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Sean McDermott out as Buffalo Bills head coach, reports say

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Sean McDermott out as Buffalo Bills head coach, reports say

The Buffalo Bills fired coach Sean McDermott on Monday, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic.

NBC News has not independently confirmed the reports and the team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

McDermott led the Bills for nine seasons without ever reaching the Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos defeated the Bills 33-30 in overtime Saturday in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

The loss was the latest in a series of devastatingly close defeats in recent seasons for a franchise that has a long history of heartbreak. Including Saturday’s loss, four of the Bills’ last five playoff losses have come in one-score games, including two in overtime. The combined margin of defeat in those four losses is only 15 points.

In recent seasons, the Bills and MVP quarterback Josh Allen have been tormented by the Kansas City Chiefs and their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Daniel Arkin is a senior reporter at NBC News.

Union Budget 2026–27: Experts Call For Focus On Ease Of Doing Business

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Union Budget 2026–27: Experts Call For Focus On Ease Of Doing Business

New Delhi: With less than two weeks left for the presentation of the Union Budget 2026–27, experts on Monday believe the government should focus strongly on improving ease of doing business and expanding opportunities for women across sectors. 

Speaking to IANS, tax expert Manmohan Srivastava Kaju said the government had provided significant relief to taxpayers in the previous budget by increasing the income tax exemption limit to Rs 12 lakh.

“The introduction of GST 2.0, under which tax slabs were reduced to two, was also a positive step,” he added.

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Looking ahead to the upcoming budget, the expert said the government should prioritise measures that make business operations simpler and more efficient.

“Traders currently face several issues on the GST portal, which often create compliance-related challenges,” he noted.

Citing an example, he said many notices are now issued only through the GST portal. As a result, a large number of traders fail to check them regularly, which sometimes leads to higher tax payments or penalties.

“The government should consider restarting physical communication alongside digital notices to avoid such problems,” he mentioned.

The Union Budget 2026–27 will be presented in Parliament on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

This will be the ninth consecutive budget presented by Sitharaman. She has already created a record by delivering the highest number of consecutive budgets after C.D. Deshmukh, who presented seven budgets in a row.

If she presents the budget for the financial year 2028 as well, she will equal the record of late Morarji Desai, who presented a total of 10 budgets across two tenures between 1959–1964 and 1967–1969.

FM Sitharaman was appointed India’s first full-time woman finance minister in 2019 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term.

Finance Minister Sitharaman continued to hold the finance portfolio after the Modi-led government secured a third consecutive term in 2024.

 

 

Chevy Chase shares disappointment after ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ snub

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Chevy Chase shares disappointment after

Chevy Chase shares disappointment after ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ snub

Chevy Chase is reportedly feeling hurt, as he was not included in SNL50: The Anniversary Special.

Sharing his thoughts in the CNN Films documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, the 82-year-old American comedian and actor said, “It was kind of upsetting actually.”

He added, “I expected that I would’ve been on the stage too with all the other actors. When Garrett [Morris] and Laraine [Newman] went on the stage there. I was curious as to why I didn’t. No one asked me to. Why was I left aside?”

“Why was Bill Murray [on the Weekend Update segment] and why was I not? I don’t have an answer for that,” Chase asked.

Notably, the Vegas Vacation star was not invited to perform even though he was there at the taping of SNL50: The Anniversary Special.

He texted Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, just to ask why he was not included but he then retracted his “complaint,” calling it silly.

The Three Amigos star shared, “I did bring it up once in a text to Lorne and then took it back,” Chase admitted.

“I said, ‘Okay, I take it back, silly.’ But it’s not that silly. Somebody’s made a bad mistake there. I don’t know who it was, but somebody made a mistake. They should’ve had me on that stage. It hurt,” Chevy Chase explained.

Samuel L. Jackson’s old movie found new life: Here’s how

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Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson’s ‘S.W.A.T.’ trends among the top 5 films on Tubi

In 2003, Samuel L. Jackson appeared on the big screen as Sgt Dan “Hondo” Harrelson in the action crime thriller S.W.A.T.

The film was an adaptation of the Aaron Spelling TV series of the same name, which aired in 1975. Despite the movie being more than two decades old, it has found a new life.

It’s on Tubi, a free streaming platform, and has reached the top 4 of the trending movies on the streamer.

Samuel L. Jackson and Collin Farell
 Samuel L. Jackson and Collin Farell

In addition to Samuel, S.W.A.T. starred Collin Farrell, Jeremy Renner, and Michele Rodriguez. Produced on a $70 million budget, the movie grossed $207 million.

