One sheriff who leads an anti-smuggling task force says the software helps “develop leads to eventually obtain probable cause.” Civil liberties experts say its use violates constitutional rights.

Former Refugee Camp rapper John Forté has died at the age of 50, marking a heartbreaking loss for hip-hop and the extended Fugees family. The Grammy-nominated rapper and producer passed away suddenly at his home in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Monday. Forté rose to prominence in the 1990s as a key member of the Refugee Camp All-Stars, the creative collective closely tied to the Fugees. His behind-the-scenes impact helped shape one of the most important eras in hip-hop, including production work on the Fugees’ landmark album "The Score." That body of work earned Forté a Grammy nomination and cemented his place in music history, even if his name often stayed outside the brightest spotlight. His life was also marked by deep struggle. In the early 2000s, Forté was convicted on cocaine-related charges and sentenced to prison. He ultimately served eight years before his sentence was commuted in 2008 by then US President George W Bush. Following his release, Forté spoke openly about redemption, creativity, and rebuilding his life through music and advocacy. Tributes began pouring in shortly after news of his death spread. Fugees founding member Wyclef Jean shared an emotional message on Instagram, writing, “This one hurts my brother John Forté has joined the Angels,” and adding, “Legends never Die … R I P my Refugee brother.” Forté leaves behind a legacy defined by brilliance, hardship, and lasting influence that continues to echo through hip-hop culture.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Wyclef Jean (@wyclefjean)

The agency is abandoning a longstanding policy to calculate the monetary savings in avoided deaths and disease from cutting certain pollutants.

Orsted A/S shares surged after a US judge ruled work can resume on a wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island while it challenges the government’s latest attempt to stop offshore projects from being built.

A US judge ruled Orsted A/S can resume development of a wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island while it challenges the government’s latest stop-work order, a major win for the Danish energy giant in an ongoing fight with the Trump administration over renewable energy.

Iranian student, 23, ‘shot dead’ in protests in Tehran

From child actor to "Sexiest Man Alive" leading man status, Jordan takes on Hollywood as director-producer and soon may win awards for his performance in Sinners.

Cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm after a notorious hacker, operating under the alias “Solonik,” posted a massive database containing the private information of approximately 17.5 million Instagram users. The breach, which surfaced on a dark web hacking forum earlier this week, is reportedly the result of an "API Leak" that took place in late 2024. This specific vulnerability allowed bad actors to bypass standard security measures and scrape user profiles on a global scale. The leaked data is formatted in JSON and TXT files, making it incredibly easy for cybercriminals to search and exploit. Unlike typical leaks that only include usernames, this dump is dangerously detailed. The compromised information includes: • Full Names and Usernames • Verified Email Addresses • Phone Numbers and User IDs • Country and Partial Location Data While the breach is classified as "scraping" rather than a direct hack into Meta’s core servers, the sheer volume of information suggests a major failure in Instagram’s privacy safeguards. This level of data allows scammers to build comprehensive profiles on victims, making "social engineering" attacks much more convincing. Already, numerous users have reported a surge in unsolicited password reset notifications, signaling that the data is being actively used for exploitation. The combination of exposed phone numbers and emails puts users at high risk for "SIM swapping" and sophisticated phishing scams where hackers pose as Instagram support. By using these personal details to build trust, scammers can trick victims into handing over two-factor authentication (2FA) codes or account credentials. As of January 10, 2026, Meta has not issued a formal statement regarding this specific 17.5 million record dump. To stay safe, cybersecurity researchers at Malwarebytes urge all Instagram users to take immediate action. Experts recommend moving away from SMS-based two-factor authentication and instead using an authenticator app. Users should also be on high alert for any unprompted emails or texts regarding their account security. 

For American CEOs, reaping the rewards of a Donald Trump presidency is a little more complicated the second time around, in an administration that increasingly pairs conventional conservative deregulation with populist state intervention in big business.

Experts note the blackout is unprecedented in its extent but also selective, allowing some government communications Iran’s internet shutdown, now in place for 36 hours as the authorities seek to quell escalating anti-government protests, represents a “new high-water mark” in terms of its sophistication and severity, say experts – and could last a long time. As the blackout kicked in, 90% of internet traffic to Iran evaporated. International calls to the country appeared blocked and domestic mobile phones had no service, said Amir Rashidi, an Iranian digital rights expert. Continue reading...

The use of an image of Trump on the 2026 pass — rather than the usual picture of nature — has sparked a backlash, sticker protests, and a lawsuit from a conservation group.

Trump team looking at West Wing expansion after East Wing demolition for ballroom

The hedge fund CEO in the process of buying Venezuelan oil refineries gave Republican causes $41.25 million dollars during the 2024 election cycle.

The use of an image of Trump on the 2026 pass — rather than the usual picture of nature — has sparked a backlash, sticker protests, and a lawsuit from a conservation group.