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Upgraded Presta Valve Increases Airflow and Durability
Although Presta valves are pretty much standard on higher-end bikes’ wheels, the things definitely do have their drawbacks. Dutch company BBB Cycling has decided to do something about that, with a li’l Presta-improving device known as the CoreCap.
So first of all, there certainly are good reasons to use Presta valves.
Among other things, they’re better than Shrader valves at maintaining high air pressure, they’re lighter, and they’re narrower. And because they’re narrower, the holes that are drilled in the rims for them are smaller, and thus less likely to compromise the integrity of narrow road bike rims.
Additionally, their cores can (usually) be removed, allowing sealant to be injected through them into tubeless tires.
Those cores, however, are annoyingly fragile – they frequently get bent or even snapped right off, plus they can can become clogged with sealant. Additionally, Presta valves require a special Presta-specific pump head or adapter, leaving cyclists out of luck if they unexpectedly have to inflate their tires someplace like a gas station.
That’s where the CoreCap comes in.
BBB Cycling
To use the basic Upgrade Set version of the device, you just remove the core of your existing Presta valve (and yes, it must have a removable core), thread the machined aluminum CoreCap onto the top, then start pumping with a standard Shrader-head pump. The CoreCap then stays on there full-time.
Not only does the original valve retain all of its original Presta selling points, it reportedly also gains 300% more airflow, and it loses all of its core-related fussiness and fragility.
As an added bonus, because of the increased airflow, BBB Cycling claims that use of the CoreCap should make it possible to seat tubeless tires without the need for a compressor or CO2 cartridge.
BBB Cycling
Speaking of which, there’s also a fully-integrated Tubeless Valve Set version of the system. Pricing for it starts at €29.95 (about US$35), while the Upgrade Set – which includes two CoreCaps – is priced at €16.95 ($20).
Cyclists who are tired of their Presta valves might also want to check out Schwalbe’s Clik Valve, although it does require its own special pump head.
Source: BBB Cycling via BikeRadar
Latin America Responds to Trump’s Interventionist Policies
new video loaded: Latin America Reacts to Trump’s Interventionism
Jack Nicas, our Mexico City bureau chief, walks us through the ways Latin American leaders are reacting to Trumps recent attack on Venezuela
By Jack Nicas, Rebecca Suner, James Surdam and Edward Vega
January 11, 2026
US to advocate for expedited measures in decreasing dependence on China for rare earth minerals
US to push for quicker action in reducing reliance on China for rare earths
Protesters in Iran continue to defy government crackdown, resulting in dozens of officers being killed, officials say
Iran’s state media says dozens of security forces have been killed during protests in the sanctions-hit country against a severe economic crisis, as the parliament speaker warned the United States and Israel of retaliatory strikes if Washington attacks the Islamic Republic.
State television said on Sunday 30 members of the police and security forces were killed in Isfahan province, while the commander of the Law Enforcement Command Special Units said eight security forces were killed on January 8 and 9 during operations to quell riots in various cities.
The Iranian Red Crescent, meanwhile, said a member of its team died during an attack on one of its relief buildings in Gorgan, the capital of Golestan province.
The reported figures come as Iranian authorities step up efforts to quell the country’s largest protests in years, which have seen thousands of people take to the streets in anger over the soaring cost of living and inflation.
The Interior Ministry said the “riots” are gradually subsiding while the attorney general has warned that those involved in the unrest could face the death penalty.
Trump threats
Speaking in parliament on Sunday after threats of military strikes by US President Donald Trump, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the US against “a miscalculation”.
“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi said Qalibaf’s words are “a new level of escalation, at least rhetorically”.
Some lawmakers reportedly rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting: “Death to America!”
Asadi said the authorities are “trying to draw a line between protesters and what they call rioters, or what Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came out to call saboteurs”.
“They are saying that they understand the situation and complexities related to the economic difficulties people are facing,” he said, adding that Qalibaf recognised the right of people to take part in protests in his remarks earlier in the day.
Trump said on Saturday the US is “ready to help” as protesters in Iran faced an intensifying crackdown by the authorities.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump said in a social post on Truth Social, without elaborating.
His comments come a day after he said that Iran was in “big trouble” and again warned that he could order strikes.
“That doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard – where it hurts,” the US president said.
Meanwhile, a nationwide shutdown of the internet in Iran remains in place and has now lasted more than 60 hours, according to monitor Netblocks.
