denies

Daily Mail editor denies using PI for info for Prince Harry story

March 2 (UPI) — The royal editor for The Daily Mail on Monday denied using a private investigator to steal information about Prince Harry and his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

Prince Harry is suing Associated Newspapers Ltd., which owns The Daily Mail, along with six other plaintiffs including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, for using information they obtained illegally.

ANL denies all wrongdoing and said it gathered all information for its stories legally.

The testimony Monday mostly hinged on Mike Behr, a South Africa-based private investigator. Rebecca English, royal editor, said she knew Behr only as “a freelance journalist who could help on Africa stories,” The Guardian reported.

Lawyers asked English about an email from Behr that shared the exact flights that Davy was taking on a vacation with Harry in 2007.

Behr asked in the email if English and the Sun reporter “can plant someone next to her?”

Plaintiffs’ lawyer David Sherborne said the email “could only have been obtained from the computer system” of an airline. That means it came from a “blag” — British slang for a way of obtaining information illegally.

English responded that she didn’t remember the email or ask for those flight details.

“[Behr] was never asked for anything like this, ever,” she said. “That is something I would never even consider doing, now or then,” The Guardian reported.

Sherborne asked about planting someone next to Davy, and English replied: “It’s an absolutely shameful suggestion both by him and by you … clearly there’s no reply to this email, which emphasizes my belief that I never actually saw it.”

He then accused her of using illegal information in a story about a “make-or-break holiday” for the couple. But English said the information was likely from students at the University of Leeds, where Davy was enrolled, “who were friends with Chelsy Davy and part of her circle.”

Sherborne also asked English about a story with the headline, “How Harry fell in love,” from 2004. The story alleged that Harry had shared details of his relationship with Davy with friends at a campfire in Botswana. English said the campfire info came from her coworker Sam Greenhill.

“Sam told me that one of the people that Prince Harry had spoken with ’round the campfire got in touch with the newspaper when news of the relationship broke and gave this information to us,” The Independent reported.

“Prince Harry hadn’t told them who his girlfriend was but had described her so that, when the stories about Chelsy Davy broke, they realized the significance of what they had been told.

“I thought at the time that the tip was from a contact of Sam’s, but now understand it just came in to the news desk. I think that Sam gave it to me because he knew that I was new to my job as a royal reporter and thought it might be helpful to me.”

Harry testified last month that the people at the campfire — his “closest friends” — would not have shared that information, and if they had, there “would be a lot more out there.”

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House Speaker Mike Johnson denies request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in U.S. Capitol

The late Rev. Jesse Jackson will not lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda after a request for the commemoration was denied by the House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office due to past precedent.

Johnson’s office said it received a request from the family to have Jackson’s remains lie in honor at the Capitol, but the request was denied, because of the precedent that the space is typically reserved for former presidents, the military and select officials.

The civil rights leader died this week at the age of 84. The family and some House Democrats had filed a request for Jackson to be honored at the U.S. Capitol.

Amid the country’s political divisions, there have been flare-ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda. During such events, the public is generally allowed to visit the Capitol and pay their respects.

Recent requests had similarly been made, and denied, to honor Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist, and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor, a decision that is controlled by concurrence from both the House and Senate.

The Jackson family has announced scheduled dates for memorial services beginning next week that will honor the late reverend’s life in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. In a statement, the Jackson family said it had heard from leaders in South Carolina, Jackson’s native state, and Washington offering for Jackson to be celebrated in both locations. Talks are ongoing with lawmakers about where those proceedings will take place. His final memorial services will be held in Chicago on March 6 and 7.

Typically, the Capitol and its Rotunda have been reserved for the “most eminent citizens,” according to the Architect of the Capitol’s website. It said government and military officials lie in state, while private citizens in honor.

In 2020, Rep. John Lewis, another veteran of the civil rights movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after a ceremony honoring his legacy was held outside on the Capitol steps because of pandemic restrictions at the time.

Later that year, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) allowed services for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Capitol’s Statuary Hall after agreement could not be reached for services in the Capitol’s Rotunda.

It is rare for private citizens to be honored at the Capitol, but there is precedent — most notably civil rights icon Rosa Parks, in 2005, and the Rev. Billy Graham, in 2018.

A passionate civil rights leader and globally minded humanitarian, Jackson’s fiery speeches and dual 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns transformed American politics for generations. Jackson’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, became a hub for progressive organizers across the country.

His unapologetic calls for a progressive economic agenda and more inclusive policies for all racial groups, religions, genders and orientations laid the groundwork for the progressive movement within the Democratic Party.

