Ron DeSantis calls for Ilhan Omar’s deportation, expulsion from Congress for ‘Somalia First’ comments
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday called for “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., to be expelled from Congress, have her citizenship revoked, and deported from the country over a speech she gave which critics alleged Omar put the interests of Somalis over Americans. The clip of Omar’s Jan. 27 speech, which went viral this week, appeared to show the Somali-born congresswoman assuring her constituents that she would use her influence to ensure the breakaway Republic of Somaliland would not enter a sea-access deal with Ethiopia. A translation of the clip DeSantis re-shared shows Omar telling the crowd: “The U.S. is a country where one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interest.” “For as long as I am in the U.S. Congress, Somalia will never be in danger, its waters will not be stolen by Ethiopia or others … Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.” BIDEN TAKES GROWING HEAT FROM DEMOCRAT ALLIES, FAR-LEFT ‘SQUAD’ ON ISRAEL DECISION The clip ignited a firestorm of angry responses from critics who accused the Democratic lawmaker of prioritizing her loyalty to her country of birth rather than the U.S. “Expel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!” DeSantis tweeted on Tuesday. Omar left her homeland with her family near the start of the Somali Civil War in 1991 and spent four years at a Kenyan refugee camp before immigrating to the U.S. in 1995. ILHAN OMAR PERSONALLY WARNED BIDEN HIS RE-ELECTION IN TROUBLE IF HE IGNORES ‘HEARTBROKEN’ YOUNG, MUSLIM VOTERS Omar has criticized the translation of her remarks from Saturday, calling them “not only slanted but completely off.” “[B]ut I wouldn’t expect more from these propagandists. I pray for them and for their sanity,” she tweeted. “No nation state can survive if its states start to get involved in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal government. Somalis in Somalia and in the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment and lies will ever change that.” Later Tuesday, Omar appeared to throw shade at DeSantis. While not directly addressing his tweet attacking her, she ridiculed his unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign. “Moving from 2024 failure and preparing for 2028 failure,” she tweeted in response to an article suggesting the Republican governor had his eyes set on the next election. Fox News Digital has reached out to Omar’s campaign for further comment.
Malaysia prepares for ‘hands-on’ king as Johor Sultan takes the throne
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The last time a Sultan from the state of Johor was on the throne of Malaysia in the late 1980s, the country was embroiled in a constitutional crisis as then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sought to clip the wings of the judiciary. Now, as the current Johor Sultan becomes king, Malaysia is facing a corruption crackdown which has ensnared some of the most prominent political personalities of the Mahathir era, speculation of a pardon for disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak and continued political manoeuvring as part of a realignment that began in 2018. “It is very likely that at some point, he will be called upon to adjudicate as to which side would have a more solid command of parliament,” Malaysian political analyst Oh Ei Sun told Al Jazeera. “It could happen any time.” Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, 65, will be installed as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, which will be broadcast live on state television. He will serve for five years as part of Malaysia’s unique system of rotational monarchy under which the country’s nine hereditary rulers take turns to be the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, or He Who is Made Lord. While the king is a constitutional monarch who acts as the head of state and commander of the armed forces, the upheaval that followed the historic election in 2018 – when the once-dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) was defeated for the first time since independence – has seen the monarch playing a more prominent role in the country’s politics. The Sultan of Johor after he was chosen as the next king last year. He is with his sister, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who was Malaysia’s queen until January 30 [Mohd Rasfan/Pool via Reuters] At the time of that defeat, King Muhammad V from the northeastern state of Kelantan, was on the throne, and helped ensure a smooth transfer of power. When the then-49-year-old chose to resign, his successor, King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah from the central state of Pahang, used the monarch’s discretionary powers to name the country’s prime ministers in 2020 and 2021, and after the election in 2022 when no single party won a parliamentary majority. He also agreed to then-Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s request for a state of emergency, which suspended parliament in January 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. As Sultan Ibrahim is installed, Malaysia is in a period of relative calm, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the head of a so-called “unity” government that includes his one-time rivals in UMNO as well as representatives from the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak. Still, some politicians continue to jockey for power amid deep cleavages in Malaysian society, while a corruption crackdown has ensnared Daim Zainuddin, the once powerful right-hand man to Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister. There is nervousness too about disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak who is nearly 18 months into a 12-year sentence for corruption in relation to the multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB. Speculation has grown that Najib, who has applied for a full pardon, might be released despite multiple ongoing court cases over the scandal. Some say Najib’s release would help address some of the country’s political divisions because he remains popular among some ethnic Malays, who make up more than half the population and have increasingly voted for conservative religious and nationalist parties. But analysts say such a move risks alienating those who want to see reform, and undermining Malaysia’s international reputation. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Zaliha Mustafa said the Pardons Board met at the palace on Monday in the last official engagement for the outgoing king. She did not elaborate on what was discussed. “Wait for an official statement by (the) Pardons Board,” she said, according to the Star, a Malaysian newspaper. ‘Not shy’ Malaysia’s royal houses remain potent symbols of identity for many Malays and Sultans are the guardians of Islam in their own states. Malays in Malaysia are always Muslim. Sultan Ibrahim has previously spoken out against the “Arabisation” of Malay culture and stressed the need for moderation in a country where there are large populations of ethnic Chinese and Indians, most of whom are not Muslim. Independent analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani says once he moves into the palace, the new king “will not be shy” about offering his views to Anwar if he is unhappy. The two men appear to have a close working relationship and share similar concerns, notably over the need to tackle corruption and boost the economy and investment. This month, Singapore and Malaysia reached a preliminary agreement to establish a Singapore-Johor special economic zone and improve connectivity across the border, one of the busiest in the world. “Unlike other state rulers who have been mostly ceremonial, the sultan has always had a hands-on approach to state matters and a working relationship with the chief minister,” Asrul Hadi said referring to the leader of the Johor state government. “He is expecting a similar relationship with the federal government but there will likely be pushback from the administration, especially on policy matters.” Sultan Ibrahim has already triggered controversy in an interview with Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper that was published in December. Under a story headlined “No ‘puppet king’”, the Sultan said there was a need to tackle corruption, for “checks and balances” on the government and to control the “machinations of self-serving politicians” in a swipe at the political manoeuvring that has rocked the country over the past few years. “He will not want to be caught in the games which the politicians are playing,” said Ong Kian Ming, the director of the philosophy, politics and economics programme at Taylor’s University in Kuala Lumpur as well as a former member of parliament and deputy trade minister. “He wants political stability so that a strong economic agenda can be put in place and implemented.” Married with six children, Sultan Ibrahim is one
Weather update: IMD warns of rain and snowfall in this state, issues orange alert for next 2 days; check details
The weather forecasting agency has issued an orange alert for the state for the next two days.
‘Hemant Soren ready to face ED,’ says JMM leaders; BJP says Jharkhand CM involved in ‘massive corruption’
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya, questioned the authenticity of the seizure of Rs 36 lakh and two cars by the Enforcement Directorate from the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and said that the seizure seems to be “planted”.
Texas’ oil and gas production surges even as federal government clamps down on environmental regulations
Crude oil and natural gas extraction in Texas reached record levels in 2023, according to the industry’s annual report.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee criticized for saying impeachment is not meant to be used for revenge
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, was criticized after standing up for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, saying on social media that impeachment should not be used for revenge. The House Homeland Security Committee met Tuesday to advance two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, accusing him of refusing to follow immigration law and of breaching the public’s trust. A vote is expected to take place later in the day, and will likely fall on party lines, moving the articles to a House vote at a future date. While Republican committee members continued their assault against Mayorkas, Jackson Lee turned to social media to express her stance on the matter. “Impeachment is not meant as a tool to be used for revenge. #RevengeImpeachment,” Jackson Lee posted to X. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE PREDICTS MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES WILL PASS HOUSE WITHOUT ANY DEM SUPPORT The tweet was in response to a video of her during the impeachment hearing, where she said they were “being fooled” in regards to the accusations against Mayorkas. “Today, we are being fooled that work is being done against an individual for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The American people understand that that is not the actions that we are here for today,” Jackson Lee said. “Revenge, vengefulness is why we are here. Otherwise, they would understand that Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is an individual whose family fled the Nazis and then Cuba before arriving here in the U.S. “He is the first immigrant to serve as head of the Department of Homeland Security, and yet, this committee seeks to suggest that he is violating the Constitution, when in essence, his freedom is based upon our Constitution,” she added. WHITE HOUSE DEMANDS SPEAKER JOHNSON GIVE BIDEN ‘AUTHORITY AND FUNDING’ TO ‘SECURE THE BORDER’ Jackson Lee faced harsh criticism for her comments from some people, though, including Aaron Ray Hermes, a Texas Republican candidate gunning for the congresswoman’s seat. “Oh so wanting to protect the country is just ‘revenge’ now?” Hermes tweeted. “Then why did you impeach Trump for making a perfectly valid phone call in 2019? Keep lying and we’ll keep showing up with receipts. Can’t wait to take your seat.” Others attempted to remind Jackson Lee that the Democratic Party used impeachment as revenge against former President Trump. MIGRANT CRISIS BROKE NEW RECORD IN DECEMBER WITH 302K ENCOUNTERS, OFFICIALS CONFIRM “Did you post this comment when you all did the revenge impeachment of Trump,” one user wrote, while another posted, “Haha! Says the Impeachment Democratic Party.” Still, House Democrats, including Jackson Lee, have backed Mayorkas on the matter of impeachment, and on Monday, they released a lengthy report that accused the Republican majority of abusing the impeachment process and running a “sham” process while sabotaging Mayorkas’ efforts to manage the border crisis. Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
