Hello! It’s June 29, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Lukashenko capitalizes on Putin-Prigozhin mess, mandatory ID checks at KuCoin, TikTok finances Montana suit against ban, Crypto’s most powerful woman, and much more…

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Featured Story

🎯Lukashenko Capitalizes on Putin-Prigozhin Mess: In the aftermath of Putin's major power challenge, Belarus's Lukashenko leverages his mediator role to enhance his standing. Daily Beast 

Top Stories

🌍 Mandatory ID Checks at KuCoin: Crypto Exchange KuCoin announces compulsory KYC for new customers from July 15, and trading restrictions for existing non-KYC customers. CoinDesk

🌍 TikTok Users Sue After Montana Ban: TikTok is quietly financing users' lawsuit following a state-wide ban in Montana. NY Times

🌍 Binance's Crisis Calls on Yi He: The crypto firm's most influential woman, Yi He, faces her sternest test amidst a crisis rocking Binance. Bloomberg

🌍 SEC Moves Against SolarWinds' CISO Over Russian Hack: SolarWinds' CISO, and others, receive SEC notices of potential legal action over the Russian hack. Zero Day

🌍 $2.5 Billion Health-Care Fraud: The DOJ charges 78 individuals in a fraudulent scheme involving healthcare programs, with funds spent on luxury items. CNBC

🌍 $53 Million Pandemic Relief Fraud: US officials indict 14 people for a scheme involving false PPP loan applications and doctored bank statements. CBS News

🌍 CFTC Slaps $54M Default Judgment in Crypto Fraud Case: A trader, now barred from CFTC-regulated markets and from registering with CFTC, receives a $54M default judgment. Cointelegraph

🌍 Influencers Criticized for Praising Shein: Influencers face backlash for praising Shein's working conditions amidst allegations of abuse. NY Post

🌍 Narco-Plane Expert Thwarts Major Drug Shipment: Expert intercepts a Mexican cartel associate's attempt to buy a private jet for cocaine smuggling. Courier Journal

IN THE NEWS

Russia & China

🐉 Russian Aluminum Stockpile Challenges LME Credibility Oil Price

🐉 Chinese Balloon Uses American Tech for Espionage WSJ

🐉 China Calls for US Sanctions Lift for High-Level Military Talks The Hill

🐉 China Export Curbs Impact Nvidia Reuters

🐉 China's Billionaire Shopping Company Struggles to Avoid US Ban El Pais

🐉 Missing Russian Gas Mystery Bloomberg

Corruption & Financial Crime

💰 Mexican Fentanyl Claims Contradicted by Seizures VICE

💰 Corruption-Fueled Building Boom Transforms Baghdad Washington Post

💰 CEO's ESG Bonuses Under Scrutiny in Virginia Fox Business

💰 Phony Green Energy Scheme Lands California Man in Prison ABC News

Crypto & Cyber

🔒 Binance Loses European Banking Partner Paysafe Decrypt

🔒 Binance's German Custody License Application Denied CoinDesk

🔒 US Health Department Targeted in MOVEit Hacking Campaign Bloomberg

🔒 Years-Long Data Leak Notified by US Patent and Trademark Office TechCrunch

Sanctions & Enforcement

🔨 AML/CFT and Counter-Proliferation Deficiencies Identified by FATF FinCEN

🔨 Europe Maintains Ballistic Missile Sanctions on Iran Reuters

🔨 Swiss Sanctions Against Moldova's Sovereignty Violators Reuters

🔨 Switzerland Expands Russia Sanctions List Swiss Government

🔨 British Legal Advice Banned in New Russian Sanctions UPI

"Sometimes history takes things into its own hands."

--Thurgood Marshall

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