Mobile Tech & Gadgets

“Steal everything from grandmothers”

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GoogleXcoder is the alias from the 25-year-old Brazilian arrested in Cantabria a couple of weeks agoaccused of directing the largest operation of phishing banking that Spain has suffered. His group, ‘Team GXC’, cloned 35 financial institutions and emptied the accounts of thousands of clients. The Civil Guard arrested him along with six other members of the network after more than a year of monitoring. Why is it important. This case marks a turning point in Spanish cybercrime. The GXC did not only steal: according to a report by The Worldthey also rented their tools to other criminals for up to 900 euros a day. The multiplier effect turned each day into dozens of banks supplanted and millions stolen. His name on Telegram sums up the philosophy: “Steal everything from grandmothers.” The method. They combined phishing traditional with malware for Android, a double scam that nullified any security barrier: First, they captured bank details through fake websites. The malware then collected additional documents, digital signatures, and passwords. With that arsenal, they emptied accounts without leaving any apparent trace. The investigation. Group-IB, a cybersecurity firm that collaborates with Interpol, detected the threat in 2023. Anton Ushakovhis head of investigations in Europe, alerted the UCO of the Civil Guard when he confirmed that Spain was the epicenter. For months they tracked IP addresses bouncing around global servers until they located the mastermind: a digital nomad who changed provinces every few weeks. GoogleXcoder used stolen identities for its phone lines and cards. He lived with his family, constantly moving between provinces, believing himself to be invulnerable. The agents followed him while they gathered enough evidence. They hunted him in San Vicente de la Barquera, a town with less than 4,000 inhabitants, with their devices full of evidence as well as wads of cash. The UCO has published both the moment of his arrest and a recording of the tool used: The scope. The network operated from Spain but its tentacles reached Slovakia, the United Kingdom, the United States and South America. Six people directly linked fell in simultaneous operations in Valladolid, Zaragoza, Barcelona, ​​Palma, San Fernando and La Línea. The forensic analysis of their cryptocurrencies took more than a year due to the complexity of the network. The collaboration between Group-IB and the UCO sets a precedent: Until now, private cybersecurity companies mainly worked with Europol or Interpol. This time, identifying a specific threat against Spain, they shared findings directly with national forces. The result: one of the largest operations against cybercrime in our country, as recognized by the UCO itself. In Xataka | They seemed like useful tools for WhatsApp Web, but they were part of a large spam campaign Featured image | UCO

We have to start calling what is happening in Venezuela by its name. The “other” US bombers have arrived

