10:00 AM ET, Friday, December 22, 2023
Daily national security briefings aren’t just for the president anymore. The Cipher Brief uses AI partnered with human analysis and expert perspective to keep you up-to-date on national security news from around the world.
Here’s what’s happening now:
THE TOP STORIES
US signals readiness to vote on security council resolution for ceasefire in Gaza. The U.S. is reportedly prepared to vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution on Gaza, which calls for a suspension of fighting between Israel and Hamas and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Security Council is expected to vote on the resolution on Friday. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the U.S. worked with the UAE, Egypt, and others to develop a resolution that the U.S. can support. The U.S. previously vetoed a past resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The latest proposed resolution aims to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza and establish a U.N. monitoring mechanism for aid delivery. The U.S. was reportedly worried that the monitoring mechanism would take aid screening control away from Israel and ultimately slow down aid deliveries. CNN New York Times
New executive order to target financial firms that help Russia evade sanctions. The Biden administration plans to tighten controls on banks and financial services firms facilitating Russia's evasion of sanctions on military technology access for its conflict with Ukraine. The move, set to be announced on Friday, aims to address the failure of previous attempts to restrict Russia's access to components needed for weapons production. Sanctions by the U.S. and Europe have been circumvented by an illicit network of traders and shadowy financial entities, enabling Russia to obtain banned materials. President Biden will sign an executive order granting the Treasury Department broader powers to impose sanctions on financial institutions involved in such transactions, aiming to disrupt Russia's military industrial complex. The strategy relies on collaboration with banks by leveraging the threat of sanctions to deter involvement in Russian smuggling schemes. The move comes as Western aid to Ukraine diminishes, making it crucial to impede Russia's military restocking. New York Times
IAEA says second North Korean nuclear reactor appears to be operational. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and independent experts said on Thursday that a new nuclear reactor at North Korea’s Yongbyon complex appears to be operating for the first time. IAEA Director General said the agency, which used satellite imagery to reach its conclusion, cannot confirm the reactor’s operational status without access. He called the advancement of Pyongyang’s nuclear program “deeply regrettable.” Reuters
Top Chinese, U.S. Generals speak for first time in over a year. The Pentagon said that U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General CQ Brown held a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart, General Liu Zhenli, on Thursday. It was the first such talk between the two top military officers in over a year. Brown’s office said he and Liu discussed “a number of global and regional security issues,” the importance of managing competition and maintaining “open and direct lines of communication” to avoid “misunderstandings.” The Chinese defense ministry said Liu called for healthy, stable, and sustainable military relations and urged the U.S. to have a “correct understanding of China.” Liu also asserted that China will defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea, calling on the U.S. to be “prudent in words and actions” and ensure regional peace and stability. Brown said last month that he sent an introductory letter to Liu saying he is open to a meeting. Pentagon officials have been working to establish stronger military communications to prevent miscalculations that could escalate into conflict. Tensions remain high over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the aftermath of the Chinese spy balloon. Liu is a potential candidate to replace China’s national defense minister, General Li Shangfu, who was removed from the position last month. Li was sanctioned by the U.S. for his role in a 2018 arms deal with Russia, while Liu is not under Western sanctions. Reuters Bloomberg Politico
Top Putin ally allegedly orchestrated the killing of Prigozhin. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group, was killed in a plane crash allegedly orchestrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close ally and former spy Nikolai Patrushev, according to Western intelligence officials and a former Russian intelligence officer. Prigozhin’s death came after the Wagner mutiny against Russia’s military leadership in June, which challenged Putin’s authority. Patrushev allegedly warned Putin about Prigozhin’s growing influence and reportedly played a key role in persuading him to stand down. After the aborted uprising, Prigozhin was closely monitored, and in August, Patrushev allegedly approved plans to eliminate him. Western intelligence officials say a bomb was placed under the wing of Prigozhin’s plane which caused it to crash, killing all 10 people aboard, including several Wagner leaders. Prigozhin’s death, which Patrushev allegedly put into motion, helped Putin regain control and reassert authority amid internal instability caused by the Ukraine war and the Wagner Group’s defiance. Wall Street Journal
