Trump administration imposes sanctions on four ICC judges in unprecedented move
WASHINGTON/THE HAGUE - President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court, an unprecedented retaliation over the war tribunal's cases regarding alleged war crimes by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and over the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Washington designated Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia, according to a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC's illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel. The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies," Rubio said.
The ICC slammed the move, saying it was an attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution that provides hope and justice to millions of victims of "unimaginable atrocities."
Both judges Bossa and Carranza have been on the ICC bench since 2018. In 2020 they were involved in an appeals chamber decision that allowed the ICC prosecutor to open a formal investigation into alleged war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan.
ICC judges also issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri last November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. Alapini Gansou and Hohler ruled to authorize the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant, Rubio said.
The move deepens the administration's animosity toward the court. During the first Trump administration in 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on then-prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her top aides over the court's work on Afghanistan.
Sanctions severely hamper individuals' abilities to carry out even routine financial transactions as any banks with ties to the United States, or that conduct transactions in dollars, are expected to have to comply with the restrictions.
But the Treasury Department also issued general licenses, including one allowing the wind-down of transactions involving those targeted on Thursday until July 8, so long as any payment to them is made to a blocked, interest-bearing account located in the U.S.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
40 minutes ago
- Mint
Vivek Ramaswamy's photo with kids faces racist slur again: 'Why don't Americans deport this Indian?'
A heartwarming picture of Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy was bombarded with racist and anti-immigrant comments by X users, as the MAGA world imploded with Donald Trump and Elon Musk attacking each other in public. Vivek Ramaswamy was closely aligned with the MAGA movement until Christmas 2024, when he criticised aspects of American culture and strongly reaffirmed his support for the H-1B visa programme. At the time, he was serving as co-chief of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. While Musk initially backed Ramaswamy's stance on H-1B visas, he reportedly disapproved of his subsequent actions. As a result, Ramaswamy stepped down from DOGE even before Donald Trump's inauguration. Ramaswamy had also put his hat in the ring for the US presidential polls but later withdrew from the race, despite backing from both Musk and Trump. As the two heavyweights locked horns on social media, Ramaswamy posted a photo carrying his two children — Karthik and Arjun — and wrote: "It's why we do it." The post had no connection with the MAGA crisis but was still met with vicious trolling. However, the comment section quickly turned hostile, with many users mocking Ramaswamy — some pointing out that 'Americans wear socks inside shoes,' likely referencing an earlier interview where he appeared barefoot. One user even asked Grok to change the background of the photo to a 'garbage-filled street in India.' "Why don't Americans deport this Indian?" one asked. "Is there a scientific reason as to why I find this photo repulsive?" a third user said. "Send him back to India... In the name of Jesus Christ," another wrote. "Do it in India," a hater said. Some X users pressed Ramaswamy to share his views on the Trump–Elon Musk feud, urging him to take a clear stand. While a few praised him for 'seeing it all much ahead of time,' others were curious about the extent of his falling out with Musk before he was shown the door at DOGE. One user questioned the MAGA movement's double standards, asking why it embraces Elon Musk — who wasn't born in the US — but not Vivek Ramaswamy, who was born in Cincinnati.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Can an American pope apply US-style fundraising and standards to fix troubled Vatican finances?
As a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost was often on the lookout for used cars that he could buy cheap and fix up himself for use in parishes around his diocese. With cars that were really broken down, he'd watch YouTube videos to learn how to fix them. That kind of make-do-with-less, fix-it-yourself mentality could serve Pope Leo XIV well as he addresses one of the greatest challenges facing him as pope: The Holy See's chronic, 50 million to 60 million euro ($57-68 million) structural deficit, 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion) pension fund shortfall and declining donations that together pose something of an existential threat to the central government of the 1.4-billion strong Catholic Church . As a Chicago-born math major, canon lawyer and two-time superior of his global Augustinian religious order, the 69-year-old pope presumably can read a balance sheet and make sense of the Vatican's complicated finances, which have long been mired in scandal. Whether he can change the financial culture of the Holy See, consolidate reforms Pope Francis started and convince donors that their money is going to good use is another matter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Promoções imperdíveis de voos baratos Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo Leo already has one thing going for him: his American-ness. US donors have long been the economic life support system of the Holy See, financing everything from papal charity projects abroad to restorations of St. Peter's Basilica at home. Leo's election as the first American pope has sent a jolt of excitement through US. Catholics, some of whom had soured on donating to the Vatican after years of unrelenting stories of mismanagement, corruption and scandal, according to interviews with top Catholic fundraisers, philanthropists and church management experts. "I think the election of an American is going to give greater confidence that any money given is going to be cared for by American principles, especially of stewardship and transparency," said the Rev. Roger Landry, director of the Vatican's main missionary fundraising operation in