“The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country’s future,” it said on Sunday, adding that the blackout is “now past the 60-hour mark”.
Warning from army
Iran’s police chief, Ahmad-Reza Rada, was quoted as saying by the state media on Sunday that the level of confrontation with rioters has been stepped up.
The Iranian army said on Saturday that it would defend the country’s “national interests” as it accused Israel and “hostile terrorist groups” of seeking to “undermine the country’s public security” amid the rapidly growing protest movement.
“The Army, under the command of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, together with other armed forces, in addition to monitoring enemy movements in the region, will resolutely protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property,” it said.
The demonstrations since late December are the largest in Iran since a 2022-2023 protest movement spurred by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
Human rights groups have urged restraint amid reports of protest-related casualties and mass arrests, with Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights saying at least 51 protesters, including nine children, have been killed by security forces, and hundreds more have been injured.
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Thousands of people marched in Minneapolis Saturday to protest the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration officer there and the shooting of two people in Portland, Oregon, as Minnesota leaders urged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
The Minneapolis gathering was one of hundreds of protests planned in towns and cities across the country over the weekend. It came in a city on edge since the killing of Renee Good on Wednesday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
“We’re all living in fear right now,” said Meghan Moore, a mother of two from Minneapolis who joined the protest Saturday. “ICE is creating an environment where nobody feels safe and that’s unacceptable.”
On Friday night, a protest outside a Minneapolis hotel that attracted about 1,000 people turned violent as demonstrators threw ice, snow and rocks at officers, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Saturday. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck with a piece of ice, O’Hara said. Twenty-nine people were cited and released, he said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stressed that while most protests have been peaceful, those who cause damage to property or put others in danger will be arrested. He faulted “agitators that are trying to rile up large crowds.”
“This is what Donald Trump wants,” Frey said of the president who has demanded massive immigration enforcement efforts in several U.S. cities. “He wants us to take the bait.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz echoed the call for peace.
“Trump sent thousands of armed federal officers into our state, and it took just one day for them to kill someone,” Walz posted on social media. “Now he wants nothing more than to see chaos distract from that horrific action. Don’t give him what he wants.”
Communities unite in frustration
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says its deployment of immigration officers in the Twin Cities is its biggest ever immigration enforcement operation. Trump’s administration has said both shootings were acts of self-defense against drivers who “weaponized” their vehicles to attack officers.
Connor Maloney said he was attending the Minneapolis protest to support his community and because he’s frustrated with the immigration crackdown.
“Almost daily I see them harassing people,” he said. “It’s just sickening that it’s happening in our community around us.”
He was among thousands of protesters, including children, who braved sub-freezing temperatures and a light dusting of snow, carrying handmade signs saying declaring, “De-ICE Minnesota!” and “ICE melts in Minnesota.”
They marched down a street that is home to restaurants and stores where various nationalities and cultures are celebrated in colorful murals.
Steven Eubanks, 51, said he felt compelled to attend a protest in Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday because of the “horrifying” killing in Minneapolis.
“We can’t allow it,” Eubanks said. “We have to stand up.”
Indivisible, a social movement organization that formed to resist the Trump administration, said hundreds of protests were scheduled in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida and other states.
ICE activity across Minneapolis
In Minneapolis, a coalition of migrant rights groups organized the demonstration that began in a park about half a mile from the residential neighborhood where the 37-year-old Good was shot on Wednesday.
But the large protest apparently did not deter federal officers from operating in the city.
A couple of miles away, just as the demonstration began, an Associated Press photographer witnessed heavily armed officers — at least one in Border Patrol uniform — approach a person who had been following them. Two of the agents had long guns out when they ordered the person to stop following them, telling him it was his “first and final warning.”
The agents eventually drove onto the interstate without detaining the driver.
Protests held in the neighborhood have been largely peaceful, and in general there has been minimal law enforcement presence, in contrast to the violence that hit Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Near the airport, some confrontations erupted on Thursday and Friday between smaller groups of protesters and officers guarding the federal building used as a base for the Twin Cities crackdown.
O’Hara said city police officers have responded to calls about cars abandoned because their drivers have been apprehended by immigration enforcement. In one case, a car was left in park and a dog was left inside another.
He said immigration enforcement activities are happening “all over the city” and that 911 callers have been alerting authorities to ICE activity, arrests and abandoned vehicles.
