Sun, December 8, 2024

by: Cyprus Mail

Elon Musk's new job will bring tech 'disruption' to the US government - and history says it won't be pretty

By Hallam Stevens On November 12, United States president-elect Donald Trump announced he would appoint Elon Musk, the world's richest man, to lead a newly constituted Department of Government Efficiency alongside fellow tech billionaire and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

by: Daily Monitor

Role of pro-political regime pastors in de-democratisation

They use their privileged positions as "servants of God" and the pulpit to sway their followers towards an increasingly authoritarian government, central to which are the vices of

by: The Daily Star

TIB calls for overhaul of ACC

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was undermined by partisan politics and bureaucratic interference since its inception in 2004

by: The Age

Ex-Labor MP brands his old party 'cowardly' as he seeks re-election

Tony Lupton's decision to run as an independent could well spice up a Prahran contest that was assumed to be a battle between the Greens and the Liberals.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Labor desperately needs Gen Z voters. Too bad Albanese just drove us further away

The PM will spend much of his time on the campaign trail arguing his government has served young Australians well - a statement that was largely true until last week.

by: Newsweek

Putin's Western Adversaries Are in Disarray

France, Germany and South Korea have all faced political ructions which could be welcomed by the Russian president.

by: MSN

Syrian government falls in stunning end to 50-year rule of Assad family

The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days.

by: THE WEEK

What Donald Trump owes the Christian Right

Conservative Christians played an important role in Trump's re-election, and he has promised them great political influence

by: Sydney Morning Herald

The PM says Labor has your back. Most voters don't believe him

In a rebuff to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, an exclusive survey shows that 56 per cent of voters have rejected his new message on the economy - "we have your back" - after years of pressure on family budgets. Want to unlock unlimited news? Read more award-winning journalism from as little as 50c a day. Get started

by: Daily Express

How Reform can crush Labour at next election - even without backing from Elon Musk

Reform's new chairman, the successful businessman Zia Yusuf, has begun to professionalise the party dismissing old staff, creating targeted election teams and recruiting new regional directors. It's said he's even recruited ex-CCHQ personnel which, as one Conservative MP pointed out, might not be such a good thing.

by: Business Standard

Fall of Bashar Assad after 14 yrs of war in Syria ends decades-long dynasty

The fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government Sunday brought to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power as his country fragmented amid a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers.

by: The Advocate

St. George voters throw early support behind sales tax measure to fund new city

This tax revenue, currently collected and owned by East Baton Rouge Parish, is worth about $50 million annually.

by: LocalSYR

The fall of Bashar Assad after 14 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty

The fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government Sunday brought to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power as his country fragmented amid a brutal

by: MSN

Syrian rebels battle for Homs and advance to Damascus in threat to Assad's rule

Syrian rebels battle for Homs and advance to Damascus in threat to Assad's rule - Since anti-regime fighters swept into Aleppo a week ago, government forces have crumbled across the country as insurge

by: MSN

MSPs must think with heads and hearts over assisted dying bill

Mail Opinion says MSPs should be only too aware that many well intended legislative proposals can come with unintended negative consequences.

by: MSN

Budget fails to tackle slow economic growth, says Labour

Budget fails to tackle slow economic growth, says Labour - The SNP argued the UK Government is treating Scotland as an 'afterthought'.

by: The Mirror

Doctors, nurses and police officers to be shadowed by Treasury minister for spending review

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said he isn't going to do a major spending review 'from my office in the Treasury' but wants to get out to listen to people
Sat, December 7, 2024

by: ABC

Trump meets with Macron in first international trip since reelection: 'World is going a little crazy right now'

President-elect Donald Trump kicked off his first foreign trip since his reelection with a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace.

by: Island

President-elect Trump and First Lady Elonia celebrate Thanksgiving at Mar a Lago

by: bdnews24

Hope to see an elected government next year, says Advisor Wahiduddin

This is my personal opinion. I don't know what will actually happen," says the advisor of planning and education

by: RealClearPolitics

David Brooks on Hunter Biden Pardon: Democracies Fall When Practices And Norms That Work Get Slowly Abandoned

