citizens

Japan has once again asked its citizens what they hate most about tourists. The answers have revealed them again

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In Japan, millions of people travel every day on one of the most punctual railway networks in the world, where delays of just seconds can generate public apologies. During rush hours, some urban trains exceed levels 180% occupancyforcing every gesture inside the car to be optimized. In such an environment, even the smallest details can make a difference. One country and the same question. Japan has repeated a social experiment that we counted a year ago and that says much more than it seems: ask its citizens what bothers them most about tourists. As we said, it is not the first time he has done it and, in fact, the previous year he had already put the focus on trains as one of the spaces where the most friction is generated between locals and visitors. Therefore, one could say that repetition is not coincidental, but rather a way of measuring whether culture shock changes over time or, on the contrary, remains stable. And what happened a year later it’s revealing: The responses have evolved in nuances, but they have once again pointed out the same underlying problem. Noise as a symptom, not as a problem. If there is one fact that stands out in the new survey, it is that almost seven out of every ten respondents place the noisy conversations and disorderly behavior as the biggest nuisance caused by tourists. It is not just a question of volume, but of context: the train in Japan functions as an almost silent space, where speaking loudly or behaving expansively breaks an unwritten social norm. This same element already appeared in the previous surveyalthough now it is consolidated much more strongly (69.1% of respondents) as the main point of friction. More than a change, it is a confirmation that the culture clash continues to revolve around the same idea: the difference between more expressive cultures and a society that values ​​extreme discretion. From trains to general behavior. Comparing both years, it is surprising how little the catalog of annoyances. Poorly placed luggage, the way of sitting invading space, strong odors or blocking the doors were already present before and continue to appear now with high percentages. This suggests that these are not isolated incidents, but rather repeated patterns that locals easily identify in visitors. Even seemingly minor issues, such as do not move away when opening the doors or not respecting the logic of the flow inside the car, reinforce the idea that the problem is not punctual, but structural. Japan is not discovering new annoyances, it is confirming the same ones. The big difference: what Japan does not blame on tourists. However, there is an interesting nuance that marks a distance from the previous year and that adds depth to the comparison. When general inconveniences are analyzed (that is, those caused by all passengers), elements appear that are not attributed to tourists, how to travel drunk or certain uses of the mobile phone. In the new survey, coughing or sneezing inconsiderately It becomes the main annoyance among locals, something that does not lead the list of tourists. If you will, this introduces an interesting reading: Japan is not pointing out that visitors are responsible for everything, but clearly differentiating between its own problems and those of others. That distinction was already implicit before, but now it appears much more defined. Giving themselves away. In the end, and like last yearthe most striking thing is not what the tourists do, but rather what they reveals Japan about itself when repeating the survey. A year later, the responses once again revolve around respect for personal space, silence and collective order, fundamental pillars of their daily culture. The differences between both surveys are smaller than the similarities, which indicates that the problem is not changing because the root It is cultural and deep. Japan is not discovering new discomforts, it is confirming that its way of understanding public space continues to clash with that of those who come from outside. And by doing so two years in a row, it has made it clear that the question is no longer what tourists do wrong, but to what extent this model of coexistence can adapt to an increasingly global world. Image | tokyoform In Xataka | In 1979, Japan rediscovered a species of rabbit on one of its islands. He then perpetrated an environmental disaster In Xataka | Japan has dozens of “forgotten” islands off the coast of China: it is now preparing for the worst scenario

While most citizens pay the electricity bill, electricity pays Amancio Ortega: 49.2 million in dividends

