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Lead On January 26, 2026, Apple issued iOS 12.5.8 for legacy devices still running iOS 12, delivering a certificate extension that preserves core services. The update covers the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6, models originally released in September 2013 and September 2014, respectively. Apple says the change keeps features such as iMessage, FaceTime and device … Read more
Lead: On January 26, 2026, Google agreed to pay $68 million to resolve a U.S. class-action lawsuit alleging its Google Assistant improperly recorded users and those recordings were shared with third parties, including for advertising. The settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing by Google, and stems from claims about so-called “false accepts,” where … Read more
Winter Storm Debilitates the South, Encasing Cities in Ice and Snow Lead: A powerful winter storm that moved across the U.S. South over Jan. 24–26, 2026 left at least 10 people dead and crippled infrastructure from Mississippi to Tennessee. Heavy ice and snow toppled trees, damaged homes and vehicles, and produced widespread power failures, including … Read more
Lead: India and the European Union announced on Monday that they have concluded a long-sought free trade agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at India Energy Week in New Delhi. The pact, described by Indian officials as a “landmark” deal, was negotiated over nearly two decades and relaunch efforts began in 2022. The arrangement is … Read more
Lead: During a recent social-media livestream, 12-year-old North West unexpectedly praised her mother, Kim Kardashian, calling her “the GOAT,” and prompting a delighted response from the 45-year-old entrepreneur. Footage shared by an entertainment outlet shows the exchange while Kim monitored North off-camera. The brief moment — captured on TikTok — quickly circulated online and renewed … Read more
Defense lawyer Chris Madel announced on Jan. 26, 2026 that he is ending his Republican campaign for governor of Minnesota, saying a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis has become “simply a disaster.” The decision followed two fatal shootings by federal agents in the city, including the killing of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti two days … Read more
Lead US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on South Korean imports from 15% to 25%, declaring Seoul had failed to implement a trade deal reached last October. The move, made via a social media post, targets a range of products including automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals and says it applies to “all other … Read more
Lead China this weekend removed one of the People’s Liberation Army’s most senior officers, 75-year-old General Zhang Youxia, along with General Liu Zhenli, prompting an unprecedented shrinkage of the Central Military Commission (CMC). The CMC, normally a body of around seven members that directs China’s armed forces, now lists only President Xi Jinping and General … Read more
Lead Apple’s next Pro iPhone line is set for its most visible screen change in years, sources say, with a notably smaller Dynamic Island and brighter displays hinted across the 2026 iPhone 18 family. Leaks posted and aggregated on Jan. 26, 2026 indicate the Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max … Read more
In the weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, multiple national polls found a broad public backlash against ICE tactics and the Trump administration’s immigration approach. Surveys conducted in the first half of January show a majority of voters saying ICE enforcement has … Read more
On Saturday, Jan. 24, Nicki Minaj confirmed she will appear alongside former President Donald Trump at a summit set for Wednesday at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The event, according to the announcement Minaj reposted on X, will feature Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as the main speakers and is billed to introduce … Read more
Lead Google is adding a Gemini-powered scheduling tool to Google Calendar that proposes meeting slots based on attendees’ marked availability. The new “Suggested times” option analyzes calendar entries and potential conflicts when an organizer creates an event, returning a shortlist of candidate time slots. If several invitees decline, the organizer can open the event to … Read more
Lead Three people—Jacqui Furneaux, Angela Tilley and Ed Stewart—describe how abrupt, traumatic and unconventional turning points remade their lives. Their stories span decades and settings: Jacqui left Bristol at 49 and spent seven years travelling across Asia; Angela’s ordeal began at 16 and gradually produced agoraphobia before a practical solution reopened her world; Ed was … Read more
Lead A private Bombardier Challenger 600 jet linked to Houston law firm Arnold & Itkin crashed in the Bangor, Maine area after attempting to depart for France on Sunday evening, and officials say all six people on board are presumed dead. The aircraft had arrived earlier in Maine after departing Hobby Airport in Houston, according … Read more
Lead: In October Neil Young reiterated his decision to remove his recordings from Amazon and said he will not make them available while the company remains under Jeff Bezos’s ownership. This week Young made a separate move by offering free access to his complete catalog and archival material to residents of Greenland via the Neil … Read more
