• Thu, December 19, 2024

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: Florida Politics

Fiona McFarland wants politics out of child welfare and transparency introduced to AI

Rep. Fiona McFarland wants proper funding around child protection and an easier ability to identify artificial intelligence-created content. As she starts a third term in the House, the Sarasota Republican will tackle those topics and improvements to transportation policy.

by: deseret

Election confidence flip-flop: Poll shows trust in state election officials increase among Utah GOP

A new Deseret News/Hinckley of Institute Politics poll found 9 of 10 Utah Republicans trust state election officials compared to 7 of 10 Utah Democrats

by: Penn Live

A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach expects Trump to take action that will spark a legal challenge over the citizenship status of children born in the U.S. to immigrants living in the country illegally.

by: ABC

Government funding plan collapses after threats from Trump and Musk as shutdown looms

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: Florida Politics

Personnel note: Nikki Whiting to lead government relations for Miami Dade College

Nikki Whiting's workload at her alma mater just got heavier. Miami Dade College (MDC) just promoted Whiting to Assistant Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, a role in which she'll oversee all the institution's government relations.

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 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: CNN

GOP scraps government funding bill after Trump demands changes

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise confirmed Wednesday that the current government funding plan that was negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson is officially scrapped after President-elect Donald Trump came out against it.

by: FOX59 News

What to expect as Republicans try to salvage spending package, avoid government shutdown

Republicans in the House are not willing to raise the debt ceiling and Democrats claim Republicans have reneged on their deal. Now, chances of a government shutdown are high.

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

Minister and relative in chauffeur trip to final

The justice secretary is under attack after a relative joined her in a taxpayer-funded trip to Hampden.

by: MSN

What Senate Republicans are saying after Trump tanks government funding bill

As President-elect Donald Trump's comments tanking House Speaker Mike Johnson's short-term government funding bill sent House Republicans into a tailspin Wednesday night, Senate Republicans were left to try to make sense of the remaining pieces.

by: MSN

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Join Trump for Mar-a-Lago Feast

President-elect Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for another tech bro Wednesday night, with Amazon boss Jeff Bezos spotted at Mar-a-Lago. Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sanchez were seen sauntering into Trump's Florida estate Wednesday night for a dinner with the incoming president.

by: MSN

Forecasting Russia's turmoil: Inflation, democracy, and China's shadow

Over the next five to ten years, I foresee a polycrisis in Russia, said Roland Freudenstein, a political scientist and director of the Brussels office of the Free Russia Foundation, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.

by: MSN

Blackpool to receive 9.1 per cent increase in annual government settlement

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

Russia withdraws air defense systems and other weaponry from Syria to Libya

Russia is withdrawing its air defense systems and other weaponry from military bases in Syria and shifting them to Libya, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to the sources, Russian cargo planes have been transporting air defense systems,

by: MSN

Government funding plan collapses as President-elect Trump makes new demands days before shutdown

Trump's sudden decision Wednesday to make new demands sent Congress spiraling as lawmakers are trying to wrap up work and head home for the holidays.

by: MSN

Musk Kills Government Funding Deal, Demands Shutdown Until Trump Is Sworn In

The Republican megadonor bombarded X with lies about a stopgap bill that would have extended federal funding until the spring

by: MSN

Government launches major review of Ofgem to boost its role as consumer champion

Government launches major review of Ofgem to boost its role as consumer champion - The watchdog's biggest shake-up since Ofgem was founded in 2000 will be completed by February

by: MSN

London politics LIVE: Sadiq Khan faces grilling at final Mayor's Question Time of 2024

Sadiq Khan faces grilling at final Mayor's Question Time of 2024 - Mayor set to be grilled on affordable rents, the Met police and plans to improve TfL services

by: MSN

Justice Secretary and family member 'driven to Old Firm in Government car'

Justice Secretary Angela Constance travelled with a close family member in a ministerial car to the Old Firm league cup final on Sunday.

by: MSN

Who is Scott Turner? Donald Trump's latest cabinet pick is a former NFL star, a Texan pastor - and the first Black person to join the president-elect's second administration

A rare example of a former Trump appointee returning for the sequel, Turner is a father to his nephew, who he adopted at age 8, and was tasked with helping the needy in the first Trump administration Scott Turner,

by: MSN

Zelenskiy Urges Unity Between US and Europe to Achieve Peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a call for a common line between the US and the European Union and an increase in military production in the face of the Russia's nearly three-year invasion of his country.

by: MSN

Andrew J. Lewis: Josh Shapiro must stand with Pa. workers and support Nippon deal

Despite the blistering cold conditions and national opposition, hundreds of Pittsburgh steelworkers gathered last Thursday to support a multimillion-dollar deal to save their plant, jobs and communities.

by: MSN

Zelenskiy says unity between US and EU needed to achieve peace in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, arriving at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, said unity between the EU and United States was necessary to bring peace to Ukraine. "For us, it's very important,

by: MSN

Explainer-What is US birthright citizenship and can Trump end it?

Donald Trump has said he plans to end birthright citizenship as part of his promised crackdown on immigration when he becomes president on Jan. 20. Below is a look at U.S. birthright citizenship and Trump's legal authority to restrict it.

by: MSN

US Government shutdown: Know what closes and what stays open

US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are pushing for a government shutdown, urging Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap funding bill that would keep federal agencies running through March 2025.

by: MSN

Romanian ruling Social Democrats withdraw from government coalition talks

Romania's ruling leftist Social Democrat Party (PSD) has withdrawn from government coalition talks, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday, extending a political crisis triggered by the annulment of a presidential election this month.

by: MSN

ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscast coverage of Trump's Cabinet picks 'almost uniformly negative,' study finds

by: MSN

Transgender people working in U.S. government see peril under Trump

Transgender military officers, diplomats abroad, others, believe progress and acceptance built over a decade may be destroyed

by: MSN

Unearthed Video Shows How Richard Tice Has Changed His Tune On Foreign Interference In UK Politics

A newly-unearthed video shows how Richard Tice has changed his tune over foreigners getting involved in British politics. The Reform UK deputy leader has welcomed speculation that Elon Musk could donate up to $100 million to his party.

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.

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.
The New South Wales government has announced plans to introduce pill testing at music festivals starting in early 2025, in response to the increasing unpredictability of illicit drug contents. This initiative aims to reduce harm by allowing festival-goers to have their drugs tested for dangerous substances. The decision follows a coronial inquest into the deaths of six young people at music festivals, which recommended pill testing as a harm reduction strategy. The government's move is part of a broader shift towards evidence-based drug policy, acknowledging that prohibition alone is insufficient to prevent drug-related harm. The testing will be conducted by trained professionals who can provide information and advice on the risks associated with the drugs being tested.

Read the Full Sky News Australia Article at:
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/nsw-government-to-begin-pill-testing-at-music-festivals-from-early-2025-as-contents-of-illicit-drugs-become-more-unpredictable/news-story/17b0c266ad7a4db4a1cd2dac092b72b7

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