Category: World

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.

On Tuesday, federal workers found themselves in a tricky situation after Elon Musk gave them a new chance to explain their jobs. He warned that if they couldn’t justify their roles, they might lose their jobs. This message confused many workers because previous guidance said responding was optional.

Some workers, who had enough of the uncertainty, chose to leave their jobs. Twenty-one employees from Musk’s newly renamed Department of Government Efficiency (originally the U.S. Digital Service) quit in protest. They felt it was wrong to use their tech skills to cut important government services.

Musk sent an email to all workers asking them to summarize what they did in the past week, but as the deadline approached, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) told workers they didn’t have to respond. Musk, however, responded by saying that ignoring the email would count as quitting. He later said workers would get another chance to reply, and if they didn’t, they might face termination.

Even within the Trump administration, there was confusion about what to do. Some department heads encouraged workers to wait before replying, while others pushed them to respond. The White House press secretary insisted everyone was working together, even though reports suggested that there were disagreements among Trump loyalists.

As the chaos continued, the OPM planned to cut down its staff, reducing the number from 64 to just under a dozen people. Musk’s efforts to cut jobs extended beyond OPM; more than 20,000 workers have already lost their jobs, with many more likely facing layoffs.

The IRS was also warned to prepare for more job cuts soon. Musk’s close advisor even told IRS leaders that he believed fewer employees would be enough to carry out the agency’s tasks. The Department of Interior received orders to reduce its workforce by as much as 40%. The situation is creating a lot of stress for federal workers, emphasizing the real possibility of widespread layoffs across various agencies.

On Tuesday, many people gathered at the small cemetery in Kibbutz Nir Oz to say their final goodbye to Oded Lifshitz, one of the kibbutz’s founders. He died while being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. On Thursday, Hamas returned his body to Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement that paused the fighting in Gaza. Along with Lifshitz, the bodies of three other residents from Nir Oz, Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, were also returned recently. They will be buried on Wednesday.

Oded Lifshitz was 83 years old when he was taken hostage during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. His wife, Yocheved, who is 85, was also kidnapped but was freed after 18 days.

During the funeral, his wife and family spoke about him, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog also shared his thoughts. He asked Lifshitz and his family for forgiveness for not being able to protect them and bring them home safely.

Famous Israeli artists performed at the ceremony. Hen Avigdori, whose wife and daughter were taken hostage but later released, expressed his sadness, saying Lifshitz should be alive with them.

Lifshitz was a respected journalist who fought for Palestinian rights. He worked for Al Hamishmar, a left-leaning newspaper, and reported on important issues over his long career. In the past, he defended the rights of Bedouins in Sinai and reported on the tragic events during the Lebanese civil war.

The Bibas family, especially the two young boys, Kfir (just 9 months old) and Ariel (4 years old), became symbols of the suffering of hostages since the war in Gaza started. Hamas took 251 hostages during the October 7 attack, and, sadly, 62 are still being held in Gaza today.

Former President Donald Trump has shown his support for biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running for governor in Ohio. Trump praised Ramaswamy on Truth Social, saying he is “Young, Strong, and Smart!” and believes he will be an “GREAT Governor” who will never let Ohioans down. Trump claims to know Ramaswamy well, stating, “I competed against him, and he is something special.”

Ramaswamy aims to make Ohio the “top state in the country” and officially started his campaign on Monday. This endorsement comes as a surprise since Trump previously criticized him during the Republican primaries earlier this year, saying Ramaswamy was “not MAGA” and accused him of using “deceitful campaign tricks.”

Ramaswamy’s decision to run for governor follows his departure from the company DOGE. He said leaving was a mutual decision, but there were rumors that Elon Musk forced him out.

Many users on social media reacted positively to Trump’s endorsement, with some praising Ramaswamy’s qualities and expressing confidence he will win in Ohio. Ramaswamy thanked Trump for his support, saying, “We’re behind you all the way & we will Make Ohio Great Again!”

In addition, Elon Musk, head of DOGE, also endorsed Ramaswamy, wishing him luck on social media. Ramaswamy responded to Musk with “Elon, thank you. Let’s roll!”

