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Lead: Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel publicly rejected U.S. pressure after President Donald Trump said Havana must “make a deal” while warning that Venezuelan oil and funds that have long supported the island would be cut off. The exchanges took place over the weekend after a U.S. operation captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and Trump said … Read more

NEW YORK — As the Yankees and Cody Bellinger remain apart in free-agency talks in early December, New York faces a clear decision point: either re-sign the versatile outfielder on terms acceptable to both sides or pivot to alternative targets and trade strategies. Bellinger told reporters after the American League Division Series he would “absolutely” … Read more

Lead: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said federal prosecutors are reviewing the $2.5 billion renovation at the Fed’s Washington, D.C., headquarters in a development that escalates tensions between the central bank and President Donald Trump. The announcement, made the night before the Jan. 12, 2026 newsletter, rattled markets and sent U.S. stock futures lower. Meanwhile, … Read more

Nick Sirianni said the Philadelphia Eagles will review staff and player performances after Sunday’s 23–19 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles scored two first-half touchdowns but failed to reach the end zone after halftime, allowing the 49ers to advance to a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Sirianni called … Read more

Lead Washington state faces an emerging $2 billion shortfall as Gov. Bob Ferguson and legislative leaders head into the 2026 session beginning Monday in Olympia. The gap follows a larger fiscal correction in 2024 that revealed an earlier $16 billion mismatch between projected revenues and planned spending, and prompted roughly $9 billion in tax increases … Read more

Lead: Scientists and public-health officials are increasingly concerned about multiple avian influenza strains beyond H5N1 after recent detections in animals and a rise in human H9N2 cases. In early January 2026 U.S. authorities confirmed bird flu in a Wisconsin dairy herd, the third instance last year of the virus moving from wildlife into cattle. Researchers … Read more

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a range of responses to a wave of antigovernment unrest in Iran that began in late December 2025 and has intensified in mid‑January 2026. Iranian security forces have cut internet and phone access and rights groups report more than 500 people killed; Tehran has warned foreign powers against interference. … Read more

Lead: China and the European Union announced on Monday a set of procedural steps intended to de-escalate their dispute over imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs). The EU published a guidance document outlining how Chinese manufacturers may submit price offers, including specified minimum import prices, after Brussels imposed tariffs of up to 35.3% in 2024 … Read more

Over the past two weeks, mass demonstrations have swept cities across Iran as hundreds of thousands—by some accounts—defied security forces from Tehran to provincial centers, raising the prospect that the Islamic Republic could face an overthrow with major global consequences. The unrest, driven by an acute economic crisis and widening public anger over corruption and … Read more

Lead: Protests that began in Iran in late December over rising living costs have broadened into a wider challenge to the country’s religious leadership. State media say more than 100 security personnel have been killed in recent days, while opposition activists report a higher toll including dozens of protesters; neither figure can be independently verified. … Read more

No. 18 Oklahoma (7-1) traveled to Stillwater to meet No. 5 Oklahoma State (8-1) in the 190th Bedlam dual, with action scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Oklahoma State completed a shutout, winning the dual 37-0 and securing what becomes their 21st consecutive victory over the Sooners. The Cowboys paced the dual with multiple … Read more

Lead Microbes living in household plumbing — in shower heads, drip pans and hot-water heaters — are drawing new scientific attention for the unusual chemistries they perform. Reported by Short Wave (NPR) on January 12, 2026, a team of microbiologists has begun sampling these built-environment communities to see whether their adaptations can be repurposed for … Read more

Lead With wild-card weekend concluded, the NFL divisional-round bracket is now finalized. On Monday night the Houston Texans clinched the final spot in the final eight, beating Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6—an outcome that could mark the end of a Hall of Fame career for Rodgers. The Texans will travel to face the … Read more

Lead: A bright fireball streaked over Southern California on Saturday night, Jan. 10, 2026, and was recorded from Glendale by ABC7 director Mike Gilbert. The American Meteor Society (AMS) reviewed eyewitness reports and confirmed the phenomenon as a fireball rather than a rocket or satellite re-entry. The event prompted more than 30 reports to AMS … Read more

Lead President Donald Trump said he may bar ExxonMobil from investing in Venezuela after Exxon chief executive Darren Woods described the country as “uninvestable” during a White House meeting last week. The exchange followed a high-profile session in which Mr Trump urged oil executives to commit $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector, less than … Read more