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Ukraine, Russia Far Apart After Talks, Agree Prisoner Exchange

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Ukraine, Russia Far Apart After Talks, Agree Prisoner Exchange

A second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have ended without a major breakthrough, and only an agreement between the warring sides to swap more prisoners of war.

The Ukrainian negotiators said Russia again rejected an “unconditional ceasefire” – a key demand by Kyiv and its allies in Europe and the US.

The Russian team said it had proposed a two-to-three day truce “in certain areas” of the vast front line, but gave no further details.

At Monday’s talks, which were held in the Turkish city of Istanbul and lasted just over an hour, the two sides did agree to exchange all sick and heavy wounded prisoners of war, as well those aged under 25.

Expectations were low even before the talks started, with both sides remaining deeply divided on how to end the war that has been raging since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula which it annexed in 2014.

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Speaking at a briefing after the meeting, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s negotiating team, said Ukraine was insisting on a “full and and unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days to “end the killings now”.

He said Ukraine had handed over its truce proposals to Russia “a few days ago” – but Moscow failed to do the same, only presenting its plan at the Istanbul talks.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia then said that Russia rejected the unconditional ceasefire.

Ukraine’s negotiators said they were expecting Russia’s response to Ukrainian proposals by the end of June, stressing on the need to prepare for direct talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Speaking shortly afterwards at a separate news briefing, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed that all sick and heavy wounded prisoners of war and those younger than 25 would be exchanged. No timeframe was given as to when this would happen.

Medinsky also said that next week Russia would hand over to Kyiv the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

In the first round of direct peace talks, held on 16 May, Ukraine and Russia failed to bridge their differences on how to end the war, agreeing only to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each.

President Zelensky and his European allies have repeatedly accused Russia of deliberately delaying any meaningful negotiations to seize more Ukrainian territory.

US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a quick settlement, has so far delayed hitting Russia with tough sanctions.

In a rare rebuke last month, Trump called Putin “absolutely crazy” following Russia’s largest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. In response, the Kremlin said Trump was showing signs of “emotional overload”.

Bbc.com

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Canada Publishes 2 Official Websites to Find Jobs, Says Over 2,000 Vacancies Are Posted Daily 

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Canada has made it easier for unemployed individuals and foreigners who wish to live and work in the country to find jobs that can help them live comfortably and meet their basic responsibilities.

On the official Canadian government website, two links are provided to websites where job seekers can find available jobs in Canada

According to the Canadian government website, applicants who apply for jobs through these platforms can get hired by different companies, as more than 2,000 jobs are posted every day.

Aside from these two websites, the Canadian government explains that individuals can also use employment agencies to help them find jobs that match their skills.

A job seeker can also ask friends or family members if there are job openings or vacancies, as not all positions are advertised on these websites.

1. Job Bank

The Canadian government explains that thousands of jobs are advertised on this platform every day by organisations and companies. The link to access the website can be found in the detailed post published on the Canadian government website.

2. Jobs GC

Another website where foreigners who wish to work in Canada or Canadian citizens can find government jobs is the Jobs GC website. Federal public service jobs are advertised on the website, alongside several other opportunities that may match an applicant’s skills.

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US Releases List, Photos of 5 Nigerians Popular Alleged Yahoo Boys Facing Deportation 

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The United States Government, through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has updated its public register of online fraudsters (Yahoo boys) slated for deportation.

Among the list of 124 Nigerians flagged on the portal are five notorious, well-known cyber fraudsters whose identities, photographs, and criminal profiles have been officially published.

The database, known as the “Worst of the Worst” (WOW) portal, highlights some Nigerians who have been convicted of major federal crimes and are prioritised for deportation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Legit has collated a detailed report on the five popular Nigerian fraudsters (Yahoo Boys) who are now awaiting deportation, including a former Forbes-celebrated businessman.

1. Obinwanne Okeke (Invictus Obi)

Perhaps the most famous name on the deportation list is Obinwanne Okeke, widely known as Invictus Obi. In 2016, Okeke was celebrated internationally, even making the prestigious Forbes “30 Under 30” list of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs.

However, his empire crumbled when the FBI arrested him for masterminding an $11 million global cyber-intrusion and Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme. His team successfully hacked the email systems of Unatrac Holding Limited, a heavy machinery supplier, to divert massive payments.

Okeke was sentenced to 10 years in a US federal prison in 2021. Following his release from custody, he was transferred to ICE and placed on the priority deportation list.

2. Oriyomi Aloba

Oriyomi Aloba carried out one of the most unusual cyberattacks on the list by targeting the US justice system itself. Aloba successfully hacked into the Los Angeles Superior Court computer system.

He then hijacked the court’s servers to send over 2 million malicious phishing emails to unsuspecting recipients, aiming to steal credit card details and personal identity data.

In 2019, US federal authorities sentenced him to 145 months (over 12 years) in prison. He has now been officially listed on the DHS portal for deportation to Nigeria.

3. Chibundu Anuebunwa

Chibundu Anuebunwa specialised in high-level corporate impersonation to swindle international companies. Anuebunwa was a key player in a transnational cyber fraud ring that ran a $2.5 million BEC scheme.

