Today In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
The Must-Reads
Russia threatens Lithuania for enforcing E.U. sanctions on Kaliningrad WaPo’s David Ignatius: How Russia’s vaunted cyber capabilities were frustrated in Ukraine Yorktown Institute’s Seth Cropsey: How to stop Russia’s plan for global food chaos US, Iran in tense sea incident; Tehran preps new centrifuges Iran’s IRGC head predicts defeat of Israel, US amid Israeli elections Iran claims it detained Mossad cell planning to kill nuclear scientists Netanyahu prepares for a comeback in Israel’s next elections NYT's Bret Stephens: Naftali Bennett’s exit interview Hamas to restore Syria ties after 10 years of dispute, sources say Israel keeping US out of loop on alleged covert attacks in Iran — report China sends warplanes near Taiwan after US rejects strait claims Airman arrested in connection to insider bombing at US base in SyriaIn The News
Russia
Moscow warned Tuesday that Lithuania would face “serious” consequences for barring the transit of E.U.-sanctioned goods through its territory to Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave that serves as headquarters to Moscow’s Baltic Sea Fleet but has no land bridge to the rest of the country. – Washington Post
As Western businesses fled Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Kira Dikhtyar, a 33-year-old model in New York City, traveled in the opposite direction. – Washington Post
A surge in demand from Asia for discounted Russian oil is making up for the sharply lower number of barrels being sold to Europe, dulling the effects of the West’s efforts to punish Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and keeping revenue flowing to the Kremlin. – New York Times
A Ukrainian photojournalist and a soldier who was accompanying him when they were killed in the first weeks of Russia’s invasion appear to have been “coldly executed” as they were searching Russian-occupied woodlands for the photographer’s missing image-taking drone, Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday, citing its findings from an investigation into their deaths. – Associated Press
Russia is currently conducting military exercises with simulated missile attacks against Estonia, the Baltic nation said, warning of escalating tensions between a Moscow and a front-line NATO member. – Bloomberg
A new Russian threat to target “the residents of Lithuania” has drawn a sharp reminder of the American pledge to fight alongside any NATO allies that might come under attack. – Washington Examiner
It’s been nearly two months since Russian forces began their assault on the city of Severodonetsk. But despite overwhelming firepower, they still can’t dislodge determined Ukrainian resistance — nor cut the supply lines that provide the city’s remaining defenders with a drip-feed of weapons and ammunition. – CNN
A Ukrainian regional governor says Russian troops advancing on the country’s northeastern city of Kharkiv have killed over a dozen civilians and left more wounded in what he called “terrorism.” – Newsweek
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said that his special forces are successfully destroying Ukrainian forces in the pro-Russian breakaway Luhansk People’s Republic. – Newsweek
Over half of all pro-Russian forces (55%) from the separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine breakaway the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have been either killed or injured in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to the latest UK defense intelligence update Wednesday morning. – Jerusalem Post
British military intelligence confirmed Tuesday that Ukrainian forces sunk a Russian vessel near the Ukraine coast using newly supplied Western anti-ship missiles – a significant development in Kyiv’s ability to begin offsetting Moscow’s exponential military advantages. – U.S. News & World Report
David Ignatius writes: Here’s a paradoxical benefit of this terrible war: Given Russia’s dependence on Western technology, even for its cyberattacks, Ukraine could backfire on the Kremlin in ways that persist for years. The longer the conflict lasts, the less effective Russia’s vaunted cyber capability will likely become. – Washington Post
Seth Cropsey writes: In the case of Ukraine, American deployment must be more aggressive. A nuclear-armed Russia, with clear incentives to deter greater U.S. participation in the war, may attack escorting warships. Washington can head off this possibility by employing an overwhelming naval task force consisting of small and large surface combatants with submarine and air support. Russia would be loath to intervene. […]It might seem safer not to intervene, but the widespread crises Moscow aims to provoke would be far more dangerous. American and allied warships can disrupt Moscow’s strategy without firing a shot. – Wall Street Journal
Andreas Kluth writes: All Putin has to do to solve his Kaliningrad problem is to recognize the borders of Ukraine and other states — and stop being an aggressor. Until then, Lithuania, the EU and NATO must keep up the pressure, and if necessary take the heat. – Bloomberg
Tom Rogan writes: But if Russia is responsible for the Freeport LNG incident, it breached explicit warnings from President Joe Biden against critical infrastructure attacks. Technically, it would also have conducted an act of war on U.S. soil. The question is: Will we ever know what happened? If Freeport LNG was unable to detect a major cyber intrusion and the capture of its systems, attributing Russian culpability may be extraordinarily difficult. Deficient cyber forensics is an issue that afflicts many private sector organizations. – Washington Examiner
