*Friday 20 June 2025* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaatWAaBadmi3bUGfI3K *Headlines* *Zimbabwe’s Gold Reserves Reach 3.4 metric Tons* *Zvigananda Now Running Ministries: Kasukuwere* *Zimbabwe Records Rise In HIV/AIDS Deaths Amidst Funding Concerns* *Tagwirei Emerging From The Shadows To Succeed Mnangagwa…As VP Chiwenga Keeps Cards Close To His Chest* *Zanu-PF Sets Conditions For Walter Mzembi’s Return To The Party* *Money ‘Disappears’ From Mukuru Accounts* *Zimbabwe Records Refugee Influx, DRC Constitutes Larger Population* *Karoi Council In Bond Paper Scandal* *Guard Escapes Jail Time For Community Service After Accidental Fatal Shooting* *Nigerian Company To Make HIV, Malaria Test Kits After US Funding Cut* *Israel Massacres In Gaza, Locks Down West Bank As Attention Shifts To Iran* *Man City Fined £1m For Repeatedly Delaying Kick-off* *Messi Inspires Inter Miami To Win Against Porto At Club World Cup* *Stories in Detail:* *Zimbabwe’s Gold Reserves Reach 3.4 metric Tons, Mnangagwa Inspects RBZ Vaults* Zimbabwe’s gold reserves have grown to 3.4 metric tons to back the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, introduced in April 2024. President Emmerson Mnangagwa inspected the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) gold vaults on Thursday, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to strengthening the currency’s fundamentals through mineral-backed reserves. The RBZ aims to increase its gold holdings to 5 metric tons by year-end. Speaking after the tour, President Mnangagwa said the growing reserves are essential for maintaining currency stability and building a resilient economic framework. “This milestone is a direct result of the policy decision made two years ago to accumulate gold reserves as a foundation for a stable and sovereign national currency,” he said. Mnangagwa described the reserves policy as a long-term resilience measure and a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic reform agenda. The government has also introduced reforms to formalise the gold sector, boost production, and curb smuggling, aiming to ensure mineral wealth contributes directly to national development. RBZ Governor John Mushayavanhu stated that current reserves are sufficient to support the ZiG in circulation, attributing the currency’s recent stability to fiscal discipline and tight monetary policy. The ZiG has remained relatively stable since its launch, a trend recognised by the International Monetary Fund, which this week praised Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic management and inflation control. The gold accumulation programme—based on local purchases and refined production stored at the central bank—has become a core feature of Zimbabwe’s monetary strategy. RBZ officials noted that bolstering gold reserves not only underpins the currency but also enhances resilience to global financial instability. “As geopolitical uncertainty rises, many countries are turning to gold as a stable asset. Zimbabwe, as a significant gold producer, is well positioned to follow this global trend,” a central bank official said. The initiative reflects broader international patterns, with countries such as China, Russia and Turkey also increasing their gold holdings to hedge against inflation and currency fluctuations. According to official figures, Zimbabwe produced more than 30 tonnes of gold in 2024, with a growing share retained by the RBZ under the reserve accumulation strategy. *NewZW* *Zvigananda Now Running Ministries: Kasukuwere* He wrote on X: I am completely intrigued by how government ministries have remained docile and unable to fight for their allocations to run their departments! Tungwarara and Prevail Ltd have taken over the renovations of Parirenyatwa Hospitals! Where is the Min of LGPWNH and Health? Outsmarted !! This Chigananda is towering over the War Vet Min and distributing funds whilst the Minister is responsible for introducing him!! Bakhithi !!! *Zimbabwe Records Slight Rise In HIV/AIDS Deaths Amidst Funding Concerns* Zimbabwe has reported a marginal increase in HIV/AIDS-related deaths during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, raising questions about the sustainability of the country’s HIV response in the face of shifting donor funding. According to statistics provided by the Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, 5,932 people died from HIV/AIDS between January and June 2025. This figure represents an increase of 220 deaths compared to the 5,712 recorded during the first half of 2024. “My response to question number 9 is that the AIDS deaths in 2024 from January to June were 5 712. For the same period, January to June in 2025, there were 5 932. This means that in 2025, there were 220 more deaths as compared to 2024 over the same period,” the Minister stated. The slight increment prompted a