Month: June 2025

The possibility of a nuclear disaster

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All we know at this time is that the United States, through its president, has said that next week It will be “very important” to determine the course of war between Israel and the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, a fear appears in the background, one that, paradoxically, even Russia has put on the table four months after Chernobyl attack: “The world is millimeters from a catastrophe”, The Ministry said of Russian Foreign Affairs. They talk about a nuclear catastrophe. Potential impact on nuclear. I counted this week The Financial Times That Israeli air attacks against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure have revived fears about a possible radiological or chemical catastrophe in the region. In that regard, the general director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, described as “Deeply worrying” The offensive, warning that military escalation increases the risk of a radioactive release with serious consequences for the population and the environment. Although for the moment It has not been registered a large -scale radiological emergency, some incidents, such as the Complex attack Natanz uranium enrichment, have caused localized pollution within the facilities, although without affecting the outside environment, according to measurements of the nuclear agency itself. Radiological contamination The Current data indicate that the detected radioactive pollution is limited to the interior of the Natanz complex and is mainly composed of alpha particles, whose health risk is considered manageable If they are not inhaled or ingested, since their reach is reduced to direct contact with internal fabrics. In the case of Natanz, I They damaged two rooms Underground enrichment and several surface buildings, including a pilot laboratory. However, the level of radiation in the surroundings He showed no changeswhich suggests that There has been no escape external As for other key facilities Like Fordow or the heavy water reactor in construction in Khondab, I don’t know They have registered damagewhile in Isfahán it has not been detected Radiation increase After recent attacks. The difficulty of a catastrophe. The Times explained that a large explosion that releases radioactive pollutants massively requires to reach materials subjected to fissionas in an operational reactor or in an atomic pump. However, not even Bushehr nuclear power plant nor the Tehran research reactor They have been attacked so far. The enriched uranium that Iran possesses is in itself weakly radioactive and only presents greater risks in very specific conditions. The release of fission products such as radioactive iodine or CESIO-137, responsible for the worst health effects after Chernobyl in 1986it does not seem likely on the current scenario. In addition, Iran’s main nuclear facilities are designed to minimize external risks: critical areas from Natanz and Fordow They are buried under tons of concrete and earth, which makes even powerful weapons have difficulty penetrating them full. Reactor 4 Aerial Photography, several months after the explosion Chemical risks. Beyond radiation, experts point out that the real danger could be in the dispersion of toxic chemicals. In the facilities attacked, Like Natanz and Isfahánis stored and manipulated Uranium hexafluoruroa compound used in the enrichment process. Although it is stable at room temperature, its contact with water (even that of air) can produce fluorhoric gas, highly corrosive and lethal if it is inhaled. The OIEA has confirmed that in him Attack to Natanz It is possible that compounds such as uranium, uranilfluoruro and even fluorhorical gas have released compounds, although contained within the enclosure. An illustrative case was the Explosion of 1986 In a conversion plant in Oklahoma, where the liberation of hexafluoruro caused a death and pollution in the environment, demonstrating the reach of this type of accidents even outside a war context. Natanz Nuclear Facilities International regulations. In the key to the international legal framework, armed attacks against nuclear facilities for peaceful purposes are prohibited. The OIEA has reiterated on several occasions that any aggression of this type violates the principles of the United Nations Charter, the rules of the agency and international law. Both Israel and Iran form part of the OIEAalthough the first is not a signatory of the non -proliferation treaty. In 2022, the precedent of the Russian attack and subsequent occupation of the Ukrainian Central of Zaporiyia It was already pointed out by the agency as a made unprecedentedwhen it occurred in a large nuclear complex. In the case at hand, Israel justifies its actions in the suspicion that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, an accusation that Tehran denies. For its part, the OIEA declared recently that Iran has raped by First time in twenty years Its non -proliferation obligations, adding more tension to the context. And if… Then there is another substantive issue. If the Iranian regime suddenly crumbled, leaving its enriched uranium arsenal and related materials unprotected, what would happen? Although air attacks can degrade critical infrastructure, they are not enough for themselves to guarantee the total elimination of nuclear abilities if they are dispersed or hidden. Given this scenario, they remembered the The War Zone analysts that the US special forces (particularly elite units as Delta Force and Seal Team Six) They carry years preparing to intervene on the ground in nuclear emergency situations. Since 2016, El Special Operations Command (Socom) leads the mission of counteracting weapons of mass destruction (CWMD), inheriting this function of the strategic command (Stratcom). The acquired experience From the dissolution of the USSR to ensure uncontrolled arsenals serves as a model for these new contingencies. The United States Army in Nuclear Emergency Exercises The threshold of proliferation. According to the Latest Oiea reportsIran accumulate at least 400 kilograms of 60%enriched uranium, a purity much higher than necessary for civil use (3-5%), although below 90 % required For nuclear weapons. However, moving from 60% to 90% is a relatively short technical leap. The OIEA considers that with just 92.5 kg of 60% uranium it can get a nuclear bomb behind him Final enrichment. This reality worries, since the regime has prevented inspections in all its nuclear facilities. Iran has even taken “special measures” to hide its … Read more

