Latest news with #Apec
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar looks to deepen ties with new South Korean president
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated Lee Jae-myung on his election as South Korea's new president, calling it a turning point for the nation. Lee was declared president earlier today after winning a snap election, taking the helm of a country deeply divided following his predecessor's failed attempt to declare martial law. In a statement, Anwar said South Korea had emerged from a period of intense political contest and scrutiny with resilience and democratic resolve. "The people have spoken for renewal: of trust, of institutions, and of national purpose," he said in a Facebook post. Anwar said he looked forward to working with President Lee to deepen ties in trade, technology, peace, security and people-to-people exchanges. He noted that Malaysia-South Korea relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in November 2024 — a milestone reflecting both countries' shared ambitions. He hopes that Asean would take on a more prominent role in Seoul's regional outlook. "As chairs of Asean and Apec respectively in 2025, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea are well placed to lead impactful regional initiatives. In a time of global flux, deeper partnership between Southeast Asia and South Korea will be indispensable to us all," he said. Anwar added that he looked forward to meeting President Lee in Kuala Lumpur this October for the Asean-led Summits, and again in Gyeongju for the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting. "Malaysia wishes him wisdom and success in the journey ahead," he said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
British businessman accused of plotting to smuggle US military technology to China
A British businessman has been indicted in the US with attempting to traffic sensitive American military technology to China and silence a critic of the Chinese president. John Miller, 63, was named by US authorities at the weekend after his arrest in Serbia, where he is facing extradition in connection with an FBI investigation. The Mail on Sunday reported that he was from Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Both he and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, are wanted in the US on charges relating to conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Control Act. Both were named in US court documents, which included allegations that they had discussed ways to smuggle encryption technology out of the US and into China. The documents allege they paid a $10,000 deposit for a cryptographic device via a courier in the US. The same documents also allege that, beginning in November 2023, they had sought to buy 'US defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices' for unlawful export to China. The alleged plot involved them having discussions with other people – identified in the US court documents as 'Individual 5' and 'Individual 6' – about smuggling the encryption technology in small electronics, a blender and a motor starter. Miller is also accused with Cui of plotting with two other individuals to prevent a US resident from protesting against Xi Jinping's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Los Angeles in November 2023. The alleged target was said to have previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the Chinese government and President Xi. In the weeks leading up to the Apec summit, Cui and Miller are alleged to have directed and coordinated a plot to surveil the victim, install a tracking device on their car, slash the tyres on their car and then purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statues created by the victim depicting President Xi and his wife. The two individuals with whom they had allegedly conspired in relation to this were in fact 'acting at the direction of the FBI'. In spring last year, the alleged victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife. Miller and Cui are alleged to have paid two other individuals, who were also working with the FBI, approximately $36,500 to convince the alleged victim to desist from the online display of the statues. The US deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, said: 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This justice department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems.' The FBI deputy director, Dan Bongino, said: 'The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticised the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America.' Miller, a permanent US resident, and Cui were named in indictments returned by federal grand juries in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Miller was arrested in Belgrade on 24 April. If convicted they face maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for stalking, 20 years in prison for violation of the US Arms Export Control Act and 10 years in prison for smuggling. The US Department of Justice said it was coordinating with Serbian authorities regarding the pending extraditions of Cui and Miller from Serbia.
