International

Saudi-led global Palestine peace effort rallies support at UN

Published

7 months ago

September 25, 2025

The meeting was chaired by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (left), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (center), and Aspen Barth Eide, Norway’s foreign minister (right). (AN photo/Caspar Webb)

Saudi-led global Palestine peace effort rallies support at UN

NEW YORK: The Saudi-led global initiative to implement the two-state solution has rallied support for the peace process as its member countries roundly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution — founded last year by the Kingdom — was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

The event was co-hosted by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

It was attended by representatives, including foreign ministers and ambassadors, of almost 100 countries that have backed Saudi and French efforts to end the war in Gaza and bring about a two-state solution.

They overwhelmingly voiced their desire to see peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and laid out a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and the return of hostages as immediate prerequisites.

Many speakers called for the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority through the initiative, and for the PA to serve as an interim government in Gaza in any postwar scenario.

Prince Faisal, opening the high-level meeting, highlighted the importance of the New York Declaration, a detailed roadmap toward implementing the two-state solution that was adopted on Monday by the UNGA.

The document “is a clear mission to all of us to embody this coalition, to affirm the two-state solution and take into account all measures. We can’t have declarations unless it becomes factual work that would be realized on the field,” he said, repeating his call for the PA to be the sole government of the Occupied Territories when the Gaza war comes to an end.

“We’re also putting international measures to monitor in clear time-bound schedules. We’d also like to support (Palestinian) President Mahmoud Abbas, and we’d also like to laud his efforts despite the tough conditions,” Prince Faisal said.

“The Kingdom will continue its diplomatic and humanitarian work in order to help return the Palestinian borders based on 1967 lines, and to have security and prosperity for the whole nations of the area.”

Kallas called on the alliance to redouble its efforts toward a two-state solution, a year after its founding.

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Wednesday’s high-level meeting was “happening in a very challenging global environment,” she said. “It’s clear that the situation on the ground in Gaza is catastrophic and unbearable, and it’s reaching unprecedented levels of suffering and death for the Palestinian people, both in Gaza but also in the West Bank.”

Though “our calls and efforts to cease fire have remained unheeded, I saw some optimism yesterday after the meeting of Arab leaders with (US) President (Donald) Trump,” Kallas added. “Let’s hope that there are concrete results from that.”

A ceasefire is “the only way for the unconditional release of all hostages, and eventually, a permanent end to hostilities and end of human suffering,” she said. “If a military solution was there for Gaza, the war would already be over.”

Kallas highlighted EU efforts to “engage with every actor” and bring an end to the war, and said the bloc is “active on all fronts.”

She added: “We’ve been committed to enhance humanitarian access through dialogue with the Israeli government.

“This has allowed an increase in the number of trucks and fuel reaching Gaza after months of blockade.”

The EU, as the largest humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people, has been supporting the PA with “budgetary and political support,” Kallas said.

“The EU has pledged $1.9 billion to support the Palestinian Authority over the next three years. We’ve also decided to launch a Palestine donor group that will be focused on enlarging contributions and long-term support for reforms,” she added.

“Bankruptcy and collapse aren’t an option if we want to preserve any chance of the two-state solution.”

The global alliance can succeed in its efforts to arrange a two-station solution by “applying both pressure and dialogue,” Kallas said.

“All of us who maintain working relations with Israel must do their utmost to persuade the Israeli government that this war doesn’t serve their interests.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa addressed the meeting via a pre-recorded video.

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Palestinian representatives were unable to attend the UNGA this year after the US denied them visas.

“I want to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its outstanding leadership, both as a co-chair of the high-level international conference together with France, and as a driving force for this global alliance,” Mustafa said.

“The New York Declaration charted an urgent and irreversible pathway to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” he added.

“I think we all agree that the measures outlined in the declaration need to be translated into policies and actions by all the states assembled here.

“We must act more rapidly, more decisively and more collectively for these actions to lead to the fundamental shift needed.”

Eide said the situation experienced on a daily basis by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank has gone from “bad to terrible.”

He added that Norway had “always wanted to” recognize a State of Palestine, which it did last year.

But Norway’s foreign policy establishment had thought that recognition would only occur at the end of a successful peace process based on resolving long-standing issues from the Oslo Accords, Eide said.

“There have been many years since that there were anything resembling negotiations, and we had to break out of that paradigm and establish a new one,” he added.

That led to Norwegian recognition of Palestinian statehood, and Eide praised the almost a dozen countries — including France, the UK, Canada and Australia — that followed suit over the past week.

“The goal is the same as it always was, but now the tactics have changed,” he said. “Universal recognition is just one of the many recommendations that the global alliance came out with in the New York Declaration when we met in July.

“The idea is that we’ll identify all the parts that are missing, which is of course to work … toward normalization between those Arab states that haven’t done it yet with Israel once Palestine is in place.”

Eide identified all the moving parts required in the practical establishment of a Palestinian state, including security guarantees for both it and Israel, demobilization, decommissioning of all weapons beyond the armed forces, and economic stability.

These are all guided by the New York Declaration, which provides “elements of a plan on how we can move forward,” he said.

“My appeal to you is that we continue to build on this. What are the practicalities? What are the concrete measures that should be taken from now on to do what the alliance is all about, which is to implement the two-state solution for real, not only in theory, but also for real?”

