Category: News
Diputados argentinos aprueban presupuesto de 2026; Milei sufre revés con un apartado
Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Con un oficialismo empoderado tras la victoria en las elecciones legislativas de octubre, el ultraliberal presidente argentino Javier Milei logró que la Cámara de Diputados aprobara el jueves el proyecto de presupuesto de 2026 que estipula un crecimiento económico de 5% y una inflación de 10,1% anual.
Con 132 votos a favor, 97 en contra y 19 abstenciones, la cámara baja aprobó en general la previsión de gastos e ingresos del Estado para el próximo año. Sin embargo, el oficialismo no consiguió la sanción de un controvertido capítulo que contemplaba la derogación de leyes que mejoran el financiamiento para las universidades públicas y las prestaciones por discapacidad.
Ese mismo apartado incluía eliminar la actualización automática de una ayuda que el Estado debe dar a familias sin empleo.
El proyecto de presupuesto será ahora enviado al Senado para su tratamiento.
El partido oficialista La Libertad Avanza, que se convirtió en la primera minoría en la Cámara de Diputados tras el triunfo electoral del 26 de octubre, contó con el respaldo de fuerzas aliadas que condicionaron su apoyo a los artículos más polémicos a cambio de concesiones como aportes del tesoro nacional para sus provincias.
De aprobarse en el Senado, será el primer presupuesto nacional de la gestión de Milei. En sus primeros dos años de gobierno, en los que su partido tenía poco peso legislativo, el mandatario gestionó con una prórroga del correspondiente a 2023 de la anterior gestión del peronista Alberto Fernández (2019-2023).
Diputados de la oposición cuestionaron el proyecto oficialista. “Este presupuesto ratifica el rumbo impuesto por Milei de más ajuste, más recesión, pérdida de salario y de consumo”, dijo la diputada Victoria Tolosa Paz, del peronismo —la principal fuerza de la oposición que votó en contra, al igual que la izquierda—.
Otros opositores consideraron que el presupuesto presentado por el gobierno es “ficticio” por subestimar el alza de los precios.
En tanto, la Federación Universitaria Argentina, máximo órgano de representación de los estudiantes, celebró luego de la votación que el financiamiento para el sector sobreviviera en la Cámara de Diputados.
El proyecto oficial de presupuesto contempla un superávit primario del 1,2% del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) y un superávit financiero de 0,3% del PBI. Además, prevé una inflación de 10,1% —se espera que este año cierre en torno del 30%— y un crecimiento de 5%.
Además proyecta un dólar a 1.423 pesos por unidad para diciembre de 2026 —actualmente cotiza a 1.480— y un incremento de 10,6% de las exportaciones y de 11% de las importaciones.
Inicia en Phoenix la conferencia juvenil Turning Point sin Charlie Kirk, su fundador
By JONATHAN J. COOPER
PHOENIX (AP) — Turning Point USA, la organización juvenil conservadora que Charlie Kirk convirtió en una fuerza política, convocará su conferencia más representativa el jueves por primera vez desde el asesinato de su carismático fundador, poniendo a prueba la durabilidad de un movimiento fracturado que ayudó al presidente Donald Trump a volver a la Casa Blanca.
Kirk fue una figura unificadora de la derecha estadounidense al reunir a estudiantes universitarios, influencers de Internet y políticos republicanos. Pero ahora, el ala populista del partido está en desacuerdo sobre el significado de “Estados Unidos Primero” y el futuro de un movimiento definido más por la fuerza de la personalidad de Trump que por la lealtad a un proyecto ideológico particular.
Se espera que miles de personas asistan a la reunión de cuatro días en Phoenix. Se prevé la aparición del vicepresidente JD Vance, personalidades de los medios y un puñado de funcionarios del gobierno de Trump, además de bandas de rock cristiano y pastores. Los asistentes tendrán la oportunidad de tomarse selfies con figuras populares y participar en discusiones sobre organización política, religión y críticas conservadoras a la cultura estadounidense.
