Eliminated: Hezbollah's No. 2

Hi Global Recap readers,

Unfortunately, it seems like we have to end the week with reports of more violence around the globe. Like yesterday, there was another ideology-driven knife attack and escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

I urge you to read the “hypocrisy” section of the story about Hezbollah, which discusses the negative impact of blaming or condemning only one side of the conflict for the violence.

However, I promise to wrap today’s newsletter on a lighter note, so keep reading!

Hope you have a restful weekend.

🇳🇱 NETHERLANDS
Rotterdam Knife Attack

A knife-wielding assailant attacked two men, killing one and injuring another, in what may have been an Islamist terrorist act.

The Attack

A 22-year-old man went on a stabbing spree in Rotterdam.

• The first victim was attacked in a parking garage beneath the Erasmus Bridge.

• The assailant then moved to street level, fatally attacking another person.

• The suspect was overpowered by bystanders and police.

Possible Islamist Terrorist Motive

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack.

• The suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack.

• Prosecutors believe the suspect may have been driven by ideology.

• Other motives have not been ruled out.

Victims

The attack resulted in one fatality and one injury.

• The deceased was a 32-year-old man from Rotterdam.

• The injured victim was a 33-year-old man from Switzerland.

Heroic Actions

Bystanders played a crucial role in stopping the attacker.

• A personal trainer knocked the suspect unconscious with a broken squat stick.

• Other bystanders threw chairs at the suspect to subdue him.

🇱🇧 LEBANON
Deadly Airstrike Assassination

This just cannot get more humiliating for Hezbollah. Israel launched a rare airstrike in Beirut, killing a top Hezbollah commander.

Aqil’s Role

Ibrahim Aqil was a key military figure in Hezbollah. In fact he is known to have been the terrorist organization’s no. 2 leader.

• The group described Aqil as a “great jihadist leader.”

• Aqil had been on the US wanted list for years, with a $7 million reward for information leading to his capture.

• He was involved in major operations, including the 1983 US Embassy bombing in Beirut that resulted in the death of 17 Americans. Despite this, many “Americans” online are mourning Aqil’s death and condemning Israel for this supposed “terrorist act.”

Hypocrisy

For instance, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who criticized Israel’s recent precision “pager attacks,” did not condemn Hezbollah’s retaliatory attack on northern Israel, which involved around 150 rockets on Friday.

• Criticism is absolutely warranted. No one wants ongoing violence that leads to the deaths of innocent lives. However, when criticizing violence, it should address both sides, not just one.

• This hypocrisy drives people apart and encourages them to take sides, preventing a more rational approach to the issue, which is already challenging in itself.

• Remember: The targeted pagers and walkie-talkies were aimed specifically at terrorist members carrying those devices. While collateral casualties are possible, they were not the targets and are minimal compared to a missile attack.

• Additionally: Following the pager attack, Hezbollah’s leader was offered the option to halt missile launches in exchange for stopping similar electronic attacks (as reported yesterday).

The Airstrike

Israel targeted a densely populated neighborhood in southern Beirut, killing Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander, and at least 13 others.

• The attack leveled an apartment building where Aqil was meeting with other militants.

• There are unconfirmed reports suggesting that Aqil was meeting with members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas.

  • They were reportedly meeting in person because they feared that using electronic devices could be too risky, given the recent explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies.

🇮🇹 ITALY
Chemical Castration Law Proposed

Italy’s parliament recently approved the creation of a committee to draft laws on legalizing chemical castration for rapists and pedophiles.

Government’s Proposal

This controversial measure is the latest move by Italy’s right-wing government, headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

• The treatment would be consensual and reversible.

• It aims to prevent reoffending by treating violent sex offenders with androgen-blocking drugs.

Opposition’s Criticism

Opposition groups have strongly criticized the proposal.

• They argue it is “extremist” and a "violation of humanity and justice."

• Critics claim it undermines the foundation of Italy’s legal system.

International Context

Chemical castration is already used in several countries.

• Kazakhstan recently announced the mass chemical castration of 11 pedophiles.

• Madagascar approved surgical castration for child rapists.

• Russia is also moving towards forced chemical castration for pedophiles.

Concerns and Side Effects

There are significant concerns about the method’s effectiveness and side effects.

• Physical and psychological side effects have been raised.

• The effectiveness of stopping reoffending is still debated.

📊 Poll

Sure, the “treatment” is supposed to be consensual and reversible—although I wonder how this will be achieved—but do you think it will deter offenders from committing such crimes?

🇨🇳 CHINA
Painted Dogs at Zoo

Who said China isn’t known for knock-offs?

A zoo in China has admitted that its star attraction, two so-called “pandas,” are actually painted dogs. Take a look at the video. There’s no way that’s a panda.

This revelation has sparked a mix of amusement and outrage among visitors and social media users.

Viral Video

A video showing the painted dogs has gone viral on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.

• The video has been shared over 1.4 million times and liked by more than 725,000 users.

• The dogs are Chow Chows painted to look like pandas.

Zoo’s Admission

The zoo confirmed the dogs are part of their attractions.

• The zoo’s manager stated that the dogs are a top attraction.

• The zoo is named “Strange Animals and Cute Pets Paradise.”

Previous Incidents

This isn’t the first time dogs have been painted to look like pandas in China.

• In May, a zoo in Jiangsu province faced criticism for a similar incident.

• A café in Chengdu offered a dyeing service for pets to look like pandas in 2019.

• Pet shops in Guangdong were caught selling dogs dyed to look like miniature tigers in 2016.