Christopher Tremoglie writes: Biden repeated the claim while speaking at the Port of Los Angeles. “We’ve never seen anything like Putin’s tax on food and gas,” Biden said. “I’m doing everything in my power to blunt Putin’s price hike and bring down the cost of gas and food.” Everything, of course, except altering any of his failed policies that contributed to the mess. At this rate, would it be that far-fetched to think Biden would blame Putin for falling off his bike? […]Apparently, that was just something Biden tweeted to fool people into voting for him. He has no intention of taking “responsibility instead of blaming others.” – Washington Examiner
Simone McCarthy writes: When Russian President Vladimir Putin dials into the virtual BRICS summit hosted by Beijing on Thursday, it will be his first time attending a forum with the heads of major economies since launching an invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. For Putin, this could offer a welcome picture: his face beamed onscreen alongside other leaders whose countries make up this acronymous grouping: China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa — a signal that Russia, though battered by sanctions and remonstrations for the invasion, is not alone. – CNN
Bradley Woodworth writes: What Putin counts on is that countries that will “work with” Russia will be willing to look past the death and destruction his military is bringing to Ukraine. […]Putin concluded his remarks in Petersburg with his prediction that the future belongs only to the strong and powerful. He said, “It is clear that the rules and contents of the new world order will be made by strong, sovereign states who do not follow the path set by others.” We shall see how effective this strategy for global cooperation will be. – The Hill
Dennis Murphy writes: Time will tell which expert got which detail right about how this war will end. But for now we must focus all our efforts on understanding the war as it is today and how that can change tomorrow. Only then will we be prepared for what comes next. – The Daily Beast
Iran
A U.S. Navy warship fired a warning flare to wave off an Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat coming straight at it during a tense encounter in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, officials said Tuesday. – Associated Press
Top U.N. officials voiced deep concern on Tuesday about human rights violations in Iran amid reports of rising numbers of executions, including of minors and Afghan migrants for drug-related offences. – Reuters
The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the quasi-military mafia that runs Iran, claimed that the US is seeking to leave the Middle East and that Israel is in danger of collapse. – Jerusalem Post
Iran claimed on Tuesday that it had arrested Mossad agents who were planning to assassinate nuclear scientists in the country. – Times of Israel
Turkey
French President Emmanuel Macron told NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg he wanted to ask Turkey to provide clarity on its positioning, the French presidential said on Tuesday, without elaborating. – Reuters
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Turkey for the first time in years on Wednesday for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at fully normalising ties that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. – Reuters
John Calabrese writes: Turkey’s construction giants are poised to remain a significant force in Africa. By pursuing collaborative third-country construction projects with multiple extra-regional partners, Turkey is unlikely to supplant China as Africa’s master builder. However, this approach could help narrow Turkish contractors’ financing gap, thereby improving their growth prospects. It could also expand the range of choices for African partners in developing the sustainable and resilient infrastructure they desperately need — and in so doing, fulfill Ankara’s promise of a “third way.” – Middle East Institute
Israel
The announcement of the Israeli governing coalition’s collapse and the preparations for a fifth election in less than four years was met with exasperation by many Israelis. But the news came as a resounding victory for Benjamin Netanyahu, who, over the past year as the head of the opposition, has been preparing for his own comeback. – Washington Post
A new election will give Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and now the leader of the opposition, the chance for a comeback even as he is battling corruption charges. Still, his path back to power is far from assured. – New York Times
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has decided to restore ties with Syria, 10 years after its leadership shunned Damascus over opposition to President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on a revolt against his rule, two sources within the group told Reuters. – Reuters
Amid political turmoil in Israel, the Biden administration sought to reassure Israel on Tuesday that support for the U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong — and that President Joe Biden’s planned trip to the country next month will proceed as planned. – Jewish Insider
