Hi Global Recap readers,

You know what day it is when you receive an email from me, right? It’s a weekday.

I don’t know about you, but I love weekdays. Maybe I am just coping, but I enjoy turning the complicated into the simple, so that our busy readers can breeze through and still get the gist of the stories. Somewhat poetic.

Let’s get into today’s news…

🗓️ On This Day

On this day in 1793, U.S. President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., marking the beginning of a monumental project.

Today, the building stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy, reflecting the ideals and values of the American people. It also serves as a reminder that democracy is not a static system, but a dynamic one that requires constant maintenance.

📈 Top News

🌾 Ukraine Threatens to Sue EU Neighbors Over Grain Ban. Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia have banned Ukrainian grain from their markets, claiming that its low cost floods their markets and harms local farmers.

Ukraine says the bans are “ridiculous” and may take legal action against the trio, as well as retaliate by blocking Polish fruit and vegetables.

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🚢 Italy’s PM Wants to Stop Migrants from Coming to Europe. Giorgia Meloni visited the Italian island of Lampedusa with the EU chief Ursula von der Leyen after thousands of refugees arrived on the island. She said they “threaten the future of Europe” and called for more deportations and crackdowns on smugglers.

The number of migrants on the island currently exceeds the number of the island’s residents.

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🥾 Iran Kicks Out EU Nuclear Inspectors. Iran accuses them of playing political puppet for the U.S. and its European allies. This unexpected move leaves the 2015 nuclear deal hanging by a thread.

The EU, caught off guard, is urging Iran to let the inspectors back in. But with Iran’s nuclear program advancing full steam ahead, it’s clear they’re not in the mood for it.

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🇮🇷 Iran Frees Five American Hostages in $6bn Swap. Iran has just released five U.S. citizens who were jailed on dubious charges for years, in exchange for $6bn of frozen Iranian funds held in South Korea and five Iranians held in U.S. prisons.

The deal was brokered by Qatar, which hopes to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that was abandoned by former U.S. President Trump. But critics say Iran will continue to use hostages as leverage and pursue its nuclear ambitions. With Iran’s recent expelling of EU nuclear inspectors, this seems highly likely.

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✍️ In-Depth

Ukraine
Crimea for Sale: Cheap and Illegal

🔥 Crimea on Fire Sale. Russian-installed officials are auctioning off Ukrainian properties in the annexed peninsula, including one owned by President Zelenskyy. Apartments, sanatoriums, and commercial premises are among the seized assets

👀 What’s Going On. Vladimir Konstantinov, the speaker of the Crimean Parliament, announced on Telegram that 100 “nationalized properties” will be sold to the highest bidder. They reportedly sold $8.51 million worth of properties already. These include residential, commercial, and resort facilities that belonged to Ukrainian citizens and businesses before Russia seized Crimea in 2014.

🏠 Zelenskyy’s Apartment. The wife of the Ukrainian president bought a flat in Crimea in 2013. It is reportedly worth around $800,000. The occupiers decided to “nationalize” it along with other properties of "foreign citizens and states that carry out unfriendly actions against Russia.”

😱 Implications. This isn’t just a property sale, it’s a yard sale of international law and human rights. It’s a clear signal that Russia isn’t interested in resolving conflicts. They’re all about consolidating their illegal occupation and squeezing every last drop out of Crimea.

Where’s all this money going?