Hezbollah “found out”

Hi Global Recap readers,

It is common to see humans engaging in battle due to differing beliefs and opinions. While many would argue this is not ideal, it has been a reality for thousands of years throughout history.

In fact, the relatively peaceful period we’ve experienced since WWII is quite unusual. It is so remarkable that it even has a name: the Long Peace.

While it is possible that we may disrupt this long-lasting peace in the future, it appears that Mother Nature isn’t helping either. 👇

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Hurricane Milton Plows Through

As people begin to grasp the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton is now charging toward Florida, triggering mass evacuations and urgent warnings from officials.

Massive Evacuations

Thousands of Floridians are fleeing as Hurricane Milton approaches.

• Highways are jammed, and shelters are filling up.

• Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to evacuate, warning of deadly storm surges and winds.

• President Joe Biden canceled trips to oversee storm preparations.

Storm’s Strength

Milton has just regained powerful Category 5 strength as it barrels toward Tampa.

• Helene made landfall with sustained winds of 140 mph, while Milton is forecast to peak at 165 mph before weakening to 125 mph at landfall.

• It is expected to bring a storm surge of up to 15 feet along Florida’s west coast.

• It’s the most powerful storm to hit Tampa Bay in over a century.

For reference, this is what a 9-foot storm surge looks like:

🇨🇳 CHINA
China Hits EU Brandy

China has decided to impose temporary anti-dumping measures on brandy imports from the European Union, targeting major brands like Hennessy and Remy Martin.

A classic case of tit-for-tat.

The Decision

China’s Commerce Ministry announced the measures on Tuesday.

• The decision follows the EU’s vote for tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs).

• The ministry cited “substantial damage” to China’s brandy sector due to EU dumping.

The Impact

Importers will face hefty security deposits.

• Deposits range from 34.8% to 39.0% of the import value.

• Hennessy and Remy Martin are among the hardest hit, with deposits of 39.0% and 38.1%, respectively.

Broader Implications

The measures hint at more to come.

• An ongoing investigation into EU pork products could lead to further actions.

• China is also considering higher tariffs on large-engine vehicles, impacting German exports significantly.

Market Reaction

The news affected major companies’ stock prices.

• Pernod Ricard shares fell by 2.9%, Remy Cointreau by 5%, and LVMH by 4%.

• The French cognac trade body and affected companies have not yet commented.

🇱🇧 LEBANON
Hezbollah Begs for Ceasefire

Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist group, has announced its readiness to engage in ceasefire talks with Israel after suffering significant losses.

But here’s what’s interesting—their statement didn't mention the condition of a ceasefire in Gaza.

🤔 So, naturally, people are now wondering: So, the reason they’ve been firing missiles non-stop wasn’t because of Gaza after all?

Leadership Decimated

Hezbollah’s leadership has been severely impacted by recent Israeli military actions.

• The group’s chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was killed on September 27.

• His successor, Hashem Safieddine, was also likely killed in an airstrike.

• More than a dozen senior officials have been eliminated.

Rocket Attacks

Despite the losses, Hezbollah continues to launch attacks on Israel.

• Over 100 rockets were fired at Haifa on Tuesday, Israel’s third-largest city.

• The attacks have resulted in injuries, including a woman in her 70s.

Cease-Fire “Proposal”

In the video above is Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, publicly calling for a truce.

• This is the first time Hezbollah has proposed a ceasefire not conditioned on the Gaza conflict.

• The proposal follows a massive rocket barrage from Lebanon.

• Interestingly, Hezbollah isn’t willing to discuss any details of the ceasefire. They’re demanding a ceasefire first, with the promise of discussing specifics afterward.

  • It’s essentially begging for an immediate truce while trying to maintain an illusion of strength by “appearing” to dictate the terms.

🇧🇷 BRAZIL
Brazil Lifts Ban on X

Brazil has lifted its ban on the social media platform X after Elon Musk complied with the country’s demands.

You might expect this to be met with universal approval, but many are criticizing Musk for yielding to pressure.

Ban Lifted

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the reinstatement of X.

• The platform was banned on August 30, impacting 20 to 40 million users.

• This prompted many to switch to Bluesky, a competing platform previously funded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

• The ban followed a conflict over free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.

Musk’s Compliance

Elon Musk met all of Brazil’s demands to lift the ban.

• Musk appointed a legal representative in Brazil.

• X blocked specific accounts and paid outstanding fines.

But wait. I thought X was advocating for freedom of speech in Brazil.

If that’s true, why would they pay hefty fines and censor accounts that the Brazilian government seeks to silence?

Legal Representative

Rachel de Oliveira Villa Nova Conceição was reappointed as X’s legal representative.

• Conceição resigned in April but was reappointed on September 20.

• A clause was added to protect her from legal violations by X.

National Sovereignty

De Moraes emphasized the importance of respecting Brazilian laws.

• Musk was criticized for disrespecting Brazilian sovereignty and the judiciary.

• Musk initially called him “an evil dictator cosplaying as a judge.”

• The resumption of X’s activities was conditioned on full compliance with Brazilian laws.

📊 Poll

Despite the growing criticism, many are still celebrating this news. Their rationale appears to be that it provides a voice to numerous Brazilians in the present moment.