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There are people who pay electricity bill every monthand people who are paid by “the light”. Amancio Ortega belongs, without a doubt, to the second group. The founder of Inditex will earn 49.2 million euros this year in dividends from three energy companies in which it has participation: Enagás, Redeia and the Portuguese REN (National Energy Networks). Despite being a considerable sum in terms of dividends, those 50 million euros seem like pocket change when compared to the amounts of its large business, 3,234 million euros that will receive from Inditex in 2026 for 59% of the shares it controls through its investment instruments Pontegadea and Partler 2006. Redeia: the largest energy check. Ortega’s most profitable participation, in terms of dividends, within the energy sector It is the one that the millionaire maintains in Redeia, the company he manages the Spanish electrical network. Through his company Pontegadea Inversiones, the businessman settled in La Coruñaacquired 5% of the company’s capital in July 2021 for approximately 456 million euros. With this position, it is the second largest shareholder in the company, only behind the State, which owns 20% through SEPI. The Board of Directors of Redeia will propose to the General Meeting the distribution of a dividend of 0.80 euros per share charged to the 2025 results, of which 0.20 euros They were already paid in January and another 0.60 euros are planned as a complementary dividend in July. Taking into account Ortega’s percentage of participation, that means about 21.6 million euros for Pontegadea, the same amount as the previous year. Furthermore, the Redeia’s new strategic plan For the period 2026-2029, it foresees a dividend that the company describes as “growing and sustainable”, to reach 0.87 euros per share in 2029, which represents an annual increase of 2%. In this way, Pontegadea, as representative of Ortegawould receive about 91 million euros over the next four years. The Portuguese bet: REN. Ortega’s other great energy pillar in 2025 has been the Portuguese REN, the Portuguese equivalent of Redeia. Far from settling for its initial position, Pontegadea expanded its participation in REN last yearpurchasing an additional 1.7% until reaching 13.7% of the capital. With that move, Ortega consolidated his role as second largest shareholder of the Portuguese company, only behind the Chinese electricity company State Grid Corporation of China, which controls 25% of the shares. By 2025, the REN Board of Directors proposed distribute among its shareholders a total of 106,750,601.92 euros, which corresponds to a gross dividend of 0.160 euros per share. On this occasion, the payment has been divided into two: a dividend of 0.064 euros per share has already been distributed as an advance at the end of November 2025, while a second payment of 0.096 euros per share is expected after its approval at the general meeting scheduled for April 15, 2026. The part corresponding to Pontegadea for its 13.7% of the capital represents about 14.6 million euros in total, which They add to those of its Spanish counterpart. A commitment to energy diversification: Enagás. The third leg of the energy business of the founder of Inditex is Enagás, the company that manages the natural gas network in Spain. Pontegadea acquired 5% of its capital at the end of 2019, paying 281.63 million euros for that package. Today that participation is valued below the purchase price, but the difference has been compensated through the dividends collected over the years. The gas company maintains his remuneration one euro per share for this year, maintaining the containment plan that began in 2024 and will last until 2027. The dividend will be paid in two payments: one of 0.4 euros that was already paid in December 2025 and another of 0.6 euros scheduled for July 2, 2026, with a total distribution of 157.2 million euros among all its shareholders. Due to its percentage of participation, the part corresponding to Pontegadea exceeds 13 million euros. A long-term strategy. Ortega’s investment in the energy sector is not an opportunistic bet in a sector in times of economic prosperity. It is a strategy that he has been building since 2019, when he joined Enagás, and that was completed in 2021 with the entry into Redeia and REN. To this we must add the alliances that has signed with Repsol to participate in renewable energy portfolios: wind farms in Aragón and Castilla y León, and solar plants in Albacete and Cádiz, among other assets. The Pontegadea model does not consist of investments by distribution companies, but rather in companies that manage infrastructure energy companies, which offer regulated and stable income with recurring dividends year after year. They are not high risk investments nor high speculative volatilitybut in strategic sectors independently of the economic cycle. In Xataka | There is a 50-ton “nuclear reactor” in a bunker in Fuenlabrada: it has been donated by Amancio Ortega Image | Pexels (Jan Kopriva), GTRES

Sweden was on the verge of eliminating banknotes as a payment system. Now it asks its citizens to save cash just in case

