Category: News
Gobierno sirio toma control de campamento con miles de personas vinculadas al grupo Estado Islámico
Por GHAITH ALSAYED
AL-HOL, Siria (AP) — Las fuerzas gubernamentales sirias tomaron el miércoles el control total de un vasto campamento en el noreste de Siria que alberga a miles de personas vinculadas al grupo extremista Estado Islámico, mientras parece mantenerse la tregua entre Damasco y los combatientes kurdos.
Un convoy de vehículos blindados que transportaba tropas gubernamentales entró al campamento de al-Hol el miércoles, tras dos semanas de enfrentamientos entre las fuerzas de Damasco y los combatientes liderados por los kurdos, que perdieron gran parte del territorio que habían controlado durante años. Las Fuerzas Democráticas Sirias, respaldadas por Estados Unidos y encabezadas por kurdos, parecen estar más cerca que nunca de fusionarse con el ejército sirio, como exigía el gobierno.
La toma del campamento se produjo un día después de que los combatientes de las FDS se retiraran de la instalación que gestionaban desde hacía años.
En su apogeo en 2019, unas 73.000 personas vivían en al-Hol. Desde entonces, el número ha disminuido dado que algunos países han repatriado a sus ciudadanos.
El campamento alberga ahora a unas 24.000 personas, en su mayoría mujeres y menores vinculados a EI, incluyendo alrededor de 14.500 sirios y casi 3.000 iraquíes. Unas 6.500 personas más, muchas de ellas leales al grupo radical que llegaron desde todo el mundo para unirse a sus filas, están retenidos por separado en una sección de alta seguridad de las instalaciones.
Se reportó que algunas familias lograron huir del campamento durante el caos, pero no hay confirmación oficial.
Un periodista de Associated Press no pudo entrar al campamento, pero vio a decenas de soldados custodiando la entrada principal.
El martes por la noche, el gobierno sirio y las FDS anunciaron una nueva tregua de cuatro días después del colapso del alto el fuego anterior. El noreste de Siria estaba relativamente tranquilo el miércoles.
Las FDS y el gobierno se culparon mutuamente por la fuga de miembros del EI de una prisión en la ciudad nororiental de Shaddadeh el lunes. Desde entonces, muchos de los prófugos fueron capturados por tropas gubernamentales que tomaron el control de la cárcel, según la prensa estatal.
Las FDS siguen controlando la gran mayoría de más de una docena de prisiones donde unos 9.000 miembros de EI llevan años retenidos. Según un acuerdo anunciado el domingo, las fuerzas gubernamentales debían asumir el control de esos penales, pero la transición no se realizó sin problemas.
El centro más grande es la prisión de Gweiran, ahora llamada Panorama, que ha albergado a unos 4.500 detenidos vinculados al EI. Está en la ciudad de Hassakeh, que aún está completamente en manos de las FDS.
El portavoz del Ministerio de Defensa sirio, el general de brigada Hassan Abdul-Ghani, dijo en comentarios televisados el martes por la noche que el gobierno “estaba y sigue estando en confrontación directa” con el EI. Añadió que las autoridades están listas para hacerse cargo de las prisiones donde se encuentran los miembros del grupo extremista y agregó que, una vez que se asuma el control de las cárceles, estas quedarán bajo la autoridad del Ministerio del Interior.
El EI fue derrotado en Irak en 2017 y en Siria dos años después, pero células latentes del grupo siguen perpetrando atentados letales en ambos países.
Las FDS jugaron un papel importante en la derrota del EI.
Tom Barrack, el enviado de Washington para Siria, dijo en un comunicado el martes que el papel de las FDS como la principal fuerza anti-EI “ha expirado en gran medida, ya que Damasco ahora está dispuesto y posicionado para asumir las responsabilidades de seguridad”. Añadió que “los desarrollos recientes muestran que Estados Unidos está facilitando activamente esta transición, en lugar de prolongar un papel separado de las FDS”.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
De Beers Cuts Diamond Prices, Botswana Warns Of Prolonged Slump
De Beers Cuts Diamond Prices, Botswana Warns Of Prolonged Slump
De Beers, the world’s largest diamond mining company, has warned of a prolonged downturn in the gem industry after cutting prices for the first time since 2024. Botswana is the epicenter of De Beers’ diamond production, and declining output alongside falling prices is set to put significant pressure on the southern African nation’s finances.
