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Worldnews

Palestinian Officials Vote To Create A Vice Presidency Under Mahmoud Abbas

The expectation is that whoever holds the role would be the frontrunner to succeed President Mahmoud Abbas, 89. The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has announced the creation of a vice presidency under 89-year-old leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has not specified a successor. After a two-day meeting, the body’s central council voted on Thursday to create the role of vice chairman of the PLO Executive Committee. This position would also be referred to as the vice president of the State of Palestine, which the Palestinians hope will one day receive full international recognition. The expectation is that whoever holds that role would be the frontrunner to succeed Abbas, though it’s unclear when or exactly how it would be filled. Abbas is to choose his vice president from among the other 15 members of the PLO’s executive committee. The PLO is the internationally recognised representative of the Palestinian people and oversees the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises limited autonomy in some areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Abbas has led both entities for 20 years. Hamas, which won the last national elections in 2006, is not in the PLO. Hamas seized control of Gaza from PA security forces in 2007, and reconciliation attempts between the rivals have repeatedly failed. Polls in recent years have shown plummeting support for him and his Fatah party. Western and Arab donor countries have demanded reforms in the PA for it to play a role in post-war Gaza. The authority is deeply unpopular and faces longstanding allegations of corruption and poor governance. Appointing an heir apparent could be aimed at appeasing his critics. Hamas slammed Abbas on Thursday for comments he made a day earlier, where he described the group as “sons of dogs” and urged it to release Israeli captives and lay down arms. “Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people,” Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said. Since Israel’s war on Gaza resumed on March 18, at least 1,928 people have been killed there, bringing the total death toll since the war erupted in October 2023 to at least 51,305, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Abbas has been seeking greater relevance and a role in post-war planning for the Gaza Strip after having been largely sidelined. Talks on a new ceasefire appear to have made little progress, and a Hamas delegation is in Cairo for renewed negotiations with key Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

Trump Says Petrol And Grocery Prices Are Down. Facts Say Otherwise

The US president incorrectly said that prices of petrol and eggs had dropped while home sales were good. US President Donald Trump said that housing, petrol, and grocery prices are declining. However, current data do not fully support any of these claims. In the Oval Office on Thursday, the president, when asked about home sales and if it was an economic indicator that concerns him, said there were very good numbers on housing. However, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which the reporter who asked the question was alluding to, sales of existing homes are moving at their slowest pace since 2009, and were down 5.9 percent in March from a month earlier. “Residential housing mobility, currently at historical lows, signals the troublesome possibility of less economic mobility for society,”  NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a public statement. Trump mentioned that energy prices have dropped to $1.98 in some states. While he did not specify the type of energy, his comments closely mirrored remarks he made last week. At that time, he cited petrol prices specifically. According to AAA, which monitors national petrol prices, the lowest recorded average was $2.70 per gallon ($0.71 per litre) last week in Mississippi. This week, Mississippi reported the lowest average petrol price again, but this time at $2.68 ($0.70 per litre). Data from GasBuddy, which tracks prices at individual petrol stations, found the lowest individual station prices to be $2.33 per gallon (0.62 per litre) — still above the figure mentioned by the president. The national average petrol price currently stands at $3.17 per gallon ($0.84 per litre). While that reflects a five-cent increase from last month, it is a decrease from $3.60 ($0.95 per litre) at this time last year. The president correctly noted that petrol prices are trending downward, though not to the extent he suggested. According to the latest report from the Department of Labor, overall energy prices declined by 2.4 percent over the past month, largely due to falling petrol prices. This decline helped offset increases in natural gas and electricity costs. Oil prices have also generally declined since Trump took office, predominantly on the back of economic uncertainties caused by Trump’s tariff threats. In his comments, Trump also stated that grocery prices are decreasing. Recent data does not support this claim. According to the Department of Labor, food prices rose 0.4 percent from last month and are up 2.4 percent compared with a year ago. Price increases were observed in four out of six major grocery categories. Eggs, which the president said had dropped in price, actually saw a 5.9 percent increase last month. Year-over-year, egg prices are up more than 60 percent. The beef index rose by 1.2 percent, and dairy prices increased by 4 percent. However, prices for fruits and vegetables did decline slightly, dropping by 0.5 percent. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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News_Naija

