Blexfraptor

Only one unit was built, based on a sports car manufactured before World War II, and it was sold immediately. It is called La Voiture Noire, which in French means 'black car', and Bugatti turned it five years ago into one of the most exclusive and expensive cars in automotive history. Its acquisition price was 11 million euros, and the only piece produced was sold at the presentation of the project, in 2019. This model is a reinterpretation of the Type 57 SC Atlantic created by Jean Bugatti before the outbreak of World War II, which led to the disappearance of the only four existing models. With this version, the hypercar changes its attitude and transforms into a grand tourer, ideal for traveling comfortably on long trips. La Voiture Noire, more than a reinterpretation “Each component has been handcrafted and the carbon fiber body has an intense black gloss only interrupted by the ultra-fine fiber structure. This is a material that has been handled perfectly,” says Bugatti designer Etienne Salomé. “We worked long and hard on this design until we couldn't improve anything. For us, the coupe represents the perfect shape with a perfect finish.” The 16-cylinder, 8-liter engine develops 1,500 HP and 1,600 Nm. At the rear, it has six exhaust outlets. For 11 million euros (before taxes), this unique car has already been sold to a Bugatti enthusiast. It was, at that time, 2019, the most expensive new car sold until then. The car enthusiast was fascinated by the Atlantic; For this reason, he acquired the Bugatti La Voiture Noire. some history The Atlantic GT model based on the Type 57 was a grand tourer that could reach a top speed of more than 220 km/h. The data is surprising, because this was more than 80 years ago. Jean Bugatti designed the Type 57 for various body and engine configurations, including the Galibier (four-door saloon), Stelvio (convertible), Ventoux (two-door saloon) and Atalante (coupe), as well as the Atlantic. Jean Bugatti, the eldest son of the company's founder, Ettore Bugatti, was also a talented automobile designer. In the late 1920s, he influenced the development of the company with his own ideas and designs, before assuming management responsibility in 1936, at the age of 27. With his pioneering designs for bodies, engines and chassis, he created some extraordinary vehicles until his tragic death in an accident in 1939, cementing his place in automotive history. His most beautiful and famous design was the Type 57 SC Atlantic. Today it is one of the most valuable classic cars in the world. Only four Atlantics were built between 1936 and 1938, each with detailed differences created individually for each customer. Three of these extraordinary coupes still exist. The second car built was used by Jean Bugatti himself, as well as by some of the Bugatti Grand Prix drivers among his friends. The world has been searching for this Atlantic for more than 80 years: it is one of the great mysteries in automotive history. The car probably disappeared before the German invasion of Alsace, when it was to be shipped to a safe region. Like the company itself, Jean would have turned 110 this year.

Jude Bellingham stole the show in the first round, but Vinícius and Rodrygo are prepared to share the responsibility of scoring the goals. MADRID -- The absence of a guaranteed scorer opened a debate in Real Madrid that Carlo Ancelotti himself nipped in the bud, finding Jude Bellingham as the answer to assume the offensive role after the departure of Karim Benzema. Critics blamed Florentino Pérez for the failed signing of Kylian Mbappé, while he gave Carletto a slingshot to crash into before moving to Brazil. Soccer goes around a thousand times and once again demonstrated that nothing is mathematical. In the case of the meringues, Ancelotti preferred to remain silent, work in silence and move away to invent a position that would implement the choral role of his forward. The staff itself, according to its sources revealed to ESPN, did not like the change in system. They thought that the new 4-4-2 in which Bellingham would play at the top of the diamond was going to take away Vinícius Júnior's prominence and would dampen the scoring level of the Brazilian and his friend Rodrygo. And there are the numbers of the Englishman who, surprising everyone, emerged in the first round as a great circumstantial scorer to alleviate the white drought. His emergence, fortunate for Real Madrid, coincided with Vinícius Jr's two injuries, which forced him to stop. The new system continued its course and encouraged the rest of the forwards to dare. Rodrygo Goes has seven goals, Joselu five, Vinícius four, Brahim Díaz three and Bellingham thirteen. It is the season in which the goal has been distributed more among so many attacking players. Making Benzema forget was key, and Ancelotti has achieved it. Because nobody remembers the Frenchman and few believe that the frustrated signing of Mbappé is essential. What's more, an important part of Real Madrid fans does not believe that French is essential. Many think that his behavior was horrible with the entity and that Florentino would not have to wait for him because with Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo and company there is plenty, taking into account that Endrick arrives from Palmeiras in the summer. Even so, Madrid will continue trying for Mbappé because, as Florentino says, the Bernabéu club needs the best players in the world. Carlo Ancelotti was renewed for the great work he had done. And also for being a club man in every sense. He could have complained publicly to cover his back, alleging that he had no forwards, that Bellingham was too young and that the losses of Éder Militão and Thibaut Courtois were hampering the team. In January the team is leader in First Division and faces a Champions League with renewed hope. https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/espana/nota/_/id/13120861/real-madrid-protagonismo-bellingham-vinicius-rodrygo

The new generation strategists stir up the ghosts of 1933 because the Government coalition is losing electoral mass, but the current scenario has nothing to do with it Germany is in danger of falling into the hands of the far right and reliving its darkest past. The fear that traditional parties transmit these days to citizens asking for the ban of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) has sent thousands of people to the streets in defense of democracy. There are 178 demonstrations in total. On Saturday, more than 80 events were held with the participation of up to 350,000 people. This Sunday Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart, Dresden, Frankfurt and Nuremberg will mobilize. "If there is something that can never again have a place in Germany, it is a National Socialist racial ideology," says Chancellor Olaf Schoz, who has called on all democrats to unite and to show that Germany "has learned from the past." Scholz, unlike other social democratic leaders, has not spoken out about the ban on the AfD, but with his statements he has branded the 16.5 million Germans who voted for the AfD in the last elections as anti-democrats and fascists, including thousands of former voters of his party, SPD, the Greens and even the