Friday, October 17, 2025

Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul - The Surveillance Empire That Tracked World Leaders, a Vatican Enemy, and Maybe You

The effort would install a Trump ally at the agency’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets



Physician heal thyself: Royal College power-struggle spills into Court

Another board spill is afoot at the Royal Australian College of Physicians as accusations of bullying and a cover-up spill into Court. Stephanie Tran reports.

On Tuesday, the Fair Work Commission began hearing a stop-bullying application filed by the president-elect of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Dr Sharmila Chandran, against the college’s current president, Professor Jennifer Martin.







Inside the hidden world of First Wap, whose untraceable tech has targeted politicians, journalists, celebrities, and activists around the globe.

 It was early June and Guenther Rudolph was in an expansive mood. Sharp-suited, relaxed, and charming, he was standing in a booth in Prague’s Clarion Congress Hotel. Every year the Clarion hosts an exclusive gathering: the premier get-together of the surveillance industry, called ISS World Training, where law enforcement and intelligence officials from across the globe mingle with representatives of leading spy companies. People outside the business—including journalists—are barred from entry.

On the hotel’s first floor, vendors lined up to sell their wares, and digital displays pulsed with inspiring slogans: “eliminate the unknown,” “saving lives.” Products ranged from hidden cameras to drones to “open source intelligence” and “AI-powered analytics.” But the largest, glitziest, and busiest booths advertised access to people’s phones.


Police probe suspected international crime boss’ links to Sydney day care kill plot 
Riley Walter October 15, 2025 
 An international crime syndicate allegedly helmed by a man formerly of Sydney is suspected of being linked to a recent surge of gang-related violence, including a foiled alleged murder plot outside a day care centre. 
Daniel Rodney Badger, 40, has emerged as a key suspect in Sydney’s underworld and its ongoing conflicts after detectives seized $260 million worth of drugs allegedly belonging to his syndicate.
On Wednesday, the Herald revealed Badger’s syndicate was believed to have ordered the murder of Sydney woman Thi Kim Tran after her husband was accused of stealing 80 kilograms of methamphetamine from the group.

 


SpongeBob SquarePants Cooking Meth and Fake JFK Speeches: How the Sora 2 Launch Went Sideways Rolling Stone 


Remedies for Ridiculous House Prices Steve Keen


Crisis: One in four Scots directly affected by homelessness Scottish Housing News


Will the SNP Reform or Rebrand? BarrheadBoy



Glencore disclosures raise questions over mining giant’s tax bill 
Luke Kinsella Oct 8, 2025
 Glencore, the Swiss commodities giant in line to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in government handouts for its struggling Mount Isa copper smelter, paid below Australia’s corporate tax rate last year. 
Filings with the Australian Taxation Office showed the mining giant’s main holding company, Glencore Investments, paid an effective 24 per cent tax on its $7.9 billion in taxable income in the 12 months to the end of June 2024. Its parent company, Glencore Holdings, reported a taxable income of $5.9 billion but paid no tax at all, according to the new filings.