china

China is intractable in the electric car race, and is on its way to repeating with load trucks

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The conquest of China in terms of electric cars has been noted over the last years, with A special thrust in Europe that has put the entire industry in suspense. But they are not the only type of vehicle with which it intends to conquer the globe. They also have a great presence their merchandise trucks. And is that Byd, manufacturer who has broken like nobody in the automobile sector, already sends electric charge trucks to Italy, Poland, Spain, and even Mexico, along with eight other Chinese companies that dominate the global market. Chinese brands monopolized 80% of the 90,000 world sales of electric charge trucks last year, according to The International Energy Agency. Why does this matter now. As they share from Rest of the WorldCO₂ emissions of heavy vehicles have grown almost 3% annually between 2000 and 2018, and trucks represent 80% of that increase. Its enormous environmental impact converts the electrification of merchandise transport into a key piece for global climatic objectives. And China has understood that there is a huge business opportunity. A domain with origin. China’s advantage does not arise from nothing. According to They share From the middle, it is born from a 15 -year government campaign in which commercial vehicles deal with as national priority, forcing manufacturers to produce electric vehicles as a percentage of their total production. Meanwhile, Western countries have limited themselves to offering tax credits to individual buyers. The result? In China, electric trucks They knead 22% of the heavy vehicle market In the first half of 2025. In Europe they represent only 1% of sales, and in India only 280 long -distance electrical trucks from a total of 834,578 commercial vehicles were sold. Profitability is no longer a promise. Chinese fleet operators report that their electric trucks cost between 10% and 26% less operate than diesel models, according to The commercial consultant Vehicle World. Catl, the largest worldwide electrical battery manufacturer, assures that its batteries reduce transport costs by 35% per ton-kilometer. These data have led to manufacturers such as Sany Group to predict That between 70% and 80% of the Chinese heavy truck market will be electric in a few years. The solution of the recharge problem. A typical load truck needs approximately a megavatio-hora of battery capacity, ten times what a Tesla Model 3. While in Europe truckers have mandatory breaks of 45 minutes every 4.5 hours (A time that can be used to load the truck), in markets such as Brazil or India commercial drivers usually drive between 10 and 18 hours in a row. China has resolved this dilemma through battery exchange technology, which they already use almost 40% of its heavy electric trucks. West goes far behind. Volvo, the main manufacturer in the West, barely has delivered 5,000 electric trucks In 50 countries. The case of South Africa illustrates its difficulties, because after two years in the market, Volvo has sold only Six unitstoo few to justify the local assembly. Importing them would have triggered prices in a country without buying subsidies. Meanwhile, Tesla promised Your semi truck In 2017, he delivered it in testimonial quantities to Pepsi in 2022 and practically It has disappeared for high component and cost failures. The global expansion is already underway. Byd It has facilities To produce electric load trucks throughout China and plan international assembly plants. Beiqi Foton already sends trucks to EU markets despite possible tariffs. In June, Chinese manufacturer Windrose announced plans to Establish a factory in GeorgiaUSA. “Chinese companies will adapt their entrance to the market strategies: supplying components where regulations require local manufacturing, establishing direct sales in other places,” Explain Ravi Gadepalli, founder of the Transit Intelligence consultant. The key is in capital. Commercial transport is dominated by small operators with very tight margins that lack capital for vehicles that cost twice as their diesel equivalents, although operating costs end up compensating. “Financing is the main obstacle in India, while in China the government invested significant capital to boost the sector,” Point out Gadepalli. However, the same expert warns that “it is very likely that Chinese electric truck manufacturers revolutionize the global cargo truck market. We have already seen it with cars and buses, and it is likely to continue.” He does not lack reason either as far as electric buses are concerned, because it is Another market in which China dominates. It still remains. The global heavy electric truck market will reach only 5,000 million dollars by 2030, a tiny fraction of the 6 billion electric vehicle market, according to The Grand View Research analysis firm. Most sales will be light commercial vehicles for urban cast, according to Share The medium, since long -distance trucks will continue to generate more emissions. Although seeing how unstoppable China is in the electric vehicle, the given estimates may underestimate the country’s growth rate in this sector. Cover image | Daniel Fikri In Xataka | China and Europe do not trust each other in electric car. And someone is taking advantage of it: Türkiye

The entire planet looks intrigued at the cars factories of China and Morocco. Meanwhile, another power grows in the shadow: Türkiye

