• Wednesday, December 18, 2024

by: thenightly

LATIKA M BOURKE: The sad and sorry saga of the Australian Embassy in Kyiv under Penny Wong

Labor's decision to reopen the embassy, on the eve of the federal election and nearly three years after the war began, is as unforgivably late as their buffet of implausible excuses.

by: NJ.com

Trump ally Elon Musk amps up efforts to torpedo spending bill

The spending deal was met with swift backlash from conservatives in the House, with many Republicans lamenting the bill for including large amounts of spending. Musk, a close advisor of President-elect Donald Trump, tried to torpedo the bill starting early Wednesday morning in a flurry of posts to social media platform X.

by: FOX59 News

Massie drops colorful analogy opposing foreign aid, mocks Speaker Johnson with AI-generated image

Thomas Massie likened U.S. foreign aid to an individual watering their neighbor's yard while their own house burns, and illustrated his point with an AI image of Speaker Mike Johnson.

by: Detroit Free Press

Why the Biden administration is selling border wall materials

Surplus border wall materials are being auctioned, sparking debate over border security and federal resource management.

by: Time

Bipartisan Government Funding Plan Collapses After Trump Intervenes Days Before Shutdown

"Republicans need to stop playing politics," said the White House Press Secretary ... Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension some 48 hours before a partial government shutdown. Meanwhile, the bipartisan package that Trump ...

by: France 24

Musk's possible meddling in UK politics stirs concern

Concerns are growing in the UK as tech billionaire Elon Musk takes an increasingly close interest in Britain's political scene, appearing to cosy up to hard-right firebrand lawmaker Nigel Farage.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Albanese has taken hits but isn't a terrible PM. Cut him some slack

Despite the media pile-on, it has not been a terrible first-term government. The Labor leader brings substance to the job and is moving Australia forward after years of inaction.

by: MSN

Failed bill included disaster relief and other key funding measures

The bill was laden with dozens of add-ons making it resemble the massive end-of-year spending packages that GOP leaders have vowed to avoid. House Speaker Mike Johnson said ahead of the measure's release on Tuesday that it was originally intended to be "a very simple,

by: The New York Times

Trump Denounces Spending Deal as Shutdown Looms

President-elect Donald J. Trump tapped Herschel Walker on Tuesday to be the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Mr. Walker is a longtime Trump ally and former football star who generated national headlines in his failed run for a Senate seat in Georgia in 2022. Read more ›

by: Fox Business

LARRY KUDLOW: There is no growth strategy right now in the political system

FOX Business host Larry Kudlow says it is no wonder why "stocks are falling day after day" as he analyzes the state of the American economy on "Kudlow."

by: Sky News Australia

There is a 'significant increase' in government expenditure

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox says there is a "significant increase" in government expenditure. This comes after Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the government's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) for 2024-25.

by: MSN

Report ranks countries where religion faces highest government and social persecution

The Pew Research Center's annual report on government restrictions on religion highlights that governmental attacks on religion and social hostility toward religion usually 'go hand in hand.'

by: The New York Times

Transition Live Updates: Trump Denounces Spending Deal as Shutdown Looms

President-elect Donald J. Trump tapped Herschel Walker on Tuesday to be the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Mr. Walker is a longtime Trump ally and former football star who generated national headlines in his failed run for a Senate seat in Georgia in 2022. Read more ›

by: FOX59 News

'Pattern of disregard': Red states seek court action against Biden admin's 'shameful' border wall disposal

Texas' General Land Office is pushing for action on what it says is a "shameful" disposal of border wall materials by the federal government from a district court.

by: The New York Times

Trump Criticizes Spending Deal, Pushing Congress Toward a Shutdown

The president-elect weighed in against the mammoth spending package after Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy had spent the day attacking it and warning Republicans not to support it.

by: MSN

U.S. Congress unveils bill to avoid government shutdown

A vote from Congress could come soon on a budget bill to keep the government funded through the holidays and the next few months.

by: MSN

'Ridiculous and a little scary': Dem sounds alarm on GOP's 'cherry-picked' report

A Democratic insider who previously served as the January 6 Committee spokesperson fought back against a "cherry-picked" report by House Republicans that attempted to discredit the committee's investigation - and targeted former Rep.

