Latest news with #ArmsExportControlAct
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Without fanfare, Trump quietly approves $30 million more in arms for Ukraine amid rising global tensions
New Arms Transfer Comes Amid Congressional Scrutiny Ukraine Aid Freeze and Reversal Tied to Ceasefire Talks Trump Administration's Quiet Approval of $242 Million For Aid Live Events Lawmakers Push for Transparency and Action FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US president Donald Trump's administration has quietly informed Congress of its approval for a new arms transfer to Ukraine, valued at approximately $30 million, reported Kyiv approval of the proposed transfer of 'major defense equipment' came as US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth completed his multi-day spree of testimony on Capitol Hill, with the aim to convince lawmakers that the current administration continued to 'send presidential drawdown authorities' (PDA) to Ukraine without offering further details, reported Kyiv Post.A Trump administration official, who is part of the Executive Branch's communications with Congress, told Kyiv Post that US military aid for Ukraine under the Arms Export Control Act 'has not stopped despite brief interruptions earlier this year," as per the to the report, Trump had frozen all military aid to Ukraine in March and then lifted the block shortly afterwards, following ceasefire talks in Saudi the Trump administration had also quietly approved another $242 million proposed arms transfer for Ukraine last month, reported Kyiv Post, citing Hegseth was asked by Democrat Senator Chris Coons (D-CT) why the administration was not using the previously approved remaining $3.8 billion in PDA to send additional air defense capabilities to Kyiv, during a Senate committee hearing, he said that the flow of weapons from earlier commitments was continuing but did not give any other details, as per the told the Pentagon head that 'We should not be pursuing a ceasefire and a negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine at any cost,' adding, 'Peace through strength means actually using our strength, continuing to support Ukraine and securing a lasting peace. Putin will only stop when we stop him, and the best way to stop him is indeed through a stronger NATO,' quoted Kyiv latest approved package is valued at around $30 million and includes what's described as 'major defense equipment.'No, despite a brief pause in March, aid has resumed. An official said support under US arms laws continues.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 face federal charges in stalking, harassment of L.A. artist critical of Chinese President Xi
Two foreign nationals are accused of stalking a Los Angeles artist who is a critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the U.K. and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, were charged with interstate stalking, conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, smuggling and violating the Arms Export Control Act,' the Los Angeles Times reports, citing information from the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ said in a news release that the charges of smuggling out military weaponry come from Milwaukee, but the stalking charges relate to an unnamed artist who planned to protest a 2023 appearance by Xi at an economic summit and who made 'artistic statues of President Xi and his wife' to be unveiled this year, prosecutors said. In both instances, Cui and Miller hired a pair of others to do the actual work, prosecutors said, including orders to 'surveil the victim, to install a tracking device on the victim's car, to slash the tires on the victim's car, and to purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statues created by the victim depicting President Xi and President Xi's wife.' A different pair of people was utilized in 2025 to try to dissuade the artist from showing new statues online, the DOJ said. Unfortunately for Cui and Miller, all four of those people they hired for assistance in Southern California were 'affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI,' the DOJ explained. In the release, several high-ranking federal officials expressed their support for protecting free-speech rights of U.S. residents against foreign interference, as well as protecting sensitive technology used by the American military. 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values,' said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 'This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.' If convicted, Cui and Miller could face decades in federal prison. Maximum sentences are as follows: Five years for conspiracy Five years for interstate stalking 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act 10 years for smuggling Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two foreign nationals charged with stalking a Los Angeles artist who criticized Xi Jinping
Two foreign nationals were charged with stalking a Los Angeles-based artist who has criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping, federal officials said. Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the U.K. and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, were charged with interstate stalking, conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, smuggling and violating the Arms Export Control Act, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of California. 'The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,' said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in the release. 