Mobile Tech & Gadgets

Ransomware has exploded in Spain and the data confirms it

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He ransomware It is one of those attacks that no one wants to suffer. Companies fear it because, if they do not manage to contain it in time, they can be paralyzed for days, weeks or even months, with million-dollar losses as a consequence. It is not foreign to private users either: we will not always be willing, nor able, to pay a ransom, which in many cases means losing our files. However, this threat continues to advance, gaining presence in our environment and forcing us to remain more alert than ever. Spain, among the most affected countries. The team of Thales Cyber ​​Threat Intelligenceone of the largest European defense and cybersecurity groups, places Spain as one of the most attractive targets for actors operating with ransomware. According to their report shared via email, the country recorded 164 attacks in 2025, with 79 in the first half of the year and 85 in the second. The most relevant data comes when putting these figures in context: Spain ranked sixth in the world in the number of attacks during the second half of the year. A trend that points upward. Thales experts also point out that ransomware attacks in Spain grew by 7.6%, an increase that is part of a general increase in cyber activity. Behind them are factors such as geopolitical tensions, the evolution of ransomware tools, the increasingly rapid exploitation of vulnerabilities and the interconnection of threats between critical sectors. All of this creates a scenario with more mature, organized and difficult to contain actors. The global context changes the scale. Although the situation in Spain invites vigilance, the panorama is transformed when it is expanded to an international level. The United States was the most affected country in the second half of 2025, with 3,946 attacks. They were followed by Canada, with 411, and Germany, with 296. The weight of the United States is especially striking: it accounted for 51.23% of the attacks recorded in that period, which shows a very unequal distribution of this criminal activity. A particularly exposed sector. On a global scale, and always according to Thales, the financial sector continues to be among the main objectives. Banks, payment institutions and fintech companies face not only ransomware campaigns, but also persistent threats from advanced cybercriminals, state-sponsored actors and hacktivist groups. In 2025, this sector accumulated 533 ransomware attacks, the highest number among the industries analyzed. The report also identifies the most active groups. Qilin led the activity with 60 attacks, followed by Akirawith 29, and Inc Ransom, with 17. To them were added two operations that emerged in the second half of the year, The Gentlemen, with 13 attacks, and Sinobi, with 10, which managed to place themselves among the five most active groups against the financial sector. Consequences that go beyond the numbers. When a ransomware attack manages to overcome an organization’s defenses, the impact stops being statistical and becomes tangible. At the international level, Jaguar Land Rover was forced to paralyze its factories for more than a month after an incident of this type. In Spain, several town councils have also suffered similar attacks, with service interruptions and operational problems that show to what extent these threats have ceased to be a theoretical risk and have become a very real challenge. Images | Xataka with Gemini | Thales In Xataka | How often should we change ALL our passwords according to three cybersecurity experts

this is what makes this helicopter so special

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Mexico has been operating a European military helicopter for years that has proven to be versatile in very different missions, from humanitarian support to security operations. This background, added to recent signs about the modernization of the air fleet, once again places the Airbus H225M. The operation would mean expanding the presence of a model that is already part of the Mexican Air Force. The program. A key piece to understand the current scenario provided by Military Zone. The media claims to have consulted an investment program that contemplates the acquisition of three Airbus H225M to reinforce the 101st Air Squadron. The document to which it refers sets an estimated budget of 172 million dollars and includes not only the purchase of the aircraft, but also the training of technical personnel and their long-term maintenance. Confirmed. On February 10, during the Mexican Air Force Day ceremony at Military Air Base No. 1 of Santa Lucía, the Secretary of National Defense, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, announced that the institution will promote the modernization of its fleet with new acquisitions. In his words, “the permanent updating of its air fleet will be promoted with the acquisition of 10 multipurpose helicopters,” in addition to other aircraft intended to reinforce operational capabilities. The Airbus H225M on scene. This possible fit gains weight when the previous trajectory of the Mexican Air Force itself with this platform is observed. In 2010, it incorporated twelve EC-725 Super Cougar helicopters, acquired from Eurocopter, today Airbus Helicopters. The first units arrived in 2011 and the delivery process was completed in 2014, the year in which the manufacturer’s restructuring led to the adoption of the H225M name. This previous tour outlines a scenario of operational continuity consistent with the idea of ​​expanding capabilities within the same family of aircraft. A multirole helicopter with proven range. Airbus describes the H225M as the most capable member of the Super Puma/Cougar military family, an 11-tonne aircraft whose reliability and versatility have been proven in demanding combat environments. According to the manufacturer, the platform has accumulated more than 300,000 flight hours in different operational theaters since 2007 and has maintained mission availability levels greater than 95% in high threat conditions. Key data. It can carry up to 28 equipped soldiers or be configured for medical evacuation with 11 stretchers and four paramedics, as well as operate from land bases or ships in adverse weather conditions, including severe icing. Its radius of action reaches 920 kilometers, expandable to 1,253 with auxiliary tanks and capable of being extended by refueling in flight. Advanced technology. Beyond its scope or availability, the H225M incorporates a set of systems designed to facilitate mission management and reduce crew workload. Airbus highlights its four-axis automatic flight control system, capable of providing precision and stability both in normal conditions and in scenarios with a single operating engine, in addition to allowing automatic maneuvers such as automatic hovering with a precision of 1 meter. Added to this is a digital cockpit with enlarged screens, integrated navigation systems and safety alerts that are only displayed when necessary. Survival and maintenance. This helicopter was conceived from the beginning with a clear focus on operational endurance and crew protection. The structure incorporates reinforcements, energy-absorbing landing gear and self-sealing fuel tanks, while the cabin can be equipped with armor and warning systems against radars, missiles or laser designators. The model can also integrate the HForce Modular Weapon Systemwith configurations ranging from side machine guns to rockets or guided missiles, although the specific configuration depends on each operator. Images | Mexican Air Force | Airbus In Xataka | Spain has built a laser that shields the backbone of its Navy: the A400M is now ready for combat

