The suspect is a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic was apprehended at the southern border and released into the country under the Biden Administration
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security lodged a detainer against an illegal alien accused of ambushing and shooting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer who was off duty in New York City in Fort Washington Park under the George Washington Bridge on July 19 at approximately 11:51 PM ET.
A witness of the attack—believed to be an attempted robbery—states that she and the victim were sitting on the rocks by the water when 2 subjects on a scooter drove up to them and the passenger got off the back and approached them with a firearm drawn. The off-duty CBP officer responded by withdrawing his own firearm in self defense.
The CBP officer was shot in his right arm and left cheek. Thankfully, the officer is in stable condition at the hospital.
One of the assailants is Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic. He illegally entered the United States on April 4, 2023, and was released by the Biden Administration into the country.
This criminal illegal alien’s rap sheet includes:
On October 11, 2023, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) arrested and charged Nunez with felony grand larceny, petit larceny, and reckless driving.
On October 01, 2024, the NYPD arrested and charged Nunez with 2nd and 3rd degree assault.
On November 30, 2024, the NYPD arrested Nunez for criminal contempt. On January 13, 2025, he was again attested for criminal contempt.
On February 21, 2025, the Leominster Police Department in Massachusetts issued a criminal warrant for Nunez for armed robbery with a firearm.
After failing to show up for his immigration hearing a judge issued Nunez a final order of removal on November 6, 2024.
“This violent criminal illegal alien had multiple run-ins with NYPD for assault and felony grand larceny before he ambushed and shot a CBP officer. The Biden Administration arrested this criminal illegal alien at the border and chose to release him into our country to terrorize Americans. We are thankful that our brave law enforcement officer is in stable condition,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Sanctuary city politicians allowed this to happen. This suffering is a direct result of lawless sanctuary city policies. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS will flood the zone in sanctuary cities and remove these criminals one by one. We will not be deterred: if you break America’s laws we will hunt you down, arrest you, and deport you.”
The other suspect remains at large. Anonymous tips may be reported on this form and via the toll-free ICE tip line, (866) 347-2423.
Man charged with drug and fraud offences in Burnie
Monday, 21 July 2025 – 10:35 am.
Police have charged a 37-year-old man with significant drug and fraud offences, following a recent operation in Western Tasmania. Detective Inspector Michelle Elmer said the operation, which has been running since May 2025, was led by the Western Criminal Investigation Branch and involved a range of specialist police resources. “The man was arrested on Friday during a planned search of a Burnie residence, where police located a quantity of methylamphetamine, anabolic steroids and two illegal firearms,” she said. “He was charged with a number of offences including trafficking in a controlled substance, selling a controlled drug, fraud, personation, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and several firearm offences.” “Police will allege the man committed multiple fraud offences relating to prescription medications and impersonating a general practitioner, through an online business.” He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Burnie Magistrates Court this morning.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force can confirm that the age of the child who was struck and killed by a palm on Saturday was 4-years-old, while an 11-year-old male was also struck by the palm tree and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The initial age of 7 was incorrect.
Investigations into the tragic incident remain ongoing.
While public attention has been focused on the domestic fast-track consenting process for infrastructure and mining, Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour has been pushing through another fast-track process – this time for foreign investment in New Zealand. But it has had almost no public scrutiny.
There are valid concerns that piecemeal reforms to the current act have made it complex and unwieldy. But the new bill is equally convoluted and would significantly reduce effective scrutiny of foreign investments – especially in forestry.
A three-step test
Step one of a three-step process set out in the bill gives the regulator – the Overseas Investment Office which sits within Land Information NZ – 15 days to decide whether a proposed investment would be a risk to New Zealand’s “national interest”.
If they don’t perceive a risk, or that initial assessment is not completed in time, the application is automatically approved.
Transactions involving fisheries quotas and various land categories, or any other applications the regulator identifies, will require a “national interest” assessment under stage two.
These would be assessed against a “ministerial letter” that sets out the government’s general policy and preferred approach to conducting the assessment, including any conditions on approvals.
Other mandatory factors to be considered in the second stage include the act’s new “purpose” to increase economic opportunity through “timely consent” of less sensitive investments. The new test would allow scrutiny of the character and capability of the investor to be omitted altogether.
If the regulator considers the national interest test is not met, or the transaction is “contrary to the national interest”, the minister of finance then makes a decision based on their assessment of those factors.
Inadequate regulatory process
Seymour has blamed the current screening regime for low volumes of foreign investment. But Treasury’s 2024 regulatory impact statement on the proposed changes to international investment screening acknowledges many other factors that influence investor decisions.
Moreover, the Treasury statement acknowledges public views that foreign investment rules should “manage a wide range of risks” and “that there is inherent non-economic value in retaining domestic ownership of certain assets”.
Treasury officials also recognised a range of other public concerns, including profits going offshore, loss of jobs, and foreign control of iconic businesses.
The regulatory impact statement did not cover these factors because it was required to consider only the coalition commitment. The Treasury panel reported “notable limitations” on the bill’s quality assurance process.
A fuller review was “infeasible” because it could not be completed in the time required, and would be broader than necessary to meet the coalition commitment to amend the act in the prescribed way.
The requirement to implement the bill in this parliamentary term meant the options officials could consider, even within the scope of the coalition agreement, were further limited.
Time constraints meant “users and key stakeholders have not been consulted”, according to the Treasury statement. Environmental and other risks would have to be managed through other regulations. There is no reference to te Tiriti o Waitangi or mana whenua engagement.
Forestry ‘slash’ after Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023: no need to consider foreign investors’ track records. Getty Images
No ‘benefit to NZ’ test
While the bill largely retains a version of the current screening regime for residential and farm land, it removes existing forestry activities from that definition (but not new forestry on non-forest land). It also removes extraction of water for bottling, or other bulk extraction for human consumption, from special vetting.
Where sensitive land (such as islands, coastal areas, conservation and wahi tapu land) is not residential or farm land, it would be removed from special screening rules currently applied for land.
There would no longer be a need to consider investors’ track records or apply a “benefit to New Zealand” test. Regulators may or may not be empowered to impose conditions such as replanting or cleaning up slash.
The official documents don’t explain the rationale for this. But it looks like a win for Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, and was perhaps the price of NZ First’s support.
Finally, these changes could be locked in through New Zealand’s free trade agreements. Several such agreements say New Zealand’s investment regime cannot become more restrictive than the 2005 act and its regulations.
A “ratchet clause” would lock in any further liberalisation through this bill, from which there is no going back.
However, another annex in those free trade agreements could be interpreted as allowing some flexibility to alter the screening rules and criteria in the future. None of the official documents address this crucial question. As an academic expert in this area I am uncertain about the risk.
But the lack of clarity underlines the problems exemplified in this bill. It is another example of coalition agreements bypassing democratic scrutiny and informed decision making. More public debate and broad analysis is needed on the bill and its implications.
Jane Kelsey has received funding from the Marsden Fund for research related to New Zealand’s foreign investment regime and international agreements.
BOSTON – The ICE Boston arrest of an illegal Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence resulted in his conviction for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Santo Beato Aybar-Aybar, 49, pleaded guilty to the charge June 16 at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
“Santo Beato Aybar-Aybar repeatedly displayed a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws, and that resulted in his conviction for illegally reentering the country after deportation,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will not stand idly by as criminals subvert our immigration laws and take refuge in our neighborhoods. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our New England communities.”
Aybar-Aybar has been previously deported from the U.S. on three separate occasions, most recently on Sept. 21, 2021. Sometime after his 2021 removal, Aybar-Aybar illegally reentered the U.S. without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.
Aybar-Aybar faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 11. Furthermore, he is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting this case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland.
Six teenagers have been arrested after a pursuit through metropolitan Adelaide and the arson of an Aldinga Beach house this morning.
About 12.50 am Monday 21 July Police and emergency services were called to a house at Pebble Court after reports of fire in the garage and house. Fortunately the occupants were not home at the time. MFS were quickly on scene and extinguished the blaze.
When police arrived, they saw a Subaru station wagon leaving the street. Police recognised the car as a stolen vehicle which had been stolen from a Mitchell Park home last week. Police attempted to stop the car, with the driver refusing to pull over.
The car was pursued by patrols along with the assistance from PolAir and Dog Operations Unit on South Road, along the Southern Expressway, through to the eastern suburbs before making its way to Two Wells where the tyres were successfully spiked by patrols at Port Wakefield Road and Mallala Road.
Six youths ran from the car and were arrested on Artisan Road with the assistance of PD Duke without incident.
The driver, a 17-year-old boy from Ottoway has been arrested for arson, illegal use, dangerous driving to escape pursuit
Four 15-year-old boys have been arrested for arson and illegal use.
One 16-year-old boy has been arrested for arson and illegal use.
All six will appear in the Youth Court later today.
President Trump and Secretary Noem stand with the victims of illegal alien crime
WASHINGTON — On July 19, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers inChicago arrested Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a 52-year-old criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was charged in April with concealing the body of a missing woman in a storage container on his yard for two months, abusing her corpse, and obstruction of justice.