liberals (FDP), the three formations in the government coalition. The German political scene has nothing to do with the 1930s, when the Nazi Party came to power, but when polls reveal political disaffection and the governing coalition has lost electoral mass due to failures, the strategists again generation always stir the ghosts of 1933. A few weeks ago, the co-president of the SPD, Saskia Esken, suggested the idea of banning the AfD, which in addition to consolidating at the federal level, leads all the polls in the three federal states that will go to the polls in September, Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia . At the federal level, the AfD reaches 22% in voting intention, only surpassed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its partner Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), with 31%. The Government parties are deflating. Scholz's SPD now only has the support of 13% of Germans, the lowest level in almost four years. The Liberals touch the threshold of 5% and the Greens 14%. In the three 'länder' called to the polls, the AfD would obtain more votes than the sum of the three parties of the federal tripartite. This pivotal formation may not even obtain the 5% of the votes required by law to access parliaments. The discussion opened by Esken subliminally proposing these regional elections as a referendum between democracy and fascism did not have much progress. "If we ban a party that we don't like, but that continues to lead the polls, it will provoke even greater solidarity with it, and not only among AfD voters. The collateral damage would be very high. The political dimension of the matter is crucial," warned the Government Commissioner for East Germany, Carsten Schneider. But the debate has resurfaced. Correctiv, a previously unknown non-profit research team, has just revealed that last November 30 people held a meeting at the Landhaus Adlon country hotel in Potsdam and discussed, among other things, of the mass expulsion of immigrants. Among the participants were Martin Sellner, former leader of Austria's far-right Identitarian Movement, businessmen, two CDU members and an adviser to AfD co-chair Alice Weidel. The title of Correctiv's report to that meeting of individuals without public office or parliamentary seat was 'Secret plan against Germany'. In the politics of hyperbole it is easy to draw parallels. The meeting took place a few kilometers from the place where the Wannsee conference was held in 1942 during which representatives of the SS, the NSDAP and various ministries of the Reich addressed the deportation and murder of Jews within the framework of the so-called 'solution final'. It would be interesting to know if what Scholz says in Brussels to his European colleagues about the stability of the German constitutional order is what he says to his fellow citizens, because here what he has done is pull the populist thread: "What will the more than 20 feel now? million citizens of migrant origin? I want to tell everyone: you are part of us. Our country needs you." Former German president Joachim Gauck has raised his voice: "If we act as if we had a main problem with the Nazis and treat the strange fantasies of expulsion of a minority as if that were the main problem, we would not be being precise in our political struggle." . And Gauck adds: "It is good that citizens take to the streets and express their adherence to democracy, but Germany is not at all on the brink of the Nazi abyss." For Gauck, and in this he agrees with the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, "in democracy, if people go to a party like the AfD, what needs to be done is campaign to get them to return to democratic parties." What remains, then, is the impotence and failure of the traditional parties to act as a barricade to the extreme right with attractive programs and answers to their problems. "The AfD is being marginalized with German thoroughness, but there will be a price for that short-sighted firewall strategy and it will be paid for in the elections. Instead of taking advantage of the confidence of their democracy's impressive success story, the Germans are turning to the past to complicate matters for themselves. future and, in the process, the formation of effective governments," he writes in the Neuen Zürcher Zeitung. In a fragmented Bundestag, there are no longer majorities for homogeneous alliances like those once formed by Helmut Kohl, Gerhard Schröder or Angela Merkel. As long as the AfD remains demonized - and with it a quarter of the electorate - the alternative is a forced tripartite, like the current one, or the grand coalition. Both cases guarantee costly blockages and compromises at the expense of taxpayers. The AfD has been able to capitalize on citizen discontent with the Government, which has reached the midpoint of its mandate with constant internal disputes, an economy that contracted by 0.3% last year and an annual inflation rate of 5.9%. the second largest since reunification. The coalition is also facing social protests after having to undertake cuts in subsidies in several portfolios to plug a hole of 17 billion euros in the 2024 budget. Covering the 'mea culpa' under the blanket of the threat from the far right and the banning of the AfD as a party is a lack of political responsibility, according to CDU leader Friedrich Merz. "This debate only favors the AfD and leads to nothing, because after a hypothetical dissolution a new party would simply emerge," he maintains. The Greens believe that the AfD is not a political problem but rather one for Justice, that is, for the Constitutional Court. The request for a ban can be presented by the Lower House, the Upper House or the Government, but it could only be successful if it is demonstrated that the party is manifestly opposed to the principles and values of the fundamental liberal and democratic order enshrined in the Constitution, and wants to eliminate them. in an active and combative manner, and also has the ability to achieve its objectives. In the AfD there are very controversial figures, such as Björn Höcke, party leader in Thuringia, and regional groups declared by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution "possibly far-right", but there is nothing in its program as a party that attacks the established order. Until proven otherwise, the traditional parties in decline will make noise but gain little. https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2024/01/21/65ad240f21efa0db158b457c.html

twenty one pilots: Stressed Out [OFFICIAL VIDEO] (youtube.com)

