Syria opens trial of Wassim al-Assad, cousin of ousted president: What we know The trial follows another session in the case against Atef Najib, also a cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad, as Syrian authorities continue prosecuting figures linked to the former regime and its remnants. Syria
Analysis As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties The move eases a key source of friction with Turkey ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
With Hungary’s ICC U-turn, Israel loses a key European ally Hungary’s parliament voted to remain in the International Criminal Court, reversing a planned withdrawal and marking a shift in Budapest’s approach to Israel and the EU. Israel
Majority in Turkey rejects court ruling ousting CHP’s Ozel, poll shows A new poll shows a majority in Turkey rejects the court ruling that ousted main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel. Turkey
Analysis Iran tightens wartime crackdown across Kurdish, Baluch ethnic regions By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Prosecutors charge two Michigan men in alleged ISIS-inspired plot: What to know The two men charged, both under 21, allegedly bought firearms and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition, practiced shooting at gun ranges and scouted potential targets before the FBI intervened. United States
Feature Inside Congress' battle to repeal Syria's Caesar sanctions Five months after President Trump pledged to lift sanctions on Syria, the harshest penalties remain on the books. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Wife of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti appeals to Trump for his release Barghouti has been imprisoned in Israel since 2002, after being convicted of planning attacks that killed five people, and he has been held in solitary confinement since October 2023. Palestine
Turkey's main opposition survives court challenge amid legal crackdown The court ruling ended months of political uncertainty over the Republican People’s Party's leadership, fueling concerns over democratic backsliding amid a broader crackdown. Turkey
Iran's state TV doxxes journalists in Israel as post-war spy hunt intensifies Since its June war with Israel, Iran has executed at least 9 people on charges of espionage. Iran
Israel's West Bank police chief condemns settler's 'cruel' beating of Palestinian woman The attack, filmed in Turmus Ayya, comes amid a surge in settler assaults on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. Palestine
After decade in jail, Gadhafi’s son granted $11B bail in disappeared imam case The lengthy detainment of Hannibal Gadhafi, the son of late Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi, over the 1978 disappearance of Shiite cleric Musa al-Sadr has long been a source of controversy in Lebanon. Lebanon
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans barred from UK soccer game over safety concerns Antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents are on the rise in the UK, with a recent report accusing British authorities of failing to address discrimination. Israel
In a first, ICC convicts Sudanese militia leader of Darfur war crimes Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. Sudan
Supreme Court clears path for Turkey’s Halkbank trial over Iran sanctions The Turkish president personally raised the Halkbank case with US President Donald Trump at the White House, as Ankara pushes for a settlement to avoid a drawn-out legal battle. Turkey
Lebanon seizes $1.5M in cocaine at Beirut airport: What to know The country has recently stepped up its fight against drug trafficking, seizing large amounts of cocaine at ports and airports and targeting Captagon production. Lebanon
Analysis How far will China, Russia go in shielding Iran from UN sanctions? Iran is lobbying states to resist enforcement of UN sanctions — looking particularly to China and Russia to blunt the impact, even as questions remain about the limits of their willingness to act. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