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The European Union has more than A year applying the “compensatory rights” to the Chinese electric vehicles. This rate really applies to all manufacturers they produce in China and then bring their cars to European soil. The goal? That companies manufacture in Europe. But if all eyes point to China, other countries make their way. Morocco is not the only one that is consolidating as the springboard Star to Europe: Türkiye is asking for a step. And it is not something that are taking advantage of Chinese brands: also European. Trampolines. The Chinese automotive industry has a simple objective: to conquer the world with its electric cars. Companies have experience, technology, ships to transport thousands of cars of a tacada and are leaders in the manufacture of the most important: The batteries. China has launched some strategies to meet that plan, such as expand its factories in Europe, associate with European companies and create Kits that are manufactured in ChinaThey are transported disassembled and remembered in the final car on European soil. But, they are also taking advantage of “empty” in those compensatory rights. The combustion car is its ‘Trojan horse’but also countries like Morocco and Türkiye. In both, the labor is cheaper than in Europe and most importantly: they have commercial treaties with the EU, which allows those ‘tariffs’ to skip. Touchstone. It is calculated that The investment in Morocco is about 10,000 million dollarsa figure that contemplates not only manufacturing, but also the exploitation of key minerals for battery production. Morocco has huge deposits and China does not want to miss another portion of a chain that dominates with iron fist. In the case of Türkiye, there are examples like Chery investing $ 1,000 million for a plant in Samsun that will have a production capacity of 200,000 electric and hybrid vehicles every year. SWM Motors too will open A plant in Eskisehir to create hybrids and gasoline, and Byd will have one of its biggest factories In the West in Manisa. Besides, Not only will they be dedicated to manufacturing: In the case of Byd we also talk about an R&D center. Not only China. But it’s not just that China looks at Türkiye: Europe does not lose sight of them either. Brands like Renault and some from Stellantis produce There models for both the local market and Europe (The new Clio, for example). Moreover, the European Union, through funds such as Horizon Europe, intended 1,000 million euros in the 2021-2027 framework for the development of the automotive sector in Türkiye, especially for electric mobility, the development of load infrastructure and initiatives such as the manufacturing and recycling of batteries. Win-Win. Obviously, the situation is beneficial for all parties. On the one hand, China wins a springboard to European soil and the possibility of introducing their cars at very attractive prices in a local market that is upwards. The estimate is that Türkiye is the Major Market Fourth of electric cars for sales in Europe during the first half of 2025, only behind Germany, the United Kingdom and France. This is something favored by the State thanks to reductions and a series of advantageous tax conditions and tax exemptions if an electric car is purchased. And Türkiye, with that money, promotes the transformation of the sector with new R&D centers and strategic agreements with Europe to further reinforce its position. Toggg. And eye, Türkiye, Following The example of Europe put an aggressive tariff on Chinese electric cars, but with a condition: if manufacturers began to invest in local production facilities, they would be exempt from that import tax. But in all this there is an asterisk: Chinese companies, with their high capitalization and strong technology, can offer advanced vehicles at very competitive prices that overwhelm local producers like Toggg. There are already those who points That this competition, instead of healthy, could suppress the growth of the local ecosystem, being a danger if, at some point, Chinese companies decide to leave the market. And the United States? Apart from this issue, it is evident that the country is playing its letters well as the “bridge” between the East and West is, also in terms of critical raw materials to create batteries –part of the rare earth that China controls-. And, if you are wondering what happens to American companies, the truth is that their giants are not investing directly in Türkiye, but they are doing it through the calls Joint Ventures. They do not want to make too much outside the United States (something that recent tariff Otosan to create cars on Turkish soil and sell them both in that market and in the Middle East. In the end, as they say, a scrambled river, fishermen’s gain. And everything indicates that Morocco and Türkiye are those fishermen. In Xataka | Family and friends keep asking me if “it is worth buying a Chinese car.” This is my answer