Waukegan Police Department officers discovered the body of 37-year-old victim Megan Bos in a container in Mendoza’s yard in April after she had been reported missing on March 9, 2025.
Her body was found decapitated and in a bleach storage container by officers. Mendoza was charged in April. However,Lake County Judge Randie Bruno released him from custody at the conclusion of his court appearance, where he was immediately allowed to freely roam the Chicago streets.
This criminal illegal alien is currently being held at Lake County Jail in Waukegan, Illinois.
“Everyday ICE is arresting sickos like criminal illegal alien, Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, and stopping them from terrorizing Americans. This depraved alien was charged with concealing the body of a missing woman in a storage container for months and abusing her corpse,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “It is absolutely repulsive that a judge freed this monster and allowed him to walk free on Illinois’s streets after allegedly committing such a heinous crime. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, Megan Bos and her family will have justice.”
Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone. Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423).
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
LANZHOU, July 20 (Xinhua) — Six people, including an investor, director and cooks of a kindergarten, were arrested in northwest China’s Gansu Province after deliberately adding toxic lead dyes to baby food, poisoning 247 preschoolers, the government’s investigation revealed Sunday.
An investigation by Gansu provincial authorities involving state environmental and health experts concluded that cooks at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Maiji District, Tianshui City added dyes labeled “inedible” to flour to make corn buns with sausage and date cakes. The baked goods were served to children and staff several times a month since May 2024.
The director of the kindergarten, with the approval of the investor, advised the cooks to make the food more colorful and attractive. Laboratory analysis of food samples from the kindergarten revealed excess lead concentrations, which amounted to 1,340 mg/kg in corn buns and 1,052 mg/kg in date cakes, which is significantly higher than the permissible levels.
Based on the testing results, 247 of the 251 children had abnormal blood lead levels, including 14 cases that were found on retesting. In addition, 28 staff members had elevated blood lead levels.
As of Sunday afternoon, all 247 children had been treated in hospital or with clinical nutrition at home. A total of 234 children had completed the first course of treatment and were discharged from hospitals, with one child still hospitalized. Five children who left the daycare last year were also found to have abnormal blood lead levels and are currently being treated at home with clinical nutrition.
According to the experts’ conclusion, after providing medical assistance, the level of lead in the patients’ blood decreased by 40.21 percent, which corresponds to the therapeutic goal.
Law enforcement arrested six suspects, two of whom were remanded in custody and three of whom were released on bail pending investigation. The investigation into the case is ongoing. The provincial disciplinary authorities are investigating 10 local officials, including the head of the provincial health committee and Tianshui city leaders.
The Gansu provincial government has promised to provide all-round support for medical care for children, including providing free treatment and financial assistance to families who choose to receive treatment in other regions. –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.
DHS has accomplished more in six months than most Administrations achieve in an entire term
WASHINGTON – In just six months, President Trump and Secretary Noem have delivered the American people a long list of victories in their mission to secure the homeland and Make America Safe Again.
Under their leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe.
Secured the Southern Border
On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border.
President Trump immediately reinstated “Remain in Mexico” and ended catch-and-release.
Daily border encounters have plunged by 93% since President Trump took office.
Under President Trump’s leadership, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has located over 10,000 unaccompanied children.
Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99%.
President Trump—with $46.5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill—is finishing the border wall. DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill. President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill also includes over $5 billion for new technology and border surveillance.
With the Big Beautiful Bill, CBP will get the resources they need to keep America safe, including $4.1 billion to hire additional personnel, including 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
In June, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in CBP history at 25,228.
The number of nationwide apprehensions in June was also a historic low of just 8,024.
Notably, on June 28, Border Patrol recorded only 136 apprehensions across the entire Southwest Border—the lowest single-day total in agency history.
And in both May and June, U.S. Border Patrol reported zero parole releases—reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to ending catch-and-release policies.
Removed the Worst of the Worst Illegal Aliens
The Trump Administration empowered our brave men and women in law enforcement to use common sense to do their jobs effectively.
DHS returned to using the term “illegal alien” which is the statutory language. President Trump will not allow political correctness to hinder law enforcement.
The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000illegal aliens in 2025 alone.
70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions.
The Big Beautiful Bill will allow ICE to arrest and remove even more criminal aliens by providing $14.4 billion for removals, 10,000 new ICE agents, 80,000 new ICE beds, and a $10,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents. This will help ICE achieve as many as 1 million deportations per year.
As part of 287(g), DHS partnered with the State of Florida and opened Alligator Alcatraz, giving the Trump administration the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered the country illegally under the previous administration. The new facility expands facility and bed space by the thousands.
Operation Tidal Wave, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement partners, resulted in over 800 arrests.
President Trump and Secretary Noem are empowering state and local law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens off our streets. DHS has secured more than 800 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g).
At the direction of President Trump, CBP and ICE began widescale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California. The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.
In July, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. At least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.
After weeks of delays by activist judges, the Department of Homeland Security finally deported eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan.
Delivering Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigration
President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration. President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve.
Incentivizing Historic Self-Deportations
President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U.S. The Trump Administration replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country.
President Trump launched Project Homecoming through a presidential EO. The United States is also offering any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app. So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport.
In addition to offering CBP Home, DHS announced illegal aliens who self-deport through the app will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States. DHS also made CBP Home more user friendly by eliminating certain steps and making it easier than ever for illegal aliens to self-deport.
DHS and DOJ are enforcing our immigration laws and fining illegal aliens who do not depart when they are supposed to. So far, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE.
Restoring Common Sense to America’s Legal Immigration System
President Trump ended the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis. As part of this effort, Secretary Noem terminated the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole programs.
Following victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, DHS began sending termination notices in June, informing the illegal aliens both their parole is terminated, and their parole-based employment authorization is revoked – effective immediately.
DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary. No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens. Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Afghan TPS.
Secretary Noem terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification—meaning Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status—for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from higher tuition to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard University repeatedly abused this privilege and even stonewalled DHS’s request for information.
Initiating a Golden Age in American Air Travel
Secretary Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year. The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies.
TSA ended the “shoes-off” travel policy, allowing passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. This change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.
The Trump administration fully implemented REAL ID enforcement measures nationwide—a law signed 20 years ago. REAL ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens. Most travelers have not even noticed a difference because nearly 94% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant.
Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems.
Fixing Disaster Relief for the 21st Century
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.
President Trump has established the FEMA Review Council to provide recommendations on how to best conduct disaster relief at the federal level.
Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change.
DHS has empowered state and local governments to lead disaster relief efforts without interference from the federal government.
Provided Rapid and Effective Support to Flood Victims in Texas
Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), CBP Border Search, CBP BORSTAR, and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders for search and rescue operations.
FEMA deployed 311 staffers delivering critical intelligence, aerial imagery, and shelter for 171 survivors.
Combined state and federal rescue efforts evacuated and rescued over 1,500 people.
Getting CISA Back on Mission
Under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) censored free speech and targeted Americans.
Under President Trump’s direction, DHS closed CISA’s politically weaponized offices and fired those responsible for abusing their power.
CISA is now back on-mission: Protecting Americans and critical infrastructure from cyberthreats.
CISA is shifting away from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing.
CISA personnel are deployed across 10 regions in support of all 56 states/territories.
CISA is also on the front lines of defending America from cyberattacks.
CISA partnered with the FBI and NSA to ensure state and local governments have information and resources necessary for protection.
CISA is also providing security support for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Secretary Noem discontinued the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) as a part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and removed members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which CISA oversees.
Revolutionizing the Coast Guard
When President Trump came back into office, the Coast Guard faced its greatest readiness crisis since World War II because the Biden Administration left it underfunded and neglected.
President Trump’s order to surge Coast Guard assets to our maritime border changed the game.
In the first few months of the Trump Administration, the Coast Guard seized more cocaine and other illegal drugs than during the entirety of 2024.
For the first time in years, the Coast Guard expects to exceed its recruiting goals.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in more than 4,250 recruits – 1,200 more than the same time last year.
That’s 108% over the goal.
Under Biden, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting goals four years straight.
Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard is unleashing “Force Design 2028,” a revolutionary new blueprint that will make the Coast Guard more agile, more capable, and more responsive than ever before.
Standing up for the American taxpayer
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland.
USCG partially terminated a wasteful Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming U.S. defense capabilities.
The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits.
Secretary Noem cancelled CISA’s expensive headquarters project, saving taxpayers over half a billion dollars.
To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Correctional officers stopped two male persons in custody attempting escape at Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre today (July 20).
At 3.45pm today, two male persons in custody, aged 43 and 56, suddenly dashed out of the dayroom in an attempt to escape while the gate was being unlocked by a correctional officer. Officers at the scene immediately gave chase and called for reinforcement. Both persons in custody concerned were swiftly subdued by officers. During the incident, one of the persons in custody sustained injuries to his arm and legs, while the other sustained injuries to his knees. They did not need to be sent to a public hospital after receiving medical examination and treatment at the institution hospital.
