US to stop Palestinians attending UN meeting in New York

World news August 29, 2025

The US says it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials wishing to travel to New York next month to attend the UN General Assembly session.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed them for undermining peace efforts and for seeking “the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state”.

The decision is unusual – the US, as host country, is expected to facilitate travel for officials of all countries wishing to visit the UN headquarters.

The ban comes as France spearheads international efforts to recognise a state of Palestine at the GA session. Donald Trump’s administration has fully backed Israel in voicing opposition to such a move.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has constantly rejected the idea of a two-state solution – the long-time international formula to resolve the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. It envisages an independent Palestinian state being created alongside Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Netanyahu says recognition of a Palestinian state would amount to rewarding “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism”.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

More than 63,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Hamas has been running the Gaza Strip for years, with its rival Fatah in charge in the West Bank.

Both are supposed to be governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) led by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas is also in charge of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) – the umbrella organisation which represents Palestinians at international fora. The PLO has had observer status at the UN since 1974. It can participate in meetings but not vote on resolutions.

In his announcement on Friday, Rubio said: “Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism – including the October 7 massacre – and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO.”

He said they must also end efforts to bypass negotiations by pursuing legal cases against Israel at international courts.

Rubio said Palestinian representatives at the UN mission in New York could attend the meetings in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement – the document that regulates issued regarding the operations of the UN in the US.

It is unclear, however, if the US move to deny or revoke visas complies with that document, which outlines that foreign officials’ attendance in New York shall not be impeded by the US “irrespective of the relations” between their respective governments and the US.

In its reaction, the office of the PA president said the decision “stands in clear contradiction to international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement, particularly since the State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations”.

It urged the US to reverse the move.

UN spokesman Stephanne Dujarric also said the UN would discuss with the US State Department and hoped the issue would be resolved.

“It is important that all member states, permanent observers, be able to be represented, especially I think in this case with the, as we know, the upcoming two-state solution meeting that France and Saudi Arabia will host at the beginning of the GA,” Mr Dujarric said.

Apart from France, the UK, Canada and Australia have also announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the GA meeting next month.

The state of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states.

But with no recognised borders, Israeli settlers controlling large parts of the West Bank – illegal under international law – and calls to do the same in Gaza, any recognition of a Palestinian state would not change much on the ground.

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Students at an Oklahoma high school crowned their principal prom king after he charged, disarmed and was shot by an armed intruder at their campus.

Kirk Moore, the Pauls Valley high school principal, received the honor on Friday night after his students voted to honor him for having defended them.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our king,” an announcer declared at the Pauls Valley high school prom.

Video of the scene showed students cheering and celebrating as Moore received the honor, with a couple high-fiving him in congratulations. One clip showed him walking in to sound of the Nickelback song Hero, the hit theme of the 2002 film Spider-Man.

Right after someone put a crown on Moore’s head, part of the song’s chorus blared on the video: “And they say that a hero can save us / I’m not going to stand here and wait.”

The jubilant moment punctuated a sequence of events that began with the attack in which Moore intervened at about 2.30pm on 7 April at Moore’s school about 60 miles (96.6km) south of Oklahoma City, a sworn police document states.

According to investigators, the alleged attacker, Victor Lee Hawkins, had two semi-automatic handguns and fired several shots before he was disarmed by Moore and another school staff member who arrived to help. School surveillance video captured the intrusion.

Hawkins “entered the school, pointed his pistol, and yelled for everyone to get on the ground”, special agent Meric Mussett of the Oklahoma state bureau of investigation wrote in the sworn police statement.

The statement added that the alleged shooter pointed the gun at a female student in the lobby and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.

“Hawkins then stepped out from behind the vending machine and pointed his gun at a male student in the foyer,” Mussett’s statement said. “Principal Moore then came out of his office and charged at Hawkins.”

Moore was shot in the leg as he wrestled the attacker, a 20-year-old described in court documents as being obsessed with the 1999 shooting at Colorado’s Columbine high school in which 12 students and one teacher were killed.

Authorities praised Moore’s actions, saying he prevented a tragedy and possible mass shooting at his school.

“It doesn’t surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took,” Don May, Pauls Valley’s police department chief, told NBC News. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives.”

Investigators said the alleged attacker was a former Pauls Valley high school student.

Moore said in a statement reported by NBC that he was grateful for “an outpouring of love and support” after the attack that he thwarted.

“Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats,” Moore said. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me.”

