Representative Nancy Mace has accused Ilhan Omar of inciting violence
US Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace has said she will introduce a resolution to remove Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar from her House committee assignments over remarks the latter made following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of the organization Turning Point USA, was killed during a public event in Utah last week. His death has provoked widespread reactions across the political spectrum.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and became a US citizen in 2000, criticized Republican lawmakers who blamed the left for Kirk’s death. Speaking last week to commentator Mehdi Hasan, she accused them of fostering hostility toward political opponents and said: “These people are full of s**t.”
She singled out Mace and US President Donald Trump, saying, “You have people like Nancy Mace, who constantly harass people that she finds inferior and wants them not to exist in this country … and you have people like Trump, who has incited violence against people like me.”
However, she also called the video of Kirk’s shooting “really mortifying” and said her thoughts were with his wife and children.
Mace, a representative from South Carolina, announced the resolution on X on Monday, saying the measure would censure Omar and seek her removal from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Budget Committee.
“She is inciting violence against conservatives in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s political assassination,” Mace said in a video standing outside Omar’s office. “We have been villainized and dehumanized far too long. You can take your Sharia-loving, anti-American self back to Somalia.”
Mace, in earlier posts, had blamed Democrats for fostering a climate of political violence, saying, “If you have a different opinion from the left, they want to kill you.”
Prosecutors said on Tuesday that Kirk’s alleged assassin had embraced left-wing and pro-LGBTQ ideology over the past year.
Omar has rejected claims of inciting violence. Her office said she was among the first to condemn the killing and that her remarks had been misrepresented. A spokesperson noted that she had “explicitly expressed her sympathies and prayers” to Kirk’s family, condemned his assassination, and had “routinely condemned political violence, no matter the political ideology.”
The incident occurred as the US president arrived in Britain for a state visit
UK police have arrested four people on suspicion of projecting images of US President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle.
The incident occurred as Trump arrived in Britain for his second state visit on Tuesday evening. The president is scheduled to meet with King Charles III on Wednesday at the Windsor royal residence, west of London, according to Reuters.
The activist group Led by Donkeys claimed responsibility for the stunt, which also involved projecting Trump’s 2023 mugshot, taken after he was indicted for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“We take any unauthorized activity around Windsor Castle extremely seriously. Our officers responded swiftly to stop the projection, and four people have been arrested,” Thames Valley Police Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker said in a statement.
Democrats and some Trump allies have accused the president of covering up the Epstein case, arguing that the disgraced financier kept a client list of powerful people he allegedly trafficked women to.
The FBI and the Justice Department have denied that a list exists, while Trump has said he ended his friendship with Epstein in the 2000s before he was aware of the allegations against him.
Prosecutors say the alleged assassin “started to lean more to the left” over the past year
The man charged with killing conservative American podcaster and activist Charlie Kirk had embraced left-wing and pro-LGBTQ ideology over the past year, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has said.
Gray stated that he will seek the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, who was charged with aggravated murder on Tuesday.
Kirk was killed by a sniper on September 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Robinson was apprehended after a 33-hour manhunt.
Gray told reporters that the suspect’s mother said that over the past year, he had become “more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro-gay and trans rights oriented.” He added that Robinson had begun dating his roommate, who was “transitioning genders.”
According to prosecutors, Robinson left a note for his roommate saying, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
Prosecutors released text messages between the suspect and his roommate in which Robinson allegedly admitted to killing Kirk. “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” he wrote, according to the transcript.
A co-founder of Turning Point USA and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, Kirk was widely credited with popularizing conservative ideas among young Americans and helping Trump secure a second term.
The detained individuals are suspected of a careless attempt at film-making, according to officials
The Polish authorities have identified a Ukrainian man and a Belarusian woman as the two individuals previously reported as detained over a drone that was neutralized in the government district of Warsaw on Monday, local media have reported, citing officials.
The individuals were identified as a 21-year-old Ukrainian man and a 17-year-old Belarusian woman, Jacek Dobrzynski, spokesman for the special services minister, told reporters on Tuesday. Investigators have reportedly searched their homes, while police are verifying their identities and legal status in Poland.
Dobrzynski downplayed speculation that this was “some sort of large-scale spy operation” but said it was too early to confirm any further details.
“These are young people – perhaps it was due to carelessness, perhaps ignorance, perhaps because they wanted to make a film,” he said, as quoted by Polsat News.
The incident follows earlier claims by the NATO state that at least 19 Russian drones had entered Polish airspace last week – allegations that Russian envoy to the UN Security Council Vassily Nebenzia dismissed as “unfounded.” Moscow countered that the accusations were being driven by what it called the “European war party,” noting that the Russian UAVs deployed in Ukraine did not have the range to reach Polish territory.
