• Sat, November 30, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

Georgia ballot-image audit shows accuracy of Dominion voting machines over paper ballots

A first-of-its-kind ballot-image audit conducted in all 159 counties after this month's elections found discrepancies on only 87 of the nearly 5.3 million ballots cast across Georgia on Nov. 5. All but one of those discrepancies occurred on hand-marked paper ballots.

by: Brian Stokes

What to know about Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI

Kash Patel has called for radical changes at the FBI and was a fierce and vocal critic of the bureau's work as it investigated ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign

by: Brian Stokes

Demonising Dutton will backfire for Labor, just as it did for Harris with Trump

Amid the welter of commentary and post-mortems among Democrats to explain Kamala Harris's loss to Donald Trump, there is one theory that has received widespread acceptance. The Democrats made a serious tactical mistake in concentrating too much on Trump, and spent too little time promoting positive messages about Harris.

by: Brian Stokes

This man has the job of working out how Australia's social media ban will work

There are three key options to assess the age of a social media user. The company that will trial technologies for the Australian government explains what happens next.

by: Brian Stokes

Who is Kash Patel, Trump's pick to replace FBI director Chris Wray

by: Brian Stokes

Trump nominates loyalist Kash Patel to serve as FBI director

Patel, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, has promoted the false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and that a secret "deep state" cabal tried to overthrow Trump.

by: Brian Stokes

Some way to go before final election picture emerges

With counting after Friday's election still in the relatively early stages - after an exit poll that showed the main three parties effectively neck-and-neck - there is some way to go before the final picture emerges and the options for government formation crystalise.

by: Brian Stokes

'We didn't have a good day': Greens set to suffer significant election losses

The Green Party is set to suffer significant losses in the Irish General Election, with its leader expecting just a handful of parliamentarians to be returned.

by: Brian Stokes

Trudeau and Trump talk trade, border security at Florida dinner, but PM receives no promise tariff pledge will be shelved

Trump's team appeared to like the border investments that Canada has said it's planning, a source said, and the plan now is for the country to follow up with concrete actions

by: Brian Stokes

Keir Starmer to unveil plan for change with tough new targets on NHS, crime and living standards

Keir Starmer will use a major speech this week to set specific goals to meet on his flagship 'missions' by the election as the PM seeks to hammer home 'change' message to voters

by: Brian Stokes

'Clear route back to government' declares Martin as FF & FG set to keep SF out of power again while Hutch still in fight

BEAMING Micheal Martin declared he has a "clear route back to government" as Fianna Fail aim to become the most popular party in the country. But as the count continued late into the night, Fianna

by: Brian Stokes

Counting is underway in Ireland's election as 3 parties battle for top place

The outgoing government was led by the two parties that have dominated Irish politics for the past century: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. They have similar policies, but are longtime rivals with origins on opposing sides of Ireland's 1920s civil war. After the 2020 election ended in a virtual dead heat, they formed a coalition.

by: Brian Stokes

New abandoned shopping cart retrieval program draws criticism from outgoing city councilor

Tulsa City Councilor Jayme Fowler questions why Tulsa taxpayers, not retailers, are footing the $100,000 bill for the abandoned shopping cart pilot program.

by: Brian Stokes

Harris: Fine Gael 'will gain seats' amid further fragmentation of Irish politics

Irish premier Simon Harris has said Fine Gael will gain seats in the General Election despite a further fragmentation of Irish politics. Fine Gael won 35 seats in the 2020 election, but 18 of those TDs did not seek re-election in Friday's poll.

by: Brian Stokes

Donegal General Election 2024 updates: Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher delighted to be returning to politics

Senator Niall Blaney, who is Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallagher's Director of Elections said the tallies revealed that Charlie McConalogue's vote in Inishowen was down but his vote has increased in other areas such as Letterkenny.

by: Brian Stokes

Government formation will not be pretty when dust settles

The first time line to form a coalition will be on 18 December when the Dail next sits. It is unlikely a government will be voted in on that day. Micheál Martin has hinted at another deadline, suggesting during the campaign that a government should in place by the time Donald Trump is inaugurated as US President, on 20 January.

by: Brian Stokes

Top pollster warns Keir Starmer will struggle to convince public with his 'plan for change'

Sir Keir Starmer will set out a "plan for change" this week as part of what he is calling the next phase of government after a tumultuous start in No 10 - but Britain's top pollster has raised serious doubts about whether he can convince the public.