Jackson also garnered a global reputation as a champion for human rights. He conducted the release of American hostages on multiple continents and argued for greater connections between civil rights movements around the world, most notably as a fierce critic of the policies of apartheid in South Africa.

Brown and Mascaro write for the Associated Press.

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Air Force Now Denies Receiving F-35s Without Radars

The U.S. Air Force has now denied taking delivery of any F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from the latest Lot 17 production batch without radars installed. This comes a day after TWZ published a detailed piece examining a recent unconfirmed report that the U.S. military has been receiving radar-less F-35s since last June due to issues tied to the new AN/APG-85 radar. Earlier this week, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) had declined to confirm or deny whether that was the case, citing “enhanced security measures.”

“USAF F-35A lot 17 aircraft are delivering with APG-81 radars,” an Air Force spokesperson told TWZ today in an unprompted statement. “The Air Force is working with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office to deliver F-35s with APG-85 radars, and actual modernization plans, capabilities, and schedules remain classified to maintain program security.”

A row of US Air Force F-35As at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in January 2026. USAF

Since at least 2023, Northrop Grumman has been developing the APG-85 as a replacement for the existing AN/APG-81 radar used on all F-35 variants. The new radar is one part of the larger critical Block 4 upgrade package, which has been beset by delays and cost growth. Block 4 is also supposed to eventually include replacements for the Joint Strike Fighter’s AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), as well as a new electronic warfare suite and a host of other improved capabilities. In the past, the Air Force has described the electronic warfare package, which will be directly tied in with the APG-85, as a top priority.

“Lockheed Martin has been delivering F-35s to the military services since last June without radars, including all F-35As,” Defense Daily had reported last week, citing an anonymous source. “F-35 deliveries to U.S. units in the field since last June have had the APG-85 mountings, which do not fit the APG-81.”

“The radar-less F-35 deliveries have not affected sales to foreign partner nations which have the APG-81 on their jets, the source said,” that story added. “Without a radar, there had to be additional weight added in the nose for aircraft balance during flight. Radar-less F-35s have been able to fly, as long as they are accompanied by other F-35s, data linked and equipped with the APG-81, the source said.”

A row of AN/APG-81 radar arrays. Northrop Grumman

As mentioned, TWZ reached out earlier this week to the F-35 JPO with queries regarding the details in the Defense Daily piece.

“F-35 Lightning II aircraft are being built to accommodate the F-35 advanced radar (APG-85) for [the] U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps,” an F-35 JPO spokesperson had told us in response. “Initial fielding for some F-35 aircraft is planned for Lot 17, which began delivery in 2025 and continues through September 2026.”

“Due to program security reasons, we are protecting any additional information with enhanced security measures,” the spokesperson added.

A view of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production line. Lockheed Martin

In addition, Defense Daily‘s report last week said it received a statement from the Air Force that was similar to the response we subsequently received from the JPO.

“This advanced radar [APG-85] will be compatible with all variants of the F-35 aircraft,” an Air Force spokesperson told that outlet. “Due to program security reasons, we are protecting any additional information with enhanced security measures.”

What has now changed regarding these “enhanced security measures” and why is unclear. There are still questions from our story yesterday that remain unanswered, including whether or not jets configured to accept the APG-85 can have the APG-81 installed for the time being. If modifications are required for this, it is not clear how substantial or invasive they might need to be. As we previously noted, a separate report last year from Breaking Defense had also pointed to a backwards compatibility issue and potential need to redesign the entire forward end of the fuselage to be able to accommodate both the APG-81 and the APG-85.

TWZ has followed up with the Air Force to see if more information may now be available.

USAF

As we detailed in our piece yesterday, there are additional questions about the general status of work on the APG-85 and the rest of the Block 4 upgrade package, and the timeline now for the delivery of any of those capabilities. The integration of the APG-85, as well as the new electronic warfare suite and many of the other improvements, are all directly intertwined with the need for more auxiliary power-generation and thermal cooling capacity. These demands are supposed to be addressed, at least in part, by an engine upgrade effort that is itself now running behind schedule.

The goal had previously been for F-35s with a complete suite of Block 4 improvements to begin arriving this year. A September 2025 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog, said that those plans had been revised to focus first on a truncated portion of the upgrade package, but that schedule had still been set back at least five years.

The F-35 program continues to stare down growing costs associated with operating and maintaining the jets. Altogether, the total cost of the program from the start of development in the 1990s through the end of the type’s expected lifecycle in the 2070s, is now estimated to be approximtely $2.1 trillion. The JPO has stressed that inflation is expected to account for roughly half of that figure.

