The referral is the second time the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has appealed to the ICC, after an initial referral in 2004 that convicted three former militia leaders.

In 1953, a gigantic storm swept across the North Sea and caused a tidal wave in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. Many dykes controlling water levels were simply swept away as the water spread far inland. While more than 300 people died in the UK, more than 1,800 lost their lives in the Netherlands. At the time, around a fifth of the Netherlands was below sea level. More than 2,000 square kilometres of land were flooded there, including almost the entire province of Zeeland.

A violent summer storm swept across the Netherlands, severely affecting air and train traffic. At least one person died in the town of Haarlem.

The Dutch government has decided to return some 478 highly valuable and culturally significant artworks, which had been looted during the Dutch colonial era.

ICC chief prosecutorKarim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, told FRANCE 24 that he had decided to open fresh investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the ongoing fighting in Sudan. He said his office had received numerous reports from many sources of crimes such as destruction of property, executions, killings and rapes.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary ceremony of the International Criminal Court, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said "no one should be able to lead a war of aggression and get away with it in the 21st century."

African leaders have complained about wrongful targeting by the International Criminal Court during the 25 years since its founding — but some African legal experts say those claims are unjustified.

The probe into thousands of killings in the "war on drugs" will continue, after the International Criminal Court rejected an appeal from the Philippines. The move was hailed by human rights groups.

The refusal comes days after the ICC said it would relaunch its probe into an anti-drug crackdown that killed thousands. Manila and the ICC are at loggerheads over the question of jurisdiction.

The fire on a freighter loaded with thousands of cars appears to have burnt itself out. Although the vessel seems stable, there are still concerns over potential risks.

After several days of continued burning in the North Sea, the Fremantle Highway has been towed to port. Salvage work is slated to begin shortly.

Officials in the Netherlands found €600 million ($661 million) worth of cocaine from Ecuador in containers alongside bananas. Rotterdam is one of the main ports for drug traffickers bringing the drug to Europe.