Mexico has built a true Latin dubbing empire. And now it’s going to protect you from AI by law

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Mexico produces 65% of the dubbing in Latin America. And until now, no rule prevented an AI from copying the voice of its actors without paying or asking for permission. The government of Claudia Sheinbaum has presented this past February 13, 2026, an initiative to legally recognize the human voice as an artistic tool that cannot be cloned. If it prospers in CongressMexico would become something more than a government that looks after the interests of the actors: it would also be a world pioneer in regulation of voice cloning in a cultural setting. Korea is to blame. The trigger for this reaction was not a native series, but some korean dramas. In May 2024, social media users shared fragments of Korean Prime Video series (‘My Boy is Cupid’, ‘The Beat of My Heart’ and ‘Field to Love’) denouncing an unusual feature: the dubbing into Latin Spanish sounded mechanical, robotic and without nuances. And there was also something very suspicious: there were no credits for voice actors anywhere. Without giving explanations, Amazon removed those dubbed versions and did not confirm the origin of the voices. The straw that broke the camel’s back. It was a turning point: the voice actors guild had been denouncing for months how voice actors from all over the continent were losing jobs in favor of AI tools trained, in addition, with their own voices. Some actors, in fact, denounced the Kafkaesque situation that his voice was the one who had replaced him on a YouTube channel for which he worked. Point of no return. In March 2025, Prime Video announced its AI dubbing pilot program in English and Latin Spanish. According to Amazonare twelve series that would not have been dubbed if it had not been for AI, presenting it as an opportunity for series to be seen that would otherwise remain unpublished. The suspicion of Latin professionals, as we have seen, went in a diametrically opposite direction. To calm things down, Amazon assured that localization professionals would monitor and correct the dubbed episodes with AI. The protest. Mexico produces around 65% of the Latin Spanish dubbing destined for Latin America, according to data from the Mexican Association of Commercial Broadcasters (AMELOC), and has some thirty-five active studios with approximately 1,500 actors working. This human force was manifested last July in Mexico under the slogan “AI does not replace.” Among other requests, it was demanded that the voice be recognized as biometric data, at the level of a fingerprint. The purpose is to prevent its use without consent. The proposal. According to the specialized media CO/AISince the summer of 2025, the National Copyright Institute (INDAUTOR) and the Legal Department of the Presidency have worked with more than 128 organizations to build a legal framework always in touch with the union. The resulting text reforms two existing laws: the Federal Labor Law incorporates dubbing actors and announcers as formal workers in the cultural sector, equating them to singers; and the Federal Copyright Law recognizes the human voice as a “unique and unrepeatable” artistic tool That is, any use of it through AI requires express authorization from the owner, plus financial compensation. None of this prohibits dubbing with AI, it only protects the voices that train or replicate the model with mandatory contracts. Missing. The initiative must pass the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate before becoming law, and it will take a while: the Mexican Congress accumulates proposals since 2020. There are more than sixty initiatives related to AI that have not yet received the corresponding legal response. Of course, this one seems to go faster: in November 2025, the Congress of Mexico City had already approved a similar opinionwhich reformed five federal laws. Mexico, spearhead. This beginning of regulation in Mexico is an advance of what other countries are trying to regulate since 2023. For example, in 2024 in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee signed the ELVIS Act to explicitly add voice among the attributes protected against unauthorized use with AI, something new in the US. The standard also holds responsible platforms that distribute tools whose main purpose is to generate voice replicas without authorization. California and New York have tried to regulate not the technology, but the contracts signed around these activities. However, the limitations of these laws were soon demonstrated: in July last year, a New York judge did not rule in favor of two voice actors who discovered that their voices had been marketed as AI products. As it had not been made with a fixed recording, but with attributes such as tone, timbre or cadence, the court dismissed the claims. That ruling is the type of thing that the new Mexican legislation will try to avoid, and provide more robust protection to artists. Header | Amin Asbaghipour in Unsplash

