IRGC Air Defense Commander:

We have plans to counter F-22 and F-35 jets.

NEW: Polish government allows Netanyahu to attend 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation, guarantees safety despite ICC warrant.

BIG: Trump team reevaluates approach to ending Ukraine War.

The Financial Times, citing European officials in talks with Trump’s incoming administration, reports that Trump’s team is reassessing their stance on Ukraine.

“They’re obsessed with appearing strong,” said one source, adding that this mindset drives their reconsideration of Ukraine policy.

While no clear strategy for ending the war has been finalized, it signals that Washington may continue supporting Kyiv post-inauguration.

The Trump transition team is also cautious about comparisons to Biden’s “catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan,” seeking to avoid a similar outcome in Ukraine.

Syrian-Palestinian Ghiath Diab appointed as Syria’s Oil Minister, the first such appointment in over 76 years.

Upset by the fall of the Assad regime, Algeria is provoking Türkiye by getting closer to terrorist organisations.

Algeria was a staunch supporter of the Assad regime. Before the fall of the Assad regime, it worked for a long time for its return to the Arab League.

Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front against Morocco, has demonstrated its backing of terrorists against Türkiye by hosting YPG/PKK terrorists.

Germany’s far-right AfD co-chair and Chancellor candidate Alice Weidel:

“We must protect Israel’s existence. While Netanyahu made many mistakes, as Germans, we must safeguard Jews from guilty Muslims. AfD will stand as the protector of Jews.”

Israel Hayom:

President Erdogan spent nearly 25 years building a formidable weapons industry, producing drones, warships, advanced fighter jets, and even an aircraft carrier.

Türkiye has revolutionized its defense sector. The YPG has every reason to fear Türkiye, as facing its military is extremely challenging.

Türkiye’s influence in Syria, Iraq, Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Libya continues to grow daily.

CNN Host Tapper:

President-Elect Trump suggests Canada could become the 51st state.

Canada's PM Trudeau:

That’s not happening. Canadians take great pride in their identity, and a big part of that is simply not being American.

Canada’s annexation would profoundly favor Democrats, adding 45 House seats and 2 Senate seats, creating a “second California” in Congress.

In the Electoral College, its 47 votes would give Democrats 253, leaving them just 18 shy of victory, while Republicans would need to secure five battleground states.

Source: Politico

NEW: Trump says arranging a meeting with Putin

Source: AFP

NEW: The number of people killed in the Los Angeles wildfires has risen to 10.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said it was continuing to identify the remains of these people.

Identification may take several weeks as the Coroner's Department is unable to respond to all death scenes due to fire conditions and safety concerns,' the statement said.

Italy’s Minister of Industry & Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso: Turks are ideal partners, BAYKAR may collaborate with Italian defense giant Leonardo.

"The sale of Piaggio Aerospace to Türkiye-based BAYKAR revives a strategic company and paves the way for a broader technological and industrial partnership between Italy and Türkiye, with significant progress in other key projects.

In strengthening industrial ties between Italy and Türkiye, we are exploring further alliances with companies like Leonardo to enhance our aerospace sector and EU leadership.

Turks are ideal partners and will strengthen our ties."

NEW: Israel wants to divide Syria into cantons.

Israeli officials are reportedly holding secret talks on Syria’s future, including a proposal for an international summit to discuss dividing the country into administrative cantons to protect ethnic groups.

According to Israel Hayom, these discussions began after Assad’s regime fell last month.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen suggested hosting the summit, with Prime Minister Netanyahu set to lead further talks.

Topics include countering Türkiye’s influence and safeguarding Druze and Kurdish minorities.

Takeshi Ebisawa, Japanese Yakuza leader, pleaded guilty in a Manhattan court to trafficking weapons-grade nuclear material from Myanmar, intended for Iran’s nuclear program.

Ebisawa was caught in a DEA sting after boasting to agents, including one posing as an Iranian general, about his access to uranium, weapons-grade plutonium, and drugs from Myanmar.

He also attempted to smuggle heroin and meth into the U.S. in exchange for military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.

Source: MEE

NEW: A study published on Thursday revealed that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has been undercounted by 41%.

The peer-reviewed statistical analysis, published in The Lancet Journal, was conducted by academics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Yale University and other institutions.

The researchers recalculated the death toll from Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza during the first nine months of the war in Gaza.

They estimated that 64,260 people died as a result of traumatic injury during this period, about 41% more than official Palestinian figures.

According to the study, 59.1% of the deaths were women, children, and people over the age of 65. According to Palestinian health officials, more than 46,000 people have died in the Gaza war.

A drone collision grounded one of two CL-415 Super Scoopers battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

These critical aircraft were temporarily sidelined, halting firefighting operations and hindering efforts against the fast-moving blaze.

German Chancellor Scholz blocks new aid package for Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius proposed €3 billion in urgent military aid for Ukraine, including IRIS-T air defense systems, Patriot missiles, howitzers, and ammunition, ahead of the February 23 Bundestag elections.

However, the plan stalled as Chancellor Scholz’s office refused to support.

According to Der Spiegel, Scholz believes current aid is sufficient and likely seeks to avoid alienating potential voters with further arms deliveries.

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada officially recognized the Circassian genocide, condemning atrocities by the Russian Empire during the 1763–1864 Russo-Caucasian War.

Supported by 232 MPs, the resolution highlights the ethnic cleansing and mass killings that wiped out over 90% of the Circassian population.

🇺🇸 California man uses almond milk to fight fire.

Skills: Precise helicopter water drop on the Kenneth fires in LA.

Is Musk trying to intervene in Europe?

Elon Musk continues to shake up German politics ahead of the February elections by interviewing Alice Weidel, the far-right AfD's candidate, on X.

Musk's move is raising concerns in Germany while providing the controversial far-right party with unprecedented publicity and legitimacy.

Musk openly supports AfD, claiming that they are the only ones capable of bringing the change Germany needs.

Musk's explicit backing of AfD and his support for right-wing populist Reform UK have been seen as pushing foreign policy boundaries within the Trump team, with discomfort being voiced within the group.

European leaders and politicians opposing Musk's interference in European politics are growing in number. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez also spoke out against Musk's support for the far-right and his clear interventions to shape Europe, accusing him of being against liberal and progressive values.

Sources: NYT, Financial Times, BBC, Associated Press, Reuters