Category: News
Obispo de Nueva Hampshire advierte sobre “martirio” en medio de redadas migratorias
CONCORD, Nueva Hampshire, EE.UU. (AP) — Un obispo episcopal de Nueva Hampshire está atrayendo la atención nacional después de advertir a su clero que finalicen sus testamentos y pongan sus asuntos en orden para prepararse para una “nueva era de martirio”.
El obispo Rob Hirschfeld de la Iglesia Episcopal de Nueva Hampshire hizo sus comentarios a principios de este mes en una vigilia en honor a Renee Good, quien fue asesinada a tiros el 7 de enero por un agente de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE).
La administración Trump ha defendido las acciones del agente, diciendo que disparó en defensa propia mientras estaba frente al vehículo de Good cuando comenzó a moverse hacia adelante. Esa explicación ha sido refutada por el alcalde de Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, el gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz, y otros, basándose en videos del enfrentamiento.
El discurso de Hirschfeld citó a varios miembros del clero histórico que arriesgaron sus vidas para proteger a otros, incluyendo a Jonathan Daniels, un estudiante de seminario de Nueva Hampshire que fue asesinado a tiros por un policía en Alabama mientras protegía a un joven activista de derechos civiles negro en 1965.
“He dicho al clero de la diócesis episcopal de Nueva Hampshire que podríamos estar entrando en ese mismo testimonio”, declaró Hirschfeld. “Y les he pedido que pongan sus asuntos en orden, que se aseguren de tener sus testamentos escritos, porque puede ser que ahora ya no sea el momento de hacer declaraciones, sino de nosotros, con nuestros cuerpos, interponernos entre los poderes de este mundo y los más vulnerables”.
Hirschfeld no llamó a la violencia, sino que dijo que las personas de fe cristiana no deberían temer a la muerte.
“Los que estamos listos para construir un nuevo mundo, también tenemos que estar preparados”, expresó. “Si realmente queremos vivir sin miedo, no podemos temer ni siquiera a la muerte misma, amigos míos”.
Otros líderes religiosos también han llamado a los cristianos a proteger a los vulnerables en medio de las masivas redadas de inmigrantes, incluyendo el reverendísimo Sean W. Rowe, el obispo presidente de la Iglesia Episcopal.
“Seguimos resistiendo, abogando, dando testimonio y reparando la brecha”, indicó Rowe durante una oración a principios de esta semana. “Seguimos protegiendo y cuidando a aquellos entre nosotros que son inmigrantes y refugiados porque son amados por Dios, y sin ellos, no podemos ser completamente la iglesia”.
En Minnesota, el reverendísimo Craig Loya instó a las personas a no responder “odio con odio”, sino a enfocarse en el amor en “un mundo que obviamente no está bien”.
“Vamos a actuar como nuestros antiguos ancestros y a poner el mundo patas arriba movilizándonos por amor”, dijo. “Vamos a interrumpir con la esperanza de Jesús. Vamos a agitar con el amor de Jesús”.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
The Real Watches Of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
The Real Watches Of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
Authored by Watches of Espionage,
Separating Fact from Fiction in Nicolás Maduro’s Watch Collection
On the morning of Saturday, 3 January 2026, the United States Military conducted an interagency mission to capture and arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. While the long term implications are still unknown and “analysis” has fallen along partisan lines, Operation Absolute Resolve appears to be a masterclass on modern warfare and frankly an operation that only the United States Military and Intelligence Community could carry out.
The situation is still developing, however according to an in-depth brief by Chairman of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, General “Razin” Caine, the operation was a highly coordinated effort involving more than 150 aircraft and some of the nation’s most elite units, including the U.S. Army’s elite Tier-1 special mission unit, officially 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), aka the “Night Stalkers”, and US Cyber Command.
Arguably, the most interesting aspect of the operation was the involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to press reporting, CIA deployed a small team into Venezuela as early as August 2025 to monitor Maduro’s “patterns of life.” In addition to that team, the agency reportedly used an asset placed close to Maduro himself, a human source inside or near his inner circle, who was able to track his location and provide real-time information during the operation. This asset, combined with SIGINT, ISR, and other intelligence collection, helped US SOF pinpoint Maduro’s exact whereabouts, enabling the raid’s timing and precision.
As always, watches are our prism for viewing the world and current events, so today we take a look at the watches of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Rolex Accusations – A Case of Disinformation
Criticising a leader for their expensive habits is as old as time (no pun intended), and often these criticisms are legitimate. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s watch collection is estimated to be valued over $1 million dollars, which is hard to explain given the Kremlin’s claimed salary of $140k per year.
