Category: News
Soldados ucranianos escépticos sobre plan de paz, dicen que Ucrania debe fortalecerse
Por ISOBEL KOSHIW, VASILISA STEPANENKO y EVGENIY MALOLETKA
REGIÓN DE DNIPROPETROVSK, Ucrania (AP) — Moviéndose entre sótanos húmedos y refugios embarrados para defenderse de los constantes ataques rusos, los exhaustos soldados ucranianos dicen que su motivación se fortalece al saber que están luchando por una causa superior: la defensa de su patria.
Pero mientras los negociadores intentan concretar un acuerdo de paz, las tropas también creen que Rusia sigue decidida a conquistar Ucrania, ya sea ahora o con un nuevo ejército en unos años, sin importar el tipo de acuerdo que se alcance.
Y también dicen que Kiev debe mantener un ejército considerable para proteger la línea de frente que ahora tiene casi 1.300 kilómetros (800 millas).
“Las Fuerzas Armadas de Ucrania son ahora la principal barrera entre la vida pacífica de civiles ucranianos y nuestro vecino agresivo”, afirmó un artillero de 40 años que habló con The Associated Press cerca de la frontera entre las regiones de Dnipropetrovsk y Donetsk. Se identificó solo por su apodo de “Kelt”, de acuerdo con el protocolo militar, y con la condición de que no se revele su ubicación exacta.
Los soldados expresaron fuertes dudas de que se pueda confiar en que Moscú cumpla con cualquier acuerdo de paz. Sin garantías de seguridad sustanciales, como la membresía de Ucrania en la OTAN, ellos y los analistas militares creen que una nueva invasión rusa con tropas y equipo renovados es inevitable.
Viendo amenazas rusas futuras
Desde una trinchera oscura con paredes de barro, donde se refugiaba para evitar los zumbidos de los drones enemigos, Kelt teme que cualquier paz sea efímera.
“Esta tregua será a corto plazo, para restaurar las fuerzas de Rusia, durante unos tres o cinco años, y volverán”, declaró el ex vendedor de muebles de Kiev mientras el sonido de la artillería retumbaba a su alrededor.
Serhii Filimonov, el comandante del batallón Da Vinci Wolves, se preocupaba de que un acuerdo le dará a Rusia todo lo que necesita para atacar de nuevo.
“Creo que sería bueno para los rusos: terminar la guerra, eliminar las sanciones, prepararse para una nueva guerra y atacar de nuevo”, expresó. “No creo que pueda haber paz antes de que Rusia sea destruida, o al menos que cambie el liderazgo”.
Ucrania tiene escasez de personal
Filimonov describió cómo las tropas rusas habían entrado brevemente en la ciudad oriental de Pokrovsk, un centro logístico clave en la región de Donetsk, pero fueron expulsadas. Su brigada había logrado mantener su tramo de la línea defensiva, pero a menudo eran defraudados por unidades vecinas llenas de reclutas inexpertos.
El Kremlin el lunes se jactó de que las tropas rusas capturaron la ciudad después de más de un año de combates, pero el presidente ucraniano Volodymyr Zelenskyy dijo en París que la lucha aún continúa.
Un avance importante de las fuerzas rusas dependerá de la capacidad de Ucrania para aumentar y mantener su número de tropas, explicó el analista militar estadounidense y académico Rob Lee.
“Ucrania carece de mano de obra, carece de reservas”, manifestó. “Todo lo que se necesita es que una brigada ucraniana realmente tenga dificultades, y entonces Rusia puede avanzar”.
Taras Chmut, un experto militar ucraniano y recaudador de fondos, dijo a la emisora pública Suspilne el viernes que muchos batallones en el frente están compuestos por solo 20 combatientes, en lugar de los habituales 400-800.
Aunque Ucrania puede estar movilizando hasta 30.000 reclutas por mes, muchos de ellos encuentran una forma de evitar servir o resultan no aptos para reemplazar a las tropas de primera línea.
Se mantienen los sitios clave
No obstante, las fuerzas ucranianas están logrando mantener su posición en lugares como Pokrovsk, así como en Kupiansk y Vovchansk en la región de Járkiv, dos sitios en el frente que Rusia ha estado tratando de capturar durante más de un año, indicó Yurii Fedorenko, comandante de la Brigada UAV Achilles que está luchando en el área.
Rusia ha enviado decenas de miles de soldados a las ciudades, señaló, destacando que su fracaso para capturarlas “atestigua la alta motivación y resistencia del ejército ucraniano”.
El presidente ruso Vladímir Putin señaló la semana pasada que los combates no se detendrán a menos que Ucrania se retire de las regiones de Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporiyia y Jersón, las cuatro provincias que Moscú anexó ilegalmente en septiembre de 2022. Las tropas rusas ocupan solo la mitad de Zaporiyia y Jersón, y dos tercios de Donetsk.
El borrador de un plan de paz entre Estados Unidos y Rusia estipula que el ejército de Ucrania debía ser limitado y que las fuerzas de Kiev debían retirarse efectivamente del resto de la región de Donetsk. Zelenskyy ha dicho desde entonces que una versión revisada posteriormente podría ser “viable”, pero no está claro qué incluirá el documento final.