The Correctional Services Department has referred the case to the Police for investigation.
The two persons in custody were sentenced to undergo drug treatment at the institution for the offences of possession of a dangerous drug and ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person in July 2025 and May 2025 respectively.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has received more than a million applications for its 2025/2026 Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP).
This as applications for the programme closed at midnight on Friday, 18 July 2025.
In a statement on Saturday, the SAPS said a total 1 049 998 applications were received.
“A total of 595 049 from female applicants were received with 454 949 submitted by male applicants,” said the SAPS.
Gauteng topped the list of the provinces with the most applications at 267 031 followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 205 802. Limpopo had 115 877 applications followed by the Eastern Cape with 108 709 and Mpumalanga with 100 516.
The Western Cape was the fifth highest with 86 496 followed by Free State with 73 214. North West applicants were 66 167 with the least applications received from the Northern Cape with 26 186.
“[A total] 334 765 applicants are in possession of a NQF 6 (Diploma) and higher qualifications. The SAPS website will no longer receive applications, and the organisation wishes all young people well in this journey to join the service.”
Those whose profiles meet the set requirements will be contacted within three months and due to the high volume of applications received, those who did not meet the requirements will unfortunately not be notified.
The SAPS launched its much-anticipated e-Recruitment drive on 30 June with the deadline set for 18 July 2025.
The Centre on Sunday convened an all-party meeting in the national capital, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urging all political parties to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Rijiju said the government was ready to hold discussions on several key issues, including Operation Sindoor. “The government noted the suggestions of various parties. We have appealed to both the ruling and Opposition sides to work in coordination. Irrespective of ideological differences, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the proper functioning of Parliament,” he said.
Rijiju described the meeting as “constructive” and said representatives from 51 parties participated. “A total of 54 leaders attended, with 40 putting forth the views of their parties. The Opposition shared their priorities; so did NDA partners and non-aligned parties,” he said, adding that final decisions on the schedule of discussions would be taken by the Business Advisory Committee.
On the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on Operation Sindoor — India’s evacuation operation in West Asia — Rijiju said, “This is a very good suggestion. Delegations to countries after the operation were well received. All those experiences should be shared in Parliament.”
He also addressed the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Verma, saying more than 100 MPs have signed the motion and that the process will be undertaken with consensus. “This is not just a government initiative,” he said.
The Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 21.
The government is set to introduce several bills, including the Manipur GST (Amendment) Bill, Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, and the National Sports Governance Bill. Also on the agenda are the Indian Ports Bill, Income Tax Bill, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, and the Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill.
As part of ongoing parliamentary reforms, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has initiated digitisation and transparency measures under the guidance of the Speaker.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that peace in the Union Territory will not be purchased but established by dismantling the entire terror machinery.
Speaking at a function here, the L-G emphasized that the administration is not working to “buy peace,” but to build a lasting and just one in the region.
Sinha said that while no innocent person will be harmed, the guilty will not be spared. He also highlighted the pivotal role being played by the J&K Police in dismantling the terror ecosystem.
“J&K Police has a crucial responsibility to eliminate the support system of terrorists, whether financial, logistical, or otherwise. It is not just the terrorists who must be dealt with, but the entire machinery that supports them,” the L-G stressed.
He criticised the past approach in which individuals linked to terror activities were given government jobs, while victims of terrorism were neglected and left to fend for themselves.
“The administration is now actively working to rehabilitate families who have suffered at the hands of terrorists. Many have lost their loved ones. In some homes, only elderly parents remain after their sons were brutally killed. Thousands were murdered at the behest of Pakistan. On July 13, forty terror victim families in Baramulla were provided appointment letters,” he said.
“Some youths lost their fathers when they were just two years old. Today, we are ensuring that their pain is acknowledged and justice is delivered. Naya Jammu and Kashmir is not just a slogan—it is a reality that has evolved over the past few years. Now, pens and laptops have replaced stones in the hands of the youth. Schools and colleges remain open year-round without hartals. The days of separatist slogans and shutdown calendars are over,” the L-G added.
“Today, our calendars are filled with national and international events,” he said.
L-G Sinha further said that the rattle of guns has been replaced by the hum of factories. People now freely participate in religious and cultural events like Muharram processions and Eid melas, and families can move about without fear—even watching movies in cinema halls.
“People must join hands with the security forces. Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope. And we are committed to making that peace a permanent reality,” he said.
Earlier, L-G said that all properties of terror victims usurped by vested interests backed by terrorists will be restored to their rightful owners by August this year.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that peace in the Union Territory will not be purchased but established by dismantling the entire terror machinery.
Speaking at a function here, the L-G emphasized that the administration is not working to “buy peace,” but to build a lasting and just one in the region.
Sinha said that while no innocent person will be harmed, the guilty will not be spared. He also highlighted the pivotal role being played by the J&K Police in dismantling the terror ecosystem.
“J&K Police has a crucial responsibility to eliminate the support system of terrorists, whether financial, logistical, or otherwise. It is not just the terrorists who must be dealt with, but the entire machinery that supports them,” the L-G stressed.
He criticised the past approach in which individuals linked to terror activities were given government jobs, while victims of terrorism were neglected and left to fend for themselves.
“The administration is now actively working to rehabilitate families who have suffered at the hands of terrorists. Many have lost their loved ones. In some homes, only elderly parents remain after their sons were brutally killed. Thousands were murdered at the behest of Pakistan. On July 13, forty terror victim families in Baramulla were provided appointment letters,” he said.
“Some youths lost their fathers when they were just two years old. Today, we are ensuring that their pain is acknowledged and justice is delivered. Naya Jammu and Kashmir is not just a slogan—it is a reality that has evolved over the past few years. Now, pens and laptops have replaced stones in the hands of the youth. Schools and colleges remain open year-round without hartals. The days of separatist slogans and shutdown calendars are over,” the L-G added.
“Today, our calendars are filled with national and international events,” he said.
L-G Sinha further said that the rattle of guns has been replaced by the hum of factories. People now freely participate in religious and cultural events like Muharram processions and Eid melas, and families can move about without fear—even watching movies in cinema halls.
“People must join hands with the security forces. Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope. And we are committed to making that peace a permanent reality,” he said.
Earlier, L-G said that all properties of terror victims usurped by vested interests backed by terrorists will be restored to their rightful owners by August this year.
Eskom has encouraged all South Africans to use electricity efficiently throughout the rest of the winter season and avoid illegal connections as well as meter bypassing.
“With load shedding suspended and electricity demand rising during the winter period, Eskom has urged all customers to act responsibly and help safeguard the power system,” Eskom said on Friday.
Illegal connections and meter bypassing not only constitute theft but also place immense strain on the network, often leading to transformer overloads, equipment damage, and in severe cases, explosions and extended outages.
“To protect critical infrastructure, Eskom is compelled to implement load reduction by switching off power during peak hours in high-risk, isolated areas to prevent potential damage.
“To help maintain a stable and uninterrupted electricity supply, customers are strongly urged to avoid bypassing meters and refrain from illegal connections,” the power utility said in a statement on Friday.
Electricity should be purchased only through Eskom-accredited vendors, and users are encouraged to regularise their electricity usage.
“These steps are essential to ensuring safe, reliable, and fair access to electricity for all. Eligible households are encouraged to register for free basic electricity with their local municipalities,” Eskom said.
The public has been urged to report any illegal activity impacting Eskom’s infrastructure by contacting the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp on 081 333 3323.
To help manage household electricity consumption, Eskom customers are encouraged to use the Eskom Residential Calculator, a convenient tool for tracking and optimising energy usage: https://www.eskom.co.za/distribution/residential-calculator/
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police are calling for information after a domestic violence incident that occurred in Angurugu this afternoon.
Around 12:05pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that an 18-year-old female had allegedly been stabbed in the head with a spear by a male known to her.
Police and local clinic staff attended and located the victim conscious, with the spear still embedded. The victim has since been conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital via Care Flight in a serious but stable condition.
The alleged offender remains outstanding, and investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference number P25193995. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Photo taken on March 28, 2022 shows the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, into law, marking the country’s first major federal law governing cryptocurrencies.
Passed by a bipartisan majority in Congress, the legislation gave an immediate boost to market sentiment: the total value of cryptoassets surged past $4 trillion, according to CoinGecko, a cryptocurrency data aggregator website.
“This could be perhaps the greatest revolution in financial technology since the birth of the Internet itself,” said Trump.
What are stablecoins?
Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, stablecoins are designed to hold a steady value by being pegged one-to-one to a stable asset, usually to the U.S. dollar. For every stablecoin in circulation, the issuing company is expected to hold equivalent reserves, such as cash or short-term Treasury bonds.
In a Brookings Institution report, stablecoins currently in circulation have a collective market capitalization of over $250 billion with approximately 99% pegged to the U.S. dollar.
