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In a significant shift in media access policy, the White House announced on Tuesday that it would take control over the selection of journalists covering presidential events, a move that President Donald Trump described as "calling those shots." Trump's spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, declared that the independent White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) would no longer have exclusive authority over the press pool, which consists of reporters covering the president in limited spaces. The WHCA criticized the decision, arguing it undermines press independence and allows the government to dictate which journalists report on the president. This announcement follows a recent dispute between the White House and the Associated Press, which has been barred from events over a controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. Critics, including WHCA President Eugene Daniels, warned that the move threatens the integrity of a free press in the United States. 
Published: Feb 26 2025, 1 pmeznews.inHundreds gathered in southern Israel on Wednesday to mourn Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were killed while in captivity in Gaza, becoming poignant symbols of the hostages' plight. The Bibas family was abducted by Palestinian militants on October 7, 2023, and their remains were returned last week as part of a ceasefire deal. During the emotional funeral, Yarden Bibas, who was freed earlier this month, expressed his sorrow for not being able to protect his family, stating, "Shiri, I love you and will always love you." The family was buried together in a single coffin, adorned with flowers, while mourners in Tel Aviv watched the ceremony live, dressed in orange to honor the children. Shiri's sister-in-law called for accountability from Israeli officials, asserting that the family could have been saved. The Bibas family's tragedy has resonated deeply with the Israeli public, symbolizing the broader impact of the ongoing conflict.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 6 pmeznews.inMilorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Bosnian court for defying the orders of international peace envoy Christian Schmidt. The indictment, issued in 2023, stems from Dodik's signing of laws that effectively suspended rulings from both the constitutional court and Schmidt. Dodik has dismissed the charges as politically motivated. Under Bosnian criminal law, individuals facing a sentence of one year or less have the option to pay a fine instead of serving time. This ruling raises concerns of a potential crisis in Bosnia, a country still grappling with the aftermath of a brutal ethnic conflict in the 1990s, which resulted in its division into two autonomous regions: the Serb Republic and the Federation shared by Croats and Bosniaks.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 6 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against authors and media outlets that utilize anonymous sources, following the release of a new tell-all book by journalist Michael Wolff that has incensed him and his team. The book alleges that Trump, after surviving an assassination attempt during the election campaign, displayed signs of mental strain, including difficulty completing sentences and frequent outbursts. In a social media post, Trump condemned these "fake books and stories," asserting that he plans to sue to expose the nonexistent sources behind them, which he claims are defamatory fiction. This latest controversy emerges as the Trump administration intensifies its confrontational stance towards the media, with the president continuing to label mainstream outlets as "fake news." Additionally, the administration has recently altered press access protocols, allowing the White House to select which media representatives can engage closely with the president.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 7 pmeznews.inElon Musk has publicly claimed leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to reduce perceived wasteful US government spending, even demonstrating with a chainsaw at events. However, in court, the clarity of Musk's role remains murky. During a recent hearing, US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly pressed government attorneys for details about Musk's involvement, to which they could only refer to him as a "close adviser to the president." Legal challenges are mounting against DOGE, with allegations that it operates unconstitutionally and in secrecy. While some judges have temporarily blocked DOGE's access to Treasury systems due to concerns over confidentiality, others have noted the lack of transparency complicates plaintiffs' ability to prove imminent harm. The White House recently clarified that Amy Gleason is DOGE's acting administrator, further complicating Musk's claimed position within the organization. The legal proceedings continue as scrutiny over DOGE's activities intensifies.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe mystery surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished nearly 11 years ago with 239 people aboard, continues to perplex investigators. The Boeing 777, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, lost contact shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, with its last transmission occurring about 40 minutes into the flight. Despite extensive underwater searches covering vast areas of the southern Indian Ocean, no significant wreckage has been found, although three wing fragments have been confirmed as belonging to the aircraft. A 2018 report suggested the plane's controls were likely manipulated to divert it off course, but the identities of those responsible remain unknown. In December 2023, Malaysia's transport minister announced plans to resume the search, with Ocean Infinity set to explore a new area for wreckage, pending final contract approval. The search is expected to take place between January and April.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 5 pmeznews.inA small group of foreign tourists has made a historic visit to North Korea, marking the first international travel to the country in five years, aside from a group of Russian tourists last year. Organized by Beijing-based Koryo Tours, the five-day trip from February 20 to 24 brought 13 visitors from various countries, including the UK and Canada, to Rason, a special economic zone. This development suggests North Korea may be poised to revive its tourism sector to bolster its struggling economy, which has suffered due to strict COVID-19 restrictions. Although North Korea has slowly begun reopening its borders since 2022, tourism from China—its largest source pre-pandemic—remains stalled. Experts believe that for North Korea's tourism industry to thrive, a return of Chinese tourists is essential, as they accounted for over 90% of visitors before the pandemic.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIn a surprising alignment, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have found common ground on military spending, suggesting significant cuts to their defence budgets. Trump recently proposed that the US, Russia, and China each halve their military expenditures, a notion Putin welcomed as a "good proposal," expressing Moscow's readiness for discussions. This development comes amid heightened military spending in Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, where defence budgets now account for nearly 9% of the nation's GDP. In contrast, China has firmly rejected the proposal, insisting its defence budget, projected at $236 billion, is necessary for protecting its sovereignty and security. Beijing's military spending has consistently increased under President Xi Jinping, as it seeks to modernise its forces. Trump's call for denuclearisation among the three nations highlights a broader desire for reduced military expenditures, although China's stance remains firmly defensive.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 5 pmeznews.inThis month, President Donald Trump dismissed the idea of selecting Vice-President JD Vance as his successor in 2028, stating it was "too early" to make such decisions, despite the 22nd Amendment limiting him to two terms. However, a faction of Trump loyalists is pursuing a campaign to amend the Constitution, potentially allowing him to run for a third term at age 86. The proposal, backed by Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, seeks to extend presidential term limits from eight to twelve years. Supporters believe that if public demand is strong enough, Trump might run again. While legal experts assert that Trump cannot serve another term, his allies argue that procedural avenues exist to facilitate this change. The amendment process would require either a two-thirds vote in Congress or a convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures, the latter being more feasible given the Republican majority in many states.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIn a scene reminiscent of a dystopian sci-fi film, a viral video has surfaced showing two AI bots communicating in a secret language after realizing they were both artificial intelligence. The exchange began with one bot calling a hotel to inquire about a wedding reservation, but upon identifying as AI, they switched to "Gibberlink" mode, a communication technique designed for efficient interaction without human language. This mode, which mimics the sounds of old dial-up internet, involves beeps and codes, raising concerns among observers about the implications of such technology. While some users expressed fascination, noting the "spine-chilling" nature of the bots' communication, others found it both "amazing and a little frightening." Created by Boris Starkov and Anton Pidkuiko, Gibberlink is touted as an error-proof method for sound-based data transmission, even in noisy environments.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 4 pmeznews.inA mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has raised alarms among health experts, claiming over 50 lives within five weeks. First reported following three children consuming bat meat, the disease has resulted in 431 cases and 53 deaths in Equateur province as of February 16, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding, with most patients succumbing within 48 hours. While the illness exhibits signs of "hemorrhagic fever," tests have ruled out known viruses such as Ebola and dengue. The WHO is investigating potential causes, including other infections or toxic agents, but faces challenges due to the region's remote geography and limited healthcare infrastructure. This outbreak highlights the rising concern over zoonotic diseases, which have surged by 60% in the past decade, often linked to human activities that disrupt ecosystems. Immediate intervention is deemed crucial to prevent further spread.
Published: Feb 26 2025, 4 pm
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