Elon Musk has gained access to the federal payment system to help the Department of Government Efficiency monitor and limit government spending. This move faced resistance from Treasury officials, resulting in the retirement of senior official David Lebryk. DOGE officials have been asking for this access since then and then stepped up the pressure after Donald Trump's inauguration. Musk suggested the access intends to uncover fraudulent or illicit payments.
Related news
Australia Day, marked annually on January 26, will be observed as a public holiday on January 27 this year. While it commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in 1788, the day is also contentious for its symbolism of British colonization impacts on Indigenous Australians, sparking debates about changing the date.
US President Donald Trump announced significant tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China to address issues like illegal immigration and trade imbalances. Starting Saturday, 25% tariffs will be applied to goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese imports. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned of economic repercussions, while economists raised inflation concerns.
The IDF is tightening social media restrictions after Hamas used soldiers' posts to gather intelligence before the deadly October 7 attack on the Nahal Oz base. The new measures include banning photography inside military facilities and prohibiting social media use in sensitive positions.
Ross Gerber, an early Tesla investor, renews his call for Elon Musk to step down as CEO, citing divisiveness and distraction due to Musk's involvement with the US administration. Gerber claims Tesla’s neglected business and plummeting stock value necessitate new leadership to restore investor confidence.
Former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register, Gannett, and pollster J. Ann Selzer, alleging "election interference" due to a pre-election poll that showed him trailing Kamala Harris in Iowa. Trump won Iowa by a substantial margin and claims the poll impacted the election.
The Canadian government is revising its Family open work permits. From January 21, spouses of foreign workers must meet new eligibility criteria related to specific high-demand jobs. Also, spouses of international students must be enrolled in select programs. These measures aim to align with Canada's economic priorities.
The images quickly ignited backlash on social media. Many critics described the photos as inappropriate, disrespectful, and unsettling. Some argued that Madonna’s actions had crossed a line, with one person suggesting she had taken things too far, while others labelled her behaviour as bizarre and sacrilegious.
Democratic Representative Al Green was ejected from the House chamber for heckling President Trump during his speech. Green, a long-time opponent of Trump, has been a vocal advocate for his impeachment. Following this disruption, Trump expressed frustration at the Democrats' lack of support, while some Democratic members exited the chamber or turned their backs in protest.
Elon Musk appears on the Time Magazine cover as 'President Musk' in an illustration done by the magazine as he and his Department of Government Efficiency gain strength in the administration. The cover story noted that no man before Elon Musk wielded such authority in the government and these are just the beginnings, it said.
Nasa plans to shut down another instrument on Voyager 2 to conserve power, following a similar action on Voyager 1. This step aims to extend the life of the nearly 47-year-old spacecraft, now in interstellar space. Despite some shutdowns, both Voyagers continue to gather valuable data on cosmic phenomena beyond our solar system.