• Sat, December 14, 2024

by: USA Today

Supreme Court to hear challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions rules

California wants to move away from gas-powered cars. But fuel producers argue the state is acting as a "quasi-federal regulator on global climate change."

by: UPI

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached over martial law attempt

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached Saturday over his short-lived martial law decree, with twelve lawmakers from his own party joining the opposition to pass the motion in the National Assembly.

by: WPRI 12

RI state government hit by major cyberattack; Social Security, bank numbers believed stolen

The hackers accessed RIBridges, the state's online portal for obtaining social services such as SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

by: Buffalo News

Buffalo-area water systems struggle to determine if 100,000 water pipes are lead

Public water agencies in Erie and Niagara counties have yet to identify the material used in more than 100,000 water service lines buried underground, a Buffalo News analysis of state data shows.

by: CNN

Georgian government votes in far-right former soccer player as president

Georgian lawmakers have voted in far-right former soccer star Mikheil Kavelashvili as next president of Georgia, amid mounting popular anger over the government's halt to EU accession talks.

by: Detroit News

Trump eyes privatizing U.S. Postal Service, citing financial losses

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a keen interest in privatizing the U.S. Postal Service in recent weeks, three people with knowledge of the matter said, a move that could shake up consumer shipping and business supply chains and push hundreds of thousands of federal workers out of the government.

by: The Boston Globe

South Korea's parliament votes to impeach president as crowds cheer, but future is uncertain

South Korea's parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his stunning and short-lived martial law decree, as jubilant crowds roared to celebrate another defiant moment in the country's resilient democracy.

by: The Age

The treasurer says Victoria's economy is improving. Economists say otherwise.

A widening trust deficit has emerged between Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas and some of Australia's leading economists over the sustainability of the state's finances after his mid-year budget update revealed the government will spend nearly $40 ...

by: The West Australian

The Sunday Interview: Liberal 'powerbroker' Nick Goiran says he has nothing to say sorry for

The MP at the centre of the Liberal 'Clan' controversy has re-entered shadow cabinet despite previous declarations from the leader. He says: 'I am comfortable that I am doing the job that's expected of me.

by: johnmenadue.com

How Israel Lost its Soul

Then, shortly after the British withdrew, the newborn Israeli government threw him into jail ... Dan Steinbock, the author of The Fall of Israel: The Degradation of Israel's Politics, Economy & Military, has been wondering about it himself.

by: Detroit Free Press

Donald Trump on Truth Social: Shoot down mystery drones

NJ, went to Hunterdon County to observe drones and reported that he met with local law enforcement at Round Valley Reservoir.

by: The Independent

Trump to attend Army-Navy game with key allies and cabinet picks as he vows to scrap daylight savings: Live

Donald Trump and JD Vance to watch 125th Army-Navy college football game with reported guests Pete Hegseth, Ron DeSantis, and Daniel Penny in Maryland at 3 p.m. Eastern time

by: Slate

Why Manchin and Sinema's Parting Gift to Trump Is So Brutal for the Rest Of Us

When Donald Trump enters office on Jan. 20, he will immediately start seizing control of the government by firing holdovers from Joe Biden's administration and replacing them with Republican partisans.

by: NDTV

No Nepotism In Politics, Focus On Duties: PM Proposes 11 Resolutions In Lok Sabha

In the nearly two-hour speech, PM Modi laid down his government's achievements ... freeing India from a mentality of slavery and freeing the country's politics from nepotism. "I wish everyone the best for the task of achieving a developed India," the ...

by: The Morning Sun

We must control immigration otherwise our security will be threatened and the public will never trust us

Immigration needs to be properly controlled and managed, so the system is fair. Without proper controls in place, border security is undermined, rules are flouted, the system becomes chaotic and

by: fox13now

Has Salt Lake City created 'nuisance' by not enforcing homeless camping laws?