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Few countries in the world have turned their backs on cash with so much conviction as Sweden did in its day. For years it was the great global laboratory of digital money and a place where, paying in cash, It was almost a strange gesture. In the Nordic country, it is common to find businesses where “card only” signs are read without anyone protesting. Its financial system seemed to have resolved the future of payments once and for all. Now, that same country has just taken a turn that no one expected: recommending that its citizens save a certain amount of cash in case all their digital payments system collapses. From inventing banknotes to almost eliminating them. Sweden has a unique history with paper money. In 1661 it was the first country in Europe in introducing billsand it was also where the Riksbank, the central bank, was born oldest in the world. That pioneering vocation led her, centuries later, to lead the race towards a completely cashless economy. The numbers reflected it clearly: if in 2010 39% of Swedes said they had paid their last purchase in cash, in 2020 that percentage had fallen up to 9%. According to the Riksbank itself, currently only one in ten Purchases in Swedish stores are made with physical money. Anders Ohlsson, CEO of Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank, summed it up like this: “I don’t think right now people in Sweden know what the different currencies are like.” A central bank that asks you to keep banknotes at home. The Riksbank published some recommendations which were surprising coming from one of the most digitalized financial systems on the planet. The Swedish central bank asked all households in the country to keep at least 1,000 Swedish crowns in cash for each adult (just over 90 euros at the exchange rate), as a cash reserve for possible emergencies. “This amount should be considered as a reference and is intended to cover one week of essential purchases. Households may need more or less cash on hand, depending on the number of people in the household or their specific needs. Whenever possible, households are recommended to keep cash in various denominations,” the Swedish banking entity says in its statement. Too digital to be invulnerable. The underlying reason for making this peculiar call is not nostalgic but strategic. An economy that depends almost entirely on digital payments is also an economy exposed to power outages, cyberattacks or geopolitical tensions. The Visa and Mastercard networks, on which a large part of the Swedish payment system is based, are of American origin, which adds an extra layer of vulnerability in an increasingly uncertain international context. The Riksbank itself puts it bluntly in its statement: “Access to different payment methods improves people’s ability to make payments in the event of temporary disruptions, crises and, in the worst case, war.” It is not an unfounded threat. In recent months, several European countries have reviewed the resilience of your critical infrastructures before him security deterioration and the increase in uncertainty on the continent. Diversify so as not to depend on a single system. Beyond cash, the Riksbank’s warning to citizens is committed to a more diversified payment strategy. He recommends having access to at least two cards from different networks (a Visa and a Mastercard, for example) so that, if the systems of one of them fail, payments can be made with the other. It also advises having access to mobile payment services like swishthe popular Swedish application that operates on a different infrastructure than traditional bank cards. For whom use Apple Pay either Google Paythe Swedish central bank reminds that it is advisable to always have the physical card on hand and know the PIN, since the physical chip allows payments to be made even without an internet connection. All of this advice will be developed in more detail in the Riksbank’s 2026 Payments Report, due on March 12. Sweden, which for years led the way to paperless money, is now a reminder that no system is foolproof. In Xataka | If we want to know what the end of cash will be like, we only have to look at a country that is experiencing it: China Image | Unsplash (Tobias Flyckt, Emil Kalibradov)

How the new document that registers the fingerprint and iris of citizens works

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The Government of Mexico has decided to update the identity document of its citizens. The Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) goes from its classic 18-character format to become a biometric document which incorporates fingerprints, facial photography, electronic signature and even iris scanning. The change is no small feat, since it affects the entire population. And that is precisely why there have also been certain doubts about its implementation. What exactly is biometric CURP. The CURP is the personal identifier that the Mexican State assigns to each citizen and resident of the country. In its traditional version, it was simply an alphanumeric key printed on paper. This new biometric version maintains this, but now also includes a photograph of the holder, electronic signature, QR code with cryptographic authentication and, in most cases, iris registration. Management is carried out by the National Population Registry (RENAPO). What is it for and what problem does it seek to solve. The Government of Claudia Sheinbaum has placed the fight against disappearances in Mexico as one of the main arguments to promote this new measure. By integrating biometric data into the ‘Single Identity Platform’, authorities will be able to carry out identity searches and validations on site, connecting the RENAPO bases with the National Forensic Data Bank and with records from institutions such as the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) or state intelligence bodies. Beyond that, the document also seeks to combat identity theft, reduce the proliferation of falsified documents and simplify procedures such as opening bank accounts, accessing health services, applying for a passport or school registrations. What data does it collect and how does the document look like? Citizens have to appear at the Civil Registry, and the process usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes. During that time, ten fingerprints, a scan of the iris of both eyes, a photo, and the applicant’s digital signature are taken. The document is issued in physical and digital format, and includes the usual personal data (name, date and place of birth, sex, nationality) along with the new biometric elements and a QR code that gives encrypted access to all that information. As the Government assures, the document is valid both nationally and internationally. Who should process it and when. The decree establishes that the biometric CURP will be mandatory for all Mexican citizens and legal residents. However, its implementation is being gradual. The measure came into force last Octoberwith a pilot phase that involved Mexico City, the State of Mexico and Veracruz, and since then the expansion has reached other regions, including Jalisco, Nuevo León, Querétaro and Tlalnepantla. According to RENAPO, from October 2025 145 modules operate throughout the country. Starting this month of February, this document will be requested for certain government and private services. Although the traditional CURP will continue to be valid during this transition period, public institutions and banks will progressively require the biometric version for new procedures or data updates. What documents do you have to bring? The process is in person, free and is carried out only once. To attend the module, you must present: Original birth certificate or certified copy Valid official identification with photograph (INE, passport or professional ID; for minors, school ID) Validated traditional CURP Proof of address no older than three months personal email According to the authorities, in the case of minors, they must be accompanied by their mother, father or legal guardian. Where is it processed? The enabled modules include RENAPO offices, Civil Registry offices, the CURP Mobile service and itinerant modules installed in schools and community centers. The institution recommends managing the prior appointment through the official website from RENAPO. Issues. Despite the official argument to implement the measure, the project has not been without criticism. The fact of being obliged to transfer biometric data to the State (fingerprints, irises, photographs) has generated discomfort among citizens, especially those who fear improper use of this information or an expansion of mass surveillance. The decree establishes that the data will be stored under strict security protocols and with audited access in accordance with the General Law on Protection of Personal Data, although the real effectiveness of these guarantees is, reasonably, a matter of debate. From GQ Mexico express that some citizens do not feel comfortable providing information of this nature to the Government, although others consider that it is not new given the level of personal data that already circulates on the Internet. What happens if it is not processed. There are no economic sanctions if a citizen does not request the biometric CURP, but there are practical consequencesespecially in terms of blocking access to certain services. And those who do not have it when it is required may see their request rejected in public or banking procedures, longer waits in administrative procedures or incompatibilities in digital identity records. How to check if you already have it. To know if the biometric registration has already been processed, simply access the official portal of the CURP. If the receipt shows “CURP Biometric – Verified with RENAPO and Civil Registry”, the record is already updated. You can also go directly to any Civil Registry or RENAPO module to confirm it in person. Cover image | SEGOB and Onur Binay In Xataka | The US closed the El Paso airport and everyone looked at the Mexican cartel. It was worse: it was the US with a weapon that it did not know how to use

