Sun, December 1, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

Claims of double-charging and excessive rent in NSW child protection system

Following stinging critiques of NSW's child protection system, a widespread review found out-of-home care was "not fit for purpose" and lacked accountability and oversight.

by: Brian Stokes

Emergency workers to get access to mortgage scheme

Police, firefighters and prison officers are to get access to a government mortgage scheme after previously being frozen out due to their retirement ages. The mortgage guarantee programme was

by: Brian Stokes

Taiwan's President Lai in Hawaii after declaring Taiwan a force for global peace

By Angie Teo, Ann Wang and David Brunnstrom (Reuters) -Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te began a two-day U.S. stopover in Hawaii on Saturday as part of a Pacific tour after declaring his democratically governed island a key force for promoting global peace and stability.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump's war on federal bureaucracy could trigger Supreme Court battle

by: Brian Stokes

GOP Sen. Hagerty on Kash Patel Leading FBI: 'I Look Forward to Him Taking It Apart'

Sen. Bill Hagerty enthusiastically supported Donald Trump's announcement he would nominate Kash Patel to lead the FBI.

by: Brian Stokes

Is Trump really planning to revive Keystone XL? And is there even life left in that pipeline plan?

There's talk in Washington that president-elect Donald Trump plans to revive the Keystone XL pipeline project that would transport oil from northern Alberta to the U.S. midwest. Even setting aside Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods,

by: Brian Stokes

Ireland dodges bullet as Dublin voters narrowly reject gangland boss

Gerry "The Monk" Hutch led through 10 nail-biting election rounds — but Ireland's EU heavyweight knocked him out at the final bell.

by: Brian Stokes

Republican Strategist Calls Donald Trump's Bluff on Tariffs

Susan Del Percio advised those wary of President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plan not to worry about it being enforced.

by: Brian Stokes

House: Government to drill down on drivers of emigration

The findings of confidential survey on emigration using a locally based market research firm are to guide government policy on retaining "as many Bermudians as we possibly can", MPs heard in the

by: Brian Stokes

Trump's Next Term Could See America's First True Oligarchs, Warns Democracy Activist Garry Kasparov

Elon Musk's DOGE plan could mix public and private interests in a way previously not seen in American politics, the former world chess champion said.

by: Brian Stokes

Iran throws its support behind Assad as rebels expand their shock offensive in Syria

Iran has thrown its support behind Syria's government after thousands of insurgents took control of the country's largest city of Aleppo.

by: Brian Stokes

Migori politician opines Ruto-Raila dalliance will impact 2027 voter turnout in Mt Kenya region

Politician Billy Mijungu claimed that President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga's relationship will affect voter turnout in Mt Kenya and Lake regions.

by: Brian Stokes

William Ruto calls for end of church-state feud as he pledges support to Kajiado chapel: "Tushirikaine"

President William Ruto urged the church and the state to end the recent tensions and focus on developing the country, as he pledged support to a Kajiado church.

by: Brian Stokes

Factbox-Trump's picks for his cabinet and other top posts

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has picked his cabinet and a flurry of other high-ranking administration positions following his Nov. 5 election victory. Here are Trump's choices for some of the key posts overseeing defense,

by: Brian Stokes

Social democrats gain and incumbents are punished in Iceland's election

Voters in Iceland joined a global trend of punishing incumbents in a parliamentary election, with a center-left party winning the largest share of votes in the North Atlantic island nation. With all the votes tallied on Sunday,

by: Brian Stokes

This week in politics: Absentee ballot counting lawsuit could be reheard by appeals court

Two groups have asked the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear a case on counting mail-in absentee ballots post-Election Day. Plus other updates.

by: Brian Stokes

Solutions: Harris promised 3 million new homes. States might actually make it happen

The federal government was never going to be the best hope to ramp up housing supply quickly, but many states are experimenting and ready to try.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump and his GOP friends focus on tax breaks and deportations in his first 100 days

Trump and his GOP friends focus on tax breaks and deportations in his first 100 days - In preparation for Trump's return, Republicans in Congress have been meeting privately for months and with the pr

by: Brian Stokes

2025 will start with a 3.5% pay raise for Pennsylvania's governor, lawmakers and judges

by: Brian Stokes

Trump Will Overplay His Hand. Here's How to Be Ready.

Trump's return to power certainly poses challenges to U.S. democracy. But he will make mistakes and overplay his hand — at home and abroad. America will survive the next four years if Democrats pick themselves up and start learning from the successes of opponents of autocracy across the globe.

by: Brian Stokes

Behind the Curtain: Trump's shock and awe

by: Brian Stokes

'I had a baby in jail - here's the truth about Lauren's Coronation Street storyline'

A woman who gave birth in prison has said it has been 'emotional' seeing soap Coronation Street tell the storyline of character Lauren having a baby in jail on TV

by: Brian Stokes

Chandrababu Naidu Government Dissolves Waqf Board For 'Better' Governance

Amaravati: The Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has dissolved the AP State Waqf Board to promote good governance, safeguard Waqf properties, and ensure the board operates efficiently.

by: Brian Stokes

Starmer not a hypocrite for giving Haigh Cabinet role, minister says

Starmer's spokesman repeatedly told journalists on Friday that Haigh's resignation came after new information emerged

by: Brian Stokes

Navy putting first shipborne hypersonic weapon on vessel once seen as 'costly blunder'

The US is deploying a shipborn hypersonic missile battery to the USS Zumwalt, a destroyer once thought a major mistake.

by: Brian Stokes

Homelessness has increased in Forsyth County since COVID-19 swept through Triad, advocates say

As temperatures decrease and winter weather rolls into Winston-Salem, organizations who provide for the city's homeless are preparing to serve a population that has increased in the years after the

by: Brian Stokes

As his power grows, D.C. wonders: How do you lobby a man like Elon Musk?

