• Wed, December 4, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

What next for South Korea after night of political drama and turmoil

South Koreans expressed anger and confusion on Wednesday after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law only to lift the order hours later.

by: Brian Stokes

With the US caught off guard, Kim Jong Un may be about to capitalize on South Korea's turmoil

Kim Jong Un, North Korea's emboldened leader, is likely watching the events in South Korea closely and may use the turmoil to his benefit. "We know that North Korea likes to lampoon South Korea's democratic system whenever there is tumult in Seoul,

by: Brian Stokes

LAPD Chief Prepares to Protect Immigrants Ahead of Trump Deportation Plans

The LAPD is working with consulate offices for Mexico and other Central American countries to draft a plan to protect immigrants.

by: Brian Stokes

Micheal Martin says he has been given a mandate to form a government

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he had been given a mandate by his party to enter into negotiations with others to form a government. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament's 174 seats,

by: Brian Stokes

French government toppled in no-confidence vote deepening crisis

French opposition lawmakers brought the government down on December 4, throwing the European Union's second-biggest economic power deeper into a political crisis that threatens its capacity to legislate and rein in a massive budget deficit.

by: Brian Stokes

French govt collapses as PM Barnier loses no-confidence vote in Parliament

France's far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign,

by: Brian Stokes

Trump names Billy Long as IRS head

President-elect Trump said he would nominate former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) to serve as the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in a Wednesday post on Truth Social. "I am pleased to announce that former Congressman Billy Long,

by: Brian Stokes

Starmer's 'plan for change' - what is it for and why now?

After five months in power, even the most loyal cabinet members would quietly admit it's been a rocky run for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour.

by: Brian Stokes

French government felled in no-confidence vote, deepening political crisis

French lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote against the government on Wednesday, throwing the European Union's second-biggest economic power deeper into a crisis that threatens its capacity to legislate and tame a massive budget deficit.

by: Brian Stokes

When Trump Threatens, Canada and Mexico Go Their Own Way

A week before Donald Trump fired off yet another tariff threat on his neighbors, Justin Trudeau and Claudia Sheinbaum had a chance to confer in person about how to tackle that very scenario. Would they join forces against their errant trading partner or was it going to be a case of every person for themselves?

by: Brian Stokes

Barnier govt on chopping block: 'Very surprising alliance between left-wing coalition and far right'

France's government is facing no-confidence votes that could spell the end of the administration of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. For deeper insight and perspective, as France plunges into uncharted waters of political chaos,

by: Brian Stokes

Trump transition live updates: Pete Hegseth meets with Republican senators amid drinking allegations

Follow the latest on Trump's transition as his pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, comes under scrutiny for sexual assault and workplace misconduct allegations.

by: Brian Stokes

Johnson says he'd 'like to' axe PBS and Planned Parenthood

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Wednesday he'd like to cut government spending for PBS and for Planned Parenthood, but he noted he might face some push back from Congress first. "I would like to.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump taps team geared toward retribution and remaking of government

Less than a month after his victory, President-elect Donald Trump has assembled a team ready to carry out two of his biggest priorities: retribution against his political adversaries and a wholesale reshaping of the U.

by: Brian Stokes

Sir Keir Starmer to unveil 'plan for change' - what is it and why now?

by: Brian Stokes

Trump announces picks for Army secretary, trade adviser, hostage envoy, NASA administrator and more

President-elect Donald Trump announced several new additions to his incoming administration on Wednesday, including his selections for Army secretary and NASA adminstrator.

by: Brian Stokes

Column: GOP and Musk unveil a threat to Social Security

Rep. Mike Lee and Elon Musk put their heads together to craft an attack on Social Security utterly devoid of truth.