On Monday, Bloomberg News reported that De Beers cut its diamond prices for the first time in over a year, abandoning efforts to prop up the market amid faltering demand.
A combination of soft Chinese luxury spending, expanding market share for lab-grown stones, and added pressure from US tariffs on India has pressured the world’s largest diamond exporter.
The Diamond Standard Index, a benchmark price measure for investment-grade natural diamonds, has fallen by more than half since peaking in early 2022. The index is now at a record low, with data going back to 2002.
As for Botswana, the Finance Ministry warned that diamond income could fall to 10.3 billion pula ($744 million) in FY2025-26, less than half the historical average of 25.3 billion pula, and that revenues may never fully recover.
“The recovery in mineral revenue is expected to be prolonged,” the Finance Ministry wrote in a report ahead of the annual budget next month. “The shortfall is likely to persist over the medium to long term with a possibility of a non-recovery.”
Bloomberg wasn’t clear about the size of the price discount De Beers offered buyers for diamonds.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/21/2026 – 05:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/de-beers-cuts-diamond-prices-botswana-warns-prolonged-slump
Today in Chicago History: Bears earn second trip to the Super Bowl — their first in 21 years
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 21, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Front page flashback: Jan. 22, 2017
The women of Chicago would not be stopped on Jan. 21, 2017. An estimated quarter-million demonstrators poured into downtown, so many that organizers of the Women’s March on Chicago told the throngs that the event would only be a rally because there wasn’t room to march. But people marched anyway. (Chicago Tribune)
2017: An estimated quarter-million demonstrators poured into downtown to draw attention to women’s rights, as well as civil rights, immigration and racial justice. Organizers of the Women’s March on Chicago said the event was planned for the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators packed the streets of several other cities, from New York to Los Angeles and Paris to Sydney.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 62 degrees (1906)
Low temperature: Minus 22 degrees (1984)
Precipitation: 1.49 inches (1916)
Snowfall: 5 inches (1958)
1848: The telegraph reached Chicago.
George Halas, owner of the Chicago Bears, handles the coin toss for Super Bowl XIII, Jan. 21, 1979, in Miami. The Pittsburgh Steelers played the Dallas Cowboys, who won the toss. (Phil Sandlin/AP)
1979: Chicago Bears owner and former coach George Halas arrived at Super Bowl XIII at the Orange Bowl in Miami in an antique car where he flipped a 1920 gold piece — the same year the NFL was founded — as part of the game’s ceremonial coin toss. Halas purchased the coin just for the occasion for $317. Halas gave the coin to the loser of the flip — the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It was the second time in a decade the Bears had been involved in a fateful coin flip with the Steelers. The last one had a grim ending for the Bears — they lost the No. 1 draft pick. The Steelers used it to select quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who led them to four Super Bowls.
Crews separate two commuter trains that crashed Jan. 21, 1985, in Gary. Federal safety experts began interviewing crews, dispatchers and management officials in their investigation into the head-on collision, as rail industry veterans theorized that human error was the probable cause. (John Dziekan/Chicago Tribune)
1985: Two South Shore Line trains collided head-on at low speed in downtown Gary during the morning rush hour, injuring 128 people.
(Chicago Tribune)
1987: Darby Williams and Perry Cobb became the first two Illinois death row inmates exonerated and released from prison following reinstatement of the death penalty.
