Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police today (July 29) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sai Kung.
Yan Gan, aged 44, went missing after he was last seen at Pak Lap Wan on July 27 noon. Police received the report on the same day.
He is about 1.7 metres tall, 75 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured swimming suit with orange life jacket and blue cap.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The financial supervisory authority BaFin warns against alleged fixed-term deposit offers from the website kapitalmagazin.de. BaFin expressly points out that Ucapital Asset Management LLP – regulated by the British Financial Conduct Authority – contrary to the information in the imprint does not operate the website and does not have a branch in Germany. This is a case of identity theft.
Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation.
The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Japan’s embassy in Laos and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a rare and unusually direct advisory, warning Japanese men against “buying sex from children” in Laos.
The move was sparked by Ayako Iwatake, a restaurant owner in Vientiane, who allegedly saw social media posts of Japanese men bragging about child prostitution. In response, she launched a petition calling for government action.
The Japanese-language bulletin makes clear such conduct is prosecutable under both Laotian law and Japan’s child prostitution and pornography law, which applies extraterritorially.
This diplomatic statement was not only a legal warning. It was a rare public acknowledgement of Japanese men’s alleged entanglement in transnational child sex tourism, particularly in Southeast Asia.
It’s also a moment that demands we look beyond individual criminal acts or any one nation and consider the historical, racial and structural inequalities that make such mobility and exploitation possible.
A changing map of exploitation
Selling and buying sex in Asia is nothing new. The contours have shifted over time but the underlying sentiment has remained constant: some lives are cheap and commodified, and some wallets are deep and entitled.
Japan’s involvement in overseas prostitution stretches back to the Meiji period (1868-1912). Young women from impoverished rural regions (known as karayuki-san) migrated abroad, often to Southeast Asia, to work in the sex industry, from port towns in Malaya to brothels in China and the Pacific Islands.
If poverty once pushed Japanese women abroad to sell their bodies, by the second half of the 20th century – fuelled by Japan’s postwar economic boom – it was wealthy Japanese men who began travelling overseas to buy sex.
Around the 2000s, the dynamic flipped again. In South Korea, now a developed economy, men travelled to Southeast Asia – and later to countries such as Russia and Uzbekistan – following routes once taken by Japanese men.
Later in the same period, the flow took an even darker turn.
Japanese and South Korean men began to emerge as major buyers of child sex abroad, particularly across Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and even Mongolia.
According to the United States Department of State, Japanese men continued to be “a significant source of demand for sex tourism”, while South Korean men remained “a source of demand for child sex tourism”.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other organisations have also flagged both countries as key contributors to child sexual exploitation in the region.
From exporter to destination: Japan’s new role in the sex trade
A more recent and troubling shift appears to be unfolding within Japan.
Amid ongoing economic stagnation and the depreciation of the yen, Tokyo has reportedly become a destination for inbound sex tourism. Youth protection organisations have observed a notable rise in foreign male clients, particularly Chinese, frequenting areas where teenage girls and young women engage in survival sex.
What ties these movements together is not just culturally specific beliefs, such as the fetishisation of virginity or the superstition that sex with young girls brings good luck in business, but power.
The battle to protect children
The global campaign to end child sex tourism began in earnest with the founding of ECPAT (a global network of organisations that seeks to end the sexual exploitation of children) in 1990 to confront the rising exploitation of children in Southeast Asia.
Several factors converge here: endemic poverty, weak law enforcement and a constant influx of wealthier foreign men. Add to that the digital age of information and communication technologies, where child sex can be advertised, arranged and commodified through encrypted platforms and invitation-only forums, and the crisis deepens.
While local governments often pledge reform, implementation is inconsistent.
Buyers, especially foreign buyers, often manage to evade consequences. However, in early 2025, Japan’s National Police Agency arrested 111 people – including high school teachers and tutors – in a nationwide crackdown on online child sexual exploitation, conducted in coordination with international partners.
Why this moment matters
The shock surrounding the Laos revelations and the unusually direct response from Japanese authorities offers a rare opportunity to confront the deeper systems at work.
Sex tourism doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s enabled by uneven development, transnational mobility, weak regulation and social silence. But this moment also shows grassroots activism can force institutional action.
Japan’s official warning wasn’t triggered by a government audit or diplomatic scandal. It came because Ayako Iwatake saw social media posts of Japanese men boasting about buying sex from children and refused to look away.
When she delivered the petition to the embassy, it responded quickly. Less than ten days later, the Foreign Ministry issued a public warning, clearly outlining the legal consequences of child sex crimes committed abroad.
Iwatake’s action is a reminder: it doesn’t take a government to expose a system. It takes someone willing to speak out – even when it’s uncomfortable. As she told Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun:
It was just too blatant. I couldn’t look the other way.
It’s commendable that Japan acted swiftly. But a warning alone isn’t enough. Japan should strengthen and expand its international cooperation to combat these heinous crimes.
A more decisive model can be seen in a recent case in Vietnam, where US authorities infiltrated a livestream child sex abuse network for the first time in that country. Working undercover for months, they coordinated with Vietnamese officials to arrest a mother who had been sexually abusing her daughter on demand for paying viewers abroad.
The rescue of the nine-year-old victim showed what serious cross-border intervention looks like.
But for every headline-grabbing scandal, there are hundreds of untold stories.
The Laos case should be the beginning of a broader reckoning with how sex, money and power move across borders – and who pays the price.
Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant “Moved Apart” (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights.
Over 14 000 suspects have been arrested in police operations across the country.
In Operation Shanela activities, which ran from 21 – 27 July 2025, a total of 14 273 suspects were arrested, including 2 081 wanted suspects implicated in serious and violent crimes, such as business and house robberies, car hijackings, murder, rape and attempted murder.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), 172 suspects were arrested for murder, while 138 individuals were arrested for attempted murder, 170 for rape and 1 598 others for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
A further 324 suspects were arrested for drug dealing, 1 376 were held for the possession of drugs. A total of 119 suspects were held for the illegal possession of firearms, with 45 from KwaZulu-Natal, while 672 were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Police also recovered and confiscated 140 firearms, 1 720 rounds of ammunition and 81 hijacked or stolen vehicles.
“The South African Police Service remains resolute in its nationwide operations to combat and prevent criminal activities, threatening public safety and sabotaging South Africa’s economic infrastructure,” SAPS said on Tuesday. –SAnews.gov.za
The South African Police Service (SAPS) anti-kidnapping task team believes it has broken the back of a syndicate involved in the trafficking of unlicensed firearms.
On Monday evening, an intelligence driven operation involving various units, including SAPS Crime Intelligence, the Gauteng Provincial Investigating Unit (PIU), JHB K9, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and private security, led to the arrest of two suspects in Meyersdal, Johannesburg.
“The arrest of the 34 and 45-year-old suspects follows several days of surveillance and information gathering across provinces, where suspects involved in the moving of unlicensed firearms were identified,” the police said in a statement on Monday.
As the suspects collected the firearms, the team moved in for a coordinated tactical takedown, where the suspects were found with 9mm unlicensed firearms.
Further investigation confirmed the 30 weapons were destined for the Western Cape and the suspects intended to transport the unlicensed firearms themselves.
