Right now in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police today made their first arrests under a landmark new security law giving Beijing powers to punish dissent in the city. A man with a 'Hong Kong Independence' flag was the first to be arrested hours after the law came into force, and 23 years to the day since Britain returned the former colony to China - with the city's cherished freedoms now in doubt. Another 30 people were later detained on various charges including illegal gatherings and obstructing police, while protesters were fired on with water cannon as authorities showed off their new powers today. #HK

New York City has voted to slash $1billion from the NYPD budget, following weeks of protests and fraught negotiations with Mayor Bill de Blasio - as some lawmakers complain it falls short of what activists demanded. The austere, coronavirus-era budget tightens spending across city agencies, including a cut of nearly $484million from the NYPD's $6billion operating budget if the department can adhere to new overtime limits, the city council said. Video footage shared on social media showed the moment a violent clash broke out between cops and protesters as officers attempted to control the crowds by pushing them towards the sidewalk with their batons. In a clip taken four hours before the decision was made, officers are seen yelling at protesters to step back while one protester, who is out of frame, fires back at the cops saying they are 'not welcome here' and urging them to leave. #NYC

The first victim of China's new security law: A man with a 'Hong Kong Independence' flag was arrested in Causeway Bay hours after the law came into force. Riot police deploy pepper spray towards journalists as protesters gathered for a rally against the new national security law in Hong Kong. More than two dozen countries - including Britain, France, Germany and Japan urged Beijing to reconsider the law, saying in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council that it undermines the city's freedoms. The U.S. has already begun moves to end special trade terms given to the territory, saying military exports could fall into the hands of the Communist Party. Congress has also moved to impose sanctions on people deemed connected to political repression in Hong Kong, including police officials. Britain has said it could offer residency and possible citizenship to about three million of Hong Kong's 7.5million people. China has said it will impose visa restrictions on Americans it sees as interfering over Hong Kong. #HK

Citizens Trapped In and Out of Sogo

Many citizens on Hennessy Road were asked by polce to enter SOGO mall. However, this caused the SOGO entrance to be closed, leading to many being trapped inside the mall and outside on the sidewalk next to it.

Source: United Social Press

President Donald Trump has vowed to track down the 'anarchists' who tossed paint on the George Washington statue in New York's Washington Square Park on Monday as video footage of the masked suspects emerged. The NYPD released surveillance footage of the two vandals. They were filmed at 3.20am tossing paint balloons on the statute while one of their friends watched nearby on a CitiBike. Have any info? Call/DM @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. #NYPD