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Guatemala’s President Enacts 30-Day State of Emergency Following Prison Riots | Prison News
President Bernardo Arevalo issues the order after at least seven police officers killed in apparent reprisal for authorities quelling riots, ending hostage-taking in three prisons.
Published On 19 Jan 2026
Guatemala’s president has declared a state of emergency following a weekend eruption of violence during which gang members took dozens of hostages across three prisons and killed at least seven police officers in the capital in apparent retribution, after the authorities regained control of facilities where inmates had rioted.
President Bernardo Arevalo issued a 30-day order on Sunday, which restricts civil liberties and allows security officers to arrest or question individuals without prior court approval. The emergency order takes immediate effect, although it still needs to be approved by Guatemala’s legislature.
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“These murders were carried out with the intention of terrorising the security forces and the population so that we give up in the fight against gangs and their regime of terror. But they will fail,” Arevalo said in a nationwide address.
The president said all hostages had been freed and declared three days of state mourning following the attacks.
The prison riots began on Saturday after the administrators moved to limit the privileges of gang leaders, including Aldo Duppie, the imprisoned leader of Guatemala’s Barrio 18 gang.
Barrio 18 and its rival Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were designated as “foreign terrorist organizations” by the administration of United States President Donald Trump in September, followed by Guatemala’s Congress a month later.
Gang-affiliated inmates took 46 prison guards and staff hostage across three prisons in and around Guatemala City on Saturday, including the maximum-security prison holding Duppie, who is better known by his nickname El Lobo or The Wolf.
The riot at El Lobo’s prison was broken up by a lightning raid early on Sunday morning by police and the military, followed by raids on two more prisons the same day. The Barrio 18 leader was photographed in the custody of security forces wearing a blood-stained shirt.
Shortly after the raids ended, retaliatory attacks began on police officers, killing at least seven and injuring 10, according to authorities. Some media reports listed the number of deaths as eight police officers and one suspected gang member.
Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda earlier linked the police officers’ deaths to gang reprisals “in response to the actions the Guatemalan state is taking against them”.
The army will “remain on the streets” of Guatemala to continue its crackdown on gang members, according to Defence Minister Henry Saenz.
The US Embassy in Guatemala City on Sunday lifted its “shelter-in-place order” issued for staff over the weekend following “coordinated, armed attacks on police in several zones of Guatemala City”.
Sources report that 27 individuals have died in clashes between guerrilla groups in Colombia.
Clashes in Colombia between guerrilla groups leave 27 dead, sources say
Massive Pakistan mall fire leaves eight dead, dozens missing
Caroline Davies,Pakistan Correspondentand
Dearbail Jordan,Reporter
A massive fire that tore through a shopping centre in Pakistan’s largest city has killed eight people, including a firefighter, and rescuers are racing to find dozens more still missing.
It took firefighters more than 24 hours to put out the blaze in Gul Plaza that started Saturday night. The building housed 1,200 stores and spanned 8,000 sq m (86,111 sq ft).
Parts of the building have collapsed, with officials saying the debris and lack of ventilation were hampering rescue efforts.
“Almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames”, by the time rescuers arrived at the site on Saturday night, local emergency services said.
Fifty-eight people have been reported missing by their families, who have gathered outside what remains of the centre, waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones. Administrators for the city have set up a desk to register the names and details of the missing.
Smoke was still billowing from what remains of the Gul Plaza building on Sunday morning. Much of it has collapsed and there are concerns it could collapse further.
Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Karachi, told BBC Urdu the fire spread rapidly because of the presence of flammable materials such as plastic foam, cloth, and perfume in the building.
By Sunday evening, various parts of the Gul Plaza were charred and reduced to rubble. Rescuers told Reuters news agency that the whole building could come down.
Summaiya Syed, Karachi’s police surgeon, said on Sunday that six bodies had been transferred to the city’s Civil Hospital as well as some of the injured. At least 20 people were injured, according to authorities.
She added that the police were “invoking mass disaster protocols”.
