Category: News
La Unión Europea avanza en el endurecimiento de su sistema migratorio
Por SAM McNEIL
BRUSELAS (AP) — Funcionarios de la Unión Europea estaban finalizando el lunes una importante reforma de su sistema de migración, que incluye deportaciones simplificadas y un aumento de las detenciones, después de años de intenso debate sobre el tema que ha visto el ascenso de partidos políticos de extrema derecha.
Desde que hubo un aumento de solicitantes de asilo y otros migrantes a Europa hace una década, las opiniones públicas sobre el tema han cambiado. Las políticas de migración de la UE se han endurecido y el número de solicitantes de asilo ha disminuido desde niveles récord. Aun así, el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, emitió en los últimos días una fuerte crítica a las políticas migratorias del bloque de 27 naciones como parte de una estrategia de seguridad nacional que pinta a los aliados europeos como débiles.
Los ministros reunidos en Bruselas acordaron un concepto de “tercer país seguro” y una lista de países de origen seguros, dijo el ministro danés Rasmus Stoklund. Eso significa que las naciones de la UE pueden negar la residencia y deportar a los migrantes porque provienen de un país seguro o podrían solicitar asilo en uno fuera de la UE.
“Podremos rechazar a personas que no tienen motivo para solicitar asilo en Europa, y entonces será posible para nosotros crear mecanismos y procedimientos que nos permitan devolverlos más rápido”, expresó Stoklund. “No deberían ser los traficantes de personas quienes controlen el acceso a Europa”.
Los ministros también acordaron la formación de un “fondo de solidaridad” para compartir los costos de acoger a refugiados entre las naciones miembros. El fondo está destinado a recaudar 430 millones de euros (489 millones de dólares) para distribuir a países que enfrentan una mayor presión migratoria, incluidos Chipre, Grecia, Italia y España en el sur de Europa. Hungría y Polonia se han opuesto durante mucho tiempo a cualquier obligación de los países de acoger migrantes o pagar por su manutención.
“Es importante devolverle a la gente la sensación de que tenemos control sobre lo que está sucediendo”, manifestó Magnus Brunner, el comisionado de la UE para la migración.
El Consejo Europeo ahora negociará con los 720 legisladores del Parlamento Europeo para aceptar o modificar los cambios en la política migratoria. Los partidos de derecha y extrema derecha están en gran medida unificados en apoyar los cambios.
La defensora de Amnistía Internacional en la UE sobre migración, Olivia Sundberg Diez, comparó los cambios migratorios de la UE con la represión de la administración Trump. Hizo un llamado a los legisladores europeos para que bloqueen las nuevas medidas que “infligirán un daño profundo a los migrantes y a las comunidades que los acogen”.
La legisladora francesa del partido Verde, Mélissa Camara, calificó los cambios como “una renuncia a nuestros valores fundamentales y derechos humanos”.
En mayo, las naciones de la UE respaldaron reformas radicales al sistema de asilo del bloque, cuando la Comisión Europea emitió el nuevo Pacto sobre Migración y Asilo. El pacto, entre otras cosas, pedía aumentar las deportaciones y establecer “centros de retorno”, un eufemismo para centros de deportación para solicitantes de asilo rechazados.
La UE no establecería ni gestionaría tales “centros de retorno”, que podrían estar en Europa o en otros lugares, pero crearía el marco legal para permitir que los estados negocien con países no pertenecientes a la UE dispuestos a aceptar solicitantes de asilo rechazados.
Naciones como Austria y Dinamarca probablemente buscarán socios para albergar tales centros costosos y legalmente ambiguos, dijo Camille Le Coz, directora del centro de análisis Instituto de Política Migratoria Europa, señalando el acuerdo que Holanda firmoó en septiembre con Uganda para acoger refugiados.
Tales centros difieren del acuerdo existente, pero hasta ahora ineficaz, firmado por Italia con Albania para procesar en el extranjero el asilo de migrantes rescatados en el mar. En su momento, el polémico plan fue aplaudido por la presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen, como una solución “innovadora” para gestionar la migración irregular, pero los tribunales en Italia lo han bloqueado repetidamente.
Los partidos políticos tradicionales esperan que el pacto sobre migración resuelva los problemas que han dividido a las naciones de la UE desde que más de 1 millón de migrantes llegaron a Europa en 2015, la mayoría de ellos huyendo de la guerra en Siria e Irak.
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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.
