Good Morning. 

A Pakistani man pleads not guilty to U.S. assassination plot charges, Israel recruits African asylum-seekers for the Gaza war, ransomware group Rhysida demands $5.9M from the Port of Seattle, Turkish prosecutors charge 20 individuals with spying for Israel's Mossad, and over 30 are killed in Mexico amid Sinaloa Cartel infighting.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

U.S. Forces Exit Junta-Ruled Niger: Reshaping West African Security Landscape

• The U.S. military has completed its withdrawal from Niger, with only a small contingent remaining to guard the embassy.

• Niger's ruling junta ended an agreement allowing U.S. troop presence, forcing the abandonment of critical counterterrorism bases in the Sahel region.

• The withdrawal has significant implications for regional security, with Niger now turning to Russia for military support amid ongoing threats from jihadist groups.

Counterterrorism

• Pakistani man denies U.S. politician assassination plot charges. ➚

• Australia sanctions Iranian officials over human rights issues. ➚

• Trump assassination suspect faces charges, has complex legal history. ➚

Military & Defense

• Israel recruits African asylum-seekers for Gaza war. ➚

• Putin orders expansion of Russian military to 1.5M active troops. ➚

• U.S. official says China's aggressive moves in Indo-Pacific are opening diplomatic doors for America. ➚

• U.S. engages with Egypt and Qatar on a revised Gaza ceasefire proposal. ➚

• U.S. sanctions Georgians over protest crackdowns. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Ransomware group Rhysida demands $5.9M from Port of Seattle. ➚

• U.S. Treasury sanctions Intellexa Consortium and five individuals for developing and marketing Predator spyware. ➚

• North Korean hackers use fake coding tests to spread malware. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Turkish prosecutors charge 20 individuals with spying for Israel's Mossad. ➚

• China is using powerful private cybersecurity firms for state-sponsored espionage campaigns. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Over 30 killed in Mexico amid Sinaloa Cartel infighting following arrest of leaders in U.S. ➚

• INTERPOL Americas conference concludes with reinforced commitment to fight organized crime through enhanced regional cooperation. ➚

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.