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California is losing residents not only among the very wealthy but also among ordinary renters and homeowners packing U-Haul trucks. In a near–real-time snapshot from last year, U-Haul’s one-way move data — covering more than 2.5 million U.S. trips — shows California had the largest gap between departures and arrivals, marking a sixth consecutive year … Read more

Xbox’s Developer_Direct returns on Thursday, January 22 with live studio presentations that include extended gameplay for Fable, the first gameplay reveal for Forza Horizon 6, and an in-depth look at Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation. The broadcast airs at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK and marks the series’ fourth installment as Xbox … Read more

Lead At CES this year, long-standing distinctions between premium TV makers and budget brands narrowed as Hisense and TCL unveiled display technologies that approach the capabilities of Sony, Samsung and LG. Over the past two years both Chinese manufacturers have introduced breakthrough panels and higher-tier models—Hisense with an RGB LED debut last year and TCL … Read more

Lead In the first seven nights of imaging from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, researchers identified a giant, unusually rapid rotator: asteroid 2025 MN45. Measured at about 2,300 feet (710 meters) across, the object completes a full spin in roughly 113 seconds, making it the fastest-spinning asteroid known above the 500-meter size class. The discovery … Read more

One year after the Eaton Fire scorched the foothills of Altadena in January 2025, survivors say the neighborhood still reads like a landscape of loss: empty lots, piles of dirt and a slow, uncertain path to reconstruction. More than 6,000 homes across the affected area were destroyed or damaged and 19 people died, and local … Read more

Lead More than one million people in Dnipropetrovsk region were left without heating and water after Russian drone strikes damaged infrastructure, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said. The attack also caused power outages for thousands in neighbouring Zaporizhzhia, though power was later restored there. Ukrainian authorities and companies including DTEK are engaged in repairs amid a … Read more

Layoff pace in December hit lowest level since mid-2024, Challenger says Lead: Consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported Thursday that announced layoffs in December totaled 35,553, the lowest monthly figure since July 2024 and a potential sign of stabilization in the labor market. The December total was down 50% from November and 8% from … Read more

The most anticipated games of 2026, led by Grand Theft Auto 6, are pushing visual fidelity toward near-photographic realism, prompting fresh debate about whether ultra-real graphics improve play or simply replicate real-world harms. GTA 6, developed by Rockstar under Take-Two Interactive and billed as the “largest game launch in history” with a budget above $1bn, … Read more

Lead US measures taken under former President Donald Trump targeting Venezuela’s oil sector have elevated the risk that Chinese crude flows from the South American nation could be disrupted. The moves, implemented by Washington through sanctions and asset restrictions, affect state-linked Venezuelan oil entities and the contracts that underpin oil-for-loan arrangements with Chinese counterparts. The … Read more

Lead: On January 7, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, AEW opened the year on TBS and HBO Max with a chaotic Dynamite headlined by a violent Lights Out main event in which Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland defeated HOOK and Powerhouse Hobbs. Jon Moxley retained in a dramatic Continental Championship Eliminator, pinning Shelton Benjamin with … Read more

Lead: At CES 2026, Asus unveiled the ROG NeoCore, a proof‑of‑concept Wi‑Fi 8 router shown as an icosahedron design that emphasizes wireless stability and low latency. The demonstration, seen in person by ZDNET’s Kyle Kucharski, included visible Ethernet ports, vents and a wall‑mount hook. Asus framed the move as a step toward routers that prioritize … Read more

Lead On Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives moved to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that lapsed at the end of 2025, voting on a three-year renewal at the U.S. Capitol. The measure is expected to pass the House despite opposition from Speaker Mike Johnson, but faces uncertain prospects in … Read more

Lead: China has opened a regulatory review of Meta Platforms’ planned $2 billion acquisition of AI start-up Manus, the companies said, introducing uncertainty over the deal’s timing and potential conditions. The review, initiated by Chinese authorities under foreign-investment and national-security provisions, comes as governments worldwide scrutinise big tech acquisitions. Both Meta and Manus have indicated … Read more

On a State Department web page dated January 2026, an item titled “Withdrawal from Wasteful, Ineffective, or Harmful International Organizations” was posted but became inaccessible due to a site error. The site returned a technical message reading the page was experiencing difficulties and an “Exception: forbidden” notice, leaving the text of the announcement unavailable on … Read more

Lead At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, a panel of more than 40 experts from CNET Group and partner outlets spent six and a half hours deliberating to select the show’s standout products. From thousands of exhibits, the judges narrowed the field to 63 finalists across 22 award categories and named a single Best Overall … Read more