With snow falling at Soldier Field, Urlacher hoists the NFC championship trophy following the Bears’ 39-14 victory over the Saints. Urlacher had a career-high four pass deflections in the game, interfering with Drew Brees’ intermediate passing game and leading the club to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1985. (Jim Prisching/Chicago Tribune)
2007: A 2006–07 NFC championship game victory gave the Bears their second trip to the Super Bowl — their first in 21 years — with a 39–14 win over the New Orleans Saints.
A Japanese macaque, also known as a snow monkey, walks past a heated pool while exploring its naturalistic habitat during a sneak preview of the new Regenstein Macaque Forest exhibit on Jan. 21, 2015, at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle/Chicago Tribune)
2015: Regenstein Macaque Forest opened. Lincoln Park Zoo’s first new exhibit building since 2005, the 7,300-square-foot display — just north of the West Gate — was the centerpiece of a $15 million project that included the opening of the Lionel Train Adventure for kids and enhancements to Eadie Levy’s Landmark Cafe.
The exhibit included eight “snow monkeys” from a Japanese primate research facility, an elaborate hillside enclosure with heated rocks and a stream on the site formerly occupied by the zoo’s Penguin-Seabird House.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/21/january-21-chicago-history/
Today in History: Women’s March held
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 21, the 21st day of 2026. There are 344 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Jan. 21, 2017, a day after Donald Trump’s first presidential inauguration, an estimated 3 million to 5 million people rallied at Women’s March demonstrations across the U.S. to support civil rights and to protest Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
Also on this date:
In 1793, during the French Revolution, King Louis XVI, condemned for treason, was executed by guillotine.
In 1861, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, with a dramatic farewell speech, resigned his U.S. Senate seat after his state and others seceded from the Union. He would later be elected president of the Confederacy shortly before the Civil War began.
In 1924, Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin died at age 53, setting off a bloody power struggle that would lead to the rise of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
In 1950, former State Department official Alger Hiss, accused of being part of a Communist spy ring, was found guilty in New York of lying to a grand jury. (Hiss, who proclaimed his innocence, served less than four years in prison.)
In 1960, the collapse of a mine in Coalbrook, South Africa, killed 437 miners.
In 1976, British Airways and Air France inaugurated scheduled passenger service on the supersonic Concorde jet.
In 1977, on his first full day in office, President Jimmy Carter pardoned almost all Vietnam War draft evaders.
In 1985, Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 crashed in a field shortly after takeoff from Reno, Nevada, killing all but one of the 71 people aboard. The survivor was a 17-year-old boy who was thrown clear of the aircraft and found conscious and still in his seat.
In 2010, a deeply divided U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, vastly increased the influence of big business and labor unions by allowing unlimited contributions to political campaigns.
In 2020, the U.S. reported its first known case of the 2019 novel coronavirus circulating in China, saying a Washington state resident who had returned the previous week from the outbreak’s epicenter was hospitalized near Seattle.
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In 2023, a gunman opened fire and killed 11 people at a ballroom dance hall in Monterey Park, California, during the city’s Lunar New Year festivities. The gunman killed himself as police closed in on him.
Today’s birthdays: Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus is 86. Opera singer Plácido Domingo is 85. Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 76. Artist Jeff Koons is 71. Actor-director Robby Benson is 70. Actor Geena Davis is 70. Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota is 65. Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon is 63. Singer Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) is 50. Actor Luke Grimes is 42. Mixed martial artist Ilia Tuporia is 29. Singer-songwriter Em Beihold is 27.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/21/today-in-history-womens-march-held/
The best drugstore self-tanner for a natural-looking glow
Which drugstore self-tanner is best?
Drugstore self-tanners are a safer, cheaper alternative to traditional tanning beds and offer fast results. Similar to spray tanning, drugstore self-tanners use topical ingredients to create a natural-looking tan you can apply at home without the harmful effects of UV rays. Achieving a sun-kissed glow on a budget is easier than you may think. The L’Oreal Sublime Bronze self-tanner is the top choice for easy application, light scent and affordability.
