Hi Global Recap readers,

What did I tell you? I knew you’d dig that juicy scoop on China’s ex-foreign minister and his secret love child. It was a bit more scandalous than our usual topics, but hey, we all need some spice in our lives.

Don’t miss the poll results & discussion at the end!

📈 Top News

👎 U.N. is Useless, Says Zelenskyy. Yesterday, President Zelenskyy slammed the U.N. Security Council for being “ineffective” and “driven into a dead end” by Russia’s veto power at the council. He urged reforming the veto system and stripping Russia of its seat for invading his country.

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🇵🇱 No More Weapons for You Ukraine. In an unexpected turn of events, Poland announced that it is ceasing its weapons supply to Ukraine. This decision comes on the heels of Ukraine’s lawsuit against Poland at the WTO.

But of course, Poland doesn’t say this is the reason for their change of mind.

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🇮🇳 India Shuts Down Visa Services for Canada. India has suspended visa services for Canadians, citing “security threats” and “diplomatic interference” from Canada. The move comes after Canada’s PM accused India of being involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.

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🇦🇲 Armenian PM Under Fire After Karabakh Defeat. Thousands of angry Armenians stormed the streets of Yerevan, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. They blame him for botching the military standoff with Azerbaijan and losing the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Extent of the Protest. Police showed up with riot gear, and were met with protesters throwing rocks, getting physical, and waving flags and posters. Some were injured and covered in blood.

What’s the deal now? Azerbaijan and Armenia are negotiating a new deal, with no signs of a breakthrough. Azerbaijan’s goal is clear: integrate the regions as its territory. But Armenia is warning that this is ethnic cleansing.

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✍️ In-Depth

United Kingdom
UK Puts Brakes on Green

🌍 UK’s Net Zero Pledge in Doubt. Sunak announced a series of policy changes that would water down the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He said the UK had room to ease targets as it had reduced emissions the “fastest” among G7 nations.

🚗 Sunak Slams the Brakes on Green Cars. As part of the water down, Sunak has delayed the ban on new petrol and diesel cars by five years, citing a “pragmatic” approach to net zero.

💰 The Cost of Going Green. The prime minister said he was concerned about the potential financial burden of the net zero agenda on households and businesses. He said he wanted to have an “honest conversation” about the trade-offs and challenges involved in reaching the goal.

• Note: This is a common concern among those wary of policies that pressure companies to aggressively change their business models to fit the “green agenda.”

👎 Backlash from All Sides. Sunak’s move sparked criticism from opposition parties, environmental groups, industry leaders, and some of his Conservative colleagues. They accused him of undermining the UK’s climate leadership, risking its reputation and endangering its future.

What do you think? Like it or not, “climate leadership” is more than just a buzzword. A greener future is where geopolitics is heading, whether it is communist China or capitalist US, hopping on the carbon neutrality bandwagon (even if it is just a facade).

🥤The Juice

🌐 Yesterday’s Poll

Why do you think Qin "disappeared?"

• 👎 45%: Simple, he fell out of favor.

• 👶 55%: It's the love child of course.

This was a close one! As always, the comments are illuminating and funny.

🔍 Scandal or Scapegoat? Some readers, who are convinced that the “love child” narrative is just a smokescreen, thought that this was a classic case of the CCP playing the scandal card to toss Qin under the bus. After all, nothing tarnishes a reputation quite like a juicy sex scandal.

👶 Baby Leverage? One hawk-eyed reader, who is convinced by the love child scenario, spotted a potential plot twist. They think the child’s U.S. citizenship could be Qin’s golden ticket to his citizenship down the line. This makes the child a valuable pawn in the CCP’s game, especially with the mother in the mix.

And… here’s a funny one that caught me off guard. What’s wrong with me…