Over the past few years, Spanish-language social media accounts and news outlets have promoted a theory that Maduro owns expensive Rolex references, often citing an interview where Maduro reportedly covers up a “Rolex” with his sleeve when the interviewer notices the watch. The only problem is that the watch in question is actually a Citizen, with a retail value of approximately $250.
To be clear, we are not defending Maduro, who was objectively a dictator. He dismantled democratic institutions, manipulated elections, and stayed in power through repression despite losing public support. Independent observers say he lost the July 2024 election, yet the regime declared him the winner without transparent results or audits, then responded to protests with arrests and violence.
That said, we should be honest and criticize him for his real faults, not fabricate additional shortcomings for social media. Whether this was an honest mistake, a coordinated disinformation campaign by the opposition, or an intelligence service is open for debate.
In reality, Maduro’s watch collection is diverse, intriguing, and even surprising. Some of his watches are, whether or not they carry the emotional weight of a brand name like Rolex, objectively expensive, while others would qualify as cheap to most.
Citizen Eco-Drive CA0131-55L
The watch Maduro wore the most publicly while in power was a humble chronograph from Citizen, a Japanese brand best known to the W.O.E. community for its Aqualand collection of dive watches. Former President Maduro’s Citizen appears to be the seldom-seen CA0131-55L, a 44mm titanium quartz chronograph equipped with Citizen’s Eco-Drive solar charging technology. Given that this reference has been discontinued for some time, it’s difficult to establish an exact retail price, but it likely would have cost no more than $250 to 300.
What made Maduro reach for this watch over the many more opulent options available to the president of an oil-rich country is anyone’s guess, but it would be fair to assume that optics played a role. Wearing an inexpensive Citizen sends a modest, everyman message to constituents and the broader world, one that quickly falls apart when a world leader straps on a watch from the heights of Swiss luxury.
Hublot Big Bang King Power Maradona
In 2024, during the summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), Maduro displayed another watch, which some have falsely reported as a Royal Oak Offshore. The watch, a Hublot Big Bang King Power Maradona, was released in 2012 and allegedly given to Maduro in 2018 at a campaign event in Caracas. Upon giving Maduro the watch, Maradona told him, “When you use it, remember that I will always be with you.”
Before his death in 2020, Maradona was an outspoken proponent of Maduro’s politics, earning fines for dedicating victories to the Venezuelan President while coaching professional soccer in Mexico. With a retail price of around $40,000 at the time, the 48mm rose gold chronograph calls into question the ethics of giving and receiving gifts while in political office, while also presenting issues concerning Maduro’s perception among Venezuelans and the rest of the world. Surprisingly, the $40k watch isn’t the most expensive timepiece Maduro has publicly worn.
Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Cruz-Diez
While it’s unclear whether he actually owned the watch, Maduro was also photographed wearing yet another Hublot in December 2024: the Hublot Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez Platinum Tourbillon. The watch was revealed in 2015 and is either a pièce unique or part of an extremely limited run created by Hublot in collaboration with Carlos Cruz-Diez, a celebrated Venezuelan artist known for modernist, avant-garde works. Executed in a 45mm platinum case and equipped with a tourbillon at six o’clock, a similar example of the watch is currently available from a US-based dealer for $85,000.
Admittedly, only a few photos show Maduro wearing the Hublot, meaning it was perhaps loaned to him or, if he owns it, he had the sense not to wear it excessively for fear of perception-related challenges and media scrutiny.
Chopard & Bovet
Perhaps more damning than anything previously listed here are a pair of watches representing the heights of Swiss artisanal watchmaking. First is a watch from Chopard’s L.U.C. collection, which is where the brand showcases its métiers d’art in hand-crafted watches, many of which feature hand-engraving, painting, or enameling, in addition to manufacture calibers.
In November 2024, Maduro wore what appears to be a Chopard L.U.C. Urushi Year of the Dragon watch with a dial decorated in Japan with Urushi lacquer, gold powder, and mother-of-pearl inlays. There are a bunch of different variations, and it’s difficult to say which Maduro has. In any case, priced over $30,000, Maduro’s Chopard elicits further questions about the Venezuelan President’s horological habits and high-end taste.
The last known piece of Maduro’s collection is a bit of a mystery, but it is most likely a pièce unique from Bovet, possibly based on the Amadeo Fleurier 43, with a custom dial. Like Chopard, Bovet 1822 is known for delicate hand crafts, intricate dials, and enameling, with Maduro’s watch showcasing an enameled dial in addition to Bovet’s signature lug architecture.
Comparables are scarce, but it would be fair to assume a watch like this came with a price point in the hundreds of thousands of US dollars, making it potentially the most expensive, but also the least identifiable piece in his collection.
