Biden Arrives in Israel with a Huge Problem

Hi Global Recap readers,

Thank you for all of your input in yesterday’s poll.

You might be wondering:

“Why ask for opinions?

Early in my online journey, I learned that an open-source approach is far more productive than a lone-wolf approach. Since I write this newsletter for you every day, I believe you have the right be part of the decision-making process.

So, for those interested, I have addressed your comments at the end.

🌐 Around the world:

• Putin and Xi: BFFs in Beijing.

• Egypt Goes Panda to Pay Off Its Debts.

• More Underwater Cable and Pipeline Damage?

• Ukraine Uses US-Supplied ATACMS for the First Time.

• Biden Arrives in Israel with a Huge Problem.

Let’s get into today’s news.

👬 Putin and Xi: BFFs in Beijing. China’s leader Xi Jinping inaugurated the global forum, marking a milestone in his ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This massive infrastructure project is Xi’s instrument to redefine the global landscape.

Xi Unveils $100 Billion Plan for BRI. At the event, Xi pledged to open up his country’s market and fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. However, critics warn of China’s “debt trap” diplomacy and environmental impact.

Can’t leave out Xi’s BFF Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin shined as the star guest of the forum, lauding their “equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.” They both took jabs at the US, which is busy dealing with the Middle East crisis.

Sounds like a bromance to me.

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🐼 Egypt Goes Panda to Pay Off Its Debts. Egypt has issued its first “panda bonds,” which are yuan-denominated bonds sold in China by foreign entities.

The move is aimed at diversifying its financing sources and reducing its reliance on the US dollar. Also, note that Egypt is currently facing a debt crisis and has been seeking “creative” ways to raise funds.

Is this a step toward de-dollarization or just a blip?

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🌊 More Underwater Cable and Pipeline Damage? Telecom cables and a gas pipeline connecting Sweden, Finland, and Estonia were damaged simultaneously. The culprits remain at large, their motives unknown.

Earlier this month, the Finnish-Estonian pipeline fell victim to sabotage, with Sweden revealing its own damage just this Tuesday.

Who did it?

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🚀 Ukraine Uses US-Supplied ATACMS for the First Time. Ukraine’s special forces have launched a surprise attack on Russian bases in the occupied regions of Berdyansk and Luhansk, using US-made ATACMS rockets for the first time.

Russia has not confirmed the attack, but an unconfirmed video shows explosions and flying rockets over Berdyansk.

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Israel
Biden Arrives in Israel with a Huge Problem

🇺🇸 Biden in the Hot Seat. The US president faces a diplomatic crisis as he visits Israel amid outrage over a deadly blast in Gaza.

🔥 What blast? On Tuesday, a day before Biden was set to arrive in Tel Aviv, a crowded hospital in Gaza was hit by a massive explosion that killed 500 people, according to Hamas.

🧐 Whodunit?

• Hamas initially blamed Israel.

• Then, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unveiled videos revealing a misfired Hamas rocket striking the hospital. The videos trace the rocket’s path, establish a history of misfires, and pinpoint the time and location of the impact, aligning with suspected failed rockets plummeting straight down.

Check IDF’s recent video posts here. But as is the case with many claims made by Ukraine and Russia, nobody can be 100% certain who is telling the truth.

🇮🇱 Biden’s Mission. Biden is now in the eye of a storm, tasked with reaffirming the US-Israel alliance, standing with victims of Hamas’ terrorism, and advocating restraint to avert humanitarian crises.

🇯🇴 Jordan Cancels Biden. Biden was supposed to meet with the leaders of Egypt and Palestine in Jordan. However, after the hospital strike, Jordan pulled the plug on the planned summit it was supposed to host.

Now that you are all caught up, here’s what might happen.

😱 What If. The war could spiral out of control if any of the following happens:

• Islamic Jihad or other groups join the fight or target other countries.

• The US or other allies intervene militarily.

• Hamas launches more attacks on Israel or resumes its kidnapping campaign.

🤷‍♂️ My Take: This is a mess. I don’t envy Biden’s position. He has to balance his support for Israel with his concern for the Palestinians. He has to deal with angry allies and enemies. He has to prevent a war from breaking out. And he has to do it all while facing criticism at home and abroad.

Good luck, Mr. President.

🌐 Opinion

Once again, I am truly grateful for all your thoughtful comments, knowing the effort and time it takes to articulate them.

Now, let’s dive into my responses:

Point 1: The “click here for more” button is too colorful!

I agree. Honestly, I fought with myself over this. So I reverted it back, as you may have noticed. 😉

Point 2: Dark mode for morning newsletter reading?

Regrettably, it’s not possible. But, you can switch on your device’s dark mode instead!

Point 3: Header design revision (Top News, In-Depth).

You wanted minimalism, even those who enjoyed the experimental vibe. I heard you. Now, it’s just black - which vanishes when reading in dark mode and appears simplistic otherwise. 

Additionally, the font has been adjusted for coherence with the rest of the newsletter.

Point 4: Using the globe emoji (🌐) instead of bullet points.

Fun idea! But I’m already going hard on emojis. I might sneak it in as an Easter Egg when I’m falling behind in the emoji game though. 🤣

Thanks a lot again guys!