ReutersZain, a shopkeeper at Gul Plaza, told BBC Urdu that hundreds of people were inside the building when the fire broke out on Saturday.
“My shops were burning before my eyes. We couldn’t even get the goods out of those shops.
“There are still many people inside, I have many friends who are out of contact,” he said.
Another onlooker said shopkeepers had tried to use fire extinguishers, but the intense blaze was uncontainable.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his condolences and told the government of Sindh province, where Karachi is based, to conduct a comprehensive review of safety arrangements in commercial and residential buildings across the area.
World Leaders Must Pay $1 Billion Each to Join Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ permanently
At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, a new body of world leaders meant to oversee next steps in Gaza that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs. Two of the countries, Hungary and Vietnam, said they have accepted.
A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board instead of a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter, which hasn’t been made public. The official said the money raised would go to rebuilding Gaza.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told state radio Sunday. Orbán is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.
Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, To Lam, also has accepted, a foreign ministry statement said.
India has received an invitation, a senior government official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information hadn’t been made public by authorities.
Australia has been invited and will talk it through with the U.S. “to properly understand what this means and what’s involved,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday.
Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited. It was not clear how many have been invited in all.
The U.S. is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Those on the board will oversee next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10 moves into its challenging second phase. It includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
In letters sent Friday to world leaders inviting them to be “founding members,” Trump said the Board of Peace would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
That could become a potential rival to the U.N. Security Council, the most powerful body of the global entity created in the wake of World War II. The 15-seat council has been blocked by U.S. vetoes from taking action to end the war in Gaza, while the U.N.’s clout has been diminished by major funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors.
Trump’s invitation letters for the Board of Peace noted that the Security Council had endorsed the U.S. 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, which includes the board’s creation. The letters were posted on social media by some invitees.
The White House last week also announced an executive committee of leaders who will carry out the Board of Peace’s vision, but Israel on Saturday objected that the committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details. The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was rare criticism of its close ally in Washington.
The executive committee’s members include U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, along with an Israeli business owner, billionaire Yakir Gabay.
Members also include representatives of ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. Turkey has a strained relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas and could play an important role in persuading the group to yield power in Gaza and disarm.
___
Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, Rajesh Roy in New Delhi and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.
Hannah Parkin, a 54.6 100 backstroker, commits to the University of Cincinnati’s Class of 2031
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Hannah Parkin has committed to swim at the University of Cincinnati for her collegiate career, beginning in the fall of 2027. She shared the news on Instagram, writing:
I am beyond thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to pursue my academic and athletic career at The University of Cincinnati! I would like to thank my spectacular parents, teammates, coaches, and everyone else who has supported me throughout my career. I would also like to thank God for the blessing of life, all He has provided for me all the success He has helped me achieve. Finally I would like to thank Coach Scott, Coach Mandy and all the other Cincinnati coaches and staff for this incredible opportunity. Go Bearcats!!
A junior at West Port High School in Ocala, Florida, Parkin has competed for her school’s varsity swimming and diving team since her freshman year. She also trains year-round with Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training, where she primarily specializes in sprint freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly.
Parkin owns best times of 23.74/51.14 in the 50/100 free, in addition to 54.66/55.94 in the 100 back and 100 fly. Her freestyle times are nearly two years old, set in March of 2024, while her bests in back and fly were set at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 4A State Championship in November.
At the state meet, Parkin finished as the runner-up in the 100 back (54.66) and seventh in the 100 fly (55.94), dropping over six-tenths in the former and one one-hundredth in the latter. She has made five ‘A’ finals in six career state championship swims. As a sophomore, she placed third in the 100 free, and as a freshman she finished seventh in the 100 free and 10th in the 50 free.
