Fetterman cheers ICE arrests of illegal alien child sex offenders, Luna calls for death penalty
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., expressed support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s apprehension of illegal alien child sex offenders, while Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., advocated for the individuals to face the death penalty. ICE noted in a Monday press release that it “arrested 214 illegal aliens for immigration offenses in the Houston area in the past six months who have been charged or convicted of a sex offense involving a minor.” “I don’t support or agree with all of ICE’s tactics or actions. I do fully support moves like these. This makes our nation more secure and all our children safer,” Fetterman said in a post on X. ICE ARRESTS OVER 200 ILLEGAL ALIEN CHILD SEX OFFENDERS IN HOUSTON AREA IN PAST 6 MONTHS Responding to the news about the ICE arrests, Luna said in a post on X, “Skip deportation. Go directly to the death penalty. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.” According to the ICE press release, one of the individuals arrested was “Jose Guadalupe Meza, a 40-year-old, four-time deported criminal alien from Mexico who was arrested June 24 and has been convicted of theft and sexual assault of a child. ICE removed Guadalupe Meza to Mexico June 25.” GISELE FETTERMAN ADMITS SHE ‘WOULDN’T BE SUPPORTIVE’ OF HER HUSBAND JOHN RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE The news comes amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on border and immigration enforcement. Fetterman has previously expressed support for ICE’s work, describing any calls for the abolition of the agency as “inappropriate” as well as “outrageous.” DEMOCRAT JOHN FETTERMAN DECLARES SUPPORT FOR ICE, CONDEMNING ANY CALLS FOR ABOLITION AS ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ “Bringing together the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement community to confront the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration that we saw over the past four years has resulted in the arrest and removal of historic numbers of violent criminal aliens, transnational gang members and child sex offenders,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting field office director Paul McBride noted, according to the press release.
Thai army accuses Cambodia of ceasefire violations
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, Thai troops have retaliated ‘appropriately’ and in ‘self-defence’, Major-General Winthai Suvaree said in a statement. Thailand’s army has accused Cambodia of violating an hours-old truce, saying sporadic clashes continued despite an agreement to end the deadly fighting in the disputed border region between the two Southeast Asian countries. Thai troops have retaliated “appropriately” and in “self-defence”, Thailand’s army spokesman, Winthai Suvaree, said in a statement on Tuesday. “At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory,” Winthai said. “This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust,” he added. “Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defence.” Following peace talks in Malaysia, both Cambodia and Thailand agreed that an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight on Monday to end the fighting in disputed zones along their 800km (500-mile) border, which killed at least 38 people in five days of clashes and displaced nearly 300,000 more. The peace deal was set to see military commanders from both sides meet at 7am local time (00:00 GMT) on Tuesday, before a cross-border committee is convened in Cambodia to further ease tensions on August 4. A Thai army spokesman said talks between both sides are now scheduled to be held at 10am local time (03:00 GMT). Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Surin province in Thailand, said the Thai military reported “a couple of clashes in several areas along the border”. Advertisement “They did issue a statement saying that the Cambodian military was not respecting the ceasefire agreement. But for the most part, it does seem to be holding,” Cheng said. In Cambodia’s Samraong city, 20km (12.4 miles) from the border with Thailand, an AFP journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight on Monday, with the lull continuing until dawn. “The front line has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight,” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook. A joint statement from both countries on Monday – as well as Malaysia, which hosted the peace talks – said the ceasefire was “a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security”. The flare-up in cross-border fighting has been the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over disputed border territory. Adblock test (Why?)
North Korea says US must accept its status as a nuclear weapons state
North Korean leader’s powerful sister says talks aimed at denuclearisation would be interpreted as a ‘mockery’. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s influential sister has called on the United States to accept North Korea’s “irreversible” status as a nuclear weapons state, warning that dialogue will never lead to its denuclearisation. In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong said a recognition that Pyongyang’s capabilities and the geopolitical environment had “radically changed” should be a prerequisite for “everything in the future”. “Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, which was established along with the existence of a powerful nuclear deterrent and fixed by the supreme law reflecting the unanimous will of all the DPRK people, will be thoroughly rejected,” Kim said, using the acronym of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “The DPRK is open to any option in defending its present national position.” Kim Yo Jung, who oversees the propaganda operations of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, said that it was by “no means beneficial” for the US and North Korea to be in confrontation, and that Washington should “seek another way of contact on the basis of such new thinking.” Kim also said that while the relationship between her brother and US President Donald Trump was “not bad”, any attempt to use their personal relations to advance denuclearisation would be interpreted as a “mockery”. “If the US fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK-US meeting will remain as a ‘hope’ of the US side,” she said. Advertisement Kim’s comments come after an unnamed White House official was quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency over the weekend as saying that Trump was open to engaging with Kim Jong Un to achieve a “fully denuclearised” North Korea. Her statement also comes a day after she dismissed South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s efforts to mend ties with Pyongyang, including halting propaganda broadcasts at the tense inter-Korean border. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump, who held three face-to-face summits with Kim Jong Un in 2018 and 2019, has repeatedly expressed interest in resuming dialogue with Pyongyang. Last month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump would like to build on the “progress” made during his 2018 summit with the North Korean leader in Singapore. While the Singapore summit marked a historic first-ever meeting between a sitting US president and the leader of North Korea, the talks, and Trump’s subsequent meetings with Kim in Vietnam and at the inter-Korean border, failed to halt the advance of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programmes. Jenny Town, the director of the Korea programme at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, said Kim Yo Jong’s latest statement is consistent with recent messaging from Pyongyang. “It avoids naming Trump directly, leaving room for some kind of diplomacy in the future to still be possible, but dispels the notion that ‘denuclearisation’ talks can simply be picked up where they left off,” Town told Al Jazeera. “Too much has changed since 2019, both in terms of North Korea’s WMD [weapons of mass destruction] development, the legal and policy changes around its nuclear programme and status, and the broader geopolitical environment, for any notion of resuming talks about denuclearisation to be compelling.” “If negotiations are possible, the terms of engagement have fundamentally changed,” Town added. “It won’t be about denuclearisation, but there may be room for talks under a different framing. However, whether the US is willing to take that leap is yet to be seen.” Adblock test (Why?)
