Sun, December 8, 2024

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: 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: 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.

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: MSN

As Assad Prepares Last Stand, His Ally Iraq Rules Out Military Intervention

"Everything that is happening in Syria is directly related to Iraqi national security," an Iraqi official told Newsweek.

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: MSN

MCA will remain vocal, provide checks and balances to govt, says Wee

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: MSN

Discuss more, don't rush proposed changes

ON Monday, the government tabled the Communications and Multimedia (Amendments) Bill 2024 (CMA) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (Amendments) Bill 2024 (MCMC) in Parliament.

by: MSN

48 arrested in Tbilisi during ninth night of protests

By bne IntelliNews Following two nights of relative calm, the ninth consecutive night of anti-government, pro-EU protests in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on December 6 saw violent dispersals by riot police and 48 arrests.

by: MSN

MPs abandon flights, use SGR to Mombasa for parliamentary games to save funds: "Austerity measure"

Members of Parliament participating in the East Africa Community Parliamentary Games opted to travel to Mombasa via the Standard Gauge Railway instead of flying.

by: MSN

Angela Rayner to announce 'sweeping planning overhaul' to fast-track new homes

Angela Rayner to announce 'sweeping planning overhaul' to fast-track new homes - The Deputy Prime Minister wants to see some planning applications bypass committees.

TIB calls for overhaul of ACC

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

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged for a comprehensive overhaul of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to enhance its effectiveness in combating corruption. TIB's call comes in response to the ACC's perceived inefficacy, as highlighted by its failure to prosecute high-profile corruption cases and its lack of independence from political influence. The organization emphasized the need for legal reforms to ensure the ACC's autonomy, improve its operational capabilities, and foster greater transparency and accountability. TIB also pointed out the necessity for the ACC to adopt a more proactive approach in investigating and prosecuting corruption, especially in cases involving influential figures, to restore public trust and effectively tackle systemic corruption in Bangladesh.

Read the Full The Daily Star Article at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/tib-calls-overhaul-acc-3771076