Category: News
Familia ecuatoriana custodia las semillas de especies vegetales en riesgo en la Amazonía
Por GONZALO SOLANO
ALTO ILA, Ecuador (AP) — En una de sus últimas incursiones en la selva amazónica ecuatoriana, Ramón Pucha notó cuando iba de regreso que junto a sus pisadas estaban las huellas de un puma. Sin perder la calma, siguió su camino con su carga preciada de semillas de especies amenazadas.
Criado junto a indígenas quichuas, Pucha conoce los peligros de la Amazonía y sabe cómo orientarse, entrar y salir de la espesura sin más equipo que una mochila con algo de comida y ropa, un machete y una maleta especial para guardar las pepitas que recoge y protege desde hace un cuarto de siglo.
Junto a su familia ha recreado su propio pedazo de selva con las especies rescatadas en una finca de 32 hectáreas denominada El Picaflor en la comunidad quichua de Alto Ila, a la que se llega atravesando parches de bosque deforestado.
“Tengo una pasión por la naturaleza, por las plantas, por los animales”, dijo Pucha, de 51 años, a The Associated Press al explicar cómo inició su pasión conservacionista, por la cual “muchos me tildan de loco”.
Cuando camina por su propiedad, donde antes había sólo pastizales, se detiene, observa las plantas y describe la utilidad de cada una.
Sus ojos brillan cuando señala un pequeño árbol en desarrollo, del que dice que casi ya no hay en el sector. Es de madera fina y llegará a su vida adulta a los 100 años. Aunque nunca lo verá en su plenitud, está convencido que “esa es mi herencia para mis hijos y para la humanidad”.
Algunas especies, señala, son comestibles, aportan muchos nutrientes o tienen propiedades medicinales. Otras, explica, son alimento de aves y mamíferos que a su vez ayudan a esparcir las semillas.
“Este bosque para mí significa un pulmón para el mundo. Todas las plantas que están viendo tienen su valor”, comentó. “Esto es una farmacia y un mercado y aparte es una biblioteca en la que está almacenada ciencia”, dijo mientras masticaba unas hojas.
Rescatar especies en peligro
Para salvar las especies en riesgo Pucha se interna, muchas veces en solitario, hasta cinco días en lo profundo de la selva. En más de una ocasión llegó con las manos vacías porque los grandes árboles dejaron de producir semillas anualmente. Debido al cambio climático ahora ya no son regulares, “producen semillas cada dos, tres o hasta cinco años”, acotó.
Cuando las simientes llegan a la casa, su esposa Marlene Chiluisa se encarga de germinarlas para que cuando se conviertan en pequeñas plántulas y lleguen a un tamaño adecuado puedan volver a su propiedad en la selva. Al menos un 20%, de las pequeñas plantas se venden o entregan a vecinos que también buscan regenerar la selva y preservar las especies amenazadas.
“Me siento feliz porque estoy trabajando por el planeta”, dijo Chiluisa, aunque a veces la incertidumbre la invade. “Me pregunto qué va a venir con el tiempo. Muchas enfermedades por el calentamiento global, muchas muertes por el daño a la naturaleza”.
Según el Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, la finca El Picaflor es “una casa de semillas de especies nativas en riesgo. Este es un lugar al que se considera un laboratorio vivo” ubicado en una zona bajo “constante tala desde hace 50 años”.
Ecuador fue el primer país en consagrar los “derechos a la naturaleza” en su Constitución y alberga las Islas Galápagos y partes de la selva amazónica.
Pero algunas medidas del presidente Daniel Noboa —como integrar el Ministerio del Ambiente en el de Energía y Minas— han puesto en riesgo la reputación ecológica del país, según ambientalistas e indígenas.
Heredar la pasión
A sus 21 años Jhoel, hijo de Ramón, se ha convertido en su sucesor. Es un experto botánico e identifica con facilidad cada planta por nombre común, tradicional y científico.
Además, ayuda a que los visitantes crucen a salvo el río Ila, por momentos caudaloso, en una muy precaria embarcación de tablas sobre una boya que llega hasta la orilla de la propiedad de los Pucha.
Jhoel abrazó el conservacionismo en la niñez cuando correteaba en medio de las plántulas del vivero que cuidaba su madre y que habían nacido de las semillas que traía su padre. “Mi compromiso es con el bosque, quiero seguir siendo guardián de las semillas… ese compromiso será de por vida”, dijo.
El joven buscador se interna hasta por 15 días en zonas inexploradas de la selva, siguiendo el ejemplo de su padre, para recoger las muestras que se convertirán en futuras plantas. Algunas semillas están en la parte alta de los árboles y debe trepar para alcanzarlas. Para demostrar su habilidad se abraza a un tronco y sin dificultades sube unos cinco metros, desde donde saluda con una sonrisa.
Jhoel manifestó que repoblar con especies nativas la zona ha tenido un efecto adicional: han llegado muchas especies de aves, mamíferos y reptiles “que antes no había”.
