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
Intel: Bolton says Trump sought to drop charges against Turkish bank at Erdogan’s behest President Donald Trump allegedly sought to convince the Justice Department to drop charges against Turkey’s Halkbank at the request of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, The Wall Street Journal reported in an overview of former national security adviser John Bolton’s tell-all book. Turkey
Bashar al-Assad’s uncle sentenced to four years in French prison for money laundering A French court convicted Rifaat al-Assad, 82, of misappropriating Syrian public funds to expand his holdings in Europe. Syria
Iran rocked by three honor killings in one month A push for urgent legal reforms and greater public awareness is gaining momentum in Iran after the country reported three gruesome honor killings in less than a month. Iran
Netanyahu's associates escalate campaign against legal system Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increase their campaign against the legal system, Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit and the courts. Israel
Qatar National Bank hit with lawsuit over Americans killed by Hamas in Israel A wrongful death lawsuit was filed in New York by dozens of relatives of 10 Americans killed or wounded by Hamas attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Qatar
European court rules against French conviction of BDS activists The European Court of Human Rights ruled that boycotts are protected forms of protest, saying France erred in convicting activists of incitement to discrimination for asking people stop buying Israeli products. Palestine
Anti-Saudi blocs in Iraqi parliament want to sue Iraqi political forces said they intend to enact a law to sue Saudi Arabia and have Riyadh compensate for the damage caused by suicide attacks carried out by Saudis in Iraq, which would embarrass the Mustafa al-Kadhimi government that is making a new start in Iraqi-Saudi economic relations. Iraq
Iran arrests man over ‘honor killing’ of 14-year-old daughter According to local media, 14-year-old Romina Ashrafi was beheaded in her sleep. Iran
Sexual abuse suspect fit to stand trial in Australia, says Israeli court After six years of discussions and contradictory psychiatric opinions, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Malka Leifer, a suspect in Australian sexual assault cases, is mentally fit to stand trial. Israel
Benny Gantz trapped over Netanyahu’s trial Defense Minister Benny Gantz and his Blue and White party did not realize in time that the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also hurt them. Israel
Netanyahu conducting his trial outside courthouse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to play for time and drag the trial against him for many months and perhaps even years. Israel
Two men arrested in US for allegedly helping Carlos Ghosn flee Japan The former Nissan executive fled Japan for his native Lebanon while on bail following being charged with financial crimes. Lebanon
