I have given up on reporting on all the climatic storms around the globe. But a couple of "big" ones have forced me to get on deck.

Here we have a "massive storm" on the US coast that did a bit of damage to one of the cattle-class ships for tourists, plus a storm in the UK where the winds and rain are yet again creating more floods. Imagine the waves approaching Scotland towering about 19 metres! (that's about 65 feet). At present these monster waves are diminishing to 12 then 8 metre waves in the next couple of days.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop – and others in the Government – have made a number of contradictory statements about the legal basis for Australia to bomb Syria. Barrister James O'Neill reports.

There have been two remarkable admissions from the government in the past 48 hours. Together, they indicate the trouble in which Turnbull and co find themselves.

So, the former Attorney-General, federal Liberal Member for Berowra & nemesis of David Hicks is retiring from Parliament & has been appointed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as Australia’s first Special Envoy for Human Rights.

from Crikey …

Department of Immigration secretary Michael Pezzullo has said the government will not give in to "moral lecturing" from doctors, lawyers, churches and state governments that have pleaded to allow 267 asylum seekers bound for Nauru to stay in Australia.

Donald Trump certainly isn't trying to hedge on whether he'd support using waterboarding to combat terrorism.

Quite the contrary.

World Rugby is investigating whether New Zealand's dramatic last-gasp pool draw with Australia at the Sydney Sevens came with eight Kiwi players on the field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRVod4PwQHs#t=35

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he’s yet to be convinced of the benefits of increasing the goods and services tax unless it boosts economic growth and employment.

The government, which is expected to hold an election in the second half of the year, is looking at an overhaul of the taxation system, including a potential increase in the GST to 15 percent from 10 percent.

The 2008 financial crises and meltdown occurred because large banks were speculating in fraudulent risky loans that failed. When the meltdown occurred, banks turned to the federal government, who immediately bought into the idea that banks were too large to fail, and taxpayers subsidized banks to the tune of trillions of dollars. No one really knows how much the bailout cost, but here is partial list of banks you generously helped out:

Citigroup - $2.513 trillion

In this article of the Daily Telegraph Saturday 6th February 2016, the front page present us with a reason why mergers of NSW Councils could become a massive RORT... Is this a double-cross information wedging preparation in favour of our little emperor Bairdus who of course could magnanimously intervene and protect the former councils' assets?

WE SHALL SEE....

Yesterday afternoon news broke of further job cuts to Australia’s premier scientific institution, the CSIRO. The area most affected? Climate science.