It is planned that, between July and December, that is, in the second half of 2024, there will be presidential elections in Venezuela, as agreed in October in Barbados by the delegations of the Government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition. However, there is no exact date for these elections and no electoral schedule, which has become a demand from opposition groups that ask the National Electoral Council to clarify these points. The opposition leader of Voluntad Po[CENSORED]r, Juan Guaidó, through his social networks joined the voices that ask to define the schedule of the elections, placing as a reference six other countries in America that will have presidential elections this year and that already have a defined date. : El Salvador (February 4), Panama (May 5), Dominican Republic (May 19), Mexico (June 2), Uruguay (October 27) and the United States (November 5). The Primero Justicia party also spoke at a press conference this Tuesday on the issue. “There is an atmosphere of uncertainty among citizens due to the limited information provided by the competent entities,” said leader Angel Medina, representing the organization. CNN contacted the National Electoral Council for comment on the issue, but has not received a response so far. Eugenio Martínez, member of the Electoral Transparency Council of electoral experts and expert journalist with 26 years of work in the area, told CNN that “unfortunately, Venezuelan electoral legislation does not specifically establish the moment in which an election must be held.” Martínez gives as an example the 2018 presidential elections held in May, although the beginning of the constitutional period, that is, the inauguration, takes place on January 10 of the following year, as established in the Magna Carta. For the most part, elections in Venezuela have been held in December. But in addition to a schedule for the polls, the opposition demands improvements in electoral conditions with the support of calls from the United States and countries of the European Union. For Martínez, an early announcement of the date could make the possibility of complying with political and electoral guarantees more complex, including those agreed in Barbados under the mediation of Norway. In this sense, the director of the Votoscopio information portal also presents as an example the case of international observers who, despite the fact that the National Electoral Council met with representatives of the Carter Center in November 2023, have not yet been publicly informed if it has been formalized. the invitation of this entity as a supervisor. In response to CNN's query, the Carter Center assured that it has not received any communication from the CNE about a possible invitation for the presidential election in 2024. CNN contacted the CNE to find out if the process has advanced privately and has not obtained response so far. In the case of the European Union, the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, warned in November that they will not allow a delegation to participate as an observer of the process while the bloc maintains sanctions on the Maduro government. In order for these organizations to observe an electoral process, according to their rules, they must begin their work well in advance of the election date. This implies in some cases, and depending on the scope, starting the mission up to six months before the date and this will depend on whether the observation is complete or only focused on one phase of the electoral process. The Barbados agreement establishes that the Carter Center and the European Union have to be observers of the process, Martínez recalled. Regarding the updating of the electoral registry, which is a demand of the opposition, it must close several months before the election, according to the expert. For example, Martínez explains, if the presidential election were called in July, the electoral registry would have to close in February, although he explains that there are no specific times for these deadlines in Venezuelan electoral legislation. According to the non-governmental organization Súmate, which ensures electoral transparency, around 3 million Venezuelans of voting age are not registered in the CNE and at least 2 million must update their information to be able to exercise their right to vote. Martínez estimates that, if the election date is too soon, expatriated Venezuelans will hardly be able to register to vote. All the dates of the Venezuelan electoral schedule are conditioned by the discretion with which they can be defined by the National Electoral Council, which ultimately responds to the interests of the Maduro Government. Electoral uncertainty also affects the candidates The main candidates are also not clear at the moment. President Maduro stated in an interview conducted on January 1 with the Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet that it is premature to talk about whether or not he will be the ruling party's candidate this year. “Let's wait for the electoral scenarios of the process that will take place this year to be defined and with God's favor we will make the best decision,” said the current Venezuelan president. Meanwhile, the opposition candidate María Corina Machado, elected in primary elections held on October 22 and winner with more than 99% of the votes, remains in a kind of legal and political limbo. A decision has not yet been made regarding the political disqualification that weighs on her as a sanction issued by the Comptroller General of Venezuela and that makes it impossible for her to run for and hold public office. A measure that the leader considers illegal. Machado personally went on December 15 to the Political-Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, to file a de facto complaint and a precautionary protection that the defense describes as an action against a measure that they claim impedes their rights. politicians and makes it impossible for her to participate as a candidate in the presidential elections. CNN contacted the Supreme Court of Justice for comment without receiving a response so far. The leader and founder of the Vente Venezuela political movement went to the Judiciary within a mechanism announced within the framework of the agreements on political and electoral rights signed in Barbados by the Government and the opposition, and which, as announced on November 30, The Judiciary would be the route between December 1 and 15, 2023 to address legal demands aimed at reviewing political disqualifications “in accordance with the principles of speed, efficiency and effectiveness included in the Constitution.” https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2024/01/12/elecciones-presidenciales-venezuela-sin-fecha-orix/

A new study shows that when male animals develop elaborate weapons, such as antlers and horns, females of the same species develop larger brains than expected. Is there any scene in nature more emblematic than that of a ram knocking down its rival with enormous, curved horns that can weigh up to 13 kilos each? Can you close your eyes and hear the rumble of deer tangling their antlers in a dark forest, or have you ever felt awe at the sight of the enormous six-foot antlers of an adult bull elk? Suffice it to say that humans have been fascinated by heavily armed animals since time immemorial: some of the oldest works of art ever found show the horns of an ancient water buffalo and the tusks of a wild boar, engraved on the walls of caves about 44,000 and 45,500 years ago, respectively. However, our obsession with the majesty of antlers, horns and tusks may be blinding us to the wonder of what happens in the opposite sex. In fact, a study published this month in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology provides the first evidence that, as male mammals evolve with larger weapons for combat and to signal their fitness, females