Among major stablecoin issuers are Tether (USDT) with a market cap of nearly $161 billion, and Circle (USDC) with about $65 billion, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
“At the end of the day, it’s about being able to send dollars outside of banking hours and to send dollars the way you and I might interact with WhatsApp or messaging platforms,” Circle’s chief strategy officer Dante Disparte told CBS in a recent interview.
With the GENIUS Act passed, banks, nonbanks and credit unions could dive into the market by issuing their own stablecoins, local media reported.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said on the company’s earnings call Tuesday that the bank is considering issuing its own form of the cryptocurrency.
Pros and cons
Stablecoins emerged in 2014 and have since ballooned in popularity particularly for their potential use in digital payments, said Darrell Duffie, a professor of finance at Stanford University.
The total market value of stablecoins soared from $20 billion in 2020 to $246 billion in May 2025, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank.
U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty said stablecoins could allow businesses and consumers to settle payments “nearly instantaneously,” as opposed to the current system, which can take weeks.
In some developing countries, where dollars aren’t easily accessible, firms with international partners are turning to stablecoins to speed up transfers that would otherwise take days or weeks through traditional banks.
However, stablecoins come with mounting concerns. Among the biggest are the depegging risks. If reserve assets lose value or liquidity, stablecoins may break their peg. This can trigger trading losses or systemic market risks to insolvency and liquidity, as seen during the 2023 banking crisis, said a report from S&P Global Ratings.
Another risk is lack of transparency. John Reed Stark, a former top financial regulator who served as chief of the SEC Office of Internet Enforcement, said, “In most instances, we have no visibility to any stablecoins, no public audits, no examinations, no inspections — who knows what is really going on?”
A further concern revolves around the potential use of stablecoins by illicit actors, such as drug dealers and scammers. Zhao Yao, a researcher at Renmin University of China, said that the anonymity and decentralized nature of stablecoins could facilitate money laundering and other illegal transactions.
Implications for U.S. and global finance
The GENIUS Act aligns with Trump’s pledge to make the United States “the crypto capital of the world.”
Christian Catalini, founder of the MIT Cryptoeconomics Lab, said this move could usher in mainstream adoption of stablecoins for digital payments and spur growth in the stablecoin industry.
Lawmakers also passed two other crypto bills, rounding out what Republicans called “Crypto Week.” The Clarity Act will regulate digital commodities beyond stablecoins, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act prevents the Federal Reserve from issuing any retail central bank digital currency directly to Americans. The Trump administration and crypto advocates see the moves as a step toward mainstream adoption, local media reported.
Eneko Knorr, CEO of Stabolut, said that stablecoins “strengthen dollar dominance” by boosting demand for dollars and U.S. Treasuries in global trade — though others like Dean Baker, co-director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, argued that the benefits are “trivial” compared to central bank digital currencies, which offer similar advantages without the risks of private issuers.
However, one point of controversy in this legislation is whether and how to restrict the ability of the president and other federal politicians from issuing stablecoins of their own, wrote a Brookings Institution commentary.
The Trump family has direct ties to crypto ventures, including a meme coin called $TRUMP, and a business called World Liberty Financial, which has launched a stablecoin called USD1 — though the White House has said that there are no conflicts of interest present for Trump and that his assets are in a trust managed by his children.
Hillary Allen, a law professor at American University, said in an interview with CNN that the crypto industry poured money into Trump’s reelection campaign and congressional races. “This is the return on investment for the campaign spending by the crypto industry,” Allen said.
Critics also worry about unintended macroeconomic consequences. The Economist warned if consumers move funds from bank deposits into stablecoins, banks could lose key funding sources, limiting their ability to lend.
It also pointed out an irony in U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s ambition to popularize stablecoins globally: Efforts to expand stablecoin use abroad could backfire economically at home — strengthening the dollar but undermining U.S. exports and trade goals.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California
Washington D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the reported visit of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to Alcatraz announcing a plan to reopen the island’s federal penitentiary:
“With stiff competition, the planned announcement to reopen Alcatraz as a federal penitentiary is the Trump Administration’s stupidest initiative yet. It should concern us all that clearly the only intellectual resources the Administration has drawn upon for this foolish notion are decades-old fictional Hollywood movies.
“Make no mistake: this stupidity is a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from this Administration’s cruelest actions yet in their Big, Ugly Law, which takes away food from children and rips health care from millions to give tax breaks to billionaires. It remains to be seen how this Administration could possibly afford to spend billions to convert and maintain Alcatraz as a prison when they are already adding trillions of dollars to the national debt with their sinful law.
“Should reason not prevail and Republicans bring this absurdity before the Congress, Democrats will use every parliamentary and budgetary tactic available to stop the lunacy.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California
Washington, D.C. – Today on the House Floor, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi denounced the Supreme Court’s recent decision permitting the President to move forward with mass layoffs at the Department of Education. In her remarks, Pelosi described the ruling as a grave blow to the rule of law and a dangerous expansion of executive authority that undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse.
Pointing to the broader consequences of gutting education investments, Pelosi warned that these cuts serve the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the nation’s future.
Watch her full remarks here.
Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below:
Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court’s ridiculous decision this week to allow the President to proceed with mass layoffs at the Department of Education is a grave blow to the rule of law and defies Congressional authority.
Justice Sotomayor’s dissent warns that the Court is ‘enabling the executive branch to undermine Congress’s power of the purse.’ And she is absolutely right.
Perhaps the Republicans in the House, the Senate and the White House do not understand that nothing brings more money to the U.S. Treasury than the education of the American people.
Early childhood education, K-through-12, higher education, post-grad and lifetime learning for our workers.
They’re cutting education to give tax breaks to the richest people at the expense of America’s future—the education of the American people.
The Court’s disregard for the authority of the legislative branch empowers executive overreach at the expense of accountability and democracy.
My colleagues, take pride in being a Member of the House. Support this institution and our constitutional right with the power of the purse.
Japanese voters could unleash political turmoil as they head to the polls on Sunday in a tightly contested upper house election, with rising prices and immigration concerns threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s grip on power.
Opinion polls suggest Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito may fall short of the 50 seats needed to retain control of the 248-seat upper house of parliament, in an election where half the seats are up for grabs.
Polls show that smaller opposition parties pushing for tax cuts and increased public spending are set to gain — among them, the right-wing Sanseito, which vows to curb immigration, oppose foreign capital inflows, and reverse gender equality initiatives.
A poor showing by the coalition could shake investor confidence in the world’s fourth-largest economy and disrupt critical trade talks with the United States, analysts said.
Ishiba may have to choose between stepping aside for a new LDP leader or scrambling to secure the backing of some opposition parties through policy compromises, said Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group in Japan.
“Each scenario requires the LDP and Komeito to make certain concessions, and will be challenging, as any potential partner has leverage in the negotiations,” he added.
After the election, Japan faces a deadline of August 1 to strike a trade deal with the United States or risk punishing tariffs in its largest export market.
Such import levies could squeeze the economy and further pressure the government to provide financial relief to households already reeling from inflation — including a doubling of rice prices since last year.
With an eye on a jittery government bond market, the LDP has called for fiscal restraint, rejecting opposition demands for major tax cuts and increased welfare spending to soften the blow.
Ishiba’s administration lost its majority in the more powerful lower house in October — the LDP’s worst showing in 15 years — roiling financial markets and leaving the prime minister vulnerable to no-confidence motions that could topple his administration and trigger a fresh general election.
Police said a male driver had been shot while being assaulted by onlookers and was taken to a hospital. His condition remains unknown.
Ruled by the LDP for most of the post-war period, Japan has so far largely avoided the social divisions and political fracturing seen in other industrialised democracies.
Voting ends at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT), when media outlets are expected to project results based on exit polls.
Six people, including three children, have been safely retrieved from the Mount Field area this morning after being caught in heavy snow overnight. The family raised the alarm with police shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday, after heavy snowfall meant they could no longer access the walking track. Search Coordinator Callum Herbert said police were able to speak with the group briefly to provide advice. “The walkers were advised to return to the nearby Newdegate Hut and await the rescue crew,” he said. “Due to the extreme weather conditions, the helicopter wasn’t able to reach the area, so a search and rescue team of police and Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedics was sent in on foot.” “The rescue team reached the walkers at the hut shortly before midnight, finding them all safe, but cold and wet.” “Given their condition and the hazardous environment, including strong winds and nearly one foot of snow, we determined it was unsafe to walk them out during the night.” “Medical assistance, food and sleeping bags were provided overnight to ensure everyone could remain safely sheltered.” “The helicopter was sent in once conditions allowed this morning, and the group was safely returned to the visitor centre about 10.30am.” “We are thankful the walkers were able to reach emergency services by phone yesterday, or the outcome could easily have been far worse.” “The Tasmanian family had set off on a planned day walk, but the turn in weather conditions was significant, and the situation quickly became dangerous.”
By the time counting ceased last night, the ABC had the Liberals on 14 seats, Labor on nine, the Greens on five, and three confirmed independents.