Erika Kirk, la viuda de Charlie, tendrá un papel destacado como la nueva líder de la organización. La conferencia promete ser un amplio homenaje a su esposo, a quien muchas personas de derecha consideran un mártir del conservadurismo y el cristianismo tras su asesinato a los 31 años.
Tyler Robinson, el joven de 22 años acusado de disparar y matar a Kirk mientras hablaba en la Universidad del Valle de Utah en septiembre, compareció ante el tribunal la semana pasada. El presunto atacante no ha presentado una declaración de culpabilidad. Las autoridades afirman que le dijo a su pareja romántica que mató a Kirk porque “estaba harto de su odio”.
La última vez que Turning Point celebró su conferencia AmericaFest, semanas después de la victoria de Trump hace un año, el movimiento MAGA estaba eufórico mientras los republicanos se preparaban para una nueva era de control total en Washington.
Ahora, el partido enfrenta las desafiantes elecciones intermedias, mientras que la Constitución prohíbe que Trump se postule nuevamente y sus acólitos con mayor motivación ideológica se posicionan para dirigir el movimiento cuando él deje el cargo. Mientras tanto, los conservadores se han visto sacudidos por conflictos sobre el antisemitismo en sus filas, que Trump se ha negado a mediar.
Una alineación de influencers MAGA
Turning Point es conocido por eventos con una gran producción que parecen más conciertos de rock o ceremonias en megaiglesias que mítines políticos, con todo y pirotecnia y bajos que estremecen el suelo.
La lista de oradores es un “quién es quién” de influencers conservadores y pastores, e incluye a algunos que han reñido abiertamente entre sí en las últimas semanas. Entre ellos están algunos de los nombres más importantes en los medios MAGA, como Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Jesse Watters, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro y Jack Posobiec.
La lucha por la influencia se aceleró tras la muerte de Kirk, lo que dejó un vacío en la organización que fundó y en el movimiento conservador en general.
“Charlie era la figura unificadora del movimiento”, dijo Michael Knowles, comentarista conservador, en un evento de Turning Point pocas semanas después de la muerte de Kirk.
“El mayor peligro ahora es que, sin esa figura única de la que todos éramos amigos, que realmente podía mantenerlo todo unido, las cosas podrían desviarse en diferentes direcciones”, afirmó. “Tenemos que asegurarnos de que eso no suceda”.
Una de las fisuras que se han profundizado desde la muerte de Kirk es si los republicanos deberían continuar su apoyo inquebrantable a Israel y la guerra en Gaza. También hay preocupaciones sobre si el movimiento debiera incluir a personas con puntos de vista antijudíos.
La escisión estalló a la vista cuando el jefe de la influyente Fundación Heritage, Kevin Roberts, defendió a Carlson por realizar una entrevista amistosa con el podcaster Nick Fuentes, cuyos seguidores, conocidos como “groypers”, trabajan para preservar una identidad blanca y cristiana en Estados Unidos, según sus propias declaraciones. Los comentarios de Roberts provocaron indignación entre algunos miembros del personal de Heritage, senadores y activistas conservadores.
Fuentes había reñido durante mucho tiempo con Kirk, quien trabajó para marginarlo dentro del movimiento conservador. Los groypers disfrutaban interrumpiendo eventos de Turning Point para debatir con Kirk.
Carlson y Shapiro, quien ha criticado duramente a Fuentes y Carlson, tienen previsto hablar el jueves, el primer día de la conferencia.
Erika Kirk enfrenta conspiraciones
Turning Point también ha enfrentado turbulencias por teorías de conspiración difundidas por Candace Owens, una exempleada que presenta un podcast muy popular. Owens ha alegado sin pruebas que espías israelíes participaron en la muerte de Kirk y que fue traicionado por personas cercanas a él. Las autoridades dicen que Robinson actuó solo.
