Evening Brief: Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at 31, Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens in Yemen, Poland Invokes NATO’s Article 4

· Guy D. McCardle

A Russian drone strike hits Poland. (Image grab via X)

Evening rundown for Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

 

Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA Founder and Conservative Firebrand, Shot Dead at 31

Charlie Kirk, the outspoken conservative activist and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Wednesday during a campus appearance at Utah Valley University. He was 31.

Kirk, who rose from organizing on college campuses to becoming a key ally of President Donald Trump, built Turning Point into a central force in Republican politics with more than 250,000 student members and a reputation for combative, culture-war rhetoric.

Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, calling him a close friend and “a tremendous person.”

Authorities initially reported a person in custody, but later clarified that the individual was not the suspect.

Mayor David Young of Orem said local, state, and federal agencies are involved in the investigation, and the shooter remains at large.

The university closed its campus and ordered students and staff to shelter in place as police secured the area. Those still on campus were told to contact officials for an escort out.

Kirk’s influence stretched from college debates to national politics, where he promoted Trump’s campaigns, helped mobilize young conservative voters, and became a regular presence on cable news and in evangelical circles. His unapologetic style—mixing sharp attacks on liberals with calls for Christian-centered governance—made him a leading figure of the MAGA movement. Admirers praised his commitment to debate and free speech, while critics pointed to his incendiary comments on race and protests.

Kirk is survived by his wife, podcaster Erika Frantzve, and their two young children. His killing adds to a wave of political violence in the US and marks the loss of a figure who shaped a generation of conservative activism.

 

CBO Projects 320,000 Deportations Under Trump Plan, Lower US Population Growth

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, funded with $150 billion under his recent tax and spending law, could remove about 320,000 people from the US over the next decade.

The CBO projected 290,000 deportations through expanded enforcement measures and 30,000 voluntary departures. Combined with declining fertility rates, the policy is expected to reduce the US population by 4.5 million by 2035 compared with earlier estimates, with slower growth continuing through 2055.

The report warned this would leave fewer working-age adults, potentially affecting labor force participation and economic growth. Democrats cautioned that mass deportations could hurt the economy and raise consumer prices, while Trump has urged Americans to boost birth rates, though the CBO found no evidence of such a trend.

 

Chinese Scientist Sentenced to Time Served in US for Illegal Biological Shipments

Chengxuan Han, a young Chinese scientist arrested after arriving in Detroit for a research position at the University of Michigan, was sentenced Wednesday to time served following three months in jail.

Han pleaded no contest to smuggling and making false statements after sending plasmids hidden in a book and petri dishes containing nonharmful C. elegans worms to the US without authorization.

US District Judge Matthew Leitman said the materials posed no public threat and rejected prosecutors’ request for more prison time, noting Han was not a “bad actor.” Han expressed regret, saying her career would be destroyed when she returns to China.

Prosecutors had used inflammatory language in the case, while her defense described her as a well-meaning academic.

A separate case involving another Chinese scientist accused of shipping a toxic crop fungus to Michigan remains pending.

 

US Seizes 600,000 Illegal Vapes in Nationwide Crackdown on Chinese Imports

Federal agents seized hundreds of thousands of unauthorized vaping products in coordinated raids across multiple states Wednesday, as the Trump administration escalated its crackdown on devices officials say target US teens.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that more than 600,000 illegal vapes were confiscated from a distributor near Chicago, with additional seizures in North Carolina, Arizona, New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida.

The Justice Department also filed civil actions against five distributors and five retailers, following undercover buys of illegal products.

Officials warned that Chinese manufacturers are profiting from the illicit trade and did not rule out criminal charges.

Teen vaping rates have fallen to their lowest in a decade, which officials partly credited to stronger enforcement.

The Vapor Technology Association criticized the actions, saying they threaten small businesses, jobs, and tax revenue.

 

US and Belgium Pledge Stronger Cooperation Against Drug Smuggling Through Antwerp

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Antwerp on Wednesday to discuss maritime security and joint efforts against transnational drug trafficking.

Noem said US and Belgian agencies are stepping up intelligence and data sharing to counter criminal networks that target ports for smuggling.

De Wever called for deeper cooperation within Europe and with the US to dismantle organized crime’s business model.

Antwerp has become Europe’s main entry point for illegal drugs, with Belgium seizing 123 metric tons of cocaine in 2023, the highest in Europe.

The two officials toured the port, viewed scanning equipment and drug-detection dogs, and took a helicopter survey of facilities.

Noem’s visit followed talks in London with Five Eyes partners on migration, organized crime and opioids, part of her broader push to reinforce international law enforcement partnerships.