What to know before you buy a drugstore self-tanner
Skin preparation
Regardless of which drugstore self-tanner you choose, you’ll need to prep your skin before application. Drugstore self-tanners work best on clean, exfoliated skin. A good tip is to exfoliate your entire body in the shower before applying self-tanner. Also, apply a light lotion on the joints to avoid any blotchiness that may occur.
Gradual vs. instant tan
Drugstore self-tanners come in many formulas, such as lotions, sprays and gelee. All provide a gradual or instant tan. Gradual self-tanners give you more control over color. You can create a buildable, natural look over the course of a few days, achieving a full tan in about a week. Instant self-tanners apply rather quickly and develop a tan within hours instead of days. Consider the differences between products if you have a special event coming up.
Color transfer
An unfortunate issue with self-tanner is accidentally transferring it onto your clothing or bedding. This happens when the product is not completely dry or comes off as you sweat. When using a self-tanner, you may want to wear a robe or loose clothing after it dries. Additionally, using a portable fan can help the product dry faster, so there is less chance of the tanning formula staining your clothes.
What to look for in a quality drugstore self-tanner
Decent drying time
You have places to go and people to see, and the last thing you need is a self-tanner that takes forever to dry and develop. Some formulas can be left on for a couple of hours up to overnight and rinsed off in the morning. Others dry fully before developing — no rinsing required. Once applied, a self-tanner should dry fairly quickly, usually within the first 10 minutes. Testing a small spot in an inconspicuous spot will give you an idea of what to expect if applied all over.
Streak-free formula
Streaking can happen if the product is not applied correctly. Some formulas can be too thin, causing streaking on the arms or legs if not corrected before drying. To help prevent this, it’s best to use small amounts of tanner at a time. Apply it in circular motions, gradually adding more self-tanner as you go.
Long-lasting
Both gradual and instant self-tan formulas can provide a lasting tan. The choice between them really comes down to personal preference. Gradual self-tanners are usually lotions and can be applied daily to build a tan that lasts as long as you continue to use the product. Instant self-tanners only take a few hours to develop; however, you do not need to apply the product daily to get a lasting tan. You can even combine them in a routine to get the best benefits of both by using an instant self-tan first, then following up with a gradual self-tanner later in the week.
How much you can expect to spend on drugstore self-tanner
Drugstore self-tanners are relatively inexpensive. Depending on brand, quality and features, prices typically range from $9 to $30.
Drugstore self-tanner FAQ
How do you prevent streaking and missing spots?
A. The best way to avoid streaking is to prepare your skin before application by exfoliating and moisturizing dry spots. Apply the product in a well-lit room with a fan. Apply evenly in circular motions, starting from one side to the other, checking all over for any places you may have missed.
Why should you avoid applying tanner to elbows and knees?
A. Joints like your elbows and knees tend to be on the drier side and naturally have more creases than the rest of your body. When you are applying self-tanner, it is recommended to use it sparingly on these areas, as they can turn darker than intended.
What’s the best drugstore self-tanner to buy?
Top drugstore self-tanner
What you need to know: This lightweight, clear gelee applies easily and dries fairly quickly.
What you’ll love: Ingredients like vitamin E and alpha hydroxy acids aid with hydration. You can apply it a couple of times a week to maintain your tan.
What you should consider: Some users did not like how quickly the formula dried. The clear formula can be difficult to see once applied.
Top drugstore self-tanner for the money
Jergens Natural Glow +FIRMING self-tanner
What you need to know: This is a gradual self-tanning lotion that helps reduce the appearance of cellulite with ingredients such as collagen, elastin and caffeine from green tea.
What you’ll love: You can achieve a noticeable tan and firmer skin within a week of daily use.
What you should consider: Some users said the smell was unpleasant.
Worth checking out
Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid Spray
What you need to know: This fast-absorbing spray creates a natural-looking tan.
What you’ll love: This spray includes a tanning mitt and gloves for easy application, and is a quick-drying formula that adapts to every skin tone, taking the guesswork out of which shade to buy.
