Good Morning. 

Eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and seven police officers were kidnapped in militant attacks near the Afghanistan border, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced new initiatives supporting "Global South" nations at G20, Russian Phobos ransomware administrator Evgenii Ptitsyn was extradited to the U.S. for allegedly operating a $16M global extortion scheme targeting schools and hospitals, a Russian spy ship was escorted from the Irish Sea after being spotted operating drones near critical underwater cables, and the U.S. sanctioned major Israeli settlement group Amana and others for illegal West Bank development.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

ATACMS: What to Know About U.S. Green Light for Ukraine's Deep Strikes into Russia

• The Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles for strikes within Russia, reversing previous restrictions in response to North Korea's troop deployment to the Kursk region.

• ATACMS missiles, with a range of 190 miles and launched from HIMARS systems, can be armed with either cluster munitions or conventional warheads and could potentially reach hundreds of Russian military targets.

• The decision has drawn support from European allies but criticism from Russia and Trump supporters, with the Kremlin warning it represents a "qualitatively new round of tension" in U.S. involvement in the conflict.

Counterterrorism

• Eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and seven police officers kidnapped in militant attacks near the Afghanistan border. ➚

• The UK imposed new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, including freezing assets of Iran's national airline and shipping company. ➚

• Canadian authorities thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate former Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, a prominent human rights advocate and critic of Tehran. ➚

• Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated there is a "limited opportunity" for nuclear negotiations with the West. ➚

Military & Defense

• At G20, Xi announced new initiatives supporting "Global South" nations and increased trade commitments. ➚

• The Pentagon dismissed Russian criticism over ATACMS approval while citing North Korea's troops as the real escalation. ➚

• The G20 summit in Brazil reveals divisions over Ukraine as Biden's administration ramps up support for Kyiv in its final months. ➚

• Myanmar rebels and aid workers turn to banned Starlink satellites amid nationwide internet blackouts, with over 3K dishes now operating. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Russian Phobos ransomware administrator was extradited to U.S. for allegedly operating a $16M global extortion scheme targeting schools and hospitals. ➚

• Federal watchdog finds critical cyber vulnerabilities in 97 US water systems serving 26.6M people, with EPA lacking proper incident reporting systems. ➚

• CISA Director Easterly and other Biden appointees to step down in January as Trump's DHS nominee Kristi Noem awaits confirmation. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• A Russian spy ship was escorted from the Irish Sea after being spotted operating drones near critical underwater cables and infrastructure. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• The U.S. sanctions major Israeli settlement group Amana and others for illegal West Bank development, freezing their U.S. assets. ➚

• Trial begins for two men accused of human smuggling after an Indian family of four froze to death while crossing the Canada-U.S. border in 2022. ➚

• Over 20K flee homes in Haiti's capital as gang violence paralyzes Port-au-Prince and cuts off vital supplies. ➚

• Spain arrests 14 Sinaloa cartel suspects after finding a kidnapping victim's body and uncovering drug smuggling operations in Catalonia. ➚

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.