Culture

Five classical albums highlighted by The New York Times

The New York Times highlighted five classical albums available to stream, citing recent works by Gabriela Ortiz, choral music by David Lang and unreleased recordings by the pianist Radu Lupu among its selections. Gabriela Ortiz’s portrait album Yanga features the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Alisa Weilerstein as soloist and

World

U.S. forces capture Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in Caracas operation

Time reports the U.S. launched an incursion into Caracas that captured President Nicolás Maduro and left Venezuela in a state of uncertainty over its political and economic future. The operation was described as the culmination of a monthslong military pressure campaign framed by the Trump Administration as an effort

Culture

MoMA will screen a new restoration of G.W. Pabst’s The Joyless Street

The Museum of Modern Art will screen a new restoration of G.W. Pabst’s The Joyless Street as part of its To Save and Project series; the film is one Michael Mann has often cited as the moment he decided to become a director, recalling in 2016 that it

Crypto

On-chain signals suggest BNB faces limited downside in 2026

Beincrypto reports that several on-chain indicators and trading data point to BNB being unlikely to suffer a deep decline in 2026, with the token described as one of the best-performing layer‑1 altcoins over the past year and closely tied to the large user base of the world’s leading

Politics

Smithsonian given White House deadline to hand over records, could face cuts

The Smithsonian has been given a White House deadline to turn over records about its programming and other matters next week, and officials warned the institution could face potential cuts to its budget if it does not comply. The demand follows President Trump’s campaign to press the Smithsonian to

Culture

Chris Pratt’s dark turn in Vincent D’Onofrio’s 2019 western The Kid

Collider reports that Chris Pratt made a stark departure from his usual screen persona by playing a sadistic Old West outlaw, Uncle Grant, in Vincent D’Onofrio’s revisionist western The Kid. The film follows preteen Rio Cutler (Jake Schur), who shoots his father in self-defense and flees with his

Business

Multiple states and cities raise minimum wages to $15 or higher

Millions of workers will see higher pay this month as 19 states and 49 cities and counties increase their minimum wage floors to at least $15 an hour for some or all employees, the New York Times reports. According to the National Employment Law Project, 88 states, counties and cities

World

Russian strikes cut power and heat to about 1 million in Dnipro region

Russian strikes knocked out power and heat to about one million customers in the Dnipro region of Ukraine early Thursday morning, Ukrainian authorities said. Officials said crews were racing to restore service and urged residents to stock up on water and conserve batteries. Local authorities and power companies reported mid-morning

Sports

Man Utd trigger one-year options to keep Toone, Terland, Naalsund and George until 2027

Manchester United have extended the expiring contracts of Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Lisa Naalsund and Gabby George until the summer of 2027, Goal reports. All four were due to become free agents in six months and able to discuss moves with foreign clubs, but United have acted to trigger one-year

Culture

Partners civilled in Haringey after more than 30 years together

Diane and her partner, who had lived together for more than 30 years, entered into a civil partnership in Haringey on 3 January 2020, shortly after civil partnerships were legalised for opposite-sex couples; they were only the fourth heterosexual couple to be civilled in the borough. The couple said they

Culture

Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston’s 2010 film enters HBO Max Top 10

Movieweb reports that Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston’s 2010 film The Bounty Hunter is hunting out a place in the HBO Max Top 10, 16 years after its theatrical release. The movie, directed by Andy Tennant, casts Butler as Milo Boyd, a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter tasked with bringing in

Culture

Trump's denouncement of National Portrait Gallery director prompts Smithsonian review

On 30 May, Donald Trump publicly denounced Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, in a Truth Social post saying he was "terminating the employment of Kim Sajet" and calling her "a highly partisan person" and a "strong supporter" of

Politics

Albanese orders federal royal commission into antisemitism after reversal

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a federal royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion from a lectern at Parliament House in Canberra, reversing a position he had defended ten days earlier and saying such an inquiry is vital to heal and unite a wounded nation after its worst-ever terror attack.