of those species develop brains larger than expected. "I think females are a very important aspect of biology that is often overlooked," says Nicole López, a doctoral student at the University of Montana (United States) and lead author of the study; "because they usually seem bland, or boring, or are not as elaborate [as the males]." However, although attention has always focused on what happens on the heads of males, something just as extraordinary may be happening on the heads of females. And it may call into question what we thought about their decision-making capacity when choosing a partner. Brain vs brute force The good news for all male bodybuilders is that the study does not suggest that bigger guns necessarily translate into lower male intelligence. "It's not that as males invest more in their weapons they become dumber," clarifies Ted Stankowich, an evolutionary behavioral ecologist at California State University (United States) and lead author of the study. Rather, brain size in males appears to remain unchanged even though evolution appears to select for increasingly larger antlers. At the same time, females appear to invest resources in brain size, he says. And although it remains unclear whether these two traits are directly related (which would tell us a lot more), the study shows that they are correlated. To gather data on how these traits are related, Stankowich, López and co-author Jonathon Moore Tupas traveled to seven museums to measure the skulls, brain volume and weapon size of 413 specimens from 29 ungulate species. They ranged from deer, caribou and elk to goats, sheep and antelope. It took us years to get more than 400 specimens," says López. As for why females may be increasing their gray matter relative to males and their weapons, well, scientists are still trying to figure out. "What we think is happening is that males invest more in their weapons, which makes them more important signals to females, and perhaps social systems become more complex at that point as well," Stankowich says; "And perhaps females need bigger brains to know who to mate with and how to navigate their social system." Ummat Somjee, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Texas in the United States and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, points out several limitations of the study. For example, as the authors point out, brain size does not necessarily translate into intelligence. To reach that conclusion, data on the behavior of all the species involved would be needed, something much more difficult to obtain. Likewise, although she applauds the authors for examining as many specimens as they did, 29 species represent only a fraction of Earth's armed ungulates. Who knows if the pattern might change when other species with horns, antlers, or tusks are evaluated? Still, Somjee, who studies weapons in insects and was not involved in the study, called it "a super interesting idea with huge implications." You have to recognize it In some ways, it's not surprising that humans have taken notice of animal weapons. After all, many of these structures have evolved to attract attention, says Somjee. "They intrigue us. They force us. And they also deceive us," she says. For example, Somjee says we find it surprising that male cervids (such as deer, elk, and elk) suffer from temporary osteoporosis each year as they expel nutrients from their own skeletons to build antlers. The new study also shows that the brain versus brawn effect is even more pronounced in these horned animals than in those without, and the seasonal nature of their ornaments may have something to do with it. "It's an amazing natural phenomenon. It's really rare and strange," Somjee says of the rapid growth and loss of antlers; "But I think something that's been left out is that what happens in females is also pretty amazing." For example, females also siphon large amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients from their own bodies to build entire offspring inside their wombs. And, of course, the females are the first to create the tissues that will give rise to antlers, horns or fangs. For his part, López points out that much of the scientific literature has focused on the battles between males to understand the sexual selection that occurs in these species. After all, the idea has long prevailed that the largest and best-armed males stay with the females. "But we may not be analyzing it in the right way to show that [females] have some kind of decision about which males they end up mating with," López says. Evolución animal: los machos mejoran sus armas y las hembras tienen cerebros más grandes | National Geographic

The development of the new Mercedes CLA has reached a new level. The star brand has been surprised during tests on one of the icy tracks in northern Sweden with the first prototype of the AMG sports variant. Some spy photos loaded with interesting details in this very high-performance electric vehicle that will arrive in 2026. For just a few days now, the star brand has been in northern Sweden testing prototypes of the new Mercedes CLA. A third installment of the po[CENSORED]r sports sedan that represents the firm among the Premium compacts and that will be added to the electric range next year, although it will also offer hybrid versions. The last look allowed us to take a look at a completely new and unprecedented interior at Mercedes, but these new spy photos are more than interesting. For the first time, the top-of-the-range variant of the Mercedes-AMG CLA has been hunted. A very high-level electric car that has been caught performing drifts and other high-speed maneuvers on frozen lakes converted into special tracks to calibrate the chassis settings. Spy photos Mercedes CLA AMG 2026 in winter testing A version that has given itself away for a couple of key features: The most notable is the new rear spoiler hidden under a dense layer of camouflage, a very peculiar way of hiding this aerodynamic element that draws powerful attention from a distance, but that may be an indication of an active spoiler that varies its position depending on driving modes or situations. On the other hand, the alloy wheels painted in black and with a typical AMG design that, until now, had not been seen on board any other prototype of the model. A closer look reveals large brake discs on both running gears that will most likely be perforated. What you can see in the photo gallery is that this unit has all-wheel drive and, therefore, two powerful electric motors. Developed by AMG, these units will have axial flow technology, which will allow them to offer high performance with very low energy consumption. 450 HP and almost 700 km of autonomy in the new Mercedes CLA AMG One more detail is also found on the front. The air intake under the grille shows a lattice with a honeycomb of diamonds, unlike the perforated grille of other units. The electric CLA AMG will hit the market in mid-2026, equipped with a battery that will have a higher net usable capacity of around 110 kWh, so the range will be around 700 kilometers on a single charge. A configuration that will make your hair stand on end thanks to a power close to 450 HP, and that will set the bar very high for rivals.

