Author: Press Room

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has launched an explosive attack at the state and territory leaders who he saw “undermine” former prime minister Scott Morrison at National Cabinet during the pandemic.Mr Morrison established the National Cabinet in March 2020 in response to the pandemic as a forum for the prime minister, premier and chief minister to work collaboratively.The panel would meet regularly to plan and set out guiding principles on the federal, state and territory pandemic responses.Mr Dutton – who was the home affairs and defence minister during the pandemic – told Sky News Australia host Peter Gleeson that while Mr…

Stocks turned lower on Thursday as investors grew wary that rising inflation would curb corporate profits, following cautionary comments on demand from electric carmaker Tesla.Futures contracts for the US benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 were down 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent in pre-market trading, putting further pressure on indices in Europe.The regional Stoxx 600 fell 0.6 per cent, while the FTSE 100 and Germany’s Dax index lost 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively. In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 1.8 per cent, falling to its lowest level in more than 13 years, after…

Kurilla’s visit may be seen as sending a message to U.S. adversaries in the region, including Iran, of Washington’s capabilities, including submarines that can carry up to 20 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. A defense official said Kurilla’s visit was not a response to any recent event or provocation, but is more a signal after months of mounting tensions, which have seen attacks against locations housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.In June, U.S. officials said attacks by Iranian proxies against bases housing U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria were increasing, while Washington had not responded with force since 2021. Iran has…

Washington CNN  —  North Carolina voters can head to the polls on Thursday morning when early, in-person voting officially kicks off in the Tar Heel State. According to the State Board of Elections, 359 early voting sites will open across the state Thursday through 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 5. That’s a 17% jump from the 307 site available during the 2018 midterm elections. In North Carolina, the general election features a high-profile contest for an open US Senate seat, currently held by retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Democrat Cheri Beasley, who would become the state’s first Black senator…

FIRST ON FOX: A dozen Republican politicians, who pundits view as potential or likely contenders for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, will attend the Republican Jewish Coalition’s (RJC) annual leadership meeting next month in Las Vegas.With the starting gun in the next White House race firing immediately after the Nov. 8 midterm elections, the RJC’s confab will be the first major cattle call of possible Republican presidential contenders. A release from the RJC, shared first with Fox News on Thursday, lists 15 “key GOP leaders” who will address the conference being held Nov. 18-19 at the Venetian Hotel Resort and Casino.…

Welcome back to another Energy Source.I have a story up today looking at the fresh push to build new carbon capture and storage projects across the US. The technology has long been touted by the oil industry and others as a vital tool in the climate fight. Yet it has a history littered with high-profile failures and unmet promises. The climate bill passed by Congress promises to inject billions of dollars into the industry, which its backers are calling a, pardon the cliché, game changer. One analyst said the new tax incentives will lead to hundreds of new CCS projects…

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has told candidates standing for the upcoming general elections and party supporters to be “civil” during the campaigning period which begins on nomination day.  In a statement on Thursday (Oct 20), Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said that the ruler advised candidates to avoid provocation and to adhere to the laws and rules stipulated by the authorities, particularly the Election Commission (EC) and police. “The King has urged candidates and supporters of political parties to take a civil approach during the campaigning period, starting…

CNN  —  The Covid-19 pandemic – which upended millions of lives and demanded we stay in our homes for months on end – also helped fuel a baby boom. Close proximity among partners and increased work flexibility contributed to the 6.2% jump in US birth rates last year, according to a new study. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) Ukraine has been forced to introduce rolling blackouts nationwide today after the…

News Corp Columnist David Penberthy says Pat Cummins should “probably ask himself” whether the cause to save Mother Earth is greater than playing cricket. Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has been criticised after it was revealed he complained about the renewal of major sponsor Alinta Energy.“If he’s going to enter the public policy arena, as opposed to just the sporting arena, he’s got to expect some of the counterarguments that come with it,” Mr Penberthy told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “Pat Cummins should probably ask himself – is the need to save Mother Earth greater than the innate frivolity…

U.S. President Joe Biden holds a video conference event with electric battery industry grant winners, related to recent infrastructure initiatives, from the White House in Washington, October 19, 2022.Jonathan Ernst | ReutersThe third-quarter CNBC All-America Economic Survey finds some modest improvements in economic attitudes and in President Joe Biden’s approval ratings across the country, but Americans still harbor mostly negative views on the economy and give the GOP double-digit leads on key economic and financial issues ahead of the November elections.President Biden’s overall approval rating improved 10 points from the July survey with 46% approving and 50% disapproving. Approval of…