- World number 2 Alcaraz knocked out of Shanghai Masters by Machac
- Leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia meet amid regional tensions
- Klopp's Red Bull decision 'ruined life's work' say Dortmund fans
- Han Kang wins South Korea's first literature Nobel
- S. Korea's Nobel winner Han Kang a modest, thought-provoking writer
- Hurricane Milton tornadoes kill four in Florida amid rescue efforts
- The almost impossible job: Beating Rafael Nadal at the French Open
- New French government faces key test with budget plan
- Rescuers say Israeli strike on Gaza school kills 28
- Italy's ex-world champion gymnast Ferrari announces retirement
- Zelensky talks 'victory plan' in meeting with Starmer, Rutte
- South Korea's Han Kang wins literature Nobel
- Federer lauds retiring Nadal's 'incredible achievements'
- Ikea posts fall in annual sales after lowering prices
- Australia beat China 3-1 to resurrect World Cup campaign
- Stock markets diverge, oil gains after China rebounds
- Nadal defied injury woes in record-breaking career
- Nadal v Djokovic, French Open, 2006: Chapter One in epic rivalry
- World can't 'waste time' trading climate change blame: COP29 hosts
- Pakistan at 23-1 after Brook triple hundred takes England to 823-7
- Zelensky meets Starmer, Rutte on whirlwind tour of Europe
- South Korean same-sex couples make push for marriage equality
- Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career
- Mumbai declares day of mourning for Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- Philippines confronts China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet
- Kim Sei-young shoots 62 to take two-stroke lead at LPGA Shanghai
- The haircuts that help traumatised Ukrainian soldiers heal
- Sinner crushes Medvedev to set up potential Alcaraz Shanghai semi
- 7-Eleven owner restructures to fight takeover
- England's Harry Brook blasts triple century against Pakistan
- Chinese electric car companies cope with European tariffs
- Zelensky in London for whirlwind tour of Europe ahead of US vote
- Sri Lanka recovering faster than expected: World Bank
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as most markets track Wall St record
- Record-breaking Root, Brook both pass 200 as England pile up 658-3
- Football mourns Greek defender George Baldock's shock death at 31
- Uniqlo owner reports record annual earnings
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as markets track Wall St record
- Indonesia biomass drive threatens key forests: report
- Home is far away for Madagascar in AFCON qualifying
- Two months on, Donbas soldiers begin to question Kursk offensive
- Rugby Australia to counter-sue in dispute with Melbourne Rebels
- Mumbai mourns Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- Philippines challenges China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet
- Mets advance on Lindor blast, Dodgers stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Injury-ravaged Krygios aiming to return at Australian Open
- Greek international Baldock, dead at 31: family
- EU talks deportation hubs to stem migration
- Deaths and repression sideline Suu Kyi's party ahead of Myanmar vote
- S. Africa offers a lesson on how not to shut down a coal plant
Syrians prepare for 'predetermined' election
Campaign posters have sprung up across Damascus as Syria prepares to hold a parliamentary election in government-held areas on Monday that is designed to renew the ruling Baath party's grip on power.
It will be the fourth election to Syria's largely rubber-stamp parliament since civil war erupted in 2011. As in the previous ones, President Bashar al-Assad's Baath party, in power since 1963, is expected to secure most of the 250 seats.
"Although there are new candidates... the old ones that we're used to seeing" are still running, said Fawaz Hanna, 56.
"Our demands are solely focused on living conditions," said Hanna, referring to the hyperinflation caused by the war, which has driven millions into poverty.
"We urge candidates to take responsibility for their slogans and to keep their promises," he added.
Outside his photography studio in central Damascus, candidates have put up campaign posters promising to revive the economy.
On one banner, a candidate pledged "to support small businesses," while another, a few metres away promised "a competitive industry... a thriving economy".
The Baath party and its secular left-wing and Arab nationalist allies are running virtually unopposed in the election with independents the only alternative.
Polling stations will operate only in government-controlled areas, effectively disenfranchising the millions of Syrians who live in the Kurdish-controlled northeast or in areas along the Turkish border controlled by Ankara-backed rebels or by jihadists.
Candidates are still contesting seats allocated to the north and northeast but only voters who have moved to government-controlled areas can cast ballots in the designated polling stations.
The millions of Syrians who have found refuge abroad also have no vote.
Syria's exiled opposition issued a statement Wednesday condemning the election as "absurd" and saying that polls organised by the government "only represent the ruling authority".
- Few women -
Authorities said 8,953 candidates, including 1,317 women, are competing for a seat in parliament.
"Most of the candidates are men, I only saw pictures of two female candidates," said Aya Jdid, 22, a Damascus University student.
In another part of the city, a group presenting themselves as independents set up a tent with pictures of candidates on their list -- mostly businessmen wearing suits.
"I don't expect these elections to be any different than the previous ones, because we're seeing the same" candidates, said 46-year-old event planner Johnny Arbash.
"However, we ask that they work in the interest of the people, who are tired after years of war," he said.
Arbash said the fledgling rehabilitation of Assad's government on the regional diplomatic stage gave him some hope for the economy.
"We are following news of political openings with Saudi Arabia and a possible rapprochement with Turkey, and we hope this will have an impact on... living conditions," Arbash said.
Last year, Damascus was readmitted to the Arab League after reconciling with Gulf Arab states that had championed its suspension from the regional bloc.
Earlier this month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he might invite Assad to Turkey "at any moment".
Geography teacher Hossam Shaheen, 40, told AFP he was excited to vote and had urged his friends to do so too.
"We must vote instead of watching and criticising," he said.
But Bashir, 33, who gave only his first name, said he intended to spoil his ballot in protest at the "predetermined" outcome.
"I don't believe in any of the candidates, but at the same time... it's my right to participate," he said.
"I will cast a blank vote."
O.Johnson--AMWN