Mobile Tech & Gadgets

Japan’s biggest enemy has left a $90 billion bill in the nation’s pocket: climate change

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Few things are more accurate in understanding a problem that affects everyone than appeal to the stomach. In March of last year, Japan woke up to news that made more than one person raise their eyebrows. Wasabi was experiencing a “bittersweet” moment (curry rice tooin fact). The reasons stemmed, first of all, from international demand due to the success of the nation’s cuisine. However, there is not enough wasabi on the planet to satisfy everyone, and part of the blame lay with a usual suspect that threatens many of the planet’s crops: climate change. The last bill of the nation is an announcement to sailors. The economic catastrophe of climate change. Japan, a country with a long history of natural disasters, faces an unprecedented increase in the costs derived from climate change. Despite its recognized expertise in risk management and disaster resilience, the country continues to suffer some of the highest economic losses on the planet. To give us an idea, according to a report from the International Chamber of Commercebetween 2014 and 2023, Japan accumulated Climate-related losses totaling a whopping $90.8 billiona figure only surpassed by the United States, China and India, nations considerably larger in population and territory. Not only that. The projected future costs are even more alarming. An analysis conducted last December estimates that if current global climate policies continue, Japan will face damages worth a total of 952 trillion yen (about $6 trillion) until 2050a figure that far exceeds the nominal value of its current economy, estimated at 591.9 billion yenaccording to the Cabinet Office. The problem of not being able to stop it. As we said, Japan’s disaster history is extensive, with devastating events like the Noto earthquake in 2023, Typhoon Hagibis in 2019 either the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March 2011. In this regard, recent warnings about a possible megaquake in the Nankai Trench have further highlighted the constant threat facing the country. In fact, the nation ranks sixth in the Disaster Risk Index of the telecommunications company Intersec, which evaluated the economic and human losses of almost 160 countries between 2000 and 2024. The country registered total economic losses of 2.35 billion dollars and 543 fatalities and/or injuriesadjusted to its population of 124 million. Image of the 2011 Tsunami The “urban” layout, another problem. Furthermore, the pattern that we see in all natural disasters such as those that occurred in l is repeated.The Los Angeles fireseither DANA in Valencia: Inhabited areas in disaster-prone areas. In the case of Japan, the combination of its extensive coastline, the high concentration of assets in densely populated urban areas and the scarcity of natural resources make it a highly vulnerable enclave to large-scale disasters. Despite these risks, Japan has managed to mitigate the loss of life by advanced risk management strategiesas early warning systemsresilient infrastructure and emergency response plans. However, the economic costs continue to increase exponentially. The price of inaction: it is urgent to take action. They told in Japan Times A week ago, the impact of climate change is also increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the country, such as floods, typhoons and forest fires. In this regard, a study by the International Chamber of Commerce analyzed almost 4,000 extreme events that occurred between 2014 and 2023, concluding that Global economic losses amounted to 2 trillion dollars. Japan was among the most affected countries, with economic costs higher than those of Germany (although below those of India). The impact in Japan. Economic losses resulting from natural disasters amounted to 320 billion dollars worldwide last yearof which only 140 billion were insuredaccording to the report from the insurer Munich Re. This figure represents the fifth largest loss since 1980 and is significantly higher than the averages of recent decades. In Japanese terms, it is expected that Climate change will reduce the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by almost 10% annually if more ambitious policies are not adopted to mitigate its effects. In fact, an economic model from the Asian Investors Group on Climate Change estimates that Total economic losses until 2050 will reach 970 trillion yenwhich is equivalent to the loss of hundreds of thousands of yen per Japanese household annually. By then, projections indicate that Japan will be more affected than the United States and Europe. Initiatives and adaptation. It is possibly the big question facing Japan and the entire planet, what can we do to mitigate disasters or adapt? In that sense and despite the gloomy perspectives of the studies, the Times emphasized that Japan has the potential to lead the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through development of innovative technologiessuch as advanced batteries and offshore wind energy. According to a recent report, if the country adopts a net-zero emissions scenario by 2050, the economy could benefit from a boost of 13.6 trillion yen annuallyplus savings of 40 trillion yen per year compared to current climate policies. In addition, Japan has also taken a leading role in funding international initiatives to help vulnerable countries. For example, has contributed $10 million to the United Nations Loss and Damage Fundaimed at mitigating the impact of climate change in developing nations. Insurance and the Japanese pocket. It is the last leg of that global enemy, one that directly affects the nation’s pocketbook. Japanese households are already experiencing the impact of climate change through increased insurance premiums. In October 2024, the country’s four main insurers increased fire insurance rates by an average of 10%marking the fourth increase since 2019. Furthermore, Japan’s General Insurance Tariff Organization has explicitly linked these increases to the increasing risk of disasters induced by climate change. Additionally, and according to climate campaign group Insure Our Future, climate change-related disasters accounted for more than $600 billion in insured losses between 2002 and 2022. Data and more data, figures and more figures, which only highlight the urgency of more effective climate action to avoid or mitigate greater economic and social impacts of a common enemy. Image | 岩手県宮古市, … Read more

