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In World War II, the British were looking for an antibunker bomb. So they copied a Disney idea

June 28, 2025 by usatoday24

The morning of last Sunday, June 22, The United States deployed its B-2 With a mission: launch, for the first time, its new MOP pumps on Iranian bases. These mass bombs have a single function: eX PLACE IN Underground Bases And, despite being avant -garde armamentits technology began to be tested decades ago, in the Second World War. It was the British who developed a bomb capable of bursting a bunker, and their inspiration came from the most unexpected place. A Disney movie. Need. It is in the war when the brightest minds of each country gather to invent new ways of killing. Even if they don’t know what the consequences of their creations will be. The World War I It was a period of Technological Revolutionthe second more of the same and In the Cold War The Explosion of nuclear bombs (and almost that of chickens). In short: each country in conflict wants have the “fattest” bomb. In the mid -2GM, the British sought a powerful bomb, but with a more concrete objective than that of causing all possible damage: they wanted something capable of advising a blow to the bunkers heart and Nazi submarine factories. Thus, they developed the Tallboy and the Grand Slampumps of five and ten tons respectively designed to hit near the target, penetrate the earth, exploit and cause damage to the shock waves transmitted through the ground. The idea was good, but they still needed something more concrete than those “earthquake” bombs. And then, someone saw this propaganda movie of Disney: Drawing pump. Leaving aside that you could keep your mouth open because … yes, that Disney produced ithe who saw the short was Edward Terrellof the Royal Reserve of Naval Volunteers. It is said that, after watching the film, Terrell and other officers, they would ask if it would be possible to design a bomb that directly crossed the concrete and destroy objectives such as the Nazi submarinesas seen in one of the frames, instead of waiting for the expansive wave of an earthquake to damage the underground base. In September 1943, engineers got to work while the viability of the pump was discussed. There were those who opposed, but Churchill was approved and, there, the development began. Edward Terrell and two other RAF officers with a Disney bomb Promising. The Disney pump, baptized Officially as “4,500 pump assisted by rocket to drill concrete” (‘Disney bomb’ has much more stuck, where we are going to stop) it was massive not so much because of the dimensions, but because of the weight and its explosive capacity. With just over five meters long and 43 centimeters in diameter, it had a weight of 2,000 kilos. As his name indicated, he was driven by RP-3 rockets And as an explosive it was loaded with 230 kilos of ‘Shellite‘, a mixture designed during World War I. Thrown from Boeing B-17 or B-29 aircraft, its operation was simple: to boost with the rockets to reach a speed of more than 1,500 km/h, penetrate everything possible due to accumulated kinetic energy and detonate late within the installation. In addition, its maximum penetration was about 5 meters of reinforced concrete, enough to cause great damage to enemy structures. Afternoon, too late. The bomb was promising, but it took too long. They began to develop late (when they had the idea, go) and that caused that it was not ready until almost the end of the conflict. In January 1945 they carried out some tests and, although the bomb was British, it was the United States Air Force that had of it. Between February and April 1945 they launched a total of 158 Disney bombs against bunkers and submarine factories in Germany. A clear objective was Valentin, a U-Bats factory That it was about to be completed, something that the allies could not allow and managed to cause damage to the target with armor 4.5 meters thick, but had a trick: it had already been previously damaged by the Grand Slam bombs of the British. A fair shotgun. The Disney bomb was a disaster for two reasons. The first and most obvious is that it came very late and attacks on underwater bases did not mean a real difference in the outcome of the conflict in the European territory. But, in addition, they failed. During the Valentin bunker attack More than 60 pumps were launched, but only one directly impacted and, as we say, the damages caused were preceded by the explosions of the British bombs thrown days before. For more inri, in evidence during the years after World War II with controlled releases in the Helgoland Islandof 76 bombs released, it was discovered that the lighting of the rockets failed in 37% of the cases, very limiting the penetrating power of the projectile. In addition, some bombs exploited prematurely and would not serve to achieve the objectives. Yes one thing was discovered: the maximum penetration of 5.08 meters in concrete. The MOP, Disney’s legacy. In the end, between technical, tactical and temporary problems, the efficacy of the Disney pump was extremely limited, but it is clear that it represented an important technological advance in the Antibunker war. So much that he laid the foundations for future penetration weapons. And of those rains, these sludge, as they say. The GBU-57A/B. launched by the US against Iran is the latest technology of the MOP bombs, or ‘Massive Ordnance Penetrator’. The big difference with the Disney pump is that this huge 6.25 meters long projectile and the FRIOLERA OF 13,600 KILOS (2,400 of them are explosives) Yes it works, also penetrating up to 60 meters of concrete. And another difference is that it is launched from such high (12 kilometers from a B-2) that does not need engine, since it is gaining speed as it falls, being very precise thanks to its laser guidance. In short, technology that is not so much of science fiction and that shows that we are great … Read more