Musk has flaunted his closeness with Trump, but his unconventional approach leaves few obvious ways to reach him.

by: Brian Stokes

Philly prepares for mass deportations | Morning Newsletter

Welcome to a new month. It's a chilly and partly sunny Sunday. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to remove millions of people who lack the permission to be in the United States. Today's main read highlights the ramifications of this plan on Philadelphia and beyond.

by: Brian Stokes

How to Survive the Next 4 Years: A Guide for Anti-Trumpists

Trump's return to power certainly poses challenges to U.S. democracy. But he will make mistakes and overplay his hand — at home and abroad. America will survive the next four years if Democrats pick themselves up and start learning from the successes of opponents of autocracy across the globe.

by: Brian Stokes

Hasnat Abdullah thanks BNP for 'bold and loud stance' on India

by: Brian Stokes

Migration cap not an option despite record numbers, admits Government

Pat McFadden rejected the idea of a 'simple' target number, saying this had failed when tried by Conservative administrations in the past

by: Brian Stokes

Real World Economics: Fed is insulated from political interference

Seven weeks from inauguration, Donald Trump and his aides are issuing blizzards of announced nominations to key positions and of policy measures that will be taken quickly. Most are controversial.

by: Brian Stokes

'Vivek, Jay and now Kash': Former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump lauds Indian-origin nominations to US administration

Donald Trump plans to place Indian-Americans in key positions during his potential second term as president. Trump's former spiritual advisor Johnnie Moore highlighted several appointees of Indian descent on X (formerly Twitter).

by: Brian Stokes

Debate evoked my mother's end of life: Would we have had assisted dying conversation?

Friday evoked for me the end of life of my mother, my brother and my best friend, all of whom died of terminal cancer: would we have had that conversation about assisted dying, and what might that have meant?

by: Brian Stokes

How to take advantage of Medicare's expanded drug benefit in 2025

It will be easier to spread out Part D drug costs over the year, while the total annual cost of medicines will be capped at $2,000.

by: Brian Stokes

Trudeau promises border helicopters at 'very productive' Trump meeting: source

On Friday evening, Trudeau landed in Florida and travelled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago club for a hastily arranged dinner and discussion with president-elect.

by: Brian Stokes

Displaced Nepali-speaking Bhutanese fume over 'mindfulness city' plan

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to meet with House Republicans next week to discuss DOGE

Businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will meet with House Republicans this week to discuss cuts to federal government spending, among other matters.

by: Brian Stokes

Election 2024: The latest results in maps and charts

by: Brian Stokes

Kash Patel's prescription for an ailing FBI: accountability and house cleaning

Patel has extensive experience as a public defender, federal prosecutor, House Intelligence Committee counsel, National Security Council member and chief of staff at the Pentagon.

by: Brian Stokes

How Trump's Tax Cuts Might Impact Medicaid and Food Stamps in 2025

In 2017, then-President Donald Trump championed a successful tax bill that lowered taxes for a large majority of American taxpayers. Many of the provisions of the tax bill are set to expire in 2025, and the now President-elect Trump spent a large part of his 2024 to retake the presidency by promising to extend the 2017 tax bill and prevent those expirations.

by: Brian Stokes

B'desh genocide: I don't find any difference between India and Bangladesh, says Mehbooba Mufti, BJP calls it treason

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti compared Bangladesh atrocities against minorities with India, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Raina on December 1 called it very controversial and unfortunate. While speaking to ANI,

by: Brian Stokes

Bilawal makes pitch for political stability

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has laid emphasis on establishing political stability and writ of the state, claiming that now it will have to be decided whether this stability and writ is established through dialogue or come on the back of force.

by: Brian Stokes

Irish elections: Political parties plot path to government

by: Brian Stokes

Trump discussed border, trade with Canada's Trudeau after pledging steep tariffs

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he discussed the border, trade and energy in a "very productive" meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid fears of a trade war. Trudeau paid an unannounced visit to Florida on Friday evening and had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence,

by: Brian Stokes

Republicans eye tax breaks, border funds and clean energy cuts when Trump returns

Republicans plan to pass a huge party-line bill under Donald Trump next year that could include immigration and border, tax and climate provisions.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump and allies blur the lines between politician and influencer

by: Brian Stokes

BBC host missing from own morning show as I'm A Celebrity star steps in

A familiar face was missing from her usual Sunday morning slot on December 1, with an I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star stepping in to make sure things ran smoothly

Claims of double-charging and excessive rent in NSW child protection system

Following stinging critiques of NSW's child protection system, a widespread review found out-of-home care was "not fit for purpose" and lacked accountability and oversight.

The article from the Sydney Morning Herald discusses allegations of double-charging and excessive rent within New South Wales' child protection system. It highlights that non-government organizations (NGOs) managing out-of-home care are accused of charging the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) for services while also receiving rental income from properties owned by the department. This practice has led to concerns about financial mismanagement and the welfare of children in care. The article mentions that some NGOs have been charging rent at rates significantly higher than market value, with one example cited where rent was charged at $1000 per week for a property valued at $500,000. Critics argue that this not only inflates costs but also diverts funds that could be used for the direct care of children. The DCJ has acknowledged these issues and is reviewing its property management and funding arrangements to ensure better oversight and value for money.

Read the Full Sydney Morning Herald Article at:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/claims-of-double-charging-and-excessive-rent-in-nsw-child-protection-system-20241201-p5kuus.html