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Trump’s lawyer vows to block ICC bid to relaunch probe into US soldiers’ ‘war crimes’

A personal attorney of President Donald Trump has traveled to The Hague to contest an International Criminal Court (ICC) war crimes investigation targeting US forces overseas, arguing the body has no jurisdiction.
The ICC’s chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is set to make a second request to launch a full war crimes probe this week, after she was barred entry into the US to pursue an initial investigation in April and shot down by a panel of ICC judges. This time, one of the president’s personal lawyers, Jay Sekulow, will testify to challenge the move.
“The #ICC’s Prosecutor is seeking to investigate ‘war crimes’ charges against members of our #US Armed Forces,” Sekulow said in a tweet. “I'm in #TheHague right now, preparing to fight for the interests of our brave military & their freedoms.”
https://twitter.com/JaySekulow/status/1201611008739094528
The lawyer was allowed to file a “friend of the court” brief as an independent expert and says he will use his 10 minutes of testimony to defend American servicemen from accusations, insisting the ICC “has no jurisdiction over our soldiers.” Washington has not asked to present its own arguments separately, however, meaning Sekulow will respond to written arguments already submitted to the court.
https://twitter.com/JaySekulow/status/1202010386784018432
Based on preliminary evidence, prosecutors say they have indication US forces, including employees of the CIA, abused detainees in Afghanistan, which could rise to the level of a war crime.
President Trump has taken aim at the ICC previously, criticizing its “broad” and “unaccountable” prosecutorial powers, and has chafed at the idea of war crimes charges for American soldiers in general, even in US courts. Last month, the president pardoned two Army officers facing war crimes charges for their actions in Afghanistan, and reinstated the rank of Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL who was accused of similar atrocities during his deployment in Iraq, but ultimately acquitted of most charges in court.
The military later ordered a review to consider expelling Gallagher from the SEALs before he retired, but President Trump intervened in the row and stopped the process dead in its tracks. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, who was accused of working out a backroom deal with the White House to ensure Gallagher kept his credentials, was fired as a result.The ICC first opened its doors in 2002, tasked with prosecuting war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity if they were carried out on the territory of any of its 123 members – including Afghanistan – or by a citizen of one of the body’s member states. While a signatory to the ICC, the United States (as well as Russia) never ratified the treaty which established the body, and does not consider itself legally bound by its rulings.
source: Reuters
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BENEFIT Sponsors Gulf Uni...
- April 17, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.
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