Author: News Desk

United States: North Korea’s alleged support of its prohibited weapons programs through “malicious” cyber activities has raised significant concerns among the United States, South Korea, and Japan. Last year, the United Nations reported that funds stolen through cryptocurrency by North Korean hackers had become a major source of financing for the country’s weapons programs, and the amount of such theft had hit a record high. During the current week, Mr. Kim Gunn, who is South Korea’s representative, had discussions with his counterparts from the US and Japan, where he expressed his disapproval of North Korea’s ongoing weapons tests. As per…

China: China has imposed sanctions on US figures after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US, as well as on Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States. The sanctions targeted the Ronald Reagan Library, which hosted the meeting between Ms. Tsai and US House Speaker Mr. Kevin McCarthy, and the Hudson Institute, which hosted Ms. Tsai in New York and presented her with an award. Four US nationals were listed, including the chair and director of the Hudson Institute and the current head and former director of the Reagan Foundation. A second round of sanctions was unveiled against…

London, UK: In a move that has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, Samsung Electronics has announced that it will be cutting its memory chip production following a staggering 96 percent drop in its quarterly operating profit. Due to a sluggish global economy and reduced demand following the pandemic, the largest chip manufacturer in the world has reported a significant drop in sales. Samsung has released preliminary figures indicating a drop in operating profits of 600 billion won for the January-March period compared to the previous year, where the company recorded 14 trillion won. The announcement of Samsung’s decision to…

United States: US President Mr. Joe Biden’s administration has defended its withdrawal of American troops out of Afghanistan and stated that the 2021 withdrawal indicated that Washington must better prepare for “high-risk scenarios” in the future. In a summary report, United States government agencies involved in the pullout blamed the former administration of President Mr. Donald Trump for issues that led to the chaotic US exit from the country. “President Biden’s choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor,” the report remarked. The Trump administration had previously negotiated a withdrawal…

London, UK: The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) announced that law enforcement agencies from various countries, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), had successfully seized a vast dark web marketplace that was widely used by cybercriminals. The operation, named “Operation Cookie Monster” by the FBI, resulted in the arrest of dozens of individuals involved in illegal activities on the platform. According to British authorities, the “Operation Cookie Monster” operation involved 17 countries and was led by the FBI and Dutch police. As a result of the operation, approximately 120 individuals were arrested, more than 200 searches were conducted,…

Beijing: Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions in Tehran and Riyadh, respectively. Both countries further made a deal to encourage visits by official and private delegations as well as facilitate visas for Iranian and Saudi citizens. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Mr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, shook hands in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in the first formal meeting of the two senior officials after a years-long rift between Tehran and Riyadh. “The technical teams will continue coordination to examine the ways of expanding cooperation, including the resumption of flights and…

United Kingdom: A new study has found that ice sheets can collapse into the ocean in spurts of up to 600 metres (2,000 feet) a day, far faster than has ever been recorded before. The researchers stated that the finding, based on sea floor sediment formations from the last ice age, was a “warning from the past” for today’s world, in which the climate crisis is eroding ice sheets. According to the authors, the discovery shows that some ice sheets in Antarctica, including the “Doomsday” Thwaites glacier, could suffer periods of rapid collapse in the near future, further contributing to…

France: Leaders from France and the European Union will meet with Mr. Xi Jinping, a close ally of Mr. Vladimir Putin, in Beijing to advocate for Europe’s efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. French President Mr. Emmanuel Macron and European Commission Chief Ms. Ursula von der Leyen will be welcomed by the Chinese President at the Great Hall of the People, which is considered the centre of power in the capital city. China is facing increasing pressure from the West to become more involved in the peace process in Ukraine, even though Beijing officially maintains a neutral stance. Despite…

London, UK: A White House spokesperson has confirmed that Mr. Joe Biden has agreed to undertake a state visit to meet King Charles III, following an invitation. During a cordial 25 to 30 minute phone conversation, Mr. Biden extended his congratulations to King Charles III on his impending coronation and received an invitation for a state visit. However, the US president will not be present at the coronation ceremony. Consistent with historical practice, Mr. Biden will not be attending the coronation of King Charles III, as it is customary for US presidents to abstain from such events. This aligns with…

United States: Taiwan’s President Ms. Tsai Ing-wen has met with United States House Speaker Mr. Kevin McCarthy in California in a historic visit that has already sparked condemnation from China. The two leaders sat down together at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Mr. McCarthy called the Taiwanese President “a great friend to America,” adding that “I am optimistic we will continue to find ways for the people of America and Taiwan to work together to promote economic freedom, democracy, peace, and stability.” Ms. Tsai thanked McCarthy and the rest of the congressional delegation for their hospitality, saying,…