Category: News
Regulador oceánico de EEUU enfrenta críticas por cambios a norma de protección de la ballena franca
Por PATRICK WHITTLE
PORTLAND, Maine, EE.UU. (AP) — El organismo regulador oceánico de Estados Unidos planea introducir cambios que favorecerían a la industria en una norma vigente desde hace tiempo y concebida para proteger a la menguante población de ballenas, lo que ha generado críticas de grupos ambientalistas que mencionan la reciente muerte de una ballena en peligro de extinción.
Las normas protegen a la ballena franca del Atlántico Norte, cuya población es de menos de 400 ejemplares y que vive frente a la costa este de Estados Unidos. Estos gigantescos animales están protegidos por una regla de velocidad para embarcaciones que exige que los barcos grandes reduzcan la marcha en determinados periodos para evitar colisiones, una de las principales causas de muerte de estos ejemplares.
La Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA, por sus siglas en inglés) indicó en un comunicado enviado el jueves a The Associated Press que planea anunciar pronto una nueva propuesta de normas diseñadas para “modernizar” las protecciones de las ballenas. La propuesta será una “acción centrada en la desregulación” que buscará “reducir cargas regulatorias y económicas innecesarias, al tiempo que se garantizan prácticas de conservación responsables para las ballenas francas del Atlántico Norte en peligro de extinción”, se indica en el comunicado.
En el sitio web de la Oficina de Asuntos de Información y Regulación (OIRA, por sus siglas en inglés) figura un aviso de elaboración de normas sobre las reglas para la ballena franca, pero no se incluyen detalles de la propuesta. La NOAA manifestó en su comunicado que se daría a conocer más información sobre las normas y que la agencia estaba enfocada en “implementar nuevas tecnologías, enfoques de ingeniería y otras herramientas avanzadas” para proteger a las ballenas.
Varios grupos ambientalistas criticaron el alejamiento de las reglas de velocidad para embarcaciones. Algunos mencionaron la confirmación, el 10 de febrero, de la muerte de una ballena hembra de 3 años frente a Virginia. Aún no se había determinado la causa de la muerte del cetáceo, pero falleció a una edad mucho más temprana de lo habitual.
“Otra ballena franca hembra —el futuro de esta especie— ha perdido la vida. Necesitamos urgentemente más protecciones para la ballena franca, no menos. La aparente determinación del gobierno de Trump de debilitar la regla de velocidad para embarcaciones no podría llegar en peor momento”, señaló Jane Davenport, abogada principal del grupo de conservación Defenders of Wildlife.
Las ballenas francas migran cada año desde las zonas de cría frente a Florida y Georgia hasta las zonas de alimentación frente a Nueva Inglaterra y Canadá. En el trayecto, son vulnerables a chocar con barcos y a enredarse con aparejos de pesca comercial. En otro tiempo fueron numerosas frente a la Costa Este, pero quedaron diezmadas durante la era de la caza comercial de ballenas y han estado protegidas a nivel federal durante décadas.
El gobierno de Biden planeaba ampliar las zonas de baja velocidad frente a la Costa Este para proteger a las ballenas. También tenía previsto ampliar las categorías de embarcaciones obligadas a reducir la velocidad. Sin embargo, el gobierno federal retiró la propuesta en los últimos días de la administración, y las autoridades explicaron que no había tiempo para finalizar las regulaciones debido al alcance y al volumen de los comentarios del público.
Algunas empresas navieras y otras industrias marítimas llevan mucho tiempo oponiéndose a las reglas de velocidad para embarcaciones. La National Marine Manufacturers Association ha calificado las restricciones de velocidad como “arcaicas” y ha defendido soluciones que se basen en la tecnología.
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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.
Ataques a 3 comunidades en Nigeria dejan al menos 32 muertos y número indeterminado de secuestrados
Por DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN
ABUYA, Nigeria (AP) — Al menos 32 personas murieron después que hombres armados lanzaran ataques simultáneos contra tres comunidades en la región centro-norte de Nigeria, informaron el sábado la policía y un residente.
La incursión al amanecer tuvo como objetivo las comunidades de Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso y Pissa, en la zona de Borgu, en el estado de Níger.
El portavoz de la policía del estado de Níger, Wasiu Abiodun, dijo que seis personas murieron en el ataque contra Tunga-Makeri y añadió que “un número de personas aún por determinar fue secuestrado”.
