International
Arab, Muslim leaders hold emergency talks after Israel’s Qatar attack
Arab, Muslim leaders hold emergency talks after Israel’s Qatar attack
DUBAI: Qatar’s Ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Monday said Israel’s government was exploiting the ongoing war in Gaza to expand settlements and change the status quo, adding the negotiations were just a pretext to Israel’s military operations in the besieged territory.
“If Israel aims to assassinate Hamas leaders, why is it negotiating with them?” the Qatari ruler said in his opening statement to Arab and Muslim leaders gathered for an emergency summit in Doha on Monday.
“Israel’s government thinks it can impose a ‘fait accompli’ on the Arabs,” the ruler added.
The joint Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit called by Qatar seeks to pile pressure on Israel, which has been facing mounting calls to end the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Hamas says top officials survived last week’s air strike in Doha that killed six people and triggered a wave of criticism, including from US President Donald Trump.
A draft final statement seen by AFP warned that “brutal Israeli aggression” put efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states at risk.
It “threatens all that has been achieved on the path toward establishing normal relations with Israel, including existing and future agreements,” the draft added.
Israel and its main backer the United States have been trying to extend the Abraham Accords that established ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in 2020.
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Last week’s attack and Israel’s “genocide (and) ethnic cleansing (in Gaza) … undermines the prospects of achieving peace and peaceful coexistence in the region,” the draft statement said.
“The time has come for the international community to stop using double standards and to punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a preparatory meeting at the weekend.
Alongside Egypt and the United States, Qatar has led mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas in the war in Gaza.
The nearly 60-country grouping in Doha will also emphasize “the concept of collective security… as well as the necessity of aligning together to face common challenges and threats,” according to the draft.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Doha to attend the summit, state media said.
Among the leaders gathered on Monday were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were also attending.
An extraordinary meeting of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council would also be held in Doha on Monday, according to Saudi state media.
The United Nations Human Rights Council said it would host an urgent debate on Tuesday on Israel’s air strike targeting Hamas in Qatar.
Meanwhile US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Israel in a demonstration of Washington’s unwavering support.
Arab, Muslim leaders hold emergency talks after Israel’s Qatar attack
ARAB NEWS
International
Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack
Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack
A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada has left nine people dead and dozens injured after an attacker opened fire at a secondary school and a nearby residence on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), seven victims were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while two others died at a residence connected to the incident. At least 27 people were wounded, including two in critical condition, while the rest sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect was found deceased at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted injury. Authorities have not yet released the identity or motive behind the attack, which has shaken the small community of roughly 2,400 residents.
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Police responded rapidly, issuing an active shooter alert, placing schools on lockdown, and evacuating students safely. The RCMP and local officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and the suspect’s background.
Local leaders described the event as a devastating tragedy, expressing solidarity with victims’ families. The shooting has prompted national attention in Canada and renewed calls for enhanced school security and measures to prevent mass shootings.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in maintaining safety and preventing similar tragedies.
The attack is considered one of the deadliest school-related shootings in Canada in recent years, drawing widespread condemnation and grief across the country.
Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack
International
Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume
Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume
Iran has warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States is a calculated move to undermine the newly resumed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S., urging Washington to resist external pressure that could derail diplomacy.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, as he seeks to push for a tougher American position on Iran, particularly on its ballistic missile programme, ahead of the next phase of negotiations.
The trip marks Netanyahu’s seventh meeting with Trump since the U.S. president returned to office. Their last meeting took place in Jerusalem in October 2025, shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking before his departure, Netanyahu said discussions would focus on Gaza, regional developments and Iran’s nuclear file.
“On this trip, we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course first and foremost the negotiations with Iran,” he said.
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Netanyahu added that he would present Israel’s position on what he described as “the principles of the negotiations,” arguing that these principles were crucial not only for Israel but for peace and security in the Middle East.
His office has repeatedly insisted that any agreement with Iran must extend beyond nuclear matters to include ballistic missile development and Iran’s regional activities.
Reacting to the visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Israel of being the primary source of instability in the region and of working against diplomatic efforts.
Baghaei said Israel had turned Iran’s “peaceful nuclear programme” into what he described as a “fabricated crisis”, adding that Israel opposes any diplomatic process capable of restoring peace and calm in the Middle East.
He cautioned U.S. officials against allowing foreign actors to shape American foreign policy, urging Washington to act independently of what he called “destructive pressures and lobbies.”
Baghaei said Iran had demonstrated seriousness and goodwill in the talks and was eager to secure the lifting of “illegal sanctions” imposed on the country.
Referring to a brief encounter between Iranian and U.S. delegations last Friday, he said there was an understanding to continue the diplomatic process, describing it as an important step forward.
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Oman on Tuesday, according to local media, as diplomatic engagements around the talks intensify.
Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume
International
US to Deport 18 More Nigerians on ‘Worst-of-the-Worst’ Criminal List (Full Names)
US to Deport 18 More Nigerians on ‘Worst-of-the-Worst’ Criminal List (Full Names)
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to deport an additional 18 Nigerians from its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register, bringing the total number of Nigerians slated for removal to 97. The latest names were added to DHS records on Monday, reflecting an expansion of the ongoing enforcement exercise targeting serious criminal immigrants.
According to DHS, the newly listed Nigerians were convicted of offences such as wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft, among other crimes. The department emphasized that the arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown coordinated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the leadership of Under Secretary Noem, fulfilling President Trump’s promise to prioritize the deportation of the most dangerous criminal aliens.
In a statement, DHS said:
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst.”
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The 18 Nigerians recently added to the list include: Oluwaseyanu Akinola Afolabi, Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe, Benjamin Ifebajo, Obinwanne Okeke, Kolawole Aminu, Oluwadamilola Olufunsho Ojo, Franklin Ibeabuchi, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Joshua Ineh, Stephen Oseghale, Eghosa Obaretin, Adesina Surajudeen Lasisi, Ibrahim Ijaoba, Azeez Yinusa, Charles Akabuogu, Kelechi Umeh, Lotenna Chisom Umeadi, Donald Ehie, and Chukwudi Kingsley Kalu.
This development underscores the U.S. administration’s tough stance on illegal and criminal immigrants, with foreign nationals, including Nigerians, continuing to be significantly affected by enforcement drives. Analysts say the DHS crackdown signals the federal government’s commitment to prioritizing the removal of individuals considered threats to public safety and national security.
The announcement follows a series of previous deportations affecting Nigerian nationals, with the total number of Nigerians removed under the “worst-of-the-worst” initiative steadily rising. Nigerian authorities have historically prepared reintegration measures for deported citizens, assisting returnees with relocation and support upon arrival.
US to Deport 18 More Nigerians on ‘Worst-of-the-Worst’ Criminal List (Full Names)
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