nukes on ready

Hi Global Recap readers,

We’re fast approaching Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday in the US, and it seems like Putin has a present for all of us.

But the question is… does it work? 👇

🇷🇺 RUSSIA
Putin’s Satan II Nukes “Ready”

Putin is ramping up the tension by ordering his massive Satan II nukes to be combat-ready ASAP.

Why? Because it’s been reported that the West was entertaining the idea of arming Ukraine with nukes.

Satan II Missile Development

Russia is working on its “unstoppable” Satan II intercontinental ballistic missile.

• The RS-28 Sarmat, aka Satan II, is designed to deliver nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles away in the US or Europe.

• However: Development has faced delays and testing setbacks, including a humiliating explosion in September that obliterated Russia’s only test site for hypersonic weapons.

Arming Ukraine

The Russian foreign ministry called the idea of arming Ukraine with nukes “insane” and warned it could bring the world to the “brink of catastrophe.”

• Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the ministry, said it was in the interests of responsible governments to prevent this “suicidal” scenario.

• She blamed “irresponsible actions” by Ukraine and its Western backers for the escalating tensions.

🇺🇦 UKRAINE
Biden Pushes for Draft

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is urging Ukraine to lower its draft age to 18 to bolster its military ranks. With Russia's invasion stretching into its third year, Ukraine needs more troops to keep up with battlefield demands.

Biden's Urgent Request

President Biden's team wants Ukraine to draft 18-year-olds to expand its military.

• The current draft age is 25, but the White House believes lowering it will help Ukraine's manpower shortage.

• Ukraine needs about 160,000 additional troops, but the US thinks even more might be necessary.

European Allies' Concerns

European allies also worry about Ukraine's troop levels.

• Allies stress that Ukraine's lack of depth could make it hard to continue operations in Russia's Kursk region.

• Thousands of North Korean troops have arrived to support Russia.

Ukraine's Response

Ukraine has taken steps to broaden its draft pool but faces challenges.

• In April, Ukraine lowered the draft age from 27 to 25, adding about 50,000 troops.

• Ukrainian officials argue that more equipment, not just troops, is needed to counter Russia.

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🇷🇺 RUSSIA
Ruble Tumbles Amid War Strain

It isn’t just the Satan II blowing up.

Russia's economy is also feeling the heat as the ruble plummets to its lowest level in over two years. A cocktail of low oil prices, fresh sanctions, and hefty war spending is putting the squeeze on Moscow's finances.

Ruble Hits New Low

The ruble nosedived to 114.75 against the US dollar, a level not seen since March 2022.

• Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Yet, March 2022 marked the all-time low for the USD/RUB exchange rate in history.

• The central bank suspended currency purchases for the rest of the year to prop up the ruble.

• Inflation is officially at 8.5%, but private surveys suggest it's much, much higher.

Oil Prices and Sanctions

Falling oil prices and new US sanctions are adding to Russia's economic woes.

• Brent crude prices dropped nearly 4% this week.

• The US imposed new sanctions on Gazprombank and other Russian financial entities.

Central Bank's Tight Policy

Russia's central bank is under fire for its high interest rates, which are meant to curb inflation but are also stifling economic growth.

• The key interest rate is now at 21%.

• Industrialists like Oleg Deripaska and Sergey Chemezov are criticizing the central bank's approach.

Angry Oligarchs

Leading industrialists are voicing their frustration with the central bank's policies.

• Alexey Mordashov of Severstal called for serious discussions on the central bank's high rates.

• The central bank has raised rates by 500 basis points this year but hasn't stopped the ruble's decline.

So, will the ruble bounce back? Only time will tell, but it's looking like a tough road ahead for Russia's economy.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Trump Team Faces Bomb Threats

The Trump-Vance transition team has been hit with a wave of bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks and administration appointees. These threats have prompted swift action from law enforcement to ensure their safety.

Cabinet Picks Targeted

Several of Trump’s Cabinet picks were targeted with bomb threats and swatting incidents.

• Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, received a bomb threat at her residence.

• Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick for the Environmental Protection Agency, faced a pipe bomb threat with a pro-Palestinian message.

• Brooke Rollins, Trump’s choice for Agriculture secretary, also reported a threat against her home and family.

Law Enforcement Response

Law enforcement agencies acted quickly to address the threats.

• The FBI is aware of the threats and is working with other law enforcement agencies.

• President Joe Biden was briefed on the incidents and condemned the threats of political violence.

Swatting Incidents

Swatting, a criminal hoax, was used to target high-profile individuals.

• Swatting involves falsely reporting a crime to get police to respond to a specific location.

• This tactic has been used against various individuals in the news, including Trump’s picks and other high-profile figures.

Ongoing Investigations

Investigations into these threats are ongoing.

• The US Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigations.

• Authorities are working to ensure the safety of those targeted and to prevent copy-cat incidents.

🇵🇰 PAKISTAN
Pro-Khan Protests Lead to Arrests

Nearly 1,000 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan were arrested after storming the capital, demanding his release.

• Some allege that live munitions were used

• But authorities call BS and are demanding evidence

So, who’s right?

Arrests and Allegations

Pakistani authorities arrested nearly 1,000 supporters of Imran Khan.

• The protests began on Sunday and escalated, leading to 954 arrests by Tuesday.

• Khan's aides claim hundreds were wounded by gunfire, though police deny using live ammunition.

Economic Impact

The protests have taken a toll on Pakistan's economy.

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated the agitation cost the economy $680 million a day.

• Pakistan's share index rebounded more than 5% after the protests were dispersed.

Government Response

Authorities have denied allegations of excessive force.

• Islamabad's police chief stated that no live ammunition was used.

• Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called on Khan's party to provide evidence of any deaths or injuries.

Continuing Tensions

Despite the arrests, tensions remain high.

• Khan's party initially called off the protests but later stated they would continue until Khan himself called them off.

• The situation remains fluid, with ongoing debates about the legitimacy and impact of the protests.