The ABC’s projections of the Tasmanian election, captured at 11:15am on July 20th. ABC News
With 65.3% of the vote counted, four seats remained in doubt. There was a small positive swing to the Liberals (3.3%), while a swing against Labor of 3.1% has them on track for their worst primary vote in more than a hundred years. The final seats may not be confirmed for a couple of weeks.
Love, Labor’s lost
At this stage, it looks like Labor’s gambit – instigating the no confidence motion that led to this election – has utterly failed. The party will now need to engage in some sober self-reflection on two fronts.
First, there is the one-dimensional strategy that brought on the election and allowed the Liberals to blame Labor – and leader Dean Winter in particular – for dragging Tasmanians to the polls again.
Labor had hoped that targeting the no confidence motion specifically at Premier Jeremy Rockliff would encourage the conservative-leaning Liberal cabinet to turf out their moderate leader.
It was a near thing. Rockliff’s rivals apparently had almost enough votes to depose him by the time the Governor called the election.
But did anyone at Labor HQ plan for what would happen if their gamble failed and the Liberals held firm under Rockliff? As Labor’s woefully under-prepared campaign stumbled into motion, it seemed the answer was “no”.
Second, there will be questions asked about that lacklustre campaign, just as there were in 2024. An opposition could not ask for more favourable conditions: an 11-year incumbent government suffering a string of high profile policy failures; a looming mountain of debt; and ongoing health, education, housing, cost of living and sustainability challenges.
And yet, Labor suffered negative swings in every seat, and they are battling to match their 2024 result of 10 seats.
Liberals and Greens hold firm
The Liberals will be pleased with the result. In the face of the dire circumstances outlined above, they have secured a positive swing in their primary vote and may pick up one or (at an outside chance) two additional seats.
It doesn’t seem like their pro-stadium stance lost them votes in the north – where the proposal is unpopular – in part because Labor denied themselves a point of difference by also supporting the stadium.
Another important factor in the north was the recruitment of two former federal Liberal MPs in Bass and Braddon, who are both polling well so far. However, their success may come at the expense of sitting Liberal members.
The Greens’ vote held steady, with a projected 0.2% increase in their primary vote. All of their MPs had been returned before the close of counting on Saturday night, and they will be hoping one more can scrape through in Braddon.
The crossbench zoo
As expected, ex-Labor MP David O’Byrne, centre-left Kristie Johnston, and maverick Northwester Craig Garland were all returned. Johnston and Garland, in particlar, seem to have strongly increased their vote shares.
There will be at least one new independent, with anti-salmon farm advocate Peter George securing a very strong primary vote in Franklin off the back of his recent federal campaign.
There is a chance that this broadly progressive crossbench will be joined by climate change denier and pro-gun rights candidate Carlo di Falco (Lyons) from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers.
Where to now?
So how are the major party leaders approaching the looming period of wheeling and dealing? Who’s forming minority government?
Rockliff was the first to address the tally room on election night. He boldly claimed that the voters had re-endorsed his Liberal government – based on their increased vote share – and said he will ask the Governor to recommission him as premier.
However, with only 14 or 15 seats, it will be challenging for the Liberals to implement their agenda in a parliament featuring a crossbench that is, for the most part, solidly progressive and vehemently anti-stadium.
The Greens’ leader, Rosalie Woodruff, also spoke and again extended an offer of cooperation to Labor.
Finally, as election night drew to a close, Labor Leader Dean Winter stepped up to speak. His tonally confused speech began with a tribute to murdered Tasmanian Police Constable Keith Smith, then shifted to the need for a more collaborative approach to politics. Winter left things on a cliffhanger, essentially saying “let’s wait and see”.
Observers in the room noted the speech was strikingly similar to that given by former leader Rebecca White following the 2024 election – shortly before she was replaced by Winter.
Will Labor have a crack at forming government? There would be a few obstacles to this. First, Winter would have to negotiate support from the diverse crossbench, including the Greens, with whom he has previously vowed not to collaborate.
He and Labor have ignored previous opportunities to seize government in this way, the most recent being just five weeks ago. A change in tack at this stage could be difficult to sell.
And if Rockliff forges ahead with his stated plan, Labor and the crossbench would need to vote down a new Liberal minority government on the floor of parliament. Labor would need to be very certain of their ability to govern before doing this – or risk another election.
So while all of the party leaders spoke of maturity and collaboration in their speeches, until actions match words, Tasmanians will be forced to watch the parliamentary shenanigans continue.
Robert Hortle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
NT Police are calling for information following a suspicious structure fire in Braitling on Saturday evening.
Around 6:45pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received multiple reports of a unit on fire at a residential complex on Elliot Street.
Emergency services attended and NT Fire and Rescue Services extinguished the blaze, with a search of the premises confirming no one was inside at the time.
Initial investigations indicate the fire is suspicious, with two mattresses, one on the ground floor and another on the top floor, identified as the points of ignition.
A crime scene was declared, and investigations remain ongoing.
Police urge anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area, or who may have CCTV or dash cam footage around the time of the incident, to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500073181.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
£75 Million boost for hospices to transform end-of-life care
£75 million to modernise facilities and deliver upgrades to hospices across England including specially adapted beds, rooms, and technology.
Families will see further improvements in end-of-life care as the government releases £75 million for hospices to deliver major upgrades and enhancements to facilities including separate family rooms, solar panels to reduce energy costs and communal lounges.
More than 170 hospices across England will receive a share of the funding – the largest cash injection ever – to ensure patients receive the highest quality end-of-life care in comfortable, dignified surroundings.
It follows a £25 million boost in February, delivering the government’s £100 million investment confirmed in December. This is already supporting urgent building repairs and creating warmer, homely spaces.
This cash marks a further step in the delivery of the government’s Plan for Change, improving care in the community where people need it most.
Hospices include Wigan and Leigh – visited by Health Minister Stephen Kinnock this week – which used its funding to replace a flat roof which was leaking. It will use the additional funding to replace its heating system – helping create a better, more comfortable environment for patients and enabling staff to deliver higher quality care.
Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said:
Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most.
At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity.
I have seen first-hand how our funding is already making a real difference to improving facilities for patients and families. This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending.
End-of-life care is crucial to our 10 Year Health Plan and our fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community. We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work.
Other improvements already made at hospices across the country include:
Major building works and modernised facilities
Digital transformation to improve data sharing between healthcare providers
Development of outreach services to extend care beyond physical buildings
Creation of more welcoming spaces for families, including outdoor areas
Energy efficiency measures to improve sustainability
This includes Garden House Hospice Care in Stevenage which has refurbished its integrated procedures unit with eight new specially adapted beds and mattresses and created a separate room for patients’ close family members to spend the night when needed. The hospice has also equipped all its nurses with laptops with single logins to stop them carrying too much equipment when visiting patients.
They now record their notes electronically and have become paperless – nurses can now spend less time on administration and more time focusing on what matters most – providing compassionate care to patients and support to their families.
The new cash injection is for the financial year 2025/26 and will be distributed by Hospice UK to hospices. Hospices have been allocated a pot of funding and will be able to proceed with upgrades, invoicing Hospice UK once work has been completed.
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said:
The announcement in late 2024 of £100 million in capital funding for hospices was welcome recognition from the government of the immense pressure facing hospices, and their urgent need for more financial support.
We were pleased to distribute the first £25 million of this funding early in March. We know this money has made a huge difference to hospices and the next £75 million will continue to help them invest in their buildings, facilities, and digital infrastructure.
While this one-off investment has been very welcome, it’s critical that we continue to work with government to secure long-term reform to ensure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it, whoever and wherever they are.
The government has just emphasised the importance of hospices in their 10 Year Plan for the NHS and the role they can play in shifting care from hospitals into the community. With the right support, there is so much more they can do to realise the vision set out in the 10 Year Plan. We look forward to working with government to make this a reality.
Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie said:
Marie Curie welcome this grant funding, which we will be investing in helping to ensure people living with terminal illness are well cared for across England – whether in our hospice buildings, or in their own homes through improvements in use of digital technology
We look forward to working with the Government to ensure longer-term funding is put in place to ensure the best possible palliative care is sustainably available for everyone who needs it, including in their new neighbourhood health centres in the most deprived communities.
Notes to editors
Hospice UK is managing the distribution without charging administration fees.
