The Media Line
Microsoft Store returns to Syria as US restrictions on country ease
Syrians report renewed access to the Microsoft Store without a VPN, though availability remains inconsistent, and Microsoft has not commented on the change.
From Weizmann computers to start-up nation: How Israel grew to become a high-tech powerhouse
Saudi energy group signs landmark oil, gas agreements with Afghanistan
India confronts a new regional security equation as Mecca pact takes shape - analysis
Saudi Arabia considers backing Yemeni ground offensive to retake Houthi-held Red Sea coast
For three years, Saudi Arabia has sought to contain the Houthis while avoiding a return to full-scale war. What happens next turns on what Riyadh decides.
Why did the US intervene to support Japan's struggling yen? - analysis
The intervention helped the currency gain around 5%, lifting it from nearly 164 yen per dollar to about 155.
Middle East natural resources reveal a hidden map of abundance and scarcity
The smaller resource base has pushed both countries to lean harder into non-oil sectors such as finance, logistics, and tourism.
Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan defense agreement exposes limits of US military reliance- interview
Cyril Widdershoven, senior advisor at Blue Water Strategy, said that “Gulf leadership increasingly doubts that US power is able actually to prevent missile attacks and drone warfare."
Islamic Republic has no option but to wage war to survive, Iranian student says - interview
Minoo, a left-wing student at a university in Tehran, told The Media Line that the January uprising "demonstrated how millions of people...could overthrow the regime."
Pakistan says defense pact with Turkey, Saudi Arabia is 'purely defensive,' open to other nations
He said the Mecca Agreement is the result of several years of discussions and mutual consultations, aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation to address various security challenges, promote peace.
Gulf states pay the price as shipping crisis exposes costly dependence on the Strait of Hormuz
"A lot of the necessities, and I'm talking food, that these Gulf nations require - Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia - comes in by boat," and flying in goods is causing prices to rise.
Voices from the Arab press: A new pathway for Lebanon
A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.
Why has Pakistan introduced new guidelines for state oversight of foreign media? - analysis
Pakistani journalists working for foreign media organizations are also covered by the new guidelines.
Iran executions return to near-daily pace as war distracts world from domestic repression
Only 67 of at least 444 executions documented in Iran this year were announced by authorities, as rights advocates warn of a broader crackdown.