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May America return to “walk” bombers strategic actions against Venezuela gives shape to an idea: this is no longer a tactical whim, it is a military campaign that moves on a dangerous border between ambiguity and prelude of something of greater significance. Not only that: the presence in the air, sea and territorial periphery of a country without the capacity for military parity introduces a geopolitical message directed towards third partiesand places the region before an unprecedented scenario. The visible phase. United States has done it again. Now they have been B-1 Lancer (long-range bombers, high payload and supersonic speed) from Dyess (Texas) to the outskirts of Venezuelawithout entering sovereign airspace but close enough to constitute an unequivocal signal of availability of remote fire. These flights are added to previous demonstrations with B-52 and F-35B, and are part of a expanded deployment which includes eight warships, a submarine, P-8 maritime patrol, MQ-9 Reaper and a squadron of F-35s already advanced in the theater. The novelty is not the capacity but the frequency: what used to be an annual exercise has become a sustained cadence that Pentagon officials already hint will grow, under the operational argument of surveillance and destruction of boats, but with a clear transition potential to fixed targets ashore. What the bombers reveal. Air traffic scans showed pairs of B-1 with BARB21/22 and nodal planes (KC-135 for replenishment, RC-135 ISR and a E-11A BACN) composing architecture of command, link and persistence typical of complex operations, not symbolic gestures. The immediate precedent of the B-52 in the same areadescribed by the Department of Defense itself as a “demonstration of attack”, reinforces the reading that Washington is setting up an environment from which it will be able to strike from outside the Venezuelan tactical range without the need to preposition bombers in regional bases, exploiting the strategic autonomy of the heavy wing. The E-11 BACN The bridge and options. The campaign against suspicious vessels (with at least seven confirmed attacks on speedboats and a submersible since September) complies a double function: produces immediate kinetic effects and, at the same time, normalizes the use of lethal power without explicit congressional authorization on targets politically designated as “narco-targets.” Trump openly declared that, once the maritime phase has been exhausted, the attacks could move to land against distribution or production facilities, and former USAF officers admit that the B-1 platform is ideal for that scenario. The Republican-dominated Congress has blocked attempts to limit presidential authority, and the line between war on cartels and strategic coercion of the regime has been blurred. deliberately blurred. A B-52 and two F-35Bs seen flying together during the “bomber strike demonstration mission” last week The background. Before reappearing heavy wing on the Caribbean, Washington had consumed three cycles without success: maximum sanctions, political negotiation and recognition of a parallel government. They all failed in dislodging Maduro, protected by a Cuban counterintelligence apparatus and armored by alignment with Russia, China and Iran. The turn to military coercion (destroyers with Tomahawk, embarked special forces, ISR means and precision fire) replicates a repertoire with long and bumpy genealogy in Latin America, but here with a deliberately ambiguous purpose. The Caribbean without law. The Pentagon has sunken vessels alleging narcoterrorism, with no specific congressional authority to equate cartels with al-Qaeda-type threats. Trump came to contemplate blows on the ground that would produce high-impact viral images, but without a sure path to a stable political outcome: the available force (some 10,000 troops) is not enough for a conventional invasion, and a surgical assault to capture Maduro would entail catastrophic risks if it failed. The limits and fragility. I remembered a few hours ago the financial times that the recent history of the United States in “nation-building” after the use of force is poorand in Venezuela the vacuum after a forced decapitation could be occupied by hard factions of the apparatus or consolidate Maduro himself if a failed operation gave him an alibi for deeper repression. The legitimate opposition is fragmented or in exileand institutional continuity after a crash would be uncertain. The main weight of the warning lies not so much in the probability of an immediate attack as in the fact that, by declaring the war open to “narco-terrorists” and pointing to Maduro as one of them, the administration has crossed a line from which it is difficult to retreat without showing strength. The strategy. If you want, the bomber flyover In the face of Venezuela, it functions as an element of psychological pressure, as an enabling infrastructure for a rapid kinetic leap, and as an extra-regional message to those who support the regime. Until now, the legal elasticity of this “anti-drug” framework has served to go through it lining barriers to the use of force without declared war. Now, with the appearance of heavy wingWashington points out that coercion has left the discursive plane to settle in the closest thing to a real architecture of the theater. Image | USA, USAF In Xataka | The US has several warships deployed off Venezuela. Venezuela has a Soviet missile capable of penetrating them In Xataka | Satellite images leave no doubt: there are 10,000 soldiers and unusual artillery pointing at the same place in the Caribbean

The Spainsat NG II satellite is cutting-edge technology Made in Spain

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More than one team of engineers stayed up late from Thursday to Friday to watch the launch of the Spanish Spainsat NG II satellite live. With its successful deployment, Spain is placed at the forefront of European defense from space. On board a Falcon 9. In the absence of European alternatives, the Spainsat NG II took off from Cape Canaveral, in the United States, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch, however, was impeccable. The rocket placed the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, completing a new generation constellation for the Spanish Armed Forces. The most advanced in Europe. The second launch of the Spainsat NG program, operated by Hisdesat (now part of Indra) for the Spanish Ministry of Defense, is the culmination of years of development and strategic investments to redefine Spain’s autonomy and climb positions in Europe and NATO. Composed of the twin satellites NG I (launched in January) and NG II (launched yesterday), it is designed to guarantee secure, reliable and uninterrupted communications, both for Spain and its partners. In any circumstance. The new satellites are true orbital fortresses. The Spainsat NG incorporate advanced technologies protection against interference attempts (anti-jamming) and identity theft (anti-spoofing). They are even reinforced against high altitude nuclear phenomenameeting the strictest NATO requirements. This capacity for resilience is precisely what makes Spain climb positions in the Atlantic Alliance. In a modern war scenario, the first battle would be fought in the electromagnetic spectrum, as the Ukrainian war and dependence on Starlink demonstrated. The ability of a country to maintain command and control of its operations, even under nuclear or electronic warfare attack, is a capability that very few countries possess. Made in Spain. But what really distinguishes this project is the qualitative leap for the national industry. 45% of the Spainsat NG system has been manufactured in Spain. The jewel in the crown is PACIS3, the technological heart of the satellite, which includes an active X-band antenna developed by Airbus Defense and Space in Madrid. This antenna, the most advanced in Europe, is the equivalent of 16 traditional antennas and allows the satellite adapt and change your coverage up to 1,000 times per second In practical terms, the satellite can not only resist jamming, but can geographically locate the source of the attack on Earth and nullify it. All this while redirecting its communication beams to the areas of operations that need it. For its part, Thales Alenia Space integrated the complete Communication Module of both satellites. To this end, it built a new state-of-the-art clean room at its Tres Cantos facilities. It is the largest satellite system ever assembled in Spain: a structure of more than two tons and six meters high. Image | Airbus In Xataka | Europe has done the only thing it could do to compete with SpaceX and China in space: merge its largest companies

