分类： world

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is poised to deliver a crucial determination regarding former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s capacity to stand trial by January 2026. This development follows the completion of a comprehensive medical evaluation assessing his cognitive abilities.

ICC assistant counsel Atty. Kristina Conti disclosed this timeline during a radio interview with Super Radyo DZBB on December 21, indicating the court’s systematic approach to addressing health concerns raised by the defense team. The medical assessment, submitted by a panel of experts by the December 5 deadline set by ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, reportedly concluded that Duterte remains capable of meaningful participation in pre-trial proceedings.

This evaluation directly contradicts claims presented by defense attorney Nicholas Kaufman, who asserted the 80-year-old former leader suffers from severe memory impairment affecting his recollection of events, timelines, and even family members. Kaufman had previously requested an indefinite adjournment based on these cognitive concerns.

The impending fitness determination represents a critical juncture in the case against Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity related to the violent anti-drug campaign he initiated during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as Philippine president. Currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte recently saw his appeal for interim release denied by the ICC Appeals Chamber on November 28.

Conti emphasized the prosecution’s confidence in their evidence, noting that arrest warrants would not be pursued unless the case reached trial readiness. The January decision will therefore determine whether proceedings will advance or face further delays due to health considerations.

The protracted border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has escalated dramatically, with Cambodian authorities reporting a sharp increase in civilian casualties. Defense Ministry officials confirmed the death toll has reached 19 civilians, including an infant, with 79 others sustaining injuries as of December 20, 2025.

The conflict, which reignited on December 7 after a period of relative calm, has now entered its fifteenth consecutive day of hostilities. Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, Undersecretary of State and Defense Ministry Spokesperson, provided the updated casualty figures during a press briefing in Phnom Penh, highlighting the devastating human cost of the renewed fighting.

According to documentation from Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior, the violence has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, displacing approximately 510,000 residents from border communities. These individuals have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in emergency shelters as aerial bombardments and ground operations continue along the contested frontier.

Visual evidence from the Agence Kampuchea Press reveals the extensive damage inflicted on civilian infrastructure, including images of a devastated automotive garage in Poipet town, Banteay Meanchey province, following reported Thai airstrikes. The photographic documentation underscores the conflict’s impact on non-combatants and economic facilities far from the immediate border zone.

The prolonged engagement represents the most significant escalation between the Southeast Asian neighbors in recent years, with both sides reporting military casualties alongside the growing civilian toll. International observers express increasing concern about the potential for further regional destabilization as diplomatic efforts to mediate a ceasefire continue.

A moderate earthquake registering 5.5 magnitude struck off the coast of Japan’s Aomori Prefecture on Sunday morning, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The seismic event occurred at 10:29 am local time, with its epicenter positioned approximately 50 kilometers beneath the Pacific Ocean floor at coordinates 40.7 degrees north latitude and 142.3 degrees east longitude.

The tremblor registered a 4 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, which peaks at 7, indicating noticeable shaking capable of awakening sleepers and causing objects to rattle significantly. Despite the substantial magnitude, meteorological authorities confirmed no tsunami advisory would be issued following comprehensive assessment of oceanic data.

This seismic activity comes amid heightened geological sensitivity in the region. Just thirteen days prior to this event, a much more powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake had rattled northern and northeastern Japan on December 8th. That significant temblor had prompted Japanese authorities to issue a week-long alert regarding potential aftershocks and subsequent seismic events, which was only lifted the previous Monday.

JMA officials, while not issuing new alerts following Sunday’s quake, continued to emphasize the importance of earthquake preparedness and urged residents throughout the affected regions to maintain vigilance. The agency reiterated standard safety protocols, including taking cover during shaking and being aware of potential hazards even from moderate quakes.

Northern Japan’s Pacific coastline remains one of the world’s most seismically active regions due to its position along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates converge and frequently interact.

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft operating as Flight PK860 from Jeddah to Lahore was compelled to execute an emergency diversion to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Friday, December 19th, following the emergence of a significant technical malfunction during its journey. The incident, which occurred while the Airbus A320 was traversing Saudi airspace, prompted the cockpit crew to declare a general emergency, signaled by setting the transponder to code 7700. This critical alert triggered the automatic deployment of passenger oxygen masks throughout the cabin, according to multiple Pakistani media outlets. A spokesperson for the national carrier confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 381 individuals including numerous Umrah pilgrims, landed safely without injury to any passengers or crew. PIA subsequently coordinated a rescue flight dispatched from Pakistan to transport the stranded travelers to their original destination in Lahore. Aviation authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the precise nature of the technical fault that led to the emergency protocol.