Parkin most recently competed at Winter Junior Championships East, where she placed 59th in the 100 back (55.89), 97th in the 100 fly (57.42), and 107th in the 100 free (52.16). It was her second year qualifying for the meet. She finished 62nd in the 100 fly, 68th in the 100 back, and 90th in the 100 free in 2024, making this her best showing to date.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.74
- 100 Freestyle: 51.14
- 100 Backstroke: 54.66
- 100 Butterfly: 55.94
Cincinnati is led by head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle, who is entering her 13th season at the helm of the program. The team placed sixth at the 2025 Women’s Big 12 Conference Championships, a drop from their 4th-place finish in 2024.
Parkin has the chance to make a significant impact, particularly in the 100 back. Her best time would have ranked 18th after prelims at last season’s conference meet, which would have put her in the upper end of the ‘C’ final. She’s about a half second off the 23.17/50.48 needed to score in the sprint freestyle events, while 55.09 was needed in the 100 fly.
She joins Peyton Brooks as the only other publicized commit in the Bearcats’ class of 2031. The duo should make strong training partners over their four years together, as Brooks swims the same events as Parkin and owns very similar best times of 23.63/53.25 in free, 54.83 in back, and 55.07 in fly.
The pair, along with 2026 recruits Lily Swope (23.84/51.51 free, 55.36 back, 55.18 fly), Alexis Schmidt (22.76/50.88 free, 56.23 back), Riley Miller (23.09/50.05 free, 56.62 back, 56.55 fly), MacCartney Mahler (54.88 fly), and Nicole Amike (23.08/50.94 free) will form the core of the sprint crew for the coming years.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Spain’s Deadly Train Crash
new video loaded: Deadly Train Crash in Spain
Emergency responders worked to evacuate survivors from the wreckage of a deadly crash between two high-speed trains that derailed in Adamuz, Spain, on Sunday.
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Hyundai’s Staria Smart Camper Van Concept for Europe
Hyundai’s sleek, futuristic Staria van has been destined to make a cool, little camper van since it first emerged in 2021. And it didn’t take long for that to happen, at least not in South Korea. Now, a couple days after revealing the all-electric Staria, Hyundai is previewing what a Staria camper van might look like in the Western world. And despite not having the slide-out rooftop deck of some clever Korean campers, it looks quite good, especially coming directly from Hyundai. Is it convincing enough to take on the likes of the Volkswagen California and Ford Nugget?
Hyundai mentioned the prospect of a Staria camper during the MPV’s initial reveal, and it followed through about a year later with two different camper van configurations: a roomy premium four-seater with kitchen and an 11-seat passenger-moving sleeper van. Both models also included a pop-up sleeper roof for an additional two sleeping berths.
Unfortunately, those campers were developed solely for the Korean market and never made it farther west. We’ve been waiting for a third-party camper manufacturer or conversion shop to build out a Staria camper van for the European market ever since, but it seems Hyundai had to step in to get that done, four years later.
Hyundai Europe
On Friday, Hyundai revealed a pair of Staria Camper Concepts at the ongoing 2026 CMT camper and travel show in Stuttgart, Germany. Reworked with the European market in mind, the concept duo loses the crowded 11-seat configuration and focuses in on the four-seater.
More than just a pair of fun show concepts, Hyundai is presenting the Staria camper van with the possibility of production in mind. The automaker says if it does give the Euro-market camper van the green light, the production version will be built on the all-new Staria Electric that made its world premiere at this month’s 2026 Brussels Motor Show. Hyundai believes such a production model could meet growing demand for vehicles that combine everyday usability with long-distance travel amenities while simultaneously sating Europe’s hunger for electric mobility.
The base electric Staria van will pair a 215-hp front-wheel-drive motor with an 84-kWh battery pack for up to 249 miles (400 km) of estimated driving range. That’s a decent figure for an electric camper, but we do hope Hyundai ultimately offers an ICE model or hybrid for those who don’t wish to be tethered to the charging grid. On the plus side, Hyundai’s 800-V DC fast-charging architecture would move e-RVing a little closer to ICE convenience with its estimated 20-minute charging (10 to 80%) speed.
Hyundai Europe
The Staria Camper Concept vans Hyundai has in Germany this week look unchanged from the four-seat Korean-market camper van it revealed in 2022. In fact, a number of the photos are identical. That isn’t a bad thing, as the design looks as fresh now is it did back then.
