The United States will not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela, secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Sunday, clarifying President Donald Trump’s earlier comments that US would “run” the country following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.Rubio said the US would continue to enforce an existing “oil quarantine” on sanctioned Venezuelan tankers and use that leverage to press for policy changes, reports the Associated Press. The comments appeared intended to reassure that the US would not become directly involved in governing Venezuela.“They will continue enforcing the oil blockade, which was already in place, and use it to press for policy changes in Venezuela,” Rubio said.Trump had earlier said that the US would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be ensured. He said that American oil companies would fix Venezuela’s “badly broken infrastructure” and start generating income for the country.The comments followed an intense US operation on Saturday that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Maduro and Flores were removed from Caracas by US forces, flown aboard the USS Iwo Jima in the Caribbean, and later transported to New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.The pair face charges in the Southern District of New York, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.Maduro has consistently denied being a cartel leader and accused the US of using its “war on drugs” as an excuse to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, which amount to around 303 billion barrels of crude, nearly 20 per cent of the world’s total, according to the US Energy Information Administration.Despite Trump’s claims of running the country, the administration has still not decided on what form US management or any kind of regime change would take. “We’re going to be running it with a group, and we’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” he said.Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has since been sworn in as interim president by the Venezuelan Supreme Court and said she would do “whatever the US asks.” However, Rodríguez also called Maduro the “only one president in Venezuela” on state television.The ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ involved explosions around Caracas and targeted strikes on military bases. US aircraft flew over the city for more than two hours as special forces entered Maduro’s safe house to remove him.

PANAJI: Around 30,000 Goans have surrendered their Indian passports in the last decade to acquire foreign nationality, including of Portugal, Goa’s former colonial ruler.Now, their parents are facing scrutiny from EC under SIR of the electoral rolls, as they too have registered their birth in Portugal.If a child is born after the Liberation of Goa on Dec 19, 1961, and wants Portuguese nationality, parents, if born before 1961, must register birth and marriage in Portugal to allow their children to register their birth there and get a Portuguese passport.Since 2014, according to data submitted to EC for scrutiny under SIR, 29,831 Goans have surrendered their Indian passports.“We will verify all those who acquired Portuguese and other foreign passports, and whose names still feature on electoral rolls. After that, we will seek advice from the law department on those who registered their birth in Portugal and did not obtain a Portuguese passport, and take a call,” chief electoral officer Sanjay Goel told TOI. Goel said they got data from passport office and home department on those who acquired foreign nationalities.“Over 8,000 names of those who surrendered their Indian passports and acquired foreign nationality, including Portuguese, in last five years were submitted to EC,” Regional Passport Office Goa head Nijo Varghese said. Several of those who have registered their births in Portugal, including politicians, police personnel and bureaucrats, also obtained a Portuguese passport or ID card, which were seen as tickets to working in Europe.In 2014, Pramod Sawant, currently Goa CM, had urged Union govt to grant amnesty to Goans to cancel Portuguese identity cards, so they could retain Indian citizenship. “The sole intention of these people was to secure a chance of getting their children Portuguese passports and benefits that come with it,” he said.Goel said such names would be verified and they would be issued suo motu notices. He said if they did not fill in enumeration forms and their names did not feature in the draft rolls published Dec 16, they would not be issued notice.

Taylor Swift is reportedly terriefied because of Travis Kelce.(Image via Backgrid)

Whenever the Kansas City Chiefs take the field, one question somehow always pops up online before kickoff: Is Taylor Swift going to be there? With the Chiefs set to face the Raiders, fans are once again refreshing timelines, tracking private jets, and overanalyzing every rumor tied to Travis Kelce’s biggest supporter. The matchup could mark the final NFL game of Travis Kelce’s 2025 season and possibly the end of his legendary career if he chooses to retire, making Swift’s potential attendance a bigger storyline than usual. So, what is confirmed and what’s just buzz? Here’s the latest.