Now NASA has vetoed Chinese citizens even in zoom

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The tension between the two largest space superpowers has reached a new peak. The unprecedented measure of Block the access of Chinese citizens To all the programs, facilities and networks of NASA remembers the last century, with some turns of the times that are running: the veto is so strict that It extends even to zoom meetings. Beyond the Wolf amendment. US laws They already prohibited direct collaboration Between NASA and Chinese entities. The most famous law is the Wolf amendment, which prevents China’s access to the International Space Station since 2011, which is why the Chinese Space Agency has put in orbit Your own space station permanently inhabited. The new veto, which entered into force on September 5, affects all citizens of Chinese nationality, although they reside in the United States with visas in order. NASA not only prevents them from working on agency projects as contractors, but also as postgraduate students or university scientists. All Chinese have restricted physical access to NASA’s facilities, materials and networks for a matter of “cybersecurity.” In full lunar career. The veto is produced just when NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy has adopted an aggressive rhetoric against China. “We are in a second space race,” he said In a recent meeting With NASA employees. “We are going to win the Chinese on the Moon. We are going to do it safely. We are going to do it fast. We are going to do it well.” Not everyone shares their optimism. The former NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine, the original promoter of the Artemis program, declared otherwise Before the United States Senate: “Unless something changes, it is very unlikely that the United States exceeds the calendar planned by China to reach the surface of the moon.” Duffy’s response? “That they condemn me if that is the story we write.” A cold war for the control of the moon. The background of this new lunar career is both geopolitical and economic. Whoever first arrives at the South Lunar Pole and establishes a permanent basis will have a decisive advantage to exploit resources such as ice water and communications: the country that installs the first antenna in a high place will be the one who establishes the protocols and technical standards of the southern space. But the greatest fear in Washington is that China can declare an “exclusion zone” installing a small nuclear reactor on the moon for its electrical systems. A concern that led the government to order NASA that Accelerate your plans to install your own nuclear reactor Before Ilrs do it, the Sino-Rusa Alliance to establish a laboratory on the Moon. A spying plot. The distrust climate is also fed by a long history of accusations of industrial and technological espionage between countries. This fear has been revived with the Artificial intelligence boomtaking giants such as Google and OpenAi to harden their selection processes to avoid the filtration of commercial secrets. The semiconductor sector, a pillar of modern technology, has been one of the most affected by blockages between the two countries. Not for reason: key companies such as Dutch Asml and Taiwanese TSMC have suffered Theft of commercial secrets by employees linked to Chinese companies. The United States even extends its concern to the renewable energy sector, where it claims to have found Non -documented communication components on Chinese manufacturing devices. The veto to Chinese citizens is the last movement. An unequivocal sign that, before The internal problems of your lunar programThe United States is willing to take drastic measures to protect what its technological leadership and national security consider. The new space race has ceased to be an engineering competition to become an open conflict, where talent and scientific collaboration now have a passport. Image | POT In Xataka | While NASA faces the cancellation of 41 missions, China is making authentic virguerías in space

