Olivia Dean's viral 'Man I Need' remains a chart-topping hit into 2026

Olivia Dean still has fans in their feelings at the start of 2026.

The UK singer's sophomore album, "The Art of Loving," is a mainstay on national and international charts. According toBillboard Pop Airplay Chart, Dean's viral hit single "Man I Need" is in the top spot into the new year for the chart week dated Jan. 3, 2026. The radio chart measures the number of plays each songreceivedin a particular week.

Dean's stardom has skyrocketed since the release of "The Art of Loving" in September 2025. During asitdown with Zane Lowe on Apple Musicin November, the singer-songwriter discussed her personal life, growth as an artist, and the album's reception.

"I'm really proud of it. I worked really hard on it, and it's so honest and real and honestly quite fresh," Dean said, admitting that she wrote half of the project last March and April.

She elaborated on the development process in an interview with NYLON, revealing that she created the album ata live-in-work studio in East London.

"We wrote the album in the spring, so just lots of nature around, bird noises. The door was open," she told the outlet. "It was the best place I've ever made music in because it was mine. It was ours. At its core, it felt like having people over. I've never made music in that way before. I'm always the person coming over."

It's the most wonderful time of the year: The start of awards season!

The month of December kicked off on a star-studded note with the Gotham Awards, the first major awards ceremony of Oscar season. As the end of the year approaches, December will also see A-listers step out at the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Marty Supreme."

Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of December 2025 so far, starting with A$AP Rocky and Rihanna attending the Gotham Awards on Dec. 1, 2025, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner attend the Los Angeles premiere of A24's "Marty Supreme" at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Dec. 8, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kylie Jenner attends the Los Angeles premiere of A24's "Marty Supreme" at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Dec. 8, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gwyneth Paltrow

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Josh Hutcherson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Samuel Jaimez, Khrystian Ramos, Jesus Ortiz Paz, Moises Lopez and José "Pelón" García of Fuerza Regida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gwyneth Paltrow and Moses Martin

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Halsey

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Josh Safdie and Gwyneth Paltrow

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Penn Jillette, Kevin O'Leary, Timothée Chalamet, Odessa A'zion, Tyler The Creator, Gwyneth Paltrow and Koto Kawaguchi

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Odessa A'zion

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Timothée Chalamet

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tyler, the Creator

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Frances Turner and Walton Goggins attend the "Fallout" Season 2 red carpet premiere event at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Dec. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Macaulay Culkin

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Annabel O' Hagan

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ella Purnell

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Walton Goggins

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kyle MacLachlan and Annabel O'Hagan

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lisa Joy, Walton Goggins and Jonathan Nolan

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mike Hopkins, Worldwide Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, Kyle MacLachlan, Justin Theroux, Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins and Aaron Moten

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ron Perlman

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sabrina Carpenter speaks onstage at Variety Hitmakers 2025 on Dec. 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The "Espresso" singer was award with the Hitmaker of the Year Award.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rosé speaks onstage at Variety Hitmakers 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Addison Rae and Tate McRae

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Josh Conway, Maria Zardoya, Edward James and Jesse Perlman of The Marías at Variety Hitmakers 2025 on Dec. 6, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Samuel Jaimez, Khrystian Ramos, Jesus Ortiz Paz, Moises Lopez and José "Pelón" García of Fuerza Regida at Variety Hitmakers 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tyler, the Creator

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Laufey

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tate McRae

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Swizz Beatz speaks during the Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach at New World Symphony on Dec. 4, 2025, in Miami Beach, Florida.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ice Spice and Suni Lee attend NYLON House at Miami Art Week Presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lori Harvey attends NYLON House at Miami Art Week Presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Diplo attends NYLON House at Miami Art Week Presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Honoree Jennifer Lopez, recipient of the Equity in Entertainment award, and Robert Downey Jr. attend The Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment, presented by Lifetime, at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Dec. 3, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Honorees Gwyneth Paltrow, recipient of the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, and Jennifer Lopez, recipient of the Equity in Entertainment award, attend The Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment luncheon.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sarah Paulson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Goldie Hawn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Robert Downey Jr.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Karen Pittman and Kerry Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kerry Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> L'Oréal Paris marked the 20th anniversary of its Women of Worth program with a star-studded celebration on Dec. 2 in Los Angeles at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The night saw an A-list lineup of their global ambassadors including Helen Mirren, Andie MacDowell, Kendall Jenner, Aja Naomi King, Gillian Anderson, Ariana Greenblatt and Heidi Klum.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ariana Greenblatt

