French President Emmanuel Macron also congratulated Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on assuming presidency.

Iranian Foreign Ministry:

Trump's proposal is consistent with the Zionist regime's plan to exterminate Palestine.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth:

We will provide Israel with ammunition that was not previously granted to it.

Pete Hegseth:

We are prepared to look at all options regarding Gaza.

Canadian Foreign Ministry:

Our position on Gaza is firm and has not changed, and we are committed to achieving the two-state solution.

NEW: North Korean ballistic missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine since late December have been much more accurate than missiles launched last year, according to two senior Ukrainian sources.

The sources said the increase in accuracy to within 50-100 metres of the target shows that North Korea is successfully using the battlefield to test its missile technology.

A military source revealed a marked improvement in the accuracy of all of the more than 20 North Korean ballistic missiles that have hit Ukraine in the past few weeks. A second source, a senior government official familiar with the matter, also confirmed the findings.

Source: Reuters

Trump Pressures Gulf States on Gaza Plan

Trump seeks Gulf funding for a US-led Gaza takeover, offering Saudi, Qatar, & UAE waterfront property rights in exchange for financing Palestinian "relocation" & reconstruction.

"The message is, ‘you don’t get what you want any longer from the US just for free," a senior official says, as frustration grows over a lack of Gulf cooperation.

Source: MEE

RSF’s control over Khartoum is increasingly fragile as the SAF advances from multiple directions.

SAF has made significant gains, particularly south and southeast of Khartoum, after taking Jazira State’s capital last month.

RSF’s retreat has accelerated in recent days, with multiple villages falling to SAF control.

SAF is now within 5–6 km of the Soba Bridge, raising speculation that RSF may abandon Khartoum.

RSF has temporarily halted their retreat at Giad Industrial City, potentially preparing for a defensive stand.

US State Department:

US government ships can now transit the Panama Canal without fees.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the IDF to prepare a plan to allow Gaza residents to leave the Gaza Strip.

Source: Israeli Army Radio

Panama Canal Authority:

We have not made any changes to ship transit fees.

Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News:

"The Trump plan is the first idea I've heard that's good. The idea of ​​allowing Gazans who want it to leave—what's the problem with that? They can leave; they can come back, but Gaza needs to be rebuilt. It needs to be pushed and implemented because it will create a different future for everyone."

Google is abandoning its Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) policy when hiring new employees in the wake of Trump's decisions, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The changes at Google come as a growing number of top companies are pulling back on their DEI programmes, including Meta, Walmart and McDonald's.

Source: WaPo

US Secretary of State will not attend a G-20 meeting in South Africa, the top US diplomat said, days after President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw funding for the African nation.

South Africa will be host to a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Johannesburg on 20-21 February. South Africa holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.

Qaher UAV takes off from Iran's new drone carrier, Shahid Bagheri.

NEW: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has ordered the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to develop a plan to facilitate the 'voluntary departure' of Gaza residents.

Katz said Gaza residents should be free to leave, as is normal. He suggested that countries criticising Israel's actions in Gaza, like Spain, Ireland and Norway, should accept them.

"I welcome President Trump's bold plan, Gaza residents should be allowed the freedom to leave and emigrate, as is the norm around the world," Israel's Channel 12 quoted Katz as saying.

Chinese Foreign Ministry:

Gaza Strip belongs to the Palestinians and is part of their land, not a bargaining chip in political deals.