the challenge of finding 500 billion dollars for the largest AI project

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He Project Stargate announcement This week was surprising for many things, but above all it was surprising for one: the 500,000 million dollars that will theoretically be invested in the next four years to achieve its objectives. The figure, absolutely colossalhas generated many suspicions. And rightly so. 100,000 million to start. Of that total figure, the announcement made it clear that the companies that provided the capital would invest “100 billion dollars immediately,” but even that does not seem easily achievable. SoftBank and OpenAI, those who will invest the most. In The Information reveal that SoftBank and OpenAI will contribute $19 billion each for the Stargate project. Bloomberg duck that both will also be the ones that will have the most participation in the final company: each will have a 40% participation. Musk attacks, Altman defends himself. The announcement of the project provoked a quick reaction from Elon Musk, who stated in X that “Actually they (the companies involved) do not have the money). He later added that “SoftBank has less than $10 billion guaranteed. I have good sources.” Sam Altman responded to those allegations hours later indicating that the data that Musk provided was “Incorrect, as you probably know.” Musk and xAI compete with OpeenAI and maintain a long rivalry, but here Altman surprised further telling Musk that “I truly respect what you have accomplished and believe you are the most inspiring entrepreneur of our era.” SoftBank under review. Analyst MG Siegler indicates in your newsletter that SoftBank has about $30 billion in cash. It seems to have room for that initial investment, but there are other data that work against it. As indicated user David Manheim on X, SoftBank’s investment fund has had notable failures in the past. On Wikipedia you can see how SoftBank Vision Fund lost $27.4 billion in 2022 due to several failed investments led by Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank. Among them is the investment of 100 million dollars in FTX, which then collapsed. OpenAI burning money. There are also questions about OpenAI’s ability to invest that amount. It is true that it has raised significant sums in the latest investment rounds, but the company is a money burning machine. Arab money and debt as exits. As the aforementioned Siegler article reveals, an important part of that investment may come from the United Arab Emirates through MGX, the investment fund. Another option is to resort to debt, which has already been very common in SoftBank’s investments (they have 150,000 million invested with that formula). Meanwhile, OpenAI looks for other girlfriends (Oracle). The project is also revealing other parallel movements. In The Wall Street Journal They highlight how OpenAI is beginning to look for options for its alliance with Microsoft, something that both have admitted. At OpenAI they complain that Microsoft does not give them the computing power they need, and they seem to be testing alternatives like Google. Perhaps Oracle is also among the candidates, especially now that it will be one of the participants (along with NVIDIA) in the creation of the large data center in Texas. It seems clear that OpenAI wants to not depend so much on Microsoft (or anyone) and Stargate may be a vehicle to achieve this. Image | TechCrunch In Xataka | The money invested in Stargate has a basic problem: there is no clear or agreed plan to reach the AGI

More and more cities are saying goodbye to horse-drawn carriages for tourists. Málaga has decided that this will be its last year

