Good Morning. 

The Taliban formally requests a BRICS summit invitation, the U.S. tackles Pacific military supply challenges, Chinese hackers breach U.S. internet providers, Russian ships are suspected of Baltic Sea espionage, and the U.S. sanctions a Mexican ice cream chain and a local pharmacy tied to the Sinaloa cartel.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Russia's Secret Drone Project in China Raises Global Concerns

• Russia has established a covert program in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones for use in Ukraine, according to intelligence sources and documents.

• Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey's subsidiary IEMZ Kupol has reportedly tested and produced drones in China, including the Garpiya-3 model, with some samples already delivered to Russia.

• The revelation has sparked international concern, with NATO, the U.S., and UK calling on China to ensure its companies are not providing lethal assistance to Russia's war efforts.

Counterterrorism

• Taliban formally requests BRICS summit invitation. ➚

• IAEA notes Iran's openness to nuclear talks. ➚

• Senate: Secret Service failures led to Trump shooting. ➚

Military & Defense

• U.S. tackles Pacific military supply challenges. ➚

• China tests ICBM in Pacific Ocean. ➚

• Putin issues nuclear warning to the West. ➚

• U.S. readies $8B arms aid for Ukraine visit. ➚

• Volunteers find 2K bodies in Ukraine's Donetsk. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Chinese hackers breach U.S. internet providers. ➚

• A patched ChatGPT macOS flaw could have allowed attackers to implant persistent spyware in the AI tool's memory function. ➚

• House bill proposes CISA-led cyber workforce program for students. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Russian ships suspected of Baltic Sea espionage. ➚

• Iran urges Iraqi stability amid PM spying row and regional tensions. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• U.S. sanctions Mexican businesses tied to cartel. ➚

• EU enhances organized crime fight network. ➚

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.