Putin Gifts Kim a Limo

Hi Global Recap readers,

Assange’s hearing in the UK has kicked off today, with a crowd of his advocates rallying outside the High Court, calling for his freedom.

This two-day trial stands as one of the most pivotal cases that will influence the course of press freedom. While the judges might announce their decision this week, they’re expected to deliberate thoroughly.

Rest assured, I’ll keep a close eye on it, so keep checking in.

For the time being: Let’s dive into stories of bromance, dictators, and cool sunglasses. 😎

🌐 Around the World

• 🇬🇳 Guinea Junta Dissolves Government

• 🇨🇳 China Boards Taiwanese Boat

• 🎁 Putin Gifts Kim a Limo

• 🇭🇺 Hungary to Approve Sweden’s NATO Bid

• 📊 Poll Result

Guinea

🇬🇳 Guinea Junta Dissolves Government

Guinea’s military leaders, who seized power in a coup in 2021, have announced the dissolution of the interim government, the confiscation of ministers’ passports, and the freezing of their bank accounts.

• Criticism: The move comes amid growing criticism of the junta’s repression of media freedom and failure to restore civilian rule.

• Coup: In September 2021, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya led a group of soldiers to overthrow President Alpha Conde, who had changed the constitution to extend his term.

• Promises: The junta pledged to hold elections by the year's end and fight corruption and poverty in the mineral-rich country.

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Taiwan

🇨🇳 China Boards Taiwanese Boat

China’s coast guard boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat near Kinmen Island, sparking outrage from Taiwan’s government and public.

• Kinmen: A small archipelago controlled by Taiwan, but located just a few kilometers off the Chinese coast.

• Fishermen: This incident comes days after two Chinese fishermen died after their boat capsized while being chased by Taiwan’s coast guard for trespassing in restricted waters. China blamed Taiwan’s ruling party for the fishermen’s deaths and vowed to step up patrols in the area.

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Russia-North Korea

🎁 Putin Gifts Kim a Limo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted a luxury car to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as a sign of their “special relations.” The car is a Russian-made Aurus, the same model that Putin uses for his official trips.

• Sanctions: The gift could violate UN sanctions on North Korea, which ban the supply of luxury goods and vehicles to the isolated regime. But why would Putin care about this?

• Relations: Putin and Kim are growing closer as they both face isolation and pressure from the West over their actions in Ukraine and nuclear weapons, respectively.

• Ride: Kim got a taste of the Aurus when he visited Russia in September and rode with Putin in the presidential vehicle. Maybe Kim asked for one then?

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Hungary

🇭🇺 Approving Sweden’s NATO Bid

Hungary’s ruling party said it will finally ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO on as early as Monday, after months of stalling and snubbing. The move follows pressure from US senators and a visit by Sweden’s prime minister to Budapest.

• Obstruction: Hungary was the only NATO member not to endorse Sweden’s bid because some Swedish politicians allegedly insulted the health of Hungary’s democracy.

• Reaction: Sweden’s Defense Minister welcomed the news, saying it was “very welcome”.

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Poll Result

“Did Putin kill Navalny?”

🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢 Yes: 90.5%

🔴 ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ No: 3%

🔴 ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ I am not sure: 7%

I believe this poll attracted the highest number of participants in the history of the Global Recap newsletter!

It also produced one of the most lopsided results.

Here are the key insights:

• Those who selected ”No” argued that Putin had no need to kill Navalny, who was already imprisoned. They questioned the logic of risking martyrdom for Navalny, whose influence was limited due to his incarceration despite his team’s significant presence on YouTube and other social media platforms.

• On the other hand, many who chose ”Yes” highlighted Putin’s potential desire to use Navalny as an example, effectively warning dissenters, “You try anything cute, I will kill you, even in prison.”

Both viewpoints shed light on Putin’s strategy for shaping public opinion.

Personally: I suspect Putin is indifferent to negative sentiment. If anything, he might have intended to send a stern message to potential troublemakers during the election.

He can afford to do this because, let’s face it, he knows he can secure 120% of the votes. 😂

Also: A hearty thank you to everyone who chose “I am not sure.” Your logical scrutiny of the known facts and careful approach to assumptions is commendable and offers valuable lessons.