The tribunal wants to "deprioritize" a probe into alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan and focus instead on the ruling Taliban and the "Islamic State Khorasan." Afghan human rights defenders have slammed the move.

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will prepare for his defence against an International Criminal Court probe into his deadly drug war after he retires from politics.

A Nigerian judge on Wednesday adjourned the treason trial of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu until January after his lead lawyer walked out of court because security agents refused other defence lawyers into the courtroom. Bruce Fein, the American lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu, also threatened to drag Nigeria before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged gross violation of his client’s rights. At his last court appearance last month, Kanu, a British citizen, pleaded not guilty to seven charges, which included terrorism, calling for secession and knowingly falsehoods about President Muhammadu Buhari, and membership of an outlawed group. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu's lead lawyer had planned to ask the court to dismiss the charges, saying they were incompetent.

The International Criminal Court said it was suspending the investigation it launched in September to look into a deferral request by Manila. Human rights groups slammed the decision, urging it to continue work.

The Dutch public health institute said in a statement that testing was continuing on the samples of 61 people who tested positive for COVID after arriving from South Africa.

The accused — Mahamat Said Abdel Kani — faces a slew of charges, including persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts. The alleged militia leader rose to prominence amid a coup in Bangui in 2013.

The shutdown was initiated over fears of the rapid spread of the omicron variant. Meanwhile, Germany's health minister has ruled out a lockdown before Christmas. Follow DW for the latest.

The Netherlands has become the first European country to enact a strict lockdown over Christmas. Omicron infections are spreading rapidly across the country. All nonessential businesses have been closed until at least mid-January.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court discussed the court's investigation into possible war crimes committed during Russia's war in Ukraine. Karim Khan expressed concern about civilians being targeted in Ukraine, warning that this constituted "a crime". Asked about possible ICC proceedings against Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, Khan said: "We'll see: is there individual criminal responsibility? And if there is, we will take the necessary action".

Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Mokom is alleged to have committed the crimes in 2013 and 2014 in his role as an anti-Balaka militia leader.

The Polish capital has seized an abandoned Russian diplomatic compound after decades of legal dispute. Authorities say the site, which some Poles say was used for spying, will be handed over to the Ukrainian community.

Russian energy firm Gazprom says it has suspended supplies of gas to the Netherlands after payments were not made in rubles.