Category: News
The Orbital Data Center Space Race Has Officially Begun
The Orbital Data Center Space Race Has Officially Begun
We’ve highlighted a new theme: data centers in low Earth orbit, or at least the race to get these AI chips into space.
Week after week, the news flow shows a new space race taking shape, as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman appear to be the major players in the scramble to get chips into orbit – almost certainly joined by other billionaires quietly working behind the scenes.
The latest news on the AI chips-in-space theme comes from a Bloomberg report that Musk’s SpaceX is planning to raise $30 billion at a $1.5 trillion valuation, with some of the proceeds expected to be used for space-based data centers.
We must note that Musk has the only capable space program that could rapidly deploy space-based data centers at scale; neither China nor Russia, nor even Bezos’ Blue Origin, currently has this capability.
Meanwhile, ChatGPT founder Sam Altman attempted to buy rocket startup Stoke Space this past summer, with the intent of joining the space race to launch AI chips into orbit.
A new Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday afternoon added more color about the Musk-Bezos space-based data center race:
Bezos’ Blue Origin has had a team working for more than a year on technology needed for orbital AI data centers, a person familiar with the matter said. Musk’s SpaceX plans to use an upgraded version of its Starlink satellites to host AI computing payloads, pitching the technology as part of a share sale that could value the company at $800 billion, according to people involved in the discussions.
The push to move data centers into low Earth orbit is all about sidestepping Earth’s power constraints and soaking up precious resources, harnessing essentially limitless solar energy, and leveraging space’s near-zero thermal environment to keep advanced AI chips cool.
“Taking resource-intensive infrastructure off Earth has been an idea for years, but it has required launch and satellite costs to come down. We are nearing that point,” Will Marshall, CEO of satellite operator and builder Planet Labs, told WSJ.
Making spaceflight affordable has been SpaceX’s focus with its reusable rockets, and once Starship becomes commercialized, costs should drop even further.
Let’s remind readers that SpaceX is effectively America’s rocket program – and it leads the world by light-years.
This makes Musk and xAI uniquely positioned to scale data centers quickly.
SpaceX also leads in terms of spacecraft upmass…
WSJ noted that Google and Planet Labs plan to conduct a 2027 space test using satellites equipped with Google AI chips. Early tests aim to demonstrate feasibility, while full-scale systems will require thousands of satellites to match a single large terrestrial data center.
Latest from Musk about data centers in space.
The lowest cost place for data centers is space when 300 GW of computer data center you can power and cool in space when you have continuous solar and no batteries needed. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/J5EMJt8rRw
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) November 19, 2025
And Bezos.
Jeff Bezos plans to build a data center in space within the next 10+ years.
Unlimited solar energy available 24/7, space is an ideal location for data centers.$AMZN AWS is set to make major moves out there. pic.twitter.com/KJCEO973eQ
— Bourbon Capital (@BourbonCap) October 3, 2025
Why stop with data centers in low Earth orbit? How about on the moon? We’re sure Starlink’s in-space mesh network can help with that… So crypto mining on the moon as well? All things space are about to kick off with SpaceX’s IPO slated for next year.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/11/2025 – 08:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/orbital-data-center-space-race-has-officially-begun
Lilly’s Next-Gen Obesity Shot Shows Best-In-Class Weight Loss In Study
Lilly’s Next-Gen Obesity Shot Shows Best-In-Class Weight Loss In Study
Shares of Eli Lilly are higher in premarket trading after the company unveiled blowout topline results for its next-generation obesity drug retatrutide, which delivered more than 23% weight loss over 68 weeks – the strongest performance yet for a late-stage obesity trial.
Adult patients in the Phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 trial testing retatrutide, a first-in-class GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon triple hormone receptor agonist, entered the study with obesity or overweight and knee osteoarthritis. Most participants had a BMI of 35 or higher.
Result highlights for both high-dose regimens (9 mg and 12 mg):
Met all primary and key secondary endpoints
Produced massive weight loss: up to 28.7% on average (71.2 lbs) at 68 weeks
Delivered major pain improvement: up to 4.5 points (75.8%) reduction on the WOMAC pain score
Improved physical function, in addition to weight and pain outcomes
“We are encouraged by the results of TRIUMPH-4, which highlight the powerful effect of retatrutide, a first-in-class triple agonist, on body weight, pain and physical function. With seven additional Phase 3 readouts expected in 2026, we believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications, including knee osteoarthritis,” Kenneth Custer, Ph.D., executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, wrote in a statement.
Some patients lost so much weight they chose to exit the trial early, particularly those with a BMI below 35. The highest dose saw an 18% dropout rate due to side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and occasional mild dysesthesia.
“Not all patients may need this potentially very high level of efficacy, and we believe retatrutide will likely be best suited for patients with a very high BMI, or with obesity-related complications that require a high degree of weight loss,” Lilly’s Chief Scientific Officer Daniel Skovronsky told investors in October.