Lee, quien visita regularmente el frente, apuntó que Rusia está avanzando a un ritmo más rápido en 2025 que el año anterior, pero no es un hecho que Moscú capture el tercio restante de la región de Donetsk en 2026.
“Dondequiera que Rusia avanza, Ucrania prioriza las defensas (y) pueden resistir durante mucho tiempo, pero (luego) Rusia avanza en otras direcciones”, sostuvo Lee, describiendo el progreso de Moscú a través de Donetsk al empujar simultáneamente en múltiples direcciones.
Ucrania aún necesitará ayuda occidental
Desde su trinchera embarrada, Kelt ridiculizó la propuesta de reducir el tamaño del ejército de Ucrania, diciendo que equivalía a facilitarle a Rusia “matarte” más tarde en lugar de ahora.
Pero mantener un ejército del tamaño actual de Ucrania, de poco más de un millón de soldados, sería casi imposible sin el apoyo continuo de Occidente. Desde que comenzó la guerra en 2022, Ucrania ha gastado casi todos sus ingresos fiscales en alimentar, vestir, alojar y armar a su ejército. El resto de sus gastos — para atención médica, programas sociales, educación, pensiones y energía — han sido financiados por subvenciones y préstamos occidentales.
La Unión Europea asignó 50.000 millones de dólares en ayuda de 2024 a 2027 como parte del Programa de Facilidades para Ucrania, pero Kiev necesitará 83.400 millones para el ejército y 52.000 millones para el resto de los gastos estatales para 2026 y 2027, aseguró Glib Buriak, profesor asociado de economía en la Universidad Concordia Ucraniano-Estadounidense.
Las finanzas futuras de Ucrania, incluida su capacidad para mantener un ejército, dependen de lo que incluya el plan de paz respecto a los activos congelados de Rusia, aseveró Buriak, señalando el riesgo de una caída en la ayuda si la guerra termina.
“Cómo se gestionen determinará la situación financiera de Ucrania en los próximos años”, afirmó.
___________________________________
Yehor Konovalov contribuyó con esta nota.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Copper Hits Record High; Goldman Warns A “Circular Melt-Up” Is Now Driving Global Market
Copper Hits Record High; Goldman Warns A “Circular Melt-Up” Is Now Driving Global Market
Copper futures on the London Metal Exchange broke out of the post-Thanksgiving trading range and into record-high territory on a massive tariff-driven scramble for supply.
Copper jumped nearly 1% on the LME to $11,294.50/ton, while Comex futures surged 1.6%, blowing out the US-London spread as traders scramble to rush metal into the U.S. ahead of potential Trump-era import tariffs.
The arbitrage continues to pull supply from the rest of the world into the U.S., compounding a year already plagued with unexpected mine outages and tightening fears.
Goldman’s commodity specialist, James McGeoch, commented on this dynamic, calling it a “circular melt-up”:
Post Thanksgiving – breakout in Copper: Have been watching LME, that $11,100 level, now 3 times, it’s felt like a coiled spring, we have seen it in precious this year (Gold, Silver, PGM’s), so why not pivot to the Doctor. As we do just remember commodities are highly emotive, basis the touch point at all levels of life, they rarely move in linear fashion, overreact up and overreact down, look at the awakening in Rare Earths in 2025. Whilst the CESCO feedback from a bottom-up perspective was kinda meh (China -8% QTD, y/y, worth noting YTD +7% y/y to end Oct), it’s the balances that matter. This wasn’t a conference about mine supply, or Chinese Q4 demand, this was dominated by the traders and the desire to purchase and ship into the Comex (U.S.) arb. GS commods sales were on the ground (feedback link), outside China they note EUR demand <2019 and they suggest positioning is 5/10….
I liken this to a “circular melt-up.” The tighter LME gets tighter basis US (CMX arb) pull, the stronger the LME backwardation, which in turn tightens the CMX arb as the forward curve is underpinned by stock builds….. Circular motion – LME stock contraction, CMX arb strengthens…. Those watching supply have for some time been looking at 1H26: Grasberg tightness, Kakalua stockpiles rundown, Codelco friction, Collahuasi weakness, QB sustains lower rates. China smelter utilisation rates at record lows, copper premiums at record highs, TC settlement structures are breaking… there is nothing the Chinese can do about it, and in the meantime the U.S. is sitting whistling Dixie as stocks get onshored, it’s a strategic stockpile, basis the “threat” of tariffs, that they so desperately need and the traders are providing the balance sheet. Who would have thought 12 months ago that the U.S. would be the only game in town when it comes to copper. By luck or by design, Uncle Sam holds all the aces…. I think last week’s move was the hangover of CESCO washing off and traders realising that near term the asymmetry is higher. … Colleagues gone reminded us daily, commodities are spot assets, they are not traded in Excel models, they are art as much as science. Go back to summer, the same traders that owned CMX at 500, sold it at 550/575, the guys that got slammed as the unwind happened were machines. It’s these same buyers today stepping in.
Year-to-date, copper is up 30% on the LME as investors pile in – both on the lucrative U.S. arbitrage trade that is fueling shortages elsewhere, and on long-term structural demand from the “Next AI Trade” and major power-grid buildouts.