What you should consider: This spray is recommended for medium to dark skin tones. It does not offer a buildable tan and is better suited for occasional usage.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/21/the-best-drugstore-self-tanner-for-a-natural-looking-glow/
The best Leica camera worth the investment
Which Leica camera is best?
Photography has grown in leaps and bounds since the first camera’s development around 1839. We have Louis Daguerre to thank for that, as his “View of the Boulevard du Temple” is generally regarded as the earliest photograph containing people.
Thirty years later, Ernst Leitz founded Leica in Germany and set out to become one of the world’s most recognized camera and optical lens companies. Carrying the brand’s iconic design, there are few cameras that can beat the Leica Q2 Digital Camera.
What to know before you buy a Leica camera
Interchangeable lenses for better photography
The ability to attach a variety of lenses to a Leica camera body has been a feature since the company’s inception. The lenses are unique in that the light hits the sensors at a different angle than others, giving photos a distinct Leica look. Whether it is for the S-System, the M-System or TL2-System, there will be a lens that is perfect for your needs. Or if you prefer, Leica also makes fixed lens cameras. It is also a great idea to get yourself a good-quality camera bag to keep the body and lenses safe.
Leica cameras are more robust than most
Through the decades of experimenting and development, Leica cameras have become known for their robust and durable builds. This is in part due to the solid construction materials used and how the cameras are put together. But the ability to withstand rain and relatively hard knocks also contribute to the price, making them more expensive than regular cameras.
Leica is the only company to make digital rangefinder cameras
Cameras that incorporate a rangefinder in their design tend to have higher image quality. The system works differently from cameras that have a viewfinder, which you would typically utilize for the focus. On a rangefinder camera, two images are superimposed over each other, and you look through the rangefinder to line them up and adjust the focus.
What to look for in a quality Leica camera
The image sensor is extremely important
The image sensor in a camera is at the heart of producing a photo. Its main job is to measure the amount of light that is coming through the lens, which in turn creates the photo. For excellent quality images, a full-frame camera like the Q2 is your best bet, as it has a 47.3-megapixel sensor.
Shutter speed for controlling the exposure
Cameras are excellent at recording exact snippets in time, but the end result will only be as good as your equipment. The shutter speed of a camera determines how long the shutter will remain open to let in light. The speed at which it opens and closes controls the brightness. Longer exposures are often needed for dimly lit subjects or where little natural light is available. Shutter speed should not be confused with aperture, which has to do with how wide the shutter opens. For example, the Leica Q2 has a shutter speed of 60 seconds to 1/2000th of a second. It can go as high as 1/4000th of a second with an electronic shutter.
Old-fashioned design with modern connectivity
Leica cameras might still have fundamentally the same design as the first models, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been upgraded to modern features. Most Leica cameras will have Bluetooth connectivity so that you can remotely control the shutter. The Leica FOTO app also allows you to quickly review images and share them on social media platforms.
How much you can expect to spend on a Leica camera
The average price of a Leica camera will depend on the model and the capabilities, but in general, Leica cameras are more expensive than most other brands. A top-end Leica model can retail for $4,000-$5,000, while entry-level cameras retail for $1,000-$1,500.
Leica camera FAQ
Can you use any interchangeable lens with a Leica camera?
A. While other companies also make interchangeable lenses, only Leica products will fit and work on their cameras. Although there are some lens adapters available, they aren’t guaranteed to work.
What is the most used Leica camera?
A. Leica produces seven different camera models, but only the M-System has been around since the days of film. The model has been hugely popular throughout the decades, which is why the system is still available today.
What’s the best Leica camera to buy?
Top Leica camera
What you need to know: The Q2 has an incredible sensor size, which will ensure that your photos are crisp, clear and packed with detail.
What you’ll love: The Leica C2 has a 47.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and a Maestro II image processor, producing high-quality images up to 4K in resolution. At the back is a 3.6-megapixel viewfinder, and is compatible with the Leica FOTO app.
What you should consider: Even when compared to other cameras in its class, the $5,200 price tag could be too much for most photographers.