Five dead in New York city shooting, including police officer, suspect
The attacker was armed with an M4 rifle when he opened fire inside a skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue, Manhattan. At least five people, including a New York City police officer and the suspected gunman, are dead after a shooting inside a Midtown Manhattan office block that houses major financial institutions and the headquarters of the National Football League, police said. The shooting, which took place at about 6pm local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, is still under “active investigation”, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters at a press conference late on Monday. “What we know so far,” said Tisch, is that “surveillance video shows a male exit a double parked black BMW on Park Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets, carrying an M4 rifle in his right hand.” “Security camera footage shows the shooter enter the lobby, turn right and immediately open fire on an NYPD officer,” she said. The man then proceeded to shoot and kill two people on the ground floor, including a woman and a security officer before making his way to the 33rd floor where he shot and killed a man, Tisch said, adding that another victim is being treated in hospital. “The shooter is believed to be Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old male with a Las Vegas address,” Tisch said. “His motives are still under investigation,” she added. The victims included NYPD police officer Didarul Islam, 36, who was married with two young boys. “His wife is pregnant with their third child,” Tisch said. Federal agents and NYPD officers close off East 50th Street between Madison and Park Avenues, near the scene of a reported shooter situation in the Manhattan borough of New York City [Bing Guan/Reuters] Speaking at the press conference with Tisch, New York Mayor Eric Adams said that Officer Islam was an immigrant from Bangladesh, who “moved this city” and who died “saving lives” and “protecting New Yorkers”. Advertisement “We’re still unravelling what took place, and our hearts are heavy,” said Adams. “We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence, including a member of the New York City Police Department,” Adams said. A photo of the suspect that CNN said was shared by police showing a gunman walking into the building carrying a rifle was published by a number of major news media outlets. The skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue is home to several major firms, including Blackstone – the world’s largest hedge fund – KPMG, Deutsche Bank and the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL). It is located near Rockefeller Centre, just a few blocks south of Central Park. Three killed in Reno casino shooting Separately, earlier on Monday, an attacker armed with a pistol opened fire outside a casino in Reno, Nevada, killing three people and critically wounding two others, before being shot and seriously injured by police, authorities said. The shooting occurred just before 7:30am local time (00:30 GMT) at the valet station in the car park of the Grand Sierra Resort, a high-rise casino and hotel complex in Nevada’s third-largest city, according to police. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was described only as an adult male. Police believe the victims were targeted at random. Police respond to a shooting outside the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, on Monday [Andy Barron/AP] Adblock test (Why?)
Pahalgam Terror Attack mastermind among three killed in Operation Mahadev on Srinagar outskirts, he is…
The Army’s elite para commandos on Monday, 28 July, claimed to have gunned down the alleged mastermind, and two of his associates. The officials said Sulieman alias Asif, the alleged mastermind, was killed after the security forces launched a surprise action, codenamed ‘Operation Mahadev’.
Mock disaster drill in Delhi-NCR: Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and others to witness mega-scale drill on…
The mega exercise is named Suraksha Chakra, and this is the first such integrated disaster management exercise to be held in Delhi-NCR.
Nimisha Priya case: BIG relief for Indian nurse on death row in Yemen, claims Grand Mufti’s office
The death sentence of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who remains lodged in a jail in Yemen for murder, has been overturned by local authorities, according to the office of the Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Muslaiyar. Read on to know more on this.
Nimisha Priya case: Death sentence of Indian nurse overturned by Yemen authorities, here’s all you need to know
Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala, was scheduled to be executed on July 16, after she was convicted of killing a Yemeni national in June 2018, a decision that was upheld by the country’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023.