It is another “war” between China and the USA

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For a few years, video games They are the entertainment means that generates more income. It is estimated that the market is greater than that of cinema and the music Together, and 2024 was a very interesting year. The global benefits of the sector were around of 185,000 million dollars and, although we have many names of games that sell millions in the head, the “unexpected” data is that China is the market that starts the cod. And this graph reflects it perfectly. Two giants. First of all, the graph prepared by Visual Capitalist has been carried out taking into account the data of Newzoo. It is a firm that analyzes the state of the industry and, although the numbers can fluctuate if we take other sources, some of the largest companies in this sector work directly with Newzoo. That said, we must highlight the two giant markets of video games. Of the estimated total of 182.7 billion dollars in 2024, more than half correspond to benefits generated only by two countries. China led with 48.8 billion dollars and a portion of 26.7% of the market. The United States followed them closely with an estimate of 47.6 billion dollars, for 26.1% of the total. They are two absolutely gigantic markets, but they could not be more different. Duality. The United States is a market more similar to European and other Western countries. There is a balance between consoles, PCs and mobile platforms, which can explain that, if we think of the world’s largest video game market, for our perception the United States would have been the leader. We constantly have news about the millions that sell traditional video games and consoles, but the matter is that the mobile has a lot, very much to say here. HE esteem That mobile games generated 51% of those US benefits, consoles 31% and 18% PC. In China, smartphone game is the standard. HE esteem That, of those 48,800 million generated in 2024, more than 32,000 million were made in mobile games. The exponents were titles like ‘Honor of Kings‘,’ Peace Elite ‘(which is the Chinese version of’PUBG‘) and other games such as the Moba or Minigions that are designed to share in streaming. And if, loaded with microtransactions. Japan. With a population much lower than that of the other two countries, Japan is the third market in discord. The figures are far from the two giants, but the 16.6 billion dollars in revenue has merit thanks to a rich culture around video games and to have some of the main companies in the industry. Not only do we talk about developers, but also console manufacturers like a nintendo that sweeps at home thanks to a Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 which are ideal for the Japanese market (desktop for those who want, but above all laptops) and PlayStation. The mobile segment is again dominant with a My dear Of 70% of the total, but the strong attachment to Nintendo, the hybrid concept of Switch and the love of the ‘great N’ franchises have weight in the total. Curiously, The PC grew during the last yearbut it is still far from the consoles and, above all, from the mobile. South Korea. And another curious case is that of South Korea. The country does not have a development industry such as Japan or the United States (although recent titles such as’Stellar Blade ‘ They show that they look more and more at the triple industry a). However, the mobile game, microtransactions and, above all, the passion they have for competitive titles on PC, caused it to be crowned as the fourth market worldwide. Video games like ‘Starcraft‘,’League of Legends‘ and ‘Overwatch‘They are religion in the country (so much that even politicians They have used them in campaign to try to get young people). They are, yes, much more aligned with the rest of the countries. The rest and perspectives. Between 2% and 4% of the cake we have European giants such as Germany, the United Kingdom or France, which remain important, but much smaller than the actors already described in the upper lines. Of course, the strength of Europe is that it is a much more united market, with titles that usually bring languages ​​such as French, German, Italian, English and Spanish; And together they represent a significant weight. With the apparent opening of China in the global video game market and the weight of whales like Tencentas well as studies that are betting on gigantic developments (‘Black Myth: Wukong‘It would have been impossible a few years ago), you have to wait to see how the photo of this market can look for a few years. At the moment, the global estimate is that the market will continue growing until it reached a figure of between 500,000 and 733,000 million worldwide. It depends greatCloud Gaming‘They will be the dominant tools in the video game segment for the next few years. In Xataka | I use my PC to play in my “local cloud” from any device. Doing it is easy, and also, free

The war between China and the United States has uncovered a technological “mercenary”: Oracle

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While giants like Microsoft, Google or Meta The headlines monopolize Regarding the AI ​​and the rest of its technologies, Oracle has been silently positioned as the perfect intermediary in the technological pulse between Washington and Beijing. After The acquisition of Sun Microsystems In 2010 to be in charge of Java, a key piece for the operation of multiple technologies in our electronic devices, Oracle’s power was increasing. Now his record It expands thanks to the AI already its involvement in Tiktok’s agreement. THE BUSINESS OF NOT CHOOSE BANDO. Oracle has built its strategy in being the neutral provider that does not directly compete with its biggest customers. While Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure can generate friction because of their direct competition, Oracle offers infrastructure without the threat of removing the business being present. This position allows you to work with both Openai and any rival, becoming the “mercenary” that everyone needs and nobody fears. His role in the rescue of Tiktok. The White House has confirmed that Oracle will be key in the agreement to maintain operational Tiktok in the United States. The company will be in charge of security of the American version of the application, managing the data of the users from centers located in American territory. Bytedance will retain 20% of the property, but Oracle will control the critical infrastructure that reassures legislators concerned with national security. More power, less prominence. While the big technological struggle to capture the attention of the final consumer, Oracle has chosen to remain in the shadow. His Cloud infrastructure business It does not have the glamor of social networks or AI attendees, but it has become essential. And the numbers accompany, because the company He has triggered his income Futures 359%, reaching 455,000 million dollars of capitalization thanks to contracts such as Openai worth 300,000 million to materialize the famous’PROJECT STARGATE‘. The perfect intermediary strategy. Oracle has maintained a position of neutrality in recent years, which has allowed him to benefit from geopolitical tensions without taking part publicly. When the United States needs a Chinese alternative to technological infrastructure, Oracle is there. When the companies of AI They need computational capacity Without depending on direct competitors, Oracle is also available. A network of contacts has been worked from which he has taken a lot of profit. The risks of success. This strategy is not exempt from dangers. The growing dependence of great contracts such as Openai turns Oracle into vulnerable to single -client. In addition, fulfilling such ambitious commitments will require significant indebtedness and an unprecedented infrastructure expansion. Its debt ratio on equity of 427% already overcomes that of competitors such as Microsoft, which is 32.7%, according to data of S&P Global Market Intelligence. Cover image | Oracle In Xataka | Great door or nursing: “circular financing” between Nvidia and OpenAi can be the genius of the century … or the collapse