The Czech Macik has won his first Touareg with a total time of 54h34:48, ahead of Loprais by 1h54 and Van den Brink and Torrallardona by 4h29 The navigator from Castellfollit del Boix celebrates the third podium of his career in the Dakar, after overcoming many mechanical problems in a very tough rally Moi Torrallardona has managed to complete the route of the Dakar 2024 and secure his third podium in the rally, which, like in the 2017 edition, was third place. Without the Russian Kamaz, former dominators, the category of the 'giants' of the Dakar has been more open than ever and finally the victory was secured by the Czech Martín Macik, while Ales Loprais, winner of the last stage, finished second in general. The navigator from Castellfollit del Boix, together with the pilot, Mitchel van den Brink and the mechanic, Jarno van de Pol, has suffered until the end to repeat the podium in the Dakar. Throughout more than 5,000 kilometers of special stages and twelve very tough stages, Torrallardona and his team have had to overcome a multitude of mechanical problems. On Thursday, in the penultimate stage they had to stop the truck up to four times to secure the cabin and avoid punctures, but they finally achieved their goal and the advantage they maintained over the winner of the Dakar 2023, Janus van Kasteren, allowed them to defend the podium . In the general classification, the Czech Macik won his first Touareg with a total time of 54h34:48, 1h54 ahead of Loprais, while Van den Brink and Torrallardona ended up giving up 4h29 to be third. Torrallardona sube al podio de camiones en el Dakar (sport.es)

The son of the president of the United States will attend on February 28 to testify about his businesses at the request of the Republicans Hunter Biden has an appointment at the Capitol on February 28. The son of Joe Biden, president of the United States, has finally agreed to testify behind closed doors following a new request from a House of Representatives committee that has opened an investigation to try to find evidence for a political prosecution (impeachment) of the president. With the agreement to testify, Hunter Biden avoids a complaint for contempt. The president's son had until now volunteered to appear at a public session. He argued that he feared Republicans would mani[CENSORED]te and distort his statement if the public could not witness it. He took advantage of the fact that the Republican chairman of the commission, James Comer, had publicly said that Hunter Biden could choose whether he preferred a closed-door deposition or a public appearance. When push came to shove, Republicans did not want the session to be public and Hunter Biden refused to testify behind closed doors. He had another trump card in his power: the subpoena had been issued as part of an investigation that had not been approved by the full House and there were, therefore, doubts about whether it was binding. Still, the commission decided to report Hunter Biden for contempt. In the session on January 10 in which his refusal to appear was being debated, the president's son showed up by surprise at the Capitol and the Democrats offered to have him testify, but the Republicans again refused. Now it was the plenary session that had to rule on whether Hunter Biden had been in contempt and, if applicable, send a complaint to the Department of Justice. But before the blood reached the river, Hunter Biden was willing to accept a new subpoena now that the investigation already has the support of the plenary session. “The president's son is a key witness in this investigation and he is going to be able to come now and sit down and answer questions in a substantive and orderly manner,” Rep. James Comer, chairman of the Oversight Committee, told reporters, according to picks up the Associated Press. He added that Hunter Biden will be able to testify publicly at some point after his testimony. Republicans are trying, so far without success, to find evidence that Joe Biden profited from his son's overseas business dealings while he was vice president. Curiously, while they investigate in an almost inquisitorial manner whether any dollars from foreign governments reached the hands of Joe Biden, they naturally defend that Donald Trump's companies received millions of dollars from foreign governments and public companies when he was president. Last November, the day he was summoned for the first time, Hunter Biden gave a speech at the doors of the Capitol: “For six years, MAGA Republicans [the acronym for Donald Trump's motto, Make America Great Again], including Members of the committees of the House of Representatives who are currently in a closed session, have questioned my character, invading my privacy, attacking my wife, my children, my family and my friends. They ridiculed my struggle with addiction. They have belittled my recovery and attempted to dehumanize me, all to shame and harm my father, who has dedicated his entire life to public service. For six years, I have been the target of Trump's relentless attack machine screaming, 'Where's Hunter?' Well, here is my answer: here I am,” he said then. “Let me say it as clearly as I can. My father was not financially involved in my businesses, neither as a practicing lawyer, nor as a member of the board of directors of Burisma [a Ukrainian energy company], nor in my association with a Chinese private businessman, nor in my investments in the country or in abroad, much less as an artist,” he continued, highlighting the support of his family: “During my battle against addiction, my parents were by my side. They literally saved my life. “They helped me in a way that I can never repay them, and of course they would never expect me to.” In parallel, Hunter Biden is accused of 12 alleged crimes in two indictments. Of three, in Wilmington (Delaware) for buying and possessing a gun when he was a drug addict. Of another nine, in Los Angeles (California) for alleged tax fraud. The problems that the president's son had with his addictions have made him a preferred target of Republicans for years. Hunter Biden acepta una citación del Congreso para declarar a puerta cerrada | Internacional | EL PAÍS (elpais.com)

Francisco, although defeated, did not lower his head. The Rayo Vallecano coach congratulated his rival and rescued his team's level despite the fall and elimination in Montilivi. His team says goodbye to the Copa del Rey after 3-1 against Girona. The self-critical man from Almeria also had room for praise. Francisco, although defeated, did not lower his head. The Rayo Vallecano coach congratulated his rival and rescued his team's level despite the fall and elimination in Montilivi. His team says goodbye to the Copa del Rey after 3-1 against Girona. The self-critical man from Almeria also had room for praise. Francisco also had space to refer to the work of Míchel and the rojiblancos, who secured the quarterfinal stage in Montilivi and are marking a season for history: “They are fantastic, they have to enjoy it, they are in a moment that is difficult to repeat. "They deserve it for the work, to enjoy it." Francisco, rendido al Girona: "Son fantásticos, tienen que disfrutarlo" (sport.es)

Today some hitmen intercepted prosecutor César Suárez and shot him inside his vehicle on an avenue in the north of Guayaquil. The Public Ministry agent was shot several times in the head, leaving at least a dozen bullet holes in the glass of his car. The body remained at the scene awaiting the arrival of the forensic experts for almost an hour. The attack occurs when the "internal armed conflict" decree has been in force in Ecuador since last week, which includes a state of exception, curfew and the deployment of the Armed Forces in the streets. Suárez was in charge of the armed assault against TC Televisión, which occurred last week, when a kamikaze commando of 13 gang members from the Los Tiguerones gang burst into the television facilities shooting. A case of terrorism, as it is one of the 22 gangs described as such in the government decree. The prosecutor worked in the National Specialized Investigation Unit against Transnational Organized Crime. The Public Ministry official also carried out one of the parallel cases to Operation Metastasis, which led by the State Attorney General involved the drug trafficker Leandro Norero, known as El Patrón, with politicians, judges and journalists. Suárez was in charge of the hospital corruption case that directly pointed to businessman Daniel Salcedo, detained days ago in Panama and to whom an extradition process will be applied. "My most sincere note of condolences to his family and colleagues. César, rest in peace. His legacy will accompany us in the fight," stressed Attorney General Diana Salazar, who assured that she was on the ground doing the first steps "so that "This crime does not go unpunished." Salazar, considered by Rafael Correa's Citizen Revolution as one of its main political enemies, made a call to the nation full of emotion, in which she firmly assured that organized crime groups and terrorists "will not stop our commitment with Ecuadorian society. We will continue with more strength and commitment. We must be clear that this atrocious event brings with it a message for the work we are doing through justice." The head of the Public Ministry urged the Law Enforcement Forces to guarantee the safety of Justice officials and the Judiciary Council to authorize the hearings to be held electronically. Sigue la violencia en Ecuador: asesinan al fiscal encargado del asalto armado al canal de televisión en Guayaquil | Internacional (elmundo.es)

Removing @Mr.Daniel reason retired!

