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November 12, 2024
William Upton
Election 2024
News

Trump Names Top GOP Election Attorney Bill McGinley as White House Counsel.

President-elect Donald J. Trump is naming attorney William “Bill” McGinley as his White House Counsel. McGinley is widely considered one of the top election law lawyers in the nation, with extensive experience with national party committees, national conventions, campaign finance matters, and representing Republicans in recounts and election contests.

“Bill is a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement,” Trump said in a statement announcing the appointment on Tuesday. The President-elect continued: “He served in my first term as White House Cabinet Secretary and played a major role in our election victory as the RNC’s Outside Counsel for Election Integrity.”

McGinley worked with The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief, Raheem Kassam, in 2020, putting together an analysis of Democrat election lawyer Marc Elias and George Soros advisor Rosa Brooks‘s plan to establish a predicate for stealing the 2020 presidential election. The Democrat election lawyers anticipated that Donald Trump would appear the overwhelming victor during initial election returns but explained that the weeks-long counting of mail-in ballots would eventually put Joe Biden over the top.

Previously a partner at Jones Day, McGinley has served as RNC Deputy Counsel, NRSC General Counsel, and outside counsel to the NRCC. In 2016, McGinley helped lead the Trump campaign’s national convention delegate whip operation, defeating a Never Trump uprising that tried to steal the nomination.

In 2019, he was a frequent guest on Stephen K. Bannon’s War Room, defending President Trump during impeachment. In the summer of 2020, he was one of the first War Room guests to sound the alarm about the Biden campaign and their dark money allies’ schemes.

By Popular Demand.
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26 minutes ago
Immigration

DOT Discovers Over Half of NY Commercial Drivers Are Illegals, Threatens to Revoke Federal Funding.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold $73 million in federal highway funding from New York after an audit revealed over half of the state’s commercial trucking licenses were issued to foreign-born drivers living in the U.S. illegally.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Derek Barrs, and NYS DMV spokesman Walter McClure.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The audit findings were announced on Friday, with the issue centered on New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake—it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership.” – Sean Duffy

🎯IMPACT: New York has been given 30 days to respond and may lose significant federal funding if corrective action is not taken.

IN FULL

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Friday that New York could lose $73 million in federal highway funding following a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) audit. The audit revealed that 53 percent of sampled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) were unlawfully granted to foreign nationals residing in the U.S. illegally.

“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake—it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Secretary Duffy said, adding: “Gov. Hochul must immediately revoke these illegally issued licenses. If they refuse to follow the law, we will withhold federal highway funding.”

The FMCSA audit reviewed 200 New York CDL records, finding that 107 licenses were unlawfully issued. In some cases, the DMV reportedly issued licenses based on expired lawful presence documents or defaulted to granting eight-year licenses to foreign commercial drivers without verifying their legal status. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs labeled the state’s practices a “grossly unacceptable deviation from federal regulations.”

However, New York officials are denying the allegations. DMV spokesman Walter McClure accused Sec. Duffy of political posturing, stating, “Secretary Duffy is lying about New York state once again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing, chaotic administration he represents.” McClure insisted that the state complies with all federal regulations and reviews lawful status documents for all CDL applicants.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has given New York 30 days to respond. In addition to revoking the illegally issued licenses, Duffy has urged the state to pause issuing new licenses or learner’s permits and conduct a comprehensive audit of its CDL program.

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By Popular Demand.
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56 minutes ago
Crime
Immigration

DHS Has Arrested 10K Illegal Immigrants in This Sanctuary City Despite Anti-ICE Riots.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Over 10,000 illegal aliens, including migrants convicted of violent crimes, have been arrested in Los Angeles, California, since June, despite anti-ICE riots and sanctuary city policies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), and criminal illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Since June 2025, operations conducted in Los Angeles, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They let these criminals roam free. Thanks to our brave law enforcement, California is safer with these thugs off their streets.” – DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

🎯IMPACT: DHS operations led to the arrests of criminals with convictions ranging from homicide to sexual assault, despite significant opposition from state leaders and violent anti-ICE protests.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that over 10,000 illegal aliens, including migrants convicted of serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault, have been arrested in Los Angeles since June. These enforcement operations were carried out in spite of violent leftist riots targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the city throughout the summer.

