The reports from Northwestern University's Local News Initiative and other sources confirm that over 3,200 U.S. local newspapers have closed or merged since 2005, with an average loss of over two papers per week, leading to significant job losses and the growth of "news deserts".  This decline is driven by shifting advertising revenue online, impacting community information access and civic engagement, despite residents' continued trust in local news. Approximately 3,300 papers have vanished, reducing the total from nearly 9,000 in 2005 to around 5,600 in 2024 and the rate accelerated, with over 130 closures in the last year alone (2024-2025). Newspaper employment plummeted by 75% between 2004 and 2024, notes The Seattle Times. The closures create "news deserts," areas with limited or no local news coverage, particularly affecting rural and low-income communities. Causes: Economic Shift: Advertisers and readers moved online, reducing revenue for local papers...

Manchester United has indeed sacked head coach Ruben Amorim after a 14-month tenure. The decision was announced on Monday, January 5, 2026, following a 1-1 draw against Leeds United the previous day. Amorim was the sixth permanent manager dismissed by the club since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. Public comments after his final match, where he stressed being the "manager" rather than just the "coach" and told the hierarchy to "do their jobs", highlighted a fractured relationship with the club's leadership. Club sources indicated that a lack of "evolution of progress" and "emotional and inconsistent behaviour" were key factors in the decision to part ways. Amorim's final match was a 1-1 away draw at Elland Road against Leeds United on January 4, 2026. The club's next game against Burnley on Wednesday will be managed by interim head coach Darren Fletcher. The Red Devils are set to appoint an interim manager while ...

On January 4, 2026, the Venezuelan military officially endorsed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s acting president following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced that the military recognizes a Supreme Court ruling naming Rodríguez as acting president for a 90-day period. Call for Calm: Padrino urged the population to remain calm and resume normal activities, including work and education, following the "cowardly kidnapping" of Maduro. Government Continuity: Delcy Rodríguez, flanked by top officials like Diosdado Cabello and Jorge Rodríguez, appeared on national television to demand Maduro's release and assert that the current administration remains in control. U.S. Stance: The Trump administration indicated it is ready to work with Rodríguez and the existing cabinet—provided they meet U.S. demands—though Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. does not view the current regime as legitim...

  The Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Kiritimati (Christmas Island) atoll, was the first place on Earth to welcome the New Year 2026, leading global celebrations as clocks struck midnight there, thanks to its unique position just west of the International Date Line in the UTC+14 time zone.  Celebrations quickly moved to other Pacific nations like New Zealand and Australia before spreading across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The Republic of Kiribati comprises 32 atolls and one remote raised coral island, Banaba. These islands are dispersed over a vast ocean area of over 3.4 million km².Why Kiribati Leads the Way: Strategic Location: Kiribati lies close to the International Date Line (IDL). Time Zone Adjustment: In the 1990s, Kiribati moved the IDL to encompass all its islands, ensuring they shared the same date, making Kiritimati the first to greet the new day. Early Time Zone: Kiritimati operates in the UTC+14 time zone, making i...

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, a single lucky Powerball player in Arkansas won a jackpot worth $1.817 billion. This win marks the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history and the largest of 2025. “With final ticket sales, the Powerball jackpot reached $1.817 billion, making it the second-largest US lottery jackpot ever won and the largest Powerball prize this year,” Powerball said in a statement. The winning ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas. The numbers drawn were white balls 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and the red Powerball 19. Payout Options: The winner has the choice between: An annuity of approximately $1.817 billion paid over 29 years. A one-time lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million before taxes. Anonymity: As of December 26, 2025, the winner's identity has not been disclosed. 

  On Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, the United States launched what President Donald Trump described as "powerful and deadly strikes" against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in northwestern Nigeria. The strikes primarily targeted two ISIS camps in the Sokoto State of northwest Nigeria, near the border with Niger. A U.S. military official reported that more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from a Navy ship stationed in the Gulf of Guinea. The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM), which is responsible for operations in Africa, said in a post on X that the air strike was carried out “at the request of Nigerian authorities” and had killed “multiple ISIS terrorists”. “Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on social media, warning also of “more to come”, without providing details. Reasoning Provided: President Trump stated the strikes were in retaliation for the "vicious killing" of innoce...