The Dallas Cowboys have suffered back-to-back losing seasons in the postseason for the first time since 2002 after Sunday’s 34-17 loss to the New York Giants.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was ejected from the game at halftime, and defensive end Donovan Ezieruaku was ejected from the game after pulling the helmets of Giants players mid-down in the third quarter.

Prescott’s game and season ended after a first half in which he fumbled and passed for only 70 yards. He left the game with the league lead in passing yards for the season.

Kavonte Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Raheem Layne #43 of the New York Giants during the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on January 4, 2026. (Rich Gresley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images )

In Prescott’s absence, the Cowboys were outscored 18–7 in the second half and the team got into a costly battle with the Giants’ opponents, resulting in penalties and ejections. Eziruaku’s ejection occurred after the Giants scored a touchdown to go up 22–10, and a brawl began with shoving and intentional face-mask snatching.

Jerry Jones opens up about the Cowboys’ shortcomings during the 2025 season.

Dallas defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was also called for an unnecessary roughness penalty, which brought the Giants to the one-yard line for points after the attempt, as New York went for two, going up 24–10.

Dallas never recovered, as backup quarterback Joe Milton threw a late interception en route to ending the season with a 17-point loss.

It was a fitting end to an unsuccessful season for the Cowboys, who officially extended their Super Bowl drought to 30 years.

Dallas went all-in at this year’s trade deadline to strengthen their playoff chances, trading a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick to the New York Jets for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. But it won’t do the Cowboys any good in the short term after the failure of 2025. Williams is under contract until 2027.

Questions were raised about whether the Cowboys would be competitive in 2025 after the team traded star linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before the season. The Cowboys’ defence ranks 29th in the NFL this year without Parsons.

Dallas instilled hope in its fans with a three-game winning streak in November, as they bounced back from a 3-5-1 record to a 6-5-1 one, putting them in contention for the seventh seed in the NFC. But the 44-30 primetime loss to the Detroit Lions on December 4 deflated Dallas’ playoff chances, dropping them to just 8%. Following the Lions’ loss, they went 1–3 in their final four games and broke their losing record.

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Meanwhile, the Giants improved to 4–13 on the season with their third consecutive loss. The Giants had a chance to secure the second or first pick in the NFL Draft with a loss on Sunday but could potentially fall to the seventh pick with a win.

The Giants also beat the Cowboys and Eagles in the same season for the first time since 2020.

Crans-Montana, Switzerland — On Sunday, hundreds of people took out a silent march in honour of the victims. The New Year’s Eve Fire occurred at a bar in the Swiss alpine resort of Crans-Montana, resulting in the deaths of 40 people and the serious injuries of many more.

Following an hour-long mass at the Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana, sombre mourners, many with bloodshot eyes, quietly filed out of the chapel to the music. Some people hugged each other; others applauded before joining the silent march up the hill to Le Constellation Bar.

Several hundred people,

Some, carrying bouquets of flowers in their hands, moved in a dense, snaking procession in the hot sun past closed shops. On the mountain overlooking the city, snow machines blasted white flakes into the air.

At the top of the street, in front of Le Constellation, still largely shielded from view by white screens, the surging crowd stood almost completely silent, some crying. Then they burst into sustained applause, wearing gloves and mittens to protect against the cold, as a stream of mourners and well-wishers deposited bouquets of flowers at a makeshift memorial filled with flowers, hug toys, and other tributes.

One speaker said, “We are going through a time of great darkness, but we are going through it together.”

During the Mass, the Rev. Giles Cavin spoke of the “terrible uncertainty” for families who were unsure whether their loved ones were among the dead or still alive among the injured. “We pray for his friends who are suffering on this day, which was supposed to be a day of celebration and friendship,” he said.

In a crowded pew, a grieving woman listened attentively, her hands tightly clasped and sometimes clutching her rosary beads, while the speaker gave speeches in German, French and Italian.

The fire that broke out around 1.30 am on Thursday resulted in 40 deaths and 119 injuries. The police at le planetarium bar have said many of the victims ranged in age from their late teens to their mid-20s.

As of Sunday morning, Swiss authorities had identified 24 of the 40 deaths. These include 18 Swiss citizens aged 14–31, two 16-year-old Italians, a dual citizen of Italy and the UAE (16 years old), an 18-year-old Romanian, a 39-year-old Frenchman and an 18-year-old Turkish citizen.

