Sun, December 8, 2024

by: Cfr.org

After Fall of Assad Dynasty, Syria's Risky New Moment

The swift collapse of Syria's regime brings a humiliating end to Russia's and Iran's sway and opens the door for greater Turkish influence. But the Islamist movement that seized power has yet to

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Dutton takes the lead, but is he defying gravity?

The opposition leader is now ahead in the opinion polls at a time of deep unrest over the cost of living when he has no significant public plan to fix the problem.

by: Charlotte Observer

Biden to push for Austin Tice return as Assad flees Syria: 'We think we can get him back'

Assad's regime could present an opportunity to bring home the journalist more than 12 years after he traveled to Syria to cover its descent into war.

by: Newstalk ZB

Dr Leon Goldsmith: Bashar Al-Assad was 'vulnerable and exposed'

Rebel forces in Syria say they have ended Bashar Al-Assad's rule as the government's troops withdraw from Damascus. Otago University Professor for Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics Leon Goldsmith joins Early Edition.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

'Excessive' or 'strategic merit'? Eastern suburbs' tallest building given green light

A proposal to construct the tallest building in the eastern suburbs has overcome a significant planning hurdle three years after first being rejected, despite opposition from Woollahra Council.

by: Daily Express

Labour's 'dangerously misguided foreign policy' threatens special relationship with US

Mark Francois accused Sir Keir Starmer of undermining the "cornerstone of our defence policy" and attacked "Labour's persistent uncertainty on defence spending".

by: The Independent

Why Rayner's bricks and mortar is more important than Reeves's economic growth in building for victory

While Labour made economic growth its first mission, it is tackling the spiralling housing crisis that could make the difference between winning or losing the next election, writes David Maddox

by: The West Australian

Legal system cracking under weight of DV demand

Women are being put on trial by a broken legal system that is hard to access and lacking compassion despite a national focus on domestic violence, according to advocates too often forced to turn them away.

by: The Age

High Court battle looms for Allan over electoral funding laws

Correspondence between Jacinta Allan and independent candidates reveals why a dispute over Victoria's electoral laws is likely to head to the top court.

by: The Age

The Allan government is already spruiking its housing success. Here's what the data says

Over a year after its Housing Statement, Labor is falling short of its lofty targets - and that's if its estimate stacks up. If it doesn't, things are even worse.

by: Daily Express

Labour accused of 'ghosting' pensioners in fury over anti-OAP policies

A campaigner hit out at Labour for "refusing to engage at all with representatives of nearly 13 million older voters".

by: CNN

Trump attends Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris

President-elect Donald Trump is visiting Paris Saturday to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. Follow here for the latest live news updates.

by: The Age

Protests to go on 'until liberation' say pro-Palestinian organisers

Melbourne saw its 61st consecutive protest as the state government mulls changes to the law, and the chamber of commerce says the ongoing rallies are harming the city.

by: Yahoo

The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 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 civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers.

by: Jefferson Public Radio

Disappearing bills: More than 2,300 bills died without a vote in California's legislature in the last two years

Few bills fail in the Legislature because lawmakers publicly vote "no." Instead, most bills die when they are shelved, without lawmakers having to take tough votes.

by: legit

Former Nigerian Governor Declares Death Penalty for Killers of Security Officers

At a security event in Abuja, Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu proposed a death penalty measure for those who kill security personnel. He shared the benefit of such measure.

by: Reuters

Israel watching Syria closely after 'historic' fall of Assad

Israel has watched the rapid overthrow of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with a mixture of hope and concern as officials weigh the consequences of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in years.

by: The Independent

Trump issues warning to Liz Cheney as he reveals plans to pardon Jan 6 rioters on 'day one': Live

Donald Trump has issued a warning to Liz Cheney and her fellow House committee members who were tasked with investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

by: The Independent

Trump calls for Putin to reach ceasefire with Ukraine after Syrian government falls to rebel assault

President-elect Donald Trump publicly urged Vladimir Putin to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine 's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a late-night social media post Saturday evening sent amid reports that Damascus, Syria's capital, fell to a rebel attack.

by: Seattle Times

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson's early approach to fix WA $10B budget deficit

Washington faces a more than $10 billion budget shortfall. There's already talk of potential tax increases but here's Ferguson's current approach.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Over 75,000 approved homes yet to commence construction

Doubts over the effectiveness of the government's planning reforms are growing with data that shows a huge lag between approved DAs and new builds.

by: The Mirror

Angela Rayner says people who need homes must be prioritised over newts

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said too many people are 'priced out of getting a home' as she said protecting wildlife cannot scupper building much-needed housing

by: The Mirror

Kemi Badenoch's housing team tried to block 3,000 new homes over last Parliament

Labour has vowed to turn the tide on years of stagnant building under the Tories as we can reveal members of Kemi Badenoch's housing team opposed major building projects

by: Shropshire Star

Rebel offensive ends Bashar Assad's 14-year struggle to maintain power

It comes in stark contrast to his first months as Syrian president, when many hoped he would prove to be a young reformer.

by: The New York Times

Want a Job in the Trump Administration? Be Prepared for the Loyalty Test.

