China Fires First?

Hi Global Recap readers,

Weapons keep getting more high-tech, but on the news, it’s still mostly missiles and bombs. It’s easy to forget that laser weapons are already part of warfare.

That brings up an interesting question: Does hitting something with a laser really count as an attack? And what exactly would come of this alleged Chinese attack?👇️ 

🌐 WORLD
Fast Scroll News

🇨🇳 China Targets German Aircraft. Germany just called in China’s ambassador after a Chinese warship allegedly fired a laser at a German surveillance plane patrolling the Red Sea for the EU’s Operation Aspides.

• The German Defense Ministry says this happened earlier in July with “no reason or prior contact,” forcing the jet to abort and land in Djibouti.

• The crew was civilian, but carrying German troops, and the type of laser used is still unclear.

• People are wondering whether they were helping the Iranians (given the location) or just testing their equipment.

• China hasn’t commented yet.

🇷🇺 Kremlin Silences Golos. Russia’s top election watchdog Golos shut down on July 8 after co-chair Grigory Melkonyants got five years in prison for allegedly running an “undesirable” group.

• That’s Kremlin code for targeting anyone who tracks vote fraud, and Golos had been doing it for 25 years.

• Their Map of Violations exposed thousands of shady ballots, which made them a magnet for trouble.

• That same day, Dmitry Kisiyev (the former campaign manager for liberal politician Boris Nadezhdin) had his Russian citizenship stripped.

🇦🇫 ICC Targets Taliban Leaders. Right after Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban, the International Criminal Court judges issued arrest warrants for Taliban chief Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada and top justice official Abdul Hakim Haqqani, citing their crackdown on Afghan women and girls as crimes against humanity.

• Since 2021, the Taliban has banned females from parks, jobs, school past sixth grade, and even speaking publicly. Critics call this "gender apartheid.”

• The court says these policies led to murder, torture, rape, and disappearances, all targeting anyone who defied them.

• The Taliban rejected the move as “nonsense.”

🇺🇸 Trump Locks Tariff Date. Looks like Trump’s had a change of heart on the August 1 tariff deadline. What he once called "not 100% firm" is now set in stone. On Truth Social, he shared formal letters he sent to all 14 countries facing the new tariffs, ranging from 25-40%.

Two Sides:

• Some people online think Trump might take a tougher stance on other countries this time, now that he’s got more “leverage,” thanks to the stock market hitting record highs, unlike how it was when he made the Liberation Day announcement.

• Others believe that Trump is going to change his mind again come August 1.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Gaza Ceasefire Or Bust?

Remember that unconfirmed story we talked about yesterday?

• The one about a Hamas ambush that supposedly killed IDF soldiers?

• And if it were true, how it could mess up any chance of a ceasefire?

• Looks like it was true after all.

However, US envoy Steve Witkoff says a Gaza ceasefire could be sealed by the weekend.

So which is it?

Back-to-Back Meetings

Let’s start with the world leaders. Israeli PM Netanyahu is in the US right now with a busy agenda from July 6 to July 10. Today was his second meeting with Trump in just two days.

• Trump said the focus was “almost exclusively, Gaza” during a cabinet meeting.

• Netanyahu confirmed talks covered hostage releases and the “elimination of Hamas.”

  • The Israeli PM also told reporters, “We think that we’ve gotten closer to it… I hope we can cross the line.”

• He told Speaker Mike Johnson that Gaza must have “a different future… no country will settle for less.”

The Emerging Deal

So what’s on the table? Negotiators have narrowed down from four key issues to just one.

• Witkoff reported progress in proximity talks and plans to travel to Qatar this week.

• The proposal includes the release of 10 living hostages and 9 deceased, according to Witkoff.

• Qatari officials also joined discussions at the White House, signaling regional cooperation.

The Sticking Point

The last unresolved issue: the withdrawal maps.

• Israel would pull troops from northern Gaza on Day 1 and southern Gaza on Day 7.

• Specific map details are still being negotiated directly between Israel and Hamas.

• Israel insists on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor (which runs along the border between Egypt and Gaza) to monitor border traffic.

Hamas Wants Guarantees

From Hamas’s side, three demands dominate.

• A permanent end to fighting, humanitarian aid via the UN, and troop withdrawal to pre-March 2 positions.

• A senior Hamas official told CNN they could return hostages “in one day” with proper guarantees.

• Hamas called for US assurances that fighting won’t resume after the proposed 60-day ceasefire.

But Why?

One of many questions that is being raised is, why is Hamas so specific about wanting humanitarian aid to be delivered by the UN?

• UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is a UN organization that would be involved if this were to happen.

• But UNRWA has been accused of having known Hamas terrorists within it, posing as humanitarian workers.

• And conveniently, a video is circulating online allegedly showing a Hamas-linked charity handing out food to kids just to film a donation promo, then taking it away once the cameras stop rolling. 👇️ 

Hamas Ambush

And of course, there was the ambush.

• Five Israeli soldiers died and 14 were hurt after a roadside bomb hit their unit in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, on Monday.

• The IDF says the blast went off during a Northern Brigade op, and things got worse when troops trying to help the wounded came under fire.

• The dead:

  • Meir Shimon Amar

  • Moshe Nissim Frech

  • Benyamin Asulin

  • Noam Aharon Musgadian

  • Moshe Shmuel Noll

Timing

This all happened while Netanyahu was in DC meeting with Trump about a possible Hamas ceasefire.

• So, will the ceasefire still happen, or will this push Netanyahu to toughen his stance?

• Or could Trump pressure Netanyahu to strike a deal, especially with criticism of Trump ramping up every day after the DOJ shut down the Epstein client list case?

• This latest clip of Trump pushing back at a reporter asking about the files is sparking online debate (again).

🇰🇪 KENYA
Deadly Protests
Numbers Released

Kenyan security forces came down hard on anti-government protests Monday, leaving dozens dead and sparking even more anger toward President William Ruto’s administration.

The National Human Rights Commission issued a new statement today, detailing the fallout from the violence.

What Sparked the Uprising

To understand Monday’s chaos, you have to rewind to Kenya’s broader political unrest and economic misery.

• Protests stem from anger over a now-scrapped finance bill (withdrawn in June 2024) that raised taxes during a cost-of-living crisis.

• Public outrage has flared up again following the recent police killings of a teacher who died in custody and an unarmed street vendor.

• July 7 marks Saba Saba, the anniversary of the landmark pro-democracy march that took place on the same day in 1990.

Violent Government Response

From dawn to dusk, Kenyan security forces showed little restraint.

• Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights reported 31 killed, 107 injured, and 532 arrested.

• Police officially cited 11 deaths and 567 arrests, but inconsistencies in the figures raised concerns.

• Riot cops blocked roads to Parliament and the president’s office, using tear gas and water cannon on crowds.

Brutality Caught on Camera

Often, these casualty numbers can seem too abstract to grasp the violence, but videos make it real.

• In Kiambu County, a video showed armed officers whipping a civilian who didn’t appear threatening.

• Police pledged to investigate, but protesters doubt any meaningful accountability.

Civil Society Under Siege?

Even human rights defenders weren’t spared in the crackdown.

• “Hired goons” allegedly sent by the state disrupted a mother’s press conference at a local NGO.

• The women were protesting abductions and killings of activists ahead of Saba Saba.

• Police said they’re “reviewing the clip” but haven't acknowledged any direct role.

Official Denials and Defiance

Despite mounting backlash, the government stands firm, but so do the protesters.

• Interior Minister Murkomen labeled the movement “terrorism disguised as dissent.”

• A protester in Nairobi told Reuters: “We are not ready to go back… Who will fight for our rights then?”