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WA’s Liberal party leader has thrown down the gauntlet to challengers after polling predicted the “immediate appointment” of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as leader would allow the flailing party to gain back five seats at the election. Libby Mettam has labelled the polling, commissioned by a mystery Perth business person with links to the party, as ‘flawed and clearly biased’, and has challenged anyone who wishes to be leader to move a no confidence motion against her during a party meeting on Tuesday. Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam. Credit: WAtoday “Constant undermining of leaders, especially from the shadows within, is a sad reality in politics today,” she said. “But rather than weaken me it has made me stronger and more determined to succeed - not for myself - but for the people of Western Australia who deserve better. “I’m not a quitter, I’m a fighter.” The polling, seen by this masthead, suggested another catastrophic election for the Liberals come election day in March. The party currently holds just three out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the polling predicting it’s gone backwards since the 2021 election, losing ground in 14 key metropolitan seats. Under Mettam, the party is predicted to suffer a 4 per cent drop in the Liberal primary vote to 31 per cent. On the flip-side, the polling suggests a 3 per cent swing towards the Liberal party under Zempilas’ leadership, and a 38 per cent primary vote. The research, carried out by Sodali and Co, said Zempilas’ leadership could deliver wins in Churchlands, Nedlands, Carine, Bateman and Scarborough. Mettam said she was aware of the polling, and it had been assessed by a reputable polling specialist who said it showed an obvious bias and was “as exercise loaded in favour of Zempilas, masquerading as genuine voter insight”. “Many elements of this ‘polling’, including the key ‘aided’ vote measure which is used to make the central argument regarding Zempilas does not adopt a statistically rigorous, transparent, or best practice approach and provides no meaningful insight into the intentions of the electorate,” she said. “Despite asking, I have no knowledge of the identity of those that commissioned, funded or supported the commissioning this “polling” – only that they were “businessmen”. “Rather than hide like gutless little cowards in the shadows – they should show some strength of character and be transparent as clearly their intentions are. “While this “polling” was designed and conducted by others to benefit Basil Zempilas, I welcome and thank Basil for publicly making his support for me and his position clear.” Zempilas is the Liberal candidate for the seat of Churchlands, but is not an elected member of Parliament. However, there is precedent for Liberal leaders to lead the party from the outside of the campaign. Campbell Newman lead the Liberals to victory at the 2012 state Queensland election as leader of the Liberals campaign party campaign. Mettam said if a motion of no confidence against her is passed, she will step down as leader.Adam Schiff, the outgoing Southern California congress member who gained national attention during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, took the oath of office Monday, Dec. 9, to begin his term as a senator. Schiff defeated Republican and former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey in both the election to serve the remainder of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term and a full six-year term in the Senate. Schiff will be sworn in on Jan. 3 to begin his full term. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve all Californians as their next United States Senator. My family came to the Golden State when I was a child in the hope of finding a strong economy, safe neighborhoods, and good schools,” Schiff said in a statement. “And we found all that we could hope for in each of these respects.” Schiff won both races by about 18 percentage points, according to the California’s secretary of state’s office. Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oaths to Schiff and fellow incoming Sen. Andy Kim, of New Jersey and returning Sen. Pete Ricketts, of Nebraska on the Senate floor. Kim replaced former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez who resigned following convictions on federal bribery charges. Ricketts won the race for the unexpired term of former Sen. Ben Sasse who resigned in 2023. “Congratulations, senators,” Harris said following the oath. Schiff held a Maimonides Mishneh Torah while taking the oath of office. According to his office, it is “a monumental legal code and one of the most organized, comprehensive, and influential works of Jewish law.” The edition used by Schiff Monday was printed in Italy in 1490. A separate ceremonial swearing in, also administered by Harris, was followed by photos with Schiff’s family. “Thank you in advance for all the work you’re going to do there, but all the work you’ve done,” Harris said. Schiff responded to the vice president, saying he has “some big senatorial shoes to fill.” Feinstein died in September 2023 and Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to