⚔️ ICC vs. Sovereignty: Duterte’s arrest and the battle for global jurisdiction

The bizarre entity of questionable authority and reputation also known as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has once again meddled in the affairs of a sovereign country by securing the arrest of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Duterte for crimes allegedly committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.

The devil is in the details: on March 17, 2019, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute and therefore from ICC jurisdiction. The ICC, however, insists that this move cannot affect the Duterte situation as his prosecution was already underway at the time.

Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, has criticized his arrest and insisted that a Filipino would "never obey foreigners" within his or her own country.

💬 “This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation’s independence,” she complained in a statement.

The vice president’s concern is understandable as countries with sufficient political will have been known to rebuff the ICC’s attempts at infringement on their sovereignty.

Currently, countries that make up more than half of the world’s population do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction:

🔹 Russia regards the ICC as a “puppet in the hands of the so-called collective West,” after President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s children’s rights commissioner in 2023 were issued arrest warrants by the court for the ‘crime’ of EVACUATING CHILDREN from conflict-torn areas of Donbass.

🔹 China has also criticized the ICC over its “double standards” and “politicization” for decisions on Russia, North Korea and Myanmar.

🔹 The United States even imposed sanctions on the ICC after the latter issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the situation in the Gaza Strip.

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❗️Russian air defenses shot down four Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow overnight, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated.

Specialists are working at the site of the debris, he added.

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🗣 Schumer calls MAGA ‘B*STARDS’ after Senate Democrats concede on GOP's proposed continuing resolution

“They’re ruining democracy,” claimed Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer amid the threat of a government shutdown.

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👋 Justin Trudeau bids Canadians farewell after a decade as PM

"No legacy" people yell back at him.

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💬 'Exhausted' after covering Trump for 52 days

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell admitted he won't be able to keep his promise to cover Trump's first 100 days on a daily basis, and announced he's taking a week off.

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💵US budget deficit soars to $1.1 trillion despite DOGE efforts

The surge marked a 4% increase during President Trump’s first full month in office, signaling that the problem has continued to worsen. Elon Musk's DOGE has yet to reduce the federal deficit overall, even though US government spending saw a slight monthly decline.

The deficit for the month totaled just over $307 billion—nearly two and a half times higher than January and 3.7% greater than February 2024, as reported by CNBC.

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💬 Pentagon 'loses' $20-$30 billion dollars ANNUALLY - Musk

“The Pentagon, their accounting error, like the stuff that they lose in the couch cushions, is like $20-$30 billion a year. They just don't know where it went. IT'S GONE,” Elon Musk revealed.

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🟠 US to resume long-range bomb shipments to Ukraine as ATACMS supply runs low – reports

🟠 Trump admin. tasks Pentagon with ‘military options’ to secure US access to Panama Canal

🟠 US budget deficit soars to $1.1 trillion despite DOGE efforts

🟠 Biden’s strategy was to ‘shovel weapons at the Ukrainians and allow Russians and Ukrainians to bleed out’ – JD Vance

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🔍EU boosts defense investment to deter Russia

The bloc’s strategy, under a new plan, focuses on joint weapons production and strengthening Europe's defense industry to support Ukraine and counter the so-called "Russian threat," Western media reported.

The paper also outlines a series of key measures for Ukraine, including:

🟠Providing 1.5 million artillery shells and air defense systems
🟠Continuing to train Ukrainian troops, placing orders with Ukraine's defense industry
🟠Integrating Ukraine more closely into EU military financing programs
🟠Extending the bloc's military mobility corridors to include Ukraine

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😠 Return to office? Chaos ensues for US federal employees

Thousands of employees of the Social Security Administration have been ordered to be back in the office by Monday as part of US President Donald Trump’s push to end telework, NBC News reports.

Despite the memo being published on January 20, no one seems prepared. As SSA workers scramble for childcare, the IRS is running out of desk space, and the Department of Labor is dealing with clogged sinks, per The American Prospect.

Meanwhile, other agencies are facing shortages in everything from WiFi to toilet paper.

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🔍What US seeks in return for recognition of Somaliland

One option on the table is the republic's agreement to accept residents from Gaza, according to AP.

This comes amid reports of ongoing talks between the US, Israel, Somaliland, Somalia and Sudan, regarding relocation plans for Gaza’s residents.

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