Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, canada and all around the world, im Kim Brunhuber ahead on cnn newsroom. New Bribery Charges against the head of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee and his wife. The evidence includes bars of gold and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. Well bring you all the details. Plus, dramatic scenes at the u. S. Southern border as thousands of migrants attempt to cross the rio grande and enter the United States. And ukraine says a major attack on russias Black Sea Fleet headquarters has left dozens dead or wounded. Well have a live report this hour. Announcer live in cnn center this is cnn newsroom with Kim Brunhuber. U. S. Democratic senator Robert Menendez of new jersey is angrily rejecting calls of resigning after he and his wife were charged with corruption related offenses, the second time since 2016 hes faced criminal charges. Hes remained defiant as calls for his resignation multiplied on friday. He said its not lost on me how quickly a latino is judged and pushed out of his seat. Im not going anywhere. Many of his own party are calling for him to step down, including the new jersey governor. Saying quote the alleged facts are so serious they compromise his ability to represent the people of our state and the speaker of the new jersey General Assembly said, quote, we are given the publics trust, and once that trust is broken we cannot continue. We have more on the investigation. Some of the cash was stuffed in the senators pockets. Reporter indicted again, new jersey senator bob menendez facing corruption related charges for the second time in ten years. Prosecutors announcing a three count federal indictment against the democratic senator and his wife over their dealings with three new jersey businessmen starting in 2018. The senator and his wife accepted hundreds of dollars in bribes, in exchange for Senator Menendez using power and influence to protect and enrich those businessmen. Reporter the alleged bribes include more than 550,000 in cash hidden in the senators home and safe deposit box, a Mercedes Benz convertible and gold bars worth Tens Of Thousands of dollars, among other things. It alleges the Committee Chair quote provided sensitive u. S. Government information, and took other steps that secretly aided the government of egypt. Behind the scenes Senator Menendez was doing those things for certain people, the people who were bribing him and his wife. Reporter the senator issued a defiant statement in response to the u. S. Attorneys latest allegations. I have been falsely accused before because i refused to back down to the Powers That Be and the people of new jersey were able to see through the smoke and mirrors and recognize i was innocent. Menendez has long maintained his innocence in this latest probe into his dealings telling cnn back in april this inquiry will end up, i believe, in absolutely nothing. Reporter the senator faced Corruption Charges in 2015, he fought off conspiracy, bribery, and other fraud charges related to political favors. To those who were digging any political grave so that they could jump into my seat, i know who you are, and i wont forget you. Reporter that case ended in a mistrial, a partial acquittal and all charges against the senator being dropped. In this latest Case Menendez remains defiant saying he wont be distracted by baseless accusations. A lawyer for the senators wife said she denies any wrongdoing, all five defendants are due in Court Wednesday to face these charges, this comes as there is a growing call by a number of new jersey lawmakers for the senator to resign. This is cnn in new york. Democratic senator majority leader Chuck Schumer tells cnn his fund the government as chaos rules in the republicanled house. With the u. S. A little over a week away from a Government Shutdown, he says shes trying to cut a Spending Deal with Mitch Mcconnell as Kevin Mccarthy says hell try to pass a series of year long Funding Bills next week even though it usually takes months to hash out differences on spending legislation. Here he is. I think weve made some progress to those who have been holding up passing the rule to get onto these bills. We wanted to do it individually rules but i guess we do aminny bus rule, rules that will go in today, weve got members working, and hopefully well be able to move forward on tuesday to pass these bills. Melanie zanona has more details. Reporter lawmakers have left washington for the weekend without a clear plan to avoid a Government Shutdown, this after conservative hardliners once again scuttled Kevin Mccarthys plans. Initially the house gop was planning to vote on a Stopgap Measure to fund the government. It included a number of conservative priorities, but, mccarthy has to reverse course once he realized he did not have the votes to move forward. They have a new plan theyre trying to pursue next week, a number of mccarthys allies outlined that strategy with reporters in the capitol on friday. Their plan as of right now is to try to pass individual longterm spending bills, as many as they can, and the hope there is that then they can get more conservative hardliners on board with a shortterm plan to avoid a Government Shutdown. The challenge with that plan is that all of those bills are dead on arrival in the senate, something Kevin Mccarthy has warned members would not work in their favor if theyre not able to pass anything in order to have leverage. And furthermore on the senate side Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer has taken steps to add vns his own shortterm funding bill, something that will give ukraine aid and disaster money, that could tee up a showdown with the house. Lets take a listen to what schumer said about working with Mitch Mcconnell on a bipartisan plan. You both think you have an agreement with Leader Mcconnell to put ukraine in a continuing resolution. Leader mcconnell and i are both strongly for aid in ukraine and i believe the majority of members of both parties of the senate agree with that. Reporter Kevin Mccarthy is going to have a decision to make, he can ignore the bail from the senate and risk a Government Shutdown or he could put the bill on the floor and risk a threat to his speakership. Hardliners are willing to oust him if he works with democrats. This is melanie zanona. If youre needing car repairs, you could soon be out of luck. The strike is extended to include the move the likely to hit dealerships hard and limit their ability to service vehicles. The union said it wont expand its strike at Ford Facilities noting improvements in negotiations with that company. President biden who has been criticized for not showing enough support for the Union Workers said he will go to michigan on tuesday and join the picket lines. U. S. Department of Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will travel to the Rio Grande Valley in texas. The state seeing a surge of migrants at the southern u. S. Border. Many have arrived at cities in el paso and eagle pass. Governor greg abbott is sending buses to the two cities to help authorities on the influx, which he blames on President Biden. Heres more on the handling of the crisis. Reporter President Biden is continuing