Cuando se le preguntó sobre Owens y otras personas que difunden teorías de conspiración durante un foro de CBS News, Erika Kirk respondió con una sola palabra: “Paren”. Dijo que Owens gana dinero con la tragedia de su familia, y agregó que quienes difunden conspiraciones corren el riesgo de contaminar al jurado y permitir que el asesino de su esposo se salga con la suya.
El fin de semana pasado, a pocos días del inicio de la conferencia de Turning Point, Kirk y Owens acordaron una tregua temporal hasta sostener una reunión privada. No duró mucho.
Tras la reunión del lunes, Owens dijo en su programa que ella y Kirk hablaron durante cuatro horas y media, pero que todavía dudaba de que Robinson hubiera actuado solo. Kirk escribió en X que tuvieron “una conversación muy productiva” y que era “hora de volver al trabajo”.
Erika Kirk se destaca
Mientras guarda luto a su esposo, Erika Kirk ha ido incrementando sus apariciones públicas. Habló en el funeral, perdonando al presunto asesino de su esposo en un hecho memorable, y en octubre, en un evento de Turning Point en Mississippi.
Emprendedora y podcaster, solía aparecer con su esposo en eventos de Turning Point. La ex Miss Arizona USA 2012 también ha trabajado como modelo, actriz y directora de reparto, y fundó una línea de ropa cristiana, Proclaim, así como un ministerio que enseña sobre la Biblia.
Antes de la muerte de su esposo, hablaba abiertamente sobre priorizar a su familia por encima de su carrera y describía un matrimonio con roles de género tradicionales. Ahora asume el exigente trabajo de liderar Turning Point, una organización que tuvo eco en particular entre los hombres jóvenes.
En un homenaje a su esposo, Erika dijo: “Charlie y yo estábamos unidos en propósito”.
“Su pasión era mi pasión, y ahora su misión es mi misión”, afirmó. “Todo lo que Turning Point USA construyó a través de la visión y el arduo trabajo de Charlie, lo haremos diez veces más grande a través del poder de su memoria”.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Winnetka, Glencoe add sales taxes to fund roads, downtowns
People who shop in Glencoe and Winnetka will pay new local taxes next year as both communities move to diversify their revenue sources.
The village boards in both communities recently approved a 1% home rule sales tax, adding to other tax changes enacted earlier this year.
In Glencoe, trustees approved the new tax in November, roughly a year after voters adopted a home rule form of government. Home rule status allows Illinois municipalities greater authority to enact local legislation, including certain taxes.
Deputy Village Manager Nikki Larson said the sales tax is expected to generate approximately $500,000 annually. It will apply to general merchandise sold in the village but will not cover high-priced items such as cars and boats, which are restricted by state law.
Larson said the revenue will be used for infrastructure improvements, including roads, sidewalks and sewer mains.
Glencoe Village President Howard Roin said village officials signaled before the November 2024 home rule referendum that they intended to seek additional revenue sources that would not fall solely on residents.
“If you are a Glencoe resident and you shop in Glencoe, you will pay it,” Roin said. “But if you are a Northbrook or Highland Park resident, you will also pay it.”
In Winnetka, which has operated as a home rule community since 2005, the village council approved its own 1% home rule sales tax on Dec. 2.
Chief Financial Officer Tim Sloth said in an email the tax is expected to generate about $1.5 million annually.
“The funds will provide a dedicated funding stream in the Business District Revitalization Fund,” Sloth said, adding that the money will support projects in the village’s three downtown business districts.
Terry Dason, president and CEO of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce, said she has heard concerns from some local businesses but supports the new tax.
“All of these villages are struggling,” Dason said, citing the lack of major industry. “Most of their money comes from property tax dollars. They don’t want to keep charging people more on their homes.”
The home rule sales tax will go into effect on July 1, 2026 in both communities, officials said.
In addition to the sales tax, Glencoe approved a new food and beverage tax in November that will apply to prepared food and alcohol sold at restaurants, grocery stores and liquor stores. At the same time, the village is repealing its place-for-eating tax, which applied only to restaurant food sales.
