France is debating a bill to ban headscarves and religious symbols in all sports competitions.

The right-leaning Senate approved the bill, but it awaits a lower house vote.

The ban extends to collective prayers in public sports facilities.

Amnesty International and UN experts call it discriminatory, targeting Muslim women.

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed rules out war with Eritrea over sea access:

Ethiopia has no intention of engaging in conflict for this purpose.

Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal have rejected Kallas’ €40 billion arms plan for Ukraine.

The proposed amount may be reduced to €5 billion.

Source: La Stampa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visits Damascus, Syria today for the second time since Assad’s fall.

This time, she got a handshake.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:

I consider mass migration into Europe as a threat to the daily life in Europe.

Russia's Medvedev to Friedrich Merz:

"You're not in power yet but already lying like Goebbels. Nazi Germany attacked us from 1941-1945. We know how it ended. Bad start, Fritz!"

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:

Russia has chosen to be an enemy not only to NATO’s eastern flank but to all of Europe.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock officially reopens the German embassy in Damascus, Syria.

Kremlin:

Europe has turned into a party of war.

U.S. and European intelligence officials refute claims by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian troops in Kursk are encircled, stating they have lost ground but remain operational.

Despite CIA briefings to the White House, Trump continues to assert Ukrainian forces are surrounded, repeating the claim in speeches and interviews.

Source: Reuters

Germany's Scholz:

Germany will allocate 10 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

We will not engage in direct negotiations under pressure, threats, or increased sanctions.

We will respond to Trump’s letter in the coming days.

The letter is mostly threatening but also claims to present opportunities. We will consider both the threats and the opportunities.

Kremlin:

Putin has sent a message to Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to strengthen practical cooperation across the entire bilateral agenda.

Putin supported the efforts of the Syrian leadership to quickly stabilize the situation in the country.

The U.S. has extended Türkiye’s exemption from sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank, which Türkiye uses for natural gas payments.

The exemption was set to expire today.

Source: Bloomberg

Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and U.S. Treasury officials discussed economic cooperation and U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Bessent briefed Şimşek on the U.S. “maximum pressure” sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear, missile, and military programs.

For the first time in two months, IDF forces have launched a ground invasion in northern Gaza.

Trump will sign an executive order this afternoon to eliminate the Department of Education, transferring authority to the states.

A full shutdown would require a decision by Congress, but the president will instruct the Secretary of Education to begin the process.

Source: CNN

White House:

The Biden Administration killed nearly 8 million chickens ahead of President Trump's Inauguration, leading to supply shortages and higher prices.

UK Defence Intelligence:

Russian Armed Forces have likely suffered around 900,000 casualties (killed and wounded) since invading Ukraine in 2022, with 200,000–250,000 killed—Russia’s highest losses since World War II.

Hamas fired at leats 6 rockets towards Tel Aviv.

IDF reports that sirens sounded in central Israel following projectile launches from the Gaza Strip.