ISRAEL HAMAS WAR
Gaza Health Ministry says over 20,000 Palestinians killed in Israel-Hamas war. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Friday that 20,057 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. The figure amounts to nearly 1 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population. The ministry said that around two-thirds of the reported dead were women or minors. The death toll did not differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths. Experts say the death toll is the highest on the Arab side in any war with Israel since its founding in 1948. The reported deaths in Gaza have been a subject of dispute, with Israeli and U.S. officials noting that the Gaza Health Ministry is controlled by Hamas. Despite this, the U.N. and rights groups agree that civilian casualties are extremely high and are set to increase as Israel’s military campaign continues and bodies are recovered from under the rubble. Israel claims that it takes precautions to minimize civilian casualties as it continues military actions in Gaza with the goal of eliminating Hamas. Israel reports that it has killed 7,000 Hamas fighters in its military campaign so far. Associated Press New York Times Washington Post Al Jazeera
Israel signals it could agree to Palestinian Authority governing post-war Gaza. Israeli National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi wrote in an opinion piece published on Friday that Israel could accept a U.S. plan for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza after the war but that the PA would have to undergo “fundamental reform.” Biden administration officials said Hanegbi’s comments are a welcome development, but one official said the administration still believes the PA will not be ready to become involved in Gaza anytime soon because it will take time to reform the organization politically and financially. Far-right hardliners in the Israeli government criticized Hanegbi’s piece. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Hanegbi’s position does not represent the Israeli government and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should “call him to order.” Wall Street Journal
ANALYSIS: NYT investigates Israeli use of one of its biggest, most destructive bombs in southern Gaza. The New York Times investigated Israel’s use of 2,000 pound bombs — one of the most destructive weapons in Western arsenals — in areas in southern Gaza that it designated safe for civilians. Using artificial intelligence to analyze satellite imagery and drone footage of southern Gaza, the study identified 208 craters from these bombs, suggesting their regular use in areas where Palestinian civilians were ordered to evacuate. When asked about the use of the bombs, an Israeli military spokesman said destroying Hamas is the priority and that “questions of this kind will be looked into at a later stage.” The spokesman added that Israel “takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.” U.S. officials say that Israel is relying on 2,000 pound bombs since they are more effective in destroying Hamas’s underground infrastructure as quickly as possible. However, the U.S. has called on Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza. As part of this, the Pentagon has increased shipments of smaller, less destructive bombs it considers more suitable for urban environments like Gaza. Despite this, the U.S. has also sent Israel 5,000 MK-84 munitions, a type of 2,000 pound bomb, since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. New York Times
Pentagon says over 20 countries joined Red Sea naval task force. The Pentagon said on Thursday that more than 20 countries have agreed to participate in Operation Prosperity Garden, the new U.S.-led naval coalition that will protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks. At least eight of those countries declined to be identified. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters that countries will contribute what they can, whether with vessels or other kinds of support. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said his country would send 11 military personnel but no ships or planes, explaining that Australia needs to be clear about its strategic focus, which is on its own region. Reuters Associated Press
THE UKRAINE UPDATE
Russia launches mass drone attack against Kyiv. Russian forces on Friday launched a massive drone attack against the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, striking several districts and injuring at least two people. It was the sixth assault on the city this month. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that one drone struck an apartment block in the Solomyanskyi district, located south of the city center, and drone fragments set fire to a house in the district of Darnytskyi, on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. The chief of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko, said that debris from a downed drone also hit an apartment in the district of Holosiivskyi. He published photos of destroyed windows and heavily-damaged apartments. Reuters Deutsche Welle