Breakdown of funding:
Hospice Names
Service
Region
Region-detail
Value
Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust (Birmingham)
Children
England
West Midlands
906,009
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service (MAIDENHEAD)
Children
England
South Central
143,868
Alice House Hospice (HARTLEPOOL)
Adults
England
North East
182,598
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (CAMBRIDGE)
Adults
England
East Of England
706,038
Ashgate Hospicecare (Chesterfield)
Adults
England
East Midlands
633,770
Barnsley Hospice (Barnsley)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
240,117
Bassetlaw Hospice of the Good Shepherd
Adults
England
East Midlands
21,822
Beaumond House Hospice Care (NEWARK)
Adults
England
East Midlands
98,556
The Hospice Charity Partnership (BIRMINGHAM)
Adults
England
West Midlands
1,113,392
Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice (Sheffield)
Children
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
221,517
Blythe House Hospice (High Peak)
Adults
England
East Midlands
119,874
Bolton Hospice (Bolton)
Adults
England
North West
321,556
Bury Hospice (Bury)
Adults
England
North West
185,022
Butterfly Hospice
Adults
England
East Midlands
36,645
Butterwick Hospice Care (Stockton-on-Tees)
Both
England
North East
181,126
Campden Home Nursing CIO (CHIPPING CAMPDEN)
Adults
England
South West
69,180
Children’s Hospice South West (Barnstaple)
Children
England
South West
814,983
Claire House Children’s Hospice (BEBINGTON)
Children
England
North West
513,514
Compton Care (Wolverhampton)
Adults
England
West Midlands
647,697
Cornwall Hospice Care (ST. AUSTELL)
Adults
England
South West
482,954
Demelza Hospice Care for Children – Demelza Kent (Sittingbourne)
Children
England
South East Coast
726,405
Derian House Children’s Hospice (Chorley)
Children
England
North West
345,812
Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation – Willow Burn Hospice (Lanchester)
Adults
England
North East
71,909
Dorothy House Hospice Care (BRADFORD-ON-AVON)
Adults
England
South West
886,978
Douglas Macmillan Hospice (Stoke-on-trent)
Both
England
West Midlands
985,433
Dove Cottage Day Hospice (Melton Mowbray)
Adults
England
East Midlands
27,927
Dove House Hospice (HULL)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
332,097
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice (Oldham)
Adults
England
North West
277,090
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Cambridge)
Children
England
East Of England
657,927
East Cheshire Hospice (Macclesfield)
Adults
England
North West
388,471
East Lancashire Hospice (Blackburn)
Adults
England
North West
256,539
Eden Valley Hospice (Carlisle)
Both
England
North West
276,661
Ellenor (Northfleet)
Both
England
South East Coast
404,132
Farleigh Hospice (Chelmsford)
Adults
England
East Of England
804,804
Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice (Huddersfield)
Children
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
225,696
Francis House Children’s Hospice (MANCHESTER)
Children
England
North West
456,213
Garden House Hospice (LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY)
Adults
England
East Of England
369,785
Great Oaks Hospice (Coleford)
Adults
England
South West
74,748
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice (LONDON)
Adults
England
London
692,418
Halton Haven Hospice (Runcorn)
Adults
England
North West
166,182
Harlington Hospice Association (KINGS LANGLEY)
Adults
England
London
346,552
Haven House Children’s Hospice (WOODFORD GREEN)
Children
England
London
265,338
Havens Hospices (Southend on Sea)
Both
England
East Of England
783,256
Heart of Kent Hospice (Maidstone)
Adults
England
South East Coast
288,828
Helen and Douglas House Hospice Care for Children and Young Adults (OXFORD)
Children
England
South Central
492,205
Hope House Childrens Hospice (OSWESTRY)
Children
England
West Midlands
434,393
Hospice at Home West Cumbria (WORKINGTON)
Adults
England
North West
101,692
Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland (DALSTON)
Adults
England
North West
93,861
Hospice in the Weald (TUNBRIDGE WELLS)
Both
England
South East Coast
594,580
Hospice of St Francis (Berkhamsted)
Adults
England
East Of England
364,857
Hospice of the Good Shepherd (Chester)
Adults
England
North West
243,555
HospiceCare North Northumberland (ALNWICK)
Adults
England
North East
55,858
Hospiscare (Exeter)
Adults
England
South West
539,545
Isabel Hospice (Welwyn Garden City)
Adults
England
East Of England
349,756
Jessie May (Bristol)
Children
England
South West
68,779
John Eastwood Hospice
Adults
England
East Midlands
37,651
Julia’s House (WIMBORNE)
Children
England
South West
393,945
Kate’s Home Nursing (CHELTENHAM)
Adults
England
South West
26,529
Katharine House Hospice
Adults
England
South Central
106,311
Katharine House Hospice (Stafford) (STAFFORD)
Adults
England
West Midlands
292,620
Keech Hospice Care (STREATLEY)
Both
England
East Of England
569,259
Kemp Hospice (Kidderminster)
Adults
England
West Midlands
65,565
Kirkwood Hospice (HUDDERSFIELD)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
481,264
Lakelands Hospice (Corby)
Adults
England
East Midlands
27,910
Lawrence Home Nursing Team
Adults
England
South Central
28,758
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care (Poole)
Adults
England
South West
146,139
Lindsey Lodge Hospice (Scunthorpe)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
233,137
Longfield (Minchinhampton)
Adults
England
South West
150,687
LOROS Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice (Leicester)
Adults
England
East Midlands
908,253
Marie Curie (Head office) (LONDON)
Adults
National
National
3,741,578
Martin House (WETHERBY)
Children
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
435,788
Mary Ann Evans Hospice (Nuneaton)
Adults
England
West Midlands
111,447
Mary Stevens Hospice (STOURBRIDGE)
Adults
England
West Midlands
249,600
Mountbatten Isle of Wight (NEWPORT)
Adults
England
South Central
995,867
Naomi House and Jacksplace Children’s Hospice (Winchester)
Children
England
South Central
363,155
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice (Barnet)
Children
England
London
343,815
North Devon Hospice (Barnstaple)
Adults
England
South West
309,979
North London Hospice (London)
Adults
England
London
849,842
Saint Michael’s Hospice (HARROGATE)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
419,864
Nottinghamshire Hospice (NOTTINGHAM)
Adults
England
East Midlands
216,116
Oakhaven Hospice (LYMINGTON)
Adults
England
South Central
469,395
Overgate Hospice (Elland)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
251,077
Pendleside Hospice (Burnley)
Adults
England
North West
285,768
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice (FARNHAM)
Adults
England
South East Coast
827,194
Pilgrims Hospices In East Kent (Canterbury)
Adults
England
South East Coast
872,396
Primrose Hospice (Bromsgrove)
Adults
England
West Midlands
86,956
Princess Alice Hospice (Esher )
Adults
England
South East Coast
792,957
Priscilla Bacon Hospice Care Ltd
Adults
England
East Of England
11,537
Prospect Hospice (Wroughton)
Adults
England
South West
380,937
Queenscourt Hospice (SOUTHPORT)
Adults
England
North West
411,471
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Loughborough)
Children
England
East Midlands
433,026
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care (WATFORD)
Both
England
East Of England
835,737
Richard House Children’s Hospice (London)
Children
England
London
257,538
Rosemary Foundation – Hospice at Home (PETERSFIELD)
Adults
England
South Central
51,690
Rossendale Hospice (Rawtenstall)
Adults
England
North West
75,687
Rotherham Hospice (ROTHERHAM)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
363,202
Rowcroft – The Torbay and South Devon Hospice (Toruqay)
Adults
England
South West
474,903
Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
Adults
England
London
954,730
Saint Catherine’s Hospice (Scarborough)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
313,138
Saint Francis Hospice (Havering-Atte-Bower)
Adults
England
London
573,393
Severn Hospice (Shrewsbury)
Adults
England
West Midlands
688,781
Shipston Home Nursing (Shipston-on-Stour)
Adults
England
West Midlands
30,618
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices (Hampton)
Children
England
South East Coast
509,193
Sidmouth Hospice at Home
Adults
England
South West
50,777
Sobell Hospice Charity Limited
Adults
England
South Central
235,825
South Bucks Hospice (HIGH WYCOMBE)
Adults
England
South Central
57,314
St Barnabas Hospices (WORTHING)
Both
England
South East Coast
1,864,066
Springhill Hospice (Rochdale)
Adults
England
North West
335,915
St Andrew’s Hospice (Grimsby) (Grimsby)
Both
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
277,767
St Ann’s Hospice (CHEADLE)
Adults
England
North West
677,719
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice (Lincoln)
Adults
England
East Midlands
709,550
St Catherine’s Hospice (Crawley) (Crawley)
Adults
England
South East Coast
609,426
St Catherine’s Hospice, Lancashire (Lostock Hall, Preston)
Adults
England
North West
500,160
St Christopher’s Hospice (LONDON)
Adults
England
London
1,569,819
St Clare West Essex Hospice Care Trust (Hastingwood)
Adults
England
East Of England
434,835
St Cuthbert’s Hospice (DURHAM)
Adults
England
North East
205,458
St Elizabeth Hospice (Ipswich)
Adults
England
East Of England
714,417
St Gemma’s Hospice (LEEDS)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
675,424
St Giles Hospice (LICHFIELD)
Adults
England
West Midlands
641,379
St Helena Hospice (COLCHESTER)
Adults
England
East Of England
711,249
St John’s Hospice
Adults
England
London
440,816
St John’s Hospice, Lancaster (Lancaster)
Adults
England
North West
379,872
St Joseph’s Hospice (London) (London )
Adults
England
London
938,909
St Joseph’s Hospice Association (LIVERPOOL)
Adults
England
North West
200,161
St Leonard’s Hospice (YORK)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
426,238
St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice (Winsford)
Adults
England
North West
252,533
St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon) (BASILDON)
Adults
England
East Of England
453,446
St Luke’s Hospice (Harrow And Brent) (Harrow)
Adults
England
London
527,405
St Luke’s Hospice (Sheffield) (Sheffield)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
770,529
St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth (Plymouth)
Adults
England
South West
665,871
St Margaret’s Hospice (Somerset) (TAUNTON)
Adults
England
South West
611,916
St Mary’s Hospice (Ulverston)
Adults
England
North West
258,538
St Michael’s Hospice (BASINGSTOKE)
Adults