question from Corban Madzivanyika, who inquired whether this rise was indicative of an increased burden on the healthcare system following the withdrawal of funding by development partners for HIV and AIDS-related programmes. Mombeshora, however, dismissed the direct link between the minor increase in deaths and the withdrawal of donor funds. He stated that commodities for HIV/AIDS had already been procured for the period of January to June and that programs were progressing well. He further assured Parliament that there are sufficient medicines to last until the end of September 2025, with ongoing procurement processes to cover needs until the end of the year. “I would not want to attribute this small difference to the withdrawal of funds from our partners,” Mombeshora stated. “From January to June, the commodities for HIV/AIDS had already been procured and the programmes have been progressing well. I think I have said this before in this Parliament that all patients on HIV treatment should not panic because we have enough medicines for them. “I cannot actually give a specific reason now to say why we have these figures. “Usually, we wait until the end of the year. You may find that maybe by the end of the year, we may have less figures for this year than last year. “At the end of the year, that is when we start looking at month by month and try to see where we have missed it or find the reasons why the figures are going up but at the moment, it is not related to the withdrawal because the commodities are there. I present.” Zimbabwe has historically relied heavily on international donor funding for its HIV response, with organisations like the U.S’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund contributing a significant portion of the total expenditure. Zimbabwe has been receiving over US$200 million annually from PEPFAR. The U.S government has given the Southern African country over US$1.7 billion since 2006 to strengthen health systems and support people living with HIV. While Zimbabwe has made notable progress in reducing HIV prevalence reducing infection rates, achieving the 95/95/95 targets, concerns have been raised about the long-term sustainability of these gains if external support diminishes. *Tagwirei Emerging From The Shadows To Succeed Mnangagwa…As VP Chiwenga Keeps Cards Close To His Chest* On Wednesday evening, wearing full military gear and speaking from an unknown location, Zimbabwean war veteran Blessed Geza announced via live video that ‘they' were planning to impeach President Emmerson Mnangagwa due to ill health. His video statement, then posted on YouTube and X platforms, also spoke of business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, calling him and his cronies corrupt. The message was broadcast just days after the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Harare Province recommended the co-option of Tagwirei, an ally of Mnangagwa, to the Central Committee pending approval from Secretary-General Obert Mpofu. Sources inside ZANU-PF say that Mnangagwa's allies made their first move on 31 March to replace Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Consisting of 230 members, the ZANU-PF's Central Committee acts on behalf of Congress when it is not in session and implements all resolutions and directives enunciated by Congress. "It is clear Tagwirei is finally leaving the shadows of the deep state and jumping into the arena, possibly to throw in his hat to succeed Mnangagwa," Abel Kapodogo, a political analyst, tells The Africa Report. Chiwenga and Mnangagwa are in a fierce succession battle as the president's allies want to extend his term beyond 2028 by at least two years. At the time of the 2017 coup, Chiwenga was initially promised the top job after Mnangagwa completed one term. *Protest milestone* On the same day as the Central Committee actions, Geza, a Chiwenga backer, led anti-corruption protests against the Mnangagwa-led government. He managed to shut down Harare and other cities, piling pressure on Mnangagwa to resign. The citizens no longer care about the democratic credentials or lack thereof of the messiah as long as they can get a new face in the political cockpit Businessman and ZANU-PF funder Tagwirei was slapped with sanctions by the US, along with his wife; Mnangagwa and his wife, and Chiwenga; and others. Protesters took to the streets of Harare to barricade roads while singing songs against the 2030 Agenda, a game plan to keep the current president in power for the next five years. Police fired tear gas canisters and used water cannons to disperse the peaceful protesters. Some 107 people were arrested on 31 March and charged with participating in violent and unsanctioned demonstrations, according to the police. Admire Mare, an associate professor at the University of Johannesburg, says the protests showed that Zimbabweans are yearning for a political messiah. "The citizens no longer care about the democratic credentials or lack thereof of the messiah as long as they can get a new face in the political cockpit," he says. This is the first time Zimbabweans have protested en masse since January 2019, when those who hit the streets were shot and injured by live ammunition by the police and the military, and several women were raped. "[The action] is a significant milestone in the evolution of protest culture in the country," he adds. *Tagwirei as replacement for Chiwenga?