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

June 19, 2025 by usatoday24

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

When the British wanted to terrorize the Nazis during World War II, they chose a peculiar weapon: pump rats

June 15, 2025 by usatoday24

Think about the Second World War is to think of large -scale battles, tremendous operations and epic skirmishes. And, although it is true that there were imposing deeds, we are also tremendously influenced by cinema and video games. Because doing one spy movie or a ‘Save Soldier Ryan‘is’ easy’, but … and one above the inflatable tanks or of pigeons piloting missiles? That is more complicated. Because, In a moment of despaireverything goes. And if the Americans gave them to devise a bomb -loaded bomb To set the Japanese houses, the British be occurred Something that looks like a joke, but that made a lot of sense: filling rats with plastic explosive and waiting to be triggered in Nazis facilities. The Germans They were caught at firstbut far from being a fudge, it turns out that discovering the pump rats was what made the operation a success. Exploding Kittens Rats 1941 was a key year in the Second World War. The Nazis gave the green light to the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States entered the war officially and began the Mass deportation of Jews to the extermination fields. There were too many open fronts and the war had just become a global phenomenon, but the British wore years fighting the Nazis. The first quarter was crazy, with bombings of the British to German possessions and intense German bombings in English territory, attacking cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and, above allLondon, who for almost two months He suffered night bombings. Apart from in the air, the war was fought on land, and one of the plans of British intelligence revolved around the industrial sabotage. Damaging the factories, Germany would lose war power, it is evident. Thus, the British Special Operations Office, or SOE for its acronym in English, devised a strategy which would consist in wasteing pump rats near German infrastructure. They would not put a “backpack” pump to the rat and leave it free out there, no: the plan It consisted In getting dead rats, open them on the channel, empty them, fill them with plastic explosive, place a detonator that would come out for what would be the anus and strategically locate each animal near the boilers of the factories and key buildings of the Nazis. The goal? That when a worker found a rat, he directly threw it into that boiler, turning on the wick and causing the structure to fly through the air, interrupting the Nazi war machine. That said, the truth is that it was a brilliant plan because it was easy to think that workers would not bury the animal or throw it out there, since it could spread diseases, that cremation in the boiler being as fast. And they got with a hundred of them. There was a problem: the Nazis intercepted the first sending of explosive rats before they were deployed. Far from thinking that the plan failed, it turns out that The caught was much more effective that what they could have achieved if the rats had managed to be thrown into the boilers. And the reason is obvious: the Nazis, when discovering the Artimañathey wondered how many explosive rats before that interception they could have placed the British. That sowed a more explosive doubt than the rat itself because the Nazis launched campaigns to search for similar devices and, if they found a dead rat, began to tremble. Would it be a rat or a pump? Although any exploded, the operation was never considered a psychological success for the general paranoia that caused in the German ranks. The possibility of such unconventional sabotage forced the Nazis to divert resources to counteract similar threats. In the official SOE archives, they detail that the device “caused considerable problems to the enemy, but not quite in the way it was intended.” In the end, it was an effective form of psychological war because there were Germans trying to counteract a non -existent threat. As concluded Soe himself, “the problem that rats caused to the Nazis was a much greater success for us than if the rats had really been used.” Today is an anecdote or an object of collecting, like the main image rat, sold In 2017 for more than $ 1,800. Also as a much less crazy idea than those of those pilot pigeons … or that of the incendiary bats. Images | Charles Merrell, The National Archives, Bonhams In Xataka | 80 years ago the US threw a bomb in Japan that nobody agreed again. He has just exploded at an airport

The British who lost 700 million in Bitcoins when he threw his album has just achieved what anyone saw coming: his own series

