Sun, February 16, 2025

by: CNN

Steve Bannon is playing MAGA enforcer from the outside. Is the White House listening?

Through blunt conversations with staff and his popular podcast, Steve Bannon is trying to steer the early direction of the new Trump administration. Whether he's having much impact inside the White House is a subject of debate.

by: MSN

Mahamoud Youssouf speaks out after defeating Raila Odinga in AUC election: "I am humbled"

Newly elected AUC chairperson Mahamoud Youssouf from Djibouti has thanked African heads of state who supported and voted for him during the AU election.

by: MSN

What Christian leaders in SA said about allegations the US raised against the government

Over 300 white Christian leaders in South Africa slammed the United States government and accused it of spreading outright lies about white South Africans.

by: MSN

S. Korea navigates uncertainty as Trump's reciprocal tariffs reshape global trade

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Feb. 13, directing his top advisers to come up with new tariff levels that match the tax rates the country's trading partners charge on American imports,

by: MSN

MSC 2025: US, Europe divided on how to deal with Russia

European and US leaders have diverged on how to deal with Russia's war on Ukraine during the Munich Security Conference. German Chancellor Scholz, along with others, has been critical of US comments.

by: MSN

US, Russia to meet in Saudi Arabia over Ukraine war

U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending Moscow's nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning said on Saturday.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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

by: 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?

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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

by: 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.

by: 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

by: 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.

by: 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."

by: 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,

by: WFAE

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

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: MSN

N.S. government says U.S. tariff threat 'wake-up call' as legislature opens

Nova Scotia's legislature has opened with a throne speech describing the threat of United States tariffs as a "wake-up call" to do more to diversify and develop the province's economy.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: 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.

by: MSN

Donald Trump's infamous mugshot now hangs just outside of the Oval Office

Donald Trump's infamous mugshot now hangs just outside of the Oval Office - President's scowling booking photo now hangs in a West Wing hallway

by: MSN

'We need to be looped in': Tensions reportedly rising between Musk and key Trump official

Trump White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is reportedly not happy with the way X owner Elon Musk has run roughshod over federal agencies without keeping her informed of what he's really been doing.

by: MSN

Trump family and library have raked in whopping $80 million since White House return

Trump family and library have raked in whopping $80 million since White House return - 'Everything he does is either to be vengeful or to accumulate wealth, power, and adulation,' lawyer Ty Cobb says

by: 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.

by: MSN

Factbox-Who has Trump picked for his cabinet and other top posts?

The U.S. Senate has confirmed most of President Donald Trump's picks for his cabinet so far. Here are Trump's choices for some key posts. PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY Hegseth, 44, is a military veteran who has expressed disdain for the "woke" policies of Pentagon leaders,

by: MSN

Transition of Kosovo's Security Force into an army causes controversy and concern

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said Kosovo's Security Force (KSF) should develop into an army by 2028, but there is strong opposition from Serbia. View on euronews

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.

The article from MSN discusses former President Donald Trump's plans to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce if he were to return to office. Trump's strategy includes mass layoffs, court challenges to existing civil service protections, and offering buyouts to federal employees. His aim is to dismantle what he perceives as a "deep state" by targeting career bureaucrats, whom he believes hinder his policy implementations. This approach would involve reclassifying tens of thousands of federal workers to make them easier to fire, potentially facing legal battles over civil service job protections. Critics argue that such moves could politicize the federal workforce, disrupt government operations, and lead to a loss of institutional knowledge. The plans reflect Trump's ongoing conflict with the federal bureaucracy, which he has accused of thwarting his previous administration's initiatives.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mass-layoffs-court-challenges-and-buyouts-making-sense-of-trump-s-plans-to-shrink-the-federal-workforce/ar-AA1z4uQF