Trump is expected to nominate former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair.

An announcement is planned for Friday. Warsh, who advised Trump and served on the Fed from 2006 to 2011, would replace Jerome Powell when his term ends in May.

Source: Bloomberg

Trump:

Agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist, Alex Pretti’s stock has gone way down with the just released video of him screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE Officer, and then crazily kicking in a new and very expensive government vehicle, so hard and violent, in fact, that the taillight broke off in pieces.

It was quite a display of abuse and anger, for all to see, crazed and out of control. The ICE Officer was calm and cool, not an easy thing to be under those circumstances!

Iran warned that the European Union's formal designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization would lead to "hazardous consequences."

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Spanish football manager Pep Guardiola:

Let me say two things. I think when I see a child in these past two years, with these images on social media, on television, recording himself, pleading, “Where is my mother?” who is collapsed among the rubble, and he still doesn't know it.

And I always think: what must they be thinking? And I think we have left them alone, abandoned.

I always imagine them saying, “Where are you? Come help us.” And even now, we haven't done it.

Burkina Faso’s military government dissolved all political parties by decree on Thursday, citing social division and state failure.

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Türkiye’s Defense Industries President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün:

In the last quarter of the previous year, following years of civil war and destruction and as Syria began to regain stability, we successfully implemented a comprehensive export package that included many of our products, in line with the cooperation established between our Presidency and the Syrian Ministry of Defense to meet Syria’s defense and security needs.

Russia is using Starlink satellite terminals on attack drones to bypass Ukrainian defenses and extend the range of its strikes, Ukrainian officials say.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will skip next month’s NATO Defense Ministers’ meeting and send his deputy, Elbridge Colby, instead.

Colby, a hardliner who favors reducing U.S. involvement in Europe, helped draft a new defense strategy that downgrades Europe and shifts the focus to China and homeland defense.

Source: POLITICO

Zelensky:

If Russia halts its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukraine will not strike Russia’s energy.

Zelensky:

Of course, it’s impossible for me to meet with Putin in Moscow.

It would be the same as meeting with Putin in Kyiv.

Zelensky:

I am publicly inviting Putin to Kyiv, if he dares, of course.

Zelensky:

I am ready for any format of leaders’ summit, but not in Moscow or Belarus.

Zelensky:

There have been no direct talks or direct agreements between us and Russia on stopping strikes against energy facilities.

Spanish football manager Pep Guardiola:

Remembering the memory of what has happened, not only during these past two or three years, but for decades of oppression, of lack of freedom, of taking away what every people has the right to—to simply be what they want to be.

We have to take a step forward, and just the fact of being here is already a lot.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi in Türkiye:

Iran and Türkiye are two major neighbors with a history of close consultation.

We maintain strong ties across political, economic, social, and cultural sectors and regularly consult on regional developments.

At present, regional issues are particularly pressing, and serious challenges remain.

The objectives stated by the United States and others require closer dialogue, a review of regional matters, and greater coordination of our positions.

Department of State:

Rubio took action this week to revoke the privilege of Iranian senior officials and their family members to be in the United States.

Those who profit from the Iranian regime's brutal oppression are not welcome to benefit from our immigration system.

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez signed a law allowing for the privatization of the country's oil sector.

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Niger’s military government accused France, Benin and Ivory Coast of backing an attack on a Niamey airbase near the international airport.

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A U.S. Navy missile destroyer docked a short time ago at the port of Eilat.

IDF: “The destroyer is docking at the port as part of a routine, pre-planned activity and as part of the cooperation between the IDF and the United States military.”

Source: Israeli Channel 12

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi on Europe:

Europe, in truth, is a continent on the decline, and it has lost its role at the international level and is losing it more every day. I am surprised that they are doing this to themselves with their own hands.

This shows that Europe has neither a correct understanding of international conditions, nor a correct understanding of the conditions of our region, nor a correct understanding of its own interests.

The decision they have made was a major strategic mistake, much like their previous mistake regarding the so-called “snapback” [mechanism]. They have made their own role in regional issues increasingly insignificant.

I believe that very soon—just like with the snapback, where after some time they admitted they had made a mistake—on this issue as well, they will very quickly reach the conclusion.

Zelensky:

Imagine this: I know that ballistic missiles are being launched at our energy infrastructure. I know there are Patriots deployed. And I know there will be no electricity because there are no missiles left to defend it.

This is the situation I am in. And I negotiate for PAC-3 missiles, which arrive a day after we are almost plunged into a blackout.

I can publicly say that this is a delay. But why by one day? They should have arrived a month earlier.

The United States does not give us missiles for free. People may feel differently about this. Europe pays for them.

The tranche was not paid under the PURL program. The missiles did not arrive. I am simply stating what is happening.