What Happened to the Watches?
According to press reports, Maduro was captured in a safe house in Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex. In the first confirmed pictures post-arrest, he is seen wearing a Nike sweatsuit, a watch notably absent. While speculation, this grey suit was likely provided by the Delta operators who likely would have stripped him of all belongings while on target, to mitigate concealed beacons or explosives. This would likely include the watch on his wrist.
During the Global War on Terror, all personal items and communications would be bagged and brought back to a central location for intelligence processing, a process called Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE). It is safe to assume at least some of the belongings were retrieved and likely documented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), including a Huawei phone given to him by China’s Xi Jinping in September 2025 when he claimed, “Huawei, the best phone in the world, the Huawei, and the Americans can’t hack it, neither their spy planes, nor their satellites.” A comment that did not age well.
So in short, the watches are likely still in Venezuela, although I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one is on display in a team room in North Carolina…
Final Thoughts
Watches rarely tell the whole story, but they often reveal more than their wearers intend. In Maduro’s case, the duality between a carefully cultivated image of modesty and the reality of repeatedly wearing six-figure Swiss complications mirrors the broader contradictions of his rule. The Citizen on the wrist played well for the cameras. The Hublots, Chopard, and a possible Bovet told a different story to anyone paying attention. As with most authoritarian regimes, optics mattered until they didn’t, and eventually, reality caught up.
At W.O.E., this exercise was never about defending a dictator or piling on with lazy internet outrage. It was about accuracy, context, and using watches as a lens to better understand current events and national security.
Watches are tools, symbols, and sometimes props. In this case, they were all three. Whatever ultimately happens to Maduro’s collection, the takeaway is clear. Use objective analysis to criticize leaders for what they actually do, not what social media wants you to believe.
* * *
If you enjoyed this article, please consider signing up for our weekly free newsletter for further updates HERE.
Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/18/2026 – 11:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/real-watches-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro
Indiana DOE, Notre Dame link to win federal literacy grant
The Indiana Department of Education, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame, has received a $10 million federal Innovation and Research grant to improve student literacy.
Officials announced the grant at the Jan. 14 State Board of Education meeting.
They said Indiana was one of 10 states receiving the grant this year to improve literacy practices, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Officials said Indiana’s proposal focused on strengthening evidence-based literacy instruction aligned to the science of reading phonics-based approach.
Notre Dame’s model, called Tutor-ND, expands tutoring access by building capacity in schools and community organizations with its training.
“Central to our state’s continued improvement in literacy is bringing everyone to the table to identify and deploy solutions,” said Secretary of Education Katie Jenner.
A release said Notre Dame’s approach has produced strong early outcomes, especially in the science of reading priorities.
“The Tutor-ND program reflects the university’s long-standing commitment to expanding educational opportunities through data-driven practices and partnerships that strengthen communities,” said Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/indiana-doe-notre-dame-link-to-win-federal-literacy-grant/
Report says business is booming in Lake County: ‘We continue to see extensive growth’
Investment by businesses continues to grow in Lake County, and it made its biggest jump yet in 2025 when companies collectively invested $633 million in capital projects in building or improving their facilities.
Over the past five years, $1.83 billion has been spent for that purpose.
Kevin Considine, the president and CEO of Lake County Partners, said the not-for-profit business development organization tracks a five-year capital investment total each year. It exceeded $1 billion for the first time in 2023 at $1.23 billion for the five years ending then.
In 2025, businesses spent an aggregate of $633 million to build, expand or improve facilities, according to Lake County Partners’ annual report released Jan. 9 in Lincolnshire.
The $633 million for 2025 provided 35.7% of the capital spending in the county for the past five years. It is a leading factor making the past year the strongest for the county for at least the past 28 years.
“Lake County has been on an upward trend for a number of years, and that really accelerated in 2025,” Considine said. “We continue to see extensive growth, especially in manufacturing, in our targeted sectors of pharmaceuticals, metal devices and high-tech plastics.”
AbbVie’s corporate headquarters are located in North Chicago. Its $195 million investment in a plant to make pharmaceuticals was a key element of business growth in Lake County last year. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Business had a record year in 2025, adding hundreds of jobs and retaining hundreds more throughout Lake County, with Fortune Brands substantially expanding its Deerfield corporate headquarters and AbbVie planning a $195 million plant in North Chicago, playing key roles.
Considine said that along with single moves by Fortune Brands, AbbVie and others, companies like Belle Aire Creations in Libertyville and Round Lake, as well as FLEX expanded a second time in the past few years.
