Tech

Google founders reduce California ties amid proposed billionaire wealth tax

Sergey Brin has moved or ended several business entities tied to California, joining fellow Google co-founder Larry Page in reducing their formal ties to the state where they built their fortunes, The New York Times reported. According to documents seen by The Times, an entity connected to Mr. Brin terminated

Culture

Aaron Moten on Maximus' Season 2 showdown with Quintus

Collider spoke with Aaron Moten and co‑showrunner Geneva Robertson‑Dworet about Fallout Season 2, centering on Episode 4, "The Demon in the Snow," and the pivotal confrontation between Maximus and Quintus. Episode 4 sees Lucy and the Ghoul reach New Vegas and face an Elvis ghoul horde,

Tech

Wave Browser partners with 4ocean to fund global plastic cleanup

Wave Browser has partnered with 4ocean to link everyday web browsing to ocean cleanup. According to the report, every time users surf the web Wave contributes to 4ocean cleanup projects that remove plastic and other waste from waterways worldwide, including the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Indonesia, with the

Culture

When friends become landlords: the risks of renting from a mate

Friendship can be strained when homeowners take in lodgers, often friends, creating a “friendlord” dynamic in which one party holds clear power over the other. According to flatsharing website SpareRoom, there was an 89% increase in homeowners taking in lodgers over the three years to January 2024, and rooms in

Sports

FA Cup fourth-round draw set for January 12, 2026

According to Goal, the 2025-26 FA Cup fourth-round draw will take place on Monday January 12, 2026, with proceedings due to begin around 6:30pm GMT (1:30pm ET). The draw will be held ahead of the third-round tie between Liverpool and Barnsley and will form part of that match’

Culture

Writer argues Leonardo may have painted a nude version of the Mona Lisa

A writer has argued that Leonardo da Vinci may have painted a nude version of the Mona Lisa, citing an 18th-century engraving, a full‑scale preparatory drawing at Chantilly and contemporary accounts from Leonardo’s later years in France. The case begins with a John Boydell engraving of a “Joconda”

Culture

The Pitt Season 2 premiere brings abandoned baby and Robby’s sabbatical tension

Movieweb reports that The Pitt returned to HBO Max with its Season 2 premiere, and the cast spoke with Entertainment Weekly to unpack the episode. Episode 1, titled "7:00 A.M.," is set on July 4 and follows Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch arriving on his

World

US forces seize oil tanker Olina near Trinidad in Caribbean operation

US military personnel boarded and seized the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean near Trinidad early on Friday, the US military said, in an operation aimed at targeting sanctions-busting vessels travelling to and from Venezuela. Video footage posted by officials showed US forces landing on the ship’s deck. Southern

World

Trump and Colombia’s Petro Hold Abrupt Call, Shift Tone

President Trump and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro spoke by phone in an abrupt, 55-minute conversation that both leaders described as cordial — Mr. Trump called it a "Great Honor" and Mr. Petro called it "Historic," Mr. Petro said in an interview in Bogotá. The call marked

Culture

The Kid LAROI opens up about breakup on Before I Forget

People reports The Kid LAROI's third studio album, Before I Forget, dropped on Friday, Jan. 9, and finds the 22-year-old Australian rapper taking a vulnerable approach to his songwriting and opening up about a breakup. He was last linked to Tate McRae and had previewed the new era

World

U.S. teams board tanker Olina in Caribbean as part of Venezuela oil operations

A joint U.S. Coast Guard and Navy team boarded the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea early Friday, the U.S. Southern Command said, in the latest operation tied to the Trump administration’s effort to control Venezuela’s oil exports. The Olina is the fifth vessel to

Health

Experts warn Britain remains far from the end of the flu season as elderly hit hardest

Independent.co reports leading epidemiologists warn Britain is "a long way from the end of the flu season," with rates "stubbornly stable" among over-85s despite an overall decline. They say the H3N2 strain, specifically Subclade K viruses, is particularly affecting older adults who have less natural

Science

NASA to launch Pandora plus two CubeSats to study exoplanet atmospheres

NASA will launch the Pandora spacecraft alongside two shoebox-sized CubeSats, BlackCAT and SPARCS, to study the atmospheres of exoplanets and their host stars. All three missions are set to lift off Jan. 11 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in