While the world desperately seeks rare earth, China has an overwhelming advantage: it’s called Wem

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It seems clear that it has begun A race On the planet: the search for Rare earths and the essential critical minerals for many of the sectors that mark the geopolitical agenda. The problem for 99.9% of nations is the same: when they seem to have reached a deposit there are already A Chinese flag. What is not usually explained so much is how Beijing does. The miliar origin. Deep in the mountains of center of China extends A monumental installation that transforms both the landscape and the global competition for strategic resources. It is a gigantic antenna of 500 kilowatts, with lines that are deployed over 80 and 120 kilometers, originally conceived to maintain communication with underwater underwater. This electromagnetic colossus, whose extension exceeds in five times the New York surfacehas been converted into a decisive instrument for the exploration of critical minerals, projecting signals capable of penetrating kilometers in the earth’s crust and revealing deposits that previously remained out of human reach. What began as a military project has become a Scientific and Technological Weapon which gives Beijing a remarkable advantage in the race for the resources that will define the future of energy and industry. Electromagnetic exploration. A study of the China Geological Survey (CGS), published in the Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration magazine, has detailed how the country has managed to monopolize Electromagnetic systems of ultra-high power. All platforms that exceed 100 kW are in Chinese territory, while the most powerful tool in the United States barely reaches 30 kW. The difference is not trivial: this technological leap has allowed Chinese geologists to discover in recent years sites of historical magnitude, such as the Greater gold deposit of the world, reserves Lithium ultra-extends and uranium veins in depths Never achieved. The research led by Chen Hui and his team affirms That these innovations consolidate China’s world position in electromagnetic exploration theory and technology, placing it far ahead of any western competitor. The challenge. As the superficial deposits of copper, lithium, cobalt and rare earths are exhausted, the exploration has moved to what geologists call The “Second Mineral Space”: An underground strip that extends between 500 and 2,000 meters deep. In this environment, the signs issued by mineral bodies are extremely weak and are usually buried under the cultural noise generated by electricity lines, urban infrastructure and extractive operations. The Chinese response has been to redefine the scale of prospecting: multiply the transmission power by above 100 kWflooding the subsoil with signs capable of crossing interference and reaching depths of up to 3,000 meters with unprecedented clarity. Advances in the subsoil cartography. The jump is not limited to power. While conventional techniques relied on two -dimensional models not suitable for complex structures, Chinese systems use Sensors distributed networks and multidirectional field sources that allow a real three -dimensional image of the subsoil. In the Jiama copper mine, in the Tibet, a controlled audio-magnetothelúrica tensorial study (CSAMT) reached unpublished resolutions at more than 3,000 meters, subsequently confirmed with drilling nuclei. These results They far exceeded to the Magnetotheluric of Natural Source, usually ineffective in saturated noise environments. The methods. One of the most prominent advances is the Electromagnetic method wide field, developed by Professor He Jishan, which allows you to obtain reliable data even in the so -called “nearby field zone”, where the records were not very useful. At the same time, the time-frequency electromagnetic systems are expanding the available information by measuring not only the resistance of the materials, but also its polarization and permeabilityessential parameters to distinguish between different types of deposits. The Wem project. And so we reach the clearest symbol of this ambition: The Wem project (Wireless Electromagnetic Method), whose colossal structure crosses China’s heart with two antenna lines arranged almost at right angles. This system, which began as a naval communication tool, has become the First electromagnetic transmitter of continental scale used in the prospecting of resources. In a national test carried out in 2023its signs were detected from Tibet to Interior Mongolia and Guangdong, more than 2,000 kilometers away. In the area of ​​Xiong’an there were magnetic fields up to seven times higher than the natural background noise, an unequivocal demonstration of the system’s capacity to impose itself on the most complex interference. Strategic advantage. In other words, with these Beijing technologies It is placed at the head of the struggle for the essential mineral resources for the energy transition and the green technologies: lithium for batteries, cobalt for high resistance alloys and rare earths essential in modern electronics. In contrast, most Western countries lack comparable systems and, except Russia, almost none use ultra-high power instruments in terrestrial prospecting. Even the most powerful teams manufactured in the West have been designed at China, which underlines the existing technological dependence. A new geopolitical board. China’s ability to identify deep deposits quickly Not only is it a scientific advantage, but also strategic. Control over technology and data places Beijing in a position to mark the rhythm of the discovery of resources in the coming decades. If you want, in a context where the energy transition redefines the global value chains, who controls access to lithium, cobalt and rare earth will control much of the industrial future. With the deployment of Giant antennas and electromagnetic systems Of unpublished power, China is making it clear that it does not intend to participate in the race: its goal is to win it. Image | Ilo Asia-Pacific, Herry Lawford, Terence Wright In Xataka | The great covered in the War of Critical Minerals is Tungsten. The US needs it and 83% have it China In Xataka | In 1978 Chinese engineers visited two key US companies. On his return an empire began: the rare earths