After having few minutes in the Spanish Super Cup, the midfielder wants to make a difference again in the Copa del Rey Xavi Hernández had several doubts when considering the two games that the Blaugranas played in the Spanish Super Cup. The substitution of Pedri against Osasuna, who received the medical discharge before the match, left a free place in a midfield where both Frenkie De Jong and Gündogan were guaranteed to be present. Fermín Lopez, after his great performance against UD Barbastro, was the favorite to replace him as interior. However, Sergi Roberto ended up playing. The campillero, who had just scored a goal at the Municipal de los Deportes de Barbastro and was one of the best players in that round of 32 match of the Copa del Rey (2-3), expected a participation that was practically nil. Against the Navarrese team he did not even have minutes and in the final against Real Madrid he entered with the result seen as a sentence. The midfielder's frustration, both due to the defeat and the impossibility of helping the team to turn the situation around, was reflected in each of the actions in which he intervened. The Andalusian had the occasional scuffle with certain players from the white team. A competition to shine again After the storm, calm always comes and Fermín López will have the opportunity against Unionistas de Salamanca to show that, at least, he deserved more minutes in the Spanish Super Cup. Pedri's return makes his presence in the starting eleven more complicated. Now, this Copa del Rey could be his escape route to continue adding minutes, because the player from Egarense is forced to make rotations given the great load of minutes that certain players accumulate. Sergi Roberto has already had the opportunity to take on a more important role as a result of this last competition, but now it is Fermín's turn to present himself again as an alternative that, surprisingly, had not been taken into account in recent years. matches. FC Barcelona | Fermín busca su vía de escape (sport.es)

Kupiansk is one of the major Russian objectives in northeastern Ukraine as it is an important railway communication hub. The Ukrainian authorities announced today that they will force out of their homes more than 3,000 people who until now lived in two municipalities near the front in the Kupiansk district, in the Kharkov province of northeastern Ukraine. "Taking into account the security situation, we decree the mandatory evacuation of the po[CENSORED]tion of the municipalities of Kindrashivska and Kurilivska, in the Kupiansk district," the head of the Kharkov military administration, Oleg Siniegubov, wrote on his Telegram account. Among the 3,043 evacuees, the Ukrainian official explained, there are 279 minors. "All evacuees will be offered accommodation and support from international humanitarian organizations," said Siniegubov, who called on residents in areas near the front to take their "responsibility" to protect their lives and those of their children. Zelensky launches harsh attacks against Putin in Davos Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday launched harsh criticism of Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging world leaders not to tire, enforce sanctions, help rebuild their country and push forward the peace process. Zelensky is trying to focus the world's attention on his country's long and stalled defense against the Russian invasion, at the same time that Israel's war against the Palestinian group Hamas, which this week passed the 100-day mark, has diverted much of the attention and has sparked fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. He tried to portray Ukraine as a bulwark in the fight to defend world democracies. "Whoever believes that this is only a problem for us, that it is only a problem for Ukrainians, is totally wrong," Zelensky said in his speech at the ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Share on Twitter 20:54 Biden and Congressional leaders will meet tomorrow to negotiate on Ukraine and Israel The President of the United States, Joe Biden, plans to receive congressional leaders at the White House tomorrow, Wednesday, to discuss the approval of funds for Ukraine and Israel. In a press conference, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre announced the meeting this Tuesday, which will be attended by the leaders of both chambers of Congress and the legislative committees. The Democratic Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, as well as the Republican Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, are expected to attend, as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, and the Minority Leader of the House, Democrat Hakeem Jeffries. Share on Twitter 19:45 Brussels is going to take stock of the weapons delivered so far by the EU to Ukraine The European External Action Service (EEAS) is going to take stock of the general military support of the European Union and its member states to Ukraine since Russia's aggression began at the end of February 2022, a representative informed EFE this Tuesday. spokesperson for European diplomacy led by Josep Borrell. "We intend to take stock of the overall military support of the EU and its Member States to Ukraine to better inform our discussions on further support to Ukraine" under the European Peace Facility (EFF), a spokesman for the EU said. SEEA. This "balance" will be made to put it on the table in the debates of the next informal Defense Council on January 30 and 31 and the extraordinary European Council on February 1, he added. 18:58 Albares emphasizes that European integration and the reconstruction of Ukraine must go hand in hand The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, stated today that the processes of European integration and the reconstruction of Ukraine must advance in parallel to be successful. "Integration and reconstruction must be two parallel things if we want them to be successful for us, for the European Union (EU) and for Spain," Albares said at the Ukrainian Horizons debate session of the World Economic Forum. "The challenge is enormous," both for Ukraine and for the EU, added the head of Spanish diplomacy in reference to "the amount of money" that will be required to reconstruct the country invaded by Russia. Share on Twitter 18:14 Putin says the Ukrainian state will suffer an "irreparable blow" if the conflict continues Russian President Vladimir Putin assured on Tuesday that his troops have "the initiative" in the conflict with Ukraine and that if it were to continue, "the statehood" of the former Soviet republic could suffer "an irreparable blow." "Not only did the [Ukrainian] counteroffensive fail, but the initiative is entirely in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces. If that continues, Ukraine's statehood could suffer an irreparable blow, a serious blow," Putin said at a meeting broadcast on television. The front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine have barely moved in more than a year in this conflict that began almost two years ago, in February 2022. In his speech, Putin described the recent attacks against civilians as "barbaric." Russians. Share on Twitter 16:58 Ukraine asks to strengthen controls after finding Western components in Russian