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is set to take over as interim prime minister during the period of political transition in the wake of the upcoming dissolution of the Knesset. – Jerusalem Post
Buoyed by the collapse of the Israeli coalition, Hamas and other terror groups have threatened to continue carrying out attacks against Israel. – Jerusalem Post
In a scene straight out of the espionage thriller Fauda, Israeli security forces evacuated Israeli citizens from their Istanbul hotel last week, allegedly ahead of an Iranian hit-squad that was intent on kidnapping or killing them. – Jerusalem Post
Israel is keeping the US in the dark as it steps up alleged covert operations against Iran’s nuclear program, according to a report Tuesday. – Times of Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss President Joe Biden’s planned visit to the country next month, just a day after the government announced its decision to dissolve parliament to trigger new elections. – Algemeiner
Bret Stephens writes: No elected Israeli prime minister ever had a shorter tenure than Naftali Bennett. On Monday, after a string of parliamentary defections, he announced that he would dissolve Parliament and call new elections, Israel’s fifth since 2019, after serving barely a year in office. On Tuesday, he WhatsApp-ed me from Tel Aviv for a phone call about his record. – New York Times
Lahav Harkov writes: The fact, that there is such political turmoil at such a pivotal time for Iran-related diplomacy will likely be a challenge for Israel. Bennett accused Netanyahu of not giving the matter enough attention during the four elections in two years. Let’s hope that Lapid and Bennett are able to give this matter of importance to Israel’s national security the time it needs even while campaigning. – Jerusalem Post
Saudi Arabia
A deal to open up Saudi airspace to all flights operating into and out of Tel Aviv is being discussed ahead of US President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East, according to people familiar with the matter. – Bloomberg
Egypt and Saudi Arabia signaled their intention to strengthen economic ties on Tuesday during a visit to Cairo by Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announcing deals worth $7.7 billion. – Reuters
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday amid a thaw in relations after years of tension due to divergent views on regional conflicts and unfulfilled pledges of aid. – Reuters
Lawrence Haas writes: Third, Biden must be prepared. […]However odious the regime on Riyadh, a clear-eyed, sober-minded, prepared Biden can advance U.S. interests when he meets with MBS. – The Hill
Gulf States
The withdrawal of one of Iraq’s most powerful political figures from the thorny process of forming a new government has shattered the political deadlock and sent foes and allies scrambling under the looming threat of renewed street protests. – Washington Post
The UK is seeking to slash tariffs on food exports to countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in negotiations for a free trade deal with Gulf nations that start on Wednesday. – Bloomberg
Britain on Wednesday will launch talks over a new free trade deal with six Gulf states, the trade ministry said, in the latest set of negotiations aimed at increasing non-EU ties after Brexit. – Reuters
Renad Mansour and Benedict Robin-D’Cruz write: For Sadr, protests are not just about leverage against political rivals. Street protests in the past offered a means to energize his followers and build a more cohesive movement. But this time around, street activists are not necessarily inclined to follow his lead and his rivals appear more prepared to counter with their own protest tactics. Given the fractured nature of establishment and anti-establishment politics in Iraq, Sadr may soon feel it is the wrong time to walk away from parliament and head back to the streets. – Washington Post
Middle East & North Africa
U.S. President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel will have a powerful impact on the region, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken by phone on Tuesday. – Reuters
Zev Chafets writes: Biden’s trip to the Middle East is still three weeks off. There is no one to talk to in the Holy Land. There is no one he wants to talk to at the summit. He should find a way to make amends with MBS that doesn’t require an almost 7,000-mile pilgrimage — and offer the kingdom a generous oil deal it can’t refuse. – Bloomberg
David Schenker and Assaf Orion write: Nearly forty-five years since this “interim” force was established, the Lebanese government takes UNIFIL for granted, Hezbollah essentially holds it hostage, and tensions are once again mounting along the Israel-Lebanon frontier—with more arms, more friction, and greater potential for catastrophic war. Yet the Security Council continues to resist changing the force’s mandate, citing concerns about destabilizing an already tenuous status quo. […]Given the stakes, however, Washington should press for whatever reforms it can in order to forestall the worst-case scenario. – Washington Institute
Korean Peninsula
South Korea joined an elite group of countries on Tuesday by successfully placing a large satellite into orbit, harnessing technology that could be used to monitor and track North Korea’s military activity. – Wall Street Journal
The US is banning the use of anti-personnel land mines by its military in conflicts around the world with the exception of the Korean peninsula, where they form an integral part of defenses by South Korea against an attack from the north. – Bloomberg