Ukraine says Russia has fired 7,400 missiles, launched 3,700 Shahed drones in invasion. Ukraine said on Thursday that Russia has launched 7,400 missiles and 3,700 Iranian-made Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine during its invasion. A Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said that Ukrainian air defenses have downed 1,600 of the missiles and 2,900 of the drones. The spokesperson noted that the low rate of missile downings was due to Russia’s use of supersonic ballistic missiles, which are more difficult to intercept, and the fact that the West gave advanced Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine months into the war. The spokesperson also highlighted Russia’s increasing use of Shahed drones, saying that ten to 15 regions down Shaheds every night. Ukraine’s air defenses have been gradually bolstered through the war as it received more advanced air defense systems, including Patriots. Russia claims that it does not hit civilian targets, but its missile and drone attacks have hit infrastructure facilities and residential areas. Reuters Kyiv Independent
Ukraine extending debt restructuring to March of 2027. The Ukrainian Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that Ukraine has agreed with creditors from the G7 and the Paris Club to extend debt restructuring to 2027. Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said that the agreement “on the revision of debt obligations” will allow Ukraine to limit “the burden on the budget until the end of the IMF programme,” in addition to saving “foreign currency liquidity to ensure social spending.” In September 2022, Ukraine paused debt payments to G7 creditors and the Paris Club so it could preserve hard currency resources. This debt payment suspension is part of $122 billion in international support given by G7 members. Kyiv Independent Ukrinform
Ukrainians signal desire to focus spending on war. Ukrainians in cities like Kyiv are protesting against local infrastructure projects like road repairs and local mass transit expansion to redirect funding to the war effort against Russia’s invasion. Despite the ongoing war, many Ukrainian citizens have returned to a semblance of normal life, prompting calls for all Ukrainians to contribute more to the war effort. The local protests demand a greater focus on supporting the military, redirecting public resources and budgets to defense. The protests, which began in Odesa and spread to other cities, underscore a desire for the entire country to prioritize the war effort as Russia regains the initiative in parts of the battlefield. New York Times
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD
The Americas
US adds Central American officials to corruption list. The U.S. State Department on Thursday published a corruption list with the names of 14 officials from Central American countries, including former and current ministers, prosecutors, and judges. The U.S. regularly adds officials suspected of corruption, obstruction of investigations of justice, or of threatening democracy to the list, called the Engel List. The latest update added four Nicaraguans, four Guatemalans, three Hondurans and three Salvadorans to the list. Three prosecutors, an ex-Guatemalan Supreme Court justice, and current Honduran Strategic Planning Minister Ricardo Salgado were added. Salgado was added for allegedly orchestrating "coordinated efforts" by Honduras’s ruling party to violently suppress opposition and dissent. Salgado said he was “proud” to have been included in the list. Washington also alleges that the Guatemalan prosecutor Leonor Eugenia Morales Lazo directed “a politically motivated investigation to cast doubt on certified election results to disrupt the presidential transition.” The U.S. also blacklisted three Salvadoran officials for intentionally barring access to public information. Nicaraguan Judge Gloria Saavedra was also put on the list for allegedly taking advantage of her position to quell opposition by seizing a Jesuit-run university without a legal justification. Reuters
More Adams donors with ties to Turkey identified amid FBI corruption investigation. An investigation by POLITICO revealed ties between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and donors with ties to a Brookling construction firm, KSK Construction. The FBI recently raided KSK Construction’s office as part of an investigation into potential collusion between Adams’s campaign and the Turkish government. The FBI is investigating potential illegal campaign contributions and straw donations, possibly linked to KSK executives reimbursing employees. Six contributors to Adams’s past political campaign, either current or past donors, have connections to KSK Construction. The investigation of KSK Construction raises questions about deeper ties between the Adams campaign and the Turkish community than previously reported. Adams has denied any wrongdoing. While no charges have been filed, the FBI's aggressive tactics, including raids and seizing Adams' phones, have added pressure to his mayoralty. Politico
RTX leadership shake-up signals shift to steadiness, analysts say. RTX, the world’s second-largest defense contractor, announced last week that CEO Greg Hayes will resign and that company President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Calio will take over in May. Analysts say the change in leadership reflects the company’s transition from an era of disruption to one of stability. Several analysts said that in the short term, the company’s top priority is managing the crisis caused by a flaw in the geared turbofan engine made by subsidiary Pratt & Whitney. Hundreds of aircraft engines will require inspection over the next several years as a result of the flaw. Analysts said that in the longer term, RTX will need to prepare for defense spending to plateau because of countries’ rising budget deficits. Defense News