offer “sun a la carte”

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Suppose you acquire the power to cancel the night in a specific place in the world. What would you use it for? It’s not a new idea. During World War II, Nazi scientists fantasized about launching mirrors into space. in order to “fry” enemy cities. Fortunately, they didn’t have the technology to do it. In the 1990s, Russia really tried with the Znamya projectwhose sole intention was to illuminate the dark cities of Siberia during the long winter. However, the experiment was short-lived: the first prototype disintegrated in the atmosphere and the second was never deployed. A new attempt. In the era of photovoltaic solar energy, the Californian company Reflect Orbital plans deploy a constellation of gigantic mirrors in orbit with a new purpose: to reflect sunlight towards large photovoltaic plants on Earth during twilight hours. In other words, offer “sun on demand” as a service to increase the production of renewable energy. The company, which has already raised $20 million, carried out successful tests with hot air balloons, and is ready to make the leap into space. Its director, Ben Nowack, sums it up like this: “We want to make it as easy as possible: you go to a website, tell us your GPS coordinates and we send you some sunlight after dark.” They have already applied to the FCC for a license to launch their first demonstration satellite in 2026, with an 18 x 18 meter mirror. In the long term, they propose deploying a fleet of 4,000 satellites with reflectors of up to 55 x 55 meters. “Catastrophic” for science. As energy companies know, solar panels stop producing electricity just when demand picks up. Reflecting sunlight from the sky can solve this intermittency, a seemingly laudable idea that doesn’t appeal to everyone. Astronomers, already fighting a tough battle against light pollution, have reacted vehemently. “The whole point of this project is to illuminate the sky and extend daylight, and obviously from an astronomical perspective, that’s pretty catastrophic,” explains Robert Masseyfrom the Royal Astronomical Society of the United Kingdom. Worse than Starlink? Unlike constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, where satellite glow is an unwanted effect that the company tries to mitigate, in the case of Reflect Orbital, light pollution is the main product. The beams of light would be four times brighter than the full moon, and would not only affect the illuminated area, because atmospheric dispersion would extend the impact to hundreds of kilometers around, according to the astronomers themselves. This would not only ruin astronomical observations, but could have devastating effects on wildlife, disrupting the circadian rhythms of countless species, experts say. Too late? The Reflect Orbital project comes at the worst possible time for astronomy. The night skies have been under siege for some time. Artificial objects in orbit have already increased the brightness of the night sky by more than 10% above natural levels, exceeding the threshold at which a place is considered “light polluted”. Satellite megaconstellations led astronomers to come together and create a common front to save the dark skies. The fear is that, if projects like Reflect Orbital succeed, there will soon be no dark corners on our planet from which to observe the universe. Hence many of the most ambitious and powerful telescopes are being deployed in space. Images | Reflect Orbital In Xataka | The Nazi plan to build a huge space mirror with which to ‘fry’ enemies and the Russian project that (almost) makes it a reality

A Google Pixel at a knockdown price, another from Xiaomi much cheaper, offers on portable consoles and more, Bargain Hunting