stop desertification in China

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China has found an ingenious way to give a second life to the giants who once dominated their energy landscape. The pales of the wind turbines, who begin to retire after 20 or 25 years of service, are becoming more than a difficult product to recycle: they now serve to stop an enemy that advances silently, desertification. A barrier against the sand. Researchers at Research Station of Gobi Desert Ecology and Environment, Under the Chinese Academy of SciencesThey have found a way to transform the old blades of wind turbines into porous barriers against the sand. It is a solution that takes advantage of the geographical coincidence: many of the wind farms of western China are installed in arid or semi -desert regions, just where the control of the desert progress is most lacking. A quite simple process. The turbines are cut, pierce and process until they are made into porous structures. The wind can cross them, but in a controlled way: enough to catch the sand and alter its flow. In laboratory tests They showed that these barriers They are 14 times more resistant than composite wooden boards and that support ultraviolet radiation, extreme heat and constant abrasion of the sand. After that, the experiments in wind tunnels and computer simulations They confirmed that they reduce Significantly the transport of sand at ground level. Unlike traditional methods – like straw or cane barriers, which decompose quickly – new structures are designed to resist for years in extreme conditions. A double benefit. The value of this innovation goes far beyond engineering. The new barriers offer entire communities a more stable protection in front of sand storms that destroy oasis and crops. The clearest example is Dunhuang, in the province of Gansu, which located on the edge of the Kumtag desert, just 4.5% of its surface is covered by Oasis, and its famous cultural treasures – like Mogao’s caves— They have been threatened by the sand for decades. For its part, the project responds to a more urgent need: the massive recycling of wind blades. According to China Dailyduring the 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) is expected to withdraw more than 1.2 million kilowatts of wind capacity and in the following plan (2026-2030), the figure could reach 10 million kW per year. This volume of waste poses an environmental problem, but also an opportunity to transform them into useful resources there where they occur. Looking for solutions before the residue. The challenge now is to climb the technology. Field trials They continue to adapt it To different climates and deserts, and the potential is enormous: convert an awkward residue into a key environmental management tool. China, that already leads the world renewable capacityshows with projects like this how its strategy goes beyond installing panels and mills: it is about closing the circle, taking advantage of waste and, incidentally, protecting fragile territories against desertification. The energy transition not only produces electricity: it can also rewrite the landscape. Image | Pexels Xataka | He was deported to China after co -founding NASA’s JPL. Now China has made one of his ideas come true: flying wind turbines

If the question is why the US wants to rescue Argentina with a fortune, the answer has two ingredients: China and Lithium