The results come as the race for next-generation obesity drugs intensifies: Shares of rival Novo Nordisk plummeted the most on record after an experimental GLP-1 fell short of Wall Street expectations last year. The drug CagriSema helped patients lose an average of 20.4% of their weight, far short of Novo’s promise.
Stock Chart: Lilly vs. Novo
Is Goldman still putting their clients in Novo?
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/11/2025 – 08:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/lillys-next-gen-obesity-shot-shows-best-class-weight-loss-study
Palestinos en Gaza sufren frío en medio de tormenta invernal
Por WAFAA SHURAFA, BASSEM MROUE y JULIA FRANKEL
DEIR AL-BALAH, Franja de Gaza (AP) — Lluvias empaparon los campamentos de tiendas de campaña en Gaza y las temperaturas en descenso enfriaron a los palestinos que se refugiaban en su interior el jueves, mientras la tormenta Byron descendía sobre el territorio , mostrando cómo dos meses de alto al fuego no han logrado abordar la creciente crisis humanitaria allí.
Las sandalias de niños desaparecían bajo el agua marrón que inundó los campamentos. Los camiones se movían lentamente para evitar enviar olas de barro hacia las tiendas. Pilas de basura y aguas residuales se convirtieron en cascadas.
“Nos hemos ahogado. No tengo ropa para vestir y no nos quedan colchones”, declaró Um Salman Abu Qenas, una madre desplazada desde el este de Jan Yunis a un campamento de tiendas en Deir al-Balah. Dijo que su familia no pudo dormir debido al agua en la tienda.
Los grupos de ayuda dicen que no está llegando suficiente ayuda a Gaza. Las cifras recientemente publicadas por el ejército de Israel sugieren que no ha cumplido con la estipulación del alto al fuego de permitir 600 camiones de ayuda en Gaza al día, aunque Israel disputa ese hallazgo.
“Ambientes fríos, superpoblados e insalubres aumentan el riesgo de enfermedades e infecciones”, indicó la agencia de la ONU para los refugiados palestinos, UNRWA, en un escueto comunicado publicado en X. “Este sufrimiento podría prevenirse con ayuda humanitaria sin restricciones, incluyendo apoyo médico y refugio adecuado”.
Lluvias causan estragos en Gaza
Sabreen Qudeeh, también en el campamento de Deir al-Balah, relató que su familia se despertó con la lluvia filtrándose por el techo de su tienda y el agua de la calle empapando sus colchones. “Mis pequeñas hijas estaban gritando y se sorprendieron al ver agua en el suelo”, dijo.
Ahmad Abu Taha, un hombre palestino en el campamento, señaló que no había una tienda exenta de la inundación. “Las condiciones son muy malas, tenemos personas mayores, desplazadas y enfermas dentro de este campamento”, expresó.
En Israel, cayeron fuertes lluvias y se emitieron advertencias de inundación en varias partes del país, pero no se reportaron emergencias importantes relacionadas con el clima hasta el mediodía.
Las escenas contrastantes con Gaza dejaron claro cuán profundamente la guerra entre Israel y Hamás había dañado el territorio, destruyendo la mayoría de las viviendas. La población de Gaza, de alrededor de dos millones, está casi completamente desplazada y la mayoría de las personas viven en vastos campamentos de tiendas que se extienden por kilómetros a lo largo de la playa, expuestos a los elementos, sin infraestructura adecuada para inundaciones y con fosas sépticas cavadas cerca de las tiendas como baños.
La Defensa Civil Palestina, parte del gobierno dirigido por Hamás, sostuvo que desde que comenzó la tormenta han recibido más de 2.500 llamadas de auxilio de ciudadanos cuyas tiendas y refugios fueron dañados.
No está entrando suficiente ayuda
Los grupos de ayuda dicen que Israel no está permitiendo suficiente ayuda en Gaza para comenzar a reconstruir el territorio después de años de guerra.
Según el acuerdo, Israel acordó cumplir con las estipulaciones de ayuda de una tregua anterior de enero de 2025, que especificaba que permitiría 600 camiones de ayuda cada día en Gaza y un número acordado de viviendas temporales y tiendas. Mantiene que lo está haciendo, aunque AP ha encontrado que algunas de sus propias cifras ponen eso en duda.
La agencia israelí COGAT dijo el 9 de diciembre, sin proporcionar evidencia, que “últimamente” había dejado entrar 260.000 tiendas y lonas en Gaza y más de 1.500 camiones de mantas y ropa de abrigo. El Shelter Cluster, una coalición internacional de proveedores de ayuda liderada por el Consejo Noruego para Refugiados, establece el número más bajo.
Dice que la ONU y las ONG internacionales han conseguido introducir 15.590 tiendas en Gaza desde que comenzó la tregua, y otros países han enviado alrededor de 48.000. Muchas de las tiendas no están adecuadamente equipadas, dice el Cluster.