Abiodun confirmó que la comunidad de Konkoso fue atacada, pero no ofreció más detalles.
“Se han movilizado equipos de seguridad conjuntos al lugar para evaluar la situación y continúan los esfuerzos para rescatar a las víctimas”, señaló.
Abdullahi Adamu, residente de Konkoso, dijo que 26 personas murieron en el ataque contra su comunidad.
“Operaban libremente sin la presencia de ninguna fuerza de seguridad”, afirmó.
El norte de Nigeria está atrapado en una compleja crisis de seguridad en la que participan tanto milicianos islamistas como bandas armadas que secuestran a personas para pedir rescate.
Los ataques del sábado se producen tras un incidente mortal a principios de este mes en el vecino estado de Kwara, que dejó 162 muertos.
En los últimos meses, Nigeria ha estado en el punto de mira del gobierno de Estados Unidos, que ha acusado a las autoridades nigerianas de no proteger a los cristianos, aunque los ataques afectan tanto a cristianos como a musulmanes.
La acusación ha derivado en una alianza de seguridad entre ambos países que ha incluido ataques estadounidenses dirigidos contra grupos armados en territorios nigerianos en diciembre, así como la presencia de un equipo de militares de Estados Unidos en el país de África occidental.
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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.
Soaring coffee prices rewrite some Americans’ daily routines
NEW YORK — For years, it was a daily McDonald’s trip for a cup of coffee with 10 sugars and five creams. Later, it was Starbucks caramel macchiatos with almond milk and two pumps of syrup.
Coffee has been a morning ritual for Chandra Donelson since she was old enough to drink it. But, dismayed by rising prices, the 35-year-old from Washington, D.C., did the unthinkable: She gave it up.
“I did that daily for years. I loved it. That was just my routine,” she says. “And now it’s not.”
Years of steadily climbing coffee prices have some in this country of coffee lovers upending their habits by nixing café visits, switching to cheaper brews or foregoing it altogether.
Coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% in January from a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index released on Friday. Over five years, the government reported, coffee prices rose 47%.
That extraordinary rise has brought some to take extraordinary measures.
“Before, I thought, ‘There’s no way I could make it through my day without coffee,’” says Liz Sweeney, 50, of Boise, Idaho, a former “coffee addict” who has cut her consumption. “Now my car’s not on automatic pilot.”
Sweeney used to have three cups of coffee at home each day and stop at a café whenever she left the house. As prices climbed last year, though, she nixed coffee shop visits and cut her intake to a cup a day at home. To make up for the caffeine, she pops open a can of Diet Coke at home or rolls through McDonald’s for one.
Dan DeBaun, 34, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, has likewise trimmed back on coffee shop visits, conscious of the increasing expense as he and his wife save up for a house.
“What used to be a $2 coffee, it’s now $5, $6,” says DeBaun, who now buys ground coffee at Trader Joe’s and fills up a travel mug to bring to the office.
Data from Toast, a payment platform used by more than 150,000 restaurants, found the median price of a regular hot coffee in the U.S. had climbed to $3.61 in December, with wide variation by location. The median price of cold brews was $5.55.
Virtually all coffee consumed in the U.S. is imported. Though tariffs affected some imports of coffee in 2025, they ultimately were removed. Climate issues — drought in Vietnam, heavy rain in Indonesia, and hot, dry weather in Brazil — are blamed for reducing yields of coffee crops and driving up global prices.
Two-thirds of Americans drink coffee daily, according to the National Coffee Association. For many, it is such an indispensable part of their routine, the soaring price has led to nothing more than grumbling.
The coffee association says its surveys show coffee consumption is broadly holding steady despite price hikes. But, squeezed by the cost of everything from rent to beef, others are shaking up their habit.
Sharon Cooksey, 55, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was visiting her local Starbucks most weekday mornings for a caramel latte until scaling back last year. First, she switched to brewing Starbucks at home. Then, she discovered Lavazza coffee was about 40% cheaper and switched to it.
“I can buy a bag of coffee for $6?” she said to herself. “It was like I had just discovered another world. The multiverse opened up to me in the coffee aisle of Publix.”
She has noticed her home-brewed costs tick upward, too, but it’s nothing compared to her café habit. A bag of beans that lasts weeks costs her about the same as one latte.