Larson said the food and beverage tax, which will go into effect on New Year’s Day, is expected to generate approximately $375,000 over a 12-month period.
Not all businesses support the change. Binny’s Beverage Depot Vice President Brad Stein said the tax will make the company’s Glencoe location less competitive.
“Cook County already has a very high liquor tax,” Stein said. “When you compare the cost of goods in Glencoe to Highland Park or Wheeling, Glencoe is more expensive.”
Earlier this year, both Glencoe and Winnetka also enacted a 1% local grocery sales tax, replacing the state’s grocery tax after it expired. Previously, the state collected the revenue and distributed it back to municipalities. Shoppers will see the same grocery tax rate on Dec. 31, when the state grocery tax ends, and Jan. 1, when the local grocery tax starts.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/winnetka-glencoe-add-sales-taxes-to-fund-roads-downtowns/
Bessent Forecasts ‘Substantial’ Tax Refunds, Real Wage Increases Next Year
Bessent Forecasts ‘Substantial’ Tax Refunds, Real Wage Increases Next Year
Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,
Confirming President Trump’s triumphant comments last night, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that an increase in Americans’ tax refunds would enable the United States to “go back to the kind of economy that we had.”
While speaking to Fox Business, Bessent said that “substantial refunds” are coming to Americans after they submit their taxes in the first quarter.
“They will get an increase in real incomes. So I am very optimistic for working Americans, for job growth, for capital formation,” the secretary said.
Later in the interview, the secretary said that after larger increases in tax refunds, some workers will be able to keep “more of their paychecks” and predicted the United States would “go back to the kind of non-inflationary growth where working Americans do better than supervised workers.”
He added that the government shutdown that lasted for a month and a half “was a hit to GDP [and] slowed things down.”
“We’re still going to finish the year probably [with] 3.5 percent GDP growth, which is incredible,” he said.
Regarding inflation, which has been relatively elevated since the COVID-19 pandemic years, Bessent forecast a “substantial drop” in prices during the first six months of 2026, adding that “rents are down” due to a drop in mass illegal immigration.
“President Trump, by enforcing the border, sending home more than 2 million illegals, we’re now seeing … rents coming down substantially,” he said.
However, he warned that a possible government shutdown could be coming at the end of January.
The previous stopgap measure to fund the government will last only until Jan. 30.
“If they try to shut down the government, I believe that the Senate Republicans should immediately forgo the filibuster, keep the government open, and let the economy do its thing,” Bessent said.
His comments come as the Trump administration has sought to push back on relatively lower consumer and small business sentiment, and after Democrats were able to win several key elections in November.
The November job gains were higher than the 40,000 economists had forecast. The October job losses were caused by a 162,000 drop in federal workers, many of whom resigned at the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept. 30.
A report released on Dec. 16 shows that the United States gained 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October as federal workers departed after cutbacks in the federal government. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent last month, the highest since 2021.
Some Democrats, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, have said that Trump administration policies, such as tariffs, have harmed the economy. They are emphasizing a message of affordability.
Trump has been “doing nothing” to lower grocery or energy prices, Pritzker told Pod Save America earlier this week, adding that “he’s doing the opposite” with tariffs.
Responding to the affordability narrative, President Donald Trump said at an event in Pennsylvania this past week that he has made it a priority to lower costs and accused Democrats of pushing inflationary policies.
“They always have a hoax—the new word is affordability,” he said, adding, “They gave you the highest inflation in history.”
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/18/2025 – 10:20
Niles D219 suspends teacher, D71 Board president, for selling sports apparel to district
Matthew Holbrook, a special education teacher in Niles Township High School District 219, received $39,000 in taxpayer-funded dollars from selling t-shirts to the district, some of that after being told flatly in 2024 by the district’s administration to stop doing so, according to district documents.
In addition, an elementary school district, where Holbrook has served on the Board of Education since at least 2005, paid his company $69,000 for sports apparel in the five school years from 2021 to the present, according to records received in a Freedom of Information Act request. The superintendent told Pioneer Press the district has ended the practice.