David Ibarra looks out his window every day and sees people camping outside his business. "People sleeping in tents, drug use on this side of the building over here,"

by: The New York Times

A.T.F. Braces for a Likely Rollback of Its Gun-Control Efforts

President-elect Donald J. Trump is almost certain to choose a gun-rights advocate as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or to simply leave the job vacant.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Dutton abandons Liberal principles in nuclear energy pitch

The opposition's first detailed policy costings show Peter Dutton is prepared to ditch traditional Coalition principles in chasing an election win.

by: The Independent

Trump vows to scrap daylight savings time and looks to axe car crash regulation which highlights Tesla: Live

Navy college football game with reported guests Pete Hegseth, Ron DeSantis, and Daniel Penny in Maryland at 3pm Eastern time

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Veterans' claims add $1.8 billion, driving budget further into red

After being left with a huge backlog in veterans' financial assistance claims, the government is facing another $3.5 billion in payments.

by: MSN

Tariffs threatened by Trump could undermine food and energy security, Sask. premier warns

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is warning a 25 per cent tariff U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is threatening would hurt Canada's food and energy sectors and be "disastrous" for economic stability and security on both sides of the border.

by: MSN

House Republican revives push to repeal DC Home Rule and place city under Congress's control

by: MSN

Hochul presses Biden admin for action on mysterious drones: 'This has gone too far'

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) joined the growing number of figures calling on the Biden administration and lawmakers to act on the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey and other parts of the country.

by: MSN

Canadians express mixed feelings as federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

Shoppers and businesses across Canada are expressing mixed feeling and showing little enthusiasm as a two-month break from the federal GST took effect Saturday.

by: MSN

Spanish Popular Party accuses Sanchez's government of dishonesty over Ceuta, Melilla customs reopening

Spain's Popular Party (PP) is angered by Sánchez's government, criticizing its "lack of honesty" over the Ceuta and Melilla dispute, which remains unresolved despite an April 2022 agreement with Morocco,

by: MSN

McConnell blasts 'effort to undermine' polio vaccine linked to RFK Jr.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Friday blasted "specious disinformation that threatens the advance of lifesaving medical progress" after The New York Times reported that a lawyer linked to Robert F.

by: MSN

Federal government asking for an end to the strike by Canada's postal workers

The federal government is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the country's postal workers to return to work and to conduct an inquiry into why negotiations between the union and Canada Post reached an impasse.

by: MSN

Georgia's new president faces protests and EU membership push

Mikheil Kavelashvili has become the new president of Georgia, as the sole candidate nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Kavelashvili and criticized President Salome Zurabishvili,

by: MSN

Mitch McConnell takes a swipe at Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over polio vaccine

Mitch McConnell took an apparent swipe at Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after reports that one of his top allies petitioned the FDA to withdraw polio vaccine.

by: MSN

New poll suggests Nigel Farage's Reform UK set to make 2025 a three-way race

New poll suggests Nigel Farage's Reform UK set to make 2025 a three-way race - Techne UK tracker poll reveals that support for the top two parties remains unchanged but Reform UK is still closing the

by: MSN

MAGA Declares Vindication After DOJ IG Report on FBI and Jan. 6 Riot

and [DOJ Inspector General Michael] Horowitz whether government assets participated in J6. Yesterday I was vindicated. DOJ IG report confirms there were FBI confidential human sources in the crowd, entering the Capitol, and breaking laws." Vice President ...

by: MSN

Drone footage reveals Sednaya prison and Bashar Al-Assad's palace

Drone footage captures the Sednaya prison in the Syrian capital of Damascus, compared with president Bashar al-Assad's luxurious presidential palace. The footage was taken days after Islamist-led rebels took control of the city,

by: MSN

Top diplomats from US, Arab League and Turkey meet to discuss Syria's transition

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the ministers would "discuss ways to support a comprehensive political process led by Syrians to achieve a transitional process." View on euronews

by: MSN

'Recipe for disaster': CM Omar Abdullah on dual governance model in J&K

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the current dual governance model in the Union Territory a "recipe for disaster" and urged the central government to restore statehood. In his first interview since taking office in October,

by: MSN

South Korean president impeached and suspended from duties

South Korea's parliament on Saturday voted to impeach embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol after his surprise martial law declaration earlier this month stunned global allies and set off constitutional concerns.

by: MSN

UnitedHealth Group CEO says healthcare needs fixing. Start with these 3 problems in claims and patient costs, experts say.

