Crypto

Binance Blockchain Week points to Dubai as a leading crypto hub

Beincrypto reported that Binance Blockchain Week (BBW) in Dubai signalled a shift in the industry’s centre of gravity, portraying the city as a major hub for what some participants called the “4th Technology Revolution.” The coverage highlighted three dominant narratives at BBW: the rise of real‑world assets (RWA)

Culture

Ten crime miniseries to finish in a single weekend

Collider highlights ten binge‑worthy crime miniseries that the outlet says can each be finished over a single weekend. The list mixes true‑life dramas and adaptations with fictional mysteries and noir‑tinged thrillers. Entries include We Own This City (six episodes), created by David Simon and based on Justin

Culture

Ali Rosen’s picks: romance novels that feel like a vacation

In a New York Times piece, Ali Rosen recommends swoony romance novels that can transport readers from winter doldrums to resorts, beaches, vineyards and the streets of Paris. Rosen argues that romance is often billed as a summer read but that winter is an ideal time to be carried away

Sports

Liam Rosenior says he will control Chelsea’s day-to-day decisions

Goal reports that new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has insisted he will be in charge at the club and is content with the board’s involvement, saying he will make the decisions at the football club. Rosenior has pushed back on suggestions he was appointed as a coach who would

Tech

When and how to disable Windows Security on Windows 11

ZDNET writer Lance Whitney explains when you might want to turn off Windows Security on Windows 11 and provides step‑by‑step instructions for temporarily or permanently disabling the built‑in protection, along with advice to create a restore point before making changes. The guide emphasizes that Windows Security is

Culture

Ford v Ferrari reaches sixth place on Netflix weekly chart

Movieweb reports that Matt Damon's $225 million sports biopic Ford v Ferrari (released 2019) is streaming on Netflix and is currently the sixth most popular film on the platform's weekly chart. Directed by James Mangold and featuring Christian Bale alongside Damon, the film also stars Caitríona

Culture

Flares return in 2026 as high-profile women revive the 70s trouser

Flares have re-emerged in womenswear in 2026, driven in part by high-profile women and a spike in searches: resale app Depop reported a 30% increase in searches for the style this month. TV presenter Claudia Winkleman wore a suit with flares that pooled over her shoes on The Traitors, and

Culture

Buy a $35 Sherpa Shacket Similar to Amanda Seyfried’s Winter Look

People reports that Amanda Seyfried was spotted in New York City wearing a black sweater, high-waisted blue jeans and an oversized black shacket. The brand of her shacket could not be identified, but the article tracked down a similar style available on Amazon. The Magcomsen Sherpa Shacket — a close match

Culture

Heated Rivalry: Sky Atlantic airs steamy hockey drama adapted from Rachel Reid

Heated Rivalry is a steamy ice-hockey drama airing on Sky Atlantic that, Hollie Richardson wrote, has left Canadian and US audiences gasping for air. Based on Rachel Reid’s smash-hit novel, the story follows Major League Hockey rivals Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Each is dealing

World

Nicaragua detains at least 60 people over support for Maduro capture

Authorities in Nicaragua have arrested at least 60 people for reportedly celebrating or expressing support for the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, a human rights watchdog group and local media said. The NGO Blue and White Monitoring said there have been "at least 60 arbitrary arrests" since

Sports

Masters snooker: Murphy defends title as O'Sullivan withdraws

The Masters is underway this weekend as the best 16 players in the world battle for one of snooker’s most prestigious prizes, Independent.co reports. Shaun Murphy, last year’s champion, returns to Alexandra Palace in north London to defend his crown and opens with a first-round match on

Tech

Memorable robots at CES ranged from a ping‑pong player to a laundry folder

CES this year featured a wide array of robots on the show floor, and the event also included the production‑ready debut of Atlas, the humanoid from Boston Dynamics. Showroom robots often serve as marketing rather than a direct reflection of current commercial deployment, but they offered attendees a glimpse