June 5, 2025 by usatoday24

In the world there is only one hard drive that nobody has been able to find, but many remember. Contains between 7,500 and 8,000 bitcoins and, According to its owneris buried under tons of garbage in a Newport landfill, Wales. James Howells It has been trying to recover it for more than a decade because its digital assets exceed 700 million euros. He has not succeeded. However, its story is now more valuable than ever: an American producer has bought exclusive rights to turn it into docuserie, podcast and, if everything goes as planned, also into content for social networks. Howells is a computer engineer. He lives in Wales and has been obsessed for years with the idea of recovering that device, which ensures that he keeps the private keys of a digital fortune generated in 2009, when the price of cryptocurrency had not yet risen. At that time, Bitcoin was a newborn experiment. It used to undermine from domestic computers and its value was so low that no one imagined what it would be. Howells was one of the first to get on that wave, and also one of the first to lose everything without having sold anything. A landfill, a digital fortune and an obsession without end to view As told the Guradian years agomore than a decade ago, while cleaning at home, confused hard drives. He threw the wrong. Shortly after, seeing how the price of Bitcoin raised, he realized what he had done. “Do you know when you throw something in the trash and you think ‘it’s a bad idea’? It really happened to me,” he told the newspaper. Since then he is convinced that the device ended up in the Docksway Municipal Villagemanaged by the Newport City Council. And since then, he has also tried to recover it by all possible means. Over the years he has presented different proposals to find the album. In 2022 came to raise an operation of 10.7 million euros To execute with a team of data recovery specialists, environmental engineers and specific machinery. Its plan included the use of artificial intelligence, a robotic arm to sift waste and even Boston Dynamic robot dogss. He also offered part of the money with the authorities and the citizens of Newport. But nothing worked. Authorities have always refused. They allege that environmental risks are too high, that the operation does not guarantee results and that the public cost, in case of failure, would be unassumable. In January 2025the British Superior Court rejected the claim of Howells, claiming that There was no “realistic possibilities” successful Shortly after, the resource was also dismissed. Howells represented himself in the view, using AI tools to prepare his case. It was not enough. Now plan Bring the case to the European Court of Human Rights. And meanwhile, consider another option: Buy the landfill. The City Council has announced that it will close during the 2025–2026 year and plans to convert part of the land in a solar park. For Howells, that decision disassembled one of the key arguments used against him in court: to suspend the activity of the landfill to dig would cause damage to the neighbors. If the closure is already underway, he maintains, there should be no more obstacles. He says he talked to investors and ensures that he has support to acquire the installation “as it is.” This whole route is the one that has captured the attention of Lebula producer based in Los Angeles specialized in multiplatform stories. As we point out above, he has acquired the exclusive rights of Howells’s history to develop what they have entitled ‘The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells‘, a project that will combine different formats and channels. The objective is not only to tell the past, but also to follow in real time the next steps of the protagonist. The initiative includes “a premium format docuserie”, a narrative Póstcast and a short content strategy for social platforms. Lebul defines the project as “a live treasure search” that mixes technology, judicial drama and personal ambition with a very current backdrop: the promise of cryptocurrencies. As explained by the company, CGI effects and high -level narrative resources will be used to recreate the key moments of history and show the technical plan proposed by Howells. “This is not just content,” said Reese Van Allen, president of Unscripted Entertainment in Lebul. “It is a real -acting technological thriller With almost one billion dollars at stake, and Lebul is proud to bring it to the world. “The company affirms that the project has already aroused the interest of streaming platforms, global sponsors and relevant figures of the crypto ecosystem. At the moment, however, we do not know what service we could see, if it becomes a reality. “After seeing the documentary, people will understand that it is not crazy” Filming is scheduled for the summer of 2025, with an estimated premiere between October and November. The producer has also confirmed that the story will include the purchase attempt of the landfill, the last judicial failures and the current state of the conflict with the City Council. For Howells, this project represents a unique opportunity: “It is the first time that I will be able to clearly teach what we want to do in the landfill. After seeing the documentary, people will understand that it is not crazy,” told the BBC. The case has caught the attention of dozens of producers over the years. According to Howells himself, He received more than 200 proposalsincluding some winners of the Bafta and the Emmy. Until now he always said it was not the time. The legal battles were open, and the story still had no shape. Lebul’s announcement marks a change. For the first time, its history becomes a media project with calendar, budget and ambitions digital distribution. Is the hard drive really there? Is it still intact after more than a decade underground? Will you keep private … Read more