Amjad al-Shawa, jefe en Gaza de la Red de ONG Palestinas, dijo a Al Jazeera el jueves que solo una fracción de las 300.000 tiendas necesarias había entrado en Gaza. Apuntó que los palestinos necesitaban urgentemente ropa de invierno más cálida y acusó a Israel de bloquear la entrada de bombas de agua útiles para despejar refugios inundados.
“Todas las partes internacionales deberían asumir la responsabilidad respecto a las condiciones en Gaza”, manifestó. “Hay un peligro real para las personas en Gaza a todos los niveles”.
Khaled Mashaal, un funcionario de Hamás, aseguró que las tiendas de muchas personas se han desgastado después de la guerra de dos años, y la gente no puede encontrar nuevos lugares para refugiarse. Dijo que Gaza también necesita la rehabilitación de hospitales, la entrada de maquinaria pesada para remover escombros y la apertura del cruce de Rafah, que permanece cerrado después de que Israel dijo la semana pasada que lo abriría en unos días.
COGAT no respondió a una solicitud de comentarios sobre las afirmaciones de que Israel no estaba permitiendo la entrada de bombas de agua o maquinaria pesada en Gaza.
Alto al fuego en un punto crítico
Mashaal, el funcionario de Hamás, pidió avanzar a la segunda fase del alto al fuego, que es más complicada.
“La reconstrucción debería comenzar en la segunda fase ya que hoy hay sufrimiento en términos de refugio y estabilidad”, aseveró Mashaal en comentarios publicados por Hamás en las redes sociales.
Los líderes regionales han dicho que el tiempo es crítico para el acuerdo de alto el fuego mientras los mediadores buscan avanzar a la fase dos. Pero los obstáculos para avanzar permanecen.
La oficina del primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu expresó el miércoles que los militantes necesitaban devolver el cuerpo de un último rehén primero.
Hamás ha dicho que Israel debe abrir cruces fronterizos clave y cesar los ataques mortales en el territorio.
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Mroue reportó desde Beirut y Frankel desde Jerusalén. La corresponsal Natalie Melzer contribuyó desde Nahariya, Israel.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Dark-Fleet Tanker At Epicenter Of Iran’s Shadow Oil Trade Seized By U.S. Commandos
Dark-Fleet Tanker At Epicenter Of Iran’s Shadow Oil Trade Seized By U.S. Commandos
Welcome to Monroe Doctrine 2.0 – a revival of gunboat diplomacy – where U.S. forces just carried out an exceptionally rare move: seizing a massive dark-fleet tanker off Venezuela, long known as a key tanker for Iran’s shadow oil trade.
Maritime tracker MarineTraffic shows that the vessel commandeered by a U.S. special operations team, which rappelled onto the tanker’s deck from a Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday (watch here), is the VLCC Skipper, carrying a million barrels of crude.
Here’s more from MarineTraffic:
U.S. forces seize tanker linked to covert Venezuelan crude shipment
U.S. forces have seized an oil #tanker believed to be the VLCC Skipper, after satellite imagery showed she secretly loading 1.1 million barrels of sanctioned Merey crude at Venezuela’s José Terminal. The vessel had been transmitting falsified AIS positions during the operation, a tactic increasingly used by “dark fleet” tankers tied to Venezuelan and Iranian trades.
MarineTraffic data shows the vessel has been sanctioned by OFAC since November 2022 and repeatedly linked to high-risk activity. Her cargo history includes multiple liftings from Venezuela and Iran, while operational risk signals show a two-month AIS gap in Iranian waters. The vessel has also conducted high-risk and dark STS transfers in the Red Sea, Iranian and Syrian zones, alongside multiple AIS spoofing events. Here’s the playback of the vessel’s latest movements.
US forces seize tanker linked to covert Venezuelan crude shipment
US forces have seized an oil #tanker believed to be the VLCC Skipper, after satellite imagery showed she secretly loading 1.1 million barrels of sanctioned Merey crude at Venezuela’s José Terminal. The vessel had… pic.twitter.com/MJji0O20qT
— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) December 10, 2025
Anas Alhajji of Energy Outlook Advisors asked several key questions after the U.S. seized the tanker:
Who is the target?
What is the impact on global oil markets?
Shipping?
Tanker rates?
⭕️Who Is the Target? What is the impact on global oil markets? Shipping? Tanker rates?
⭕️U.S. Forces Seize Guyana-Flagged VLCC “Skipper” Carrying Venezuelan Crude Bound for Cuba!
Link: https://t.co/CMcYGcx3d1 pic.twitter.com/uR5dUyWvvu
— Anas Alhajji (@anasalhajji) December 11, 2025
Intelligence firm Kpler noted:
The seizure underscores Washington’s escalating efforts to crack down on dark-fleet activity tied to Iranian and Venezuelan crude trades.
