International

Arab, Muslim leaders call for review of Israel ties

Published

1 year ago

September 16, 2025

Arab, Muslim leaders call for review of Israel ties

DUBAI: Qatar’s emir said Monday that Israel had sought to derail Gaza talks by striking Hamas negotiators in his country last week, and that its premier dreamt of an Arab world under Israeli influence.

“Whoever works diligently and systematIsrael tiesically to assassinate the party with whom he is negotiating, intends to thwart the negotiations… Negotiations, for them, are merely part of the war,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani told Arab and Muslim leaders gathered in Doha to discuss the attack.

He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “dreams of turning the Arab region into an Israeli sphere of influence, and this is a dangerous illusion.”

Sheikh Tamim 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 at the summit.

He accused Israel of not caring about its hostages held in Gaza and instead only working to “ensure Gaza is no longer livable.”

“If you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all negotiators?” Sheikh Tamim asked.

“There is no room to deal with such a party that’s cowardly and treacherous,” he added. “Those who work consistently to assassinate the party in these negotiations will certainly do everything to ensure the failure of these negotiations. When they claim that they seek the liberation of hostages, that’s a mere lie.”

Sheikh Tamim also denounced Israel over what he called the “genocide” it is committing in Gaza.

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.

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A joint statement from the summit urged “all states to take all possible legal and effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against the Palestinian people,” including “reviewing diplomatic and economic relations with it, and initiating legal proceedings against it.”

The statement also urged member states to “coordinate efforts aimed at suspending Israel’s membership in the United Nations.”

The communique reiterated collective backing for the Palestinian cause, rejecting forced displacement, settlement expansion, and any attempts to impose a new fait accompli in the Occupied Territories.

It called for urgent humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of Gaza, and accountability for what it described as war crimes, including siege and starvation tactics against civilians.

Leaders also reaffirmed that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, held its own meeting on the sidelines of the summit. Its members decided to take steps “to activate the mechanisms of joint defense and the Gulf deterrence capabilities,” they said in a statement.

The Gulf states also called on their close ally Washington to use its leverage to rein in Israel following the unprecedented Israeli strikes.

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“We also expect our strategic partners in the United States to use their influence on Israel in order for it to stop this behavior… They have leverage and influence on Israel, and it’s about time that this leverage and influence be used,” Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi said in a press conference following the summit.

Alongside Egypt and the United States, Qatar has led mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas in the war in Gaza.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said on Monday that Israel’s current actions hindered any chances of new peace treaties in the Middle East.

In remarks aimed at Israel, he told the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha: “What is happening right now hinders the future of peace, threatens your security and the security of the peoples in the region and adds obstacles to chances for any new peace agreements and even aborts existing ones.”

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participated in the summit and leaders of the nearly 60-country grouping in Doha included Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

After the summit concluded, Prince Mohammed sent a cable of thanks to the Emir of Qatar.

“We would like to commend the outcomes of the extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit,” the cable said.

“These summits affirmed the support of all participating countries for the position of Qatar in confronting the brutal aggression against it, and our absolute rejection of any violation of the principles of international law and norms,” it added.

The United Nations Human Rights Council said it would host an urgent debate on Tuesday on Israel’s air strike targeting Hamas in Qatar.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Qatar on Tuesday, after pledging “unwavering support” for Israel’s goal of eradicating Hamas during a visit to the country.

The State Department said Rubio would “reaffirm America’s full support for Qatar’s security and sovereignty” after last week’s strike.

Arab, Muslim leaders call for review of Israel ties

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International

BREAKING: One Killed, Four Injured As Gunman Opens Fire Near White House

Published

1 day ago

November 12, 2026

Trends Admin

BREAKING: One Killed, Four Injured As Gunman Opens Fire Near White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One person has been killed and four others injured after a gunman opened fire at and around a fitness centre in Washington, D.C., triggering a massive security operation in the US capital.

The shooting occurred on Thursday morning, November 12, 2026, in the Logan Circle neighbourhood, approximately one mile from the White House.

The suspected gunman also died after barricading himself inside a nearby apartment and apparently shooting himself, according to police.

Authorities said the first emergency call came in at about 8 a.m. from people inside VIDA Fitness, a gym located around 15th Street and P Street Northwest.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reportedly arrived within 30 seconds and discovered a man who had been shot inside the fitness facility.

Additional emergency calls subsequently reported more gunfire and victims in the surrounding area, bringing the total number of people shot to five, including the deceased.

Police said four other victims sustained gunshot injuries, with one reportedly in critical condition, while the remaining three suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Following the shooting, the suspect reportedly left the immediate scene and barricaded himself inside an apartment on the seventh floor of a nearby residential building.

Police officers and tactical teams subsequently surrounded the building as negotiators attempted to persuade him to surrender.

However, officers reportedly heard a gunshot during the negotiations. Upon entering the apartment, they discovered that the suspect had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed the development during a briefing, although authorities had yet to publicly disclose the identities of the victims or the suspected gunman.

The shooting prompted an extensive security operation involving local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Several surrounding streets were cordoned off, while residents and people working in the neighbourhood were advised to remain indoors as officers secured the area.

Nearby schools also implemented precautionary security measures during the emergency response.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether the suspect knew any of the victims.

Preliminary information from police indicated that the suspect may have been involved in a dispute with the homeowners’ association of the residential building where he barricaded himself. However, investigators have yet to establish a definitive motive for the shooting.