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kendall Jenner

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Aja Naomi King

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gillian Anderson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sophia Bush

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Heidi Klum

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kris Jenner

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lucy Liu attends a screening of "Rosemead" on Dec. 2, 2025, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jamie Lee Curtis attends a screening of "Ella McCay" at Museum of Modern Art on Dec. 2, 2025, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Josh Hutcherson attends the premiere of "Five Nights At Freddy's 2" on Dec. 2, 2025, in Hollywood.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> McKenna Grace

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Skeet Ulrich, left, and Matthew Lillard

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amanda Seyfried attends a New York screening of "The Housemaid" on Dec. 2, 2025, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sydney Sweeney

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brandon Sklenar

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Michelle Pfeiffer attends the premiere of "Oh. What. Fun." on Dec. 2, 2025, in New York City

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Felicity Jones

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Chloë Grace Moretz

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Miley Cyrus, left, and Maxx Morando attend the premiere of "Avatar: Fire and Ash" in Hollywood on Dec. 1, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Billie Eilish

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sam Worthington, left, and Lara Worthington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Zoe Saldaña

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sigourney Weaver

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Xochitl Gomez

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A$AP Rocky, left, and Rihanna attend the Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on Dec. 1, 2025, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Michael B. Jordan

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jennifer Lawrence

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Elle Fanning

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hugh Jackman, left, and Kate Hudson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tessa Thompson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jackie Sandler, left, and Adam Sandler

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kristen Stewart

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jacob Elordi

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Colman Domingo attends The Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 1, 2025, in London, England.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lily Allen

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sienna Miller

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> LaKeith Stanfield

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> FKA Twigs

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Pink Patherness

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rooney Mara

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cate Blanchett

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ncuti Gatwa

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sharon Stone

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Emily Ratajkowski

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Will Poulter

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Raye

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gabbriette

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Myha'la

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jodie Comer

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lila Moss

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rita Ora

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Billie Piper

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amelia Dimoldenberg

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Russell Thomas, left, and Kim Cattrall

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kylie Minogue

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Joe Alwyn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gwendoline Christie

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Gwyneth Paltrow in the best celebrity photos from December

It's the most wonderful time of the year: The start of awards season!The month of December kicked off on a star-studded note with the Gotham Awards, the first major awards ceremony of Oscar season. As the end of the year approaches, December will also see A-listers step out at the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Marty Supreme."Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of December 2025 so far, starting with A$AP Rocky and Rihanna attending the Gotham Awards on Dec. 1, 2025, in New York City.

Olivia Dean:Ticketmaster apologizes for tour prices 'typo,' singer slams 'frustrating' issue

Olivia Dean earned Grammy nod

Dean's success has earned her her first-everGrammy nod for Best New Artist. Other nominees in the category for the upcoming award show are The Marías, Leon Thomas, sombr, Alex Warren, Lola Young, KATSEYE, and Addison Rae.

"had to take a sec to process this but i've been nominated for a Grammy 🥲 thank u world and the@recordingacademy! no words," shewrote on Instagramon Nov. 8.

"The Art of Loving" has been embraced overseas, placing firston Australia's ARIA Albums Chartfor the week of Dec. 29. It outranks other popular albums, including Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl," "KPop Demon Hunters," and Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend."

According to the outlet, Dean's song "Man I Need" is leading the ARIA Singles Chart.

Olivia Dean is going on tour

Olivia Dean is slated to kick off her international tour this summer.According to her website, the US dates start in July.