Review: Sudan Archives delivers a blistering set at Thalia Hall
Sudan Archives came across as a one-woman wrecking crew Thursday at a sold-out Thalia Hall. On her first tour with production elements such as lighting and dry-ice fog, the singer and multi-instrumentalist secured her standing as one of the more exciting, innovative creatives on the contemporary scene.
Whether remaining in near-constant motion for the 90-minute set, simultaneously juggling an assortment of roles or mining visceral currents from songs, she left no doubt about the answer to the question she asked on the anthemic “Selfish Soul.” Yes, she is good enough. And then some.
Save for a surprise duet with opener Cain Culto and a one-off appearance by a fan she selected from the crowd, Sudan Archives went it alone. Demonstrating confidence and charisma on par with that of veteran arena headliners, she made it difficult for anyone to turn their focus away from her. She avoided vapid banter, shunned cliches, bypassed outfit changes and moved with a purpose that mirrored the raw physicality of her latest tunes.
Cain Culto performs during the Sudan Archives concert, Feb. 5, 2026, at Thalia Hall. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Wearing black boots, a sleeveless blue-and-purple body suit and headset microphone, Sudan Archives commanded a spartan stage and got up close with the audience via an elongated step perched a few feet above floor level. Other than clusters of instruments, tangles of wires and a horizontal illumination bar that evoked a gymnastic balance beam, the sole prop took the form of an elevated circular platform. She used it as an accessory for performance-art routines, yet its limited real estate could not contain her fluid energy for long.
Though elements of the show leaned on rehearsed choreography, Sudan Archives directly engaged with the moments at hand and the fans within arm’s length. She operated as if leading a liberation. Her extroverted body language signaled a desire to free everyone in the building — including herself — from fears, heartbreak, cynicism and restraints. She pumped her fists. Flexed her biceps. Sprung from a crouched position, ready to strike. Crawled on all fours. Struck deliberate robotic poses. Held her violin high above her head. She also shook it, pretended it morphed into a shotgun and twirled it as a baton.
Occasionally, Sudan Archives treated the fiddle bow as if it were an arrow — and wore a container slung across her shoulder like a quiver. Quick on the draw, she played a normal violin and a custom “violin guitar” whose shape echoed a shrunken Gibson Flying V model and amplified higher-pitched tones suggested those of a hot-rodded mandolin.
Scraped, plucked, strummed or struck, the string parts supplied foundational riffs. They frequently dovetailed with rhythmic loops, house beats, glitchy synthesizers and vintage-minded techno and drum-and-bass grooves. Sudan Archives sang and rapped over the multi-layered architecture, which retained healthy tension and remembered the importance of soulful melody.
Her basic aims: To spur people to dance, feel empowered and embrace the possibilities of music that zigs in different directions — and usually at unexpected times. In achieving those goals, she eviscerated the stylistic limitations associated with music streaming algorithms. Such homogeneity and predictability had no call in Sudan Archives’ eclectic fusing of R&B, folk, hip hop and assorted electronic disciplines.
Born Brittney Denise Parks, Sudan Archives grew up in Cincinnati and became interested in violin after fiddlers visited her elementary school. She taught herself the instrument by ear and cut her teeth practicing techniques in church. Her inquisitive nature soon led her to discover how the violin factors into African music and other forms that exist outside of classical spheres.
Sudan Archives performs at Thalia Hall in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Having relocated to Los Angeles after getting kicked out of her childhood home in her late teens, Sudan Archives — the former part of the moniker was suggested to her by her mom, and the latter represents an acknowledgment of her admitted obsession with ethnomusicology — began experimenting with loops and attending open-mic nights. The Ohio native scored a record deal and debuted in 2017 with a self-titled EP that attracted considerable attention from independent outlets
In the years since, Sudan Archives won mainstream accolades and released three acclaimed LPs. In the studio and on the stage, she established a reputation for being the kind of rare pop artist who seems immune to caring about trends. Bound by the confines of her imagination, her work remains accessible even as it transcends conventions. Her curiosity for vivid sounds and stringed instruments is perhaps equaled only by her flair for fashion.
Hunkered over keyboards, banging sticks on electronic drum pads, smoothly sliding her feet across the floor as she delivered lyrics at clips ranging from drowsy to rapid-fire: Sudan Archives offered interpretations of the analog past and digital future intersecting on both a sonic and emotional level. She primarily featured material from her recent club-forward record “The BPM,” with narratives involving an alter ego dubbed Gadget Girl and concerning the convergent relationships of susceptible humans, powerful machines and cyber realities.
Sudan Archives performs at Thalia Hall in Chicago on Feb. 5, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Tracing any defined conceptual thread required a leap of faith. It proved easier, and more rewarding, to succumb to Sudan Archives’ multifaceted singing, swirling hooks, and thumping-tempo bravado. She cleverly laced thinly disguised hints of fearless sexuality throughout dense tracks such as the claustrophobic “Noire,” boisterous “Ms. Pac Man” and booming “My Type.” She revved up the aggression on a vengeful “Ciara” and delirious “A Computer Love.” And she protested with Culto via a fast-paced, sweat-soaked version of his “KFC Santeria.”