One of the victims was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, whose mother desperately searched for him.

“Our Arthur has now gone to heaven to party,” said a clearly shaken Letitia Brodard in a Facebook story posted Saturday night, speaking to the camera. “We can begin our mourning, knowing he is in peace and light.”

Brodard’s frantic search for his son reflected the frustration of families of young people who disappeared during the fire, who did not know whether their loved ones were dead or in the hospital.

Swiss authorities said the process of identifying the victims was particularly difficult because the degree of burns was so high, requiring the use of DNA samples. Brodard also provided his DNA sample to help in the identification process.

In her Facebook post, Brodard thanked those who “testified to their compassion, their love,” and she thanked those who shared information as she anxiously searched and waited for news of her son. Other parents and siblings are still waiting in agony.

Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the bar managers.

The chief prosecutor of the Valais region, Beatrice Pillaud, told reporters on Saturday that both are suspected of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary bodily harm and involuntary manslaughter. The announcement of the investigation did not disclose the names of the managers.

Investigators said Friday they believe the candles were lit on top of the champagne bottles. The candles ignited when they came very close to the ceiling of the crowded bar.

Officials planned to see whether the soundproofing material on the ceiling complied with regulations and whether the use of candles was allowed in the bar. Officials said they will also look into other safety measures, including fire extinguishers and escape routes at the complex.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared 9 January a national day of mourning for the victims.

French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said 17 of the 35 patients transferred from Switzerland to five European countries have received care in France. Plans were made to transfer additional patients to Germany, Italy, and Belgium.

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Associated Press writers, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sylvie Courbet in Paris, and Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw, contributed to this report.

Next, the FTSE-100 retail behemoth is among a pack of suitors considering a new year swoop to buy LK Bennett, the struggling fashion retailer.

Sky News has learnt that Next is weighing a cut-price offer to buy LK Bennett’s brand and other intellectual property assets as it prepares to call in administrators.

Retail industry sources said that Next was unlikely to pursue any offer involving LK Bennett’s small estate of retail outlets.

Marks & Spencer and TFG London, the group that owns Phase Eight, White Stuff, and Hobbs, were also among the parties tipped by analysts as contenders to consider the acquisition of the ailing brand.

An offer from Next,

An offer from Next would mirror its strategy of acquiring distressed retailers in recent years.

It has bought brands such as Cath Kidston, Joules and Seraphine, a maternity wear retailer, while it is currently examining the purchase of family-owned footwear retailer Russell & Bromley.

LK Bennett filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators earlier this week, ten days after Sky News revealed that the company faced collapse as it urgently sought a buyer.

Founded by Linda Bennett in 1990, LK Bennett has been working with advisers at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) in recent weeks.

At one stage, LK Bennett was one of the most recognisable brands on the high street, expanding to 200 branded outlets in the UK and overseas markets, including China, Russia, and the US.

In its home market, it now trades with just nine standalone stores, with a further 13 listed as concessions on its website.

The brand is currently owned by Byland UK, a company established in 2019 for the purpose of rescuing LK Bennett from a previous brush with insolvency.

Byland UK was formed by Rebecca Feng, who ran LK Bennett’s Chinese franchises.

At the time of that deal, Ms Feng said: Ms Feng said, “Under our plan, the business will continue to operate out of the UK, looking to maintain the long-standing and undoubted heritage of the brand.

“We will achieve this through a combination of working with quality British design and the business’s existing supply chain.”

Accounts for LK Bennett Fashion for the period ended January 27, 2024, show the company made a post-tax loss of £3.5m on turnover of £42.1m.

The figures showed a steep decline in sales from £48.8m in 2023.

Ms. Bennett founded the eponymous chain by opening a store in Wimbledon, southwest London, in 1990, and she promised to “bring a bit of Bond Street to the high street.”

Her eye for design earned her the nickname ‘queen of the kitten heel’ and saw her products worn by the Princess of Wales and Theresa May, the former prime minister.

In 2008, Ms Bennett sold the business for an estimated £100m to a consortium led by the private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners.

She retained a stake and then bought back the remaining equity in 2017.

The company’s administration in 2019 resulted in the closure of 15 stores.