Aragón produces so much energy that it no longer knows what to do with it. And that’s great news for data centers

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Aragon has always served as a great battery for the rest of the country, sending gigawatts to the industrial centers of Catalonia or the Basque Country, but now the script has changed. The community now has a “problem” that many would envy: it produces so much energy that it has attracted those who need it most. As if it were a magnet, the technological giants have landed in the Ebro valley to convert the region in what The Country already calls “Spanish Virginia”, in reference to the North American state with the highest concentration of data centers in the world. The x-ray of a bittersweet record. To understand the magnitude of the change, you have to look at the counter. According to the data collected by The Aragon Newspaperthe community once again broke its historical record for electricity production in 2025, reaching 22,365 gigawatt hours (GWh), 2.1% more than the previous year. However, this milestone hides an important small print: the record was not achieved thanks to the wind or the sun, since these fell by 4.8% due to the drought (which sank the hydraulics by 19.1%) and a less windy year. Here comes the bittersweet part, to compensate for the green decline and cover the gap left after the great blackout in April, the gas combined cycles increased their activity by 112.2%. But the data that really confirms the change of era is not how much is produced, but how much is spent. While electricity demand in Spain grew by a modest 2.7%, in Aragon internal consumption shot up by 7.1%, a figure that the provincial media describes as “true structural change” and that it attributes directly to the takeoff of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) complexes in Villanueva de Gállego, El Burgo and Huesca. The rain of millions (and megawatts) This energetic appetite is no coincidence; It is the fuel for an unprecedented investment. As we have explained in Xatakathe autonomous government has given the green light to the expansion of AWS, which contemplates an investment of 15.7 billion euros in a ten-year plan. It is not about building isolated ships, but about creating an “AWS Region” (Europe Spain), a system of eight campuses interconnected by fiber optics that function as a single operational unit protected against failures. But it’s not all servers and algorithms in the cloud. From the Herald have detailed that Amazon will not only save data, but will also build a server recycling factory in Aragon. With an additional investment of 200 million euros, this circular economy plant promises to create up to 1,100 direct jobs, a balloon of labor oxygen that goes beyond highly qualified technical profiles. Jam in the network and flight to Teruel. The Aragonese paradox is that, although there is plenty of energy, there are no “roads” to transport it. The electrical distribution network in the community is at its limit, with an occupancy of 94.3%well above the national average. There is electricity, but there are no free outlets for so much industry. This saturation in the Zaragoza logistics hub has caused an unexpected movement towards “emptied Spain.” As my colleague in XatakaGiven the impossibility of connecting in the capital, AWS has decided to take one of its new centers to La Puebla de Híjar, a town in Teruel with barely 900 inhabitants. The choice is strategic: the N-232 highway acts as the backbone and, there, the electrical grid has the capacity (100 MW guaranteed) to feed the beast. Side B: water and territory. Every revolution has a cost, and in this case it is measured in natural resources. Digital euphoria collides with the physical reality of a dry land. The alarms went off, as reported The Countrywhen Amazon requested to expand its water concession by 48% to cool its servers. The conflict is palpable on the ground, the Gaén irrigation community in Teruel keeps negotiations blockedrefusing to give up water from the Ebro if that compromises the agricultural future of the area. The most critical view brings it Ecologists in Action. Its renewable viewer warns that the deployment is not harmless: there are more than 12,000 hectares of authorized solar plants and thousands of wind turbines in the pipeline. The organization warns that, if all the data center projects in the portfolio are approved, their electrical consumption could reach five times the current demand of the entire community, turning the Aragonese landscape into a continuous industrial estate and drying up its water resources. The new balance. Aragón closed the year 2025 at a fascinating crossroads. How to conclude The Aragon Newspaperthe community continues to be surplus, but less and less. Electricity exports have fallen from 56% to 52% in just one year. The region has achieved what seemed impossible: from being a mere service station to becoming the engine of the digital economy. But the question that remains in the air, between million-dollar investment figures and environmental warnings, is whether the electricity grid and water resources will withstand the weight of being Europe’s hard drive. Image | freepik Xataka | Aragón is not afraid of AI: it has just approved three more new mega data centers in full commitment to renewables

