En uno de los lugares más áridos del planeta se encuentran las momias más antiguas del mundo. Los chinchorro, que vivían en lo que hoy es el sur de Perú y el norte de Chile, momificaban a sus muertos miles de años antes que los egipcios, utilizando un complejo sistema para honrar a sus seres queridos.

Iquique

The Chinchorro people, who lived in Chile's Atacama Desert, practiced mummification thousands of years before the Egyptians. Their remains, discovered in the early 20th century, show sophisticated preservation techniques involving the removal and reconstruction of bodies using plant fibers, seaweed, and clay. 

Living in one of the world's driest and most toxic environments, the Chinchorro faced high mortality rates, particularly due to arsenic in the water. This led them to mummify not only adults but also unborn children. As their society evolved with the introduction of agriculture and ceramics, they began to bury their mummies in the desert, leaving behind a unique archaeological legacy.

Antiguas momias chilenas revelan los secretos de la supervivencia en el desierto

En el desierto más árido del mundo, no hay pirámides ni otras magníficas estructuras para nos recuerden a un antiguo pueblo nómada que una vez vivió aquí. En el Museo Regional de Tarapacá, niños chilenos visitan estas momias únicas, algunas de 7.000 años de antigüedad, anteriores a sus homólogas egipcias en al menos 2.000 años. Sin embargo, no fue sino hasta 1917 que un arqueólogo alemán encontró los restos momificados del Chilichorro en el desierto chileno de Atacama. Quitaban toda la piel, quitaban las vísceras, todo el tejido blando, hasta que sólo quedaba limpio quedaran los huesos. Luego reconstruyeron el cuerpo utilizando cuerdas hechas de fibras vegetales. Reemplazaron el volumen del cuerpo con cenizas de algas, arena, palos, utilizando cañas para coser la piel. Luego las cubrían con arcilla, antes de vestirlas con faldas, plumas y collares. Lo que ves aquí son mujeres adultas. Esta tiene un bebé en el pecho. Se puede ver claramente el pequeño pie del niño. Los Chinchorros dependían de la caza, la recolección y la pesca. Como nómadas, no enterraban a sus muertos. Los llevaban consigo a todas partes. Los Chinchorro se establecieron aquí alrededor del 5.000 a.C. en este desierto increíblemente árido. Y aquí es donde el agua dulce de barrancos y arroyos no sólo era escasa sino también tóxica debido al alto contenido de arsénico en este suelo. Y esa es la razón por la que tenían una tasa de mortalidad tan alta, lo que también explica por qué momificaban incluso a sus nonatos. Los fetos se reconstruían con espinas o con huesos de aves. El arsénico a menudo mataba a los bebés nonatos, y si la madre no sufría un aborto, ella también moriría de septicemia. Así que la reacción de este grupo fue conservar a sus seres queridos durante más tiempo mediante momificación. Con la llegada de la agricultura y la cerámica, los Chinchorro comenzaron a enterrar sus momias en el desierto, donde muchas permanecen hasta hoy. Poco se sabe de su estructura social o de su lengua, sólo que los Chinchorros son únicos en el mundo. de honrar a sus seres queridos, a menudo destinados a morir prematuramente. Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera, Iquique, Chile.

Israel's military has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City operation

The Trump administration says it is adding 407 items to the list of "derivative" steel and aluminum products subject to higher tariffs. The list includes products like car parts, household appliances, baby strollers, fire extinguishers and spray deodorants.

Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump expanding steel and aluminum tariffs

NATO military chiefs met virtually Wednesday for what was described as a candid discussion about security guarantees the alliance would be willing to provide to Ukraine in an effort to end Russia's war in the region.

Brussels

Ukraine Invasion

NATO chiefs meet virtually about potential Ukraine security guarantees

Israel's military leaders approved the next phase of their ongoing offensive in the territory. The operation will shift focus to Gaza City, targeting areas where Hamas is believed to still be active and where Israeli forces have not yet operated.

Israel approves next phase of Gaza offensive, focus on Gaza City

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North Carolina

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on U.S. East Coast

The White House says it is working to secure a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which both have agreed to, while plans continue to create security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump says no U.S. ground troops will be sent to Ukraine

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but mediators are still waiting for an official response from Israel. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has the latest from Jerusalem.

Mediators await Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

India's Modi meets China's foreign minister to rebuild ties

Texas Democrats who ended a walkout found themselves shadowed by law enforcement officers to keep them from repeating the protest that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and fulfill President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps.

Austin

Police escort Texas Democrats to prevent new redistricting walkout

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), ending the strike that began over the weekend involving 10,000 members and disrupted travel for more than 100,000 travelers per day.

Toronto

Air Canada reaches tentative agreement with flight attendant union

Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong Island

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum by Australia

Forecasters are giving urgent warnings to millions of people who live along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin churns in the Atlantic. The storm will not make direct landfall but is expected to bring dangerous rip currents.

East Coast of the United States

Hurricane Erin to bring dangerous rip currents to U.S. East Coast

Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha could face up to 45 years in prison.

Los Angeles

"Ketamine Queen" to plead guilty in Matthew Perry's death

European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

EU leaders show cautious optimism following Zelenskyy, Trump talks

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President Donald Trump said that the United States would help Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Trump tells Zelenskyy U.S. would help with security in a peace deal

Bolivia's presidential vote headed to an unprecedented runoff after elections Sunday that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation but signaled voters' trepidation about a major lurch to the right.

La Paz

Bolivia heads to runoff after historic defeat for the left

All Air Canada planes were grounded on Monday (August 18) after its 10,000 flight attendants refused a return-to-work mandate from the Canadian government.

Air Canada delays plans to resume operations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Thousands of Israelis protest in Gaza, call for end to fighting

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Zelenskyy, European allies to meet with Trump to discuss peace

European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine ahead of a Washington summit with U.S President Donald Trump. They emphasized unity, territorial integrity and security guarantees as essential to any peace deal.

Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

International condemnation and pressure from allies have done nothing to stop Israel's plan to displace the people of northern Gaza. Israel on Saturday (August 16) said it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza.

Israeli military prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a nationwide strike amid fears further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Dozens of Israelis arrested in protest to demand end to Gaza war

Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities firing hundreds of missiles and projectiles daily despite ongoing peace efforts, led by the United States. Ukrainian officials say their unwillingness to dial back their offensive reflects their lack of sincere interest in peace.

Breakdown