Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of or recognizes the court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas attack against Israel in October 2023. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed during the Israeli military's response.
The order Trump signed accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel" and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, adding that the court had set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions against both countries.
Trump's action came as Netanyahu was visiting Washington. He and Trump held talks at the White House, and Netanyahu spent some of Thursday meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The order says the U.S. will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC's “transgressions.” Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to enter the United States.
Human rights activists said sanctioning court officials would have a chilling effect and run counter to U.S. interests in other conflict zones where the court is investigating.
“Victims of human rights abuses around the world turn to the International Criminal Court when they have nowhere else to go, and President Trump's executive order will make it harder for them to find justice," said Charlie Hogle, staff attorney with American Civil Liberties Union's National Security Project. “The order also raises serious First Amendment concerns because it puts people in the United States at risk of harsh penalties for helping the court identify and investigate atrocities committed anywhere, by anyone.”
Hogle said the order "is an attack on both accountability and free speech.”
“You can disagree with the court and the way it operates, but this is beyond the pale,” Sarah Yager, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, said in an interview prior to the announcement.
Like Israel, the U.S. is not among the court's 124 members and has long harbored suspicions that a “Global Court” of unelected judges could arbitrarily prosecute U.S. officials.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mangaluru Konkani writer H.M. Pernal wins 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award
Mangaluru: Noted Konkani writer and journalist H.M. Pernal (Henry Mendonca) from Mangaluru has been selected for the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award for his acclaimed literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
The Sahitya Akademi Award is one of the highest literary honours given by the Government of India. Every year, the Akademi recognises outstanding literary works in 24 languages, including 22 scheduled languages along with English and Rajasthani.
Konkani has been a scheduled language since 1992 and is spoken in five states — Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The language had received recognition from the Sahitya Akademi in 1975. From 1977 onwards, the Akademi has been presenting awards to notable works in Konkani literature.
From Mangaluru, Cha. Fra. D’Costa (1992) and Melvyn Rodrigues (2011) had earlier received the Sahitya Akademi Award for their poetry collections, while Edwin J.F.D. Souza was honoured with the award in 2016 for his novel. With this recognition, H.M. Pernal becomes the fourth Konkani writer from Karnataka to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award.
His book Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam has created a historic milestone as the first Konkani work in the literary criticism category to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award. Earlier, the book had received the Best Book Award from the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023.
The book carries an extensive foreword written by Jnanpith award-winning Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo and has been published by Kavita Publications of Mangaluru.
Henry Mendonca was born in Pernal in Udupi district. He completed his schooling at Hindu Junior College in Shirva and pursued his degree at MSRS College, before obtaining his postgraduate education in Mumbai. Professionally, he is a commercial accountant.
He began his writing career in Kannada through magazines such as Taranga, Sankramana and Shudra. In the early 1980s, he entered Konkani literature as a cartoonist in the magazine Yuvak. Over the years, he has established himself as a short story writer, poet, critic, editor and publisher.
In 2011, he founded the literary online magazine Kitaal, which has been publishing continuously for the past fourteen years and has become a prominent platform for both senior and emerging writers in the digital Konkani literary space.
In 2013, he started the literary magazine Arso as a fortnightly publication. It is now being published as a monthly magazine in its twelfth year under the editorship of poet Wilson Katil. The annual special issues of Arso have gained special recognition in literary circles.
Through his own publishing house Kitaal Prakashan, Pernal has published more than 15 original literary works.
So far, he has published four poetry collections — Chalyank Chatray (1999), Kaydyacho Kavita (2004), Bhamunanchem Chedum (2006) and Janel (2025). He has also published two short story collections — Devak Sodullo Pado (2002) and Beeg Ani Bigat (2016), along with the award-winning literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
His short story collection Beeg Ani Bigat received the Shrimati Vimala V. Pai Best Literary Work Award in 2017, presented by the Vishwa Konkani Kendra in memory of the mother of noted entrepreneur T.V. Mohandas Pai. For his contribution to Konkani poetry, he received the Mathayas Family Endowment Poetry Award from Kavita Trust in 2018.
He was also honoured with the Best Book Award by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 for Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam, the Konkani Sahitya Gaurav Award by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2022, the Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award in 2023 for his contributions to Konkani literature and journalism, and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023 for the same book.
Pernal has written more than 850 poems, over 100 short stories and more than 2,000 articles. Through print and digital media, he has consistently contributed to the growth of Konkani literature.
Since 2012, he has been identifying and encouraging emerging writers by presenting the Kitaal Yuva Puraskar every year. The award is sponsored by the family of Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Leo Rodrigues and includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
At present, Pernal is the chief editor of the Vision Konkani Book Grant Project initiated by Michael D’Souza. Under this scheme, Konkani writers are provided financial assistance of up to Rs 40,000 for the publication of a book.
The project, with a total budget of Rs 40 lakh, is fully sponsored by NRI entrepreneur and Konkani language patron Michael D’Souza. It is being implemented under the supervision of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra and aims to support the publication of 100 books over a five-year period.
A committed leader in the Konkani literary community, Pernal served as the working president of the All India Silver Jubilee Konkani Literary Conference held in Mangaluru in 2023. He is currently serving as the treasurer of the All India Konkani Parishad.
He has also served as the president of the Konkani Writers’ Union and is presently a member of the Konkani Language Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi.
