Good Morning. 

The Taliban publicly flogs four people in Afghanistan, the Lebanese PM expresses optimism for 60-day ceasefire deal with Israel that would include Israeli troop withdrawal, Amazon's once-secretive threat intelligence unit reveals successes against cyber threats, SpaceX expands into military and spy satellite production for the Pentagon, and Chile faces rising gang violence and prison torture amid influx of foreign criminal groups, particularly from Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

North Korea's Military Alliance with Russia Signals Power Shift in Asia

• Former U.S. officials report that China is displaying "exasperation" and "panic" as North Korea deploys thousands of troops to Russia, indicating Beijing has lost significant influence over its longtime client state.

• The emerging Russia-North Korea security partnership creates new strategic challenges for China in East Asia, particularly as Russian nuclear assistance to North Korea could strengthen U.S. military alliances in the region.

• While Beijing maintains public silence on North Korea's troop deployment to Russia despite reaffirming Russian ties, both the U.S. and South Korea have condemned the military cooperation as a direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Counterterrorism

• The Taliban publicly flogs four people in Afghanistan as UN reports 276 such punishments this year. ➚

• U.S. airstrikes kill 35 ISIS militants at multiple camps in central Syria, with Pentagon noting the group remains a regional threat. ➚

• Chad's president launches military operation "Haskanite" after Boko Haram fighters killed over 40 government troops in Lake Chad Basin attack. ➚

• Pakistan hires U.S. lawyers to fight Iran's claim over delayed gas pipeline amid sanctions concerns. ➚

Military & Defense

• The Lebanese PM expresses optimism for 60-day ceasefire deal with Israel that would include Israeli troop withdrawal, though neither Israel nor Hezbollah have officially commented. ➚

• France grants unprecedented asylum access to six Russian army deserters and their partners, potentially encouraging more soldiers to flee. ➚

• The U.S. imposes sanctions on nearly 400 entities across multiple countries, including China and India, in largest crackdown yet on Russia's sanctions evasion network. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Amazon's once-secretive threat intelligence unit reveals successes against cyber threats, including disrupting Anonymous Sudan and uncovering Iranian and Chinese disinformation campaigns. ➚

• FBI reports conducting over 30 disruption operations against ransomware gangs in 2024. ➚

• Federal cybersecurity officials outline 2025 priorities including zero trust implementation, cloud security, and quantum computing readiness. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• SpaceX is expanding into military and spy satellite production for the Pentagon. ➚

• China arrests South Korean chip engineer on espionage charges, escalating tensions between the two countries over semiconductor technology theft. ➚

• Canada-India diplomatic tensions escalate as Canadian official accuses Indian Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating violence against Sikhs, raising concerns about increased cyber espionage. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Chile faces rising gang violence and prison torture amid influx of foreign criminal groups, particularly from Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang. ➚

• Mexican cartels control migrant flow at the southern border, forcing payment and "stamping" those who pay $100 ransom before allowing them to continue north. ➚

• U.S. Marine Corps veteran Nicholas Quets was killed by cartel-hired gunmen in Mexico while traveling near the Arizona border. ➚

• Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak must defend himself against 25 new charges related to $526M in alleged money laundering from 1MDB scandal. ➚

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.