 

John Perryman Becomes Navy’s 17th Master Chief Petty Officer, Succeeds James Honea

Master Chief Petty Officer John Perryman assumed the role of the Navy’s top enlisted sailor Monday during a change of command ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Perryman, the 17th MCPON, will advise Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle and advocate for sailors and their families. He emphasized priorities of supporting personnel, advancing technical mastery, and strengthening talent development.

Caudle praised Perryman as well-suited for the position, noting alignment with his own leadership goals.

Perryman succeeds MCPON James Honea, who retires Friday after 38 years of service.

Enlisting in 1994, Perryman’s career includes multiple submarine tours and senior enlisted leadership roles across the Submarine Force, US Strategic Command, and Fleet Forces Command.

 

US B-2 Bomber Sinks Target with New QUICKSINK Bomb in Joint Test with Norway

The US Air Force tested its QUICKSINK precision-guided bomb on September 3, sinking a maritime target in the Norwegian Sea during a joint exercise with Norway.

A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base carried out the strike, supported by Norwegian F-35A and P-8A aircraft.

The demonstration validated QUICKSINK’s ability to repurpose Mark 80 series bombs for anti-ship missions and highlighted the B-2’s range, stealth, and payload flexibility in maritime strike roles. Developed to counter naval threats from Russia and China, QUICKSINK offers a cost-effective way to expand precision strike capacity amid concerns about munition shortages.

The test builds on earlier demonstrations, including trials at RIMPAC 2024, and reflects the Air Force’s push to integrate anti-ship weaponry into its aircraft arsenal.

 

Israeli Strike in Qatar Kills Six, Escalates Regional Tensions and Threatens Gaza Ceasefire Talks

Qatari security forces secured the site Wednesday of an Israeli airstrike in Doha that killed at least six people, including the son of senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, as Hamas officials met to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal.

Israel said it used precision-guided weapons to minimize collateral damage and claimed Hamas leaders survived, though no proof was provided.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, warning Qatar and others not to harbor Hamas, while Qatari leaders condemned the attack as destabilizing and unlawful.

The US said it tried to warn Qatar, but Qatari officials said notification came only after the strike.

The attack on a US ally drew condemnation across the Middle East, raised doubts about ongoing ceasefire negotiations, and threatened Israel’s ties with Gulf states under the Abraham Accords.

Regional leaders, including those of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan, traveled to Qatar in a show of solidarity, while analysts warned the strike could deter future mediation efforts in the Gaza conflict.

 

Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens in Yemen as Gaza Offensive and Global Backlash Intensify

Israel launched heavy airstrikes in Yemen on Wednesday, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 130, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

Targets included a military headquarters and a fuel station in Sanaa, with additional strikes reported in Jawf province.

The attacks came days after Houthi rebels hit an Israeli airport with a drone and vowed more retaliation.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel intensified bombardments of Gaza City while urging mass evacuations, though many Palestinians say there is no safe place to go.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported 41 new deaths from Israeli fire in the past day and continued child fatalities from malnutrition, which European leaders described as “man-made famine.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for sanctions and a partial trade freeze against Israel, further isolating it after a controversial strike in Qatar killed six and threatened ceasefire talks.

The Gaza war has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while Israel says Hamas’ tactics put civilians at risk.

 

Activist Flotilla Reports Second Drone Attack on Boats in Tunisian Waters

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an activist mission aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, said Wednesday that its British-flagged vessel Alma was hit by incendiary devices dropped from a drone while docked in Tunisian waters.

CCTV footage showed projectiles setting the deck on fire, though no injuries or structural damage occurred.

The incident followed a similar reported attack the previous night on the Portuguese-flagged Family vessel. Both ships serve as support hubs for the flotilla, which carries high-profile activists including Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

Tunisian authorities, who previously denied drones were involved in the first attack, have not yet commented on the latest incident.

Activists accused Israel of sabotage, citing past flotilla interceptions, though no evidence directly links Israel and the government has not responded.

The flotilla of about 20 boats, carrying symbolic humanitarian aid for Gaza, plans to continue its mission after a stop in Tunis.

 

Poland Invokes NATO’s Article 4 After Russian Drone Incursion

NATO ambassadors held consultations Wednesday after multiple Russian drones entered Polish airspace and were shot down by Polish and Dutch fighter jets.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the talks were held under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows members to raise urgent threats to territorial integrity or security.

The incident followed Russia’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began.

While Article 4 prompts consultations, it does not automatically lead to collective defense action under Article 5. Analysts noted that Poland has previously invoked Article 4 during crises involving Russia, including after the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

NATO has used the article more frequently in recent years, but experts stress it is primarily a tool for coordination and does not necessarily escalate toward direct military response.