Cooksey misses the social aspect of visiting the café, where baristas greeted her by name. But she’s been surprised to find she actually prefers the way her homemade coffees taste.
“I’ll be damned if it didn’t taste so good,” she says.
Growing up, Donelson watched enviously as her mother made a daily coffee jaunt (also to McDonald’s, also 10 sugars and five creams), and she duplicated the habit. She went from college to the Air Force to a government job as a data and artificial intelligence strategist, but through it all, coffee was there.
She noticed the growing expense of her routine, but kept it up until a government shutdown halted her paychecks last fall and she needed to trim her spending. Looking for a morning substitute, she landed on a Republic of Tea blend with a healthy squeeze of honey.
“Twenty cents a cup compared to $7 or $8 a cup,” she says. “The math just makes sense.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/coffee-prices-americans-daily-routines/
US military reports a series of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military on Saturday reported a series of strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for the December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter.
U.S. Central Command said in a statement that American aircraft had conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 IS targets between Feb. 3 and Thursday, hitting weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure.
At least 50 members of IS have been killed or captured, while more than 100 IS targets have been struck since the United States began its strikes after the Dec. 13 ambush, according to Central Command. That attack killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, the civilian interpreter.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Defense Ministry said Thursday that government forces took control of a base in the east of the country that was run for years by U.S. troops as part of the fight against IS. The Al-Tanf base played a major role after IS declared a caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014.
The U.S. military on Friday completed the transfer of thousands of IS detainees from Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to stand trial. The prisoners were sent to Iraq at the request of Baghdad, in a move welcomed by the U.S.-led coalition that had for years fought against IS.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/us-military-airstrikes-syria/
How Jeffrey Epstein used the glamour of the Nobel Peace Prize to entice his global network of elites
STAVANGER, Norway — Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly played up his ties to the former head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee in invitations to and chats with elites like Richard Branson, Larry Summers, Bill Gates and Steve Bannon, a top ally of President Donald Trump, the Epstein files show.
Thorbjørn Jagland, who headed the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015, turns up hundreds of times in the millions of documents about the former U.S. financier and convicted sex offender that were released by the U.S. Justice Department last month.
Since the release, Jagland, 75, has been charged in Norway for “aggravated corruption” in connection with an investigation prompted by information in the files, the economic crime unit of Norwegian police Økokrim said.
Økokrim has said it would investigate whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with Jagland’s position. Its teams searched his Oslo residence on Thursday, plus two other properties in Risør, a coastal town to the south, and in Rauland to the west.
His attorneys at Elden law firm in Norway said Jagland denies the charges, and was questioned by the police unit on Thursday.
While there is no evidence in the documents seen so far of any outright lobbying for the Nobel Peace Prize, Epstein repeatedly played up hosting Jagland at his properties in New York and Paris in the 2010s.
From an ‘interesting’ guest to subject of banter with Bannon
In September 2018, during Trump’s first term and in an apparent allusion to his interest in the peace prize, Epstein had a varied text-message exchange with Bannon, at one point writing — in one of many messages with untidy grammar: “donalds head would explode if he knew you were now buds with the guy who on monday will decide the nobel peace prize.”
“I told him next year it should be you when we settle china,” he added, without elaborating.
In one email from 2013, mixing in investment tips and praise for PR tips, Epstein told British entrepreneur and magnate Richard Branson that Jagland would be staying with Epstein in September that year, adding: “if you are there, you might find him interesting.”
A year after she left a job as White House counsel to President Barack Obama, in 2015, Kathy Ruemmler got an email from Epstein saying: “head of nobel peace prize coming to visit, want to join?”
In 2012, Epstein wrote former Treasury Secretary and Harvard University president Larry Summers about Jagland, saying “head of the nobel peace prize staying with me, if you have any interest.”
In that exchange, Epstein referred to Jagland — also a former Norwegian prime minister and former head of the Council of Europe, a human rights body — as “not bright” but someone who offered a “unique perspective.”
The financier wrote Bill Gates in 2014, saying that Jagland had been reelected as head of the Council of Europe.
“That is good,” the Microsoft co-founder and formerly the world’s richest man, wrote. “I guess his peace prize committee job is also up in the air?”