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk wants to abolish daylight savings time, and it might actually be a good idea

After 58 years of springing forward and falling back, evidence is mounting that it's bad for our bodies, reports Io Dodds

by: Brian Stokes

Razman Zakaria referred to Rights and Privilege Committee for alleged incitement and slander

IPOH: Opposition leader Razman Zakaria has been referred to the Rights and Privilege Committee over alleged slander and racially charged remarks. Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid made the ruling under provision 40(3) of the Standing Order after ...

by: Brian Stokes

Barnier latest: French government collapses as PM loses no-confidence vote

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is ousted after losing a no-confidence vote at the National Assembly - in a result that sees his government collapse.

by: Brian Stokes

When you have Stephen A. Smith and Jon Stewart going after you, you have a problem, ex-Dem adviser quips

Former Democrat adviser Dan Turrentine unpacks why President Biden's pardon of son Hunter is causing bipartisan uproar on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.'

by: Brian Stokes

President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden | The Excerpt

President-elect Donald Trump threatens BRIC nations with tariffs if they 'move away' from the U.S. dollar. Plus more top stories on The Excerpt.

by: Brian Stokes

Blue Dog promoted controversial buoys to prevent migrants from crossing the Rio Grande years ago

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar is claiming some credit for Texas' controversial buoys to prevent migrants from crossing the Rio Grande, saying he pitched the idea to Border Patrol years ago. The conservative Democrat said in a recent interview with Newsweek that he made the pitch to Border Patrol to prevent migrants from claiming asylum by

by: Brian Stokes

French government collapses as political chaos reaches boiling point

The French government collapsed on Wednesday as parliament voted to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet, throwing the nation into the worst political and fiscal turmoil in decades. Why it matters: The chaos leaves Europe's second largest economy without a functioning government for the first time in 60 years — the most severe fallout to date from the efforts to shrink its deficit.

by: Brian Stokes

Freshman Focus: Republican Rob Bresnahan, who ousted six-term House Democrat, reveals how he did it

Rep.-elect Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania discusses his priorities for the next Congress with Fox News Digital after he unseated six-term incumbent Rep. Matt Cartwright.

by: Brian Stokes

Uncertain times for France after government collapse

France has fallen back into political turmoil with the collapse of the government. It is a victory of sorts for the far-right and for the coalition of left parties all of which opposed the government under the premiership of former EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier. But it will do nothing to resolve France's problems.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump transition live updates: Pete Hegseth meets with Republicans amid drinking allegations

Follow the latest on Trump's transition as his pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, comes under scrutiny for sexual assault and workplace misconduct allegations.

by: Brian Stokes

French government collapse turns the screws on Macron

Prime Minister Michel Barnier will leave office having served the shortest prime ministerial term in modern French history.

by: Brian Stokes

French government felled in no-confidence vote, deepening crisis

France's prime minister must now tender his resignation and that of his government to President Emmanuel Macron.

by: Brian Stokes

Gov. Sununu shares views on Trump Cabinet picks, says he's 'happy to help'

Sununu also praised the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE ... In addition to the upcoming Trump administration and federal politics, Sununu spoke to reporters for an extended press conference Wednesday about the governor transition ...

by: Brian Stokes

Sam Fox, St. Louis entrepreneur, megadonor and U.S. ambassador, dies at 95

He rose from humble beginnings in rural Missouri to found a billion-dollar investment firm, bankroll political campaigns and serve as U.S. ambassador to Belgium.

by: Brian Stokes

French prime minister ousted in no-confidence vote, throwing country into deep uncertainty

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has been ousted in a no-confidence vote just three months into his term, after lawmakers on the left and the right united to

by: Brian Stokes

Under pressure, UK's Starmer sets out plans to deliver on election pledges

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will set out plans on Thursday to deliver on his priorities to raise living standards and rebuild Britain in a speech he hopes will draw a line under what even some of his supporters say has been a bumpy start to government.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump Replaces His White House Counsel Before He Even Started the Job

The shake-up is a sign that the new administration may see the same chaos and infighting that so often plagued President-elect Donald J. Trump's first term in office.

by: Brian Stokes

Hill farmers' livelihoods are at risk from Government delays for support schemes

Hill farmers' livelihoods are at risk from delays to new Government support schemes, experts have warned. These farmers are only receiving 8%, or £39million, of the government's new farming support scheme, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, despite the uplands occupying around 15% of England's area.

by: Brian Stokes

US officials still working to evict Chinese hackers from major US telecom networks

US officials are still trying to help major telecom providers evict Chinese government-backed hackers from their networks and don't have a timeline for when that will be done, officials said Tuesday.

by: Brian Stokes

If Trump starts a trade war with Mexico and Canada, where will Americans get all their stuff from?