by: MSN

'Good catch': Elon Musk and Greg Abbott unite to oppose claim that doesn't exist

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott applauded Elon Musk's commitment to stopping government waste after the tech billionaire — who heads the "Department of Government Efficiency" task force to try to cut $2 trillion from the budget — vowed to block the federal government from funding the construction of a new football stadium for the Washington Commanders in

by: MSN

Report shows Musk and Trump pushed GOP to kill the bill to keep government open

President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have succeeded in getting House Republicans to kill what was expected to be an easily-passed continuing resolution that would keep the federal government open and avert a costly and confusing shutdown just days before Christmas.

by: MSN

'Murder hornets' eradicated from US, Federal and Washington agriculture officials say

The northern giant hornet, better known as "murder hornets," have been eradicated from the U.S., Washington state and Federal agriculture officials said.
  • Thursday, December 19, 2024

by: The West Australian

The Mocker's 2025 predictions: Peter FitzSimons, Tony Armstrong and PM Peter Dutton

Albo gives the Solomon Islands an NRL team, Wayne Swan appoints Tim Pallas as Cbus exec and Tony Burke publishes an biography titled: 'Australia's First Palestinian MP'.

by: Sky News Australia

NSW government to begin pill testing at music festivals from early 2025 as contents of illicit drugs become more unpredictable

The New South Wales government has agreed to a 12-month trial of pill testing at music festivals in a bid to "reduce harm and save lives" of young people.

by: The Hindu

Elon Musk's possible meddling in U.K. politics stirs concern

Elon Musk's involvement in U.K. politics raises concerns, with fears of influencing ties with Washington and party donations.

by: The Daily Mirror

'Women hit by state pension age rise had right to expect better from this government'

Millions of women had the right to expect things would change under a Labour government but now Keir Starmer is ignoring their plight claiming the cost is unaffordable

by: Daily Record

Deal struck to save shipbuilder Harland and Wolff which has two Scottish yards

The Belfast-based company - which has yards at Methil in Fife and Arnish on the Isle of Lewis - was placed into administration in September for the second time in five years.

by: Lincolnshire Live

RAF Scampton, elections and farming: Why 2024 was a year of change in Lincolnshire

As the year came to an end, eyes turned towards the big political event of 2025 - the election of the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. Years of negotiations finally led to approval for a devolution deal that would move powers from Whitehall to Lincolnshire, along with £24m per year.

by: The Daily Signal

Here's How Trump Can Make America Beautiful Again

This week on The Signal Sitdown, National Civic Art Society president Justin Shubow explains how Trump can make America beautiful again.

by: RTE Online

Trump opposes deal to avert government shutdown

US President-elect Donald Trump has urged Republican politicians to scupper a cross-party deal to avert a fast-looming US government shutdown.

by: The Boston Globe

Trump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk's help

Billionaire Elon Musk joined calls by Trump to kill a bipartisan spending bill that would avoid a Christmastime government shutdown.

by: CNN

Trump slams government funding bill, undermining efforts to avoid shutdown

President-elect Donald Trump received enough electoral votes to officially clinch the presidency, as lawmakers unveiled a stopgap spending bill to prevent a shutdown. Follow the latest updates.

by: The New York Times

Here Are 4 Reasons China Meddles in Local U.S. Politics

American intelligence agencies have warned of influence operations targeting city halls and statehouses. But what's in it for Beijing?

by: FOX59 News

Oklahoma lawmakers on board with abolishing the Department of Education

The Oklahoma delegation is all in on abolishing the Department of Education after President-elect Donald Trump floated the idea. However, one of them doubts he'll get the Senate votes.

by: The New York Times

Chaos Consumes Drive to Avoid Government Shutdown, With 2 Days to Go

By Chris Cameron Reporting from Washington President-elect Donald J. Trump denounced a bipartisan spending deal that would fund the government until mid-March, telling Republican lawmakers that it would be "suicidal" to vote for it. His intervention ...

by: MSN

German arms exports: Churches question U-turn

German arms exports have risen sharply, including to the Middle East. Both major churches are calling for stricter licensing rules.

by: MSN

Germany's political earthquake: what it means for Ukraine and Ukrainians

Germany faced a political earthquake. The Bundestag passed a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Scholz, resulting in the collapse of the coalition government made up of the SPD, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP).