Now the “therians” arrive, people who walk on all fours

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They wear animal masks, move on all fours and publish tutorials on networks to perfect the gallop or feline jump. Therians are not a new phenomenon, but social media has catapulted them into the digital conversation. Who are they, where do they come from, what differentiates them from the fashion of the furriesDo they have the right to their own veterinarian? What is a therian? Perhaps the easiest way to understand it is by going to the community’s own definition: “species dysphoria”, a discomfort analogous (in structure, although certainly not in clinical recognition) to gender dysphoria. A therian does not wear a disguise: the term (which abbreviates therianthropefrom Greek therion -wild beast- and anthropos -human-) designates people who identify themselves psychologically or spiritually as a non-human animal. The Therian Society He assures that it is not a cosplay or costume, but rather a lifelong identity. The animal with which each therian identifies is called theriotypeand canids and felines are the most common, although videos of reptiles and extinct species have already been seen. There is a whole vocabulary around the phenomenon: shifts or changes of state are the moments in which the person experiences instincts, thought patterns or sensations typical of their animal nature. and the phantom shift It is the perception of non-existent limbs or appendages (tail, ears, claws) that have a clear correlation with the well-proven phenomenon of phantom limbs. Therians: Origins. In the infinite Usenet groups (the first forums) of the nineties is where the topic began to be talked about. The forum alt.horror.werewolvesoriginally created for fans of fictional werewolves, led to debates about what it meant. be a werewolf, not just consume fiction on the subject. Soon the therians were separated from otherkin, a term that grouped those who identified themselves as non-human beings (elves, dragons, vampires). Therians limit their identification to animals that exist or have existed and Its symbol is Theta-Delta (ΘΔ): Theta represents the first letter of therian and delta symbolizes change or transformation. Does it have a scientific basis? Let’s just leave it at that academic psychology has not recognized species dysphoria. But there are attempts at recognition: a Lake Forest College thesis He spoke of it as a transversal theme between therians who manifested themselves in very different ways. In ScienceDirect was distinguished between therianthropy clinical (delusional disorder in which the person believes they are transformed into an animal, and which is historically linked to psychosis) and therianthropy as a non-clinical identity, which is not included as a disorder in the DSM-5. One thing is clear, and also investigated: Therian identity acts as a protective factor for those with higher levels of autism or schizotypy, suggesting that the community plays a real psychological support role for certain profiles. TikTok, engine of subcultures. This seemingly specific group has found a meeting point and expansion on TikTok, which has the prepared algorithm to connect statistical neighborhoods of people grouped by common behavior and interests. The result is a unprecedented acceleration of the visibility of subcultures previously confined to forums and Discord servers. For example, in the case of the therians, they are interested in quadrobicsa discipline that makes it possible to move, trot, jump and gallop on all fours (and about which there was already videos on YouTube in 2015) : its practitioners publish tutorials that the algorithm triggers because it is visually striking content that generates polarized reactions. Furry precedent. To understand therians, you have to go back at least four decades, to a fandom that went through a very similar cycle: it emerged on the margins, was distorted by the mainstream media, and ended up being the subject of academic research. The furry fandom took shape at a science fiction convention in 1980, when a drawing from Steve Gallacci’s ‘Albedo Anthropomorphics’ comic sparked a discussion about anthropomorphic characters in speculative fiction. In 1986 the first “furry party” took place and in 1989 they had specific conventions. Although both communities overlap in many aspects (approximately 15% of furries They also identify as therians), a furry relates to anthropomorphic animals, building a fursona that works as a character or avatar; a therian, on the other hand, identifies with a real, non-anthropomorphic animal. However, the media stigma that the furry fandom suffered in the late ’90s is comparable to the scrutiny that the therian community faces today. The furries were identified (mainly due to an unfortunate episode of CSI 2003) with sexual deviants, but the community ended up denying itdemonstrating that the main attraction for fandom was belonging to a community, not any fetish component. llegacy to Spain. There have been no defining moments of the arrival of the therians to Spain, beyond descriptions in the media, simultaneously with what has happened in Mexico or Argentina, of hangouts in parks such as the Retiro in Madrid or the Ciutadella in Barcelona, ​​or groups practicing quadrobics in public places. Many of these media go into topics such as liquid identity in digital times and also in the aggressiveness that they awaken in their detractors, who begin to organize far-right attackspossibly because of the parallels with gender dysphoria. In Xataka | What are urban tribes and how have they evolved until today?