Commenting on copper markets, super-bull Kostas Bintas of Mercuria told Bloomberg that the U.S. tariff arbitrage is draining global inventories and is about to ignite another leg higher in prices.
“This is the big one,” Bintas told the media outlet in an interview during an industry conference in Shanghai. “If the world keeps going like this we will be left without copper cathodes in the rest of the world.”
Bintas continued, “Just looking at the facts, mathematically… What is going to happen if all of this continues? There’s only one answer: there will be tightness and a higher price.”
Last March, Bintas forecasted that copper prices could reach $12,000 or $13,000 a ton, driven by U.S. import drawdowns.
“China is, for now at least, not the marginal buyer,” said Nick Snowdon, Mercuria’s head of metals and mining research. “That role has now shifted to the US.”
Bintas noted, “If we run to $12,000 or $15,000 or whatever it is, the SHFE will take time to catch up. You’re going to see a lot of Chinese copper cathodes coming out. And then when the Chinese will come back from Chinese New Year, there will not be enough copper cathodes.” He said more than half a million tons could arrive in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2026.
Related:
Goldman: $10,000 Is New Price Floor For Copper
Earlier this year, Jeff Currie, who led commodities research at Goldman for nearly three decades and now serves as the chief strategy officer of the energy pathways team at Carlyle Group, told Bloomberg’s Odd Lots that copper is the “most compelling trade I’ve seen in my 30-year trading career.”
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/02/2025 – 08:20
The US Manufacturing Sector Wins While Net Zero Destroys Industry Elsewhere
The US Manufacturing Sector Wins While Net Zero Destroys Industry Elsewhere
The US manufacturing sector clearly outperforms all its G7 peers, especially Germany, France, and the UK.
The main reason is that the United States never implemented the aggressive net zero emissions policy that has destroyed the industry by giving the reins of industrial policy to activists. In the latest S&P Global/HCOB PMI readings, the United States manufacturing sector is clearly expanding, while the UK is only slightly expanding, and Germany and France remain in contraction after years of decline.
The US also shows much stronger momentum in new orders and has better pricing power, margins, and investment plans than its European peers. Furthermore, the US has reduced CO₂ emissions and protected the environment without destroying its industrial fabric. According to the EIA, the United States has reduced its GHG/energy‑related CO₂ by 18% between 2010 and 2024, while the European Union is at a similar level, reducing emissions by 18–22%.
The latest flash S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI stands at 51.9 for November 2025, marking the tenth expansion reading in the past eleven months. On the other hand, Germany’s Manufacturing PMI has fallen back to 48.4, while France remains below 50, signalling a contraction and indicating disastrous manufacturing performance in the past three years. The UK has only just edged back to 50.2, barely into growth after months of contraction. There is a clear structural difference: the US is in a continued, broad-based expansion phase, while the euro area’s industry remains stuck in stagnation, and the UK has stabilised after years of a negative trend.
New orders show the trend in a clear way. In the US survey, new orders are in positive territory, supporting output and employment. In Germany, new orders are falling again, with reports of a sharp decline in export demand and renewed drops in backlogs and jobs, and France’s manufacturers continue to report falling new business after more than three years of demand weakness, according to SP Global. The UK is seeing some modest improvement in domestic orders but still faces a drag from exports, whereas US factories benefit from a large internal market and reshoring‑related demand that is largely absent in the European Union.
If we analyse prices, the US manufacturing sector is in a much better position to defend its margins. The S&P Global US survey shows a moderate input cost increase, stable margins and no negative impact on demand. In Germany and France, the PMI reports describe a context where manufacturers face weaker pricing power, with output prices often under pressure and a fragile demand environment. It is undeniable that there is evidence of a profitability and cash‑flow advantage for US manufacturers.
European business surveys and experts frequently highlight that high energy prices, complicated regulations, and climate-related policies are hurting orders, investments, and pricing, while US producers benefit from lower energy costs and more flexible regulations. Thus, US manufacturers can maintain investment and job creation plans despite slower global growth, whereas most German, UK and French firms are trying to survive in an environment of rising regulatory and tax burdens, focusing on cost cuts and capacity control.
Europe’s approach to net zero has clearly damaged the competitiveness of its energy‑intensive industries. The combination of carbon pricing, a hidden tax with no discernible positive final impact, renewable‑support surcharges, increasing regulated costs in electricity bills, and increasingly stringent wrongly called environmental restrictions are raising operating expenses for manufacturers that already face higher baseline energy prices than their US counterparts. Germany’s chemical, metal, and glass sectors are often highlighted as examples of industries whose margins and investment plans have been damaged by expensive electricity and gas, aggravated by climate-related surcharges, and the rapid phase-out of nuclear and conventional generation.
In France, industrial firms have benefited from nuclear power and face lower energy costs than their German or UK competitors, but they still suffer from high network charges, environmental taxes, and regulatory uncertainty related to future climate policy, all of which weigh on long-term investment decisions. UK think tanks and strategy firms point out the same points, stressing that carbon prices, green levies, and planning barriers have made energy costs structurally higher than in the US, pushing some producers to relocate or scale back capacity. Across the three countries, leading business groups warn that accelerated decarbonisation timetables, combined with insufficient support for industrial transformation, have widened the gap in input costs, making some multinationals shift incremental investments to North America or other regions, according to PWC studies.