The crime team specialised in spoofing and hacking corporate emails to impersonate high-ranking executives, tricking companies worldwide into executing fraudulent wire transfers. He was sentenced to 66 months (5.5 years) in federal prison in 2023. His profile and photo are now active on the US deportation registry.

4. Quazeem Adeyinka

Quazeem Adeyinka was part of a team that exploited US government emergency funds during the global pandemic crisis.

Adeyinka participated in a wire fraud conspiracy that used stolen identities to file fraudulent claims for COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits. The scheme successfully siphoned over $2.2 million from US taxpayer-funded relief programs.

He was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison and has been marked on the priority list for deportation.

5. Olaolu Alabi

Olaolu Alabi used stolen pandemic relief and corporate fraud proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle before his arrest. Operating out of Owings Mills, Maryland, Alabi was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

He defrauded individuals and businesses of over $1.5 million using stolen identities to claim pandemic relief. Alabi personally pocketed at least $500,000, some of which he spent on a luxury trip to Hawaii for himself and his friends. He was sentenced to 66 months (5.5 years) in federal prison and is now awaiting repatriation to Nigeria on the DHS list.

While the US Government has published their names and photographs, the DHS has not released specific deportation flight dates. Under US law, each individual’s deportation will be processed systematically as they complete their prison sentences or exhaust their remaining legal options.

-Source: Legit

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Elon Musk’s Net Worth Surges To $1.3 Trillion As SpaceX Stock Rally Continues

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Elon Musk’s net worth surged to $1.3 trillion after SpaceX shares soared following its record-breaking IPO, adding an estimated $165 billion to his fortune in a single day.

Elon Musk’s wealth jumped by about $165 billion in one day as SpaceX stock surged after its historic stock market debut. SpaceX briefly crossed a $3 trillion valuation, making it one of the world’s most valuable companies and further cementing Musk’s position as the richest person on earth. The company also holds 18,712 bitcoin, while some analysts warn that SpaceX’s rapid rise in value may be difficult to sustain over the long term.

Elon Musk has added an astonishing $165 billion to his personal fortune in just one day, pushing his estimated net worth to around $1.3 trillion after SpaceX shares continued their explosive run on the stock market.

The sharp jump came as SpaceX stock gained nearly 20% during its second full trading session following its historic Nasdaq debut. The rally briefly pushed the company’s market valuation above $3 trillion, cementing its position among the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies.

SpaceX entered the public market under the ticker symbol SPCX after pricing its initial public offering (IPO) at $135 per share. The company raised approximately $75 billion, making it the largest IPO ever recorded. Investor demand was reportedly overwhelming, with orders exceeding $350 billion, nearly four times the amount of stock available.

By Monday’s close, SpaceX shares had climbed as high as $229.40, giving the aerospace and satellite internet giant a market capitalization of about $2.52 trillion. At one point during trading, the company’s value crossed the $3 trillion mark.

The rally has had a massive impact on Musk’s wealth because he remains the company’s largest shareholder. According to estimates, his one-day gain exceeded the entire net worth of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Investor and entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano highlighted the scale of the surge in a post on X, writing:

“SpaceX hit a $3 trillion market cap today. This means Elon Musk made more money in the last 24 hours than Warren Buffett made in his entire lifetime.”

At an estimated $1.3 trillion, Musk’s fortune now stands far ahead of every other billionaire on the planet. His wealth is worth roughly two-thirds of the combined fortunes of the next nine richest individuals.

Much of that wealth is now tied directly to SpaceX, which has rapidly become one of the most valuable companies in the United States following its public listing. The company’s businesses span reusable rocket launches, satellite communications through Starlink, government contracts, and emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure projects.

Institutional investors have also rushed into the stock. ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, purchased nearly 3.3 million SpaceX shares across multiple exchange-traded funds shortly after trading began. Wood has previously expressed confidence in the company’s long-term prospects, citing Starlink’s global broadband network and SpaceX’s leadership in reusable rocket technology.

SpaceX’s Bitcoin holdings draw attention

Beyond its space and telecommunications businesses, SpaceX has also attracted attention for its cryptocurrency holdings.

The company reportedly owns 18,712 bitcoin, making it one of the largest corporate holders of the digital asset. When combined with Tesla’s reported holdings of 11,509 BTC, companies linked to Musk control more than 30,000 bitcoin.

Earlier this year, crypto asset manager Grayscale suggested that SpaceX could become the most valuable publicly traded company with direct bitcoin exposure once it completed its IPO.

The development has fueled debate among investors about whether capital is shifting away from cryptocurrencies and into high-growth technology stocks. Some market participants believe blockbuster public listings such as SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic are attracting money that might otherwise have flowed into digital assets.

Despite the excitement, not everyone is convinced the rally can continue at its current pace.

Some analysts argue that SpaceX’s valuation may have moved ahead of its underlying financial performance. Critics have pointed to the company’s heavy reliance on Starlink revenue and warned that post-IPO enthusiasm could fade once insider lockup periods expire and early investors begin taking profits.

Still, supporters argue that SpaceX’s dominance in commercial space launches, satellite internet services and future space exploration initiatives gives it a unique position in global markets.

For now, investors appear focused on growth, with the company’s stock continuing to attract strong demand as Wall Street bets on SpaceX becoming one of the defining technology companies of the coming decade.

 

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