GET THE APP
Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Category: News
October 1, 2025
Corruption
Crime

Epstein’s Ties to Banks and Hedge Funds Are Far More Extensive Than Previously Thought.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Newly reported documents have revealed Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive banking activities and transactions before his death.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, several banks, hedge funds, and known associates, including the former Bill Clinton-era Treasury Secretary and Barack Obama-era National Economic Council Director Larry Summers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Before Epstein’s death in 2019, involving banks and entities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

🎯IMPACT: The House Oversight Committee may issue subpoenas for bank records, potentially leading to further investigations.

IN FULL

Pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein‘s banking and investment activities were more extensive than previously known, involving multiple banks and major transactions with hedge funds. The true extent of Epstein’s investment portfolio and banking ties was revealed after his estate provided Congress with a list of over 20 banks where he held accounts.

Among the banks were Wells Fargo, TD Bank, and FirstBank Puerto Rico. JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank have already faced scrutiny and lawsuits due to their past associations with Epstein, although they claim to have severed ties in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

Documents reveal Epstein transferred significant sums, including $60 million to Honeycomb Partners and $13.5 million from a hedge fund led by Paul Tudor Jones. He also sold $15 million in shares to Blockchain Capital. These transactions occurred in the years leading up to his 2019 death, after his 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution.

Epstein’s financial dealings involved a complex network of entities. Payments were made to known associates like Larry Summers, the former Bill Clinton-era Treasury Secretary and Barack Obama-era National Economic Council Director, who received $1,232.25 as a travel reimbursement.

The House Oversight Committee is expected to subpoena banks for further records, potentially uncovering more about Epstein’s financial network.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 1, 2025
Corruption
Crime
News

More Charges in Major Nursing Diploma Fraud Case.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Fraud charges have been filed against 12 defendants involved in selling fake nursing diplomas and transcripts as part of Operation Nightingale.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The defendants include nursing school owners and employees, such as Herline Lochard, Carleen Noreus, and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The charges were announced in Miami, Florida, with related activities occurring from January 2019 through September 2022.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The charges highlight the purpose of a professional nursing licensure: protecting the public from harm by ensuring that only qualified and competent practitioners provide nursing care.” – DOJ Press Release

🎯IMPACT: The fraudulent scheme resulted in approximately 7,300 fake diplomas, posing significant risks to public health and safety.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 12 people with fraud-related offenses in Miami, Florida, as part of Phase II of Operation Nightingale. This operation exposed a scheme that sold fake nursing diplomas and transcripts, enabling unqualified individuals to bypass proper licensing and secure nursing jobs.

The accused, including owners and staff of nursing schools, allegedly conspired to provide fraudulent credentials, allowing buyers to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and obtain nursing licenses for employment nationwide. Among the defendants, Herline Lochard has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, while Carleen Noreus faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. These fake credentials helped unqualified people gain nursing positions and benefits from unsuspecting healthcare providers across the country.

The scheme operated through several now-closed for-profit nursing schools in Florida, issuing around 7,300 fake diplomas between January 2019 and September 2022. The charges highlight the importance of legitimate nursing licensure in ensuring public health and safety.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami are leading the investigation. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy charges.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 1, 2025
War

UN Rapporteur Lobbies Against Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Francesca Albanese, a United Nations Special Rapporteur, criticized U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s proposed plan to end the Gaza conflict, labeling it the “Trap of the Century.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Francesca Albanese, Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The plan was introduced earlier this week, with ramifications for Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Trap of the Century.” — Francesca Albanese

🎯IMPACT: Albanese is the first notable international leader to openly oppose Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

IN FULL

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for the so-called Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, is calling on Palestinians to reject U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s plan to rebuild Gaza and end the war between Israel and Hamas, dismissing it as the “Trap of the Century.”

Albanese, who has been associated with Greta Thunberg’s “flotilla” of anti-Israel activists attempting to reach Gaza, is the first significant international leader to publicly oppose the plan. This has placed her at odds with Arab and Muslim nations that have embraced it, as well as with the Palestinian Authority.

Trump introduced the peace plan earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 20-point proposal includes a transitional governance system for Gaza, managed by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee. This body would oversee public services and redevelopment efforts until the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume control. This would be overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the controversial former Middle East Peace Envoy and Iraq War architect.

