Good Morning. 

Israel's recent use of air-launched ballistic missiles against Iran is drawing attention as an effective military strategy, the Philippines begins two weeks of military drills including a simulated island seizure in the South China Sea, Columbus, Ohio confirms a ransomware attack compromised personal data of 500K residents, Turkey's proposed changes to its anti-espionage law could threaten journalists and rights defenders, and U.S. authorities arrested a Turkish national in Miami for allegedly orchestrating a complex scheme to violate sanctions.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Russia Suspected of Plot to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S.-Bound Planes

• Two incendiary devices disguised as electric massagers ignited at DHL hubs in Germany and UK in July 2024, believed to be part of a Russian intelligence test run for attacks on U.S.-bound flights.

• Lithuanian and Polish authorities have made arrests, including a suspect using the alias Igor Prudnikov and four others in Poland, with investigators linking the operation to Russian military intelligence (GRU).

• Western security officials warn this could have been a major escalation in Russia's sabotage campaign, as tests showed the magnesium-based devices could have caused catastrophic damage to aircraft, particularly over oceans.

Counterterrorism

• Israel's recent use of air-launched ballistic missiles against Iran is drawing attention as an effective military strategy, with only Israel, Russia, and China currently fielding these weapons. ➚

• The U.S. flew a B-1B bomber in joint drills with South Korea and Japan in response to North Korea's recent test of its new Hwasong-19 ICBM. ➚

• A VOA report details the plight of around 30K children of former IS members imprisoned in Syria. ➚

• Sudan's RSF are conducting violent raids in El Gezira state, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes amid accusations of revenge attacks. ➚

Military & Defense

• The Philippines begins two weeks of military drills including a simulated island seizure in the South China Sea, likely to draw China's attention. ➚

• Japan successfully launches a new military communication satellite aboard its H3 rocket to enhance defense capabilities. ➚

• The U.S. confronts Russia at UN over 10K North Korean troops allegedly sent to Ukraine, with Russia refusing to answer. ➚

• WSJ maps the year-long expansion of Middle East conflict from Gaza to a regional crisis involving Israel, Iran, and multiple militias. ➚

• Pakistan extends military chiefs' terms to 5 years amid protests, ensuring Army Chief Munir serves until 2027. ➚

• Myanmar's junta chief to make first China visit since 2021 coup, seeking support despite losing control of border regions. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Columbus, Ohio confirms ransomware attack compromised personal data of 500K residents, with hackers demanding $1.9M in bitcoin. ➚

• Researchers discover a critical zero-click vulnerability in Synology's photo app that could expose millions of storage devices to data theft and ransomware attacks. ➚

• Spyware victims face significant legal barriers when seeking justice through courts, with challenges ranging from jurisdictional issues to sovereign immunity protections for foreign governments. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Turkey's proposed changes to its anti-espionage law could threaten journalists and rights defenders with up to seven years in prison for alleged work with foreign interests. ➚

• China claims an "unexpected obstruction" forced its Y-9 surveillance plane into Japanese airspace in August, though Japan dismisses this explanation as "nonsense" and calls it a sovereignty violation. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• U.S. authorities arrested a Turkish national in Miami for allegedly orchestrating a complex scheme to violate sanctions by selling Venezuelan and Iranian oil through vessel disguises and tracking deactivation since 2020. ➚

• UK PM Starmer announces £75M boost for border security and new counter-terrorism tactics to combat people-smuggling gangs. ➚

• Mexico's new President Sheinbaum faces escalating cartel violence in her first month, including high-profile murders and widespread gang warfare. ➚

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.