Iranian Foreign Minister:

If we negotiate under maximum pressure, we will be negotiating from a position of weakness and we will achieve nothing. We must prove that the policy of maximum pressure is ineffective, then we can negotiate from a position of equality.

Source: Al Jazeera

NEW: Russia's operation to eject Ukrainian forces from the western Russian of Kursk has entered its final stage, state news agency TASS reported citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Source: Reuters

South Korea wants to sell submarines to Canada as relations deteriorate with the US.

A delegation was sent to Canada to pitch South Korea as a reliable source of military equipment.

Maintenance facilities would be established in Canada, and unlike with US weapon systems, the South Koreans would provide Canada with total access to the onboard technology.

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Canada announces key measures to help Syria:

• $84 million in humanitarian aid
• Eased economic sanctions
• Restored diplomatic ties

Türkiye could be a vital partner for Europe

A senior European diplomat said Türkiye’s views on Ukraine peace are “very important”, noting President Erdogan’s balanced ties with both Zelensky and Putin make his involvement logical.

“It makes sense to have him on board.”

A Turkish official said no clear plans exist yet for Türkiye’s role in European security, but closer cooperation is possible.

“Instead of an ‘a la carte’ approach, Europe should seek broader partnerships, starting with Türkiye’s inclusion in the European Peace Facility.”

Another European diplomat emphasized Türkiye’s role in Ukraine’s security guarantees, saying Erdogan’s interests now align with Europe:

“Erdogan's interests lie with us right now, especially as he no longer has that Russia dynamic in Syria.”

Source: Reuters

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te accused China of escalating influence campaigns and infiltration to “absorb” the island, vowing countermeasures.

Lai said Beijing exploits Taiwan’s democracy to influence media, organized crime, and security forces, alongside military drills and trade sanctions.

Source: Reuters

59% of French people believe France must protect other European countries, particularly with nuclear weapons.

Source: BFMTV Poll

Future of warfare: Thousands of drones returning to dock and recharge after a synchronized drone show.

What happens when they are weaponized?

Romanian Foreign Ministry after Kremlin criticized Romania’s decision to reject the presidential candidacy of Călin Georgescu:

Russia has not held free elections for nearly 20 years.

As an aggressor state, it is in no position to give lessons on democracy.

Opponents are executed just meters away from the Kremlin.

🇫🇷🇬🇧🇹🇷 French, British, and Turkish Chiefs of Staff met in Paris to discuss European security.

The plane carrying Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff crossed the Russian border.

Witkoff is visiting Moscow to persuade Putin to sign ceasefire agreement on Ukraine.

A Chinese research team developed FlightVGM, an AI model that replaces Nvidia’s high-end GPUs with an off-the-shelf industrial chip, achieving:

• 30% better performance than Nvidia’s RTX 3090.

• 4.5x greater energy efficiency than Nvidia’s flagship GPUs.

This breakthrough challenges Nvidia’s AI dominance and offers a cost-effective, energy-efficient alternative in AI computing.

Source: SCMP

German Rheinmetall, Europe’s largest ammunition maker, has surpassed Volkswagen in market value.

Rheinmetall’s valuation reached €56.2 billion ($61.1 billion), topping Volkswagen’s €54.7 billion.

Kremlin:

Kursk region will soon be liberated.

BREAKING: Russian MoD says Sudzha in Kursk region has been liberated.

🇨🇳 China’s Expanding Power in the Asia-Pacific

Beijing is increasing its grey zone tactics—using military and civilian tools to expand influence without direct conflict.

Key Targets: Taiwan, South China Sea, East China Sea, Himalayas, Australia.

Islamophobia on the Rise Across Australia

Islamophobic incidents in Australia have more than doubled between January 2023 and December 2024.

Following the October 7, 2023, Islamophobic incidents spiked by 1,300% in just three weeks. Many victims were not even Muslim but were perceived to be.

A total of 309 in-person attacks were recorded, marking a 2.5-fold increase, while online incidents tripled to 366.

Women and girls were the primary victims, accounting for 75% of cases and facing a higher risk of physical attacks compared to men.

A mother of five was punched unconscious in a shopping center food court after a woman yelled “f* Muslims**” at her. A CT scan later revealed her nose was broken.

A Muslim woman wearing a hijab was threatened by a man saying, “I’ll rip that scarf off your head, smash your head, and rape you.”

Source: Islamophobia Register Australia

NEW: Finland and Ukraine sign a bilateral defence cooperation agreement.

A military aid package worth 200 million euros has been allocated to Ukraine by Finland.

North Korea has camouflaged a secret missile base as a golf course.

The site features wide roads capable of accommodating transporters that carry Hwasong-19 missiles to launch positions.

The Hwasong-19 can carry a nuclear warhead and has a range reaching North America and Europe.

Source: The Telegraph.