by: Brian Stokes

Carmel Sepuloni says coalition Government needs a 'kuia' at Christchurch Labour conference

Labour Party deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni told Labour members the coalition Government needs a "nana, tinÄ? or kuia" to keep its three leaders together. At the Labour Party conference in Christchurch today,

by: Brian Stokes

How Kristi Noem, Trump's homeland security pick, became an immigration 'zealot'

Throughout the country, Noem's focus on the border has endeared her to the Republican grass roots. The Shelby County GOP, in Tennessee, honored Noem at its annual Lincoln Day dinner over the summer, said the local party's chairman, Cary Vaughn, because, "She's a great zealot and advocate for fighting for border control."

by: Brian Stokes

Australia has overtaken New Zealand and Canada as the West's most authoritarian nation

There is something deeply odd and unsettling about Australia and New Zealand's attitude to their citizenry. Perhaps it's that they are so far away from the rest of the Anglosphere. Or perhaps historically-rooted insecurity about their national identity drives them to it.

by: Brian Stokes

How did SA's political donation ban gain such widespread support from MPs?

The South Australian parliament has backed laws to strip money out of politics - essentially, out of their own pockets. So how did the bill attract broad political support?

by: Brian Stokes

Keir Starmer attempts to 'reset' his government after disastrous start

Sir Keir will also signal that Government departments could face cuts in a tough spending review next spring that will include a "line by line" review of every item of spending.

by: Brian Stokes

Sinn Fein leader is 'very actively pursuing' trying to form a government in a bid to topple Ireland's ruling coalition after 'incredible performance' in Irish election - as ...

Mary Lou McDonald made it clear she wanted to engage with other parties about the 'possibilities of government' as Ireland's ruling coalition of centre-right parties closed in on victory.

by: Brian Stokes

Keir Starmer has shown he is ruthless and dislikes being challenged

Jason Beattie says that following Louise Haigh's resignation, Cabinet ministers will have noted Prime Minister Keir Starmer's reluctance to back a colleague in difficulty

by: Brian Stokes

Election 2024: Five things we learned from the first day of the counts

Those numbers won't be finalised until the last counts finish. But the outcome of the election is already clear. The Greens may not actually lose all their seats; there are hopes that they might cling on to one.

by: Brian Stokes

So how did Trudeau and Trump's dinner meeting go? Here's what we know

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to Palm Beach, Fla., to meet with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.

by: Brian Stokes

Donald Trump wants tax cuts and more in first 100 days

Trump's first term became defined by those tax cuts, which were approved by Republicans in Congress and signed into law only after their initial campaign promise to "repeal and replace" Democratic President Barack Obama's health care law sputtered, failing with the famous thumbs-down vote by then-Sen. John McCain.

by: Brian Stokes

Jeffrey Goldberg: Can People Working At Cabinet Departments "Thwart" What Trump's Nominees Want To Do?

President-elect Donald Trump and his allies have plans to overhaul the federal government after winning the popular vote, but his victory was far from overwhelming. How will Americans react to Trump's changes?

by: Brian Stokes

Sinn Fein actively pursuing route into government, insists leader McDonald

Outgoing coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, however, claim they are well placed to return to power following Ireland's General Election.

by: Brian Stokes

It looks like the latest form of protest, and Lidia Thorpe is its master

Is taking offence the new form of protest? If so, then Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Green-turned-independent whose disruptions of parliament have become commonplace, could teach a masterclass in it. Under Thorpe's model, the more performative the offence-taking, the better the protest.
  • Sun, December 1, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

Who is President Bashar al-Assad? Target of Islamist rebels in Syria

Assad? Rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad roamed the streets of Syria's Aleppo on Friday night (November 29), saying they have liberated it from al-Assad's hold.

by: Brian Stokes

Anthony Albanese expected to reshuffle cabinet in January

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to reshuffle his cabinet in January ahead of the 2025 federal election.