The Trump administration has deployed thousands of federal officers to Minnesota under a sweeping new crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. More than 2,000 officers were taking part.
Lawmakers snubbed
Three congresswomen from Minnesota attempted to tour the ICE facility in the Minneapolis federal building on Saturday morning and were initially allowed to enter but then told they had to leave about 10 minutes later.
U.S, Reps. Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison and Angie Craig accused ICE agents of obstructing members of Congress from fulfilling their duty to oversee operations there.
A federal judge last month temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies that limit congressional visits to immigration facilities. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by 12 members of Congress who sued in Washington, D.C. to challenge ICE’s amended visitor policies after they were denied entry to detention facilities.
A guide to watching the Golden Globes and the nominees
Steven McIntoshEntertainment reporter
Getty ImagesSinners, Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another are among the films set to compete at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night.
Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Hamnet and Wicked: For Good are some of the other films going for gold at the ceremony in Los Angeles.
A new category, best podcast, has been introduced this year, while Adolescence, The Pitt and The Studio are nominated in the TV categories.
The Golden Globes are a major milestone of the film awards season, and take place with less than a fortnight to go until the announcement of the Oscar nominations (22 January).
The Globes hand out more trophies than many other ceremonies, as they split their film categories by drama and musical or comedy.
Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley and Michael B Jordan all have acting nominations this year.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this year’s event.
The main film nominees
Getty Images9 – One Battle After Another
8 – Sentimental Value
7 – Sinners
6 – Hamnet
5 – Frankenstein
5 – Wicked: For Good
4 – It Was Just an Accident
How can I watch the Golden Globes?
Getty ImagesThe Golden Globe Awards will air on the CBS network in the US and also stream on Paramount+.
Sadly, there is no way to legally watch the ceremony in the UK, but there will be coverage on BBC News throughout the night.
The ceremony starts at 01:00 GMT (Monday morning) and usually lasts between three and four hours.
It is broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Which films are nominated?
Getty ImagesOne Battle After Another, about a former revolutionary whose daughter is kidnapped, leads the pack this year after becoming one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2025.
Its competition includes Sentimental Value, a Norwegian drama about two sisters who reconnect with their estranged father, a film director planning his comeback, after the death of their mother.
Sinners, a vampire horror-drama set in 1930s Mississippi, was one of the first Oscar contenders out of the gate, launching to box office success shortly after last year’s Academy Awards.
Elsewhere, the screen adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hamnet explores the family tragedy that many believe led William Shakespeare to write one of his most famous plays.
A new adaptation of Frankenstein provides a more emotional take on Mary Shelley’s novel about a mad scientist and the creature he creates, while blockbuster Wicked: For Good concludes the origin story of Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west.
Kidnap drama It Was Just An Accident, one of the best films of this year’s awards season and the winner of the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, follows a man who seeks revenge on the former officer who previously tortured him in prison.
And Marty Supreme follows a table tennis player in 1950s New York as he tries to stay financially afloat while making his name as an athlete.
Other nominated films include conspiracy theory drama Bugonia, Korean black comedy No Other Choice, Brazilian political thriller The Secret Agent and animated musical smash Kpop Demon Hunters.
Which actors are the frontrunners?
Getty ImagesBox office titans Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) and Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) will go head to head in a particularly heated race for best musical or comedy actor. Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) is a possible dark horse.
In best drama actor, Michael B Jordan (Sinners) has a strong chance, although the more international slant the Globes have taken in recent years suggest we shouldn’t count out Cannes winner Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
While the best musical or comedy actress field is led by seasoned pros such as Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) and Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), there’s strong competition from relative newcomer Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another).
Best drama actress is much easier to predict – with Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) considered well ahead of even her strongest competitors such as Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value).
Supporting actor and actress contenders include Amy Madigan (Weapons), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor (all One Battle After Another).
Who is hosting the Golden Globes?
Golden GlobesUS comic Nikki Glaser is returning to hosting duties after a barnstorming performance at least year’s ceremony.
She delivered an opening monologue that rivalled the Globe greats – Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – roasting the A-list celebrities in the room.
Hosting the Golden Globes, Glaser later said, was “without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career”.
But, Glaser told the BBC’s Regan Morris earlier this week, she often feels intimidated by all the “star power” in the room, adding: “I blur my eyes when I’m on stage, I’ll be doing that so hard on the night.”
Why is Adolescence still being nominated?