Jamie Dimon Says “People Have To Grow Up” After Being Asked About Crypto Debanking Claims
Jamie Dimon Says “People Have To Grow Up” After Being Asked About Crypto Debanking Claims
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has pushed back against claims that the bank is cutting off accounts because of political views or ties to crypto, following recent accusations from Strike CEO Jack Mallers that both his personal and business accounts were abruptly closed. The allegations — later amplified by former President Donald Trump — revived fears of a coordinated effort to block access to financial services, often referred to in the industry as “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”
Appearing on Fox News on Dec. 7, Dimon said the closures were not based on ideology or industry involvement. He acknowledged that JPMorgan does terminate accounts, but insisted it isn’t because of politics or crypto ties, explaining that banks often have to exit customers due to compliance burdens tied to “suspected things” or “negative media.” He described those rules as “customer unfriendly” and said the bank has pushed for changes to reduce unnecessary closures.
Dimon pointed to a recent Trump administration effort to investigate debanking and said he’s long supported similar reforms. “I actually applaud the Trump administration, who’s trying to say that debanking is bad and we should change the rules. Well, damn it, I have been asking to change the rules now for 15 years. So change the rules,” Dimon told Maria Bartoromo.
🚨MUST WATCH🚨
Maria Bartiromo grills JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon on handing over financial records to Jack Smith and debanking Trump Media.
“People have to grow up here,” says Dimon. pic.twitter.com/RWaxEJe7wU
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) December 7, 2025
The controversy also spread to Trump Media, whose CEO claimed JPMorgan targeted the company in connection with a federal investigation. Dimon dismissed that narrative entirely. “People have to grow up here, OK, and stop making up things and stuff like that,” he said. He added, “We do not debank people for religious or political affiliations.”
Dimon said that the bank serves and drops customers from all backgrounds. “We do debank them. They have religious or political affiliations. We debank people who are Democrats. We debank people who are Republicans. We have debanked different religious folks. Never was that for that reason.”
He closed by noting that criticism of the bank has come from both sides of U.S. politics. “Democratic and Republican governments have come after us both; let’s not act like this is just one side doing this. This has been going on for a long time. And we should stop militarizing the government that kind of way.”
Recall days ago JPMorgan Chase abruptly closed Strike CEO Jack Mallers’ personal accounts last month, giving him no warning and offering only a cryptic explanation, according to Yahoo Finance. Mallers posted on X that “Last month, J.P. Morgan Chase threw me out of the bank,” noting how odd it was given that “My dad has been a private client there for 30+ years.” When he asked why, the bank told him only: “We aren’t allowed to tell you.”
Yahoo writes that he even framed the closure letter, which accused him of unspecified “concerning activity” and warned the bank “may not be able to open new accounts for you in the future.”
Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/08/2025 – 12:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/jamie-dimon-says-people-have-grow-after-crypto-debanking-claims
Community news: Good Neighbors, Christmas light show and more
Valparaiso residents named 2025 Good Neighbors
The city of Valparaiso has named Carlos Rivero and Elena Jambrina as Good Neighbor recipients for 2025, recognizing their exemplary commitment to the community. Chef Rivero founded Don Quijote Restaurant in 1985 as Indiana’s first authentic Spanish restaurant. Business partner Jambrina has greatly contributed to the restaurant’s success through her pastry and culinary artistry, in addition to her leadership, creativity and commitment to the community. Through the Don Quijote Education Fund, the team has provided educational support while also raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations including Hilltop Neighborhood House, the Valparaiso Community School’s Backpack and Snacks program, the Boys and Girls Club and many others. In addition to hosting events such as the Fun Shoot and Fishing Derby, Don Quijote’s generosity extends even further, donating truckloads of food each year to support those in need. The city of Valparaiso introduced the Good Neighbor recognition program in 2020 to promote neighborhood involvement and community service. For more information, to view the nominees or to learn how to nominate someone, visit the Community Engagement page at valpo.us.
Franciscan Health Munster offers suicide prevention course
Franciscan Health Munster will host a free suicide prevention course from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Thursday in the St. Clare Conference Room of the hospital, 701 Superior St., Munster. The entry-level Question, Persuade and Refer, or QPR Suicide Prevention Course, is based on a curriculum developed by the QPR Institute. The course aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The course is free, but registration is required by Wednesday. To register and for more information, contact Stacy Zembala at Stacy.Zembala@franciscanalliance.org.
Portage Youth Commission Food Drive
The Portage Youth Commission is holding a Food Drive through Friday. Drop off nonperishable items from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Portage City Hall, 6070 Central Ave., Portage. All items will be donated to Portage Township Food Pantry. For more information, contact Norma Laboy at nlaboy@portage-in.com.
