Good Morning. 

Iran increased its near weapons-grade uranium stockpile to 182.3 kg, NATO conducted massive Arctic military drills with 3.6K troops near the Russian border in Finland, five men associated with the "Scattered Spider" cybercrime group were charged with wire fraud for phishing schemes, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was allegedly kidnapped in Kenya, and fifty Boko Haram insurgents were killed and seven Nigerian officers went missing after militants ambushed a power grid convoy.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

North Korea Sends Mystery General to Command Ukraine War Effort

• Colonel General Kim Yong Bok, formerly a secretive special forces commander and now North Korea's third-highest military official, has emerged from obscurity to lead 11K North Korean troops deployed to support Russian forces in Ukraine.

• The deployment, which could potentially grow to 100K troops according to President Zelensky, includes soldiers wearing Russian uniforms with fake IDs, along with military equipment such as multiple-launch rocket systems and howitzers headed for Russia's Kursk region.

• Western officials worry that North Korea's military support for Russia could result in Pyongyang receiving sensitive nuclear and missile technology in return, with South Korea's defense minister suggesting possible Russian assistance in North Korea's recent ICBM launch.

Counterterrorism

• Iran increases near weapons-grade uranium stockpile to 182.3 kg, defying IAEA demands as Western nations consider censure. ➚

• Syrian national Mahmoud Al Hafyan accused of diverting $9M in US humanitarian aid meant for food and medical supplies to terrorist organization. ➚

Military & Defense

• NATO conducts massive Arctic military drills with 3.6K troops near Russian border in Finland, focusing on artillery exercises. ➚

• Biden reverses policy to send self-deactivating land mines to Ukraine amid Russian advances in eastern regions. ➚

• U.S. vetoes UN Gaza ceasefire resolution, citing need to link it to hostage release, marking its fourth Gaza veto since war began. ➚

• China's proposed joint security company with Myanmar junta sparks sovereignty concerns amid military's weakening control. ➚

• Small Utah drone maker Teal wins $260M Army contract for 11.7K surveillance drones over Silicon Valley competitors. ➚

• Israeli airstrike hits residential buildings and industrial zone in Syria's historic Palmyra, killing 36 and wounding 50. ➚

• Britain signs new security partnership with Moldova, offering support and funding to counter Russian threats and improve cyber defense. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Five men associated with the "Scattered Spider" cybercrime group charged with wire fraud for phishing schemes that stole corporate data and millions in cryptocurrency. ➚

• Senator Blumenthal urges FCC to create mandatory security standards for telecom wiretapping systems. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was allegedly kidnapped in Kenya, transferred to Uganda, and is being held in a military jail according to his wife. ➚

• Danish military is monitoring a Chinese ship near damaged data cables in the Baltic Sea, with the vessel having passed through areas where two undersea telecommunication cables were recently severed. ➚

• Russian spy chief Naryshkin warns NATO of retaliation if Western allies help Ukraine strike deep into Russian territory with long-range weapons. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• At least 50 Boko Haram insurgents were killed and seven Nigerian security officers went missing after militants ambushed a convoy protecting power grid installations. ➚

• Indian billionaire Gautam Adani was charged in $250M bribery scheme to secure government solar contracts while misleading U.S. investors. ➚

• Colombian rebel group Segunda Marquetalia has split into two factions, with the majority continuing peace talks with President Petro's government. ➚

• Spain announces plans to legalize around 300K undocumented migrants to support its workforce needs and aging population. ➚

• UN Security Council members broadly support converting Haiti's security mission to a peacekeeping force despite Russian and Chinese opposition. ➚

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.