For all of the occasional bursts of provocative bluster and in-the-red distortion, Sudan Archives maintained an understated cool and vulnerable intimacy indicative of someone seeking deep truths rather than settling for blissful pleasure. She seldom allowed arrangements to explode or offered easy catharsis. Her personal victories and joy, documented on the lush “Heaven Knows,” Irish jig-accompanied “She’s Got Pain” and finger-snapping “Come Meh Way,” seemed hard-earned. And as close to permanent as things get in the upside-down landscapes of the 21st century.
She appeared to acknowledge a need for lasting certainty and communal connectivity during a celebratory encore. It witnessed her wade into the crowd and carve out an aisle down which audience members paraded, uninhibited, like a gleeful wedding party.
The impulsive feat emphasized the humanity behind Sudan Archives’ high-tech approaches and underscored the collaboration she should pursue before graduating to larger venues. Specifically, pairing with a flesh-and-blood band that would help send her dynamics, spontaneity and interactivity into another orbit. And lessen her sporadic temptations for theatricality, an obvious weak spot.
Stay tuned.
Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.
Setlist from Thalia Hall on Feb. 5:
“Dead”
“Noire”
“Yea Yea Yea”
“NBPQ (Topless)”
“Touch Me”
“Nont for Sale”
“Ciara”
“Come and Find You”
“Freakalizer”
“My Type”
“A Bug’s Life”
“Ms. Pac Man”
“She’s Got Pain”
“A Computer Love”
“Come Meh Way”
“Heaven Knows”
“Selfish Soul”
Encore
“KFC Santeria” (Cain Culto cover)
“The Nature of Power”
“The BPM”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/review-sudan-archives-thalia-hall/
Johnnie Hudson IV scores nearly 50 points, breaking a Calumet record that was over 50 years old. What’s next?
Calumet’s Johnnie Hudson IV was in such a zone, he believed he had eclipsed the half-century mark.
In fact, the 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward had scored 48 points. But he did break the Warriors’ single-game record that had stood for more than a half-century.
“It actually means a lot because I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it,” Hudson IV said. “In that game, it just felt like everything was going good. I thought I had more than 50. But 48, that’s still good for me.”
Hudson IV’s scoring record, which topped the previous best of 45 points from 1967, included the winning basket as time expired in the Warriors’ 80-79 overtime victory against Calumet Christian on Monday and is among the highlights in his stellar season.
Hudson IV, who is averaging a team-high 25.3 points, a team-high 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and a team-high 1.8 blocked shots, then scored 30 points in Calumet’s 55-51 Greater South Shore Conference loss to Illiana Christian on Thursday to surpass 1,000 for his career.
This is only Hudson IV’s third season of organized basketball. He was cut as a freshman at Avon and then moved to live with his father, Johnnie Hudson III, who is in his 10th season as an assistant for the Warriors (4-14, 2-5).
Obviously, Hudson IV has been growing since he made his debut as a sophomore, including literally. He’s more than an inch taller this season. He also ranks eighth in the state in scoring, according to MaxPreps, after averaging 10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds as a sophomore and 15.5 points and 7.9 rebounds as a junior.
“It’s just confidence, discipline and putting work in night in and night out, getting in the gym two hours before everybody with morning practices, just staying consistent,” Hudson IV said.
“It’s just staying grounded, disciplined, coach holding me accountable to be the leader. I know I’m an extension of him, so I always try to give my teammates motivation. Even though we’ve been losing more than we want to this season, I’m still trying to keep them engaged and involved.”
Calumet coach Aaron Mercer isn’t really surprised by Hudson IV’s success.
“What makes it special for me, he’s the first one in the gym, he’s the last one to leave,” Mercer said. “He comes in and puts up hundreds of shots before our games. It’s no coincidence the way he plays. He prepares for it. It’s not, ‘He’s just out here and it happens.’”
That makes an impression on Hudson IV’s teammates.
“He’s definitely a leader,” Mercer said. “He’ll tell the kids things, and they’re receptive to it. He tells them what they’re doing wrong, and they listen because they see how hard he works. You start getting other kids coming in and doing the work. They see the results. It’s not by mistake.”
Mercer said Hudson IV, the team’s lone captain after he shared that role last season with standout point guard Eric Allen, has influenced players such as senior guard Colby Williams with his approach.
“I’m proud of him,” Williams said of Hudson IV. “I feel like I can’t do nothing but clap. Every great game he has, I just give him a round of applause. He’s taught me so much. Just being with him from my sophomore year to my senior year, he taught me so much about the game, about sportsmanship, everything.
“He’s definitely a great player, a great all-around player. He does everything.”
Calumet’s Johnnie Hudson IV (21) looks to pass the ball during a nonconference game against 21st Century in East Chicago on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Colleges have started to take notice. Hudson IV received an offer from Calumet College in December, and other schools have been keeping tabs on him.
