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Member states of the International Criminal Court voted to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations he denies, with the vote held in New York while US sanctions barred him from attending.

This comes as President Donald Trump paused strikes on Iran for a second night to give diplomacy room, and as Yemen's Houthis struck two major Saudi oil facilities on the Red Sea.

This, and more, below ⤵️

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump pauses Iran strikes to make room for talks: President Donald Trump held off attacks on Iran for a second consecutive night to give diplomacy space, US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said. Iran halted its retaliatory attacks in response, and a CBS/YouGov poll found 57% of Americans frustrated with the war.

2️⃣ 🇾🇪🇸🇦 Houthis strike Saudi oil facilities in new front: Houthi forces fired missiles and drones at two Aramco oil facilities on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, retaliating for Saudi air strikes on the Houthi-held city of Hodeidah. A large column of smoke rose over Jizan, while two ballistic missiles aimed at Yanbu were intercepted by a Greek-operated Patriot battery.

3️⃣ 🇮🇱🇵🇸 Israel building miles-long earthen barrier inside Gaza: Israel is quickly building a giant earthen barrier separating the more than 50% of Gaza it controls from the rest of the territory, with over 23 kilometres constructed in recent months. The military confirmed the barrier follows the ceasefire's "yellow line," raising Palestinian fears that a temporary division is hardening into a border.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇸🇦 Trump ties Saudi nuclear deal to recognition of Israel: President Trump said the new civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia is "totally subject" to the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords and recognising Israel. He also insisted there would be "no enrichment of material," after Israeli opposition figures warned the deal could spark a regional nuclear arms race.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸 House votes to limit Trump's war powers over Iran: Four Republicans joined Democrats to pass a War Powers resolution constraining President Trump's ability to wage war on Iran, by 214 votes to 208. A parallel Senate resolution failed 47 to 49, and the measure is largely symbolic since Trump could veto it.

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🇺🇸 ICC votes to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan

Member states of the International Criminal Court voted to dismiss Karim Khan as chief prosecutor over sexual misconduct allegations, with 82 votes in favour.

The court's oversight body found in June that he had committed a "serious breach of duty and serious misconduct" by engaging in an improper relationship with a junior staff member and seeking to stop her pursuing her complaint.

Khan, elected the court's third prosecutor in 2021, has repeatedly denied all of the allegations, and his lawyer said he would challenge the "lawfulness and fairness" of the decision through all available legal mechanisms.

Khan could not attend the vote at UN headquarters in New York because he is barred from the United States under sanctions imposed by the Trump administration over the court's investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

The removal lands as Washington pursues a "whole-of-government" campaign to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick," leaving supporters fearing the world's only permanent war-crimes tribunal will emerge weakened.

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1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Burnham holds first cabinet after purging Starmer allies: New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham gathered his cabinet for the first time, promising a "cost-of-living government" after removing allies of predecessor Keir Starmer. He announced a cut to electricity-bill taxes worth about £45 a year per household, funded by scrapping Starmer's digital ID plan.

2️⃣ 🇳🇮 Nicaragua's Ortega says there will be no more elections: President Daniel Ortega said Nicaragua would hold no further elections, pledging laws that "build a wall" against the opposition. An analyst at Armed Conflict Location and Event Data said the move sealed the country's transition to a "full-fledged family dictatorship."

3️⃣ 🇺🇸🇪🇺 US to fund Maga-aligned projects in Europe, FT reports: The Trump administration is preparing grants to support Maga-aligned initiatives in Europe as part of an overhaul of US foreign aid, the Financial Times reported. The proposed grants include $2m to "counter censorship" stemming from EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act.

4️⃣ 🇩🇪 German CDU leader resigns after using surrogacy: Jens Spahn resigned as parliamentary group leader of Germany's Christian Democrats after he and his husband used a surrogate mother in the US. Surrogacy is banned in Germany and opposed by his party, and Spahn had himself criticised the practice, drawing charges of hypocrisy.

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