🔥 Houthi Attack on Oil Tanker Sparks U.S. Ecological Disaster Warning

Good Morning. 

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, set to launch today, will attempt the world's first commercial spacewalk with a crew of four private astronauts including billionaire Jared Isaacman.

The mission will also aim to break spaceflight records by reaching an altitude of 870 miles above Earth and test new technologies like SpaceX's space suits and Starlink connectivity.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

The United States has issued a warning about a potential ecological disaster in the Red Sea following a Houthi rebel attack on the MT Delta Sounion, a Greek-flagged oil tanker carrying 150K metric tons of crude oil.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called for UN Security Council condemnation of the attack, emphasizing the threat to regional ecosystems and livelihoods.

The incident is part of the Houthis' ongoing campaign against commercial shipping in the region, which has disrupted trade routes and prompted concerns about environmental and economic impacts.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• Far-right extremists are increasingly targeting U.S. power grids, coordinating attacks through online platforms to cause chaos and potentially disrupt elections.

• Baluch insurgents kill 40+ in Pakistan, targeting buses and security forces, prompting military retaliation.

• Iran publicly hangs man convicted of murdering a lawyer, marking the country's first public execution of 2024.

• North Korea tested new exploding drones designed to crash into targets, as South Korea and the US conduct joint military exercises.

• At least 100 people were killed in central Burkina Faso during an attack by al-Qaida-linked jihadis, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the country this year.

Military & Defense

• Russia launches 200 drones and missiles at Ukraine, killing four and disrupting power in multiple regions, as Ukraine develops new long-range capabilities.

• China conducts military drills near Myanmar border amid concerns over spillover from ongoing civil war.

• Philippines accuses China of aggressive actions in South China Sea, including unsafe aircraft maneuvers and vessel confrontations.

• Indonesia hosts large-scale multinational military exercises with 10 countries, focusing on joint capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cybersecurity

• Chinese Bitcoin mining giant Bitmain faces US political pressure amid Trump's "Made in USA" push and national security concerns.

• SonicWall has identified and issued patches for a critical vulnerability in its SonicOS platform that could allow unauthorized access and potentially cause firewalls to crash.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Japan scrambled jets after Chinese Y-9 spy plane violated airspace near Danjo Islands, marking first such incursion and prompting diplomatic protest to Beijing.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Mexican prosecutors are charging Joaquín Guzmán López for kidnapping rival drug lord Ismael Zambada and flying him to the U.S..

• Turkish gangs escalate violence across Europe amid drug trade competition and heroin shortage.

• A Mexican national was sentenced to 40 years in U.S. prison for leading a human smuggling operation that resulted in eight deaths near Del Rio, Texas.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Tech giants like Meta and Google are exploring advanced geothermal energy to power their expanding data centers, leveraging techniques from oil and gas fracking to harness clean heat deep beneath the Earth's surface.

This novel approach, demonstrated by companies like Sage Geosystems and Fervo Energy, could provide emissions-free electricity around the clock, complementing variable renewable sources like wind and solar.

The push for geothermal energy is driven by the tech industry's growing electricity demands, particularly due to the AI boom, and their commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

In other news…

Nearly 200 DeepMind employees reportedly signed a letter asking Google to investigate and potentially terminate military contracts using their AI technology.

China opposes new U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies allegedly tied to Russia's war efforts, vowing to protect its businesses' interests.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov's detention in France over content moderation issues threatens the messaging app's future and raises free speech concerns.

LeoLabs, a space-tracking company, has seen significant growth in its defense business as military demand for orbital monitoring increases.

Applied Materials receives a DOJ subpoena regarding federal grant applications, adding to existing government scrutiny of its operations and China dealings.

IBM is shutting down its research and development operations in China, affecting over 1K employees, as part of a broader trend of US companies scaling back operations in the country amid geopolitical tensions.

DEALS & FUNDING

PIP Labs, the developer of Story Protocol, has raised $80M in a Series B funding round led by a16z crypto, bringing its total funding to over $140M.

Story Protocol is a blockchain-based platform designed to transform intellectual property into programmable assets, allowing creators to easily manage and monetize their IP while enabling users to experiment with content across various media and platforms.

In other news…

China is building a $3.5B deep-water port in Peru, raising U.S. concerns about China's growing influence in South America.

The National Park Foundation received a record-breaking $100M grant from Lilly Endowment, which will be used to enhance the U.S. national park system through various programs aimed at conservation, education, and improving visitor experiences.

Loft Orbital has formed a joint venture called Orbitworks with UAE-based Marlan Space to scale satellite production in the Middle East, backed by over $100M in funding.

ZymoChem, a biotech company, has been awarded a $1.57 million contract by the DoD to develop bioindustrial manufacturing capabilities for critical materials used in military applications.

Venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund are leading investments in defense tech startups, with funding in 2024 nearing record highs.

The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking generative AI tools to enhance military joint planning and wargaming capabilities through its Thunderforge initiative.