England
South Central
258,005
St Michael’s Hospice (Hastings & Rother) (St. Leonards-on-Sea)
Adults
England
South East Coast
440,829
St Michael’s Hospice (Hereford) (Hereford)
Adults
England
West Midlands
499,423
St Nicholas Hospice Care (Bury St Edmunds)
Adults
England
East Of England
292,742
St Oswald’s Hospice (Newcastle upon Tyne)
Both
England
North East
751,441
St Peter & St James Hospice (North Chailey )
Adults
England
South East Coast
234,096
St Peter’s Hospice (Bristol)
Adults
England
South West
753,756
St Raphael’s Hospice (SUTTON)
Adults
England
London
395,307
St Richard’s Hospice (Worcester)
Adults
England
West Midlands
512,652
St Rocco’s Hospice (Warrington)
Adults
England
North West
265,263
St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Chichester) (Bosham)
Adults
England
South East Coast
423,855
St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne) (Eastbourne )
Adults
England
South East Coast
537,573
Sue Ryder ( London)
Adults
National
National
3,750,000
Teesside Hospice Care Foundation (Middlesbrough)
Adults
England
North East
224,192
Thames Hospice (Maidenhead)
Adults
England
South Central
672,002
The Darlington & District Hospice Movement (St Teresa’s Hospice) (Darlington)
Adults
England
North East
230,736
The Myton Hospices (Warwick)
Adults
England
West Midlands
671,378
The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House (Kings Lynn)
Adults
England
East Of England
244,593
The Prince of Wales Hospice (Pontefract)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
211,175
The Rowans Hospice (Waterlooville)
Adults
England
South Central
513,362
The Shakespeare Hospice (Stratford Upon Avon)
Adults
England
West Midlands
96,648
Treetops Hospice Care (RISLEY)
Adults
England
East Midlands
196,402
Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services (Blackpool)
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Los Angeles Field Division is on scene with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisting with the investigation of an explosion that claimed the lives of three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives earlier today. Additionally, ATF has activated its National Response Team to deploy to the scene of the explosion located at Biscailuz Training Center at 1060 N. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, California.
NRT provides an immediate and sustained nationwide response capability, typically deploying within 24 hours of notification, with state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified ATF personnel specializing in explosives investigations.
ATF’s NRT consists of Special Agents, Certified Fire Investigators, a Forensic Chemist, Intelligence Research Specialist, Certified Explosives Specialist, Law Enforcement Training Specialist, Fire Protection Engineer, Electrical Engineer and an Accelerant Detection Canine with handler.
“ATF is here to work alongside our local partners and share whatever resources we have to help determine the cause of this explosion,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kenneth R. Cooper, of the Los Angeles Field Division. “While the pain of this loss will always be felt, we hope our efforts provide the answers a tragedy like this demands.”
This is the 14th NRT activation this fiscal year and the 934th since the program began in 1978. The team brings definitive expertise and an array of state-of-the-art equipment to the investigation of major explosives and fire incidents. The team can rapidly respond to assist local and state law enforcement or fire service personnel in onsite investigations.
“Anytime a first responder loses their life in the line of duty, it is a tragic loss to the community and this nation,” said Brian Lovin, the supervisor of ATF’s NRT. “We are heartbroken for the family, friends and fellow deputies, and vow to work alongside our partners with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to determine how and why this tragedy occurred.”
Past NRT activations include such incidents as: more than 200 fire scenes resulting from civil unrest throughout the Midwest in 2020, a series of bombings in Austin, Texas in 2018; and national-level incidents such as the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon; the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta; the Oklahoma City bombing and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The NRT was most recently deployed to Esparto, Calif. for an explosion and fire at a fireworks facility.
ATF is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating this explosion. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.
Detectives are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man seen in CCTV footage, following a sexual assault in May.
A woman in her 30s reported that a man sexually assaulted her in Hammersmith Grove, W6 at around 03:40hrs on Sunday, 18 May.
She is currently being supported by specialist officers.
On the morning of the assault, the victim was followed by a man as she walked along Hammersmith Grove, past Hammersmith Underground station. He caught up to her and sexually assaulted her before running off towards Hammersmith Broadway.
After the victim reported the sexual assault, officers launched an immediate investigation.
They tracked the man’s movements on CCTV before the offence – where he was seen walking along King Street, Hammersmith. Following the assault, he was seen running north on Park Road towards Browning Avenue before heading into a residential area.
He is described as white, in his 20s and approximately 5ft 8in to 6ft tall. He has dark hair and was wearing a black North Face jacket, black trousers and white trainers.
Detective Superintendent Lucy O’Connor, leading the Met’s investigation, said: “Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets of London without being attacked. That is why we need to identify a man in connection with this incident and are now asking the public to help.
“If you were in the area on the morning of Sunday, 18 May or if you recognise the man in the footage, please contact us as soon as possible.”
If you have any relevant information to share, please call 101 providing the reference 01/7513051/25 or message @MetCC on X.
QAnon supporters wait for Donald Trump to speak at a campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation on September 22, 2020, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.eff Swensen/Getty Images
In early 2025, a federal court unsealed portions of the court documents. While names of some of the alleged clients and victims were released, many were redacted or withheld.
Epstein’s arrest and death became a central focus for QAnon followers, who saw them as proof of a hidden global elite engaged in child trafficking and protected by powerful institutions. The release – or withholding – of the Epstein files is often cited within QAnon movement circles as evidence of a broader cover-up by the so-called “deep state.”
Some followers of the MAGA – Make America Great Again – movement and the Republican Party believe in the false claim that the United States is secretly controlled by a cabal of elites who are pedophiles, sex traffickers and satanists.
Over time, what started as a baseless conspiracy on obscure platforms has migrated into the mainstream. It has influenced rhetoric and policy debates, and even reshaped the American political landscape. The foundational belief of many of the QAnon followers is that Trump is a heroic figure fighting the elite pedophile ring.
Trump’s attempts at downplaying or obstructing the very disclosures they believe would validate their worldview has led to confusion. To some, the delay in the release of the files feels like a betrayal, or even the possibility of his wrongdoing. Others are trying to reinterpret Trump’s actions through increasingly baseless conspiracy logic.
Trump has publicly dismissed demands for the full release of the Epstein Files as a “hoax.” He has also made false claims. On July 15, 2025, Trump said: “And I would say that, you know, these files were made up by Comey. They were made up by Obama.”
As a scholar who studies extremism, I know that the movement views Trump as a mythological figure and it interprets Trump’s actions to fit this overarching narrative – an elasticity which makes the movement both durable and dangerous.
From Pizzagate to QAnon
The QAnon movement began with the Pizzagate conspiracy theory in 2016, which falsely claimed that high-ranking Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of a Washington, D.C., pizzeria. The baseless theory gained enough online momentum that a man armed with an assault rifle stormed the restaurant, seeking to “free the children.”
In 2017, an anonymous figure called “Q” began posting cryptic messages on message boards like 4chan and 8kun. The baseless accusations of a global network of elites involved in controlling global institutions, including governments, businesses, and the media, as well as operating a child trafficking and ritual abuse, were central to the QAnon movement’s narrative.
Supporters of President Donald Trump with messages referring to the QAnon conspiracy theory at a campaign rally at Las Vegas Convention Center on February 21, 2020. Mario Tama/Getty Images
The movement has recruited followers through language like “Save the Children,” to mobilize around issues of child trafficking.
The QAnon movement recruits new followers through appeals to stop child trafficking. Hollie Adams/Getty Images
QAnon followers perceived Trump as a messianic figure working to expose this cabal in a climactic reckoning known as “The Storm” – a moment when mass arrests would finally bring justice.
They claimed that this moment would eventually bring about a “Great Awakening,” a reference to the religious revivalist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries. In this context the phrase described the supposed political and spiritual enlightenment that would follow “The Storm” – a moment of mass realization when people would “wake up” to the truth about the “deep state.”
In 2019, the FBI identified QAnon as a domestic terrorism threat, and major social media platforms began banning related content, but by then, QAnon had bled into mainstream conservative politics. Q-endorsing candidates, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, ran for and won elected office a year later.
Trump and QAnon
During Trump’s first administration – from 2017 to 2021 – the QAnon movement flourished. The posts from Q claimed to reveal insider knowledge of a secret war being waged by the president, often in coordination with the military, against the powerful elite.