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Argentina entered again in Turbulence zone Despite the drastic fiscal and monetary adjustment of Javier Milei. A bulky defeat in provincial elections, the erosion of support in Congress and a corruption scandal that splashes their surroundings fired the doubts of the investors, forced sales of reservations by More than 1 billion of dollars in three days to defend the exchange band and approached the weight to the lower limit of the corridor. And then he The United States appeared With a briefcase under your arm. American help. Yes, the reaction was a political-financial turn of Washington: the Treasury Secretary, Scott Besent, defined Argentina As “systemically important ally in Latin America” ​​and announced that “all options” were on the table to stabilize the markets, an explicit wink to the “whatver it Takes” of Mario Draghi in 2012. The message, a priori, had immediate effect on prices and expectations, but opened a greater debate about the scope, incentives and the risks of such support. What has been promised and how. The United States Treasury discusses a swap line with Buenos Aires of 20,000 million of dollars with the Central Bank and the possibility of buying sovereign debt in dollars from Argentina, in addition to making direct currency purchases if the conditions justify it. The operational tool would be the so -called Exchange Stabilization Fundwith wide discretionary margin to intervene in foreign exchange and assets, used in 1995 To help Mexico. Besent added that the treasure “is prepared” to acquire bonds and offer backup credit. Trump himself, after meeting with Milei, affirmed that will help, although he said “I don’t think they need a rescue,” framing assistance as access to “good debt” and market liquidity. In parallel, Milei sought internal oxygen suspending temporarily Grain export taxes to accelerate the flow of commercial dollars, while keeping operational, although partially activated, The swap line With the Popular Bank of China (18,000 million, of which about 5,000 are active). The small print. The announcement acted as a short circuit: The peso bounced, the 2029 and 2035 bonds recovered between 6 and 7 cents and the yield of 10 years in dollars fell from 17% to ~ 15%. Great managers They celebrated the signalunderlining that it provides a “critical window” to the legislative. However, investors requested details: effective volume, deadlines, conditions and intervention triggers. The Treasury He has suggested Absence of “conditionality” added to that of the IMF, but the practice usually imposes safeguards. In “House”, the package faces resistance: Criticism in Congress American questions to allocate emergency funds to sustain the currency and assets of a third party, with the political risk of being perceived as a lifeguard to Trump’s personal ally. Strategic reasons: why. The Analysts coincide With a clearly geopolitical reason: reduce dependence Argentina from China in financing, swaps and access to critical minerals Like lithiumand strengthen an openly government Pro-Mercado and aligned With Washington. The second It is financial: Prevent an episode of regional systemic instability due about 35% of the living support of the background on a global scale. The third may be of global signal: reaffirm the capacity of the United States to stabilize emerging markets with sovereign instruments, projecting financial power in a context of strategic competence. And the fourth, more tactical, purely electoral: Prevent short -term stress Extra ball: Meme politics. An added, less economical and more symbolic factor is politics turned into “Meme”. Just like Bukele He built prisons In El Salvador for ICE deportees as a gesture to Trump, Milei has earned a place within the magician imaginary in the United States for Your incendiary stylehis rejection of the establishment and His libertarian rhetoric. Under that prism, the current White House is willing to hold it because it embodies a political-cultural ally More than institutional, if you want to also, a kind of entry between “politically incorrect countries” that lend mutual support. If instead of Milei will govern A classic Peronista rescue of this size would have hardly been articulated, although, paradoxically, Trump shares with Peronism more related features than with the libertarian ideology that Milei proclaims. Lithium site A NAFTA as a counterpart. It We have counted before. Another angle to consider is the possibility that the financial rescue serves as prelude to an eventual Free Trade Agreement Between the United States and Argentina, a play that would fit with the interests of both parties. For Washington, it would be a way to shield access to strategic raw materials under a stable institutional framework and without the threat that Beijing capitalizes them through state investments. For Milei, a NAFTA with the world’s first economy would be political and economic support Of enormous value, with the ability to attract private capital, reduce financing and consolidate its image of “reliable partner” within the western block. The scenario, which is known, is not formally at the table, but the background of the rescue makes it a plausible possibility: the United States does not usually move chips of this magnitude without also binding long -term commercial commitments. The Argentine structural problem. The Financial Times counted This week that “shock therapy” stopped hyperinflationary drift, but the economy is still caught in A monetary duality that makes the system dependent and vulnerable to twists of feeling: each capital output realizes distrust in the peso and forces expensive defenses with few reserves. In this framework, the discussion about dollarization returns to the center: Milei champied her In campaign, then postponed it for its costs (loss of monetary policy, impossibility of adjusting by exchange rate and binding external cycles), but broad support from the United States could reopen it. Regional experience (Ecuador) and The European They teach to enter is easy and get almost impossible. Without tax reforms, productivity, exchange regime and institutional credibility, assistance can become a expensive and ephemeral patch. China and Treasures. As we said, the “nuclear” aims to remove Buenos Aires from the Chinese orbit in the dispute for strategic resources. The lithium of the “triangle” that integrates Argentina, … Read more

To build an “artificial sun” we need to be able to move the weight of ten elephants with millimeter precision. This is what China has just done

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In Chinese mythology, Kuafu was a giant who challenged the gods when trying to catch the sun to give light and heat to their people. Centuries later, China re -pursues that same ambition, but now with avant -garde science: to create a “Artificial sun” that provides clean and unlimited energy. And in that way, the engineers have just presented a new protagonist worthy of legend: a colossal robot. The arm for fusion. The Asian giant has developed a remote manipulation platform for future fusion reactors. It is a system with three robotic arms, whose main manipulator can raise up to 60 tons – the weight of ten African elephants – with a millimeter accuracy, According to South China Morning Post. Meanwhile, the two secondary arms stand out for even more extreme precision: ± 0.01 millimeters, which makes it the most advanced remote management system in the field of fusion. Closer to the “artificial sun.” The objective of this whole project is to achieve stable nuclear fusion, that almost inexhaustible energy that mimics the process that occurs in the sun’s core. In fact, China has been breaking records for years in its East experimental reactor, which this year has achieved Maintain a confined plasma for 1,066 seconds, a world record that exceeds 403 seconds Realized in 2023. But for this energy to become commercial, it is necessary to resolve a major challenge: maintenance. The internal components of a reactor, such as coating or the diving, are constantly damaged by heat, radiation and magnetic fields. And this is where this new robot comes into play: no human being could work in these extreme conditions. The in -depth project. The robot is part of the craft (Comprehensive Research Facity for Fusion Technology), an installation in Hefei, Anhui, nicknamed “Kuafu” in honor of the mythical giant. More than 300 scientists and engineers participate in this project, According to SCMPunder the supervision of the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “We have developed a machine capable of meeting extremely demanding requirements by overcoming obstacles in materials, sensors and control,” explained Pan HongtaoInstitute researcher. The idea is to use craft as a test bank to develop and validate key fusion technologies, including those that will be applied in the future Chinese experimental fusion reactor (CFETR) and in the International Iter project In France. Ready to go into action? For now, we are not talking about an operational robot in a reactor, but of an experimental platform. According to China Dailythe system has already exceeded the evaluation of experts and will serve as an engineering verification platform to ensure that, when reactors enter into operation, remote maintenance is safe and precise. Craft, where it is housed, plans to be completed in the late 2025. Beyond fusion. Although the immediate objective is to maintain fusion reactors, technology is not limited to that field. According to CGTNthe advances achieved in this robot could also be applied in inspection of nuclear plants, aerospace industry, operations with heavy machinery or even emergency rescues. A global career for the artificial sun. The Kuafu robot does not arise in a vacuum. Other countries also develop remote maintenance systems, although with much lower capabilities. The most advanced arm of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) supports only 2 tons. In contrast, the Chinese robot can manipulate 30 times higher loads. At the international level, the Iter project in France – in which 35 countries participate – will have a system Able to handle up to 45 tons. The new Chinese system already exceeds it in load capacity, although both remain development platforms rather than operating systems. The road map is clear but slow: Chinese experts They calculate that they are still 30 to 50 years to see commercial fusion reactors. And the European Union, with its Eurofusion projectdoes not expect to start testing with plasma until the end of this year. Forecasts The Chinese commitment to nuclear fusion advances with firm steps. The development of a robot capable of lifting 60 tons with surgical precision is not a simple engineering achievement: it is an essential piece for someday fusion reactors to maintain and function stable. Humanity He has been trying to replicate the energy of the sun on earth. With advances like this, China shows that it is determined to be the protagonist in that race. Decades may be missing to see fusion plants in operation, but every step we bring us a little more to that utopia to capture the sun. Image | Freepik Xataka | The largest nuclear fusion project on the planet has survived the setbacks. This is the date on which Iter should be ready

