Good Morning. 

The DOJ charged 2 for using Telegram to incite violence against minorities and officials, the U.S. and Cyprus signed a defense cooperation agreement, Russia is targeting U.S. social media influencers to covertly sway voters ahead of the 2024 election, a Chinese-linked group targeted Taiwanese drone makers in a cyber espionage campaign, and 47 inmates escaped from a maximum security prison in Liberia.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Russia's Arctic Espionage War: A Testing Ground for Hybrid Warfare

• Russia uses the Norwegian town of Kirkenes as a laboratory for intelligence operations and hybrid warfare tactics, exploiting its strategic location near Russia's nuclear stronghold.

• Russian agencies employ various methods, including manipulating local history and exploiting cross-border ties, to influence public sentiment and gather intelligence in the region.

• The tensions between maintaining peaceful cross-border relations and addressing national security concerns create complex challenges for local officials and residents in the Arctic borderlands.

Counterterrorism

• DOJ charges 2 for Telegram violence incitement. ➚

• Iran denies transferring missiles to Russia. ➚

• Dutch court convicts Pakistanis for anti-Muslim threats. ➚

• Bomb injures polio vaccinators in Pakistan during immunization drive. ➚

Military & Defense

• The U.S. and Cyprus sign defense cooperation agreement. ➚

• China-Taiwan ties strained after activist jailing. ➚

• Germany expands border controls nationwide. ➚

• Ukrainian women's unit fights Russian drones. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Russia targets U.S. social media influencers. ➚

• Americans lost $5.6B to crypto fraud in 2023. ➚

• Miami men indicted for cybercrime marketplace. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Chinese hackers target Taiwan drone makers. ➚

• Poland breaks up Belarus-Russia cyber-spy group. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• 47 inmates escape from maximum security prison in Liberia. ➚

• India battles widespread exam cheating gangs. ➚

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.