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Malaga no longer wants horse carriages. That its City Council does not feel comfortable with the tourist buggies that still roll through the city is something known and that its mayor, Francisco de la Torre, recognized no holds barred in summer. What the coachmen who continue to exploit the 25 current carriage licenses probably did not imagine is the extent to which the Consistory is in a hurry to say goodbye to them. A few days ago De la Torre announced that his goal is to eliminate all cars this same yearwhich would bring forward the end of the concessions by a decade. Surprise to start 2025. 2025 has started with a surprise in the capital of the Costa del Sol. A few days ago, during the Debate on the State of the Cityits mayor announced that he wants this to be the last year in which horse-drawn tourist buggies roll through the municipality. And it was not limited to expressing a wish or a simple declaration of intentions. De la Torre revealed that the City Council is already negotiating with the coachmen who remain in the city. What exactly did he say? His speech It can be consulted in full on the Consistory’s website. And it’s pretty clear. “We have set ourselves the goal of completing the amortization of the licenses for the horse-drawn passenger transport service this year,” he says. the document. “There are 25 left and we are in talks with the owners to compensate them, since their concessions have almost 11 years of life left.” Animal welfare and image. The councilor goes further and give the reasons why the City Council wants to dispense with a service that, in reality, has been losing weight in the city over time. “We take this step thinking about the well-being of animals and the image that the city offers to the world. In 2025 there are much more efficient and respectful ways to move.” In case there were any doubts, De la Torre remembered that Málaga is already working on an electric bike loan service to reach 1,000 and more than 100 stations. “The sooner the better”. The important thing in the councilor’s announcement is not so much the substance as the tempo. That horse-drawn carriages have their days numbered in Malaga is actually nothing new. In 2018 elDiario.es published a report about the precariousness of stables, animals and workers, in 2023 Ciudadanos (C’s) presented a motion to eliminate the service and just five months ago, during an interview With the Efe agency, De la Torre himself admitted that the idea was to put an end to the carriages “the sooner the better.” The key: when. Although that was the slogan (eliminate the service as soon as possible), the reality is that the coachmen who continue to work in Malaga do so thanks to licenses that still have years of validity left. In 2015 An ordinance was approved that contemplated that the permits would remain in force for two decades, meaning that they would not expire until 2035. However, De la Torre assured in August that he had encountered “a certain receptivity” among the drivers to reach a consensus. The question remained as to how on track the talks were and, above all, when the buggies could be removed from the streets of Malaga. The surprise came when a few days ago the councilor revealed that the City Council intends for the service to be abolished now this yeara decade before licenses expire. And under what conditions? That is the great unknown. in summer the mayor I remembered that the 2015 regulation was accompanied by a plan to rescue concessions. And it doesn’t seem to have gone badly for him. If in their day they operated in Malaga 60 licenses and a decade ago there were 55 in force, today their number has been reduced considerably to remain at 25. The average price of the rescues has been around 35,000 euros, according to the data managed by Efe. Going into detail. Media like ABC, SOUTH DIARY and Digital Freedom They say that a payment of 120,000 euros per license would be on the table. ABC even precise that the sum would be paid in two payments of 60,000. The professionals who exploit these 25 licenses and have responded to the press recognize However, there is something that worries them as much or more than compensation: their future work. “I’ve been here since I was born, since 1998. I’m already 45 years old. Where are they going to want me?” he wonders one of those affected by the suppression of the service who also works with a license of which he is not the direct holder, as frequently happens in taxis. “I leave with one hand in front and one behind.” The mayor already has shown willingness to offer coachmen a training plan to find employment. Crossover of arguments. The debate about the continuity (or not) of horse carriages is more complex. In fact, there are a good handful of arguments both for and against. Their supporters allege that there are dozens of families who live off the service, the horses are “well cared for” and they wonder what will happen to them once the service is discontinued. “What’s going to happen to them? They’re going to the slaughterhouse.” Among the detractors, it is questioned the conditions in which the horses work or the image that the city conveys by maintaining the service and they argue, as De la Torre mentioned in his speech, that there are alternatives “more respectful” so that visitors get to know the urban area. To all this would be added a strictly practical matter: the high cost of cleaning and maintaining the streets, whose pavement ends up deteriorating due to horseshoes. Losing ground. Whether you share one position or another, the truth is that horse-drawn carriages have been losing space in the capital of the Costa del Sol. SOUTH DIARY remember that a few … Read more

an electrical grid that works 24/7 with solar energy

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We tend to assume that solar energy is intermittent, but there is nothing that petrodollars can’t solve. And Abu Dhabi is precisely the first city in the world to announce a large-scale solar plant designed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The news. The pulse of the United Arab Emirates does not tremble investing what is harvested with its fossil fuels in renewable projects that will one day replace them. Its capital, Abu Dhabi, has just signed for 6 billion dollars the installation of a photovoltaic plant on a public service scale with a particularity. According to Masdar, the developer, it will be the first solar plant designed to supply clean energy 24/7 thanks to the combination of the Emirati sun, millions of solar panels and a huge storage system. The details. The huge project, participated by the state company EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), will combine a 5.2 GW photovoltaic plant with a 19 GWh battery storage system. Once connected, the plant will not only power millions of homes, but will be responsible for up to 1 GW of the grid’s base load, the minimum power required by the electrical grid that is traditionally covered by more stable thermal sources, such as coal. and gas. Alliance with China. As is happening in neighboring Saudi Arabia, the Emirates is strengthening ties with Chinese companies for this renewable drive. JA Solar and Jinko Solar They will supply 2.6 GW of solar panels each based on TopCon technology, which has higher efficiency and lower degradation rate. For its part, CATL will supply the batteries directly integrated into its HAVE storage systemwhich promises zero degradation in five years and a capacity of 6.25 MWh per container. POWERCHINA and the Indian multinational Larsen & Toubro will be in charge of the design and construction of the plant, which will generate 10,000 jobs. Green Emirates. The Abu Dhabi project, whose roadmap marks the start of operations in 2027, is framed in a long-term plan of the United Arab Emirates: the Energy Strategy 2050. The country hosted the COP28 summit, in which United Nations countries emphasized the urgency of installing more sustainable energy solutions. Sultan al Jaber, who chaired the summit, is also Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates and president of Masdar, promoter of the solar plant. “For the first time, we will transform renewable energy into 1GW of reliable baseload power, at unprecedented scale,” highlighted al Jaber in a statement. In Xataka | More billionaires, less oil: Abu Dhabi’s plan to become the new Singapore