Given the profitability, the makers greenlit two sequels, S.W.A.T.: Firefight (2011) and S.W.A.T.: Under Siege (2017), but neither features the original cast.

Later in 2017, S.W.A.T. returned to its original roots, the television. Tapping Shemar Moore in the lead, CBS aired the reboot in 2017, which ran for eight seasons.

Further, reports recently said, a spin-off titled S.W.A.T.: Exiles is also in the works.

Australian boy fighting for life after shark attack, rescued by friends in Sydney Harbor waters

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Australian boy fighting for life after shark attack, rescued by friends in Sydney Harbor waters

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A 12-year-old Australian boy was fighting for his life after suffering catastrophic injuries in a shark attack in Sydney Harbor, surviving only because his friends leaped from a cliff and dragged him back to shore, authorities said.

The attack happened around 4:20 p.m. Sunday after the boy jumped from a 20-foot ledge known as Jump Rock near Shark Beach in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, police said in a statement. Police said the boy suffered severe injuries to both legs from what is believed to have been “a large shark.”

His three friends immediately jumped into the water and pulled him to shore, actions authorities said likely saved his life.

“The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave,” said Superintendent Joseph McNulty of the New South Wales Police Marine Area Command, calling the injuries “very confronting” for the young rescuers to witness.

MINNESOTA WOMAN KILLED IN US VIRGIN ISLANDS SHARK ATTACK

A ferry sails past a closed beach at Vaucluse in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, a day after a boy was attacked by a shark. (Sitthixay Ditthavong/AAP Image via AP)

Local media reports said the boy lost both legs in the attack.

“He is in for the fight of his life now, and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance,” McNulty said.

Sydney Harbour shark netting on beach

A net runs into Sydney Harbor at a closed beach at Vaucluse in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (Sitthixay Ditthavong/AAP Image via AP)

The attack was one of three shark encounters reported in the Sydney area in just over 24 hours.

SURFER SAYS SHARK ATTACK FELT ‘LIKE BEING HIT BY A CAR’ AS BOARD BITTEN IN HALF: REPORTS

On Monday evening, a surfer in his 20s was bitten on the leg by a shark off North Steyne Beach in the northern suburb of Manly. Bystanders pulled him from the water, and he was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

Earlier Monday, an 11-year-old boy escaped unharmed after a shark bit into his surfboard at Dee Why Beach, also north of Manly.

A female bull shark

Authorities believe bull sharks, like the one pictured above, may have been responsible for at least two of the shark attacks. Police said the 12-year-old boy’s injuries were consistent with those from “a very large shark.” (Luis Javier Sandoval/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, File)

Authorities believe bull sharks may be responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police said recent heavy rainfall had increased murky freshwater runoff into Sydney Harbor, conditions known to heighten bull shark activity.

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Sydney’s northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, remained closed as a precaution. All three locations have shark netting, though officials said it was not immediately clear whether the attacks occurred near those barriers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

What it really takes to get a Schengen Visa the first time: A first-hand account | – The Times of India

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What it really takes to get a Schengen Visa the first time: A first-hand account | - The Times of India

A Schengen visa is a short-stay permit that allows travel across 29 European countries without internal border checks, for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It is typically issued for tourism, business, or family visits. Applicants must apply through the embassy or consulate of their main destination and submit documents such as a valid passport, photographs, and proof of funds and travel insurance. While the visa allows free movement within the Schengen Area, final entry is always subject to checks by border authorities. Here’s how this traveller got his Schengen visa approved, as per his post he shared on reddit.So when three friends, two of whom had never travelled abroad, submitted their first-ever Schengen visa applications earlier this year, they were not that optimistic about it.

schengen

They applied through Switzerland, booking their VFS appointment in Delhi for January 9. Among them, only one applicant had international travel credentials: a valid US visa and previous Schengen travel. The other two had no stamps, no history, no precedent. What they did have, however, were stable jobs at well-known companies, carefully prepared documentation, and a clear plan.Still, doubts do linger when it comes to visa approvals. One of the applicants had switched jobs barely a month earlier, and had an average bank balance of around INR 1.5 lakh. It was reasonable, but not extravagant. They didn’t opt for any short cuts, had all the documents in place, no-objection certificates from employers, employment verification letters, salary slips, income tax returns, and detailed financial statements, all of which were submitted exactly as the checklist demanded.Then came the waiting.For first-time applicants, the time between submission and decision can feel endless. Each passing day feeds the worry that a missing detail or a misunderstood number could undo weeks of preparation. The applicant later wrote, the waiting period was “quite anxiety-inducing,”especially with limited travel history and a recent job change in the mix.When the approval finally came, they were all relieved. All three visas were granted.

