ICC chief prosecutor to step down during probe into sexual misconduct claims
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is to temporarily step down pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Karim Khan has categorically denied accusations that he tried for more than a year to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship and groped her against her will.
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Last year, an Associated Press investigation found that two court employees in whom the alleged victim confided came forward with the accusation in May.
Karim Khan is stepping down (Marwan Ali/AP)
That was a few weeks before Mr Khan sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, his defence minister and three Hamas leaders on war crimes charges.
The court, based in The Hague, in the Netherlands, said in a statement that Mr Khan on Friday ″communicated his decision to take leave until the end″ of an external investigation being carried by the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the UN internal watchdog.
While Mr Khan is on leave, the court's deputy prosecutors will be in charge of managing the prosecutor's office.
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Western Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Israel and Iran trade strikes for a third day as hundreds reported dead
Planned talks on Iran's nuclear programme, which could provide an off-ramp, were called off. Israel's strikes have killed at least 406 people in Iran and wounded another 654, according to a human rights group that has long tracked the country, Washington-based Human Rights Activists. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures. The region braced for a protracted conflict after Israel's surprise bombardment of Iran's nuclear and military sites on Friday killed several top generals and nuclear scientists, and neither side showed any sign of backing down. Iran said Israel struck two oil refineries, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran's heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets. The Israeli military, in a social media post, warned Iranians to evacuate arms factories, signalling what could be a further widening of the campaign. At around noon local time, explosions were heard again in the Iranian capital Tehran. US President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Israel's actions while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that if the Israeli strikes on Iran stop, then 'our responses will also stop'. He said the United States 'is a partner in these attacks and must take responsibility'. New explosions echoed across Tehran and were reported elsewhere in the country early on Sunday, but there was no update to a death toll put out the day before by Iran's UN ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded. In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. Israeli security forces inspect destroyed buildings near Tel Aviv that were hit by a missile fired from Iran (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The country's main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third day. Israeli strikes targeted Iran's Defence Ministry early on Sunday after hitting air defences, military bases and sites associated with its nuclear programme. The killing of several top generals and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes indicated that Israeli intelligence has penetrated Iran at the highest levels. In a sign that Iran expects the Israeli strikes to continue, state television reported that metro stations and mosques would be made available as bomb shelters for the public beginning on Sunday night. In Israel, at least six people, including a 10-year-old and a nine-year-old, were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven are still missing. An Associated Press (AP) reporter saw streets lined with damaged and destroyed buildings, bombed out cars and shards of glass. Responders used a drone at points to look for survivors. Some people could be seen leaving the area with suitcases. The Israeli Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Another four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and 24 wounded when a missile struck a building in the Arab town of Tamra in northern Israel. A strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42. The Weizmann Institute of Science, an important centre for research in Rehovot, said 'there were a number of hits to buildings on the campus'. It said no-one was harmed. Israel has sophisticated multi-tiered air defences that are able to detect and intercept missiles fired at populated areas or key infrastructure, but officials acknowledge it is imperfect. World leaders made urgent calls to de-escalate. The attack on nuclear sites sets a 'dangerous precedent', China's foreign minister said. The region is already on edge as Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where the war is still raging after Hamas's October 7 2023 attack. Flames rise from an oil storage facility in Tehran, Iran, after it appeared to have been hit by an Israeli strike (Vahid Salemi/AP) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed off such calls, saying Israel's strikes so far are 'nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days'. Israel, the sole though undeclared nuclear-armed state in the Middle East – said it launched the attack to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The two countries have been regional adversaries for decades. Iran has always said its nuclear programme was peaceful, and the US and others have assessed it has not pursued a weapon since 2003. But it has enriched ever larger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years and was believed to have been able to develop multiple weapons within months if it chose to do so. The UN's atomic watchdog censured Iran last week for not complying with its obligations. Mr Araghchi said Israel had targeted an oil refinery near Tehran and another in the country's Bushehr province on the Persian Gulf. Smoke rises up from an oil facility after a Saturday explosion in southern Tehran, Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP) He said Iran had also targeted 'economic' sites in Israel, without elaborating. Mr Araghchi was speaking to diplomats in his first public appearance since the initial Israeli strikes. Semi-official Iranian news agencies reported that an Israeli drone strike had caused a 'strong explosion' at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant. Israel's military did not immediately comment. The extent of damage at the South Pars natural gas field was not immediately clear. Such sites have air defence systems around them, which Israel has been targeting. An oil refinery was also damaged in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, according to the firm operating it. Bazan Group said pipelines and transmission lines between facilities were damaged, forcing some downstream facilities to be shut down. It said no-one was wounded. The Arab Gulf country of Oman, which has been mediating indirect talks between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, said a sixth round planned for Sunday would not take place. 'We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,' a senior US official said. Mr Araghchi said on Saturday that the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes, which he said were the 'result of the direct support by Washington'. In a post on his Truth Social account early on Sunday, Mr Trump reiterated that the US was not involved in the attacks on Iran and warned that any retaliation directed against it would bring an American response 'at levels never seen before'. 'However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!' he wrote.