The incident comes amid heightened U.S. military presence in the region, and as Venezuela’s crude exports dropped to 700 kbd in November. The Skipper has been repeatedly linked to sanction evasion tactics, including spoofing and mislabeled Iranian cargoes routed through Asia, raising alarms about ongoing maritime deception.
Satellite imagery from November 14 shows the seized VLCC Skipper loading crude at Venezuela’s José Oil Terminal. Credit: European Union Copernicus Sentinel.
Tanker with Venezuela oil seized by U.S.
U.S. forces have seized an #oil tanker believed to be the VLCC Skipper, following satellite evidence that it covertly loaded 1.1 million barrels of sanctioned Merey crude from Venezuela’s Jose Terminal. Despite transmitting falsified AIS… pic.twitter.com/7tjRUFBM3S
— Kpler (@Kpler) December 10, 2025
In markets, Brent crude round-tripped any fears of market disruptions as this seizure off Venezuela’s shore is isolated.
CBS cited a statement from the Venezuelan government that read, “It strongly denounces and repudiates what constitutes a shameless robbery and an act of international piracy.”
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/11/2025 – 07:45
Bangladesh celebrará sus primeras elecciones desde alzamiento popular
DACA, Bangladesh (AP) — Las próximas elecciones nacionales de Bangladesh se llevarán a cabo el 12 de febrero, 18 meses después de que la primera ministra Sheikh Hasina fuera derrocada mediante un levantamiento masivo tras semanas de violencia que dejaron cientos de muertos y miles de heridos.
El director de la comisión electoral, A. M. M. Nasir Uddin, confirmó la fecha el jueves en un discurso televisado a la nación.
Las últimas elecciones del país se celebraron en enero de 2024, cuando Hasina regresó al poder por cuarta vez consecutiva. Las elecciones de 2024 fueron controvertidas y boicoteadas por los principales rivales de Hasina, quienes acusaron a su administración de manipular el voto.
Hasina huyó del país hacia India el 5 de agosto tras las enormes protestas del verano pasado, y ha estado en el exilio desde entonces.
Un gobierno interino encabezado por el Nobel de la Paz Muhammad Yunus ha estado dirigiendo el país desde el 8 de agosto de 2024. La administración liderada por Yunus ha prohibido todas las actividades del partido Liga Awami de Hasina, lo que significa que el antiguo partido gobernante no podrá participar en la contienda.
Las nuevas elecciones serán las decimoterceras desde que el país obtuvo su independencia de Pakistán a través de una sangrienta guerra en 1971.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Neuqua Valley’s Cole Kelly gets feeling ‘I can score every single time.’ He drops 33 points against Yorkville.
Neuqua Valley star forward Cole Kelly received the pass from teammate Mason Martin, rose up and swished a 3-pointer.
One possession and less than 20 seconds into the game, Kelly knew what was coming next.
“I think hitting my first shot definitely affects all of the rest of the game,” he said. “When that first one goes down, especially on the first shot I take, it just fuels me for the rest of the game and knowing that I can score every single time I’m down the court.”
Kelly didn’t score every single time, but it sure seemed like it. The 6-foot-7 sophomore made his first three shots, including two 3-pointers, and 13 of 17 overall to score a game-high 33 points on Wednesday.
Kelly also led all players with 13 rebounds and added three assists and two steals as the Wildcats knocked off host Yorkville 79-60 in a nonconference game.
Martin, a junior guard, also was on fire, hitting six 3-pointers and finishing with 27 points. He and Kelly combined for 33 points in the first half as the Wildcats (4-1) jumped out to a 45-24 lead.
“When we get in transition, we’re super hard to guard,” Kelly said. “Me and Mason, especially if you’re in a defensive deficit, you’ve got to pick between one of us, and then it’s very tough from then on.
“When we’re both clicking on all cylinders, we’re a super hard team to beat, so it’s very fun playing with him. Those nights are definitely the good ones, for sure.”
Kelly, of course, has had a lot of good games since bursting onto the high school scene as a highly touted freshman.
Much has changed since then. Kelly has offers from DePaul, Drake, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, and he has continued to hone his skills.
“He’s not as tentative as last year,” Neuqua Valley junior forward Lucas Balgro said. “I feel like he’s getting to the basket more and he’s doing his thing.
“He’s very aggressive to the basket, and he knows how to find his teammates. His passing has got tremendously better.”
Indeed, the Wildcats demonstrated great ball movement in the first half, and Kelly played a role in that. He assisted on two of Martin’s baskets in the second quarter and then fed Balgro for a layup.
Kelly also took a charge from Yorkville’s 6-8 sophomore forward, Joey Jakstys. It was the third foul on Jakstys, who was held to three points in the first half and finished with 12.