The incident has renewed concerns about gun violence in the United States, with the attack unfolding in a busy residential neighbourhood within close proximity to the White House.

The investigation is ongoing.

BREAKING: One Killed, Four Injured As Gunman Opens Fire Near White House

International

New York Police Arrest 17-Year-Old Over Murder of Ghanaian Student

Published

1 day ago

November 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Javits Badu Nkansah

New York Police Arrest 17-Year-Old Over Murder of Ghanaian Student

Police in New York City have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian student, Javits Frimpong, who was killed while walking to school in the Bronx.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, saying the suspect had been taken into custody and charged with murder over the October 29 killing.

The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed because he is a minor, is also reportedly facing manslaughter and firearm-related charges.

Frimpong was shot in the abdomen near Crotona Park, close to East 171st Street and Crotona Place, while making his way to DreamYard Preparatory School in the Bronx.

He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

According to police reports, the teenager was walking to school when he was attacked. Investigators have not established the motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect knew the victim.

The arrest followed weeks of investigations and growing demands for justice from Frimpong’s family, members of the Ghanaian community and civil rights advocates.

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Police had previously indicated that three people might have been involved in the shooting and had been investigating possible motives, including robbery and alleged bullying at the victim’s school.

Frimpong’s father, Thomas Frimpong, had earlier said his son complained about being bullied by fellow students at DreamYard Preparatory School. Two students were reportedly suspended over the alleged harassment.

However, investigators have not established a connection between the alleged bullying and the fatal shooting.

The arrest was announced as the victim’s parents, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, Reverend Al Sharpton and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Yao Kumah, gathered at a news conference in New York to demand justice.

Frimpong’s mother, Doris Adu Gyamfi, broke down in tears during the event as she appealed for justice for her son.

She reportedly travelled from Ghana following her son’s death, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had earlier appealed to US President Donald Trump to facilitate arrangements for her to travel to the United States to mourn with her family.

Frimpong had moved from Ghana to the United States about a year before his death to reunite with his father and pursue better educational opportunities. He was a Grade 10 student and reportedly aspired to become a doctor.

The killing sparked protests and public demonstrations in New York, with demonstrators calling for accountability under the campaign slogan, “Justice for Javits!”

Crump, who is representing the family, acknowledged the arrest but said several questions surrounding the teenager’s death remained unanswered.

He called for a thorough investigation to establish why Frimpong was killed and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

Ghanaian authorities have also been engaging with their American counterparts over the case. Ghana’s government has engaged Crump to assist in seeking justice for its nationals killed in the United States.

The NYPD said investigations were continuing, with the possibility of other arrests not ruled out.

The arrest marks a significant development in the case, although the circumstances and motive behind the killing remain under investigation.

New York Police Arrest 17-Year-Old Over Murder of Ghanaian Student

International

Canada Announces Permanent Residency Plan for 100,000 Foreign Workers, Families

Published

1 day ago

November 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Canada Announces Permanent Residency Plan for 100,000 Foreign Workers, Families

Canada has announced plans to provide permanent residency opportunities for up to 100,000 foreign workers and their eligible family members already living in the country under a new immigration measure scheduled for 2027.

The initiative is part of the Canadian government’s efforts to address labour shortages, reduce immigration application backlogs and provide greater certainty for migrant workers who have established themselves in Canadian communities.

According to details released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the programme will create additional permanent residency admission spaces for eligible workers living outside Quebec, alongside their family members.

The measure is expected to benefit workers whose skills are needed in local economies, particularly in smaller communities, as the government works with provincial and territorial authorities to identify eligible applicants.

However, the announcement does not establish a new immigration pathway open to every foreign worker. It is designed to accelerate permanent residency for people who already meet specified eligibility conditions under existing immigration programmes.

Under the proposed arrangement, workers may qualify through two main routes. They must either be awaiting a decision on a permanent residency application submitted under selected immigration programmes that are now closed to new applicants, or be eligible to apply through Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

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The selected programmes include the Start-Up Visa Programme, Self-Employed Persons Programme, Agri-Food Pilot and Home Care Workers (Caregivers) immigration programme.

The government said the additional admission spaces would cover workers living outside Quebec and their eligible family members.

The initiative is intended to recognise the contributions of foreign workers who have established roots in Canadian communities, paid taxes and helped address labour shortages.

Beyond the workers’ initiative, Canada is also setting aside additional permanent residency spaces for other categories of applicants.

These include up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are already in Canada and awaiting decisions on their applications.

Another 12,600 applicants whose permanent residency cases have already received approval in principle on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are expected to benefit.

The government is also targeting outstanding applications under special immigration arrangements for Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians with family members in Canada.

According to IRCC, the measures are designed to provide stability for people who are already contributing to Canadian society while reducing outstanding immigration applications and improving processing times.

The department clarified that applicants do not need to submit separate applications or take additional steps to be considered under the temporary measures.

The 2027 initiative is time-limited and will operate outside Canada’s regular immigration admission targets. It is not a permanent expansion of immigration programmes.

The announcement is part of Canada’s wider effort to reform its immigration system, balance labour market requirements with sustainable population growth and prioritise applicants who are already living and working in the country.

The government said the additional admission spaces would help eligible migrants and their families secure greater certainty about their future in Canada.