weapons Crania urges its foreign partners to intensify control of the sanctions regime, as multiple foreign-made components continue to be found in newly produced Russian military equipment and a study reveals that Russia has almost managed to bring its imports back to the pre-sanctions level , with half coming from Western companies. Some 2,800 foreign-made components have been found in the wreckage of Russian missiles, drones and other weapons used in Ukraine, according to the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption database. The most recent additions, last week, came from Kh-59 missiles of the type that Russian fighters regularly use against Ukrainian cities, according to the Agency, since despite attempts to restrict their domestic production, Moscow remains capable of launching massive drone and missile attacks. Share on Twitter 15:54 Zelensky: Putin is a "predator" who will not settle for a "frozen" conflict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Tuesday from the Davos Forum that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a "predator" who will continue with the invasion of his country, and again asked his partners for more air resources. Zelensky participates in the great annual meeting of the political and financial world in the Swiss Alps, where this Tuesday he received words of support from representatives of both the European Union and the United States. "After 2014," the year in which the conflict in eastern Ukraine began with pro-Russian separatists and Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula, "there were attempts to freeze the war in Donbas," in the east of the country, he said. Zelensky referring to the Minsk negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany. Share on Twitter 14:45 Stoltenberg says the more Putin is successful in Ukraine, the more likely Beijing will use its force NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted this Tuesday the concern that the more successful Russian President Vladimir Putin achieves in the war of aggression launched against Ukraine, the more likely it is that China will also decide to use strength to achieve goals. Stoltenberg made this assessment during a debate on security organized at the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland). "I have visited Japan and South Korea, close NATO partners, who are concerned about what is happening in Ukraine, because they know that the more successful Putin is in Ukraine, the more likely it is that Beijing will use force," said the Norwegian politician. . In that context, he defended that the Atlantic Alliance have "a global approach" even though it is a regional organization, since "the world is interconnected." Share on Twitter 13:51 Russia shot down 69 drones in occupied Ukraine Russian forces shot down 69 drones in the last 24 hours in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Moscow, as reported today by the Russian Ministry of Defense in its daily report. The unmanned devices were intercepted in the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia (south), as well as Donetsk and Lugansk (east), the official note states. Furthermore, in a single day, Russian forces repelled fifteen enemy attacks in different sectors of the front in Ukraine. Six attacks were repulsed in Kupiansk, in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, where Russia is preparing a new offensive, according to Ukrainian and Western analysts. Share on Twitter 13:19 Zelensky invites large companies to invest in the Ukrainian economy in Davos The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighted today in a meeting with managers of large companies that the Ukrainian economy grew by more than 5% last year, and encouraged them to invest in the country and thus contribute to it overcoming the effects of the Russian invasion. "It is important to be in Ukraine, increase investments and support our economy," Zelensky said at the meeting, attended by the president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and several leaders of the Ukrainian president's administration. Zelensky addressed senior officials at the J.P. investment bank. Morgan and other large international investors to convey that "attracting private capital to rebuild Ukraine is important to us." Share on Twitter 13:03 EU admits it must improve ammunition delivery to Ukraine The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Hadja Lahbib, whose country presides over the European Union this semester, assured this Tuesday that they must improve the delivery of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, but stressed that the EU will continue to support Kiev in its defense of the invasion. Russian "as long as necessary." "I hear some members expressing concern saying that we have to do more and faster and, indeed, they are absolutely right. We have to do better. It is a work in progress. We take it very seriously. We are making a lot of efforts to according to our capabilities, which, in fact, must be urgently improved," said Lahbib during an appearance at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Lahbib, speaking in a debate on the military support the EU is giving to Ukraine, said that from his position he would "do everything possible to push forward this wartime approach" and work with member states to increase production and delivery. of weapons and ammunition. Share on Twitter 12:48 Blinken promises Zelensky that the US will maintain its support for Ukraine US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged his country's continued support for Ukraine on Tuesday during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite a dispute in the US Congress over funding for the European country. "We are determined to maintain our support for Ukraine and we work very closely with Congress to ensure this. I know that our European colleagues will do the same," Blinken assured Zelensky when meeting during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Share on Twitter 12:24 The UN warns of an "alarming" increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine since December The UN Mission in Ukraine reported a sharp increase in the number of Ukrainian civilians killed in recent weeks due to the intensification of the Russian offensive, which represents an "alarming" reversal of the downward trend observed at the beginning of 2023. . The international organization reported a 26% increase in verified civilian casualties in December compared to November, although it regretted that the actual percentage is "probably" higher, as reports of 86 alleged deaths are still being verified. "Over the course of just 10 days, between December 29, 2023 and January 8, hundreds of civilians have been killed or injured in missile and drone attacks across the country," the agency said in a statement. UN mission. 