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Australia Nauru Deportation Deal Sparks Controversy

Australia flag (Baona/Getty via Canva Pro)

Australia will pay the Pacific island nation of Nauru to permanently resettle foreign-born criminals who cannot be deported or imprisoned indefinitely, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Monday. The deal follows a 2023 High Court ruling that struck down Australia’s practice of holding such individuals in indefinite immigration detention.

Albanese declined to confirm reports that Canberra would provide an upfront payment of AU$400 million ($262 million) and AU$70 million ($46 million) annually to Nauru to sustain the arrangement. “People who have no right to be here need to be found somewhere to go, if they can’t go home,” the prime minister told ABC. “If they can’t be sent back to their country of origin because of refoulement provisions… then we need to find another country for them to go to.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke signed the memorandum of understanding with Nauruan President David Adeang on Friday. Adeang stated Sunday that the deal ensures “the proper treatment and long-term residence of people who have no legal right to stay in Australia.” Funding from Australia, he added, will also bolster Nauru’s economic resilience.

The plan will activate once Nauru receives its first transferees, who will be granted long-term visas. The Asylum Seeker Resource Center said Nauru is expected to issue 280 visas, though new legislation in Australia could broaden the scope dramatically. Advocacy groups warn that as many as 80,000 individuals could face deportation under the plan.

The arrangement stems from the NZYQ case, in which a Rohingya man convicted of child rape challenged his indefinite detention and won release. More than 200 non-deportable migrants have since been freed, with several reoffending. Officials acknowledge complexities remain, including legal appeals by deportees.

Epping Migrant Hotel Ruling Triggers Tax Revolt

Tower Bridge in London, England (Charles Postiaux/Unsplash)

Residents in Epping, Essex, are threatening a tax rebellion after the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court injunction to close the Bell Hotel, now being used to house asylum seekers. The ruling followed arguments from the Home Office that obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights outweighed local safety concerns.

The hotel became the center of controversy after an Ethiopian migrant housed there was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The incident sparked widespread protests, prompting the local council to seek legal intervention to shut the facility. But on Friday, the Court of Appeal sided with the government, declaring that housing asylum seekers took precedence over the objections of residents.

The decision has fueled anger across the town. Local mother Sarah White told the Daily Mail, “We are outraged by what happened in court. We feel very vulnerable. Our children return to school tomorrow. What is the point of paying our council tax if it is being directly used to fund a place which houses alleged sex attackers?” She added that young girls were being followed and that the situation created “huge worry and anxiety” for families.

Another resident, Sarah Corner, said, “We need to take a stand. Enough is enough. Our taxes are funding the hotel, the police and all the costs associated with it. That’s not what it should be for.” One local, who remained anonymous, vowed to stop paying entirely, even if it meant prison time.

The Epping Forest Council announced it may appeal to the UK Supreme Court, pledging to “fight on every front” until the Bell Hotel is closed. At least 19 other councils are preparing legal challenges, including all 12 under Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Party. Farage accused the government of “siding with illegal migrants over British mothers.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed Sunday that the government believes asylum rights supersede local frustration, deepening tensions between Westminster and communities across the country.

Trump Eyes 10-Year Gaza Redevelopment Plan

protest
Protest (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a sweeping proposal to take control of Gaza for a decade, relocate much of its population, and rebuild the enclave into a high-tech hub. The plan, outlined in a 38-page prospectus obtained by The Washington Post, envisions both voluntary departures and temporary relocation of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents.

Under the plan, each Palestinian who leaves would receive a $5,000 payment, plus subsidies for four years of rent abroad and one year of food assistance. Landowners would be issued digital tokens through a new entity called the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation Trust (GREAT Trust). These tokens could finance relocation or eventually be redeemed for housing in one of several new “AI-powered, smart cities” to be constructed inside Gaza.

The initiative projects that 25% of Gazans would choose to leave, with three-quarters of those expected to resettle permanently. The remainder of the population would live in “restricted, secured zones” during a 10-year reconstruction period, after which permanent housing would be available.

Financial planning for the project was developed with the Boston Consulting Group, while Israeli architects of the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation played a key role in drafting the proposal. The same group is currently overseeing food distribution in Gaza.

The plan’s long-term vision positions Gaza as a central node in Trump’s proposed India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), transforming the territory from a conflict zone into a hub for manufacturing, data, trade, and tourism. “Gaza can transform into a Mediterranean hub,” the prospectus declares, emphasizing Israeli technology and Gulf state investment as key drivers.

The proposal, resembling the earlier “Gaza 2035” blueprint leaked in May 2024, would fundamentally reimagine the enclave while seeking to end its role as an Iranian-backed stronghold.