* A plan to extend Mnangagwa's term is about ring-fencing the interests of a certain faction within ZANU-PF, says Mare. "Whether it is going to succeed or not depends on the balance of forces within the party." Chiwenga, who has since been weakened by Mnangagwa, is likely to fight to the end to keep his seat. It is not clear if other ZANU-PF bigwigs like spokesperson Christopher Mustvangwa will stand by and watch as Tagwirei ascends the throne. Speaking at a press conference at ZANU-PF headquarters in Harare on 1 April, Mutsvangwa said it is beneficial to have business moguls identified with the ruling party. "To have Tagwirei in the ZANU-PF Harare Province is a noble thing. To have him to be part of the ZANU-PF leadership, his vast business experience will also enrich the proceedings of Harare province," he said. "If I can draw allusions, we can see how [Elon] Musk, a senior adviser to [US President Donald] Trump and other businesspeople have enriched the second term of Trump." Tagwirei, a presidential adviser, has been a key financier of the ruling party and, in return, he is given government tenders. In 2015, he was awarded Command Agriculture, a scheme to supply inputs to farmers worth millions of US dollars, bleeding the nation's finances with little commensurate benefit to the public. Analyst Kapodogo says the protests may be the beginning of a season of discontent if the organisers can change tactics and press on. *Trying to sideline the military* A few days before the protests, Mnangagwa fired Anselem Sanyatwe, an ally of Chiwenga from command of the Zimbabwe National Army and posted him to the Sports Ministry to replace Kirsty Coventry, who was elected president of the International Olympic Committee last month. Sanyatwe was replaced by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, a former Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), a military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), which participated in the liberation struggle. Matatu is aligned to Mnangagwa. Mutsvangwa confirmed that Sanyatwe was removed from the army by Mnangagwa to prevent an insurrection by the military during the mass protests. Surprisingly, the military did not participate in law enforcement following the deployment of the police by Zimbabwe Republic Police by Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba, an ally of Mnangagwa, across the country. The military has been cracking down on protesters since 2018, a role normally done by the police. Kapodogo says Chiwenga has been manipulated. "The only avenue left for Chiwenga is a military solution like he did for Mnangagwa when he had been outsmarted politically in 2017," he says. "The other avenue is for the military to step in and rein in the factions to maintain the status quo until at least 2027 when the ZANU-PF Congress will be due." Mare says if the current faction with levers of power continues to consolidate its political, military, cultural and economic power, then it can emerge victorious. "However, the Chiwenga faction is not giving up so easily. The fight for the ZANU-PF carcass is going to be a long-drawn struggle with winners and losers on both sides," he says. But this route is difficult given that Mnangagwa captured the parliament just after the 2023 elections, including the remaining opposition lawmakers. Blessed Mhlanga, a journalist who interviewed Geza when he accused Mnangagwa of massive corruption, demanding him to step down early this year, was arrested facing charges of inciting violence. The police have also launched a manhunt for Geza on allegations of inciting violence and undermining the office of the president, but they have yet to arrest him. *Zanu-PF Sets Conditions For Walter Mzembi’s Return To The Party* Zanu-PF has responded to speculation about whether disgraced former minister Walter Mzembi will be welcomed back into the party — and the message is clear: not so fast. Mzembi’s Return Sparks Rumours Mzembi, once Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs Minister, returned from self-imposed exile in Zambia last week and was promptly arrested at the airport. His legal troubles date back to 2018 when he fled while facing charges of criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property. At the time of his return, three warrants of arrest were