Author: niyidaram

U.S. officials say Venezuelan security forces have detained at least five American citizens in recent months as Washington intensifies its pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. A U.S. official familiar with the cases told CNN the circumstances differ in each detention, with some of the individuals possibly involved in drug smuggling. Officials are still working to verify what the Americans were doing in Venezuela and the details surrounding their arrests. Trump administration officials believe Maduro’s government is holding the detainees to gain leverage over the United States as tensions rise. Recent U.S. actions have included strikes on drug-trafficking boats, a…

Victoria Jones, the daughter of Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones and his first wife, Kimberlea Cloughley, was found dead early New Year’s Day at the Fairmont San Francisco hotel. She was 34. Police said officers responded to a medical emergency call at about 3:14 a.m. Thursday. According to the San Francisco Fire Department, bystanders attempted CPR under emergency instruction, but paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner is investigating the cause of death. Jones acted as a child and young adult, appearing with her father in Men in Black II, as well as in One Tree Hill…

Will Smith is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in Los Angeles just before the New Year by professional violinist and former America’s Got Talent finalist Brian King Joseph, according to Fox News. The complaint accuses the actor and musician of grooming and harassing Joseph during Smith’s 2025 music tour. Court filings state the two first connected after a December 2024 performance, with the relationship later extending into Smith’s “Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour.” Joseph claims the interactions became increasingly personal, alleging Smith told him they shared a “special connection.” Joseph further alleges that while on tour in…

Two people died in separate fireworks incidents during a chaotic New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands. A 17-year-old boy from Nijmegen and a 38-year-old man from Aalsmeer were killed, and at least three others were seriously injured. Police said one person has been arrested in connection with the teenager’s death. No further details have been released. In Amsterdam, a major fire broke out at the historic Vondelkerk church, built in 1872 and popular with visitors. The 50-metre tower collapsed and the roof suffered heavy damage, but authorities said the main structure is expected to remain standing. Video recorded by bystanders…

FC Metz defender Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, has been severely injured in the catastrophic nightclub blaze that tore through Le Constellation in Crans-Montana during New Year’s celebrations. The French footballer was airlifted by helicopter to a specialist hospital in Germany after sustaining serious burns. Dos Santos was on holiday in the Swiss Alps with friends when the fire broke out at around 1:30 a.m. local time. Witnesses said a sparkler attached to a champagne bottle ignited the venue’s low wooden ceiling in the basement bar, triggering a rapid flashover as flames spread across combustible materials. The result was a fast-moving…

I remember following my boyfriend to his village to greet his great grandmother last year. The woman was 105 years old as at then so Iremide wanted us to celebrate with her before she died. We planned for three days and left. We got there very late in the night and even my boyfriend’s car stopped working at some point. Already in the village, the engine just died. We had to walk the rest of the way to his family compound in the dark. When we finally arrived, his great grandmother was still awake. The moment she saw us, her…

Zohran Mamdani has officially assumed office as mayor of New York City, taking the oath just after midnight on January 1, 2026, in a symbolic ceremony held at the decommissioned City Hall subway station in Manhattan. He becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first mayor of South Asian descent, and one of its youngest leaders in generations. He placed his hand on a Quran while being sworn in, underscoring the city’s religious and cultural diversity. The oath was administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. A larger public inauguration ceremony and celebration are planned for later in…

Chelsea have taken the decision to part ways with head coach Enzo Maresca. Maresca leaves Stamford Bridge due to growin tensions between him and senior officials at the Premier League club. He is now expected to be replaced by Strasbourg manager, Liam Rosenior. Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, wrote on X: “Chelsea will appoint new manager very soon, not gonna take weeks or long time. The club is now working on it. “Liam Rosenior, highly rated internally after excellent job at Strasbourg as he’s among contenders. “Decision to be made in days, won’t take long.”

The bodies of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, close friends of boxer Anthony Joshua, have been flown out of Nigeria for burial after they died in a fatal car crash on December 29. The pair were travelling with Joshua along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway near Makun, Ogun State, when the Lexus SUV they were in struck a stationary truck. Ghami and Ayodele died at the scene. Joshua sustained injuries but survived. Both men had travelled to Nigeria to spend Christmas with Joshua before the crash ended the trip. Joshua was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, December 31. Authorities have since…

Ghana’s police have arrested self-proclaimed prophet Evans Eshun, also known as Ebo Noah, after he predicted a worldwide flood would occur on December 25, 2025, prompting fear and confusion among the public. Police confirmed the arrest in a statement published Wednesday, saying Eshun was detained by the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Cyber Vetting Team as part of wider monitoring of online activity ahead of 31 December religious services. Authorities have recently warned against public prophecies that could cause panic or disorder, especially during end-of-year church gatherings. Police did not give detailed information about the specific allegations under investigation but said…