Hungary’s Orbán:

We must accept that NATO and the European Union cannot stretch directly to Russia’s borders, because the Russians will always respond to that with war.

(NATO and the EU already border Russia)

The U.S. is urging Bolivia to expel suspected Iranian spies and label the IRGC, Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist groups.

Source: Reuters

Italy's Meloni:

Italian Government was astonished by President Trump’s remarks claiming NATO allies “stayed back” in Afghanistan.

NATO activated Article 5 in “an act of extraordinary solidarity” toward the United States, and Italy “responded immediately,” deploying thousands of troops and leading Regional Command West.

Italy paid “an unquestionable price: 53 fallen Italian soldiers and more than 700 injured.”

Statements minimising NATO countries’ contribution are “unacceptable,” and “friendship requires respect.”

New Trump repost on Truth Social.

At a NATO winter exercise in Norway, Finnish reservists defeated U.S. troops so decisively that commanders asked them to ease off.

A military source said Finns were “asked to stop beating the Americans” because the losses were “too humiliating and demoralising.”

Source: The Times

Czech billionaire Michal Strnad became the world’s richest defense contractor after his company CSG’s blockbuster IPO sent shares up about 30%, boosting his fortune to around $37 billion.

The firm was valued at roughly €25 billion. Shares surged +32% on the first trading day, and investor demand was 14 times oversubscribed, with over €60 billion in orders.

CSG, a major European arms maker, produces ammunition, artillery, vehicles, and other military equipment.

Strnad, 33, expanded the business he inherited from his father, and has said he aims to make CSG one of Europe’s largest defense manufacturers.

CSG’s financials show explosive growth. Revenue doubled year-on-year in 2024 and is projected at €7.4–7.6 billion for 2026.

The company is now Europe’s:
• Leader in 155mm artillery shell production,
• One of the largest small-caliber ammunition suppliers,
• A major producer of armored vehicles and military trucks (Tatra).

Roughly 68% of revenue now comes from NATO countries, with Ukraine accounting for about 42% of sales in 2024.

Shipments to Ukraine quadrupled year-on-year.

Syrian cameraman accidentally walking into a group of SDF/YPG terrorists during chaotic front-line movements.

The terrorists don’t notice him at first, he realizes the mistake, and slips away unharmed.

Iranian Health Ministry officials told TIME that up to 30,000 people may have been killed in just two days (Jan 8–9) as security forces crushed protests.

The UK deployed four RAF Typhoon jets to Qatar amid rising tensions and U.S. buildup.

The jets are fully armed with MBDA Meteor air-to-air missiles, ASRAAM short-range missiles, and Litening targeting pod, signaling high readiness against Iran.

Tucker Carlson, May 2025:

Everyone in Washington, no one’s ever met a Kurd, can’t define what a Kurd is, but everyone reflexively loves the Kurds.

And I’ve never had strong views about the Kurds, but again, I just want to say I’ve seen it in action in Iraq, and I was shocked by the Kurdish behavior personally.

Israel has reportedly bombed southern Lebanon once again.

Saudi Arabia is planning to scale back and redesign Neom, its flagship megaproject, after delays and huge cost overruns.

The Line — the futuristic linear city — will be significantly reduced and rethought, and Neom may pivot toward becoming a data centre and AI hub instead.

The shift reflects financial pressure, lower oil prices, and competing priorities like Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup.

Source: FT

ICE agent in Maine calls legal observer a “domestic terrorist” for recording him and says she’ll be added to a “nice little database.”

Zelensky:

Russia has no missiles capable of canceling the fact that the peoples of Europe are free.

Zelensky to the people of Belarus:

You are a European people, and you will be together with all our peoples in our united free Europe — a Europe that is peaceful and strong.

You cannot be erased, and none of us can be erased.