Afrobeats Musician Seeks To Bridge Cultural Gap With Music

Aramide Babalola, popularly known as Mykah, has vowed to bridge cultural divides and showcase the richness of Afrobeats to a global audience. The 29-year-old producer, in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, shared his vision, expressing his desire to use music as a tool for cultural connection. “Looking ahead, Mykah hopes to continue spreading his music to a global audience, bridging the gap between cultures and showcasing the richness of Afrobeats to the world. His dedication to his craft and his unwavering passion for music are a testament to his potential to make a lasting impact on the music industry,” the statement partly read. Raised in a musically gifted family, Mykah credits his early exposure to music to his father, who served as the choirmaster of their local church, and to his brothers, who also shared a love for creativity. “His journey into music began with piano lessons, eventually expanding to guitar playing, which helped him hone his musical skills. His venture into music production began when he gained admission to the university. A laptop gifted to him by his father became the key to his evolution as a producer. He downloaded FL Studio and began exploring beat-making, laying the groundwork for his professional career. “Mykah chose his stage name from the Bible, reflecting a spiritual and personal connection to his craft. Specialising in Afrobeats, he has produced several tracks that highlight his distinctive style and talent. One of his standout works is Eva Longoria—a cross-cultural collaboration featuring Puerto Rican star Ozuna and Nigeria’s Davido, which exemplifies his ability to merge international sounds with the vibrant rhythms of Afrobeats. “Recently, he released an EP titled Long Time Coming, featuring eight tracks: Uche Jombo, Que Se, Water, Keys, Vibration, Maltida, and Felony. The project includes collaborations with artists like Egarboi, Jhae, Rine, and others. Among his notable achievements, Mykah produced Medicine by Ghanaian artist Eugy, featuring Maleek Berry and LADIPOE. Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the challenges faced along the way but remains grateful for the opportunities he’s received”, the statement added.

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Futbol

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dented with the Blues held to a 2-2 draw against Ipswich at Stamford Bridge. Despite Chelsea's early dominance, it was Ipswich who took the lead when on-loan Brighton midfielder Julio Enciso poked home Ben Johnson's cross to score his first goal for the club. Enciso turned provider for Ipswich's second, chipping a brilliant ball to the back post for Johnson to head in his first goal of the season and give the visitors a two-goal lead at the break. An Axel Tuanzebe own goal 20 seconds into the second half reduced the deficit, but Chelsea had to wait until ten minutes from time to find an equaliser when substitute Jadon Sancho curled a wonderful effort into the top corner from a short-corner routine. Trevor Chalobah and Pedro Neto both went close for Chelsea but the draw leaves the Blues in fifth, three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest and ahead of sixth-placed Aston Villa on goal difference. Ipswich are 14 points adrift from safety following Wolves' win against Tottenham at Molineux. Jeers rang out around Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca opted to take Noni Madueke off for Sancho in the second half. The reaction may well have been more to do with the removal of Madueke, who was causing trouble down Ipswich's left, than it was to do with Sancho's introduction. But the on-loan Manchester United winger hasn't exactly hit it off with Chelsea supporters since his move. Two assists against Legia Warsaw in a 3-0 win on Thursday helped but Sancho has yet to show the type of form that will convince Chelsea to trigger a £25m clause in his loan deal to sign him permanently. Sancho's ability has never been in doubt, but speaking earlier this month Maresca said the winger could "do more" to improve his numbers, particularly in terms of goals. The former Dortmund winger answered Maresca's call with a sumptuous equaliser to score his third Premier League goal of the campaign. Collecting a short corner from Cole Palmer, Sancho was afforded too much time on the edge of the box and curled a wonderful effort into Alex Palmer's top left-hand corner. Moments earlier, Sancho stood up former team-mate Tuanzebe and fizzed a brilliant ball across Ipswich's six-yard box that Conor Townsend cleared as Enzo Fernandez looked certain to score. It was precisely the type of all-action cameo that supporters - and Maresca - haven't seen enough from Sancho since his move to west London. Even the most optimistic of Ipswich supporter would have been fearing the worst when Liam Delap's name was not on the teamsheet before kick-off at Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old has been a standout performer in an otherwise difficult campaign for Kieran McKenna's side. His 12 goals in 30 Premier League appearances have kept the Tractor Boys in contention to retain their top-flight status. Without him, relegation would have likely been confirmed a while ago. A rib injury meant Delap was unable to start, with George Hirst taking his place in the starting XI. In just his second league start of the campaign, Hirst grasped his opportunity. With the visitors under the cosh in the opening 20 minutes, Hirst showed brilliant hold-up play to relieve the pressure on his side. Ipswich's opener came from just that, with Hirst holding up the ball before playing in Johnson down the right to cross for Enciso's opener. The 26-year-old showed he is a goal threat, too. With 10 minutes played in the second half, Hirst made a darting run down the line, cut in from the left and whipped a fierce shot that went inches wide of Robert Sanchez's left-hand post. Delap eventually replaced Hirst and, despite clearly struggling with his injury, the England U21 striker displayed all the skills that have made him one of the most sought-after strikers in English football. Should the Tractor Boys go down, Delap will be available for just £30m - a snip for a player of his ability. Chelsea are one of several Premier League clubs positioning themselves to sign Delap, who will surely move on if and when Ipswich return to the Championship. The good news for McKenna's side is that they have shown they can - at least by Sunday's evidence - live without him.