Good Morning. 

A U.S. jury awarded $42M to three Abu Ghraib torture victims, Russian Security Council Secretary Shoigu told China's FM that their key task is to counter U.S. attempts at dual containment, North Korean hackers were caught testing new macOS malware hidden in a Minesweeper game clone, a former Massachusetts Air National Guardsman is sentenced to 15 years in prison for highly consequential violations of the Espionage Act, and the U.S. sanctions Sudan’s RSF commander Barakallah for human rights abuses in Darfur.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Ghost Threats & Grounded Planes: A Wave of Hoax Bomb Threats Disrupts India’s Air Travel

• Over 500 bomb threats paralyzed Indian aviation in the last two weeks of October 2024—more than all previous threats this year combined—disrupting 136 flight routes including 50 international destinations spanning from Melbourne to New York.

• Though all threats proved false, mandatory security protocols required treating each as genuine, triggering a cascade of emergency responses including fighter jet escorts, emergency landings, and extensive security sweeps.

• Though airline sources report the social media-driven crisis is subsiding and several arrests have been made, investigators are still searching for motives behind the coordinated disruption campaign.

Counterterrorism

• A U.S. jury awarded $42M to three Abu Ghraib torture victims, holding military contractor CACI responsible. ➚

• Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have scheduled the public execution of a murder convict, marking the sixth such execution since regaining power. ➚

• The U.S. military conducted strikes against nine targets associated with Iranian-backed groups in Syria in response to recent attacks on U.S. personnel. ➚

Military & Defense

• Russian Security Council Secretary Shoigu told China's FM that their key task is to counter U.S. attempts at dual containment of their countries. ➚

• Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters fled Chad after clashes killed 100 militants and 20 soldiers. ➚

• The Houthis fired a missile at an Israeli base, while strikes in Gaza and Lebanon escalate civilian casualties. ➚

• China is pushing Pakistan to allow Chinese security forces to protect its citizens there following recent attacks on its workers. ➚

• The U.S. says Israel improved Gaza aid access, but aid groups report worsening conditions and record-low deliveries. ➚

Cybersecurity

• North Korean hackers were caught testing new macOS malware hidden in a Minesweeper game clone. ➚

• Delta and Amazon confirmed a vendor data breach, as hacker "Nam3L3ss" threatens to leak data from 25 major organizations. ➚

• Biden backed a controversial U.N. cybercrime treaty despite concerns it could enable authoritarian regimes. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• A former Massachusetts Air National Guardsman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for highly consequential violations of the Espionage Act. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• The U.S. sanctioned Sudan’s RSF commander Barakallah for human rights abuses in Darfur. ➚

• The FAA banned flights to Haiti after gangs shot a Spirit Airlines plane; the UN also suspended aid flights. ➚

• An INTERPOL-led coalition has arrested 100 key ‘Ndrangheta members. ➚

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.