QUICK HITS

1 FBI seeks Iranian spy plotting

to kill officials: The FBI is looking for an alleged Iranian spy who travels frequently to Venezuela and is believed to have been recruiting people to assassinate former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other officials, U.S. authorities said. A notice issued by the FBI Miami field office said Majid Dastjani Farahani, 41, is wanted for questioning in relation to a series of alleged plots. Farahani is believed to have been actively recruiting “individuals for various operations in the United States, to include lethal targeting of current and former United States Government officials as revenge” for the U.S.-ordered death of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

2 International court issues warrant for two Russian

military leaders: The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for two Russian military leaders in connection with alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The court said in a statement it issued warrants for Lt. Gen. Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash and Adm. Viktor Kinolayevich Sokolov.

Liberty University fined $14M 3 for failing to disclose crime

data: Liberty University has agreed to pay an unprecedented $14 million fine after the Christian school failed to disclose information about crimes that occurred on its Lynchburg campus, including those involving sexual assaults, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.

Parents of reporter detained 4 in Russia to attend Biden’s address as guests of speaker:

The parents of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia for nearly a year, will attend President Biden’s State of the Union speech on Thursday as guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., his office said in a statement Wednesday. “I’m honored to host Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich for the State of the Union address,”Johnson said.“By hosting Evan’s parents, Congress will shine a spotlight on the unjust detention of their son. The United States must always stand for freedom of the press around the world, especially in places like Russia, where it is under assault. The Administration must bring Evan home.”

German police investigating 5 suspected arson against Tesla

site: Production at Elon Musk’s European Tesla production plant ground to a halt Tuesday after a burning transmission tower knocked out power at the factory near Berlin in what police suspect was arson. Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, which also cut power in several nearby villages in the state of Brandenburg. Police are assuming it was arson, according to a statement.