Plus: Six Charged For Smuggling Illicit Goose Intestines Under Packaged Rattlesnakes from China...
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Hello Wednesday!  It’s March 6, and we’re tracking today's top stories: U.S. State Department hits Wagner with WMD sanctions, Binance breaks down as 2/3 of workforce canned, Apple issues critical zero-day update, six charged for smuggling raw goose intestines from China, and much more...

 

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Featured Story

 

🎯 State Department Imposes New Sanctions on Wagner, Russian Air Force. A determination has been made that a number of foreign persons have engaged in activities that warrant the imposition of measures pursuant to INKSNA. U.S. State Department 

 

Top Stories

 

🌎 Binance.US Slashed Two-Thirds of Its Workforce as Revenue Plunged After SEC Lawsuit. $1B in lost assets led to a 75% loss in revenue and 200 layoffs at Binance’s U.S.-incorporated arm. CoinDesk

 

🚩 Urgent: Apple Issues Critical Updates for Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaws Hacker News

 

🌎 6 charged for smuggling raw duck and goose intestines under packaged rattlesnakes. A shipping container that arrived California from China falsely stated the container held "1,966 cartons of pet grooming tool pet nail clippers." ABC

 

πŸ”₯ Treasury Targets Companies and Vessels Facilitating Qods Force and Houthi Commodity Shipments U.S. Treasury

 

🌎 The Blacklisted Component That’s Disrupting the Luxury-Car Market. A transformer from a Chinese supplier recently banned over links to forced labor is delaying imports of Porsche into the U.S. WSJ

 

🌎 ICC accuses two high-ranking Russians of war crimes in Ukraine. They’re responsible for directing attacks at civilians, causing excessive harm to civilians, and the crime against humanity of inhumane acts. CNN

 

🌎 U.S. lawmakers push for ByteDance to divest TikTok or face ban. This is the first significant legislative move after senate legislation to ban the app stalled in the face of heavy lobbying by TikTok. Reuters

 

πŸ“Œ ACLU says U.S. House bill that could ban TikTok is unconstitutional Reuters

 

🌎 Bob Menendez Scores Corruption Indictment Hat Trick. The NJ Democrat, who was charged with corruption and bribery in September, has now been accused of acting as a foreign agent to Qatar. Rolling Stone

 

🌎 Far-left group claims act of sabotage on Tesla. The Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin was evacuated after a power outage, with the far-left "Volcano Group" claiming responsibility. DW

 

🌎 The Secrets FactoryRegistered Agents Inc. has for years allowed businesses to register under a cloak of anonymity. New investigation reveals that its secretive founder has taken the practice to an extreme. Wired

 

🌎 BRICS Will Create Payment System Based on Digital Currencies and Blockchain. The BRICS group continues its efforts to reduce reliance on U.S. dollars in settlement. CoinDesk

 

🌎 Jihadwashing? Arab Travel Influencers Promote Taliban-Run Afghanistan. Nothing can beautify life in Afghanistan under the Taliban. So how can we promote a country whose government practices terrorism against its people? Worldcrunch

 

πŸ’₯ Visit Illicit Edge for more news! πŸ’₯  

IN THE NEWS

Russia

 

πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί Western allies split over how to make Putin pay Politico

 

πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί Russia oil fleet shifts away from Liberia, Marshall Island flags amid U.S. sanctions Reuters

 

πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί Turkish Port Halts Russian Oil Imports Amid Sanctions Pressure Oil Price

 

πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί EU efforts to slow the influx of illegal Russian timber marred by poor enforcement ICIJ

 

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China

 

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ Russia’s Chinese Yuan Funding Lifeline Is Getting Too Expensive Bloomberg

 

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ Volt Typhoon and the Disruption of the U.S. Cyber Strategy Lawfare

 

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ AMD hits US roadblock in selling AI chip tailored for China Reuters

 

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ China to Mobilize Nation as It Fights US for Tech Supremacy Bloomberg

 

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Corruption & Financial Crime

 

πŸ’Έ Tahitigate ramps up as police raid Paris city hall over mayor’s Pacific trip Politico

 

πŸ’Έ FCA warns firms over anti-money laundering failings FCA

 

πŸ’Έ Venezuela sets its presidential election for July 28 as opposition candidate remains barred AP

 

πŸ’Έ Under Armour, Kevin Plank get notice SEC could take enforcement action against apparel maker Baltimore Sun

 

πŸ’Έ Peru Prime Minister Alberto Otarola Resigns Amid Corruption Allegation Time

 

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Trafficking

 

🚚 Scanners that spot smuggled fentanyl at the border sit unused because Congress hasn't provided the cash to install them NBC

 

🚚 The EPA hails the arrest of California man accused of smuggling illicit air coolants into the US AP

 

🚚 Ex-Honduran president defends himself at New York drug trafficking trial AP

 

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Crypto & Cyber

 

πŸ” In Coinbase enforcement action, US SEC tries to capitalize on win in little-noticed case Reuters

 

πŸ” 'Exit scam' hackers that hit UnitedHealth pull disappearing act Reuters

 

πŸ” Digital Currency Group Files for Dismissal of NY AG’s Lawsuit CoinDesk

 

πŸ” U.S. Supreme Court case could change crypto industry regulation Cointelegraph

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
--Marcus Aurelius

πŸ“©

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