Argentina fought the British missiles with a paste machine

March 19, 2025 by usatoday24

Battles and wars always leave winners and defeated, but in some cases they occur Unexpected surprises due to the apparent advantage of some and the surprising outcome with the victory of the other. There are stories like the The Invasion of the United Kingdom trying to conquer Tenerife without knowing what was inside. The one that occurred in Malvinas had the expected endbut what nobody could imagine is what Argentina was going to defend. An unequal war. The FALVINAS WAR (1982) faced the Argentine Air Force (FAA) against the United Kingdom in a conflict where British technological superiority It was more than evident. While Be British Harrier They had advanced radars and missiles AIM-9 SidewinderArgentine airplanes lacked radar alert systems and electronic countermeasures. Moreover, the A-4 Skyhawk, Mirage III, Dagger and Canberra they operated without self -defense systems against radar -guided missiles, such as the Be dartlaunched from British destroyers. The pilot Pablo Carballo, veteran of Malvinas, He explained years later To a United States Air Force officer that Argentine pilots were not afraid when a radar alert receptor was activated because their planes simply did not have one. That lack of equipment left FAA with a single option: resort to ingenuity to create its own countermeasures. Electronic countermeasures. The so -called Like Chaffused from World War II, consists of metal strips that enemy radars saturate With false signals. It would be something like the measures/lures against electronic of our time. Plus: Argentina had detailed information about British radars, since the Navy operated two Type 42 destroyersHMS Sheffield twins. With a “but”: the FAA did not have an industry developed to produce large -scale Chaff, so they turned to the most improvised media. Be British Harrier The secret is in the pasta. The first production attempts began in the Military Air Base (BAM) Comodoro Rivadavia In May 1982. By not having specialized equipment, a group of officers devised a rudimentary method: Students recruited from the province of Entre Ríos to cut hand -to -cut strips. The problem? Production was insufficient. As they counted In The War Zoneit was then that a technical noncommissioned officer proposed an unusual solution: use a Industrial Machine for Pasta and noodles. That machine, borrowed from the Napoli pasta factory, had blades of the exact size to cut the aluminum strips efficiently. Thus, the team worked 24 hours a day for a week to make enough Chaff that could be used in combat. Deployment and difficulties. With the insured production, methods to launch the chaff were improvised from the airplanes. In it Mirage III and Dagger rolled chaff strips in packages wrapped in toilet paper and adhesive tape, which then They placed in the aerofrenos of the airplanes. This had a problem: the pilots opened the aerofrenos during the flight to maneuver, which could make the Chaff disperse before being useful. For The C-130 HerculesChaff was placed in bags tied with three -meter strings, which were thrown manually from the rear doors to create an interference curtain against enemy radars. Finally, with the Canberra MK 62 It was with the only unit that a partially successful system was used. Seven pitchers were installed in the back, with cartridges containing Chaff and Bengals. A Douglas A-4 Skyhawk of the Argentine Air Force in 1982 The “D” day. Thus, on June 2, 1982, the system was approved in a A-4C Skyhawk with launches from different altitudes, although No effective results were achieved. Other attempts included the use of FFAR rockets to disperse Chaff and the modification of Shafrir Missiles 2although none was really viable. Use in combat. On May 1, 1982, during a mission of bombing on the British forces, three Canberra MK 62 took from Trelew with the Chaff system and flares. The pilot Eduardo García Puebla reported how He managed to avoid Two missiles AIM-9L Sidewinder launched by a Sea Harrier thanks to the use of the improvised system. However, another Canberra failed to activate his flares and was shot down by a British missile. Days later, another Canberra was destroyed by a missile Be dart of HMS Cardiff without even having deployed Chaff. It is not clear if the countermeasures were really effective in some other episode, mainly because the British reports did not mention deviated missiles by these techniques (and it is very possible that they did not even know). The legacy. The end of the contest It is known (Although never It has ended at all). After 74 days of battle certainly unequal, the United Kingdom recovered the Falkland Islands. The conflict ended exactly on June 14, 1982 with Argentine surrender. However, FAA’s attempt to use chaff manufactured by hand With a pasta machine It is a testimony of ingenuity and determination in conditions of technological inferiority. Although the system had rather limited results, it demonstrates how in war the resources available can become improvised solutions. For the history of the contests, the only known conflict where a pasta machine was part of the military countermeasures. Image | Argentina.gob.ar, Magic Madzik, Us Defenseimagery In Xataka | There is a reason why the Canary Islands is not British: the day that United Kingdom invaded Tenerife without knowing what was inside In Xataka | The “longest war in history” faced a town in Granada and Denmark. The reason: a 172 -year -old forgetfulness