The US is willing to do anything for advanced chips not to reach China. And Malaysia is an obstacle

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Malaysia is in the spotlight of the US. The administration led by Donald Trump has suspected for many months that Chinese companies and research centers dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) acquire the most advanced NVIDIA GPUs through Singapore and Malaysian intermediary companies. In fact, this possibility It is no longer just a hypothesis. And it is that the Singapore government has confirmed that it has identified those responsible for diverting to China, and presumably towards the parent company of Deepseekservers that contain the high performance GPUs produced by NVIDIA. This information was revealed at the end of last February by the Channel News Asia television channel, and shortly after the Minister of Internal Affairs and Justice of Singapore, K. Shanmugam, He confirmed it. Interestingly, it did not realize what the GPUs that incorporate these machines are, but made public a very important fact: the name of the companies that manufactured the servers. And they are Two US clients from Nvidia Very important: Dell Technologies and Super Micro Computer. For Malaysia, the eeuu is not an option Malaysia is a global power in packaging and verification of integrated avant -garde circuits. In August 2023 we had the opportunity to check it first hand because Intel invited us to Visit the chips factories that has in this country of Southeast Asia. These plants reside in Penang and Kulim, two exotic and beautiful cities located north of Kuala Lumpur, and are specialized in the processing of silicon wafers that come from Intel factories in Israel and Ireland. Malaysia is a very attractive country not only for Intel and other manufacturers of American semiconductors; It is also for Chinese and Taiwan chips companies. Its appeal lies in four fundamental pillars: has a stable supply chainnotable technological development, makes available to these very qualified personal companies and their production costs are moderate. For integrated circuit manufacturers, a country with these characteristics is a safe bet. Many Chinese manufacturers are diverting the packaging of their chips to Malaysia to protect themselves from the tension between the US and China Intel has been present in Malaysia since 1972, and during the more than five decades that have since elapsed its infrastructure in this Asian country has not stopped growing. His model has worked so well that other large companies in the semiconductor industry have adopted it. One of them is the Chinese giant Huatian Technology, and many other Chinese manufacturers of integrated circuits are diverting the packaging of their chips to Malaysia to protect themselves from the uncertainty that has triggered the tension between the US and China. The chips industry is one of the engines of the Malaysian economy, and, as we have just seen, the US is an essential actor for this country. For this reason, Malaysia’s government is interested in doing everything in his hand to Do not get into the US administration. The presumable participation of some of its companies in the export of avant -garde chips to China places it in a delicate position that, for more inri, has just complicated even more. And it is that a company from China is suspicious of training AI models in Malaysia infrastructure and using Nvidia hardware. According to Reuters The Ministry of Investments, Commerce and Industry of Malaysia is investigating whether this or any other company housed in its territory has violated some local law. Interestingly, this institution is analyzing a report that argues that Four Chinese citizens They traveled from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur, each transporting several hard drives with dozens of calculus leaves and images, with the purpose of training an AI model into 300 servers with Nvidia chips. Malaysia is not subject to sanctions or restrictions by the US government, and it is evident that this Asian country is interested in its relationship with the Trump administration be as cordial as possible. What is not clear is that he gets unscathed from his involuntary mediation between China and the US. More information | Reuters In Xataka | We can forget an AI without hallucinations for now. The general director of Nvidia explains why

The oil ships are changing route to avoid the Ormuz Strait. Who will pay the detour: We

