Month: September 2025

Recent data shows stagflation, stagnant growth and price inflation, is possible as economy shaken by uncertainty

It’s a strange time for the US economy. Prices are rising, jobs growth has stalled, uncertainty is everywhere and stock markets have soared to record highs. Against this background a scary word last used in the 1970s is being uttered again: stagflation.

Stagflation is the term that describes “stagnant” growth combined with “inflation” of prices. It means that companies are producing and hiring less, but prices are still going up. It’s a scenario that some economists say can be worse than a recession.

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UN General Assembly Votes to Advance Palestinian Statehood Amid Gaza Conflict

The United Nations General Assembly voted 142–10 on September 12, 2025, in favor of a declaration advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state, amid escalating international pressure on Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reports 24brussels.

This resolution, known as the New York declaration, calls for “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution and collective action to end the Israeli military operations in Gaza. The vote reflected significant support, but it was opposed by several nations including Israel, the United States, and various Pacific island states.

Drafted by France and Saudi Arabia, the declaration has gained backing from the Arab League and was co-signed by 17 UN member states in July. The resolution follows an international conference on Israel’s long-standing occupation, which was notably boycotted by both Washington and Tel Aviv. With this adoption, the diplomatic momentum towards recognizing Palestinian statehood continues to grow.

According to reports, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia plan to recognize Palestinian statehood during the current General Assembly session, joining a group of 147 countries that already acknowledge the State of Palestine, proclaimed in 1988. Currently, approximately three-quarters of UN member states recognize Palestine.

Israeli officials have firmly rejected the declaration. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel “would never accept a Palestinian state.” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed concerns that European recognition of Palestine could lead Israel to make “unilateral decisions.” Additionally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced plans to annex more than 80 percent of the occupied West Bank, stating that his settlement expansion scheme “buries the concept of a Palestinian state.”

In a ruling in July 2024, the International Court of Justice deemed Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This backdrop of legal and diplomatic challenges occurs as Israel’s military actions in Gaza have resulted in catastrophic loss of life, with more than 64,700 Palestinians reported killed and over 164,000 injured since October 2023, according to official figures.

The outcome of the General Assembly vote underscores the increasing isolation of Israel and the U.S. within the international community while reinforcing the argument that achieving a two-state solution is critical for stabilizing the region and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Deadly Attack in Laboderie Leaves 42 Dead as Gang Violence Escalates

At least 42 people were killed this week in Laboderie, north of Port-au-Prince, in one of the most severe attacks of the year as the armed coalition Viv Ansanm asserts control amid a backdrop of state inaction, reports 24brussels.

Local authority Baptiste Joseph Louis confirmed on Friday that the killings occurred on September 12 in the Arcahaie municipality, approximately 40 kilometers from the capital. The Viv Ansanm gang executed the assault following a previous pushback by police and local self-defense brigades. Upon returning to Laboderie, the assailants left behind dozens of bodies, with some found abandoned in the streets, partially devoured by dogs, while terrified survivors fled the area.

The human rights group Collectif Défenseurs Plus condemned what it characterized as a “new wave of deadly violence,” demanding accountability from the state. This incident follows a massacre on September 11, where about 40 individuals were executed in Cabaret as retribution for the death of gang leader “Vladimir” during skirmishes with security forces on September 7.

According to the NGO, the attackers in Laboderie also torched homes and property. ???These executions, committed indiscriminately, reflect a barbaric logic of revenge against a defenseless population and tolerated by state authorities,” stated the organization.

Violence has intensified across various regions. In Lower Artibonite, gangs escalate attacks to gain control over roads and communication routes. In the Central Department, the number of internally displaced persons has more than doubled this year due to violence in Mirebalais and Saut d’Eau. Residents of the capital region are living in constant fear, facing restricted access to essential services such as healthcare, food, education, and transport in areas dominated by armed groups.

“The tragedy of Laboderie illustrates a violence fueled by impunity and the absence of the State. Haiti needs a national and international response that is urgent and coordinated to curb the violence of armed groups,” the organization emphasized in a statement.

On Thursday, Organization of American States Secretary-General Albert Ramdin stressed the unity of the organization’s 32 member states in supporting a renewed international security mission for Haiti, which is set to replace the current mandate expiring in October. “This demonstrates hemispheric solidarity and unity, and for me, it is especially important because I have always hoped this organization could be valuable in working together,” Ramdin remarked.

As violence escalates in Haiti, rights groups caution that without immediate national and international intervention, communities remain vulnerable to uncontested armed violence and worsening insecurity.