The plan of a British company to revolutionize the sector

February 24, 2025 by usatoday24

The future of nuclear energy is aimed at not depending on huge fixed facilities, but on floating plants, capable of moving and adapting to the needs of the moment. In fact, the company that It started is revolutionCore Power, wants to take a step further. Short. The main challenge of nuclear reactors are high costs and long construction times in fixed infrastructure. Therefore, Core Power has announced The development of floating nuclear plants with a modular and mobile design. In addition, they have gone a step further using an advanced fourth generation reactor based on molten salts, with the intention of building these mass units and offering nuclear energy more flexible and efficiently. Market from 2030. although the reactor of molten salts It began to develop in 1950, now thanks to its compact and mechanically simple design characteristics, it is consolidating for floating nuclear energy. In addition, this type of reactor offers several advantages in front of traditional models: its modular design allows mass manufacturing, which could significantly reduce costs and construction time. It should be added that molten salts reactors operate at higher but atmospheric temperatures, which makes them more secure and easy to maintain. Safer. This type of reactors has a passive cooling system, which does not depend on external pumps. In case of emergency, it cools naturally without the need for human intervention. They also do not require pressurization, which still increases plus operational security. Nuclear fuels can also be recycled or filtered from the molten and automatically replaced liquid, which makes the reactor need for refueling during its useful life. Floating nuclear. Being installed in ships does not have the bureaucratic complications associated with obtaining construction permits and fixed areas. By this way, floating plants can be placed near areas of maximum energy demand, ensuring a constant electricity supply. And if the energy needs of a region change or if the political climate becomes unstable, these floating centrals can be disconnected and moved to another area. This design is not only flexible in terms of location, but also in terms of functions. In addition to generating electricity, floating plants can be used to desalination water and produce green hydrogen. The challenges. Despite the great advantages, this type of technology faces several challenges. One of the main is the high initial cost of development and construction, because the required investment is significantly higher. However, mass production will reduce long -term costs. In addition, there are still doubts about the viability of long -term maintenance and the possible technical problems derived from the use of these plants in the maritime environment. Another aspect to consider is public acceptance and international regulations. Although floating plants do not need traditional permits for fixed nuclear plants, they could still face regulatory barriers in different countries. Regulations on safety, maritime safety and nuclear waste management could complicate the global implementation of this technology. Forecasts Despite the ambition of the project, the truth is that the real impact of this technology is yet to be seen. In addition to generating electricity, these plants could play an important role in commercial propulsion and help in other areas as you mention the desalination and production of green hydrogen. Time will tell if these innovative solutions can really transform the global energy panorama while minimizing the environmental impacts that traditionally They are associated with nuclear energy. Image | Core Power Xataka | The future of energy is floating in the Arctic: the ace under Russia’s sleeve is a nuclear plant

The intentions of the United Kingdom with Apple are a nightmare for privacy. That of the British and that of the whole world

February 10, 2025 by usatoday24

With the security excuse, the United Kingdom has demanded from Apple to open an intentional gap in the privacy of its users that could have severe global consequences. Why is it important. The British government order would force Apple to create a universal access rear door to ICloud. That would not only compromise the security and privacy of British users: it would affect those around the world. The context. The British government has secretly ordered Apple to create a mechanism that allows access to all the encrypted content that any Apple user rises to the cloud, regardless of its location. He has revealed it The Washington Post citing their own sources. Between the lines. The British demand goes far beyond punctual collaboration with justice: it seeks to have total and permanent access to user encrypted data. We had never seen anything like that in a western democracy. What will happen now? It is an enigma, but there is a scenario that seems very likely: if this goes ahead, Apple will surely stop offering encryption storage in the United Kingdom rather than compromise global security. The order is based on the controversial Law of Investigation Powers of 2016, known as “Fake letter“ The law prohibits Apple to reveal the existence of this order or warn its users. The threat. If the United Kingdom gets this access, other countries could demand the same privilege, and that would create a domino effect that would load privacy as we know it. All world’s iPhone users would have a strainer on their phone. The battle for digital privacy always to two irreconcilable visions: National Security that governments claim The protection of data that defend technological ones. The following will be to see how Apple responds to this request, what options they have left and how it protects the privacy of its users if British legislation is reached that raises such an invasive scenario. In Xataka | Apple’s metamorphosis: from the minimalist catalog to calculated maximalism Outstanding image | Pexels, Xataka with Mockuuups Studio

Timeline of Prince Harry’s lawsuit against tabloids for phone hacking and intrusion

