Hours later aboard Air Force One, President Trump hailed the flawless operation, which killed dozens of Maduro's guards and Cuban officers, and vowed U.S. control over Venezuela's oil to stabilize prices and fund elections. He invoked a revived 'Donroe Doctrine' to counter China, Russia, and Iran in the hemisphere, warned of strikes on misbehaving Venezuela and Colombia—calling its leader a 'sick man' tied to cocaine—and predicted Cuba's imminent collapse.

The clip from Petro's speech at a new public university inauguration resurfaced this week amid fresh U.S.-Colombia tensions, pulling in millions of views. Petro defended Colombian sovereignty against Rubio's accusations of drug ties, mocking U.S. prison garb with his 'orange pajamas' line while rejecting claims linked to Rubio's family history in Cuba. It gained steam after Trump's January 3, 2026, remarks calling Colombia 'very sick' and run by a cocaine seller, prompting Petro to deploy 11,000 troops to the Venezuelan border.

On January 3, U.S. special forces raided a Caracas military base, capturing Nicolás Maduro—who faces narco-terrorism charges—and killing around 80 people, including Cuban personnel. Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was swiftly sworn in as acting president by the Supreme Court, shifting from defiance to calls for U.S. dialogue. Trump, en route from Mar-a-Lago on January 4, stated the U.S. is 'in charge,' promising American oil firms would rebuild infrastructure and extract reserves without taxpayer funds, while Rubio clarified no day-to-day control but enforcement of embargoes for reforms. Opposition figures like Edmundo González claimed the presidency, as reactions ranged from cheers of support to cries of imperialism.

Berlin-based AI artist demonflyingfox created two surreal videos: one with Nicolas Maduro DJing as Trump dances near cheering crowds and pancake-labeled barrels, the other a longer remix to Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' featuring a bare-chested Trump shimmying through an oil facility. They surfaced right after Trump's January 3 announcement to oversee Venezuela's oil fields post-Maduro capture, inviting U.S. firms to invest billions under his 'drill, baby, drill' plan—a move experts see as a $100 billion gamble amid shaky infrastructure.

Trump flew back from his Mar-a-Lago holiday stay, landing late Sunday after Air Force One touched down at Joint Base Andrews. The trip followed a bold military operation with over 150 aircraft, cyber ops, and Delta Force that captured Maduro and his wife in Venezuela; they now face U.S. charges for narco-terrorism linked to drug trafficking. Officials like Marco Rubio hailed it as a strike against the opioid crisis, while Trump vowed U.S.

President Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. “has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela” and that President Maduro and his wife have been "captured and flown out of the country." NBC News' Peter Alexander and Richard Engel report.

The United States attacked Venezuela early Saturday morning. U.S. President Donald Trump says Venezuelan Pres. Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured during the raid. Trump called into FOX and Friends on Saturday to discuss the attack.

Attack helicopters swept over Caracas as Maduro was captured by U.S. Delta Force troops.

The influencer shared the clip from a luxury hotel on Instagram and X, captioning it with laughs about his sleepiness during what she called a tape. This follows her past drama with Offset, including a false pregnancy claim years ago where she said he offered $50,000 for an abortion. Reactions mixed shock, roasts on his choices amid his ongoing split from Cardi B, and jokes about why he keeps falling asleep around her, while she doubled down with more teases online.

President Trump announced the captures on Truth Social, stating the pair were flown out for U.S. justice on longstanding indictments for narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons charges tied to the Cartel de los Soles. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the action targeted Maduro's regime, first labeled illegitimate in 2020 amid elections and a humanitarian crisis.

On January 2, TraxNYC owner Maksud Agadjani confronted Akay Diamonds two booths away in NYC's Diamond District after they allegedly misrepresented a 14-karat white gold bracelet as genuine—tests showed it was only 10-karat, costing the buyer thousands. Agadjani, who refunded the $22,000 plus $1,000 out of pocket, filmed the heated exchange that turned into shoving, spitting, and a scuffle leaving neck marks; he went to the hospital by ambulance.

During a recent Instagram Live, Florida rapper Kodak Black got emotional remembering Jahseh Onfroy, aka XXXTentacion, who was fatally shot in 2018 at age 20 in Broward County. Kodak said he'd be happier if X were alive and joked that his 'rock star' pal would have ensured he met Zendaya, a crush he's had since at least 2020 with poems from prison and audition jokes.

During his December 29 '2 British Girlfriends for 1 Day' broadcast, 20-year-old streamer Frost, known for pranks and collabs with Kai Cenat and DDG, unveiled the unconventional romance with the synchronized-dance duo from TikTok. Viewers saw the trio interact closely, with prior content like gym sessions and mock honeymoons hinting at the setup, while Frost shaded Cenat's ex and whispered a pregnancy question to Renae.