Bozak Family Christmas Light Show hosts Santa Night
The Bozak Family Christmas Light Show will host its annual Santa Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at 259 Lake Park Road, Burns Harbor. This year’s Santa Night will feature a special appearance by Santa Claus and the Grinch, offering children and adults the opportunity to sit with Santa, chat, and take memorable photos with both iconic Christmas characters. Guests will enjoy free hot cocoa and candy canes, provided as a seasonal treat for all who attend. Known for its large-scale synchronized display, the Bozak Family Christmas Light Show runs nightly throughout the season: from 4:30 to 10:30 Sunday through Thursday; and from 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visitors can tune their radios to 92.5 FM to experience the full synchronized musical show from their vehicles. In keeping with the family’s long-standing commitment to community giving, a secure on-site donation box will be available. All donations collected will benefit The Caring Place, a local organization that provides vital services to women and children in need. This event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.
For more information, contact Andy Bozak at andybozak1@gmail.com. Follow event updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bozakfamilylights.
Rep. Smith holds annual Christmas event
State Rep. Vernon G. Smith, D-Gary, will host the 37th annual Spirit of Christmas food and gift giveaway from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Calumet Township Multi-Purpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave., Gary. Co-hosted by 6th District Councilman of the city of Gary, Dwight A. Williams, the Spirit of Christmas is held in honor of Reverend Julia E. Smith, who served as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and Patricia Tillotson, a former educator in the Gary School Corporation. All are welcome to attend this free event; gifts are for all ages. Those in need are encouraged to attend to ease the financial burden of holiday gift-giving. For more information about the event or to volunteer, call Smith at 219-887-2046.
Expresidente Lenín Moreno a juicio por supuesta corrupción en construcción hidroeléctrica en Ecuador
Associated Press
QUITO (AP) — La justicia de Ecuador resolvió el martes llevar a juicio al expresidente Lenín Moreno por presuntamente haber recibido sobornos de la empresa china Sinohydro para la construcción de una de las centrales hidroeléctricas más grandes del país
La Corte Nacional de Justicia consideró que existen pruebas suficientes de que Moreno —quien gobernó entre 2017 y 2021— fue autor directo del delito de cohecho cuando ejerció la vicepresidencia durante el gobierno de Rafael Correa (2007-2017). El caso con la empresa china, según la Fiscalía, involucró además a familiares y allegados, hasta sumar un total de 24 personas. La justicia aún no ha establecido cuándo comenzará el proceso judicial.
Sinohydro construyó el proyecto hidroeléctrico Coca Codo Sinclair durante el mandato de Correa, del cual Moreno fue vicepresidente entre 2007 y 2013. Costó alrededor de 2.000 millones de dólares.
Moreno se defendió en un video en su cuenta de X señalando que la Fiscalía no ha podido probar que recibiera “un solo centavo y también carece de sustento la acusación que se hace contra mi esposa y mi hija”.
Desde 2022 el exgobernante vive en Paraguay, donde se desempeña como comisionado para la discapacidad del secretario general de la Organización de Estados Americanos.
Moreno afirmó que quien contrató la obra y gestionó el financiamiento para su construcción fue el también exvicepresidente Jorge Glas, quien le sucedió en el cargo durante el gobierno de Correa. Glas está en prisión cumpliendo sentencias por otros delitos de corrupción.
Si Moreno es sentenciado en un juicio en ausencia, Ecuador eventualmente podría pedirlo en extradición, aunque expertos creen que difícilmente podría ser extraditado debido a su condición de expresidente.
El delito de cohecho está sancionado con penas de tres a 10 años de prisión en la legislación de este país.
De acuerdo con la investigación de la Fiscalía, como parte del caso Sinohydro se repartieron coimas por unos 76 millones de dólares para asegurar la concesión de la construcción de la central hidroeléctrica.
Por asistencia penal de países como Panamá, Belice, Suiza, Estados Unidos, China y España se pudo seguir la ruta del dinero entregado en sobornos, que presuntamente llegaron hasta el entorno familiar de Moreno y otros acusados.
La obra se terminó a finales de 2016, cuando Moreno ya no se desempeñaba como vicepresidente de este país. Un año más tarde ganó las elecciones presidenciales y gobernó Ecuador desde el 2017 por cuatro años.
De acuerdo con la versión de fiscalía, Moreno y su esposa habrían recibido 547.000 dólares; la hija de ambos 52.000; dos hermanos del expresidente cerca de 400.000 y una cuñada otros 15.000. La mayor parte del dinero habría ido a parar a manos del empresario ecuatoriano Conto Patiño, cercano al político.