The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
Easy 30-second trick could stop you being conned out of £1,000s – but you'll need to call your family today
A DEVASTATING scam that can cost you thousands of pounds in seconds can easily be blocked – it just takes 30 seconds. The only catch is that you'll want to get ready for it in advance. One of the most common text-based scams out there right now is called the "Hi Mum" con. It's also known as the "friend in need" scam, and attempts to trick unsuspecting parents into handing over cash quickly. A crook will pose as your child and convince you to send cash in an emergency – but it's a total con. Thankfully, there's a very easy way to scupper it and keep your cash safe. WHAT IS THE SCAM? City of London Police's Action Fraud issued a major warning about the scam back in 2022, revealing that it had already cost users £1.5 million. "Criminals will typically claim to be a family member and will usually begin the conversation with 'Hello Mum' or 'Hello Dad'," Action Fraud explained. "They will say that they are texting from a new mobile number as their phone was lost or damaged and will go on to ask for money to purchase a new phone, or claim that they need money urgently to pay a bill. "The criminal will supply their bank details for payment, with some coming back on multiple occasions until the victim realises they've been scammed." Since then, the scam has only grown in popularity. In 2023, McAfee issued an alert warning of a "new threat" were crooks were using AI to carry out more convincing versions of the scam. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes This even involved using AI voice-cloning tech to make the con work over phone calls. "With inexpensive and easy-to-use AI voice-cloning tools, fraudsters are delivering bespoke messages through calls or voicemails and fraudulently asking for help in the form of financial assistance," McAfee warned. "In the past, those wishing to create these assets needed to have both the time and technical ability to replicate voices. "But applications and tools that produce near instantaneous, highly believable results are now just a few clicks away." 3 The scam can turn up on chat apps like WhatsApp or iMessage, via email, or even over the phone using an AI-cloned voice. And it can be highly convincing: Brits have already lost millions to the con, with thousands sometimes being taken in a single attack. 'If you receive a message like this from a friend or family member, don't send any money until you've had a chance to call them and confirm their identity," said Detective Chief Inspector Craig Mullish. "Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe." ACTION FRAUD – THE OFFICIAL ADVICE Action Fraud advises that the public follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep themselves safe from fraud. Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. Challenge: Could it be fake? It's okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. Protect: If you think you've been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at or by calling 0300 123 2040. How to report You can report suspicious text messages you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad. You can report suspicious emails you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to report@ If you have provided personal or financial details as a result of a suspicious message, or lost money because of a scam, you should report it to Action Fraud at or by calling 0300 123 2040 HOW TO STAY SAFE – THE QUICK TRICK Of course, if a crook is using voice cloning or has taken over the family member's phone, checking with them through another method might not work. So that's where the clever trick comes in. You'll want to call your son or daughter (or mum or dad) today and set up a safe word or phrase. It can be anything really – like a fruit, a place, or a date – but not something obvious like your birthday or hometown. 3 Then whenever one of you ask's the other for money, you'll demand the safe word to verify the identity. Scammers will have no one of knowing this, as long as you haven't written it down somewhere on your devices. And it's an instant way to prevent the scam from going any further. It only takes half a minute to set up, and could save you from being conned out of thousands of pounds. So give your family members a call today and make sure you have safe words set up.
