January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
WASHINGTON, Feb 14 — The United States has released Russian cryptocurrency kingpin Alexander Vinnik in a prisoner exchange deal that saw Moscow free US teacher Marc Fogel, a senior US official confirmed.
Vinnik, who pleaded guilty in May 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering, was handed over to Russian officials. He was extradited to the US from Greece in August 2022 after being released from a French jail. As the operator of BTC-e, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Vinnik’s platform processed over $9 billion in transactions and was previously labeled by the US Justice Department as a major hub for cybercriminal money laundering.
Former US President Donald Trump’s administration has welcomed the exchange as a step forward in diplomacy and potential Ukraine war negotiations. Trump also announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia for peace talks, a move that has raised concerns in Europe, where Russia remains a key security threat. — AFP