Sports

G‑League rookie Mason Madsen cut from Valley Suns, shares experience online

According to People, 24-year-old Mason Madsen was cut from the NBA G-League’s Valley Suns after receiving a text from his coach — “Mason, can you stop by the facility please?” — moments after a big home win. Madsen, who grew up with a father who coached high school basketball and began

Health

Oxford study finds faster weight regain after stopping obesity jabs

A University of Oxford study found people using weight-loss injections such as semaglutide and tirzepatide regain weight faster than traditional dieters, the Independent.co reported. The analysis, published in the British Medical Journal, pooled 37 studies of more than 9,000 people with an average treatment time of 10 months

Culture

Holly Hunter-led Starfleet Academy hailed as best modern Star Trek series

Collider's review of the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy calls it the best Star Trek series of the modern era, praising a cast led by Academy Award winner Holly Hunter. The review says the show is set in the 32nd century after the fourth season of Star

Culture

Richard Pollak, Founding Editor of More, Dies at 91

Richard Pollak, the founding editor of More magazine, died on Dec. 27 in Stockholm. He was 91, his wife, Diane Walsh, confirmed; the couple had moved from Portland, Maine, to Sweden in May to live near their daughter and grandchildren, and he was in hospice care. More debuted in 1971

Sports

Antoine Semenyo set for Man City transfer as Liverpool remain a late possibility

Goal reports that Antoine Semenyo appears destined to leave Bournemouth for Manchester City in a £65 million deal, but Jamie Redknapp has predicted a 'twist' that could still see the Ghana international end up at Liverpool. Bournemouth are resigned to losing Semenyo after exit clauses were triggered, and

Crypto

Ethereum raises blob capacity per block ahead of Fusaka upgrade

Ethereum increased its data capacity per block, raising the blob target to 14 and the maximum blob limit to 21. The adjustment sets the blob target at 14 and the maximum blob limit at 21 per block, changing the protocol's per-block data parameters. The change comes as Ethereum

Culture

Netflix's 2026 preview appears to dash hopes for Stranger Things secret episode

Movieweb reports Netflix unveiled a preview of its 2026 film and TV slate on Jan. 7, and the timing appears to undercut a viral fan theory that a secret ninth episode of Stranger Things would arrive that day. The sizzle reel includes Millie Bobby Brown in footage promoting Enola Holmes

World

Two killed and six injured in shooting outside Salt Lake City Mormon meetinghouse

Two people were killed and six others were injured in a shooting outside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, the police said. At least one suspect was at large, authorities added. Dozens of people were attending a funeral service inside the

Culture

Nicole Kidman Opts for Ballerina Sneakers While Traveling; Lookalikes From $40

People reported on January 7, 2026 that Nicole Kidman turned a travel moment into an airport-style lesson by wearing head-to-toe Chanel and a pair of ballet-inspired sneakers. The ballerina-sneaker trend has gained momentum recently, appearing on stars such as Julia Roberts and Bella Hadid. A shopping writer said she was

Crypto

XRP chart targets 34% upside as EMAs and whale buying support move

Beincrypto reports XRP’s chart targets a 34% breakout, supported by converging EMAs and steady whale buying, though rising short-term holder activity could delay a clean move. An inverse head-and-shoulders pattern is forming and remains valid while price holds above $1.77; if confirmed above the neckline the projected upside

Tech

Seven standout laptops at CES 2026, led by the Dell XPS 14

ZDNET highlighted seven laptops at CES 2026 that stood out for unique features, performance upgrades and forward‑thinking designs. Notable entries include LG's Gram Pro 17, which the outlet said uses a new material called Aerominum (also described as Aeronium in the article) to cut weight while keeping

Culture

A24’s Undertone trailer shows haunted podcast recordings terrorizing host

Collider reports A24 released the first trailer overnight for Undertone, a new horror film that introduces Nina Kiri as Evy, a paranormal skeptic who is pushed toward belief. The film follows Evy, the host of the titular horror-tinged true-crime podcast, during a recording session when she is sent a series