Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/china-hackers-hit-us-epstein-funded-trans-surgery-china-builds-up-oil-stockpile-lagarde-to-exit-ecb/
Geopolitics
Google Threat Intelligence reported that China-linked hackers conducted more cyber espionage missions against the U.S. defense and aerospace sectors than any other state-sponsored actors over the past two years. The report stated these groups exploited edge devices for initial access and used ORB networks for reconnaissance. Russia-nexus actors targeted defense contractors involved in unmanned aircraft systems supporting the Ukraine conflict, according to the report. North Korea-linked operations reportedly involved IT workers posing for jobs at U.S. firms, including theft of AI data from a California company.
In other news, Iran and the United States agreed on guiding principles for nuclear negotiations in Geneva, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirming a general understanding after discussions. Iran vowed to submit detailed proposals within two weeks to address remaining gaps. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Iran is open to verification that it seeks no nuclear weapons, while emphasizing its right to non-weaponized nuclear technology for medicine, industry, and agriculture. U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted diplomatic hopes alongside other options. Some observers dismissed the progress as limited without concessions on uranium enrichment levels.
Epstein Files
Department of Justice files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act indicate Jeffrey Epstein’s links to transgender medicine infrastructure after his 2008 conviction. The files show Epstein funded biologist Robert Trivers for seven years, directing him toward transgender biology research. Trivers produced work on hormone interventions in young children and transgender classifications. Epstein granted $50,000 to surgeon Dr. Jess Ting, who built Mount Sinai’s transgender surgery program, visited Epstein’s island, and solicited funds for the documentary “Born to Be.” The files indicate Epstein circulated updates on Ting’s work, pitched “trans-science” to figures like Bill Gates via MIT’s Joi Ito, tracked transgender topics in elite networks, and listed it first among term paper ideas. Skeptics argued the connections do not establish Epstein’s influence on the field’s development.
Health
Trials for two detransitioner lawsuits are scheduled for early 2027. Chloe Cole sued Kaiser Foundation Hospitals after receiving hormones and a double mastectomy at age 15, with her case set for April 5. Luka Hein’s Nebraska suit targets the University of Nebraska Medical Center and others following her mastectomy at 16. These follow the January verdict in Fox Varian v. Kenneth Einhorn, where a New York jury awarded $2 million for malpractice involving errors in mental health communication.
Meanwhile, a study in the International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine analyzed excess mortality in 2021 across four Australian regions—Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory—where vaccination rates exceeded 89% despite low COVID circulation. The study reported 645 excess deaths in these areas, with 10 attributed to COVID. Queensland recorded 361 excess deaths with 4 COVID attributions, Western Australia 140 with none, South Australia 68 with 4, and the Northern Territory 76 with 2. Critics noted the study’s ecological design precludes definitive causal links to vaccination.
Energy
China has reportedly been very busy building up stockpiles of energy resources. Data from domestic production, imports, and refinery processing indicate increased Chinese crude oil inventories by 54 million tonnes, or about 400 million barrels, in 2025 following a similar build in 2024. Imports reached 578 million tonnes against 738 million processed, leaving significant unaccounted volumes likely added to stocks. Total inventories are estimated at 1.1 to 1.2 billion barrels, equivalent to over 100 days of imports, amid government emphasis on energy security in the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan. This stockpiling absorbed global surplus production, stabilizing prices despite OPEC+ increases.
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned of a fracturing global political order reflected in diverging energy and climate policies. He noted the U.S. removed the EPA’s endangerment finding on greenhouse gases, prioritizing energy security; the EU renegotiated its 2035 internal combustion engine ban and considered relief for industrial energy costs and emission trading revisions; and China cut electric vehicle subsidies, leading to a 20% monthly sales drop. Birol stated climate change is descending international policy agendas.
Economy
The Financial Times reported that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde plans to exit before French President Emmanuel Macron’s term ends. However, other sources are denying this is true.
U.S. agencies developed a price floor system for critical minerals, pitched to allies including over 50 nations at a recent summit, to counter China’s market dominance and spur private investment. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg stated the mechanism, discussed via the Pax Silica alliance, addresses pricing to unlock funding and reduce supply chain dependence on China for national security resources.
Technology
SpaceX and its subsidiary xAI are competing in a classified six-month Pentagon contest reportedly worth $100 million to develop voice-controlled autonomous drone swarms for air and sea missions using chatbots. The effort, run by the Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Special Operations Command’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, ties to the Replicator initiative. xAI is recruiting engineers with security clearances and secured a $200 million contract to integrate its Grok chatbot into government systems. OpenAI supports a submission from Applied. Critics questioned the participation given Elon Musk’s prior industry concerns over autonomous weapons.
Sources
Google Warns: China, Russia, North Korea Hackers Targeting US Defense Firms
Has sustained cyberattacks from groups and criminal organizations from China, Russia, and North Korea in recent months.
Two High-Profile Detransitioner Cases Set for 2027 Trials
Two high-profile “detransitioner” cases involving young women whose bodies were irrevocably altered as teens by transgender surgery are expected to go to trial in early 2027.
China’s Massive Oil Stockpiling: War Prep or Strategic Caution?
China’s Unprecedented Oil Stockpiling Sparks Questions If Beijing Is Preparing For War
SpaceX and xAI Enter Secret Pentagon Race for Voice-Controlled Drone Swarms
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its wholly owned subsidiary, xAI, are competing in a classified DoW contest to develop voice-controlled, autonomous drone-swarming technology.
Iran Agrees on Nuclear Deal “Guiding Principles” with US, Vows Proposals in Two Weeks
“The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions.”
IEA Chief Warns Fractured Global Order Is Splintering Energy Policies
A fracturing in the “global order” is threatening the harmony in energy policies
Source | Submitted by jhughes1973
Epstein’s Hidden Hand: DOJ Files Tie Sex Trafficker to Transgender Medicine’s Rise
Newly released DOJ files reveal Jeffrey Epstein’s fingerprints on the construction of America’s transgender medicine industry.
98% of Excess Deaths in Highly Vaccinated Australian Regions Not Attributed to COVID: New Study
635 of 645 excess deaths — 98.4% — were not attributed to COVID.
Lagarde Plans ECB Exit Before Macron’s Term Ends: FT
ECB President Lagarde plans to quit before Macron’s term ends, FT reports
U.S. Agencies Develop Sophisticated Price Floor for Critical Minerals to Counter China
They’ve developed a very, very sophisticated price floor system
Source (Paywalled)
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Kuwait Times; Fox & Friends; Jean Fisch; Grok analysis via Robinson; Bloomberg; Ryan Craven; Astral Orphan; Financial Times; Crypto Wave; Atlas21.