A former Nickelodeon child star, Kianna Underwood, was killed in a hit-and-run in New York.

Underwood, who was 33, was hit by a vehicle early Friday morning, January 16, 2026, in Brooklyn, dragged under the car for two blocks, and pronounced dead at the scene.

She became famous in 2005 on the sketch show All That a program that also helped launch stars like Amanda Bynes and Kenan Thompson.

Authorities have not made any arrests as yet, as reported by Variety.

Alongside All That Underwood also featured her voice in an animated show, Little Bill, which was directed by Bill Cosby.

Kianna was reportedly hit by a sedan while she was crossing the street, as reported by TMZ. 

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has confirmed the details that Underwood, 33, was struck by a vehicle just before 7 am and was pronounced dead on the spot.

Who was Kianna Underwood?

The beloved child star, Kianna Underwood, was known for her role in Little Bill, which was inspired by the children’s book series directed by Bill Cosby.

This animated series follows the day-to-day life and thought process of a 5-year-old boy growing up in Philadelphia.

Underwood’s voiceover career also ventured beyond television, including her contributions to the 2001 animated TV movie Santa, Baby.

Kianna also made an on-screen appearance in the 1999 independent comedy The 24-Hour Woman, created by Nancy Savoca.

The film starred Rosie Perez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Patti LuPone. In the following years of her career, Kianna also toured with the Broadway musical Hairspray in 2004.

Kianna’s death records another fatal pedestrian death in New York City, where hit-and-run incidents continue to surge, becoming a rising concern.

Just last year, there were 207 deaths reported due to vehicle crashes.

A mysterious singer is buzzing on social media whom many believe might be a phantom, as she has already amassed over three million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Soul singer Sienna Rose took the music scene by storm with her muggy hits, leaving fans praising her ‘melodious’ and ‘captivating’ voice.

Sienna Rose, one of Spotify’s most-listened-to artists, as been revealed to be nothing more than an AI-made-up persona, despite the fact that she had earned £2,000 a day through their streams.

But despite earning comparisons to UK chart-topper Olivia Dean, it’s now been revealed that Sienna’s voice, image, and songs are all AI-generated, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Spotify continued to host Sienna’s music without any disclaimer about her authenticity.

According to The Sun, she is now believed to be the creation of the same individual behind a popular AI reggae act called Babylon Burn, which boasts 756,000 listeners monthly on Spotify.

Let’s find out what the buzzing is about, Sienna Rose?

Sienna dropped her six-track EP in September last year, titled Velvet Embrace, followed by an eight-track project the very next month and a nine-track extended player in November called The Shape of Tenderness.

Fans, despite the doubts over authenticity, are buzzing with her captivating music.

Sienna continued her streak of hit tracks by releasing a ten-track ‘debut album’ Honey On The Moon in December.

The synopsis read: ‘Inspired by the analogue texture of 1960s soul yet rooted in today’s sound, Sienna’s music feels cinematic and deeply personal.

Every note she sings carries a sense of truth and beauty, making Sienna Rose not just a performer, but a storyteller of the heart.’

The publication also revealed the name behind this phantom on Spotify as Robert Lancaster but didn’t mention any further details.

Although Spotify did confirm to the Daily Mail that a wide range of acts use AI to make music, meaning policing its use and labeling their content can prove difficult.

How does Spotify deal with AI artists?

The outlet further added, while incorporating the version of Spotify: ‘AI is a fast-moving shift for the entire music industry, and it’s not always possible to draw a simple line between ‘AI’ and ‘non-AI’ music.’

Spotify, the music streaming platform, clarified its stance over AI-generated music content, stating, “Spotify is focused on the actions that guard harmful AI use cases, including removing spam and deceptive content, strengthening enforcement against impersonation and unauthorized voice cloning, and supporting industry-standard AI disclosures in music credits.”

• Rodriguez reshuffles cabinet after US-backed transition in Venezuela.
• US pressure mounts as Venezuela drops Maduro ally Alex Saab.
• US deportation flight returns Venezuelans after Maduro ouster.

Venezuela’s interim president on Friday dismissed businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, from his post as minister of industry.

In a Telegram message, Delcy Rodriguez announced the ministry would be combined with a commerce ministry and thanked Saab — a Colombian-born Venezuelan — “for his service to the Homeland; he will be taking on new responsibilities.”

The change comes amid pressure from Washington following the January 3 US military raid that ousted Maduro.

Saab, released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States, was appointed to office in 2024 by Maduro.

He had been arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 due to an Interpol notice over accusations that he had served as a money launderer for the socialist leader.

He was subsequently extradited to the US, where he and his business partner Alvaro Pulido were charged with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela.

Saab’s dismissal is among the latest key changes to Venezuela’s government by Rodriguez since the US capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, meanwhile, said her country is starting a “true transition” to democracy and will become free with support from the United States and President Donald Trump.

Trump, however, has sidelined Nobel laureate Machado and backed former vice president Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the seizure of Maduro.

“We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said during an event in Washington, adding that this will have an “immense impact on the lives of all Venezuelans” as well as around the region and the world.

“Venezuela is going to be free, and that’s going to be achieved with the support of the people of the United States and the president, Donald Trump,” Machado said.

Her party has presented evidence that Maduro stole the 2024 election — claims supported by Washington and much of the international community.

But Trump has said that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans, and opted to stick with Rodriguez so long as she toes the line on US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Machado said Friday that Rodriguez is “following orders” rather than acting of her own will.

The opposition leader’s remarks came a day after US Central Intelligence Agency chief John Ratcliffe met Rodriguez in Caracas.

Ratcliffe travelled to Venezuela to “deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship,” a US administration official said on condition of anonymity.

Nobel medal

In an indication of that improved relationship, a US deportation flight carrying 231 Venezuelans landed in Caracas on Friday, the first since Maduro’s overthrow.

Trump has made cracking down on undocumented immigrants a major part of his second term, carrying out sweeping immigration raids and deporting migrants.

Machado, 58, on Thursday presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in a bid to win over the US president.

“He deserves it,” she said. “And it was a very emotional moment, I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.”

It was not immediately clear if Trump — who said Friday that he and Machado will “be talking again” — kept the award following their White House lunch. The Norwegian Nobel Committee says its prizes cannot be transferred.

Trump had campaigned hard to win last year’s prize, falsely claiming that he stopped eight wars since taking office, but it went to Machado instead.

Trump and Rodriguez had their first telephone call on Wednesday and the White House said he “likes what he’s seeing” from her.

Rodriguez said, however, that her government will stand up to Washington.

“We know they are very powerful… we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue,” she said Thursday.

Rodriguez was delivering Maduro’s state of the nation address to parliament while the long-time authoritarian leader is in a New York jail facing drug trafficking charges.

By contrast, Machado, who campaigned for years to end leftist Maduro’s rule, was greeted by jubilant supporters in Washington.