“He’s getting some college looks, and he’ll get some more before the time’s over,” Mercer said. “This is only his third year of playing organized ball. His upside is very high.
“It’s smaller schools right now, but we’ll see. There’s some Division I schools that have definitely shown interest. He’s a straight-A student. He doesn’t get into any trouble. There’s a lot to like about him.”
Hudson IV said the recruiting process has been “slow right now,” but he likes the direction he’s headed.
“I’m proud of myself, the accolades I have,” he said. “But I just think to myself, ‘I have to keep working and putting in the same work, putting up the same shots that I do.’
“I’m trying to keep my name in the conversation and get my name out there so I can get more exposure.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/calumet-high-school-basketball-johnnie-hudson-iv/
FBI, CIA Apprehend Key Suspect In 2012 Benghazi Attack, Bondi Vows To Hunt Down Others
FBI, CIA Apprehend Key Suspect In 2012 Benghazi Attack, Bondi Vows To Hunt Down Others
Many mysteries still surround the 2012 attack on the American consulate and nearby CIA outpost in Benghazi, Libya which led to the deaths of four Americans, including US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens.
On Friday, the Trump administration heralded a major break in one of the worst terror attacks on a US diplomatic compound in history. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in a press conference the arrest of a culprit allegedly behind the attack. Zubayar al-Bakoush has already been extradited to the United States, landing at Andrews Air Forces base, and is facing murder, arson and terrorism related charges.
“The FBI has arrested one of the key participants behind the Benghazi attack. Zubayar al-Bakoush landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 3 a.m. this morning. He is in our custody,” Bondi said at a news conference.
She disclosed that the CIA and FBI coordinated to apprehend the suspected terrorist. No details of how he was nabbed have been offered, other than he was apprehended “overseas.”
“Zubayr Al-Bakoush will now face American justice on American soil. We will prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the law,” Bondi said
The US says it is committed to hunting down others behind the large-scale attack, known as America’s other 9/11, given it occurred September 11, 2012. Three others – Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty – were killed trying to defend against the assault.
“Let me be very clear — there are more of them out there,” US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said alongside Pondi and the FBI’s Patel. “Time will not stop us from going after these predators, no matter how long it takes, in order to fulfill our obligation to those families who suffered horrific pain at the hands of these violent terrorists.”
The truth about Libya is that some of the Islamist ‘rebels’ the US funded to overthrow Gaddafi later bit the hand that fed them. These for a time were “America’s jihadists”…
Seems Dbaiba did what he do best (Again),Unlike almarimi ,it’s worth considering how the war‑hardened groups that left Benghazi will view Dbaiba going forward.
Image for Zubayr Al-Bakoush in US custody post his “disappearance” in Tripoli late Nov 2025.#Libya https://t.co/W9r7y1UIy0 pic.twitter.com/7vI12FJytK
— Mohamed Tailamun|محمد طيلمون (@MTailamun) February 6, 2026
This is actually the second arrest connected o the Benghazi attack, after back in 2020 Libyan national Mustafa al-Imam was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for his crimes.
National security officials have long identified that Al-Qaeda-aligned Salafi Jihadist militia group Ansar al-Sharia was behind it.
In the wake of the disaster, several Congressional investigations and hearings saw Republicans clash with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ahead of her 2016 presidential run as a Democrat.
However, the bipartisan political outrage was always somewhat of a limited hangout, concealing some of the deeper disturbing aspects to the Benghazi attack. For example, the US government and CIA at the time of the attack were engaged in a covert gun-running operation out of Libya, to support anti-Assad jihadists in Syria, declassified intelligence records show.
* * *
Friday’s full announcement…
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/06/2026 – 11:40
Michael Keaton será homenajeado por el grupo teatral Hasty Pudding de Harvard
Por MICHAEL CASEY
BOSTON (AP) — El actor Michael Keaton será honrado el viernes como el hombre del año 2026 por el grupo teatral Hasty Pudding de la Universidad de Harvard.
El grupo teatral, que data de 1844 y afirma ser el tercero más antiguo del mundo en funcionamiento, dijo que Keaton recibirá su premio Pudding Pot en un asado de celebración por la noche. Después asistirá a una representación de la 177ª producción de Hasty Pudding, “Salooney Tunes”.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals otorga sus premios de hombre y mujer del año a personas que han hecho contribuciones perdurables y profundas al mundo del entretenimiento.
El actor nominado al Premio de la Academia y ganador del Emmy es conocido por sus papeles en películas como “Batman”, “Birdman”, “Beetlejuice” y “Spotlight” (“En primera plana”). Más recientemente, Keaton ha protagonizado y dirigido el cortometraje “Sweetwater” y ha sido protagonista y productor ejecutivo de la miniserie de ocho partes de Hulu “Dopesick”.
