Hi Global Recap readers,

And also, happy Labor Day, US readers! 🎉 

Do you know the origin of this holiday? It’s not just a day to relax and enjoy, but a day to celebrate the workers who fought for their rights and dignity in the late 1800s. Labor Day is a tribute to the hard work and achievements of workers throughout history, who literally built this country.

Let’s honor them. 💪

📈 Top News

😷 Fauci urges to wear masks again. Former health chief Anthony Fauci is pleading for the public to “abide by” CDC’s recommendations on masking when the agency suggests it, as COVID cases surge nationwide. He says masks work, despite a “misleading study” that claims otherwise.

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🇳🇬 Recalling all ambassadors. Nigeria President Tinubu has ordered all Nigerian ambassadors to pack their bags and return home by October 31.

The only exceptions are the UN reps in New York and Geneva, who get to stay for the upcoming UN General Assembly.

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🔥 Zelensky Fires. Ukraine’s President Zelensky fired his defense minister Reznikov, who was accused of buying overpriced food and jackets for the army. Reznikov denies any wrongdoing.

Zelensky nominated Rustem Umerov as the new defense chief.

Who is Umerov?

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🇿🇦 South Africa denies arming Russia, US begs to differ. South Africa’s President Ramaphosa says an independent probe found no proof of his country selling weapons to Russia.

The US ambassador to South Africa previously revealed that a Russian ship was loaded with arms near Cape Town last December.

Ramaphosa says the US embassy has no evidence to back up its claims, but he won’t reveal the contents of the Russian ship due to security reasons.

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✍️ In-Depth

Russia
Putin and Erdogan Meet in Sochi

🌾 Erdogan and Putin meet in Sochi to talk about wheat. The Turkish president tried to convince the Russian leader to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal, a UN-backed agreement that allowed Ukraine to export its crops despite Russia’s invasion and blockade. This agreement was pivotal in alleviating the worldwide food crisis, but Russia ditched it in July, citing "unfair obstacles" hindering its own exports.

🌎 The world is hungry for grain. Ukraine and Russia, major players in wheat, barley, and maize production, fuel the sustenance of millions. The UN is warning that Russia's exit from the pact exacerbates global food insecurity, notably in Africa. Turkey, acting as a pivotal transit point, has been diligently mediating to rekindle this critical deal between Russia and the Western nations.

📝 Putin and Erdogan had a constructive meeting. Putin said he was “open to negotiations” on the grain deal, but clarified that until his demands are met, there will be no grain deal. Beyond that, they delved into topics like natural gas collaboration and the Syrian situation. No paperwork was set to hit the table after their chat.

🇷🇺 Russia's top ask? To get its Agricultural Bank back on SWIFT (the international payments system that the EU axed through sanctions) and therefore facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports by lifting restrictions on payments, logistics, and insurance.

🇺🇳 The UN has a proposal for Russia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he sent a set of concrete proposals to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. These aim to tackle Moscow's concerns and lure them back into the deal.