the US, the Pontifical Mission Societies. Live Events You Might Also Like: Whoops, waves, tears: Faithful react to Pope Leo's first Sunday blessing in St. Peter's Square "So there will be great hope that American generosity is first going to be appreciated and then secondly is going to be well handled," he said. "That hasn't always been the circumstance, especially lately." Reforms and unfinished business Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on a mandate to reform the Vatican's opaque finances and made progress during his 12-year pontificate, mostly on the regulatory front. With help from the late Australian Cardinal George Pell , Francis created an economy ministry and council made up of clergy and lay experts to supervise Vatican finances, and he wrestled the Italian-dominated bureaucracy into conforming to international accounting and budgetary standards. He authorized a landmark, if deeply problematic, corruption trial over a botched London property investment that convicted a once-powerful Italian cardinal. And he punished the Vatican's Secretariat of State that had allowed the London deal to go through by stripping it of its ability to manage its own assets. But Francis left unfinished business and his overall record, at least according to some in the donor community, is less than positive. Critics cite Pell's frustrated reform efforts and the firing of the Holy See's first-ever auditor general, who says he was ousted because he had uncovered too much financial wrongdoing. You Might Also Like: Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass after historic election as Pope Francis' successor Despite imposing years of belt-tightening and hiring freezes, Francis left the Vatican in somewhat dire financial straits: The main stopgap bucket of money that funds budgetary shortfalls, known as the Peter's Pence, is nearly exhausted, officials say. The 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion) pension fund shortfall that Pell warned about a decade ago remains unaddressed, though Francis had planned reforms. And the structural deficit continues, with the Holy See logging an 83.5 million euro ($95 million) deficit in 2023, according to its latest financial report. As Francis' health worsened, there were signs that his efforts to reform the Vatican's medieval financial culture hadn't really stuck, either. The very same Secretariat of State that Francis had punished for losing tens of millions of euros in the scandalous London property deal somehow ended up heading up a new papal fundraising commission that was announced while Francis was in the hospital. According to its founding charter and statutes, the commission is led by the Secretariat of State's assessor, is composed entirely of Italian Vatican officials with no professional fundraising expertise and has no required external financial oversight. To some Vatican watchers, the commission smacks of the Italian-led Secretariat of State taking advantage of a sick pope to announce a new flow of unchecked donations into its coffers after its 600 million euro ($684 million) sovereign wealth fund was taken away and given to another office to manage as punishment for the London fiasco. "There are no Americans on the commission. I think it would be good if there were representatives of Europe and Asia and Africa and the United States on the commission," said Ward Fitzgerald, president of the U.S.-based Papal Foundation . It is made up of wealthy American Catholics that since 1990 has provided over $250 million (219 million euros) in grants and scholarships to the pope's global charitable initiatives. Fitzgerald, who spent his career in real estate private equity, said American donors - especially the younger generation - expect transparency and accountability from recipients of their money, and know they can find non-Vatican Catholic charities that meet those expectations. "We would expect transparency before we would start to solve the problem," he said. That said, Fitzgerald said he hadn't seen any significant let-up in donor willingness to fund the Papal Foundation's project-specific donations during the Francis pontificate. Indeed, U.S. donations to the Vatican overall have remained more or less consistent even as other countries' offerings declined, with U.S. bishops and individual Catholics contributing more than any other country in the two main channels to donate to papal causes. A head for numbers and background fundraising Francis moved Prevost to take over the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. Residents and fellow priests say he consistently rallied funds, food and other life-saving goods for the neediest - experience that suggests he knows well how to raise money when times are tight and how to spend wisely. He bolstered the local Caritas charity in Chiclayo, with parishes creating food banks that worked with local businesses to distribute donated food, said the Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, a diocesan spokesperson. In 2019, Prevost inaugurated a shelter on the outskirts of Chiclayo, Villa San Vicente de Paul, to house desperate Venezuelan migrants who had fled their country's economic crisis. The migrants remember him still, not only for helping give them and their children shelter, but for bringing live chickens obtained from a donor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prevost launched a campaign to raise funds to build two oxygen plants to provide hard-hit residents with life-saving oxygen. In 2023, when massive rains flooded the region, he personally brought food to the flood-struck zone. Within hours of his May 8 election, videos went viral on social media of Prevost, wearing rubber boots and standing in a flooded street, pitching a solidarity campaign, "Peru Give a Hand," to raise money for flood victims. The Rev. Jorge Millan, who lived with Prevost and eight other priests for nearly a decade in Chiclayo, said he had a "mathematical" mentality and knew how to get the job done. Prevost would always be on the lookout for used cars to buy for use around the diocese, Millan said, noting that the bishop often had to drive long distances to reach all of his flock or get to Lima, the capital. Prevost liked to fix them up himself, and if he didn't know what to do, "he'd look up solutions on YouTube and very often he'd find them," Millan told The Associated Press. Before going to Peru, Prevost served two terms as prior general, or superior, of the global Augustinian order. While the order's local provinces are financially independent, Prevost was responsible for reviewing their balance sheets and oversaw the budgeting and investment strategy of the order's headquarters in Rome, said the Rev. Franz Klein, the order's Rome-based economist who worked with Prevost. The Augustinian campus sits on prime real estate just outside St. Peter's Square and supplements revenue by renting out its picturesque terrace to media organizations (including the AP) for major Vatican events, including the conclave that elected Leo pope. But even Prevost saw the need for better fundraising, especially to help out poorer provinces. Toward the end of his 12-year term and with his support, a committee proposed creation of a foundation, Augustinians in the World. At the end of 2023, it had 994,000 euros ($1.13 million) in assets and was helping fund self-sustaining projects across Africa, including a center to rehabilitate former child soldiers in Congo. "He has a very good interest and also a very good feeling for numbers," Klein said. "I have no worry about the finances of the Vatican in these years because he is very, very clever."