🚨 Dear @newlinesmag.bsky.social readers,

A letter from our Middle East and Newsletters Editor, @kshaheen.bsky.social :
newlinesmag.com/become-a-mem...

Iran’s Protest Movement and Diaspora Politics The uprising has left the country reeling from the deaths and destruction — and has exposed deep divisions

The uprising in Iran has left neighborhoods destroyed and thousands dead, while the government refuses to explain what happened. Diaspora politics and state repression will shape what comes next. Kourosh Ziabari reports for @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ir...

Up to 300,000 Syrians remain missing a year after Assad’s fall. White Helmets and a new national commission are exhuming bodies, mapping grave sites and building records in a search that will take years. Our latest essay in @newlinesmag.bsky.social.

Is it really about oil? YouTube video by New Lines Magazine

🎥Watch now:
Was the U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro really about Venezuela’s vast oil reserves? Our Politics Editor @dannypostel.bsky.social examines the ideological forces that may be driving the Trump admin’s policy.
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My 6 yo is currently performing an 18-part dance number involving the use of 2 living room throws and it’s so silly and honestly the best way to start 2026 for me

Saudi Arabia and the Tired 'Whitewashing' Trope Riyadh’s comedy festival and the Electronic Arts megadeal aren’t image laundry so much as a domestic culture pivot, and our scolding says more about us than about the kingdom

Controversy surrounding Riyadh’s comedy festival says more about its critics than it does the Saudis, writes @kshaheen.bsky.social, revealing “a superiority complex steeped in stereotypes about Arab societies and their political structures.”

Man all these people upset about the Riyadh comedy fest should campaign for their comedians to boycott American venues because of everything their government is up to including abetting Israel’s genocide.

Dear @support.blizzard.com , your new Brewfest mount in the game is called the Barrel Bomber, which is a weapon used extensively in the Syrian war, and its use has been deemed a war crime. Would you consider changing it?

If you weren't raptured today feel free to send us story pitches @newlinesmag.bsky.social

This is honestly one of the most extraordinary pieces of journalism I've had the pleasure of editing

Confessions of a Syrian Barrel Bomber A colonel in Bashar al-Assad’s air force recounts his role in the campaigns that devastated his country, and his escape after the regime’s fall

A Syrian air force colonel who once dropped barrel bombs across the country now hides in Baghdad with multiple fake IDs. In a confessional profile, he recalls missions, bribery and betrayals. Kamal Shahin reports for @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/reportage/co...

Man if you told me 2-3 years ago Dembele would be a contender let alone win the Ballon d'Or I'd never have believed it. Not sure it's even a comeback story, just one of extraordinary perseverence.

The Courage and Death of Anas al-Sharif The Palestinian journalist’s life was devoted to truth and dignity, and his death lays bare Israel’s impunity in Gaza

I tried to write a tribute for Anas al-Sharif, but my words failed me and I was left with just this. Never forget.
The Murder of Gaza’s Mockingbird @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

Balancing Fairness and Stability in Syria’s Political Transition The new government says deals with Assad-era cronies are a form of justice that protects economic recovery and provides no immunity for past abuses

How do you rebuild an economy soaked in blood? In post-Assad Syria, a committee is striking quiet deals with oligarchs. Billions are at stake, and so is justice. @kshaheen.bsky.social and @hhassan.bsky.social report for @newlinesmag.bsky.social.

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Balancing Fairness and Stability in Syria’s Political Transition The new government says deals with Assad-era cronies are a form of justice that protects economic recovery and provides no immunity for past abuses

We spoke to the Syrian government about Reuters’ recent investigation about reported deals with Assad-era business cronies & tycoons.

New, exclusive details by @kshaheen.bsky.social and me in @newlinesmag.bsky.social

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ba...

Saudi Arabia’s High-Stakes Bet on Gaming More than profits, the kingdom’s growing stake in global franchises like World of Warcraft is a strategic play for influence and soft power

Why is Saudi Arabia hosting the Esports World Cup, with its $70 million prize pool, next month? @kshaheen.bsky.social writes in @newlinesmag.bsky.social about the kingdom’s quiet takeover of the gaming industry—and what it means for the Saudi government’s soft power.

The Psychological Barrier Broken by Iran and Israel’s Missile Exchange By crossing a former red line and engaging in direct conflict, Tel Aviv and Tehran may have set a dangerous precedent

NEW: Missiles are still falling over Tehran and Tel Aviv. They have shattered long-standing taboos in the Middle East, write @kshaheen.bsky.social and Rasha Elass for @newlinesmag.bsky.social.

newlinesmag.com/argument/the...

Saudi Arabia’s High-Stakes Bet on Gaming More than profits, the kingdom’s growing stake in global franchises like World of Warcraft is a strategic play for influence and soft power

NEW: Why is Saudi Arabia hosting the Esports World Cup, with its $70 million prize pool, next month? @kshaheen.bsky.social writes in @newlinesmag.bsky.social about the kingdom’s quiet takeover of the gaming industry and what it means for the government’s soft power.

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/sa...

HAVE THEY EVEN SAID THANK YOU ONCE

Big Oil Is Fueling a Rise in Cancer in Iraq’s Basra A New Lines investigation reveals the human cost of the petroleum industry, as officials and companies seek to hide an alarming surge in medical cases

In Iraq’s Basra, age is a luxury. Residents live under a constant cloud of pollution from oil flares, leading to a surge in cancer cases, while the government colludes with oil companies to dismiss the crisis @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/reportage/bi...

How a Spyware App Compromised Assad’s Army An investigation reveals how a cyberattack exploited soldiers' vulnerabilities and may have changed the course of the Syrian conflict

A spyware app distributed among thousands of Syrian military officers last year may have compromised Assad's military, gathering reams of sensitive data on deployments and military ranks. Open q who built it. Fascinating investigation in
@newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/reportage/ho...

How a Spyware App Compromised Assad’s Army An investigation reveals how a cyberattack exploited soldiers' vulnerabilities and may have changed the course of the Syrian conflict

Fascinating investigative piece: A hidden cyberattack involving spyware distributed among Syrian officers may have played a critical role in the sudden collapse of the Assad regime, reports Kamal Shahin for @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/reportage/ho...

Syria’s Druze Are Wary in the Wake of Attacks The voices of those who have experienced recent violence make clear the fear that is now eating away at the country’s hopes of unity

We have a couple of really incredible reporting stories out of Syria, including a fascinating investigation into the use of spyware against the army ahead of Assad's collapse on Monday, and this excellent investigation into the violence against the Druze: newlinesmag.com/spotlight/sy...

The opening music of Clair Obscur evoked such emotional turmoil in me it made me want to start a videogame newsletter to talk about the art form and how we interact with it.

I’ll tolerate many things in this life but not Bruce Springsteen abuse

Voted today in my first free election. So proud and lucky to be able to cast my vote.
Also #never51

This is a nice place

How do you know if someone doesn’t like Dragon Age Veilguard? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.

Michelle Shephard: What’s next for Syria? All eyes are on its complex new leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani says he has moved away from extremism and is ready to lead Syria.

What's next in #Syria. As @kshaheen.bsky.social said to me, "The tools of the War on Terror ... don’t fit this moment." Thanks for his insights & Aimen Dean (on the "Conflicted" podcast).

A short @thestar.com column:

A powerful article by @kshaheen.bsky.social @newlinesmag.bsky.social