still active due to his repeated failure to appear in court. Rumours had swirled that Mzembi was scheduled to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and could be lining up a political comeback, possibly even rejoining Zanu-PF. Zanu-PF Sets Conditions for Walter Mzembi’s Return to the Party But party spokesperson Farai Marapira poured cold water on those hopes in an interview with ZiFM Stereo this week. He made it clear that Mzembi is not automatically welcome — and if he wants back in, he’ll have to play by the book. In simple terms, Marapira said Mzembi will need to formally apply and go through internal vetting processes like any other potential member. He stressed that the final decision would rest on whether the party sees value in readmitting him. “If he wishes to rejoin, there are processes through which this is done, and if these processes are fulfilled and the requirements that are needed for his reentry are fulfilled again, then of course the party will take him in. The party is always looking for new members or old members to rejoin, but he has to be in fulfillment of the requirements and dictates of the party. It has to be in the party’s wisdom to see if it is worthwhile to readmit him or not to do so, so if he wishes to rejoin, I am sure he knows how to apply since he is a former member,” Marapira said. Meanwhile, Mzembi remains behind bars after being denied bail. He’s expected back in court on July 1 when his corruption trial continues. *Money ‘Disappears’ From Mukuru Accounts* Popular money transfer platform Mukuru has moved to calm customers after a technical glitch caused panic on Thursday, 19 June 2025, when users noticed their account balances had suddenly disappeared. The company explained that the issue was purely display-related; the money didn’t actually vanish, but a technical error made it seem that way. In a Facebook update, Mukuru said its team was working closely with partners to restore accurate balance displays and reassured users that their funds remained safe. The message read: “Mukuru Update! We’re currently finalising the last updates for everyone. Our team is working closely with our partner to restore all balances. Rest assured, your money is completely safe. We’ll send you a message as soon as everything is back to normal in the coming hours. Thank you once again for your continued patience and trust.” *Chin’ono Steps In After Followers Raise the Alarm* Renowned journalist Hopewell Chin’ono said he got involved after concerned followers flooded his inbox and Facebook page asking for help. According to Chin’ono, he reached out directly to Mukuru and spoke to one of the company’s directors, who confirmed the error was software-related and not a case of lost money. He said customers had nothing to worry about and the problem would be resolved by Friday, 20 June 2025. “One of my followers posted this request on my Facebook page, and others inboxed me. “Sir, please talk to the CEO from Mukuru, our money disappeared from our accounts this morning,” he said. I sent a message to them and received a call from one of the directors. He said they had a software problem, which is being attended to. He assured me that nobody will lose their money. Everything will be back to normal tomorrow,” Chin’ono said. *Zimbabwe Records Refugee Influx, DRC Constitutes Larger Population* The population of refugees in Zimbabwe is expected to shoot up to 18,000 by the end of this year due to a prevailing peaceful environment, the government has said. Addressing the media on the state and welfare of refugees in Zimbabwe ahead of the World Refugee Day commemoration to be held this Friday at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Labour and Public Service Deputy Minister Mercy Dinha said Zimbabwe is home to at least 17,200 refugees. The refugees are mainly from DRC, which constitutes 76% while Mozambique sits in the second position at 11%, with the remainder from Burundi, Rwanda and other smaller nationalities. “The national influx trend also projects a continual increase in the refugee population, with an expected number of 18,000 refugees by December,” she said. In terms of protection arrangements, Zimbabwe currently uses the settlement system as its policy position. “This arrangement is in line with some reservations that were expressed when we ratified the 1951 Convention,” she said. However, some refugees who are professionals and some refugees who are business people are accorded authority to work and reside outside Tongogara refugee settlement. According to Dinha, the government has allocated at least 175 hectares of irrigable plots to refugees at Tongogara Refugee Camp. The ministry is also working in collaboration with the office of the United Nations, in collaboration with World Vision and other UN organisations and developmental partners. This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme “Solidarity with refugees.” *NewZW* *Karoi Council In Bond Paper Scandal* A report, presented in Parliament by the Public Accounts Committee this week, exposed how public funds were pillaged by council officials. THE Auditor-General has unearthed suspected abuse of public funds in well-orchestrated theft and cover-up by the procurement team at the Karoi Town Council in Mashonaland West province. A report, presented in Parliament by the Public Accounts Committee this week, exposed how public funds were pillaged by council officials. The report cited a case where the municipality received reams of bond paper instead of safety belts. "The committee noted that the arrangement to purchase 48 reams of bond paper instead of safety belts was likely a cover-up for misappropriation of public funds,” the report read. “The cost of the 48 bond paper reams does not add up to US$1 100 paid for safety belts.” The committee called for an investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. Mashonaland West Parliamentary Proportional Representative Mutsa Murombedzi said the report exposed procurement fraud at the Karoi municipality. "In 2018, council paid US$1 100 for safety belts and an extension ladder. What did it receive? It received 48 reams of bond paper,” she said. "The Public Accounts Committee report on the Karoi Town Council reads like a catalogue of corruption, masked as incompetence, excused as oversight and prolonged under the guise of reforms.” Hurungwe East MP, Chenjerai Kangausaru, said the exposé was disturbing. "What we are confronted with today is a disturbing portrait of neglect, mismanagement and failure to uphold these sacred values; values upon which the trust between citizens and their government is built,” he said. “This report is not merely an administrative postscript. “It is a wake-up call to restore discipline, integrity in our local governance systems, particularly in a town as strategically positioned as Karoi, at the heart of Hurungwe, rich in human potential and public expectation.” Murehwa South MP, Noah Mangondo, said the findings of the committee exposed weaknesses inherent in most local authorities. "Karoi Town Council is not an exception,” he said. “There is a trend in our local authorities which needs to be nipped in the bud, hence the serious recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee.” When contacted for comment, Karoi Town Council chairperson, Kudakwashe Chigumo, said they were seized with the matter to uncover what transpired. “Pending issues will get addressed. We don’t believe in sacred cows. We are getting there and we are getting it right," Chigumo said. *NewsDay* *Guard Escapes Jail Time For Community Service After Accidental Fatal Shooting* A 21-year-old security guard from Kadoma has avoided jail time following an accidental discharge of a firearm, which resulted in the death of a miner at Sengy Mine. The state was insisting on a murder charge, but the High Court found Anthony Mutefara guilty of culpable homicide before sentencing him to three years in jail. Twelve months of his sentence were set aside for two on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. The remaining 24 months were suspended on condition that Mutefara performs 820 hours of community service at Mkoba Clinic. The unfortunate incident took place last year when he was 20. It is a proven fact that Mutefara, a recently trained security guard, was only two days at the new job when he was deployed at Sengy Mine Post in Kadoma. He was to relieve a colleague who was going off duty. The deceased, in the company of his two co-miners, was whiling away time sitting by the security guard cabin post. According to the unchallenged testimony of the accused, he had just assumed duty and was inside the cabin when the deceased unnoticeably also entered the mini room. The deceased had entered the cabin to collect his already charged phone and to charge another as per their custom. An inverter had been placed inside the cabin, but behind the door, for the purpose of assisting the miners coming from the underground mining shafts to recharge their mobile phones. The inverter was positioned approximately a meter adjacent to the bed, which was also situated therein. “It is soon after the deceased’s entrance into the said room that a startling sound was heard, leading the deceased’s colleagues to scamper away for safety. “It was only after the first witness, Peter Milton, regained composure and retraced his way back to the source of the explosive sound did he find the deceased lying face up with his head protruding from the door hanging unsuspended. “According to this witness’s testimony upon entry into the cabin to enquire, he then saw the accused astonished and in shock, holding the gun. “Both the first witness and the accused placed the deceased in a better lying