According to DHS, federal immigration enforcement agents faced violent rioters who threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at law enforcement while attempting to obstruct arrests. Additionally, the department noted that sanctuary policies in California, some signed into law by incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom (D), further complicated the operations. These laws restrict federal agents from conducting immigration enforcement at certain locations and prohibit them from wearing masks during operations, which are used to protect agents’ identities and prevent potential reprisals against them.

Among those arrested were migrants with extensive criminal histories. For example, Mohamed Chekchekani from Kenya, Rene Reyes-Miranda from Cuba, and Alireza Hashemi from Iran were apprehended for crimes such as racketeering, sex offenses against children, rape, and aggravated assault. Two Mexican nationals, Juan Carlos Tamayo and Yonic Telles-Sosa, were also detained for crimes including homicide and sexual assault of a child.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) for attempting to hinder federal operations, stating, “They let these criminals roam free. Thanks to our brave law enforcement, California is safer with these thugs off their streets.”

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Politics

Trump Admin Probes Democrat-Run City’s Anti-White Housing Policies.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched a civil rights investigation into Boston’s housing policies, alleging they unlawfully favor black, Latino, and other ethnic minority residents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: HUD, led by Secretary Scott Turner, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) and her administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Thursday, focusing on housing policies in Boston, Massachusetts.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The context of race, fair housing is not about ‘the absence of racial discrimination . . . but the presence of deliberate systems . . . to achieve and sustain racial equity.’” — HUD letter

🎯IMPACT: HUD has demanded documents from Boston within 10 days and may escalate the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

IN FULL

The Trump administration announced it has launched a major civil rights investigation into the City of Boston‘s housing policies, which allegedly favor black, Latino, and other ethnic minority residents. Announced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday, the investigation marks a significant federal intervention against local diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the Democrat-run city.

In a letter to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D), HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) chastised the city’s approach, stating, “The context of race, fair housing is not about ‘the absence of racial discrimination . . . but the presence of deliberate systems . . . to achieve and sustain racial equity.’” Assistant HUD Secretary Craig Trainor, who leads the FHEO, accused the city of embedding “racial equity into every layer of operations in City government.”

Meanwhile, HUD Secretary Scott Turner described Boston’s housing policies as a “social engineering project” driven by DEI ideology rather than legitimate housing needs. Turner vowed to bring the city into compliance with federal law, emphasizing, “This warped mentality will be fully exposed.”

The investigation focuses on several city initiatives, including the Boston Housing Strategy 2025, the Assessment of Fair Housing, and the Anti-Displacement Action Plan. These plans include provisions such as targeting outreach to black and Latino families, increasing lending in “communities of color,” and allocating homeownership opportunities specifically for “BIPOC” households. HUD argues these policies violate federal civil rights law and Supreme Court precedent against “outright racial balancing.”

HUD has also criticized the city’s use of racially based data tools and race-conscious marketing strategies, which it claims echo the logic of “government-sponsored redlining.” The department has requested documents from the city within 10 days and noted it may escalate the case by filing formal discrimination charges or referring it to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
NatSec
TECH

CCP Rolls Out $70 Billion Plan to Boost Chinese Chipmakers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Beijing announced plans to limit access to Nvidia’s AI H200 chips while unveiling a massive incentive package to boost domestic chip innovation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Nvidia, Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and Chinese companies like Huawei, SMIC, and Cambricon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The developments surfaced this week, with Beijing’s plans tied to its ongoing national strategy for semiconductor independence.

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. and China remain locked in a high-stakes rivalry over technology and economic dominance, signaling an intensifying Cold War dynamic.

IN FULL

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is weighing a set of proposals that could provide upwards of $70 billion in subsidies and incentives to support China’s domestic chipmaking industry. Beijing’s move comes in response to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s decision earlier this week to approve exports of Nvidia’s AI H200 chips to China. However, it is expected that China will limit domestic access to the Nvidia chips in a bid to protect its own semiconductor sector from foreign competition.

