Ex-Premier of China Dies, Censors Swoop In.

Hi Global Recap readers,

We are finally at a week’s end, diving into the 3rd week of the Israel-Hamas war, and tensions rising between many nations with their teeth in the game.

Also, I am sure you may have heard of the sudden heart attack of China’s ex-premier… No? Well, make sure to check out how his vision of China differed from that of Xi Jinping in the In-Depth section.

🌐 Around the world:

• Missile Strikes Egypt.

• US Troops to Middle East.

• Hostages’ Families: Fed Up.

• Israel’s 2nd Ground Incursion.

• China’s ex-premier dies of sudden heart attack.

Let’s get into today’s news.

 🚀 Missile Strikes Egypt

Two Egyptian towns near Israel were hit by projectiles on Friday, injuring six people. Israel blamed an “aerial threat” in the Red Sea region, possibly from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Context: Last week, the US struck down missiles that were launched by the Houthi rebels.

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🪖 US Troops to Middle East

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder.

The Pentagon is sending 900 more troops to the region to protect its forces from attacks by Iran-backed militias. The troops will operate advanced missile defense systems that can intercept rockets and drones.

The US maintains a defensive stance. But, what if terrorists keep striking? When will it snap?

Meanwhile: US forces struck two facilities in Syria in response to the recent attacks by Iran-backed terrorists in the region.

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😡 Hostages’ Families: Fed Up

In a savage attack, Palestinian terrorists kidnapped 224 Israelis, leaving over 1,400 dead. As the conflict enters its third week, the hostages’ families, fed up with the inaction, are demanding the government to “Free them now!”

Despite hinting at a full-scale ground invasion for days, Israel has yet to act, likely due to global pressure. Yet, two “targeted incursions” into Gaza have occurred recently.

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 🇮🇱 Israel’s 2nd Ground Incursion

From the video released by the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel’s military intensified its attacks against Hamas with a second ground operation in Gaza, coupled with more airstrikes. This follows a limited overnight incursion just a day prior.

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🎬 YouTube Success

Why would you want to start a YouTube channel? Especially when you don’t know how to start, what to talk about, or even how to grow. So many questions with no one to answer.

Now: You can join a community of creators who, just like you, are on a quest for the freedom to voice their unique perspectives and earn extra income from it. Best of all, sign up now and the 5-day course with all the answers is yours to keep - for FREE.

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China

Ex-Premier of China Dies, Censors Swoop In.

🇨🇳 China Mourns a Liberal Icon. China’s sidelined ex-Premier Li Keqiang, often labeled as a beacon of pragmatism and reform in the Communist Party, has died suddenly at 68 from a heart attack.

👑 Xi Jinping’s Rival? Li Keqiang was once considered a contender for China’s top leadership position, instead of Xi Jinping. Being a protégé of Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping’s predecessor, many thought Li would be groomed to succeed Hu. However, he lost the leadership race to Xi Jinping.

✋ Recent Sidelining. In the years leading up to Li Keqiang’s retirement, Xi Jinping started to place his loyal followers in key positions. He did this in both the State Council, led by the premier, and the Politburo, which he himself led as General Secretary. His aim was to strengthen his control and promote a more ideological and authoritarian agenda. Throughout this, Li was viewed as the only one who could offset Xi’s power.

👏 Why He Matters. Li Keqiang was known for his honesty, intelligence, and economic expertise. He challenged the official statistics, advocated for street vendors, and warned of the costs of the zero-Covid policy. He represented a different vision of governing China, one that focused more on development than on party loyalty.

🧐 Li the pragmatist:

• COVID Defiance. Li also favored a more pragmatic approach to tackling COVID, as opposed to Xi Jinping’s zero-COVID policy. He didn’t openly slam Xi’s policy, of course, but he stressed in multiple meetings that keeping the economy humming and jobs secure is the best approach to handling the pandemic.

• More Economy. In COVID’s first year, Li actively promoted more activity among street vendors, despite state media warning that street vendors are “unhygienic and uncivilized.” This was to keep employment stable.

• Unreliable GDP. Thanks to Wikileaks, we know that Li told the US ambassador in 2007 that China’s official statistics such as local GDP figures were unreliable. His rivals saw this as a stab in the back to the Chinese people.

• No Mask. In May 2022, Li ditched his mask at Yunnan University, despite the zero-Covid policy. No masks on students or officials either. Social media buzzed with praise until the Great Firewall of China censored #PremierAtYunnanUniversity.

💥 The Fallout of His Death. Li Keqiang’s sudden death has triggered a crackdown on VPNs, a surge of online tributes, and a potential challenge to Xi Jinping’s legitimacy.

Friday morning saw a wave of social media posts praising Li’s practical governance, calling him the “People’s Premier.” By nightfall, unsurprisingly, the accolades were silenced. It seems clear that the Party does not want Li’s popularity to fuel any dissent or criticism of the current regime.

🔮 What Next. Li Keqiang’s legacy will depend on how the Party and the people remember him. Will he be seen as a reformer who tried to make China more open and prosperous, or as a traitor who undermined the Party’s authority and unity? Will his death inspire any changes in China’s political system, or will it be quickly forgotten?