Good Morning. 

Syrian rebels captured Aleppo in a major offensive that dealt a significant blow to the Assad regime, pro-EU protests intensified across Georgia after the government suspended EU membership talks until 2028, the source code for expensive macOS malware Banshee Stealer leaked online leading operators to shut down their $3,000-per-month operation, a Chinese editor for a Communist Party newspaper received a 7-year prison sentence for espionage after meeting with Japanese diplomats, and ten people were found dead in Ecuador's El Oro province amid rising gang violence.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

China Learns Sanctions-Evasion Lessons from Russia's Playbook as Taiwan Contingency Looms

• China has established an interagency group studying Russia's sanctions-evasion tactics since the Ukraine war, regularly reporting to leadership about potential strategies for a Taiwan conflict scenario.

• Beijing is particularly concerned about protecting its $3.3 trillion foreign reserves from potential Western sanctions, with Xi Jinping personally consulting officials on safeguarding these assets.

• While Russia's economy has shown resilience through Chinese support, Beijing recognizes its larger global economic footprint would make sanctions more complex and disruptive than Moscow's experience.

Counterterrorism

• Syrian rebels capture Aleppo in major offensive, dealing significant blow to Assad regime as Russian and Iranian support weakens. ➚

• Kim Jong Un tells Russian defense minister that Moscow has right to defend itself against U.S. intervention in Ukraine. ➚

Military & Defense

• Pro-EU protests intensify across Georgia after government suspends EU membership talks until 2028, leading to violent clashes with police. ➚

• Egypt hosts new Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks while UN halts Gaza aid deliveries due to armed gangs looting humanitarian supplies. ➚

• White House firmly states it will not return nuclear weapons to Ukraine, dismissing speculation about potential nuclear rearming. ➚

• Sectarian violence in Pakistan's Kurram district claims over 130 lives despite ceasefire attempts, as authorities struggle to broker peace. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Source code for expensive macOS malware Banshee Stealer leaks online, leading operators to shut down their $3,000-per-month operation. ➚

• Russian-linked hackers exploit Firefox and Windows vulnerabilities in sophisticated zero-click attack targeting European and North American users. ➚

• Meta implements new advertising verification rules for financial services targeting Australians, requiring license numbers and disclosure to combat rising investment scams. ➚

• Security researchers discover new Linux-targeting bootkit called Bootkitty, marking first expansion of UEFI bootkits beyond Windows systems. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• A Chinese editor for a Communist Party newspaper receives 7-year prison sentence for espionage after meeting with Japanese diplomats. ➚

• Three Bulgarian nationals face trial in UK for allegedly running "sophisticated" spy ring that gathered intelligence for Russia over three years. ➚

• Former British soldier Daniel Khalife, who escaped prison by strapping himself under a food truck, convicted of spying for Iran. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Ten people found dead in Ecuador's El Oro province amid rising gang violence, prompting increased security measures. ➚

• Two Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members arrested in New York during major drug bust after participating in violent Colorado apartment invasion. ➚

• Mexican cartels recruit chemistry students from universities with lucrative offers to help produce stronger fentanyl and develop precursor chemicals. ➚

• Eight people killed and two wounded in mass shooting at roadside stand in Mexico's Guanajuato state amid ongoing cartel violence. ➚

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.