the movement that shows that it is serious about mixed reality

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At this point, it is already evident that the Pixels have completely changed the Android mobile sector, in a way that Google could not achieve with the Nexus (although it is not that it wanted to). Instead of simply being the reference mobile phones, the Pixels are full-fledged competitors in the market, and the new Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro This is how they demonstrate it. That is why the company’s latest move is so important for its future. In 2017, Google bought a good part of HTC’s smartphone divisionadding approximately 2,000 employees specialized in mobile development. The results of this multimillion-dollar investment have already been noticeable, with the Pixel phones, which since the sixth generation have used a processor designed by Google itself and which are already one of the most recommended phones in the Android sector. It can already be said that the investment of 1.1 billion dollars in purchasing HTC equipment has been worth it. Today, Google may have repeated history. Google announced today that it has acquired part of the HTC Vive virtual and mixed reality engineering team; The movement, which has cost him 250 million dollars, will be very familiar to readers of EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre who have been with us for a while. In fact, the goal seems to be the same: to make it easier for Google to gain a foothold in the relatively new mixed reality sector. Google itself is very clear with the objective of this acquisition: accelerate the development of the Android XR platformalthough for the moment, it has avoided confirming whether it will create its own mixed reality glasses. Let us remember that Android XR will be released thanks to a collaboration with Samsung, which will be the creator of the glasses that for now have the code name Moohan, a collaboration in which Qualcomm also participates with its new chip for wearable devices. Samsung The Free Android However, Google has already hinted that this acquisition may have important consequences for its future products. Although the main motivation for this move has been to get HTC software engineers to work on Android XR, Google has also confirmed that it has received a license to use HTC’s intellectual property, and has even opened up to the possibility of “explore future collaboration opportunities” between HTC and Google. Therefore, the possibility of Google mixed reality glasses created in collaboration with HTC is on the table. An important detail is that HTC has not sold its Vive division to Google, and will continue with the development of virtual reality and augmented vision glasses for video games and companies, such as the HTC Vive Focus Vision launched last year. Therefore, this news does not mean the end of HTC in the sector, as the sale of its smartphone division unfortunately did; Although HTC has continued to launch mobile phones from time to time, it has done so in a very limited way and only in some markets.

Samsung has its biggest competitor at home. His future with chips depends on his rivalry with SK Hynix

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South Korean semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix is ​​on a good streak. The memory market is dominated by the Samsung subsidiary specialized in the production of integrated circuits with an approximate share of 40%while SK Hynix defends a very worthy 29%. Behind both is the American Micron Technology, with 26% approximately. These are, precisely, the three companies that control the juicy HBM memory market (High Bandwidth Memory) that work hand in hand with GPUs to artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, SK Hynix is ​​NVIDIA’s main memory supplier. And having the company led by Jensen Huang as a client helps. It helps a lot. So much so that according to SCMPSK Hynix has surpassed Samsung in profits. And it has done so, precisely, thanks to its high-performance memories. However, it is not all good news. SK Hynix has predicted that sales of memory chips for consumer devices, such as smartphones or computers, will fall during 2025. “This year the memory chip market will be subject to great uncertainty because trade protectionism is growing and geopolitical risks are increasing. At the same time, PC and mobile phone companies are adjusting their inventories,” Kim Woo-hyun statedCFO of SK Hynix. This situation anticipates a complicated 2025 for both Samsung and SK Hynix, although the latter, as we have seen, has a very positive inertia in the HBM memory market. Together against China The rivalry between Samsung and SK Hynix in the memory market is a fact, but, in reality, the main threat to these South Korean companies comes from China. The memory integrated circuits industry has enormous growth potential precisely due to the high demand for these chips that has led to the proliferation of data centers for AI applications. And, as expected, Chinese semiconductor manufacturers do not want to be left out of it. The Chinese CXMT has deployed a very aggressive pricing policy to compete in the memory market Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is one of the Chinese companies specialized in the production of memory chips, and, like other companies in the country led by Xi Jinping, it has chosen to compete in this market so attractive unfolding a very aggressive pricing policy. Furthermore, CXMT in particular has increased its DRAM chip production capacity almost five times over the last four years, allowing it to increase its global market share to a very worthy 9%. This growth has placed this company just behind Micron if we stick to its market share, making it already the fourth largest memory chip manufacturer on the planet. To further complicate matters, the Chinese Government is financially supporting its manufacturers of this type of semiconductor in response to the sanctions deployed by the US and its allies, so the competitiveness of Chinese companies is on the rise. Image | Samsung More information | SCMP In Xataka | South Korea fears US retaliation. To avoid them, his old lithography equipment collects dust in a warehouse

