1. Trump
Donald Trump has casually muddied the waters on decades of US foreign policy on the Middle East and said he is fine with a one or two state solution, in just twenty or so minutes.
Standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he was fine with either a one or two state solution and would back whatever the parties preferred.
![Benjamin Netanyahu, from right, and Donald Trump stand with their wives Melania Trump and Sara Netanyahu.](/web/20170219105435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/d/y/m/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gub8bd.png/1487187958605.jpg)
He said Palestine had to get rid of the "tremendous hate" being taught to children in schools but also said to Bibi that he would like Israel to hold off on the illegal settlements "for a bit." [CNN]
As for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, as he promised in the campaign, Trump said he'd like to, is looking at it "with great care" but ended with "we'll see what happens."
But the most bizarre part of the press conference was when asked about rising anti-Semitism, the bragger-in-chief cited his win in the electoral college and then said he won the election because America is so divided. This. Is. Not. Fake. News!
Asked about his sacked National Security Advisor, Trump defended Flynn against, wait for it, a plot against the intelligence agencies, Democratic party and the fake media.
He says Michael Flynn was treated very badly and the "illegal leaks" showing his National Security Advisor lied to the vice president were part of "people are trying to cover up for a terrible loss that the Democrats had under Hillary Clinton." This is despite Trump demanding Flynn's resignation over a loss of trust.
Trump deliberately called on friendly media to avoid being asked about this contradiction. [Hadas Gold/Politico]
Netanyahu might find the reception warm in Washington but can expect at least one snub when he returns home.
Haaretz is reporting that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cancelled a joint summit scheduled for May in Jerusalem, in anger over Israel's recent law allowing the expropriation of private Palestinian land in the West Bank where the Israelis have settled. [Barak Ravid]
And on a domestic note, former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans has joined Bob Hawke in saying its time Australia recognised Palestine's statehood. [Fleur Anderson/Financial Review]
2. German sex attacks were 'baseless'
This is really extraordinary.
Germany's most-read newspaper Bild, has apologised for a report claiming a group of 900 men attacked women in Frankfurt on New Year's Eve.
Police investigating the report say they have "considerable doubts" about the report, give one of the alleged victims was not even in the city at the time. The newspaper has backed down and apologised for printing "non-truthful reporting". [Nick Miller/Fairfax]
3. Kim Jong-nam 'assassination'
![A CCTV image obtained by Malaysian police of a woman reportedly wanted over Kim Jong-nam's death.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219105435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/d/x/d/y/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1487171219074.png)
A CCTV image obtained by Malaysian police of a woman reportedly wanted over Kim Jong-nam's death. Photo: Supplied
A woman carrying a Vietnamese passport has been detained over the death of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in what has been reported to be an audacious "poison cloth" assassination. A woman was identified from CCTV footage, a still of which shows her wearing a top with the word "LOL" (laugh out loud) emblazoned across it.
According to one unconfirmed media report, the women says she was asked to spray liquid on Kim Jong-nam as her female companion covered his face with a cloth, as part of a prank, and was urged on by four men. [Linsday Murdoch/Fairfax]
4. Jakarta elections
![Jakarta's governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama casts his ballot on Wednesday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219105435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/d/y/2/u/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1487170772718.png)
Jakarta's governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama casts his ballot on Wednesday. Photo: Jefri Tarigan
The embattled Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama who is facing blasphemy charges appears to have won the first round of the elections but not enough to reclaim the position meaning there will be a second round of elections in April. This political race is really worth watching and our Indonesia Correspondent Jewel Tospfield has a comprehensive wrap about who is who and the religious dynamics at play. [Fairfax]
5. Aust politics
![Treasurer Scott Morrison is playing hardball.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219105435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/b/m/9/o/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1487109936997.png)
Treasurer Scott Morrison. Photo: Andrew Meares
Philip Coorey has a big story. He reports the government is going to crackdown on capital gains tax concessions. The same capital gains tax concessions the Coalition savaged Labor for proposing they be wound back.
![Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler listen as Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg talk about windpower in South Australia during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, on Thursday 9 February 2017. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219105435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/9/6/8/a/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1486610997832.png)
Tanya Plibersek, Chris Bowen and Mark Butler in Parliament. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Granted, Treasurer Scott Morrison is planning to wind back the concessions for property investors, while Labor wants it applied to all investments including shares, but either way, Chris Bowen, Labor's treasury spokesman, is going to have a good day. As he should. [Financial Review]
Treasurer Scott Morrison is repeating his threat that he'll raise taxes if his spending cuts are blocked in the Senate, to preserve the Triple-A credit rating. [James Massola/Fairfax]
Implosion watch: Pauline Hanson tells her candidates that if they don't like her rules they should quit and go Independent. [Andrew Probyn/ABC]
Nikki Savva says the Liberals are perfectly sensible to hang around One Nation because Pauline Hanson picks on Muslims just the way the Greens pick on Jews. The former Howard and Costello advisor says she would not repeat her advice to the Coalition that she gave Howard back in the day, to preference the party last (then because of its anti-Asian views). [The Australian]
6. Rolf Harris
![Rolf Harris faces a new trial on three charges of indecent assault, after a jury last week failed to reach a verdict.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170219105435im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/x/b/q/x/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1487157431753.png)
Rolf Harris. Photo: AP
...is going back to trial in London charged with four counts of indecent assault after a jury last week failed to reach verdicts. [Nick Miller/Fairfax]
And that's it from me today, you can follow me on Facebook for more.