The net zero‑related burdens are direct causes of a weak PMI picture. When demand is weak and new orders are falling, as in Germany and France, higher regulatory and energy costs cannot be offset by higher selling prices, so firms respond by cutting investments, reducing capacity, and, in some cases, closing plants. In the UK, climate‑policy‑related costs and uncertainty add another layer of concern. The US has followed a tax-cut-driven approach to energy transition without destroying cheap alternatives, which helps PMI readings and explains stronger investment intentions than in Europe.
In the US, firms have announced ongoing investment increases related to reshoring, supply chain diversification and technology. In Germany and France, repeated references to prolonged downturns in new orders mean weaker investment plans, delays in large projects and a continued focus on efficiency rather than expansion.
US firms invest in capacity and drive productivity‑enhancing spending in digitalisation and robotics, supported by a combination of fiscal incentives, more competitive energy costs and a clearer policy environment for industrial decarbonisation, according to PWC.
The US manufacturing sector is “clearly winning” relative to Germany, France and the UK on all fronts: volume, pricing, technology, and future capacity. The US has focused its industrial policy in leaders of alternatives and proactive improvement, rather than giving all the power to ideologically motivated activists obsessed with regulation, limits, and taxes.
Unfortunately, nothing seems to be changing. Europe and the UK seemed to be handing the future of industry, automation and manufacturing investment to China and other nations under a misguided view of environmental protection based on “not in my backyard”, while other countries grow and improve their environmental protection measures without abandoning key strategic sectors.
The US manufacturing sector is winning because its future was not left in the hands of PowerPoint activist politicians. This is a warning for Americans: if you copy Germany, France or the UK, you will face the stagnation and decline they are suffering.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/02/2025 – 08:05
Best tablet
Which tablet is best?
Tablet computers are used for countless reasons. They can be portable entertainment centers for everything from movies to books. They can be cheaper than laptops for college students. Even professionals, especially in the creative fields, are using tablets over standard computers.
If you want the absolute best, look no further than the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5). There is no more powerful tablet available, though it can be overkill for casual use.
What to know before you buy a tablet
Intended use
Tablets are designed for a massive array of uses. The easiest way to find the right one for you is to separate them by intended ages and intended intensity of use.
Age: Tablets are usually designed for use by either young children or teenagers and up. Kids tablets always have more limited features, including processing power, connectivity, storage and other features. They have small screens, too. But they’re usually built tougher, to assist in lasting through hard physical use.
Intensity: Adult tablets have three intensities of use: recreational, semiprofessional and professional. Recreational tablets are usually used as no more than an entertainment center and have smaller screens and processing power, but are the most affordable. Professional tablets are powerhouses that rival desktop computers, with every feature under the sun. Semiprofessional tablets are weaker than professional ones, more affordable and typically purchased by people such as college students.
Operating system
Most tablets fall under two operating systems: iOS or Android. iOS is Apple’s proprietary system, used only by Apple devices. It’s streamlined, simple to use for all ages and designed to connect seamlessly with other Apple products. Android tends to be more intricate and allows for extreme customization. Most non-Apple tablets run some form of Android OS.
What to look for in a quality tablet
Connectivity
All tablets should connect via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but some tablets offer cellular connectivity through your phone carrier as well. This lets you connect to the internet anywhere and is most beneficial to those who travel often. Some tablets can connect to 5G networks, but these are limited and usually expensive.
Extra storage
Exclusive to non-Apple tablets is the ability to add extra storage space through options such as SD cards. Choosing a tablet with low internal storage and upgrading it later can save you a decent sum of money.
Accessories
Tablets have a range of accessories that make their use easier or improve already great options. Common accessories are Bluetooth keyboards and pencils, with some tablets including one or the other at no extra cost.
How much you can expect to spend on a tablet
Tablets are available in a wide range of prices. Budget tablets for kids can cost less than $100, with budget tablets for adults costing less than $300-$400. Tablets for more rigorous use cost $500-$1,000, with high-grade professional models costing as much as $2,000.
Tablet FAQ
How long does a tablet’s battery last before needing to be charged?
A. That depends on a multitude of factors. There is also a distinction between in-use battery length and standby battery length. In-use battery length typically ranges between two to five hours. Models with lower processing power drain batteries slightly more slowly, which may squeak in an extra hour or two. Other factors, such as how intense your activity is, how many activities you’re performing at once and how bright your screen is, also affect total length.
Batteries can last for several days on standby — meaning powered on but not in use — without needing a charge, but you may find your battery nearly dead by the time you pick it back up again. Batteries also age over time, meaning your maximum battery length in both modes will only get worse.
Do I need to purchase physical protection for my tablet?
A. Yes and no. Older tablet screens, and smartphone screens for that matter, were highly prone to scratching and required purchasing a screen protector. Today, most tablets have screens strong enough to resist almost anything. Their bodies have improved too, becoming better able to resist drops from a few feet up. The body may still chip, scratch, dent or shatter, depending on its material, so it’s usually recommended to buy a case.
What are the best tablets to buy?
Top tablet
What you need to know: There is no better tablet than Apple’s flagship, professional-grade tablet.
