🔥 Warrior Dogs of the Web Take On Russia's Disinformation Giant

Good Morning.

Israeli officials are considering transferring control of Gaza's Rafah border crossing to the EU and Palestinians, potentially signaling an end to the conflict with Hamas and increasing aid to Gaza.

This proposal highlights the EU's diplomatic efforts to alleviate pressure on Palestinian civilians, though Israel insists on maintaining a military presence near the crossing.

— 🐈‍⬛Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

The North Atlantic Fellas Organization (NAFO), a decentralized online community identified by cartoon Shiba Inu dog avatars, has emerged as a powerful force in combating Russian disinformation related to the war in Ukraine.

Using memes, humor, and coordinated social media activities, NAFO volunteers work to counter Russian trolls, raise funds for Ukraine's defense efforts, and increase awareness of the conflict.

The group's decentralized nature makes it resilient against attempts to dismantle it, and its effectiveness has been recognized by world leaders and military experts.

NAFO's success demonstrates the potential of grassroots, citizen-led efforts in modern information warfare, potentially setting a precedent for future conflicts.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• North Korea has resumed launching balloons likely carrying trash towards South Korea, escalating tensions and prompting South Korean military warnings.

• Iran's acting foreign minister stated that Tehran remains open to resuming nuclear accord negotiations with the U.S., while also emphasizing Iran's deepening ties with China, Russia, and neighboring countries.

• The FBI used new, unreleased software from Cellebrite to unlock the phone of the man who shot former President Trump after initial attempts failed.

Military & Defense

• U.S. military and intelligence officials warn that Russia and China are advancing their space-based weapons capabilities, potentially threatening America's defense systems, with Russia nearing deployment of a space-based nuclear weapon and China rapidly expanding its presence in multiple orbits.

• Ukrainian Defense Minister reports 500K Russian troops surrounding Ukraine and plans for more, while both countries continue to engage in drone attacks, artillery fire, and prisoner exchanges amid ongoing conflict.

• Pacific island leaders and Japan agreed to strengthen cooperation on regional development, climate change, and security issues, in a move seen as countering China's influence in the region.

Cybersecurity

• Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic reports that North Korean hackers are likely responsible for a $235M cryptocurrency theft from Indian exchange WazirX, based on on-chain analysis of the exploit and subsequent laundering attempts.

• MediSecure said that a cyber attack earlier this year resulted in the theft of personal data belonging to 12.9M Australians, making it one of the largest data breaches in the country's history.

• The Pentagon's new cybersecurity rules and organizational structure are hindering foreign suppliers and international cooperation, according to the Defense Innovation Board.

• The U.S. Navy is revamping its "Operation Cattle Drive" initiative to more effectively identify and eliminate redundant IT systems, aiming to free up funds for modernization efforts.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• The espionage trial of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia is moving quickly towards closing arguments on Friday, despite ongoing protests from the U.S. government and media organizations who maintain his innocence and call for his immediate release.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Violent clashes between student protesters and security forces in Bangladesh over a controversial job quota system have resulted in at least 19 more deaths, bringing the total to 25 since Tuesday, as demonstrations escalate and the government calls for dialogue.

• CAR officials report that 300 rebels have disarmed in the past month as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the country and prepare for local elections, though challenges remain in achieving lasting peace despite nearly 5K fighters surrendering over the past decade.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

A broken wind turbine blade at the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm near Nantucket has caused significant concern among local residents and industry observers.

The incident has led to beach closures, economic disruption, and a sharp drop in GE Vernova's stock price.

This event highlights the challenges facing the offshore wind industry, including public acceptance and technical reliability.

Critics, including potential presidential candidate Donald Trump, may use this incident to oppose future offshore wind projects.

The situation underscores the delicate balance between advancing renewable energy goals and addressing local environmental and economic concerns.

In other news…

Recent internet outages in Africa due to underwater cable failures highlight the need for robust infrastructure and redundant connectivity to ensure reliable internet service across the continent.

The Air Force Research Laboratory is organizing a weeklong "sprint" in September to experiment with industry-provided human-machine teaming solutions that could enhance battle management and decision-making capabilities for the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) program.

Chinese scientists have developed CoulombFly, the smallest and lightest solar-powered drone weighing just 4.21 grams, which can fly indefinitely in sunlight using an innovative electrostatic motor.

A broken wind turbine blade at the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm near Nantucket has caused local outrage, raised industry concerns, and potentially increased political risks for offshore wind projects, as debris washes ashore and GE Vernova faces scrutiny.

NASA has canceled its Viper rover mission, designed to search for ice on the Moon, due to scheduling delays, supply chain issues, and cost overruns that threatened other lunar missions.

Scientists in Israel have developed an origami-inspired platform that can precisely embed sensors into 3D bio-printed tissues, enabling monitoring and assessment of these structures for potential future transplantation and drug research applications.

Helion Energy, a fusion startup heavily backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to deliver a fusion power plant by 2028, but faces skepticism from scientists and internal challenges due to its lack of published results, aggressive timeline, and workplace issues.

DEALS & FUNDING

DARPA has awarded $840M to the Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE) at the University of Texas at Austin to develop next-generation semiconductor microsystems for the Department of Defense.

This project, with a total investment of $1.4B, will establish a national open-access R&D and prototyping fabrication facility using 3D Heterogeneous Integration technology.

The initiative aims to enhance national security, boost U.S. competitiveness in the semiconductor industry, and create dual-use innovations for both defense and commercial sectors.

This significant investment builds upon prior funding from the Texas Legislature and is expected to help the U.S. reclaim leadership in critical microelectronics manufacturing.

In other news…

Amphenol has agreed to acquire CommScope’s outdoor wireless networks and distributed antenna systems businesses for $2.1B in an all-cash deal expected to close in the first half of 2025.

The U.S. government has announced $325M in federal funding for solar and battery storage projects in Puerto Rico, aiming to address persistent power outages and improve energy resilience.

The U.S. Army is awarding $118.9M in contracts for the second phase of its Robotic Combat Vehicle program, aiming to potentially field the first remotely controlled combat vehicle by fiscal year 2027.

Astra Space has completed a buyout deal to take the rocket company private for 50 cents per share, concluding its rapid descent from a $3.9B public valuation in 2021 to delisting in just 3 years.