Hi Global Recap readers,
Title: “WWI Shell Found in a Hole.”
When I first came across the story, I thought it was satire.
What hole, you may ask? It’s not that hole.
🇫🇷 FRANCE
WWI Shell
Found in a Hole
An unexploded WWI shell, similar to the one found in the patient’s rectum. Umm…
A hospital in Toulouse evacuated after surgeons found a live WWI ordnance.
Not outside, but inside—Inside of a 24-year-old man's anus.
Arrival. The man turned up at the Rangueil Accident and Emergency unit in Toulouse late Saturday night in extreme discomfort after inserting a “large object” into his rectum.
Surgery. During emergency surgery, doctors reportedly discovered an eight-inch artillery shell dated to 1918, described as pointed and a bit over an inch wide.
Evacuation. Hospital personnel called in bomb disposal and the fire brigade, cleared the facility, and set a security perimeter while specialists assessed the shell. Thankfully, it was not deemed an immediate threat, and authorities removed it from the hospital.
Probe. The patient, a French national, remained hospitalized to recover and is expected to be interviewed by authorities for handling "category A munitions."
Although police opened proceedings, the prosecutor’s office did not pursue the case because the ammunition was “demilitarized.”
How the shell ended up there is still a mystery, though reporting cited a possible party stunt and noted staff are used to injuries from "sexual games."
History. You’d think this was a one-off, right? Not even close.
This has happened before… again in France.
In 2022, a Toulon hospital was partially evacuated after an older patient arrived with a WWI shell lodged up his anus.
When reading stories like this, I am so glad I live a really boring life.
🇨🇳🇷🇺🇺🇸 CHINA, RUSSIA, US
Nuclear Cap Expires
On Feb 5, the New START treaty expires, meaning that the last binding cap on deployed US and Russian nuclear warheads will be lifted.
Deadline. New START, signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, limited each side to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads, with no more than 700 deployed ground- or submarine-launched missiles and bomber planes, and 800 launchers.
Note: the US and Russia hold 86% of the global stockpile, but China is expanding fast.
Offer. Putin has suggested both countries could keep following the limits voluntarily after the treaty ends.
Trump has called that idea "a good idea" while also signaling he wants a new agreement with both Russia and China.
Verification. But the thing is, caps were never the whole point.
New START built a routine of inspections, data exchanges, and notifications designed to prevent miscalculation.
Although, inspections were paused during COVID and then halted outright after Russia suspended its participation in 2023. So, a voluntary extension of the caps without restored access is partial following of the once-comprehensive agreement.
🇺🇦 UKRAINE
Ukraine Moves to
Shut Russian Access
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (left) and SpaceX founder Elon Musk (right).
Ukraine says SpaceX is starting to block Russia's unauthorized Starlink use to steer attack drones, and officials are preparing a verification rollout that ends in shutdown for terminals that cannot be cleared.
📌 Context. The move comes as Elon Musk has also provided free Starlink access for protesters in Iran during the Islamic regime's recent internet blackouts, drawing sharper attention to how the service can be leveraged by Russia against Ukraine.
Threat. Ukrainian officials and analysts say Russia has been mounting Starlink terminals on attack drones to strike deeper into Ukraine. This provides longer range targeting, resistance to jamming, and the ability to control drones in real time from inside Russia.
Signal. On Sunday, Ukraine's Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said early countermeasures with Elon Musk's SpaceX are already producing "real results." On February 2, he said the next step is a system that allows only authorized Starlink terminals to operate in Ukraine, with registration instructions coming soon and "Unverified terminals will be disabled."
Musk responded to Fedorov’s post on X, saying the steps had worked and adding, "Let us know if more needs to be done," after a recent public clash with Poland's Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, over why Starlink has not stopped Russian use.
Click for post
Rules. Starlink is not supposed to be sold or used in Russia under US sanctions, but Kyiv says Moscow has been finding workarounds. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military tech expert and adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said Ukraine has evidence of "hundreds" of Russian drone attacks involving Starlink terminals.
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Witkoff Meets Araqchi
on Friday For a “Deal”
Steve Witkoff (left) and Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi (right)
Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are set to meet Friday in Istanbul to talk about a possible nuclear deal and other issues.
At the same time, President Trump is being accused of egging thousands of Iranian protesters on to die for a “deal.”
Setup. The meeting, planned for Friday in Istanbul, would put Witkoff across the table from Araqchi on the nuclear file and "other issues," a US official said on Monday.
Allegations. There appear to be some explanations emerging for why Trump may be foregoing military action against the Islamic regime:
Some are blaming Witkoff for pushing for such negotiations, alleging that his only motivation is to protect his business interests in the Middle East. Instability caused by a regional war is not good for business.
The same US official framed it as a direct reflection of Trump pushing for a deal, saying, "The president's been calling for them to make a deal."
Terms. An Iranian foreign ministry official said earlier that Tehran is weighing the terms for resuming talks with the United States soon, with both sides signaling interest in reviving diplomacy and tamping down fears of a new regional war.
Attacks?
A large fire broke out at a market/shopping center in Tehran. The cause has not yet been confirmed, and details are still emerging.
Separately, over the weekend, at least five people were killed in two explosions in Iran. Authorities have attributed both incidents to gas leaks.
Some online commentators who are hoping for a military action against the Islamic regime, are speculating that these events could be intended as a warning—potentially signaling that the United States or Israel has the capability to conduct internal sabotage without relying on air-to-surface strikes.
Alireza Tangsiri
Adding to that speculation are unverified claims that a senior naval commander, Alireza Tangsiri, lived in the affected building, and that he may have been killed in the explosion. However, IRGC-linked outlets denied he was targeted or killed.
What do you think?