Trump’s rhetoric, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election, gave new life to QAnon narratives. When he questioned the integrity of the electoral process, QAnon followers interpreted it as confirmation of the deep state’s meddling.
However, after Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race, QAnon followers revised their original prophecy to maintain belief in “The Storm” and “The Great Awakening.” Some claimed the defeat was part of a larger secret plan, with Biden’s presidency serving as a cover for exposing the deep state. Some believed Trump remained the true president behind the scenes, while others reframed the awakening as a spiritual rather than political event.
At various campaign rallies in 2022 and after Trump used the movement’s symbolism. On Truth Social, his social media platform, he retweeted Q-affiliated accounts, and praised QAnon supporters as “people who love our country.” That same year he reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.”
After the 2020 elections
Trump’s departure from the White House in January 2021 created an existential crisis for the QAnon movement. Predictions that he would declare martial law or arrest Joe Biden and other Democrats on Inauguration Day failed to materialize. Q’s posts also stopped, leaving many followers adrift.
Some abandoned the theory. Others rationalized the failed predictions or embraced new conspiracy narratives, such as the belief that Trump was still secretly in charge or that the military would soon act to reinstate him.
Estimating the number of QAnon believers is difficult because many individuals do not openly identify with the movement, and those who do often hold a range of loosely connected or partial beliefs rather than adhering to a consistent or uniform ideology. Not everyone who shares a Q meme or echoes a Q talking point identifies as being part of the movement.
That said, surveys by groups like the 2024 Public Religion Research Institute and the Associated Press have found that 15–20% of Americans believe in some of QAnon’s core claims, such as the existence of a secret group of Satan-worshipping elites controlling the government.
This does not mean all these people are hardcore QAnon adherents, but it does show how far the narrative, or parts of it, has seeped into mainstream thinking.
Epstein as evidence of ‘the cabal’
The Trump administration’s failure to disclose the information in Epstein files has fueled internal confusion, disillusionment and even radicalization within the movement.
For some QAnon believers, this failure was a turning point: if Trump – once seen as the hero in the conspiracy narrative – would not or could not reveal the truth, then the “deep state” must be more entrenched than imagined.
At the same time, frustrations have grown within MAGA and the QAnon movement’s spaces. Some see it as a failure to fulfill one of his most important promises: exposing elite pedophiles. Others believe the delay is strategic, another example of “the plan” requiring more patience.
The QAnon movement continues to evolve, even as its central figure hedges and hesitates, showing how potent myths can be in times of uncertainty. In my view, understanding why this belief continues to gain traction is essential for understanding the current state of American democracy.
Art Jipson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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
VIENNA, July 19 (Xinhua) — The International Mediation Organization (IMO) will become the leading intergovernmental organization helping resolve international disputes through mediation, Li Song, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Vienna, said at a reception for the IMO held on the sidelines of the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Noting that the UN Charter clearly states that mediation is one of the preferred methods for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, Li Song said the IGO will be the world’s first intergovernmental legal organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation.
UNCITRAL Secretary Anne Joubin-Bret noted that she attended the signing ceremony of the Convention Establishing IGOs in Hong Kong in May this year. She expressed hope that in the future the organization will strengthen cooperation with UNCITRAL to jointly promote the development of the international legal order.
IGO is an important global public good provided by China jointly with like-minded countries to meet the development trend and demand for international mediation.
Under the IGO Convention, the organization will provide mediation services to settle three types of international disputes submitted by the parties by mutual consent expressed before or after the dispute has arisen: disputes between States, commercial or investment disputes between a State and a national of another State, and international commercial disputes between individuals. –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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (L, front) leaves the headquarters of Criminal Police of Brazil where he was fitted with an electronic anklet for monitoring, in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 18, 2025. A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.(Xinhua/Lucio Tavora)
A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the measures include nightly house arrest on weekdays, full-time house arrest on weekends and holidays, wearing an electronic ankle monitor, and a ban on contacting foreign diplomats or visiting embassies and consulates, the supreme court said in a press release.
According to the release, the former president and his son had lobbied in the United States to solicit sanctions against Brazilian officials.
The justice stated that Brazil’s sovereignty will never be negotiated, reaffirming the supreme court’s determination to defend democratic and constitutional principles.
The decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian exports effective Aug. 1. Trump linked the hefty tariffs to the ongoing legal proceedings against Bolsonaro.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reacts during a special session at the Brazilian Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, July 17, 2025. A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.(Xinhua/Lucio Tavora)
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) leaves the headquarters of Criminal Police of Brazil where he was fitted with an electronic anklet for monitoring, in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 18, 2025. A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.(Xinhua/Lucio Tavora)
United States immigration and deportation enforcement continues to ramp up, impacting on Marshallese and Micronesians in new and unprecedented ways.
The Trump administration’s directive to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and deport massive numbers of potentially illegal aliens, including those with convictions from decades past, is seeing Marshallese and Micronesians swept up by ICE.
The latest unprecedented development is Marshallese and Micronesians being removed from the United States to the offshore detention facility at the US Navy base in Guantánamo Bay — a facility set up to jail terrorists suspected of involvement in the 9/11 airplane attacks in the US in 2001.
Marshall Islands Ambassador to the US Charles Paul this week confirmed a media report that one Marshallese was currently incarcerated at Guantánamo, which is also known as “GTMO”.
The same report from nationnews.com said 72 detainees from 26 countries had been sent to GTMO last week, including from the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.
A statement issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE operations, concerning detention of foreigners with criminal records at GTMO said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was using “every tool available to get criminal illegal aliens off our streets and out of our country.”
But the action was criticised by a Marshallese advocate for citizens from the Compact countries in the US.
‘Legal, ethical concerns’ “As a Compact of Free Association (COFA) advocate and ordinary indigenous citizen of the Marshallese Islands, I strongly condemn the detention of COFA migrants — including citizens from the Republic of the Marshall Islands — at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay,” Benson Gideon said in a social media post this week.
“This action raises urgent legal, constitutional, and ethical concerns that must be addressed without delay.”
Since seeing the news about detention of a Marshallese in this US facility used to hold suspected terrorists, Ambassador Paul said he had “been in touch with ICE to repatriate one Marshallese being detained.”
Paul said he was “awaiting all the documents pertaining to the criminal charges, but we were informed that the individual has several felony and misdemeanor convictions. We are working closely with ICE to expedite this process.”
Gideon said bluntly the detention of the Marshallese was a breach of Compact treaty obligations.
“The COFA agreement guarantees fair treatment. Military detention undermines this commitment,” he said.
Gideon listed the strong Marshallese links with the US — service in high numbers in the US military, hosting of the Kwajalein missile range, US military control of Marshall Islands ocean and air space — as examples of Marshallese contributions to the US.
‘Treated as criminals’ “Despite these sacrifices, our people are being treated as criminals and confined in a facility historically associated with terrorism suspects,” he said.
“I call on the US Embassy in Majuro to publicly address this injustice and work with federal agencies to ensure COFA Marshallese residents are treated with dignity and fairness.
“If we are good enough to host your missile ranges, fight in your military, and support your defence strategy, then we are good enough to be protected — not punished. Let justice, transparency, and respect prevail.”
There were 72 immigration detainees at Guantánamo Bay, 58 of them classified as high-risk and 14 in the low-risk category, reported nationnews.com.
The report added that the criminal records of the detainees include convictions for homicide; sexual offences, including against children; child pornography; assault with a weapon; kidnapping; drug smuggling; and robbery.
Civil rights advocates have called the detention of immigration detainees at Guantanamo Bay punitive and unlawful, arguing in an active lawsuit that federal law does not allow the government to hold those awaiting deportation outside of US territory.
In other US immigration and deportation developments:
The delivery last month by US military aircraft of 18 Marshallese deported from the US and escorted by armed ICE agents is another example of the ramped-up deportation focus of the Trump administration. Since the early 2000s more than 300 Marshall Islanders have been deported from the US. Prior to the Trump administration, past deportations were managed by US Marshals escorting deportees individually on commercial flights.
According to Marshall Islands authorities, there have not been any deportations since the June 10 military flight to Majuro, suggesting that group deportations may be the way the Trump administration handles further deportations.
Individual travellers flying into Honolulu whose passports note place of birth as Kiribati are reportedly now being refused entry. This reportedly happened to a Marshallese passport holder late last month who had previously travel
led in and out of the US without issue.
Most Marshallese passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to the US, though there are different levels of access to the US based on if citizenship was gained through naturalisation or a passport sales programme in the 1980s and 1990s.
US Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Laura Stone said, however, that “the visa-free travel rules have not changed.”
She said she could not speak to any individual traveller’s situation without adequate information to evaluate the situation.
She pointed out that citizenship “acquired through naturalisation, marriage, investment, adoption” have different rules. Stone urged all travellers to examine the rules carefully and determine their eligibility for visa-free travel.
“If they have a question, we would be happy to answer their enquiry at ConsMajuro@state.gov,” she added.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