India Offers to Drop Tariffs After Trump Pressure

Modi and Putin
(Photo by Ramil Sitdikov/Host Photo Agency/Ria Novosti via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that India is offering to cut tariffs imposed on U.S. goods.

“What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest ‘client,’ but we sell them very little – Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades,” Trump said.

“The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!” he added.

Trump’s statement comes as Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping over the weekend. Discussing his meeting with Putin, Modi said the countries aim to “deepen bilateral cooperation in all spheres, including trade, fertilizers, space, security, and culture” and “exchanged views on regional and global processes, including the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.”

President Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian imports took effect on August 27, marking a significant escalation in U.S.-India trade tensions. Modi said at the time, “We should become self-reliant – not out of desperation, but out of pride… Economic selfishness is on the rise globally and we mustn’t sit and cry about our difficulties, we must rise above and not allow others to hold us in their clutches.”

Robert Mueller Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who led the investigation into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his family told The New York Times.

“Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021,” the family said in a statement to the Times. “He retired from the practice of law at the end of that year. He taught at his law school alma mater during the fall of both 2021 and 2022, and he retired at the end of 2022. His family asks that his privacy be respected.”

People familiar with Mueller’s health said that in recent months, he has had difficulty speaking and has experienced mobility issues.

The news comes as Mueller was set to appear before Congress on Tuesday to testify on the Epstein case, although the House Oversight Committee withdrew its subpoena due to his health conditions.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) wrote in his letter to Mueller last month that “during your tenure as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2001 to 2013, the FBI investigated Jeffrey Epstein for sex crimes.”

“The Committee may use the results of this investigation to inform legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations,” Comer added. “Because you were FBI Director during the time when Mr. Epstein was under investigation by the FBI, the Committee believes that you possess knowledge and information relevant to its investigation.”

Gorka Confronts CNN Over Transgender Identity of School Shooter

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Sebastian Gorka, former White House deputy assistant, sparred with CNN anchor Brianna Keilar over whether the transgender identity of Minneapolis school shooter Robin Westman was relevant to national discussion. The exchange occurred on State of the Union as Gorka pressed the importance of examining ideological motivations in targeted school attacks.

Westman, a 23-year-old alumnus of Annunciation Catholic School, opened fire at the campus, killing several victims before being stopped by police. Authorities later confirmed Westman identified as transgender and had weapons marked with anti-Christian and political messages, including “Kill Trump.” The case quickly became a flashpoint in debates over whether ideology, gender identity, or mental health played a defining role in the attack.

Keilar argued that focusing on Westman’s gender identity was a distraction from the larger problem of gun violence. She cited a U.S. Secret Service study showing that the overwhelming majority of mass attackers in recent years were men, not individuals who identified as transgender. Gorka responded that such data conflates gang violence and suicides with ideologically motivated attacks on schools, and insisted that a growing pattern of shooters with gender or identity conflicts targeting Christian institutions cannot be ignored.

Gorka stated that there have been at least seven recent mass shootings involving transgender or gender-conflicted individuals, and that ideological motives must be taken seriously when faith-based communities are deliberately targeted. He accused CNN of pushing “pseudo facts” to downplay the shooter’s identity and intentions, while ignoring the role ideology plays in shaping violence against Christian and conservative institutions.

The exchange underscored the broader divide between conservative and liberal narratives on mass violence. While progressives tend to frame the issue primarily as gun control or mental health, conservatives like Gorka argue that ideology—including radical gender politics and anti-Christian hostility—plays a direct and dangerous role.

Noem Accuses CBS of Whitewashing MS-13 Smuggler’s Crimes

60 minutes
CBS News (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused CBS News of editing her interview on Face the Nation to conceal critical details about Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s criminal background. Noem said CBS cut portions where she described Garcia as a human smuggler, MS-13 gang member, domestic abuser, and predator who solicited nude photos from minors.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, CBS removed more than four minutes from Noem’s interview, including nearly 30 seconds where she provided the most damning details about Garcia’s criminal record. In the unaired portion, Noem said Garcia’s own human trafficking associates had told him to stop because of the disturbing way he treated children.

In the broadcast version, CBS aired only her general statement that Garcia should not “walk free in the United States.” Noem later accused the network of attempting to “whitewash” the case, saying that Americans deserve to know the full truth about criminals being detained and deported.

Garcia, a Salvadoran national, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and faces deportation. His lawyers are pushing back, requesting that a federal judge block officials from making what they call “baseless public attacks.” CBS has not addressed the allegations of selective editing, but the missing footage has been confirmed by DHS.

The controversy highlights tensions between the Trump administration and major media outlets over coverage of immigration enforcement. Noem has made it clear that the administration will continue to prioritize the deportation of violent offenders, while calling out media organizations that, in her words, downplay the threat posed by illegal immigrants tied to gangs and trafficking networks.

