Russian Assassination Fail

Hi Global Recap readers,

Today’s theme is scandal, scandal, scandal.

From an assassination fail, to a big-shot Democrat flaming Biden, to a president’s love of super expensive watches…

What a world we live in.

Before we continue: Here’s the poll result from yesterday:

I’d like to clarify something. Some of you have rightly noted that the amount subject to tax would apply to the portion of income that EXCEEDS €400,000, and not the whole amount - which, of course, makes more sense.

Here’s a summary of your responses:

FOR: If the law could be perfectly enforced, it might generate substantial revenue to support a variety of programs. However, this also implies that any future economic strain could have a greater impact on individuals who have become ever more dependent on these publicly funded programs.

AGAINST: Indeed, as many of you have pointed out, this could potentially encourage the use of underhanded methods to exploit existing loopholes and various evasion tactics to outsmart the system, which could in turn make income tracking more challenging in certain situations.

Thank you for all your responses. I understand this is a complex topic, but your detailed and passionate responses clearly demonstrate your well-grounded opinions on this matter. Thank you! 😊

🇰🇪 Kenya
Kenyan President Fires His Cabinet

Kenyan President William Ruto has made a bold move by firing almost his entire cabinet after weeks of anti-government protests.

This decision, announced on Thursday, leaves only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in their posts.

🔘 Reflection. President Ruto’s decision came after weeks of heated anti-government protests.

• He described the decision as being taken “upon reflection, and a holistic appraisal” of his cabinet.

• The president acknowledged the high expectations of the Kenyan people and their belief in his administration’s potential for extensive transformation.

🔘 Protests. So what was the public unrest about?

• The government planned to introduce a controversial take hike bill to raise capital and pay off some of its $78 billion debt (~70% of Kenya’s GDP).

• However, Kenyans, already struggling with high living expenses, have grown fed-up with Ruto’s seemingly lavish spending habits, such as hiring private jets for global trips and buying expensive watches.

🔘 Expectations. Ruto emphasized his awareness of the people’s high expectations placed on his leadership.

• However, he doesn’t seem to be aware of the calls for his resignation, given that he has dismissed many of his cabinet members instead of stepping down himself.

The question is, will this be enough?

🇩🇪 Germany
Russian Assassination Plot Foiled

US intelligence discovered a Russian plan to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, due to his company’s support for Ukraine.

The plot was thwarted by German security services after a US warning.

🔘 Assassination. Papperger’s company produces vital 155mm artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine.

• The plot was part of a broader Russian sabotage campaign across Europe. Do you remember the huge fire in Warsaw last May that Russia is implicated in?

🔘 Sabotage. Russia’s broad campaign includes various acts of sabotage to disrupt Western support for Ukraine.

• Activities range from arson attacks to vandalism, often carried out by local recruits.

• NATO officials have warned about the seriousness of these actions, which could escalate into armed conflict.

Think About This

Remember how the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand sparked World War I? We might have been on the brink of World War III had this scheme not been thwarted.

But you might argue, “But this guy isn’t THAT significant!”

I agree, he likely doesn’t hold the same significance as the Archduke, geopolitically speaking.

But something to note: When the Archduke was assassinated in 1914, The Independent wrote that the event was “deplorable but relatively insignificant.”

🇺🇸 United States
Biden Worries NATO Members

President Joe Biden’s appearance at the NATO Summit has sparked concerns among world leaders about his political and physical state, overshadowing the summit’s achievements.

🔘 Concerns. Biden’s frailty and political struggles are causing unease among NATO officials.

• Leaders are worried about Biden’s ability to lead, given his recent debate performance and physical condition.

• There is growing fear that Biden’s potential defeat in November could disrupt NATO’s momentum and stability due to Trump’s historical antagonism towards the alliance.

🔘 Summit Focus. The summit was meant to celebrate NATO’s unity and support for Ukraine. But instead, Biden’s political issues have diverted attention from the summit’s goals.

• NATO officials are frustrated that summit actions like Biden’s new $225 million aid package for Ukraine, are getting overshadowed by Biden’s problems.

This is his most recent scandal. 👇

Recent Scandal

George Clooney, an actor, lifelong Democrat, and major party supporter who led fundraisers for Obama, Clinton, and Biden, has written an opinion piece for The New York Times.

You can read the full opinion piece here, but here’s a snippet that captures his overall message:

This is a huge blow to Joe Biden, who recently said that only the “Lord Almighty” could make him quit the race.

🇮🇱 Israel
Gaza City Evacuation Orders

The Israeli military has instructed “everyone in Gaza City” to evacuate south due to intensified operations in the north.

🔘 Evacuation. The evacuation warning was given so that people could leave the “dangerous combat zone.”

• Leaflets were dropped by aircraft, marking safe routes to shelters in Deir al-Balah and al-Zawaida.

• However, some residents are unwilling or unable to leave due to the intensity of the bombing.

• The UN is concerned about these evacuation orders, noting it’s the second time Gaza City has been asked to evacuate since the war began.

But wait, why is the UN worried about Israel giving warnings to evacuate? Shouldn’t they be more concerned if Israel wasn’t warning everyone and indiscriminately bombing everyone?

🔘 Military Operations. Israeli forces are currently conducting operations to eliminate Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists, despite critics arguing that a total eradication of the terrorists is impossible.

• Israeli troops have re-entered several districts in Gaza City, targeting the terrorists.

  

  Click for video

• The IDF reported killing dozens of terrorists in Gaza City's eastern Shejaiya district and dismantling an underground tunnel route.

• Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that 60% of Hamas terrorists have been killed or wounded since the offensive began.

🇨🇳 China
China Pushes Back Against NATO

China is pushing back against NATO’s recent accusations and actions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.

🔘 Rebuke. China has strongly criticized NATO for labeling it a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

• China argues that NATO’s claims are unreasonable and have “sinister motives.”

• The Chinese Foreign Ministry insists that China maintains a fair and objective stance on the Ukraine issue.

🔘 Military. NATO is not completely talking out of their behinds. China’s military and economic activities have been supportive of Russia.

• Since the invasion, China’s trade with Russia has increased. This boost in trade has assisted Russia in alleviating the pressure from Western sanctions.

• Chinese troops are currently in Belarus for joint drills near the border with Poland, a NATO member.

• China’s involvement in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is seen as a counterbalance to Western influence in the region.

🔘 Opposition. But that’s not all. China is also firmly against NATO’s growing ties with Asian countries.

• China warned NATO not to bring the same “chaos” to Asia that it has in Europe.

• The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged NATO to stop interfering in China’s internal politics and to avoid creating turmoil in the Asia-Pacific region.

• China is particularly concerned about NATO’s relationships with countries like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

But unfortunately for China, these countries would much prefer NATO’s influence in Asia over China’s.

And why is China acting as if it speaks for all its neighbors?