At High School District 219, over the course of two years, Holbrook’s two companies charged $38,890 in three contracts with the district, according to district documents requested by Pioneer Press.
Holbrook did so without disclosing his financial interest to the district, in violation of the district’s policies. In November, the Board of Education voted to suspend Holbrook for three days without pay.
District 219’s Executive Director of Human Resources and Legal Services, Ray Chung, wrote to Holbrook on Nov. 4, summarizing the district’s investigation into Holbrook’s business practices and notifying him that any continued violations of Board policies or work rules would be grounds for dismissal.
A 2024 district audit found that Holbrook was an employee vendor. Holbrook received a letter from the district on Dec. 9, 2024, stating that the district was suspending his ability to do business with it because it violated the Board’s policy on favoritism, according to Chung’s letter.
On Jan. 31, 2025, Holbrook met with Assistant Superintendent for Business Jim Vreeland and then-Director of Operations Sarah Kowalski. At the meeting, Holbrook was directed to no longer sell apparel to the district, Chung’s letter said.
According to the district’s 2024 annual statement of affairs, Holbrook’s company Color Your Own Inc. received $21,044.
In the district’s 2025 annual statement of affairs, Color Your Own received $13,575.
However, the district found that Holbrook continued to do business with the district after the Jan. 31 meeting.
“You disregarded the December 9, 2024 email and January 31, 2025 directive to cease conducting business with the district through an external business operation. Additionally, you sought to evade that directive by deceptively continuing to conduct business with the District under a changed name and though a purported ownership involving [redacted]. You referred employees to Cathy Barry at the new t-shirt company without disclosing that Cathy is [redacted]. Lastly, you failed to disclose a financial interest in a company which does business with the District,” Chung wrote.
Holbrook was directed by the district to immediately disclose to it all businesses in which he or his immediate family have a financial interest.
According to state filings, Holbrook activated a new business, Sport Team Apparel LLC, on May 27. According to the district’s 2025 annual statement of affairs, Sport Team Apparel earned $4,270.00 from the district. Barry and Holbrook are listed as managers of Sport Team Apparel.
Holbrook is also the president of the Niles School District 71 Board of Education.
A records request to that district showed that Holbrook’s company Color Your Own was paid $7,802 in the 2021-22 school year, $21,649.90 in the 2022-23 school year, 12,973 in the 2023-24 school year, 18,306 in the 2024-45 school year and $8,091 in the 2025-26 school year, for a grand total over five years of $68,822.
Holbrook did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
John Kosirog, District 71 superintendent, sent the following statement to Pioneer Press: “The district did purchase apparel items from Mr. Holbrook. At the time, the district did not realize that this conflicted with vendor-related Board policy. The issue was recently identified, the practice was ended, and no further purchases will be made.”
Trump Media to merge with nuclear fusion company that wants to power AI
Trump Media & Technology will merge with a fusion power company in an all-stock deal that the companies said Thursday is valued at more than $6 billion.
Devin Nunes, the Republican congressman who resigned in 2021 to become the CEO of Trump Media, will be co-CEO of the new company with TAE Technologies CEO Michl Binderbauer.
The combined company says it plans to find a site and begin construction next year on the “world’s first utility-scale fusion power plant,” with aims to provide the electricity needed for artificial intelligence.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology, the parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform, have tumbled 70% this year but jumped 20% before the opening bell Thursday.
Backed by Google and other investors, TAE is a private company and the merger with Trump Media would create one of the first publicly traded nuclear fusion companies.
“We’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,” Nunes said in a prepared statement.
TAE focuses on nuclear fusion, a technology that combines two light atomic nuclei to form a single heavier one. It releases enormous amount of energy, a process that occurs on the sun and other stars, according to the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency. It’s been seen as a promising solution to climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, but one that is a long way off compared to today’s clean technologies like wind and solar.
TAE and Trump Media shareholders will each own approximately 50% of the combined company.