Kim Jong Un for the first time in a year convened a top-level meeting of North Korea’s military that could set the stage for his first nuclear test since 2017, as international attention is diverted to the war in Ukraine. – Bloomberg
China
American businesses in China say they fear a U.S. law blocking most imports from China’s Xinjiang region that went into effect Tuesday might interrupt shipments and raise compliance costs, as uncertainty clouds how it will be enforced. – Wall Street Journal
U.S. President Joe Biden is considering scrapping tariffs on a range of Chinese goods to curb inflation, but no decision is likely before next week’s Group of Seven summit, people familiar with the matter said. – Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the United States is rallying its allies against forced labor as it begins implementing an import ban on goods from China’s Xinjiang region, where Washington says Beijing is committing genocide. – Reuters
China sent its third-largest sortie of warplanes toward Taiwan this year, after the US rejected Chinese claims over the Taiwan Strait and reports of arms sales talks with Taipei in Washington. – Bloomberg
The US and China have many trade disputes, but none perhaps as explosive as accusations about forced labor being used in China’s Xinjiang region. The Chinese government, which vehemently denies the charges, says outsiders have misconstrued a rural jobs program that aims to improve living standards for ethnic minorities in poor regions. – Bloomberg
China is reportedly expanding its efforts to surveil its citizens and create online records for many of them, often for authoritarian purposes. – Washington Examiner
China has received a new shipment of nearly 2 million barrels of Iranian oil in the past week at a southern port, according to shipping trackers, with one tracker saying the cargo is destined for state reserves. – Reuters
Joseph Bosco writes: After 50 years, China now claims the entire Taiwan Strait as Chinese waters, never contemplated at the time of the Shanghai Communique. Beijing has nullified it; it’s time for Washington to declare its One China-One Taiwan policy and return U.S. forces to Taiwan. – The Hill
Michael Schuman writes: By marginalizing the technocrats and constraining policy debates, Xi may be undercutting China’s competitive edge in its contest with Washington. […]In a sense, Xi is proving why advocates of democracy believe authoritarian regimes ultimately fail. Communist China was a basket case under one-man rule. It could be again. – The Atlantic
South Asia
India is expected to push back against an anticipated effort by Chinese President Xi Jinping to use this year’s BRICS summit as a platform to highlight his efforts to build an alternative to the US-led global order, according to Indian officials with knowledge of the matter. – Bloomberg
Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved constitutional reforms aimed at clipping the powers of the presidency amid months of protests demanding the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for dragging the nation’s economy into an unprecedented crisis. – Bloomberg
Pankaj Mishra writes: Certainly, everything that empowered Putin in Russia — from crony capitalism, organized disinformation and stigmatization of minorities to abuse of the security apparatus, crackdown on dissent and militant vigilantism — can be witnessed today in India. No one should say they weren’t warned if another wounded and frustrated society goes rogue. – Bloomberg
Anit Mukherjee writes: Militaries all over the world are closely observing the war in Ukraine, but some have proven prone to hubris — concluding that they have little to learn because they are different. […]In the short term, the Indian military is focused on managing the immediate disruption caused by the current conflict. In the medium to long term, it is focusing on indigenization, including exploring opportunities to partner with Western countries. Professionally, however, there are few indications that the military is embarking on defense reforms that draw on the lessons of the war. Unfortunately, that might require a bigger crisis somewhere closer to home. – War on the Rocks
Asia
China and India, the world’s most populous countries, have swooped in to buy roughly the same volume of Russian oil that would have gone to the West. Oil prices are so high that Russia is making even more money now from sales than it did before the war began four months ago. And its once-flailing currency has surged in value against the dollar. – New York Times
A former senior manager at Huobi, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, is being prosecuted in Hong Kong after accusations that he made $5mn by secretly trading against a company account he controlled. – Financial Times
The United States should “urgently” start talks with Taiwan on a free trade agreement with the aim to present a completed text for passage next year, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan said in an annual policy paper published on Wednesday. – Reuters
An earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, killing at least 255 people, authorities said. – Associated Press
Europe
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met with Ukraine’s top prosecutor at the Ukraine-Poland border on Tuesday in an unannounced visit to discuss efforts to investigate war crimes. – Wall Street Journal
