NUEVA YORK (AP) — Existe la posibilidad de que las tormentas solares traigan auroras boreales a varios estados del norte de Estados Unidos justo a tiempo para el Año Nuevo.

El Sol expulsó dos ráfagas de plasma que se dirigen hacia la Tierra y se espera que lleguen a principios de esta semana, anunció la Oficina Nacional de Administración Oceánica y Atmosférica de Estados Unidos (NOAA, por sus siglas en inglés).

Una vez que lleguen, podrían provocar coloridas auroras las noches del lunes y martes en los estados de Washington, Montana, Dakota del Norte, Dakota del Sur, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nuevo Hampshire, Vermont y Maine. Las auroras boreales también podrían ser parcialmente visibles en partes de Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa y Nueva York.

Las primeras horas de la mañana del martes, mientras aún esté oscuro, ofrecerán la mejor oportunidad de observar un espectáculo de luces, dijo Shawn Dahl, meteorólogo espacial de la NOAA.

Los pronósticos actualizados podrían estar disponibles a medida que se acerque el evento en el sitio web del Centro de Predicción del Clima Espacial de la NOAA o en una aplicación de pronóstico de auroras.

Para observar el espectáculo, espere a que el cielo esté despejado y oscuro y luego salga al exterior, idealmente lejos de las luces brillantes de la ciudad. Tomar una foto con la cámara de un teléfono inteligente también puede revelar indicios de la aurora que no son visibles a simple vista.

El Sol está en la fase máxima de su ciclo de 11 años, lo que hace que las erupciones solares y las auroras boreales sean más frecuentes.

Se espera que el período activo dure al menos otro año, aunque los científicos no sabrán cuándo alcanzó su punto máximo la actividad solar hasta meses después del hecho.

La NOAA está monitoreando las tormentas solares de esta semana por posibles interrupciones menores en las comunicaciones de radio de alta frecuencia, que son utilizadas por aerolíneas y operadores de radioaficionados.

En mayo, la NOAA emitió una inusual advertencia de tormenta geomagnética severa, fue la tormenta más fuerte en más de dos décadas, y produjo espectáculos de luces en todo el hemisferio norte. Y en octubre, una poderosa tormenta solar deslumbró a los observadores del cielo lejos del Círculo Ártico cuando las auroras aparecieron en lugares inesperados, incluyendo Alemania, Reino Unido, Nueva Inglaterra y la ciudad de Nueva York.

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El Departamento de Salud y Ciencia de The Associated Press recibe apoyo del Grupo de Medios de Ciencia y Educación del Instituto Médico Howard Hughes. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de la AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Israeli spy agencies have uncovered information about Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr’s plans to marry his four mistresses over the phone, according to a report. 

The New York Times reported this week about its investigation into how deeply Israeli spies had penetrated Hezbollah leading up to the assassination of its top leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as other commanders in the Iran-backed terror group. 

Israel announced in July that its forces had killed Shukur during what was, at the time, a rare and provacative strike in Beirut. 

It came in response to Israel assessing that the Hezbollah commander was behind the rocket attack days earlier in the town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 people, including schoolchildren. 

The United States had also long blamed Shukur for staging and planning a bombing of a Marine Corps barrack in Lebanon in 1983 that killed 241 American service members.

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Leading up to the strike that killed Shukr, Israeli intelligence agencies had identified four of his mistresses, according to the Times. 

Shukr – apparently uneasy about his affairs – earlier this year reached out for help from Hashem Safieddine, one of Hezbollah’s highest religious clerics, to have the four women wedded, two Israeli officials and a European official told the Times. 

Safieddine, in turn, reportedly arranged four marriage ceremonies conducted over the phone. 

The intimate and sometimes mundane details of Shukr’s personal affairs point to how closely Israeli intelligence agencies managed to track the moves of Hezbollah’s leadership. 

A supporter cheers while listening to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah via a video link during a ceremony to mark the first week since the killing of Hezbollah’s top commander Fuad Shukr on Aug. 6, 2024 in Beirut, Lebanon.  (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

IDF FINDS HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS CACHE IN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL: VIDEO

Beyond tracking meetings with mistresses, the Times report revealed how Israeli spy agencies recruited human sources within the terror group to plant listening devices in bunkers and expose hideout locations.

After a pager attack that had been orchestrated by Israel’s Mossad for years, and increased strikes that killed Hezbollah leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while en route to New York City to speak before the United Nations General Assembly, finally ordered the killing of Nasrallah, according to the Times. Nasrallah, who headed Hezbollah for the past three decades, was killed in an Israeli air raid that leveled six apartment buildings in Beirut on Sept. 27. 

The Times reported that Nasrallah had brushed off warnings from his commanders to change locations from his 40-foot underground Hezbollah bunker before the attack.

Protesters in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 30, 2024, carry flowers while standing in front of a giant banner depicting Hassan Nasrallah after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut days earlier.  (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Unaware of the methodical Israeli intelligence providing clear visibility of his every move, he apparently believed that the Jewish state had no interest in an all-out war with Hezbollah. 

Israeli F-15 jets soon after destroyed the bunker by dropping thousands of pounds of explosives, and Nasrallah, found locked in an embrace with an Iranian general who was based in Lebanon, reportedly died of suffocation underground. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Every European country has its own way of ringing in the new year, with traditions that overlap and diverge across borders.

If you have ever wondered how each nation celebrates New Year’s Eve, Euronews staff has got you covered. Here are their tales of how the moment is marked in their home countries.