La productora de Hasty Pudding, Eloise Tunnell, afirmó en un comunicado: “¡Fue Batman, luego Birdman y ahora, lo más importante, es un hombre Pudding! Keaton no es ajeno a ser un superhéroe, pero veamos si ese entrenamiento le gana un Pudding Pot. Ansiamos darle la bienvenida el 6 de febrero: hasta entonces, ¡no digan su nombre tres veces!”
El actor Jon Hamm ganó el premio el año pasado. Otros homenajeados recientes han incluido a Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson y Ryan Reynolds.
El premio a la mujer del año de Hasty Pudding, que data de 1951, será otorgado el 13 de febrero a la actriz australiana Rose Byrne.
El evento del viernes se produce días después de que el Departamento de Justicia publicara una gran cantidad de registros relacionados con Jeffrey Epstein, un donante de larga data de la organización. Los documentos proporcionaron nuevos detalles sobre la cantidad de dinero que Epstein había donado a Hasty Pudding aproximadamente entre 2013 y 2019, para la que entregó 50.000 dólares anuales con el fin de asegurar el estatus de donante de primer nivel por el que recibía beneficios de entradas gratuitas y otros regalos a cambio, sumando más de 300.000 dólares.
Las donaciones se realizaron a través de la Fundación Jeffrey Epstein Virgin Islands y Gratitude for America, una organización benéfica afiliada a Epstein.
Se envió un correo electrónico el viernes a Hasty Pudding para solicitar sus comentarios. ___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Law & Order column: Charges filed against Gurnee rampage suspect
Attempted murder and other felony charges have been filed against the Wisconsin woman who struck two pedestrians with her vehicle in Gurnee, and then brandished a knife at a third person a few minutes later, police said.
Gurnee police announced that the charges have been filed against Katelyn A. Harmon, 25, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, following the Feb. 2 rampage, which left a 79-year-old man in critical condition.
Police said Harmon struck the man and a woman in a parking lot in the 6100 block of Grand Avenue at around 10 a.m. that day. The woman, 60, suffered an ankle injury that was not life-threatening, according to reports.
As officers arrived and then fanned out to search for the vehicle responsible, a police officer saw a man and a woman fighting in the 6400 block of Grand.
When the officer ordered them to separate, the woman, later identified as Harmon, advanced on the officer, who tased her in taking her into custody.
Police said after fleeing the hit-and-run scene, Harmon brandished a knife at the man in the 6400 block. The man suffered several lacerations after he got out of his car to disarm Harmon, police said.
Online sting
A Glenview man was arrested after police say he travelled to engage in sexual activity with someone whom he believed to be a 13-year-old boy.
James W. Ropa, 65, was charged with grooming and indecent solicitation of a child after he was arrested by Lake County sheriff’s officers and officers from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, authorities said.
Police said Ropa engaged in an online conversation with someone he believed to be a boy, but was actually a detective posing as the child.
Ropa allegedly told the “boy” he wanted to meet that evening and engage in sexual activity. When Ropa later arrived at what he thought was the boy’s home, he was arrested by NCIS and local police.
“Protecting children requires constant vigilance and strong partnerships,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “This case again underscores how effective collaboration with our law enforcement partners can be in identifying offenders and stopping them before harm occurs.”
Lake County prosecutors have filed to detain Ropa, who remains in custody, until trial. That hearing is set for Feb. 18.
Crash victim identified
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has identified the man killed on Feb. 2 in a two-vehicle accident in Grayslake.
Jonathan Williams, 19, of Lake Villa, died from blunt force trauma, authorities said.
Williams was driving east on Washington Street at around 2:13 p.m. when his car collided with a Toyota SUV driven by an 86-year-old woman. The SUV was headed west and making a left turn in Williams’ path when the vehicles crashed, police said.
Home invasion victim charged
Charges have been filed against a Beach Park man who was a home invasion victim, but was later found to have illegal drugs at his residence, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Alan C. Solganick, 67, of the 38200 block of North Sheridan Road, has been charged with drugs and weapons felonies that stem from a break-in on Jan. 8.
In the January incident, a former neighbor reportedly invaded Solganick’s residence before beating Solganick and fleeing with money. Police later learned that during the struggle, Solganick shot the man in the stomach.
After learning Solganick may be involved in illegal narcotics, police searched his home after obtaining a warrant. They said they found almost two pounds of cocaine and about $500,000 in cash.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/law-order-column-10/
Europe In Decline
Europe In Decline
By Teeuwe Mevissen of Rabobank
Not even a month ago, today’s author of the Global Daily walked through the main hall of the Musée d’Orsay, admiring its remarkable collection. Among the many sculptures, one large painting by Thomas Couture inevitably draws the eye: Romans in Their Decadence.
At first glance, it appears to depict Roman citizens engaged in an orgy, but a closer look reveals far more. Beyond the opulence on display, one sees a figure desecrating a statue resembling a former emperor or deity. Only three figures – the contemplative man on the far left and two men observing with evident disdain on the right – seem detached from the excess around them.