by: MSN

I'll 'Sip My Tea': Jasmine Crockett Lights Up 'Unproductive' GOP Amid Spending Bill Chaos

Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) called out Republicans for their part in the "most unproductive Congress" on Wednesday after Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump paraded House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.

by: MSN

'Slack': Federal government fails to pay $50 million in super to ADF psychologists

Sky News host Caleb Bond criticises the federal government for failing to pay $50 million in superannuation to ADF psychologists and mental health workers over the last 12 years.

by: MSN

Constitutional Court attempts again and fails again to serve Yoon summons

The Constitutional Court said Thursday that it had tried twice over the course of the day to serve President Yoon Suk Yeol with papers regarding his impeachment trial, marking its third and fourth attempts to deliver the documents.

by: MSN

"Unfortunate and biased": Pakistan on US sanction on its entities involved in long-range missiles programme

The US sanctioned four Pakistani entities for alleged involvement in a ballistic missile program. Pakistan's Foreign Office called the sanctions unfortunate and biased. The US cited concerns about Pakistan's long-range missile development.

by: MSN

Mauritius wants to rethink a deal with the UK over remote islands housing a key US base

The British government said Wednesday it still plans to hand over a contested Indian Ocean archipelago, which is home to a strategically important military base, to Mauritius, after that country's new leader backed away from the contentious deal.

by: MSN

Trump trashes must-pass funding bill as Musk calls for the GOP to shut down the government

Musk wrote that "any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!"

by: MSN

Government funding plan collapses after Trump issues demands

With a shutdown looming by the end of the week, Republicans face pressure from Trump and his ally Elon Musk to drop the funding bill they negotiated with Democrats.

by: MSN

Congress claims Centre asked X to remove Amit Shah's video from their platform as it violates Indian laws

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Thursday alleged that social media platform 'X' has told them through an e-mail that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the IT Ministry has asked them to remove the video of Amit Shah as it violates Indian Laws.

by: MSN

Tech giants, Wall Street, and corporate elite are pouring millions into Donald Trump's inauguration

The president-elect's inaugural fund donors range from CEOs like Sam Altman and Ken Griffin, to Meta, Amazon, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs.

by: MSN

New Electricity Act from January and loadshedding predictions

There are two new updates regarding electricity supply in South Africa, both of them said to come into effect from January 2025.

by: MSN

Grassley comments on Hegseth nomination, says he and Ernst have a duty to vet candidates

Iowa spoke about Trump's Dept. of Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during his weekly call on Wednesday.Hegseth has been fa

by: MSN

As shutdown looms, government funding plan in jeopardy after Trump demands

With a shutdown looming by the end of the week, Republicans face pressure from Trump and his ally Elon Musk to drop the funding bill they negotiated with Democrats.

by: MSN

Trump and Musk unleash a new kind of chaos on Washington

Welcome to the new Washington of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The president-elect and the world's richest man combined Wednesday to smash a short-term spending compromise orchestrated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to keep the government open until early in Trump's new term.

LATIKA M BOURKE: The sad and sorry saga of the Australian Embassy in Kyiv under Penny Wong

Labor's decision to reopen the embassy, on the eve of the federal election and nearly three years after the war began, is as unforgivably late as their buffet of implausible excuses.

The article by Latika M. Bourke discusses the troubling situation at the Australian Embassy in Kyiv under Foreign Minister Penny Wong's leadership. It highlights the embassy's closure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which left Ukrainian-Australians and Australians in Ukraine without consular support. Despite the reopening of other Western embassies, Australia's embassy remains closed, with staff operating from Warsaw, Poland. This has led to criticism regarding the lack of support for Australians in Ukraine, the absence of a physical presence to aid in humanitarian efforts, and the potential damage to Australia's international reputation. The article also notes the frustration among Ukrainian-Australians and the broader community about the slow response and lack of transparency from the Australian government, questioning the decision-making process and the implications for Australia's foreign policy and diplomatic relations.

Read the Full thenightly Article at:
https://thenightly.com.au/politics/latika-m-bourke-the-sad-and-sorry-saga-of-the-australian-embassy-in-kyiv-under-penny-wong-c-17136151