Happy Monday!  It’s July 1, and we’re tracking top stories to start your week: Arab League reverses view that Hezbollah is terrorist group, Kanye West visits Moscow, Panama Papers trial concludes with all defendants absolved of money laundering charge, how Iran defied the U.S. to become an international power, and much more...   

Featured Story

🎯 Arab League reverses view that Hezbollah is terrorist group. The organization lifts terrorist classification, believes Hezbollah has major role in Lebanon's future. New Arab

Top Stories

🌎 Kanye West is visiting Moscow. Ye arrived in Russia on a private visit, according to Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy. CNN

🌎 Panama Papers trial concludes with all defendants absolved of money laundering charge. The founder of Mossack Fonseca was among those cleared in the long-awaited sentencing. ICIJ

🔑 Panama Papers: Top 10 Lessons for Financial Crimes Compliance Illicit Edge

🌎 How Iran Defied the U.S. to Become an International Power. Despite decades of Western pressure, Tehran poses a greater threat to U.S. interests thanks to its ties to Russia and China. WSJ

🚩 How Iran is growing rich despite its status as a pariah nation NYP

🚩 EU sanctions Hamas financiers in Iran AFP

🌎 Financial Action Task Force removes Turkey from gray list, keeps Iran on blacklist, says India in compliance, and adds Monaco to gray list.

🌎 Austrian regulators fine Raiffeisen for AML lapses. The ruling further tarnishes Raiffeisen's image as it continues business in Russia when Western peers have severed ties. Reuters

🌎 Deutsche Bank Promotes Compliance Chief to Management Board. Germany’s largest lender has often had run-ins with regulators over AML shortcomings. Bloomberg

🚩 FinCEN Issues Proposed Rule to Strengthen and Modernize Financial Institutions’ AML/CFT Programs FinCEN

🌎 DOJ to Charge Boeing, Seek Guilty Plea. DOJ has told Boeing it will have to pay a massive fine and have a corporate monitor. Bloomberg

🌎 Myanmar central bank denies UN report on weapons transactions. Western countries have imposed multiple financial sanctions on Myanmar's military, banks, and businesses. Reuters

🌎 NYC man charged in international ‘grandparent scam’ that preyed on elderly. Conspirators would contact elderly people, posing as their grandchildren or legal authorities. NYP

IN THE NEWS

Russia & China

📌 TeamViewer says Russia’s ‘Cozy Bear’ hackers attacked corporate IT system Record

📌 Russian Goods Find Their Way to Singapore as War Fatigue Sets In Bloomberg

📌 Precious rare earth metals belong to the state, China declares Politico

📌 China’s Cash for Power: New book examines the Communist Party’s state-backed investment funds. City Journal

📌 Russia's VTB: US sanctions have complicated cross-border transactions Reuters

📌 Toblerone still sold in Russia even as Mondelez nixed imports Reuters

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Corruption & Financial Crime

💸 Amnesty International 'Urgently Hiring' Paid Canvassers To Push for Gaza Ceasefire Free Beacon

💸 Citigroup urges dismissal of ex-managing director's whistleblower lawsuit Reuters

💸 Police search Thales offices in three countries in corruption probe Reuters

💸 CEOs charged with top Navy admiral fight U.S. bribery allegations WaPo

💸 Scientist behind Alzheimer’s drug indicted for research fraud NBC

💸 An Undercover Operation, a Raid and the Fight Over What Makes a True Tequila WSJ

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Crypto & Cyber

🔐 U.S. Wants to Integrate Commercial Space Industry With Military to Prevent Cyber Attacks Wired

🔐 Judge upholds 'bulk' of SEC case against Binance Block

🔐 Indonesia arrests over 100 foreigners in Bali Record

🔐 U.S. Treasury Issues Crypto Tax Regime For 2025 CoinDesk

🔐 Europe's MiCA Is Finally Here. How Will the U.S. Respond? CoinDesk

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Trafficking

🚚 One gun, 34 dead: Inside Ecuador's war on black-market weapons Reuters

🚚 Federal judge stops Oklahoma from enforcing new anti-immigration law AP

🚚 Asian crime lords target Golden Triangle as they devise new markets VOA

🚚 Mexican cartels boast of increased lethal firepower, including weapons from U.S. USA Today

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." --George Orwell

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