by Ram ben Ze'ev The Rise and Fall of DOGE: When Politics, Ego, and Economics Collide It was not so long ago that President Donald Trump and his then-ally Elon Musk stood side by side, celebrating what they branded as the Department of Government Efficiency — DOGE — a cheeky nod to Musk’s obsession with Dogecoin and his habit of amplifying jokes until they become headlines. For a time, the two men were perfectly matched: each revelled in spectacle, each thrived on disruption,

DHS Ends Temporary Protected Status for Burma Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar). The termination will be effective on Jan 26, 2026.    At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the secretary, after consultation with appropriate U.S. government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the

Banned rubbish could have filled three Albert Halls. Confiscation order comes as Environment Agency closes 750 illegal waste sites in 12 months Second Brother to Hand Back Illegal Waste Profits A man who helped his brother store vast quantities of illegal waste in Hertfordshire has been ordered to return thousands of pounds he made from it.  Mark Winters served a 12-month suspended prison sentence for his part in burying illegal household and business rubbish at Codicote Quar

A man who raped and threatened to stab a woman he had been watching for six months had his sentence increased following the Solicitor General’s intervention Rapist Who Threatened Woman Gets Longer Sentence Brandon Smith (25) from Denton in Greater Manchester, had his sentence increased by four and a half years after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.   ADVERTISEMENT: Robinhood: Where Investing Meets Simplicity — Join Now The

From February 2026, visitors will not be able to travel to the UK without advance permission No Permission, No Travel: UK Set to Enforce ETA Scheme Visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not need a visa will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25 February 2026. This is a significant step towards digitising the immigration system and paves the way for a contactless UK bor

Lebanon National Day On behalf of the United States of America, I offer my best wishes and heartfelt congratulations to the people of Lebanon as you commemorate the 82nd anniversary of your independence. ADVERTISEMENT: Your Portfolio Starts Here — Sign Up with Robinhood This year, the Government of Lebanon has taken courageous steps to promote a brighter future for the Lebanese people.  The United States will continue to stand in partnership with Lebanon as we work together t

by Ram ben Ze’ev When the Tower Falls – Bitcoin’s Collapse and the Reckoning Ahead for Strategy Bitcoin’s recent freefall marks one of the most dramatic asset reversals in modern financial history. Only days ago, Bitcoin hovered near £126,198 per coin — a level hailed as proof that digital scarcity had conquered traditional economic gravity. Today it trades around $80,915, a decline of more than $45,000 per BTC. This is not a correction; this is a structural rupture. Whales h

Joint Statement on the Fourth Meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator),   and the African Union Commission on the occasion of the fourth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting held this week in Washing

When may we and when should we, be economical with the truth From HaGaon Rav Zevadia HaCohen Shlit”a, the Head of the Batei Din in Tel Aviv (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds United Kingdom) Image Source: My Jewish Learning (Click) This Shabbat we shall read that Yitzchak wished to bless Esav. However, Yaakov, with his mother Rivka’s assistance, succeeds in receiving the berachot instead of Esav. He wears Esav’s best clothing and places on his hands