Greetings! It’s March 27, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Nearly $13 million stolen from Abracadabra Finance in crypto heist, Bessent opens door to Russian return to major international banking system, March massacres show that Syria urgently needs solutions - not sanctions, Western banks sent billions in cash to Russia on eve of Ukraine invasion, and much more…

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Nearly $13 million stolen from Abracadabra Finance in crypto heist. The crypto lending platform said the issue was sourced back to a product it calls “cauldrons” — isolated lending markets that allow users to borrow against a variety of cryptocurrencies. Record

🔥 TOP STORIES

Bessent opens door to Russian return to major international banking system Politico

There’s a right way to lift sanctions on Russia. Follow these Dos and Don’ts. Atlantic Council

The March Massacres Show That Syria Urgently Needs Solutions, Not Sanctions WOTR 

U.S. gave Syria list of conditions for partial sanctions relief Reuters

Western Banks Sent Billions in Cash to Russia on Eve of Ukraine Invasion OCCRP

US adds Chinese tech firms to its export control list AP

Trump Takes Tough Approach to Choking Off China’s Access to U.S. Tech WSJ

Senate likely to send repeal of IRS DeFi broker rule to White House Axios

As Trump offers new nuclear talks, Iran weighs the cost of losing its final leverage CNN

U.S. Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint for $47M from Sale of 1M Barrels of Iranian Oil DOJ

Russian Explosive Makers Use Fertilizer Firms to Blunt Sanctions Bloomberg

💥 RUSSIA & CHINA

U.S. Agrees to Help Russia Boost Exports in Ukraine Talks WSJ

Russia says sanctions must be lifted before Ukraine maritime ceasefire can start BBC

EU says 'unconditional withdrawal' of Russia from Ukraine is a precondition to amend sanctions Reuters

How Elon Musk’s SpaceX Secretly Allows Investment From China ProPublica

China frees staff of US consultancy firm after two years BBC

Leaked data exposes a Chinese AI censorship machine TC

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Brazil's Bolsonaro to stand trial on coup charges BBC

Ex-Giants running back ran massive dog-fighting operation NYP

Social Security Administration delays and curtails new anti-fraud policy CNN

12 members of an Irish high-risk criminal network arrested Europol

What lies beneath: Germany’s hidden organized corruption threat Global Initiative

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

DOGE staffer 'Big Balls' provided tech support to cybercrime ring Reuters

Trump-Tied World Liberty Financial Pitches Its Stablecoin in Washington With Don Jr. CoinDesk

Crypto Giants Seek Congressional Clarity on U.S. Money Transmitter Rules Decrypt

Chinese ‘FamousSparrow’ hackers back from the dead and targeting North America Record

Polymarket Suffers UMA Governance Attack After Rogue Actor Becomes Top-5 Token Staker CoinDesk

SEC drops investigation into Australian crypto firm Immutable Block

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Libya Arrests 4 Human Trafficking Suspects Believed to Have Tortured and Killed Migrants OCCRP

Kristi Noem tours El Salvador’s hell-hole CECOT prison ahead of negotiations for more gangbanger deportation flights NYP

South Korea's truth commission says government responsible for fraud and abuse in foreign adoptions AP

“A government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” —Ronald Reagan

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