Author: AFP
AFP
Agence France-Presse known by its acronym AFP is a French news agency founded in 1835 in Paris, France, where it's also headquartered. AFP covers a diversity of topics, both local news and international stories.
UN Poised to Grant Palestinians Additional Rights Despite US Veto Despite a recent US veto blocking the Palestinians’ bid for full UN membership, the General Assembly is set to grant them additional rights within the global body. This symbolic victory has already sparked displeasure from Israel. In the midst of the Gaza conflict, the Palestinians renewed their 2011 request for full UN membership, which requires Security Council approval followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. However, the US vetoed the initiative in April. Now, the Palestinians are turning to the General Assembly where a resolution is likely…
Israel Launches Fresh Strikes in Gaza as Truce Talks Stall Israel conducted new strikes in the Gaza Strip on Friday as negotiations for a ceasefire agreement hit a roadblock in Cairo. The talks ended without a deal, prompting fresh violence in the region. Reports of artillery and air strikes in different parts of Gaza added to the escalating tension. Hamas, which controls Gaza, accepted a ceasefire proposal but Israel deemed it unsatisfactory, prolonging the conflict. The situation has drawn global concern, with calls for a peaceful resolution intensifying. Meanwhile, Biden’s warning to Israel against further military action underscores the growing…
London – Official data shows Britain has exited a shallow recession with 0.6 percent growth in the first quarter, providing momentum for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the upcoming election. The boost in GDP surpassed market expectations and pointed to a stronger performance in the economy. Sunak, who has made economic growth a priority, aims to capitalize on the positive growth figures and improve the party’s standing against the opposition Labour Party. Despite challenges like inflation and a cost-of-living crisis, finance minister Jeremy Hunt remains optimistic about the economy’s recovery. The Bank of England’s decision to keep interest rates…
UK Economy Bounces Back Britain emerged from a shallow recession with surprising growth in the first quarter, exceeding market expectations. The Office for National Statistics reported a 0.6% expansion, driven by strong performance in service industries and car manufacturing. This positive economic news comes as a boost to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, facing challenges from the upcoming election and criticism over the cost-of-living crisis. Finance minister Jeremy Hunt hailed the growth figures as a sign of the economy’s recovery post-pandemic. While the Bank of England hinted at a rate cut in the near future, cautious optimism prevails as inflation cools.…
Students across universities in the UK, including outside SOAS University of London, have set up tents adorned with Palestinian flags and slogans calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. These peaceful protests seek to pressure universities to disclose and divest from companies complicit in Israel’s illegal activities. The encampments have spread to universities like Warwick, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Cambridge, where students are participating in hunger strikes and teach-ins. While these protests have garnered support from figures like Jeremy Corbyn, concerns about rising anti-Semitism have also been raised. Jewish students have expressed fears for their safety as tensions escalate on campuses. The…
Urgent: Gaza Hospitals Facing Fuel Shortage Amid Conflicts In the southern Gaza Strip, hospitals are running out of fuel with only three days left due to closed border crossings, according to the World Health Organization. Despite international objections, Israel has taken control of the crossings, blocking the entry of essential supplies. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the situation, stating that without fuel, humanitarian operations will come to a halt, impacting vital services in hospitals. Fuel is crucial to power generators, facilitate movement of aid workers, and keep essential facilities like bakeries running. While Israel claims that some…
President Biden Threatens to Halt Weapons Supplies to Israel in CNN Interview President Joe Biden issued a direct warning, stating he would stop US weapons supplies to Israel if they attack Rafah in southern Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Biden criticized the civilian casualties caused by US bombs dropped on Palestinian territory, leading to the pause in the shipment of bombs to Israel. The administration’s move comes as a response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to assault Rafah, despite Biden’s pleas to spare the city. While Biden reassured support for Israel’s security, he emphasized the need…
The Darbandikhan reservoir in northeastern Iraq is nearly full again after four years of drought. Recent rainfall has refilled the country’s main reservoirs, including the Darbandikhan dam which is only 25 centimeters away from being full. Built on the River Sirwan, the dam is located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The increase in water levels is attributed to bountiful rains this winter, easing water shortages in the country. Ali Radi Thamer, director of Iraq’s water resources ministry, noted that most of the country’s major dams have experienced a rise in water levels, benefiting agriculture, treatment plants, and the marshes…
Israel launched strikes in Gaza after seizing the border crossing with Egypt amidst ceasefire negotiations. The move came after weeks of threats to invade Rafah, a city overflowing with displaced civilians. The White House condemned the disruption of aid deliveries, with the US pausing a bomb shipment due to concerns over Israel’s actions. As negotiators met in Cairo to discuss a hostage release and truce, a senior Hamas official warned this was Israel’s “last chance” to free hostages. Despite ongoing strikes, parties, including Israel, agreed to resume talks. The US expressed hope in bridging gaps between the two sides, emphasizing…
Renewed Call for US Troops Withdrawal in Iraq by Kataib Hezbollah Baghdad – The powerful Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq has once again demanded the withdrawal of US troops from the country, signaling a renewed tension in the region. The Iran-backed armed group had previously suspended attacks on American forces, but now they are resuming their calls for the US to leave Iraq. Despite ongoing talks between Washington and Baghdad regarding the presence of US troops in Iraq as part of an anti-jihadist coalition, Kataib Hezbollah sees a lack of seriousness from both the American and Iraqi governments in addressing their…