Jordan
Jordan lawmakers move to criminalize some online speech. Rights groups accuse kingdom of censorship | AP News
The lower house of Jordan'sia parliament has passed legislation to punish online speech that the government deems harmful to national unity.
The Muslim World
Russian Attack on U.S. Drone Spurs Fears of Escalation Over Syria - WSJ
U.S. officials say Russia damaged two U.S. drones over Syria this week.
UN says operation to siphon oil out of rusting tanker moored off Yemen begins to 'avoid catastrophe' | AP News
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says a salvage team has begun siphoning oil out of a decaying oil tanker moored off the coast of Yemen.
Indian authorities allow Muslim procession in Kashmir's main city for the first time in 3 decades | AP News
Thousands of Shiite Muslims have been allowed to hold a religious procession marking the Muslim month of Muharram in Indian-controlled Kashmir's main city for the first time since an anti-India rebellion broke out in the disputed region more than three decades ago.
Pakistan's finance minister says China rolls over $2.4 billion loan for Islamabad for 2 years | AP News
Pakistan’s finance minister says Beijing has rolled over a $2.4 billion loan for his country for two years, a move aimed at helping Pakistan overcome a lingering economic crisis.
Saudi Arabia is spending billions to become a global gaming hub. Some fans don't want to play | AP News
Saudi Arabia aims to become the “ultimate global hub” of the $180 billion-a-year video game industry.
Saudi Arabia to host Ukraine talks early next month, Wall Street Journal reports | Reuters
Saudi Arabia is set to host talks in August about Ukraine, inviting Western states, Ukraine and major developing countries including India and Brazil, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
Secular Winter
Sweden's prime minister is concerned about a new wave of applications to burn religious books | AP News
Sweden’s prime minister says that police have received several permit applications for the burning of religious texts in the country next week.
Finance and Economy
The Economy Has Defied Expectations. Here’s What to Focus On in the GDP Data. - WSJ
The Commerce Department releases the broadest measure of U.S. growth on Thursday.
Quds Matters
Arabs in Israel stay on sidelines of raging democracy battle | Reuters
As thousands of Israelis blocked roads and scuffled with police over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, Arab citizens shared online memes of themselves watching the crisis unfold as unfazed spectators.