Libya has recognised the authority of the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes on its territory, even though it is not a party to the court's founding treaty, chief prosecutor Karim Khan said on Thursday.
"I strongly welcome the courage, the leadership and the decision by the Libyan authorities" to accept the ICC's jurisdiction over possible war crimes and repression committed in the country, Mr Khan said.
Speaking to the UN Security Council by video, the chief prosecutor told of progress in uncovering what he called "a black box of suffering on the Mediterranean coast", referring to detention centres where alleged crimes have taken place.
He highlighted Libyan authorities' stated commitment to co-operate with the court and called for the handover of a suspect accused of grave crimes against detainees, including migrants and refugees.
In particular, he told of "an unprecedented six months of dynamism", pointing to the arrest in January of Osama Elmasry Njeem, a commander in the disbanded Special Deterrence Force.
Mr Njeem, who ran the Mitiga detention centre, is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture against migrants. He was briefly detained in Italy in January but was released two days later on "procedural grounds" and returned to Libya.
“There was real disappointment amongst victims that Mr Njeem has been returned to the scene of the alleged crimes,” said Mr Khan.
He urged Libyan authorities to hand over Mr Njeem to the ICC so he can stand trial for the crimes that were listed in the warrant.
Libya has been under ICC investigation since 2011, when the Security Council referred the case to the court amid the uprising that toppled long-time leader Muammar Qaddafi. The ICC opened its probe days later.
In November 2023, Mr Khan said his office aimed to conclude investigative work in Libya by the end of 2025, after which no further arrest warrants would be sought.
The ICC has issued warrants for 12 people linked to alleged crimes during Libya's 2011 revolution, the 2014-2020 conflict and abuses in detention centres, including against migrants.
Three of those wanted have since died, while eight remain fugitives. The court dismissed the case against Mr Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, Abdullah Al Senussi, ruling it inadmissible.
Libyan authorities have failed to arrest and transfer any ICC suspects since 2011, stalling efforts to deliver justice. The Security Council has not acted on the court’s past requests to enforce co-operation from Libya.
Mr Khan’s briefing came after US President Donald Trump’s February 6 executive order authorising sanctions against ICC officials, including the chief prosecutor.
Washington's acting alternate representative to the UN, John Kelley, condemned the ICC as a "politicised" body, accusing it of bias against the US and Israel.
"The ICC has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel," Mr Kelley said, warning that Mr Trump’s sanctions order would bring "tangible and significant consequences" for those involved in the court’s decisions.
The ICC in November approved arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes, including restricting aid and attacking citizens during Israel’s Gaza offensive.
Nine Security Council members – France, Britain, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia, all ICC signatories – opposed, stating that attacking the court or its personnel was "counterproductive to our shared goal of ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes".
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Company%20profile
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
Summer special
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)
Man of the match Harry Kane
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
MANDOOB
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Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday:
- 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
- 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
- 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
- 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
- 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
- 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
- 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
- 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
- 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
- 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