What you’ll love: It’s available in Wi-Fi-only or W-iFi-plus-cellular connectivity. It offers four storage options ranging between 256 gigabytes and 2 terabytes. It comes in two colors: space black and silver. The M5 chip delivers excellent performance, comparable to a laptop. It’s designed to interact flawlessly with other Apple products.
What you should consider: Even in the lowest storage option, it’s more expensive than any other tablet on the market. It’s overpowered for recreational use.
Top tablet for the money
What you need to know: This budget tablet from Amazon is perfect for casual users.
What you’ll love: It’s available in two storage options: 32 or 64 gigabytes. A cheaper model supported by ads on the lockscreen is available. It connects seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and other Amazon services.
What you should consider: Professionals should avoid this casual-only tablet. Even the 64-gigabyte model can fill up fast.
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This tablet is a must for those who prefer Android over iOS operating systems.
What you’ll love: It offers two storage options: 256 and 512 gigabytes, with the option for expandable storage through microSD cards. It comes in two colors: moonstone gray and platinum silver. It’s powerful enough to serve as a laptop. It includes a pencil.
What you should consider: It does not include a 3.5-millimeter audio jack.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Three Years On, How Accurate Are AI Chatbots?
Three Years On, How Accurate Are AI Chatbots?
Three years ago, on November 30, 2022, the official release of ChatGPT marked a turning point in artificial intelligence, propelling AI chatbots (or large language models) into the mainstream.
Since then, progress has been undeniable: LLMs‘ ability to process complex queries, summarize vast amounts of information and even assist in coding has improved considerably.
Yet, as Statista’s Tristan Gaudiat details below, hallucinations, misinterpretations of context and inaccuracies continue to plague even the most sophisticated of currently available models.
A study from the European Broadcasting Union and the BBC reveals that while the rate of inaccurate responses has declined since the end of last year, errors continue to be widespread.
You will find more infographics at Statista
Data collected between May and June 2025 and analyzed by a cohort of journalists revealed that almost half of the responses (48 percent) from popular chatbots – free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity – contained accuracy issues.
17 percent were significant errors, mainly regarding sourcing and missing context.
In December 2024, the rate of inaccurate responses (observed using a smaller answers sample) was significantly higher: 72 percent for all four LLMs. 31 percent were major issues in that case.
Despite gradual improvements, these shortcomings raise critical questions about reliability, especially in high-stakes applications like healthcare, legal advice or education. While AI developers keep pushing boundaries, users must remain aware of the technology’s current limitations.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/02/2025 – 07:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/three-years-how-accurate-are-ai-chatbots
Neuqua Valley’s Lorraine Wieshuber beats the odds. Playing after reconstructive surgeries is ‘astonishing.’
Neuqua Valley’s Lorraine Wieshuber grew nearly a foot from the start of fifth grade to the end of sixth grade.
That massive growth spurt made her the tallest girl in her class, a boost for someone who aspired to play college basketball. But it also nearly derailed that dream.
“I was born with a really narrow groove in my kneecap,” Wieshuber said. “The growth spurt caused my ligaments to be under a lot of tension.
“My IT bands, which run from my hip down to my knee, were under a lot of stress and didn’t have a lot of time to lengthen out because my bones grew so fast. That caused my kneecaps to sit up higher than they should have been. In that position, they can pop out really easily.”
Wieshuber began wearing knee braces in middle school, but her kneecaps dislocated regularly. The condition became so severe it led to surgery to reconstruct her medial patellofemoral ligament during her freshman year in January 2023.
Wieshuber returned to action as a sophomore, playing on the Wildcats’ junior varsity team. But bad luck struck again in a travel game.
“I was going up for a rebound, came down and completely tore through my surgery,” she said. “It was a chunky ligament they had put in, and I just ripped right through it.”
Wieshuber’s second reconstructive surgery followed in June 2024.
“After that, the doctor said, ‘I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to play sports,’” Wieshuber said. “That was really disappointing for me to hear.
“I had dreams of having my senior night and hopefully playing in college, and suddenly they were being snatched away from me. That was really discouraging.”
But the 6-foot-3 Wieshuber wasn’t ready to quit.
“Basketball was so fulfilling for me to play,” she said. “I asked my physical therapist, ‘What can I do to get back?’
“She was like, ‘OK, we’re going to give you a workout plan, and you’re going to work as hard as you can.’”
Wieshuber did. Against all odds, the senior center returned to action for the Wildcats (1-3) and played about 10 minutes in the season opener against Glenbard West on Nov. 20.
“I honestly didn’t think that I was going to get to play for Neuqua again,” she said. “I was really proud of myself to be able to step on the court.
“It was also really nice to feel so in shape and that I wasn’t scared of getting reinjured. It was great to be part of the team again.”
Neuqua Valley’s Lorraine Wieshuber (32) cheers from the bench during a game against Stagg in the Hinsdale Central Thanksgiving Tournament in Hinsdale on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Naperville Sun)
Neuqua Valley senior guard Nalia Clifford is thrilled for Wieshuber.
“It’s awesome,” Clifford said. “We went to elementary school together and played middle school basketball together, so I wanted to play with her again.
“It’s fantastic that she’s able to get healthy and feel confident in her legs now.”