Top Leica camera for the money
Leica V-Lux 20 Megapixel Digital Camera
What you need to know: A full-featured digital camera, this model is perfect for amateur photographers wanting to improve their skills.
What you’ll love: With a 20-megapixel sensor and a three-inch LCD screen, the V-Lux is the perfect model for aspiring professionals. It is capable of recording video footage in 4K resolution and has high-speed autofocus.
What you should consider: Some users indicated that images might not be as sharp as you’d expect when using third-party lenses.
Worth checking out
Leica D-LUX 7 4K Compact Camera
What you need to know: A great pocket camera that captures crystal clear images with a fixed lens.
What you’ll love: The D-LUX 7 has a 17-megapixel four-thirds sensor, and as the name implies, is capable of capturing footage in 4K resolution. It has a three-inch 1.24 m-dot LCD touch screen at the back, and the 35mm Vario-Summilux lens has a focal length equivalent to 24-75mm. It also has Bluetooth built-in for wireless connectivity.
What you should consider: You can’t use interchangeable lenses on this model, as the lens is fixed.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/21/the-best-leica-camera-worth-the-investment/
“Rich Kids Of Iran” Flee To Turkish Nightclubs Amid Deadly Crackdown On Protesters: Report
“Rich Kids Of Iran” Flee To Turkish Nightclubs Amid Deadly Crackdown On Protesters: Report
The children of Iran’s political and military elite are back in the spotlight for their opulent lifestyles amid reports that they fled the country to party in Turkish nightclubs, even as the regime’s security forces carry out its deadliest crackdown on nationwide protests in years, the New York Post reports.
The phenomenon of Iran’s affluent youth first drew international attention more than a decade ago through the Instagram account @richkidsoftehran (now with approximately 477,000 followers), which features eyebrow-raising posts of luxury cars such, watches, and designer gear.
Among the most infamous “Rich Kids of Iran” is Sasha Sobhani, the son of a former Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, who relocated to Spain in 2019 and has posted videos of his Lamborghini and other vehicles.
Another account belongs to Anashid Hoseini, who is married to the son of Iran’s former ambassador to Denmark and whose Instagram account with over 1.7 million followers regularly displays expensive bling and designer handbags.
The New York Post reports:
Amid an enforced internet blackout that allows an oppressive regime to commit “genocide under the cover of digital darkness,” according to one outraged expert, reporters from The Telegraph are said to have observed “rich Iranians” partying at a nightclub in a popular holiday hotspot on the border with Turkey.
And as the Telegraph reports:
The province of Van, in far-eastern Turkey, shares a mountainous border with Iran, making it a popular holiday destination for Iranians looking to party.
Despite the chaos at home – where more than two weeks of protests had been halted by deadly force and a total communications blackout – The Telegraph witnessed elite Iranians gathering to drink, socialise and party in Van city.
Locals said that in recent days, wealthy Iranians – some said to support the Islamic regime – had arrived in Turkey to escape the political instability, fearing the protesters might turn on them as well.
“They left Iran for now because they were worried about staying there. Here, they can feel safe. They have made a lot of money from their businesses in Iran, and then they come here to spend it,” one Iranian said of the partygoers.
“Imagine if, in your country, thousands of people had been killed. Would you have the heart to go out dancing in a bar?” another Iranian told the outlet.
The renewed attention on Iran’s showdy elites has come into focus as Iranian authorities have now acknowledged that it’s brutal crackdown on protesters have resulted in significant casualties.
In a public address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei conceded that “several thousand” Iranians died in the violence, which he unsurprisingly attributed to foreign-backed “rioters” and “terrorists” incited by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
An unnamed Iranian official cited by Reuters estimated the verified death toll at least 5,000, including roughly 500 security personnel. Independent monitoring groups face challenges due to a near-total internet blackout, but the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has confirmed more than 3,900 deaths, while other activist and medical sources inside Iran have cited figures ranging from 12,000 to 20,000 protester fatalities, according to CBS News.