Getty ImagesIt’s been nearly a year since most people watched the Netflix hit about a teenage boy accused of stabbing his classmate, and the series has already triumphed at the Emmys, Critics’ Choice and National Television Awards.
But because many other awards events go more or less by the calendar year, Adolescence is only just being recognised at events such as the Golden Globes.
Expect to see even more of Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty at other events to come – such as the Actor Awards (formerly SAG) in March, and the Bafta TV Awards, which don’t take place until May.
Which awards have already been handed out?
Getty ImagesThe two special prizes recognising lifetime achievement are usually handed out on the night, but this year they were awarded at last week at the inaugural Globes Eve ceremony.
Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker received the Carol Burnett award, for outstanding contribution to television, while Dame Helen Mirren received the film equivalent, the Cecil B DeMille award.
During her acceptance speech, Dame Helen said the prize had been “described to me as a career recognition”.
“But,” she continued, “I prefer to think of it as a life lived, a life survived, a life enjoyed, a life sweated, and a life carried on, hopefully.”
In her speech, Parker thanked the friends, colleagues and family who had supported her in a decades-long showbiz career, telling them: “You have been an integral part of an inconceivable life, it is a bounty, thank you.”
Why are the Golden Globes significant?
Getty ImagesAn actor or film that wins at the Golden Globes won’t automatically go on to win at the Oscars, but it can help solidify chances of a nomination.
As one of the earliest ceremonies in awards season, the Globes can provide a significant boost of momentum, as a victory or well-received acceptance speech will encourage more Academy voters to check out a particular film.
Stars such as Sebastian Stan, Demi Moore and Fernanda Torres all went on to secure Oscar nominations after their Globe wins last January (although Stan’s was for a different film).
And movies such as Flow and I’m Still Here got their awards campaigns off to a strong start thanks to early victories at the Golden Globes, and both went on to win at the Oscars in the animated and international categories respectively.
Affectionately referred to as the “drunk uncle” of awards season, the Globes are a far less formal affair than the Oscars.
You can expect the celebrities to be in a relaxed mood and ready to have fun with their speeches – as long as they can survive being roasted by Nikki Glaser first.
Spotify expands presence in Los Angeles with new studio dedicated to podcasts
Spotify unveiled a new studio dedicated solely for podcasts in Hollywood this week, deepening its footprint in Los Angeles as the streaming giant doubles down on podcasts.
The company said its latest move also comes as the Golden Globes has recognized podcasts for the first time.
In December 2021, Spotify launched its Los Angeles creative hub, spanning 155,000 square feet and features studios to record music, podcasts and videos, and host events. Spotify’s studio has already hosted artists including Japanese Breakfast, Avril Lavigne, and FNNEAS, among many others.
Now, the company has opened Spotify Sycamore Studios featuring “flexible” recording rooms, multi-camera video setups, and on-site production support.
The facility will host shows from The Ringer — the sports and pop culture network Spotify acquired in 2020 for $250 million — including The Rewatchables, The Ringer-Verse, and The Hottest Take. Access is by invitation only for video creators in Spotify’s Partner Program.
Spotify now operates podcast studios in New York, Stockholm, and London in addition to its two Los Angeles locations. The company chose Hollywood for its new studio, describing Los Angeles as “a global center for storytelling.”
The studio launch coincides with expanded access to Spotify’s Partner Program and new tools allowing creators to manage sponsorships and distribute video content.
To mark the Partner Program’s first anniversary, Spotify announced that more creators can now join the program by lowering its eligibility thresholds to: 1,000 engaged audience members on Spotify from 2,000 listeners, 2,000 hours consumed from 10,000 hours, and to three published all-time episodes from the previous 12.
Spotify also introduced its new Spotify Distribution API, allowing creators and publishers to publish and monetize videos on Spotify directly from participating hosting platforms without having to change how they work or re-upload content.
Spotify plans to launch this feature with Acast, Audioboom, Libsyn, Omny, and Podigee.
Bill Simmons, Founder of The Ringer and Head of Talk Strategy, Spotify, said: “Ambitious shows need spaces that support big ideas.”
“These studios give teams room to experiment and keep pushing what’s possible. It’s our latest investment in creators, and having this additional home base in LA is vital for the next chapter of our storytelling.”
“These studios give teams room to experiment and keep pushing what’s possible. It’s our latest investment in creators, and having this additional home base in LA is vital for the next chapter of our storytelling.”