Portugal: Inês Trindade Pereira

We spend New Year’s Eve with either family or friends, celebrating and partying with loved ones. We also wear blue underwear, as it’s supposed to bring good luck for the new year.

At midnight, we eat one raisin for each of the clock’s 12 strikes and wish for nice things like health and happiness. We also drink champagne and make a toast, and then watch the fireworks as the new year begins.

Then we go to our balconies and bang pots and pans really loudly. The noise is supposed to make the bad energies stay behind in the last year.

Ireland: Meabh McMahon

Irish people often celebrate New Year’s Eve by gathering with friends and family to enjoy a night of food, drink, and good company. The atmosphere is lively, with bars, restaurants, and clubs filled to capacity as people come together to ring in the new year.

While some may choose to go out and party, others prefer to stay in for a more relaxed celebration to avoid expensive nights out and long queues.

Those who stay at home often indulge in a massive feast, complete with delicious food, drinks, and a carefully curated playlist, creating a cosy and enjoyable evening.

In addition to the food and festivities, one of the key traditions in Ireland is watching the fireworks display and the countdown on national TV.

As the clock strikes midnight, people across the country sing “Auld Lang Syne” to mark the transition into the new year.

France: Romane Armangau

In France, we call New Year’s Eve “Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre”, and we mark it with a festive and luxurious dinner.

It’s a time for big meals and lots of socialising. We usually celebrate among friends and gather to enjoy gourmet foods like foie gras, oysters and seafood, and champagne flows throughout the evening.

At midnight, we celebrate with a toast of champagne, exchanging wishes for a happy new year with the traditional phrases “Bonne Année” or “Meilleurs Vœux”.

While large cities may have fireworks and public events, many people celebrate quietly at home with loved ones. In Paris, there is a huge fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. It’s also common to kiss friends and family on the cheek as part of the celebration.

Hungary: Sándor Zsíros

In Hungary, 31 December is an occasion for festivities, parties, and gatherings.

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At midnight, everyone listens to the national anthem on television, standing with a glass of champagne in hand until the end, when we clink glasses and wish each other a happy new year.

Then, after the president makes a televised speech, we watch the beautiful fireworks ring in the new year.

For New Year’s Eve, traditional dishes include salty cakes, roasted pig, lentil soup, and sausage.

On 1 January, we eat lentils to bring money and luck. The one thing we’re not supposed to eat is chicken, which is said to “scratch the good luck”.

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Italy: Alice Carnevali

It’s customary for Italians to enjoy lentils and cotechino, a hearty pork sausage, at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

This tradition dates back to ancient Rome, where people would carry a scarsella — a leather pouch filled with lentils — tied to their belts, symbolising the hope that the beans would magically turn into coins.

The shape of the lentils, round and coin-like, is the inspiration behind the tradition. Additionally, Italians also wear red underwear to attract good fortune in the year ahead.

Spain: Leticia Batista-Cabanas

In Spain, we call the last night of the year “Nochevieja,” which literally means old night. In our tradition, we eat 12 grapes at midnight, one at each strike of the clock.

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This little ritual, a century-old tradition, is supposed to bring good luck for the next year. Spaniards specifically hoping to find love in the coming year should eat the grapes while crouching under the dining room table. In my experience, this is not an infallible technique.

We also wear red underwear for that extra bit of luck. After midnight, we hug and kiss our loved ones, then watch the fireworks and party until the morning.

The next day, it’s traditional to eat lentils, which are supposed to bring abundance and prosperity.

Greece and Cyprus: Orestes Georgiou

In Cyprus and Greece, a coin is placed inside a traditional New Year’s cake called vasilopita, which is infused with orange and mastic. The cake is baked on 31 December then cut on New Year’s Day, with everyone receiving a piece by order of eldest to youngest.

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The person whose slice has the coin is considered to be blessed with luck for the year, and is expected to keep hold of the coin and not spend it.

Another tradition observed across Greece involves hanging a pomegranate, a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, on the front door of each home.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the lights are turned off, and the pomegranate is smashed against the door. This signifies a blessing for the family home, with the year ahead said to be full of health and happiness.

Germany: Johanna Urbancik

In Germany, New Year’s Eve — or Silvester — is all about fireworks. It’s an old tradition to scare away evil spirits. Everyone fires New Year’s Eve rockets into the air — a gold mine for manufacturers. There are rockets available for €10, but you can easily spend more than €100.

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People also do something called “bleigießen” to predict the future. It’s lead casting, where we place a little spoonful of lead over a flame. Once it’s liquid, you tip it into a bowl of water, and the shape it takes predicts your future. However, it’s illegal now.

Another classic tradition is to watch a British comedy sketch from 1963 called Dinner for One on TV. There’s also a superstition not to hang up laundry.

Poland: Berenika Sorokowska

In Poland, New Year’s Eve, or “Sylwester”, is celebrated with parties, music, dancing, and fireworks. We gather with friends and family to ring in the new year, often celebrating until midnight.

When the clock strikes 12, fireworks light up the sky, marking the start of the new year with hope and joy. On New Year’s Day, families often relax and enjoy a quiet day together.

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Some Poles also take part in making resolutions for the year ahead, focusing on self-improvement. The day is about reflection and celebrating the fresh start that the new year brings.

We also bake something called faworki, traditional Polish pastries also known as “angel wings.” They are thin, crispy strips of dough that are twisted into shapes and deep-fried until golden and crunchy.

After frying, they are dusted with powdered sugar. Faworki are light, airy, and have a delicate texture, making them a popular treat during festive seasons.