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Hostilities between Israel and Iran have reached a new peak of tension. The impact has not been expected: The price of oil rises and all looks point to the Ormuz Strait. Through that narrow step it circulates almost a fifth of the world crude, and although it has not been blocked, the tension is already altering routes, more than transportation and raising the pressure on the global energy market. A global bottleneck. The Ormuz Strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabic Sea, and is under the control of Iran. Only in 2024, more than 1.4 million barrels daily on ships were transported. According to Bloombergalso manages about 27% of the global oil liquefied gas flow (LPG). A partial or total obstruction It would directly affect energy powers such as China and India, as well as Iran, which has the third largest oil reserve on the planet. An unprecedented climb. Amid the registration of the conflict, many shipowners have begun to avoid the area or demand much higher risk premiums to cross it. According to Financial Timesthe result has been a vertiginous rise in charter prices. According to Clarksons Research figures cited by the British media, the daily rate to rent a VLCC (Vary Large Crude Carrier) that transports 2 million barrels of crude oil from the Gulf to China jumped from $ 19,998 to $ 47,609 in just a week. And not only oil transport has been increased: tank ships that transfer refined products, such as gasoline and diesel, have also doubled their rates, reaching more than $ 51,000 daily on that same route. The gas feels the impact. The tension has caused a slight fall in maritime traffic in the area, and some countries have begun to take precautions. Catar, through his state company Qatarenergy – the world’s largest exporter in the world – officially recommended to its vessels, care to cross the Strait, being the first measure known by an energy producer of the Gulf, According to Bloomberg. The tension is intensified. Iran, under international sanctionsuse a “ghost fleet”: ships that operate outside the international regulatory system, without valid insurance or security certifications. This not only represents a legal risk, but also operational. On June 17, Petrolero Front Eagle, of the Norwegian Frontline company, collided with one of these ships just after leaving the Gulf, According to Reuters. That same day, two other oil tankers collided and even caught fire, while two others were approached by Iranian vessels, which led to a “maximum alert” in the area. According to Richard Fulford-Smith, director of the firm Eden Ocean, cited by the Financial Timessome oil buyers are opting for suppliers other than Iran who use regulated vessels. This is pushing the demand towards the legitimate fleet and further increases the global rates. And now what? Uncertainty has already pushed some companies to redirect their routes outside the Persian Gulf, despite the additional cost. China and India could increase their purchases to suppliers such as Saudi Arabia or Russia, which do not depend on the Strait. So, some vessels are demanding higher risk premiums to cross the area, while others prefer to avoid it completely. For its part, United States has begun to reinforce its military presence. Can there be a real closure? Although there has been no official closure of the Strait, the tension has raised the fears that it may occur. Oxford Economics has recently warned In Bloomberg that the price of the Brent barrel could reach $ 130 if a total blockade occurs. And the most worrying: an eventual risk premium could be maintained even after a reopening. For now, the flows continue, but with greater caution and an increasingly dense naval presence. Energy risk. The Ormuz Strait is still open, but fear of a block is more present than ever. For now, the flow of crude and gas continues, although conditioned by a conflict that threatens to spread. The tension has not paralyzed trade, but has more expensive. And that, in the energy market, is enough to light alarms. Image | Pexels Xataka | A fear has taken over the world oil industry: the closure of the Ormuz Strait by Iran