position outside the cabin,” reads court papers. Mutefara, who was visibly shaken, was seen using his own garment to try and stabilise excessive bleeding. In his defence, Mutefara stated that he took safety precautionary measures as soon as he was handed the gun. He placed the gun in a safety catch or mode. Since he had just learnt that there was a bullet jammed in the barrel, he emptied the gun. The first bullet fell under the bed but the second remained lodged. In his effort to retrieve the fallen bullet, he placed the gun on the bed whilst bending. He hardly noticed the entrance or presence of the deceased until he heard a loud bang. At first, he thought it came from outside, as was the norm with explosives at the mine. He then realised that the gun had discharged on its own accord when he saw the smoke on the mouth of the barrel, signalling recent gunfire. At the same time, he observed the deceased, who was in a bent position, falling backwards. In convicting him, the judge said the manner in which the events unfolded portrays mere carelessness rather than recklessness. “The accused’s action of taking safety precautionary measures in a confined space borders on negligence rather than out of realisation of risk or possibility that death may ensue out of his conduct of leaving an unsupervised semi-loaded gun for a short stint of time,” noted the judge before convicting Mutefara. *NewZW* *Nigerian Company To Make HIV, Malaria Test Kits After US Funding Cut* Nigerian manufacturer Codix Bio Ltd plans to make millions of HIV and Malaria test kits at its new plant outside Lagos for the local and regional market to help fill gaps in the wake of cutbacks at U.S. donor agency USAID, a company executive said. The United States, the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, has cut funding for foreign assistance, half of which is delivered via USAID. The U.S. support to Nigeria, which reached $740 million in 2024 based on USAID data, is focused on preventing malaria and curbing HIV as well as delivering vaccines to local health centres across the country. It is not yet clear how Nigeria will be affected by the cuts. The Nigerian government has said it will raise funds to continue some of the programmes that donors supported. Codix Bio general manager Olanrewaju Balaja said the company will roll out kits later this month from its plant in partnership with the South Korean pharmaceutical producer SD Biosensor and support from the World Health Organization. The plant has an initial capacity to produce 147 million kits annually, but this can be expanded to over 160 million. "From the statistics of what is supplied (by USAID and PEPFAR) for a specific programme year, and looking at what we have currently in capacity for Nigeria, we have enough capacity to meet the demand," Balaja told Reuters. He said if the company scaled up operations, "we can go to West and Sub-Saharan Africa, including other African countries." Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally, according to WHO, with nearly 27% of the global burden. The country also has the world's fourth highest burden of HIV, according to UNAIDS. "The focus was for us to be able to play in the field of supply of rapid diagnostic test kits for donor agencies, which particularly USAID was at the forefront," Balaja added. Balaja said the Nigerian government and donor agencies like Global Fund were expected to purchase test kits from Codix Bio. *Reuters* *Israel Massacres In Gaza, Locks Down West Bank As Attention Shifts To Iran* On Thursday, Israeli troops killed at least 16 Palestinians trying desperately to get food in Gaza. On Wednesday, it was at least 29 Palestinians. The day before, at least 70 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces as they gathered at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Khan Younis. They were gunned down by drones, machine gun fire and tanks, according to survivors. On Monday, at least 38 were killed in a similar manner while trying to get food, mostly in Rafah. And on Sunday, at least 17 were killed in southern and central Gaza. The GHF is an Israeli and United States-backed body staffed by private security contractors. Israel set it up in May to replace United Nations-led relief operations, yet dozens of Palestinians have been gunned down on at least eight occasions at GHF sites. “This happens to some extent every day. It’s becoming a routine,” said Yasser al-Banna, a journalist in Gaza. “Now that Israel has started a war with Iran, everyone here in Gaza is scared that the world is going to forget about them,” he told Al Jazeera. *Exploiting the headlines* Since Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, global attention on the plight of Palestinians in the occupied territory has faded from the headlines. But Israel has continued to attack Palestinians in Gaza, while conducting