Lebanese officials have launched a campaign of arrests and deportations of Syrian refugees amid a worsening economic crisis and political stalemate, an escalation that has caused a panic among Syrians in the country.
and I unpack the events:
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Erika Solomon
@ErikaSolomon
NYT Berlin correspondent. Former correspondent for the FT in the Mideast and Berlin; learned the ropes at Reuters. RTs, favorites not endorsements etc.
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Russia says Ukraine tried to assassinate Vladimir Putin overnight in a drone attack on the Kremlin. Putin was unharmed and is working as normal.
It's not clear when or whether this happened, but Telegram channels are posting what looks like anti-aircraft fire over the Kremlin.
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💥1/ At a location in #Samos, where asylum seekers were detained before being pushed back to 🇹🇷, cable ties were found.
Security sources told cable ties are used by 🇬🇷 law enforcement as cheaper alternatives to handcuffs to immobilise groups of people.
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For many years, if not decades, Germany has privileged relations with Russia over relations with Poland -- which has often been seen as impediment by Germany.
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Great international public service by which was cut by the BBC a couple of months ago. This shows how important language services are. They are essential to many people across the world. (As well as being important soft power for Britain).
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BBC World Service is this afternoon launching an emergency short wave radio service on BBC News Arabic, aiming to provide "vital access to news and information" to people in Sudan.
The programme will broadcast daily at 9am local time on 21,510kHz and 5pm local time on 15,130kHz.
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“It feels a bit like Psalm 23: ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”-says an MP whose office sits across the Russian Embassy in berlin. He was told to stop using Bluetooth & close the blinds in the hopes of hindering spies.
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News: Mit drei A400M wollte die #Bundeswehr heute rund 150 deutsche Staatsbürger aus dem #Sudan ausfliegen. Die Geheim-Operation musste kurz vor dem Start der Flieger von Griechenland in Richtung Khartum abgesagt werden. Alle Details:
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The first proper picture of Evan Gershkovich, the WSJ reporter arrested in Russia on absurd charges, in court ahead of his appeal against his jailing today.
So surreal to see Evan, who's covered so many Kafkaesque hearings as a reporter, in the cage
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Excellent piece by and important insights by . I don't think enough American understand how things have change and how these bring with them new risks of escalation or miscalculation.
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UPDATE: Wow. Ali and I are gobsmacked. In one day, we blasted past our goal of money for his violin lessons. So we decided to up the goal to what he really wants: music school tuition money. Chip in if you can/want. Regardless, your gifts, your words, your love is life-affirming.
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🧵I spent 50+ hours in #trains in past few weeks travelling to/through Belgium, Austria, Germany, France & Italy - here’s what I learned ⤵️
1. Italian trains are by far most comfortable (space, socket & food) but also most punctual, followed by French and last Deutsche Bahn ❌
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Don't tell Germany about this or we will all soon be Lederhosen-deep in SPARGELSCHORLE.
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Tonight is the first night of Passover, a holiday where Jews celebrate liberation. My colleague is spending tonight in a Russian prison cell, so we set a place for him at our table in our home in Istanbul. #FreeEvan #IStandWithEvan
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What an utter disgrace. Home Office says it brought these thirteen guards to the UK as "a gesture of goodwill" which has now been cancelled. They were led to believe they would be safe here, having put their lives at risk to serve the govt. Total betrayal.
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In honour of Finland joining NATO I dove deep into the archive to find my report of the day and I covered what was probably Kosovo's first naked press conference
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"Do the grand global commitments the world made to protect defenseless people in the aftermath of World War II mean anything anymore? The rich world has developed a shockingly high tolerance for cruelty in order to keep out desperate people."
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via
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Much excitement in the family whatsapp group this morning at the prospect of an Indian and a Pakistani bringing about the partition of Britain
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Two time zones @ Beirut airport.
Lebanon has officially become the matrix of dystopia.
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Why did Germany deport a Tajik activist to Tajikistan when risks of detention, torture were real? He's now in detention in Dushanbe. should seek his wellbeing & review why deportation happened
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Cats fully understand Arabic and are, as evidenced in this video, more than capable of engaging with a sermon on Ramadan virtues.
Humans, on the other hand, still copy رمضان كريم from Google Translate 🤭
twitter.com/rozezl/status/
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read image description
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Another nugget from the treasure trove of the report of the military commissioner (reported on last night by "Heute Journal"):
Helmets, ordered in 2013, arrive this year.
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Let’s start with gear. Some of the issues are just a bit soul-sapping. But others are life-threatening. Take comms: some soldiers in tanks/IFVs said they have to either open the hatches and shout or *physically get out of the vehicle* to make themselves understood. (5/x)
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. reports that over the last 5 years, the 🇬🇷 Coast Guard has stolen over €2 million from people trying to claim asylum in Greece.
❗️Not only do people seeking asylum face extreme violence at the 🇬🇷 border, they are robbed of all they have to help them survive.
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This investigation by @Andresmourenza @Malichudis documents for the 1st time the growing interest of 
border guards in the money and belongings of the #refugees they pushback to Turkey through #Evros river.
€2+ million is estimated to have been stolen during 2017-2022
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Ukraine is on an artillery shell diet, but still is firing more rounds than the West can produce. The EU, proposing the use of joint funding, is trying to ginger up production, but it takes a lot of time. My take.
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“Any suggestion of Ukrainian involvement, whether direct or indirect, could upset the delicate relationship between Ukraine and Germany, souring support among a German public that has swallowed high energy prices in the name of solidarity.” Via
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A tragic loss for Syria today in the death of Bassma Koudmani.
She was not only an outstanding academic and politician, but she was also a leader at a time when #Syria needed many.
Your counsel will be missed my friend. Rest in peace
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: “people outside the West view the rules-based order & Western insistence that states not violate international law as rank hypocrisy, & they were particularly resentful of Western attempts to claim the moral high ground on this..” 1/8
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BREAKING: Germany will only agree to the deal on CO2 standards for cars if the Commission makes a proposal on how vehicles with internal combustion engines running only on e-fuels can be registered even after 2035, the transport minister said.
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Poorly maintained Leopard tanks in some Euro countries now raises questions about the rest of their kit: “Does 10 percent of their equipment not work, or is it 50 percent?” asks . “It would be a good idea for Europeans to look at this more closely.”
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The search for Leopard tanks for Ukraine has exposed the weaknesses and gaps in armies across Europe. My piece w/@StevenErlanger @CFSchuetze via @nytimes- nytimes.com/2023/02/28/wor
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The search for Leopard tanks for Ukraine has exposed the weaknesses and gaps in armies across Europe. My piece w/ via -
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The two major earthquakes which hit Turkey on Feb. 6 caused about $34.2 billion in direct physical damage, but total reconstruction and recovery costs facing the country could be twice as high, the World Bank said on Monday.
reuters.com/world/middle-e
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"Raiffeisen, a senior executive at the bank told the Financial Times, now handles 40-50 per cent of all the money flows between Russia and the rest of the world."
How Austria’s Raiffeisen got stuck in Russia — while making record profits: on.ft.com/3KCAPRY
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