• Wed, December 11, 2024

by: National Post

Former Blue Jays win multi-million-dollar tax battle against Canadian government

OTTAWA — Former Toronto Blue Jays all-stars Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin scored a major win against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a Tax Court judge cried foul over the agency's attempt to tax millions of dollars in additional income.

by: ABC

Convicted Jan. 6 rioter says retired congressman invited him to Trump inauguration

A man who pleaded guilty to a felony for participation in the Capitol riot filed a letter showing he was invited by a retired congressman to attend the inauguration.

by: CBS News

Blinken defends Afghanistan withdrawal at contentious House hearing

The secretary of state's testimony comes months after Republicans issued a scathing report on the Biden administration's handling of the exit from Afghanistan.

by: The New York Times

North Carolina G.O.P. Brushes Aside Democratic Governor to Expand Power

After cloaking a bill that strips key powers from Democrats as hurricane aid, the state's Republican-controlled legislature overrode a veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, to pass it into law.

by: New York Sun

Trumpism Goes Global: America's Peaceful Citizen Uprising Inspires Political Rebellion Across the World

Entrenched political leaders and parties are being tumultuously evicted in Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Asia.

by: The Conversation

US secretary of education helps set national priorities in a system primarily funded and guided by local governments

If Republicans manage to achieve a long-standing goal by getting rid of the Department of Education, there wouldn't be a secretary of education anymore.

by: Ghanaweb.com

No official vehicle shall be acquired by appointees of the current administration - Government

The Office of the President has reiterated its directive prohibiting political appointees from acquiring official government vehicles as the current administration comes to an end.

by: Click2Houston

Secretary of State Blinken is returning to the Mideast in his latest diplomatic foray

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year.

by: Le Monde.fr

Syria's new government makes first steps, searching for legitimacy

By appointing Mohammed al-Bashir as Syria's transitional prime minister on Tuesday, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seems intent on cementing its control.

by: WBAL-TV

Justice Department ignored some policies when seizing reporters' phone records, watchdog finds

A watchdog report reveals the Justice Department sidestepped rules in media leak investigations under the Trump administration, raising concerns about press freedom.

by: pulse.com.gh

Check full list of Akufo-Addo and John Mahama's 2024 Transition Team

President Akufo-Addo and President-elect John Dramani Mahama have both announced their respective members of the 2024 transition team

by: Buffalo News

Legislators want a policy on who can use Erie County suite in new Bills stadium

In light of past controversies related to the use of New York State's luxury box at Highmark Stadium, Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin wants there to be a clear policy on how the county's suite will be used two years from now.

by: Richmond

Del. McQuinn announces reelection bid, faces primary challenge

Henrico, announced her bid for reelection Tuesday evening standing alongside most of East End Henrico's elected officials. McQuinn faces a primary challenge from Henrico School Board Chair Alicia Atkins.

by: The State

SC lawmakers are reviving private school vouchers, hoping to overcome court challenge

SC's state Senators introduced a new version of the state's trust fund scholarship program that the Supreme Court struck down. The proposal is a top priority for Republican lawmakers.

by: Trinidad Express Newspapers

Tobago a pivotal 'battleground' in election

Tobago can be a pivotal "battleground" in the 2025 general election and determine the next Government, according to political analysts.Whilst there are nine marginal constituencies in Trinidad, the ex

by: KWWL

CNN Poll: Most Americans approve how Trump is handling his return to the White House

Most Americans expect President-elect Donald Trump to do a good job upon his return to the White House next month (54%) and a majority approves of how he's

by: Daily Mail

DAN HODGES: From Blairite centrist to social justice warrior, how David Lammy has changed his political persona over the years - and now has a budding bromance with Trump's VP

David Lammy is in the firing line again. On Monday the Foreign Secretary rose in the Commons to hail the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Or, as Lammy opted to describe him, 'the rat of Damascus'.

by: Politico Europe

Germany to enable 'voluntary, secure' returns for Syrian refugees

"Voluntary, secure and dignified returns — which we have always called for — now appear, for the first time in years, to be within the bounds of the possible," the German Federal Foreign Office said in an eight-point plan for a free and democratic Syria, seen by POLITICO.