Both suspects have been linked to various other cases in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
“The suspects are in custody and are facing multiple charges including illegal possession and trafficking of firearms. Investigations are ongoing to track down more members of this illegal firearm trafficking syndicate,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za
New Chair of the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales
Gaon Hart has been appointed as Chair of the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales for a 3-year term.
Gaon Hart is a distinguished legal expert and compliance strategist, currently serving as Chair of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, where he oversees the prevention, protection and investigation of the £1.3 billion annual fraud risk facing the UK health sector.
He is also Managing Director of Legal Advisory Worldwide, a boutique consultancy specialising in global economic crime prevention in the private and public sectors and also works closely with police on misconduct hearings.
Born and raised in London to South African parents, who fled apartheid arrest and persecution, Gaon’s early life was shaped by values of justice, equity, and resilience. His parents’ courageous activism profoundly influenced his lifelong commitment to ethical leadership, diversity, and anti-discrimination.
Gaon said:
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Home Secretary for placing her confidence in me. This is a timely and important moment to serve as the interface between the government’s bold agenda to restore confidence in policing and make our streets safer, and the Police Service entrusted with delivering on those priorities.
Having worked alongside police officers for many years – including in my former role as the UK Lead Prosecutor for Public Corruption – I have a deep appreciation for the critical and often under-recognised role they play in protecting the public.
The Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) offers a valuable forum for collaborative thinking, enabling the development of innovative ideas and the presentation of practical options to support the Home Office’s objectives. I am passionate about the opportunities this role presents and committed to contributing meaningfully to its success.
The role of the PABEW is to advise the Home Secretary about matters such as recruitment, diversity and collaboration between forces in England and Wales.
The PABEW was established as a non-departmental public body under section 46 of the Police Act 1964, now section 63 of the Police Act 1996. The Chair of the Board oversees several statutory functions including:
advising the Home Secretary on general questions affecting the police in England and Wales
considering draft regulations on matters other than hours of duty, leave, pay and allowance such as the issue, use and return of police clothing, personal equipment and accoutrements
considering draft regulations related to pensions under section 1 of the Police Pensions Act 1976
establishing the Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) for the Police Pension Schemes, in accordance with s7 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013
It may also consider any matter relating to conditions of service and any other matter affecting the police which has been referred to it by the Secretary of State.
The Home Secretary has appointed Gaon as Chair of the PABEW following an open recruitment competition in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. He has been appointed for a 3-year term, and will take up his role over the summer.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the People’s Armed Police Force and local militias have deployed troops to join disaster relief efforts in China’s flood-stricken areas.
Recently, persistent heavy rainfall has battered eastern, northern and northeastern China, triggering floods and geological disasters that have resulted in significant casualties and property damage.
The Beijing Corps of the People’s Armed Police Force dispatched over 2,000 officers and soldiers to assist with disaster relief operations, evacuating more than 4,100 residents and delivering over 3,000 boxes of relief supplies by Tuesday noon.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two youths in relation to a robbery that occurred in Katherine on Friday.
Around 7:20am, three male youths allegedly followed a 90-year-old man from Railway Terrace to Katherine Terrace, where one of the youths grabbed the victim’s keys from his pocket. All three fled the scene on foot back towards Railway Terrace.
Witnesses flagged down nearby police who arrested two male youths aged 13 and 14 nearby.
The victim was assessed and did not require medical attention.
Investigations remain ongoing to identify and locate the outstanding offender.
Police urge anyone with information to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2500074944. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.
Police are looking for a driver after he allegedly drove into a Campbelltown cafe and a police car at Prospect last night.
Police were called to a cafe on Newton Road, Campbelltown about 8pm on Sunday 27 July by reports of a collision.
A woman had been sheltering inside the cafe during an altercation with the driver of a silver Holden sedan. It will be alleged that he reversed into the front of the cafe causing damage to the windows.
Luckily, no one was standing near the windows inside the cafe at the time and there were no injuries.
The man drove off.
The 35-year-old Plympton Park woman was wanted for other matters and arrested. She did not apply for bail and will face court today. It is believed the pair are known to each other and this was not a random incident.
A Dog Operations patrol spotted the Holden sedan on Main North Road, Prospect about 8.45pm and followed it into the car park of a fast-food restaurant.
The driver then allegedly rammed the Dog Operations patrol vehicle and crashed into a Ford Ranger parked in the car park.
The Holden drove off and was abandoned in John Street, Prospect. The driver ran off and despite a search of the suburb, he has not yet been located. The Holden was seized by police and is suspected of being stolen.
A police officer sustained an injury to his hand, believed to have occurred while smashing the window of the Holden Commodore in an attempt to stop the vehicle in the car park at Prospect.
Inquiries are continuing to locate the suspect.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has intensified its operations into the investigation of allegations that Basotho nationals are undergoing militarily training on South African farms, as part of a growing land reclamation campaign.
This was revealed during a Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting, where National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola met with all nine provincial commissioners to discuss crime combatting efforts in the country.
The BOC is the highest decision-making body of the SAPS inclusive of all Provincial Commissioners, Divisional Commissioners and the Acting National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks.
“During the meeting, General Fannie Masemola highlighted his satisfaction that organised crime syndicates in the country are being dismantled, dislodged, displaced and arrested,” the SAPS said in a statement on Saturday.
The comments, initially made by the Lesotho Police Chief, Advocate Borotho Matsoso, were high on the agenda. A preliminary report from the SAPS Crime Intelligence Division was discussed, confirming that intelligence structures have highlighted their operations to investigate allegations made and where necessary, track down and takedown such illegal activities.
The DPCI’s Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit has also been roped in to investigate. Various searches have been undertaken by CATS at various identified farms, and no such evidence has been found to date.
“Further to this, the National Commissioner has reached out to the Lesotho Police Chief, where the two commissioners discussed the allegations made by Advocate Matsoso. Both commissioners agreed that both law enforcement agencies intelligence structures are on the ground to investigate the existence of such camps.
“General Masemola assures all people living in South Africa that the safety and security of the people of SA is of paramount importance, and anyone who is found to be in the country committing illegal acts will face the full might of the law. To this effect, intelligence structures and operatives are on the ground to establish facts,” the SAPS said.
The SAPS has urged South Africans not to panic or worry as police from both countries remain on high alert. –SAnews.gov.za
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has seized counterfeit and illicit goods worth more than R156 million during operations in Pretoria, Mbombela and Limpopo.
In the past three weeks, the integrated team executed search-and-seizure warrants in terms of the Counterfeit Goods Act 37 of 1997, as well as the Customs and Excise Act at targeted shops in Marabastad, Mokopane, Mbombela, Bela Bela, Mookghopong, and Modimolle.
“During these takedowns, the team seized more than 23 000 items imitating high-end designer brands that include clothing, shoes, bags, caps, and watches as well as counterfeit jewellery, sunglasses, perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
“Also amongst the seized items are sports apparel that bears the Springboks trademark and other well-known brands. These counterfeit items were seized outside Mbombela stadium and Loftus stadium respectively during recent Springbok rugby games against visiting countries. The team also confiscated illicit cigarettes valued at over R50 000,” SAPS said in a statement on Saturday.
The operations were led by the National Counterfeit and Illicit Goods unit, with support from Public Order Policing (POP), the South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs and Enforcement team, counterfeit depot officials, brand protectors, and private security personnel.