#Oklahoma #principal #disarmed #gunwielding #intruder #crowned #prom #king">

Oklahoma principal who disarmed gun-wielding intruder crowned prom kingStudents at an Oklahoma high school crowned their principal prom king after he charged, disarmed and was shot by an armed intruder at their campus.Kirk Moore, the Pauls Valley high school principal, received the honor on Friday night after his students voted to honor him for having defended them.“Ladies and gentlemen, our king,” an announcer declared at the Pauls Valley high school prom.Video of the scene showed students cheering and celebrating as Moore received the honor, with a couple high-fiving him in congratulations. One clip showed him walking in to sound of the Nickelback song Hero, the hit theme of the 2002 film Spider-Man.Right after someone put a crown on Moore’s head, part of the song’s chorus blared on the video: “And they say that a hero can save us / I’m not going to stand here and wait.”The jubilant moment punctuated a sequence of events that began with the attack in which Moore intervened at about 2.30pm on 7 April at Moore’s school about 60 miles (96.6km) south of Oklahoma City, a sworn police document states.According to investigators, the alleged attacker, Victor Lee Hawkins, had two semi-automatic handguns and fired several shots before he was disarmed by Moore and another school staff member who arrived to help. School surveillance video captured the intrusion.Hawkins “entered the school, pointed his pistol, and yelled for everyone to get on the ground”, special agent Meric Mussett of the Oklahoma state bureau of investigation wrote in the sworn police statement.The statement added that the alleged shooter pointed the gun at a female student in the lobby and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.“Hawkins then stepped out from behind the vending machine and pointed his gun at a male student in the foyer,” Mussett’s statement said. “Principal Moore then came out of his office and charged at Hawkins.”Moore was shot in the leg as he wrestled the attacker, a 20-year-old described in court documents as being obsessed with the 1999 shooting at Colorado’s Columbine high school in which 12 students and one teacher were killed.Authorities praised Moore’s actions, saying he prevented a tragedy and possible mass shooting at his school.“It doesn’t surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took,” Don May, Pauls Valley’s police department chief, told NBC News. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives.”Investigators said the alleged attacker was a former Pauls Valley high school student.Moore said in a statement reported by NBC that he was grateful for “an outpouring of love and support” after the attack that he thwarted.“Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats,” Moore said. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me.”#Oklahoma #principal #disarmed #gunwielding #intruder #crowned #prom #king

mwasimuddin125 0

Students at an Oklahoma high school crowned their principal prom king after he charged, disarmed and was shot by an armed intruder at their campus.
Kirk Moore, the Pauls Valley high school principal, received the honor on Friday night after his students voted to honor him for having defended them.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our king,” an announcer declared at the Pauls Valley high school prom.
Video of the scene showed students cheering and celebrating as Moore received the honor, with a couple high-fiving him in congratulations. One clip showed him walking in to sound of the Nickelback song Hero, the hit theme of the 2002 film Spider-Man.
Right after someone put a crown on Moore’s head, part of the song’s chorus blared on the video: “And they say that a hero can save us / I’m not going to stand here and wait.”
The jubilant moment punctuated a sequence of events that began with the attack in which Moore intervened at about 2.30pm on 7 April at Moore’s school about 60 miles (96.6km) south of Oklahoma City, a sworn police document states.
According to investigators, the alleged attacker, Victor Lee Hawkins, had two semi-automatic handguns and fired several shots before he was disarmed by Moore and another school staff member who arrived to help. School surveillance video captured the intrusion.
Hawkins “entered the school, pointed his pistol, and yelled for everyone to get on the ground”, special agent Meric Mussett of the Oklahoma state bureau of investigation wrote in the sworn police statement.
The statement added that the alleged shooter pointed the gun at a female student in the lobby and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.
“Hawkins then stepped out from behind the vending machine and pointed his gun at a male student in the foyer,” Mussett’s statement said. “Principal Moore then came out of his office and charged at Hawkins.”
Moore was shot in the leg as he wrestled the attacker, a 20-year-old described in court documents as being obsessed with the 1999 shooting at Colorado’s Columbine high school in which 12 students and one teacher were killed.
Authorities praised Moore’s actions, saying he prevented a tragedy and possible mass shooting at his school.
“It doesn’t surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took,” Don May, Pauls Valley’s police department chief, told NBC News. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives.”
Investigators said the alleged attacker was a former Pauls Valley high school student.
Moore said in a statement reported by NBC that he was grateful for “an outpouring of love and support” after the attack that he thwarted.
“Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats,” Moore said. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me.”

#Oklahoma #principal #disarmed #gunwielding #intruder #crowned #prom #king">Oklahoma principal who disarmed gun-wielding intruder crowned prom king

Students at an Oklahoma high school crowned their principal prom king after he charged, disarmed and was shot by an armed intruder at their campus.

Kirk Moore, the Pauls Valley high school principal, received the honor on Friday night after his students voted to honor him for having defended them.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our king,” an announcer declared at the Pauls Valley high school prom.

Right after someone put a crown on Moore’s head, part of the song’s chorus blared on the video: “And they say that a hero can save us / I’m not going to stand here and wait.”

The statement added that the alleged shooter pointed the gun at a female student in the lobby and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.

Authorities praised Moore’s actions, saying he prevented a tragedy and possible mass shooting at his school.

Investigators said the alleged attacker was a former Pauls Valley high school student.

Moore said in a statement reported by NBC that he was grateful for “an outpouring of love and support” after the attack that he thwarted.

#Oklahoma #principal #disarmed #gunwielding #intruder #crowned #prom #king

Defence deal is latest example of deepening ties between Canberra and Tokyo amid shared concerns over China’s rise.

Published On 19 Apr 2026

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships set to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark $7bn defence deal, as the two close US allies in the Asia Pacific region deepen defence cooperation.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday at the signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.