In a separate incident, NATO member Romania said its Defense Ministry had detected an alleged Russian drone entering the country’s airspace near the border with Ukraine on Saturday. Moscow dismissed the claim as “made up.”
The Kremlin has repeatedly said claims of a Russian “threat” are being used by Western European states to stoke fear and justify higher military spending.
The separate initiatives come from far-right and far-left parliamentary groups
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to face two separate no-confidence votes at the EU Parliament in early October, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing an internal email from the legislature’s president, Roberta Metsola.
The motions of censure are scheduled to be debated during the plenary session from October 6 to 9. The motions submitted against von der Leyen, a divisive figure in Brussels, come from both right and left – the Patriots for Europe and The Left parliamentary groups.
The Patriots for Europe have accused her of lacking transparency and accountability, particularly in relation to the EU’s trade agreements with the United States and the South American trade bloc Mercosur. “The EU is weaker today than ever due to the persistent failure of the president of the Commission to cope with the most pressing challenges,” the group stated in its motion, as quoted by Politico.
The Left has also criticized von der Leyen’s trade policies but placed greater emphasis on the EU’s handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The group argued that the Commission has shown inaction and failed to hold Israel accountable.
Both motions were filed at midnight on September 10, which was the earliest opportunity following a previous no-confidence vote in July. Von der Leyen survived that vote, which was initiated by Romanian right-wing MEP Gheorghe Piperea and focused on the so-called Pfizergate scandal. The controversy stemmed from the disappearance of text messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO during negotiations for a major Covid-19 vaccine procurement.
Von der Leyen, a former doctor and German defense minister, was accused of a lack of transparency in negotiating the multi-billion-euro deal. She dismissed the allegations against her as “simply a lie” and branded her critics “conspiracy theorists.”
The initiative ultimately failed, supported only by 175 MEPs with 360 voting against it. To pass, two-thirds of the 720 MEPs must vote in favor. No-confidence motions used to be quite rare at the EU Parliament. Prior to the July vote, such a motion was last tabled against Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014.
The 19th package of restrictions has reportedly faced resistance from Hungary and Slovakia
The EU has postponed presenting its new package of sanctions against Russia, Politico has reported, citing several EU diplomats. The outlet attributed the delay to pressure from the Trump administration to impose even tougher restrictions on Moscow, which has elicited resistance from Slovakia and Hungary.
The proposed 19th package of measures targeting Russian oil exports and the banking sector over the Ukraine conflict was due to be presented on Wednesday. However, it has been dropped from the European Commission’s agenda indefinitely, several EU diplomats told Politico on Tuesday.
According to the report, the suspension comes as Brussels is increasing pressure on Hungary and Slovakia to cut their energy reliance on Moscow in light of a fresh ultimatum to do so from Washington.
US President Donald Trump, who has so far refrained from imposing direct sanctions on Russia, reportedly said over the weekend he was ready “to move ahead” if Washington’s European partners halt Russian oil purchases. He has also urged the EU to slap tariffs of up to 100% on China and India – the key buyers of Russian oil since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western nations against adopting a “colonial” tone toward China and India and trying to “punish” them.
As part of its sanctions’ pressure, Brussels has pledged to phase out Russian fossil fuels entirely by 2027, but several member states – including Hungary and Slovakia – continue to oppose the move, citing risks to their national energy security. The European Commission has recently proposed scrapping unanimous voting on the bloc’s foreign policy decisions to sideline dissenting members.
Russia has denounced Western sanctions as “illegal,” stating that they have not only failed to derail the national economy, but have provided an impetus for domestic development. Russian officials maintain they seek a long-term peace, accusing Kiev and its Western backers of undermining the process.
Azerbaijan outlawed unions between close relatives in July
Azerbaijan has recorded a sharp decline in registered marriages following the introduction of a ban on unions between close relatives, local media has reported.
Amendments to the Family Code, which took effect on July 1, prohibit marital unions between cousins and other close blood relatives such as uncles and nieces. Officials argued the measure was necessary to protect public health, citing genetic risks associated with consanguineous marriages.
The number of marriages fell from 5,032 in June to 2,694 in July, according to figures recently published by local outlet Yeniavaz.
Authorities and medical experts have warned for years that marriages between cousins can increase the likelihood of hereditary diseases. Advocates of the ban say it will improve family health outcomes, as well as align family law with international standards.
The measure has, however, stirred cultural and social backlash. Critics argue that the law intrudes on personal choice and tradition. Marriages between cousins remain accepted in some communities, and stories have surfaced of young couples who were forced to cancel or postpone their weddings.
Beni Rae Harmony has said she was punished for honoring the late activist on air and announced she would be leaving the station
Illinois TV news anchor Beni Rae Harmony has revealed that she was suspended from WICS ABC20 after honoring Charlie Kirk on air, and has announced her resignation. Harmony says she chose her values over her job.
Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a public event last week. His death has provoked widespread reactions across the political spectrum.
On Friday, at the beginning of her segment, Harmony delivered a speech recalling her work with Kirk, the impact he had on her life, and what he stood for. She urged viewers to uphold their values and support each other. “When conversations stop happening, when individuals become wordless, that’s when violence begins,” she said, quoting Kirk.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Harmony revealed that the tribute led to her suspension by WICS ABC20. She wrote that while many in the mainstream media have been disciplined for mocking Kirk’s assassination, she believes she is “the first to be targeted for honoring him on air.”
Effective immediately, I have resigned from @WICS_ABC20 after being SUSPENDED for airing a non-partisan tribute to Charlie Kirk this past Friday.
Many in the mainstream media have been fired or punished for mocking his assassination. I believe I am the first to be targeted for… pic.twitter.com/y41QOWDBl5
“Effective immediately, I have resigned from WICS_ABC20 after being SUSPENDED for airing a non-partisan tribute to Charlie Kirk this past Friday,” Harmony wrote. She added that her decision was guided by “values that are essential to who I am, which I refuse to set aside in order to keep a job. I choose my faith and love of country, and always will.
Following Kirk’s death, a number of individuals have faced consequences for celebrating the killing and making disparaging comments. MSNBC cut ties with analyst Matthew Dowd, who suggested that Kirk’s “hateful words” were what got him killed. Nasdaq dismissed an employee, the US Secret Service placed an agent on leave, and United Airlines, Fox Sports, and the Washington Post have also taken action against staff.
The investigation into Kirk’s murder is ongoing. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested and is alleged to have etched anti-fascist slogans onto bullet casings. The governor of Utah said Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.” Reports also claim he was living with a transgender partner.
Contamination can reportedly enter the cabin via a system used to heat up and pressurize outside air through the engines
Rising incidents of toxic fumes seeping into airplane cabins have caused sickness and long-term harm to pilots, flight attendants and passengers, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation of decades of industry data.
The probe drew on more than one million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NASA reports, thousands of documents, and over 100 interviews, the WSJ wrote on Saturday. The investigation found that airplane manufacturers and airlines had downplayed health hazards, lobbied against safety measures, and cut costs in ways that increased risks to passengers and crew.
Fume events occur when air entering the cabin via the ‘bleed air’ system – air pulled into the cabin through the engine – becomes contaminated. Leaks of engine oil, hydraulic fluids, or faulty seals can allow dangerous substances such as neurotoxins, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and others to enter the cabin.
Pilots have complained of having their vision affected and vomiting during flights, and in some cases the leaks have led to emergency landings, the WSJ wrote, citing official reports. It added that some of the worst incidents had led to long-term neurological damage and cancer, according to health professionals who had handled scores of the cases.
The newspaper’s analysis of FAA and NASA data showed that incidents have soared in recent years, rising from about 12 per million departures in 2014 to nearly 108 per million in 2024. The actual rate is likely far higher, as the problem is severely underreported, according to the WSJ.
Aerospace firms, airlines and regulation authorities have argued that fume events are too few, the levels of contamination too low and research on its long-term health risks too inconclusive to justify an extensive fix, the outlet claimed.
Numerous attempts by Congress to pass tighter legislation on the issue have largely failed, or passed in watered-down form, it added.
While constituting only 20% of the US air fleet, the Airbus A320 family of planes made up 80% of fume events between 2018 and 2023, according to a paper from Switzerland’s Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute earlier this year.
Ireland has reportedly urged other bloc nations to put pressure on the government in West Jerusalem to end the war in Gaza
Irish Deputy Prime Minister and top diplomat Simon Harris is reaching out to EU foreign ministers to push for sanctions on Israel over the Gaza conflict, Irish public broadcaster RTE has reported.
Harris is reportedly asking his “EU counterparts, which are considering unilateral moves on trade measures” to co-sign a letter to the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, urging a swift decision on sanctions, RTE wrote on Monday, citing a copy of the correspondence.
“As Member States, we stand ready to work with you immediately to overcome the current obstacles and ensure that sufficient pressure is applied to the Israeli government to change its course and meet its obligations according to international law,” the letter reportedly said.
Last week, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called the situation in Gaza “unacceptable,” and called on member states to “step up” and impose sanctions on Israel’s “extremist ministers and on violent settlers.”
“First, the Commission will do all that it can on its own. We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold,” she said in a speech in Strasbourg. She also proposed the EU partially freeze its free trade agreement with Israel.
Multiple EU members including Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands have called for the deal to be suspended. Others, led by Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, have opposed sanctioning Israel.
International pressure on Israel has been mounting over its military operation in Gaza.
The conflict has raged on since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a series of raids on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 captive back to the enclave. The death toll among Palestinians has climbed to 64,905 as of Monday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