engineers with sports salaries

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Imagine that a company offered you 100 million dollars to go to work with it. 100. Millions. That is precisely What Meta has offered several Openai engineers To sign. It is the demonstration of a unique phenomenon: right now in Silicon Valley, the engineers of AI are almost like sport superstars. The Galactics of Technology. Sam Altman, OpenAi CEO, He counted In the podcast “UNCapped” how target had made those “gigantic offers” of work to several OpenAi engineers in which he offered bonuses of 100 million dollars to sign them. “I am very happy because at least for the moment none of our best engineers have accepted,” he said, which seems to confirm that even that obscene amount of money had managed to convince those OpenAi experts to change the side. Talent War AI. The company led by Mark Zuckerberg seems to be desperate to get talent at all costs. Deedy DasMenlo Park Ventures manager, explained that despite offering annual salaries of two million dollars to their AI engineers, “continue to lose them in favor of OpenAi or Anthropic. The talent war is absolutely ridiculous.” Desperate measures? Alberto Romero, author of the Newsletter The Algorithmic Bridge, He described These offers of an obscenity and analyzed the finish line, which in recent weeks is demonstrating serious problems not losing ground in the field of AI. Call 4 has been A small disasterand Metaai It does not seem to curdle at all even being part of WhatsApp or Instagram. Restructuring and very risky investments. Zuckerberg is so concerned about the bad progress of his AI projects that He has activated his “Founder Mode” To put in charge of that effort. Has restructured the organization of Meta and its divisions dedicated to AI, but above all it has made an exceptional decision: pay 14.3 billion dollars for a 49% participation in the (not well known) Scaleai. Not so much for that participation, in reality, but to sign Alexandr Wang, his CEOwhich will now direct the division of AI and that also, Romero points out, thus becomes “the most expensive spy in history.” Scaleai works labeling AI data for companies such as OpenAi or Anthropic, and the question here is whether the knowledge you have acquired about these companies will end up being helpful or not. In The Information They point What a goal wants to hire Nat Friedman –Exceiver of github“And Daniel Gross -which worked in Apple’s division and co -founded Safe Superintelligence. Beyond money. The obsession of AI companies for winning that particular battle has made the best experts in this field become quoted figures for companies. Noam Brown, one of OpenAi researchers, He explained in Reuters How in 2023 several greats of technology “courted” him. He ate with Sergey Brin, co -founder of Google, played poker with Sam Altman and received the visit in Jet private from an investor. Two other candidates told how Elon Musk personally called them to work in XAI. In the end Brown decided on OpenAi for both the people who worked there and for the work they were doing. “In fact, it was not the best option I had,” he confessed. Millionaire salaries. And the companies that have the talent want to retain it. Openai offered bonuses of two million dollars and additional shares worth $ 20 million or more if they stayed in the company, two sources confessed to Reuters. Apparently some employees showed their intention to go to work for the new Ilya Sutskever company, Safe Superintelligence. The best Openai researchers receive bonus packages of 10 million dollars a year, these sources also highlight Reuters. In Deepmind these packages become 20 million dollars a year. Much demand, very little supply. Fortune estimated that there are about 1,000 true great researchers around the world, and that does not only have some companies to convince them to work for them. As the publication points out, money matters and the project matters, but personal ties also matter. When Murati looks He left Openai To create Your own startuphe took with her 19 employees of the firm, including one of his co -founders, John Schulman. The new sport superstars in Silicon Valley. All technological, large or small companies drive this phenomenon. Apple has managed to sign several Google employees, although some like Ian Goodfellow ended up returning to Deepmind. And those who do not go to a great company, create one. It has happened with Sutskever or Murati, which have already received multimillion -dollar investment rounds. They are the new superstars of the other sport. That of artificial intelligence. Image | Techcrunch | Goal In Xataka | Goal wants to feed its AI without depending on the weather. Your bet: Underground heat without leaks

With this coupon it stays at a minimum price in Mediamarkt

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Since its launch, we have seen a huge amount of offers in the Google Pixel 9. Almost all of them focused on the configuration of 128 GB, but now it is the 256 GB that can be found at the minimum historical price of Mediamarkt. Following only two simple steps, you can buy for only 564.44 euros. To buy it at this price, before you have: Store in the store: A mandatory step to buy in the store. Once done, we can automatically see a discount on the mobile. Use the coupon Pixel15mm: When using the coupon, we can access an additional discount. It is worth mentioning that the coupon, as well as the discount to register in the store, is available for the 128 GB configuration. * Some price may have changed from the last review I had never been so cheap in Mediamarkt He Google Pixel 9 It is still one of the high -end mobile referents. Yes, it was launched last year, but its technical file is quite complete and Your software will continue to receive updates for many yearssomething that we see more and more frequently both in this and other brands. Regarding its specifications, riding a screen Super acts OLED of 6.3 inchesso it is ideal for those who seek a compact format. It also offers a resolution of 2,424 x 1,080 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and compatibility with HDR10+. Internally, the mobile is equipped with the processor Google Tensioner G4 along with 12 GB of RAM. Its battery supports 45W fast charging, 18W wireless load and reverse wireless load. Offers IP68 certification and its rear camera module is composed of a 50 MP main sensor and a large angle of 48 MP. You may also interest you Google Pixel 9 & Pixel 9 Pro Fund- Durable Protection – Spots resistant silicone – Android phone case – Porcelain * Some price may have changed from the last review Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – Wireless button headphones with active noise cancellation – Bluetooth headphones – Pastel green * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Pepu ricca In Xataka Android, Google In Xataka | The best mobiles (2025), we have tried them and here are their analysis In Xataka | The best price quality price (2025). Your analysis and videos are here

There are almost no images of the conflict between Israel and Iran. That is why we are starting to generate them with ia

