Berlin Film Festival to Open With ‘No Good Men’ From Afghan Director Shahrbanoo Sadat

"Sadat continues her vital work spotlighting Afghan women’s lives, here bringing romance and touches of humour to a rousingly political story."

Will unseasonably hot weather dash Southern California's hopes for a 2026 superbloom?

Wildflower expert Naomi Fraga was excited about the prospect of an extraordinary bloom this spring, after a winter of near record rainfall, but this week's unseasonably hot, dry weather has dimmed her hopes for a superbloom year.

David Ellison Embarks on European Lobbying Trek to Rally Support for His Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

David Ellison is on a race against the clock, meeting political leaders and entertainment figures across Europe to rally support for his $108.4 billion hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and build an opposition against rival suitor Netflix. The outreach comes as regulators

Why would a UK judge deny fired Rockstar workers interim relief?

Kuits specialist employment solicitor, Jake McManus, breaks down the legal mechanism after a group of ousted Rockstar devs were denied interim pay earlier this week.

Japan: Traditional rice pounding ceremony held in snowy Aomori village

In Aomori, Japan, women in kimonos performed the Taue Mochitsuki rice pounding ceremony amid snowfall, aiming for a good harvest and family protection.

Syria poised to attack Kurdish-held towns to pressure stalled talks, sources say

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Mahmoud Hasano , Jonathan Spicer and Timour Azhari Jan 15 (Reuters) - Syrian troops are poised to attack towns in the north and east held by Kurdish fighters, sources familiar with the matter said, to pressure autonomy-minded Kurds into making

Why Trump’s backers on Wall Street are desperate for the DOJ to end its Powell probe

"This thing is next level dumb and I'm largely a fan of the president," said one Trump supporter.

Guillermo del Toro to Receive Dilys Powell Honor at London Critics’ Circle Film Awards

The 'Frankenstein' director said in response to the news that "working in this industry continues to be the joy of a lifetime."

Can a Nobel Prize be gifted or sold? Some have done it in the past

Although Machado's gesture marks a rare instance of a living laureate parting with their medal shortly after receiving it, it is not unprecedented, and rules state that Machado could give away her actual medal but not the honour itself.

Trump weighs options after holding off on Iran strikes

Morning Report is The Hill's a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today's issue: ▪ Trump urged against striking Iran ▪ Machado gives Trump her Nobel Prize ▪ Tensions rise over Insurrection Act threat ▪ GOP unenthused on credit rate cap President Trump has seemingly pulled back

Alibaba: the AI kingmaker

A doctor anywhere likely loves using AI as a second opinion on her lawyers’ legal advice, to prepare for a meeting or to fact-check his claims. However, she perhaps still has only scorn, when she is wearing the other shoe. She has a list of reasons why AI should not be trusted

US accuses South Africa military of 'cosying up to Iran'

The defence minister orders an inquiry into reports the military flouted orders to expel Iran from naval drills.

Microsoft rolls out tables in Notepad for all Windows 11 users, though I'd feel happier about this if I knew this was the final addition to my favorite little app

You can have too much of a good thing.

Putin talks to Netanyahu and Iran's Pezeshkian, says Russia is willing to mediate

MOSCOW, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Iran in separate calls on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and said that Moscow was willing to mediate in the region, the Kremlin

Iran protests abate after deadly crackdown, residents and rights group say

By Parisa Hafezi and Nayera Abdallah Dubai, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Iran's deadly crackdown appears to have broadly quelled protests for now, according to a rights group and residents, as state media reported more arrests on Friday in the shadow of U.S. threats to intervene if

Analysis-Musk's Starlink faces high-profile security test in Iran crackdown

By Joey Roulette and Cassell Bryan-Low WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Iran’s crackdown on dissidents is shaping up as one of the toughest security tests yet for Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has served as a lifeline against state-imposed internet blackouts since its deployment

Spotify to hike subscription price

Spotify last hiked fees for U.S. subscribers in June 2024, which marked the second increase in less than a year.

Africa: Benin - 10,000 Women Entrepreneurs Receive Business Development Support

[World Bank] Washington -- The World Bank approved $100 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Benin promote access to finance and growth for women entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal sectors.

Man accused of murdering woman and toddler in Munich car attack goes on trial

The Afghan suspect is accused of killing a 37-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter.

War in Ukraine: How Kyiv copes with winter power outages

Ukraine faces another harsh winter as Russian strikes leave Kyiv without stable electricity or heating. Residents rely on emergency centres to cope with the cold.

US Congress members visit Denmark as Trump's pressure on Greenland rises

The visit comes after high-level talks in Washington failed to dissuade Trump from his plan to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Africa: Updated WHO Manuals Released to Help Countries Strengthen Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response

[WHO] Timely detection and effective response to foodborne diseases are essential to protect public health and prevent local events from escalating into wider emergencies. To support countries in strengthening these capacities, the World Health Organization has released updated

Taiwan touts 'best tariff deal' with US amid Beijing's objections

Taiwan had secured 15% tariffs with no additional fees for the automotive and wood furniture industries, and no tariffs for some components used in the aerospace industry.

Governing with foresight: Designing institutions for the next decades

As the World Economic Forum once again brings state and corporate leaders together in Davos, Euronews will moderate a panel discussion organised by the National Planning Council at the Qatar Pavilion.

Fact check: Is Ursula von der Leyen 'auto-increasing' her own salary?

Recent claims circulating on social media allege that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been “automatically increasing” her own salary. The Cube examined the claims to clarify how the salaries of EU officials are actually determined.