Trump is by far the largest stakeholder in Trump Media, owning 41% of all outstanding shares.
In October, the U.S. Department of Energy released what it called a “roadmap” for fusion technology, with the aim of fostering “a burgeoning fusion private sector industry in the U.S. toward maturity on the most rapid timeline.” A number of tech companies, including Google, Microsoft and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have shown interest in fusion technology as a way of powering the energy-hungry data centers needed to build and run their AI products.
TAE and Trump Media say the transaction values each TAE common stock at $53.89 per share.
At closing, Trump Media & Technology Group will be the holding company for Truth Social and TAE, along with its subsidiaries TAE Power Solutions and TAE Life Sciences.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/trump-media-merge-nuclear-fusion-company/
Batavia City Council OKs sales tax hike to fund future police facility
The overall sales tax in Batavia will soon be increasing to 8.5%, after the City Council moved to approve a 0.5% hike in the local sales tax at its meeting on Monday.
The purpose of the hike, the city says, is to fund a future police department facility for the city.
In January, FGM Architects, which the city hired to evaluate its current police facility and plan for the future, presented recommendations to the Batavia City Council regarding issues with the current headquarters, per a memo from City Administrator Laura Newman. It was ultimately determined that the city would either need to do an adaptive reuse of an existing building or create a new facility for the police based on site constraints at the current facility.
The Batavia Police Department is currently housed in the Batavia Government Center at 100 N. Island Ave.
The idea for a local sales tax increase is that the city could accumulate funds in anticipation of a future police facility project, what Newman’s memo calls a “save-then-spend” model. The plan is aimed at reducing how much debt is issued for the eventual project, the memo notes, “thereby lowering interest costs and long-term financial obligations.”
And it spreads the cost of the police facility beyond Batavia residents, Newman’s memo notes, pointing to the Randall Road corridor’s retailers and the revenue they generate from out-of-town shoppers.
The sales tax hike will not apply to groceries, vehicles, medical items, prescriptions and services like lawyers, accountants and hairdressers, Ald. Jennifer Baerren said at Monday’s City Council meeting, where the measure was approved unanimously by the council.
Baerren explained that the money generated by the sales tax hike would go into a restricted capital reserve fund for the future police facility.
The tax increase will take effect on July 1, according to the ordinance approved Monday.
According to Newman’s memo, the city will be developing an FAQ and summary for the community of the rationale for the police facility project, hosting community engagement events to gather resident input and providing updates through the city’s website, newsletters and social media.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/batavia-sales-tax-hike-police-facility/
Activist Investor Elliott Builds Billion Dollar Stake In Lululemon
Activist Investor Elliott Builds Billion Dollar Stake In Lululemon
Shares of Lululemon are higher in premarket trading after a report that activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a $1 billion stake in the company and is pushing for a turnaround at the struggling athletic apparel brand.
The Wall Street Journal cites sources familiar with Elliott’s move to build a billion-dollar position, making it one of the company’s largest shareholders. Elliott is seeking a new CEO to replace Calvin McDonald, who will step down in January.
Elliott has been working with veteran retail executive Jane Nielsen as a potential CEO candidate. Nielsen, a former CFO and COO at Ralph Lauren and a former CFO at Coach, is seen by Elliott as a capable leader to turn the company around. The company has faced mounting criticism over quality issues, brand dilution, and operational missteps. More importantly, it has lost market share in recent years to athletic apparel competitors Vuori and Alo Yoga.
Elliott’s Paul Singer must be an admirer of the leggings.
Last week, Lululemon shares moved higher after the company reported a China-led third-quarter beat and announced McDonald’s transition.
