Author: Lauren Whitmore

US

Arrests Follow Clashes at ICE Protests in Downtown LA

January 31, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Demonstrators gathered in downtown LA as part of a nationwide push against ICE operations, leading to tense standoffs with officers and arrests Friday evening. Mayor Bass called for peaceful protests…

Technology

a16z Partner Kofi Ampadu Leaves Firm After TxO Pause

January 31, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Kofi Ampadu has departed Andreessen Horowitz after leading its Talent x Opportunity program, which paused last November. His exit comes amid broader changes in tech's approach to supporting diverse founders.

Sports

SmackDown Delivers Chaos Ahead of Royal Rumble 2026

January 31, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Friday Night SmackDown in Saudi Arabia built hype for the Royal Rumble with title defenses, surprise attacks, and a wild eight-man tag match ending in mayhem. Key wins went to…

Science

Japan’s H3 Rocket Drops Satellite in Rare Launch Failure

January 31, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

A Japanese H3 rocket launch failed on December 22 when a 4,000 kg navigation satellite detached prematurely and fell into the Pacific Ocean. The mishap damaged fuel systems and halted…

Entertainment

Send Help Ending Shocks with Island Survival Twists

January 31, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

A plane crash strands coworkers Linda Liddle and Bradley Preston on a remote island. What starts as survival becomes a deadly game of power and revenge.

Technology

SpaceX Eyes June 2026 IPO at $1.5 Trillion Valuation

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

SpaceX is preparing for a stock market debut in mid-2026 that could become the largest IPO ever. The move comes as the company handles strong demand for shares through private…

Sports

Vikings Shock NFL by Firing GM Adofo-Mensah After Four Seasons

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The Minnesota Vikings have fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons with the team. The decision comes just eight months after he signed a contract extension and follows a…

Entertainment

Send Help Earns $2.2M in Previews Before Friday Debut

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Sam Raimi's new movie Send Help made $2.2 million in preview screenings Thursday night. The R-rated thriller stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien as stranded coworkers facing survival challenges on…

World

Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firm’s Canal Port Contracts

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Panama's Supreme Court has annulled key port contracts held by a Hong Kong conglomerate, leaving the future of two major canal terminals uncertain and complicating a major international sale.

Science

Why Pacific Water Sits Higher Than Atlantic at Panama Canal

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Ships passing through the Panama Canal face a surprising fact: Pacific water stands higher than Atlantic water at the ends. This stems from natural ocean differences handled by the canal's…

Finance

Indonesia Stock CEO Resigns After $80 Billion Market Drop

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The head of Indonesia's stock exchange has quit after a two-day plunge wiped out $80 billion from the market. The drop followed a warning from index provider MSCI about investability…

World

Trump Warns UK Over China Ties After Starmer-Xi Meeting

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

President Donald Trump warned the UK against closer business with China hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing. Starmer called the meeting productive, focusing…

Science

Green Ice Covers Czech Lake Lipno in Rare Winter Bloom

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Ice on Lake Lipno in South Bohemia froze green at the end of 2025 from trapped cyanobacteria. Researchers say this points to bigger changes in the lake from pollution and…

Entertainment

Oscar Race Tightens as Industry Awards Shape Final Contenders

January 30, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The 2026 Oscar race has fully formed after months of festival circuit competition. Five films are leading with 10 or more nominations each, setting the stage for a competitive awards…

Finance

Sandisk’s Stunning Forecast Vindicated by Explosive Earnings Beat

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The storage chip maker reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that crushed analyst expectations, with revenue guidance for the next quarter nearly 60% higher than Wall Street had predicted.

Science

Blood Test May Detect Parkinson’s Years Before Tremors Start

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

A new blood test shows promise in spotting Parkinson's disease long before the shaking and stiffness set in. Scientists say it detects changes in blood cells during the disease's quiet…

World

EU Hits Iran with Sanctions on 15 Officials and Eyes IRGC Terror Label

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

EU foreign ministers approved sanctions on 15 Iranian officials over a deadly protest crackdown. The bloc also advanced plans to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

US

Shutdown Looms Over DHS Funding Fight as Fed Keeps Rates Steady

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

A partial government shutdown threatens half of federal agencies unless Congress resolves a dispute over DHS funding by Friday night. Separately, the Federal Reserve ignored calls from President Trump and…

Sports

Bill Belichick Misses First-Ballot Hall of Fame Induction

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Bill Belichick fell short of the votes needed for immediate induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The eight-time Super Bowl champion expressed puzzlement after learning the news from…

World

UK Reopens Chagos Talks with US After Trump Slams Deal

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The UK has restarted discussions with the US over the Chagos Islands agreement following sharp criticism from President Donald Trump. Starmer says US intelligence supports the deal despite Trump's opposition.

Entertainment

LA City Council Eyes $5M Fund to Boost Microdrama Filmmaking

January 29, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The Los Angeles City Council voted this week to pursue $5 million in funding for microdrama productions. The move targets small-budget vertical videos to bring jobs back to the city.

Finance

Home Depot Cuts 800 Jobs and Orders Full Office Return

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Home Depot let go of 800 corporate employees on Wednesday and told remaining staff to work in the office five days a week starting in April. The changes aim to…

Technology

WhatsApp to Charge for AI Chatbots in Italy Amid Regulator Push

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

WhatsApp plans to charge developers for AI chatbot use in Italy following a regulator order to allow third-party bots. The fee is €0.0572 per message, starting February 16.

Technology

Waabi raises $1B to expand self-driving tech beyond trucks

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Canadian startup Waabi has raised $1 billion and struck a partnership with Uber to deploy self-driving robotaxis, marking the company's expansion beyond autonomous trucking into ride-hailing.

Entertainment

Mariinka to Open Copenhagen Documentary Festival

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

The Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival selects Mariinka as its opening film. Directed by Pieter-Jan De Pue, it follows brothers torn apart by the war in Ukraine.

Finance

ASML posts record orders as AI chip demand stays strong

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

ASML, the world's leading maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, has reported record orders and signaled strong growth ahead, buoyed by continued investment in artificial intelligence chip production.

Finance

ASML Reports Record Orders and Strong 2026 Outlook on AI Demand

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

ASML saw record orders in late 2025 as chipmakers plan more factories for AI needs. The company now expects sales to rise sharply next year.

Technology

Samsung Launches Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition for 2026 Winter Games

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Samsung rolled out the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition, a custom phone for athletes at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. It includes special features to help…

Sports

Aaron Judge Returns as MLB The Show 26 Cover Star

January 28, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is the cover athlete for MLB The Show 26, marking his second appearance on the game's front. He joins Joe Mauer as the…

Science

Protein Switch Lets Bones Gain from Exercise Without Moving

January 27, 2026 Lauren Whitmore

A new discovery shows a protein acts as an exercise sensor in bones, pushing stem cells to build bone over fat. Researchers aim to target it for treatments that protect…