Trump has repeatedly condemned the crackdown, urging protesters to continue their efforts and stating that “help is on its way.” The president has warned Tehran of “very strong action”—potentially including military measures—should executions of detained protesters proceed or the violence persist. The White House has said that all options remain under consideration, though to the eternal chagrin of warmongers like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), recent assessments suggest a possible deescalation.
Will the Telegraph cover ‘rich kids of Israel’ partying it up while bombs drop on Gaza?
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/21/2026 – 04:15
Accidente de tren de cercanías en Barcelona corta el servicio después de otro choque letal en España
Por SUMAN NAISHADHAM y JOSEPH WILSON
BARCELONA (AP) — El servicio de cercanías en la región de Cataluña, en el noreste de España, estaba suspendido el miércoles después de que uno de sus trenes se estrelló la noche anterior cerca de Barcelona, según las autoridades.
Al menos una persona murió y otras 37 resultaron heridas en el siniestro. Equipos de operarios trabajaron durante la noche para completar las labores de rescate. El tren chocó contra un muro de contención que cayó sobre las vías.
Mientras, los rescatistas seguían buscando más víctimas entre los escombros de un accidente letal en el servicio de alta velocidad el domingo en la región sureña de Andalucía, a unos 800 kilómetros (497 millas) de distancia. Al menos 42 personas que iban a bordo de los dos trenes fallecieron. El país estaba en el segundo de los tres días de luto declarados por las autoridades.
Los servicios de emergencia en Cataluña indicaron que de los 37 heridos por el choque del martes por la noche, cinco estaban graves. Los bomberos dijeron que la mayoría de los heridos viajaban en el primer vagón del tren y que se había evacuado a todos los pasajeros.
“Todo mi cariño y solidaridad con las víctimas y sus familias”, escribió el presidente del gobierno, Pedro Sánchez, en un mensaje en X tras enterarse del siniestro en Barcelona.
Aunque la red de trenes de alta velocidad española suele funcionar sin problemas y, al menos hasta el domingo, había sido sinónimo de confianza, los servicios de cercanías presentan más problemas de fiabilidad. Pese a esto, los accidentes con heridos o muertos no son habituales en ninguno de los dos casos.
El tren de cercanías se estrelló cerca de la localidad de Gelida, a unos 37 kms (23 millas) de Barcelona.
El operador ferroviario español, Adif, dijo que es probable que el muro de contención colapsara debido a las fuertes lluvias que azotaron la región noreste de España esta semana.
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Naishadham informó desde Madrid.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
German Chancellor Merz Admits Shutting Down Nuclear Energy Production Was A “Severe Strategic Mistake”
German Chancellor Merz Admits Shutting Down Nuclear Energy Production Was A “Severe Strategic Mistake”
Germany has a severe electricity shortage and cost problem, and it’s getting worse.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently made the admission that shutting down the German nuclear power reactors was a “severe strategic mistake.”
“To have acceptable market prices for energy production again, we would have to permanently subsidize energy prices from the federal budget,” Merz said, adding:
“We can’t do this in the long run.”
“So, we are now undertaking the most expensive energy transition in the entire world,” Merz said with pronounced frustration.
“I know of no other country that makes things so expensive and difficult as Germany.”
Merz’s government aims to solicit bids to build 8 gigawatts of new gas-fired power plants this year with the goal of having them online by 2031.
Another 4 gigawatts of capacity are foreseen for lower-carbon energy sources or gas plants that can switch to hydrogen more quickly.
Merz said on industry power price cuts that “the European Commission will also approve the combination of several options.”
Keep in mind, Germany represents the largest contributing economy in the European Union.
The German industrial sector is the backbone of the European economic model.