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Biden's pardon of his son has drawn scrutiny from both sides of the aisle,

by: WAtoday

Ellenbrook line opens 16 years after it was first promised

WA Premier Roger Cook, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Federal Infrastructure Catherine King and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti opened the five new Metronet stations on Sunday morning.Credit: Hamish Hastie In 2008, the then Carpenter Labor government ...

by: The Australian Financial Review

A crazy six hours in Seoul and the fragility of democracy

A presidential brain snap in South Korea has revived dark memories of the country's past, with potentially damaging geopolitical ripples across north-east Asia.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Protest outside places of worship could be banned in NSW after Great Synagogue incident

After a spate of antisemitic attacks, Premier Chris Minns has commissioned his attorney-general to strengthen protections for religious institutions.

by: Wall Street Journal

What to Know About the Civil War in Syria

Islamist rebels in Syria launched a large-scale attack on government forces, causing the largest shift in the balance of power since 2020 in the country, where more than a decade of war has taken place.

by: New Republic

Pete Hegseth's Mom Desperately Tries to Take Back Her Own Words

Pete Hegseth called his mom to come do some damage control.

by: Associated Press

Clintons urge voters agitated by today's politics to remain involved in public service

Bill and Hillary Clinton say voters disappointed with the presidential election need to remain involved in public service and find ways to give back.

by: thenightly

Peter Dutton labels synagogue attack 'terrorism, pure and simple'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue was the unsurprising result of the Prime Minister's 'deplorable' handling of the Middle East conflict.

by: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

A North Texan as speaker? Here's the Texas House Republican caucus' speaker pick

Texas House members with family and guests crowd the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol for the opening of the 88th Texas Legislative Session in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Ricardo Brazziell USA TODAY NETWORK The House Republican Caucus has ...

by: justthenews

Pearl Harbor Day proves to be a unifying day amid bitter politics

There are only 16 remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor, 83 years later. The attack killed 2,403 Americans.

by: BBC

No more Mr Nice Guy for Keir Starmer

The prime minister set out his "plan for change" in a major speech which covered priorities including the economy

by: RealClearPolitics

Jeffrey Goldberg on Hegseth: "Borderline Irresponsible" To Assume Somebody With An Alcohol Problem Can Suddenly Clean Up

Jeffrey Goldberg, 'Washington Week' host and editor of The Atlantic, remarked it is a "bit unreal" that somebody with an alcohol problem could be ready to assume the position of Secretary of Defense.

by: RealClearPolitics

David Brooks on Hunter Biden Biden Pardon: Democracies Fall When Practices And Norms That Work Get Slowly Abandoned

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Biden's pardon of his son has drawn scrutiny from both sides of the aisle,

by: Esquire

The Curious Alchemy of How We Handle the News

The murder of Brian Thompson didn't prompt a conversation about guns and violence in America but instead the state of our nation's healthcare systems.

by: BBC

One shot dead on election day in Ghana

Election day has arrived in Ghana, where a debt crisis and high living costs mean the economy is uppermost in the minds of many voters. The West African nation is guaranteed a new president as Nana Akufo-Addo steps down after reaching the official limit of two terms in office.

by: USA Today

French President Macron rolls out the red carpet for Trump ahead of Notre Dame reopening

Donald Trump gets the red carpet treatment from French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris ahead of Notre Dame Cathedral ceremony.

by: WLRN

Pam Bondi's journey from traditional republican to warrior for Trump

MIAMI — The day before Florida's 2016 presidential primary, the state attorney general, Pam Bondi, surprised her fellow Republicans and endorsed Donald Trump at a rally in Tampa, her hometown.

by: NJ.com

What DOGE dude Vivek Ramaswamy got wrong about Trump's victory (Hint: It's a lot)