Neuqua Valley’s Cole Kelly (32) launches a half-court shot over Yorkville’s Nathan Kubin (24) at the end of the first quarter of a nonconference game in Yorkville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (Sean King / Naperville Sun)
Balgro, who contributed five points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, followed by setting up baskets by 6-10 senior center Darlin Aghomi and Kelly to put the Foxes (4-2) in a 45-22 hole.
“Our chemistry is very good,” Balgro said. “It’s mostly a guaranteed bucket when we push the ball and get up the floor.”
When Kelly and Martin are in a groove, Balgro knows to continue feeding them.
“After I see them hit their first shots, I know when I get the ball, I’m mostly looking for them,” Balgro said. “I look to get them the ball and let them get their own.”
While Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton said the first half was entertaining to watch, he wasn’t pleased with his team’s play in the second half, when a 28-point lead dwindled to 14 in the fourth quarter.
Kelly didn’t escape the scrutiny.
“He doesn’t see his man off the ball,” Sutton said. “He loses his man way too much.”
Kelly readily accepted the constructive criticism.
“After last year, I think it’s learning what the high school environment was like for me and just getting adapted to my coach and my program and how things are run as a team,” Kelly said. “Definitely, I think I can surely improve on my defense.”
Neuqua Valley’s Cole Kelly (32) defends the top of the key against Yorkville’s Joseph Christian (5) during a nonconference game in Yorkville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (Sean King / Naperville Sun)
But the plusses outweigh the minuses so far.
“I think my ballhandling and my ability to get to my spots at will has improved,” Kelly said. “I think I handle pressure a lot better than last year. I’m not giving it up as easy, and I’m looking for my shot.”
Despite the college offers and media attention, Kelly isn’t looking for a free pass.
“It’s a great confidence-booster, you could say, for me, just knowing the hard work I’ve put in is leading to the big things that I’ve always wanted,” he said. “But there’s obviously still work to be done and a long way to go from here.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/basketball-neuqua-valley-cole-kelly/
Daywatch: Aldermen forge ahead with counterproposal to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget
Good morning, Chicago.
Aldermen officially threw their budget cards on the table yesterday by introducing their own 2026 package to the City Council, the clearest sign yet they believe they don’t need Mayor Brandon Johnson to solve the current impasse on next year’s spending plan.
The high-stakes game of chicken between the freshman mayor and his council antagonists — including some of his own committee leaders — now moves from the dueling news conferences of the past weeks into the actual legislative process. In the increasingly likely event they can’t reach a widely acceptable compromise, each side will try to build a proposal that can pass the council before the end of the year to avert a government shutdown.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Alice Yin and Jake Sheridan.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including what the Federal Reserve rate cut means for you, 3 Chicago White Sox takeaways from winter meetings and best rock, pop and hip hop of 2025.
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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
What the Federal Reserve rate cut means for you
The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point for the third time since September, bringing its key rate to about 3.6%, the lowest in nearly three years. Before September, it had gone nine months without a cut.
Stephen Dexter holds a container of ByHeart baby formula, which was recently recalled by ByHeart, in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)
Botulism outbreak sickens more than 50 babies and expands to all ByHeart products
Federal health officials expanded an outbreak of infant botulism tied to recalled ByHeart baby formula to include all illnesses reported since the company began production in March 2022.
Former Summit police Chief John Kosmowski leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Dec. 10, 2025, after being found guilty of taking a bribe and obstructing justice. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Ex-Summit police chief found guilty of taking bribe from bar owner, obstructing justice
More than six years after the FBI knocked on his door as part of a sprawling corruption investigation, former Summit police Chief John Kosmowski was convicted by a federal jury of taking a bribe from a local bar owner in exchange for assisting with a liquor license transfer.
The Indiana Statehouse, as seen on January 4, 2021. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)
Indiana Senate on verge of passing redistricting bill
Republican Senators did not have to cast initial votes related to Indiana’s mid-census redistricting yesterday as the three Democratic amendments were voted on by voice vote.
House Bill 1032, which addresses mid-census redistricting and gives Republicans an advantage in all nine congressional districts, moves on without Senate amendments for final Senate consideration today.
Related:
Indiana Senate committee passes immigration enforcement bill
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon celebrates the win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Will Chicago Bears CB Kyler Gordon return this season? Ben Johnson says it’s ‘to be determined.’
The Chicago Bears have not given a clear answer as to cornerback Kyler Gordon’s status moving forward after he injured his groin in pregame warmups Sunday in Green Bay.
Asked if Gordon will return this season, coach Ben Johnson said, “to be determined.”
White Sox general manager Chris Getz talks to reporters before a game against the Royals on June 6, 2025, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
3 Chicago White Sox takeaways from winter meetings, including adding 2 pitchers and losing 1 in Rule 5 draft
Nearly 24 hours after the Major League Baseball 2026 draft lottery, there was still plenty of buzz surrounding the Chicago White Sox securing the No. 1 pick.