Georgia DA Fanni Willis’ alleged lover Nathan Wade settles divorce case with wife of 26 years: report
Fulton County, Georgia, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who brought election interference charges against former President Trump, has reached a temporary divorce settlement with his estranged wife. The settlement prompted the cancelation of a public hearing Wednesday in which Wade was expected to be asked about his alleged “improper” relationship with his boss, District Attorney Fani Willis, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Cobb County Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson on Tuesday signed an order approving the temporary settlement. He noted that both Nathan and Joycelyn Wade agreed that the terms and conditions would not be filed with the court. FULTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR, FANI WILLIS ROMANTIC PARTNER, MET WITH BIDEN WHITE HOUSE TWICE BEFORE CHARGING TRUMP “All of the issues we pled for temporary support and attorneys fees have been resolved by this agreement,” said Andrea Hastings, one of Joycelyn Wade’s attorneys, the newspaper reported. “The case is not resolved on a final basis. We still have a lot of work to do to be able to resolve this case through either a final settlement or a trial.” The couple were married 26 years, but have been involved in a contentious split. Last week, filings in Wade’s divorce case were unsealed, revealing that his wife’s attorneys sought to depose Willis to answer questions about their alleged affair. Wade is accused of having an improper romantic relationship with Willis in which he allegedly paid for lavish trips for the pair. The affair allegations were revealed this month, when the lawyer for Trump codefendant, Michael Roman, accused Willis and Wade of engaging in an improper relationship and mishandling public money in a separate court filing. Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022, according to county records. Joycelyn Wade’s attorneys have argued Willis’ deposition is needed to determine whether her husband has spent the funds on Willis. Willis has argued that any alleged affair is irrelevant to the Trump case. Fox News Digital’s Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
Biden says he’s decided on response to Iranian-backed militia attack that killed 3 US soldiers in Jordan
President Biden on Tuesday indicated he had decided on how to respond after three U.S. soldiers were killed in a drone attack that his administration has blamed on Iran-backed militia groups. Speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving for a campaign event in Florida, the president said “yes,” when asked if he had decided on a response, though did not offer any details. The president said he held Iran responsible because they had supplied the weapons to the people who perpetrated the attack, but qualified that he did not wish to escalate tensions with the Islamic Republic. “I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East,” he said. “That’s not what I’m looking for.” DOD CASTS DOUBT ON IRAN-BACKED MILITIA’S CLAIM TO HALT STRIKES ON US TROOPS: ‘ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS’ U.S. officials said they are still determining which of several Iran-backed groups was responsible for the first killing of American troops in a wave of attacks against U.S. forces in the region since the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel. It was not immediately clear whether Biden meant he had decided on a specific retaliatory plan. Other administration officials have offered few details on any such response. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters traveling with Biden aboard Air Force One that he would not preview the U.S. response, but indicated it would come in phases. “It’s very possible that what you’ll see is a tiered approach here, not just a single action, but potentially multiple actions over a period of time,” he said. PENTAGON SAYS ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR ISN’T SPREADING DESPITE US SOLDIERS KILLED IN JORDAN, RED SEA ATTACKS The Pentagon identified those killed in the attack as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. The Army Reserve announced on Tuesday that it had posthumously promoted Sanders and Moffett to the rank of sergeant. There have been a total of 166 attacks on U.S. military installations since Oct. 18, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and now one in Jordan, a U.S. military official said. Meanwhile, Houthi militants based in Yemen have been firing upon commercial vessels in the Red Sea, prompting retaliatory strikes from the U.S. and its allies. On Tuesday, Al-Asad Air Base in Western Iraq was targeted again by a single rocket, but there was no damage and no injuries in that attack, a U.S. military official said. The three soldiers killed in the Jordan strike were the first U.S. military fatalities in the Middle East from enemy fire since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out. One contractor has also died as the result of a heart attack after a strike on Al-Asad in December. Two U.S. Navy SEALs went missing and have been declared dead from a mission in the Red Sea.
