Early Election Gift from Zelensky

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Global Recap
March 15, 2024 • Read in: 7 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

March 15 is not just a typical day.

It’s known as The Ides of March, a day notorious for the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, soon after he was declared dictator perpetuo or a “dictator for life.”

Gruesome fact: Caesar was frantically stabbed 23 times. Over 60 senators are known to have been part of the attack.

The Murder of Caesar, a 1865 painting by Karl Theodor von Piloty

Although overshadowed by the assassination, this day originally served as a deadline for paying off debts and was marked by several religious ceremonies in ancient Rome.

RUSSIA

Early Election Gift from Zelensky

Ukraine sent a presidential election gift to Putin on the first day of voting - a massive drone attack.

  • 🚀 Attack. In the early hours of Friday, an oil refinery in Kaluga region was blown up in a large explosion.

  • 🎯 Target. The operation was conducted by the GUR military spy agency, a Ukrainian military intelligence service.

  • 🛡️ Defense. Vladislav Shapsha, the Russian governor of the Kaluga region, claimed that air defenses shot down four drones, and there were no infrastructure damage or casualties.

Uhh, are you sure governor?

FRANCE

Macron Doubles Down

French President Emmanuel Macron

In a recent television interview, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine, emphasizing the existential threat posed by the war.

  • 🎭 Ambiguity. Macron defended his strategic ambiguity tactic, arguing that setting any limits on how to respond to Moscow’s actions meant “opting for defeat."

  • 🌍 Global Impact. Macron highlighted the global implications of the war, stating, “If Russia were to win, the lives of French people would change. We would no longer have security in Europe.”

  • 📊 Public Opinion. Despite Macron’s firm stance, a majority of the French public disagreed with his comments on Western troops in Ukraine, with 68% of respondents in an Odoxa poll disagreeing with the President.

ISRAEL-HAMAS

IDF: Hamas Gunmen Killed Gazans, Not Us

Israel Defense Forces detailing the incident

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refuted Hamas’s accusations that Israeli troops fired at civilians waiting for aid in Gaza City, asserting that Palestinian gunmen were responsible for the casualties.

  • 🔍 Investigation. The IDF conducted an “intensive preliminary review” and found that their forces did not open fire at the aid convoy at Kuwait Square.

  • 🚛 Aid Convoy. A convoy of 31 trucks carrying food and other humanitarian aid was making its way to northern Gaza. As the aid trucks were entering the corridor, Palestinian gunmen opened fire while civilians were waiting for the aid trucks.

Who’s really pulling the trigger here?

ISRAEL-HAMAS

Ceasefire Proposed

Hamas has proposed a ceasefire plan to mediators and the US, but it seems like it won’t make Netanyahu budge.

  • 🔄 Exchange. The proposal includes a first stage of releasing Israeli women, children, elderly, and ill hostages in exchange for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

  • 📝 Details. The release of Israeli “female recruits” is included. A hundred Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons would also need to be released.

  • 🚫 Rejection. The office of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the new Hamas position was based on "unrealistic demands."

HAITI

Haiti’s Leadership Struggle

Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier, a gang leader who started the violent unrest in Haiti.

A plan to establish a transitional presidential council in Haiti is gaining traction, with a majority of Haitian parties and coalitions submitting names for potential new leaders.

Will this thwart a potential mass migration from Haiti to the US through the Southern Border or Florida?

  • 🗳️ Nomination. A majority of Haitian parties and coalitions have submitted names of potential leaders to a regional trade bloc known as CARICOM, which is overseeing the transition.

  • 🚧 Barbeque. In a 7-minute audio message, a powerful gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier vented his frustration toward politicians who would participate in a planned transition council for the country.

    • He held them accountable for the current state of the country and issued a warning about the repercussions.

    • His message included an implicit threat to their families, emphasizing that if they govern the nation, their families should also be physically present in Haiti.