Altogether, even if F-35s are not being delivered now without radars, there are still significant challenges facing the Block 4 upgrade package and the rest of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

Joseph has been a member of The War Zone team since early 2017. Prior to that, he was an Associate Editor at War Is Boring, and his byline has appeared in other publications, including Small Arms Review, Small Arms Defense Journal, Reuters, We Are the Mighty, and Task & Purpose.


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Venezuela: Oil Production Recedes Under US Blockade, Gov’t Denies Israel Shipment

The US Treasury has issued a license allowing the export of goods and technology for oil exploration in Venezuela under strict conditions. (Reuters)

Caracas, February 11, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela’s oil output contracted to a two-year low following  Washington’s month-long naval blockade against the Caribbean nation’s crude exports.

The latest OPEC monthly report placed Venezuela’s January production at 830,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 917,000 bpd in December, according to secondary sources. The figure is the lowest since May 2024. 

For its part, state oil company PDVSA reported 924,000 bpd produced in January, down from 1.12 million bpd the prior month. The direct and secondary measurements have differed over the years due to disagreements over the inclusion of natural gas liquids and condensates.

The output contraction was a result of the US Navy imposing a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports and seizing several tankers allegedly involved in Venezuelan crude shipments. The exhaustion of storage capacity forced PDVSA and partners to cut back production.

The blockade came on top of draconian sanctions that have stymied the Venezuelan oil industry for years. Since 2017, Washington has levied financial sanctions, an export embargo, secondary sanctions, and a host of other coercive measures aimed at strangling the country’s main source of foreign revenue.

Following the January 3 US military strikes and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan oil began to flow once more under an arrangement imposed by the Trump administration. Commodity traders Vitol and Trafigura have been lifting Venezuelan crude, depositing proceeds in White House-administered bank accounts in Qatar, and offering cargoes to customers all over the world.

On Tuesday, the Venezuelan government denied a Bloomberg report that the country had shipped crude to Israel. According to the business outlet, the shipment would be delivered to the Bazan Group, Israel’s largest refiner. Bloomberg did not specify whether the Venezuelan crude cargo was purchased from Vitol, Trafigura, or another source. As part of the new US-imposed arrangement, the sale marks the first time Venezuelan oil will reach Israel since at least 2020, per Bloomberg. 

The Trump administration has sought to leverage its influence over the Venezuelan oil sector to pressure allies such as India to replace imports from US geopolitical rivals, including Russia and Iran. Indian public companies Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum are set to join private refiner Reliance Industries in purchasing Venezuelan oil, with 2 million barrels of Merey crude expected to be delivered in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, Venezuelan supplies are not expected to significantly alter global demand given the present output and the extra-heavy nature of Venezuelan crude blends.

US and European firms have likewise acquired Venezuelan cargoes in recent weeks.

For their part, Venezuelan acting authorities have courted foreign investment and enacted a pro-business overhaul of the country’s oil legislation. The reform offers lower taxes and royalties, as well as increased control over operations and sales, to private corporations, reducing the role played by the Venezuelan state.

Trump administration officials praised the oil reform for “eradicating restrictions” on private investment, while the US Treasury Department has issued several sanctions exemptions to boost US corporate involvement in the Venezuelan oil industry.

A January 29 license allowing US companies to purchase and market Venezuelan crude was followed up with a waiver on diluent exports to Venezuela on February 3. On Tuesday, the US Treasury published General License 48 permitting US exports of goods, technology and software for oil exploration to Venezuela.

The sanctions waivers demand that contracts be subjected to US law and forbid any transactions with companies from Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and China. They also mandate that payments be deposited in accounts determined by the US Treasury.

In early February, US officials confirmed that US $500 million from crude sales had been rerouted to the South American country, to be offered in foreign currency auctions by public and private banks. A further $300 million is expected in the coming days. 

However, the initial deal announced by Trump comprised 30-50 million barrels and an estimated $2 billion. Venezuelan authorities have not disclosed what portion of revenues the country will receive, while Trump has said the US will “keep some” of the income. 

Senior Trump administration officials have vowed to maintain control over Venezuelan oil exports for an “indefinite” period, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming that the Venezuelan acting government headed by Delcy Rodríguez needs to submit a “budget request” before accessing the country’s oil proceeds.