China’s possible domestic incentive package, even at the low end of fiscal estimates, would rival the U.S. Chips Act. At the high end, the incentives would likely amount to the most extensive state-backed semiconductor subsidies the CCP has ever implemented. The semiconductor support package is estimated to total between $28 billion and $70 billion, comprising both direct subsidies and state-backed financing. The latter would likely not include existing funding programs, such as the $50 billion Big Fund III.

Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged a “whole-nation” effort in support of the country’s chipmaking industry. China currently lags about six years behind the top global semiconductor firms, such as Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., in terms of manufacturing processes and technology.

In the United States, President Trump has made revitalizing the country’s semiconductor industry a critical objective for his administration. A combination of deregulation and trade tariffs has spurred significant investments in U.S. chipmaking enterprises by companies like Nvidia and Micron Technology, with the latter announcing a $200 billion investment aimed at bolstering the United States’ semiconductor manufacturing capabilities this past June.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
William Upton
War
World

Trump Imposes Sanctions on Maduro’s Narco-Trafficking Nephews.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has moved to sanction three of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s nephews, as well as a Panamanian businessman, following the seizure of an oil tanker by U.S. forces.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Maduro’s nephews Franqui Flores, Carlos Flores, and Efrain Campo; and Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Skipper supertanker was seized by U.S. forces on Wednesday, with new sanctions announced late Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These sanctions undo the Biden Administration’s failed attempt to make a deal with Maduro, enabling his dictatorial and brutal control at the expense of the Venezuelan and American people.” — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

🎯IMPACT: The move comes just days after U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has moved to sanction three of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro‘s nephews, as well as Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero, who is accused of facilitating the illicit shipment of sanctioned petroleum on behalf of the Maduro regime. Franqui Flores, Carlos Flores, and Efrain Campo—nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores—were hit with sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) late Thursday. All three are alleged to be narco-traffickers operating in Venezuela.

“Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “These sanctions undo the Biden Administration’s failed attempt to make a deal with Maduro, enabling his dictatorial and brutal control at the expense of the Venezuelan and American people,” he added.

Additionally, OFAC announced sanctions against several shipping companies operating in Venezuela’s oil sector. The move comes just days after U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The Skipper supertanker, carrying oil allegedly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and bound for Cuba, was taken over by the U.S. Coast Guard with Navy support in a dramatic operation on Wednesday.

The White House released footage of the operation, showing U.S. forces airdropping onto the tanker by helicopter. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the tanker as a “shadow vessel” carrying black market oil. The oil will be retained by the U.S., while the crew will be released after docking in Texas.

Image by Wilfredor.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Election Integrity
Lawfare

Trump Attempts to Pardon Colorado Election Clerk Tina Peters.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a pardon for former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, but her conviction is on state charges, which federal pardons do not cover.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Tina Peters, Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D), Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D), and Attorney General Phil Weiser (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on Thursday evening; Peters is serving her sentence in Colorado.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Tina is sitting in a Colorado prison for the ‘crime’ of demanding Honest Elections. Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The announcement has no legal effect on Peters’ state conviction.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced on Truth Social late Thursday that he was granting a pardon to Tina Peters, a 70-year-old former Colorado county clerk serving a nine-year prison sentence. Peters was convicted on state charges related to her involvement in accessing secure election data in 2020, a move she claimed was to expose voter fraud.

“Democrats have been relentless in their targeting of TINA PETERS, a Patriot who simply wanted to make sure that our Elections were Fair and Honest,” President Trump wrote, adding: “Tina is sitting in a Colorado prison for the ‘crime’ of demanding Honest Elections. Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!”

However, constitutional limits on presidential pardon powers mean his declaration of clemency has no legal effect on state convictions.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D), responding to the pardon announcement, noted the constitutional limits on presidential pardons. “Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers, prosecuted by a Republican district attorney, and in a Republican county of Colorado, and found guilty of violating Colorado state laws, including criminal impersonation,” Polis stated. He continued, “No president has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions. This is a matter for the courts to decide, and we will abide by court orders.”

