WORLD BRIEFING: March 3, 2024
Germany has admitted the apparent hack by Russia of a military meeting where officers discussed giving Ukraine long-range missiles - and possible targets. Audio of the video-conference meeting was posted to social media by the head of Russia's state-run RT channel. The officers discuss how the missiles could hit the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to the illegally annexed Crimea. Russian politicians said the audio proved that its "sworn enemy" was planning attacks. Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called the apparent leak "a very serious matter and that is why it is now being investigated very carefully, very intensively and very quickly". According to Der Spiegel magazine, the videoconference was not held on a secret internal army network but on the WebEx platform. The 38-minutes of audio was posted by RT chief Margarita Simonyan on Friday, who said it was proof Germany was planning strikes on Crimea - BBC
U.S. military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops. Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza at 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local). The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territory’s Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which said it had two food airdrops Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months - AP
At least 30,410 Palestinians have been killed and 71,700 have been wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says - Times of Israel
In Odesa, a mother with an eight-month-old baby was found under the rubble of a high-rise building damaged by a Russian drone attack. As reported by the State Emergency Service, as of Sunday morning, ten people are already known to have died. Among them are three children. The search and rescue operation continues - Suspilne
Queen Camilla will take a break from royal duties by jetting off overseas tomorrow for a sunny break, it has been reported. The Queen, 76, has been holding the fort as the most senior royal undertaking engagements, with both King Charles and Kate away from the spotlight for medical reasons. But she will be away from work for a week after taking a private flight on holiday, The Sun reports. Royal expert Ingrid Seward said: ‘This will raise the question of who’s in charge at such a vital time and with so many key royals out of action.’ - Metro
An explosion occurred on March 2 in a five-story apartment building in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, with the local media saying the blast was caused by a Ukrainian drone. No casualties were reported, but windows in the building were broken, balconies were twisted, debris fell in the courtyard, and windows in neighboring high-rise buildings were also smashed. St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov reported an “incident,” without giving a cause, saying some 100 residents were evacuated. Fontanka reported that the blast was caused by a Ukrainian drone. Kyiv has not commented on the incident - RFE/RL
Strong voter disapproval of Joe Biden’s job performance has reached 47% – the highest negative polling number at any point in his presidency, according to a survey published on Saturday. The Siena College-conducted poll, commissioned by the New York Times, showed that Biden currently lags behind likely Republican candidate Donald Trump 43% to 48% in registered voters nationally - The Guardian