Saudi-led global Palestine peace effort rallies support at UN

Related Topics:Israel Palestine Saudi UN

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Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

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9 hours ago

April 21, 2026

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Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

US President Donald Trump has ruled out extending the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran beyond its current deadline, warning that failure in ongoing negotiations could lead to renewed military confrontation.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, Trump said he was not in favour of prolonging the truce, stressing that both sides must move quickly to reach a binding agreement.

“I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” he said, indicating that the situation remains time-sensitive as diplomatic talks continue under pressure.

The ceasefire, which is expected to expire on Wednesday evening, has temporarily eased tensions between Washington and Tehran, allowing both sides to regroup following weeks of heightened conflict and military escalation concerns.

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Trump noted that both countries had used the pause to “restock,” describing the truce as fragile and warning that it could collapse if negotiations fail to produce results.

He further suggested that the breakdown of talks could trigger a return to military operations, stating that he “expects bombing” to resume if diplomacy fails. According to him, the U.S. military remains fully prepared for any required action.

“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he said, defending a strong negotiating posture.

The president also reiterated earlier warnings about targeting Iranian infrastructure, including strategic facilities such as transport routes and power installations, arguing that such measures would weaken Iran’s military logistics and operational capacity.

Despite his hardline position, Trump acknowledged that Iran’s population is “incredible,” while describing its leadership as resistant to compromise. He insisted that a negotiated deal could still allow Iran to “become a strong nation again” if it agrees to terms acceptable to Washington.

The comments come as senior U.S. officials prepare for further diplomatic engagements, with Vice President JD Vance expected to participate in upcoming discussions aimed at extending the ceasefire and reducing tensions in the region.

Trump also criticised Iran’s internal handling of unrest, referencing reports of violent crackdowns on protests, which he said further complicate efforts toward lasting peace.

The latest remarks highlight continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S.–Iran ceasefire negotiations, with global observers closely watching whether diplomacy or renewed conflict will define the next phase of relations between both countries.

Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

International

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

Published

9 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jose Luis Rodriguez and the victims

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

A man in the United States has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison after pleading guilty to the brutal killing of a couple and their 1-year-old son in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The convict, identified as Jose Luis Rodriguez, admitted to three counts of first-degree murder, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the case began on September 13, 2025, when 31-year-old Junior Cabrera-Colon was found shot dead. Days later, authorities discovered that his wife, Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, and their infant son, Jeyden Peguero, were missing, triggering a wider investigation.

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A week after the discovery of Cabrera-Colon’s body, police located the bodies of the missing mother and child in a wooded area. Prosecutors revealed that the toddler was found “partially submerged in a marshy area,” a detail that shocked investigators and the local community.

During court proceedings, prosecutors said Rodriguez confessed to killing all three victims. He allegedly picked up Peguero-Mancebo and her son, shot the woman, drowned the child, and later killed Cabrera-Colon.

The prosecution described the killings as premeditated and deliberate, stating that each act was carried out with intent and malice.

According to court records and reports by local media, Rodriguez claimed he had a personal relationship with Peguero-Mancebo and referenced financial disputes as a possible motive behind the killings.

The sentencing judge handed down three consecutive life sentences without parole, effectively ensuring Rodriguez will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Family members of the victims described the outcome as painful but necessary for closure, with relatives expressing gratitude that the case has reached a conclusion after months of emotional distress.

The case has drawn widespread attention in Pennsylvania due to its violent nature and the involvement of a young child, with prosecutors calling it one of the most disturbing family-related homicide cases in the region in recent years.

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

International

US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

Published

17 hours ago

April 21, 2026

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American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke

US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, has been charged in connection with the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, in a case that prosecutors have described as one of the most serious and disturbing in recent years.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman, confirmed that the 21-year-old faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and mutilation of human remains.

According to investigators, the teenager was last seen on April 23, 2025, after visiting Burke at his residence in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. She was reported missing shortly after she failed to return home.

Months later, on September 8, 2025, authorities made a gruesome discovery when her decomposed and dismembered remains were found inside the front trunk of a Tesla vehicle linked to the singer. Police reportedly traced the vehicle after receiving complaints about a strong odour, leading to the recovery of body parts stored in a cadaver bag.

Prosecutors say the case includes several special circumstance allegations, such as murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. They also allege that Burke used a sharp instrument to carry out the killing.

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“This is a parent’s nightmare,” Hochman said during a press briefing, describing the case as “brutal and horrific.” He added that the charges represent the most severe offences his office can prosecute.

Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, stated that authorities remain committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family.

Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, and is currently being held without bail. He is expected to be arraigned at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

If convicted, he faces either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, although prosecutors have yet to decide whether capital punishment will be pursued.

The singer’s legal team, led by Blair Berk, alongside Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, has denied all allegations. In a statement, they said evidence will show that Burke “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and was not the cause of her death.”

The case has already had major consequences for Burke’s career. He cancelled his planned “D4VD Withered” world tour and was dropped from brand partnerships with Hollister Co. and Crocs.

D4vd rose to prominence in 2022 with his hit Here With Me and later released Romantic Homicide, a track whose title he previously described as metaphorical rather than literal.

The case remains ongoing, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.