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Rubio warns of U.S. unease over Korea trade delays; Cho denies intent

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a briefing with Korean correspondents at the South Korean Embassy in Washington on Feb. 5. Photo by Asia Today

Feb. 6 (Asia Today) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has conveyed growing unease in Washington over South Korea’s implementation of bilateral trade commitments, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday, as Seoul moves to contain fallout through intensive diplomatic outreach.

Cho told Korean correspondents in Washington that Rubio raised the issue directly during their meeting at the State Department on Monday, noting that while bilateral ties are not in crisis, the internal U.S. mood regarding delayed trade-related commitments is “not favorable.”

According to Cho, Rubio stressed that trade and investment issues fall outside his direct portfolio but said he felt obliged to flag the concern in his broader role overseeing U.S. foreign policy and national security. Rubio also urged closer diplomatic coordination to prevent trade friction from spilling over into security cooperation.

Cho said he responded by firmly rejecting any suggestion that Seoul is deliberately delaying implementation. He emphasized that South Korea remains committed to fulfilling trade agreements and that legislative and procedural timelines reflect domestic processes rather than political intent.

Cho underscored Seoul’s position that trade and security should be handled separately, pointing to the structure of the bilateral summit’s Joint Fact Sheet, which divides cooperation into economic and security pillars. He warned that differences in implementation speed should not impede cooperation in strategic areas such as nuclear energy, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding.

Cho said Rubio agreed that neither side wants delays in implementing agreements across either domain and pledged personal oversight, noting that the matters fall under the purview of the State Department and the White House National Security Council.

During his Washington visit, Cho pursued what officials described as a broad diplomatic push, engaging not only on security but also on trade and investment. On Tuesday, he met sequentially with Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of a critical minerals ministerial meeting.

Cho said Greer acknowledged the potential economic impact of renewed tariffs but stressed the importance of South Korea demonstrating tangible progress not only in strategic investment but also in addressing non-tariff barriers. Talks with Wright focused on nuclear cooperation, including enrichment, reprocessing rights and collaboration on nuclear-powered submarines.

A senior South Korean official said Washington had long harbored frustrations over the pace of Korea’s domestic procedures but noted that President Donald Trump’s decision to air concerns publicly on social media last month marked a departure from past communication practices. Trump had warned that tariffs on South Korean goods could be restored to 25% if legal steps tied to the trade agreement were not completed.

The official said Cho cautioned Rubio that such public announcements could complicate bilateral relations and burden domestic efforts needed to advance U.S.-bound investment.

On a separate controversy involving e-commerce firm Coupang, the official said Seoul views the issue as corporate lobbying rather than a diplomatic dispute, adding that congressional interest reflects pressure from private-sector advocacy. Given the potential for legal escalation, the government is exercising caution, the official said.

Cho also met with U.S. lawmakers from both parties, including Sens. Tom Cotton, Tim Kaine, Andy Kim and Jeff Merkley, to discuss the U.S.-South Korea alliance, regional security and economic cooperation.

Cho urged congressional support for accelerating cooperation in nuclear energy, submarine technology and shipbuilding, calling them central to elevating the alliance amid a shifting global landscape. Lawmakers expressed bipartisan backing for the alliance and signaled openness to deeper cooperation, while emphasizing adherence to nonproliferation norms.

South Korea, Cho said, will pursue implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet with strict separation between military and civilian nuclear use, transparency and close coordination with the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260206010002394

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Venezuela: Lawyer Denies Arrest of Former Diplomat and Minister Alex Saab

Saab with Maduro and Rodríguez during a government event in December 2025. (EFE)

Caracas, February 6, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Luigi Giuliano, attorney for former Venezuelan diplomat and Industry Minister Alex Saab, has denied reports that his client was arrested in Caracas on Wednesday.

“It is simply not true that he has been arrested,” Giuliano told Reuters, adding that Saab hoped to meet with Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez “for clarification.”

Colombian outlet Caracol claimed on Wednesday afternoon that Saab and prominent Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín had been detained by Venezuela’s intelligence agency, the SEBIN.

An anonymous US official confirmed the arrest to Reuters, while other sources alleged that Saab and Gorrín were brought in for questioning concerning US money laundering charges as part of law enforcement cooperation between Caracas and Washington.

The two countries have expedited diplomatic rapprochement in the wake of the US’ January 3 bombings and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump White House has sought to coerce the Rodríguez acting administration, including by administering Venezuelan crude exports.

Venezuelan officials have yet to issue any official statement concerning the two high-profile figures, whose whereabouts are presently unknown. 