u. S. Mexico border. Homeland Security Officials tell me over the course of the last few days border authorities arrested more than 8,000 migrants each day. That, compared to late may when those daily encounters were around 3,500. Numbers that held over the course of the summer. Homeland Security Officials couldnt quite say what led to this latest surge but they pointed to poor Economic Conditions as drivers of migration. The administration announced this week they would send 800 new active duty Military Personnel to the u. S. Mexico border to serve in a supporting role, something they have done before, as well as add capacity to border facilities to accommodate those who are crossing as they are processed through those facilities. But what the images this week showed is that this remains a logistical humanitarian and political challenge for this administration. The handling of the u. S. Mexico border has been a delicate political issue for President Biden as republicans continue to hammer him over the issue, and democrats also raise concerns over the images on the u. S. Mexico border. But the administration also had a major announcement this week when they said that nearly half a million venezuelans already in the United States would be eligible for work permits under whats known as temporary protected status. That was a move that addressed a major stress point with new york which has been seeing an influx of migrant arrivals as well. So all of this, taken together again, underscoring the issues and challenges this Administration Still faces on immigration more than two years later. Priscilla alvarez, cnn, washington. Just later this hour, well take you to the border town now synonymous with the crisis and well look at whats behind the surge and how the city is responding. Well, the migrant crisis is Dividing Leaders in europe grappling with how to handle Tens Of Thousands of migrants fleeing parts of africa. The plooigt of migrants has been a main focus for pope francis who is wrapping up a twoday visit to france. On friday the pontiff told reporters the treatment of migrants arriving on the italian island of lapadusa is quote, cruel, and lacking humanity. The pope, again, getting involved in the controversial issue of migration, an issue dear to him, of course. Take is through this meeting with macron, who isnt exactly a radical liberal on the issue. No, in fact, kim, i think we need to take a moment to reflect on the fact that we are going to be witnessing a grand historical irony today. You know, traditionally when a french president meets a pope politically speaking thats considered an effort to reach out to the right in france, that is to cultural conservatives. Today, however, many observers believe macron is hoping this meeting is actually going to help him on the french left, that is he will be meeting with the worlds leading champion of the rights and the Human Dignity of hmigrants and refugees at a time when his government is taking a hardline position on the issue. Yesterday we heard pope francis talk about the Mediterranean Sea as a huge cemetery, a reference to the estimated 20,000 migrants and refugees who have died trying to make that crosses since 2014. We also heard him condemn the fanaticism of indifference. And today we are expecting the pope to use Even Stronger language on the migrant question. Now, you know, what difference that is going to make to macrons policies remains to be seen but it is clear that the conversation between these two men today, kim, is going to be robust, and probably a bit challenging. All right. And obviously, you know, its a polarizing issue, france said it would bolster its borders with italy, wouldnt take in migrants. How is the popes message being received broadly in france . Well, i think in general people know that when pope francis comes he is going to speak in defense of migrants and refugees, that has been one of the cornerstones of his political agenda or these last ten years. He has first trip outside of italy was to the island of lampadusa where he laid a wreath in the city to commemorate those who died. Its no surprise to anyone hes pushing this message. As you indicate it is a tremendously divisive issue, not just in france, but all across europe and so far the popes efforts to promote this policy of welcome, and of incorporation of migrants and refugees, hasnt done much to stem a strong antimigrant tide across europe, whether today hes going to turn a corner remains to be seen, but at least it is clear, i think, to all observers that macron is going to hear today a challenge from the worlds probably preeminent moral voice on this question, and youll hear a message that will not sit entirely comfortably with the policies that his own government is pursuing, kim. Yeah, exactly. All right, well be following this visit throughout the coming hours, john allen in rome, thank you so much for this, appreciate it. Tropical storm ophelia is just off the coast of North Carolina and is expected to make landfall in the coming hours. Its almost at hurricane strength, and is already bringing storm surge, Flash Flooding and damaging winds to coastal North Carolina and virginia. Parts of North Carolina are under a hurricane watch, and significant impacts are expected in both states. More than 38,000 customers are without power in North Carolina and virginia. And Severe Weather is also forecasted in maryland and delaware. Marylands governor has declared a state of emergency. Starteds game in washington between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals has been postponed because of the storm. Now, ophelia is expected to deliver heavy rain across much of the midatlantic, continuing through the weekend. Still ahead, a Standing Ovation for ukraines president in the canadian parliament. Volodymyr zelenskyy wins a pledge of more support in ukraines war against russias aggression. Well have details on that coming up. Plus, less than four hours away from the Opening Ceremony of the largest asian games ever. China is hoping to show the world its Open For Business after the pandemic. Live report. And later, colorado head coach dion sanders shaking up the College Football world. Stay with us. Including Mental Alertrtness from one serving. To help keep me sharp. Try new neuriva ultra. Think bigger. Known as a passionate artist. Known for loving the outdoors. Known for getting everyone together. No one wants to be known for cancer, but a treatment can be. Keytruda is known to treat cancer. Fdaapproved for 16 types of caer, including certain earlystage cancers. One of those cancers is triplenegative Breast Cancer. Keytruda may be used with Chemotherapy Medicines as treatment before surgery and then continued alone after surgery when you have earlystage Breast Cancer and are at high risk of it coming back. 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Com, and ask your doctor if keytruda could be right for you. Ukraine is disputing russias account of a Missile Strike on its naval headquarters in crimea. Russia said only one soldier is missing after ukraine hit its Black Sea Fleet headquarters on friday. Ukraine special Operations Forces say dozens of people were killed or wounded, including some Senior Leaders of the Black Sea Fleet