US to reclaim WWII base in Pacific. In an effort to increase its basing options in the event of hostilities with China, the U.S. Air Force plans to bring back into commission the Pacific island airfield from which the atomic bombing missions were launched in World War II. Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbch told Nikkei Asia in an interview published this week that North Airfield on the island of Tinian will become an “extensive” facility once work has been completed to reclaim the base, which was abandoned in 1946. Nikkei did not report a potential timeline for completion of the project. CNN Nikkei Asia
U.S. troops could be receiving brain injuries from M1 Abrams tanks, other weapons. Researchers say blasts from firing M1 Abrams tank guns and other weapons may result in brain injuries for U.S. troops even if the blasts measure below the Defense Department’s ceiling for safe exposure. Under a mandate from Congress several years ago, the military began implementing programs to track and limit blast exposure, announced its first safety threshold for such exposure, and listed 14 weapons that may pose a risk. The M1 Abrams was not on that list since tests of the tank’s main gun found it to be well below the safety threshold. But blast researchers say that the threshold might not be a reliable gauge. It is not a measure of risk to brain injury based on rigorous research but rather on a decades-old guideline for which blasts are likely to burst a soldier’s ear drums. Moreover, the vast majority of blasts occur during training, not combat. Instructors are therefore often exposed to far more than anyone else. But unlike troops sent into combat, instructors are not screened for brain injuries. The military has launched an effort called the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative to coordinate research, safety guidelines, and the tracking of blast exposure. New York Times
U.S. to relax restrictions on weapon sales to Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials said on Thursday that the Biden administration plans to relax restrictions on some weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. The officials attributed the change to Saudi Arabia’s talks with the Houthis in Yemen. Both sides are working to finalize a peace agreement. President Joe Biden imposed the restrictions two years ago, citing concern that American weapons were being used to kill civilians in Yemen. The officials did not say when the easing of restrictions might occur. Senate Armed Services Committee member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has announced his opposition to the move and other lawmakers have expressed similar reservations. New York Times
Europe
Spain Places Contract for 16 Airbus maritime surveillance, patrol aircraft for $1.9 billion. Airbus announced on Wednesday that Spain has ordered 16 Airbus C295 aircraft in maritime patrol and surveillance configurations for $1.9 billion. Airbus said that six of the maritime patrol variants will arrive equipped for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions, and will replace the Spanish fleet of P-3 Orion that retired at the end of last year. The aircraft will have the capacity to carry weapons such as torpedoes. They will also be “highly connected,” which will allow them to operate as flying command-and-control centers. Each aircraft will include equipment such as satellite communications tech, a multimode radar for long-range target detection, and a magnetic anomaly detector and sonobuoys for submarine detection. The Air Force said that the 10 C295 aircraft in the maritime surveillance configuration are expected to replace Spain’s older CN-235 fleet, which were fielded in 1988. The planes will be equipped for search and rescue operations, in addition to anti-drug trafficking, anti-smuggling, and anti-illegal migration missions. Defense News AirBus
Asia and Oceania
China develops ‘gold veil’ to shield missiles from radars. Chinese scientists claim to have developed a gold-plated camouflage veil that can make a cruise missile appear as a passenger plane on radar screens. The scientists say the low-cost veil, made of gold-plated fine metal threads that form a web of complex geometry to reflect radar signals, can confuse expensive air defense systems. The veil can significantly reduce the time for an opposing military to respond to an incoming missile threat. Unlike existing radar reflection technology, the veil is flexible and can be deployed and folded repeatedly, allowing it to be used on various missiles or aircraft and enabling them to switch between visible and stealth modes during flight. The veil is extremely light with its folding structure made of lightweight carbon fiber that weighs only around 1 kilogram, making it versatile for use on warships, land vehicles, and missiles. The development of the veil is part of China’s efforts to improve its capabilities in penetrating air defense systems, which would provide a potential deterrent against foreign action in the region on Taiwan or the South China Sea. South China Morning Post