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We return once again with a new Bargain Hunting in which we can take advantage of to get some cheaper devices. Stores have launched many discounts, so in this article we are going to review what the best deals of the week on mobile phones, computers, televisions and more. Google Pixel 9 Pro by 679.15 eurosa top quality-price mobile phone thanks to its discount with coupon. Lenovo Legion Go by 721 eurosa portable console that is at the store’s all-time low price. Poco F7 Pro by 429.99 eurosa high-end Xiaomi mobile that has dropped in price again. HP Omen 16 by 1,199 eurosa gaming laptop with a very good configuration. Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC by 599 eurosa TV from the brand that comes with a 65-inch QLED screen. Google Pixel 9 Pro MediaMarkt right now has a wide range of discounts on Google devices thanks to the coupon 15MMGOOGLEwhich works on every product. But if what we are looking for is a good mobile, be very careful with the Google Pixel 9 Pro that has fallen to the 679.15 euros. This is an excellent and compact phone, which incorporates a very good screen and a very good set of cameras. Of course, in addition to the Google Pixel 9 Pro, we can also find many other Google devices discounted with the coupon. And not only mobile phones, but also smart watches or headphones. Google Pixel 9 Pro (128GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Lenovo Legion Go More and more we see portable consoles or consolidated laptops or PCs. This type of device has come on strong with quite powerful models, and the Lenovo Legion Go which was launched last year can now be bought cheaper. Amazon has it for 721 eurosits historical minimum price. He Lenovo Legion Go This offer includes an 8.8-inch screen, in addition to its respective AMD processor Ryzen Z1 Extreme along with 1TB of internal storage. Also comes with Windows 11 Home and with very comfortable controls. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Poco F7 Pro If you are not convinced by the price of the Google Pixel 9 Pro, Xiaomi offers an alternative in its mid-range with the new offer of the Poco F7 Pro. In the store it costs 429.99 eurosbut if we are new users we can receive a 20 euro coupon. This is a good mobile phone that incorporates a screen with 2K+ resolutionits processor is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and its battery 6,000 mAh supports 90W fast charging.- The price could vary. We earn commission from these links HP Omen 16 If what you are looking for is a good gaming laptop with a reasonable price, pay attention to the HP Omen 16 that has fallen on Amazon up to 1,199 euros. This laptop features a 16-inch screen with 2K resolution and refresh rate of up to 240 Hz, its processor is the Intel Core 7-240H, it comes with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of SSD and its graphics is a Nvidia RTX 5060. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC Finally, in recent months we have also seen quite a few discounts on televisions, and MediaMarkt right now has the Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC by 599 euros. It is not their best price and it has been at a similar price for a few weeks, but for this price we can have a TV with 65 inch QLED screen. Additionally, it includes both Alexa as Google Assistant and comes with Filmmaker mode. Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC (QLED, 65 inches) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Google, Lenovo, Xiaomi, HP, Samsung In Xataka | The best mobile phones (2025), we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

AI was supposed to free us from work. At the moment the engineers who develop it work 100 hours a week

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He impact of AI on work It fills many pages. On the one hand, it is presented as a threat to many jobs. On the other hand, a much more positive vision in which AI frees us from the burden of work so we can enjoy life. For now, what we do know for sure has been true is that the engineers who work in AI companies are working endless hours. what’s happening. We already talked about what Silicon Valley was embracing the 996th journey that China had already left behind. We are talking about twelve-hour days, six days a week, that is, 72 hours a week. Several AI engineers have in the WSJ that the days reach even 80 and even 100 hours per week, even comparing the situation with war. We are talking about large companies like OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, Anthropic or Google, all competing to be the best in the frenetic AI race. May the rhythm not stop. The innovation cycle is crazy; Almost every week new models and new tools are announced that are not made alone. In the main AI laboratories there is no rest. Josh Batson, an engineer at Anthropic, defines it in a very graphic way: “we are basically trying to compress 20 years of scientific progress into two years.” In the small startups in the valley, things don’t change much and it is becoming more and more common that people are required to work 996 in the job interviews themselves. “We do not offer conciliation,” said the CEO of one of them. The urgency of the AGI. Furthermore, there is artificial general intelligence or AGI, that superintelligence that gurus like Altman either Musk They don’t stop mentioning. Especially in the case of OpenAI, getting the AGI is already a matter of survival. It would be a perfect argument to justify the parade of stratospheric investments of the last few weeks that have fueled bubble fears. Millionaire salaries. Over the summer, Mark Zuckerberg set out on a mission: take all the AI ​​galactics to Meta. He has managed to form a team, but also that millionaire salaries raise the bar even further in the sector. Engineers are the most precious resource and must be used accordingly. The irony of the situation is that many of these engineers who are now multimillionaires practically live in the office. Waking up from sleep. Gone are the days when working at a big technology company meant having all kinds of comforts. Google, for example, was a paradise with gyms, cafes, shops… even masseuses when you needed them. The return to the offices after the pandemic was anything but paradisiacal and many of those privileges disappeared. Until when? It’s a question we ask ourselves a lot when we talk about the AI ​​career. How long will the flow of investment continue despite the fact that AI is not making money (or not enough)? And now too, until when will there be engineers willing to dedicate all their time to AI? There have been other frenetic moments in Silicon Valley, such as the app boom after the launch of the first iPhone. The difference is that this is happening in much less time. Image | Pexels In Xataka | The co-founder of OpenAI is not afraid of superintelligence: he fears that we are building “digital ghosts”