Citizens were not supposed to pay the closure of the nuclear, but there is already a hole of 11,600 euros on the bill

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Closing nuclear is not just a political decision, but also an economic problem. The dismantling bill and radioactive waste already exceeds 20.3 billion euros, and the debate between electric and government has only started. An invoice that does not stop growing. According to Enresa’s memorythe public company in charge of dismantling, the total expected cost already reaches 20,367 million euros. The majority corresponds to the dismantling of the reactors, with 17,520.5 million, while waste management and spent fuel, the so -called “electric rate”, adds 2,846.8 million. The rest of the activities, such as the management of the enusa fuel factory in Salamanca, complete the invoice. The fund that finances these operations, nourished with contributions from the electricity, accumulated 8,677 million at the end of 2024, after the 30% rise in the valuation rate since July of last year. This means that it only covers 43% of the planned cost, leaving in the air a gap of 11,690 million euros still to finance. The plan that changed everything. The 7th General Radioactive Waste Plan (PGRR), Approved at the end of 2023was a change of stage by definitely abandoning the centralized temporary warehouse project (ATC) in Villar de Cañas. Instead, waste has been chosen in independent temporary stores (ATI) located in each central, waiting for deep geological storage (AGP) that should be ready in 2072. The PGRR extends the forecasts up to 2100 and delays the total closure of the nuclear park until 2035with Trillo and Vandellós II as the latest plants in going out. To this is added the legal obligation to annually review the forecasts, which adjusts the costs to inflation and the new technical conditions. Electric against rates. The companies, headed by Iberdrola and Endesa, say that operating under this cost scheme is unfeasible. Both have presented resources in the courts against the increase of 30% of the Enresa rate and have claimed millionaire compensation. Besides, They have requested that the closing calendar be reopenedarguing that prolonging the useful life of the reactors would relieve pressure on the electrical system. According to a report by the consultant EY cited by Nuclear ForumSpain supports the highest nuclear fiscal burden in Europe, with 27.3 euros per megavatio hour in specific encumbrances, which in the opinion of companies places them at a clear disadvantage against other countries. The red line of the government. The Executive maintains its position: the costs of dismantling and management of waste will not fall on consumers. The minister for ecological transition, Sara Aagesen, has responded to electricity with three conditions for any extension of the nuclear park: that does not involve additional costs for citizens, that supply security is guaranteed and that plants strictly comply With the standards of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN). The Government insists that there are no formal negotiations to extend the lives of the centrals and accuses companies to try to transfer their invoice to the whole citizenship. The Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizard, summarized the position In statements collected by eldiario.es: “They want part of the dismantling costs to be paid among all, and we will not transfer it to the whole citizenship.” Forecasts and uncertainties. Costs can continue to grow. The French case is a notice as they have advanced at eldiario.es: The Andra agency reviewed in 2025 the cost of the AGP Cigéo between 26,100 and 37,500 million, an increase of up to 60% compared to 2016. In Spain they have prepared The 9th R&D Plan (2024-2028) of Enresa It includes 31 million in research to develop containers, confinement materials and recover fuel. A modest figure compared to billions at stake, but key to preparing the future AGP of 2072 and reducing long -term risks. In addition, Spain faces this solo calendar within Europe. While France, Sweden or Switzerland choose to expand the life of their reactors or even promote new projects, the Spanish PGRR maintains a plan of Progressive closure without planned extensions. A debate that goes beyond closing. The balance of the electrical system is also present. This summer a paradox has been evidenced: historical record of solar production in Europe, but invoices fired by the lack of storage and the need to resort to gas in night hours. In that hole is where the nuclear has played so far a stable backup role, but does not solve that background problem: it only postpones the closure, it makes the costs more expensive and aggravates the inheritance of waste. The dilemma is clear: can you do without it before the network is prepared to guarantee the same stability without firing the price of light? For the Government, the response is to accelerate renewables, storage and interconnections. For electricity, to keep the nuclear live longer. Image | Unspash Xataka | The largest nuclear fusion project on the planet has survived the setbacks. This is the date on which Iter should be ready

China does not want users on the Internet. He wants perfectly identified citizens