“Fortune Brands was the single largest factor by a long shot,” Considine said. “Seeing companies we helped to grow, grow again is pretty cool. There was a good geographic spread throughout Lake County.”
During 2025, 862 new jobs were created in the county and another 1,333 retained as employers kept them local rather than going across the state line to Wisconsin or elsewhere, according to the report. GDP in Lake County grew 3.2%, compared to 2% estimates for the country.
Lake County received national attention over the summer when it was named one of the top 10 counties — 10th overall — out of 3,154 in the United States by Site Selection Magazine, in part for its job creation, industry expansion and proximity to Chicago.
“We have a highly educated workforce in a prime area to help businesses grow or expand,” Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said at the time. “Our businesses have what they need for success, which is good for the people of Lake County.”
Considine said the communities within Lake County provide places for people to live with a variety of different vibes for many lifestyles.
When Fortune Brands — makers of products like Moen Faucets and Master Lock, among many other name brands — decided to vastly expand its 135-person corporate headquarters, lifestyle was one of the reasons it chose Deerfield to relocate hundreds of people from around the country.
“There are great schools, it’s close to Lake Michigan and accessible to downtown Chicago,” Leigh Avsec, the company’s head of external affairs, said in October. “It’s a very special place,” she added, noting the proximity to O’Hare International Airport, Interstate 94, and train connections.
Bringing executives from all of its product lines together required a place where Fortune Brands could potentially employ 1,000 people. The company is using two of three midrise buildings on Lake Cook Road in Deerfield, once occupied by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Takeda left for Boston six years ago.
A longtime fixture in North Chicago and Waukegan, AbbVie, one of the largest biomedical companies in the world, ranking just below Pfizer, announced in August that it was spending $195 million to build a facility to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients for its medicines.
One of the companies undergoing its second expansion in the past four years is Belle Aire. It makes flavors and fragrances for numerous products. Jason Dhaliwal, the company’s chief operating officer, said it opened two new facilities in that span.
Dhaliwal said in December that Belle Aire outgrew its original space in Mundelein and moved to Round Lake Park in 2021. The following year, it opened a facility in Libertyville for its corporate headquarters and to house a creative center. It grew from 60 employees in 2000 to more than 200.
Flex, a global manufacturer based in Singapore with a facility in Buffalo Grove, is increasing its presence in Lake County with a 335,000-square-foot plant in Libertyville, according to the report. It will initially bring 200 new jobs, with the potential to add another 200 as demand increases.
Developing a workforce for the jobs being created — particularly in manufacturing — is another contribution to continued business growth in Lake County. Considine said area residents receive training locally.
Considine said a “workforce ecosystem partnership” between the College of Lake County, Lake County Workforce Development, the Regional Office of Education, Lake County Partners and several businesses keeps skilled workers flowing into needed positions.
“Existing businesses need to grow,” Considine said. “They know they can find the workforce here.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/lake-county-business-growth/
Más países confirman invitaciones al Consejo de Paz para Gaza
JERUSALÉN (AP) — Al menos cuatro países más dijeron el domingo que Estados Unidos los ha invitado a unirse a la “Junta de la Paz” del presidente Donald Trump, un nuevo organismo destinado a supervisar los próximos pasos en Gaza que muestra ambiciones de un mandato más amplio en los asuntos globales.
Una contribución de 1.000 millones de dólares asegura la membresía permanente en la junta liderada por Trump en lugar de un nombramiento de tres años, que no tiene requisito de contribución, según un funcionario de Estados Unidos que habló bajo condición de anonimato sobre la carta, que no se ha hecho pública. El funcionario dijo que el dinero recaudado se destinaría a la reconstrucción de Gaza.
La junta estará compuesta por líderes mundiales. Estados Unidos está previsto a anunciar su lista oficial de miembros en los próximos días, probablemente durante la reunión del Foro Económico Mundial en Davos, Suiza.
El domingo, Jordania, Grecia, Chipre y Pakistán reportaron haber recibido recibido invitaciones para unirse a la junta. Canadá, Turquía, Egipto, Paraguay, Argentina y Albania ya han dicho que fueron invitados. No estaba claro cuántos han sido invitados en total.
Los miembros de la junta supervisarán los próximos pasos en Gaza a medida que el alto al fuego que entró en vigor el 10 de octubre avanza hacia su desafiante segunda fase. Esto incluye un nuevo comité palestino en Gaza, el despliegue de una fuerza de seguridad internacional, el desarme de Hamás y la reconstrucción del territorio devastado por la guerra.
En cartas enviadas el viernes a líderes mundiales invitándolos a ser “miembros fundadores”, Trump dijo que la Junta de la Paz “emprendería un nuevo enfoque audaz para resolver conflictos globales”.
