Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing economic and travel restrictions on people who work for the International Criminal Court, in response to the tribunal issuing arrest warrants against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The order states that the ICC has, without a legitimate basis, asserted jurisdiction over and opened preliminary investigations into people from the US and some of its allies, including Israel. The order says the ICC has issued "baseless arrest warrants" for Mr Netanyahu and Israeli former defence minister Yoav Gallant.
It did not name the targets of the sanctions, but said it would deny visas and issue sanctions against the assets of ICC officials and their families.
Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s ambassador to the UN, criticised the move. “I don't think that President Trump or any leader should interfere in the independence of any court, whether it is a domestic court or international court,” he told The National in an exclusive interview.
"The legal system is an independent branch of governing and if we start interfering in their affairs and compromising their integrity, then they lose the basis of being fair and being independent."
Mr Mansour accused the US of double standards, because it supported the court when it ruled against Russia over the war in Ukraine. “They were happy when it made certain pronouncements regarding Russia and now, when it came to making pronouncements with regards to Israel, they invoked the double standards,” he added.
“If it is working for our benefit, it is fine and dandy. If it is not, then we need to punish it, and punish the prosecutor and the judges, in essence, to try to contribute to discrediting it and destroying it.”
The executive order was announced during Mr Netanyahu's week-long visit to Washington, where he has met Mr Trump and US politicians. Mr Trump also issued sanctions against the ICC during his first term in office, after the court investigated alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan. In 2021, Joe Biden, who was president at the time, lifted the sanctions.
Last month, the US House passed a bill last to sanction the ICC, but Senate Democrats blocked it, saying it could backfire on US allies and firms. Still, movement on the Hill on Thursday suggested it might soon pass the Senate and become a law heading for Mr Trump's signature.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor on Thursday that Washington "could have had it done" if Republicans compromised on portions of the legislation they say will end up impacting US companies.
Senator Jeane Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a Thursday speech that it was "five words" that divided Republicans and Democrats on the bill.
"We're willing to come back to the table at any time, but we need to see a willingness to work together" to pass the ICC sanctions, Ms Shaheen added.
Ms Shaheen met Mr Netanyahu on Thursday and said afterwards that she shares "concerns about the way the ICC is operated. I think we should be able to come to an agreement, to a compromise on how this bill gets written."
The new sanctions legislation is much broader than the 2020 designation , threatening to more expansively impact the Court's financial standing.
The ICC has accused Mr Netanyahu of using starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against civilians, in addition to crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 47,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to health authorities in the enclave.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
THREE
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Asia Cup Qualifier
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
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