South Korea may join now...

Hi Global Recap readers,

Remember when I told you I had a gut feeling something big might happen soon as we get used to gradual military escalations as they happen little by little?

Well, take a look at this. 👇

🇰🇷 SOUTH KOREA
South Korea’s Potential Deployment

South Korea might send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine, following North Korea’s dispatch of troops to support Russia.

What could possibly go wrong? 🥹

South Korea’s Plan

Seoul is reviewing a plan to send personnel to Ukraine.

• This includes intelligence officers specialized in North Korea and experts in enemy tactics.

• They would assist Ukraine by interrogating captured North Korean soldiers and providing interpretation services.

• Additionally, they would share information about North Korea’s military tactics and operations.

Defense Ministry’s Stance

The Defense Ministry is open to supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine.

• South Korea has already provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv.

• The ministry is considering further measures with an “open attitude.”

North Korea’s Involvement

Reminder: North Korea has sent troops and munitions to support Russia.

• 12,000 special forces troops are reportedly being dispatched, with 1,500 already in the Russian Far East.

• North Korea has also sent thousands of containers of munitions to Russia.

International Reactions

The situation has drawn reactions from various international players.

• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol discussed the issue with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

• The Kremlin has refused to comment on the use of North Korean soldiers, citing contradictory information.

🇳🇿 NEW ZEALAND
Airport Limits Goodbye Hugs

Dunedin Airport in New Zealand has introduced a quirky new rule: goodbye hugs are now capped at three minutes.

This move aims to keep traffic flowing smoothly in the drop-off zone and ensure everyone gets their fair share of farewell time.

What’s next, a timer for kisses?

The Rule

• The three-minute rule is designed to keep traffic moving in the drop-off zone.

• A sign at the airport reads: “Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park.”

The Reason

The airport wants to avoid congestion and ensure safety.

• Chief executive Dan De Bono mentioned that traditional warning messages can be intense.

• The aim is to keep things light-hearted while still managing traffic.

Public Reaction

The new rule has sparked mixed reactions online.

• Some people find the rule inhumane, while others appreciate the friendly approach.

• The airport has no plans to enforce the rule strictly but will politely ask lingerers to move on.

Don’t worry if you’re concerned about the police cracking down on over-huggers. Apparently, they’re not forming a special unit for this.

Should we be relieved about this?

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Biden Concerned Over Document Leak

Well, when I said the US was leaking everywhere, I didn’t mean like this.

Recently, classified documents detailing Israel’s potential retaliatory strike on Iran were leaked online, with President Joe Biden reportedly “deeply concerned” about the breach.

The leak, first surfacing on Telegram, has sparked a Pentagon investigation.

What’s next? The Biden administration is scrambling to figure out if this was a hack or a leak. Either way, it’s a mess.

The Leak

Classified documents about Israel’s military plans were shared on Telegram by an account called Middle East Spectator.

• The X account affiliated with it states that it is located in Iran.

• They detail Israel’s preparations for a potential strike on Iran.

• The leak is under investigation by the Pentagon.

The Concerns

So why else would President Biden be “deeply concerned” about the unauthorized release?

• The thing is, the US likes to stay informed about Israel’s next moves. But if you were an Israeli military official, would you really want to share that information knowing it could be leaked right away? And this isn’t even the first time it’s happened.

• Understandably, this leak could impact intelligence sharing with US allies. I mean, who would trust the US again with a reputation like this?

• The question is, was the leak caused by hacking or espionage? Or, as some suggest online, could it be the work of pro-Palestine/anti-Israel activists within the Pentagon?

The Investigation

The Pentagon is investigating to figure this out.

• The documents were attributed to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency.

• The investigation is looking for digital or physical clues.

🇲🇩 MOLDOVA
Moldova Votes for EU Path

Moldova has narrowly voted to pursue European Union membership, marking a significant shift away from Russian influence.

How thin was the margin? The referendum passed with just 50.39% in favor, amid allegations of Russian interference.

Interference

Accusations of Russian meddling clouded the referendum.

• Claims of disinformation and vote-buying schemes emerged. She claims that evidence of attempts to buy 300,000 votes.

• Moldovan police have uncovered a vote-buying scheme linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who is currently in Moscow. He openly offered cash payments to Moldovans in exchange for votes against a specific bid.

Presidential Election

Moldova also held a presidential election on the same day, Sunday.

• President Maia Sandu led with 42.45% but fell short of a first-round victory.

• Sandu faces a runoff against Socialist Party candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo, who boycotted the EU referendum and seeks a cozier relationship with Moscow.

• A second round will be held on November 3.

🇨🇺 CUBA
Havana Power Outage Protests

Residents of Santo Suárez in Havana have had enough of the power outages and took to the streets, banging pots and pans in protest.

What’s worse than no electricity? No electricity for four nights straight, food rotting in the fridge, and no respite from the heat.

✍️ NOTE: I initially didn’t report on this because there were more globally significant events to cover, and I assumed the issue would be resolved quickly. However, it’s clear now that this isn’t the case, and many are now blaming the country’s communist system for the problem.

The Blackout

A major power plant failure led to widespread blackouts in Havana.

• The blackout has lasted for four days, causing significant distress among residents.

• Food is spoiling, and people are struggling without air conditioning or fans.

• The outage began late Thursday last week.

The Protests

Residents protested by banging pots and pans.

• The protests took place in Santo Suárez, a neighborhood in southwestern Havana.

• Protesters blocked the streets with garbage, demanding the restoration of electricity.

Government Response

The Energy Minister addressed the situation.

• Minister Vicente de la O Levy hopes to restore the grid by Monday or Tuesday.

• The arrival of Hurricane Oscar on October 20 has complicated recovery efforts.

Who’s to blame? Many online are pointing fingers at the communist regime, accusing it of negligence and corruption.

Most Recent Update

Maybe it was the power of the protests. While 89% of Havana’s electricity is mostly restored after several outages, the eastern tip is still in darkness.

So, Havana’s lights are flickering back on, but the rest of Cuba? Not so much. How long can they keep this up?