The Herald Scotland
31 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Israel and Iran trade strikes for a third day as hundreds reported dead
Israel's strikes have killed at least 406 people in Iran and wounded another 654, according to a human rights group that has long tracked the country, Washington-based Human Rights Activists. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures. The region braced for a protracted conflict after Israel's surprise bombardment of Iran's nuclear and military sites on Friday killed several top generals and nuclear scientists, and neither side showed any sign of backing down. Iran said Israel struck two oil refineries, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran's heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets. The Israeli military, in a social media post, warned Iranians to evacuate arms factories, signalling what could be a further widening of the campaign. At around noon local time, explosions were heard again in the Iranian capital Tehran. US President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Israel's actions while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that if the Israeli strikes on Iran stop, then 'our responses will also stop'. He said the United States 'is a partner in these attacks and must take responsibility'. New explosions echoed across Tehran and were reported elsewhere in the country early on Sunday, but there was no update to a death toll put out the day before by Iran's UN ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded. In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. Israeli security forces inspect destroyed buildings near Tel Aviv that were hit by a missile fired from Iran (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The country's main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third day. Israeli strikes targeted Iran's Defence Ministry early on Sunday after hitting air defences, military bases and sites associated with its nuclear programme. The killing of several top generals and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes indicated that Israeli intelligence has penetrated Iran at the highest levels. In a sign that Iran expects the Israeli strikes to continue, state television reported that metro stations and mosques would be made available as bomb shelters for the public beginning on Sunday night. In Israel, at least six people, including a 10-year-old and a nine-year-old, were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven are still missing. An Associated Press (AP) reporter saw streets lined with damaged and destroyed buildings, bombed out cars and shards of glass. Responders used a drone at points to look for survivors. Some people could be seen leaving the area with suitcases. The Israeli Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Another four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and 24 wounded when a missile struck a building in the Arab town of Tamra in northern Israel. A strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42. The Weizmann Institute of Science, an important centre for research in Rehovot, said 'there were a number of hits to buildings on the campus'. It said no-one was harmed. Israel has sophisticated multi-tiered air defences that are able to detect and intercept missiles fired at populated areas or key infrastructure, but officials acknowledge it is imperfect. World leaders made urgent calls to de-escalate. The attack on nuclear sites sets a 'dangerous precedent', China's foreign minister said. The region is already on edge as Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where the war is still raging after Hamas's October 7 2023 attack. Flames rise from an oil storage facility in Tehran, Iran, after it appeared to have been hit by an Israeli strike (Vahid Salemi/AP) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed off such calls, saying Israel's strikes so far are 'nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days'. Israel, the sole though undeclared nuclear-armed state in the Middle East – said it launched the attack to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The two countries have been regional adversaries for decades. Iran has always said its nuclear programme was peaceful, and the US and others have assessed it has not pursued a weapon since 2003. But it has enriched ever larger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years and was believed to have been able to develop multiple weapons within months if it chose to do so. The UN's atomic watchdog censured Iran last week for not complying with its obligations. Mr Araghchi said Israel had targeted an oil refinery near Tehran and another in the country's Bushehr province on the Persian Gulf. Smoke rises up from an oil facility after a Saturday explosion in southern Tehran, Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP) He said Iran had also targeted 'economic' sites in Israel, without elaborating. Mr Araghchi was speaking to diplomats in his first public appearance since the initial Israeli strikes. Semi-official Iranian news agencies reported that an Israeli drone strike had caused a 'strong explosion' at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant. Israel's military did not immediately comment. The extent of damage at the South Pars natural gas field was not immediately clear. Such sites have air defence systems around them, which Israel has been targeting. An oil refinery was also damaged in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, according to the firm operating it. Bazan Group said pipelines and transmission lines between facilities were damaged, forcing some downstream facilities to be shut down. It said no-one was wounded. The Arab Gulf country of Oman, which has been mediating indirect talks between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, said a sixth round planned for Sunday would not take place. 'We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,' a senior US official said. Mr Araghchi said on Saturday that the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes, which he said were the 'result of the direct support by Washington'. In a post on his Truth Social account early on Sunday, Mr Trump reiterated that the US was not involved in the attacks on Iran and warned that any retaliation directed against it would bring an American response 'at levels never seen before'. 'However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!' he wrote.
