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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 8d

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.

Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 14d

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?

Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 15d

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

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 15d

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

Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 15d

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 15d

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · 15d

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 New York Times @nytimes.com · 15d

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 Ballon d'Or Monday evening in Paris.

This is the story of how he became the best soccer player in the world at Paris Saint-Germain.

How Ousmane Dembele won the Ballon d’Or – New role, learning to love tap-ins, and not ‘cheating’

Ousmane Dembele was named the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or on Monday evening. This is how he has developed to earn that honour

nyti.ms

Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Aug 11

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag.bsky.social · Aug 1

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.

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ba...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

Hassan Hassan @hhassan.bsky.social · Jul 31

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag.bsky.social · Jun 17

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.

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

newlinesmag.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag.bsky.social · Jun 16

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag.bsky.social · Jun 16

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Jun 5

HAVE THEY EVEN SAID THANK YOU ONCE

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Jun 2

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · May 27

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · May 26

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · May 23

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...

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

newlinesmag.com

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · May 19

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.

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · May 16

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

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · May 16

If this person sat next to you on a bus or train and started ranting about Bruce Springsteen in this way, you would get up and move to a different seat.

In the United States, we have him the nuclear codes.

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Apr 28

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

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Apr 18

This is a nice place

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Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Jan 28

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

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · Dec 16

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:

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.

www.thestar.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

Gary R. Bunt @garyrbunt.bsky.social · Dec 9

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

Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Dec 9

I’m not really worthy to write anything about beautiful Syria today but they asked me to and so I tried through tears to write some words that are inadequate but here they are anyway: Dawn in Damascus
@newlinesmag.bsky.social
newlinesmag.com/spotlight/da...

Dawn in Damascus

In the end, Bashar al-Assad had nothing to say to the country he bludgeoned and bled, but what matters now is that his ‘forever’ rule is over

newlinesmag.com

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Reposted by Kareem Shaheen

Monster C. Camacho 🧌💀🎃👻 @mc2x.bsky.social · Dec 9

“What are words anyway? They are supposed to convey meaning, but how do you distill the meaning of what happened in the last 10 days….How do you capture the emotional resonance of watching church bells ring in Christian Sahnaya to the tune of ‘One, one, one, the Syrian people are one?’”

Kareem Shaheen @kshaheen.bsky.social · Dec 9

I’m not really worthy to write anything about beautiful Syria today but they asked me to and so I tried through tears to write some words that are inadequate but here they are anyway: Dawn in Damascus
@newlinesmag.bsky.social
newlinesmag.com/spotlight/da...

Dawn in Damascus

In the end, Bashar al-Assad had nothing to say to the country he bludgeoned and bled, but what matters now is that his ‘forever’ rule is over

newlinesmag.com

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