Correa, que reside en Bélgica, y buena parte de su gabinete han sido sentenciados a penas de prisión por millonarios casos de corrupción en Ecuador, aunque el exgobernante ha señalado que ello es parte de una retaliación política en su contra.
Golden Globe snubs and surprises: ‘Wicked,’ Julia Roberts, Sydney Sweeney and more
Perhaps the “Wicked” team should have called on Madame Morrible to enact some dark magic on Golden Globe voters before nominations were announced Monday. “Wicked: For Good” wasn’t nominated for best picture or best director, one of several surprising exclusions.
Snubs at the Golden Globes seem even more shocking considering how many people do get nominated. With six nominees in most categories, separate nominations for comedy/musical and drama, television and podcast buckets too, it seems there would be enough to go around. And yet that’s hardly ever the case. Others left out include Joe Rogan, Sydney Sweeney and Gwyneth Paltrow, leaving room for plenty of surprise inclusions.
‘One Battle After Another’ leads Golden Globe nominations, while ‘Wicked: For Good’ falters
Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises of the morning.
SNUB: “Wicked: For Good” and Jon M. Chu
Yes, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande got in (although Grande’s inclusion in the supporting category is really stretching the limits of the word “supporting”), but this was supposed to be “Wicked’s” year at the Golden Globes. Not only was Jon M. Chu looked over (again) for best director, but the film itself didn’t even get into the Musical/Comedy category for best picture — and this after they so graciously accepted the weird conciliatory box office achievement prize last year. Was it because “Wicked: For Good” wasn’t as well-received as the first? Either way, it teaches awards bodies a lesson about “waiting” to honor two-parters until the second (see also: “Dune”).
SURPRISE: Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts’ turn as a Yale philosophy professor embroiled in a moral conundrum in Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” was widely praised as a return to form for the star. But the film itself pretty much died on the vine — a critical and box office flop that seemed to indicate that it was out of the awards conversation entirely. And yet, same as it ever was, the Globes can’t resist a high wattage star like Roberts in their midst.
SNUB: Sydney Sweeney
By the same skewed Golden Globes logic, it’s actually kind of shocking that Sydney Sweeney didn’t get a best actress, drama nod. Her transformative turn as a boxer in “Christy” was well-received at the Toronto International Film Festival and had awards prognosticators buzzing. It flopped at the box office, but in the most cynical sense, you’d think the show would want Sweeney, who seemingly can’t help going viral, gracing the red carpet.
SURPRISE: “KPop Demon Hunters” for box office achievement
This one is more than a little confounding considering Netflix doesn’t report box office results as a company policy. Yes, “KPop Demon Hunters” unofficially topped the domestic box office charts two months after hitting Netflix, but its theatrical footprint was truly limited. There was an awards qualifying run, a weekend sing-along release at the end of August and another over Halloween weekend that did not spark quite as much enthusiasm. Also not included were “A Minecraft Movie,” “Lilo & Stitch” and “Superman,” currently the top three movies of the year at the domestic box office. The math, as they say, isn’t mathing.
SNUB: “Ne Zha II”
And then there is the Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II” which is actually the biggest movie of the year with over $2 billion earned worldwide, but because it wasn’t a Motion Picture Association movie it’s left off most charts The movie wasn’t among the box office or the animated feature nominees.
SNUB: Gwyneth Paltrow
This one stings. Here we have an A-lister making a grand return to prestige movies, and somehow there’s no room for Paltrow in the supporting actress category for her fiercely intelligent performance as a faded movie star in “Marty Supreme.” This would have been a win-win for the show — both for the sake of its own legitimacy and red carpet prospects.
SNUB: Joe Rogan and all political podcasts
“The Joe Rogan Experience” is the most popular podcast of the year and yet somehow was not nominated in the new podcast category. Not only that, but shortlisted political shows including “The Ben Shapiro Show,” “Pod Save America,” “The Megyn Kelly Show,” “The Tucker Carlson Show” and Candace Owens’ podcast were also left off the list.
SURPRISE: Emily Blunt
“The Smashing Machine’s” prospects also seemed to wither with mixed reviews, but Blunt and, less surprisingly, Dwayne Johnson both got through. Blunt is exceedingly well-liked, but the character of Dawn Staples was perhaps not the best showcase for her talents. Also, maybe this should have been Paltrow’s spot?
SNUB: “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery”
We need to get Benoit Blanc on this very silly mystery. Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out movie got zero nominations.
SNUB: “The Gilded Age”
The lush HBO period series was completely looked over. Mrs. Russell would not stand for such a slight.