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stated on Wednesday that he had no information about the case. On Thursday, Attorney General Tarek William Saab initially denied the arrest reports before stating instead that he had no knowledge of the matter.

Alex Saab and Gorrín have made no public statements since Wednesday. Saab’s wife, Camilla Fabbri, who heads the government’s “Return to the Homeland” repatriation program, posted on social media about the arrival of a deportation flight from the US on Friday, but offered no comment on her husband’s rumored arrest.

A Colombian-born businessman, Saab became a key ally and diplomatic envoy of the Maduro government for his role in securing imports amid US sanctions. He was arrested in 2020 on US orders during a stop in Cape Verde and was extradited to the US following a long legal battle.

Venezuelan authorities, alongside lawyers and activists, launched a sustained campaign to denounce Saab’s arrest in violation of his diplomatic immunity and demand his release. He spent more than three years in prison, facing money laundering conspiracy charges, before Caracas secured his freedom as part of a prisoner exchange deal with the Biden administration in December 2023.

Saab was appointed industry minister by Maduro in October 2024 and was replaced by Luis Villegas in January under the acting Rodríguez administration.

For his part, Gorrín has been blacklisted by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and charged by the US Justice Department with corruption and money laundering.

Gorrín is the owner of La Vitalicia insurance and the private TV broadcaster Globovisión.



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Gordon Ramsay denies slamming Adam Peaty’s family in wedding speech and reveals cheeky ‘dad joke’ he wrote himself

GORDON Ramsay has slammed rumours he took a swipe at Adam Peaty’s estranged family in his wedding speech at his daughter Holly’s nuptials.

Speaking for the first time about the family feud that the Ramsays have found themselves caught up in, Gordon addressed speculation he took a pop at Adam’s parents on the big day.

Gordon Ramsay has denied slamming Adam Peaty’s family in his speech at daughter Holly’s weddingCredit: Getty
Adam has been estranged from his mum Caroline since NovemberCredit: Shutterstock
Gordon and Tana have given their first interview about the scandalCredit: Instagram

Gordon reportedly took aim at Adam’s mum Caroline in his speech, making an unfavourable comparison to his wife Tana.

He is said to have quipped to Adam: “Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.” 

And in a sly dig at Adam’s absent parents, he allegedly Holly, 25: “Shame you don’t have the same.” 

But in an interview with Daily Mail, Gordon claimed he didn’t say anything rude.

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‘NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE’

 “I was told we were accused of saying inappropriate things,” Gordon said. “Nothing at all was said that was ­inappropriate, I promise you.

“I was very warm, very witty. I talked about when they first met. I was nervous, hearing the words no father would ever want to hear, ‘Your daughter’s gone on a date with the world’s best breast- stroker.’ We knew something big was going on when she came home and all we could smell was chlorine.’”

Gordon went on to share a cheeky dad joke he penned himself.

“They were the bits I really worked on, ” he recalled. “I paid tribute to Holly, then welcomed Adam into the family: ‘I know you’ll give Holly all the love she deserves, but be aware that her twin, Jack, is a Royal Marine. I know you can swim fast, but he has a boat with a big f****** gun on it!’ Light-hearted stuff like that.”

It comes as Gordon also addressed the feud directly elsewhere in the interview.

He insisted he and his wife had “done nothing wrong”.





We sent a chauffer-driven car for them to tome to the engagement party and treated them like royalty.”


Gordon Ramsay

Gordon said: “It’s just upsetting. It’s all self-inflicted from their side, because we’ve done nothing – none of what you’ve read: no rudeness, no ignorance – we welcomed them.

“We sent a chauffeur-driven car for them to come to the engagement party and treated them like royalty.

“So to get that barrage of press was very hurtful. Tana took it very seriously.”

ENDING THE FEUD?

Talking of a potential reconciliation, he added: “I would like to go up to Nottingham with Tana and see them and draw a line in the sand.”

Gordon and Tana would like to travel to Nottingham to meet with CarolineCredit: ANL
Gordon said it was Adam and Holly’s decision for his parents not to attend the nuptialsCredit: instagram

“It was Adam and Holly’s wishes for them not to attend and so we had to respect that. There’s stuff they need to sort out as parents.

“That’s nothing to do with Tana and me.

“But we are very mindful we want to move on and allow Holly and Adam to continue starting their lives together.”

Adam’s feud with his mum Caroline, 60, exploded In November after she was not invited to Holly’s hen do. 

And a source close to the Peatys recently told The Sun they had given up home of mending bridges.