Eso podría convertirse en un potencial rival de las Naciones Unidas, el organismo global creado tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Su influencia ha sido disminuida por importantes recortes de fondos por parte de la administración Trump y otros donantes, y su órgano más poderoso, el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU, ha sido bloqueado debido a que vetos de Estados Unidos le han impedido tomar medidas para poner fin a la guerra en Gaza.
Las cartas de invitación de Trump para la Junta de la Paz señalaron que el Consejo de Seguridad había respaldado el plan estadounidense que incluye la creación de la junta. Las cartas fueron publicadas en redes sociales por algunos de los invitados.
La Casa Blanca también anunció la semana pasada un comité ejecutivo de líderes que llevará a cabo la visión de la Junta de la Paz, pero Israel objetó el sábado que el comité “no fue coordinado con Israel y es contrario a su política”, sin dar detalles. La declaración de la oficina del primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu fue una rara crítica a su cercano aliado en Washington.
Los miembros del comité ejecutivo incluyen al secretario de Estado Marco Rubio, el enviado de Trump Steve Witkoff, el yerno de Trump Jared Kushner, el ex primer ministro británico Tony Blair, el presidente del Banco Mundial Ajay Banga y el asesor adjunto de seguridad nacional de Trump Robert Gabriel, junto con un empresario israelí, el multimillonario Yakir Gabay.
Los miembros también incluyen representantes de los monitores del alto al fuego Qatar, Egipto y Turquía. Turquía tiene una relación tensa con Israel pero buenas relaciones con Hamás y podría desempeñar un papel importante en persuadir al grupo para que ceda el poder en Gaza y se desarme.
___________________________________
El corresponsal Joshua Boak contribuyó a esta nota desde West Palm Beach, Florida.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Chicago weather: Bears issue weather advisory ahead of playoff game
Bundle up, Bears fans. Sunday’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams will be a cold one, with temperatures dropping into the mid-teens.
Fans can expect temperatures around 18 to 20 degrees at the start of the game, said Zachary Yack, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Toward the end of the game, temperatures will drop to around 15 degrees.
Those driving to the game should add in some extra travel time, Yack said, as snow is expected later this afternoon and into the evening. According to Yack, accumulation will likely range between a half an inch to an inch in most places, but areas near the Wisconsin border may get up to two inches of snow.
Yack recommends fans in the stadium bundle up tonight.
“You’re trying to limit as much exposed skin as possible, so scarves, hats, gloves and definitely a warm jacket,” Yack said. “Maybe even wear multiple layers if you can.”
The Bears also recommend dressing warm for the game. The team issued an advisory with ways to stay warm, like bringing blankets to Soldier Field.
Warming stations will be located behind Section 146, on the Service Level near Dr Pepper Patio, at the top of the stairs by Gate 31 and on the south side of the colonnades.
Hot chocolate, coffee, chili and handwarmers will be available for purchase, according to the advisory. The Bears also reminded fans that dehydration is still possible in cold weather, so be sure to drink water.
Brrrrr down: The coldest Chicago Bears games played at Soldier Field
The worst of the weather will hit just after the game, Yack said. Temperatures will plummet into the single digits, with 3 to 4 degree overnight lows downtown. After midnight, wind gusts will peak at 30 to 40 miles per hour, Yack said.
Wind chills of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees will start off Monday morning, Yack said. The National Weather Service forecast shows a high of 7 degrees during the day Monday, and the agency issued a cold weather advisory from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The rest of the week will also see cold temperatures, according to the forecast, although not as frigid as Monday. Highs on Tuesday and Thursday will be in the low 20s, and Wednesday has a high of 30 degrees. Friday will bring a high of 29 degrees before cooling again on Saturday to a high of 18 degrees.
Chicago may experience snowfall starting late Tuesday night into Wednesday, and then again on Friday and Saturday, according to the forecast.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/cold-temperatures-for-bears-game/
Trump In First Suggests Iran Regime Change: ‘Time To Look For New Leadership’
Trump In First Suggests Iran Regime Change: ‘Time To Look For New Leadership’
The deadly unrest and protests in Iran have largely gone quiet, but White House pressure on Tehran has not. President Trump over the weekend for the first time in the two-week crisis called for the end of the Iranian Supreme Leader’s rule. His words came in an interview with Politico:
President Donald Trump on Saturday called for an end to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s 37-year reign.
“It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump told POLITICO, as widespread protests calling for an end to the regime appear to have waned.
“The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people,” Trump said. “His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership.”
