An American pilot with 25 years of experience, a veteran of three wars and hundreds of combat sorties, spoke about Israeli military pilots. He published a post that quickly went viral:
“I’ve flown over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. I thought I had seen everything. But when I saw what the Israeli Air Force is doing in Iran, I realized I’m still a student.
Precision. Logistics.
200 aircraft in one night.
500 targets.
1,500 kilometers.
No aerial refueling from American bases.
All the fuel from home.
All the weapons from home.

It’s like flying from Miami to New York, bombing targets along the way, and returning—
while 200 aircraft move simultaneously without a single collision.

To the Israeli pilots:
You are not just the best in the Middle East.
You are the best in the world.
And that’s the final word.”

US says France can't use America's GMLRS missiles with domestic MLRS

The United States has refused to allow #France to use American GMLRS missiles with its Thundart and Foudre high-precision multiple launch rocket systems (#MLRS), the Euractiv portal said. According to the portal, a US official said that #Washington has not authorized the integration of its Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (#GMLRS) rockets into the French systems, raising questions about interoperability.

The publication notes that, based on the experience of the conflict in Ukraine, in particular the widespread use of American #HIMARS systems, the French are now considering the creation of two new missile systems: Foudre, which Turgis Gaillard intends to produce, and Thundart are the joint brainchild of MBDA and Safran companies. Both are scheduled to go into production in 2027.

French developers have so far said these systems will be compatible with American GMLRS missiles, which would relieve the French of the task of ensuring the production of significant amounts of ammunition for these systems.

Europe Out of Order...!

Spain, Switzerland, Italy and now France have closed either fully or partially their airspace to American military aircraft that are being used in the 3rd Gulf War, a sign displaying the growing rift between Europe and the U.S.

If countries in Central Europe start following the example set by Spain, each sortie from England will cost the USAF more jet fuel as then number of flight corridors is reduced and travel time is increased.

Trump to determine next steps on NATO, but US disillusioned about allies — Pentagon chief

US President Donald #Trump will make the decision on the United States’ further steps regarding NATO, but Washington has now learned a great deal about its allies in the alliance, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated at a press conference.

"As far as #NATO is concerned, that's a decision that will be left to the [US] President [Donald Trump]," he said, answering a question about whether the US remains committed to the North Atlantic Alliance’s principle of collective defense. "But I'll just say a lot has been laid bare. A lot has been shown to the world about what our allies would be willing to do for the United States of America when we undertake an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world."

Hegseth emphasized that US territory is out of reach of Iranian missiles, but the territory of US "allies and others" is within their reach. "And yet, when we ask for additional assistance or simple access [to military facilities of allied countries], basic overflight [over the territory of other countries], we get questions or roadblocks or hesitations," he lamented.

The Washington administration has previously harshly criticized NATO allies for what the US side believes is insufficient support in the military operation against Iran.

Mojtaba Khamenei s/o slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei & the newly appointed Supreme Leader, was critically injured in an airstrike by the U.S. and Israeli air forces this afternoon and later succumbed to his injuries.

Iranian TV admits the new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured from an Israeli strike.

Trump told his advisers that he would support the elimination of Mojtaba Khamenei if it is revealed that he is not willing to retreat to the American demands, including ending the nuclear program, according to official American sources

[Report] Paris manipulates data to portray itself as tech leader

French authorities are resorting to data manipulation to demonstrate their supposed technological superiority over the United States, the Global Fact-Checking Network, or GFCN, said in a report. "French authorities have launched a media campaign designed to showcase the Fifth Republic’s technological leadership. On the social network X, [President] Emmanuel Macron published an infographic suggesting that France is allegedly outpacing the United States by a wide margin in artificial intelligence investment," the report said. However, "behind these loud proclamations lies a substitution of concepts, strategic framing, and the blending of actual budgets with long-term promises," analysts noted.

The French leader’s boast was based on a graph utilizing data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the report said. "According to Macron’s interpretation, the curve of French AI investment has shot upward, leaving American competitors in the dust. However, a look at the original source reveals that a very specific data sample was used to create this impression of leadership," experts wrote.
"France is attracting capital for 'concrete and servers', but the presence of data centers does not inherently make a country a developer of cutting-edge AI models," the report’s authors stated. "Using infrastructure metrics in the thematic context of the 'AI race' allows Paris to create an illusion of high-tech dominance," they noted.

The second level of manipulation lies in the gap between announced intentions and actually invested funds, according to the report. "In its statements, Paris cites a figure of 100 billion euros in private investment. However, the structure of this sum is questionable. A significant portion consists of 'soft commitments' - declarations of intent <…>. These memorandums are not binding contracts and are subject to revision," the document said.
"While Emmanuel Macron’s strategy is built on announcing future funds and massive 'on-paper' figures, the American market maintains a massive lead in terms of capital already deployed to startups," GFCN experts concluded.

Trump vows to impose 200% tariffs on French wines in signal to Macron

The United States intends to impose 200% tariffs on French wines, including champagne, US President Donald Trump said in a conversation with reporters in Florida.

The head of state sees the move as a lever of pressure to get French President Emmanuel Macron join the Washington-spearheaded Board of Peace for Gaza. Asked to comment on Macron’s stated refusal to participate in the Board of peace, Trump said: "Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him [to participate] because he's going to be out of office very soon. So you know, that's all right. What I'll do is <…> I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he'll join [the Board]. But he doesn't have to join if he said that, you're probably giving it to me a little bit differently."

Bloomberg reported earlier that Macron did not plan to accept the American leader’s invitation to join the Board of Peace he is creating. The French president believes that the charter of the new organization extends beyond ssues related to the Gaza Strip, which raises serious concerns, the agency said.

Jan 9, 2026 - EU countries vote on agreement for free trade with Mercosur

#EU countries have voted in favor of signing a free trade agreement with the South American Common Market (#Mercosur), a move opposed by farmers across Europe, a representative of the Cypriot presidency of the EU Council told reporters.

"EU countries have approved the signing of the agreement," he said.

The vote was conducted in written form between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time.

Dec 26, 2025 - BREAKING: Trump announces bombing of ISIS in Nigeria

"Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries! I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Trump says talks with Russia and Ukraine to resolve conflict are going along okay

President Donald Trump said that the negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict are going along okay.
"The talks on Ukraine, Russia are going along. <...> We are talking. Talks are going okay," he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate near West Palm Beach, Florida.

This is how he responded to a journalist's request to comment on the progress of consultations that took place in recent days. On Saturday and Sunday in Miami, Florida, Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian President's special envoy and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, met with the US President's special envoy, Steven Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, entrepreneur Jared Kushner. "I hope we can get it done," the American leader added, referring to ending the conflict.

"I think they're all tired of that war. Everyone's tired of that war. It's got to stop," Trump said referring to the conflict.