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Ever heard of the Republic of Molossia? It’s a micronation that proudly claims sovereignty over an expansive 6.3 acres of land in Nevada. Founded by Kevin Baugh, Molossia is a testament to the adage that size doesn’t matter.

Fun fact: Baugh dutifully pays property taxes to a local US government, but he dubs it “foreign aid.”

Today’s geopolitics hotspots

How Wirecard’s COO Became Putin’s Spy.

You may think you know the story of Wirecard, the German fintech company that collapsed in 2020 after a massive accounting fraud.

But did you know that its former COO, Jan Marsalek, is also accused of being a Russian spy?

🏃🏻 Fugitive.

• Jan Marsalek was the chief operating officer of Wirecard, a German company that provided payment processing and card issuing services.

• He was also the mastermind behind the scheme that inflated the company’s revenue and assets by almost €2 billion.

• When the fraud was exposed, he fled Germany and is believed to be hiding in Russia.

🕵🏻‍♂️ Spy network.

Marsalek, the man of many masks, wasn’t just a fraudster, he was also a spy. According to British prosecutors, he was involved in a spying network for Russia that operated within the UK.

His accomplice in espionage?

• A 45-year-old Bulgarian man named Orlin Roussev, who orchestrated a cell of five Bulgarian nationals.

• Their mission: Surveil and report on targets of interest to Russia. These included NATO bases, military equipment, and communication interception.

• The five alleged Russian spies were arrested in February and appeared in court on Tuesday.

🏛️ Charges.

• Marsalek is not charged as part of the case against the Bulgarian suspects. However, he is named as a co-conspirator and an accomplice.

• He is also being tried in absentia in Munich for his role in Wirecard’s collapse.

• Marsalek is also wanted by Interpol on a Red Notice for fraud and money laundering.

🌟 Today’s gem

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇵🇱 Poland:

Poland seeks extradition of Hunka.

Poland’s Education Minister dropped a bombshell on Tuesday, revealing his intent to extradite a 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian veteran, a controversial figure due to his service in the Nazi SS Galizien division during WWII.

• The veteran, Yaroslav Hunka, was recently honored as a “hero” by the Speaker of the Canadian House during President Zelensky’s visit to Canada last week.

• Amidst growing pressure, the Speaker has since apologized and stepped down.

✱ NOTE: Poland doesn’t have a formal extradition agreement with Canada.

🇨🇳 China:

China tries to silence Hong Kong media freedom event at U.N.

China doesn’t want anyone to hear what the son of a jailed Hong Kong media tycoon has to say about Hong Kong’s press situation.

• On Tuesday, it has sent a letter to other countries, pressing them not to attend a British-organized event at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

• The event, titled “Media Freedom in Hong Kong,” will feature Sebastien Lai, whose father Jimmy Lai is facing charges under the controversial national security law.

✱ NOTE: At least 22 countries have co-sponsored the event, showing their support for media freedom and human rights.

🇰🇷 South Korea:

Seoul flexes its muscles in a rare military parade.

South Korea held its first military parade in a decade, showcasing its firepower and readiness to face any threat from North Korea.

• President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that if Pyongyang uses nuclear weapons, it will be the end of its regime.

• The parade also sent a message to Russia, which has been strengthening its ties with North Korea and supplying it with advanced weapons technologies.

✱ NOTE: The parade featured about 4,600 South Korean soldiers, more than 300 US combat troops, tanks, missiles, and other weapons

🇹🇷 Türkiye:

Turkey plays hardball with US over F-16 jets and Sweden’s NATO bid.

Turkey is not giving up on its demand for F-16 fighter jets from the US, even if it means holding up Sweden’s NATO membership. President Erdogan said that Turkey will ratify Sweden’s bid only if the US keeps its promise to sell F-16s to Ankara.

✱ NOTE: Meanwhile, Hungary’s PM Orbán says there is “no rush” to ratify Sweden’s NATO bid. Turkey and Hungary are the only countries that haven’t given the green light yet.