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) and Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) echoed the governor. “Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers for state crimes in a state court. Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her. His assault is not just on our democracy, but on states’ rights and the American constitution,” Griswold—who attempted to remove President Trump from the 2024 election ballot in Colorado—said in a statement.

Peters’ case has drawn national attention, with Trump previously directing federal authorities to intervene on her behalf. Despite her conviction, Peters has maintained her innocence and gained support from MAGA activists. In October of 2024, Peters received a nine-year prison sentence for allowing 2020 election skeptics to replicate Dominion voting machine hard drives to check for evidence of fraud. Peters was convicted in August 2024 on multiple charges, including official misconduct. The charges stemmed from her use of another person’s security badge to allow access to Mesa County election equipment by an individual connected to election skeptic Mike Lindell.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Immigration

Obama-Era ICE Chief Praises Trump Deportation Efforts: ‘Remarkable Accomplishment.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A former Obama-era acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director called President Donald J. Trump’s deportation numbers “a remarkable accomplishment.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Sandweg, former acting Director of ICE, and key Trump administration officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and Border Czar Tom Homan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments were made during an MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) interview on Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a—it is a remarkable accomplishment. These numbers are stunning to me.” – John Sandweg

🎯IMPACT: The high number of interior deportations under President Trump shows a significant shift in immigration enforcement compared to prior administrations.

IN FULL

John Sandweg, who previously served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under former President Barack Obama, has called the deportation totals achieved under the Trump administration “a remarkable accomplishment.” He made the comments in an interview with MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), discussing “the way in which the White House structured this immigration enforcement operation with Stephen Miller running the policy, with Tom Homan being the Border Czar… that’s going to create tension.”

“I know there’s frustration at these numbers, but I have to tell you, this is a—it is a remarkable accomplishment. These numbers are stunning to me,” Sandweg said. “When I look at… 600,000 deportations this year, those are all from the interior. And I think this is a critical distinction,” he stressed, emphasizing that “during the Obama Administration, when there were 400,000 deportations, [but] the reality is about 250,000 of those were people caught right at the border.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that a total of 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. since President Trump returned to office, including those who have left of their own accord to avoid forcible deportation. “Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now. They know if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Culture
Immigration
Religion

This Western Country Just Banned Headscarves for Schoolgirls Under 14.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14 years old has been passed in Austria.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The conservative-led coalition government, the opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ), and the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The law will take effect in September 2026, following a trial period beginning February 2026, in Austria’s public and private schools.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is not a measure against a religion. It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country.” – Yannick Shetty, Neos party parliamentary leader.

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the law is unconstitutional and discriminatory, while supporters claim it protects young girls.

IN FULL

Austria has approved new legislation that will prohibit girls under the age of 14 from wearing Islamic headscarves in both public and private schools, with full enforcement scheduled for September 2026. The conservative-led government says the ban covers “traditional Muslim” garments, including hijabs and burkas. A hijab generally refers to a headscarf that leaves the face visible, while a burka is a full-body covering with a mesh screen over the face, often associated with more stringent interpretations of modesty.

Supporters of the law argue that it promotes personal liberty for young girls who may face family or cultural pressure to dress in a particular way. Yannick Shetty of the liberal Neos party defended the measure, stating, “It is not a measure against a religion. It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country.” Government estimates suggest roughly 12,000 children will be affected once the rules take effect. Officials say the law has been drafted to avoid the constitutional issues that sank a similar 2020 ban on headscarves for girls under 10, which the Constitutional Court overturned for targeting a specific religious group. A trial period focused on awareness-raising is set to begin in February 2026.

The Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ) has strongly criticized the legislation, arguing that it infringes on fundamental rights and will harm rather than help the children it claims to protect. In a statement, the organization warned, “Instead of empowering children, they will be stigmatised and marginalised,” and confirmed plans to challenge the law in court.

The populist Freedom Party (FPÖ), while voting in favor, argued the government’s approach is too limited. FPÖ spokesman Ricarda Berger said the party wants broader restrictions, insisting, “There needs to be a general ban on headscarves in schools; political Islam has no place here.”