These are the advantages of making your pre-purchase

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Although we have very recent Samsung’s latest Unpacked and its new Galaxy S25, we cannot forget the rest of the company’s news. We also have a new batch of laptops around the corner made up of several Galaxy Book5three different models with a common point: They come loaded with artificial intelligence. The cheapest way to get hold of them is in the official samsung storeand right below we are going to explain what promotions we have available for them. Pre-buying the new Galaxy Book5 now has many advantages Being the fastest to jump on the new Samsung laptops has many advantages. The first of them, only available until next January 26is that we can take some totally free Galaxy Buds3 Prothe best Samsung headphones to date and with a RRP of 249 euros. In addition to this guaranteed gift, we will also have other very juicy advantages, available for a little longer (specifically, until February 7). The first of them is the GBOOK5 code, thanks to which we will obtain 150 euros direct discount in any of the three models. We can benefit from another discount of 100 euros if we use Bizum as a payment method, and in addition, we will receive an additional 10% discount if we make the purchase through the app. We have left one of the best advantages that the Samsung store has for last: the ‘Delivery and Release’ program, thanks to which we can bring in our old device and receive a good additional saving. In the case of the new Galaxy Book5, This savings can reach up to 1,070 euros. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a Galaxy Book5 for you As with most of the South Korean firm’s product lines, the new Galaxy Book5 offer us three models with different features, benefits and prices. The first of the models we have available is the Galaxy Book5 360, the most economical option of the three and which offers the user a hybrid laptop and tablet experience. It is compatible with the Samsung S-Pengiving it a different touch that can be great for us when working. This device, with 512 GB of capacity in the form of an SSD (there is a 1 TB version), is a fairly compact device, since it barely weighs 1.46 kg. Its 15.6-inch screen offers great image quality, and that’s not to mention that it’s powered by a top processor such as the Intel Core Ultra 7. The model we refer to a little above will hit stores at the price of 1,699 euros, but with the code GBOOK5 we will reduce its price by 150 euros, in addition to the additional 100 euros that we can save if we use Bizum as a payment method. We will get the best price from the official storesince with your 10% discount, we will have the equipment in just 1,304.10 euros. All this without forgetting that we can lower the price further with ‘Delivery and Release’. *Some prices may have changed since the last review We move on to the next model, the Galaxy Book5 Pro. This device is designed to offer a more ‘classic’ experience, ideal if we are not interested in using the device as a tablet at any time. This is the one that comes with the greatest number of configurations (specifically, there are 8 models available), but we are going to emphasize its 14-inch version with Intel Core Ultra 7 processor. It is more compact than the previous one, although without giving up being a powerful device. Its Super AMOLED screen will allow us to work with a very good level of detail or view content of all kinds. We cannot forget that, like the rest of the models in this new laptop line, it receives Galaxy AI, artificial intelligence joining Copilot to offer the user a new and very comfortable experience. This version, which also has 512 GB of storage, comes at a price of 1,799 euros. As with the previous one, we can apply the same promotions to lower its price considerably, specifically to the 1,394.10 euros. We cannot ignore that, if we hurry, it will come with some Galaxy Buds3 Pro as a gift. We can also reduce your price even further with ‘Delivery and Release’. *Some prices may have changed since the last review The last of the models repeats its name with respect to the previous generation: it is the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360. This laptop offers the same hybrid possibilities as the first model, although with the architecture of the Pro model, which makes it the most complete option of the entire line. In this case, the Book5 Pro 360 hits stores with four different configurations, all 16 inches. On this occasion, we are going to recommend the model with Intel Core Ultra 5 and 512 GB of storage in the form of SSD, the cheapest of all there is. The version of the laptop in question will hit stores at a price of 1,999 euros, which we can significantly reduce with the code GBOOK5 and paying with Bizum. Also, if we make the purchase from the app, we will reduce your price by an additional 10%staying in 1574.10 euros. Of course, as with the previous ones, we can make our purchase much cheaper with ‘Delivery and Release’. *Some prices may have changed since the last review Some very interesting offers from the official Samsung store In addition to the new Galaxy Book5, we now have a lot to choose from among all the Samsung products on offer. Of all of them, we leave you a couple of examples that are especially interesting. 50-inch QLED QE1D Smart TV If we are looking for a new television for the home and we want something with an excellent value for moneywatch out for this QE1D. This model, which came second in its category at the Xataka awardsis a model with QLED technology and 50 inches diagonal, a size that can be … Read more

In Japan, a perfect storm is sinking one of its greatest gastronomic symbols: izakayas