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At the user level, the popularization of artificial intelligence is leading to everyday uses (of cheat until helping us Organize the day) already debates that affect us all (ecological, labor and Ethics). But its use is also in the hands of governments and, when they conflict, artificial intelligence becomes a valuable weapon of soft war and propaganda on a global scale. He Wask between Iran and Israel He is leaving us a few examples. The images about these lines are not real. They are generated by AI. When the Gulf War in 1991 It was said that it would be the first war that we would see live, and now we are prolonging that same idea but taken to the extreme … and seasoned with manipulation of information through artificial intelligences. Images and videos disseminated in social networks and messaging apps, where we can see live bombings, but where not everything is real. These are images of some assumptions F-35 demolished by the Iranian army, data backed by the news of the country. Israel denied it quickly. And you just have to take a look at the second photo to see that it is false: what absurd size does that hunt have? And the buildings in the lower corner are smaller than people. That did not prevent thousands of people from spreading the images in their accounts, giving them by legitimate. And also videos. The arrival of the potent I see 3 Google has helped generate videos in line with these photos. The Tehran Times, means of Iranian communication, disseminates videos where it is presumed to gigantic missiles that do not exist. How do we know? I have left the seeing water mark in the video. Something similar happened with a supposed bombardment in Tel Avivwhose images are easy to identify as generated by AI. The person responsible for all of them is the account 3AMelyonnwhich is defined as “artificial intelligence resistance”, and whose videos are also spread on Telegram. With the permission of the high positions. These actions are not always a matter of disinformation in networks. Iran’s supreme leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei, tweet images of Iranian missiles to Israel generated by chatgptand the Israeli defense minister generates Genuine visual garbage (which The Anglo -Saxons call ‘Ai Slop’) of propaganda type of which Facebook and other networks crowd. It is not strange that the leaders of both sides join the iconographic war: it is a way not only to spread harmful propaganda for the other side, but to supply the informative limitations suffered by citizens. Please, only AI. In fact, there is another reason for the dissemination of propaganda through AI to be backed by the respective governments of Iran and Israel: when citizens spread images of killings in the cities, it was feared that with these videos they would give strategic clues to the other side. AI is a way to ensure that no one takes advantage of those videos. According to 404 mediaIsrael requested from its citizens in a statement by social networks: “The enemy examines these documents to improve their objectives. Be responsible, do not share locations on the network.” AI thus becomes a tool to share propaganda that is not strategically sensitive. How to identify artificial intelligence. The companies that create the generative tools are responsible for marking the results that their IASs yield. In addition to easily visible and editable water marks, Google AI includes an invisible, Synthidbut it has a problem set: you have to download the video that may appear, for example, on social networks, and then upload it to the Synthid platform. They are minutes, perhaps lost hours, during which perhaps the false video has reached millions of people. A very valuable time in terms of propaganda. Header | 404Media In Xataka | Welcome to the “mcdonaldization” of AI: we have cheap chatbots for mass, and ultra -premium products for the elite

Spain has become so expensive that the British are starting to choose another place for their vacations: Morocco