President-elect Donald Trump appears keen on launching a simultaneous trade war with America's three biggest trade partners: Mexico, China and Canada.

by: Brian Stokes

California's unemployment benefits system 'broken' with $20B owed to feds in loan debt: report

Facing $20B debt and $2B yearly shortfalls, California's unemployment system needs an overhaul concludes a new state report.

by: Brian Stokes

Bangladesh leaders speak of two Indias, plan cell to counter global media

Student leaders of the anti-quota agitation and part of the caretaker government met Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and proposed a dedicated cell to counter global media's "anti-Bangladesh narrative". One of the student advisers referred to two Indias,

by: Brian Stokes

Greg Abbott's War on China

Texas governor has instructed state agencies to "divest at the first available opportunity" from China in a move aimed at Beijing.

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk's harassment of federal employees proves DOGE is weaker than he pretends

S hortly after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, he announced, with great fanfare, that billionaire Elon Musk and professional troll Vivek Ramaswamy were being put

by: Brian Stokes

Trump taps team geared toward retribution and remaking of U.S. government

Trump's pick of Kash Patel to lead the FBI brought into sharper focus the president-elect's seriousness about striking back at those he believes have wronged him.

by: Brian Stokes

Turley: The Bidens are the 'GOATs of influence peddling' and in an ethical 'freefall'

GWU law professor Jonathan Turley joined 'Fox & Friends' to discuss the latest on the fallout from President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter.

by: Brian Stokes

'Government has no moral compass': EFF and MK Party slam President Ramaphosa's cabinet reshuffle

Both the EFF and MKP slam President Ramaphosa's cabinet reshuffle as a pointless exercise, accusing government of focusing on political gain instead of tackling South Africa's ongoing socio-economic crises.

by: Brian Stokes

Bill Ackman Says Biden Is Handcuffing Trump And Musk's DOGE Plans By Locking In Work-From-Home Deals For Federal Employees: 'This Needs To Stop Now'

Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman slammed what he said were attempts by the Biden administration to "make permanent the Deep State" in a post on X. What Happened: Ackman said, "Biden is attempting to make permanent the Deep State before he leaves office by burdening the government with untenable contracts so that [Donald Trump] and [Department of Government Efficiency] cannot succeed.

by: Brian Stokes

French government collapse: Le Pen eyes chance to destroy Macron

France's far-right leader has brought the government to its knees. Now, with the country in political turmoil, she has the president in her sights.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump Appointees Kash Patel and Massad Boulos Are Not Neocons (opinion)

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, was forced to step down by both of the two nonprofit advocacy groups that he ran due to mismanagement of funds, sexual impropriety and reports of intoxicated behavior, The New Yorker reported on Sunday. The incidents — relayed in a trail of documents and corroborated to…

by: Brian Stokes

The British state is blind

If statistics enable the state to see, then the British government is increasingly short-sighted. Fundamental questions, such as how many people arrive each year, are now tricky to answer. How many people are in work?

The British state is blind

If statistics enable the state to see, then the British government is increasingly short-sighted. Fundamental questions, such as how many people arrive each year, are now tricky to answer. How many people are in work?
The article from *The Economist* titled "The British state is blind" discusses the pervasive issue of data fragmentation within the UK's public sector. It highlights how the lack of integrated data systems across various government departments leads to inefficiencies, misinformed policy-making, and a failure to deliver services effectively. Despite the UK's advanced technological capabilities, the government's inability to share and analyze data cohesively results in a disjointed approach to governance. The piece points out specific examples where data silos have led to poor outcomes, such as in healthcare, where patient records are not universally accessible, leading to repeated tests and delayed treatments. It also touches on the broader implications for policy, where the absence of comprehensive data hampers the ability to address complex social issues like poverty, education, and crime. The article calls for a more unified data strategy to enhance transparency, accountability, and the overall effectiveness of public services.

Read the Full The Economist Article at:
https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/12/04/the-british-state-is-blind