deadly raids in the West Bank. After the latest attack on Palestinians desperate for food, analysts and human rights monitors told Al Jazeera that they believe Israel is likely to commit more “massacres”, while prioritising the welfare of Israelis as the war with Iran drags on. “Israel is using the diverted attention away from Gaza to continue to carry out atrocious crimes against starving civilians,” said Omar Rahman, an expert on Israel and Palestine for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs think tank. “We have also seen a lot of military and settler activity in the West Bank in recent days,” he told Al Jazeera. Israel’s violence against helpless Palestinians at the GHF site on Tuesday resulted in the highest single death toll at any GHF site since the controversial organisation began operations last month. It has been lambasted for what opponents have called the militarisation of humanitarian aid relief. Yet Israel’s chokehold siege on the enclave has pushed Palestinians to make an impossible choice: Whither away from hunger or risk their lives to obtain a food parcel. “Israel’s whole GHF scheme is just a way to increase the humiliation of Palestinians,” said Ibrahim Nabeel, a Palestinian medic who has treated victims of the GHF attacks. Along with sustaining its genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has also tightened its occupation over the West Bank since it began attacking Iran. Several Palestinians told Al Jazeera that it is “impossible to move” from one village or town to another. The entrances to Palestinian villages and cities have been blocked off by Israeli forces, and the number of military checkpoints has increased. The lockdown has spread fear that Palestinians may be suspended from their livelihoods or unable to stock up on basic necessities in case the Israel-Iran war drags on. Many Palestinians have also reported that there is a major fuel crisis throughout the West Bank. “Most of our basic imports come from Israel … and Israel is prioritising its society, not us,” said Murad Jadallah, a human rights researcher with Al-Haq, a local organisation that advocates for Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, Israel continues to carry out deadly raids across the West Bank. According to the Wafa Palestinian news agency, Israeli troops stormed a village east of Ramallah on June 18. After storming several homes, Israeli troops warned former detainees that they would be arrested again, while others were assaulted, according to Wafa. Over the past week, Israel has also expelled dozens of Palestinians from their homes when they stormed a refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus city, Jadallah from al-Haq told Al Jazeera. In addition, Israel arrested at least 60 Palestinians across the West Bank between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, Wafa reported. “The Israelis are still continuing their raids. Just last night, in fact, they came to our village and arrested a young man and then destroyed his home,” said Layth Barakat, a farmer who lives east of Ramallah. *The day after* Like much of the world, Palestinians were shocked when Israel attacked Iran. They now worry that Israel will step up its aggression against Palestinians across the occupied territory once it finishes its war with Iran. “We will pay a high price if Israel wins this war with Iran,” Jadallah said. “If they can get what they want from Iran or carry out regime change, then who will stop them from achieving their dreams in Gaza and the West Bank?” he added. Prominent far-right ministers in Israel’s government have long pushed for Israeli colonisation of Gaza and formally annexing the entire West Bank, an area they call “Judea and Samaria”. Both of these ambitions are predicated on crushing all hopes for a Palestinian state and overseeing campaigns of ethnic cleansing. For now, Palestinians are just trying to survive, even as their plight garners less attention. Al-Banaa from Gaza said that most people are growing hungrier each day due to Israel’s total siege. He said many people stopped buying bags of sesame, which they usually crush to make bread. A large bag of sesame used to cost two shekels ($0.33) before the war in Gaza, yet it now costs about 80 shekels ($23). Al-Banna noted that he can barely afford a meal for himself, his four young children and his wife. However, he still refuses to trek miles to a GHF distribution point. “I would rather die from hunger than from getting shot,” he said. Rahman, from the Middle East Council, added that Israel’s war of aggression against Iran and its war on Gaza should be deeply concerning for everyone, not just Palestinians. “It is extremely worrying that Israel can get away with everything and anything … and keep its western support base,” he said. “It is a signal to the Israelis that there are no limits,” he