World

Doctor says at least 217 dead in Tehran as security forces open fire

Time reported that as protests against Iran’s government swelled on Thursday night the regime opened fire in many places, and a Tehran doctor speaking on condition of anonymity said six hospitals in the capital had recorded at least 217 protester deaths, "most by live ammunition." The doctor’

Crypto

Pump.fun to revamp creator fee model with fee sharing and new controls

Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen said the Solana-based memecoin launchpad is overhauling its creator fee system after concluding the existing model may have skewed incentives. Cohen wrote that the Dynamic Fees V1 system, introduced several months ago, did drive activity but “failed to produce sustainable market behavior,” encouraging low-risk token

Crypto

Ripple subsidiary secures FCA registration in UK as XRP price stays muted

Beincrypto reports that Ripple Markets UK Ltd. has received registration from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), clearing a major regulatory milestone and allowing the company to operate under the UK’s regulated financial framework. The approval enables Ripple to work directly with banks and financial institutions and positions it as

Culture

NYT Book Review editor recommends three books to read before film adaptations

Jennifer Harlan, an editor at The New York Times Book Review, recommends three books to read before their film adaptations are released this year. The suggestion appears in a New York Times video in which Harlan highlights reading choices for audiences planning to see the movie versions. This brief summary

Culture

Connor Storrie emerges as the strongest element of Joker: Folie à Deux

Collider says Connor Storrie, now a breakout star on Crave's Heated Rivalry, is the best part of Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux, which the piece calls "probably the worst and most disappointing movie of 2024." The article notes Heated Rivalry debuted in late November

Tech

ZDNET: Avoid using your router's USB port

ZDNET writer Cesar Cadenas says he does not recommend using the USB port on home Wi‑Fi routers, calling it a potential weak link that can expose files and credentials on your network. Ports vary by model and can offer conveniences such as basic file sharing or device charging, but

Sports

Egypt and Ivory Coast meet in AFCON quarter-final in Agadir

Goal reports that Egypt and Ivory Coast meet in a high-stakes Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final today in Agadir, Morocco, at the Stade Adrar, with kick-off scheduled for 2 pm ET and 7 pm GMT. Egypt, the tournament’s record seven-time champions, are chasing a record-extending eighth title but reached

Health

Reviewer tests 12 exercise bikes and recommends top models for home workouts

A reviewer tested 12 exercise bikes and published a list of the best models for home workouts, spin classes and recumbent use. The Peloton Bike+ was named best overall (from £1,899), praised for its live and on‑demand classes, 23.8in rotating HD screen and automatic resistance, though the

Culture

Erin Doherty’s presence dominates A Thousand Blows season two

Erin Doherty’s magnetic performance dominates the second season of Steven Knight’s late‑Victorian thriller A Thousand Blows, making it hard to separate her presence from an overall judgement of the show. Series one mixed heavy‑handed exposition with a propulsive rivalry between an East End boxer (played by

Culture

Tom Hiddleston says Tim Burton’s Batman inspired his Loki

Movieweb reports that Tom Hiddleston said on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast he "truthfully don't believe I would have played Loki without that film," referring to Tim Burton's 1989 Batman. Hiddleston explained Jack Nicholson's Joker made a strong impact

World

Trump claims US control after raid on Venezuela and signals wider territorial aims

The attack on Venezuela and the seizure of its president opened 2026 with the US president saying his government was “in charge” of Venezuela and that US companies were poised to extract the country’s oil wealth, the Guardian reports. Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One the

Culture

Matt Prokop Arrested in Texas on Child Pornography and Assault Charges

People reports former child actor Matt Prokop, 35, was arrested and taken into custody on Dec. 24 in Victoria County, Texas, an employee at the Victoria County Jail told the outlet. TMZ was the first to report the news. Prokop faces four misdemeanor charges — a violation of bond (protective order)

World

Mohammed Harbi, Algerian Historian and Exile, Dies at 92

Mohammed Harbi, a maverick historian of Algeria who served in the revolutionary government before spending decades in exile, died on Jan. 1 in Paris. He was 92. His death in a hospital was confirmed by his son, Emir. Mr. Harbi denounced widespread torture after independence and was imprisoned after the