Corruption, Controversy, and Conflict: Menendez Sentencing, German Migration Debate, and Ukraine’s Drone Offensive

Good Morning,

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez faces sentencing for bribery and acting as an agent of Egypt, with prosecutors seeking 15 years in prison for his role in a corruption scheme, CDU leader Friedrich Merz plans to propose migration restrictions ahead of Germany’s February 23 election, potentially passing them with AfD support, and Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russian energy infrastructure, including a failed strike on a nuclear power plant.

Top Stories

● Judge set to sentence former Sen. Bob Menendez, who was convicted of taking bribes of cash and gold (AP)

● German election frontrunner risks breaking taboo on working with far-right (Reuters)

● Trump’s nominee for Pentagon weapons buyer was a key figure in the president’s first impeachment (AP)

● Tesla investors want Elon Musk to answer questions about ‘salute,’ role in Trump White House (CNBC)

● Russia claims nuclear plant targeted during massive Ukrainian drone attack (AJ)

United States and Canada

● Head Start and Medicaid providers hit glitches as Trump freezes federal money (AP)

● US Senate blocks bill sanctioning ICC over Israeli arrest warrants (AJ)

● White House offers 2 million federal employees financial incentives to quit (Reuters)

● US judge temporarily blocks Trump administration’s federal funding freeze (AJ)

● Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says (CBS News)

● Trudeau Government Left Canada Vulnerable to Foreign Interference, Report Finds (NYT)

Latin America

● Dominican hospitals face surge of Haitian mothers fleeing conflict (Reuters)

● Colombian customs official pleads guilty in money laundering case tied to DEA misconduct (AP)

● Mauricio Funes, Salvadoran President Who Fled to Nicaragua, Dies at 65 (NYT)

● Trump still expects to impose Feb 1 tariffs on Canada and Mexico, White House says (Reuters)

Africa

● Protesters attack French, US, Rwandan embassies in DRC (AJ)

● Johannesburg fire leaves hundreds homeless (AN)

● 3 coup-hit West African nations formally leave ECOWAS regional bloc (AP)

● Rubio told Egypt about need to stop Hamas from governing Gaza again, US says (Reuters)

● Congo's M23 rebels consolidate control over a devastated Goma (Reuters)

● Corneille Nangaa, DRC's ex election boss turned rebel leader (AN)

Middle East

● Russian government delegation makes first official visit to Syria since Assad’s fall (AP)

● Jordan launches air corridor for life-saving medicines into Gaza (Reuters)

● Israel says its troops in Syria will remain atop Mt Hermon indefinitely (Reuters)

● UNRWA chief says Israel’s ban will be disastrous (AJ)

● Explosion forces crew to abandon Hong Kong-flagged container ship in the Red Sea (AP)

● Turkey's opposition to name presidential candidate in coming months (Reuters)

Indo-Pacific

● At least 7 reported killed in crush at India’s Mahakumbh religious festival (AJ)

● Plane catches fire at South Korean airport, all 176 on board evacuated (AP)

● Myanmar refugees face sudden discharge from Thai hospitals shuttered by US aid freeze (Reuters)

● North Korean leader Kim inspects nuclear facility as Pyongyang pressures Trump administration (AP)

Europe

● Italy’s Meloni says she is being investigated over release of Libya suspect (AJ)

● NATO and Denmark agree allies must bolster defences in Arctic, source says (Reuters)

● Greece says EU set to take tougher line on migration, but won’t copy Trump administration tactics (AP)

● Russia, asked about EU gas talks with Kyiv, says it favours a gas transit restart (Reuters)

● Germany seeks aid for farmers after foot-and-mouth disease case (Reuters)

● Serbia’s prime minister resigns as anti-corruption protests sparked by deadly collapse swell (AP)

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