During Jagland’s tenure as chair of the committee, it gave the peace prize to Obama, in 2009, and the European Union in 2012.
Jagland was brought into Epstein’s orbit by Terje Rød Larsen, a Norwegian diplomat who helped broker the Oslo Peace Accords between Israel and Palestinians.
Larsen and his wife are also facing corruption charges in Norway due to their association with Epstein.
Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/jeffrey-epstein-nobel-peace-prize-network/
Elon Demands Investigation Into Reid Hoffman’s “Ice Cream For The Girls” Epstein Ties
Elon Demands Investigation Into Reid Hoffman’s “Ice Cream For The Girls” Epstein Ties
Authored by Steve Watson via modernity.news,
Elon Musk has ramped up his assault on LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, demanding a full investigation into the Democrat mega-donor’s disturbing Epstein connections—including buying “ice cream… for the girls” and offering PR help as the child trafficking scandal erupted.
This latest clash exposes Hoffman’s role in Epstein’s elite circle, where he exchanged over 1,700 emails, called the sex offender a “very close friend,” and stayed at all three notorious properties, while funneling millions into anti-Trump dirty tricks that undermine American democracy.
The feud intensified when Musk responded to a detailed thread by investigative poster @KanekoaTheGreat, who highlighted Hoffman’s Epstein entanglements. “Hoffman should be investigated,” Musk stated bluntly, echoing his earlier calls for scrutiny.
Reid Hoffman stayed at Jeffrey Epstein’s ranch, private island, and Manhattan apartment.
He bought “ice cream… for the girls” and a “metal sculpture for the island.”
Hoffman donated over $100M to Democratic causes.
He funded fake Russian bots on Twitter and financed the E.… pic.twitter.com/kzRIwedmz0
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) February 13, 2026
In the thread, emails reveal Hoffman offering “ice cream… for the girls” and a “metal sculpture for the island” during his visits to Epstein’s Little St. James, New Mexico ranch, and Manhattan townhouse. One chilling message shows Hoffman regretting a missed opportunity to deliver a gift, responding “likewise” to Epstein’s disappointment and promising it “will wait for the next opportunity.”
Even more damning, in January 2015—as global headlines blasted allegations of Epstein trafficking Virginia Roberts to Prince Andrew—Hoffman offered to assist with Epstein’s negative press coverage. Why would a top Silicon Valley figure and Democrat powerhouse step in to shield a convicted predator during his downfall?
Liar, you are guilty of dark deeds and haven’t been cleared of anything.
You stayed at Epstein’s island, Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico and Epstein’s house in New York. You offered to help him with PR. You gave him gifts …
Maybe if it was only one stay over, you could claim it…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 14, 2026
Musk didn’t hold back in his direct confrontations with Hoffman on X. When Hoffman claimed the FBI had “cleared” him and pointed fingers at Musk, the Tesla CEO shot back: “Liar, you are guilty of dark deeds and haven’t been cleared of anything. You stayed at Epstein’s island, Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico and Epstein’s house in New York. You offered to help him with PR. You gave him gifts … Maybe if it was only one stay over, you could claim it was a mistake. Maybe. But there is NO possible explanation for the second time, let alone the third time. As the record shows, you were an eager repeat customer.”
Musk has stated that he consistently rejected Epstein’s advances, noting how the pedophile used Hoffman’s involvement to try luring him: “Epstein hounded me relentlessly to go to his pedo island and I always declined. Not you though. You actually went.” He questioned the “gifts” Hoffman provided, tying into revelations of private jet discussions and mutual expressions of missing each other.
Hoffman, who has donated over $100 million to Democratic causes, has weaponized his wealth against political foes. He funded fake Russian bots on Twitter, bankrolled the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit against President Trump, and supported Clear Choice PAC’s lawfare to boot Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West from battleground state ballots—stripping voters of choices while claiming to defend democracy. He also backed Fusion GPS, the firm behind the Steele dossier that smeared Trump as a Russian asset.
Despite admitting to MIT fundraising ties with Epstein and expressing regret, Hoffman downplayed the extent of their “bromance.” Files show ongoing Skype calls, sushi meetings, and interactions into 2016 in Palo Alto and Cambridge—years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
This builds on prior exposures, like venture capitalist David Sacks slamming The New York Times for downplaying Hoffman’s 2,600 mentions in the files while hounding right-leaning tech leaders like Musk and Peter Thiel. Sacks pointed to Hoffman’s “multiyear relationship” and accused media of protecting left-wing insiders.