“SAPS remains committed to eradicate the illegal trade in counterfeit goods in an effort to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and ensure the integrity of South Africa’s economy.
“The Counterfeit Goods Act aims to combat the trade in counterfeit goods by protecting trademarks, copyrights, and certain mark owners from the unlawful use of their intellectual property on goods and preventing such counterfeit goods from entering the market,” the SAPS said. –SAnews.gov.za
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly opposes and disapproves of smears by government officials and politicians from the US, Canada and Australia, and by anti-China organisations, regarding its lawful acts to pursue individuals wanted in connection with national security offences who have absconded from Hong Kong.
Nineteen people suspected of involvement in a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament”, in breach of Article 22 of the National Security Law (HKNSL), have been put on the city’s wanted list.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government explained that the HKNSL is applicable to Hong Kong permanent residents, and to incorporated or unincorporated bodies set up in Hong Kong, if such residents or bodies commit offences under the HKNSL outside the Hong Kong SAR. Additionally, it said, the HKNSL is applicable where offences under it are committed elsewhere against the Hong Kong SAR by individuals who are not Hong Kong permanent residents.
The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the Hong Kong Police Force therefore has a responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, people suspected of committing offences under the HKNSL outside of Hong Kong. Acts smearing Hong Kong’s work to safeguard national security are hypocritical and irresponsible, and will not win any public support, it added.
The statement iterated that both the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR, but clarified that the Hong Kong SAR Government will not condone criminal acts, and will not give up pursuing them those who commit them.
Emphasising that absconders should not think that they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong, the Hong Kong SAR Government also remarked that no country or organisation should harbour criminals or try to exonerate absconders.
Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s situation will be doomed to fail, the Hong Kong SAR Government added, reiterating that it will continue to discharge its duty in safeguarding national security unwaveringly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared his vision for making India a sporting superpower and praised the Indian contingent for winning nearly 600 medals at the recent World Police and Fire Games.
In the 124th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said that the government’s ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’ has been widely appreciated.
“The goal of this policy is clear — to make India a sporting superpower,” he said, adding that startups related to sports, whether in sports management or manufacturing, will be supported in every possible way.
The PM said the policy gives special attention to villages, the underprivileged, and daughters. “Schools and colleges will now make sports a part of everyday life,” he said.
“Imagine how much strength the mission of self-reliance would gain when the youth of the country play with self-made rackets, bats, and balls. Friends, sports create team spirit. This is the path to fitness, self-confidence, and building a strong India. So, play a lot and blossom a lot,” he added.
Speaking about the biennial World Police and Fire Games, which concluded on July 6 in Birmingham, Alabama, PM Modi said India’s uniformed heroes are making headlines not just through their service, but also in sports.
“This time, the tournament was held in America, and India created history. We won close to 600 medals and ranked among the top three out of 71 countries. The hard work of our uniformed personnel, who serve the country day and night, has paid off. These friends of ours are now raising the tricolour in the sports arena as well. I congratulate all the players and the coaching team,” he said.
The Prime Minister also tested the listeners’ knowledge by asking, “Do you know which is the biggest sporting event after the Olympics? The answer is — the World Police and Fire Games… a sports tournament between policemen, firefighters, and security personnel from all over the world.”
He added, “By the way, it will also interest you to know that in 2029, these games will be held in India. Players from across the world will come to our country. We will showcase India’s hospitality and introduce them to our sports culture.”
The government plans to host the event in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force are calling for information in relation to an alleged assault that occurred in Tennant Creek early this morning.
Around 1am, emergency services received reports that a woman, aged in her 40’s, was allegedly physically assaulted in the vicinity of Maloney Street by and unknown man, who then also attempted to indecently assault her.
The woman received minor injuries and was conveyed to the Tennant Creek Hospital for assessment.
Investigators have canvassed all available CCTV and are now requesting the publics assistance.
Police are urging anyone who was in the vicinity of Maloney Street around 1am on Sunday 27 July 2025, or who has information about this matter to contact 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500075470.
Anonymous reports can also be made through CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NEW DELHI, July 27 (Xinhua) — At least six people were killed and 29 others injured in a stampede at a Hindu temple in India’s northern Uttarakhand state on Sunday, local police said.
The incident took place at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar district, located 53 km south of Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun.
One of the devotees apparently received an electric shock on the stairs located 100 meters from the temple, causing panic among others, said local police spokesman Pramendra Singh Dobal. He said an investigation into the incident was underway.
Police and the National Emergency Response Force have been dispatched to the scene to carry out rescue operations. The injured have been taken to hospitals.
According to police, a huge crowd had gathered at the temple before the incident. As a result, the death toll is likely to rise.
Haridwar is one of the major pilgrimage centres in Hinduism. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended heartfelt greetings to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on its 87th Raising Day, praising the force for its crucial contributions to the nation’s security.
Acknowledging the CRPF’s unwavering role in safeguarding the country, PM Modi took to X and wrote, “Raising Day wishes to all CRPF personnel. This force has played a vital role in our security apparatus, especially in challenging aspects relating to internal security.”
The Prime Minister further lauded the dedication and valour of the force, stating, “CRPF personnel have made a mark for their duty, courage and steadfast commitment in the most testing of situations. Their contribution in overcoming humanitarian challenges is also commendable.”
The CRPF began its journey on July 27, 1939, as the Crown Representative Police. It was officially renamed the Central Reserve Police Force on December 28, 1949, following the enactment of the Central Reserve Police Force Act.
This transformation marked a new identity for the force as a central armed police unit under the jurisdiction of the Government of India.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greetings to CRPF personnel on the occasion.
In a post on X, he said, “Heartfelt greetings to all CRPF personnel on their Raising Day. Your selfless sacrifices have been the backbone of our nation’s security, and your unwavering courage to end Naxalism is truly commendable.”
“Time and again, you’ve stood fearlessly on the frontlines, standing tall against every adversity with fearless resolve. A proud salute to the martyrs of CRPF, your legacy of valour continues to inspire the nation,” HM Shah added.
The CRPF, in its official message, paid tribute to its personnel and their families.
“On 27th July, we celebrate 86 glorious years of bold courage, supreme sacrifice, and resolute commitment — deeply inscribed in the legacy of the nation’s security and service,” the force said in a post on X.
The inception of the CRPF was significantly influenced by the Madras Resolution passed by the All India Congress Committee in 1936, which underlined the need for a robust internal security mechanism.
This vision took shape under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister, who emphasised the necessity of a strong and adaptable force to meet the evolving security demands of independent India.
Notably, the CRPF remains the only paramilitary force in India with six all-women battalions. The first of these, the 88 (M) Battalion, was established in 1986 and is headquartered in Delhi. These battalions reflect the force’s commitment to inclusivity and the evolving role of women in India’s security forces.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a youth after a serious assault at the Royal Darwin Show overnight.
Around 8:20pm, police received reports that a 15-year-old male had assaulted another 15-year-old male with a knife at the showgrounds after an altercation.
Police and St John Ambulance attended, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital where he currently remains in a stable condition.
The alleged offender fled the scene, with police arresting him a short time later at a residence in Palmerston.