What’s actually confirmed about Taylor Swift’s attendance

Here’s the important part: there is no official confirmation that Taylor Swift will be at the Chiefs-Raiders game. No statement has been made by her team, the Chiefs, or anyone directly connected to the situation. As of now, there have also been no verified sightings or confirmed reports from credible outlets saying she’s attending.Swift’s name has become a fixture in Chiefs coverage especially at Patriots and Chargers games where she’s appeared in the past and every time Travis Kelce takes the field, alternate timelines of fan speculation start trending. Now, because this Week 18 game may represent Kelce’s last opportunity to play in a regular-season finale, fans online are especially keen to see Swift in the stands. The emotional backdrop is feeding more online theories and increased search traffic as kickoff approaches.The idea isn’t rooted in a confirmed schedule, it’s rooted in pattern recognition (Swift supports Kelce when she can) plus heightened stakes (a possible final game of his career). Rumors and fan theories are spreading on social platforms, with supporters imagining what it would mean for Swift to attend what might be a farewell moment in his NFL journey. Even without the Taylor Swift factor, Chiefs vs. Raiders always draws attention. The rivalry brings extra intensity, and every late-season matchup carries weight for the Chiefs and their postseason momentum. Travis Kelce remains a focal point on offense, and his performances naturally keep him and his personal life in the spotlight.Whether or not Kelce retires this offseason, the emotional undertone around this game is palpable. It frames not just his potential final performance but why fans are curious about every detail including the possible presence of Swift.Also read – Hailee Steinfeld shares new pregnancy photos, shows baby bump and ‘Baby Beau’ onesie

NEW DELHI: A day after Congress announced that the nationwide ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ will be conducted from Jan 8 to Feb 25, rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called the opposition party’s campaign a ‘Bhrashtachaar Bachao Sangram’ and accused Congress of spreading misinformation and falsehoods on Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.Addressing a press conference in the capital, Chouhan alleged that corruption was rampant in MGNREGA and claimed that ‘VB-G RAM G’ scheme is better and several steps ahead of MGNREGA. “MGNREGA had ceased to be a symbol of honest employment. More than 1.091 million complaints were registered through social audits conducted in gram sabhas,” he pointed out.The minister highlighted that contractors were carrying out work in the name of labourers, wages were withdrawn by showing machine-based work and the same roads were shown as ‘new’ year-after-year. He also highlighted that around 30% of workers were above 60; instances of 80-year-old “labourers” and fake attendance records were also found.“Over Rs 8.48 lakh crore has been spent on rural development so far under Modi govt, compared to only Rs 2 lakh crore during UPA regime,” Chouhan said. He also questioned if permanent assets were created in villages and the lives of villagers and workers truly improved because of money spent by the earlier regime.Chouhan said ‘VB-G RAM G’ is a “corruption-free, technology-driven and worker-centric reform”. The focus now will be on concrete development works such as water conservation, roads, schools, hospitals and natural disaster management. He said this is not the time for agitation but for cooperation and “Congress should stop misleading the nation and spreading falsehoods”.Meanwhile, Congress on Sunday announced the setting up of a coordination committee to “oversee, guide and monitor implementation of ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’, with senior party functionary Ajay Maken as its convenor. The nationwide campaign will demand withdrawal of VB G RAM G Act, restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law, and right to work and empowerment of panchayats. Senior Congress functionaries Jairam Ramesh, Sandeep Dikshit, Udit Raj and Priyank Kharge are members of the panel constituted by party president Malikarjun Kharge.

Sophie Cunningham vs Caitlin Clark’s net worth.(Image via David Butler II, Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Sophie Cunningham, the popular Indiana Fever’s star player, has become a household name due to her talent and skills. She is often compared to Caitlin Clark, her 23 year old teammate, as their bond has impressed fans over the years.Both the young WNBA stars have achieved a lot in their lives and have built a massive fortune for themselves and their families.

Sophie Cunningham’s Net Worth in 2025

As per Celebrity Net Worth, Sophia Cunningham has an impressive net worth that is estimated to be approximately $2 million.In 2025, the 29 year old Indiana Fever’s star player earned a whopping $100,000 as her salary.In 2023-24, Sophie Cunningham signed a one year extension with the team which amounted to $304,500. As per reports, her total earnings from the league are estimated to amount a whopping $637,780.Apart from her earnings from the league, Sophie Cunningham is also associated with popular brands, including Ring Home Security Cameras, Sun Cruiser, Adidas and more.

