Sun, February 16, 2025

[ Sun, Feb 16th 2025 ]: rnz

Mediawatch: Golden visas obscured by politics and talkback pushback

Mediawatch: Media management helped the government's new 'golden visas' into the headlines, but it also got obscured by the ACT leader's antics.

[ Sun, Feb 16th 2025 ]: MSN

Australia has some 'strong arguments' to gain an exemption from Trumps tariffs

Former federal trade minister and ANZ Head of APAC Engagement Simon Birmingham discusses whether Australia could be exempt from the Trump administration's global steel and aluminium tariffs.

[ Sun, Feb 16th 2025 ]: MSN

Lavrov, Rubio discus removal of 'barriers' set by previous U.S. administration, Russia says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the situation in Ukraine in a call on Saturday as well as the removal of "unilateral barriers" set by previous U.

[ Sun, Feb 16th 2025 ]: CNN

Who is Friedrich Merz, Merkel's rival and German election frontrunner?

Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old veteran German politician with a hardline stance on migration and an expensive aviation hobby, is the favorite to become the country's next chancellor in the February 23 federal election.
Sat, February 15, 2025

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: rnz

Elon Musk's DOGE agency is at the centre of controversy in the US. So what is it?

Elon Musk's DOGE has been making global headlines recently, but, what is this new agency - so why has the world's richest person decided to centre himself in US politics?

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: CNN

Trump advances plans for Ukraine peace talks and US government overhaul

President Donald Trump is forging ahead with his plan to overhaul and shrink the federal government. The effort led by Elon Musk's DOGE is facing a variety of legal challenges, which have halted firings at some agencies.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: Newsweek

'Unplug Mad King': Protesters Rally Against Elon Musk at Tesla Facilities

On Saturday, videos posted to social media showed protesters at Tesla facilities as they voiced their concerns over Musk's DOGE.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump officials to go to Saudi Arabia for peace talks

The trip comes just days after President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone about starting negotiations.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump says US to back Israel amid hostage release threat

The Department of Energy has paused the firings of hundreds of employees who work for a key agency maintaining the U.S. nuclear stockpile.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: Kiplinger

Donald Trump Tests His Limits

Here's the latest… What to say about term-two Donald Trump? The president is testing his limits — legally, politically and otherwise — with mixed results so far. This is evident with Trump's signature issues.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: CNN

The latest on Trump's presidency as government overhaul faces legal challenges

President Donald Trump is forging ahead with his plan to overhaul and shrink the federal government. The effort led by Elon Musk's DOGE is facing a variety of legal challenges, which have halted firings at some agencies.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

Conservatives' lead in the polls shrinks amid Trump tariff threats

U.S. President Donald Trump's threats remain a top issue for Canadians. And there are new signs they are also upending Canada's political landscape. On Friday, Conservative MPs gathered in Ottawa for their first caucus meeting since December.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

What Trump-supporting federal workers think of his blitz of moves to shake up the government

President Donald Trump's plans to slash the federal workforce are underway. BI spoke to four federal workers who voted for Trump on their thoughts.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

Scholz: Germany won't accept people who 'intervene in our democracy'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said his country won't accept people who "intervene in our democracy", a day after US Vice President JD Vance criticised European leaders. View on euronews

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

Illegals an international issue, government takes up any mistreatment of deported Indians with US: Former envoy Sandhu

Noting that the presence of illegal immigrants is an international issue, India's former Ambassador to the US and BJP leader Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that the ecosystem of human trafficking needs to be tackled and the real solution to this lies in ensuring education and skill development.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

Mass layoffs, court challenges and buyouts: Making sense of Trump's plans to shrink the federal workforce

Answering some of the most important questions surrounding DOGE's rapid transformation of the federal workforce.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: Couriermail

'Cruel and petty': Trump move to remove words stuns, baffles

Donald Trump has been branded "cruel and petty" for a change to a historical US monument which has had the effect of "erasing history" according to some.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