already warns of a new storm on the horizon

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Times of wait of months to receive a car, manufacturers who packaged their vehicles loaded with options to sell them at a higher price with the promise that they would reach their customers sooner and a booming second-hand marketspurred on by the eternal wait to get a new car. They are echoes of a past that is just around the corner, chip shortage caused by the shutdown of factories during the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in demand for electronic products and the trade war between the United States and China. The consequences were, as we say, diverse but above all harmful for who was waiting for a new car. From cars that arrived with hidden functions to vehicles that, directly, They dispensed with digital instrument panels. Factories stopped or at half gas that caused a 21% drop in world production vehicular. But no information or data summarizes the situation as well as a photograph. The one in which it was seen they visualized 45,000 Ford cars parked outdoors at Kentucky Speedway’s waiting for the necessary chips to arrive to put them on the street. Now, it is Ford that is already warning that a new crisis is on the horizon. AI, of course. We noted yesterday, January 17, that everything indicates that we can expect a long life of the latest generation consoles. Not because their hardware is about to explode or because intergenerational gaming continues to stretch to this day. The reason that will delay the arrival of the successors to the current consoles has a name and a surname: artificial intelligence. The problem is that 90% of world production DRAM is controlled by Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Three companies that have in their hands a demand that far exceeds them and that anticipates a productive shortage as a consequence of data centers for artificial intelligence that are sweeping the market. The problem is not only that the companies most interested in promoting artificial intelligence are securing components, the problem is that they pay better than anyone else. And that affects both the manufacturers and the consumerswho have seen a price escalation in components that seems to have no end. The latest alarm comes from Ford. Sherry House, CFO of the company, pointed out that, for the moment, they have enough components to carry out their production but that they are aware of the pressure on their price in the market. “And that is already part of our future plan,” House said in words reported by The Drive. The situation is dangerous. As happened years ago, market analysts already assure Bloomberg who are registering “panic buying”that is, mass purchases to guarantee stock before the component rises rapidly in price. These panic purchases have two obvious problems. The first is that the production of components is compromised. The second is the future price increase. At the beginning of the decade, we discovered the hard way how dependent the automotive sector is on chip production. In December 2023, Micron was already aiming because in just three years the presence of components such as RAM memories was going to triple, going from about 90 GB of memory on average to 278 GB in 2026. It must be taken into account that from May 2024 All cars sold as new in the European Union must have a powerful load of ADAS driving assistance systems. In China, the share of vehicles equipped with this type of aid has skyrocketedpartly due to the boost that BYD has given to the market guaranteeing advanced driving assistance services in lower priced vehicles. My colleague Javier Pastor explained Just a few weeks ago, infotainment systems have needed between 1 and 2 GB of DRAM in recent years to move the graphics own and support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But the requirements have doubled in recent releases. And the proliferation of ADAS systems, increasingly complex in the most modern cars, does not help either. Only the Hardware 4 system (the one currently used by Tesla) makes use of 16 GB of RAM. He BMW iX3the company’s most advanced vehicle at the moment, boasted four “superbrains” inside, with chips dedicated exclusively to the vehicle’s dynamic functions, the ADAS systems and the management of the infotainment system. “A modern car makes use of so-called ECUs (Electronic Control Units) for issues such as controlling the transmission, the airbag system or the engine itself. It is normal for them to have between 50 and 150 of these control units or microcontrollers, and almost all of them contain RAM for temporary data and a ROM for the firmware and software.” The problem is deep because it affects all types of components. In October, The Nexperia crisis has already made the wolf see its ears. And it is not only a question of advanced infotainment or driving assistance systems for the most expensive vehicles on the market. The most basic functions of a car, such as rolling up the windows, They also need this type of componentswhich renders a vehicle unusable for the slightest problem. Photo | Ephrain Mairena and Aakash Malik In Xataka | The RAM crisis is so big that even companies that had nothing to do with it are considering manufacturing them. Like Tesla

Someone is so concerned about the exodus of millionaires from California to Miami that they have even organized a demonstration