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China will establish a new virtual identity system so that its citizens can record on all types of online services and platforms. The new system – which is now voluntary – is called “identity certification of the National Network” and will make Chinese Internet users lose one of the few cracks that had left: anonymity. Internet card. The regulations of this new centralized Internet identity system It was published In May 2025 and will enter into force on July 15, 2025. Identity checks will be mandatory in all types of online platforms, and that will imply that it will be very difficult for users to maintain their anonymity for example on social networks. This virtual card works as a mobile application in mobile NFCs that can configure both adult and minor users, as explained The guide start -up. The Chinese excuse. In the document published jointly by several Chinese agencies – as the Ministry of Public Security or the administration of the cyberspace of China – it is indicated that its objective is to “protect the security of citizens’s information and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy.” A “Antibalas Vest”. In the CCTV account – the Chinese official public television service— In Weibo They explained how These measures “They are based on legal identity information” and will provide a way to verify users in all types of services and “reduce the collection and retention of personal identity information.” It is like “A bulletproof vest so that third parties cannot gather your full personal information,” they say. Digital Totalitarianism. In CNN cite The words of Xiao Qiang, a researcher specializing in Internet censorship, which indicates that “it is a unified identity system and directed by the State, capable of monitoring and blocking users in real time. You can directly erase the voices that you do not like, so it is more than a surveillance tool: it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism.” Another repression measure. There is the Internet that we all know and use, and there is the Chinese Internet. And in that last Censorship and control dominate everything. The Chinese totalitarian regime is more patent than ever in the access and use of the Internet, and We have seen In recent years with the massive prohibition of Feminist or LGTB activismthe elimination of Youth jargon In social networks, the fight against CULTITIES CULTor the Total comments control that users publish on social networks to eliminate those that are not appropriate. State pseudonyms. According to the State Media Agency Xinhua, More than six million people They have already registered voluntarily to achieve their particular Internet identifier. The “cyberspace identifier”, as the agency calls it, can have two variants: a series of letters and numbers or an online credential. Both correspond to the real identity of the user “but exclude information in flat text.” That is: they are a kind of pseudonym, but one controlled by the State. “Volunteer” with quotes. One of those responsible for the Ministry of Public Security also indicated in Xinhua how this virtual card was voluntary. However, this voluntariness is debatable because the Chinese government is promoting the integration of said system into various industries and sectors. Haochen Sun, a law professor at Hong Kong University, said in CNN that although the law effectively presents the system as a volunteer, it could end up becoming a system that users would have to end up using to access all types of platforms that integrate it. Silence criticism. This system He began to take his first steps Last year, when a police manager named Jia Xiaoliang proposed it at a meeting of the National Popular Party Congress in March 2024. The criticisms of the experts were numerous, and for example Lao Dongyan, a well -known professor of law at the University of Tsinghua, said in Weibo that the system allowed to “install a espionage device for the online activity of people.” Evogate. That post ended up being erased and the account suspended without being able to publish for three months for “violating important rules.” A year later, when the definitive rules of the project were finally published, there were practically no criticism on social networks. As Xiao explained, it is a typical method in China, which leaves some time before announcing definitive measures to allow some “relief” and those voices end up losing strength. Image | Joseph Chan In Xataka | China is training its AI in suitcases full of hard drives: thus they are mocking the US veto to the advanced chips

Iran has asked its citizens to uninstall WhatsApp. WhatsApp’s response has been outraged

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He Application blocking during protests or armed conflicts is something that We have seen before. Although it is not a blockade for now, WhatsApp is in the spotlight in Iran. In the middle of Conflict with IsraelIranian state television asked a few days ago to its population that They will erase WhatsApp from their devices. The reason? According to them, the Meta app shares data with Israel. WhatsApp soon responded. Iran’s accusation. They tell it in AP news. Last Tuesday afternoon, on Iranian state television, the population to erase WhatsApp from their mobiles was urged. Iran ensures that the app is collecting user information, including your last locationand sharing it with Israeli intelligence, although without any proof that corroborates it. The WhatsApp response. In a Message posted in your X profileWhatsApp has responded bluntly, crossing this accusation of false information and highlighting that they use end -to -end encryption. This means that the information cannot be read if it is intercepted, it is only convenient when it reaches the recipient. They also emphasize that they do not keep registration of user location. Here the full message: This information is false and we are concerned that it will be used as an excuse to block whatsapp just when they need it most. All your personal messages and calls are encrypted from end to end, so we cannot see them. We do not track your exact location. We do not keep records of personal messages that are sent to each other. We do not provide massive information to any government. Can a government ask WhatsApp information? In a response to the WhatsApp publication in X, a user questioned if “we did not provide massive information to any government” meant that they do provide more detailed information. The truth is that there are cases in which yes They can share information before requests from order forcesfor example, given an emergency situation or investigation. In your response to this userWhatsApp insists that the Iran-Israel conflict is not one of these cases. In his Help centerWhatsApp explains how the process works when one of these applications occurs, which always has to meet the legal framework and its privacy policy. Among the data they can share with the authorities is the username, the date on which it started using WhatsApp, date of the last use, IP address, device information, your name, profile photo, contact list or its email. Goal provides details about government requests in its Transparency Centeralthough the data is updated every six months, so the most recent is from December 2024. Iran and WhatsApp have history. The finishing messaging app has already been in the spotlight of the Iranian government. In 2022, during Protests for the death of Masha Amini At the hands of the Iranian police, the government blocked Internet access in some parts of Tehran. Access to Instagram and WhatsApp was also blocked in an attempt to weaken the protests, it was not until late 2024 When they lifted the blockade. On the other hand, a few days ago The Internet connection will restrict throughout the country as a measure to prevent “cyber attacks from the enemy”, although They assured which would be a “temporary, specific and controlled.” Cover image | Pexels (1, 2) In Xataka | Israel is not only attacking Iran with missiles. He also just steal 90 million dollars in cryptocurrencies