added. “Israel is wreaking havoc in Palestine, the region, and on the global system.” *Al Jazeera* *Man City Fined £1m For Repeatedly Delaying Kick-off* Manchester City have been fined over £1m by the Premier League after repeatedly kicking-off or restarting matches late last season. Nine of City's matches last season started or restarted late, with the longest delay coming before the second half of the Manchester derby in December 2024 which resumed two minutes and 24 seconds later than billed. The Premier League said City had accepted and apologised for the breaches, external, with the fines totalling £1.08m. They have 14 days to pay. Last season the club were fined £2.09m for delaying 22 matches, and manager Pep Guardiola said he would try and make his team talks shorter. A Premier League statement said: "Rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs. "It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule." City are awaiting a verdict on 115 charges of alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation. It is alleged City breached its financial rules between 2009 and 2018. City strongly deny all charges and have said their case is supported by a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence". *Man City acknowledge issues* Manchester City have worked hard to improve their record in this area and say they will continue to do so. Last season was a difficult one for the team in which they failed to win a major trophy across all competitions and Guardiola would have needed extra moments during preparations to conclude his remarks and relay messages - for this reason, the team have not been sent out on time as required by the Premier League. But the club did cause fewer delays in the 2024-25 campaign compared to 2023-24 - a 59% reduction - and will be aware of their responsibilities if they are to avoid further sanctions in the future. The Premier League's stance is fairly clear. Broadcasters spend billions of pounds for the rights to screen matches and part of the deal is knowing, within reason, when they are likely to end. Not every eventuality can be factored in as players get injured. But the kick-off time and half-time break are controllable. City argue it was a difficult season, which is true. But the first breach came during a victory over Southampton in October, when they were still unbeaten, were leading at half-time and made no changes during the interval. Yet they were still two minutes and 10 seconds late back onto the pitch. The sympathetic assessment is Guardiola and his staff are so wrapped up in the messages they deliver that they forget they are over-running. The less kind view is that they pay no attention. *BBC* *Messi Inspires Inter Miami To Win Against Porto At Club World Cup* Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup with an exquisite free kick to inspire Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champions Porto. The Herons trailed 1-0 at the break, but Telasco Segovia tied it two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he’ll go down as one of the game’s greatest stars. Samu Omorodion scored on a penalty kick in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club’s first goal of the tournament. Both teams were held to scoreless draws in their opening Group A matches. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano praised his side’s performance level against a side regarded as among the elite in Europe. “We were working really, really hard against a team that have a lot of quality and a high level, but today, we showed to the world and to ourselves that we can compete against any team,” Inter’s Argentinian manager said. “This match, the first half was very, very good, also. The players understood that they can do it. When we are together, when we are next to our teammates, we can do something amazing.” Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chanting “Messi!” Messi! Messi!” before his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute. “[Messi] is the player that leads us in the ways we have to compete,” Mascherano added. “His hunger, his resilience, his will to go on competing, at whatever level that may be. “In football terms, what else can I add? He’s the best player ever to play this sport. But his determination to win is always surprising. “Even in the last minutes, when everyone is tired, he continued to support the team in any way he could.” Inter Miami returns to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up its spot in the Round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto closes out group play against Egypt’s Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Porto coach Martin Anselmi was left to reflect on the brilliance of his opponent, “What can I say about Messi? I’m not going to say anything that’s new. You know what he’s capable of on the pitch.” *BBC*