Vivek Ramaswamy — the billionaire who failed in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and his gambit to be Donald Trump's running mate, and had to settle for a powerless consulting job recommending cuts to the federal government — tried to run interference for Trump's controversial cabinet nominees on Saturday.

by: Salon

Welcome to the New Dark Ages

Some see Trump as reviving the so-called Gilded Age of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an era of great prosperity as well as technological and industrial growth. It was an era dominated by corrupt "captains of industry" or "robber barons" whose corrupting influence also extended to government and politics.

by: The New York Times

Musk Cost-Cutting Effort Is Being Guided by Health Entrepreneur

The inclusion of Brad Smith in Trump's efficiency panel suggests that the team is preparing to focus particularly on the nation's health care system.

by: The Mirror

'Keir Starmer needs to deliver or the populists will pounce'

Labour MPs in traditional heartland seats have been telling No 10 that Nigel Farage's Reform now poses more of a danger than the Tories,' The Mirror's Jason Beattie writes

by: MSN

Zimbabwe High Court scraps abortion restrictions

HARARE - Women's rights activists in Zimbabwe are celebrating a major court victory. The High Court ruled abortion after marital rape and for teenage girls is now legal. READ: March aims to raise awareness on safe abortion Abortion laws previously only allowed terminations under strict conditions,

by: MSN

Human rights lawyers group condemn CCP's targeting of unregistered house churches with 'fraud' label

Lawyers, human rights activists and religious leaders in China have issued a strong condemnation of the government's labeling of unregistered house churches as fraudulent organizations, decrying the accusations as violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.

by: Couriermail

Josh Frydenberg and Nova Peris tell Prime Minister to 'step up' after Synagogue firebombing

Former Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg and Indigenous trailblazer Nova Peris have called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to "step up" and act on the anti-Semitism scourge ripping through Australia following Friday's Melbourne Synagogue firebombing.

by: The Daily Signal

Politics of Economic Redistribution, RIP

Her economic policies were obviously thin gruel. Her $25,000 payment to first-time homebuyers would be vacuumed up by sellers, her ban on "price gouging" was directed at notoriously competitive grocery chains, and her call for restoring the pandemic-era refundable child tax credit targeted a policy whose demise sparked no visible protest.

by: MSN

Dem rep's family targeted with bomb threat in latest targeting of House members

A Massachusetts congresswoman said Saturday that she and her family were the target of a bomb threat - marking the latest in a series of similar threats made on House members from both sides of the political aisle.

by: Seattle Times

Trump's allies go global: 'Make Argentina Great Again'

The Conservative Political Action Conference has gone global, aiming to unite right-wing parties and politicians in its traveling showcase.

by: MSN

Greg Abbott Boasts of 'Border Security Blueprint' for US

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is promoting what he calls a "border security blueprint" for the United States, emphasizing his state's strategies to address immigration and border control. In a statement released on Friday,

What to Know About the Civil War in Syria

Islamist rebels in Syria launched a large-scale attack on government forces, causing the largest shift in the balance of power since 2020 in the country, where more than a decade of war has taken place.

The article from The Wall Street Journal provides an overview of the ongoing Syrian civil war, detailing its origins, key players, and the current state of affairs. Initially sparked by the Arab Spring protests in 2011, the conflict escalated when President Bashar al-Assad's regime violently suppressed demonstrations, leading to a full-scale civil war. The war has drawn in various factions including rebels, jihadist groups like ISIS, and foreign powers such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the U.S., each with their own interests. Over the years, the conflict has led to massive casualties, displacement of over half of Syria's prewar population, and widespread destruction. Despite a decrease in intensity, the war continues with Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, regaining control over much of the country, while opposition-held areas face ongoing sieges and attacks. The article also touches on the humanitarian crisis, the failure of peace talks, and the complex international involvement that has turned Syria into a proxy battleground, with no clear end in sight.

Read the Full Wall Street Journal Article at:
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/syria-civil-war-explained-731644f6