Hi Global Recap readers,

I think we can call today’s newsletter “Espionage Daily.”

From a Bulgarian spy ring (allegedly) working for Russia to a US senator (allegedly) ghostwriting on behalf of the Egyptian government, we have one Hollywood blockbuster of a newsletter ahead of us.

Is this a dream?

📈 Top News

🇨🇳🇸🇾 China and Syria: A New Power Couple? Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in China to seek investment and diplomatic support from his ally.

Xi has offered to help Syria rebuild its war-torn economy and fend off foreign interference through the Belt and Road Initiative.

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🚀 Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Black Sea Fleet HQ. Kyiv dealt a massive blow to Russia with its latest missile attack on Sevastopol, the home of Russia’s naval base in the Russian-annexed city of Crimea. The attack damaged the historic headquarters building and left one soldier missing.

For a “at-the-moment” video of the strike, click here.

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🕵️‍♂️ An Award-Winning Beautician: Spying for Russia? A Bulgarian beautician who ran a salon called “Pretty Woman” in west London has been charged with spying for Russia. She is among a group of five alleged agents who are charged with espionage. 

The five lived in the UK for years, working as a driver, lab assistant, beautician, etc. But they were supposedly part of a spy cell for the Russian security services, prosecutors say.

The group allegedly conducted surveillance on targets, forged fake IDs, and passed information to Moscow.

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🇺🇸🇨🇳 U.S. and China Try to Play Nice with Economic Talks. The US Treasury Department and China’s Ministry of Finance have launched two working groups to ease tensions and deepen ties between the world’s two largest economies. The groups will focus on economic and financial issues and communicate regularly.

How long will this last?

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✍️ In-Depth

United States
US Senator’s Secret Golden Cookie Jar

💰 Gold and Cash in the Closet. A New Jersey senator and his wife are facing bribery charges after federal agents found a fortune hidden in their home.

👮‍♂️ The Second Time Around. This is not the first time Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, has been accused of corruption. He was indicted in 2015 for allegedly accepting lavish gifts from a wealthy Florida eye doctor in exchange for political favors, but the case ended in a mistrial.

These favors include:

• Medicare billing dispute,

• securing a visa for the doctor's girlfriend,

• protecting a business deal the doctor had in the Dominican Republic.

💰 The New Charges. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, allegedly pocketed hundreds of thousands in bribes from three Jersey businessmen. Their goal was to leverage the senator’s influence for the benefit of the Egyptian government.

The bribes included:

• gold bars,

• cash,

• home mortgage payments,

• a luxury car,

• “low-or-no-show job” for the wife.

Menendez stands accused of passing sensitive US intel to Egyptian officials, and even ghostwriting a letter on Egypt’s behalf to sway US senators to release a hold on $300 million in aid to Egypt.

🗣️ The Defense. Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and slammed the indictment as “an active smear campaign.”

What a wild world we live in.