The Chinese ambition to lead each and every area of ​​the planet has found its next adversary: ​​Jaén

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In 2024, a Chinese delegation visited 154 Príncipe de Vergara Street in Madrid. A priori, one might think that it is nothing that does not occur relatively frequently in most capitals of the world. And it would be true. After all, the only strange thing about the matter is that, in that corner of the country, is the headquarters of the International Olive Council. What does China look like in the international olive oil market? It’s a surprisingly simple question. The ‘Asian giant’ is a leader in many things, but there is one in which it is nobody: oil. According to the statistics we haveChina represents only 4% of world oil imports. Despite the enormous amount of vegetable oils that Beijing devours, the olive is an inconsequential product on a social, economic and cultural level. However, none of that data interests us. The key is another: that consumption is expected to grow at 7% annually and that, in the medium term, are big words. And China knows it. That is why, while the international market continues to lurch, Beijing has already designed a plan to become a mixed player (it not only wants a role in marketing, but also a producer willing to sit at the table of the elders). This would not only give it a margin of security (and independence) in the country’s food policy, it would also allow it to reinforce its commitment to the modernization of rural China. And what are you going to do for it? Planting olive trees as if there were no tomorrow and learning from the best for it. Right now, the heart of Chinese production is around Longnanin Gansu province. In the Wudu district alone it has twice as many hectares as Almería and produced 56,900 tons of fresh olives in 2024 (about 8,200 of virgin oil). But the focus now It is located in Sichuan: It is a province with inland valleys, medium altitude and a climate that fits the Mediterranean olive tree like a glove. The province already had scattered plantations, but now it is destined to become the “new Jaén.” Oh really? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? It is true that in Sichuan the orography is complex, that there may be more humidity than optimal and the mechanization costs will be high; however, the California experience (and its high-density models) is there. And if anyone can achieve it, it is precisely China. And it seems like he wants to. Or, at least, there are signs that he is going to keep all options open. As the Californian olive grove demonstrates, building a country brand is something that takes a long time. You can’t improvise. But it seems undeniable that they are getting the bases of it. It is not free for Chinese producers have already achieved win international awards. These are the first steps of what may be the only adversary that Spain will encounter on this path. Image | Vincent Eisfeld | Li Yang In Xataka | The very high oil prices are a symptom of something worse: a sector on the way to disaster

The connected glasses look like a lot of fun. Until they force you to wear them at work