He has now been charged with Recklessly endanger life and Possess, carry, use a controlled weapon.
The 15-year-old remains in custody awaiting a bail review.
Police are still urging anyone with information to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference P25199834.
Noel has a history of health and developmental issues, including chronic lung disease, pulmonary edema, and esotropia. He required regular medical appointments and medications, including ophthalmologist and speech therapy appointments, as well as albuterol inhaler medication.
“Cindy, as the primary adult responsible for Noel’s safety and well-being, failed numerous times to meet his health and developmental needs,” said Kecev.
Rodriguez Singh has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, which previously prompted the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to place her children into foster care at one point.
On March 20, 2023, at the request of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, officers from the Everman Police Department conducted a welfare check on Noel. Rodriguez Singh claimed Noel was not at the residence and that he had been living with his biological father in Mexico since November 2022.
But when the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services contacted Noel’s biological father in Mexico, he said he did not have custody of Noel or any type of relationship with him.
Then, on March 22, 2023—two days after the welfare check—Cindy Rodriguez Singh, along with her husband, Arshdeep Singh, and six children, flew from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India. This is the last confirmed sighting of Rodriguez Singh.
“All airline tickets were purchased within 24 hours of flight departure, and Cindy Rodriguez Singh had unenrolled Noel and his siblings from school,” said Kecev.
Along with the capital murder charge, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Rodriguez Singh on November 2, 2023, for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Kecev said it is a team effort among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who have been diligently working to locate Noel.
“None of us will ever forget Noel, and we will continue to put forth all our effort to one day find justice for him,” said Kecev. “That will include Cindy Rodriguez Singh being apprehended and returned to the United States so she can answer for her alleged crimes. I believe—and I can speak for the investigative team including the state, local, and federal investigators as a unit—that her arrest will play a significant part in locating Noel’s whereabouts.”
Rodriguez Singh is 40 years old. She was born in Dallas, Texas, and is believed to have ties to India and Mexico. She is between 5’1″ and 5’3″ tall and 120 to 140 pounds, and she has a medium complexion with tattoos on her back, both legs, right arm, right hand, and right calf. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Rodriguez Singh also goes by Cecilia Rodriguez, Cindy Rodriguez, Cindy C. Rodriguez, and Cindy Cecilia Rodriguez.
If you have any information about Rodriguez Singh, please contact your local FBI office, local law enforcement agency, or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. You can call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the FBI’s Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000. Tips can also be submitted digitally at tips.fbi.gov. All information can remain anonymous, and confidentiality is guaranteed.
On Friday, July 18, FBI Seattle took felony fugitive Salman Haji into custody in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of an operation targeting violent crime. Haji was wanted for the January 2024 homicide of Mingyuan Huang in the parking lot of a business in Tukwila in what the investigation has determined to have been an attempted robbery. Haji is also charged in a federal armed carjacking case.
“International fugitive investigations like this one require significant coordination with domestic and international law enforcement partners as well as our Legal Attaché offices, which advance the FBI’s mission worldwide,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “The FBI is committed to pursuing those who attempt to flee the criminal justice system and bringing them to justice, even when they seek to evade accountability by hiding overseas. This international operation was a joint effort by the Tukwila Police Department, FBI Seattle, FBI Legal Attachés Nairobi and The Hague, the DEA Nairobi Country Office, and Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
“The Tukwila Police Department would like to thank the FBI and all the involved federal and international law enforcement partner agencies for their assistance in locating and taking Haji into custody and stand trial for the homicide of Mingyuan Huang,” said Eric Drever, Chief of Police, Tukwila Police Department.
The operation that ultimately led to Haji’s arrest is part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months. As part of this effort, the FBI has launched a multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, we are aggressively restoring safety in our communities across the country.
A man has been arrested after an incident in the Adelaide CBD last night.
It will be alleged that about 5.15pm on Saturday 27 July, a man forced his way into a massage business on Hindley Street and barricaded himself alone inside the premises.
Staff members were not injured.
Security Response Section members and negotiators were called to the scene to assist patrols in removing the man from the business.
Police used capsicum spray and a taser to safely detain the suspect, a 43-year-old Camden Park man.
He was taken to hospital for a mental health assessment and later released into police custody, where he was charged with trespass, disorderly behaviour and resist arrest.
He was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 15 September.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproved of untrue and biased remarks by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper regarding lawful acts by Hong Kong to pursue wanted individuals who have absconded from Hong Kong.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government demanded that the UK Government stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, stressing that these are purely China’s internal affairs.
Nineteen people suspected of involvement in a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament” have been put on the city’s wanted list.
The Hong Kong SAR Government said the “Hong Kong Parliament” aims to subvert state power through objectives that include promoting “self-determination”, promulgating a “Hong Kong Constitution”, and overthrowing or undermining by unlawful means the basic system and power of the People’s Republic of China or of the Hong Kong SAR.
The 19 individuals are suspected of committing the offence of subversion, contrary to Article 22 of the National Security Law. The Hong Kong Police Force applied for arrest warrants for them and has put them on the wanted list.
The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that absconders hiding in the UK and other Western countries are wanted because they blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, and even collude with external forces to cover for their evil deeds. It added that it is therefore justified, necessary and legitimate for the Police Force to take all lawful measures to combat such acts of abscondment.
Moreover, the Hong Kong SAR Government remarked that the UK has at least 14 items of legislation to protect British national security, and has therefore displayed hypocrisy and double standards by pointing fingers at Hong Kong’s legal system and attempts to safeguard national security.
It emphasised that it will exhaust all possible means to pursue and combat criminals who abscond from Hong Kong, and to ensure that violations of the law are cracked down on.
The wanted individuals are urged to return to Hong Kong and surrender.
The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that it will continue to resolutely discharge its duty of safeguarding national security, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
Investigators in the case of a 20-year-old who was killed in a park are appealing to the public on the one-year anniversary of his death – with a £20,000 reward on offer for information.
Imran Maroof, 20, was stabbed in Plashet Park, Newham, on Saturday, 27 July, 2024. Officers were called to the park with the London Ambulance service around 19:38hrs, following reports of a fight.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, Imran was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend, from Specialist Crime South, said: “The murder has had a profound impact. Imran’s family and friends continue to live with the trauma.
“One year has passed since this senseless killing, and the Met remains committed to bringing those who killed Imran to justice.
“If you were in the vicinity of Plashet Park on the day of the stabbing or know anything that could help us, we need you to contact us.”
Police have released a photo of the victim – and independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information.
Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager for Crimestoppers, said: “We know that some people may be reluctant or worried to speak directly to the police with information, which is why Crimestoppers is here. We are completely independent and guarantee you will remain 100% anonymous when you contact us.
“We offer a safe way for anyone to come forward and tell us what they know but not who they are. We are unable to identify any phone numbers or IP addresses if you are reporting online.
“Imran’s family deserve answers, and we hope this reward will encourage someone to do the right thing and speak up with any information that may help the police.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 6541/27JUL.
Alternatively, to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Greenpeace climbers have ended their protest at the iconic Forth Road Bridge in Scotland after successfully blocking a gas tanker owned by the plastics giant INEOS for 24 hours. All 10 climbers descended safely aided by Greenpeace support boats.
