Good Morning. 

North Korea may eventually deploy up to 100K troops to aid Russia's war effort, India has successfully tested its first long-range hypersonic missile with a range of 1.5 kilometers, Iranian state hackers have deployed new "WezRat" malware targeting Israeli organizations, Chinese hackers have breached T-Mobile's network as part of a broader telecommunications attack targeting high-value intelligence targets' communications, and Tennessee officials have warned that Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is expanding human trafficking and criminal operations across the state's major cities.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

U.S. Approves Ukrainian Strikes on Russia Using American Long-Range Missiles

• President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles for strikes inside Russia, which marks a significant policy change during his final months in office.

• The White House's decision comes in response to North Korea's deployment of thousands of troops to support Russia, particularly in the Kursk region where Ukrainian forces launched a surprising invasion in August.

• After defeating VP Harris in the November 5 election, President-elect Trump has expressed skepticism about continued Ukraine support and has claimed that he will end the 33-month war before taking office on January 20.

Counterterrorism

• Bloomberg reports North Korea may eventually deploy up to 100K troops to aid Russia's war effort through rotating battalions over time. ➚

• Ten years after IS's attack on Iraq's Yazidi minority, nearly 2.6K people remain missing. ➚

Military & Defense

• India successfully tested its first long-range hypersonic missile with a range of 1.5 kilometers, joining a select group of nations with advanced missile capabilities. ➚

• Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones at Ukraine's energy sites, forcing nationwide power cuts. ➚

• Xi Jinping vowed to prevent Korean Peninsula conflict amid pressure over North Korea's support of Russia. ➚

• Israeli strike kills Hezbollah media chief in rare central Beirut attack, followed by second strike. ➚

• India and Nigeria strengthen security ties as Modi visits, with India pledging $14B in investments. ➚

• Biden and Xi meet in Peru to manage U.S.-China tensions and discuss AI, nuclear concerns. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Iranian state hackers deployed new "WezRat" malware targeting Israeli organizations through fake Chrome installer updates. ➚

• NSO Group developed new WhatsApp exploits after being sued, with court documents revealing deeper involvement in Pegasus operations. ➚

• Palo Alto Networks confirmed a critical zero-day vulnerability in its firewalls is being actively exploited in attacks and is working on patches. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Chinese hackers breached T-Mobile's network as part of a broader telecommunications attack that targeted high-value intelligence targets' communications. ➚

• The Biden administration issued guidance on how intelligence agencies should handle Americans' private data when using AI. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Tennessee officials warn that Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is expanding human trafficking and criminal operations across the state's major cities. ➚

• California authorities arrested 13 people and seized drugs, guns, and $450K in a major bust linked to Sinaloa Cartel operations. ➚

• The arrest of cartel leader "El Mayo" Zambada has sparked brutal violence in Mexico's Sinaloa state as rival factions battle for control. ➚

• Haiti faces escalating gang violence and political instability as the UN considers peacekeeping options and Biden's Kenyan police mission struggles to maintain order. ➚

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.