Israel urged to end illegal occupation of Palestinian territories at UNGA special session

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Israel urged to end illegal occupation of Palestinian territories at UNGA special session

2024-09-18 17:09 Last Updated At：21:47

Israel has been urged to do "the right thing, right now" and end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories amid calls for a two-state solution to end the conflict as soon as possible at an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.

The UNGA on Tuesday resumed its 10th emergency special session on the issue of Israeli actions in occupied Palestinian territory. Palestine introduced a draft resolution that demands an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank within one year, which member states are expected to vote on later on Wednesday.

Philemon Yang, president of the UNGA 79th session, said at the meeting that in accordance with the provisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations, and especially the General Assembly and the Security Council, have the responsibility to consider specific ways and further actions to end Israel's illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as soon as possible.

"Without prejudging the outcome of this special session, it is our collective duty, as representatives of the international community, to ensure that the principles of justice and the rule of law prevail. For without justice and the rule of law, the Israelis and Palestinians alike will not attain what they long for the most, peace and security," said Yang, who was sworn in and declared the opening of the new session on Sept 10.

Speaking at Tuesday's session, Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of Palestine to the UN, said that Palestinians "want to live, not survive", adding they wish to feel safe in their homes, and send their children to school without fear.

He said the ICJ's advisory opinion issued back in July which urged Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory was a "historic" decision and said the General Assembly needs to play a role in this regard without delay.

"Those who claim that peace is possible in our region without a just resolution for the question of Palestine, are the ones who are not being realistic. A few voices claim this is not the right time for such action, they always find good reasons to keep doing the wrong thing, but delayed justice is denied justice. The right time to do the right thing is always right now," he said.

US stocks close lower on Wednesday following Fed rate cut

2024-09-19 09:00 Last Updated At：10:37

U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve announced a 0.5-percentage-point interest rate cut.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 103.08 points, or 0.25 percent, to 41,503.1. The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 16.32 points, or 0.29 percent, to 5,618.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 54.76 points, or 0.31 percent, to 17,573.3.

Nine of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended in red, with utilities and technology leading the laggards by losing 0.77 percent and 0.51 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and communication services led the gainers by rising 0.25 percent and 0.02 percent, respectively.

The U.S. Fed cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday, bringing the benchmark rate to a range of 4.75 percent to 5 percent, the first rate cut in four years.

In its policy statement, the Fed said that the decision reflected "greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably towards two percent" and that the central bank "judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance."

Following the cut on Wednesday, U.S. stocks experienced volatile trading, swinging between gains and losses throughout the session.