by: Brian Stokes

Lawmakers, former officials react to Trump's FBI director pick Kash Patel

President-elect Trump's decision to nominate Kash Patel to serve as FBI director has sparked mixed reactions from lawmakers and former officials, with Republicans praising the controversial pick. "It's a terrible development for the men and women of the FBI and also for the nation that depends on a highly functioning professional independent Federal Bureau

by: Brian Stokes

Armed rebels occupy centre of Aleppo, Syria's largest city

Thousands of insurgents also fanned out across Aleppo in vehicles with improvised armour and pickups, a day after they entered the city. View on euronews

by: Brian Stokes

Federal DEI spending explodes under Biden-Harris administration

President Donald Trump has promised to reduce government waste and employed wealthy businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the charge. So far, spending on federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies are prime targets for Musk and Ramaswamy,

by: Brian Stokes

Syria Conflict Latest: Turkey's First Reaction on Aleppo Attacks - 'Won't Allow Terrorist-Led State'

In the latest development from Syria, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has firmly stated that Turkey will not allow the establishment of a "terrorist-led state" in Syria, specifically referring to the ongoing conflict in Aleppo and Idlib.

by: Brian Stokes

Coalition frontbencher says voters conned into backing independents

Opposition communications spokesman Paul Fletcher, facing a battle against an independent at the next election, says teals had duped traditional Coalition supporters.

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Minister denies Labour as bad as Tories after Louise Haigh scandal

Pat McFadden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips he was "sorry" to see the departure of Louise Haigh as transport secretary. Watch the show live below.

by: Brian Stokes

Chinese county grapples with how to lure and reward workers for difficult, low-level jobs

by: Brian Stokes

Starmer accused of 'burying head in sand' over deal to allow young Britons to live and work in Europe

Exclusive: Despite repeatedly citing economic growth as a number one priority, the government has refused to conduct an assessment of how a deal for young people to live and work across the bloc could

by: Brian Stokes

5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system

The Government sets out a plan to restore order to the "broken" immigration system as new data shows net migration hit a high of nearly one million last year.

by: Brian Stokes

How Starmer's missteps are fuelling Nigel Farage's rise

In October, UK PM Keir Starmer's favourability went below far-right Reform UK Party Leader Nigel Farage. Here's a look at how Starmer lost his charm a few months after a landslide victory and how Fara

by: Brian Stokes

Trump's Call for Mexico to Stop Migrants and Drugs May Never Be Met

It would take years, if ever, for Mexico to accomplish what incoming US President Donald Trump is demanding to avoid tariffs: stemming the flow of migrants and drugs over the border.

by: Brian Stokes

GENEVA IN 1899: The local election of 1899, Part 2

The Geneva Daily Times, then as now, framed the 1899 local election as a horse race. "More wagers have been placed on the result in this city than has been

by: Brian Stokes

Musk's team-up with Trump is different to how media barons operated in the past

Elon Musk's regular posts of strong support for president-elect Donald Trump on his social media platform X and his expected role within the new US administration present a rolling live case study on the role of social media within public and political debate.

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk is attacking Britain. Former PMs are building ties

by: Brian Stokes

At the root of slowdown: It's politics, stupid

The murmurs and fears echoing in living rooms, bazaars and C-suites for weeks and months have come home to roost. All is clearly not well with the economy. On Friday, the ministry of statistics informed India that GDP growth in the July-September quarter,

by: Brian Stokes

Hipkins says 'yes' to Dunedin Hospital and 'no' to Aukus

Leader Chris Hipkins has said Labour will not allow New Zealand to be a part of Aukus He made the announcement at Labour's annual conference in Christchurc

It looks like the latest form of protest, and Lidia Thorpe is its master

Is taking offence the new form of protest? If so, then Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Green-turned-independent whose disruptions of parliament have become commonplace, could teach a masterclass in it. Under Thorpe's model, the more performative the offence-taking, the better the protest.
The article from The Age discusses Senator Lidia Thorpe's unique form of protest in the Australian Parliament, where she has been staging a sit-in on the Senate floor. This act of defiance is part of her broader campaign against the government's policies, particularly those affecting Indigenous rights and environmental issues. Thorpe's protest has drawn significant attention, with some viewing it as a powerful statement against systemic issues, while others criticize it as disruptive. The article highlights the tension between traditional parliamentary decorum and the evolving nature of political activism, with Thorpe emerging as a central figure in this dynamic. Her actions are seen as both a literal and metaphorical stand against what she perceives as injustices, sparking debates on the effectiveness and appropriateness of such protest methods within the political sphere.

Read the Full The Age Article at:
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/it-looks-like-the-latest-form-of-protest-and-lidia-thorpe-is-its-master-20241129-p5kunj.html