Author: Salako Temitope

The Kremlin dismissed the notion of conducting peace negotiations excluding Russia as “ridiculous” following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s proposal for a spring summit in Switzerland to discuss his peace initiative with Kyiv’s allies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov conveyed to reporters the Kremlin’s perspective, labeling such a format as peculiar, given that certain peace endeavors are being pursued without Russia’s involvement, deeming it frivolous and even laughable. However, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, suggested a potential alternative approach, indicating that the blueprint devised at the Switzerland summit could be presented to Russia at a subsequent juncture. Yermak outlined a scenario…

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced his resignation on Monday to pave the way for the establishment of a broad consensus among Palestinians regarding political arrangements post-Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. This decision emerges amid mounting U.S. pressure on President Mahmoud Abbas to overhaul the Palestinian Authority, coinciding with intensified international endeavors to quell the Gaza hostilities and initiate the formulation of a political framework to govern the territory post-war. Although Shtayyeh’s resignation requires approval from President Abbas, as he may be requested to continue as caretaker until a permanent successor is designated. In a statement addressed to the…

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed a strategy on Monday designed to bolster data security within the country’s industrial realm and address “major risks” by the close of 2026. This initiative unfolds amidst ongoing accusations of cyberattacks and industrial espionage between China and the United States. Last year, Reuters disclosed that Chinese governmental bodies and state-owned enterprises were hastening efforts to substitute Western-made hardware and software with domestic alternatives, partly due to concerns about foreign hacking activities. The plan, outlined on MIIT’s website, outlines measures to counter various risk scenarios, such as ransomware attacks, vulnerability backdoors, and…

District Judge Richard Jones on Friday approved Binance’s admission of guilt and imposed a hefty penalty exceeding $4.3 billion for violations of federal anti-money laundering and sanctions laws due to internal control lapses at the renowned cryptocurrency exchange. U.S. District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle greenlit the plea deal, comprising a $1.81 billion criminal fine and $2.51 billion in forfeiture, shortly after the government suggested alterations to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s bond, which prompted objections from Zhao’s legal team. Binance’s plea, disclosed in November, concluded a prolonged investigation that uncovered the exchange’s failure to report over 100,000 suspicious transactions involving…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced plans to establish a dedicated team aimed at addressing disinformation and the misuse of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections scheduled for June. Concerns about potential election interference and the dissemination of misleading AI-generated content have prompted this proactive measure. The proliferation of generative AI technology, capable of swiftly generating text, images, and videos based on prompts, has sparked apprehensions regarding its potential exploitation to disrupt significant electoral processes worldwide, including the upcoming European Parliament elections from June 6 to 9. Meta intends to deploy its…

Fire officials and police in Washington, D.C., swiftly responded to an alarming incident outside the Israeli Embassy on Sunday afternoon, where an active-duty Air Force member reportedly set himself on fire. According to DC Fire and EMS, they received a call just before 1 p.m. regarding a person ablaze outside the embassy premises. Upon arrival at the scene on the 3500 block of International Drive NW, officials discovered that the fire had been extinguished by U.S. Secret Service members. D.C. police which was called in to assist the U.S. Secret Service, responded promptly to the situation. The Secret Service stated…

Three Palestinian gunmen killed one person and wounded eight more on Thursday when they opened fire at motorists near an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank. Police say a combination of officers and civilians at the scene, located near the Israeli city of Maale Adumim, returned fire at the gunmen immediately, killing two and wounding the third. Israeli police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Israel to create even more roadblocks in the West Bank in reaction to the shooting. Images from the terrorist attack show multiple damaged vehicles as shocked motorists scrambled to get out of the way of the…

Russia has formally labeled Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as a “terrorist and extremist” following his condemnation of the Russian government’s role in the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Graham’s addition to the list was announced by Russia’s state financial watchdog on Tuesday. The senator had squarely blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s demise and advocated for the U.S. to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Expressing his views in a CBS interview, Graham hailed Navalny as one of the bravest individuals he had ever met and asserted that Putin was culpable for his murder. He echoed…

President Joe Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized an air quality rule that the manufacturing industry is warning could wipe out one million jobs and undermine efforts to build new manufacturing facilities in America. Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), is set to sound the alarm about the regulation in his annual state of manufacturing address on Thursday in Roseville, Michigan, according to an advance copy of his remarks provided to FOX Business. “In his State of the Union Address next month, President Biden will probably take credit for what manufacturers have achieved.…

United Airlines had revealed intentions to recommence flights to Israel on Wednesday, positioning itself as the inaugural American carrier to resume operations since the lethal Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7. The Chicago-based airline outlined plans to reinstate its daily route from New York/Newark to Tel Aviv, slated to commence in March. According to the airline’s statement, the initial two flights scheduled for March 2 and 4 will incorporate a stop at Munich International Airport in Switzerland. This stopover aims to ensure readiness among all service providers to facilitate seamless non-stop service to and from Newark. United Airlines expressed its…