Category: News

In a nighttime attack on Wednesday, Ukraine’s air defense successfully shot down 110 out of 177 Russian drones, as reported by the air force. They also mentioned that they managed to lose track of 66 drones using special electronic measures. This is an ongoing story, and more information will be shared soon

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, French President Francois Mitterrand reassured the US, saying that Europe was far from having its own defense. There were too many obstacles: the UK was hesitant, Ireland was neutral, and reunited Germany seemed lost on what role it should play.

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and things are starting to change in Germany with a new leader, Friedrich Merz. He wants Europe to take defense more seriously, especially since the US, under President Donald Trump, seems less reliable to help against threats like Russia. “America First” is pushing Europe to work together on defense, much like how Mitterrand once helped set the groundwork for the euro in exchange for Germany’s reunification.

Although Merz’s new coalition is just getting started, he’s pushing for Germany to spend big—up to €200 billion (about $210 billion) —to strengthen its defense. He’s sounding alarms about the urgent need for action, noting that time is running out. This could lead Germany to change its old ways of being careful with money and focus more on spending for security.

Rethinking its defense spending could lead to new partnerships, especially in areas like sharing nuclear capabilities with France. Experts say that a strong partnership between Germany’s financial resources and France’s defense goals could emerge from this new thinking.

This shift is particularly important now as Germany and France tackle challenges like economic slowdown, rising right-wing politics, and the need for more unity in Europe. Leaders like Mario Draghi have urged Germany to take action amid growing concerns over security and trade competitiveness.

Merz’s approach could also strengthen ties with countries like Poland, which has become a major defense spender in Europe. Together, France, Germany, and Poland could create a united front against external pressures.

However, some people still worry about Germany returning to a more powerful role in Europe, especially after previous leaders were criticized for strict economic policies. But there is a sense of optimism that Europe is starting to move forward.

The son of Dong Yuyu, a Chinese journalist in prison, is asking for his father’s release after he was sentenced to seven years for spying. Dong Yuyu was taken by the police in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. His son, Dong Yifu, spoke at the National Press Club in Washington and said his dad plans to appeal his conviction. He argued that the meetings with the diplomat were about journalism, not spying.

“It’s about press freedom and human rights,” said Dong Yifu. China’s Foreign Ministry has not responded to requests for comments on this case.

Dong Yuyu used to be a top editor at Guangming Daily, a newspaper that has become less open to new ideas over the years. He wrote about democracy and political reform, but those topics are now discouraged by the government. Dong Yuyu had also studied at Harvard University and in Japan.

His arrest shocked many in China, especially journalists and diplomats, because it’s normal for reporters to meet with diplomats when gathering news. His son mentioned that in court, it was revealed that eight meetings with Japanese diplomats were used as evidence against his father.

In November, a Chinese court sentenced him to seven years for espionage. The former U.S. Ambassador, Nicholas Burns, stated that the conviction was unfair.

Japan’s Assistant Foreign Secretary, Masashi Mizobuchi, said that all meetings at the Japanese Embassy in China are standard diplomatic work. The Japanese government expressed concern that the ruling would harm friendly exchanges between people in China and Japan.

Despite being in prison, Dong Yuyu is staying healthy. His son said he does 200 push-ups and leg raises every day, but he only gets a few hours of sunlight each year and is not allowed to see his wife. Dong Yuyu can meet with his lawyer once a month, who brings him letters from his wife. His father also wrote a 45-page letter for his appeal.

Recently, the U.S. State Department called for Dong Yuyu’s immediate release. Reporters Without Borders, an organization promoting press freedom, reported that China has more than 100 journalists in prison and often accuses them of espionage to silence them.

Two ministers in Singapore, K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng, are suing Bloomberg and journalist Low De Wei over a news article. The story was about the rental of a government-owned bungalow, and the ministers believe it contains false and harmful information. The court will hear the case on March 3.

Back in December, Shanmugam and Tan announced they would take action against Bloomberg and other media for saying untrue things about their property deals. These comments were in a Bloomberg article titled “Singapore mansion deals are increasingly shrouded in secrecy,” which talked about expensive bungalows sold throughout 2024.

On December 16, both ministers shared posts on Facebook, stating that the Bloomberg article was unfair and that they would seek legal help. On December 23, the Ministry of Law issued orders for correcting the false statements. They said the article hurt Singapore’s reputation for transparency in property transactions and made it seem like the country doesn’t have strong laws requiring proper disclosures in bungalow deals.

Bloomberg then published a correction but expressed disagreement with the government’s actions, saying they would fight back against the correction order. They maintain that their reporting is accurate. Other media outlets were also ordered to correct their reports based on Bloomberg’s article.

A student from the University of Mississippi named Mary Kate Cornett has become famous on social media after rumors spread that she had a romantic encounter with her boyfriend’s father. The story went viral on X (formerly Twitter), and even a new meme coin inspired by her has been created.

So, why is Mary Kate trending? It all started when a user on X, @MAGAgeddon, posted what they said was a screenshot of a Snapchat message. The message claimed that after finishing her exams, Mary Kate went on vacation. She took her boyfriend Evan’s little sister to a basketball game, along with Evan’s dad. After the game, they reportedly went out for drinks, where things became intimate.

The Snapchat message stated, “They went for dinner and drinks, and then they hooked up or something. That was the first time.” It suggested that Mary Kate had a relationshi p with Erik Solis, a private banker. His LinkedIn page has disappeared, but a screenshot said he graduated from the University of Texas and worked at Comerica Bank.

The Snapchat message didn’t explain how Evan found out about this alleged affair, but it claimed he was very upset. Mary Kate told him it wouldn’t happen again, and surprisingly, they didn’t break up.

Additionally, the message mentioned that Evan’s mom knows about the situation but hasn’t divorced because Evan’s dad has cheated before.

With Mary Kate in the spotlight, her Instagram account was also shared online. It was previously private but is now open.

In an even crazier twist, a meme coin named after her started trending. A user named @DuragRebel posted about how the “Mary Kate Cornett” token, which works on the Solana blockchain, saw an incredible surge in value. It reportedly skyrocketed by 654% in just one day, reaching $0.0004338 and had a trading volume of over $2.81 million through many transactions. However, be careful, as the coin’s legitimacy is uncertain, and it’s essential to do research before investing.

“Mary Kate Cornett coin is up 3000% BUY NOW! Generational wealth fellas!” one excited user wrote. Another said, “I invested my savings in Mary Kate Cornett coin, and you should too.”

Just remember, while it’s exciting, make sure you understand what you’re getting into before putting your money into anything.