Hello! It’s May 19, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: U.S. Targets Cuban Leaders With New Sanctions, Venezuelan official Alex Saab – Maduro ally – deported to U.S., Interpol Coordinates Arrests Over 200 in Sweeping Middle East and Africa Cybercrime Crackdown, How Trump’s crypto venture and Iran’s top exchange tapped into the same industry networks, and much more…

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

U.S. Targets Cuban Leaders With New Sanctions. The designations are part of a ‌broader campaign against Cuba that includes efforts to block most oil shipments from Venezuela. Reuters

Cuba buys more than 300 drones from Russia and Iran Deutsche Welle

🔥 TOP STORIES

Maduro ally Alex Saab returns to Miami federal court after handover from Venezuela Miami Herald

Interpol Coordinates Arrests Over 200 in Sweeping Middle East and Africa Cybercrime Crackdown OCCRP

How Trump’s crypto venture and Iran’s top exchange tapped into the same industry networks Reuters

Justice Department Announces Anti-Weaponization Fund U.S. Department of Justice

Trump extends Russian oil sanctions waiver for ‘most vulnerable nations’ The Hill

India buying Russian oil irrespective of US sanctions waivers, Indian official says Reuters

Moscow’s German front company: How the Russian military bought European Politico

Mexico former state finance minister hands himself over to US authorities Reuters

DOJ dropping fraud charges against billionaire Indian businessman Gautam Adani New York Post

U.S., Nigerian Forces Kill Top Islamic State Leader WSJ

Iraqi man charged in NYC synagogue plot after attacks in Canada and Europe Globe and Mail

Fake Doctor Orders, Prescriptions: $1B Florida Medicare Fraud Conviction Newsweek

Colombia Seizes Belgian Aristocrat’s Hotel Empire OCCRP

California Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Money Laundering and False Testimony U.S. Department of Justice

DFPI Shuts Down Crypto Kiosk Operator for Cheating Consumers and Violating State Laws California DFPI

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

How China became the new master of Russia's economy Deutsche Welle

German company used Turkey and other countries to supply dual-use goods to Russia for 4 years The Insider

Russia secures another Airbus despite sanctions on aviation sector The Insider

Beijing invokes legal blockade against EU investigation into Nuctech South China Morning Post

The Chinese agents accused of spying on expats in US BBC

Beijing's Critical Raw Material Weapon — And How to Dismantle It EUISS

Cut Off Hong Kong’s Support for Iran WSJ

🚀 SANCTIONS

Impose sanctions on Iran, Trump’s treasury chief tells finance ministers Politico

Iran seizes assets of 129 people accused of links to the US and Israel The National

Shippers Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM suspend Cuba bookings after US executive order Reuters

Who Controls Cuba’s Economy? What to Know About GAESA. NYT

Rwandan president shrugs off US sanctions over DR Congo Semafor

💥 TERROR

Israel, Jews targeted worldwide as well-funded leftist, Islamist groups join for ‘Nakba 78’ protests Fox News

U.S. Airstrikes Kill About 20 Islamic State Fighters in Nigeria WSJ

Hamas seeks to exploit Hajj pilgrimage to smuggle funds into Gaza  Jerusalem Post

Hamas’s sexual terrorism is laid bare and still the world looks away The Times

Air Force intel vet Monica Witt allegedly spiraled into Iran’s terror underworld New York Post

Arrest in Netherlands raises fears Iran is recruiting Iraqi Shiite exiles for 'underground army' in Europe The National

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

The Mysterious Crypto Judges Who Settle Polymarket Disputes WSJ

Jury begins deliberations in bribery trial of Nigeria's ex-oil minister Alison-Madueke Reuters

Do EU Transfer Payments Fuel Corruption? National Review

Minnesota 'Squad' Rep. Ilhan Omar knew about $250M COVID meal fraud, scheme 'mastermind' claims in jailhouse interview New York Post

Millions Recovered in FIFA Corruption Scandal May Now Be Missing Again Before World Cup NYT

While Trump insisted the Iran war would end ‘soon,’ an account in his name was 'Selling America' Fortune

Ex-Zelensky Aide Posts $3.2 Million Bail in Money-Laundering Case OCCRP

Former CEO of Cosmetic Company Charged With Defrauding Public Company and Its Shareholders U.S. Department of Justice

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Suspected insider accounts net $2.4 million on Polymarket Iran war bets with 98% win rate CBS News

Verus-Ethereum bridge loses $11 million as hackers keep targeting cross-chain infrastructure CoinDesk

Swan Bitcoin Hit With Nearly $1 Billion Lawsuit Over Prime Trust Collapse Decrypt

Grafana says stolen GitHub token let hackers steal codebase BleepingComputer

NYC Health and Hospitals says hackers stole medical data and fingerprints during breach affecting at least 1.8 million people TechCrunch

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Mexican Senator linked to Sinaloa Cartel reportedly arrested in San Diego New York Post

California man charged with smuggling protected turtles to Asia Washington Times

UK jails driver for smuggling cocaine in shipment of Kim Kardashian underwear South China Morning Post

Crash off Florida coast shows Bahamas, Miami links to drug trafficking network Miami Herald

The Human-Trafficking Victim Next Door The New Yorker

UK-registered firms linked to payments for small-boat crossings BBC

“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.” —John Adams

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