• July 10, 11: San Francisco, Chase Center

• July 14, 15: Los Angeles, Crypto.com Arena

• July 18: Las Vegas, MGM Grand Garden Arena

• July 22: Salt Lake City, Maverick Center

• July 25, 26: Denver, Ball Arena

• July 29: Minneapolis, Target Center

• Aug.10: Boston, TD Garden

• Aug. 12: Baltimore, CFG Bank Arena

• Aug. 14, 15, 17, 18: New York, Madison Square Garden

• Aug. 22: Atlanta, State Farm Arena

• Aug. 25: Houston, Toyota Center

• Aug. 28, 29: Austin, Moody Center

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Olivia Dean's 'Man I Need' sees Billboard, international success

byAlex Forten

in

January 02, 2026

Olivia Dean's viral 'Man I Need' remains a chart-topping hit into 2026

Olivia Dean still has fans in their feelings at the start of 2026. The UK singer's sophomore album, "Th...

Read More

Judge refuses to order release of man charged with planting pipe bombs on eve of Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal magistrate judge on Fridayrefused to orderthe pretrial release of a man charged with plantingtwo pipe bombsoutside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national parties on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ruled thatBrian J. Cole Jr.must remain jailed before trial. The magistrate concluded there are no conditions of release that can reasonably protect the public from the danger that Cole allegedly poses.

Justice Department prosecutors say Cole confessed to placing pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters only hours before a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol.According to prosecutors,Cole said he hoped the explosives would detonate and "hoped there would be news about it."

"Mercifully, that did not happen," Sharbaugh wrote. "But if the plan had succeeded, the results," he said, could have been devastating, "creating a greater sense of terror on the eve of a high-security Congressional proceeding, causing serious property damage in the heart of Washington, D.C., grievously injuring DNC or RNC staff and other innocent bystanders, or worse."

After his arrest last month, Cole told investigators that he believed someone needed to "speak up" for people who believed the 2020 election, which Democrat Joe Biden won, was stolen and that he wanted to target the country's political parties because they were "in charge," according to prosecutors.

If convicted of both charges against him, Cole faces up to 10 years of imprisonment on one charge and up to 20 years of imprisonment on a second charge that also carries a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

byAlex Forten

in

January 02, 2026

Judge refuses to order release of man charged with planting pipe bombs on eve of Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal magistrate judge on Fridayrefused to orderthe pretrial release of a man charged with planting...

Read More

Trump says if Iran kills protesters, U.S. will "come to their rescue"

President Trump warned Friday in a social media post that if Iran "violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue."

Mr. Trump offered no further comment on Iran or how the U.S. might intervene to protect protesters in the country inthe poston his Truth Social network, which was published just before 3 a.m. Eastern, but he said: "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."

It came hours afterreports that at least six people have been killedamid nearly a week of escalating protests in Iran. The unrest began last weekend as business owners voiced frustration at the dire economic conditions in the Islamic Republic.

Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation,fueled by Western sanctionsimposed over the hardline clerical government's nuclear program andbacking for militant groupsacross the region.

Videos and photos from Tehran and other cities posted on social media have shown protesters marching through streets from early this week, often chanting anti-government, pro-monarchy slogans and sometimes clashing violently with security forces.

In an apparent bid to quell the unrest, Iranian authorities have acknowledged the economic concerns and said peaceful protests are legitimate, but suggested that foreign powers — usually a reference to Israel and the U.S. — are behind subversive elements fueling violence on the streets.

Reacting to the latest remarks by the U.S. president, Ali Larijani, a former speaker of Iran's parliament who's now the secretary of the country's National Security Council, said Friday in his own social media post that "Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests."

"The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism," said Larijani.

"They should take care of their own soldiers," he added, in what appeared to be a reference to the U.S. military forces based across the Middle East, who are in easy range of Iran's vast stockpile of ballistic missiles.

There was a more sternly worded warning from Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said "any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut."

"The people of Iran properly know the experience of 'being rescued' by Americans: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza," he said in a social media post.

Both the U.S. and Israeli governments had issued statements in support of the protests in Iran prior to Mr. Trump's warning on Friday morning of a possible, unspecified U.S. intervention.

"The people of Iran want freedom. They have suffered at the hands of the Ayatollahs for too long," Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said in apost on Xearlier this week. "We stand with Iranians in the streets of Tehran and across the country as they protest a radical regime that has brought them nothing but economic downturn and war."