When the painting debuted at the Paris Salon, the exhibition catalogue included a quote from Juvenal:“Nunc patimur longae pacis mala; savior armis luxuria incubuit, victumque ulciscitur orbem.” – “Now do we suffer the evils of prolonged peace; luxury, more ruthless than the sword, broods over us and avenges a conquered world.”
A portrait of Rome in decline. And today, some argue, a portrait of Europe.
Political and economic commentators increasingly draw parallels between today’s Europe and the late Roman Empire. Those who subscribe to the decline narrative point to data showing that Europe’s share of global GDP has fallen from 25% in 1990 to roughly 14% today. Others highlight the innovation gap, demographic headwinds, and the erosion of industrial competitiveness. While these trends worry many, a Wall Street Journal report yesterday added a more urgent dimension: a recent wargame underscored Europe’s vulnerability to a potential Russian attack.
The Dutch Defence Minister noted that “Russia will be able to move large amounts of troops within one year” and that Moscow is already expanding its assets along NATO borders. This alone underscores the perceived urgency amongst European leaders to accelerate efforts to rebuild and modernize its military capabilities – and suggests that Europe’s geopolitical weight has indeed diminished.
Whether Europe is truly in decline remains subject to debate, but equity markets certainly are. And, in fact, particularly US markets this time – with the S&P500 now down 0.7% year-to-date but the European Stoxx 600 index still up 2.8%. Investor sentiment has deteriorated sharply. While the selloff had moderated at the time of writing, US tech stocks experienced steep declines, with Amazon losing 11% in extended trading. Bitcoin also continued its slide, touching lows not seen since October 2024 and barely holding above $60,000. Oil prices remain somewhat elevated, with traders watching closely to see whether the US will take action against Iran in the coming days.
In another Wall Street Journal article, China’s leadership appears to have concluded that the deterioration in U- China trade relations is irreversible and likely to lead to a messy decoupling. This raises important questions about how such a shift might affect China’s broader trade surplus. Here, we argue that China is likely to maintain significant trade surpluses for the foreseeable future. One important reason is that 2025 has demonstrated that it is not so easy to decouple from China; another is that countries like Canada and the UK reconsider their trade relationship with China because of ongoing trade tension with the US.
Turning to central banks: the ECB left rates unchanged yesterday, keeping the deposit rate at 2% for the fifth consecutive meeting. No forward guidance was provided, and the Governing Council judged that risks remain broadly balanced. The ECB struck a generally constructive tone, citing low unemployment, strong private sector balance sheets, and ongoing investment in defence and infrastructure.
However, it also warned of persistent geopolitical risks and uncertainties around global trade policy. Until the data clearly point in a particular direction, the ECB is likely to remain on hold. As expected, questions arose about the recent EUR/USD rally, which briefly pushed the pair to 1.2044 eight days ago , yet President Lagarde remained calm despite acknowledging that a stronger euro could contribute to lower inflation. A full summary of the meeting can be found here.
At the Bank of England, the meeting was more eventful. Rates were held at 3.75%, but the split vote – 5 in favour of holding, 4 pushing for a cut – was unexpectedly narrow, with Governor Bailey casting the deciding vote. This increases the likelihood of a March cut, a view we have held for some time. New guidance that “judgements around further policy easing will become a closer call” triggered a repricing in markets, with the probability of a March cut rising from 20% before the announcement to around 60% at the time of writing. Full coverage of the meeting is available here.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/06/2026 – 11:20
Worship news: Coffee breakfast, bible study, fish fry and more
Hammond
Trinity Lutheran Church: 7227 Hohman Ave. — Trinity Lutheran Church will have a Fellowship Coffee Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, followed by Holy Communion, Sunday School and Bible Class. For more information, call 219-932-4660 ext. 1.
The Life Church: 624 Highland St. — The Life Church will have a Lion’s Den bible study for those ages 18 to 35. Attendees will join Dr. Burgos for an interactive class in person or online. Those attending should bring a note-taking device and a Bible. To reserve a spot, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lions-den-bible-study-tickets-1978284815136.
Merrillville
St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church: 557 W 57th Ave. — St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church has a Fish Fry and Pirohi sale most Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Parish Social Center, located just off 58th and Jackson Street. Carry-out orders are accepted on Fridays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call 219-980-9074 to place a carry-out order. You can find the menu here https://stmichaelbyz.org/fish-fry-pirohi-sale/.
Munster
Family Christian Center: 340 W 45th St. — Those interested in virtually attending services at Family Christian Center in Munster can do so online at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m on Sundays and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information or to stream, visit https://fcc4me.online.church/.
To submit worship news, email cnance@post-trib.com.
Correos de Epstein revelan que ayudó a organizar visita de Woody Allen a la Casa Blanca
Por HILLEL ITALIE
NUEVA YORK (AP) — En 2015, Woody Allen y su esposa, Soon-Yi Previn, hicieron un viaje a Washington. Con la ayuda de su amigo Jeffrey Epstein, pudieron recorrer la Casa Blanca.