Next declined to comment, but an M&S spokeswoman stated that the company was not considering a bid for LK Bennett.

Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images

WATCH: Key questions over Trump’s actions on Venezuela

Gabby Ora/Bloomberg via Getty Images

US Special Forces commandos destroyed air defence systems to attack Nicolás Maduro’s fortified safe house in a surprise military operation inside Venezuela.

Operation Absolute Resolve began under the cover of darkness when about 150 military aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, took off from 20 military bases and naval ships.

Explosions and the sound of attack helicopters shook Caracas in a swift sequence of events.

The strikes, which targeted a major military base and an airbase, among other sites, continued for about an hour.

And within moments, dictator Maduro – who has been the country’s leader for the past 12 years – was loaded into a military helicopter with his wife and flown back to the US.

The extraordinary operation began.

The extraordinary operation began between midnight and 1 a.m. American strike forces began positioning themselves “during the darkest hours” in Caracas time.

At around 2 am, several explosions were heard in Caracas, and plumes of smoke were seen rising over the city.

Gen. Dan Kane, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said fighter planes, including F-22 Raptors, F-35 stealth fighters and Navy F-18 Hornets, were deployed to Venezuela to destroy the country’s air defences.

Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex in Caracas, and Carlota airbase in the north were the targets of the attacks.

La Guaira, north of the capital, where Caracas’ airport and port are located, was also hit.

Tomahawk missiles fired from US Navy destroyers also destroyed Russian long-range surface-to-air (SAM) missile batteries and short-range Pechora and Pantsir missile bases operated by the Cubans, sources told The Sun.

Meanwhile, electronic warfare Growler aircraft jammed radar systems, causing communications disruption and power grids across Venezuela, he said.

All this was done to clear the way for a fleet of MH-60 (Black Hawk variant) and MH-47 (Chinook variant) of the US Air Force 160th Special Operations Regiment equipped for high-risk infiltration and extraction missions.

Helicopters carrying Deltas and possibly SEAL teams take off from the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and a special forces vessel known as the “Ghost Ship.”

Naval assets have been moving closer to Venezuela for weeks after the US launched its largest military buildup since the Iraq War.

As American strike forces provided air cover, radar and thermal night vision allowed helicopters to operate at low altitude through the mountain valleys surrounding the city.

The US Army’s Delta Force and FBI agents soon landed and launched an attack on the Venezuelan mainland army, which is headquartered in the centre of Caracas.

Between 2 am and 2.30 am, US special forces raided Maduro’s residence inside a heavily fortified military compound.

Quickly descending and climbing onto the rooftops, the Delta teams fired sudden bursts of fire to stun the Venezuelan soldiers guarding the compound.

They then took out Maduro’s inner ring of bodyguards, made up of Cuba’s much-feared Avias Negras special forces, with a volley of HK416 assault rifles, whose firing rate exceeded 800 rounds per minute.

The soldiers surprised themselves when the Americans entered.

Special forces then forced their way through the compound and entered Maduro’s room.

General Cain said Maduro and his wife tried to escape into the steel-reinforced room but were stopped by US forces.

Trump said US troops built a replica of Maduro’s safe house and practised how they would enter the heavily fortified residence.

The US President said they were able to penetrate the defensive layers of the complex in a matter of seconds.

Maduro and his wife were then loaded onto a Chinook helicopter and at about 4:29 pm, they were transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship in the Caribbean.

Trump hinted at a postponed “second wave” during his Saturday press conference.

More special forces teams were on standby to reinforce Delta and possibly pursue secondary targets if they failed to counterattack Maduro or Caracas.

But Trump said he was prepared to “stage a second wave of much larger attacks” if necessary.

“All of Venezuela’s military and politicians must understand that what happened to Maduro can happen to them too,” he said.

The US President also hinted at a permanent military presence, saying, “We will stay in and run the country until we have a safe and just transition.”

General Kane said the inter-agency work on the attack “began months ago and was built on decades of experience integrating complex air, ground, space, and maritime operations.”

Aerial surveillance for months by satellites and Reaper drones Flying at high altitude was also necessary to map Venezuelan air defences and installations.

According to a source familiar with the matter, in August the CIA had a small team on the ground that was able to provide information about Maduro’s life patterns, making him easier to capture.