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud was predicted by Barron Trump? Viral video clip that claims it all
Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud was predicted by Barron Trump? Viral video clip that claims it all In a whirlwind saga that has captured the internet's attention, the long-simmering relationship between former US President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk has finally imploded—and the timing couldn't have been more theatrical. While political commentators, Musk fans, and MAGA loyalists pick sides, an old resurfaced clip from Trump's 2017 inauguration has become the unlikely centerpiece of the drama. The viral footage shows a teenage Barron Trump standing beside a visibly animated Elon Musk, and internet users are now convinced: Barron knew all along that this bromance was doomed. As the online world spirals into memes, speculation, and mockery, the underlying story has serious political and economic dimensions. From Trump's new tax proposal that threatens Tesla's bottom line to Musk's public fallout with the former president, the Musk-Trump divorce goes far beyond a simple social media spat. Here's a detailed breakdown of what led to the breakup, how Barron's now-iconic reaction became a meme-worthy prediction, and what this all means for the future of the tech-political alliance. Elon Musk and Donald Trump's breakup shocked the internet, but the warning signs were clear Elon Musk and Donald Trump were once considered unlikely allies. During Trump's presidency, Musk served on White House advisory councils and even appeared at several official events. While their ideologies often clashed—Musk being a vocal supporter of sustainable energy and Trump known for climate skepticism—the mutual benefits of their relationship were clear. Trump got to flaunt a high-profile tech billionaire's approval, while Musk hoped to influence infrastructure and space policy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Despite moments of public camaraderie, friction was always bubbling beneath the surface. Musk resigned from Trump's advisory council in 2017 over the US withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. Still, their interactions remained largely civil—until now. Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud explodes over brutal tax bill The conflict erupted in earnest when Trump, eyeing a 2024 comeback and eager to boost traditional US industries, introduced a tax overhaul that would cut federal subsidies benefiting electric vehicle makers like Tesla. Musk didn't take it lightly. Calling the legislation a "disgusting abomination" in a series of X (formerly Twitter) posts, Musk accused Trump of sabotaging America's clean energy future. 'This bill is a disaster for innovation. Subsidies cut, investment threatened. The real loser is America,' Musk posted on X. Trump, never one to back down, fired back at a campaign rally in Ohio: 'Elon Musk, great guy when he needed the government's help. Now he cries when the help stops. Sad!' And with that, the bromance publicly combusted. Barron Trump's old clip goes viral In the midst of this drama, a 2017 clip of Barron Trump and Elon Musk at the US Capitol surfaced and quickly went viral. While Musk can be seen excitedly clapping and reacting with animated enthusiasm—especially after Trump vowed to plant the American flag on Mars—Barron stood beside him, calm, unimpressed, and possibly even irritated. The moment passed unnoticed at the time. But in hindsight, internet detectives are convinced that Barron's demeanor foreshadowed the eventual falling out. Barron Trump and Elon Musk Social media reacts: 'Barron Knew!' The reactions on X were instant and hilarious. Users began to speculate whether Barron was always aware of the inevitable rift between his father and Musk. 'Barron knew this was coming. He saw through Musk from day one,' one user wrote. Another joked, 'It's giving 'Attack on Titan' energy. Barron saw it all from the beginning like Eren Yeager.' Someone posted alongside a clip, 'Elon is the over-excited class clown. Barron is the quiet kid who's already judging everyone's future.' Some users went further, suggesting the contrast between Musk's chaotic energy and Barron's composed demeanor was symbolic of the changing tides in Republican politics—young conservatives showing less enthusiasm for tech billionaires. Political implications of the Musk-Trump split Trump's proposed tax cuts are part of a broader economic agenda that appears to favor fossil fuels and heavy industry—policies directly at odds with Musk's clean energy empire. With tax breaks for EVs on the chopping block, Tesla could see a sharp decline in demand in the US market. Adding fuel to the fire, right-wing voices aligned with Trump have begun to question Musk's immigration status. Musk, originally from South Africa, has US citizenship but critics have now raised alarms over his past visas and green card process, accusing him of benefiting from 'elite favoritism.' 'We're looking into all foreign influences. No one gets a pass. Not even Elon,' one Trump ally said on Fox News. This prompted more outrage from Musk's side, with allies claiming that Trump is targeting him because he no longer 'bends the knee.' What did Barron Trump know It's hard to tell whether Barron Trump was merely tired or genuinely unimpressed with Musk. But that hasn't stopped netizens from turning him into a prophetic icon. 'Barron looked like he was already writing the breakup tweet in his head,' one X user quipped. Others interpreted his serious expression as a sign of maturity and a deeper understanding of the political theater unfolding around him. Also read | Elon Musk is an illegal alien...': Donald Trump is urged by former White House official to deport Musk immediately AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
