Good Morning. 

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi plans to visit Iran soon to address nuclear issues as Trump's election victory raises questions about future U.S.-Iran relations, Russian forces are using drones to deliberately target civilians in Kherson, INTERPOL has disrupted over 22K malicious servers and arrested 41 individuals in a global cybercrime operation, Chinese authorities have sentenced a former government worker to death for selling state secrets to foreign intelligence agencies, and a U.S. court has sentenced a Malaysian businessman to 15 years in prison and ordered him to pay $20M for orchestrating a massive Navy bribery scandal.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Arab Leaders Welcome Trump's Victory While Weighing Middle East Peace Prospects

• Arab leaders across the Middle East, including those from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, swiftly congratulated Donald Trump on his presidential victory, with many hoping he can leverage his personal relationships with regional leaders to resolve ongoing conflicts.

• Regional experts predict Trump will pressure Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to end the Gaza conflict before his January inauguration, though concerns exist about potential recognition of Israeli annexation of the West Bank.

• While Gulf states have recently strengthened ties with Iran and provided assurances against Israeli airspace use for attacks, analysts anticipate Trump may take a harder stance against Iran through increased sanctions and possible diplomatic channels via Putin.

Counterterrorism

• IAEA chief Rafael Grossi plans to visit Iran soon to address nuclear issues as Trump's election victory raises questions about future U.S.-Iran relations. ➚

• Russia ratified a mutual military assistance treaty with North Korea amid U.S. reports of 10K North Korean troops being deployed to Russia's Kursk region. ➚

• A Kenyan man was convicted in Manhattan for plotting a 9/11-style aircraft attack on a U.S. building on behalf of al-Shabab terrorist organization. ➚

Military & Defense

• Russian forces are using drones to deliberately target civilians in Kherson, forcing residents to hide and drastically change their daily routines. ➚

• A Hezbollah missile from Lebanon struck Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport parking lot, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. ➚

• Nigerian President Tinubu announced the death of Army Chief Lieutenant General Lagbaja at age 56 after an undisclosed illness. ➚

• South Korea vowed to build a "perfect" security partnership with the new U.S. administration while anticipating presidential talks in coming days. ➚

• China pledged support for Myanmar's junta while seeking protection for Chinese interests in the region. ➚

• Taiwan expects continued U.S. support post-election while staying vigilant against potential Chinese provocations. ➚

Cybersecurity

• INTERPOL disrupted over 22K malicious servers and arrested 41 individuals in a global operation targeting phishing, ransomware, and cybercrime infrastructure. ➚

• The USDA and White House launched a yearlong study to improve cyber defenses of rural water utilities. ➚

• One-third of SMBs suffered cyberattacks last year, with an average cost of $255K per incident. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• A former Chinese government worker was sentenced to death for selling state secrets to foreign intelligence agencies in exchange for money. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• A Malaysian businessman was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $20M for orchestrating a massive U.S. Navy bribery scandal. ➚

• Spanish police seized 13 tons of cocaine hidden in banana shipments from Ecuador at Algeciras port, marking the country's largest cocaine seizure. ➚

The America Builds podcast sits at the nexus of national security, technology, and venture capital. Hosts Will Allen and Hayley Menser interview the brilliant operators and investors pushing the boundaries of frontier technology.