Senior News Editor @AlMonitor | Adjunct Professor at GWU | Author of China-Middle East newsletter 📝 RT≠ Endorsement 📧 joycekaram@protonmail.com
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Jan 21 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
THREAD 🧵: Massive anti-far right protests are happening in #Germany. Hundreds of thousands rallies today, ~ 1.4 mil since Friday. This is in Munich
Berlin, Germany, over 100,000 gathered today outside Bundestag to reject far-right parties
Mar 24, 2023 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
JUST IN: US says it carried airstrikes in #Syria after Iranian drone hit US base, killing one US contractor, injuring 5 US troops.
Full US Statement here, attack on US troops happened at 1:38 p.m Syria time, 7:38 a.m ET defense.gov/News/Releases/…
• Deal announced today
• Brokered by China
• Re-Opening of embassies
• Al-Aiban, Shamkhani, Wang Yi
• White House: Good for Yemen
• Iraq, Oman roles al-monitor.com/originals/2023…
Hard to understate significance of this, coming on heels of China's improved roles w Saudi &Iran.
US official told @AlMonitor it "welcomes any efforts to help end the war in Yemen & de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region."
Talks between Saudi & Houthis are advancing.
Nov 18, 2022 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
JUST IN: AP reporting Biden admin. moves to shield #Saudi crown prince MBS from lawsuits related to Khashoggi killing.
No details in AP story yet, just a news flash. But this is likely related to granting #Saudi’s MBS sovereign immunity.
Biden sought extension for that deadline last month. MBS became PM end of September.
Nov 15, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
JUST IN: Two missiles reportedly hit Przewodow #Poland located on border with #Ukraine. Comes as Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles today. Local radio reports 2 fatalities. Poland is a NATO member
Being a NATO member, Poland could opt to invoke Article 5 of "collective defense" that an attack on one is an attack on all.
If Russia is culprit, such move would take Ukraine war to a whole new level
Nov 13, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
JUST IN: Explosion in Istanbul #Turkey, in Taksim shopping district. Security on scene, details still coming in, reports of fatalities
Video from area of explosion in Taksim #Turkey just moments ago. This is a busy area on Sunday
Venezuela’s Maduro goes from being on US wanted list in 2020 ( $15 million reward for his capture), to shaking hands with John Kerry in 2022. Video from Egypt today at #COP27 :
State Department trying to walk back the handshake, saying it was "unplanned, nonsubstantive", & that envoy Kerry was caught by surprise.
But this follows careful review of relations with Venezuela from the Biden admin., release of hostages, & possible easing of oil sanctions.
Aug 25, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Despicable. This woman in Texas can’t control her racism and hate of Indian people, harasses four women on street because of their accent and then physically assaults them…Shame:
This happens more than we think it does. I have seen it first hand against Muslim & Asian Americans. Difference this time is it’s caught on camera, hopefully there will be legal ramifications.
Aug 11, 2022 • 14 tweets • 4 min read
BREAKING: Video of hostage situation in #Lebanon at a major bank in downtown Beirut. An armed man is holding bank staff until they release his deposits, he says are $210,000:
Most Lebanese have lost access to their bank deposits/retirement pensions following the crisis in 2019, while many in political elite sent their capital outside country.
This, happening at Bank Beirut, is yet another indication of how explosive the economic situation has become
• At 36th Street Subway Station
• 8:30 am ET, rush hour
• 5 people reportedly shot
• Attacker wearing vest & gas mask
• Reports of smoke inside station
• Police clearing area, shooter on run
Developing..
- NY Fire Department now estimates 13 people injured in attack
- Police seeking man with gas mask + orange construction vest (NYT)
Mar 2, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Yelena Osipova, 76 years old, survived WWII & Siege or Leningrad, is taken by 8 #Russia Police officers in St Petersburg tonight for Protesting war in #Ukraine…
Video via @AlexKokcharov and one of most powerful to come across in showcasing opposition within Russia to the invasion.
Ukraine War enters second week this evening with thousands getting detained in Russia for opposing it
Feb 26, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
LATEST
• Kyiv still Standing
• Russia claims it took Melitopol
• Kazakhstan declines to join Ru(NBC)
• Ukraine: 🇫🇷 backs SWIFT ban
• $350m in US Mil aid to🇺🇦
• Ru restricting Twitter @netblocks
• GER delivered 5000 helmets
• Liquor shops in US, CAN remove Russian Vodka
BREAKING: #Turkey Bans #Russia warships from entering the Black Sea.
• Ukraine: Russia’s build-up “almost complete”, 127,000 troops
• Blinken meets Zelensky
• UK sent anti-tank weapons
• Canada sending special forces
• GER could halt NordStream
• Putin rejected Israeli mediation
• Sherman 📞 #India’s FM Shringla
US State # 2 Wendy Sherman’s call to India today is important given defense deals between Delhi & Moscow (S-400).
JUST IN: US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley tested Positive for COVID-19.
Minor symptoms, continues to work. He’s Vaccinated + Boosted. Last saw Prez Biden on 01/12 (Pentagon)
Gen. Milley test result came yesterday, exactly two weeks after US Sec of Defense Lloyd Austin tested positive.
Sep 7, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
BREAKING: Taliban announces its New Government after takeover in #Afghanistan .Head of State is Mullah Hassan Akhund, deputy Mullah Baradar (TOLO NEWS).
Sirajuddin Haqqani is interior/security Minister. Sanctioned by UN & US, with $5 Million bounty for his arrest.
Some of names of Taliban's Gov #Afghanistan :
• Mullah Akhund: Head of state
• Mullah Baradar: First Deputy
• Mullah Hanafi : Second Deputy
• Mullah Hasan: PM
• Mullah Yaqoob: Defense minister
• Sarajuddin Haqqani: Interior Minister
Apr 3, 2021 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Woah. Apparent Coup Attempt Thwarted in #Jordan. Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, and Bassem Awadallah Arrested.
Biggest news we get from Kingdom since 1999. King Abdullah II is close ally of Washington: google.com/amp/s/www.lati…
Jordan’s news agency said ~ 20 arrested. Some big names dropping for those who follow Jordanian politics.
Prince Hamza not arrested, agency said.
Apr 2, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
JUST IN: National Guard deployed at #Capitol after Car attack. 3 people in hospital include attacker and 2 Police.
Streets around building blocked, building in lockdown mode. FBI assisting:
NBC: Suspect shot by Police is now Dead
• Congress HFAC Urges Sanctions on #Ethiopia
• Letter to Blinken & cc to Yellen
• UN: > 500 Reported cases of Rape; 2.2 Million in need
• @_hudsonc : US could block WB & IMF financing thenationalnews.com/world/the-amer…
Congress HFAC letter to Blinken calls for Magnitsky sanction & makes clear that #Tigray conflict is jeopardizing bilateral relations with Ethiopia:
• On MBS: US doesn't sanction Gov Leaders in countries it has diplomatic relations with
• Relations recalibrated
• Saudi released 2 dual citizens
• US has interests w Riyadh: intel sharing, defense
• US reserves to take more action
*US reserves right to take more action as relates to #Khashoggi. But basically don't expect sanctioning of Government leaders in Saudi.
No new announcement from US yet on issue. State briefing at 2 pm ET
Feb 28, 2021 • 4 tweets • 3 min read
#GoldenGlobes decision NOT allowing #Minari to compete in Best Picture is puzzling
1- It's an American Production 2- It's an American Story 3- It's an American Director 4- It's an American Lead 5- It's filmed in America
Is it because American director name is Lee Isaac Chung?
+ It won @sundancefest the the US Dramatic Grand Jury prize & US Dramatic audience award.
