Happy Monday! It’s October 13, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Microsoft warns of new “Payroll Pirate” scam stealing employees’ direct deposits, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is propping up Venezuela, Russia’s economy as a shocking $250M money laundering operation, latest U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil deal blow to China's Sinopec, China is hacking America's critical infrastructure, and much more…

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

Microsoft warns of new “Payroll Pirate” scam stealing employees’ direct deposits. Microsoft is warning of an active scam that diverts employees' paycheck payments to attacker-controlled accounts after first taking over their profiles on Workday or other cloud-based HR services. Ars

🔥 TOP STORIES

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is propping up Venezuela, Russia’s economy as a shocking $250M money laundering operation NYP

Latest U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil deal blow to China's Sinopec Reuters

China ‘not afraid of trade war,’ accuses U.S. of ‘double standard’ for rare earths retaliation CNBC

China is hacking America's critical infrastructure CBS

Western parts in Russian drones: Are sanctions working? DW

Corpses of 250 animals found with surviving animals eating the dead in "breeding ground of horror" in Spain CBS

FBI takedown banner appears on BreachForums site as Scattered Spider promotes leak Record

📘 Featured Report: Brazil’s Federal Police Dismantle $540M Crypto Laundering Network in “Operation Lusocoin” TRM Labs

U.S. threatens visa restrictions, sanctions against UN members that back IMO emissions plan Reuters

China, U.S. and Thailand seize record meth haul near disputed South China Sea reef SCMP

Inside Starmer’s network of advisers and their links to China Telegraph

First-cousin marriage linked to terrorist financing, money laundering and people trafficking Daily Mail

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

U.S. sanctions Serbia’s main oil supplier, which is controlled by Russia AP

Russia may have been behind Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack Telegraph

UK, France and Germany unite to turn Russian assets into Ukraine aid Times

China’s Wingtech says Dutch court freezes control of Nexperia amid ‘national security’ dispute SCMP

Trump proposes barring Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on US flights Reuters

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Dangerous funders fill Zohran Mamdani’s coffers — multiplied by taxpayer $$ NYP 

Peru president removed from office after string of scandals and allegations CNN

Trump critic and former national security adviser John Bolton to be charged soon NBC

SEC says India yet to serve summons to Adani executives in bribery indictment Reuters

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Hackers leak Qantas data containing 5 million customer records after ransom deadline passes Guardian

Russia Acknowledges Crypto’s Popularity With Its Citizens as Central Bank Weighs Bank Involvement CoinDesk

$21M Crypto Theft on Hyperliquid Tied to Private Key Leak CoinDesk

How hackers forced brewing giant Asahi back to pen and paper BBC

🚚 TRAFFICKING

30 children rescued amid trafficking operation in major US city Fox 

Navy ship stops boat carrying £35m of illegal drugs BBC

Reviving this African game reserve meant catching, transporting hundreds of animals AP

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