Applicants for government posts, including inside the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies, say they have been asked about their thoughts on Jan. 6 and who they believe won the 2020 election.

by: BBC

Food recycling targets 'difficult', says council

Councillors in Northumberland have warned it will be "really difficult" to roll out mandatory food waste collection services due to a lack of funding. Local authorities will be required to provide food waste collection from April 2026 under rules set out by the previous government.

by: The Oklahoman

Three Democrats, one independent, file to run for District 1 Oklahoma County commissioner

The race to replace Carrie Blumert on the Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners drew two activists, a state representative and a former lawmaker.

by: Reuters

Syrian rebels topple President Assad, his whereabouts unknown

Insurgents gained control after only a day of fighting, leaving President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule dangling by a thread as rebels marched on Damascus.

by: The Age

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

Assad's downfall marks a dramatic close to his nearly 14-year struggle to hold on to power as his country fragmented.

by: Kyiv Post

Russian Electoral Interference in Moldova and Georgia 2024: Mapping Telegram Disinformation Networks

Russia is pursuing an aggressive policy of election interference in the countries of the former USSR. In Moldova, where two rounds of presidential elections were held on October 20 and November 3, Russia sought to defeat the incumbent pro-European president Maia Sandu.

by: Des Moines Register

Bipartisanship in the Trump administration? Democrats are open to some picks and plans

Looking for a seat at the table amid a red trifecta, Democrats are signaling support for certain Trump picks and initiatives.

by: MSN

NSW government seeks court injunction to stop rail industrial action after pay talks with unions fail

The New South Wales premier says the government has failed to strike a deal with rail unions after two weeks of intense pay negotiations, and has sought a court injunction to stop planned industrial action.

by: MSN

Canaan Mdletshe, the journalist-cum-politician dies in car crash

Canaan Mdletshe in a car accident late this week has sent a shock wave to his former colleagues in the media industry in KwaZulu-Natal, to his political home and his family members.

by: 7NEWS

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton label firebombing of Melbourne synagogue an act of terrorism

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have both labelled the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue a terrorist attack.

by: MSN

Sen. Joni Ernst wants to hear from Hegseth on sex assault in the military and women in combat

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst made her most expansive comments yet on Pete Hegseth, telling a largely GOP audience at a California security conference Saturday that she needs to hear more from President-elect Donald Trump's embattled defense secretary pick on key issues before she decides whether to support him.

by: MSN

Government issues new guidelines for phone interceptions. Here are the do's and don'ts

As per the notification, in the case of the Union government, the competent authority will be the Union Home Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and, in the case of the state government, it shall be the secretary of that state government who is handling the home department.

by: MSN

How a uranium mine became a pawn in the row between Niger and France

And the impact could be felt more widely - although Niger accounts for less than 5% of the uranium produced globally, in 2022 it accounted for a quarter of the supply to nuclear p

by: MSN

John Swinney on course for Holyrood election victory as new poll shows Scottish Labour in freefall

Use precise geolocation data and actively scan device characteristics for identification. This is done to store and access information on a device and to provide personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. List of Partners (vendors)

by: MSN

Syrian prime minister says he is ready to hand over government to opposition

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said early Sunday that the government is ready to "extend its hand" to the opposition and hand over its functions to a transitional government. "I am in my house and I have not left,

by: MSN

Bill and Hillary Clinton celebrate anniversary of Clinton Presidential Center

For the Clinton Presidential Center's 20th anniversary, former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton joined a lecture along with a panel of guests on Saturday.

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: MSN

Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico: Here are the products that will cost you more

Donald Trump is currently the President-elect of the US and will be assuming the role of President in January next year. Meanwhile, the first thing on his table that will reportedly be signed, would be the imposing of tariffs on Canada and Mexico,

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: MSN

'World is going a little crazy right now': Trump meets with Macron in Paris

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: MSN

Greens claim they can better NZ's emissions reductions five-fold and improve the economy

The Green Party's new plan for tackling climate change will cut five times more carbon emissions than the government by 2030, it says.

Over 75,000 approved homes yet to commence construction

Doubts over the effectiveness of the government's planning reforms are growing with data that shows a huge lag between approved DAs and new builds.

The article from the Sydney Morning Herald discusses the significant housing construction delays in New South Wales, Australia. Despite the approval of over 75,000 homes, construction has not yet commenced on these projects. This backlog is attributed to various factors including economic conditions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs. The situation has led to concerns about meeting housing targets and addressing the state's housing crisis. The article highlights the frustration of potential homeowners and the government's struggle to incentivize builders to start projects. It also touches on the broader implications for urban planning and the potential need for policy interventions to stimulate construction activity.

Read the Full Sydney Morning Herald Article at:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/over-75-000-approved-homes-yet-to-commence-construction-20241120-p5ks2r.html