The Justice Department’s document dump continues to reveal Epstein boasting of “wild dinners” with Hoffman, Mark Zuckerberg, and others, illustrating how these ties rehabilitated Epstein in Silicon Valley post-conviction.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/14/2026 – 14:00
Cuba pospone emblemático Festival del Habano debido a crisis energética
Por THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
El emblemático Festival del Habano, uno de lo foros más importantes del sector a nivel mundial de los afamados puros cubanos, fue pospuesto debido a la tensa situación energética de la isla tras la presión de Estados Unidos.
El comité organizador informó sobre la suspensión de la próxima edición —la número XXVI— que estaba prevista entre el 23 y 27 de febrero, “con el objetivo de preservar los más altos estándares de calidad, excelencia y experiencia que caracterizan a este evento internacional”, indicó una nota oficial de la firma Habanos S.A.
La nota de la firma mixta recordó que el festival reúne cada año a “los aficionados, expertos, distribuidores y medios especializados de todo el mundo para celebrar la cultura, la tradición y el prestigio del habano”, por lo que la decisión de posponerlo “busca garantizar un entorno óptimo para el desarrollo peno de las actividades”.
Durante estas décadas, el festival se convirtió en uno de los momentos más elegantes y glamorosos de la isla con la llegada de fumadores de alto nivel, compradores millonarios y celebridades. Personalidades de decenas de países llegan para desarrollar un programa que incluye desde visitas a plantaciones de tabaco y clases de armado hasta la cata de productos.
La cena de gala del año pasado se cerró como habitualmente lo hace, con una subasta que alcanzó una puja por 18 millones de dólares de los torcidos más cotizados del mundo, por lo general en estuches que son también en sí obras de arte.
El comunicado de Habanos S.A. indicó que el comité organizador busca fijar una nueva fecha para el evento.
Habanos S.A. es una empresa mixta formada una dependencia estatal cubana y la ibero-británica Altadis. Mantiene el monopolio en la comercialización mundial de los torcidos a mano isleños a través de unas 27 marcas, desde los más prestigiosos del mundo como Cohíba hasta Partagas o Romeo y Julieta.
Fundada en 1994, la firma Habanos S.A. reportó en 2025, durante la apertura de su XXV edición, ventas récord para 2024 por 827 millones de dólares, un 16% más que en el ciclo precedente.
Cuba enfrenta una tensa situación energética luego del asalto de Estados Unidos a Venezuela —una de sus principales aliadas— y una orden ejecutiva firmada por el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump a finales con la cual amenazó a cualquier país que intente vender petróleo a la isla con imponer aranceles sobre sus productos.
Esos sucesos agravaron una grave crisis con largos apagones de hasta 10 horas y que ahora también derivaron en medidas de emergencia por parte del gobierno cubano, como recortes en las jornadas laborales y racionamiento de combustible.
Trump aseguró que espera asfixiar la economía cubana para presionar un cambio de gobierno. Expertos advierten que podría derivar en una crisis humanitaria para la pequeña isla del Caribe.
Esta semana, las autoridades informaron a las aerolíneas que no tenían combustible para abastecer en los aeropuertos por lo que algunas cancelaron vuelos y otras mantienen sus rutas, pero repostando en lugares como República Dominicana.
Por su parte, en el mismo comunicado de Habanos S.A., la empresa estatal Tabacuba, una de las involucradas en la comercialización del tabaco por la parte isleña, lamentó la suspensión del Festival del Habano motivada “por la compleja situación económica que enfrenta el país, como resultado de la política de recrudecimiento del bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero” de Estados Unidos.
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Siga a Andrea Rodríguez en X: https://x.com/ARodriguezAP
Ex primer ministro paquistaní encarcelado recibirá tratamiento tras pérdida parcial de la visión
Por MUNIR AHMED
ISLAMABAD (AP) — El ex primer ministro de Pakistán, Imran Khan, actualmente en prisión, se someterá a tratamiento por una afección ocular en un centro médico especializado, manifestó el sábado un ministro del gabinete, días después de que la Corte Suprema ordenara una evaluación médica ante la creciente preocupación por su vista.