An insider close to Adam’s parents said: “It’s been a really emotional time for them as a family.

“They’re coming to terms with what has happened and that Adam has picked his side.

“It’s dashed any hope of reconciliation in the near future.”

Holly shared a series of stunning snaps from her honeymoonCredit: Instagram/@hollyramsaypeaty

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Federal judge denies bail for alleged Ilhan Omar attacker

Anthony Kazmierczak, the accused attacker of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., must stay jailed while awaiting a trial for allegedly assaulting and interfering with the congresswoman’s Minneapolis town hall on Jan. 27 in Minneapolis, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 3 (UPI) — A federal judge denied bail for Anthony Kazmierczak, who is accused of disrupting a town hall by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., in Minneapolis on Jan. 27 by spraying her with water and vinegar.

U.S. District Court of Minnesota Magistrate Judge David Schultz on Tuesday denied a motion by Kazmierczak, 55, to be released from custody while his case is active.

He is charged with assaulting and interfering with a member of Congress when he approached Omar, 43, while she stood at a lectern and used a plastic syringe to spray her midsection with what later was determined to be a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water.

He could be sentenced to a year in prison if he is convicted.

Kazmierczak interrupted Omar after she called for Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem to resign and accused the congresswoman of “splitting Minnesotans apart.”

Omar’s security staff tackled Kazmierczak and kept him detained until local police arrived to arrest him.

An FBI affidavit indicates that Kazmierczak has a history of making threatening comments toward Omar and years ago allegedly suggested “somebody should kill her.”

He also has been arrested many times during the past 40 years and was convicted in 1989 on a felony charge for vehicle theft.

Omar was born in Somalia and spent part of her childhood in a refugee camp in Kenya before her family migrated to the United States in the 1990s.

The congresswoman is a central figure in allegations of widespread fraud among the Somali community in Minneapolis and other parts of Minnesota.

President Donald Trump has accused Omar of profiting from the fraud and suggested that she have her citizenship status revoked.

He also wants Omar to be jailed and deported for alleged fraud after she recently reported her family has up to $30 million in assets, despite reporting a much lower amount two years ago.

On Tuesday, the president on social media posted a photo of U.S. forces striking ISIS and Somali leaders in a cave in Somalia in February 2025.

He prefaced the photo with the question: “Was Ilhan Omar there to protect her corrupt ‘homeland?'”

Omar also is a prominent opponent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection efforts to remove “undocumented migrants” from the United States.

Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 and is the first Somali-American to be elected to Congress.

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Katie Price’s new husband denies travel ban as he ‘shows proof’ he WILL fly to mysterious location for their honeymoon

KATIE Price’s new husband Lee Andrews has shared ‘proof’ he’s not banned from leaving Dubai, despite reports claiming otherwise. 

The businessman has been accused of being unable to leave the United Arab Emirates city after allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend Dina Taji’s signature to secure a £200,000 loan.

Lee showed ‘proof’ he’s not banned from leaving DubaiCredit: Instagram
He and Katie tied the knot just days after getting engagedCredit: Instagram
Lee has faced many shocking claims since marrying KatieCredit: Instagram

But today Lee took to Instagram to address the rumours, sharing a grab allegedly from an app which shows if someone has any travel bans in Dubai. 

He said: “Oh guys, I’ve never really been one to explain myself but there’s a lot of fake news going around so I better say something. 

“I’m going to share on the next story, after this one, that there is no travel ban, directly from the police UAE application. 

“It’s my profile. You can check those statuses, you can check any fines you’ve got, relating to traffic, and also if you’re allowed to travel. 

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“Allow me to share that. It’s not fabricated, I’m going on my honeymoon in a few days guys so definitely not on a travel ban.” 

It comes after Lee told The Sun he and Katie have found their first home together – and teased details of their “remote” honeymoon. 

He said: “Yeah, we’ve got the house, thank you. We’ll be flying out for our honeymoon together, remotely.

“I’m not going to tell you where we’re going but it is in the next 72 hours. So, I can fly and you’ll see us snapped somewhere.”

He and new wife Katie claim to have hit it off on social media last month, just days after her split from JJ Slater.

They moved fast to get matching tattoos before Andrews popped the question inside the luxury Burj Al Arab.

Two days later they married, with Lee insisting it is legally binding, despite their officiant claiming he only performs ceremonial weddings.

Lee later made a U-turn after claiming he would be flying to the UK to be with Katie.

Just days after telling followers he would be travelling to meet his new wife, he said: “I’m waiting for Katie to come out here, love you so much Katie.”

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