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amazon he doesn’t trust his workers. It has never done so, and this is demonstrated by the measures that have been filtered and that served the same purpose: to monitor them and prevent productivity from dropping. Some control is reasonable, without a doubt, but this company stopped being that a long time ago and became in a nonsense. We are talking about a company that patented a wristband to find out if employees relax and they start to work a little less. Which was discovered to have automated tracking systems to evaluate productivity rates of each worker. Which used AI cameras to monitor delivery vans and drivers during 100% of the journey. that ended receiving fines due to this strenuous monitoring and had to change the algorithm that penalized productivity data for going to the bathroom. A company in which some employees they had to urinate in bottles to avoid wasting time and others said that working at Amazon was like being in a prison. Augmented reality glasses to work better… Well, now Amazon is working on augmented reality glasses that will follow the line of the Meta Ray-Ban Display. They are likely working on a version for end users, but what the company has officially confirmed is that I was developing some glasses for your messengers. After delivery, the courier will take a photo by pressing a button… which apparently is not on the glasses themselves. With them, they indicate in the press release, couriers will be able to “identify dangers, reach the customer’s door without problems and improve deliveries.” The glasses make use of AI, artificial vision, cameras and sensors to offer all their options to couriers. Thus, when a courier arrives at a delivery location, the glasses are activated and the courier has information about the package to be delivered on the display (a monochrome HUD with information in green). This same HUD allows you to follow navigation instructions similar to those of GPS navigators – but with a much more schematic design – to find the client’s home. The courier will also take a photo to confirm the delivery and can share it as a demonstration of that delivery if there are problems. …and to monitor workers more than ever The company is testing a prototype with the help of hundreds of couriers in the US, and is collecting information and feedback from those “beta testers” in order to refine the product. On paper, these glasses may seem like a useful aid for drivers, but it is inevitable to think that they also They can be used for much more exhaustive monitoring and control of those drivers and messengers. Thanks to this device, Amazon will, for example, have absolute control over the location of the couriers and their productivity when delivering packages. Are they fast or slow? Do they make mistakes? Here the border between supporting technology and that which allows for labor control is blurred. It is true that it provides advantages in terms of efficiency and even security, but the amount and precision of the data collected by glasses like this raises questions about worker privacy and, once again, the degree to which Amazon can supervise its employees. And like her, of course, many other companies that may also end up making this type of device a mandatory element for employees. In the EU, however, it seems more complicated that this type of wearables can be used: there are legal precedents that years ago already posed a clear obstacle to this type of monitoring, but it remains to be seen if these measures are finally also adopted among EU workers. In Xataka | The temperature in an Amazon warehouse was too high to work. So the company faked the thermometers

has just taken the first step to receive up to 150 European Gripen fighters

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The aerial board of the war in Ukraine has just added a new piece. Sweden and Ukraine have subscribed a letter of intent that could lead to the possible export of between 100 and 150 Gripen fighters. There is still no signed agreement, but there is a powerful political signal: Stockholm joins the effort to reinforce the Ukrainian air defense in the long term, with a commitment that combines military cooperation and European technology. Since the beginning of the conflict with RussiaUkraine has tried to reinforce an air force that still depends on a hybrid fleet, made up of Soviet-designed fighters adapted with technology from its allies. The arrival of the first F-16 and Mirage 2000 represented progress, but the number of units remains limited and a good part is destined to the training of pilots in Europe. Modernized MiG-29s continue being the operational core of its fleet. kyiv is looking for more planes, and above all, planes with a future. A starting point, not a contract. The document signed in Linköping does not commit immediate deliveries, but it does set a clear direction. Sweden and Ukraine have agreed to cooperate on the development of air capabilities and explore the possible export of between 100 and 150 Gripen fighters. For Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson it is “a step towards a large-scale agreement” with which Sweden aims to promote the modernization of Ukrainian aviation and strengthen European defense as a whole. From signing to training. Before talking about deliveries, Sweden and Ukraine will launch a military cooperation framework focused on training and knowledge transfer. Kristersson confirmed that the goal is for the first Gripen fighters to be incorporated from 2028, as long as conditions allow. In addition to the eventual export, Stockholm seeks that this collaboration promotes a lasting relationship in defense matters and reinforces interoperability between European forces. Made to fly where others can’t. The Gripen has one advantage that sets it apart: it was designed to operate in difficult conditions, even from improvised roads or runways. Its maintenance is fast and can be carried out with reduced personnel, without highly specialized engineers. In total, kyiv has committed around 85 F-16 fighters from different European countries. The Netherlands contributes 24 units, Denmark 19 and Norway 14 mores, in addition to another 10 destined for spare parts. Belgium has announced the shipment of 30 devices additional. The obstacles that remain to be cleared. The path to a final agreement depends on both political and industrial factors. Sweden must authorize the export of defense material and guarantee that its industry can absorb an order for up to 150 aircraft. At the same time, Ukraine will have to train crews, adapt its infrastructure and secure funds to sustain the operation. For now, the Gripen remains a promise in the planning phase. Images | saab | Volodymyr Zelenskyy In Xataka | Ukraine accelerates the assault on Russia with an unprecedented army of robots: they are aquatic, carry rocket launchers and are lethal if stopped