Indeed, Wieshuber doesn’t wear the braces anymore. She is showing her mettle against 6-1 senior center Michayla Stone in practice and wants to get more playing time.
“She’s so tall, she’s got fight in her, and she’s aggressive,” Clifford said. “When you’re that tall, everyone is shorter than you. They’re going to be pushing you around, and she fights right back.
“In practice, she’s got some great moves to the hoop with both hands, baby hooks, going in strong. I’m really excited for her.”
Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams is cautiously integrating Wieshuber into the lineup. She played seven minutes during the Wildcats’ game against Stagg in the Hinsdale Central Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26 and recorded a block and a steal.
“You’ve got to remember, she’s been removed from playing games for a couple years,” Williams said. “It’s just astonishing that she comes back physically at all.
“She’s frustrated, and I know how it is. Once you get a taste of something, you want more, and she wants to be a contributor. But she’s a great kid. She has everything in perspective.”
Williams envisions Wieshuber and Stone, a North Central College commit, eventually providing a one-two punch in the paint.
“I’m definitely the strongest I’ve ever been, which is really nice,” Wieshuber said. “I haven’t been able to run like I can now since elementary school.”
Wieshuber still believes she can play in college. Clifford doesn’t doubt her.
“Whatever she decides she wants to do, I know she’s going to work her butt off to be able to do it,” Clifford said. “She’s got a great attitude too.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/02/basketball-neuqua-valley-lorraine-wieshuber/
Daywatch: Chicago officials ease capacity limit for Christkindlmarket
Good morning, Chicago.
After pushback from organizers and vendors, city officials have decided to let up — to a degree — on the contentious capacity limit at Daley Plaza’s 29th annual Christkindlmarket, a development organizers say is a step in the right direction but still not sustainable for the beloved holiday tradition.
The city yesterday agreed to increase the event’s space restriction by nearly 1,000, bringing the amended capacity limit up to 2,500 people, according to Mark Tomkins, the president and CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce, which runs Christkindlmarket.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Tess Kenny.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including a look at who was detained during Operation Midway Blitz, four things we learned from the Bears and why actor and director Robert Townsend is raising funds for West Side nonprofits.
Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Border Patrol officers detain a man while conducting immigration enforcement actions in the Edison Park neighborhood of Chicago on Oct. 31, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Nearly 1,900 immigrants were detained during the first half of Operation Midway Blitz. Most had no criminal record.
Newly released federal data shows that immigration agents booked in roughly 1,900 immigrants in the first half of Operation Midway Blitz – two-thirds of whom had no known criminal convictions or pending charges.
Of the 1,895 people detained by ICE, 1,271 lacked any criminal record. Another 343 people arrested had a pending criminal charge, while 281 had a criminal conviction. Of those with a criminal conviction, the vast majority of offenses were misdemeanors, traffic citations or non-violent felonies. Only 28 arrestees —1.5% — had been convicted of a violent felony or sex crime.
Federal prosecutors subpoena Evanston for video of Oct. 31 clash between agents and public
Gary mom thankful to be back with children after immigration raid
Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for Illinois governor, sits for an interview at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago on Dec. 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Humbled by personal tragedy, Republican Darren Bailey resumes his quest for Illinois governor
Less than two months after four family members died in a tragic helicopter crash, Darren Bailey finds himself not only trying to rebuild his life but also his nascent campaign for the Republican nomination for Illinois governor.
Then-Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson hosts a community forum on April 11, 2018, in Austin for input on the Chicago Police Department’s gang database. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Former Chicago inspector general has no remorse after fine for leaking report on botched implosion
The Chicago Board of Ethics fined former Inspector General Joe Ferguson $5,000 for sharing a confidential report that blasted the city’s handling of a botched implosion that left Little Village coated in dust, city records show.
This combination of images provided by the U.S. Department of State show Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, left, and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of the infamous cartel leader, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, after they were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas, July 25, 2024. (U.S. Department of State)
Son of ‘El Chapo’ Guzman admits flying cartel boss to US, pleads guilty in Chicago trafficking case
One of the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán admitted for the first time in a Chicago courtroom Monday that he orchestrated the dramatic kidnapping of elusive Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in 2024 and delivered both himself and his quarry to U.S. authorities in the hopes of leniency.
In pleading guilty to narcotics trafficking charges, Joaquín Guzmán López offered new details in his shocking move to betray Zambada, which made global headlines and brought down one of the most wanted figures in the world.
The Hanson Family Chiropractic, with its signage removed, is seen in Batavia, Nov. 25, 2025. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Batavia chiropractor accused of secretly filming patients believed to have acted alone, Kane State’s Attorney’s Office says
David Hanson, of Hanson Family Chiropractic, is believed to have recorded more than 180 patients while they were undressed or unclothed, according to a joint investigation between the Child Exploitation Unit of the state’s attorney’s office and Batavia police. The alleged victims’ ages ranged from young children to adults, and were mostly female, according to officials.
The Chicago Public Schools emblem is on its headquarters on West Madison Street in Chicago, seen on July 10, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
More CPS students are graduating high school, but finishing college is a challenge
Chicago Public Schools students are graduating from high school at near record-high rates, but only half who enroll in college will complete their credential within a decade, a new report says.
