General: Ukraine says it was responsible for the assassination of a Russian general in Moscow. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was killed by a remote controlled bomb that had been planted in an electric scooter he was riding. The general was in charge of radiological, biological and chemical weapons forces for Russia. The Ukrainians had filed criminal charges against the general saying he was responsible for using chemical weapons against Ukraine.
School shootings: A 15-year old girl has been identified as the perpetrator in yesterday’s shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. One student and a teacher were killed and six people were wounded. The perpetrator used her handgun to take her own life. Madison’s police chief said the investigation had not yet determined how the girl obtained the gun.
Trump lawsuit: After settling a defamation suite he had filed against ABC News and correspondent George Stephanopoulos, Donald Trump has filed suit against the Des Moines Iowa Register newspaper and its owner Gannett. Trump is alleging the newspaper committed consumer fraud because it published a poll showing that Vice President Kamala Harris would get 47% of the vote to Trump’s 44% of the vote. Trump wound up winning the vote in Iowa. Trump’s lawsuit also names pollster J. Ann Selzer and her polling firm.
Hush money: New York Judge Juan Merchan has refused to throw out Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. Merchan ruled yesterday that Trump does not have presidential immunity from prosecution in the case. Trump’s attorneys had claimed that the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity applies. Merchan said that evidence presented by the Manhattan district attorney was not related to Trump’s official duties as president and there was overwhelming evidence of Trump’s guilt.
German government: Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence in the German parliament triggering new elections to be held Feb. 23. There are seven major political parties in Germany and each is expected to put up a candidate for chancellor. Scholz had lost his majority in parliament and was in charge of a minority government. Scholz had wanted to lose the confidence vote because that would force elections to be held in February instead of waiting until September when they were originally scheduled to be held.
Ceasefire: BBC News reports that it has been told by a senior Palestinian official that Israel and Hamas are close to a deal for a ceasefire and release of hostages. The official characterized the talks as being in a decisive and final phase. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have been acting as mediators in the talks. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told members of Israel’s parliament that an agreement is closer than ever.