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
British man arrested in the US is accused of spying for China
A British man is facing charges in the US after being accused of spying and smuggling arms for China. John Miller, 63, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has been accused of carrying out interstate activities with Cui Guanghai, 43 from China. The US Justice Department confirmed it was trying to extradite the pair from Serbia. Both 'solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People's Republic of China', according to released documents. Miller told a neighbour he often visited the Far East for work and also allegedly referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'The Boss', The Mail on Sunday reported. He and Mr Guanghai are accused of attempting to prevent a protest against Xi's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November 2023. The two men allegedly targeted the suspected protester's car by installing a tracker on the vehicle and even slashing its tyres. On a separate occasion, the duo are said to have tried to thwart another protest against the Chinese president by paying £27,010 to two dissenters to renounce their intention to post an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of Mr Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. The pair allegedly paid around £7,400 via wire transfer to a US account for a cryptographic device which they intended to export from the US to China. They reportedly considered several methods to ship the device undetected, including concealing it in a food blender and sending it via Hong Kong. Violation of the Arms Export Control Act – the most serious offence the pair are accused of – carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. If found guilty, Miller could face maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: 'As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.' US attorney Bill Essayli, for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president. More Trending 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC (People's Republic of China), and targeting him with violence.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Two shot dead at popular Irish pub in Costa del Sol holiday resort MORE: Why so many young Brits are being 'manipulated' into smuggling drugs MORE: Brothers deny killing commuter as he walked home from tube station 41 years ago
ITV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
British man charged in US with spying for China
A British man, from Tunbridge Wells, has been charged in the US with spying after allegedly trying to smuggle US military technology to China. John Miller, 63, is accused of interstate stalking, conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act. The Justice Department said the US is seeking to extradite Mr Miller from Serbia, along with his co-accused, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China. Court documents released by the US Attorney's Office said the pair tried to get hold of missiles, air defence radar and drones for unlawful export to China. It said they paid around 10,000 dollars (£7,400) as a deposit for the equipment via a courier in the US and a wire transfer to a US bank account. The two men are said to have discussed ways to export a cryptographic device from the US to China, including concealing the device in a blender, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. The most serious offence they are accused of – violation of the Arms Export Control Act – carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The two men are also said to have been part of a plot to prevent an individual who had been critical of China's President Xi Jinping from protesting his appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November 2023. In the weeks leading up to the Apec summit, they are accused of coordinating an interstate scheme to conduct surveillance on the victim by installing a tracking device on his car and slashing its tyres. Another offence relates to the spring of this year, when the dissenter announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of Mr Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, the accused are said to have paid two other individuals approximately 36,500 dollars (£27,010) to convince the victim to desist from the online display of the statues. These two individuals were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: 'As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.'US attorney Bill Essayli, for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president. 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC (People's Republic of China), and targeting him with violence.' If convicted Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling.
Business Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
New initiatives to facilitate cross-border data transfer and multimodal AI model Meralion
[SINGAPORE] New initiatives to facilitate cross-border data transfer and artificial intelligence (AI) safety were among the slew of announcements by the Infocomm and Media Authority of Singapore on Wednesday (May 28). A new Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) certification was announced, which would give businesses certainty in international data transfers. The certification would show compliance with internationally recognised data protection standards. This new certification is built on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) CBPR certification. OCBC is among the 100 Apec CBPR-certified organisations expected to benefit. At the start, the global CBPR certification will give access to nine economies – US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Mexico. The global CBPR certification will take effect on Jun 2. 'Robust safeguards and a uniform framework for personal data across borders are crucial for secure and efficient data flows,' said Loretta Yuen, head of group legal and compliance, OCBC. A new version of a multimodal large language model developed by A*Star – Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network (Meralion) – was also launched on Wednesday. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo announced that a consortium for Meralion will be established in a speech at ATX Singapore. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'A*Star (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) will partner companies such as DBS, Grab, ST Engineering, NCS, SPH Media Trust as well as the Ministry of Health to harness expertise in the ecosystem, share learnings and accelerate adoption,' she said. Meralion can understand emotions, context and intent across South-east Asia's multiple languages and cultures such as English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai and Vietnamese. Version one was downloaded more than 90,000 times since its launch in December 2024. 'Understanding local nuance, context and culture isn't just a technical challenge – it's a human one,' said Bidyut Dumra, group head of innovation, DBS. The consortium will priorities three areas: Multilingual customers support: enabling seamless natural communication across languages and dialects Health and emotional insight detection: analysing speech and text for emotional cues Agentic decision-making: making AI agents aware of context and cultural sensitivity The consortium will aggregate demand and reduce costs, while sharing data and technical insights to improve Meralion's performance. Tools, training and developer resources will be built to accelerate implementation, and consortium members will develop real-world proof-of-concepts together for deployment. 'As a news media company, we recognise the importance of embracing technologies that can enhance user experience, and in so doing allow us to reach and engage audiences more effectively,' said Loh Yuh Yiing, chief operating officer of SPH Media.