NASA is so obsessed with defeating China that, instead of delaying its next flight to the moon, it has advanced it

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It seemed like him Artemis program It was intended to be delayed again and again, but NASA’s last movement betrays the enormous geopolitical pressure of the moment. Artemis II, the mission with which the United States will return to lunar orbit for the first time in more than 50 years, is no longer scheduled for April 2026. They have advanced the launch window to February 5. A declaration of intentions. This two -month advance is not a simple recalibration of the calendar of the Artemis missions. It is the NASA’s evening response to the feeling that the United States is staying behind the Methodical Lunar Program of China. NASA recognizes that “there is a desire that we are the first to return to the surface of the moon,” and Artemis II is a first step. The mission without a launic had been postponed from 2024 to 2025, and then to “not before April 2026”. Now the launch window opens two months before: on February 5, 2026, leaving as a deadline “not later April 2026”. Solving the ghosts of Artemis I. To understand why this advance is significant, you have to remember why Artemis II was delayed first. The main cause was the thermal shield of the Orion ship. After the return of the mission without crew Artemis I in 2022, NASA’s engineers found a disturbing surprise: the Orion shield had lost pieces of protective material. The gases generated by the heat of the reentry did not dissipate as planned, creating an overpressure that started fragments of the shield. After almost two years of research, NASA says having understood and solved the problem with “maximum trust.” Of course, the solution is quite simple: they have modified the trajectory of the ship in their return to the earth to prevent the high temperatures that caused the failure. Next to him, NASA has solved other minor failures such as liquid hydrogen leaks that plagued the launch attempts of Artemis I. The second space race. “The administration has asked us to recognize being in what is commonly called a second space race,” said the buliesha Hawkins, NASA’s attached administrator. His current boss, Sean Duffy, agency administrator and Trump’s Secretary of Transportation, has a more direct rhetoric: “We are going to win the Chinese on the moon.” The fear in Washington is that China, which plans to send its first astronauts to the lunar surface in 2030, the American Mission Artemis III is ahead. While the Artemis program accumulated delays (largely due to the slowness of the Spacex Starship ship, necessary for the Aunidation of Artemis III), the Chinese program advanced with a firm step and without making a lot of noise. Experts in China’s spatial capacities such as Dean Cheng have come to affirm which is “quite likely that the Chinese terrify on the moon before NASA.” Advance Artemis II (the previous step without alansimiza) is the form that NASA has to demonstrate that it is still in the game. What is Artemis II. Its main objective is to certify that the Orion ship and the SLS rocket can take humans to the moon safely. For ten days, American astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Jeremy Hansenthey will go around the moon without landing, following a free return trajectory that will bring them back to the earth. The mission also has an important symbolic burden. They will be the first humans in more than 50 years to leave the orbit low terrestrial, traveling further than any other human being in history, more than 9,000 kilometers from the hidden face of the moon. From this unique perspective, They will carry out crucial geological observationsphotographing craters and old lava flows. They could even be the first humans to see with their own eyes the eastern basin, a gigantic structure on the boundary between the visible face and the hidden face of the moon. Their descriptions and data will be vital for the alunage of Artemis III. The great irony. The advance of Artemis II is a calculated movement. NASA shows the world that it has overcome its technical problems and is ready to accelerate. Artemis II is not just a step towards the moon, it is a sprint in a geopolitical career and for the control of lunar resources. The great contradiction is that, while NASA accelerates the overflight of Artemis II, its star mission, the alun of Artemis III planned for 2027, remains in serious trouble. Just a few days ago, the agency’s security advisors panel launched a blunt warning: They doubt that the modified version of the Spacex Starship is ready on time. His estimate is that he could accumulate a “year” delay. Therefore, the result of this space race is still open. Image | POT In Xataka | When the first human being stepped on the moon we all believed that he had abandoned the “earth.” We were wrong

