Good Morning. 

The U.S. is sanctioning entities facilitating Russia-North Korea financial transactions, a Putin ally warned of nuclear war if the West allows Ukraine to strike deep into Russia, the FBI says Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign data to Biden associates, North Korean hackers targeted energy and aerospace firms with custom espionage malware, and the British Navy seized a narco-submarine with 2 tons of cocaine in the Caribbean.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

U.S. Troops Finish Deployment to Alaska Amid Russian Military Surge

• About 130 U.S. soldiers were deployed to Shemya Island, Alaska, with mobile rocket launchers in response to increased Russian military activity.

• The deployment coincided with Russian and Chinese joint military drills, including 8 Russian planes and 4 navy vessels operating near Alaska.

• The U.S. Coast Guard tracked Russian naval vessels in the Chukchi Sea, with some briefly crossing into U.S. waters to avoid sea ice.

Counterterrorism

• U.S. sanctions entities facilitating Russia-North Korea financial transactions. ➚

• Kim Jong Un likely to provoke attention during U.S. election season. ➚

• Hezbollah vows revenge after deadly attacks on its communication systems. ➚

Military & Defense

• Putin ally warns of nuclear war if West allows Ukraine to strike deep into Russia. ➚

• Exploding pagers in Lebanon expose global supply chain vulnerabilities. ➚

• Indian ammunition reaches Ukraine via European intermediaries. ➚

• Russia attacks Ukrainian geriatric center and power grid. ➚

• U.S. Navy unveils strategy to counter China by 2027, focusing on readiness and technology. ➚

• U.S. official says China's top leadership backing Russia's war effort in Ukraine. ➚

Cybersecurity

• FBI says Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign data to Biden associates. ➚

• Authorities arrest 17 in global crackdown on phone-unlocking phishing scheme. ➚

• FTC says social media companies collect extensive user data used by AI with little oversight or control. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• North Korean hackers target energy and aerospace firms with custom malware for espionage. ➚

• China warns overseas students about foreign spy recruitment attempts. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• British Navy seizes narco-submarine with 2 tons of cocaine in Caribbean. ➚

• Mexican President blames U.S. for violence after cartel leader's arrest. ➚

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.