12:01 Ukraine needs 'predictable financing' to beat Russia Ukraine needs predictable financing this year and beyond to successfully confront the Russian invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday. "Ukraine can win this war. But we must continue to strengthen its defense. Ukrainians need predictable financing throughout 2024 and beyond," the leader told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Share on Twitter 11:24 Lavrov thanks North Korea for its support of the Russian military campaign in Ukraine Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today thanked his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, for Pyongyang's support for the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. "Without a doubt, we have always supported North Korea at the UN and highly appreciate their same stance in support of the position of the Russian Federation, including on issues related to the special military operation we are carrying out in Ukraine," Lavrov said. at the beginning of the meeting in the Russian capital. Share on Twitter 11:00 Ukraine orders the evacuation of civilians from twenty towns in the northeast This Tuesday, Ukraine ordered the evacuation of 26 towns in the Kharkiv region, in the northeast of the country, due to repeated attacks by the Russian army in the area. "In view of the situation, we are carrying out a mandatory evacuation of the po[CENSORED]tion of the communities of Kindrachivska and Kourylivska in the Kupiansk district," regional governor Oleg Synegoubov said on social media, listing the names of the 26 affected localities. where 3,043 people live. there, including 279 children. Share on Twitter 10:4O Zelensky asks Stoltenberg in Davos for more air defenses for Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today began his activity at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland, with a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, to whom he asked that more air defense systems be sent to Ukraine. to counter Russian air attacks. "We have discussed the situation on the front," Zelensky wrote about the meeting, in which he also conveyed to Stoltenberg "the need to further strengthen the Ukrainian air defense" after the latest massive Russian air attacks against regions throughout Ukraine. as well as other urgent needs from kyiv in military matters. The Ukrainian president and the head of the Atlantic Alliance also spoke of the security agreement signed by kyiv and London last week, by which the United Kingdom undertakes to quickly send military aid to Ukraine if there is again Russian aggression against the country after the current war ends. 10:19 New day of massive Russian losses on the front: more than a thousand men and 24 tanks Ukraine considers that the Russian Army continues to lose personnel and military equipment massively in its attempts to gain more territory in the east and south of Ukrainian territory, where it again suffered this Monday more than a thousand casualties and the destruction of 24 battle tanks. , according to today's balance sheet of the General Staff. Russia has also lost during the last 24 hours 36 armored vehicles and 30 artillery systems, as well as a reconnaissance aircraft capable of detecting targets at a distance of 600 kilometers and a bomber that operated as an air control post for Russian aviation. According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat, it is "probably the first time" that Russia has lost an A-50 reconnaissance plane like the one the Ukrainian Army shot down this Monday over the Sea of Azov, an inland sea located to the southeast of Ukraine whose coasts are completely controlled by Russia. Share on Twitter 9:31 Brussels urges to agree on 50 billion in aid to Ukraine but remembers that "it is not just a European task" The European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, urged this Tuesday to agree on aid of 50 billion for Ukraine, although he also launched a call to international partners such as the United States by reminding that "it is not just a European task." "We strongly ask that an agreement be reached in the next two weeks and, of course, also the support of all international partners," said the commissioner upon his arrival at the meeting of EU Economy and Finance Ministers, the Ecofin. Gentiloni has stressed that agreeing on aid is "absolutely crucial from the European point of view", aware that there are two weeks left until the next meeting of EU heads of state and government - which will be held in Brussels on 1 February-- although he warned that "it is not just a European task." Share on Twitter 8:50 Moldova cannot cope with the increase in citizenship applications from Russians Authorities in former Soviet Moldova said on Monday they were struggling to cope with a sharp rise in applications to grant citizenship to citizens of wartime Russia. "In view of the increase in applications for Moldovan citizenship, the agency asks the government to extend the deadline for examining applications to six months," instead of the current deadline of 20 days, said a government agency that, among other things, deals with citizenship and passports. "The geopolitical situation in the region created by Russia's war against Ukraine has generated an increase in the number of people seeking to acquire Moldovan citizenship." Share on Twitter 8:00 Air defenses shoot down twelve Ukrainian drones in two Russian regions Russian air defense systems shot down twelve Ukrainian fixed-wing drones this morning over the Voronezh and Belgorod regions, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. Eight devices were intercepted in the Voronezh region, located more than 300 kilometers from the eastern border of Ukraine, while another four were shot down in the Belgorod region, adjacent to Ukrainian territory, Defense said in a statement published on Telegram. Share on Twitter 7:35 Polish and French foreign ministers commit in Warsaw to maintaining aid to kyiv The French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, assured this Monday during his official visit to Warsaw that Paris is committed to "maintaining support" for Ukraine in its war against Russia, in line with what was defended by his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski. Séjourné, who is in Poland after visiting the Ukrainian capital and Berlin, exemplified the military aid that his country can provide to Ukraine with the Ukrainian soldier training program and mentioned the opening of negotiations with Kiev for its future accession to the Union European Union as one of the "tools of diplomatic support" to Ukraine. According to the French minister, "it is of strategic interest for Europe" to admit Ukraine into the European club. Share on Twitter 7:00 Ukrainian Foreign Minister wanted to "hit" Lavrov Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview made public on Monday that there were moments when he felt the need to "punch his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in the face" in talks during the initial phase. of the invasion of Moscow. Kuleba's brief comments were part of an hour-long informal interview with a Ukrainian video blogger that focused on topics ranging from cooking to hobbies to Ukrainian football.When asked, as part of a series of rapid-fire questions, about his most difficult set of negotiations, Kuleba said: "The most difficult conversations are the ones where you feel like you just want to go and punch your opponent in the nose," but you can't really do that. Guerra Ucrania - Rusia, última hora | Ucrania ordena la evacuación de más de 3.000 personas de localidades de Jarkov cercanas al frente | Internacional (elmundo.es)