President sought to cast people on the left as sole problem of US politics, while widow of Charlie Kirk said her ‘cries will echo around the world like a battle cry’ – key stories from 12 September at a glance

Donald Trump on Friday advocated for the death penalty in the killing of his close associate Charlie Kirk, as the widow of the rightwing activist spoke publicly for the first time since the shooting.

The president told Fox & Friends in an interview – during which he also announced that a suspect was in custody – that he hopes the shooter “gets the death penalty”. He added: “Charlie Kirk was the finest person. He didn’t deserve this”.

FBI reward of $100,000 and direct appeals for public support appear to signal law enforcement’s continued struggles to identify the killer of Trump ally

• Charlie Kirk shooting – follow latest updates

• How the shooting unfolded – in maps, videos and images

US officials have issued an urgent appeal for help from the public as they continue to search for the shooter of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, releasing new videos and photos from the scene of the attack in Utah.

More than 24 hours after Kirk was shot while speaking in front of thousands of people at a Utah university, the state’s governor, appearing alongside FBI director Kash Patel and other officials, said “we need as much help as we can possibly get.”

Interior minister says ‘murder has been committed’ while US Congress demands justification for attack

None of the 11 people killed in a US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean last week were members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s interior minister has said, while US media reported the attack came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore.

The administration of Donald Trump has said the boat was transporting illegal narcotics, but has provided little further information about the incident, even amid demands from members of the US Congress for a justification for the action.

Late-night hosts react to Charlie Kirk killing and discuss Trump’s alleged 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein

Late-night hosts respond to the shooting of Charlie Kirk and assess Donald Trump’s denials of a sexually suggestive birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein from 2003.

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Martha Naranjo Sandoval’s intimate images of family and friends document her first years in NYC – from fire hydrant rainbows to epic views of the skyline

A couple in the US convinced nearly 300 people – some of whom they’d never met – to pay to come to their nuptials

Name: Wedding tickets.

Age: Marley Jaxx is 34, Steve J Larsen is 37.

Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of Black life and culture from around the world

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