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Silicon Valley is packing its bags at the simple proposal of a new tax that would tax the fortunes of more than a billion dollars. In fact, some millionaires have already taken flight and bought one (or several) mansions in Miami to avoid having to pay for it. Does anyone care so much about this? exodus of millionaires who has even taken the initiative to defend them amid fears that they will abandon California to avoid high taxes. Even has called for demonstrations on the streets of San Francisco. To no one’s surprise, the press who went to cover the event and those who went to mock the demonstration outnumbered those who demonstrated. Doesn’t anyone think about millionaires? Derik Kauffman, a young 26-year-old founder of the AI startup RunRL and fresh out of the Y Combinator project incubator, an entity that was chaired by Sam Altman between 2015 and 2019, he has been the driving force behind the movement “March for Billionaires“. According to collect the local media San Francisco ExaminerKauffman pushed the event to oppose California’s proposed wealth tax and change public perceptions of the wealthy. The young man admitted that he was not aware of any billionaires intending to attend the demonstration defending their interests, but he wanted to show the contribution of great fortunes to the local economy. Rumors of a tax that have caused a storm. Kauffman’s initiative arose in response to the union’s proposal SEIU United Healthcare Workers West to create a 5% tax on fortunes over $1 billion, excluding real estate and pensions. According to the union, this measure would affect about 200 Californian residents and would raise about 100,000 million in the next five years. The proceeds would go to offset the Trump administration’s cuts in education, healthcare and social assistance. The tax would be applied retroactively to those who lived in the state in 2026, but for the initiative to be considered in a November 2026 vote it needs the support of 875,000 signatures. In fact, the initiative does not even have the support of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is strongly opposed to the tax and work to block it. The march in San Francisco. The demonstration in support of the millionaires took place through some streets of San Francisco, and had “a few dozen” attendees, surpassed by journalists and curious onlookers who came to see the demonstration with their own eyes. As expected, neither Jeff Bezos nor Mark Zuckerberg attended the meeting. In fact, it is not strange. A Harris Poll points out that 74% of Americans consider millionaires to be overrated and 76% believe that they benefit from a poor system. OK to what was published by The Wall Street Journalthe march was led by a banner that read: “Billionaires Build Prosperity: Keep Them in California!” Behind her, just about twenty protesters held banners supporting the millionaires. In front of them they found a group of curious people who had also come to express their ideas and to verify that the march was not a joke. One of them held a sign that read: “I am poor and I am proud.” Reactions of millionaires. Other billionaires living in San Francisco, such as Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, They distanced themselves from the protest and they have agreed to the tax. Huang stated that “we choose to live in Silicon Valley, and whatever taxes they want to apply, so be it. I’m perfectly fine with that.” Other technology leaders have not made public statements, and have simply headed to Florida without giving further explanations. a few weeks ago the founders of Google did it. A few days later, Mark Zuckerberg did itwho after two decades in San Francisco, will change his zip code to that of Billionaire Bunker. However, what the millionaires have started is a lobbying campaign with million-dollar donations so that the measure does not prosper, according to information of Bloomberg. In Xataka | Countries are trying to prevent the accumulation of wealth of technological millionaires. Ancient Rome tried it too Image | March for Billionaires

