Good Morning. 

The UN reports ISIS-Somalia has doubled in size to 700 fighters through an influx of foreign militants, the ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over Gaza war crimes, Amazon reports seeing 750M cyber threats daily, U.S. intelligence agencies warn defense companies about Russian sabotage threats targeting Western arms manufacturers, and illegal gold miners in South Africa live in underground gang-controlled communities.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Brazilian Police Accuse Bolsonaro of Orchestrating Assassination and Coup Plot

• Brazilian federal police have uncovered evidence that former President Bolsonaro and 36 allies allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated coup attempt to prevent President Lula da Silva from taking office, which included an assassination plot code-named "Green Yellow Dagger" targeting both Lula and his vice president.

• The investigation has exposed a highly organized criminal operation divided into six specialized cells, including military, intelligence, and misinformation divisions, with the accused potentially facing 4-12 years in prison if formally charged and convicted.

• Political tensions in Brazil have escalated following the January 8, 2023 riots and a recent failed bombing attempt at the Supreme Court, while Bolsonaro continues to deny all wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt designed to prevent him from running in 2026.

Counterterrorism

• The UN reports ISIS-Somalia has doubled in size to 700 fighters through an influx of foreign militants from six countries. ➚

• Terrorists massacred at least 45 passengers in Pakistan's Kurram district amid rising militant violence near the Afghan border. ➚

• The IAEA board ordered Iran to improve nuclear cooperation despite Tehran's last-minute offer to cap weapons-grade uranium. ➚

• A senior North Korean general was wounded in Ukraine's missile strike on Russia's Kursk region, where 10K North Korean troops are deployed. ➚

Military & Defense

• The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged Gaza war crimes, including using starvation as a weapon. ➚

• Putin announced Russia struck Ukraine with a new "unstoppable" missile called Oreshnik in response to Western-supplied weapons. ➚

• ASEAN defense chiefs met with U.S. and Chinese counterparts in Laos while China's minister refused direct talks with US over Taiwan tensions. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Amazon reports seeing 750M cyber threats daily, up from 100M earlier this year, with the surge attributed to criminals' increasing use of AI tools. ➚

• Meta removed over 2M accounts linked to "pig butchering" scams operating from Southeast Asia and UAE. ➚

• Microsoft seized 240 websites connected to an Egyptian maker of phishing kits that were being used to bypass multi-factor authentication. ➚

• A new privacy-focused mobile phone called Cape launched for high-risk individuals, claiming to protect against location tracking. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• U.S. intelligence agencies warned defense companies about Russian sabotage threats after Moscow's recent attempts to target Western arms manufacturers and supply routes. ➚

• A Norwegian security guard at the US embassy in Oslo was arrested for allegedly sharing information with Russian and Iranian intelligence agents. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Illegal gold miners in South Africa live in underground gang-controlled communities, earning significant money despite extreme dangers. ➚

• Spanish police arrested a Swedish family that allegedly recruited teenagers from Sweden and Denmark as hitmen via Telegram. ➚

• Finnish police arrested five people, including a Finnish-Nigerian citizen, over suspected links to separatist violence in southeastern Nigeria. ➚

• A high-ranking Mexican cartel leader who faked his own death was arrested in California while living a luxurious lifestyle. ➚

• New Zealand implemented a new law banning public display of gang symbols, with the first arrest made just three minutes after it took effect. ➚

• Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is reportedly operating in 16 U.S. states. ➚

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.