Madrid has been filled with great fortunes and not by chance: it has known how to play its fiscal cards better than anyone

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During the last decade, Madrid has become the epicenter of money in Spain. Not only does it concentrate the headquarters of large companies and banks, but it has also become a magnet for large international and national fortunes. According to a study published by Fernando Rodrigo Sauco from the University of Zaragoza, based on the latest data from the Tax Agency, 41.9% of taxpayers with assets exceeding three million euros live in the Community of Madrid, compared to 22% who resides in Catalonia. A tax shelter within Spain. The high-net-worth migration trend analyzed in the study is not new, but it has intensified over the years. Since 2011, thousands of large fortunes have moved their tax residence to Madrid. The main reason why millionaires have gathered in the capital It is due to a more permissive tax policy with large wealth groups and the network effect of living close to where the wealth is concentrated. business and financial activity. What began as a tax difference has become a true geography of money within Spain. In Xataka 64% of Spaniards believe that they pay more in taxes than they receive from the State. It’s actually the other way around The rich live in Madrid or Catalonia. The report data indicates that 58.3% of the 1% of the richest population in Spain reside in Madrid (32.51%) and Catalonia (25.8%). Further away we find the Valencian Community, with a census of 9.76% of the country’s great fortunes, and Andalusia with 6.71%. However, if the bar is raised to the highest decile of the ultra-rich population –rich among the richest— which corresponds to 0.1% of the population, then the concentration is even more pronounced, with 68.59% of these great fortunes residing in one of the two communities, but the differences are beginning to be appreciated. In Madrid the percentage of ultra-rich increases up to the aforementioned 41.9, while in Catalonia they only amount to 26.69%. The presence of these ultra-rich residents in other communities remains more or less in the same proportions as that of the rich, with 8.2% in the Valencian Community and 6.31% in Andalusia. In Xataka Tell me where you live and I will tell you how much money you have: this is how wealth is distributed in the neighborhoods and municipalities of Spain Rooting conditioning. The study analyzes the conditions that can be decisive for a great fortune decide to pack your bags and move to the capital. This is what the study calls “migration elasticity” and defines, for example, the number of millionaires who would move if a certain tax (such as wealth tax) increased by 1% more or was reduced by the same proportion. In summary, what weight would taxation have in the decision over other factors such as roots, family, language or public services. In this context, until fiscal 2023Madrid maintained a 100% bonus on the wealth tax, which in practice means that the great fortunes residing in that community They did not pay that tribute. In the rest of the country, the tax can reach up to 3.5% of net assets. Added to this is a somewhat lower personal income tax in the upper brackets and the absence of inheritance tax for direct inheritances. Therefore, taxation gained weight in the decision to change residence. {“videoId”:”x8k9arv”,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”You could be LOSING MONEY with your 2022 INCOME RETURN”, “tag”:”Webedia-prod”, “duration”:”402″} A paradigm shift. The result of this tax policy that is friendly to large assets has been clear: between 2011 and 2015, more than 6,000 large fortunes moved to Madrid. According to the study, that flow remained constant over the next decade. However, in 2023 a differentiating factor came into play, the effects of which are not yet known: the entry into force of the temporary solidarity tax on large fortunes. This new tax applied a rule in which, with the excuse of avoiding double taxation, the State began to collect wealth tax that the communities that had it subsidized were not collecting. According to a report According to the Tax Agency, the 27.6% of large fortunes who paid the Wealth Tax in 2022 rose to 99% in 2023. Skyrocketing its collection in Madrid and Andalusia, where it was previously subsidized. That is to say, that tax advantage that previously conditioned the concentration of capital in Madrid has been diluted. In a few years we will see if this paradigm shift once again conditions the residence of the great fortunes. In Xataka | How much money do you need to be among the richest 1% in Spain Image | Unsplash (Manoa Angelo) (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); } })(); – The news Madrid has been filled with great fortunes and not by chance: it has known how to play its fiscal cards better than anyone was originally published in Xataka by Ruben Andres .

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