The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe must prepare immediately for the complete severance of Russian gas exports this winter, urging governments to take measures to cut demand and keep ageing nuclear power stations open. – Financial Times
Politicians and commentators in Berlin have reacted with dismay to remarks by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s foreign policy adviser, who said the media should focus more on Germany’s future relationship with Russia than on supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons. – Financial Times
Images show the first armored personnel carriers that Australia is sending to Ukraine being prepared for combat and loaded onto a large plane before the aircraft takes off for the battlefields of Europe. – Newsweek
Georgia says it’s determined to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as soon as it fixes its “territorial problems” with Russia. – The Daily Beast
Lithuania imposed a ground transit ban of EU sanctioned Russian goods through its territory on Saturday, cutting off the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast. – Defense News
Constanze Stelzenmüller writes: What matters, however, is that Merkel’s signature approach to dealing with problems — comprehending them fully, but choosing to manage rather than to resolve them — was shared not just by her various coalition partners, but by the German business community and by voters. As a recipe for grappling with an unchained totalitarian Russia — and with a future of permanent upheaval and disruption — it is not just futile but reckless. – Financial Times
Tod Lindberg writes: Whether the United States chose to acknowledge the broader stakes or not, Putin’s naked aggression against Ukraine constituted a direct challenge to U.S.-led global order and liberal normative aspiration for international politics. It’s easy to see as much by considering a possible alternative path for the first few days and weeks of the war. Let us suppose that Russia had gained control of Ukrainian airspace, and that its armor and infantry had advanced rapidly west, taking key cities in Ukraine’s east, and rapidly south, taking Kyiv. – Commentary Magasine
Africa
China offered to mediate disputes across the troubled Horn of Africa at its first regional peace conference, the latest sign Beijing is expanding decades of economic diplomacy into matters of war and peace. – Wall Street Journal
The fight against corruption has been a top campaign issue in Nigeria’s last two presidential elections, but the history of graft allegations surrounding the two main candidates means neither is likely to raise it in the run-up to February’s vote. – Bloomberg
A British subsidiary of mining and trading giant Glencore (GLEN.L) on Tuesday formally pleaded guilty to seven counts of bribery in connection with oil operations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Sudan. – Reuters
Burkina Faso’s army has ordered civilians to evacuate two large “military interest zones” in its northern and southeastern regions ahead of anticipated operations against Islamist insurgents, it said. – Reuters
Nina Shea writes: For over a decade, Christians have been fleeing ISIS affiliates committing enslavement and religiously motivated murders in Borno and neighboring northeastern states. […]On May 16, Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland was in Nigeria and met with Bishop Jude. Hopefully, she listened and will redirect policy to end this horrific religious cleansing. – National Review
Latin America
Gunmen burst into a Catholic church in northern Mexico in pursuit of a tour guide trying to reach safety, killing him and two Jesuit priests, officials said Tuesday. The killings shocked even Mexicans accustomed to high levels of violence. – Washington Post
But on Sunday, voters in the U.S.’s closest ally in Latin America elected as president a former leftist guerrilla, Gustavo Petro, who says he wants to phase out oil and mining, overhaul the U.S.-backed drug war and renew relations with Venezuela’s regime. Colombia joins Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico and some smaller countries that have elected leftist leaders in the last four years whose policies sometimes are at odds with Washington’s interests in Latin America. – Wall Street Journal
Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso is fending off calls to resign amid street protests by a left-wing indigenous group that’s paralyzed parts of the country and imperiled oil production, one of its key industries. – Bloomberg
A group of former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said Tuesday that the guerrilla organization was responsible for war crimes, including the kidnapping of thousands of civilians for ransom and also holding politicians as hostages for several years in the hopes of exchanging them for imprisoned rebels. – Associated Press
El Salvador’s congress voted Tuesday to extend for a third time the state of exception that has suspended some fundamental rights and led to the arrests of more than 41,000 people during the past three months. – Associated Press
The family of Matthew Heath, who is being detained by the Maduro regime in Venezuela, said he attempted suicide. Heath, a Marine veteran who was arrested in September 2020, “was rushed to a military hospital after attempting suicide and is now fighting for his life,” his aunt, Trudy Rutherford, said in a statement on Monday. – Washington Examiner
North America