La amistad de Allen con Epstein ha sido conocida durante años, pero los correos electrónicos en el enorme conjunto de registros publicados por el Departamento de Justicia en los últimos días ilustran esa relación con nueva profundidad.
El cineasta, su esposa y Epstein eran vecinos en Nueva York, y los tres cenaban juntos con frecuencia, según muestran los registros. Se ofrecían apoyo emocional durante períodos en los que eran criticados en los medios. Se compadecían mutuamente por ser acusados, injustamente, se decían, de una conducta sexual inapropiada.
Y en 2015, Epstein utilizó sus conexiones con otro amigo que había estado en la administración del presidente Barack Obama para ayudar a la pareja a obtener un recorrido por la Casa Blanca.
“¿Podrías mostrarle la Casa Blanca a Soon-Yi?”, escribió Epstein en un correo electrónico de mayo de 2015 a la exconsejera de la Casa Blanca Kathy Ruemmler. “¿Asumo que Woody sería demasiado políticamente sensible?”.
“Estoy segura de que podría mostrarles la Casa Blanca a ambos”, respondió Ruemmler, aunque dudaba de que Epstein, quien en 2008 se había declarado culpable de solicitar prostitución de una menor, fuera admitido.
“Eres demasiado políticamente sensible, creo”, añadió.
Los registros de la Casa Blanca muestran que Allen, Previn y Ruemmler visitaron el 27 de diciembre, un domingo. Obama estaba en Hawái en ese momento.
Ruemmler y Allen estaban entre una larga lista de personas notables que mantuvieron amistades con Epstein durante años, a pesar de que era un delincuente sexual registrado que había sido acusado de abusar de menores de edad, y cuyos problemas legales habían sido ampliamente reportados en los periódicos.
Algunos de los invitados que acompañaron a Allen y Previn a cenas con Epstein incluyeron al presentador de programas de entrevistas Dick Cavett, el lingüista Noam Chomsky y el fallecido comediante David Brenner. Epstein también asistió a proyecciones de las películas de Allen y, según correos electrónicos, visitaba a Allen para verlo editar su última película.
“Gran variedad de personas interesantes en cada cena”, fue como Allen describió algunas de sus reuniones en una carta para una fiesta de cumpleaños de Epstein en 2016. “Siempre es interesante y la comida es suntuosa y abundante. Muchos platos, muchas opciones, numerosos postres, bien servidos. Digo bien servidos, a menudo por algún mayordomo profesional y con la misma frecuencia por varias jóvenes que recuerdan al Castillo de Drácula donde (el actor Bela) Lugosi tiene tres jóvenes vampiras que atienden el lugar.”
Se envió un mensaje a un asistente de Allen y Previn por correo electrónico en busca de comentarios sin recibir una respuesta de momento. Epstein se suicidó en 2019 mientras esperaba juicio por cargos de tráfico sexual.
Los correos electrónicos sugieren que Previn también tenía una relación cercana con Epstein y a menudo servía como intermediaria entre Epstein y Allen.
Numerosos intercambios entre Allen, Previn y Epstein se refieren a los escándalos que comenzaron a principios de la década de 1990 cuando Allen reconoció que tenía una aventura con Previn, la hija adoptiva de su entonces novia Mia Farrow. Alrededor del mismo tiempo, fue investigado por las autoridades estatales por acusaciones de que había agredido a su hija adoptiva, Dylan Farrow, mientras visitaba la casa de Mia en Connecticut.
Un fiscal de Connecticut dijo en 1993 que había “causa probable” para acusar a Allen de abusar de Dylan, pero que decidió no seguir adelante con el caso.
Allen, quien se casó con Previn en 1997 y desde entonces ha adoptado dos hijas, ha negado cualquier delito. Las acusaciones de Dylan volvieron a las noticias en 2014 cuando ella publicó una carta abierta en The New York Times. Desde entonces, Allen ha sido en gran medida marginado por la comunidad cinematográfica estadounidense.
En correos electrónicos de 2016, Epstein, Previn y Allen compararon sus propios escándalos con otro famoso en las noticias en ese momento: Bill Cosby, quien había negado acusaciones de que drogó y agredió sexualmente a numerosas mujeres.
“La multitud necesita una bruja para quemar, y no quedan muchas”, escribió Epstein.
Allen respondió, en un mensaje transmitido a través de Previn, que su propia situación es “radicalmente diferente” de la de Cosby.
“Espero (y recibo) muchas acusaciones feas e injustas, (pero) él tiene que luchar contra 50 mujeres y cargos penales”, dijo Allen, según el correo electrónico de Previn. “Tengo una madre iracunda cuyo caso fue investigado y desacreditado”, dijo, refiriéndose a Mia Farrow.
Epstein respondió que el desprecio público que Allen recibió probablemente estaba más relacionado con su relación con Previn, a la que llamó un “tabú públicamente roto”.
“Todo lo demás es ruido”, añadió.