Austria’s move comes as several European countries continue to debate or propose their own limitations on Islamic face coverings. In Italy, lawmakers have advanced proposals to ban burkas and niqabs in all public spaces as part of a larger initiative aimed at countering Islamic “separatism.” The Italian plan includes fines and additional oversight of religious funding.

Image by Soheil sargolzayi.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
News
UK

Hundreds of British Empire Artifacts Looted from Museum, Thieves Remain at Large.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Over 600 artifacts were stolen from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection in Bristol, England, in a burglary.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Four unidentified men captured on CCTV are suspected of the theft.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The burglary occurred in the early hours of September 25, 2025, at Bristol Museum, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city.” – Officer Dan Burgan

🎯IMPACT: The stolen items, many of which were donated, represent a notable loss of historical and cultural artifacts tied to Britain’s imperial history.

IN FULL

British Police are appealing for information after more than 600 artefacts were stolen from Bristol Museum’s British Empire and Commonwealth Collection in Bristol, England, during a burglary in the early hours of September 25, 2025. Officers say the break-in occurred between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM, when surveillance cameras captured four men carrying bags outside the building that houses the historic collection.

The stolen items include medals, badges, jewellery, carved ivory, silver and bronze pieces, geological specimens, and other culturally significant objects. Many of the artifacts were donated to the collection, which documents Britain’s historical links with countries that were once part of its empire. Police have stressed that the loss represents a severe blow to the city’s cultural heritage.

Dan Burgan, the officer leading the investigation, said, “The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city. These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history.” Detectives have released grainy CCTV images of four men they wish to identify.

The theft is the latest in a series of major incidents targeting museums across Europe. In October 2025, thieves stole royal jewels from the Louvre in Paris in a carefully timed operation that investigators say succeeded with only seconds to spare. A French Senate inquiry later found that partial camera failures and delays in alerting security allowed the gang to escape before police arrived. The jewels, estimated to be worth tens of millions of euros, have not been recovered.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Science

NASA Monitors Bus-Sized Asteroid Nearing Earth.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: NASA is monitoring multiple asteroids, including a bus-sized asteroid called “2025 XF1,” which is expected to come within 195,000 miles of Earth.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The asteroid “2025 XF1” will make its closest approach on Saturday. Other asteroids are being monitored this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The ‘potentially hazardous’ designation simply means over many centuries and millennia the asteroid’s orbit may evolve into one that has a chance of impacting Earth.” – Paul Chodas, CNEOS manager

🎯IMPACT: NASA has concluded that none of the monitored asteroids pose a significant impact risk to Earth at this time.

IN FULL

A large, bus-sized asteroid named “2025 XF1” will pass within just 195,000 miles of Earth this Saturday. NASA says it is monitoring the asteroid, which is estimated to be 41 feet across, is traveling at nearly 8,000 miles per hour, according to the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The agency also says it is tracking a second, bus-sized rock, dubbed “2025 XK1,” which is set to come within 624,000 miles of Earth on Friday.

Additionally, NASA says two larger, plane-sized asteroids, “2020 WH20” and “2016 YH,” will also make fairly close—albeit less concerning—passes near Earth on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Asteroids are rocky and metallic remnants from the formation of the solar system, primarily located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Those classified as “near-Earth objects” have orbits bringing them within 120 million miles of the sun, while “potentially hazardous asteroids” (PHAs) are larger and come within 4.6 million miles of Earth’s orbit.

Conversely, comets—though similar to asteroids—are small objects composed of ice, dust, and small rocks that originate in the Kuiper belt or Oort Cloud on the outskirts of the solar system. As comets approach the inner solar system, the sun’s heat tends to vaporize comet material, causing the objects to develop a “glowing” atmosphere, making them far more visible to telescopes and even the naked eye than asteroids.

Earlier this year, NASA identified an asteroid, “2024 YR4,” with a 3.1 percent chance of impact in 2032—the highest probability ever recorded for an object of its size. However, further observations ruled out any significant risk.

Paul Chodas, manager of the CNEOS, notes the “potentially hazardous” label does not indicate an imminent threat: “The ‘potentially hazardous’ designation simply means over many centuries and millennia the asteroid’s orbit may evolve into one that has a chance of impacting Earth.”

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By Popular Demand.
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