Explosion takes place in Amsterdam, Jewish school likely target An explosion occurred in Amsterdam, Reuters said, citing Dutch media. Reports indicate that a Jewish school may have been targeted in the incident. The ANP news agency quoted the mayor of Amsterdam, who did not rule out the possibility that the blast was "a deliberate attack against the Jewish community." No further details were yet provided. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAcSDptKbRg

Oil prices swing wildly amid mixed messages over Iran war Crude #oil prices fall sharply as energy markets remain on tenterhooks over effective closure of the Strait of #Hormuz. Oil prices are seeing dramatic swings as traders struggle to make sense of mixed messages about the impact of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran. Brent crude, the international benchmark, on Tuesday plunged 17 percent to fall below $80 a barrel, then rebounded to near $90 after US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright posted on the X platform – but then quickly deleted – a claim that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters that there had been no armed escort through the strait, which has been effectively closed to shipping in the region due to Iranian threats.

Paris to use Cold War uranium, plutonium reserves for new warheads, says top defense official France intends to use radioactive materials left over from the dismantling of Cold War warheads to produce new nuclear warheads, Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said. "We have preserved fissile materials - uranium and plutonium - obtained from nuclear warheads dismantled after the Cold War. Thanks to this, we have sufficient reserves to produce new nuclear warheads, as announced by President Emmanuel Macron," the top defense official told the Le Dauphine Libere newspaper. Vautrin added that the expansion of France's nuclear arsenal is already included in the budget. "Thirteen percent of the 57-billion-euro military budget is allocated to nuclear deterrence," she said. Earlier, Macron announced France's intention to adopt the concept of "advanced deterrence" which involves joint exercises with partner countries, as well as the deployment of elements of France's strategic forces on the territory of other countries on the European continent. The French leader also announced plans to increase the country’s nuclear arsenal and said that Paris no longer intends to disclose the exact number of warheads. In 2020, Macron said that France's nuclear arsenal had fewer than 300 warheads.

KHAMENEI ELIMINATED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN IRAN: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali #Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran this morning, an Israeli official says. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press statement: "The plan to destroy Israel no longer exists, and there is a high likelihood that the tyrant [Ali Khamenei] does not either." Modern Day Haman is gone a day before Purim!

Mexico special forces carried operation against Jalisco cartel leader without US help #Mexico’s special services carried out their special operation, in which a drug cartel leader was killed, without direct US involvement, although Washington has provided some intelligence information, the Mexican embassy in the US said on the X social network. "Through central military intelligence efforts alongside the Mexican National Intelligence Center and the Attorney General's Office (FEMDO), Special Forces of the Mexican Army planned and executed an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco," the embassy said. "Complementary information was provided by US authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States." The statement came in response to reports that said the special operation was carried out by the US military. The Mexican embassy refuted these claims as false. "At this time, elements of the Mexican National Guard and Mexican Army troops from the center of the country and states neighboring Jalisco are mobilizing to reinforce the security of this state," the diplomatic mission added. Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense said on X that the leader of the Mexican Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), known as El Mencho, died from injuries sustained during a special operation carried out by the country’s armed forces while being airlifted to the Defense Ministry’s hospital in Mexico City.

More than 20 countries to take part in first meeting of Board of Peace — White House Representatives from more than 20 countries plan to attend the first meeting of the Board of Peace on Thursday in the US capital, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "I know it's more than 20 countries. I know there's a lot of interest in that. I'll spare myself reading you the list of 20 countries from the podium, but we will provide it," she said. The spokeswoman noted that during the meeting, US President Donald Trump will announce that the countries participating in the Board of Peace have pledged to allocate five billion dollars for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, as well as to provide thousands of military and law enforcement personnel to be deployed in the enclave as part of an international stabilization force and police mission.

Telegram co-founder warns against mistaking France for free country #France is not a free country, #Telegram co-founder Pavel #Durov said, commenting on raids of the French offices of Elon Musk's social media platform X by Paris prosecutors, Europol and a cybercrime unit. "Don’t be mistaken: this is not a free country," Durov pointed out in an X post. According to him, France is the only country in the world that is prosecuting all social networks "that give people some degree of freedom." In this regard, Durov mentioned Telegram, X and TikTok.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a plan to allocate $1 billion from frozen Russian assets to support US President Donald Trump’s controversial Peace Council. Putin also suggested that remaining funds could be used to rebuild territories damaged during hostilities in Ukraine after a peace settlement. Speaking on Greenland, Putin offered a surprising calculation of its potential price, recalling historical precedents with Alaska and the Virgin Islands. This bold move signals Moscow’s willingness to engage in international diplomacy while keeping post-war reconstruction and strategic interests in focus.

'UN has never lived up to its potential' President Trump did not rule out the possibility that his newly formed Gaza Board of Peace "might" replace the United Nations. He said the UN "hasn't been very helpful" and failed to settle conflicts he later resolved.

European leaders hope to de-escalate Greenland tensions with US in Davos EU leaders plan to try to de-escalate the #Greenland situation during meetings with the US in #Davos, hoping to get Washington to see reason and not impose tariffs on countries opposing its push to grab the island, Politico reported, citing sources. According to the newspaper, they hope that US President Donald #Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday "will help determine the tone of Europe’s response to the US president’s tariff threats." Statements by European diplomats and officials indicate that they want to avoid retaliatory measures and believe that a diplomatic solution to the crisis can still be found. "The focus is getting the ball rolling in Davos. Then, we will take stock" at an emergency EU summit on Thursday, an EU diplomat said. "The pressure needs to come down," he added. The European Union is reluctant to take decisive action against the US, hoping that Trump will not follow through on his threats, the publication notes, adding that, according to diplomats, officials "are terrified of needlessly exploding already frayed transatlantic ties." Earlier reports said that national security advisors to Western leaders had made changes to the agenda of a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum to discuss Greenland. Initially, the talks were expected to focus on resolving the Ukrainian conflict, but the plans were adjusted so that advisors could also address Greenland. Earlier, the White House host announced on Truth Social that the US would begin imposing 10% tariffs on the UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, and Sweden, which would remain in effect until the parties reach an agreement on the full and final acquisition of Greenland by Washington. The decision is set to take effect on February 1, with the duty rate increasing to 25% from June 1.