Transcript: Trump Press Sec Snaps at Media as Polls on ICE Turns Dire

Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic , produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent. At a press briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt repeatedly lost her temper with reporters. It’s no accident that

BBC in Talks to Produce Content for YouTube in Landmark Deal

The BBC and YouTube are in talks for a landmark deal that would see the British broadcaster produce content for the video platform, Variety has confirmed. The deal — initially reported in the Financial Times — is expected to be announced as soon as next week, and would involve

Vitamin A may be helping cancer hide from the immune system

A vitamin A byproduct has been found to quietly disarm the immune system, allowing tumors to evade attack and weakening cancer vaccines. Scientists have now developed a drug that shuts down this pathway, dramatically boosting immune responses and slowing cancer growth in

Myanmar tells ICJ Rohingya genocide claims 'unsubstantiated'

Brazil transfers military equipment to Uruguay and Paraguay to bolster regional security

Brazil has enacted two laws formalizing the transfer of military aircraft and equipment to Uruguay and Paraguay, as part of an initiative to upgrade operational capabilities of neighboring countries and enhance regional security, Agência Brasil reported.

Myanmar tells World Court Gambia has not proven Rohingya genocide case

THE HAGUE, Jan 16 - Myanmar told the United Nations' top court on Friday that Gambia had not proven its accusation that the Myanmar government had committed genocide against the minority Muslim Rohingya, part of a hearing on the landmark case.

A Very 2026 Art Reading List

Also, the Smithsonian complies with Trump, the Asian Art Museum's baby rave, and an interview El Salvador's Venice Biennale artist.

Are our bodies full of microplastics or not? There’s a way to resolve this debate, and scientists must hurry | Debora MacKenzie

This week’s furore is microplastics researchers’ ozone moment. If they fail, the powerful plastics lobby will step into the breach Debora MacKenzie is a science journalist and author of Stopping the Next Pandemic : How Covid-19 Can Help Us Save Humanity Are we being injured and

Syria's leader set to visit Berlin with deportations in focus

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will hold talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin Tuesday as Germany seeks to step up deportations of Syrians, despite unease about continued instability in their homeland. On his first visit to Germany since ousting Syria's longtime

Latest news bulletin | January 16th, 2026 – Midday

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this January 16th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

Whole Hog Politics: They’re all ‘bad’ Senate maps for Democrats, but they still might win

We hear the refrain again this year from and about Democrats’ chances to retake the Senate: “It’s a bad map.” It was a bad map in 2024, 2020, 2018, 2014 and 2010, too. So maybe it’s time to stop imagining some kind of parity in the parties’ chances for controlling the Senate

What Is Beige Fat, and Is It Healthy?

This mysterious type of fat cell may play an important role in heart health, new research shows

Trump Is Running a “Global Mafia”

You can watch this episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon above or by following this show on YouTube or Substack . You can a transcript here . President Trump has sometimes been described as antiwar or isolationist. That’s totally wrong , says Matt Duss , executive vice

Transcript: Trump Is Running a “Global Mafia”

This is a lightly edited transcript of the January 16 edition of Right Now With Perry Bacon. You can watch the video here or by following this show on YouTube or Substack . Perry Bacon: I’m Perry Bacon. I’m the host of The New Republic show Right Now . I’m joined this morning

This fine print in California’s wealth tax is what’s really roiling Silicon Valley

It isn't the 5% rate that has techies furious and seriously contemplating leaving the Golden State.

The shape of time

In the 19th century, the linear idea of time became dominant – with profound implications for how we experience the world - by Emily Thomas Read on Aeon

The Subtle Mysteries of Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother

“Matters of great concern should be treated lightly,” intones the eponymous hero of Jim Jarmusch’s sublime Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai , about a New York City hit man who has styled himself as a sort of time-warped expatriate of feudal Japan. He lives humbly among his

The Memo: Trump’s Insurrection Act threat roils waters amid Minneapolis tensions

President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act on Thursday, amid continued tension in Minneapolis in the days following the killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot and killed on Jan.

South Korea’s ‘Thor’ Speaker to visit Singapore, hopes to further solidify partnership

Mr Woo Won-shik will be here from Jan 18 to Jan 21 at the invitation of Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng.

Katie Pavlich feels ready to meet the moment

Author and longtime political commentator Katie Pavlich is gearing up to launch her own opinion show Monday night on NewsNation. “Katie Pavlich Tonight,” slated for the channel’s 10 p.m. hour, will focus on “culture, politics, [and] policy debates,” and its launch comes at a

How Trump’s Iran strike options are shaped by Venezuela buildup

President Trump’s strike options against Iran amid the nationwide protests are shaped by his massive military buildup in the Caribbean, which has ballooned since late last year and culminated in the U.S. special forces' capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. The

GOP senators try to talk Trump down from invoking Insurrection Act in Minneapolis

Republican senators are trying to put the brakes on talk of invoking the Insurrection Act to quell angry protests against immigration officers in Minneapolis after one fatally shot a 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Good. Invoking the law, which was last updated in 1874,

Elizabeth Warren Is Right About the Democrats’ Big Problem

Elizabeth Warren gave an excellent speech January 12 ( text ; video ) urging Democrats not to “to sand down our edges to avoid offending anyone, especially the rich and powerful who might finance our candidates…. When Democrats water down their economic platform to appeal to

Democrats escalate opposition to DHS funding in bid to rein in ICE

The fight over ICE is heating up. Democrats in both chambers are escalating their push to overhaul U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the fatal shooting of an unarmed woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. They’re doing so by vowing to oppose legislation