World

U.S. seizes fifth oil tanker tied to Venezuela in Caribbean

Time reports the United States seized another oil tanker overnight in the Caribbean Sea, the fifth vessel taken in recent weeks as the Trump Administration intensifies efforts to choke off Venezuela’s oil exports. The vessel, the Olina, was boarded and taken into U.S. custody early Friday in an

Crypto

Bitcoin steadies near $90K as traders await US Supreme Court tariff ruling

Bitcoin traders largely refrained from taking positions as the cryptocurrency's price held around $90,000, while markets awaited a US Supreme Court decision on trade tariffs. Market participants cited sideways BTC price action and avoided fresh bets amid the quiet price movement. Markets remained in a holding pattern

Culture

Helena Jhong makes custom wigs for red‑carpet stars

Helena Jhong, the owner of Helena Collection Wigs in Midtown Manhattan, has built a business creating custom wigs and hair pieces that have appeared on major red carpets, including styles worn by Sydney Sweeney and Greta Lee. A 33‑year veteran, Ms. Jhong said much of her work has come

Crypto

Bitcoin Consolidates Near $90,000 Ahead of Supreme Court Tariff Ruling

Beincrypto reports Bitcoin is consolidating near $90,000 as markets brace for a rare convergence of a US Supreme Court ruling on the legality of Trump-era tariffs and US unemployment data. The Court’s decision is expected at 10:00 a.m. ET, following the US unemployment report due at

Culture

Five children’s films to stream this month

This month’s picks include a sequel to the Paw Patrol franchise and a Disneynature documentary that follows a polar bear and her cub as they cope with melting ice. In Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023), Skye, the cockapoo who handles aviation, takes center stage. The villain, Victoria Vance

Culture

Luthier Mario Miralles lost lifetime wood collection in Altadena Eaton fire

Mario Miralles, a renowned luthier based in Altadena, Calif., lost a lifetime collection of spruce and maple and much of his home when the Eaton fire swept the area; he and his girlfriend evacuated on Jan. 7, 2025, and he managed to rescue a nearly finished violin destined for Gustavo

Culture

Bill Skarsgård Leads Gus Van Sant's Dead Man's Wire in a Strong Return

Collider calls Dead Man's Wire a return to form for director Gus Van Sant, led by what the review describes as a career-best turn from Bill Skarsgård. The film, based on a real-life case, stars Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis, a man in Indianapolis who holds Richard "Dick&

Science

Eric and Wendy Schmidt fund four fast-build telescopes including Lazuli

Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s philanthropic group, Schmidt Sciences, unveiled plans at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Phoenix to finance four major new telescopes — including an orbital observatory called Lazuli — and aims to have all four up and running within four years. The projects, grouped as the Eric and

Sports

Van Dijk defends Liverpool after Martinelli drags injured Conor Bradley at Emirates

Virgil van Dijk defended his Liverpool team-mates after Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli attempted to drag injured Conor Bradley off the pitch at the Emirates Stadium, Goal reports. Martinelli dropped the ball on Bradley and then tried to remove him, sparking a melee that involved players from both sides. Ibrahima Konate

Tech

RingConn Gen 3 debuts at CES 2026 with blood pressure insights

RingConn unveiled the RingConn Gen 3 smart ring at CES 2026, offering several upgrades over its second-generation model. The new ring includes hypertension or blood pressure insights that monitor blood pressure trends for risk assessment rather than providing precise readings or a diagnosis. RingConn also adds a smart vibration feature

Culture

Dwayne Johnson says Gene Wilder was his first cinematic crush

Dwayne Johnson said Gene Wilder was his first "cinematic crush," according to MovieWeb, which published the report 11 minutes ago. The piece notes Johnson has starred with leading actresses including Emily Blunt, Gal Gadot and Karen Gillan and is known for roles such as Luke Hobbs in the

Tech

VPNs can be used to access ePorner when regional blocks are in place

Mashable says users can unblock the adult site ePorner for free by using a VPN, which hides a device's real IP address and connects it to a secure server in another location to bypass network blocks. The outlet notes that more than a third of U.S. states