by: Channel NewsAsia Singapore

France's Macron expected to name new PM on Thursday

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron will likely name a new prime minister on Thursday, a government source told AFP on Wednesday (Dec 11), almost

by: The Hindu

India does not endorse Hasina's statements: Vikram Misri

Former Bangladesh PM's criticism of interim govt. a pinprick in bilateral ties, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri tells House panel; New Delhi's ties with Dhaka are not based on a 'single political party',

by: U.S. News & World Report

FBI Director Chris Wray Resigns Following Trump Nomination of Patel

Trump himself had appointed Wray, a fellow Republican, to his 10-year term in 2017, after firing his predecessor James Comey, who the then-president soured on over the FBI's investigations into alleged contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia.

by: The Independent

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump's ambassador to Greece, once called Greeks 'freeloaders' who should be punished

Co-hosting the Fox News panel show 'The Five' in July 2015, Kimberly Guilfoyle suggested that Greek citizens were too dependent on the government, calling on them to work harder and 'suck it up'

by: Politico Europe

How France's political crisis threatens military expenditures

"The military is worried, and that's normal, everyone is in a bit of a wait-and-see mode," Hélène Conway-Mouret, a Socialist senator who co-drafted a report on France's 2025 defense budget, told POLITICO.

by: Charlotte Observer

Why this Western NC lawmaker flipped his vote, helping Republicans pass power-shift bill

Rep. Mark Pless' problems with the bill had nothing to do with its restructuring of power in state government. How he was reassured after originally voting "no."

by: Associated Press

Macron seeks political deal to name a new prime minister and restore France's stability

A spokesperson for France's outgoing government says President Emmanuel Macron is seeking a political deal that would allow him to both name a new prime minister and "guarantee the stability of the country.

by: Raleigh News & Observer

Tillis kicks off 2026 campaign season, potentially his most expensive Senate race yet

Sen. Thom Tillis planned to make his 2026 reelection campaign for the Senate official Wednesday with an event in Washington hosted by around 20 of his colleagues.

by: Yahoo

NC Republicans pass law shifting government power, overriding Cooper's veto

North Carolina lawmakers approved a wide-ranging bill to shift executive power in state government on Wednesday, cementing a Republican override of Gov. Roy Cooper's veto a month before new elected officials are sworn in.

by: Charlotte Observer

Key executive leaving city of Charlotte for new job with CLT Business Alliance

Assistant City Manager Tracy Dodson is leaving city government to help lead the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance as the group's new chief operating officer and head of economic development. Dodson will start the new position in early February, according to a statement from the alliance announcing her hiring.

by: Politico Europe

Macron working to strip far right of influence on next French government

The French president is trying to limit the far-right National Rally's influence and find a way forward with the center left, but a path ahead remains elusive.

by: The Independent

FA explains decision to back Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup hosts despite human rights concerns

The sole Saudi Arabia bid was wave through unopposed, while the 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain following games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay

by: The Independent

North Korea breaks silence on South Korean martial law crisis

North Korea has broken its silence on the political crisis in rival South for the first time, accusing president Yoon Suk Yeol of a "fascist dictatorship", a week after his botched attempt to impose martial law in the country.

by: Charlotte Observer

NC Republicans overturn Cooper's veto, taking power from Stein and other Democrats

With North Carolina Republicans set to lose their veto-proof supermajority come 2025, state lawmakers took their final vote Wednesday on a bill that takes away power from incoming Democrats in the executive branch, overturning a veto with a party-line 72-46 vote.

by: The Independent

New Budget blow to Rachel Reeves as disability charity says it may be forced to scrap key services

A leading disability charity has warned it may be forced to stop running dozens of services as a result of Rachel Reeves ' tax hikes in the Budget. Mencap said it could be forced to stop providing at least 60 of its services as a result of the so-called 'charity tax', the rise in National Insurance paid by employers.

by: The Independent

Farmers' protest live: Tractors descending upon London as pressure intensifies on Starmer over inheritance tax

More than 300 farmers are expected to drive their tractors on Westminster ahead of Sir Keir Starmer answering prime minister's questions

by: The Independent

Trump set to be named Time's 'Person of the Year' with 40 days to inauguration: Live

This will mark the second time Trump has been named Time's "Person of the Year," and to celebrate, he will reportedly ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning. The honor comes as Trump continues to fill out his administration before he takes office January 20.

by: MSN

Iowa Senator on upcoming Congress and involvement with confirmation of Trump nominees

Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) are working closely with the incoming Trump Administration, hoping to confirm nominees who will "d

by: MSN

As Teenagers, They Protested Trump's Climate Policy. Now What?

