Iranians are divided over what Israel's election results could mean for their country's security, with some believing the outcome could shape the course of the war, while others see little prospect of change in Israel's policy toward Iran.
Israel's opposition parties have secured 67 seats in the 120-member parliament, against 53 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, according to a count of about 97 percent of the votes released by the Central Elections Committee on Thursday.
The opposition seats include 48 won by parties aligned with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and 19 by Arab parties, with final results due on November 4.
"The Israeli elections could influence the fate of the war and potentially prevent it; if this occurs, it would naturally be significant for us," said Saeed, a Tehran resident.
Experts say the outcome could affect the course of the conflict as well as how Israel might approach Iran.
"If Netanyahu is elected, the war will certainly continue with Trump's support. However, if Eisenkot is elected, the nature of Eisenkot's war will be different. Despite being a capable military man, Eisenkot's attacks will be in the realm of diplomacy and technology, and his policy will differ from Netanyahu's," said Hamze Alipour, an international security expert.
With tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States still elevated and recent reports raising concerns about renewed military action, some Iranians say the priority is not who wins an election in Israel, but how Iran responds to any potential threat.
"In my view, the Israeli elections are not particularly significant because their policy framework is already defined; regardless of who is elected, they will continue to take actions aimed at the destruction of Iran," said Naser, a Tehran resident.
"We defend our nation with strength and take immense pride in our armed forces. The outcome of the Israeli elections is of no importance to us," said Morteza, another Tehran resident.
Iranians divided over Israeli election's impact on their security
Iranians divided over Israeli election's impact on their security
Traditional Dong ethnic attire is drawing travelers to Zhaoxing Dong Village in southwest China's Guizhou Province, where a travel photography boom is creating jobs and promoting local culture.
As one of China's largest villages primarily inhabited by Dong ethnic residents, Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County was once economically underdeveloped due to poor transportation and a lack of industrial diversity. In recent years, the village has leveraged its unique ethnic culture and ecological resources to develop cultural tourism.
At 08:00, a shop renting ethnic clothing in the village is already open. Tourists can rent traditional Dong outfits, with silver necklaces and headpieces included, for the day and pose for photos with traditional village buildings as a backdrop. Once reserved mainly for festivals, the garments now underpin a steady rental business, fueled by the growing popularity of travel photography.
"We have a peak season in July and August. During that time, the shop can serve over 100 customers a day. I usually serve at least 15 to 20 customers myself. In the off-season, we get about five or six customers on Saturdays and Sundays. In the peak season, my monthly income is over 10,000 yuan (about 1,500 U.S. dollars)," said Li Cancan, a makeup and styling artist at a local photo studio.
Some travelers hire local photographers. While some prefer daytime shoots, nighttime sessions keep photographers busy late into the night.
"It's quite common to start shooting at 07:00 or 08:00 and work until 01:00 or 02:00 the next morning. July and August tend to be busier, and the same goes for holidays like Labor Day and National Day," said Huang Liang, a photographer at a local studio.
From costume rentals and makeup services to outdoor shoots and photo editing, Zhaoxing Dong Village has developed a complete travel photography industry chain that offers visitors a full experience.
"I think the yellow really suits my skin tone. I was very happy today. I took a lot of photos and they came out really well," said Jiang Yuxin, a visitor from south China's Guangdong Province.
The village now has 76 photo studios, creating jobs for more than 200 villagers near their homes.
Travel photography booms in Guizhou's Dong ethnic village