“You can still feel the excitement in our room, that’s for sure,” general manager Chris Getz said. “I’m sure that is extended in Chicago and our fan base. Everyone that’s touching the Chicago White Sox right now is diving into the upcoming draft and what are some of the possibilities, and I would imagine that’s going to continue and pick up as we get closer.
Paul McCartney performs at the United Center, Nov. 24, 2025 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Best rock, pop and hip hop of 2025: Amid a jammed year of concerts, this top 10 stood out
If your ears need a rest, we hear you. Chicago hosted an astonishing number of concerts in 2025, writes music critic Bob Gendron.
There was no shortage of events that lured fans from the city, the Midwest and places further afield. On that list: Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, K-pop stars Stray Kids and Paul McCartney. The last joined a surprising number of septuagenarian and octogenarian legends — Robert Plant, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Neil Young, and the principal members of AC/DC and Kraftwerk included — who turned in memorable performances during the twilight of their careers.
Bummers and busts happened, but the disappointments help put into perspective the very good and the remarkable.
Related:
See more Best of 2025 coverage here
Longtime radio host and film critic Nick DiGilio has written a book about reviewing movies for 40 years. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Column: Nick Digilio is surviving the movie critic world and has ’40 Films’ to prove it
Nick Digilio’s book gives us short but snappy essays on the best films of the last four decades. It is, of course, easy to quibble with some of his judgments but that’s part of the fun with such a subjective journey.
Do you remember “Hope and Glory,” his pick as best film of 1987?
Is “Casualties of War” in 1989 a “masterpiece”?
The Kinjaz Dance Crew in “‘Twas the Night Before” by Cirque du Soleil at the Chicago Theatre. (Kyle Flubacker)
What to do in Chicago: ‘Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol,’ a Cirque holiday show and Rod Wave’s ‘Redemption’
Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
La aprobación a la gestión económica de Trump alcanza su punto más bajo, según encuesta AP-NORC
Por LINLEY SANDERS y WILL WEISSERT
WASHINGTON (AP) — El apoyo al presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, en temas de economía e inmigración ha caído sustancialmente desde marzo, según una nueva encuesta de AP-NORC, la última indicación de que dos temas emblemáticos que lo llevaron a ser elegido hace poco más de un año podrían convertirse en lastres mientras su partido comienza a prepararse para las elecciones de mitad de legislatura de 2026.
Solo el 31% de los adultos en Estados Unidos aprueban ahora cómo está manejando Trump la economía, según la encuesta del Centro de Investigación de Asuntos Públicos de The Associated Press-NORC. Esto supone un descenso desde el 40% en marzo y es la aprobación económica más baja que ha registrado en una encuesta de AP-NORC en su primer o segundo mandato.
El presidente republicano también ha tenido dificultades para recuperarse del descontento de la población en otros temas, como su gestión del gobierno federal, y no ha visto un aumento en la popularidad ni siquiera después de que los demócratas del Congreso capitularan en la práctica para poner fin a un cierre gubernamental récord el mes pasado.
Quizás lo más preocupante para Trump, quien se ha vuelto cada vez más sinónimo de su partido, es que ha caído en temas que eran grandes fortalezas. Hace apenas unos meses, el 53% de los estadounidenses aprobaban la gestión de Trump en materia de lucha contra el crimen, pero la cifra ha caído al 43% en la nueva encuesta. Ha habido un descenso similar en inmigración, del 49% de aprobación en marzo al 38% ahora.
La nueva encuesta ilustra claramente cómo Trump ha tenido problemas para mantener las victorias políticas desde su regreso al cargo. Incluso la seguridad fronteriza, un tema en el que su aprobación sigue siendo relativamente alta, ha disminuido ligeramente en los últimos meses.
La buena noticia para Trump es que su aprobación general no ha caído de forma tan drástica. La nueva encuesta encontró que el 36% de los estadounidenses aprueban la forma en que está manejando su trabajo como presidente, lo que representa una ligera disminución desde el 42% en marzo. Esto indica que si bien algunas personas no están contentas con elementos concretos de su estrategia, podrían no estar dispuestas a decir que está haciendo un mal trabajo como presidente. Y aunque el descontento está aumentando entre los republicanos en ciertos temas, en gran medida todavía lo apoyan.
Aprobación menguante en economía, incluso entre los republicanos
Los republicanos están más descontentos con el desempeño de Trump en la economía de lo que estaban en los primeros meses de su mandato. Aproximadamente siete de cada diez republicanos, el 69%, aprueban cómo Trump está gestionando la economía en la encuesta de diciembre, una disminución del 78% en marzo.
Larry Reynolds, un jubilado de 74 años y votante republicano de Wadsworth, Ohio, dijo que cree en el plan de Trump de imponer aranceles a los socios comerciales de Estados Unidos, pero piensa que las tasas han aumentado demasiado, creando un “círculo vicioso ahora donde en realidad no están justificando los aranceles”.
