Something smells fishy...

Hi Global Recap readers,

Last week, I had a gut feeling that Israel would strike Iran over the weekend.

🤔 Why? The stock market is closed then. This is just a fun little theory tossed around when betting with friends. In fact, many people online subscribe to this same theory.

Israel says they held off the attack for the “perfect weather,” but isn’t it funny how major events often drop on weekends?

If this little theory holds up, we might see Iran make a move this weekend, especially with the US elections looming.

💡 But let’s be real—they probably don’t care about their market as much as the West does.

Let’s see…

🇰🇵 NORTH KOREA
"World's Strongest Missile" Too Big for War

North Korea just flaunted its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test, claiming it’s the “world’s strongest.” Many were worried it could credibly threaten the US now.

But that was before the launch footage was released. Now, experts say the missile’s massive size makes it impractical for actual combat.

What is Kim trying to overcompensate for?

Missile Details

The missile, called the Hwasong-19, flew higher and longer than any previous North Korean ICBM.

• The missile is estimated to be at least 28 meters (92 feet) long, much larger than US and Russian ICBMs.

• And it’s this oversized size that likely helped South Korean intelligence detect the launch in advance.

• That’s not all. Experts say the missile's large size makes it an easy target for a preemptive strike. 😂

• North Korea's state media called the Hwasong-19 "the world's strongest strategic missile" and the "perfected weapon system."

🇳🇱 NETHERLANDS
Warhol Prints Stolen in “Amateurish” Heist

A group of thieves pulled off a botched art heist in the Netherlands, stealing two Andy Warhol prints and damaging two others in the process.

Yikes, talk about a messy operation…

The Heist

Thieves blasted their way into the MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk, using explosives to blow the door wide open.

Hold up—aren’t you supposed to be discreet when stealing? What’s with this over-the-top display like you’re trying to overcompensate for something?

Kim, is that you?

• They attempted to steal four Warhol screen prints from his "Reigning Queens" series.

• The thieves only managed to escape with two prints - of Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Margrethe II.

• The other two prints, of Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntombi Tfwala, were left damaged on the street.

Damage and Aftermath

The explosion caused significant damage to the gallery and nearby shops.

• Gallery owner Mark Peet Visser described the heist as "amateurish."

• The stolen prints were planned to be sold as a set at an art fair in Amsterdam.

• Police are investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses.

Value of the Artwork

The value of the stolen and damaged prints is unclear.

• Visser declined to provide a specific value for the four works.

• Art detective Arthur Brand said the prints "were not unique and most likely tens of them were made."

• This makes them easier to sell than one-of-a-kind pieces, but still not an easy fence.

So in the end, these bumbling burglars managed to cause a ton of destruction, steal a couple Warhol prints, and probably won't even get a good price for them. Real criminal masterminds, these guys.

🇬🇪 GEORGIA
Something Smells Fishy…

Western pollsters are saying the results of Georgia’s recent election defy all statistical logic, sparking claims of widespread fraud.

We’ve always known democracy is fragile, but is it really this manipulatable (if true)?

Pollsters Cry Foul

Independent exit polls conducted by US firms HarrisX and Edison Research found significant discrepancies between their estimates and the official results.

• HarrisX's poll of 12,000 voters showed the opposition parties winning handily, while the official count gave the ruling party a 54% majority.

  • By the way, the ruling party is Georgian Dream, which is accused of being anti-West and pro-Kremlin.

  • Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili is an independent.

• Edison Research also reported a 13-point difference between their estimate and the official results, calling it "statistically unexplainable."

• The pollsters say the deviations point to "possible voting irregularities" and "local-level manipulation of the vote."

Opposition Cries Foul

Georgia's pro-EU opposition parties have condemned the election as "rigged" and "stolen," calling for mass protests.

• President Salome Zourabichvili has sided with the opposition, alleging the vote was part of a "Russian special operation." Man, the Kremlin really loves “special operations,” don’t they? 😂

• The EU, US, and NATO have all called for a transparent investigation into the widespread reports of irregularities.

Ruling Party Defiant

However, the ruling Georgian Dream party insists the election was "free and fair," acknowledging only "a couple" of polling station issues.

• The election commission has rejected allegations of bias, denying claims of "carousel voting" in the new electronic system.

• Prosecutors have summoned the president for questioning to prove her fraud allegations, but she says that's their job.

🇨🇦 CANADA
Massive Drug Lab Busted

A big part of the US elections is all about stopping the border crisis, which supposedly lets gangs flood the country with fentanyl, turning countless people into addicts.

You might think it’s all coming from Mexico or South America, right?

Well, Canadian police just busted the largest, most sophisticated illegal drug “super lab” in the country’s history, seizing a record haul of fentanyl, chemicals, and firearms.

😔 Our friendly neighbors to the North…

The Massive Bust

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) executed search warrants last week on the drug lab in Falkland, British Columbia, and associated locations in Surrey.

• They seized 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of other drugs.

• Police also found 89 firearms, including handguns, assault rifles, and submachine guns - many of which were loaded and ready to use.

• Investigators arrested a suspect, Gaganpreet Randhawa, who now faces numerous drug and firearms charges.

Organized Crime Involvement

The RCMP believes this massive drug lab was run by organized crime groups for international distribution.

• The operation was producing and distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine across Canada and globally.

• Authorities say this is a "major blow" to the transnational organized crime networks involved.

Context: Fentanyl Crisis in Canada

Fentanyl is a key ingredient in many deadly illicit drugs that have killed nearly 48,000 Canadians since 2016.

• The Canadian government is battling a worsening opioid crisis fueled by the highly potent synthetic opioid.

• This bust comes after another recent RCMP operation targeting a Mexican cartel-linked drug network in Canada.

🇫🇷 FRANCE
Shooting Sparks Massive Gang Brawl

In Poitiers, a shooting at a restaurant sparked a chaotic brawl involving hundreds of gang members, injuring at least five people.

What’s France turning into?

The Shooting and Brawl

The incident began late Thursday at a restaurant, involving hundreds of gang members.

• The shooting left five teens with serious gunshot wounds, including a 15-year-old with a gunshot wound to the head

• When police arrived, they had to use tear gas to break up the fight, which involved "400 to 600 people carrying all manner of weapons."

• It took nearly an hour for the police to restore order after the initial shooting.

The Government's Response

France's Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, had some strong words about the incident.

• He said drug-related violence in France has reached a "tipping point" and presented a stark choice—"full mobilization" or "Mexicanization." Not so subtle jab at Mexico there…

• Retailleau plans to announce new anti-trafficking measures next week in Marseille.

• He emphasized the need for a "nationwide effort" to tackle the growing problem of gang violence and drug crime.

The Broader Context

This incident is part of a larger trend of gang-related violence in France.

• A recent Senate report estimated annual drug trafficking revenues in France at €3-6 billion.

• The issue has led many French voters to support the far-right National Rally party, which has highlighted the problem.

• A similar shooting incident in Rennes left a 5-year-old boy in critical condition, further fueling concerns about the crisis.