the A400M is now combat ready

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Since Spain opted for the A400M More than two decades ago, the aircraft has gone from being an ambitious European industrial program to becoming a centerpiece of the country’s military capabilities. Between budget adjustments, delays and a progressive incorporation of capabilities, its history has reflected both the difficulties and the determination to provide itself with its own means to deploy strength, help and presence where it is most needed. Now, the key to Spanish military transport has leveled up. The spine that had to be armored. Spain had been supporting a good part of its military deployment capacity for years on an aircraft that was as versatile as it was vulnerable. Talk later of the A400Ma key piece to move troops, vehicles and material where the war really begins. The reason? In modern conflicts, reaching the front has become almost as dangerous as fighting there, especially for large, heavy aircraft that are slow to take off and land, as well as exposed to low-cost portable missiles. From that perspective, protecting that critical link had become a strategic needbecause without safe transportation there is no possible military projection that is worth it. A laser that changes the rules. The national response appears under the InShield namea self-protection system based on laser technology that allows the A400M to detect missile launch guided by infrared, calculate its trajectory and divert its guidance system in a matter of seconds and, very importantly, even in the face of multiple attacks. Integrated for the first time into an operational unit, this DIRCM makes the A400M the closest thing to an airplane “combat ready”one capable of operating in disputed airspace with a level of survival unthinkable until recently, de facto shielding the backbone of the Spanish military transport. A strategic and industrial leap. Behind this effort appear common actors in the Spanish defense. The development and integration of InShield, led by Indra and certified by the National Institute of Aerospace Technology, represent a technological milestone top level within the reach of very few countries on the old continent. Plus: how do we count last week, that the system is entirely national not only reduces external dependencies, but also reinforces sovereignty and the strategic autonomy of Spain in an area as critical as electronic warfare, demonstrating that the Spanish defense industry can compete in the global technological elite. First A400M – T23 of the Air Force From prototype to fleet standard. The first A400M equipped with InShield is has delivered through Airbus Defense and Space to the Air and Space Army, from where the system will be operationally evaluated before deciding its extension to the rest of the fleet. With 14 aircraft already in service in the 31st Wing and others six planned until 2029the A400M is definitively consolidated as an expanding platform, one that is increasingly capable and prepared for high risk missionsfrom tactical deployments to evacuations in hostile environments. Why is it so important? As we said at the beginning, it is not just any plane, it is the spine of Spain’s modern military transport capacity and a central piece of both national defense and foreign projection. For the Army, the A400M covers a critical void between large strategic aircraft and smaller tactical transports, allowing troops, heavy vehicles, material and humanitarian aid to be moved thousands of kilometers or directly to combat zones with short, damaged or unprepared runways. Not only that. Spain especially needs it due to its geographical position, with responsibilities on the southern flank of Europe, Africa and the Atlantic, as well as its constant commitment to NATO, EU and international operations missions. Furthermore, the A400M replaces and unifies functions that were previously distributed among several aging models, such as Hercules C-130reducing logistics costs and increasing operational flexibility. And now “prepared” for war. The combination of a growing fleetthe new operational configurations and that system laser self-protection Tested with live fire, it radically transforms the role of the A400M within the Spanish Armed Forces. It is no longer just a transport plane, but everything a strategic system capable of sustaining operations in contemporary war scenarios where, as has been confirmed in wars like Ukrainethe threat is not only in the front, but in every kilometer of the journey to it. With InShielda priori, Spain has not only protected a plane: it has armored the very ability to reach, fight and deploy military power. Image | Ronnie Macdonald, Air and Space Army Ministry of Defense Spain In Xataka | Spain has a dilemma that is difficult to solve: call the US or be the last with a fighter jet in danger of extinction In Xataka | Spain has been a weapons exporting power for decades. Now he has made a decision: keep them

Tension in Iran is so high that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. And that will have consequences when you go to refuel.

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The world woke up today with a dangerous contradiction: while in the aseptic halls of Geneva the diplomats of the United States and Iran they shake hands cautiouslyin the waters of the Persian Gulf, the speedboats of the Revolutionary Guard block the passage of oil tankers. It doesn’t take a missile to fall for the global economy to feel the impact; Fear is trading higher and traveling faster than any ship. The Strait of Hormuz, the planet’s energy jugular, has undergone closure “partial and temporary” for the first time since tensions escalated in January. For the consumer, this is not a distant headline: the price of Brent oil has already increased by 13% so far this year. An increase in prices that does not respond to a real lack of supply, but rather to the geopolitical risk premium. We are paying for what could happen, not for what has happened. As confirmed by Iranian state media cited by EuronewsTehran ordered the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz under the justification of “security precautions.” The Iranian Fars news agency, referenced by Deutsche Welleexplained that this maneuver responds to the military exercises called “Intelligent Control of the Strait of Hormuz.” It is an unprecedented move in this crisis: it is the first time that Iran has physically closed sectors of the waterway since the US administration threatened military action last January. However, it is important to clarify the operational scope so as not to fall into unjustified alarmism. Jakob Larsen, safety director at Bimco (the association representing global shipowners), explained to the CNBC that it is not an indefinite total block. The closure affects the incoming “traffic separation scheme” area and lasts “several hours.” Iranian authorities have asked commercial ships to stay away from the exercise zone, which is causing delays and “minor inconveniences,” but the flow has not stopped completely. A 33 kilometer funnel for 20% of the world’s oil To understand why the market is holding its breath, you have to look at the map. The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) rate this step as the “choke point” (chokepoint) most important in the world for oil transit. The figures are overwhelming: Volume: About 20 million barrels of crude oil, condensates and refined products flow through this artery daily. Global Impact: According to data from consulting firms Vortexa and Kplerthis represents approximately 20% of global consumption of petroleum liquids and nearly 30% of maritime crude oil trade. The problem is geographical. As explained D.W.At its narrowest point, the road is just 33 kilometers wide. But crucially, the safe navigable route for large supertankers is only two miles wide in each direction. It’s a perfect funnel where any interruption, no matter how small, creates an immediate domino effect. He timing of this military operation is not a coincidence; It’s a message. As analyzed Euronewsthe partial closure occurred exactly while the second round of nuclear talks between Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, and Steve Witkoff, US special envoy, was being held in Geneva. For this reason, Tehran is using the strait as a negotiating lever. The United States has increased its military pressure with the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the region, in response to both Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the bloody repression of internal protests shaking the Persian country. Paradoxically, diplomacy seems to advance while the guns are aimed. According to ReutersAraghchi confirmed after the meeting that a “principle of agreement” has been reached on the bases of a future relationship, although he warned that closing the final pact will be a slow process. Iran shows its fist in the sea while offering its hand in Switzerland. The price mirage: why do we pay the “fear premium”? The market reaction has been an emotional rollercoaster in the last 24 hours: Tuesday’s mirage: Initially, when the progress in Geneva became known, the price of oil fell. The barrel of Brent fell 1.8% (to $67.36) and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost 1%. The markets “bought” the hope of peace. Today’s reality, Wednesday: The trend has reversed. Prices are recovering and rising again. As explained in OilPricethe traders have reevaluated the situation: the final agreement seems distant and the physical closure of the strait, although partial, is a tangible reality today. As Sugandha Sachdeva points out, analyst cited by Reutersthe market is experiencing a “technical rally” because doubt dominates the scene. Although 82% of the crude oil that passes through Hormuz goes to Asia (China, India, Japan), oil is a global market. If there is a lack of supply in Asia, those countries will bid for the crude oil available in other regions, making the barrel more expensive for everyone. This has an immediate effect on Europe due to the “financialization” of energy. Gas and oil they have stopped being simple commodities to become financial assets that operate with high-speed algorithms. The volatility is such that “an early morning headline about Iran can alter the price of heating in Berlin before dawn.” The European Achilles heel The situation is especially delicate for the Old Continent. Europe is experiencing a “painful déjà vu“: fleeing from Russian dependence, has fallen into dependence on gas that arrives by ship (LNG). European gas reserves are at worrying lows (44% at the end of January) and vulnerability is maximum. This is where Hormuz plays a critical role beyond oil. As we have detailed in Xatakathe European Union looks to Qatar as a vital alternative for its gas supply, but “military tensions between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz put that route at risk.” If the strait is closed, not only oil to Asia is blocked, but also the Qatari liquefied natural gas that Europe desperately needs to refill its warehouses for next winter. The short-term horizon is bleak. According to an estimate by Eurasia Group collected by OilPricethere is a 65% chance that the United States will launch a military strike against Iran in April if the current talks … Read more