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If you like the animeJapanese cinema or you have simply had the enormous fortune to visit Tokyo or any other city in Japan, it is quite likely that you have seen one or another izakaya. The name may not ring a bell. Your image for sure yes. Typical bars where you can drink beer or sake with office colleagues while devouring chicken skewers, plates of sashimi or bowls of edamameThere are few places more iconic in Japanese gastronomy. The problem is that tradition is not necessarily synonymous with success. The izakaya They may be emblematic, but they are going through hard momentswith its highest level of bankruptcies in the last decade (at least) and a large part of the stores that still exist, recognizing economic difficulties. Good story, bad data. If each city has its own urban landscape, made up of unmistakable symbols, in Japanese cities one of those iconic pieces are the izakaya. There are many. And with a long tradition. There are even different types: robotayaki, yakitor-ya, oden-ya…depending on their characteristics and specialization. Neither its long history nor its roots have freed hundreds of izakayas to close its doors for the last two years. In 2023 they declared 204 bankruptcies and, in the absence of definitive data for the exercise, between January and November 2024, 203 were registered, which indicates that in all likelihood it has been their toughest exercise since at least 2010. More closures than with COVID-19. The data collected by Teikoku Databank are certainly devastating. That between January and November of last year 203 izakayas If they declared bankruptcy, meaning that they accumulated debts exceeding ten million yen, about $64,000, it is a bad sign for several reasons. To begin with, it is the highest figure during that period since at least 2010, when 115 were counted bankruptcies from January to November. Furthermore, the balance as of November 30, 2024 was practically identical to that of the entire 2023 financial year, which means that in all likelihood the year closed with a higher balance. There would be a third reason why the statistics of Teikoku are worrying: the bankruptcies of 2023 and 2024 far exceed those recorded in 2020, probably the year most affected by the COVID pandemic. During that year, 189 succumbed to economic asphyxiation. izakayas. Does it affect everyone equally? No. Family businesses, which can be equated to microenterprises or small or medium-sized businesses, suffer the most. The diary The Manichi remember that of the 203 izayakas bankrupt between January and November of last year, around half (100) were establishments with a capital of less than one million yen, $6,400. Another 86 had a capital between one and ten million yen, which did not exceed $64,000. What does this data mean? That not all izayakas They seem to be suffering equally. The Mainichione of the most relevant newspapers in Japan, even talks about a “clear gap” between small establishments and those in the hands of chains. One of them, Watami Co.has even shown signs that it is doing better than other years: reservations for the December holidays, closely related to income, were between 10 and 20% higher in 2024 than in 2023. “Survival of the fittest”. reading What they get from Teikoku Databank is clear: “Medium, small and micro businesses have limited options when it comes to adopting countermeasures and the current situation is accelerating the survival of the fittest within the industry.” izayakasomething that was difficult to see during the pandemic.” However, there would be two worrying indicators for the sector. Its economic weight seems to have shrunk in a short time. At the end of last year it was estimated that the izakayas reached an estimated size of 10.6 billion dollarssignificantly above the 5,680 to which it was reduced in 2021, during the pandemic, but still far from the levels at which it was moving before COVID-19 entered the scene. During fiscal year 2017, it is estimated that this value was around $12.1 billion. The scenario is not flattering either. A considerable percentage of those responsible for izakayas (about 40%) have recognized that during fiscal year 2023 they went through economic difficulties, which leaves out the possibility that there are more businesses that are headed to ruin. And what is the reason? Reasons rather. that the izakayas seem to be going through a “lean season” can be explained for several reasons. Some of a general nature, related to the economic context, and others more linked to its culture and business model. Among the first, the demographic drift from Japan, inflationthe increase in the cost of imports due to yen weaknessthe impact of the Ukrainian war on the supply and cost of energy or labor costs. The izakayas They are not the only places in Japan that have suffered the consequences of that explosive cocktail. Restaurants specializing in ramen are not exactly going through their best times either, with more than 70 businesses in bankruptcy in 2024, 30% more than the previous year. In their case, there is also an equally important handicap: the reluctance of many hoteliers to charge more than a thousand yen for their bowls of noodle soup, a psychological barrier from which, they believe, they could lose their clientele. “A vestige of bygone eras”. At izakayas They are also affected by another factor, more intrinsic and linked to their business model. For years in its premises it was not unusual to find office colleagues drinking together when leaving work or on the way home, but that habit was cut during the pandemic and does not seem to have recovered. Or at least with the same vitality as before. Not to mention that Gen Z seems less interested for alcohol. “He izakaya It is a vestige of earlier times, when the postwar generation of baby boomers dominated”, explains to Guardian Robbie Swiennerton, food critic for Japan Times. “Nowadays there are fewer young people and they don’t drink as much, nor do they want to drink in the same … Read more