SNUB: Katherine LaNasa
Meanwhile, Katherine LaNasa won the Emmy for her performance as Nurse Dana Evans in “The Pitt” but doesn’t even get a Golden Globe nomination?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/08/golden-globe-wicked/
Aidan Lee steps up as a shooter for Waubonsie Valley. ‘Believe in yourself.’ Plus, area boys basketball notes.
Keep the faith.
Aidan Lee may not have a ton of varsity playing experience to draw up for Waubonsie Valley, but the 6-foot-1 senior shooting guard is learning that valuable lesson.
Through ups and downs, shooters can’t be shy.
It served Lee and the Warriors well over weekend as he overcame a slow start in their DuPage Valley Conference opener at Metea Valley.
“I know my first half started off really cold,” Lee said. “But I knew the work that I have put in and my team never let me get down, motivating and inspiring me all through halftime and the game.
“My shot just started falling as I expected it to at the beginning and that was the outcome.”
Waubonsie Valley senior guard Aidan Lee, a first-year varsity starter and strong 3-point shooter, is providing the Warriors with another scoring option this season. (Photo provided by Aidan Lee)
That outcome was a 48-46 victory Friday night for Waubonsie Valley.
Lee, who missed 5 of 6 shots in the first half, then went on a tear. He made six straight shots in a span of 7:30 in the third and fourth quarters to rally the Warriors (4-1, 1-0) from a 32-23 deficit.
He converted four 3-pointers in that stretch, scoring 16 of his 18 points that matched teammate Kris Mporokoso, a 6-4 junior guard/forward, for game-high scoring honors.
“They were all good looks,” Waubonsie Valley coach Andrew Schweitzer said of Lee’s early misses. “We told him to keep running our stuff and believe in yourself.’
“For a kid that didn’t play at all as a junior, he’s taken that role and gives us a very strong second or third option that’s very hard for teams to cover.”
It’s also a much-needed development with Waubonsie having graduated six of its top seven players from a 31-win team.
“Aidan played JV last year and made 11 3-pointers in one game,” Schweitzer said. “He had a great offseason, put in the work in the weight room and has become more than a shooter.
“He helps us on defense and can handle the ball a little bit.”
He plays the point on the Warriors’ 1-2-2 ball press.
Tre Watkins, a 6-2 senior guard and Illinois Springfield recruit, scored 14 points to lead the Mustangs (2-2, 0-1).
His 3-pointer from just inside the halfcourt line, contested by Lee, was off the mark at the end.
“Summer league really showed me how big of a role I could have this year,” Lee said. “I was prepared last year, but we had a really talented team. This win was a big statement win for us.”
East Aurora’s Marcus Wallace Jr. (10) drives to the basket against Streamwood’s Adam Hovey (34) during an Upstate Eight West game at Streamwood on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Adding an inside presence
Forward Marcus Wallace Jr. is back at Metea Valley for his senior season. It’s his fourth school in four years, but he has never strayed from Aurora.
“You know how that can be,” Wallace said. “I didn’t want to leave Metea in the first place. It was due to family problems.”
Wallace said that he’s now living with his grandmother. Freshman through junior years, he was at West Aurora, Metea Valley and East Aurora.
He had 10 points, seven rebounds and blocked two shots in the loss to Waubonsie.
“We need to stop giving up leads in the second half,” Wallace said. “That was the second time it’s happened. We need to work harder and come out stronger in the second half.
“I feel like I could have done better on the offensive end.”
Metea coach Isaiah Davis praised Wallace afterward.
“Marcus had a good game,” Davis said. “He was active and did some good stuff.”
Illinois Math & Science Academy’s Lota Owamezee (34) takes a shot against Aurora Central Catholic’s Peter Galer (24) during a nonconference game in Aurora on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Things look promising for IMSA
With six of his top seven players back from last season, Illinois Math & Science Academy coach Brad Snead believes his team will be one of the top contenders for the Little Ten Conference title.
The Titans are led by 6-3 junior forward Lota Owamezee, who averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds last season and earned all-conference honors.
Last week, IMSA (4-2) beat Pekin 57-48 in the East Peoria/IVC/Pekin Tournament. It’s only the second time in program history the Titans have beaten a Class 4A team.
Judge Temporarily Blocks DOJ From Using Evidence Proving James Comey’s Guilt
Judge Temporarily Blocks DOJ From Using Evidence Proving James Comey’s Guilt
Via Headline USA,
A federal judge has dealt a setback to Justice Department efforts to seek a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, temporarily barring prosecutors from using evidence they had relied on when they initially secured criminal charges.
The ruling Saturday night from U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly does not preclude the department from trying again soon to indict Comey, but it does suggest prosecutors may have to do so without citing communications between Comey and a close friend, Columbia University law professor Daniel Richman.