Caitlin Clark’s Net Worth in 2025

As per Celebrity Net Worth, Caitlin Clark’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million, which she has built over the years through her own effort.According to Spotrac, Caitlin Clark’s base salary from the Indiana Fever amounts to $78,066.Caitlin Clark’s four year deal with the Indiana Fever amounts to $338,056, as she is all set to be paid $85,873 in 2026 and approximately $97,582 next year.The Indiana Fever’s star player has also endorsed popular brands, including Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, Gainbridge and more.As per reports, Caitlin Clark’s total earnings from the endorsements have amounted to $11 million, as she gets paid a whopping $3 million per year because of her partnership with Nike.

Sophie Cunningham’s Net Worth vs Caitlin Clark’s Net Worth

Though Caitlin Clark has a significantly higher net worth than her Indiana Fever teammate, Sophie Cunningham, her WNBA earnings are significantly lower.

However, despite the difference in their net worths, both Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark are two of the most talented players in the league as they enjoy a massive fan following.Also Read: Angel Reese and Wendell Carter Jr.’s combined net worth 2025: Exploring the power couple’s earnings, endorsements and lavish lifestyle

US Vice President JD Vance (AP)

US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday defended Washington’s decision to launch military action against Venezuela, saying the country has long been linked to drug trafficking and has used seized American oil assets to support what he described as “narcoterrorist activities.”His comments followed a “large-scale strike against Venezuela” carried out by the United States on Saturday. During the operation, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained in Caracas and transported out of the country as part of a coordinated effort involving US intelligence services and law enforcement agencies.

Rejecting arguments suggesting Venezuela plays little role in the global drug trade, Vance, in a post on X, said cocaine trafficking continues to be a key financial pillar for Latin American drug cartels.“You see a lot of claims that Venezuela has nothing to do with drugs because most of the fentanyl comes from elsewhere. First off, fentanyl isn’t the only drug in the world, and there is still fentanyl coming from Venezuela, or at least there was,” Vance wrote.“Second, cocaine, which is the main drug trafficked out of Venezuela, is a profit center for all of the Latin America cartels. If you cut out the money from cocaine (or even reduce it), you substantially weaken the cartels overall. Also, cocaine is bad too!” the post added.He also addressed concerns related to fentanyl trafficking from Mexico, saying the issue remains a priority for Washington.“A lot of fentanyl is coming out of Mexico. That continues to be a focus of our policy in Mexico and is a reason why President Trump shut the border on day one,” Vance said.Responding to criticism that oil interests drove the US operation, Vance pointed to Venezuela’s past nationalisation of American-owned energy assets.“About 20 years ago, Venezuela expropriated American oil property and until recently used that stolen property to get rich and fund their narcoterrorist activities,” he said.Vance acknowledged concerns over the use of military force but argued that a decisive approach was necessary.“Are we just supposed to allow a communist to steal our stuff in our hemisphere and do nothing? Great powers don’t act like that,” he said, adding that under President Donald Trump’s leadership, “the United States is a great power again.”Following the operation on Saturday, President Trump said Maduro and Flores have been charged in the Southern District of New York with alleged “drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies” and will stand trial in the United States.He said Washington would temporarily take control of Venezuela during a transition period. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition. We want peace, justice and liberty for the great people of Venezuela,” Trump said.Trump added that the operation was intended to bring “outlaw dictator Nicolas Maduro to justice” and said US companies would work to repair Venezuela’s damaged oil infrastructure.