travel

The post struck a chord online almost immediately. Questions poured in from others standing at the same threshold. How long was the visa valid? Was it single-entry or multiple-entry? The answer: first-time applicants received a single-entry visa valid for 30 days, while repeat applicants could expect multiple entries and up to 90 days.Others wanted to know if they applied as a family, how much money was enough to show, were fixed deposits and mutual funds required, and more. As per his response. a savings balance of roughly INR 10,000 per person per day was generally sufficient. What mattered more was consistency, steady balances over time rather than last-minute infusions. Bank statements, payslips, and ITRs were key. Investment proofs, while not mandatory anymore, could still be carried as backup.There was also confusion around routes and rules, common among first-time applicants. If Switzerland was the first point of entry, did the visa allow travel elsewhere? Yes, the itinerary included five days in Switzerland, followed by four days split between France and Spain, all clearly mentioned in the application. Once admitted through Switzerland, travel across Schengen states was permitted.

schengen

Some asked whether an agent had been used. The answer was: yes, but an inexpensive one. Dummy flight tickets were booked through the agent and would be changed later, an open secret in visa applications, handled cautiously but transparently. Hotel plans, internal travel, and daily itineraries were all documented.One of them asked if the NOC was enough, or was a separate employment verification letter required? He said an NOC confirms permission to travel. An employment verification letter confirms your role, tenure, and employment status, often downloadable directly from HR systems. They serve different purposes, and both help establish intent to return.The post assures that if your documents are clean, your employment is stable, your finances make sense, and your intent is clearly explained, lack of travel history alone does not doom an application.

Access Denied

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Access Denied


Access Denied

You don’t have permission to access “http://food.ndtv.com/health/monk-fruit-vs-stevia-which-sweetener-is-better-for-weight-loss-diet-10785812” on this server.

Reference #18.2cf61002.1768854446.14570785

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.2cf61002.1768854446.14570785

Why ‘Blue Monday’ isn’t real

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Why 'Blue Monday' isn't real

How the third Monday of January came to be known as the most depressing day of the year.

Alexa.com brings Alexa+ to your browser

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Alexa.com brings Alexa+ to your browser

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For years, Alexa mostly stayed in one place. It lived on kitchen counters, nightstands or living room shelves. That setup worked for music and timers, but it also limited when and how people could actually use the assistant. Now that is changing.

Amazon has rolled out Alexa.com, which brings Alexa+ directly to your web browser for Early Access users. Instead of relying on a speaker or phone, you can now open a laptop and start using Alexa like any other web-based AI tool.

This shift is less about new tricks and more about access. Alexa can now follow you throughout your day instead of waiting for you at home.

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CHATGPT HEALTH PROMISES PRIVACY FOR HEALTH CONVERSATIONS

Amazon’s Alexa is no longer tied to a smart speaker, with Alexa.com bringing the assistant and Alexa+ directly to the web browser for Early Access users. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

What Alexa.com actually is

Alexa.com is the browser-based version of Alexa+. You can type questions, explore topics, plan trips, organize tasks, or create content without touching a smart speaker. The biggest difference is continuity. Alexa keeps context across devices, so conversations carry over whether you are on your laptop, phone, Echo, or Fire TV. You do not have to repeat yourself every time you switch screens. That makes Alexa feel less like a command tool and more like an assistant that remembers what you are working on.

Who can use Alexa.com right now

Alexa.com is not open to everyone yet. To use it, you need:

  • Alexa+ Early Access
  • An Amazon account linked to a compatible Echo, Fire TV, or Fire tablet
  • A US-based Amazon account
  • Device language set to English, United States

Child profiles are not supported on the browser version. Older Echo devices will continue using the original Alexa.

What Alexa.com cannot do yet

Because Alexa.com is still in Early Access, it has limits that matter for everyday users. Right now:

  • You can only type to Alexa in your browser
  • Voice interaction is not supported on the web
  • Music playback is not available
  • Smart home controls are limited compared to Echo devices

Amazon says features will roll out gradually. Alexa.com is meant to complement your devices, not fully replace them yet.

Meal planning without juggling tabs

One area where Alexa.com feels genuinely useful is meal planning. You can ask Alexa for a full week of meals and set preferences like high protein, low sugar, or kid-friendly lunches. Alexa generates a plan and turns it into a shopping list. From there, items can be added directly to Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. Instead of bouncing between recipes, notes and carts, everything happens in one place.

Organizing everyday life in one place

Alexa.com also works as a lightweight life organizer. You can upload documents, emails and images so Alexa can pull out key details. That includes appointments, reminders and schedules you would otherwise forget. Instead of searching your inbox, you can ask Alexa when the dog last went to the vet or what time practice starts tonight. The information stays available across devices.