Comey was charged in September with lying to Congress when he denied having authorized an associate to serve as an anonymous source for media coverage about the FBI.
In pursuing the case, prosecutors cited messages between Comey and Richman that they said showed Comey encouraging Richman to engage with the media for certain FBI-related coverage.
The case was dismissed last month after a different federal judge ruled that the prosecutor who filed the charges, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed by the Trump administration.
But that ruling left open the possibility that the government could try again to seek charges against Comey, a longtime foe of President Donald Trump.
After the case was thrown out, lawyers for Richman sought a court order that would bar prosecutors from continued access to his computer files, which the Justice Department obtained through search warrants in 2019 and 2020 as part of a media leak investigation that was later closed without charges.
But Richman and his lawyers say that in preparing the criminal case against Comey, prosecutors relied on data that exceeded the scope of the warrants, illegally held onto communications they should have destroyed or returned and conducted new, warrantless searches of the files.
Kollar-Kotelly on Saturday night granted Richman’s request for a temporary restraining, instructing the department “not to access the covered materials once they are identified, segregated, and secured, or to share, disseminate, or disclose the covered materials to any person, without first seeking and obtaining leave of this Court.”
“Given that the custody and control of this material is the central issue in this matter, uncertainty about its whereabouts weighs in favor of acting promptly to preserve the status quo,” the judge stated.
Kollar-Kotelly ordered the government to “identify, segregate, and secure” the image of Richman’s personal computer, along with his email accounts and other materials taken from his electronic devices, and barred prosecutors from accessing those files without the court’s permission.
She gave the Justice Department until Monday afternoon to certify that it is compliance with the order.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment Sunday on the ruling and what it meant for revived charges against Comey.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/08/2025 – 12:00
Trabajadores del Louvre anuncian huelga por condiciones laborales y falta de seguridad
Por JOHN LEICESTER
PARÍS (AP) — Los trabajadores del Museo del Louvre votaron el lunes a favor de realizar huelgas para protestar por sus condiciones laborales, las entradas más caras para visitantes no europeos y las deficientes medidas de seguridad evidenciadas por el reciente robo de joyas.
En una carta anunciando la huelga para el próximo lunes, dirigida a la ministra de Cultura de Francia y vista por The Associated Press, los sindicatos CGT, CFDT y Sud afirmaron que “visitar el Louvre se ha convertido en una verdadera carrera de obstáculos” para los millones de personas que vienen a admirar sus enormes colecciones de arte y artefactos.
El museo está en “crisis”, con recursos insuficientes y “condiciones de trabajo cada vez peores”, manifestaron los sindicatos en su aviso de huelga a la ministra de Cultura, Rachida Dati.
“El robo del 19 de octubre de 2025 puso de relieve deficiencias en las prioridades que se habían reportado durante mucho tiempo”, alegaron los sindicatos.
La banda de ladrones se llevó un botín valorado en aproximadamente 88 millones de euros (102 millones de dólares). El director del museo posteriormente reconoció “una terrible falla” en la seguridad. Los ladrones tardaron menos de ocho minutos en forzar su entrada al museo y salir, utilizando un montacargas para llegar a una de las ventanas del edificio, amoladoras angulares para cortar las vitrinas de joyas y motocicletas para escapar.
El botín no ha sido recuperado. Incluye un collar de diamantes y esmeraldas que Napoleón regaló a la emperatriz María Luisa, joyas vinculadas a dos reinas del siglo XIX, María Amalia y Hortensia, y la tiara de perlas y diamantes de la emperatriz Eugenia.
El mantenimiento de los vastos y históricos edificios del museo, que fueron un antiguo palacio para la realeza francesa, no ha podido alcanzar el aumento de visitantes al convertirse en una de las principales atracciones de Francia.
Una fuga de agua el 26 de noviembre dañó cientos de publicaciones almacenadas en la biblioteca del museo, especializada en antigüedades egipcias. Las obras dañadas incluían revistas y documentos de los siglos XIX y XX, declaró el museo. La apertura de una válvula provocó la fuga en una red de tuberías de agua que se reemplazarán el próximo año, según la institución.
El mes pasado, el Louvre también anunció el cierre temporal de algunas oficinas de empleados y una galería pública debido al debilitamiento de las vigas del suelo.
En su aviso de huelga, los sindicatos indicaron que las instalaciones anticuadas y la insuficiencia de personal están afectando la experiencia de los visitantes, obligando al cierre de algunas exhibiciones. Exigieron que los recursos se concentren en mejoras en los edificios y en la protección del museo, sus colecciones, visitantes y empleados.