Reynolds también dijo que cree que la inflación se convirtió en un problema durante la pandemia de coronavirus y que la economía no se recuperará rápidamente, independientemente de lo que haga Trump. “No creo que sea algo realmente pronto. Creo que simplemente tomará tiempo”, expresó.
La base de Trump todavía lo apoya en gran medida, lo cual no siempre fue el caso de su predecesor, el demócrata Joe Biden. En el verano de 2022, solo alrededor de la mitad de los demócratas aprobaban la gestión económica de Biden. Dos años más tarde, y poco antes de que se retirara de la carrera presidencial de 2024, el descontento se había extendido a unos dos tercios de los demócratas.
Sin embargo, de manera más amplia, no hay indicios de que los estadounidenses piensen que la economía ha mejorado desde que Trump asumió el cargo. Aproximadamente dos tercios de los adultos en Estados Unidos, el 68%, continúan diciendo que el rendimiento de la economía del país es “pobre”. Eso no ha cambiado desde la última vez que se hizo la pregunta en octubre, y está en línea con las opiniones durante el último año de Biden en el cargo.
Por qué Trump obtiene más aprobación en seguridad fronteriza que en inmigración
Las calificaciones de aprobación de Trump en inmigración han disminuido desde marzo, pero la seguridad fronteriza sigue siendo un tema relativamente fuerte para él. La mitad de los adultos en Estados Unidos, el 50%, aprueban cómo Trump está manejando la seguridad fronteriza, lo cual es solo un poco más bajo que el 55% que aprobaba en septiembre.
La relativa fortaleza de Trump en seguridad fronteriza se debe en parte a los demócratas e independientes. Aproximadamente un tercio de los independientes, el 36%, aprueban a Trump en la frontera, mientras que el 26% le da su visto bueno en inmigración.
Jim Rollins, un independiente de 82 años en Macon, Georgia, dijo que cree que cuando se trata de cerrar la frontera, Trump ha hecho “un buen trabajo”, pero espera que el gobierno reconsidere sus esfuerzos de deportación masiva.
“Sacar a la gente del jardín de infantes, y la gente que va a casa para el Día de Acción de Gracias, sacándolos de un avión. Si son criminales, desde luego”, dijo Rollins, quien dijo que apoyó a Trump en su primera elección pero no desde entonces. “Pero los porcentajes, según las propias estadísticas del gobierno, dicen que no son criminales. Simplemente no se registraron, y tal vez cruzaron la frontera a escondidas, y han estado aquí durante 15 años”.
Otras encuestas han mostrado que aumentar la seguridad fronteriza es más popular que deportar inmigrantes, incluso aquellos que viven en el país de forma ilegal. Casi la mitad de los estadounidenses dijeron que aumentar la seguridad en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México debería ser “una alta prioridad” para el gobierno en la encuesta de AP-NORC de septiembre. Solo alrededor de tres de cada diez dijeron lo mismo sobre deportar a inmigrantes que están en Estados Unidos sin autorización.
Shaniqwa Copeland, una independiente de 30 años y auxiliar de salud en el hogar en St. Augustine, Florida, dijo que aprueba la gestión general de Trump de la presidencia, pero cree que sus acciones en inmigración han ido demasiado lejos, especialmente cuando se trata de agentes federales enmascarados que lideran grandes redadas.
“Ahora simplemente están deteniendo a cualquiera”, dijo Copeland. “Simplemente detienen a la gente, agarran a cualquiera. Es una locura”.
La atención médica y la gestión del gobierno siguen siendo escollos para Trump
Aproximadamente tres de cada diez adultos en Estados Unidos aprueban cómo Trump está manejando la atención médica, una ligera disminución desde noviembre. La nueva encuesta se realizó a principios de diciembre, mientras Trump y el Congreso luchaban por encontrar un acuerdo bipartidista para extender los subsidios de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible que expirarán a fin de mes.
Esa lucha por la atención médica también fue la fuente del reciente cierre del gobierno. Aproximadamente un tercio de los adultos en Estados Unidos, el 35%, aprueban cómo Trump está gestionando el gobierno federal, una disminución del 43% en marzo.
Pero algunos estadounidenses pueden ver a otros como responsables de los problemas del país, además de Trump. Copeland está descontenta con el sistema de atención médica del país y piensa que las cosas están empeorando, pero no está segura de si culpar a Trump o a Biden.
“Hace un par de años, podía encontrar un dentista y sería fácil. Ahora, tengo un proveedor de atención médica diferente, y es muy difícil encontrar cobertura dental con ellos”, dijo. “Y las personas que aceptan ese seguro, tienen tantas citas programadas para mucho más adelante porque hay mucha gente en él”.
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La encuesta de AP-NORC de 1.146 adultos se realizó del 4 al 8 de diciembre utilizando una muestra extraída del Panel AmeriSpeak basado en probabilidad de NORC, que está diseñado para ser representativo de la población de Estados Unidos. El margen de error de muestreo para los adultos en general es de más o menos cuatro puntos porcentuales.