Allen, en comentarios enviados a través de Previn, respondió que si la relación tabú de la pareja era el problema, “no hay nada que hacer”.
“Ciertamente, no voy a dejarla y no voy a disculparme porque no siento que ninguno de los dos haya hecho algo por lo que tengamos que disculparnos”, dice. “Nuestra vida romántica es asunto nuestro y no del público, así que es una situación sin esperanza porque no hay salida si eso es lo que tienen en contra de nosotros.”
Epstein aconsejó a sus amigos que simplemente disfrutaran de la vida.
“Algunos actores o actrices podrían rechazar un papel”, escribió Epstein. “Pero, ¿y qué?”
Allen no ha sido acusado de tener ninguna participación en el supuesto abuso sexual de niñas y mujeres por parte de Epstein.
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AP revisa los documentos publicados por el Departamento de Justicia en colaboración con periodistas de CBS, NBC, MS NOW y CNBC. Los periodistas de cada redacción trabajan juntos para examinar los archivos y compartir información sobre su contenido. Cada medio es responsable de su propia cobertura independiente de las noticias sobre los documentos.
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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.
US Figure Skating squad chasing more Olympic gold as team competition begins
MILAN — The powerful U.S. figure skating squad will have its first opportunity to shine at the Winter Olympics on Friday when the team competition begins at the Milano Ice Skating Arena just hours before the opening ceremony.
The Americans are the defending champions in the event. After they were denied a medal ceremony four years ago in Beijing because of a lengthy investigation into Russian doping, which kept them from receiving their gold medals until the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, so it would be especially meaningful to win another team title at the Milan Cortina Games.
“Looking back, I don’t think it was bittersweet, necessarily,” said Madison Chock, who along with partner Evan Bates will perform their rhythm dance Friday. “We’re still Olympic champions. We got our medals. But it was different.”
One thing that isn’t different: the strength of the U.S. team.
Chock and Bates are the three-time defending world champions, and they’ve been nearly unbeatable since finishing fourth in the individual ice competition in Beijing. The U.S. also will send out world champion Alysa Liu for the women’s short program on the first day of the team event, while Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea will perform their pairs short program.
The free dance and men’s short program is Saturday, when two-time defending world champion Ilia Malinin could perform for the first time in the Olympics. The team medals will be awarded after the men’s, women’s and pairs free skates on Sunday.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever in three disciplines had three world champions going into the Olympics,” said Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic champion. “We’ve had strong teams in the past, but this is one of the strongest teams ever.”
Pushing the Americans
It helps the U.S. cause that the historically strong Russians, who beat the Americans in Beijing only to be relegated to third when Kamila Valieva was suspended for doping, remain barred from the Winter Games following the invasion of Ukraine; Adeliina Petrosian and Petr Gumennik will be competing as neutral athletes.
Still, that doesn’t mean the Americans can simply waltz their way to the gold medal.
From Montreal to Milan: Christina Carreira’s journey to US citizenship — and skating at the Olympics
Japan, the reigning silver medalist, is back with world pairs champions Riku Mura and Ryuichi Kihara anchoring a team with few weaknesses. Olympic bronze medalist Kaori Sakamoto will handle the women’s short program Friday, leaving the ice dance team of Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita to try to keep the Japanese within striking distance of the Americans.
Georgia, Italy and Canada are the other podium contenders in the team event.
The Canadians were controversially denied the bronze medal in Beijing amid the Russian doping saga, instead keeping their fourth-place result. And while that could fuel the team this weekend, the Canadians already suffered a blow when Deanna Stellato-Dudek got hurt in training, ruling her out of the team competition with her pairs teammate, Maxime Deschamps.
“We want the gold,” Canadian ice dancer Piper Gilles said, “but a lot of it is out of our hands. What we can control is our skating and how we feel about it, and what moment we want to create. That’s when we skate our best.”
How the team event works
Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara perform during a training session at the Olympics, in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Ten nations take part in the team event, each sending out one entry per discipline for the short program. The scores are calculated based on their placements, with each discipline winner earning 10 points all the way down to one point for 10th place.
The top five move on to the free skate, where teams are allowed to substitute up to two disciplines, making roster selection a strategic process. They keep adding points to the team total, and the team with the most points after the free skate wins.
“It’s not just strategy for the team but the strategy for the month,” said Justin Dillon, chief high performance officer for U.S. Figure Skating. “Some of the events back right up into the team event. We want them to focus and have the ultimate impact.”
The biggest time crunch is for ice dancers, who have their rhythm dance Monday, meaning they could be performing three times in four days. They also have their team free skate Sunday ahead of their individual short programs Tuesday.
That is where the depth of the Americans come in handy. They can swap in fresh skaters on Sunday if needed.
“The team event is extremely important to us,” Bates said. “Having the opportunity to compete as a team is so special, and this team in particular is so deep, so talented and has great opportunity for a gold medal.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/olympics-us-figure-skating-team-competition/