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When years ago a British family began to plan their summer vacation could doubt with the dates, the accommodation, with which airline flying or what clothes to put in The suitcase; But in many (many) cases what had no discussion was destiny: They were traveling to Spain. Especially to the Mediterranean coast, Balearic Islands or Canary Islands, where they were looking for sun, heat, beach, good landscapes and better food. Now that decision is no longer so clear and increasingly British choose to fly to somewhat more southern latitudes, to North Africa. The reason is simple: the price increase is leading them to change Catalonia and the Balearic Islands for Tunisia or Morocco. Issue of expenses. British tourists like Spain. A lot. And that is easy to check. He arrives with a walk through the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Balearic Islands or the Costa Blanca (to name a few destinations) or take a look at the INE data: in 2024 the flow of tourists from the United Kingdom grew 6.6% until adding 18.4 million travelers, which allowed Spain to close the year with A record of almost 94 million foreign visitors. The influx of tourists is nevertheless the only thing that grows in the sector. They also do the rates. Latest National Price Index It shows that so far this year, hostels, pensions and accommodation services have become sensitive to each other until they are placed almost 7% above a year ago. If we look back the increase is even more pronounced. RTVE Calculate that from the pandemic the hotels have increased more than 50%. Looking north of Africa. With that price increase as a backdrop and despite the considerable pull of Spain in the British market, more and more families in the United Kingdom opt for alternative destinations (and cheaper) in which to spend your vacation. And in that search they end up looking north of Africa, places like Egypt, Tunisia or Morocco. The trend was verified A few days ago The newspaper Daily Mail, although it is not really new. The sector It has been verifying how English tourists are responding to the rise in prices of Spain or Portugal Looking for more southern alternatives, in North Africa. At the end of 2024 Mirror I already reported that there were British families who were changing the Canary Islands to Egypt to enjoy their winter vacations. A percentage: 39%. Beyond the statements of the agencies and tour operators, there are a series of data that help to understand the growing interest arouses North Africa among British travelers. For example, Booking has proven that between January and May searches related to Tunisia on their platform have fired 68% compared to the same months of 2024. In the case of Egypt they have grown 64% and in that of Morocco 39%. And it is not only about plans, desires or forecasts in the medium or long term. The change is already underway. This same summer the tui uk platform has registered 30% more reservations for Egypt that a year ago. In the case of Tunisia, growth also reaches double digit and the company also recognizes a strong demand for Morocco. More interest, more flights. British airlines have quickly captured that interest and have not taken long to act accordingly, reinforcing their connections with the continent. This year it is expected that the United Kingdom airports take off 19,847 flights destined to North Africa, more than double the 8,653 registered operations before the pandemic. The connections with Spain and Portugal will also grow, but to a much lesser extent: just 10 and 9%. In that new context Morocco also plays with an extra advantage: proximity. A British who wants to fly to Alicante must invest about two and a half hours on the flight. If you want to go to Cairo the trip will last much more (almost double), but if you choose to move between London and Marrakech the journey will not reach four hours. Is there so much price difference? Yes. For a British traveling to Tunisia or Morocco translates into more flight hours, but in his favor he has the cost of accommodation. EUROWEEKLY has made calculations and assures That a seven night stay in Agadir, to the south of the country, costs about 889 pounds per person while other similar packages to stay in Mediterranean destinations in Europe, such as Marbella, Santorini or Mykonos, requires Between 1,000 and 2,700 pounds. “There is a trend, especially in the family segment, towards cheaper destinations,” explained In December a Mirror Sebastien Ebel, executive director of Tui Group, after checking how more and more people were choosing to spend their winter vacations in Egypt instead of the Canary Islands. Already by then Easyjet Holidays found an increase in demand in other African destinations, including Morocco. Prices … and something else. That more and more British imagine spending their vacations in Tunisia or Morocco instead of in the Balearic Islands or Canary Islands not only explains by the price difference. In play more factors enter. For example, the ‘democratization’ of the tourism market, with a growing group of travelers who do not give up their country despite having adjusted budgets. “We frequently see new customers with less income, but still want to travel with budgets of 800 pounds. If they do not find it in Spain, they look for alternatives,” Ebel points out. Another key is what tourists are in Tunisia, Morocco or Egyptwarm destinations, with a rich heritage, beaches, landscapes and a hotel sector that has been put the batteries In recent years and offers options that are not far from which British can be found in Spain or Portugal. The new trend also coincides with protestsIn certain points of the country, such as Balearics either Cataloniaof residents tired of the impact of mass tourism. Images | Heidi Kaden (UNSPLASH) and Calin Stan (UNSPLASH) In Xataka | The north of Spain has been complaining about mass tourism for years. Asturias has discovered … Read more

If the question is whether Spain can deny its bases to give air support to Israel, the answer is not so simple