Taiwan has just stopped a ship after cutting an underwater cable. The problem is that there are only Chinese citizens inside

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That the submarine cables, whether communications or energy, have become a first level actor in the geopolitics of the planet, is out of any doubt. The cases of cuts and Sabotajes that have occurred in recent months, together with The huge investments They are taking place among companies with AI in the equation, attest to it. However, if the cable cut occurs in a high voltage place such as Taiwan, the incident acquires another channel. The suspicion of sabotage. It is not the first time in the enclave, like We have counted beforebut it has happened again. The authorities of Taiwan have stopped a ship of load under the suspicion of having cut a communications cable Submarine that connects the main island with the Penghu archipelago, located about 30 kilometers west. Although the investigation is still ongoing, the event adds to a series of similar incidents that have generated restlessness on possible tactics of maritime sabotage by China and Russia. The problem: the ship is manned by Chinese citizens. The arrest. A Taiwanese coach detected That the vessel, a freighter in poor condition with multiple names and Chinese financing, was in the area when the cable rupture occurred. According to Ou Yu-FEI, spokesman for the Coast Guard, it was The only ship present In the area at that time, which reinforces the hypothesis of its involvement. In addition, they say that the ship could have used a false registration number and changed its name suddenly, a common pattern in covert activities. Context of a “possible.” As has told the New York Timesthe incident occurred around Tuesday at 3:24 am, shortly after a Taiwanese patrol ordered the freighter to leave the area because they were too close to the submarine cables with the anchor thrown. This detail has led the authorities to consider the possibility that the ship took advantage of its exit to perform a deliberate act of sabotage. Crucial cables. The cutting of submarine communications cables is always a serious accident, but in the case of Taiwan a little more. The reason? It depends on Great measure of these cables for its connectivity with its peripheral islands and with the rest of the world. While they can be damaged by natural causes such as earthquakes or aging of the material, the most common reason is the drag of ships of ships or fishing nets. In fact and as we remembered, recent patterns have led some analysts to speculate that China and Russia could be resorting to deliberate sabotage as a form of harassment in the sea. A trend. A summary of the growing number of similar cases could be made in recent times. In 2023a cable between Taiwan and the Matsu Islands was cut, affecting communications for weeks. TO beginnings of 2025a digital cable that connects Taiwan with South Korea, Japan, China and the United States suffered damage, indicated that a Chinese ship could have dragged its anchor over it. In November 2024two fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, and the investigations pointed to a Chinese/Russian flag freighter. In response to this trend, the Taiwan government has intensified surveillance of its underwater infrastructure and has prepared a list of More than 50 suspicious shipsmany of them registered with convenience flags (such as the togolesa, used by the detainee ship). The answer. A few hours ago, China has accused Taiwan of politically manipulate the recent incident of the submarine cable. According to Beijing, the Taiwanese government has exaggerated the situation without conclusive evidence, with the aim of feeding tensions and obtaining political revenue. Zhu Fenglian, spokesman for the Chinese Government’s Taiwan Affairs Office, minimized the same, stating that damage to submarine cables They are common maritime accidents that occur more than a hundred times a year worldwide. In addition, he accused the Democratic Progressive Party (PPD), which governs Taiwan, to use the event to manipulate public opinion without their claims having real support. For its part, the Taiwanese government has rejected Beijing’s claims, insisting that there are clear indications of possible sabotage, especially since the ship with Chinese links was present in the area when it occurred. Geopolitical implications. If Taiwan’s suspicions are confirmed about intentional damage, the fact could climb the tensions between the island and China. As We have been countingBeijin considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased pressure on the island in recent years through military incursionseconomic pressure and cyber attacks. We will have to wait, since the case has been sent to prosecutors to deeper investigation. Meanwhile, the island continues reinforcing your measures security to avoid new interruptions in their underwater communications. In a context in which the control of digital networks and critical infrastructure has become a hybrid war tool, these incidents reinforce the perception that the “neighbor” could be exploring forms of indirect destabilization without reaching an open conflict . Image | 總統府Taiwan Coast Guard In Xataka | Taiwan does not want more problems with China or with its submarine cables. So you have activated an unpublished security plan In Xataka | Goal already has the tool to lead the AI ​​era: an underwater cable that will take more than one return to the earth