Bill Simmons, Spotify
The launch of Spotify’s new studio in LA comes six months after rival Apple Music announced that it was opening a 15,000–square–foot studio space in LA as it made its own move into physical content creation.
The Apple Music studio houses two radio studios equipped with Spatial Audio technology and adaptable setups for live interviews, casual chats, or impromptu performances, said Apple.
Music Business Worldwide
Somali Minister Warns of Israel’s Alleged Plan to Relocate Palestinians to Somaliland | Israel-Palestine Conflict Update
Somalia’s minister of defence, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, has accused Israel of planning to forcibly displace Palestinians to the breakaway region of Somaliland, denouncing the alleged plan as a “serious violation” of international law.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Fiqi called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw his diplomatic recognition of the “separatist region”, calling the move announced late last year a “direct attack” on Somalia’s sovereignty.
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“Israel has long had goals and plans to divide countries – maybe before 20 years – and it wants to divide the map of the Middle East and control its countries… this is why they found this separatist group in northwestern Somalia,” Fiqi told Al Jazeera.
“We have confirmed information that Israel has a plan to transfer Palestinians and to send them to [Somaliland],” he added, without elaborating.
Fiqi’s comments came amid a global outcry over Netanyahu’s decision in December to recognise Somaliland, a breakaway part of Somalia comprising the northwestern portion of what was once the British Protectorate.
The move made Israel the first country in the world to recognise Somaliland as an independent state and came months after The Associated Press news agency reported that Israeli officials had contacted parties in Somalia, Somaliland and Sudan to discuss using their territory for forcibly displacing Palestinians amid its genocidal war on Gaza.
Somalia denounced the Israeli move, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud telling Al Jazeera that Somaliland had accepted three conditions from Israel: The resettlement of Palestinians, the establishment of a military base on the coast of the Gulf of Aden, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalise ties with Israel.
Officials in Somaliland have denied agreeing to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, and say there have been no discussions on an Israeli military base in the area.
But Fiqi on Saturday reiterated that Israel “wants to create a military base to destabilise the region” on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.
“I see it as an occupation to destabilise the area,” Fiqi added.
He also stressed that Israel has no legal right to grant legitimacy to a region within a sovereign state.
Somaliland first declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but it has failed to gain recognition from any United Nations member state since.
Israel’s world-first announcement triggered protests in Somalia and swift criticisms from dozens of countries and organisations, including Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and the African Union.
Fiqi told Al Jazeera that Israel’s move falls into a decades-long goal to control the Middle East and accused Israel of exploiting separatist movements in the region. Roughly half of the areas formerly known as Somaliland have declared their affiliation with Somalia over the past two years, he added.
The minister praised the countries that had condemned Israel and pledged that Somalia would lean on all diplomatic and legal means to reject Israel’s “violation”.
He also commended United States President Donald Trump’s administration for not recognising Somaliland.
Although the US was the only member of the 15-member United Nations Security Council that did not condemn Israel for the recognition on December 30, it said its position on Somaliland had not changed.
For its part, Somaliland’s governing party has defended its newfound relations with Israel after Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar travelled to Hargeisa, the region’s largest city and self-declared capital, earlier this week.
Hersi Ali Haji Hassan, chairman of the governing Waddani party, told Al Jazeera days later that Somaliland was “not in a position to choose” who provided it with legitimacy after decades of being spurned by the international community.
“We are in a state of necessity for official international recognition,” Hassan said. “There is no choice before us but to welcome any country that recognises our existential right.”
Hassan did not deny the prospect of a potential military base.
“We have started diplomatic relations… This topic [a military base] has not been touched upon now,” he said.
When pressed on whether Somaliland would accept such a request in the future, Hassan said only to “ask the question when the time comes”, calling the line of inquiry “untimely”.
Israeli think tanks say Somaliland’s location, at the gateway to the Red Sea and across from Yemen, make it a strategic site for operations against the Yemeni Houthi rebel group, which imposed a naval blockade on Israeli-linked shipping before the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza.
The Institute for National Security Studies, in a November report, said Somaliland’s territory could “serve as a forward base” for intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and serve “a platform for direct operations” against them.
The Houthis said that any Israeli presence would be a target, a statement Somaliland’s former intelligence chief, Mostafa Hasan, said amounted to a declaration of war.
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