The protesters began climbing down their ropes in the early hours of this morning. The protest started on Friday with climbers abseiling from the bridge and unfurling six giant banners reading ‘PLASTICS TREATY NOW’. Their action prevented the INEOS tanker INDEPENDENCE from delivering its cargo of American fracked gas for a full 24 hours, as the vessel can only reach Grangemouth on high tides.
All 10 Greenpeace climbers were voluntarily transported to Port Edgar in South Queensferry where they were arrested by officers from Police Scotland on suspicion of Culpable and Reckless Conduct.
Greenpeace targeted INEOS, the UK’s biggest plastic producer, ahead of critical international talks in two weeks to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to tackle plastic pollution. Every month thousands of tonnes of gas are delivered to Grangemouth where they are turned into billions of tiny plastic pellets (nurdles) that are transported around the world. Greenpeace accuses the company of deliberately undermining the talks so it can continue ramping up plastic production.
The upcoming INC5.2 talks to finalise a Global Plastics Treaty are a once-in-a-generation opportunity for governments to stem the flow of plastic that is causing such harm to our towns, environment and wildlife. Greenpeace is demanding that companies like INEOS and their lobbyists, who have a direct interest in making massive profits from selling plastic, are excluded from the talks allowing governments to reach an ambitious deal.
Amy Cameron, Programme Director at Greenpeace UK said: “We’ve achieved what we set out to. By blocking INEOS, we’ve drawn global attention to the company’s bottomless appetite for plastic production, false solutions and profit for its billionaire boss Jim Ratcliffe.
“Their feeble suggestion that recycling and managing waste can hand them a free pass to go on producing more plastic forever is laughable. It comes from the same industry playbook as the health benefits of smoking and carbon offsetting. The plastic pollution problem is just too massive. Less than 10% of plastic is currently recycled globally, and this is set to rise to just 17% by 2060, while the amount of plastic we’re producing is set to triple. The only solution is to address the problem at source which means securing a strong Global Plastics Treaty that imposes legally-binding caps on plastic production.
“INEOS are cutting jobs at Grangemouth while trying to open a massive new plastics plant in Belgium, leaving Scottish workers high and dry. If Jim Ratcliffe really cared about skilled jobs in Scotland he’d invest his billions in supporting his workers to transition into the green industries of the future, instead of throwing money at Formula 1 racing teams and football clubs.”
Contrary to INEOS’ claims, the protest was both safe and caused minimal disruption. The climbers are all highly-trained and spent weeks rehearsing this action to ensure it was safe. They were supported at all times by rescue climbers and support boats. The Forth Road Bridge carries low volumes of bus, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and was closed by Police Scotland – not by the protest directly.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force no longer hold concerns for the welfare for Nicholas, as it is believed he has gone bushwalking until the 30 July 2025.
Officers from the Search and Rescue Section received the information a short time ago.
Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force hold concerns for the welfare of Nicholas, who was last seen on Thursday evening at the Karnamarr Campground, near Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park.
Nicholas arrived at the camp on Wednesday 23 July and paid for one night. On Friday 25 July, the campground manager noticed that his vehicle and camp were still at the location. After conducting initial enquiries around the camp he contacted Kakadu National Park management and the concerns were later escalated to Police. Kakadu National Park Rangers began conducting search operations early Saturday morning, utilising their experienced Rangers and a JetRanger Helicopter.
At 9am on Saturday, the Northern Territory Police Search and Rescue Section were notified and began coordinating search efforts.
A large search operation is underway in the vicinity of the campground and within the Jim Jim Falls region involving ground and aerial teams. Police are working closely with Kakadu National Park Rangers and Traditional Owners.
Anyone who was in the area since Wednesday 23 July who may have dashcam footage or have seen or spoken to the Nicholas is asked to contact NT Police on 131444 and quote reference number P25199346.
An Arlington resident was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison for Production of Child Pornography and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Court documents revealed that in late September 2024, the Bedford Police Department began investigating a theft of a truck that belonged to a business in Bedford, Texas. A few days later, the Arlington Police Department recovered the vehicle and returned it to the owners. Multiple bags containing cell phones and illegal firearms that belonged to Carlos Isaac Barrientos were found in the vehicle. A forensic review of the devices by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms located images and videos of child pornography on the devices. Barrientos, 36, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested, charged, and subsequently pled guilty to production of child pornography and illegal possession of a machinegun on April 16, 2025. On July 24, 2025, Barrientos was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Reed O’Connor.
The investigation was conducted by the Arlington Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte prosecuted the case.
Defendant created 62 accounts across dozens of online platforms to abuse and impersonate women he knew; Posted thousands of fake, AI-generated, or photoshopped pornographic images of victims and their information, encouraging others to torment them
BOSTON – A Plymouth, Mass. man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for cyberstalking more than a dozen Massachusetts women over a 16-year period. Beginning as early as 2008 and continuing into 2024, the defendant engaged in elaborate online harassment campaigns that targeted and tormented women he knew personally – including two who were minors when the conduct began. Among other things, the defendant hacked into victims’ personal accounts and used over 60 accounts across nearly 30 platforms to relentlessly impersonate, intimidate and abuse them – sharing thousands of fake sexually explicit images of the victims along with their personal information and urging others to contact, shame and sextort them.
James Florence Jr., 37, was sentenced on July 23, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to nine years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In April 2025, Florence pleaded guilty to seven counts of cyberstalking and one count of possession of child pornography. Florence was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2024 and has remained in custody since.
“This was not internet trolling. It was psychological torture – sustained, targeted, and deeply personal. For 16 years, this defendant tormented more than a dozen women who considered him a friend, a loved one or an ally and, at the stroke of a key, inflicted lasting harm that changed the way many of these women move through the world. And he did it all while hiding, cowardly, behind a keyboard. Now, he’ll face the consequences of that cruelty behind bars for the better part of the next decade,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The courage of the victims in this case is extraordinary and it’s their strength that made justice possible here. Our office will continue to do everything in our power to unmask and hold predators like this accountable.”
“James Florence Jr. is a serial cyber stalker who led a double life, weaponizing modern technology to debase, destroy and traumatize more than a dozen women, many of whom were family and close friends, for over a decade. What he did was sickening, demented, and cruel, and he’ll now pay for it with his freedom,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Cyberstalking is a serious crime, and you can be sure the FBI will work to unmask and bring to justice anyone who uses today’s technology in such a despicable way.”
According to court filings, Florence targeted women he knew personally as well as acquaintances – stealing photos from their online accounts and digitally altering the images to make the victims appear nude or engaged in sexual acts. Florence would then post the doctored images publicly alongside the victims’ names, home addresses and other identifying details. For nearly all seven victims, Florence’s cyberstalking campaigns included:
Creating “imposter” social media accounts designed to appear as if they were operated by the victims themselves;
Posting sexually explicit, AI-generated or photoshopped images of victims, often tagging the victims’ real accounts to maximize exposure;
Publishing victims’ personal information, including driver’s license photos, home addresses and professional affiliations, with messages urging others to humiliate and expose them;
Using hacked and compromised personal accounts to surveil victims and gain access to additional private content;
Attempting to sell doctored nude images of one victim online; and
Setting up notifications to monitor any changes to victims’ online biographies.