Additionally, the plan calls for the demilitarization of Gaza, with Hamas members given amnesty if they commit to peaceful coexistence and decommission their weapons. Trump’s plan further outlines economic redevelopment for Gaza, including the establishment of a special economic zone and international investment to rebuild infrastructure and create jobs. Aid would be sent immediately upon acceptance of the agreement, ensuring necessary supplies and resources reach the region.

The plan also proposes that the U.S. “will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF)” to train Palestinian police and secure Gaza’s borders in coordination with Israel and Egypt. Israel would progressively withdraw its forces as stability is achieved.

Hamas has yet to issue a formal response to the peace plan. Trump has given the group several days to decide before supporting an Israeli campaign to dismantle Hamas.

Image by WAFA / APAimages.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 1, 2025
War

The U.S. Air Force Is Moving Refueling Tankers and Other Assets to This Country—With a Warning.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A significant deployment of U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers has been observed moving into the Middle East, signaling increased military readiness amid rising tensions with Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Air Force, Iran, and regional actors including Israel, as well as analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Aircraft have been tracked in recent days departing from Atlantic bases and arriving at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a key U.S. Central Command hub.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The moment Israel starts a war, we will also enter a war with the United States.” – Major General Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

🎯IMPACT: The deployment underscores the potential for rapid escalation in the Middle East.

IN FULL
The U.S. Air Force has shifted a number of KC-135 Stratotankers to the Middle East over the last 48 hours. Data from flight trackers indicates planes leaving bases along the Atlantic and gathering at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as the main hub for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This move reflects a clear boost in American military preparedness and could signal renewed strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Tehran has threatened reprisals against potential strikes.
This abrupt influx of numerous KC-135 tankers occurs during a period of extreme instability in the region. Comparable major troop shifts occurred right before U.S. intervention in the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran in June, with the U.S. bombing sites critical to the Iranian nuclear program. By amassing refueling resources in Qatar, the U.S. ensures rapid deployment capabilities throughout the area. 
Iran has asserted its readiness for war, while claiming it won’t initiate hostilities. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, the deputy for inspections, stated that Tehran would expand its missile reach “to wherever necessary” and threatened a strong counteraction if targeted, rejecting demands from the U.S. and Europe to curb its missile production.

On Sunday, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, the former chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), cautioned that a lone Israeli attack might spark a broader regional conflict drawing in the U.S., declaring, “The moment Israel starts a war, we will also enter a war with the United States.” 

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order warning that “The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”

While this has been interpreted by many as a rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently launched an attack on Hamas targets in Qatar against U.S. wishes, it is likely also a warning to Iran, which launched missiles at the Gulf state after the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 1, 2025
News
UK

Nigel Farage Tops Popularity Charts Among British Teenagers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is the most popular politician among British teenagers aged 13 to 17, surpassing rivals and even celebrities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nigel Farage, British teenagers, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Conservative (Tory) Party leader Kemi Badenoch, and other leading politicians.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The survey was conducted by Merlin Strategies, with findings relevant to the next British general election, which must be held sometime between now and 2029.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Gen-Z is very different. Very different to Millennials. I see a lot more ambition, I see a lot more rejection of what they’re being indoctrinated with at school and university.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: Reform’s popularity among teens could significantly influence the next general election, with projections already showing the populist party on track to place first with 311 seats in the House of Commons.

IN FULL

The future of the British political landscape is shifting to the populist right, with a poll finding that Brexit champion and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is by far the most popular politician among under-18s.

Despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s left-wing Labour Party attempting to smear Farage as a “racist” and the “single greatest threat” to the country’s “way of life,” these attacks do not appear to be resonating with the youth the way they have with older generations. According to a survey from Merlin Strategies for the New Statesman, of the 13 to 17-year-olds who intend on voting in the next general election—which must be held no later than 2029—33 per cent said that they would vote for Farage’s Reform party, compared to 27 per cent for Labour, and 12 per cent for formerly governing Conservatives (Tories) and the far-left Greens.

Farage’s personal popularity also stands out, with 38 percent of British teens viewing him favorably, compared to 25 percent for Prime Minister Starmer, 23 percent for far-left former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is attempting to launch a third party focused on Muslim issues, and just 16 percent for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

Notably, Farage’s friend and ally, President Donald J. Trump, is the second-most popular politician among British teens, at 28 percent.