Smart home access, with limits

Alexa.com keeps your smart home controls visible next to your chat window. While full smart home control is still limited in the browser, Alexa.com lets you check status, review activity and continue actions on your Echo or Fire TV devices. It is most useful as a bridge. You can start something in the browser and finish it at home without starting over.

Recipes that follow you into the kitchen

Alexa.com also simplifies cooking. If you find a recipe online, you can paste the link into Alexa and ask it to adjust for dietary needs. Alexa can save it, convert it into ingredients and add everything to your shopping list. When it is time to cook, Alexa can pull the recipe up on your Echo Show, guide you step by step and manage timers so your hands stay free.

5 TECH TERMS THAT SHAPE YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY

Amazon echo speakers lined up on the counter.

Alexa.com lets users type questions, plan trips, organize tasks and create content without relying on an Echo or smartphone. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Finding something to watch faster

Decision fatigue hits hard at night. On Alexa.com, you can explore movie themes, get recommendations and save picks for later. When you sit down, Alexa remembers your choices and sends them to your Fire TV. That cuts down on scrolling and family debates.

What about privacy

Using Alexa on the web raises natural privacy questions. Amazon says Alexa+ includes built-in protections and user controls. Still, it is worth taking a minute to review your settings, especially if you plan to upload documents or personal information. A few smart habits can help:

  • Check your Alexa privacy settings and review stored activity
  • Avoid uploading sensitive documents like IDs or medical records
  • Use strong antivirus software to protect your device. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

As with any AI assistant, convenience comes with trade-offs. Staying aware helps you stay in control.

How much Alexa+ will cost

Alexa+ is free during Early Access. When Early Access ends, you will not be automatically charged. After that:

  • Alexa+ stays free with a Prime membership
  • Non-Prime users can subscribe for $19.99 per month

This makes Alexa.com more appealing for Prime members and a tougher sell for everyone else.

What this means to you

For most people, Alexa.com is about convenience. If you already use Alexa at home, the web version makes it easier to use during the day. You can plan, organize, or look things up from your computer and then pick up later on your phone or Echo. It also puts Alexa in the same category as other browser-based AI tools, but with deeper ties to shopping, smart home features and entertainment. Whether you stick with it will likely come down to how often you want Alexa to help you during your day.
 

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YOU CAN FINALLY CHANGE YOUR GMAIL ADDRESS WITHOUT LOSING DATA

Display of Amazon products.

Amazon says Alexa.com allows conversations to carry over across devices, giving users continuity between laptops, phones and smart home screens. (Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Alexa.com does not reinvent Alexa. It simply makes it easier to use where people already spend time. By bringing Alexa+ to the browser, Amazon is betting that continuity matters more than novelty. For some users, that will be enough to make Alexa feel relevant again.

If Alexa followed you from your laptop to your living room, would you actually rely on it more, or would it still feel optional? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Treasury, opposition agree on Nasir Abbas as Senate opposition leader

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Treasury, opposition agree on Nasir Abbas as Senate opposition leader

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. — X@AllamaRajaNasir/File
  • Govt, oppostion senators discuss matter in Senate, says Tarar. 
  • Zafar also wrote to Senate chairman about opposition leader.
  • Says vacant post raising questions about parliamentary system.

The treasury and opposition benches have agreed on the name of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as leader of the opposition in the Senate, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Ali Zafar said on Monday.

This development came a week after Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai was appointed leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

Talking to the media, the PTI leader said Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and senators from the treasury and opposition benches had consulted on the appointment of the leader of the opposition in the Senate.

Confirming the development, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the MWM chief — an ally of the PTI — would be the opposition leader in the Senate, adding that a notification in this regard was being issued.

The post has been lying vacant since August last year, when then-opposition leader in the upper house of the parliament Shibli Faraz was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following his conviction in cases related to riots on May 9, 2023.

The PTI parliamentary leader in the Senate, earlier, penned a letter to the Senate chairman, urging the appointment of a leader of the opposition in the upper house of the parliament.

The PTI leader told the Senate chairman that his party has nominated MWM chief for the post and urged that he be appointed as the opposition leader in the Senate without any delay.

Zafar said the office of the opposition leader was crucial in a parliamentary democracy, adding that the position was essential for effective governance, constitutional oversight and transparency in the parliamentary system.

The vacant post of leader of the opposition in the Senate is raising questions about the parliamentary system, the PTI leader added.

He noted that without a leader of the opposition, the House remained institutionally incomplete.

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