concerned earlier. yes, because i did. you have to go ahead and read it if you don't mind very briefly, but yes, but the thank you bye mentioning i'm going to mention it. if i miss just 2 days ago, that one hated is the owner of a mo added back. he was denied that transferred the money of the son of nearby who is the central bank governor on october after october 19th, when the deposits of the new stupid were stuck in the back. this is mr. my one hated you know, the name on the list of has butler and maybe not. this is not a he is running on the list of the political establishment, but we like to be done and it is the gemini b on boy's list. this is a, this is a,

b, b that is doing everything to protect it doesn't, and it's, and it's, and to stay in power and to block and to use or the slogan and say, but besides, if you didn't use, you can have the unbiased saying they want levin awkward 11? you never know, never knowing that that big decisions inside never, not, and there's nothing here. and that's what i wish we had time to continue talking about the elections, of the aftermath of whatever might might happen for the future, for lebanon. but in the meantime, i'll be able to hear hike of them. and jim allison, thank you for in site and looking forward to talking to you in the future. and thank you for watching. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website, eligible dot com for further discussion. go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash ha insights, but you can also join the conversation to what our 100 is at a j. and so i sort of for me, how shall i model of the entire team here in the uh huh. bye for now.

ah. the latest news as if we've ramadan, the stuff i'm paul say about all happening right now. in this city, a set to remain high with detailed coverage this year to be a cultural center. it was think we before all this rubble is loop from around the world, 825000000 books were sold around the world. we're talking about paper books from the al jazeera london broadcast, then tack to people in thoughtful conversation with no host and no limitations. what is even more and to me that now is system innovation, systems design and system transformation part one of human rights activists. q, me,

ny do and environmentally window knowledge inc. i lived as you have a fossil fuel arrow my entire life. and i'm looking for a graceful transition out of studio b unscripted on out his era in the early hours of the morning. these palestinian families are being forced to leave their homes and belongings. these are the military sometimes uses this area in the north of the occupied west bank as a training ground. explosions like these often break the piece here. i feel for the children they get scared and i tried to calm them down there, but we're scared to. these really are me told them just either that it takes measures to protect civilians during the exercises. but there's really officers previously said that trainings are used to push palestinians out 48 families once lived in this village called zeek. now, there are only 20 people here, say they have nowhere else to go. so they have to stay out until they're allowed to

return to their home. after midnight, the military drill will continue for 3 days, which means they'll have to go through this again, twice this week. african stories of resilience and courage. again, give me a lloyd, i'm kind of tradition and dedication. but a little closer to mcgill about a short documentary by african filmmakers on the white 9 and the book make it africa direct on al jazeera, examining the impact of today's headlines yesterday. our electricity was short and total all alive, setting the agenda for tomorrow's discussion. if somebody comes to gonna from europe, then never called an immigrant, the always known as next path. international filmmakers in world class journalists

bring programs to inform and inspire. we live one people on this one planet and we've got to work the solutions together. on al jazeera lou. ukraine says it's troops have reached the russian border in the car keys region as moscow's forces retreats. ah, hello, i'm fully back to you, boy. you're watching al jazeera and lie from doha. also ahead. vote counting is underway in lebanon's 1st general election since its economic crisis in 2019 and the devastating bay route or the explosion. ah.