El ministro de Información, Attaullah Tarar, escribió en X que destacados especialistas en oftalmología le realizarían un examen al político como parte del tratamiento en curso, que comenzó a finales de enero después de que Khan informara una pérdida parcial de visión en su ojo derecho.
El ministro no indicó en qué centro médico ni cuándo sería tratado el ex primer ministro.
“También se presentará un informe detallado a la Corte Suprema. Por favor, eviten conjeturas, especulaciones y los intentos de convertir esto en retórica política y en un recurso para intereses creados”, señaló Tarar.
A principios de esta semana, el abogado de Khan, Salman Safdar, dijo a la Corte Suprema que el ex jefe de gobierno había perdido aproximadamente el 85% de la visión en su ojo derecho. Posteriormente, el tribunal ordenó a las autoridades que organizaran una evaluación por parte de un panel de médicos y facilitaran una llamada telefónica entre Khan, de 73 años, y sus hijos antes del 16 de febrero.
Simpatizantes del partido de Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, o PTI, han realizado protestas en Islamabad y otras ciudades, exigiendo que sea trasladado a un hospital para recibir tratamiento especializado. Algunos de los legisladores del PTI y sus aliados también realizan una sentada frente al parlamento.
La familia de Khan respondió con enojo al anuncio de Tarar, al afirmar que no fue consultada antes de que lo llevaran a tratamiento, y ha pedido que familiares y su médico personal estén presentes durante cualquier procedimiento futuro.
La hermana del ex primer ministro, Aleema Khan, dijo el sábado en X que las autoridades habían organizado la llamada y que Khan habló con sus hijos durante unos 20 minutos. Estaba “extremadamente feliz” de escuchar sus voces después de un largo tiempo, afirmó, y añadió que la familia esperaba un tratamiento urgente de Khan en un hospital oftalmológico bajo la supervisión de sus médicos personales.
El antiguo astro del críquet convertido en político está en prisión desde 2023 tras ser condenado en un caso de corrupción.
Fue destituido del cargo mediante una votación parlamentaria de censura en abril de 2022. Ha alegado que su salida fue el resultado de una conspiración respaldada por Estados Unidos en la que participaron rivales políticos y el exjefe del ejército de Pakistán, Qamar Javed Bajwa —acusaciones que Washington, el ejército de Pakistán y sus oponentes políticos han negado.
Pese a sus problemas legales, Khan sigue siendo una figura central y popular en Pakistán, y el PTI busca su liberación. El tema de su pérdida parcial de visión surgió a finales de enero, cuando Tarar dijo que el ex primer ministro se había sometido a un procedimiento médico por una afección ocular y que gozaba de buena salud.
El PTI tuvo un desempeño sólido en las elecciones parlamentarias del 8 de febrero de 2024, pero no obtuvo la mayoría de los escaños en la Asamblea Nacional, que es la cámara baja del Parlamento. El partido afirmó que la votación fue manipulada. El gobierno niega esas acusaciones.
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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.
Winfield sets hearing for development that was part of controversial deannexation bill
The Winfield Plan Commission set public hearings for two single-family home developments. including one that was part of a controversial disannexation bill proposed Jan. 8 by State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell.
Niemeyer couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday.
The commission on Thursday set a March 19 public hearing for LBL Development, LLC development manager Steve Kil.
Kil’s company is seeking a zone change from AG (agriculture) to PDM (planned development for mixed use) for 400 acres in the southwest portion of Winfield, roughly south of 121st Avenue, west of Gibson Street, and southwest of the new Taft Middle School.
Plans by LBL are to include 407 residential lots and 19 industrial lots on the property to be called Gates of Winfield, Kil said.
The residential lots would be located on 129th Avenue and the industrial lots off of 121st Avenue.
The property sparked controversy in mid-January, following Niemeyer’s Jan. 8 proposed but never presented bill, with Winfield officials posting a message on the town’s Facebook page challenging it and asking residents to contact Niemeyer’s office to voice their concerns.
The Winfield Town Council at the time called the legislation a “perversion of the entire concept of home rule.”