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And suddenly, Spain. Actually, and as we will see, the country’s geographical situation makes it a kind of “technical stop” for the different military conflicts in which the United States has been. The war that is taking place In the East It is another chapter, but with the exception that, quite possibly, Spain will not enter. What raises a logical question: could it refuse to use its air bases? Reinforcements from Spain. First the news. Within the framework of the growing military escalation between Israel and Iran, the United States has discreetly intensified its deployment in the Middle East with the help of key infrastructure in Europe, including Bases in Spanish territory. It is official, since the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, confirmed that Washington has begun to use the Rota bases (Cádiz) and Morón de la Frontera (Seville) To park cistern airplanes, a measure framed in the bilateral agreements in force between the two countries. Robles said that the presence of these aerial means is carried out within the limits established by the joint defense treaties. Specifically, the agreement allows the deployment of up to 15 replenishment aircraft in Morón, although international media Like BBC They have reported the arrival of “something else”: at least 30 KC-135 aircraft In recent days, distributed between Spain, England and Scotland. Logistic support for fighters. We have come counting these days. The role of these cistern aircraft It is strategic: They allow to expand the operational scope of combat aircraft such as the F-16, F-22 and F-35 that the Pentagon has mobilized towards the Persian Gulf region. According to Reutersthis aerial reinforcement would also include the deployment of a USE USERindicating a projective combat capacity in several dimensions. Although the Secretary of State for Defense, Pete Hegseth, has insisted that it is a deployment for purposes andStrictly defensiveUS military sources have confirmed that these platforms have already been used to Interception operationsdemolishing drones and missiles launched by Iran in response to the Israeli attacks initiated the previous Friday. Reactions in Spain. No doubt, the use of Spanish military facilities by the United States It has generated restlessness within the Spanish parliamentary arch itself. Podemos has presented a Question battery In Congress to demand explanations to the Executive on the arrival, last Friday, of the cistern aircraft to the base of Morón. In their brief, they express suspicions that these facilities are being used as a logistics scale in support of military operations in favor of Israel. The party led by Ione Belarra has also questioned the government about itself I was aware Of these movements and if it supervises its purpose, putting on the table the debate on operational sovereignty and indirect involvement of Spain in an international conflict of high intensity. A Eurofighter Typhoon from Ala 11 in Morón in 2015 Legal and preceding basis. The current use of the military bases of Rota and Morón by the United States is part of a strategic relationship Started in 1953when Spain, even under the Franco dictatorship, signed the calls Madrid agreements. In exchange for financial and military aid, the installation of US bases in Spanish territory was authorized, in what was a shy international opening step. This initial network It included the bases from Zaragoza, Torrejón de Ardoz, Morón de la Frontera and broken, and constituted one of the First gestures from Spain to aspire to NATO entersomething that would not be completed until 1982 with the firm, and until 1999 with full accession to the integrated military structure of the alliance. The agreed of 88. The current legal basis that regulates the shared use of Rota and Morón It was established With the Defense Cooperation Agreement Signed on December 1, 1988 Among the governments of Felipe González and Ronald Reagan, he was finally the final of the Cold War. This text has been amended Three occasions (In 2002, 2012 and 2015) to adapt to geostrategic and operational changes. According to the Ministry of Defense, the second amendment protocol set a period of validity eight years old since its entry into force (May 21, 2013), which made it expired on May 22, 2021. However, article 69 of the agreement provides for a Annual automatic extension If none of the parties expresses its opposite will six months in advance, which has been happening until today, with Some exceptions. Rattan Operational limitations. Although US jurisdiction governs certain aspects within the perimeter of the bases, Spain retains sovereignty and political control over its strategic use. In fact, the United States cannot use the facilities unilaterally, but requires express permission from the Spanish government, as stipulated The agreement. This principle has been maintained, although in practice it has not meant obstacles during, For examplethe wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, when the governments of José María Aznar and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero authorized their use No restrictions. Similarly, in 2021 Spain allowed both bases to temporarily welcome Afghan collaborators of the United States during his escape from Kabul. Military presence. According to the agreementUnited States can keep up to 2,200 military, 36 aircraft and 500 civilians in Morón, although the current contingent is around 600 troops. In rota, the allowed limit amounts to 4,250 military and 1,000 US civilians. These figures reflect a gradual reduction compared to previous decades, and in 2023 The transfer of the rapid response force for Africa was confirmed from Morón to A base in Italyevidencing an operational replication that directly affects the employment and economy of the nearby areas, which receive about two million euros per year in direct income of the State. Real veto capacity. Therefore, to the big question, could Spain deny the use of its air bases to the United States with respect to the Israel-Iran conflict? The short answer is that yes, in fact, There are examplesas with the return of Torrejón in 1991 and Zaragoza in 1992. Plus: In 1986, the government of Felipe González advertisement that would not automatically renew the pact, also demanding The withdrawal … Read more

We have found the matter that was missing in the universe. I was hidden in the filaments of the cosmic network

