First Lady’s extravagance?

Hi Global Recap readers,

As the French elections proceed, it appears that Russian handlers are working overtime to stir up emotions among voters by spreading misinformation on the internet.

But the problem is: emotions are bubbling up among others as well…👇

Before continuing, I would like to thank you all for participating in yesterday’s poll.

The question was:

Here’s the result:

🇺🇦 Ukraine
First Lady’s Extravagance?

🔘 Allegations: A French website claims that Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, bought a Bugatti worth millions.

• Claim: Jacques Bertin, supposedly an employee of a Bugatti dealership in Paris, revealed in a video that the First Lady bought a Bugatti car worth $4.8 million on June 7.

• This video exhibits visual artifacts indicating the possible use of deepfake technology.

• Apart from the clear indicators, who uses potato-quality cams to record videos in this day and age? Tell me the video is a deepfake, without saying that it is.

• @aussiecossack promoted this video on X, where he provided the “source” link for the video.

• Upon visiting the "source", a French website, you'll notice that there are cases where the articles continue to feature "prompts" from the alleged Russian handlers at their beginning.

• Check @KyleJGlen’s debunking of all this too.

Here’s an example:

• @aussiecossack also claims that journalists got their hands on a copy of the invoice for the purchase.

• However, the invoice doesn’t comply with the French government’s legal requirements, as it contains a typo, lacks the currency of purchase, company VAR number, and so on.

🔘 Previous Allegations: Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time such misinformation was spread against Zelenska.

• Previous false claims include a pricey $42.5k shopping spree and the purchase of multiple properties across the globe.

🇺🇸 United States
Hunter Biden Joins High-Level Meetings

This is reportedly how Biden’s aides reacted to Hunter Biden recently attending internal White House meetings.

🔘 Involvement: Hunter Biden, amidst personal legal troubles, has been actively participating in West Wing meetings since President Biden returned from Camp David, where he and his close allies discussed the president’s plans for a second term.

• This unusual move comes as the president faces pressure from his party to not seek re-election, due to his poor performance at the recent presidential debate.

• Hunter’s presence is seen as a lack of trust in the president’s long-standing aides, following a debate debacle blamed on them.

🔘 Reaction: The first son’s role has left White House staff bewildered, with Hunter “popping into” various meetings and calls.

• Officially, his involvement was downplayed as a brief family visit, but sightings suggest a more significant role.

• This development could further complicate President Biden’s political challenges, given Hunter’s past and ongoing controversies.

🔘 Implications: Hunter’s new role coincides with an impeachment inquiry focusing on the Biden family’s foreign business ties during Joe Biden’s vice presidency.

• Additionally, Hunter’s history of substance abuse contrasts sharply with the administration’s stance on staff conduct.

Is Hunter merely offering moral support, or is he actively involved in the president’s decision-making process?

🇫🇷 France
Candidates Bow Out to Block the Right

🔘 Withdrawals: As anticipated, over 200 candidates have bowed out of the French parliamentary run-off. They’re stepping aside to block Le Pe’s National Rally from seizing power.

• This move aims to prevent vote splitting and ensure a united front against Marine Le Pen’s conservative party.

🔘 Strategy: So far, President Macron’s snap election gamble hasn’t paid off, leaving his centrist camp trailing.

• Now, there’s a scramble to form a “republican front” to thwart Le Pen’s advance.

• The left-wing alliance and others are urging voters to back any candidate who can defeat the National Rally.

🔘 Implications: Financial markets breathed a sigh of relief, but National Rally’s rise has them on edge.

• A hung parliament could spell policy paralysis for Macron’s presidency until 2027.

🇧🇷 Brazil
Another Boeing “Accident”

An Air Europa flight bound for Uruguay hit a rough patch and made an unexpected stop in Brazil due to severe turbulence.

What exactly happened up there?

🔘 Emergency: The Spain-Uruguay flight faced “strong turbulence,” prompting an emergency landing in Brazil.

• Out of 325 passengers, 40 were injured, and 10 needed hospital care.

• The incident occurred early Monday, and the plane, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, safely touched down at Natal International Airport.

🔘 Injuries: Passenger videos revealed the cabin’s damage and even showed one passenger dangling from a compartment cabin.

• The airline reported seven significant injuries and several minor contusions.

• Immediate medical attention was provided at the airport, while more serious cases were sent to the hospital.

🔘 Response: Air Europa acted swiftly, arranging for the passengers’ transfer to Recife and sending a replacement flight from Madrid to continue their journey to Montevideo.

🇮🇳 India
Tragic Stampede

In northern India, a religious gathering turned into a catastrophe, leaving at least 116 people dead and many more injured.

🔘 Chaos: A stampede at a Hindu event in Uttar Pradesh resulted in a tragic loss of life.

• Overcrowding in a makeshift tent led to a deadly crush as thousands rushed to leave.

• Initial reports indicate that the event had permission for 5,000 but over 15,000 attended.

🔘 Response: The state’s chief minister described the incident as “extremely sad and heart-wrenching.” Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the stampede.

🔘 Precedent: Unfortunately, such stampedes are not uncommon in India, especially during religious festivals where safety measures are often lacking.

• Past incidents have seen similar tragedies, like the 2013 temple stampede in Madhya Pradesh and the 2011 festival crush in Kerala.