Florence often prompted strangers to contact the victims directly – with some unknown senders demanding that the victims produce real sexually explicit content under threat of distributing the doctored images to friends, family and professional contacts.
For one of the victims, Florence used the name, image and other personal identifying information to program at least three AI-driven chatbots to interact with strangers across multiple platforms in sexually explicit conversations and disclose how to contact or find the victim. For another victim, he created a false online persona describing her sexual preferences, fabricated stories about sex toys and equipment in her home and posted her home address inviting strangers to contact her for sex.
Florence also designed a collage of digitally altered images depicting one victim nude, which he posted to a website alongside her full personal information, encouraging viewers to “Post & Share Her Everywhere. Make The Whore Famous.”
Many of Florence’s victims continue to receive harassing and threatening messages from unknown individuals who encountered the content he created and distributed online.
Additionally, the following items were uncovered during a search of Florence’s residence in Plymouth in September 2024:
Dozens of pairs of women’s underwear and socks stolen from his victims;
A custom phone case featuring the image of one of the victims;
At least 11 digital wallpapers of his victims stored on his phone;
At least one photo of a victim taken when she was a minor; and
62 images and four videos of child sexual abuse material, depicting minor female victims between the ages of approximately eight and 15 years old.
Florence used his expertise to employ several techniques to hide his online identity and criminal activities. According to court filings, Florence was an Information Technology professional who had worked for 10 years at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and had a DoD “Secret” clearance. With this knowledge, he employed a variety of tactics to evade law enforcement – via VPN services, anonymous overseas “revenge porn” websites and encrypted foreign email providers that do not respond to U.S. legal process or retain identifying records.
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Norfolk and Plymouth Police Departments and the Plymouth Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CESAR A. LOBO-RAMOS (“,LOBO-RAMOS”) age 38, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on July 22, 2025, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long sentenced him to 24 months in federal prison.
According to court documents, LOBO-RAMOS re-entered the United States after being previously deported on April 10, 2018. LOBO-RAMOS came to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was arrested by the Kenner Police Department on November 2, 2023 for resisting arrest and obstruction of police. He faced an enhanced statutory maximum sentence of 20 years due to a Sexual Battery conviction in Jefferson Parish in 2010.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that HENRY MITCHELL (“MITCHELL”), age 35, and JAYLAN WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 30, both residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on July 22, 2025, by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry pursuant to their pleas of guilty to federal drug and gun charges. Listed below are the charges to which each Defendant pled guilty, and the sentence received:
CHARGE
DEFENDANT
SENTENCE
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846)
MITCHELL
151 months, 3 years of supervised release
Possession With Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C))
MITCHELL
151 months, 3 years of supervised release
Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))
MITCHELL
151 months, 3 years of supervised release
Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § Section 922(o))
MITCHELL
120 months, 3 years of supervised release
Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o))
MITCHELL
120 months, 3 years of supervised release
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846)
WASHINGTON
120 months, 3 years of supervised release
Possession with Intent to Distribute marihuana, and tapentadol (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)
WASHINGTON
120 months, 3 years of supervised release
Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))
WASHINGTON
120 months, 3 years of supervised release
Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o))
WASHINGTON
120 months, 3 years of supervised release
All sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other. Judge Guidry also ordered MITCHELL to pay $500.00 in mandatory special assessment fees and ordered WASHINGTON to pay $400 in mandatory special assessment fees.
Court documents reflect that MITCHELL and WASHINGTON were openly selling various controlled substance in the Plum Orchard Neighborhood of New Orleans. Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force Officers (TFO) observed this activity after receiving multiple citizen complaints. The TFOs notified New Orleans Police Department Officers who surrounded the area and arrested MITCHELL and WASHINGTON. A search of their vehicles revealed both controlled substances and firearms. Officers also recovered “Glock switches” that convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones. These switches are considered machineguns under federal law. Additionally, both MITCHELL and WASHINGTON have several prior felony convictions including ones for violation of drug and firearm laws.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is assigned the prosecution.
ANNE STANLEY: Hi, everyone. Thank you for being here this morning. My name is Anne Stanley. I’m the Federal Member for Werriwa. This is a fantastic start to more roads that will make sure that this part of the world is not in gridlock all the time. It will get trucks moving around our part of the world. And it is fantastic that the New South Wales Labor Government and the Federal Labor Government are finally doing what we’ve been waiting over 20 years to happen. So I’m just going to hand over now to Minister King to talk to you.
CATHERINE KING: Great, thanks very much. And first, can I just say to Anne and to David, our new Member for Hughes, it’s so fantastic to be here. I think this is the first event that I’ve done with David here in this space, but it’s great to be here with both of you. But also, of course, Ryan Park as Acting Premier and my friend and colleague, Jenny Aitchison who worked so closely together on projects such as this.
Well, we know that driving westbound along the M5 has become quite difficult for people. As the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct has come online, the weave that happens as trucks are trying to get on to the M5 to then get on to the Hume to get our goods to and from market. They’re also obviously competing with the many people and many commuters who live in this area who are finding that they are often queued back for almost a kilometre as we do that weave to try and get through this intersection. And really, the announcement today, this $380 million announcement, 50-50 funding, State and Federal Government working in partnership together, is about untangling that weave, untangling that intersection to make sure that commuters can get to and from work faster, that our trucks can get to market, and to move around this precinct more efficiently, because we know that economic activity is incredibly important here in this part of Sydney, and we also want to make sure people are able to move about efficiently and safely. Any time that a family is spending in a car or a worker is spending in a car, it’s time that they are not spending at home with their families. So this upgrade, it’s a complex piece of work. The fact that we’re here today getting the contracts signed for the delivery of this project, it’s been a long time coming, but I’m really delighted. And it’s taken, really, a federal and state Labor government who really don’t just talk about projects, we actually deliver them. We do the hard work, we do the planning, we do the design work, and we actually deliver projects, and I’m delighted to be here as part of that.
I’ll hand over to Jenny, and then I think the Acting Premier is going to say a few words, take some questions, and then they’re going to sign a contract. Thanks everybody.
JENNY AITCHISON: Thanks everyone. It’s great to be here today with Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure federally, and federal colleagues Anne and David, and of course, my state colleagues, Acting Premier Ryan Park and the Member for Liverpool, Charishma Kaliyanda.
It is a great day, a great announcement, $380 million to ensure that the success that we are seeing with freight and ensuring that our goods get to market is delivered. So we’ve just been over at the Moorebank Intermodal, and this will be a critical piece of infrastructure that will realise the potential of that development. Getting those vehicle movements to stop weaving between the lanes, the interchange to be grade-separated will be a major game-change. There will be upgrades to rail and also to pedestrian infrastructure. This will make this a much better piece of transport for all road users and stop that interweaving that we’re seeing of up to 2900 vehicles a day doing that. We’re looking at 2500 trucks using this, so it is really important for safety, for congestion busting, that we get this right.