“It’s happening. Gen-Z is very different. Very different to Millennials. I see a lot more ambition, I see a lot more rejection of what they’re being indoctrinated with at school and university,” Farage said of the British youth last June.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 1, 2025
News
Politics

GOP Closes Gap With Dems in Tight NJ Governor’s Race.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows a tight race between Jack Ciattarelli (R) and Mikie Sherrill (D) for New Jersey governor.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jack Ciattarelli, Republican candidate, and Mikie Sherrill, Democratic candidate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The poll was released in New Jersey, October 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Voters across the board want a change (76%).” – Quantus Insights Poll

🎯IMPACT: The race is now considered a dead heat, with significant gains by Ciattarelli among Independent voters.

IN FULL

Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is now running neck and neck with Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill in the New Jersey gubernatorial race, according to a new poll. The Quantus Insights Poll shows Sherrill narrowly leading Ciattarelli 48.1 percent to 45.8 percent among likely voters, a margin within the poll’s error range.

This marks a significant shift from earlier surveys, including a Labor Day poll where Sherrill held a 10-point lead. Ciattarelli’s recent surge is attributed to his strong performance among Independent voters, where he leads 51 percent to 38 percent.

For much of the campaign, Sherrill maintained a comfortable lead over Ciattarelli. However, recent polling has indicated a tightening race, now considered a dead heat. She has been hurt in part by a scandal related to cheating at the U.S. Naval Academy, which saw her barred from walking with her classmates at her graduation.

Sherrill’s advantage has decreased to a 4.7 percentage point lead in the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate. Notably, this aggregate underestimated Ciattarelli’s support by about five points in the 2021 election.

Joe Biden officially won New Jersey by 16 points in 2020, but by only six points in 2024—one of the biggest improvements for President Donald J. Trump nationwide.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 1, 2025
News
World

Ambassador Found Dead After Hotel Balcony Fall.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The South African ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Paris.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, a former Cabinet minister and South Africa’s ambassador to France.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday morning at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Porte Maillot, Paris.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities.” – South African government statement

🎯IMPACT: The incident has prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ambassador’s death, amid his recent implication in judicial inquiries back in South Africa.

IN FULL

Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, South Africa’s ambassador to France and a former Cabinet minister, has been found dead after reportedly falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in the Porte Maillot area of Paris. French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The 58-year-old had checked into the hotel, where investigators say a secure window appears to have been forced open. His body was discovered early Tuesday morning after a police search was initiated in response to concerns raised by his wife. French authorities also confirmed that his last known phone signal was traced to the Bois de Boulogne, a large park west of Paris, where search dogs were deployed during the initial investigation.

“The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities,” the South African government said in a statement.

Mthethwa, a long-serving member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), formerly led by Nelson Mandela, had recently been implicated in a judicial inquiry probing alleged corruption and reported links between senior South African officials and organized crime.

He served as South Africa’s Minister of Police from 2009 to 2014, attracting widespread criticism following the 2012 killing of 34 striking miners by police in Marikana. Afterward, he was reassigned to head the Ministry of Arts and Culture, a position he held until 2023. That same year, he was appointed ambassador to France and UNESCO.

The South African embassy in Paris is located just a few miles from the hotel where his body was found. A French investigative judge has been dispatched to the scene, and authorities say inquiries are ongoing.

Mthethwa’s death comes amid tense diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States. The Trump administration has openly criticized the South African government over “extrajudicial killings” of white farmers. In May 2025, Trump directly confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with video evidence of slain farmers’ memorials, accusing his government of turning a blind eye to anti-white violence.

Trump has also granted asylum to dozens of white South Africans, citing fears of persecution, and cut off certain aid programs to South Africa.

Image by GovernmentZA.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
September 30, 2025
Education

This State Is Adopting the Trump-Backed School Choice Program.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (R) signed an executive order opting the state into a federal school choice tax credit program, allowing taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Jim Pillen, Representatives Mike Flood (R-NE) and Adrian Smith (R-NE), and the Nebraska State Education Association.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Monday at a Catholic school in Lincoln, Nebraska.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am not opting this in, I am cannonballing it into the state of Nebraska.” – Gov. Pillen

🎯IMPACT: The measure allows families earning up to 300 percent of the area median income to receive scholarships.

IN FULL

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (R) has signed an executive order to opt the state into a federal school choice tax credit program, a provision included in President Donald J. Trump’s tax and budget bill passed in July. The program allows individual taxpayers to direct up to $1,700 in federal income taxes owed to scholarship-granting organizations for K-12 private school expenses.