The 23-year-old Twitch streamer posted on X that he's done with relationships after about a year with Gabrielle 'Gigi' Alayah, sparking unconfirmed gossip of her cheating with NBA YoungBoy. Gigi denied it on Instagram Story, insisting she left and never strayed, while DJ Akademiks rejected blame for the rumors. 6ix9ine, in colorful gear during a live chat, said Cenat deserves better, drawing mixed fan reactions from agreement to defenses of Gigi.

The video mimics a Sky News report from Chicago's Cook County Jail, claiming R. Kelly walked free after paying $168,053 in back child support tied to his sex abuse convictions. In reality, he's serving 30- and 20-year federal sentences at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina for racketeering, sex trafficking, child pornography, and enticement of minors, with release projected for December 2045.

The November 19 event at East Brooklyn Studios featured hundreds auditioning with raps, dances, and more, as captured in an 88-minute YouTube video released December 17. Chalamet, promoting his ping pong film Marty Supreme, joined comedian Druski, reacting hilariously to a voguing performer's poses with a simple 'Received.' 💅 and sharing a gospel sing-along moment. Twitch streamer Yonna's quick tap dance exit added to the unfiltered laughs, blending Chalamet's star power with Brooklyn's street comedy vibe.

Jake Paul shouts out Speed during his face-to-face with Anthony Joshua: “YouTubers run the world… look at Speed, look at MrBeast. We’re the new modern-day A-list celebrities.” 👀🔥

Despite the team's PR blocking the streamers from the facility and coach Sean McVay nixing a live collab to keep focus on Seahawks prep, Nacua linked up with them nearby for fun ahead of the must-win NFC West game. The second-year star joked that a recent Shabbat dinner fueled his hot streak, with over 1,400 receiving yards this season. Rams fans appreciate his personality while some urge focus on the short-week clash that could clinch a division title and playoff bye.

Cenat spoke candidly to fans about months of mental health challenges from self-doubt while pursuing big goals. Rakai, a teenage streamer in Cenat's circle, reacted by laughing through the video on his YouTube stream and questioning what mental health even means. The moment drew heavy criticism for insensitivity, especially given Cenat's role in boosting Rakai's career, though some saw it as typical streamer banter. Neither has addressed the backlash publicly.

Torrance McHe faced early-stage colon cancer, but insurance refused chemotherapy, allowing it to progress fatally, her sister Ashleigh shares in a December 16 video stamped with 'MEDICAL TREATMENT DENIED' over documents. The family, possibly in Minneapolis, cannot afford ongoing care and seeks prayers and donations amid heartbreak. Survivors recount similar denials when treatments fail to shrink tumors, spotlighting how insurers often cite lack of medical necessity, while federal law offers appeal options with varying success.

The 23-second video from a bustling Thai market stall shows the women laughing and posing playfully in form-fitting outfits while the tailor takes measurements in a hands-on style common for custom fits. Some recall similar affectionate touches from travels in places like Belize or Vietnam, seeing it as cultural curiosity over uncommon body types. Others highlight a moment when one tourist said 'no more spank' yet contact continued, stressing the need to respect personal boundaries abroad. No complaints or responses have come from the shop or visitors.

THIS JUST IN: New video shows Nick Reiner moments before his arrest and when he was taken into custody for the murders of his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer. Nick Reiner, 32, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, with the special circumstance of multiple murders, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Ashanti and Nelly were spotted out recently; they are happily married and still going strong after rekindling their relationship years later. ❤️ Ashanti and Nelly were spotted out recently; they are happily married and still going strong after rekindling their relationship years later. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NewI8YFUVu— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) December 16, 2025

Early Tuesday in Miami's Brickell, 28-year-old DeShawn Prendergast from the Bronx sped off in a stolen 2024 Ferrari Purosangue after police tried to pull him over. He lost control on Southwest Second Avenue, hitting the cruiser before smashing the pole and briefly knocking out power to a dozen customers. Officers quickly caught him after a short foot chase; he faced charges like grand theft auto and reckless driving, with no other injuries reported. The linked stolen Rolls-Royce was recovered nearby, and police are checking for a larger theft ring.

The Florida rapper, born Bill Kahan Kapri, argued in the clip that West and Central African kingdoms like Dahomey and Ashanti sold war prisoners to European traders from the 16th to 19th centuries. Historians note about 12.5 million Africans endured the brutal Middle Passage to meet European labor demands in the Americas. Critics called his phrasing insensitive to slavery's horrors like family separations and trauma, while some defended the historical point but stressed Europeans industrialized the system; Black, a 28-year-old pardoned by Trump in 2021, has not responded publicly.