Days prior into last week, it became clear that Trump would hold off striking Iran. He described that the killing had stopped, and that Iranian leaders agreed to not execute any protesters.
Recent reporting in major US news sources also indicated that the Pentagon could not assure success in taking out top leadership if strikes on Tehran were authorized. This figured strongly into Trump’s holding off.
Referencing Ayatollah Khamenei, Trump told Politico further, “The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago.”
It’s unclear where this 800 figure comes from, as there’s an absence to any such reference from Iranian officials or state media. Typically when the Islamic Republic executes someone, it is highly publicized by state sources as a stern message and warning to the public or other potential criminals.
Khamenei himself isn’t backing down, and is also engaging in accusatory rhetoric aimed at Trump. After linking US and Israeli intelligence to the protests in which “thousands” were killed (Iran has made clear that among these were many police and security forces), the top Shia cleric has said as follows:
“We find the US President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation,” Khamenei wrote.
But probably Khamenei is holding back his rhetoric to some degree, not wishing to provoke Trump into attacking Iran at a delicate moment, also when the economy and currency are in a tailspin. Trump responded:
Trump, after being read the posts, said Tehran’s rulers rely on repression and violence to govern. “What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before,” Trump said. “In order to keep the country functioning — even though that function is a very low level — the leadership should focus on running his country properly, like I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control.”
There are fresh reports Sunday that internet access is slowly coming back to Iran, after the say prior SMS messaging was restored – though it’s expected that authorities will continue to keep a ban on certain US and Western-based apps and communications platforms.
ℹ️ Update: While ordinary internet connectivity in #Iran remains disrupted at hour 238, traffic data indicate a significant return to some online services including Google, suggesting that heavily filtered access has been enabled, corroborating user reports of partial restoration pic.twitter.com/YR1YfkxZCU
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 18, 2026
While Trump has refrained from attacking Iran, US military assets are said to be en route to the Middle East and CENTCOM area of responsibility. The bulk of the US Navy’s strike group has been in the Caribbean, after the Jan.3rd operation to oust Maduro.
Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/18/2026 – 11:05
A los 45 años, Venus Williams fija récord en el Abierto de Australia pero cae en primera ronda
Por JOHN PYE
MANCHESTER, Inglaterra (AP) — Tomó 45 años estar en una posición para establecer un récord que ha atraído tanta atención. Así que otros 14 minutos y medio sirviendo para mantener vivas sus esperanzas en el Abierto de Australia no parecieron nada para Venus Williams.
Situada en el puesto número 576 del ranking mundial y jugando gracias a una invitación especial, la campeona de siete torneos de Grand Slam lideraba 4-0 en el tercer set el domingo antes de que Olga Danilovic se recuperara para ganar seis juegos consecutivos. La serbia logró el quiebre vital en un largo penúltimo juego, anotándose una victoria 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
“Fue una increíble experiencia en la cancha hoy”, dijo Williams, quien dejó el estadio con una sonrisa y un saludo.
Al disputar la primera ronda, Williams se convirtió en la mujer de mayor edad en competir en el cuadro principal de individuales del Abierto de Australia, superando la marca establecida por la japonesa Kimiko Date, quien tenía 44 años cuando perdió en la primera ronda en 2015.
“Estoy realmente orgullosa de mi esfuerzo hoy porque estoy jugando mejor con cada partido, llegando a los lugares a los que quiero llegar”, dijo Williams. “Ahora mismo, solo tengo que seguir adelante y trabajar en mí misma y trabajar para controlar mis errores”.
“Esas son cosas, también, que vienen con jugar partidos adicionales… todas esas cosas que todavía estoy aprendiendo. Es un poco raro, pero es súper emocionante haber jugado tan bien y ponerme en esa posición y llegar muy cerca”, agregó.
Tenía 17 años cuando debutó por primera vez en el Abierto de Australia en 1998, alcanzando los cuartos de final. Esta fue su 22º participación en el Melbourne Park, donde perdió finales contra su hermana Serena, en 2003 y 2017.
Williams se casó en diciembre con Andrea Preti y la pareja viajó junta a Melbourne.
Williams estaba decidida no solo a romper el récord de edad de Date. Tenía en la mira avanza para enfrentar más adelante Coco Gauff.
Después de dividir los dos primeros sets, Williams fue agresiva y perdió apenas cinco puntos en los primeros cuatro juegos del tercer set, mostrando su clase de antaño. Danilovic, 68 en el ranking, logró reaccionar al apelar a la potencia de su forehand.
“Me dije a mí misma antes del partido que realmente quería aprovechar este momento: jugar contra Venus Williams es algo que no puedo dar por sentado”, dijo Danilovic. “Con el 4-0, dije ‘solo juega’.
