Predicting This Year’s Oscar Nominations Using Just Math

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On January 17, 2026, a mathematical model by Ben Zauzmer translated awards-season signals into probabilities for this year’s Oscar nominations, offering a ranked likelihood of who will be invited to the March ceremony. The algorithm blends historical precedent with current-season honors — weighing guild wins, critics prizes and major precursor nods — to produce odds … Read more

Mo Dioubate’s Toughness Sparks Kentucky’s 80-78 Comeback at Tennessee

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On Jan. 17, 2026 in Knoxville, Mouhamed Dioubate came off the bench and provided the physical edge Kentucky needed to rally from a 17-point deficit and defeat Tennessee 80-78 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Dioubate finished with 10 points, a team-high six rebounds and a +16 plus/minus as the Wildcats claimed a Quad 1A victory that could … Read more

Virginia’s New Governor Moves Swiftly to Overhaul State University Boards

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Lead: On Jan. 17, 2026, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat and an alumna of the University of Virginia, moved within hours of her inauguration to reshape the leadership of the state’s public universities. She asked five University of Virginia board members to step aside and appointed 10 new members to the 17-person UVA board, and … Read more

‘SNL’ Mocks Trump’s Nobel Prize Envy, Colin Jost’s Unhinged Pete Hegseth Promises ‘USA is Going to F—‘ Countries Around the World

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The cold open of Saturday Night Live’s Jan. 17, 2026 episode stitched together several of the year’s headline political moments — a mock presidential news conference lampooning Donald Trump’s obsession with a Nobel Peace Prize, a satirical take on a U.S. military action in Venezuela, and a brutal send-up of Kristi Noem’s response to the … Read more

Market begins to de-clutter for Steelers as they aim to zero in on top coaching candidates

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Lead: Over the weekend, the coaching market shifted in ways that narrow the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they continue virtual interviews to replace Mike Tomlin. Two recent hires — John Harbaugh by the New York Giants and Kevin Stefanski by the Atlanta Falcons — removed rival-team candidates from the pool the Steelers had … Read more

7 CES 2026 products I’d buy immediately

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At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, reporters and product teams converged on hundreds of booths; after a week of hands-on demos and private showcases, seven devices stood out as ones I’d purchase as soon as they reach stores. The selection spans a pocket messaging handset, budget smart speakers, a glare-resistant OLED TV, an ultrasonic chef’s … Read more

Syrian Government Advances into Kurdish-Held North as U.S. Calls for Restraint

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Lead: On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, Syrian government forces pushed into Kurdish-administered areas in northern Syria, seizing several towns and igniting new clashes that risk unraveling a fragile postwar settlement. The moves brought government troops closer to Raqqa, the largest city under Kurdish administration, and prompted urgent appeals from Washington for de-escalation to protect U.S. … Read more

Trump buys $1m in Netflix and Warner Bros bonds after saying he’d ‘be involved’ in merger

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President Donald Trump purchased bond holdings tied to Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery in mid-December, days after he said he would “be involved” in regulatory decisions around the companies’ proposed merger. A White House financial disclosure filed Friday lists two purchases from Netflix and two from Warner Bros Discovery, each entry shown at $502,000 or … Read more

Seahawks thump 49ers in playoff opener, advance to NFC Championship Game – The Seattle Times

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The Seattle Seahawks opened their divisional playoff at Lumen Field with a decisive 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night, seizing control within seconds and never looking back. A 95‑yard opening kickoff return by Rashid Shaheed put Seattle up 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game, and the Seahawks extended that lead … Read more

Biggest winners and losers from Saturday’s Divisional Round NFL playoff games

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Lead: On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, two Divisional Round games produced a clear divide between dominant performances and painful setbacks. In Seattle, the Seahawks routed the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers 41-6 behind a balanced attack and special-teams heroics. In Denver, the Broncos edged the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime but lost starting quarterback Bo Nix … Read more

As Jan. 20 nears, Trump’s 10% credit‑card rate demand leaves banks scrambling

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NEW YORK — With President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 deadline approaching, the White House has urged the credit‑card industry to cap interest rates at 10%, but provided no clear enforcement plan. Consumer groups, some lawmakers and bank executives say they still do not know how the administration would implement or compel compliance. Financial firms are … Read more