“Estamos en un museo deteriorado que ha mostrado su falta de seguridad”, afirmó Christian Galani, un funcionario sindical de la CGT que representa a los trabajadores del Louvre, en una entrevista con AP. Sostuvo que la votación a favor de la huelga fue unánime y que las medidas podrían forzar el cierre del museo.
“Necesitamos un cambio de marcha”, expresó.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Column: Mundelein golf course teed up for sports complex
Area duffers have lost another golf course to the bulldozer. Some hackers may lament this latest destruction, but don’t despair during these early blasts of winter.
The 18-hole Village Green links at Midlothian and Winchester roads has begun its transition into a major sports complex with multiple uses for student athletes at Mundelein High School. Indeed, officials were so eager to start work on the project that they hounded one of the last foursomes on the course on the balmy afternoon of Sept. 14.
“They were pulling up the flags (from the cups) before we got to the greens,” one golfer, a Mundelein High graduate, said the other day. “We said, ‘Hey, we won’t be able to see the pins.’
“They told us they were moving them because people would be taking them as collectors’ items,” he added.
It’s the Mustangs, not the Masters. This is the Village Green, not the hallowed Augusta National in Georgia.
A few days later, backhoes were on the course ripping up the greens as grading on the Village Green project started in earnest. A large billboard along Midlothian Road now trumpets the conversion.
Plans for the property include eight tennis courts, a softball field, a baseball field, a multipurpose field for Mustang soccer and lacrosse, and a lighted parking lot. District 120 officials say bids for the work came in at $4.2 million, nearly $1 million less than budgeted.
Village Green had to be the only golf course in the Land of Lincoln owned by a school district. With the plans, Mundelein High folks seem to be taking a page from the Waukegan Park District.
More than a decade ago, the district turned the old Orchard Hills Golf Course along Green Bay Road into the state-of-the-art Greg Petry SportsPark, which features lots of soccer and softball fields, along with walking trails. Orchard Hills, designed by famed golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened in the early 1960s when golf course construction was at its high point across the region.
Similarly, the centrally located par-70 Village Green opened in 1962 and was designed by Ray Didier, the former superintendent of the once-renowned Tam O’Shanter course in Niles. The Tam, which has shrunk to nine holes, was known for hosting Western Open tourneys in the mid-1960s. Since then, golf courses haven’t fared well.
If not for the Lake County Forest Preserves, which purchased golfing staples Brae Loch in Wildwood and Countryside in Mundelein, and some area municipalities, even more of these passive green spaces would be turned into housing or commercial uses.
Some may remember the 6,000-yard Village Green was once surrounded by corn fields, with the North Hills subdivision, where single-family homes were built between 1961 and 1963, to its south. This was before houses were built heading south on both sides of Midlothian Road.
Mundelein High bought the property for about $8.4 million in 2004, with long-range plans for building a second District 120 school. With enrollment numbers not increasing as anticipated, officials instead decided to again expand the high school at Midlothian and Hawley Street.
The Village Green project is part of that massive facilities improvement project, which began in March. Dirt from the construction site at the high school, where eight new classrooms on the west side are being built, is being shuttled to the Village Green area for grading fill.
Officials say work on the new classrooms is on schedule. Concrete was poured in September, and steel beams went up in October. The largest part of the work, which includes adding a stormwater detention system to the south end of the school, is set for the spring and summer of 2026.
That’s when the high school’s “D wing” on the north side will be razed, with work turning to building a multipurpose fieldhouse and renovating the cafeteria. Much of the new improvements are focusing on parts of the school’s original 1958 design layout: The cafeteria, kitchen, gym and auditorium.
“We’re very happy with our progress at this point,” Corey Tafoya, superintendent of districts 75 and 120, said in a statement. “It’s very exciting to see the project taking shape. But we know we have a long way to go.”
The project is being funded mainly by a $149.5 million bond issue that District 120 voters endorsed in the November 2024 election. The district is financing current construction with $50 million in debt service funds and has still not issued any of the approved referendum bonds.
District officials have said the construction will upgrade aging infrastructure, solve overcrowding, and add space to improve career and technical education programs at the school, which opened in 1961. Before that, Mundelein and Fremont Township high school students attended classes at the Butler Lake Building and freshmen Brainerd Building in what was then Libertyville-Fremont High School District 128.