“Fue un placer jugar contra una leyenda así”, subrayó.
Con el marcador igualado 4-4 en el set decisivo, Williams sacó durante 14 minutos y 28 segundos, salvando dos puntos de quiebre. Dispuso de varias ocasiones para llevarse el juego a fuerza de potentes devoluciones y aces antes de finalmente sucumbir.
“Fue un gran juego, un gran momento. La energía de la multitud fue increíble. Eso me estimuló mucho”, dijo Williams sobre ese penúltimo juego con su saque. “Ella jugó un gran juego. También, algo de suerte allí. Así es el deporte. Así es como funciona a veces. Pero fue un momento increíble”.
Danilovic sacó con calma, sentenciándolo en dos horas y 17 minutos cuando un golpe de derecha de Williams rozó la red y aterrizó justo fuera de la línea en el match point.
Williams se presentó al Abierto de Australia inmersa en una racha de cinco derrotas consecutivas desde la primera y única victoria en su regreso a la gira en Washington el año pasado. Su regreso al Abierto de Estados Unidos el pasado agosto también terminó en la primera ronda.
“Sí, con 4-0 me sentí bien. Además, es la mayor ventaja que he tenido desde que regresé”, dijo Williams. “De muchas maneras, estoy teniendo que reaprender cómo hacer las cosas de nuevo, si eso tiene algún sentido”.
Continuará ese proceso en los dobles en Melbourne Park, luego pensará en su calendario para el resto de 2026.
“Ahora mismo estoy muy metida en el torneo”, dijo. “Mi próximo enfoque son los dobles. Así que ahí es donde está mi cabeza”.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Europe warns of ‘dangerous downward spiral’ after Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland
BERLIN — The eight European countries targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump for a 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland blasted the move Sunday, warning that the American leader’s threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”
In an unusual and very strong joint statement coming from major U.S. allies, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland on Sunday said troops sent to Greenland for the Danish military training exercise “Arctic Endurance” pose “no threat to anyone.”
Trump’s Saturday announcement sets up a potentially dangerous test of U.S. partnerships in Europe. The Republican president appeared to indicate that he was using the tariffs as leverage to force talks over the status of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark that he regards as critical to U.S. national security.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the group said. “Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”
There are immediate questions about how the White House could try to implement the tariffs because the EU is a single economic zone in terms of trading. It was unclear, too, how Trump could act under U.S. law, though he could cite emergency economic powers that are currently subject to a U.S. Supreme Court challenge.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said China and Russia will benefit from the divisions between the U.S. and Europe. She added in a post on social media: “If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO. Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity.”
Trump’s move was also panned domestically.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, a former U.S. Navy pilot and Democrat who represents Arizona, posted that Trump’s threatened tariffs on U.S. allies would make Americans “pay more to try to get territory we don’t need.”
“Troops from European countries are arriving in Greenland to defend the territory from us. Let that sink in,” he wrote on social media. “The damage this President is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing, making us less safe. If something doesn’t change we will be on our own with adversaries and enemies in every direction.”
‘These tariffs will hurt us’
Six of the countries targeted are part of the 27-member EU, which operates as a single economic zone in terms of trading. It was not immediately clear if Trump’s tariffs would impact the entire bloc. EU envoys scheduled emergency talks for Sunday evening to determine a potential response.
The tariff announcement even drew blowback from Trump’s populist allies in Europe.
Italy’s right-wing premier, Giorgia Meloni, considered one of Trump’s closest allies on the continent, said Sunday she had spoken to him about the tariffs, which she described as “a mistake.”
The deployment to Greenland of small numbers of troops by some European countries was misunderstood by Washington, Meloni told reporters. She said the deployment was not a move against the U.S. but aimed to provide security against “other actors” that she didn’t name.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media that “no intimidation or threats will influence us, whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world when we are faced with such situations.” He added that “tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”
Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party in France and also a European Parliament lawmaker, posted that the EU should suspend last year’s tariff deal with the U.S., describing Trump’s threats as “commercial blackmail.”
Trump also achieved the rare feat of uniting Britain’s main political parties — including the hard-right Reform UK party — all of whom criticized the tariff threat.
“We don’t always agree with the U.S. government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us,” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a longtime champion and ally of Trump, wrote on social media. He stopped short of criticizing Trump’s designs on Greenland.
Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who leads the center-left Labour Party, said the tariffs announcement was “completely wrong” and his government would “be pursuing this directly with the U.S. administration.”
The foreign ministers of Denmark and Norway are also expected to address the crisis Sunday in Oslo during a news conference.
