Five European countries have accused Russia of poisoning and killing opposition leader Alexey Navalny in 2024, according to lab results, while tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate amidst diaspora rallies. In other news, a popular AI coding platform was found to have a significant security flaw, and Heathrow Airport's boss addressed concerns about terminal congestion. Amazon's Ring also ended a deal with a surveillance firm after facing backlash.
The five European nations – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands – released a statement on Saturday alleging that tissue samples conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a lethal toxin found in wild dart frogs from South America, in Navalny's body (Al Jazeera). Navalny had crusaded against official corruption and staged anti-Kremlin protests against President Vladimir Putin's rule.
Meanwhile, Iran and the United States are presenting clashing views before expected talks, as diaspora Iranians rally across the world to demand action after thousands were killed during last month's nationwide protests (Al Jazeera). Washington has maintained it wants to limit Iran's missile program and end all its nuclear enrichment, a position consistently rejected by Tehran.
In the technology sector, a BBC reporter was able to be hacked through a popular AI coding platform called Orchids, a "vibe-coding" tool that allows users without technical skills to build apps and games by typing a text prompt into a chatbot (BBC Technology). The hacker was able to hijack the reporter's laptop, highlighting a significant and unfixed cyber-security risk. Experts have expressed concerns about the risks of allowing AI bots deep access to computers.
Heathrow Airport's boss, Thomas Woldbye, addressed concerns about terminal congestion, stating that the airport is not crowded but that people are walking in the "wrong place" (BBC Business). Woldbye told an industry event that the terminal feels crowded because "all the British people keep to the left and all the Europeans keep to the right," leading to people crashing into each other.
Finally, Amazon's Ring ended a deal with surveillance firm Flock Safety after facing scrutiny over its privacy practices (BBC Business). The agreement, announced in October, would have allowed agencies working with Flock to retrieve video captured on Ring devices. The decision to cancel the deal came after a Ring advertisement aired during the Super Bowl sparked widespread backlash.
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