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On September 18-19, 2025, US President Donald Trump, during a UK state visit and joint press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to end the Ukraine war despite their personal relationship. Trump reiterated his belief that lowering oil prices and sanctions on Russian energy buyers could pressure Putin to withdraw. Meanwhile, Putin warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine during ongoing fighting would be legitimate targets, rejecting Western plans for a peacekeeping 'reassurance force' pledged by 26 countries. The UK and allies continue to support Ukraine militarily and diplomatically amid stalled peace talks.
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On September 16, 2025, a UN commission led by Navi Pillay released a 72-page report concluding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza since October 2023. The report cites killings, aid blockages, forced displacement, and destruction of a fertility clinic as evidence, naming Israeli leaders including Netanyahu as responsible. Israel rejects the findings as false and politically motivated.
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Multiple sources report that Israel's actions in Gaza are increasingly characterized as genocide, with UN findings, Israeli officials' remarks, and rising civilian casualties fueling this debate. The US and international community face mounting pressure to respond, with some countries recognizing Palestinian statehood amid ongoing violence.
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The US is weighing broad sanctions against the International Criminal Court, potentially targeting the entire court, in response to investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes. This move could disrupt the court's operations and escalate tensions with member countries. The decision is expected soon, amid diplomatic discussions.
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Tunisia has resumed voluntary repatriations of migrants, with about 7,200 returned in 2024, amid ongoing regional migration tragedies. Recent shipwrecks off Libya and Tunisia have resulted in over 58 deaths, highlighting the dangers of Mediterranean crossings. EU-Tunisia cooperation aims to curb migration, while Libya's chaos fuels deadly crossings.
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The RSF captured el-Fasher in Darfur after an 18-month siege, with reports of civilians killed, sexual assaults, and hospital attacks. The ICC is collecting evidence for future prosecutions, amid fears of a return to past genocidal violence. The fall marks a new, brutal phase in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
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On November 12, 2025, former US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging a full pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the ongoing corruption trial politically motivated. Herzog's office responded that any pardon request must follow formal procedures, and Netanyahu or his family have yet to submit such a request. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing amid a trial that began in 2020. Separately, Israel has appealed to the International Criminal Court to disqualify ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations, challenging his arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.
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As of December 15, 2025, Israel's Supreme Court upheld the ICC's jurisdiction to investigate alleged war crimes linked to the 2023 Gaza conflict, maintaining arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Concurrently, Netanyahu has formally requested a presidential pardon amid ongoing corruption trials, denying wrongdoing and refusing to resign. The pardon request follows U.S. pressure and has sparked political controversy within Israel.
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The ICC faces internal and external pressures as US sanctions target staff, including the acting prosecutor Karim Niang, amid ongoing investigations into US and Israeli officials. The court's independence is reaffirmed, but member withdrawals and delays in internal probes threaten its future. The 24th Assembly is ongoing today.
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New York's incoming mayor Mamdani has vowed to enforce an ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu, sparking tensions with the Israeli Prime Minister who plans to visit the city. Officials and legal experts question the legality of the arrest plan amid political disagreements and international law constraints. Netanyahu confirms his visit, while Hochul distances herself from Mamdani's stance.
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A 76-year-old man, Ali Muhammad Abd–Al-Rahman, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of 27 war crimes, including mass executions and brutal killings, committed in 2003-2004. The sentencing followed a hearing where prosecutors emphasized his deliberate and enthusiastic involvement in these crimes.