In Short

MoscowRussian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nuclear force to be put on alert in a televised conversation with top officials.

The HagueWhat should you expect from a president who has to govern with a gun to his temple? That question was posed by Dutch political scientist Kees van der Pijl on Friday in the first edition of blckbx this week. "I don't see what's bellicose about Russia either," he said.

StockholmDuring the night of January 15, three Swedish men in their 30s were in the Stockholm metro on their way to an after-party. Suddenly they were attacked by several aggressive immigrants. One of the Swedes received two fist blows to the face, knocking him out. What the immigrants were not prepared for was that the Swedes, who all describe themselves as nationalists, would strike back.

BerlinThe head of the German Intelligence Service, Bruno Kahl, was on a mission in Kiev when he was surprised by the start of the Russian special operation against the Ukrainian military. He had to be evacuated from the conflict area by land.

BerlinA battle of images? German tabloid Bild – which ironically means "image" in English – has lost its way in the fog of war.

"The dumbshit Europeans are learning what it means to be US puppet states—death, destruction, and financial harm, and UK with its destroyed economy wants to destroy Russia’s," Paul Craig Roberts commented on the responses to the developments in Ukraine.

BucharestThe chairman of Steaua Bucharest, George Becali, has once again made a statement. The 63-year-old politician and businessman often makes headlines in the press with his striking statements. This time it concerns vaccinated players from his club: "They have no more strength."

RomeSome members of the Italian parliament are no longer welcome in parliament because of vaccination requirements.

ParisGael Monfils, France's top tennis player, will be unable to play at next week’s Davis Cup after suffering health problems caused by the Covid-19 booster shot. He made the announcement on social media.

Large parts of the globe believe the Covid-19 pandemic was staged. They are convinced that the Coronavirus was created by "some powerful forces" while others even think that the virus does not exist.