A four-seat layout wouldn’t be as much of a family hauler as some might prefer from the everyday side of their MPV, but it would work perfectly as a four-person camper van, providing two sleeping berths on the folded bed in the cabin and two in the electric pop-up roof.
The Staria Camper kitchen is located along the driver’s side wall holding a sink and top-loading fridge below a single lid that closes to create a long, continuous shelf/countertop in a glossy piano black. Presumably there’s some kind of a stove somewhere, too, perhaps a portable induction cooker to power off the Staria Electric’s battery.
Hyundai Europe
A pegboard-like wall panel over the rearmost section of worktop next to the kitchen provides flexible space for hanging cooking utensils, everyday accessories, and even houseplants and decor. A little farther back, the console doubles up in height, extending from the floor to the ceiling to store clothing, towels and other provisions. The drop-down cabinet face also works as a makeshift entertainment center, holding a tablet for easy viewing from bed.
Speaking of tablets, Hyundai hangs a color touchscreen near the B pillar to serve as a smart home-style control center. The unit offers fingertip control of the usual systems, including climate, pop-up roof and lighting and also works to switch the electrochromic rear glass from clear to dark for privacy and ambiance. Hyundai says the smart glass performs better at UV, thermal and acoustic insulation than regular rear automotive glass.
Hyundai Europe
The dining table is attached to the face of the kitchen block via a hinge so it can fold up during meals or games, supported by a single leg, and fold away to clear leg and elbow room for the drive. Hyundai also shows a second table in the trunk area that slides outside to create an outdoor dining area under the lifted tailgate. That table also appears ready to double as a luggage slide, allowing campers to pull it out for easier loading/unloading.
Hyundai Europe
Other features included on the Staria Camper Concept include 520 watts of solar charging, an outdoor shower, a shore power hookup, and a passenger-side Fiamma awning.
Hyundai plans to solicit feedback from CMT visitors to help guide its decision on whether to pursue a production Staria camper van and what form it will ultimately take. We’ll be tempted to file an emphatic “YES, please!!” but will hold back since we’re not a part of the European customer base Hyundai is targeting. We will, however, be taking a closer look and getting any additional information they’re willing to give, perhaps even a tentative base price range.
As for the (non-camper) Staria Electric van, Hyundai plans to launch the e-MPV in South Korea and Europe in the first half of 2026, expanding to additional markets sometime thereafter.
Source: Hyundai Europe
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At least 21 killed as two high-speed trains collide in Spain | Transport News
Authorities have deployed mobile intensive care units to the crash site near Adamuz, where 25 people are injured.
Published On 18 Jan 2026
At least 21 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, authorities say.
Spain’s ADIF rail body said in a post on X that a train travelling on Sunday from coastal Malaga to the capital, Madrid, derailed near Adamuz, crossing onto the other track. It crashed into an oncoming train, which also derailed.
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Spain’s Interior Ministry said that at least 21 people were confirmed dead. Andalusia’s emergency services had earlier said that 25 people were “seriously” injured. Five mobile intensive care units, four emergency critical care units and numerous ambulances were deployed to the site of the crash.
The on-site services were focused on stabilising the injured before transferring them to hospitals, Juanma Moreno, president of Andalusia’s regional government, wrote on social media late Sunday.
“Our solidarity and support to all those affected,” he added.
ADIF personnel were also coordinating with emergency services on the ground.
Trains travelling from the Andalusia region to Madrid have been suspended, with services from Cordoba, Sevilla, Malaga and Huelva expected to be unavailable through “at least” Monday, the rail body said.
Salvador Jimenez, a journalist for the state-run broadcaster RTVE, told the digital outlet Informacion that he had been on board the Malaga train.
The train’s last two carriages derailed, he said, with the final carriage turning fully onto its side as it landed on the tracks.
It felt like the train was experiencing an “earthquake” in the moments before the crash, Jimenez said.