All of these realities paint a very tenuous picture for the economic future in Europe, when combined with a new trade relationship with the USA, increasingly cheap goods dumped into the EU by China and the EU promising to continue spending on the war effort in Ukraine against Russia.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/21/2026 – 03:30
Aliado clave de Yoon es condenado a 23 años por rebelión en crisis de ley marcial en Corea del Sur
Por HYUNG-JIN KIM
SEÚL, Corea del Sur (AP) — Un tribunal surcoreano dictaminó el miércoles que la imposición de la ley marcial en 2024 por el entonces presidente Yoon Suk Yeol constituyó un acto de rebelión, y sentenció a su primer ministro a 23 años de prisión por su implicación.
El ex primer ministro Han Duck-soo se convirtió en el primer funcionario de gobierno de Yoon condenado por cargos de rebelión relacionados con la imposición de la ley marcial por parte de Yoon en diciembre de 2024. Se espera que el veredicto siente las bases para los próximos fallos que involucren a Yoon y a sus otros asociados, quienes también enfrentan cargos de rebelión.
Han, quien fue nombrado primer ministro por Yoon, el segundo cargo de mayor rango en Corea del Sur, sirvió como uno de los tres líderes interinos durante los momentos de crisis de la ley marcial que llevaron al juicio político de Yoon y, eventualmente, a su destitución del cargo.
La rebelión es uno de los cargos más graves en Corea del Sur, y el fiscal independiente reclamó hace poco la pena de muerte para Yoon, quien fue acusado de ser el autor intelectual de una rebelión. El Tribunal del Distrito Central de Seúl debe dictar sentencia sobre los cargos de rebelión de Yoon el 19 de febrero.
En su veredicto televisado el miércoles, el tribunal de Seúl determinó que el decreto de ley marcial de Yoon equivalía a una rebelión, considerando su despliegue de tropas y agentes de policía al Parlamento y oficinas electorales como “un motín” o “un autogolpe” que tenía la intención de socavar el orden constitucional y era lo suficientemente grave como para perturbar la estabilidad en la región.
La corte sentenció a Han por desempeñar un papel clave en la rebelión de Yoon porque intentó dar legitimidad procesal al decreto de ley marcial de Yoon al aprobarlo en una reunión del Consejo de Gabinete. El tribunal también condenó a Han por falsificar la proclamación de la ley marcial, destruirla y mentir bajo juramento.
Han, quien podría apelar el fallo del miércoles, ha reiterado con firmeza que le dijo a Yoon que se oponía a su plan de ley marcial. Ha negado la mayoría de los otros cargos.
El tribunal dijo que Han, entonces primer ministro, descuidó sus responsabilidades de proteger la constitución, eligiendo en su lugar participar en la rebelión de Yoon con la creencia de que podría tener éxito.
“Debido a la acción del acusado, la República de Corea podría haber regresado a un oscuro pasado cuando los derechos básicos del pueblo y el orden democrático liberal fueron pisoteados, quedando atrapada en el pantano de las dictaduras por un período prolongado”, dijo el juez Lee Jin-gwan.
Después del fallo del tribunal, Han fue enviado inmediatamente a prisión, según el tribunal. A diferencia de Yoon, no había sido detenido antes de la sentencia. Su larga condena fue una sorpresa ya que el fiscal independiente había solicitado anteriormente 15 años de prisión.
Yoon, quien ya lleva meses en la cárcel, enfrenta ocho juicios penales, incluido su caso de rebelión sobre el decreto de ley marcial y otras acusaciones. Yoon recibió el viernes pasado una condena de cinco años de prisión en el tribunal de Seúl por desafiar los intentos de detenerlo, fabricar la proclamación de la ley marcial y negar a algunos miembros del gabinete sus derechos a deliberar sobre su decreto de ley marcial.
Yoon, un conservador, ha negado firmemente los cargos de rebelión, diciendo que solo pretendía obtener el apoyo público en su lucha contra el principal partido de oposición progresista, que obstruyó su agenda. En declaraciones en la vista del viernes, Yoon descalificó a las autoridades por sus investigaciones de rebelión, que tachó de “frenéticas”, argumentando que involucraban “manipulación” y “distorsión”.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