India’s retail inflation likely edged higher in December 2025 to 1.66 per cent from 0.71 per cent in November, driven by a strengthening in food prices across most segments, according to projections by Union Bank of India.The official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for December is scheduled to be released on January 12, 2026, or the next working day if the date is a holiday.Despite the sequential rise, inflation is expected to remain well below the 5.2 per cent recorded in December 2024, even as the favourable base effect starts to fade, the bank said. Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel, is projected to rise to 4.68 per cent, largely due to a renewed rally in gold prices during December, reported news agency ANI.Food inflation is likely to stay in negative territory, though less so than in November. “We expect food CPI to print -1.19% as against -2.78% last month and a high base of 7.7% last Dec,” the Union Bank of India report said, noting that month-on-month food prices increased across most categories except a few segments such as milk. The assessment is based on on-the-ground prices collected by the Department of Consumer Affairs.According to the report, tomatoes recorded the sharpest price gains, as early winter boosted demand while October rains disrupted supply. The bank cautioned that while food inflation is expected to remain largely negative in the third quarter of FY26, there are upside risks from unseasonal winter rains and potential supply chain disruptions.With inflation largely under control, the Reserve Bank of India in December cut its CPI inflation forecast for 2025-26 to 2.0 per cent from 2.6 per cent earlier. Quarterly projections place inflation at 0.6 per cent in Q3 and 2.9 per cent in Q4, before rising to 3.9 per cent in Q1 of 2026-27 and 4.0 per cent in Q2, still within the RBI’s target range.RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra described the current macroeconomic situation as a “rare goldilocks period” of strong growth and very low inflation, ANI reported. His remarks followed the central bank’s decision to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in December, with nearly 80 per cent of the CPI basket showing inflation below 4 per cent, indicating broad-based easing.

The United States is not at war with Venezuela, but against the drug trafficking organisation, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Saturday. Rubio is speaking to several US media outlets after the US launched an operation and removed the oil-rich country’s president, Nicolas Maduro. He has been on NBC, where he was asked if the US is at war with Venezuela.“That’s not a war,” he said.“I mean we are at war against drug trafficking organisations. That’s not a war against Venezuela.”He says the seizing of boats “bringing drugs toward the United States” will continue.

‘Expect to see changes in Venezuela’

At the interview, he was also asked that who will be in charge of Venezuela and if he’s running the country.The secretary said that the US “expect to see changes in Venezuela”, with the “most immediate” being those “in national interest in US”.He describes a country where “people in charge of military and police are openly co-operating with drug trafficking organisations”.Rubio says these are threats to the US that his government intended “to use every element of leverage” to address.

‘US ready to work with Venezuela,’ says Rubio but with condition

Meanwhile, at the CBS interview, Rubio said that the US is ready to work with Venezuela’s remaining leaders if they make “the right decision.” “We’re going to judge everything by what they do, and we’re going to see what they do,” Rubio told CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”“I do know this: that if they don’t make the right decision, that the United States will retain multiple levers of leverage.”

NEW DELHI: The mortal remains of 28-year-old Mandeep Kumar, Punjabi man tricked into joining Russian army, has finally reached his hometown Goraya in Jalandhar, after more than a year of waiting. He died in a drone attack while fighting for the Russian army against Ukraine, after being tricked by travel agents who promised him work in Italy but instead forced him into Russian military service.His elder brother, Jagdeep Kumar, confirmed receiving Mandeep’s remains at Delhi airport on Saturday. Jagdeep discovered his brother’s fate two months ago when his DNA samples matched with one of the bodies in Russia. “I came to know about the death of my brother two months back after my DNA samples given to the Russian authorities matched with one of the bodies,” Jagdeep told PTI.This started when, Mandeep, in September 2023, along with four others, traveled to Armenia, where they were promised jobs in Italy. Instead, they were taken to Russia and forced to join its military.His brother Jagdeep made two desperate trips to Russia, in February and October 2025, spending nearly three months searching for his brother. His last conversation with Mandeep was on March 3, 2024, lasting just 17-20 seconds, during which Mandeep begged to be rescued.Making matters worse, Mandeep had a congenital leg defect but was still forced into military service and sent to the war zone.Jagdeep said that ten Indians died fighting for Russia against Ukraine – three from Punjab and seven from Uttar Pradesh and Jammu. He’s now demanding action against the travel agents who deceived his brother.Although, In view of such incidents, India has demanded Russia stop recruiting Indian nationals as military support staff in September last year. The government also warned its citizens about the dangers of joining the Russian military and called for the release of all Indians currently serving in Russian armed forces.