Hello Monday! It’s September 23, and we’re tracking top stories to start the week: U.S. losing a generation to fentanyl as agents fight Mexican cartels, U.S. to propose ban on Chinese car technology, how tycoons and oligarchs push back on corporate spies, lobbyists exploit massive loophole to wine and dine lawmakers, and much more…

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🎯 U.S. losing a generation to fentanyl as agents fight Mexican cartels. We’re in the midst of the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. The drug is fentanyl – a purely chemical, man-made drug. CBS

🚩 Interpol head warns fentanyl scourge could hit Europe Semafor

🚩 Kids Are Inhaling ‘Galaxy Gas’ – Here’s What Parents Should Know CNN

Top Stories

🌎 U.S. to propose ban on Chinese software, hardware in connected vehicles. Regulation would ban the import and sale of vehicles with key communications or driving system components. Reuters

🇨🇳 U.S. Research Aided Chinese Military Technology NYT 

🇨🇳 Citi's China expansion held up by U.S. regulators Reuters

🌎 How tycoons and oligarchs push corporate spies out into the cold. Business intelligence firms who compile reports on corporate subjects find their targets are fighting back. Guardian 

🌎 Lobbyists exploit massive loophole to wine and dine lawmakers, aides at fancy getaways. Leading the way is the nonprofit Congressional Institute, run by veteran Republican staffers and funded by $3M in annual dues. Politico

🌎 How Wikipedia Became a Propaganda Site. In the age of Trump, a few powerful editors have turned the information site into Democratic agitprop. Free Press 

🌎 Back to the Cold War: Russia uses Mexico as a hub for spying on the U.S. Russia has a long history of spying on the U.S. from Mexico City, dating back to the 1980s. NBC

🌎 FATF lauds India’s AML success but calls for stronger crypto sector oversight. FATF praised India’s progress in fighting money laundering, noting the country’s success in tackling illicit flows. DLN 

🔑 India rules out joining world’s largest trade deal, accuses China of ‘very opaque’ trade practices CNBC 

🌎 Biden’s Iran Envoy Wanted a Nuclear Deal. It May Have Cost Him His Career. Robert Malley, known for engaging adversaries and pushing the envelope on diplomacy, is under FBI investigation. WSJ

🌎 How Diddy wielded power and prestige to fuel decades of abuse. Combs’ public image projected wealth and achievement, but the indictment paints a more sinister picture. NBC

Russia & China

📌 U.S. Worries Deepen as Adversaries Team Up to Challenge Dominance Bloomberg

📌 U.S. officials say sanctions against pro-Russian former Georgian PM are ready to go VOA 

📌 Ex-BP CEO on Why Russia Sanctions Are Increasing Risks of Oil Spill Bloomberg

📌 CERN cuts ties with Russia, will expel hundreds of scientists by December Ars

Terrorism

💥 Hezbollah’s Pagers and Walkie-Talkies Explode. Now What? Free Press 

💥 Exploding Pagers and the Tech Race With China WSJ

💥 Attacks by Islamic extremists are rampant in Africa's Sahel AP

Corruption & Financial Crime

💸 Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against Newsmax is headed to trial LAT 

💸 Venezuela Takes Americans Hostage WSJ 

💸 Feds seize NYC’s interim police commissioner materials from his homes AP

📘 Identifying Successful Collective Action Approaches Against Kleptocracy CIPE

Crypto & Cyber

🔐 Electronic Warfare Spooks Airlines, Pilots and Air-Safety Officials WSJ

🔐 U.S. judge slaps $36M fine on man for 5-year crypto investor fraud Cointelegraph 

🔐 Brazil court asks X for documents as the platform starts to comply with orders Reuters 

🔐 HSBC calls on tech firms to help refund victims of fraud Guardian

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” —Churchill

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