China, Russia agree to cooperate on widebodied passenger jet, Arctic shipping route. China and Russia have pledged to increase cooperation in various areas, including the development of widebody passenger jets, Arctic shipping corridors, and other areas. The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on these projects at meetings between their heads of government this week. While details were on the plane were not specified, China’s Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation first discussed building a widebodied airliner called the CR929 in 2017. China reportedly supports the project as part of its efforts to challenge the dominance of Boeing and Airbus in China. Russia was believed to have withdrawn from the project due to Western sanctions related to its invasion of Ukraine. Regarding Arctic shipping corridors, China and Russia agreed to joint exploration of the Northern Sea Route, linking the Baltic to the Bering Sea through the Russian Arctic, for increased trade. Other areas of cooperation include digital trade, biomedicine, supply chain security, and artificial intelligence. Both sides also agreed to stronger energy and trade ties. South China Morning Post
U.S. considers increasing tariffs on Chinese EVs, other goods. The Biden administration is considering increasing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other goods to boost the competitiveness of U.S. clean-energy products. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said discussions on the matter are part of a legally mandated review of China tariffs and has not suggested when a decision may be reached. The Biden administration has so far kept tariffs on around $300 billion of Chinese goods that were imposed by the Trump administration. It is unclear whether changes to certain tariffs will have much impact. For example, an increase in tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles may not be effective since they are already subject to a 25% duty. Competition in clean energy continues, seen this week in China’s decision to ban the export of rare-earth processing technology, which could complicate efforts by the U.S. and its allies to secure key materials for batteries and other technologies. Bloomberg
U.S. does not see tonal changes from China towards Taiwan. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Thursday that Washington has not seen any changes in China’s tone towards Taiwan. When asked about media reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden during their meeting in San Francisco in November that Beijing would unite Taiwan and China again, Raimondo said that “President Xi didn't say anything to us that he hasn't said before” and that she hadn’t seen “any change” in China’s position on Taiwan. She added that the meeting was “frank,” “positive,” and “direct,” and confirmed that the topic of Taiwan had risen, but there was “no new news.” Reuters
China lifts embargo on Taiwanese grouper fish imports. The Chinese government announced on Friday that it will resume importing grouper fish from Taiwan, one day after ending tariff cuts on some chemical imports. In June of 2022, Beijing placed the ban on grouper fish imports after claiming to have detected prohibited chemicals as part of a wider ban on Taiwanese food imports. Taipei denied the accusation. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office reported that industry representatives from tTaiwan had traveled to China and showed "rectification" information, prompting the government to permit approved companies to resume grouper exports. The office said it is willing to engage “with relevant parties” in Taiwan to “continue to provide assistance for the resumption of the import of Taiwan's agricultural and fishing products into the mainland.” Beijing has already eased restrictions on other items, such as pineapples, sugar apples, and wax apples. The move came after Taiwan accused China of election interference and economic coercion following its decision to end tariff cuts on certain chemical products. Reuters
Japanese minister says ties with U.S. stronger than ever, dismissing U.S. Steel concerns. Japanese Industry Minister Ken Saito said on Friday that U.S.-Japanese ties are “stronger than ever,” but he did not comment directly on growing scrutiny in the U.S. over Japan’s Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel. Saito said he was aware of the White House saying that the deal needed “serious scrutiny” but maintained that he believes Nippon Steel “simply needs to take the proper steps in the procedure.” U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about potential national security risks from the acquisition and why neither company consulted the main union representing U.S. Steel workers before announcing the deal. An official from Japan’s industry ministry maintained that the scrutiny came from a request by the union and that the deal does not affect U.S.-Japanese relations. Reuters Bloomberg
Hong Kong court rejects Jimmy Lai’s bid to dismiss sedition charge. A Hong Kong court rejected a bid to drop sedition charges against pro-democracy tycoon and publisher Jimmy Lai. Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, faces charges related to conspiracy over his allegedly seditious publications under a colonial-era sedition law. Lai’s lawyer argued that the charge should be dismissed since it was not laid out within six months of the alleged offense, but the court disagreed, saying that the time limit did not apply and that the conspiracy was a “continuing offense.” Lai also faces the charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under China’s national security law, which could lead to a life sentence. The British and U.S. governments have said Lai's trial is politically motivated and are urging his immediate release. Associated Press Bloomberg Reuters