Tension between the U.S. and Iran escalated this week on the heels of a visit to the U.S. by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has campaigned his country's close allies in Washington for decades to take a tougher stance on Iran.

Aftermeeting with Netanyahuat his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, Mr. Trumpsaid he had heardthat Iran could be attempting to rebuild its nuclear program following the unprecedentedU.S. strikes on its enrichment facilitiesin June. Mr. Trump warned that if Iran did try to rebuild, "we'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening."

On Tuesday,Iranian President Mahsoud Pezeshkian saidTehran would respond "to any cruel aggression" with unspecified "harsh and discouraging" measures.

Iran is no stranger to nationwide protests, and the latest demonstrations have not come close to the last major outbreak in 2022, which was triggered by thedeath in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman.

Her death in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the nation's strict dress code for women sparked a wave of anger across the nation. Several hundred people were killed, including dozens of members of the security forces, who waged a dramatic crackdown in response, arresting hundreds of people.

There were also widespread protests in 2019, sparked by a sharp increase in the price of petrol.

The standoff between Iran and the U.S. over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program reached a crescendo in June, when Mr. Trump ordered the deadlymilitary strikes against Iran's enrichment facilities, as Israel also carried out strikes on the country.

While Mr. Trump indicated earlier this week that the U.S. could take new action if Iran were to rebuild its nuclear program, Friday's brief post on social media was the first suggestion of a possible American intervention on behalf of Iranian protesters.

High school softball coach recruited ex-player in murder plot, prosecutors say

Trump now says he had CT scan, not MRI in October

Several killed in Iran amid protests over economic crisis

byAlex Forten

in

January 02, 2026

Trump says if Iran kills protesters, U.S. will "come to their rescue"

President Trump warned Friday in a social media post that if Iran "violently kills peaceful protesters, which is the...

Read More

Maduro says Venezuela is 'ready' to make deal with US on drugs and oil after military strikes

Venezuelan PresidentNicolás Madurosaid Thursday that his government is open to negotiating an agreement with the United States after months of American military pressure targeting drug trafficking networks tied to his government.

In a pre-taped interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet that aired on state television, Maduro said Venezuela is "ready" to discuss adrug-trafficking dealwith the U.S. He called on the countries to "start talking seriously, with data in hand."

"The U.S. government knows, because we've told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we're ready," he said. "If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it."

Chevron Corp. is the onlymajor U.S. oil company currently exporting Venezuelan crude to the United States.

Maduro Trapped With Few Retaliation Options After Trump Admin Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker

Maduro said the U.S. wants a regime change in Venezuela and access to its oil reserves through a monthslong pressure campaign that began with a majormilitary deployment to the Caribbean Seain August.

Read On The Fox News App

He said it is clear the U.S. wants "to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force."

The interview was recorded on New Year's Eve, the same day theU.S. military announced a kinetic strikethat killed five people aboard two vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations involved in narcotics trafficking.

Sen. Kennedy Doubles Down On Venezuela Crackdown, Urges Sanctions To 'Choke Off' Funds

At least 114 people have been killed since the U.S. began bombing alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific in early September.

The U.S. may be signaling a possible expansion of its Venezuela-focused campaign, including potential ground operations.

PresidentDonald Trumpconfirmed that a strike last week targeted what he described as a Venezuelan port used for drug trafficking, but declined to say whether the operation was carried out by the U.S. military or another entity, such as the CIA.

Southcom Says 8 Narco-terrorists Killed In Latest Eastern Pacific Lethal Kinetic Strikes

Maduro declined to comment onthat strikeduring the interview, but said he could "talk about it in a few days."

In recent weeks, Trump has intensified pressure on Maduro, ordering a total blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, designating his regime a foreign terrorist organization and accusing it of using stolen U.S. assets to fund terrorism, drug trafficking and other criminal activity.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

U.S. authorities have also seized two ships carrying sanctioned oil.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner, Morgan Phillips, Jasmine Baehr and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Original article source:Maduro says Venezuela is 'ready' to make deal with US on drugs and oil after military strikes

byAlex Forten

in

January 02, 2026

Maduro says Venezuela is 'ready' to make deal with US on drugs and oil after military strikes

Venezuelan PresidentNicolás Madurosaid Thursday that his government is open to negotiating an agreement with the United S...