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Where is the dark matter is one of the great mysteries of the cosmos, but if someone thought we had all the barionic matter (the “conventional” matter) in the cosmos … it was wrong. At least until now. What was missing. A new study He has found in the cosmic network the barionic matter that remained hidden and that would represent about half of the “conventional” matter of the universe (matter which in turn only represents about 15% of the total matter). He has achieved it thanks to rapid radio (FRB) bursts, mysterious radio wave bursts that run the cosmos occasionally and have served to “illuminate” the subject of this intergalactic network. A network of “highways” in space. The cosmic network is a series of filaments of enormous size located in the intergalactic space in which a good part of the subject of the universe is distributed. These filaments are stretched clouds of gas and particles whose characteristics We discover little by little. Recent studies had documented the existence of this elusive network. The fact that the gas and particles that compose it are inert and do not give off light made their observation very difficult, which required hundreds of hours of dedication by powerful telescopes like VLT (Vary Large Telescope) of the European Observatory Austral (ESO). DSA-110. For study, the team had to build its own observatory in the California desert, in DSA (Deep synoptic array) -110. The name DSA-110 refers to the fact that this is a telescope composed of a network of 110 antennas. FRB The new Observatory was responsible for the detection of 39 of the 69 FRB thanks to which the deccovement was possible. These bursts are intense intriguing radio signals that we occasionally receive from the cosmos. We do not know exactly its cause or causes, but we suspect that they can be caused by supernovae or similar events. Some of these frb are repeated periodically while others are punctual; The origin of some can be located in a concrete galaxy, that of others does not. The frb used in the study They had their origin at points located at distances between 11.74 million light years and 9,100 million light years. This last distance, marked by the event FRB 20230521B, now marks a record: that of the most distant gust detected. Illuminating the highway. According to Explain the team itself Responsible for the study, the FRB “shine through the fog of the intergalactic medium.” When studying how this light stops when you meet matter, it is possible to measure this mist. When crossing the filaments, the frb light also separates in different wavelengths, such as when we see that a white light breaks down when crossing a prism, generating an rainbow. The measure to which the light decomposes also offers key information about the medium that is going through. The details of the study were published In an article In the magazine Nature Astronomy. Halos or networks. So far the cosmological models indicated that there was more barionic matter in the universe than we were able to observe. The new estimate of the mass of the huge filaments of the cosmic network allows us to fill in these holes. The new estimate indicates that 76% of the conventional matter of the cosmos is in the intergalactic environment, while 15% would be in the “halos” of the galaxies, while the rest, about 9% of this matter, would be the subject of which the interior of the galaxies is composed: planet stars and everything that lives are already vast cosmic structures. In Xataka | Dark matter has been one of the most fascinating mysteries of physics for years. Now we have a new theory Image | Vikram Ravi/Caltech/Ovro / Jack Madden, Illustristng, Ralf Konietzka, Liam Connor/CFA

We believed that the nasal strips had died in the 90. It turns out that they were just waiting for Instagram to get them fashionable

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The small adhesive bands that stick in the nose are again very common on slopes, gyms and popular races after decades of oblivion. Why is it important. From Carlos Alcaraz Even weekend runners, the phenomenon of nostrils has exploded in the last year. It is no accident: It reflects both the obsessive search for marginal advantages in sport … … as our complex relationship with Gadgets –electronic or not– that promise instant improvements. The context. The nasal strips were born in the 80s as an antironquid remedy. They jumped to sport in the mid -90s when Jerry Rice wore them in the Super Bowl (today keep entering money by promoting them) and Ronaldo popularized them in football. They promised to “increase the nasal air flow by 31%” and became the sports avant -garde symbol of the time. And they went down in cascade, reaching the semi -professional and also to the amateur who simply wanted to leverage them to increase their performance. The fall. By 2000, science began to disassemble them. A study by the University of Buffalo with 13 athletes He concluded that they did not improve performance in intense exercises. The reason is simple: when the effort goes up, we breathe through the mouth, not by the nose. The strips became irrelevant. The return. Carlos Alcaraz took them A month ago in the Masters of Romeand in addition to black color: even more evident than the classic shiver. Several Barça players uploaded a photo on a planeall with the strips set, to “improve rest.” And new companies such as Gudslip or histrips have “reversed” them with somewhat more comfortable designs and marketing aimed at athletes of all levels. Also with Machacona advertising on Instagram. Yes, but. A 2021 review which analyzed 19 studies did not find significant differences in Vo2max –A key metric–, heart rate or performance. The strips reduce nasal resistance, but only help in light efforts or when there is congestion. In intense exercise, they are useless. For elite athletes, any 1% improvement can be decisive. Alcaraz uses them strategically when it is congested. Amateurs, less accustomed to extreme suffering, can perceive greater subjective benefit in respiratory comfort. In fact, who writes these lines tested them and the highest air entry is noticed. But not the remarkable improvement in performance. And we must not lose sight of the mental factor: in sport, there is very often a psychological component in certain practices. The use of strips can give mental confidence, reduce pre-compensation stress and be part of the ritual that reassures the athlete, which makes him feel control. What is happening. There are five great forces promoting this boom: Greater conscience that once on nasal breathing in sport. Products that have improved: grip, comfort and even appearance. Virality in social networks. Examples in elite sport. And low risk profile. On the latter: the strips of certain brands usually cost between and one euro the unit. They are a performance experiment that comes out cheap. Deepen. The strips do work during sleep. They reduce snoring and improve rest. For athletes with rhinitis or exercise induced asthma, they can be useful. In healthy people doing intense sports, its effect is mainly placebo. Abel Antón, who won World Cups with and without them, summarizes it in a phrase pronounced a Relief Two years ago: “Believing that something is doing well makes us work much better.” Outstanding image | Pneuma Nasal Tape In Xataka | I have run, swim and worked with the Aqua Suunto. Under water I understood what these bone driving headphones propose

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