The overall college completion rate for CPS alumni is 48% — below the national average of 64%, according to an annual study from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research and the To&Through Project.
Bears coach Ben Johnson prepares for the game against the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
4 things we learned from the Chicago Bears, including why the NFC lead ‘doesn’t mean anything’
Bears coach Ben Johnson was back to wearing a shirt yesterday — please see his viral locker-room video — but he still was riding the emotional high of Friday’s 24-15 upset of the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, at least for one more day.
“Just really proud of how the group came out and competed,” he told reporters via Zoom. “They played hard for 60 minutes. That was evident on the tape in all three phases.
Why did Bears’ Ben Johnson go shirtless? ‘Anytime you get a chance to feed a city, you want to do it.’
NFL division races tighten after surprises and upsets — and Bears own the NFC’s top seed now
Lane Kiffin speaks at a news conference as he is introduced as LSU’s new football coach Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. (Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
Column: For college coaches like Lane Kiffin and Pat Fitzgerald, the past is no problem
In the mad, mad, mad world of college football, the games that go on behind closed doors are often more interesting than what happens on the field, writes Paul Sullivan. Turning a blind eye to the past is often required when schools put winning before everything else.
Pat Fitzgerald’s hiring as Michigan State football coach is official: ‘We will restore tradition’
Chicago native Robert Townsend. (Skye Townsend)
Actor and director Robert Townsend raises funds for West Side nonprofits with pop-up film fest
Chicago native Robert Townsend is in Chicago this week to host a pop-up film festival Dec. 6-7 — one that will showcase films significant to him and subsequently raise funds for the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP and The Answer, Inc., the Forest Park-based organization that supports people of color with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families. Townsend is childhood friends with Karl Brinson, Westside Branch NAACP president, and Debra Vines, CEO and founder of The Answer, Inc.
Rising like an iceberg from the sea, Oslo’s Opera House is one of many ways the city has revitalized its waterfront. (Rick Steves, Rick Steves’ Europe)
Rick Steves’ Europe: Oslo, where Norway’s nature, history and culture mix it up
A big statue of a tiger sits in front of the train station of Norway’s capital, Oslo. A local once explained that Oslo is nicknamed “Tiger City” because, in the 19th century, when country boys would visit this wild and crazy “New York City of Norway,” it would “make a mark on their soul.”
The best luggage deals for Travel Tuesday
Get ready for your next trip with these can’t-miss luggage deals
Whether it’s for quick weekend getaways or weeklong international trips, having the right bags can make traveling a little easier. Travel Tuesday is the perfect time to invest in new luggage, as you can score big savings on sets, single suitcases, and other travel bags.
If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, we’ve got you covered. Whether you prefer hardside luggage, softside luggage, checked bags or carry-ons, we’ve gathered the best luggage deals for Travel Tuesday 2025.
Best Travel Tuesday luggage deals
DELSEY PARIS Helium DLX Rolling Garment Bag 20% OFF + $23.90 OFF COUPON
This rolling garment bag can keep your delicate dresses, suits, and other items wrinkle-free, no matter how far you travel. It is made of lightweight but durable DuraTec fabric that withstands wear and tear, making it perfect for frequent travelers. The interior features a clamping system to secure hangers and a built-in hook to hang on doors or closet rods.
Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage Set
This luggage set includes a carry-on-sized bag, a 24″ checked bag and a 28″ checked bag, so you’re ready for any trip you might take. The exterior is made of scratch-resistant polycarbonate for improved durability, while the four multidirectional spinner wheels make the bags easy to maneuver over all types of terrain. Best of all, the set is backed by a 10-year limited warranty.
American Tourister Stratum 2.0 Expandable Hardside Luggage 24% OFF
This hardside suitcase is perfect for trips of up to three days. Its interior features a mesh door pocket, elastic tie tapes and a modesty pocket, so you can easily organize your belongings. It is expandable, too, allowing you to get some extra room if you pick up souvenirs on your trip.
This suitcase features a hard-sided design for durability, but it’s surprisingly lightweight, making it very easy to maneuver. It also features 360-degree smooth-gliding wheels and a quick-release trolley handle, so you can push or pull it over any terrain. While it’s large enough for four- to seven-day trips, it meets carry-on requirements for most major airlines.
SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable Luggage
This set includes two pieces: a 21″ carry-on spinner and a 29″ checked spinner. The bags’ interiors feature several mesh storage pockets, a removable zippered wet pouch and adjustable tie-down straps for organizing your items. They also feature reinforced lift handles on the top, sides, and bottom of the bags, making them easy to lift and carry.
Amazon Basics 18″ Medium Carry-On Softside Suitcase
This carry-on bag is large enough to hold everything you need for three- to seven-day trips, but it can also save you from waiting at baggage claims. It features an expandable design that provides up to 18% more interior space when needed, while its soft sides make it easy to fit into overhead bins. You’ll also have an easy time getting through the airport, thanks to its four multidirectional wheels and telescoping handle.