Goldman analyst Brooke Roach offered her take on earnings and CEO transition:
With investors focused on LULU’s ability to drive core US market reacceleration, we believe today’s update offers three areas for incremental optimism. (1) Clearer action plan. Today we heard a more formal representation of LULU’s three-pillar action plan to drive an inflection. While we believe US growth remains a show-me story after core deceleration more than offset the benefit from incremental newness in 2025, we are encouraged by the more comprehensive plan to improve the store experience and highlight new product launches, as well as management’s commentary regarding healthy consumer engagement with new product. (2) Potential for a new leadership perspective. The announced departure of Mr. McDonald offers an opportunity for LULU to bring in a leader who could offer a new perspective on the changes necessary and the urgency with which those changes should be implemented. (3) Recent trends have been modestly stronger, driven by China and margin delivery. China comps were much stronger than expected, and while some of this is due to timing or specific activations, the sequential recovery is notable. Further, margin delivery in the quarter was stronger, and tariff mitigation commentary was modestly better. Stepping back, we acknowledge the strategic initiatives that management is implementing to reinvigorate US growth, and see potential for some improvement as the company accelerates newness to ~35% of the assortment by Spring 26 alongside a faster go-to-market process. That said, this is balanced by an uncertain near-term outlook (timing shifts / post-Thanksgiving slowdown / continued negative US comps), and margin pressure will persist into FY26. Next catalyst is the ICR Conference in early January (holiday sales).
The WSJ report made no mention of when Elliott’s traders were buying shares of Lululemon. But with the stock down roughly 68% from its December 2023 peak, it’s reasonable to think the position was built over the past several months. Shares are also at Covid lows…
Earlier this year, Elliott took a $4 billion stake in Pepsi as it sought a transformation. In recent months, it took a position in Barrick Mining.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/18/2025 – 10:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/activist-investor-elliott-builds-billion-dollar-stake-lululemon
Argentina y España jugarán la Finalissima en Qatar en marzo
MADRID (AP) — Lionel Messi y Argentina regresarán al escenario de su consagración en la Copa Mundial de 2022.
Messi podría enfrentarse por primera vez a Lamine Yamal, la sensación del Barcelona, cuando Argentina se enfrente a España en el duelo de campeones continentales en la Finalissima masculina en Qatar el 27 de marzo.
La CONMEBOL y la UEFA oficializaron el jueves el partido entre los monarcas de la Copa América 2024 y la Eurocopa 2024.
Se escenificará en el Estadio Lusail, mismo escenario donde Messi comandó hace tres años a la Albiceleste para conquistar su tercer campeonato mundial al vencer en la final a Francia en una tanda de penales.
La cita enfrentará a las actuales número uno y dos del ranking mundial de la FIFA a escasos tres meses del Mundial en Estados Unidos, México y Canadá.
Argentina es el actual campeón de la Finalissima. Se consagró en la última edición en 2022 tras vencer a Italia 3-0 en el Estadio de Wembley en Londres.
Argentina también la ganó en 1993 al vencer a Dinamarca por penales, la última vez que se jugó la final antes de 2022.
Francia se llevó el título en la otra edición, imponiéndose ante Uruguay en 1985.
“Este partido emblemático es más que una competición”, declaró el presidente de la CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez. “Es un símbolo de cooperación y respeto entre confederaciones, y una oportunidad para que los aficionados disfruten de un acontecimiento verdaderamente histórico”.
Su contraparte de la UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, manifestí que el partido “simboliza la unión de dos continentes futbolísticos y demuestra el alcance global de nuestro deporte en un encuentro de enorme prestigio”.
Argentina y España se han enfrentado en 11 ocasiones, con seis victorias para la Albiceleste y cuatro para la Roja.
La última vez que se midieron fue también tres meses antes de un Mundial —el de Rusia 2018— con España endosándole una goleada 6-1 a Argentina en un amistoso disputado en el estadio Metropolitano de Madrid.
___
Fútbol de AP: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/argentina-y-espaa-jugarn-la-finalissima-en-qatar-en-marzo/
‘A creative thief,’ Trey’veon Roberts steals the ball with aplomb to give Waukegan an edge. He earned it.
Trey’Veon Roberts was understandably pleased when the decision was made to keep him on Waukegan’s varsity roster as a sophomore two years ago.