The healthcare system needs to work better to defuse Americans' frustrations and address their medical needs, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said Friday, addressing the resentment with health insurance that surfaced after the murder of a top executive in his company.

by: MSN

Mitt Romney makes a startling admission about Republican policies and the working class

When Mitt Romney joined the Senate in 2018, he was mostly seen as a mainstream Republican. Now, with his one and only term coming to an end, the 77-year-old isn't sure what the future holds for his party.

by: MSN

Georgia elects ex-footballer amid election boycott and unrest

The boycott of the election and the ongoing anti-government demonstrations in the country did not help. Fifty-three-year-old former football player and politician Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected president of Georgia by the electoral college.

by: MSN

Nancy Pelosi hospitalized during congressional trip to Luxembourg

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was hospitalized after she "sustained an injury" during an official congressional visit Friday, according to her spokesman. She was taken to a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl,

by: MSN

'I can't even read this': MSNBC host gives up trying to figure out Trump Jan. 6 statement

During a segment on Donald Trump's plan to pardon Jan. 6 rioters after he is sworn into office, an exasperated MSNBC host gave up trying to make heads or tails out of comments the presidet-elect made to Time magazine.

by: MSN

Who is Han Duck-soo, South Korea's acting president after Yoon impeachment?

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became South Korea's acting president after Saturday's impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, is a career technocrat whose wide-ranging experience and reputation for rationality could serve him well in his latest role.

by: MSN

'It's become uncomfortable for me': Jordan Peterson says he's leaving Canada for the U.S.

Jordan Peterson said that he's leaving Canada for the United States and that it had become "uncomfortable" for him in his Toronto neighbourhood. Peterson made the announcement at the beginning of a nearly two-hour sit-down interview with his daughter Mikhaila Peterson,

by: MSN

Dems' New Progressive Leader: 'Diet' Republicanism Won't Work

Texas Rep. Greg Casar talks Trump's lies, Democrat soul searching, and kicking corporate interest "in the shins"

by: MSN

Trump's claim that lowering prices would be 'too hard' spells doom for Black and brown households

Trump's economic populism is as real as his awful spray tan." After President-elect Donald Trump seemingly walked back his pledge […]

by: MSN

Lawmaker explains proposal to merge St. Louis City and County

A Missouri lawmaker's new proposal could set the stage for merging the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County into a single governing entity.

by: MSN

Georgia elects Kavelashvili amidst protests and tensions

The Electoral College elected Mikheil Kavelashvili as the president of Georgia on Saturday, announced the Central Election Commission (CEC). The 53-year-old politician and former soccer player was the only candidate put forward by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

by: MSN

'It isn't right and it isn't fair'

The chairman of Watford Conservatives' monthly column for the Watford Observer.

by: MSN

PM Modi Slams Congress For Disregarding Supreme Court's Shah Bano Verdict For Vote Bank Politics

In his address in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Congress party of repeatedly exploiting and amending the Indian Constitution for their own gain, mentioning the Shah Bano case. PM Modi stated that then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed the spirit of the Constitution to side with extremists.

Veterans' claims add $1.8 billion, driving budget further into red

After being left with a huge backlog in veterans' financial assistance claims, the government is facing another $3.5 billion in payments.
The article from The Sydney Morning Herald discusses how veterans' compensation claims have added an unexpected $1.8 billion to Australia's federal budget deficit, pushing it further into the red. This increase is attributed to a surge in claims from former military personnel, particularly those suffering from mental health issues like PTSD, following changes in eligibility criteria and increased awareness of support services. The government had previously underestimated these costs, leading to a significant budget blowout. The article highlights the strain on the Department of Veterans' Affairs, which is now processing claims at a record pace, and notes that this situation has sparked a debate on the adequacy of support for veterans and the sustainability of current funding models. Additionally, it mentions that the government is considering policy adjustments to manage the rising costs while ensuring veterans receive the support they need.

Read the Full Sydney Morning Herald Article at:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/veterans-claims-add-1-8-billion-driving-budget-further-into-red-20241211-p5kxge.html