Ramaswamy’s main political adviser will be JD Vance, who is a former U.S. Senator from Ohio. At a rally in Cincinnati, Ramaswamy said he plans to make Ohio the best place to start and grow a business, promising to cut unnecessary regulations

On Tuesday, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Ocean Infinity, a maritime exploration company, is starting the search again for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. This plane disappeared over 10 years ago and is one of the biggest mysteries in aviation history.

The Boeing 777, with 227 passengers and 12 crew members, disappeared while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Loke told reporters that some details of the contract with Ocean Infinity are still being worked out but praised the company for their eagerness to help find the missing plane.

When Will the Search Take Place?
Loke did not specify when Ocean Infinity began its search efforts or how long it would last. He mentioned that the Malaysian government agreed in principle in December 2024 to resume looking for the wreckage of the missing flight. Despite extensive searches, the plane has never been found.

Loke stated, “They (Ocean Infinity) have convinced us that they are ready. That’s why the Malaysian government is proceeding with this.” The firm will be paid $70 million if they find the wreckage and prove it is the missing flight. Loke emphasized that their priority is to support the families of those on board.

Initially, Malaysian investigators suspected the plane might have been taken off course on purpose. In 2018, they worked with Ocean Infinity to search the area, but the company could not find the plane. Some debris, confirmed or believed to be from the aircraft, has been found along Africa’s coast and on islands in the Indian Ocean, and is currently held by the Malaysian government.

Previously, Malaysia, Australia, and China conducted an underwater search over a large area of the southern Indian Ocean, based on satellite data from the plane. Over 150 passengers from China were on board MH370, and their families are seeking compensation from Malaysian Airlines, Boeing, Rolls-Royce (the engine maker), and the Allianz insurance group.

In a recent interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Europe will need to be part of the peace talks about Ukraine, but first, he wants to build trust with the United States. Putin made these comments as Ukraine remembered the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, which has caused many deaths and displaced millions of people.

U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that he thinks the war could end in just a few weeks, but he didn’t provide many details. Putin agreed that Trump has a practical approach to the situation but suggested that a resolution might still take time.

Putin explained that recent talks in Saudi Arabia between the U.S. and Russia focused on improving relations between the two countries and weren’t meant for European nations. He emphasized that both Russia and the U.S. need to make efforts to build trust before making any big decisions about ending the conflict.

Further, Putin expressed his willingness to discuss cutting military spending by up to half for both Russia and the U.S., with China possibly joining later.

He also reassured that Trump is approaching the situation logically and is not restricted by promises made by European leaders, claiming Trump can speak freely and act without external pressures.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that peace for Ukraine should not mean giving up. He talked with US President Donald Trump at the White House to find ways to move forward in helping Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Both leaders agreed that they could consider sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, but Trump insisted that Europe should take more responsibility. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was meeting with European leaders in Kyiv, asking for peace this year, as the United Nations supported Ukraine’s right to its land.

However, the United States presented a statement at the UN that didn’t criticize Russia and instead sided with Moscow and North Korea, raising worries that Trump may be adopting Russia’s views. Macron told reporters, “This peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine. We want a quick deal but not a weak one.” He emphasized that it’s essential for the US to support any peacekeeping efforts in Europe.

After having a phone call with Trump, Macron felt optimistic about finding a way to peace. Trump has recently shown interest in talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war without involving Kyiv. He believed they could end the war “within weeks” if they made smart decisions.

Trump mentioned that Putin seemed open to having European troops as peacekeepers in Ukraine. This new approach has alarmed many, making them worry about the future support for Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

Meanwhile, Putin indicated that businesses from the US and Russia are planning to work together on projects in occupied Ukraine. He also criticized Zelensky, calling him a “toxic figure” in Ukraine. Trump echoed this sentiment, describing Zelensky in unflattering terms.

Trump and Putin might even meet soon in Saudi Arabia. Zelensky, who said he would resign for peace and a promise for Ukraine to join NATO, has called for genuine peace this year.

The war, which began in February 2022, has become Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, causing many deaths and suffering. However, Trump blamed Ukraine for sparking the war and stated he wants to change how the US handles foreign policy, which he deemed “foolish.” With Europe worried about Trump’s actions, Macron is trying to work out a united response.

Overall, Macron is representing the European Union during his trip to the US, having met various leaders, including Hungary’s Prime Minister, who is friendly with Russia.