China has just tested the Fujian with three different aircraft. Electromagnetic catapult is no longer theory, it is practical

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The cover of an aircraft carrier has always been a tension scenario: each takeoff is a millimeter choreography that combines steel and noise. For more than six decades, that scene was dominated by steam. Now, with him Fujianthat script is also written with electricity. We do not talk about an experiment behind closed doors, but of a public demonstration on deck with several different aircraft, the type of test that records that the electromagnetic catapult is operating in real conditions. The demonstration was not accidental. Coincided with the acts by the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War against Japan and World War IIwhere prominence also passed through the sea. According to the Ministry of Defensethe Fujian served as a platform for three different models: the J-15T and J-35 and the KJ-600 early alert plane. The three performed cares assisted by catapult and land cable landings, marking a new chapter in their preparation. What was tested. According to Xinhuathe training phase served to check the interaction between the electromagnetic catapult, the braking system and different types of aircraft. The Navy explained that the exercises confirmed the “good compatibility” of the teams and that the Fujian already has the capacity of “full initial deck.” In practice it means that you can organize launch and recovery operations sequenced, preparing the land for a broader integration of its embarked wing. From steam to electromagnetism: For a long time, the steam catapults marked the take -off routine on the aircraft carriers. The EMALS American system introduced a paradigm shift: instead of pressure steam, it uses accumulated electric power and converted into a launch force. It is already installed in the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), first aircraft carrier to incorporate it. The US Navy ensures that It offers greater acceleration control, less wear on airplanes and cover and ability to boost light drones to heavy fighters. The transition reduces maintenance and opens the operational range. Three aircraft, three mission. The J-15T is the evolution of a veteran naval hunting, adapted to operate with catapults. Its role is to ensure the continuity of the aviation embarked while more advanced models arrive. The J-35, on the other hand, represents the jump to the fifth generation: a furtive hunt with greater scope and modern sensors. The KJ-600 trio completes, an early alert plane designed to expand the combat group and coordinate operations to hundreds of kilometers. Where is the Fujian today. The aircraft carrier began its sea tests in May 2024 and, since then, it has followed a progressive calendar. Systems and stability check settings have been made, while rehearsing cover operations. The latest exercises show that the ship has an initial capacity to operate with different aircraft, but has not yet reached the level of full operability required by an aeronaval group in long -range missions. Only two with Catapult EM. To date, only two armed ones have managed to integrate electromagnetic catapults into service aircraft carriers. As we point out above, the United States operates electromagnetic catapults in the Gerald R. Ford and China class has demonstrated its operation in the Fujian. These experiences place both armed in a high technological category, while the rest of the countries continue to use steam systems or lack catapults. It is a milestone that reflects the investment and industrial development scale necessary to get here. What changes on deck. Electromagnetic catapult opens a range of possibilities that were previously more limited. It allows drones or light aircraft with the same security as a great tonnage, and does so with less vibration and mechanical stress. For the crew, the work environment is quieter and less hot. In practice, it means that the aircraft carriers can sustain a greater number of daily exits with less maintenance between operations. Of the test at the service. The maneuvers carried out this month do not yet equate to have a fully operational aircraft carrier. The Fujian is still in an early phase: he needs to accumulate many more hours of sea and certify maneuvers in diverse conditions before being able to hold a embedded wing in the campaign. The Ministry of Defense speaks of a milestone, but also recognizes that it is missing. The transition from the demonstration to real capacity will be gradual and will depend on how systems respond in more demanding scenarios. The Fujian has gone from being a project wrapped in speculation to an aircraft carrier that shows on deck how its electromagnetic catapult works. The achieved this month is a visible milestone, although still partial. China thus enters a small club in which each electric takeoff is much more than a technical gesture: it is a declaration of intentions. The future will say how long it takes to convert these maneuvers into the routine of a fleet capable of operating with continuity on the high seas. Images | Ministry of National Defense (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | In Xataka | For years the Airbus A380 symbolized European power against Boeing. Today it survives as a colossus without the kingdom

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