The message, posted mid-January, on the town of Winfield’s Facebook page read in part:
“The Winfield Town Council expresses serious concerns about efforts by Niemeyer to strip 400 acres of land out of Winfield so that a local developer can advance a plan to add 4,000 homes to the Winfield area without having to adhere to local planning guidance, rules, ordinances, and the normal process for controlled, responsible development,” the release said. “Senate Bill 274, legislation drafted by Senator Niemeyer but not yet proposed, is intended to strip 400 acres of land from Winfield via deannexation to bypass our processes and avoid the usual steps of public hearings, public comment, and negotiation with the town of Winfield, which is charged to protect the interests of its residents.
Kil told planners on Thursday he wanted to proceed with the proposed Gates of Winfield, seeking a zone change request only, then a primary plat approval later, with engineering costs playing a major part.
He said his development company is aware of the many challenges of the property, including drainage, since part of it is in a major flood plain.
“We know there’s a lot to do there. It’s a difficult process,” Kil said, adding,” We don’t want to proceed until we get approval for the zone change.”
Plan Commission president Jon Derwinski told Kil what he was proposing was “a little unorthodox,” with most developers requesting the zone change and primary plat approval at the same time.
Derwinski referred to a TAC or Technical Advisory Committee meeting with Kil and Chris Salatas held on Sept. 30, during which major concerns were brought up in regard to the project.
Many of those concerns weren’t addressed, including necessary feedback from the Lake County Drainage Board.
Those major concerns include no renderings and no reports on such things as the condition of 129th Avenue and the bridge in the proposed location.
“It is unorthodox, but if you want to push this forward, we are more than willing,” Derwinski said.
In other business, the plan commission also set a March 19 public hearing for a zone change from AG (agriculture) to PDR (planned development residential) for Todd Kleven, who serves as director of land acquisition for Lennar Corp., based in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Kleven’s presentation was for a 146-lot subdivision to be named Heron Landing.
The development is located at the northwest corner of 117th Avenue and Gibson Street on 81 acres.
The high-end houses would be 2,900 square feet with an average cost of $500,000.
Most of the homes would feature a three-car garage, Kleven said.
Kleven said his company, which is developing the Aylesworth subdivision off of 109th Avenue, will continue to be a good partner with the town, with an initial contribution of $300,000, then up to $450,000 going toward the construction of a roundabout.
He said if plans are approved, developers would be moving forward as soon as the weather allows.
Plan Commission member David Anderson praised plans brought forward this time around after a previous no vote last year by planners.
“You’ve brought something unique; nothing but good things…You have given us something new. Great job,” Anderson said.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/winfield-sets-hearing-for-development/
Iran Regime Change Would Be ‘Best Thing’, Trump Signals
Iran Regime Change Would Be ‘Best Thing’, Trump Signals
President Donald Trump continues to signal that he wants to see government overthrow in Iran, having told reporters Friday that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen” – at a moment he’s also confirmed a second carrier group has been dispatched to the region.
Speaking to reporters after visiting troops at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Trump doubled down just hours after confirming he is sending the second carrier strike group from where it was operating in the Caribbean.
“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Trump said when asked about pushing for the removal of the Ayatollah and the Islamic Republic. “For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking.”
All of this also comes days after Trump hinted that another round of nuclear talks with Iran could be imminent. Those discussions have so far failed to materialize, and there are reports saying more Oman-based talks are slated for next week.
“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump said of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier deployment. “It’ll be leaving very soon.”
REPORTER: “Do you want regime change in Iran?”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Well, it seems like that would be the best thing that could happen. For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking…”
…
REPORTER: “Who would you want to take over?”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I don’t want to talk… pic.twitter.com/Ry186JpN7h
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 13, 2026
At the moment, inside Iran, forty-day mourning ceremonies are underway for thousands killed during last month’s sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests; however, police and security services are still firmly in control of the streets and the country.
The Ford will reinforce the USS Abraham Lincoln and its guided-missile destroyers, which have been operating in the region for more than two weeks.
US Navy officials expected that it will take the Ford a least a week to arrive in Mediterranean waters, but from there it’s unclear whether it would then go through the Suez Canal to get closer to southern Iran.
Trump had also earlier made clear to Tehran that failure to cut a deal would be “very traumatic” even as US diplomacy clings to the possibility of a quick agreement.
Early this past week, he told Axios: “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” he told Axios to kick off the week. The Iranians will no doubt have this ringing in their ears headed into a planned second round of talks.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/14/2026 – 13:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-regime-change-would-be-best-thing-trump-signals
