Politics
Arab-Islamic summit presses for sanctions, reassessment of relations with Israel
- Leaders condemn Israeli strike on Doha as unlawful attack.
- Israel responsible for genocide, war crimes: summit.
- Leaders call for urgent action to end these practices.
The Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit on Monday called for wide-ranging sanctions on Israel, including an arms embargo and review of economic and diplomatic ties, in response to Tel Aviv’s “flagrant aggression” against Qatar and its ongoing war in Gaza.
Leaders — in the final communiqué issued after the emergency meeting — demanded international accountability, warning that Israel’s repeated crimes and violations of international law pose a direct threat to regional and global peace.
The communiqué urged all states to hold Israel accountable by imposing sanctions, halting the transfer of weapons and military materials, reviewing their relations, and pursuing legal action.
The summit was convened after Israel’s September 9 strike on a residential area in Doha, which targeted housing facilities for mediation delegations, schools, nurseries, and diplomatic missions. The attack caused civilian casualties, including a Qatari martyr, and injuries among residents.
Arab and Islamic leaders condemned the strike in the strongest terms, calling it “cowardly and unlawful.” They said it amounted to a flagrant act of aggression against an Arab and Islamic state and a dangerous escalation that exposes the extremism of the Israeli government.
The communiqué reaffirmed absolute solidarity with Qatar, declaring that aggression against one Arab or Islamic state is an attack on all. Leaders pledged to stand firmly with Qatar in all measures it may take to defend its sovereignty, stability, and the safety of its people.
They warned that Israel’s assault on Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire talks for Gaza, was also an attack on international peace-making itself. Israel, they said, bore full responsibility for undermining mediation and diplomacy.
The summit said Israel was responsible for genocide, ethnic cleansing, siege, and starvation against Palestinians and termed such actions as war crimes in violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Leaders condemned settlement expansion, forced displacement, and annexation attempts, describing them as crimes against humanity.
They called for urgent international action to end these practices, stressing that silence and inaction had emboldened Israel to persist in its aggressions and perpetuate a policy of impunity.
The leaders reaffirmed support for an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, rejecting any attempt to bypass or undermine the Palestinian cause. They endorsed Jordan’s custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque, declaring it a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.
The communiqué also backed the enforcement of International Criminal Court arrest warrants against Israeli officials and compliance with International Court of Justice rulings on genocide prevention in Gaza.
The summit welcomed the “New York Declaration” by the UN General Assembly supporting Palestinian statehood and the upcoming Two-State Solution Conference in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
It also valued efforts by Arab and Islamic states at the UN Security Council, especially Algeria, Somalia, and Pakistan, for defending the Palestinian cause and convening the emergency session on Israel’s attack against Qatar.
They added that Israel’s aggression against Qatar was not an isolated act but part of a broader campaign that threatens the sovereignty of Arab and Islamic states, undermines international law, and destabilises the region.
- 25,000 devotees throng temple built for 2,000.
- 18 injuries reported so far: district collector.
- Govt to compensate families of victims: Indian PM.
A stampede at a temple in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh killed at least nine people early on Saturday, government officials said, with several injured.
The stampede occurred as worshippers crowded into the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in the city of Srikakulam on Ekadashi, a day Hindus consider auspicious, said Pawan Kalyan, the state’s deputy chief minister.
“An inquiry will be conducted into the tragic incident,” Kalyan said in a statement, adding that the temple was run by private individuals. He put the death toll at nine.
As many as 25,000 devotees crowded into the temple, which can accommodate only about 2,000, leading to the crush, state minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy added, while district officials have been told to provide the injured with medical help.
A total of 18 injuries have been reported so far, the collector and magistrate of Srikakulam district Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said, while two critically injured patients have been moved to a tertiary care hospital for treatment.
The government will pay compensation of INR200,000 ($2,300) to the families of the dead, and INR50,000 ($570) to the injured, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.
DUBAI: If you’ve ever dreamed of a five-star hotel on wheels, your wait may soon be over. The UAE is preparing to launch one of its most glamorous travel experiences yet — a luxury train that will redefine rail travel across the Emirates.
Set to debut in 2028, the Etihad Rail luxury train will take passengers on a breathtaking journey from Fujairah’s coastline to the golden dunes of Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi.
Designed and built by Italy’s Arsenale Group, the train will feature 15 opulent carriages — complete with private suites, fine-dining restaurants, a presidential suite, and a majlis-style VIP lounge inspired by Arabian elegance.
Described as a “five-star hotel on rails”, the luxury service promises travellers an experience where comfort meets adventure — from waking up to mountain views in Hatta to dining under desert stars in Liwa.
Etihad Rail’s regular passenger service is expected to begin next year, paving the way for this elite experience that could transform the way people explore the UAE.
For those who crave luxury, scenery and sophistication, the ultimate train journey is on its way.
Etihad Rail’s passenger service, which will initially connect 11 areas within the UAE, is set to launch next year. The service will eventually connect all seven emirates, transforming the country’s transport system.
- Ontario aired anti-tariff ad featuring Ronald Reagan.
- Trump announced to increase tariffs in response.
- Carney says he did not want to proceed with the ad.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday he had apologised to US President Donald Trump over an anti-tariff political advertisement and had told Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to run it.
Carney, speaking to reporters after attending an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, said he had made the apology privately to Trump when they both attended a dinner hosted by South Korea’s president on Wednesday.
“I did apologise to the president,” Carney said, confirming comments by Trump made on Friday.
Carney also confirmed that he had reviewed the ad with Ford before it aired, but said he had opposed using it.
“I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” he said.
The ad, commissioned by Ford, an outspoken Conservative politician who is sometimes compared to Trump, uses a snippet of Republican icon and former President Ronald Reagan saying that tariffs cause trade wars and economic disaster.
In response, Trump announced that he was increasing tariffs on goods from Canada, and Washington has also halted trade talks with Canada.
When departing South Korea earlier this week, Trump remarked he had a “very nice” conversation with Carney at that dinner, but did not elaborate. On Friday, Trump still said the United States and Canada will not restart trade talks but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney apologised to him for an Ontario political ad using former President Ronald Reagan saying tariffs spell disaster.
“I like him a lot, but what they did was wrong,” the US president said. “He apologised for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial.”
Meanwhile, Carney said his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday were a turning point in relations after years of tensions.
The last formal meeting between the leaders of Canada and China happened in 2017 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a brief exchange with Xi at a meeting in San Francisco.
The trip to Asia had been part of efforts to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States, Carney said.
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