The Minns Labor Government is building better communities right across Western Sydney and indeed all of New South Wales, and this is a significant step forward. I’m really pleased that we’ll be signing the contract today with Seymour Whyte. It’s a design and construct contract, so they will be doing that design work. But people will start to see work happening soon as the geotechnical investigations happen, and then we will hope to have shovels in the ground very shortly after that. So, it is a major piece of investment in our communities of Western Sydney that have been crying out for so long for assistance with reducing those traffic snares. As Minister King said, every minute in the car is a minute away from friends, from family, from that wonderful time we have of recreation and rest. And most importantly, it’s the safety aspects of this to ensure that once the cars and the trucks are using this infrastructure, they are able to do so safely without creating issues.
I’m going to pass over now to Acting Premier Ryan Park, and he can give you a few comments as well
ACTING PREMIER RYAN PARK: Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Minister King, for being here. It’s delightful that you’re in this portfolio again. I know it’s one that you’re very passionate about. It’s great for New South Wales to continue their partnership and relationship with the Albanese Labor Government in Canberra and to Catherine King, who’s a very experienced Minister when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure. Thank you to Minister Aitchison and the team from Transport for New South Wales, local members at both the state and federal level. Anne Stanley was saying to me earlier that this is something that has been around since 2008, so no doubt the people of South Western Sydney can’t wait for this to happen.
A $380 million investment in an important part of the road network essentially improves efficiency, improves safety, improves travel times for people moving in and around this area, but also in particular for freight. That’s a very important part of what happens in this South Western Sydney component. This is a major freight hub, not just for New South Wales but the entire country. And what we know is we need to continue to invest in the road infrastructure to make sure that we are delivering roads that are safe, performing efficiently and effectively for local community members, as well as those moving in and around there from other areas.
I do want to speak a little bit overnight about a report that I’ve received from Dr Chant in relation to influenza, COVID, and RSV. Influenza continues to rise. We are continuing to see significant cases of influenza being presented to our local emergency departments. I can’t stress this enough right now: as we are heading to the peak or just on peak of influenza, we need people to get vaccinated. We need children to get vaccinated. We are still seeing not enough people, both over the age of 65 and young children, getting that vaccination. We need to take pressure off our emergency departments as we head through the winter months. And what we can all want to do over the winter here in New South Wales and, of course, in Sydney, is enjoy our surroundings, enjoy being with family. You can’t do that if you have the flu. So I’m saying to people today, once again, we are reaching or on the verge of reaching the peak in terms of influenza, but that is an important message to get through about making sure you go and get vaccinated. That includes young children and particularly includes older people.
We’ve also got to emphasise with this much influenza around, RSV and of course COVID, which has started to stabilise – we’ve probably reached the peak of COVID – please don’t go to aged care facilities if you’re unwell. Please stay at home. Please don’t go to hospitals. What we want to do is make sure that our system can perform for those who need our hospital system. What we don’t want to do is people stuck in our hospital system with serious case of influenza, RSV or COVID. We can all do our thing and what we can do is go and get vaccinated.
CATHERINE KING: I’ll leave questions to you. Any questions?
JOURNALIST: You mentioned that shovels will be in the ground shortly. Do you have any more indication of when that would be?
RYAN PARK: Well, I understand we’ve got to sign the contract today, and then we’ve got to make sure that, as all state governments do, we spend the Commonwealth’s money as quickly and as fast as we can.
[Laughter]
CATHERINE KING: On time and on budget.
RYAN PARK: That’s always the way. Never get in the road of a state government minister and some federal government money, but it’ll happen very, very soon. Shovels in the ground, and we’ll be proceeding with this project I imagine in the next few weeks.
JOURNALIST: How long will the construction take?
JENNY AITCHISON: Yep. So, the project will, the actual construction will start in early 2026. By the time the design elements are done, it will take probably two years to do that. Obviously, we will be working to expedite that as much as possible with the contractors and, you know, the way that we have been working in New South Wales on ensuring that our infrastructure spend is spent in a much more measured and considered way will help us to keep to those time frames. But obviously, you know, weather and other factors can come in.
JOURNALIST: And how long do you expect it to take once the construction starts in early 2026?
JENNY AITCHISON: Yeah, so we’re expecting that it will take a couple of years to get construction finalised. Obviously, that depends on a range of factors of weather and things like that. But, you know, we know that we have been working very hard to get our construction timelines back under control to ensure that things are being built on time and ready for the public. We know that during this time there is often disruptions for local communities. We thank them for their patience during that time.
JOURNALIST: And those disruptions that will happen, they’re obviously necessary, so to speak, but what impact do you expect to have for traffic?
JENNY AITCHISON: Look, what will happen is that there will be the usual construction impact, so that may be lane closures at particular times to keep workers safe. Everything these days- we know that there have been some really big challenges for construction work on roads. We’re really urging cars to travel to those roadside- roadworks speed limits. One of the things I’ve been very disappointed to see in some of our projects is people speeding through work zones. That is not acceptable. We have really worked to minimise those across all of our projects, those speed limits, but we want to make sure that drivers are driving to conditions.
JOURNALIST: So we will see some traffic impact on those lanes around where you need to widen the road?
JENNY AITCHISON: Yes, certainly there will be some, and we will use all the elements at our disposal, things like working at night where there’s less traffic, ensuring that we’ve got proper signalling and all that sort of thing in place so that we can minimise that disruption, but it is always a challenge. There’s, as we like to say, no gain without pain, but we are doing everything we can to minimise it and we’re really grateful to those members of the public who assist us in that by driving to the conditions.
JOURNALIST: And do you have any sort of forecast on how this will help improve traffic, like any time reductions or anything like that?
JENNY AITCHISON: Look, I don’t have specific time reductions here, but I think the main point is really the safety benefits. And we know at the moment there is queuing, so there will obviously be those timings. I can’t give you exact numbers right off the top of my head, but the main thing is not having that situation where a vehicle turning left then going right has only got a couple of hundred metres to do it, or conversely coming right and going left. They won’t be working together on the same piece of roadway. The grade separation will enable that to be a much safer transition.
JOURNALIST: Acting Premier, does it really pass the pub test that taxpayers are paying for gym memberships and picnic days for rail workers while there are still so many public sector workers waiting for pay rises?
RYAN PARK: Well, look, government reaches agreements through the bargaining process with unions and their trade union movement and representatives. The nature of those arrangements will become very, very clear as a part of the fair work process. We’re not trying to hide anything here. The reality is what we wanted to do was get an agreement, and we had to strike a balance between making sure that we provided fair work and conditions and pay for working men and women on our transport system, but at the same time making sure that we can get a transport system operating at its very highest capacity, and operating as efficiently and effectively for passengers and commuters every single day.
JOURNALIST: Some pretty funny perks. Was it a matter of offer them the funny perks, just so that they can stop striking?
RYAN PARK: Well, look, no one wants rail workers striking. We want working men and women who work in our transport system to be paid well with good conditions. We’re not going to apologise for that. As a part of the bargaining process, that’s how and which you agree to conditions or disagree with conditions. For us, the process is about making sure that we got the balance right between ensuring that we had a well-run, well-operated and efficient and maintained transport system, at the same time making sure that working men and women had their conditions and pay recognised. We think we’ve got the balance right.
As the Health Minister, I’ll continue to work with those workers in the healthcare sector over the weeks and months ahead to make sure that we can strike a deal in relation to their paying conditions as well.
JOURNALIST: As you know, all public sector groups were asked to find to help pay for their pay rises. Do you know if the rail union did have a productivity offsets down and what they might be?