Other Travel Tuesday luggage deals worth checking out
DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero Hardside Expandable 28″ Checked Luggage
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Luggage Set 14% OFF
Travelers Club Midtown Hardside 4-Piece Luggage Set 13% OFF
Away Large Checked Luggage
Kenneth Cole REACTION Chelsea Chevron Quilted Luggage Set
BAGSMART Hardside Expandable Luggage
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/02/the-best-luggage-deals-for-travel-tuesday/
Tether CEO Slams S&P Ratings Agency And Influencers Spreading USDt FUD
Tether CEO Slams S&P Ratings Agency And Influencers Spreading USDt FUD
Authored by Vince Quill via CoinTelegraph.com,
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and market analysts pushed back against S&P Global’s downgraded rating of USDt’s ability to maintain its US dollar peg, saying that the ratings agency did not account for all of Tether’s assets and revenues.
The Tether Group’s total assets at the end of Q3 2025 totaled about $215 billion, while its total stablecoin liabilities were about $184.5 billion, according to Ardoino, who referenced Tether’s Q3 attestation report. He added:
“Tether had, at the end of Q3 2025, about $7 billion in excess equity, on top of the about $184.5 billion in stablecoin reserves, plus about another $23 billion in retained earnings as part of our Tether Group equity.
“S&P made the same mistake of not considering the additional Group Equity, nor the roughly $500 million in monthly base profits generated by US Treasury yields alone,” Ardoino continued.
Source: Paolo Ardoino
S&P Global downgraded USDt’s dollar-peg rating to “weak” on Wednesday, the lowest score on its scale, prompting fear, uncertainty, and doubt from some analysts about the company, which has become a critical piece of crypto market infrastructure.
Analysts debate Tether’s balance sheet fundamentals
Arthur Hayes, a market analyst and founder of the BitMEX crypto exchange, speculated that Tether is buying large quantities of gold and BTC to compensate for income shortfalls produced by falling US Treasury yields.
As the Federal Reserve slashes interest rates, the gold and BTC should go up in value, Hayes said, but he also warned that a steep correction in these assets could spell trouble for Tether.
“A roughly 30% decline in the gold and BTC position would wipe out their equity, and then USDt would be, in theory, insolvent,” he said.
Source: Arthur Hayes
Joseph Ayoub, the former lead digital asset analyst at financial services giant Citi, said he spent “hundreds” of hours researching Tether as an analyst for the company, and rebuffed Hayes’ analysis.
Tether has excess assets beyond what it reports, has an extremely lucrative business that generates billions of dollars in interest income with only 150 employees, and is better collateralized than traditional banks, Ayoub said.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/02/2025 – 07:20
Prada Group says it has purchased fashion rival Versace in a deal worth nearly $1.4 billion
MILAN — The Prada Group announced Tuesday that it has officially purchased Milan fashion rival Versace in a nearly $1.4 billion deal that puts the fashion house known for its sexy silhouettes under the same roof as Prada’s “ugly chic” aesthetic and Miu Miu’s youth-driven appeal.
The highly anticipated deal is expected to relaunch Versace’s fortunes, after middling post-pandemic performance as part of the U.S. luxury group Capri Holdings.
Prada said in a one-line statement that the acquisition had been completed after receiving all regulatory clearances.
Versace’s future
Prada heir Lorenzo Bertelli will steer Versace’s next phase as executive chairman, in addition to his roles as group marketing director and sustainability chief.
The son of co-creative director Miuccia Prada and longtime Prada Group chairman Patrizio Bertelli has said he doesn’t expect to make any swift executive changes at Versace. But Bertelli has said that the company, which places among the top 10 most recognized brands in the world, has long been underperforming in the market.
Prada has underlined that the 47-year-old Versace brand offered “significant untapped growth potential.’’
Versace has been in the midst of a creative relaunch under a new designer, Dario Vitale, who previewed his first collection during Milan Fashion Week in September. He had previously been head of design at Miu Miu, but his move to Versace was unrelated to the Prada deal, executives have said.
Capri Holdings, which owns Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, paid $2 billion for Versace in 2018, but had been struggling to position Versace’s bold profile in the recent era of “quiet luxury.″
Versace represented 20% of Capri Holdings 2024 revenue of 5.2 billion euros. An analyst presentation for the Prada deal said that Versace would represent 13% of the Prada Group’s pro-forma revenues, with Miu Miu coming in at 22% and Prada at 64%. The Prada Group, which also includes Church’s footwear, reported a 17% boost in revenues to 5.4 billion euros last year.
Prada’s in-house manufacturing
The Prada Group has already begun preparations to incorporate crosstown rival Versace into its Italian manufacturing system, a point of pride for the group.
“Making a bag for one brand or another, the know-how is the same,″ Bertelli told reporters last week at the group’s Scandicci leather goods factory, which already makes bags for the Prada and Miu Miu brands and will soon add Versace.
The Prada Group’s has invested 60 million euros in its supply chain this year, including a new leather goods factory near Siena, a new knitwear factory near Perugia as well as increasing production at its factory Church’s footwear factory in Britain and expanding another Tuscan factory. That’s on top of 200 million euros in investments from 2019-24.
Prada’s efforts include an academy that has trained some 570 new artisans over the last 25 years in an in-house training academy operating in the Tuscany, Marche, Veneto and Umbria regions.
Last year, Prada hired 70% of the 120 artisans who trained in the academy. The number of trainees rose by 28% to 152 this year.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/02/prada-group-versace-deal/