Two other sources said the intelligence agency also had an asset close to Maduro that would monitor his movements and was ready to pinpoint his exact location should the operation begin.

CIA, NSA and National Crime General Kane said the agency (NCA) cooperated for this “carefully planned” operation.

FBI agents accompanied Maduro when he arrived on US soil with his wife on Saturday evening.

The footage shows a US federal plane arriving at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York carrying the Venezuelan dictator and his wife, Celia Flores.

Dozens of FBI agents escorted Maduro into custody ahead of his scheduled execution court appearance in Manhattan federal court.

Charges of narco-terrorism and weapons-related offences await his trial in New York.

Venezuelans had been preparing attacks on their territory for months, following repeated threats by Trump to escalate his campaign against Maduro’s administration.

Trump has consistently blasted Venezuela under Maduro as an illegitimate regime, accusing him of working as a narcotics state in collusion with the U.S. adversaries.

The US president has long threatened to order military strikes following months of attacks on boats in Venezuelan territory. The drugs originate from a country in South America.

The White House said Washington was in armed conflict with drug cartels to stem the flow of narcotics to the United States, while US officials alleged Maduro supported the international drug trade.

Before the increase, there had been 35 known attacks against alleged drug-trafficking boats in South American waters since the beginning of September, killing at least 115 people, according to Republican administration announcements.

The regime change in Caracas has been central to Trump’s view that Venezuela’s political restructuring is essential to curb Russian and Chinese influence and unlock vast swathes of the country. Oil Possibility.

Politically, Venezuela now faces a delicate transition period.

Removing Maduro, who led Venezuela for more than 12 years, could potentially create a power vacuum in the Latin American country.

A Russian military blogger feared that any US capture of Venezuelan oil reserves could cause a “nightmare” collapse of the country’s economy, which is dependent on energy exports.

Russians fear US control over Venezuelan oil could damage the country’s economy (image: Poole/AFP via Getty Images).

Russians fear they will “die of hunger” after Vladimir Putin’s ally Nicolás Maduro was swiftly captured.

Donald Trump shocked the entire world early this morning after ordering an explosively effective operation to oust Maduro and his wife from Venezuela.

The pair will now be tried in the US on multiple crimes, including narco-trafficking.

But as the Trump administration celebrated, fears grew in Russia about what it might mean now that the country’s staunchest ally has been defeated in South America.

The Kremlin criticised Maduro’s removal as an “act of armed aggression” and said it was “deeply worrying”.

Trump gives green signal to quickly capture Maduro (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

 

read more. Venezuela is in danger of ‘second wave’; Trump said four scary words read more. Donald Trump shares stunning photo of captured Nicolás Maduro

Fear has also spread beyond the Kremlin and infected online spaces where Russians shared concerns that oil prices would collapse and hurt the country’s economy that depends on energy exports.

Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska said that US control over Venezuelan oil could have serious negative consequences.

Writing on his Telegram channel, he said, “If our American ‘partners’ reach Venezuelan oil fields (and they have already reached Guyana), they will take control of more than half of the world’s oil reserves.”

He added, “And apparently their plan is to ensure that the price of our oil does not rise above $50 (£37) a barrel. That means it will be difficult for our sacrosanct state capitalism to leave everything as it is.”

Pro-Kremlin forces further vilified the situation, calling it a “nightmare” and daring to call Russia’s leaders traitors. “This is no joke,” the blogger said, according to the report. daily Express,

Maduro was captured by the Americans early in the morning (Image: The truth about US President Donald Trump)

 

“Soon it won’t even be profitable for us to extract oil. We will face starvation within a few months. This will lead to the complete collapse of the economy.

“They’ll drive the price of oil through the roof and take over the entire market. Additionally, they will gain control of the oil supply.

“This is a completely catastrophic disaster. We will be left without the Internet, overwhelmed by taxes, and forced to consume our waste oil. (…) Americans have just extended their existence for several centuries, while our existence will end in a month.”

Trump said the United States will take over Venezuela’s governance until we can achieve a safe, just, and prudent transition. He added: “

can’t take the risk that Venezuela will be taken over by someone else who doesn’t have the well-being of the Venezuelan people in mind.

We’re there now. But we’re going to stay until there’s proper change. We’re going to run it essentially…”