Announcing the decision at a Catholic school in Lincoln, Pillen declared, “I am not opting this in, I am cannonballing it into the state of Nebraska.” He was joined by Representatives Mike Flood (R-NE) and Adrian Smith (R-NE), who supported the federal budget bill and the private school scholarship initiative.

The move comes after years of contentious debate over school choice in Nebraska. A similar state-level proposal in 2023 allowed taxpayers to divert state income taxes to fund private school scholarships. That measure was repealed by voters, but a new law was passed to fund scholarships directly from state coffers. The federal program now bypasses state-level restrictions, enabling even high-income families to benefit.

Critics, such as Nebraska State Education Association President Tim Royers, argue the program undermines the will of voters. “Families making more than $200,000 a year are eligible to receive a voucher funded through these tax credits,” Royers said, adding that the decision disregards the recent voter rejection of state-level vouchers.

Pillen, however, countered that the federal program does not deplete public school funding. “We have to have great public schools, and we have to have great St. Teresa’s,” he stated. “And because of this legislation, both can win.”

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
September 30, 2025
Immigration

Trump to Deport 120 Iranians Following Agreement with Tehran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran has confirmed that 120 of its nationals are being deported from the United States under President Donald J. Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi, President Trump, and U.S. officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deportees are expected to arrive in Iran within one or two days via Qatar, according to Iranian state media.

💬KEY QUOTE: Noushabadi called on the U.S. government to “respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights under international law.”

🎯IMPACT: This marks the first phase of a deal to deport 400 Iranian nationals, a rare instance of cooperation between the U.S. and Iran.

IN FULL

Iran announced that 120 of its citizens are being deported from the United States, with their return expected within the next one or two days. Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi confirmed the development, stating that most of those being deported had entered the U.S. illegally, primarily through Mexico. A smaller number reportedly held valid U.S. residency permits.

The deportation is part of a broader agreement between the United States and Iran to repatriate Iranian nationals. The first phase of this deal involves the deportation of 400 individuals, with this group being the initial wave. The deportees are being flown to Iran through Qatar, according to Iranian state media. Noushabadi called on the U.S. government to “respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights under international law.”

President Donald J. Trump has continued to ramp up immigration enforcement actions, aiming to directly deport over 300,000 illegal immigrants by year’s end—with many others choosing to self-deport. Notably, the highest number of deportations over a single year—in recent history—was previously achieved by former President Barack Obama, totaling just over 300,000.

This rare instance of cooperation between the U.S. and Iran comes despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. The deportation process is being facilitated through Iran’s U.S. Interests Section at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran.

Image by Mohammad Ali Marizad.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
Migrant Crime
September 30, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Over 40 Illegals Arrested in Strip Club Sex Trafficking Sting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas executed a criminal search warrant at Chicas Bonitas Cabaret, targeting suspected human trafficking and unlawful employment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: HSI Dallas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Dallas office, and multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 2025, at Chicas Bonitas Cabaret in Dallas, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “HSI Dallas is committed to eradicating the vile scourge of sex trafficking from our local communities,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard.

🎯IMPACT: Forty-one illegal aliens were detained, $30,000 in U.S. currency and business records were seized, and multiple criminal aliens with prior convictions were identified.

IN FULL

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas, collaborating with federal, state, and local law enforcement, executed a criminal search warrant on September 26 at Chicas Bonitas Cabaret in Dallas, Texas, targeting suspected human trafficking and unlawful employment. During the operation, 41 illegal aliens were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Dallas office for administrative immigration violations. Additionally, $30,000 in U.S. currency and various business records were seized as part of the ongoing criminal investigation.

“HSI Dallas is committed to eradicating the vile scourge of sex trafficking from our local communities,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. He added: “Working in conjunction with our federal and local partners and leveraging HSI’s unique investigative authorities, we were able to disrupt the suspected trafficking operation at this cabaret and are working to identify potential victims.”

Among those detained, at least five migrants were identified as having prior criminal convictions after illegally entering the U.S. One migrant, Juan Carlos Salas Medina, a 30-year-old from Mexico, had illegally entered the U.S. ten times and was convicted of aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance, and DUI.

Other detainees included Julios Cesar Martinez, Victor Manuel Manzano-Ramirez, Gustavo Rojas-Garda, and Genaro Diaz-Perez, each with various criminal histories including DUI, assault, and prostitution.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more