JENNY AITCHISON: Look, certainly there were savings provisions and productivity provisions within that bargaining process. The enterprise agreement, as is required and as has long been government policy, will be published by the Fair Work Commission, so everyone will be able to see what those are. But as an example, you know, moving to one rail, ensuring we have efficiencies there is really important. Even the consultation periods, you know, we had the former government that had rolling stock on the tracks, sitting idle for literally years because they couldn’t negotiate and consult with the union. We have a fair, open and transparent agreement. We’ve got three years of that. It will provide certainty to the travelling public, It will provide certainty to the travelling public, certainty to the rail workers and certainty to everyone who is- you know, taxpayers who want to see value for money.
We can always cherry-pick parts of the agreements for things that we might not think are important but the reality is here, we’ve got a very good deal for the taxpayers of New South Wales that has got the unions back to work. It’s been very substantially and overwhelmingly agreed to by the unions, 92 per cent agreement, a very high participation in the ballot.
So, I think this is, what we’ve got, is a good agreement that strikes the balance. It’s going to Fair Work now to get that final tick off and check everything’s right. But we have done this in a very open and transparent manner and that’s what’s important here.
JOURNALIST: Minister, can I ask you about those offsets? And the consolidation I suppose with one rail. There’s been some suggestion from the opposition that the agreement results in 100 job losses. Toby Warnes was asked the other day whether that would be the case [indistinct]. Are we expecting 100 job losses over the next few years, for Transport for New South Wales to pay the union?
JENNY AITCHISON: Look, we are working very closely with the union to ensure efficiency and productivity. No-one likes job losses, we know that. But the reality is, where there’s efficiency gains that can be made they will happen because we want to have a better service for commuters. We want to have a reliable, stable service that is resilient and is well maintained. The One Rail initiative is really important for the regions, because what it does is really go back to the idea that we have one rail network in NSW that services everyone.
We’ve been working on that right across transport over the last two years, to deliver one transport for all of New South Wales The idea that there’s a binary system of transport in New South Wales, whether it’s in rail or road, is done. We have one transport for New South Wales We have one road network. We have one rail network. There will be efficiencies in that. And we hope to grow the task for transport. We hope to grow services for commuters.
So, what we’re saying is we should be investing in growth of the services, and we need to ensure that we have the maximum productivity. And that’s what this agreement’s giving us.
JOURNALIST: How much does the agreement cost? What’s the cost of it? Obviously, it’s been struck – we’ve seen it, we’ve gone through the clauses. How much is it?
JENNY AITCHISON: Look, the overall quantum is still being finalised. Obviously as you can agree, until that goes through the final stages of the Fair Work Commission process, it would be premature to put a final figure on it. We need to make sure that we have one figure out there that everyone is aware of, but we are working on that and we will come back with that when it’s the appropriate time.
JOURNALIST: Ryan, I understand that you are just a seat warmer this week, but the Premier did make a bet with the Queensland Premier that he would record a tourism ad for Queensland if we lost the Origin. Is that something you’ll be doing this week?
RYAN PARK: Well, well, well. Yes, he gave me one job, hey? I’ve let him down within 48 hours. So, no doubt, I won’t be doing this job again for a little while. No, disappointing last night. Boys put up an incredible fight, but an inspirational performance by Cameron Munster, given what he’s been dealing with over the course of the last few days. They were just too good for us, no doubt. We’ll have to do the add and we’ll do it a lot quicker than what Queensland haven’t paid New South Wales for their COVID bill – it’s about 115 million bucks but, yeah, maybe we can call it quits.
JOURNALIST: You haven’t put your hand up to record it while he’s away?
RYAN PARK: No doubt I’ll have to do it. I’ll take that huge load on. It was tough watching New South Wales last night. It was tough being the Acting Premier, but if he wants me to do it, I’m a team player, I’ll do it.
JOURNALIST: You’re at the bargaining table for nurses, have they put gym memberships on the table, are you open to that one?
RYAN PARK: Look, I want to get the nurses resolved as quickly as possible. Everyone knows that that’s what I’m trying to do, we’re not there yet, we’re not at the stage. They haven’t put those types of incentives to me, but if they do, like every other arrangement, we’ll have a look at what things come forward as a part of that. That’s not something we’re looking at the moment. Our focus is to try and make sure that we can get a deal. We’ve got the independent umpire in place to make a determination if we can’t do it before then.
JOURNALIST: I know this isn’t quite in your wheelhouse, but there’s been some issues around with the new bail consolidation, basically a massive backlog of matters before the courts, especially with the Downing Centre being out of action, and people languishing in cells for longer. Has anyone raised with you this week, because you’re the Acting Premier, that there have been these teething issues?
RYAN PARK: I’ve had raised just very, very briefly, actually by the Governor of New South Wales the other day, given her legal background in relation to the Downing Court and some challenges there. I understand that repairs and some refurbishments as a result of the damage is currently underway. I understand that judicial officers and court staff are looking to make sure those cases are moved around to other areas. It’s an important part of our democracy, the delivery of justice, and justice needs to be delivered as quickly as possible. That’s what we always try and do. It is a challenge in relation to the Downing Centre, given the extensive nature of the appearances and the hearings that are held there and the number of lists that are done there but we’re working through that.
JOURNALIST: Is it a concern that there are these people that are being kept longer than they should themselves before they get a bail hearing?
RYAN PARK: Well it’s always concerning when there’s ever delay in any part of the justice system. That’s always a concern for members of the community no matter who they are and what side of the issue they’re on, that’s always a concern. But we will obviously work through that. The Attorney-General with New South Wales Police and Corrections are no doubt working through those issues in relation to court challenges. The Downing Centre situation has made it difficult, but I understand judicial officers and court staff are working through that process to try and get as many people through those other facilities as we can.
JOURNALIST: Also not really in your wheelhouse, but we know for many people rents have gone up by around $20 per week, for some people that means cutting back on essentials. What do you say to those people who are struggling right now?
RYAN PARK: Well, we know very clearly that’s it’s tough out there. It’s really tough. For many, many people, cost of living is certainly the biggest challenge they talk to me about as a local member in their own community. Things are tough. The decision not to drop interest rates is tough on people with mortgages that can correspondingly make it challenging for people in rental properties.
What we’ve tried to do over the last few years is introduce a number of reforms in the rental space to try and make it as easy and as cost effective for people to rent as possible. We know close to 40 per cent of people now rent. That’s very, very different even in the times period since I’ve been in public office. That’s really changed. So we are going to, as a government and future governments at all levels, we’ll continue to have to look at ways to make renting affordable, to make it as efficient and effective as possible. Because it now deals with a very large group of people.
JOURNALIST: And I guess just on the missing surfer, he was found after about [indistinct].
RYAN PARK: Yeah. See, that is that is absolutely amazing. As a local member of parliament on a coastal sea, unfortunately, we see this frequently. And very rarely do we get the outcome that we’ve been made aware of today. Absolute remarkable case. Phenomenal that our emergency personnel were able to rescue him. Phenomenal that he is still alive. That is obviously not the outcome that is often we see, that often we see in these types of incidents when they take place, and that is a fantastic result for him, his family, but I’m sure the people of the North Coast are just thrilled when they’ve heard that news.