US: About 10,000 workers sacked as Trump, Musk step up action on agencies

The United States Government on Friday sacked no fewer than 9,500 workers who handled everything from managing federal lands to caring for military veterans. This followed the campaign by President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk to radically cut back the US bureaucracy.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

UK politics live: Trump's vice president backs Brexit voters in anti-immigration rant

Starmer to visit US as he faces showdown with Trump over tariffs and Ukraine - Trump 'is not willing to tolerate' VAT, US president's trade chief says, raising fears UK could face 21 per cent tax

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: Reuters

Turkey probes business group official after criticism of opposition crackdown

The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office launched an investigation on Friday into a top official at Turkey's main business group TUSIAD who had criticised a recent judicial crackdown on opposition leaders and journalists.

[ Sat, Feb 15th 2025 ]: MSN

India News Live Today February 15, 2025: 'India's Got Latent' row: Maharashtra government orders inquiry into Ranveer Allahbadia controversy

Stay informed with our live blog covering India's latest in politics, economy, crime, and general news. Get real-time updates on political developments, financial trends, crime reports, and important events across the country.
Fri, February 14, 2025

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: wtvr

How Trump's reciprocal tariffs plan could affect businesses and your wallet

A new plan signed by President Donald Trump is ushering in more uncertainty surrounding tariffs, and the potential impact on what U.S. consumers pay for goods.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Reuters

FBI dismisses Homeland Security secretary's claims that called FBI corrupt

The FBI said on Friday that allegations made against its agents labeling them as corrupt are "unfounded" and "deeply irresponsible."

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: PBS

Constitutional scholar on whether Trump's actions are executive overreach

The first weeks of the Trump administration have brought dramatic changes to the shape, scope and function of the federal government. Geoff Bennett speaks with constitutional scholar Ilya Shapiro about President Trump's expanded view of executive authority for our new series,

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: WFAE

Staff at CDC and NIH are reeling as Trump administration cuts workforce

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Oregonian

Portland pauses construction on $2B water treatment plant after land-use appeal loss

Portland officials said Friday that the city has temporarily paused construction on its $2 billion water filtration plant east of Gresham, marking another setback to the costly and controversial project as it faces a looming regulatory deadline.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: CNN

'It was never going to be me': How Trump's DOJ sparked a crisis and mass resignations over the Eric Adams case

The morning after the mass resignation of prosecutors sparked a crisis inside the Trump Justice Department, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove led a meeting with the Justice Department's public integrity section.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Cleveland

It's still unclear how Trump's and Musk's layoffs will impact Ohio

Federal employees in Ohio — and across the United States — are in limbo, awaiting their possible layoffs due to the Trump administration's sweeping effort to downsize the government.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: scrippsnews

With USAID in limbo, employee safety fears and national security concerns grow

As the United States Agency for International Development remains in limbo, Scripps News has learned from agency sources and court filings about physical security concerns for USAID employees, as well as broader national security risks associated with halting and resuming the agency's work.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: GeekWire

As Trump spars with Canada, Seattle-area startup embraces talent and customers across the border

As Trump wields tariffs and strains relations with Canada, Docugami is strengthening its cross-border ties with a Vancouver subsidiary.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Click2Houston

The Latest: Vance will meet Zelenskyy as Europe is rocked by Trump's US-Russia talks on Ukraine

Vice President JD Vance is appearing at the Munich Security Conference amid intense concern and uncertainty over the Trump administration's foreign policy.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Mass layoffs at US nuclear weapons agency paused

Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales granted the temporary order to prevent their relocation after a brief hearing on Sunday, according to the AP News article. Trump said last month that the United States will work to prepare the naval base to hold 30,000 migrants awaiting processing to return to their home countries.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Time

We May Be a Month Away From Republicans Shutting Down a Government They Control

The U.S. has roughly one month until the government runs out of money, and the talks to avoid that are a mess, writes Philip Elliott.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Newsweek