Mamdani’s past ‘defund the police’ stance resurfaces after deadly Manhattan shooting
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mandani is facing renewed scrutiny for his past stances on policing in the wake of an office building mass shooting in midtown Manhattan that left three civilians dead as well as a police officer. The shooter was neutralized as more information is being learned about the alleged gunman, Shane Tamura of Las Vegas. “I’m heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in Midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts. Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground,” Mamdani posted to X on Monday night. ADAMS, CUOMO TRADE JABS IN INTERVIEWS AS DEMS-TURNED-INDEPENDENTS COURT ANTI-MAMDANI VOTE In the replies, people quickly shared images of a June 8, 2020, post where Mamdani said “No, we want to defund the police” and a Nov. 5, 2020, post where he said “Queer liberation means defund the police.” “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. But your deal with [New York City mayor] uses budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts – defund the police,” he posted on June 28, 2020. In December of the same year, he also called for it to be “dismantled.” “All this misery. All for money. In the last budget, the City Council tried to make the NYPD reduce its overtime budget by half. They simply refused. There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence,” he wrote. RESURFACED VIDEO SHOWS ZOHRAN MAMDANI SAYING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WOULDN’T BE A PRIORITY FOR THE NYPD However, he sang a different tune during a mayoral debate in his primary. “I will not defund the police. I will work with the police because I believe the police have a critical role to play in public service, public safety,” he said. On his campaign website, he calls for the creation of a Department of Public Safety. “Police have a critical role to play. But right now, we’re relying on them to deal with the failures of our social safety net—which prevents them from doing their actual jobs. Through this new city agency and whole-of-government approach, community safety will be prioritized like never before in NYC,” the website states. Other mayoral candidates also condemned the tragedy in Manhattan on Monday night, including incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, himself a former city police officer. AOC-BACKED SOCIALIST MAYORAL CANDIDATE BACKTRACKS AFTER CALLING TO ‘DISMANTLE’ POLICE IN 2020 “I am going to over to the hospital to speak with the families and loved ones involved in this incident,” Adams said in a video. “Horrified by the shooting in Midtown. I’m grateful for the courage of our NYPD and first responders, and my prayers are with the victims and their families,” former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo posted. “Disturbing reports out of Midtown Manhattan—multiple people reportedly shot, including an NYPD officer. Praying for everyone affected. Grateful to our first responders who run toward danger to keep us safe,” Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa wrote. The four-way mayoral race is on Nov. 4. Adams opted to run as an Independent after being the Democratic nominee last cycle, and Cuomo’s decision to remain in the race comes after Mamdani defeated him in the primary in what some considered an upset victory. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for comment, but they did not immediately respond
Trump’s reported snub of Taiwan president spurs concerns over deference to China
The Trump administration is reportedly blocking Taiwan’s president from stopping over in New York City, en route to a diplomatic meeting in Central America, following pressure from China. The Financial Times reported Monday that the administration has denied Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te the opportunity to stop over in New York City during a planned trip to Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize — all countries that recognize Taiwan as its own independent country. However, on Monday, the office of the president in Taiwan released a statement indicating that Lai “currently has no plans to go on an overseas visit,” according to Taiwan-state media. A source familiar with the matter at the State Department confirmed that no formal travel plans for President Lai have been announced. TAIWAN ENVOY URGES CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, WARNS OF RISING CHINA THREAT AFTER MEETING LAWMAKERS “In consideration of the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in southern Taiwan following a recent typhoon and regional developments including the United States’ tariffs, the president currently has no plans to go on an overseas visit,” the statement from President Lai said. According to the Financial Times, which spoke with unnamed sources said to be intimately familiar with the alleged trip, Lai’s decision not to travel came after he was informed that he would not be able to stop in New York City on his way to Central America. Lai’s trip was also reportedly supposed to include a stop in Dallas, but it is unclear if the Trump administration was also planning to bar Lai from stopping there as well, according to the Financial Times. PILLSBURY: TRUMP TO HOLD ‘TENSE’ TRADE TALKS WITH CHINA The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. However, a State Department source familiar with the matter indicated that the Trump administration continues to be committed to the government’s long-standing one China policy, rooted in the Taiwan Relations Act, joint diplomatic agreements with China and longstanding pledges crafted by the government in regard to Taiwan and China. Despite being in line with longstanding government policy, the move still garnered criticism from some Asia policy experts and critics of Trump. Lyle Morris, a senior fellow on foreign policy and national security at the Asia Society’s Center for China Analysis, said the “first concrete move” under Trump’s second term regarding Taiwan is “a cause for concern.” “The assumption is this decision was made in the context of ongoing US-China trade negotiations and a possible Trump-Xi meeting,” Morris said on X. “Still, not a good sign for enduring US-Taiwan relations.” “Denying President Lai a transit is a deeply concerning break with bipartisan precedent and sends a reckless signal to Beijing that our partnership with Taiwan is on the negotiating table,” added Democrat Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., in a post on X following the news about President Lai’s alleged travel. “American leadership is now seen as deeply unreliable, with Trump’s fits and starts with Ukraine, NATO allies, and other key partners. I urge President Trump to reverse course and do what presidents of both parties have done and allow a transit, and ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in that call.” News of the Trump administration’s decision to prohibit the Taiwanese president from stopping in New York City comes as the president is reportedly feeling out a potential trip to Beijing himself, alongside major U.S. CEOs. Nothing so far has been set in stone regarding Trump’s trip, however.