All the nominees for the 2025 Oscars and where to see them

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It has not been a nominations announcement with much room for surprise, and finally, and despite the controversies of recent days‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ have swept the nominations. Next March 2, 2025 will be the ceremony of the big Hollywood party, so now, with the list of nominees in hand, we can place bets. For now, you can complete your viewing list with our report on where you can see the nominees, and which we will update as they arrive on streaming platforms. streaming. Post in development The Brutalist The fictional biopic of an architect and his journey from post-war Europe to New York is the core of this three and a half hour mastodon with an intermission included and which functions as an operatic composition shot in a format that has not been used in cinema since the sixties. Excessive and acclaimed in all the festivals and awards it has won (Venice, Golden Globes), the controversy surrounding the use of AI to modify the accents of some dialogues has not prevented it from receiving numerous nominations. Wicked What a traditional musical likes at the Oscars is beyond any doubt, so the bunch of nominations was (sorry) a foregone conclusion. More of a success in the United States than outside of there, but still, a global blockbuster that is also part of an unbeatable classic of cinema. It has every chance to win a good handful of technical Oscars and perhaps awards for its protagonists. Anora One of the favorites of the year on the indie side of the industry is also the Hollywood consecration of Sean Baker, who had already attracted attention with more modest gems like the murky ‘The Florida Project’. In this case it aims higher, with the story of the marriage between the son of a Russian oligarch and a young prostitute, which has already won the Palme d’Or in Cannes. Conclave Another film that smells of Oscar from its very conception: a bunch of superb performers led by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, and all under the mantle of Edward Berger, director of the ultra-Oscar-winning ‘All Quiet on the Front’. A chamber (and confessional) drama that uses the intrigues of papal succession to deliver a recital of impressive performances. Emilia Perez After a generally positive clamor at its premiere in Cannes, the last few weeks have been tough for this film, where it has received criticism for its use of AI to improve the voice of Karla Sofía Gascón, but also for the vision it gives of such a subject. thorny like the Mexican cartels or transsexuality. Until the last moment it was not clear if this would affect the Oscars, but once that obstacle has been overcome and with its handful of nominations in its pocket, it remains to be seen how the controversy will impact the final awards. Dune: Part Two The second half of the adaptation of the mammoth adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic novel enters flour after the rather introductory first part, with what is the most ambitious and spectacular science fiction production of the year. Its creative quality is so high that it has not only opted, as is usual in these cases, for the technical categories, but has also missed out on a main artistic category, such as Best Film. The substance For genre film fans it was no surprise that Coralie Fargeat’s new film was a wonderful spectacle of combative feminism and insane special effects, although it was a little more surprising that it is doing so well in the awards season. At the Oscars, it has not only won the obvious technical awards, but has also won some main nominations, such as the expected and well-deserved one for Best Actress, and even Best Film. All the nominees for the 2025 Oscars best movie Anora The Brutalist A complete stranger Conclave Dune: Part 2 Emilia Perez I’m Still Here Nickel Boys The substance Wicked Best lead actor Adrian Brody Timothée Chalamet Colman Domingo Ralph Fiennes Sebastian Stan Best Leading Actress Cynthia Erivo Karla Sofia Gascón Mikey Madison Demi Moore Fernanda Torres Best supporting actor Yura Borisov (Anora) Kiera Culkin (A Real Pain) Edward Norton (A Complete Stranger) Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) Best supporting actress Monica Barbaro (A Complete Stranger) Ariana Grande (Wicked) Felicity Jones (The Brutalist) Isabella Rossellini (Conclave) Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) Best animated film flow Inside out 2 Memories of a snail Wallace & Gromit Wild Robot Best animated short film Beautiful Men In The Shadow of the Cypress Magic Candies Wander to Wonder Yuck! Best photography The Brutalist Dune. Part 2 Emilia Perez Maria Callas Nosferatu Best costume design A complete stranger Conclave Gladiator II Nosferatu Wicked Best address Sean Baker Brady Corbet James Mangold Jacques Audiard Coralie Fargeat Best Documentary Feature Film Black Box Diaries No Other Land Porcelain Ware Soundtrack oh a Coup D’Etat Sugarcane Best Documentary Short Film Death By Numbers I Am Ready Queen Incident Instruments of a Beating Heart The Only Girl in the Orchestra Best assembly Anora The Brutalist Conclave Emilia Perez Wicked Best international film I’m Stil Here The Girl With The Needle Emilia Perez The seed of the sacred fig tree flow Best makeup and hair A Different Man Emilia Perez Nosferatu The substance Wicked best music The Brutalist Conclave Emilia Perez Wicked Wild Robot best original song Evil (Emilia Pérez) The Journey Like A Bird My path (Emilia Pérez) Never Too Late (Elton John: Never Too Late) Best production design The Brutalist Conclave Dune: Part 2 Nosferatu Wicked Best live action short film A Lien Anuja I’m not a robot The Last Ranger The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent Better sound A complete stranger Dune. Part 2 Emilia Perez Wicked Wild Robot Better visual effects Alien: Romulus Better Man Dune Part 2 kingdom of the planet of the apes Wicked Best adapted screenplay A complete stranger Conclave Emilia Perez Nickel Boys The Lives of Sing Sing Best … Read more

Sweden did not believe Russia’s economic data. He has found the proof he was looking for by observing Moscow from space