Canada is wrestling with how to comply with sanctions on Russia’s oil-and-gas business without penalizing big customer — and Ottawa ally — Germany at the same time, a Cabinet minister said. – Bloomberg
Three asylum seekers were kidnapped in April while in a U.S. migration program that had placed them in the care of Mexican officials in the city of Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Texas, one of the victims and the U.N. migration agency said. – Reuters
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday he will ask U.S. President Joe Biden to address the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, saying Mexico would open its doors to him if he were released. – Reuters
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden is not expected to cut U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber as part of potential tariff relief he is considering to fight inflation. – Reuters
United States
Law enforcement officials arrested a U.S. airman stateside in connection to a bombing that occurred at a U.S. military base in Syria. The suspect has not been named and charges have not been brought forward, but the suspect was arrested June 16, an Air Force spokesperson told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday. – Washington Examiner
Henry Obering III writes: Moving forward with a space test-bed is the modern parallel to Congress seeding missile-defense programs with the commitment to build on their progress. […]Today’s parallel is to begin building the infrastructure needed for deployment, such as sensors and command and control. Only when the United States adapts to the rapidly changing threat environment can we confidently deter our adversaries. This requires a clear-eyed assessment of the dangers and a commitment to defend the American people. – New York Post
Cybersecurity
Canada approved legislation that targets what video- and audio-sharing platforms like YouTube and TikTok can broadcast to a Canadian audience, as the country follows in Europe’s footsteps in imposing a heftier regulatory burden on the digital sector. – Wall Street Journal
Retired Gen. Keith Alexander, the former National Security Agency chief and head of U.S. Cyber Command, warned Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to unleash cyberattacks against the U.S. financial sector as retaliation for the West’s involvement in its war with Ukraine. – The Hill
President Biden on Tuesday signed two bipartisan bills into law aimed at enhancing federal, state and local governments’ cybersecurity measures. – The Hill
Ukrainian cybersecurity officials exposed two new hacking campaigns against targets there this week, one using a phony tax collection document purportedly sent by the national tax agency and the other using a malicious document that discussed the threat of nuclear attack from Russia. – CyberScoop
Popular domain registrars put up few barriers for those seeking to acquire domains suggesting illegal activities, according to a report from consumer watchdog group Digital Citizens Alliance. – CyberScoop
Security researchers have discovered 56 new vulnerabilities – collectively known as “ICEFALL” – that affect several of the largest operational technology (OT) equipment manufacturers supplying critical infrastructure organizations. – The Record
Editorial: As U.S. tech firms help China lie to the world, Chinese firms are helping their Beijing masters spy on Americans. This cannot stand. […]U.S. companies must stop acting as useful idiot puppets for America’s most dangerous adversary. If CEOs are unable or unwilling to moderate President Xi Jinping’s propaganda, Congress should take action in law. – Washington Examiner
Defense
A key U.S. lawmaker said he plans to propose stiffer federal “Buy American” requirements through the House’s annual defense authorization bill, in a renewed attempt to codify an executive order from President Joe Biden into law. – Defense News
After two of the four congressional defense committees have debated their fiscal 2023 bills, two key U.S. Navy issues have surfaced as the most contentious: the Navy’s plan to decommission 24 ships in one year and its decision to cancel a sea-launched low-yield nuclear weapon. – Defense News
A provision in the House Armed Services Committee’s draft policy bill could pave the way for a “National Hypersonic Initiative” aimed at addressing development and testing gaps and accelerating the Pentagon’s path to fielding the technology. – Defense News
Hans Binnendijk and Daniel S. Hamilton write: To maintain balance and satisfy European concerns that NATO not label China as an adversary, the Strategic Concept should present a dual-track approach toward China that focuses on competition and possible confrontation on the one hand, and cooperation where possible on the other hand. One way to accomplish this is to establish a “NATO-China Council,” designed to maintain a constant dialogue with Beijing and address areas of mutual concern. – Defense News
Christian Zur and Scott Kordella write: Without the ability to accurately track all orbital objects below 600 kilometers that could threaten human spacecraft including: the International Space Station and planned commercial habitations as well as communication, remote sensing satellites and even pathways to geostationary orbit, virtually none of the expectations of the growth of the space economy will come to pass. As the leading spacefaring nation with the greatest to gain from a robust space sector, funding the OADR should be an easy decision for Congress. – The Hill