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.

Zelensky:

There are only two options for Europe: freedom or dependence — and our peoples know this best.

That is why we can be harsh when we say that European protection is not enough.

Every delay has consequences.

Zelensky:

So far, Lukashenko’s white spitz dog has more rights than the people of Belarus.

There was a chance in 2020 to change this, and I am confident there will be another chance.

But back then, the support for the Belarusian people was simply insufficient.

Zelensky:

The uprising of Belarus should have won in 2020 so that there would be no threat from there now.

Europe and the world should have supported the people who rose up — history would have been different and safer.

In the end, history punishes those who remain on the sidelines.

Zelensky:

Poland’s assistance to Ukraine after February 24 has been unprecedented in the entire history of our peoples.

Lithuania is with us as well — also at an unprecedented level. All the Baltic states are with us. Northern Europe is with us.

Germany is with us — one of the most significant defenders of life. France and Britain are with us. Central Europe is almost entirely with us.

Italy, Spain, and Portugal are with us. All the countries of Southern Europe are with us. Romania and Moldova are with us.

The European Union exists and is growing stronger every year.

The United States, Canada, and Japan are with us.

India plans to cut tariffs on some imported EU cars to 40% from as high as 110% under a trade deal expected to be announced with the EU this week.

The lower duty will apply to a limited number of cars priced above €15,000 and will fall to 10% over time, benefiting brands like Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW and Renault.

Electric vehicles will be excluded from cuts for the first five years to protect local makers.

Source: Reuters

Secret recordings obtained by Axios show Sen. Ted Cruz privately blasting Trump’s tariffs and JD Vance.

Cruz warned donors the tariffs could tank the economy and cost Republicans control of Congress, telling Trump: “If people’s 401(k)s are down 30% and prices are up 10–20%, we’re going to face a bloodbath.” He says Trump responded: “F**k you, Ted.”

Cruz also accused JD Vance of being controlled by Tucker Carlson: “Tucker created JD. JD is Tucker’s protégé, and they are one and the same.”

Source: Axios

WATCH: Moment a Russian UAV strikes a high-rise building in Kharkiv, Ukraine.