January 23, 2025 by usatoday24

LONDON — Prince Harry’s lawsuit against The Sun concluded dramatically on Wednesday with an apology from the newspaper’s publisher for “serious intrusion” and illegal activities over a 15-year period. The settlement, which includes a “substantial” damages award for Harry, is the latest dramatic twist in two decades of legal drama over the ruthless practices of the British press in the days when newspapers sold millions of copies and shaped the popular conversation. The scandal destroyed a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch and cost the tycoon hundreds of millions of dollars to settle lawsuits from former tabloids. It also fueled Harry’s quest to tame the British press, which he blames for dividing his family, tarnishing his life and harassing both his late mother, Princess Diana, and his wife, Meghan Markle. Below is a chronology of the legal dispute: November 2005: Murdoch’s Sunday tabloid News of the World reports that Prince William has a knee injury. A complaint from Buckingham Palace sparks a police investigation which reveals that information for the story came from a voicemail that was tapped. January 2007: Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator who worked for the News of the World, is sentenced to six months in prison and the newspaper’s editor, Clive Goodman, to four months for tapping royal advisers’ phones to listen to messages left by William and others. Goodman later admits to hacking William’s phone 35 times and that of his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton—now Princess of Wales—more than 150 times. Murdoch’s company initially maintains that the illicit behavior was the work of two rogue employees who acted without the editors’ knowledge. January 2011: British police are reopening an investigation into phone hacking by tabloids after the News of the World says it has found “significant new information”. April 2011: News of the World admits responsibility for phone hacking. The following month, he agrees to pay actress Sienna Miller £100,000 to settle an espionage claim. Murdoch’s News Corp. has since paid to settle claims by dozens of celebrities, politicians, athletes and others against News of the World and its sister tabloid, The Sun, although it has never accepted responsibility for the hack by The Sun. July 2011: The Guardian newspaper reports that News of the World journalists tapped the phone of Milly Dowler, a murdered 13-year-old schoolgirl, while police were searching for her in 2002. The revelation causes public outrage and prompts Murdoch to close the News of the World. , 168 years old. November 2012: A media ethics inquiry led by a judge and ordered by then-Prime Minister David Cameron concludes that the “scandalous” behavior of some in the press had “wreaked havoc on the lives of innocent people whose rights and freedoms have been disregarded.” . Judge Brian Leveson recommends the creation of a strong press watchdog, backed by government regulation. Their findings have been partially implemented. October 2013: Former News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks are on trial alongside several other defendants at London’s Central Criminal Court on charges of phone hacking and illegal payments to officials. After an eight-month trial, Coulson is convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Brooks is acquitted. She is now chief executive of Murdoch’s British newspaper business. December 2015: England’s attorney general says there will be no further criminal cases against Murdoch’s UK company or its employees, or against 10 people under investigation by rival Mirror Group Newspapers, including former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan. Both companies continue to pay to settle espionage lawsuits. 2019 onwards: Prince Harry launches lawsuits against three newspaper groups: Murdoch’s News Group, Mirror Group and Associated Newspapers. He alleges that stories about his student years, teenage antics, and relationships with girlfriends were obtained through wiretapping, wiretapping, deception, and other forms of illegal intrusion. February 2021: Harry’s wife, Meghan, wins an invasion of privacy lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers over the publication of a 2018 letter she wrote to her father. June 2023: Harry testifies in his case against the Mirror Group, becoming the first British royal in over a century to appear in the witness box. December 2023: Enrique wins his case against the Mirror Group when a judge rules that the Mirror newspapers had hired private investigators to snoop on personal information and engaged in illegal phone hacking for more than a decade. He is awarded legal costs and £140,000 in damages. February 2024: Mirror Group agrees to pay Enrique’s legal costs and undisclosed damages to resolve outstanding claims. Enrique says he feels vindicated and promises: “Our mission continues.” January 21, 2025: The trial is about to begin in the lawsuits by Enrique and former Labor Party lawmaker Tom Watson against The Sun. They are the only two remaining among dozens of plaintiffs after others accepted legal settlements rather than face potentially ruinous legal bills. The trial is delayed as attorneys for both sides say they have been conducting intense negotiations over a settlement. January 22, 2025: Both parties announce agreement, News Group Newspapers offers “a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for The Sun’s serious intrusion between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of illegal activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.” Enrique’s lawyer, David Sherborne, calls it a “monumental victory” and declares: “The time for reckoning has come.” Enrique’s case against Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail, is ongoing.

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