They warn that ICE is even stopping US citizens

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The operations of the Customs Immigration and Control Agency (ICE) are carried out in practically the whole countrybut the agents are not following the required protocols, such as having arrest orders signed by a judge and, according to several reports, there are also Stoping Americans. Two cases have even alerted authorities, as in Newark, New Jersey, where on Thursday a raid was made where dozens of people were arrested and processed For deportationincluding American citizens and even a veteran. “Today, agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Control (ICE) raided a local establishment in the city of Newark, Stoping undocumented and citizens, without presenting a court order“, Warned the mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka. “One of the detainees is a veteran American military who suffered the indignity that the legitimacy of his military documentation was questioned.” The mayor warned that The way ICE is operating viola the fourth amendment of the Constitutionwhich prohibits making investigations for no probable reason, which is known as a “hunt.” “This atrocious act clearly violates the fourth amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees’ the right of people to the safety of their persons, houses, papers and effects, against registries and unqualations irrarrazonables,” said the mayor. In New Mexico, Democratic representative Teresa Leger Fernández revealed that ICE agents are harassing Native Americans, as part of the raids. “ICE agents are harassing and threatening the Native Americans”League wrote in his X account, formerly Twitter. “Trump said that bad immigrants can be recognized for their ‘appearance’. The members of the tribes resemble the first Americans. Stop harassing them. ” The representative offered the telephone line of her office (202) 225-6190. Remember that there are several branches that ICE has, such as special agents (HSI), which are focused on deportation orders signed by a judge (Ero), but sometimes federal officers only carry outfits that say ‘Police’. The National Security Department (DHS) also gave authorization for the Officers of the DEA, AFT, the Marshals office and the bureau of prisons carrying out investigations and arrests of undocumented immigrants. ICE reported that only last Thursday arrested more than 500 immigrantsbut although that figure is a little above the average in terms of arrests that have been made in 2024, for example, which is about 400 people a day. ICE AGENTS ARE HARASSING AND THREATENING Native America. If This has had you, Call My Office AT (202) 225-6190. Trump Said You Can Tell Bad Immigrants by What They “Look” Like. Tribal Members Like the First America. Stop Harassing Them. – Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (@repteresalf) January 23, 2025 What to do before a possible encounter with ICE Migratory lawyers and migrant defenders suggest the suggestion if a person has a meeting with ICE: – The person You don’t have to provide your namenor any identification. “(Immigrants) does not have to provide identification or answer any questions. You do not have to give your consent to review your pockets, bags or personal items, ”says the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). – If you need to find someone who may have been arrested, you can search the ICE online stop location system in Locator.ice.gov, in addition to consulting the specific installation in Ice.gov/detenion-facilities. 5. Record and request help An immigrant has the right to record his meeting or that of other people with ICE agents, but he must do it safely. Take note of the location, the time and what the ICE agents said and did. “You have the right to ask agents to identify and a copy of a court order. Be sure to verify that the order is signed by a state or federal judge. Otherwise, the order can be an administrative order. An order not signed by a judge is not a valid order for an agent to require the entrance (or search) of a private area such as a house, a vehicle or an exclusive area for employees in a workplace, ”says Nyic. Although migrants do not have the right to a lawyer provided by the Government, it does have the right to make a phone call to request family or legal help. Continue reading:• Trump blocks citizens by birth to children of undocumented• New law will allow ICE to detain almost any undocumented, it warns the agency’s ex official.• Tom Homan on mass deportation: “ICE agents from all over the country will be on the streets from the beginning” (Tagstotranslate) Donald Trump (T) Ice

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