Pelosi faces backlash for demanding swarming protesters ‘go back to China’: ‘Slanderous accusations’
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi., D-Calif., was blasted on social media after a video surfaced from October where she told pro-Palestinian protesters from Code Pink to “go back to China” where their “headquarters is.” “In October, Pelosi told our members calling for a ceasefire to ‘go back to China,’ Code Pink posted on X on Monday along with a video of Pelosi interacting with protesters. “These same women have been protesting for peace at her house for 17 years. Pelosi takes thousands of dollars from AIPAC every year. Who’s the foreign agent here?” Social media users criticized Pelosi, including Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg who posted on X that Pelosi has “lost it.” HAMAS REJECTS ISRAELI TWO-MONTH CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL, PRISONER SWAP OVER DEMAND FOR LEADERSHIP’S END “Pelosi is making Joe McCarthy look like a model of restraint and consistency,” Jonathan Turley, a Constitutional law professor and Fox News contributor, posted on X. “Imagine the reaction if a Republican said what Nancy Pelosi said,” GOP operative Steve Guest said. “If we couldn’t even say that the @#$?! COVID virus was from China, I expect every news agency in America to interrogate Pelosi for her racism,” Mark Hemingway, a senior writer at RealClearInvestigations, posted on X. Pelosi was presumably referring to a New York Times report tying Code Pink to a Chinese propaganda network. This week, Pelosi suggested that protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza are “connected to Russia.” “They are in front of my house all the time,” Pelosi told CNN. “I have a feeling for what feelings they have. But we have to think about what we’re doing. And what we have to do is try to stop the suffering in Gaza. This is women and children, people who don’t have a place to go, so let’s address that. But for them to call for a cease-fire is Mr. Putin’s message, Mr. Putin’s message.” PELOSI COMMENTS SUGGESTING GAZA PROTESTERS ARE ‘CONNECTED TO RUSSIA’ ARE ‘DELUSIONAL,’ CAIR SAYS “Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he would like to see. Same thing with Ukraine. It’s about Putin’s message. I think some of these protesters are spontaneous, and organic and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia. I say that having looked at this for a long time.” Fox News Digital reached out to Pelosi’s office for comment on the video, but did not receive a response. “The idea that we are Chinese propaganda is a false distraction used by both sides of the aisle to discredit our legitimacy as an antiwar organization,” Code Pink spokesperson Melissa Garriga told Fox News Digital. “They both feel it necessary to use such slanderous accusations because they are scared of the real truth, which is that Americans are over the military industrial complex and want an end to foreign wars and American imperialism. We would like to see the Democrats (and Republicans and Independents) end the funding of the current genocide and Israel’s 75 year long occupation of Palestine. “ Code Pink also put out a press release on Monday addressing the incident with Pelosi.
South Korea beat Saudi Arabia on penalties to reach Asian Cup last eight
South Korea beat Saudi Arabia 4-2 in a penalty shootout to advance to the Asian Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling last-16 tie ended 1-1 in extra time at Education City Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday. After South Korea’s Cho Gue-sung equalised in second-half added time to cancel Abdullah Radif’s opener, Sami Al-Najei and Abdulrahman Ghareeb had their penalties saved to send South Korea through to the last eight, where they will play Australia. In a goalless first half, Saudi Arabia hit the crossbar twice from a corner while Son Heung-min was the only South Korean player to test the keeper with two tame efforts on goal. However, Saudi Arabia took the lead in the first minute after the restart when halftime substitute Abdullah Radif made an instant impact, stealing in behind the defence and finding the far corner of the net from skipper Salem Al-Dawsari’s pass. With Saudi Arabia having one foot in the quarterfinals, South Korea finally breached the Saudi defence in the ninth minute of added time when their pressure paid off and Cho Gue-sung headed home from close range to force extra time. South Korea then converted all their spot kicks to advance. But they will have only two days to recover, with their quarterfinal clash against 2015 champions Australia taking place on Friday. Adblock test (Why?)