ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 9, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 9, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Dozens of Air India Express Flights in India Disrupted After Mass Crew Sick Leave
• EU Agrees in Principle to Transfer Interest of Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine
• U.S. Warns of Terror Attack in Karachi, Likely Against Chinese Interests

Dozens of Air India Express Flights in India Disrupted After Mass Crew Sick Leave

On May 8, budget airliner Air India Express canceled or delayed at least 90 flights after cabin crew members called in sick en masse. Company officials are in the process of contacting the crew to better understand the reasoning behind the seemingly coordinated action. The development follows a similar incident at India’s Vistara airline, during which large numbers of staff called in sick to protest allegedly poor workplace conditions and low pay. Similar tactics are possible at other airliners in the short term.

EU Agrees in Principle to Transfer Interest of Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine

On May 8, European Union ambassadors agreed in principle to confiscate the interest from frozen Russian assets and transfer the funds to Ukraine. Euroclear, a clearing house in Brussels, Belgium holds EUR 191 billion of the EUR 260 billion of Russian Central Bank assets frozen by Western sanctions after Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. The agreement should provide Ukraine with about EUR 3 billion per year, 90 percent of which will be used for arms purchases while the remaining 10 percent will support reconstruction efforts. This development sets a precedent for other Western initiatives to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.

U.S. Warns of Terror Attack in Karachi, Likely Against Chinese Interests

On May 7, the U.S. issued a security warning of a terror threat against the Port of Karachi in the largest city of Karachi. Details of the threat were not mentioned, but the intended target could be Chinese infrastructure projects near the port. China has been spending billions of dollars building infrastructure projects in Pakistan because a reliable supply chain through Pakistan would allow China to avoid waters dominated by U.S. allies. However, Chinese interests in Pakistan are frequently targeted by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and other terror groups. A Taliban suicide attacker killed five Chinese engineers working on a dam in March.