🔥 War-Weary Troops

Good Morning. The United States and Japan have partnered with several companies and committed to invest $110 million into AI research. This initiative will foster collaboration between universities in both countries, focusing on large language models and AI workforce development.

Announced by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, this move strengthens US-Japan science and technology cooperation, enhancing economic security.

This action follows the announcement of an agreement between the US and UK government last week, designed to enable the sharing of crucial data on AI development, research, and national security between the two countries.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

The Ukrainian parliament approved a new law on Thursday to enhance the government's authority in mobilizing society for war and imposing stricter penalties on draft dodgers, amidst ongoing conflict. The law, pending President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's signature, mandates more rigorous enforcement of draft laws and aids in recruitment efforts, but it offers no provisions for the relief of troops currently serving.

Stricter Draft Enforcement

Under the newly passed legislation, military recruitment offices will gain the power to prosecute individuals who avoid mandatory conscription. The law also increases the penalties for those who fail to respond promptly to draft notices.

Limited Exemptions and Continued Service

The law specifies certain exemptions from the draft, including for state law enforcement, police, and government officials, alongside some employees of private and state enterprises.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• U.S. forces destroyed eight drones operated by the Houthi militant group in Yemen on Wednesday, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The drones were deemed an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region.

• Russian special forces killed two individuals suspected of planning terrorist attacks during a shootout on the outskirts of Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic, according to the National Antiterror Committee.

• German police are seeking public assistance following an arson attack on a synagogue in Oldenburg last week. They have offered a reward of 5,000 euros ($5,364) for information and are encouraging witnesses to share details via an online portal.

Military & Defense

• A Philippine navy training helicopter crashed near Cavite City, 21 kilometers south of Manila, killing the two pilots onboard and causing panic among local residents and marketgoers.

• Around 200 Myanmar military personnel retreated to a bridge leading to Thailand following a prolonged assault by anti-junta forces, which claimed control of the key border town of Myawaddy. This development marks the latest victory in a series of rebel successes since last October.

Cybersecurity

• The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is investigating a data breach at Sisense, a business intelligence software company headquartered in New York City. The breach, which was initially identified by independent security researchers, has implications for critical infrastructure sector organizations in the United States.

• Apple has alerted iPhone users across 92 countries of a "mercenary spyware attack" attempting to remotely access their devices. The company has expressed high confidence in the threat's validity and recommends that those targeted take immediate protective measures.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before a public inquiry that while China attempted to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections, these efforts did not impact the outcomes or favor any specific party. During the inquiry, set up amid pressure from opposition members and ongoing denials by China of any interference, Trudeau emphasized that the elections were "free and fair."

• Multiple media reports confirmed that China has blacklisted two U.S. defense companies for sales to Taiwan.

• Cybersecurity researchers at ESET have uncovered a cyber espionage campaign targeting Android users in India and Pakistan, which they named 'eXotic Visit.' Active from November 2021 to the end of 2023, the campaign affected approximately 380 victims and was orchestrated by a group referred to as 'Virtual Invaders.'

Transnational Organized Crime

• Turkish police confiscated 608 kilograms of mostly liquid cocaine in a major operation across three provinces, marking the third-largest cocaine seizure in the country's history, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced.

• Chilean police detained over 50 individuals linked to a transnational criminal group predominantly composed of Dominicans who trafficked drugs, weapons, and employed “black magic” against enemies.

• Authorities in the United Kingdom have charged five individuals and three companies with the illegal dumping of over 100,000 tonnes of waste, including hazardous materials like asbestos, at Bonnie Braes Farm in Staffordshire.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Synchron, a leading competitor in the brain-computer interface (BCI) market, is progressing in the neurotechnology field, aiming to expand its clinical trials and enhance its user base. Unlike its rival Neuralink, which recently began U.S. patient trials, Synchron has already conducted tests on ten patients across the U.S. and Australia. On Monday, the company announced a new registry to recruit participants for its upcoming clinical trial phases, signaling a significant step forward in the development and application of its BCI technology designed to aid individuals with motor impairments.

Advancing Clinical Trials

Synchron received FDA approval for human testing in July 2021 and has since implanted its BCI device in six U.S. patients following initial trials in four Australian participants.

Engaging the Community

Under the leadership of CEO and Founder Tom Oxley, Synchron is actively working to build a community around its BCI technology. Oxley emphasizes the creation of avenues for potential users and their physicians to connect and stay informed about the technology's progress and the upcoming stages of clinical trials.

In other news…

⚛️ Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a pioneering molecular device that uses natural forces to control the release of multiple small molecules, a breakthrough with the potential to transform medical treatment and material engineering. This first-of-its-kind force-controlled release system allows for targeted delivery of molecules, promising significant advancements in the field.

🙈 Instagram, owned by Meta, is set to introduce a new safety feature that blurs nude images in messages to protect minors from abuse and sexually exploitative content. Announced on Thursday, this feature will automatically blur images containing nudity and discourage their transmission.

DEALS & FUNDING

Alethea, a firm specializing in detecting and countering disinformation threats, announced this week that it has secured $20 million in a Series B funding round, elevating its total investment to $34 million. Led by GV with contributions from Ballistic Ventures and Hakluyt Capital, the funding will support the enhancement of Alethea's main product, Artemis, and expand its sales and marketing initiatives. Artemis uses AI to monitor and alert companies about potential threats from less visible online sources, such as extremist forums and niche social platforms, helping protect against cyberattacks, disinformation, and other influence operations.

Enhancing Threat Detection Capabilities

Alethea's flagship AI product, Artemis, is designed to scan various online platforms for potential security risks, alerting relevant corporate teams about threats to their digital assets, potential cyberattacks, or physical violence. This system aims to provide early warnings and comprehensive threat intelligence, catering to the evolving security needs of businesses.

Broadening Client Support and Impact

With the new funding, Alethea plans to expand its reach and refine its technology, which has already been employed by Fortune 500 companies, private firms, and nonprofits. According to Alethea's CEO, Lisa Kaplan, the greatest vulnerabilities companies face today extend beyond their internal systems to external threats, where information is increasingly weaponized to influence and manipulate key business decisions.

In other news…

🛡️A startup introducing the first generative AI copilot for cybersecurity teams known as Simbian Inc. has secured $10 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Cota Capital, Icon Ventures, Firebolt, and Rain Capital. Key angel investors also participated, including leaders from Datadog Inc., Nile Global Inc., and former security officers from major tech companies.

🤑 Cohesity Inc. announced a strengthened partnership with International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), including new funding to boost cyber resilience capabilities in hybrid cloud environments. As part of this expanded collaboration, Cohesity completed a $150 million Series F venture capital round, with contributions from IBM and Nvidia Corp., bringing its total raised funds to $955 million.

🎮️ Knostic, a startup offering an access control solution for enterprises using generative AI, announced on Thursday its emergence from stealth mode along with securing $3.3 million in pre-seed funding.

📻️ The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded BAE Systems a $459 million contract to supply hardware components, repair services, and provide technical, engineering, and logistical support for the AN/ARC-231/A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Suite. The contract, managed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, will span work until April 9, 2034, with specific work locations and funding details to be determined as needed.