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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.
Tariffs have cost US households $1,200 each since Trump returned to the White House, Democrats say
WASHINGTON — Sweeping taxes on imports have cost the average American household nearly $1,200 since Donald Trump returned to the White House this year, according to calculations by Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee.
Using Treasury Department numbers on revenue from tariffs and Goldman Sachs estimates of who ends up paying for them, the Democrats’ report Thursday found that American consumers’ share of the bill came to nearly $159 billion — or $1,198 per household — from February through November.
“This report shows that (Trump’s) tariffs have done nothing but drive prices even higher for families,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the economic committee. “At a time when both parties should be working together to lower costs, the president’s tax on American families is simply making things more expensive.”
In his second term, Trump has reversed decades of U.S. policy that favored free trade. He’s imposed double-digit tariffs on almost every country on earth. According to Yale University’s Budget Lab, the average U.S. tariff has shot up from 2.4% at the beginning of the year to 16.8%, the highest since 1935.
The president argues that the import taxes will protect U.S. industries from unfair foreign competition, bring factories to the United States and raise money for the Treasury.
“President Trump’s tariffs have actually secured trillions in investments to make and hire in America as well as historic trade deals that finally level the playing field for American workers and industries,” said White House Spokesman Kush Desai. “Democrats spent decades complaining about lopsided trade deals undermining the American working class, and now they’re complaining about the one president who has done something about it.”
The taxes are paid by importers who typically attempt to pass along the higher costs to their customers.
Democrats did well in elections last month in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere largely because voters blame Trump and the Republicans for the high cost of living, just as they’d blamed Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for the same thing a year earlier.
Economist Kimberly Clausing of the UCLA School of Law and the Peterson Institute for International Economics, last week told a House subcommittee that Trump’s tariffs amount to “the largest tax increase on American consumers in a generation, lowering standards of living for all Americans.” Clausing, a Treasury Department tax official in the Biden administration, has calculated that Trump’s import taxes ”amount to an annual tax increase of about $1,700 for an average household.”
Tether Launches Privacy-Focused Health Platform With On-Device AI
Tether Launches Privacy-Focused Health Platform With On-Device AI
Authored by Nate Kostar via CoinTelegraph.com,
Tether has launched a new platform that aggregates data from multiple wearables and wellness apps into a single, locally processed dashboard, aiming to give users control over their biometric information.
The platform, called QVAC Health, aggregates data from fitness trackers, nutrition apps and other wearables into an encrypted dashboard that works offline, using on-device AI and peer-to-peer model downloads to analyze activity, meals, symptoms and medication logs without relying on external servers.
The app includes experimental computer-vision tools that can estimate calories and macronutrients from meal photos and can correlate those logs with data from multiple wearables to identify patterns in activity, recovery or sleep, all processed locally on the user’s device, according to a Wednesday announcement.
Source: QVAC
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino called the platform a “neutral ground for wellness data” that reflects the “company’s commitment to privacy-preserving local intelligence.”
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, says future updates will include direct Bluetooth Low Energy connections that will let the app read data from certain wearables without routing information through manufacturer APIs or cloud services.
The platform is part of Tether Data’s QVAC project, which builds peer-to-peer, device-based AI systems designed to operate without relying on centralized platforms.
The global fitness-tracker market was valued at $52.29 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $189.98 billion by 2032, according to a Verified Market Research report. Major fitness-tracker manufacturers include Apple, Fitbit, Samsung, and Huawei.
Privacy concerns drive new developments across crypto
Tether’s new platform aligns with comments Ardoino made in 2024, when he argued that running local AI models directly on user devices was the only reliable way to prevent data from being harvested or exposed through centralized servers.
Former White House adviser David Holtzman told Cointelegraph in December 2024 that AI-driven data aggregation and future quantum threats make large data repositories especially vulnerable.
Holtzman noted that AI can rapidly assemble behavioral and transactional data to identify targets more precisely, while future quantum attacks could break today’s encryption standards across sectors.
He said decentralized systems can help reduce these risks by avoiding large, centralized data stores.
The evolution of the internet. Source: Dock/Cointelegraph
The various threats to privacy have spurred some action in the crypto community. In June, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed a “pluralistic identity” model — a digital ID approach that lets people prove who they are or qualify for services without exposing all of their personal information.
In December, Fortune reported that Circle is developing a privacy-enhanced stablecoin called USDCx with Aleo, designed to give institutional users banking-level transaction privacy while preserving the ability to furnish compliance records when necessary.
Growing concerns over data exposure and surveillance have also fueled renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, with the Zcash protocol emerging as one of the beneficiaries.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/11/2025 – 07:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/tether-launches-privacy-focused-health-platform-device-ai













