Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here.
A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israel does not need to retain control of the Philadelphi corridor for security reasons and that is not a sufficient reason to hamper ceasefire and hostage talks, former Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said yesterday, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting his own interests before Israel’s. Steven Scheer reports for Reuters; Bethan McKernan reports for the Guardian.
Polio vaccinations in central Gaza have “surpassed the target” in the campaign’s first two days, the World Health Organization said yesterday. The U.N. agency said the difference was likely the result of an underestimate of the population in the region, adding that the localized fighting pauses had been “going well.” Mallory Moench reports for BBC News.
Israeli forces were again operating in the West Bank city of Tulkarm yesterday, after having initially withdrawn last week. Palestinian health officials say at least 30 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli raids began last Wednesday. Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
U.S. officials yesterday unsealed charges against senior Hamas leaders, accusing them of conspiring to provide support to a terrorist organization, conspiring to murder Americans, and conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction. The criminal complaint, filed under seal on February. 1 in federal court in New York, was made public as Washington prepares to present Israel and Hamas a final hostage and ceasefire proposal. Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein report for the Washington Post.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The United Kingdom has defended its decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel after Netanyahu called the decision “shameful.” Britain’s Defense Secretary insisted his country remained a “staunch ally” of Israel, adding that the decision would not weaken Israel’s security. Hafsa Khalil reports for BBC News.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is poised to make the biggest shake-up of his government since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Around half a dozen senior figures have offered to resign, including Ukraine’s foreign minister. Zelenskyy said yesterday that “personnel decisions have been prepared” to strengthen his government in the war. Victoria Kim and Marc Santora report for the New York Times.
Zelenskyy told NBC News yesterday that Kyiv is planning to indefinitely hold Russian territories it seized in a surprise offensive last month. “For now, we need it,” Zelenskyy said, in his first one-on-one interview since Ukraine took control of 500 square miles of Russian territory. Richard Engel, Gabe Joselow, and Yuliya Talmazan report.
A Russian strike killed seven people in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv, regional officials said today. It followed another Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Poltava yesterday, which killed at least 50 people at a military institute. Paul Kirby and Nick Beake report for BBC News; Reuters reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Elon Musk’s Starlink network has agreed to block the social media platform X in Brazil. Brazilian regulators had said on Sunday that Starlink planned to go against government orders to ban X, but the satellite-internet service yesterday confirmed it would comply with the order. Jack Nicas reports for the New York Times.
Lebanon yesterday detained the former head of its central bank, according to the country’s general prosecutor. Riad Salameh, who has attracted increasing blame for the country’s economic crisis, has been under investigation in several corruption cases both in Lebanon and internationally. Vivan Yee and Hwaida Saad report for the New York Times.
China has claimed two new breakthroughs in autonomous vehicles, aimed at overcoming their ability to perceive their surrounding environment and track movements. The reported breakthroughs come amid intense competition in the field, and could have profound security implications. Thomas Corbett and Peter W. Singer report for DefenseOne.
Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will arrive in South Korea on Friday for a summit on improving bilateral ties, South Korea announced yesterday. It will likely be the last summit between the two leaders, as Kishida seeks to end his term on a high note. Kim Tong-Hyung reports for AP News.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey today, marking the first presidential-level visit in 12 years. Reuters reports.
A former Philippine mayor who has been on the run since July after being accused of spying for China was arrested in Indonesia, Manila’s justice ministry said today. Kelly Ng and Virma Simonette report for BBC News; NBC News reports.
The self-styled Islamic State (ISIS) group yesterday claimed responsibility for this week’s suicide bombing at a prosecutor’s office in Kabul. AP News reports.
Uganda’s top opposition leader and prominent critic Bobi Wine was shot in the leg by police yesterday, his political party said. Abdi Latif Dahir reports for the New York Times.
Acting Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has called for more foreign aid and increased manpower amid the country’s battle with gangs. Kejel Vyas reports for the Wall Street Journal.
TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS
Former President Trump is entering a not guilty plea following a superseding indictment last week in the election interference case against him, according to a court filing yesterday. Trump also waived the right to be present at his arraignment, where he will be charged with the same four counts from last year’s original indictment. Daniel Barnes and Dareh Gregorian report for NBC News.
A federal judge yesterday denied Trump’s request to move the New York hush money case to federal court. Judge Alvin Hellerstein found there is nothing in the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling that changes the view of the fact that the payments were “private, unofficial acts.” Kara Scannell reports for CNN; Sareen Habeshian reports for Axios.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced yesterday. Linda Sun’s husband and co-defendant has also been charged with money laundering conspiracy, amongst other charges, according to the indictment. Gloria Pazmino and Mark Morales report for CNN.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee chair yesterday subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide further testimony on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Rebecca Falconer reports for Axios.
House Democrats have launched a probe into Trump’s “alleged acceptance of $10 million from the Egyptian government during his 2016 presidential campaign, as well as whether allies quashed a subsequent investigation into the matter.” The probe follows reporting by the Washington Post which found the Egyptian government withdrew the funds shortly after Trump paid the same amount into his own campaign. Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill.
A New York man has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for making “over 12,000 telephone calls to approximately 54 offices of Members of Congress across the country,” including at least one call that involved threats to kill or injure, according to court documents. Max Matza reports for BBC News.
A trial began yesterday in Florida of four activists accused of illegally acting as Russian agents to help Moscow sow political discord and interfere in U.S. elections. All four are or were affiliated with the African People’s Socialist Party and Uhuru Movement. Patrica Mazzei reports for the New York Times; POLITICO reports.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
A judge in Michigan ruled yesterday that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must stay on the state’s presidential ballot, saying it was too late for Kennedy to withdraw since ballots had already begun being printed. Kennedy previously announced he would be withdrawing from the race and publicly supported Trump. Lauren Irwin reports for The Hill.