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: An earlier version of this article stated incorrectly the destination of Greta Thunberg's return sailing voyage across the Atlantic in 2019.

by: MSN

County commissioners honor Steven Michael Quezada's service to Bernalillo County

County commissioners honor Steven Michael Quezada's service to Bernalillo County

by: MSN

Zelenskyy: Russians killed 50 priests and destroyed 700 churches in Ukraine since war began

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russians have killed 50 priests and destroyed about 700 churches in Ukraine. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with CBN Quote: "The Russians treat some Ukrainian churches similarly to the way they treat schools.

by: MSN

Republicans Introduce Bills to Cut Federal Workforce, Salaries as Musk, Ramaswamy Begin Government-Efficiency Work

Republican lawmakers are introducing a package of bills to improve government efficiency as businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy spearhead President-elect Donald Trump's advisory commission on curtailing government waste.

by: MSN

NC lawmakers pass constitutional amendment requiring voter photo ID in-person and by mail

Before ending the short session, Republican legislators pushed through a constitutional amendment that NC voters will see on the 2026 ballot.

by: MSN

Canada Post and postal workers union still far apart in negotiations

The two sides in the Canada Post strike appear further apart than ever with the company saying the most recent offer by the union takes 'major steps backwards.' And as Alexandre Silberman shows us, that's cause for concern for those whose essential documents are now caught in the middle.

by: MSN

Hochul travels to rival's turf and attacks critics of MTA's congestion pricing plan

Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Garrison to tout renovations at a Metro-North station and answer critics of her support for a $9 Manhattan toll on drivers.

by: MSN

'Draconian and brutal': Trump to rescind ban on ICE arrests in schools, hospitals, churches

Despite public opinion polls that find the majority of Americans support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the incoming Trump administration is forging ahead with President-elect Donald Trump's vow to begin his mass deportations of millions of people "on day one.

by: MSN

Trump reportedly plans to toss policy blocking ICE arrests at schools and churches

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to scrap a policy that stops ICE officers from making arrests at places like schools and churches.

by: MSN

Joe and Jill Biden share major family announcement!

First Lady Jill Biden has revealed that she and President Joe Biden are to become great-grandparents, as their granddaughter, Naomi Biden, is expecting!

by: MSN

Minneapolis City Council passes budget that comes with increased property taxes and with criticism from the mayor

More than 70 amendments later, the Minneapolis City Council passed a 2025 budget late Tuesday night. It comes with a property tax hike that that is lower than Mayor Jacob Frey says is needed, and the mayor is critical of the proposal.

by: MSN

Assad's fall in Syria will further weaken Hezbollah and curtails Tehran's 'Iranization' of region

The fall of President Bashar Assad will not only affect the 24 million Syrians who lived - and largely suffered - under his brutal rule. Over the border in Lebanon, the impact will be felt, too. The collapse of Assad's government provides another blow to its Lebanese ally,

Assad's fall in Syria will further weaken Hezbollah and curtails Tehran's 'Iranization' of region

The fall of President Bashar Assad will not only affect the 24 million Syrians who lived - and largely suffered - under his brutal rule. Over the border in Lebanon, the impact will be felt, too. The collapse of Assad's government provides another blow to its Lebanese ally,
The article discusses the potential implications of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's fall from power on regional dynamics, particularly concerning Hezbollah and Iran's influence in the Middle East. It argues that Assad's ouster would significantly weaken Hezbollah, which has been a key ally of Assad and has received substantial support from Iran. Hezbollah's military and political strength in Lebanon and its role in regional conflicts are seen as directly tied to the support it receives from both Syria and Iran. The fall of Assad could disrupt the logistical and military support lines from Iran to Hezbollah, thereby reducing its effectiveness and potentially diminishing Iran's strategic depth in the region. This scenario would also challenge Iran's broader ambition to expand its influence, often referred to as the "Iranization" of the region, by limiting its ability to project power through allied militias and governments. The article suggests that such a shift could lead to a reconfiguration of alliances and power balances in the Middle East, possibly fostering a more multipolar or balanced regional order.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/international-relations/assad-s-fall-in-syria-will-further-weaken-hezbollah-and-curtails-tehran-s-iranization-of-region/ar-AA1vGSu9

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