Read More

The 10 Greatest Upsets in NCAA Volleyball Tournament History

The NCAA volleyball tournament rewards preparation, depth, and consistency, yet it still finds ways to surprise people every season. Upsets typically arise from matchup problems, timing, travel, pressure, and moments when favored teams lose control.

These games mattered because expectations leaned heavily in one direction before the opening serve. The results shifted conversations about conference strength and tournament balance.

2010 First Round

Credit: Instagram

Northern Iowa entered the tournament with a 30–2 record, a fifth seed, and the fourth-best RPI in the country. Missouri barely earned its spot in the field. Playing at home, Northern Iowa expected a clean opening match, but the opposing team commanded rallies early and did not allow the Panthers to settle.

2012 Regional Final

Credit: Instagram

This match happened in California against the team holding the top RPI in the nation. Michigan entered the tournament unseeded, having suffered 11 regular-season losses, and garnered little national attention. Stanford was dependent on efficiency and depth throughout the year, but Michigan disrupted its timing and won in four sets. Stanford struggled to settle in defensively once Michigan gained confidence.

2015 First Round

Credit: Instagram

One of the clearest examples of a ranking gap collapsing under tournament pressure came in the 2015 first round, when unseeded American swept heavily favored Kentucky. Kentucky entered the tournament with a far stronger national profile, but the match never tilted their way. American dictated play from the start, using clean passing and precise execution to remove any chance of a comeback.

2011 Second Round

Credit: Facebook

Nebraska nearly suffered an early tournament exit despite entering as the No. 2 seed after winning the Big Ten in its first season. Kansas State, ranked 26th in RPI, extended rallies and kept the match tight by staying composed in long stretches of play. Nebraska avoided the upset by adjusting its approach late

2014 National Semifinal

Credit: Instagram

This run remains historic because no unseeded team had ever reached the NCAA championship match before BYU's 2014 performance. After beating Arizona, Florida State, and Nebraska, BYU qualified for the semifinal against second-seeded Texas. Texas had only two losses and looked like a clear favorite, but was unable to adjust defensively.

2019 Third Round

Credit: Instagram

At the time, fans were thrilled because Texas dominated the regular season and never lost at home. However, Louisville arrived with confidence and won the first two sets at Gregory Gymnasium. Texas pushed the match to a fifth set, but the competition closed. Aiko Jones finished with 23 kills, and Texas struggled to contain Louisville's outside attack.

2013 Second Round

Credit: Instagram

Duke was unable to recover against an American team that dictated every phase of the match. They came in as a national seed with a higher RPI, but couldn't match Americans' pace or precision. The straight-set sweep sent American to the regional semifinals.

2002 Second Round

Credit: Instagram

Penn State rarely drops tournament matches on its home court, especially in the early rounds. That made Temple's 2002 second-round win at Rec Hall all the more significant. Inconsistent rotations hurt the Nittany Lions, who never regained momentum. Temple advanced to the regional semifinals and hasn't returned to the tournament since.

2000 First Round

Credit: Instagram

No RPI data exists to show just how wide the gap may have been between Southeast Missouri State and North Carolina. Still, expectations heavily favored North Carolina, the ACC's automatic qualifier. Southeast Missouri State, with a shaky nonconference record, entered as Ohio Valley champions, managed to close out rallies, and forced UNC into uncomfortable situations.

2007 First Round

Credit: Instagram

No Big Sky team has advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament since Sacramento State pulled it off in 2007. They won in four sets by applying steady serve pressure and staying composed in long rallies. It remains one of the few high points for a conference that does not normally see postseason success.

byAlex Forten

in

January 02, 2026

The 10 Greatest Upsets in NCAA Volleyball Tournament History

The NCAA volleyball tournament rewards preparation, depth, and consistency, yet it still finds ways to surprise people ev...

Read More