Africa
Somalia says U.S. drone strike killed al-Shabaab leader behind 2020 attack on Kenya military base that killed Americans. Somalia’s information minister told The Washington Post that a U.S. drone strike killed Moalim Ayman, a senior al-Shabaab commander accused of being the mastermind behind a 2020 attack on a military base in Kenya that killed three Americans. Ayman, who led the Jaysh Ayman unit of al-Shabaab, was killed in the group’s stronghold of Jilib in southern Somalia on December 17. The U.S. Africa Command announced the strike the day it happened but did not confirm the target at the time. The delay in confirmation was likely due to the need to source material for a genetic match. Jaysh Ayman emerged in 2014 as al-Shabaab’s main unit in Kenya and is responsible for attacks on churches, police stations, hotels, and coastal communities. The U.S. had a $10 million bounty on Ayman’s head. Al-Shabaab declared war on Kenya in October 2011 when Kenyan forces entered Somalia in response to kidnappings on Kenyan soil. The militant group has been at war with the U.S. since 2006. Somalia launched a major offensive against the group, but it remains active in areas of southern Somalia and conducts attacks in Somalia and cross-border attacks. Washington Post
France announces plan to close Niger embassy. France is planning to close its embassy in Niger following the West African country’s military coup and amid unraveling ties between the two nations. A letter sent to employees of the French embassy dated December 19 said that France is “regretfully forced” to shut down the embassy in the capital of Niamey “for an indefinite period of time.” The document, which was signed by Sylvain Itté, the French ambassador to Niger, was verified by French diplomatic officials. Nigerien employees of the embassy will be asked to leave by April 30 next year. The embassy was attacked by protesters this summer, and the ruling military junta declared the French ambassador persona non grata. These incidents have strained relations and, according to a French diplomatic source speaking anonymously, has made the embassy “no longer able to function normally or carry out its missions.” Paris is still making preparations to withdraw the last of its military forces from Niger. Associated Press France 24 Reuters
CYBER AND TECH RUNDOWN
Real estate insurance giant First American hit by cyberattack. First American, which provides title insurance and settlement services for the real estate industry, confirmed on Thursday that it is dealing with a cyberattack. The company did not say whether it was a ransomware attack but said it has taken some systems offline as it deals with the attack. The company’s website appeared to be offline on Thursday. The firm has yet to file documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission reporting on the attack, which comes three weeks after First American agreed to pay $1 million to New York state after a massive breach of customer information in May 2019. The cyberattack is the latest in a series of cyber incidents targeting the real estate sector and financial services giants. The Record
Russian companies hit by war-related phishing campaign. The cyberespionage group Cloud Atlas launched a new phishing campaign targeting a Russian agro-industrial enterprise and a state-owned research company. The attacks involved phishing emails related to the Ukraine war. The emails offered to send postcards to soldiers in Ukraine and detailed changes in military reserves law. The emails were sent from popular Russian email services and reference the war as a “special military operation,” using the Kremlin’s terminology for the invasion. The emails contained attachments exploiting a Microsoft Office vulnerability that enabled arbitrary code execution with privileges of the target, allowing attackers to control the victim's systems. Cloud Atlas has been known since 2014 and is known for espionage and data-theft targeting organizations in Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Slovenia. It remains unclear who is behind the group. The Record
ASML sends first parts of new chipmaking machine to Intel plant. Dutch chipmaking equipment company ASML Holding has reportedly started the shipment of key components for its latest chip making machine to an Intel factory in Oregon. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has vowed to integrate the new system, called the high-NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV), to bolster Intel’s lead in manufacturing technology. Intel plans to start production with the high-NA EUV system in 2025, with the Oregon plant being used to refine and perfect production techniques. Analysts said the first model of ASML’s high-NA EUV lithography machine, called Twinscan EXE:5200 is reportedly set to cost around €250 million ($275 million). A second-generation model, EXE:5200B, is set to offer higher productive and is priced over €350 million. ASML is the only provider of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines used by top chipmakers for the most advanced fabrication. Bloomberg
The data cutoff for this product was 8:00 a.m. E.T.
Brad Christian, Ethan Masucol, Bruce Wilmot, and Katharine Campbell contributed to this report.
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