Pirro Slams ‘Elitist’ D.C. Jurors for Failing to Indict Sandwich Attacker

(Bermix Studio/Unsplash)

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, blasted Washington grand jurors after they declined to indict a former DOJ paralegal on felony assault charges for throwing a sandwich at a federal officer. Pirro argued that jurors from wealthy neighborhoods are failing to take crime seriously, undermining federal law enforcement efforts in the nation’s capital.

Sean Charles Dunn, 37, allegedly hurled a “sub-style sandwich” at a Customs and Border Protection officer during a federal operation. The incident was caught on video and circulated widely online. Prosecutors sought a felony indictment, but the grand jury refused, leaving only misdemeanor charges on the table. Dunn is now expected to face trial on a lesser assault charge that does not require grand jury approval.

Pirro told Fox News that jurors from affluent neighborhoods like Georgetown are desensitized to crime and dismissive of law enforcement concerns. She said that D.C. residents in such areas “don’t take crime seriously” and therefore diminish the severity of cases that directly impact public safety. Pirro emphasized that her office will continue to pursue the strongest charges allowed under federal law, even when jurors resist.

The decision reflects a broader pattern in Washington. In recent months, several high-profile prosecutions have stalled when juries declined to approve felony charges sought by federal prosecutors. The resistance complicates the Trump administration’s law-and-order push, which includes expanded federal presence in D.C. and tougher penalties for attacks on law enforcement officers.

Federal prosecutors intend to move forward with the case under the misdemeanor charge, which bypasses the grand jury process. Pirro has signaled that her office will not scale back its approach, warning that attacks on law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.

Pirro’s rebuke underscores the clash between aggressive federal enforcement under President Trump and the reluctance of local jurors to deliver felony indictments. The outcome of this case will be closely watched as a measure of whether federal prosecutors can impose stricter accountability in a city where crime has become increasingly normalized.

Giuliani Injured in New Hampshire Crash After Aiding Domestic Violence Victim

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: Rudy Giuliani, the former personal lawyer for former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks with reporters outside of the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. District Courthouse after a verdict was reached in his defamation jury trial on December 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. A jury has ordered Giuliani to pay $148 million in damages to Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, age 81, was seriously injured in a car accident on the evening of August 30, 2025 in New Hampshire. Giuliani had pulled over to assist a woman who identified herself as a domestic violence victim—calling 911 and staying at the scene until law enforcement arrived—when the crash occurred shortly thereafter.

Giuliani’s rental vehicle was rear-ended at high speed shortly after he re-entered it. He sustained a fractured vertebra, cuts, and bruises—particularly to his left arm and lower leg. He is currently hospitalized in the Manchester area and is expected to remain in good spirits over the next two to three days while recovering. A brace will be required upon his release.

Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s spokesman, described him as “in great spirits” and characterized him as a “beast,” noting that he has overcome past challenges such as surviving the 9/11 attacks. Giuliani’s business partner and nurse, Maria Ryan, is helping manage his care during hospitalization.

Despite his injuries, Giuliani’s willingness to stop and help a stranger highlights the same resilience and duty to others that defined his leadership during America’s darkest hours. His actions reflect a legacy of service and courage that continues even in personal adversity.

HUD Orders Nationwide Crackdown on Illegals in Public Housing

HUD
Suburb (Neal E. Johnson/Unsplash)

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under Secretary Scott Turner, has launched a nationwide effort to remove illegal immigrants from federally subsidized housing. Local housing authorities now have 30 days to verify that residents meet legal immigration or citizenship requirements. Agencies failing to comply risk federal audits and the loss of HUD funding.

Secretary Turner stated that this action was necessary to ensure that American citizens and legal residents receive priority in housing assistance. He noted that HUD currently only serves one in four eligible families, and that illegal immigrants have been “riding the coattails of hardworking American citizens” for too long. The Washington, D.C., Housing Authority was the first to receive notice, but over 3,000 agencies nationwide are subject to the same enforcement action.

The crackdown stems from a March agreement between HUD and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which established cooperation between the two departments for identifying and removing ineligible occupants from taxpayer-funded housing. That agreement supports broader federal efforts to restrict illegal immigrant access to public resources and limit benefits to citizens and qualified legal residents.

The policy has strong support among conservative lawmakers who argue that federal housing should never be available to those who entered the country illegally. HUD’s new enforcement includes mandatory audits, policy reviews, and in some cases, on-site inspections. Agencies that fail to remove illegal occupants or cannot provide proof of eligibility may see their funding suspended or revoked.

Supporters say this move restores integrity to the public housing system, ensuring that limited resources are directed to law-abiding citizens, especially seniors, veterans, and low-income families. Critics, including progressive housing activists, argue the policy could lead to evictions and legal challenges, but HUD leadership has stated that compliance with federal law is non-negotiable.

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