Good Morning. 

Taliban authorities publicly flog nine people in Afghanistan, Sudan's RSF leader accuses Egypt of airstrikes against his forces, Mexico faces over half of Latin American cyber threats in early 2024, a Russian spy ship breaks down in NATO waters and is escorted back to Russia, and a gang attack in Haiti kills at least 115 people in a small town.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Ruthless 'Megalomaniac' Sinwar Drives Hamas Toward a More Radical Path

• Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's new leader, has revived suicide bombings and adopted a more militant stance since taking control in August 2024.

• Sinwar's leadership marks a departure from Hamas's previous attempts at political legitimacy, focusing instead on violent confrontation with Israel.

• His radical approach has caused internal tensions within Hamas and raised concerns about the group's future direction and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Counterterrorism

• Taliban authorities in Afghanistan publicly flogged nine people, including women, for various crimes despite international outcry and calls to end such punishments. ➚

• Iran has warned Gulf Arab states that allowing use of their airspace or military bases against Iran would be "unacceptable" and draw a response. ➚

• North Korea announced it will completely cut off road and rail links to South Korea, further escalating tensions between the two countries. ➚

Military & Defense

• Sudan's RSF leader Hemedti accuses Egypt of airstrikes against his forces, while Egypt denies involvement in the ongoing conflict. ➚

• Chinese-made FTC-2000G fighter jets are playing a crucial role in Myanmar's military airstrikes. ➚

• Zelenskyy to meet Macron in Paris for support talks; Russia claims downing 47 Ukrainian drones. ➚

• UK's Lammy to visit China, aiming to reset ties and resume trade talks amid ongoing tensions. ➚

• Biden-Netanyahu call addresses Iran tensions; Israel vows "lethal and precise" retaliation for missile attack. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Mexico accounts for over half of Latin American cyber threats in the first half of 2024, largely due to its proximity and commercial ties with the United States. ➚

• OpenAI reports disrupting over 20 foreign influence networks in the past year that attempted to use its AI tools for political manipulation and cyberattacks. ➚

• Microsoft warns of a growing trend in phishing campaigns exploiting legitimate file hosting services like SharePoint and OneDrive to bypass security measures. ➚

• American Water, a major U.S. utility, has disconnected some of its computer systems and paused billing following a cybersecurity incident discovered on October 3. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• A Russian spy ship, the Chusovoy, which had broken down in NATO waters, was escorted back to Russia by a tugboat under NATO surveillance. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• A gang attack on a small Haitian town has resulted in at least 115 deaths, with the toll expected to rise as authorities continue searching for bodies. ➚

• A Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang member and illegal immigrant was arrested in Houston, highlighting transnational gang threats in the U.S. ➚

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.