India’s Enforcement Directorate has executed significant asset seizures and confirmed money laundering allegations against social media influencer Anurag Dwivedi, whose extravagant Dubai cruise wedding earlier this month triggered financial scrutiny. The agency’s official statement reveals comprehensive searches across ten premises in Lucknow, Unnao, and Delhi as part of an ongoing investigation into illicit online betting operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The probe, initiated following a formal complaint lodged by West Bengal Police, centers on Dwivedi’s alleged promotion of illegal betting platforms through his YouTube channels and social media presence. According to investigative findings, the influencer reportedly received criminal proceeds from unauthorized betting applications via hawala networks, subsequently channeling these funds into personal, family, and corporate accounts without legitimate commercial justification.

Enforcement authorities have confirmed the seizure of four luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Urus, alongside substantial cash reserves and incriminating documentary evidence. The agency has additionally frozen bank accounts, fixed deposits, and insurance-linked assets valued at approximately Rs 3 crore (DH1.23 million), while provisionally attaching movable properties worth an estimated DH10 million.

Investigators disclosed that Dwivedi acquired significant real estate holdings outside India, particularly within Dubai, utilizing allegedly illicit funds generated through his promotion of unauthorized betting websites. The subject has since departed Indian territory, with multiple official summons remaining unanswered according to enforcement officials. The case highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny over social media influencers’ financial activities and cross-border money laundering networks.

Israeli military forces shelled a United Nations-operated school in Gaza on Friday, resulting in multiple casualties among displaced Palestinians gathered for a wedding celebration. The attack on Gaza Martyrs School in the Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City killed at least six civilians, including a five-month-old infant, and wounded several others according to Palestinian emergency services.

Eyewitness accounts describe an Israeli tank advancing into the area and targeting the school’s second floor where families had assembled. Medical responders reported being deliberately blocked from accessing the scene for over two hours by Israeli forces, significantly delaying victim evacuation efforts. The Palestinian civil emergency service confirmed they only recovered bodies after the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs intervened with Israeli authorities.

This incident represents one of hundreds of alleged ceasefire violations since the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement took effect on October 10. Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 395 Palestinian fatalities from Israeli military actions during this period. The bombing occurred as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior officials prepared for Miami negotiations regarding the next phase of the Gaza agreement, which anticipates greater challenges including international stabilization forces, technocratic governance establishment, Hamas disarmament, and Israeli territorial withdrawal.

Hamas political member Bassem Naim emphasized public expectations for these talks to end ‘Israeli lawlessness’ and ensure compliance with existing agreements. The broader conflict has resulted in over 70,660 Palestinian fatalities according to Gaza health authorities, with approximately half being women and children.

A French national has launched a bold initiative in Japan’s capital to shed light on historical wartime atrocities. Marcus Detrez, collaborating with associates Zhong Haosong and Bastien Ratat, inaugurated a comprehensive exhibition in Tokyo on December 19th documenting Japan’s aggressive military actions during World War II.

The exhibition represents the culmination of an international advocacy journey. Prior to their arrival in Japan, the organizers participated in China’s National Memorial Day ceremonies in Nanjing—a city that suffered profoundly during Japanese occupation. The group further expanded their awareness campaign with a photographic exhibition in Seoul, South Korea.

Detrez emphasized the strategic timing of their Tokyo presentation, stating, ‘We believe we arrived at exactly the right moment to facilitate meaningful dialogue about historical accountability.’ The exhibition features extensive documentation, including photographic evidence and firsthand accounts, focusing particularly on atrocities committed during Japan’s imperial expansion across Asia.

The initiative emerges amid ongoing regional tensions regarding historical interpretation and reconciliation. While Japan has made formal apologies for certain wartime actions, many neighboring countries maintain that adequate acknowledgment and education about this period remain insufficient. This exhibition represents one of the few foreign-organized efforts to directly address these historical issues within Japan itself.