'The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China." Read more: Dating apps used in Mexico to lure and kidnap U.S. citizens, officials warn If convicted, Cui and Miller face up to five years in prison for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, 20 for violating the Arms Export Control Act and 10 years for smuggling. According to court documents, Cui and Miller allegedly employed two people, who they didn't know were acting on the direction of the FBI, to carry out a plot to stop someone from protesting Xi's appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The victim, who wasn't named in the release, had previously publicly criticized Xi and China's government. Cui and Miller had the alleged victim surveiled, had a tracking device installed on their car, slashed the tires on the car and bought and destroyed statues created by the victim showing Xi and Xi's wife, according to the release. In the spring of 2025, the victim announced that he planned to publicize an online feed showing the two statues; Cui and Miller allegedly paid two other people $36,500 to convince the victim not to display the statues, officials wrote. Those two people were also working with the FBI. Starting in November 2023, Miller and Cui allegedly procured U.S. defense articles, including air defense radar, drones, missiles and cryptographic devices in order to unlawfully export them from the U.S. to China. They talked with two other people about how to export the device, including hiding it in a blender, motor starter, small electronics or shipping it to Hong Kong. Cui and Miller allegedly paid about $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device through a courier in the U.S. and wire transfer to a U.S. bank account, officials said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Two foreign nationals charged with stalking a Los Angeles artist who criticized Xi Jinping
Two foreign nationals were charged with stalking a Los Angeles-based artist who has criticized Chines President Xi Jinping, federal officials said. Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the U.K. and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, were charged with interstate stalking, conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, smuggling and violating the Arms Export Control Act, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of California. 'The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,' said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in the release. 'The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China.' If convicted, Cui and Miller face up to five years in prison for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, 20 for violating the Arms Export Control Act and 10 years for smuggling. According to court documents, Cui and Miller allegedly employed two people, who they didn't know were acting on the direction of the FBI, to carry out a plot to stop someone from protesting Xi's appearance at the the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The victim, who wasn't named in the release, had previously publicly criticized Xi and China's government. Cui and Miller had the alleged victim surveiled, had a tracking device installed on their car, slashed the tires on the car and bought and destroyed statues created by the victim showing Xi and Xi's wife, according to the release. In the spring of 2025, the victim announced that he planned to publicize an online feed showing the two statues; Cui and Miller allegedly paid two other people $36,500 to convince the victim not to display the statues, officials wrote. Those two people were also working with the FBI. Starting in November 2023, Miller and Cui allegedly procured U.S. defense articles, including air defense radar, drones, missiles and cryptographic devices in order to unlawfully export them from the U.S. to China. They talked with two other people how to export the device, including hiding it in a blender, motor starter, small electronics or shipping it to Hong Kong. Cui and Miller allegedly paid about $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device through a courier in the U.S. and wire transfer to a U.S. bank account, officials said.
American Military News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
New bill introduced on D-Day anniversary would ‘strengthen' US, UK partnership
A new bill introduced by a Republican congressman on the 81st anniversary of D-Day would allow the United States to share military technology with the United Kingdom. On Friday, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) announced in a press release that he had reintroduced the Special Relationship Military Improvement Act of 2025 to strengthen the country's relationship with the United Kingdom on the 81st anniversary of D-Day. 'Our nation can never forget the sacrifice of thousands of Allied soldiers who lost their lives on D-Day and the invasion of Normandy. The price they paid ensured that millions could live free from tyranny,' Green said. 'And the best way to commemorate this momentous day is to strengthen our partnership with the United Kingdom—and that's exactly what this bill does.' In Friday's press release, the Republican congressman explained that advancements in military technology currently become the 'exclusive property' of the United States when sold to the federal government under the rules established by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Green said that while Canada is provided exemptions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the United Kingdom is not provided exemptions. READ MORE: D-Day hero receiving medals for saving 200 lives If the Special Relationship Military Improvement Act of 2025 was passed, it would implement a change to the Arms Export Control Act to allow military technology to be shared between the United States and the United Kingdom. In Friday's press release, Green said advancements in U.S. military technology 'should be available to our allies' and that sharing military technology with allies was 'common sense.' Green explained, 'The U.S. and the U.K. work together in almost every aspect to share intelligence, fight terrorism around the globe, and ensure that, through our combined military strength, the world can enjoy unprecedented peace.' In a statement to Fox News on Friday, Green said, 'On the beaches of Normandy, it was British soldiers who ran in the sand alongside Americans.' He added, 'When we were attacked on 9/11, it was the United Kingdom that sent soldiers into Afghanistan to help us destroy al-Qaeda and the Taliban that gave them safe haven.' Green emphasized that the United States will 'never forget' the friendship it shares with the United Kingdom. The Republican congressman added that sharing military technology is 'crucial' in the face of increasing threats across the globe.