Social Security Cuts Being Discussed by Republicans

West Virginia Representative Riley Moore confirmed that Republicans have been "discussing" cutting mandatory spending—that is Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits—in order to pass Trump's tax cut agenda.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Judge blocks Trump's foreign aid freeze

The Trump administration has begun mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies, a move expected to affect thousands of employees, sources familiar told ABC News.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: CNN

Trump's presidency: Layoffs at federal agencies as government overhaul faces legal challenges

President Donald Trump continues to forge ahead with transforming the federal government as his changes face multiple legal challenges. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is meeting with Ukraines' Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: Reuters

US embassies told to prepare for staff cuts as Trump overhauls diplomatic corps, sources say

President Donald Trump's administration has asked U.S. embassies worldwide to prepare for staff cuts, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, as part of the Republican president's effort to overhaul the U.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

'Beyond Disgusting': Elon Musk Faces Backlash After Mocking Federal Aid Receipts As 'Parasite Class' While His Companies Rake In $18 Billion from U.S. Taxpayers

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: NBC26

Judge orders Trump administration to temporarily allow funds for foreign aid to flow again

A judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for USAID contracts that were in place before his Jan. 20 executive order declaring a freeze on foreign assistance.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

Musk says Government needs to 'delete entire agencies'

Elon Musk called for the US Government to delete entire agencies in an effort to cut corruption and waste within.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: NewsNation

OPM directs agencies to fire government workers still on probation

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officials met with agency leaders across government Thursday and directed them to begin firing employees still in their probationary period a year or more

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

More than a dozen state attorneys general challenge Musk and DOGE's authority

Attorneys general from 14 states challenged the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to access sensitive government data and exercise "virtually unchecked power" in a lawsuit filed Thursday.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: CNN

Latest on Trump's presidency as his overhaul of government continues amid legal challenges

President Donald Trump continues to forge ahead with transforming the federal government as his changes face multiple legal challenges. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is meeting with Ukraines' Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

UK politics live: Starmer to visit US as he faces showdown with Trump over tariffs and Ukraine

Starmer to visit US as he faces showdown with Trump over tariffs and Ukraine - Trump 'is not willing to tolerate' VAT, US president's trade chief says, raising fears UK could face 21 per cent tax

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

Baijayant Panda receives warm welcome in Bhubaneswar after Delhi poll win

BJP National Vice President and Delhi election in-charge, Baijayant Panda received a rousing welcome from party leaders and supporters as he arrived in Bhubaneswar following the BJP's victory in the Delhi Assembly elections,

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

Trump administration tells federal agencies to fire probationary employees

Hundreds of thousands of people could potentially be affected, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management.

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

Mexico will not rule out suing Google over Gulf of Mexico name change

Bristling at the name change on maps to Gulf of America following Donald Trump's executive order, Mexico says it might sue Google. View on euronews

[ Fri, Feb 14th 2025 ]: MSN

Modi meets Trump: Personal rapport despite tariffs

Trade and tariffs dominated talks between US President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Portland pauses construction on $2B water treatment plant after land-use appeal loss

Portland officials said Friday that the city has temporarily paused construction on its $2 billion water filtration plant east of Gresham, marking another setback to the costly and controversial project as it faces a looming regulatory deadline.

Portland has temporarily halted construction on its $2 billion water treatment plant following a land use appeal loss. The city was ordered by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) to re-evaluate its land use decisions after opponents argued that the project's environmental impact was not adequately assessed. The project, aimed at replacing the city's open-air reservoirs with a modern treatment facility, faced significant pushback regarding its potential effects on local ecosystems and water quality. The pause in construction will allow the city to address the concerns raised by LUBA, reassess the project's compliance with land use laws, and potentially modify the project's scope or location. This development has sparked a debate on balancing infrastructure needs with environmental conservation, with implications for future urban development projects in Oregon.

Read the Full Oregonian Article at:
https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/02/portland-pauses-construction-on-2b-water-treatment-plant-after-land-use-appeal-loss.html