fill the seat. Butler decided not to run in 2024. On Sunday, Dec. 8, Newsom announced the resignation of Butler and the appointment of Schiff to complete the remainder of the term. “I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of giants. Former Senator Dianne Feinstein leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of courage and effectiveness,” Schiff said in a statement. “Nobody can ever fill her immense shoes but I will continue to be inspired by her example.” Sen. Alex Padilla and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi escorted Schiff into the Senate chambers. Padilla joined Schiff on the Senate floor as Schiff took the oath of office. “I will be a tireless advocate for Californians in every part of the state and work across the aisle to deliver on day one,” he said. “California is the creative hub of the world, with a tremendous resource in its brilliant, creative, and hardworking people, and a natural beauty that is the envy of the world. I will work with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to help our state and our families succeed. At the same time, I will not shrink from my duty to defend our democracy and will vigorously protect the rights and freedoms of the American people and the people of California.” Schiff gained national attention in 2019 during Trump’s first of two impeachment trials. Since then, he has repeatedly drawn the ire of Trump and his allies. Schiff reached the November ballot following a March primary which included Garvey and fellow Democrats Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. In a statement following his swearing in, Schiff said Californians face challenges from the high cost of living, incomes that have not kept pace, a housing crisis and rising costs of health care and childcare. Schiff, an attorney and a former state senator, has represented an L.A.-area district since 2001. In January, Schiff will enter a U.S. Senate now in GOP control. “The work ahead of us will not be easy – nothing worth doing ever is,” Schiff said. “But my promise is to work every day to deliver results, and make California’s future brighter for all of us in this Golden State.”
Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73With each team coming off a come-from-behind win, West Virginia and North Carolina Central square off Tuesday night in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia (6-2) has won two straight games and is in the midst of a 16-day, four-game homestand that kicked off with a 73-60 win over Georgetown in the Big 12-Big East Battle on Friday night. North Carolina Central (4-7) comes off a 78-77 road win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday night. Javon Small led the Mountaineers with a game-high 26 points against Georgetown as they overcame a second-half deficit with a decisive run. "The way we played in the second half (against Georgetown), I'll take that team everywhere," West Virginia coach Darian DeVries said. "You have to be able to do that every single night, every single possession you don't always get to go on a 16-0 run to pull you out of it. That's where we are still growing as a team." Eduardo Andre was questionable for the Georgetown game after he missed the Mountaineers' 83-76 overtime win against Arizona on Nov. 29. But the fifth-year senior center returned with four points, three rebounds and four blocks. "It was good to have him back in the lineup for a reason," DeVries said. "That presence, especially defensively and the ability to block shots, that's a huge deal for us." Against Gardner-Webb, Po'Boigh King led NCCU with 28 points, well above his 17.4 points per game average, as the Eagles rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to win on a late 3-pointer from Isaac Parson. On offense, the Eagles take care of the ball. They are seventh in the nation in turnover margin at plus-7.5 per game. They seek extra possessions on defense and are second nationally with 18.9 turnovers forced per game "We're good enough, we just need to fine tune some things," NCCU coach LeVelle Moton said. "We've got to cross some T's, dot some I's and close. We can't be a really good basketball team until we get the mindset that when winning time presents itself in the last five minutes, (the other team) has to earn it." --Field Level Media
Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73PESHAWAR: The Kurram grand jirga failed to reach an agreement as deadlock persisted over several unresolved issues related to the ongoing peace efforts in restive tribal district. The members of the grand Jirga, convened in Kohat, however, agree to continue efforts for a last peace in the region. As per sources, despite intensive consultations, the deadlock persisted, particularly concerning the contentious clause requiring the surrender of heavy weaponry to national advisors, preventing the signing of a peace agreement. The lack of consensus on this key matter has left the region’s peace process in limbo. While both sides have largely agreed on most aspects of the agreement, the issue of weapons storage continues to cause division. Despite repeated consultations with local elders, one side has yet to reach a decision on the matter, maintaining the deadlock. The Jirga meeting, held at Kohat Fort under the leadership of Commissioner Mutasim Bilal Shah, various points were discussed. Government officials clarified that, until heavy weapons are surrendered, the risk of opening roads cannot be taken. One of the sides has demanded that all weapons from both parties be handed over to the government, and that decisions from the Apex Committee be followed. Discussions on this demand are ongoing. Government representatives also informed the Jirga members that helicopter services have been launched to deliver medicines and other supplies to Kurram. Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali stated that since December 13, over 16,000 patients have been treated at the Parachinar DHQ Hospital and health facilities across Kurram are providing timely services, including medicines. Ali further explained that there is a sufficient stock of medicines at all health centers, including Upper Kurram’s DHQ in Parachinar. The Parachinar DHQ has also seen the highest number of OPD patients in its history, with the majority being women and children. For patients unable to visit hospitals, medicines are being delivered to their homes, and insulin for diabetic patients will be dispatched on Monday. He added that diapers for children have been sent, and medication supplies will continue until roads are reopened. Earlier, it was reported that a peace agreement had been reached during a long-delayed grand jirga, held amid escalating violence that had gripped the entire region. Meanwhile protests against the closure of roads in Kurram district had begun to spread in other parts of the country aswell as the sit-in in Parachinar has entered its sixth day. Roads blockages in the tribal district of Kurram, including Parachinar, continue. In Parachinar itself, the sit-in on the main Kachehri Road in front of the Press Club has entered its sixth day. Philanthropist Faisal Edhi has urged the government to take appropriate steps to resolve the crisis in Kurram district, warning that it may ignite unrest across the country. He made this statement while addressing members of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at the HRCP Karachi office on Friday. Expressing concerns over the gravity of the situation, Faisal said that if proper records were maintained, it would reveal that more than a hundred children have already died due to the ongoing conflict. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
The Canada Post strike has impacted the fundraising efforts of Surrey-area charities at a key time of year. Mail delivery in Canada was halted Friday, Nov. 15, the same day launched a year-end fundraising campaign called . A week later (Friday, Nov. 22), operators of the Surrey-based youth social house asked supporters to consider going online to give their financial "gift" to the organization during the . "Every year, a large portion of our November and December revenue comes to us via mail, making Canada Post a vital part of our fundraising efforts," the organization said in an "urgent" e-newsletter. "If you prefer to give by cheque, simply reply to this email and we would be happy to arrange to pickup a cheque from you personally," the email adds. Operators of are seeing a dip in cash donations now that mail delivery has stopped, according to Vijay Naidu, manager of communications and community partnerships. "Many of our donors are older people who prefer to send money by mail, not online," he noted. Over the past two years, fundraising fuelled the February opening of the on 104 Avenue and 139 Street in Whalley, where young people gather, learn restaurant skills and enjoy food and beverages for free. The coffee shop is open for drop-in and meal service on Monday and Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. "Our goal is to open seven days a week," said charity co-founder Bobbi-Rhea Mackie at the time. "It’s all due to funding, because we’re a privately-funded organization.... We started with a budget of $7,000 seven years ago and our budget is now $1.5 million.” In October, Tresha Iype was introduced as executive director of Mackie's Place, following Mackie's resignation from the position at the end of June. Such charities and small businesses count on Canada Post during the busy holiday season. In Vancouver, Nicole Mucci, spokesperson for Union Gospel Mission in the Downtown Eastside, said 50 per cent of the organization’s revenue normally comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a mail strike at this time of the year is “detrimental” since so many donations come in the mail. Mucci said the Mission supports the postal workers’ fight and hopes there will be a resolution soon, and in the meantime they are exploring other ways to connect with donors. “Our team is having to revisit how they’re going to send out certain things or how they’re going to connect with our donors, just because we do send out quite a bit of mail at this time of year,” Mucci said. Workers at Canada Post went on strike Nov. 15 after failing to reach a negotiated agreement with their employer. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said approximately 55,000 workers are striking.Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100