Quietly, there is an AI becoming everything the others want to be. That AI is called Notebook LM

by

If I ask you about Google’s AI, it will probably come to your mind Gemini to the head. She is the visible face, the pretty girl and the main focus of the American company. But I do tell you that there is a Google AI that is even more useful for day-to-day tasks, and that it is one of the great hidden ones in the sector. Would you know what I’m talking about? The Silence of Notebook LLM. In silence, and updating little by little with hardly any announcements or press releases, Notebook LLM has become one of the most useful AI tools. Google understands it as “a research and reflection companion”, a tool focused mainly on the academic field. But the truth is that it goes much further. why now. This tool is not new, but it has just been updated with one of the functions most requested by users. Notebook LLM had the potential to create a slideshow by simply uploading a document to it. The problem? Neither did it allow the slides to be modified nor were they compatible with the PPTX format, the king of presentations. Starting today, we can modify any slide using a prompt that indicates the changes. Additionally, the tool adds compatibility with PPTX, allowing presentations to be exported in this format and, soon, in Google Slides. The great covered. Notebook LM is not just a student helper, it is one of the artificial intelligence tools with the best document understanding and creation model. Audio summaries Video summaries Mind maps Information Flashcards Questionnaires Infographics Presentations Data tables A functional AI. Just as text models are beginning to change the search landscape, Notebook LM has the potential to be (almost) everything other AIs aspire to: A reliable model, without hallucinations or inventions. A tool designed by and to streamline processes, without further ado. He doesn’t compete to be the most creative, he competes to be the most useful in his field. It does not browse the web at its own pace, it only works with the files we upload. Doomed to be something small… or not. Google treats its AI suite a little differently than the rest. For example, Gemini is integrated into its Android phones, and Gemini in turn has the text-to-image model integrated. Nano Banana. But if you want to get the most out of the model you need to go to Google AI Studio. Something similar could happen with Notebook LM: it could be a more integrated tool within Gemini, but Google prefers to keep it as an external website, a specific solution for specific uses. Unlike the restGoogle can afford it thanks to its financial muscle since its business model is not to sell AI. It is to get more and more users to use it. Image | Xataka In Xataka | What is Claude Code and what this tool can do to program with artificial intelligence from your computer terminal

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