The promotion validated Roberts’ belief in himself as an ascending player, and it boosted his morale to know he was considered one of the top players in a program with an abundance of talent.
There was one caveat, however.
“It was very frustrating sitting on the bench all year,” Roberts said. “There were a lot of times where I felt like I wanted to move down and dominate down there.
“We had a couple of conversations about the benefits of staying up, but I wasn’t too interested in hearing that. It was hurting my confidence a little, but I knew I had to just stay with it.”
Roberts did exactly that. With encouragement from his mother and reassurance from the coaching staff, he stayed the course and paid his dues.
Waukegan’s Trey’Veon Roberts warms up before a North Suburban Conference game against Warren in Waukegan on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)
Roberts eventually understood that the work he was doing behind the scenes was invaluable.
“I realize now that it was beneficial,” he said. “Playing with older guys helped me a lot, and I feel that the determination I have now came from practicing against them. Trying to stay in front of seniors on defense isn’t easy.”
Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw knew that would be the case and watched as the 6-foot Roberts has become an integral piece for a team that sees no limit to its potential this season.
“When you guard someone on 25 straight possessions who’s better than you, there’s value in that, going hard every day in practice,” Ashlaw said. “I’ve always given him credit because he sacrificed a sophomore year of game minutes at the price of development. He got quicker, he got more instinctive, and now his career has really blossomed.”
It’s no coincidence that Roberts has developed a reputation for being a defense-first player for the defending North Suburban Conference co-champion Bulldogs (7-2, 1-1). In his first season as a varsity starter, the senior guard is averaging 2.6 steals and 3.9 deflections and is often tasked with checking opponents’ top scorers.
“He gets steals in so many ways,” Ashlaw said. “He’s a creative thief. When he wasn’t the best athlete on the court, he had to develop all types of other skills. He completes the picture of who we’re trying to be as a team.”
Roberts is embracing his new role, and his tenacious defense is contagious.
“I take pride in defense, and I feel like defense will ultimately win you games,” Roberts said. “I’m a solid guy, so you can’t push me around. It’s a lot easier than when I started on varsity. My confidence on defense is really high. I like defense more than offense.”
Waukegan’s Trey’Veon Roberts (2) takes the ball to the basket against Warren’s Javin Griffin during a North Suburban Conference game in Waukegan on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)
That’s not to say Roberts can’t also affect a game on the offensive end. He enters the weekend averaging 7.7 points and shooting 53.6% from the floor. With three established scorers — classmates Simereon Carter, Jaali Love and Carter Newsome — drawing a lot of attention from opponents, Roberts feels like scoring is well within his reach. He had 13 points in Waukegan’s 60-57 conference loss to Warren on Saturday.
“I can go out there and score,” Roberts said. “I like to spot up off the dribble, and I’m bigger than a lot of guards, so I can get downhill.”
Roberts has become so important that the Bulldogs weren’t clicking in two early wins — against Evanston and West Aurora — that he missed with an illness, according to Ashlaw.
“He shifts the energy for us when he’s in the game,” Newsome said. “He’s got great hands that can really get after balls. He’s also a great rebounder for his size.”
Roberts was particularly pleased with his efforts in Waukegan’s 78-48 road win over Johnsburg on Nov. 25.
“I really didn’t score much but went out there and played defense,” he said. “I got a bunch of steals, and after the game, everyone was upbeat. We were all really happy after the game because we played so well.”
Warren’s Joel Paasch (24) guards Waukegan’s Trey’Veon Roberts (2) during a North Suburban Conference game in Waukegan on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)
That’s the expectation for Waukegan moving forward, and Roberts wants the good vibes he’s feeling to spread throughout the roster and the community. His grandfather Ricky Doby was a standout athlete in track and field decades ago.
“I see his picture on the wall every day,” Roberts said. “Since it’s my senior year, I feel like everything has gotten more personal. Things are starting to wind down, and that’s why it’s easy to be locked in every day. I want to be remembered.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/basketball-waukegan-treyveon-roberts/
