Good Morning. 

Uzbekistan accepts a Taliban-appointed ambassador from Afghanistan, ASEAN leaders meet in Laos to address Myanmar's civil war, disinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton spreads rapidly on social media, Taiwan reports that four Foxconn employees are detained in China, and Sean "Diddy" Combs's sex trafficking trial is set for May 2025.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

China's Silent Crackdown: Transnational Repression of Chinese Activists in Japan

• A Human Rights Watch report reveals that China is using intimidation tactics to silence Chinese activists and diaspora members in Japan, often threatening their families back home.

• Chinese authorities employ sophisticated, low-key strategies to deter activism without attracting attention from the Japanese government, creating a chilling effect within the Chinese community in Japan.

• Despite these threats, many Chinese activists in Japan are reluctant to seek help from Japanese authorities, citing fear of reprisals and lack of confidence in the Japanese government's ability to address the issue effectively.

Counterterrorism

• Uzbekistan accepted a Taliban-appointed ambassador from Afghanistan, marking a rare diplomatic achievement for the Taliban government. ➚

• Militants killed two police officers in northwest Pakistan, and the military killed four insurgents in North Waziristan. ➚

• A senior Hezbollah official reportedly survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Beirut. ➚

Military & Defense

• ASEAN leaders meet in Laos to address Myanmar's civil war, with Thailand proposing increased engagement ahead of Myanmar's planned election. ➚

• Israel's security cabinet is meeting to discuss retaliation against Iran for its recent missile attack. ➚

• Turkey evacuates over 900 people, mostly Turkish citizens, from Lebanon via naval ships. ➚

• The World Bank approves a new fund for Ukraine, supported by G7 nations and backed by interest from frozen Russian assets. ➚

• Blinken meets with Thai and Malaysian leaders at an Asia summit in Laos. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Disinformation about hurricanes Helene and Milton is spreading rapidly on social media. ➚

• AI-generated Russian women on TikTok are promoting pro-China messages and selling products, targeting overseas Chinese audiences with patriotic content. ➚

• The White House is prioritizing secure internet routing and the use of memory-safe programming languages to improve cybersecurity. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Taiwan reports that four Foxconn employees have been detained in China under suspicious circumstances. ➚

• Germany is tightening security checks for personnel in sensitive government and industry sectors due to rising espionage fears, particularly from Russia and China. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial is set for May 2025, with the hip-hop mogul facing potential life imprisonment if convicted. ➚

• Armed gangs in Haiti continue to launch attacks and expand territory. ➚

• Indonesian authorities arrested a Chinese suspect wanted for running a $14B investment scam. ➚

• Moldovan police raided homes of leaders linked to a pro-Russian businessman as part of an investigation into alleged election meddling. ➚

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.