In the long run, changing the Village Green golf course into the MHS sports park will mean more usage by Mundelein students, just not golfers. And weekend players who challenged the course will need to find another site to hit ‘em hard and long.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
X @sellenews
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/08/column-mundelein-sports-complex/
Cuba rechaza acusaciones de narcotráfico y haber tenido contactos con EEUU sobre Maduro
Por ANDREA RODRIGUEZ
LA HABANA (AP) — El gobierno cubano salió el lunes al cruce de las declaraciones de un exjefe de Inteligencia Militar venezolano que acusó a las autoridades de la isla de estar involucradas en operaciones de narcotráfico junto al presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
Al mismo tiempo negó las versiones de que hubiera contactos entre funcionarios de la isla y Estados Unidos relacionadas con una eventual salida de Maduro del poder.
“Cuba rechaza por absurdos y falsos los reportes de prensa que afirman” sobre “supuestos contactos entre funcionarios cubanos y del gobierno de los Estados Unidos para abordar asuntos internos que solo competen al gobierno de Venezuela”, expresó la viceministra de la Cancillería cubana, Josefina Vidal, en una declaración escrita entregada a The Associated Press.
“Asimismo, Cuba rechaza los intentos de manchar su limpio historial de lucha por la paz en América Latina y el Caribe y contra el tráfico de drogas”, agregó la funcionaria isleña. “Agencias especializadas estadounidenses conocen de primera mano la efectividad de Cuba en el enfrentamiento al narcotráfico”.
La semana pasada medios de prensa, principalmente en Estados Unidos y Venezuela, dieron cuenta de una carta escrita por el exgeneral venezolano Hugo Carvajal Barrios, quien fungió como director de Inteligencia Militar y diputado de la Asamblea Nacional de su país, sobre los supuestos vínculos entre La Habana y Caracas para enviar cocaína al país norteamericano.
Según los medios de comunicación que dieron a conocer la misiva, Carvajal aseguró que hubo envío de drogas de manera deliberada por parte de Venezuela a Estados Unidos como una directriz de Estado y a modo de arma política para inundar las calles de ese país. La idea, expresó el exmilitar, fue proporcionada por Cuba al expresidente Hugo Chávez (1999-2013).
Carvajal, alias “El Pollo”, huyó de Venezuela en 2017 y actualmente se encuentra preso en Estados Unidos luego de ser extraditado desde España.
En junio se declaró culpable ante un tribunal federal de Manhattan de cuatro cargos penales, incluido narcoterrorismo, en una imputación que lo acusa de encabezar un cártel compuesto por altos oficiales militares venezolanos que intentaron “inundar” Estados Unidos con cocaína, en complicidad con guerrilleros izquierdistas de la vecina Colombia.
Las acusaciones de Carvajal se produjeron en medio de una fuerte tensión en el Carib e por el importante despliegue de buques, portaaviones y submarinos de Estados Unidos, y el ataque por parte de militares estadounidenses a embarcaciones que supuestamente contrabandean drogas, así como por la dura retórica del presidente Donald Trump contra Maduro, su homólogo colombiano Gustavo Petro y el propio gobierno cubano.
“Sectores guerreristas estadounidenses recurren a burdas mentiras para intentar quebrar la unidad del gobierno y el pueblo venezolanos contra la agresión externa, así como involucrar a Cuba en la construcción de falsedades y pretextos para justificar una agresión”, expresó Vidal en sus comentarios.
Maduro y Trump mantuvieron recientemente una charla. El mandatario venezolano se refirió el miércoles por primera vez a esa conversación, asegurando que se desarrolló en un “tono de respeto” y cordial, pero sin ofrecer detalles.
El comentario de Maduro se produjo tres días después de que Trump confirmó a periodistas que habló por teléfono con él. “No quiero comentar al respecto, la respuesta es sí. No diría que salió bien o mal. Fue una llamada telefónica”, indicó.
El gobierno de Trump sostiene que el despliegue naval, entre otras medidas, busca combatir las amenazas de los cárteles de drogas latinoamericanos. Maduro, en tanto, describe el despliegue como un ataque a la soberanía de la nación y parte de un esfuerzo por derrocarlo.
Vidal, durante años encargada del área de Estados Unidos de la Cancillería, fue la principal negociadora en un histórico acercamiento entre Washington y La Habana en 2014, que culminó con la reapertura de las relaciones diplomáticas binacionales bajo el mandato de Raúl Castro y Barack Obama, un proceso luego revertido por el actual titular de la Casa Blanca.
Cuba no tiene un historial de productor de drogas y las leyes locales son particularmente duras contra el narcotráfico o la distribución de sustancias ilícitas con penas que contemplan cadenas perpetuas para estos delitos. Pero su ubicación geográfica en el Caribe la sitúa en el medio de las rutas de los contrabandistas.
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