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If the question is how Russia’s economy is doing, the answer surely depends on who you ask. A few weeks ago, The New York Times published a report where he explained the tensions that exist between the Russian elites as economic growth slows of the nation. They signed up the sanctions and the war itself, but in the face of rhetoric, Moscow responded that they would endure all threats. Sweden was not so clear, and claims to have evidence of the real situation. Stagnation and signs of slowdown. As we have told other timesthe war economy that Russia launched at full speed after the invasion of Ukraine appears to be showing signs of significant slowdown. In fact and as the Times emphasizedeven generating tensions among the country’s economic elite as the conflict enters its fourth year. According to recent official data, many civil sectors have stopped growing and have even begun to declinewhich has exacerbated economic uncertainty. The Russian currency, the ruble, fell three weeks ago to its lowest level in two yearsand companies face difficulties in obtaining new loans or receiving payments from customers, reflecting an increasingly restrictive financial environment. Rise in interest rates. The response of the Central Bank of Russia has been a drastic rise in reference interest rates, reaching 21% in October, the highest level since the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite efforts to contain inflation, the economic growth forecast for the new year has been revised downwards, standing between 0.5% and 1.5%well below the 3.5% to 4% recorded in 2024. In the background, the elephant in the room: the slowdown occurs despite the continued record government spending to finance the warwhich indicates that economic stimuli are no longer having the same effect. Economists and officials have begun to warn about the imminent risk of so-called stagflationa dangerous combination of price increase without economic growth. The impact of sanctions and the Russian response. The strict economic sanctions imposed by the West in response to the invasion of Ukraine have limited Russia’s ability to maintain its military-spending-fueled growth. In this regard, the Kremlin has insisted that it has withstood the impact of sanctions, but slowing growth and rising inflation indicate otherwise. Civilian businesses, in particular, have been hardest hit by the economic crisis. For example, Russian Railways, the country’s largest employer, reported a 9% drop in cargo volume transported last October compared to the previous year. To counteract this decline, the company has announced a price increase of more than 10% and has reduced its investment plans for 2025 by a third. Despite this, experts consider that the crisis is not yet serious enough enough to force President Vladimir Putin to reconsider his ambitions in Ukraine. Conflict Central Bank and the industrial elite. One of the main points of conflict within the Russian economic elite is the relationship between the Central Bank of Russia and the country’s leading industrialists. The bank’s governor, Elvira Nabiullina, has implemented a strict monetary policy to curb inflation, which has generated criticism from businessmenwho argue that record-high interest rates are stifling growth. In response to these, Nabiullina recently defended his strategy before Parliament, arguing that all the country’s economic resources are being used to the maximum and that macroeconomic stability should not be sacrificed for accelerated growth. However, its position has become increasingly isolated in an environment in which Business interests demand more flexible measures to sustain their operations in a context of growing uncertainty. Distrust in official figures. And in the face of domestic rhetoric, Western officials have expressed skepticism about the veracity of the economic data provided by the Kremlin, arguing that the official figures do not accurately reflect the reality of the Russian economy. In this regard, the Minister of Finance of Sweden, Elisabeth Svantesson, expressed during the World Economic Forum in Davos that Russia is presenting an image of economic stability that does not match the real situation. According to Svantesson, government statistics, which put inflation at 9.5%are not credible considering that the Central Bank of Russia has raised interest rates to 21%a discrepancy that suggests much greater inflationary pressure than is officially recognized. Furthermore, the continued flight of capital is another indicator of the country’s economic difficulties, which a priori contradicts the Kremlin’s narrative of resistance to Western sanctions. The “trick” of space. Thus, and given the lack of confidence in Russian data, Western officials have resorted to alternative methods to assess the nation’s economic health, including in the equation analysis of night satellite images of Moscow. Svantesson pointed out that city ​​lighting in 2023 was visibly dimmer compared to 2021which, in his opinion, suggests lower energy consumption and, therefore, a decline in economic activity. In fact, comparative photographs from media like Business Insider showed that, although factors such as cloud cover and time of day can influence perception, in general a pronounced decrease in illuminated areas is observed, especially in the suburbs of the capital, which could point to this deterioration in the level of life and possible cuts in the electricity supply. Manipulation of the economic narrative. Svantesson went a little further, and even emphasized that the Russian government’s official narrative seeks to convince Ukraine and its allies that sanctions have not had the desired impact. However, the data (and alternative data, such as the analysis of night lights), suggest that the economic reality is somewhat different from the image projected by Moscow. The minister concluded that, although the exact state of the Russian economy cannot be known with certainty, what is clear is that “the official version promoted by the Kremlin is not true.” Image | POT In Xataka | The end of the war is very far away for two reasons. One is arriving in Ukraine from the US, the other is an unprecedented figure in Russia In Xataka | Russia already knows how to respond to the sanctions that block its international trade: with cryptocurrencies

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