 

Trump Offers Ambiguous Response to Russian Drone Incursion in Poland as NATO Allies Condemn

President Donald Trump gave a brief and cryptic reaction Wednesday to Russia’s drone incursion into Polish airspace, posting “Here we go!” on social media hours after the incident.

Poland said multiple Russian drones entered its territory from Belarus and were shot down with NATO support, marking the most serious violation of alliance airspace since the war in Ukraine began.

European leaders strongly condemned the act, calling it a deliberate escalation by Moscow, while NATO held urgent consultations under Article 4.

Trump’s ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, pledged full defense of alliance territory, but Trump’s softer tone contrasted with calls from lawmakers such as Senator Lindsey Graham, who urged harsher sanctions on Russia.

The incursion comes as Trump struggles to arrange direct peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Moscow intensifying strikes and preparing new joint military drills with Belarus. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the incident a “game changer” that requires a stronger Western response.

 

Russia and Belarus Launch Zapad 2025 Drills, Raising NATO and Ukraine Concerns

Russia and Belarus began their Zapad 2025 military exercises Friday, with maneuvers running until Sept. 16 and simulating defense against airstrikes and sabotage.

The drills, held mainly near Barysaw in Belarus and partly in Russia, come amid the war in Ukraine and involve practicing plans for using Russian nuclear-capable weapons stationed in Belarus.

Official Belarusian figures say about 13,000 troops are participating, though Western estimates range from 30,000 to 150,000.

NATO members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia expressed alarm, especially after Russian drones from Belarus entered Polish airspace this week.

Belarus invited observers from OSCE member states and NATO attachés but has downplayed the scale, while President Alexander Lukashenko signals interest in mending ties with the West even as he relies on Moscow.

Analysts say Russia, constrained by its war in Ukraine, cannot spare large troop numbers, but the nuclear component and proximity to NATO’s Suwalki Gap have heightened regional tensions.

Poland, Lithuania, and Germany are conducting their own drills in parallel, while Ukraine warns the exercises could mask plans for renewed attacks.

 

Von der Leyen Urges ‘Europe’s Independence Moment,’ Calls for Sanctions on Russia and Israel

In her State of the Union speech Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe must assert its independence amid threats from Russia, global trade disputes, and shifting power dynamics.

She announced new sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, pledged support for a Ukraine “drone alliance” with 6 billion euros ($7 billion) in funding, and proposed using frozen Russian assets to aid Kyiv’s economy.

Von der Leyen condemned Russia’s drone incursions into Poland and called the violation of NATO airspace “reckless.”

Breaking with her past pro-Israel stance, she also urged freezing some European Union financial support to Israel and imposing trade restrictions over the Gaza war, citing famine and civilian suffering.

On trade, she defended her tariff agreement with US President Donald Trump, stressing the need to protect millions of European jobs. Von der Leyen framed the moment as a decisive test for Europe’s values, democracy, and future in a world where many powers are “ambivalent or openly hostile.”

 

Nepal Deploys Army After Deadly Protests Topple Government, Talks Begin on Interim Leader

Nepal’s military imposed order in Kathmandu on Wednesday after two days of violent protests over a government social media ban left 25 people dead and more than 600 injured.

Nepalese soldiers patrolled streets, enforced stay-at-home orders, and stopped a jailbreak attempt after protesters torched government buildings, media offices, and homes of political leaders.

Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli resigned Tuesday but fled his residence; President Ram Chandra Poudel asked him to lead a transitional government until a replacement is chosen. Protest leaders met with army officials to propose former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim leader, though opinions among demonstrators were divided.

The unrest, led by young people angered by corruption, unemployment, and elite privilege, erupted after the now-lifted social media ban and has grown into a broader movement against political leadership.

The government’s planned social media regulation bill, criticized as censorship, remains a source of tension.

 

China Approves Nature Reserve at Disputed Scarborough Shoal, Escalating Tensions with Philippines

China’s State Council announced Wednesday it has approved the creation of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, a South China Sea territory also claimed by the Philippines.

The plan, framed as an environmental measure, will be detailed later by China’s forestry authority.

Scarborough Shoal has long been a flashpoint, with frequent encounters between Chinese and Philippine vessels. The area is strategically significant as a key shipping lane, rich fishing ground, and potential source of minerals, and it is also patrolled by the US Navy.

The move follows recent incidents, including a collision between Chinese naval and coast guard ships while blocking a Philippine vessel, and joint Philippine, Australian, and Canadian naval drills near the shoal in August.

 

Sources: News Agencies