Leicester reported from Paris and Cook from Brussels. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Aamer Madhani in Washington and Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/trump-tariff-threat-greenland/
Lake County whittles away at glut of local government units: ‘A lot of overhead that should be looked at’
Last month’s Lake County Board vote to dissolve the Avon-Fremont Drainage District marked the ninth unit of local government to begin the dissolution or consolidation process since 2017, an effort that has been praised in a state infamous for its bureaucratic glut.
The Avon-Fremont Drainage District is one of four such remaining districts in Lake County. State code allows drainage districts to be dissolved if each municipality within its borders and the county agree to dissolution, as long as there are no outstanding debts and dissolution won’t stop any federal or state permits or grants.
Chicago-based research institute The Civic Federation, which advocates for the elimination of excess government bodies, has previously praised Lake County for its efforts. Still more could be on the chopping block, as county staff and leadership argue the merits of eliminating redundant taxing bodies.
Depending on who is doing the counting, Illinois has between about 7,000 and 9,000 units of government, based on numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and The Civic Federation, respectively, with the discrepancy due to disagreements over the technical qualifications of a government body. Regardless, Illinois has many thousands more than any other state in the country.
“Illinois has the most units of local government across the United States by a long shot,” Lake County Deputy Administrator Matt Meyers said. “That’s a lot of overhead that should be looked at.”
County Board Chair Sandy Hart has been a vocal advocate for cutting smaller redundant units of government in the county, viewing it as a way to save residents money.
That means targeting sanitary, drainage and mosquito abatement districts — largely single-issue government bodies whose responsibilities, Hart argued, can be covered by the municipalities.
Lake County’s 2025 report included a rundown of those efforts since 2017, starting with the dissolution of the Round Lake Sanitary District. The next year, the Seavey Drainage District was dissolved, followed by the Beach Park Drainage District and Lake Bluff Mosquito Abatement District in 2021.
In 2023, the Lakes Region Sanitary District dissolved and the Skokie East and West Drainage Districts consolidated into the Skokie Consolidated Drainage District. The dissolution process for Slocum Lake and Avon-Fremont Drainage Districts kicked off in 2025.
What was not included in the list was the South Lake Mosquito Abatement District, the last of its kind in Lake County, which was merged with the neighboring North Shore Mosquito Abatement District in Cook County last year.
But dissolution requires buy-in from the municipalities, Hart said, and the county’s reach is limited to districts it has some degree of authority over — those that extend beyond the boundaries of a singular township. In these cases, the County Board appoints members to the districts’ boards.
It was “critical” to evaluate these units of government to make sure they were still needed, Hart said, which is particularly the case for drainage districts when the county has a “nationally recognized and awarded” Stormwater Management Commission.
Eliminating these taxing bodies means doing the work more efficiently and effectively while saving taxpayer dollars, Hart argued. Meyers laid out the fundamental redundancies.
“We have all these units of government that all need attorney support; they need consultant support; they need engineering support; they need financial support,” Meyers said. “They’re all hiring consultants or staff that are completing those tasks across every single one of these units of local government.”
In the Avon-Fremont Drainage District, residents were essentially “getting taxed twice,” Hart said, paying for both the drainage district and the county.
Critics of such government units, including Hart, have described them as hold-overs from bygone eras. Such districts may have served a role when the county was made up of farmland, but “times have changed,” and “the government needs to change,” she said.
“The county doesn’t get anything out of this,” Hart said. “It’s not like we get additional revenues. It’s all on behalf of the taxpayers.”
There could be more dissolutions and consolidations in the future. Hart said she can think of a handful of sanitary and drainage districts currently being evaluated.
“Maybe it does make sense to have just one group of people working on a drainage district, but I just struggle understanding how that makes sense when we have an agency that is literally called the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission,” Hart said.
According to Meyers, that includes the Del Mar Woods Sanitary District, created in the late 1970s by residents of the Del Mar Woods subdivision to maintain recently installed sanitary sewer pipes.
While it still technically exists, it has “performed few functions” in the last decade, the county said in an online report, with infrequent meetings and no assessed levy in “many years.” Meyers said the county has struggled to find willing appointees, and they will likely look to dissolve the district and find a government able to take over running the infrastructure.
However, dissolution isn’t always the best path forward, Meyers said. He pointed to the case of the East and West Skokie drainage districts, which run from as far north as Park City all the way down to the county border. It was ultimately decided that consolidation was the best course of action, given “the amount of work that they do, and how involved they are,” Meyers said.
“There’s other districts that we’ve taken a look at, and considered the type of work they’re doing and how much overhead they have, and it still makes sense for such districts to continue to function,” he said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/lake-county-government-units/
