Europe

France needs to cut 40,000 million euros. And he has decided to start for something sacred in Europe: the holidays

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In France there are officially 11 holidays nationals per year, all established through Code du travail (Labor Code). In Spain, on the other hand, we cannot complain: “We enjoy” up to 14 of this type of day. It happens that the French have come up with an idea to refloat their maltrecha economy: start removing holidays from the labor calendar. That Europe trembles. Delete the party. French Prime Minister François Bayrou has presented One of the most radical and politically risky budgetary proposals of the last decades in France: freezing public spending, cutting pensions and social benefits, suppressing two national holidays and applying a new “solidarity contribution” to the great fortunes. Its objective: prevent the country from succumbing under the weight of a public debt that this year It will devour 62,000 million of euros only in interest, an amount equivalent to the combined expense in defense and education. In an appearance that defined as “the moment of truth”, Bayrou warned that France runs the risk of falling into a debt crisis similar to that of Greece in 2008 if it does not act in decision, and launched a message to the citizens: “We have become addicted to public spending. We must all make an effort.” The cost of two holidays. Among the most controversial measures, the holiday suppression of the Easter Monday And on May 8 (Victory Day), with which the Executive estimates Save 4,200 million of euros. France has 11 national holidays, compared to the eight of the United Kingdom or the 14 of Spain, which according to Bayrou is An incompatible luxury With the current fiscal situation. The measure aims to increase the number of working days as an indirect tool To stimulate economic growth. But beyond immediate savings, the elimination of days of deep historical and cultural burden represents a high -voltage political challenge, one that has aroused a transverse rejection in Parliament and public opinion. The attack on collective memory symbols, in a country where the history of world wars is a national identity pillar, has turned the proposal into an emotional catalyst. Structural austerity. Bayrou’s budget plan includes 44,000 million euros In tax and cuts increases. Among them, a general freezing of public spending by 2026 (which has been called A Année Blanche) without automatic inflation reviews, and without increases in pensions or social protection programs. This single measure would save 7.1 billion euros, the second largest component of the plan. The Rationalization of health expenditureincluding medications and low disease, as well as the unification of multiple social aid in a single payment with a stop, focused on low income. Bayrou also wants Cut the benefits by unemployment and reduce its duration. The only exempt from adjustment is the debt service and the defense budget, which will increase by 10 % (6.5 billion euros) In direct order by Emmanuel Macron, in response to the deterioration of the international environment and Russian threat. Suicidal political bet. He counted The Financial Times that, aware of the rejection that its plan causes throughout the political spectrum, Bayrou has been willing to Apply article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows the budget to be approved without parliamentary vote, although with the risk of facing a motion of censure. This would be the same mechanism that led to the fall of its predecessor, Michel Barnierin 2023, for trying to unlink the pensions of the inflation index, an idea that Bayrou has now resumed. Marine Le Pen, leader of the national regrouping, has not taken long In threatening to censor him If you do not withdraw your proposals, denouncing a plan that “attacks all French, the workers and retirees, instead of ending the waste.” The left considers the project as A “wild austerity” that aggravates inequality and leaves intact the privileges of capital. Mujtaba Rahman, director for Europe of the Eurasia Group analysis group, defined it as “A kamikaze maneuver”: A proposal that has no chance of being approved but puts on the table the magnitude of the fiscal problem. A country on the edge. With a deficit 5.8% of GDP (the third highest in the EU after Romania and Poland) and a debt that is headed towards 115% of GDPFrance is at a critical crossing. If corrective measures are not applied, the cost of the debt could climb to 100,000 million of euros per year in 2029, becoming the largest structural burden of the budget. Bayrou has designed a five -year plan to stabilize that debt/GDP ratio, with the ambition to reduce the 4.6% deficit in 2026 and 3% in 2029. But analysts have warned that such objectives could be “inaccessible” Given the political fragility of the government, parliamentary polarization and the foreseeable social resistance. In Bayrou words: “We know the risks perfectly,” but suggests that giving up the attempt would be even more dangerous. Would it be possible in Spain? In Spain, the possibility of eliminating holidays nationwide is legally possible, but not unilateral or automatic, since it would require a normative reform and institutional negotiation. The reason? It’s not an exclusive competence of the central government and, unlike France, the Spanish system distributes this faculty between the State (fixed 8 days), the autonomous communities (set up to 4 days) and the municipalities (set up to 2 days). Plus: Remember that 14 annual holidays per worker are a right recognized in the Workers Statutebut its concrete distribution is variable. The law allows some holidays to move to Monday, replace them with others or even suppress in specific years, provided that 14 days in total are respected. France and a last act. In the case of France, rather than an economic proposal, Bayrou’s budget plan has acquired the form of a kind of Declaration of principles in front of a fractured country. It is the bet of a veteran politician who seems willing to assume the cost of impopularity to address A structural problem that most of their predecessors have avoided. One thing is clear: parliamentary arithmetic is … Read more

The strange buzzing that you can only listen to at an age. The frequency that Japan, the US and Europe uses against young people

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In 2009 IHe listened to listen for the first time in the streets of Tokyo. For years, the Kitikahama Parkin the district of Adachi, he had been recurring white of acts of vandalism, especially in public facilities such as bathrooms and urban furniture. Damage, mainly attributed to groups of adolescents who frequent the area at night, had meant a significant cost for local authorities. And since then, a Imperceptible noise For much of the population has been recurring. A sound that has its origin in Europe. The mosquito. Years before, in 2005, the New York Times spoke of the arrival of an invention to the United Kingdom. What began as a child auditory discomfort was transformed years later into an unusual solution for a persistent urban problem. Howard Stapletona British engineer, he remembered how, at age 12, upon entering a factory with his father, he was forced to go out immediately by an unbearable sound that adults did not even perceive. Decades later, that experience led him to create The mosquitoa device that emits a high frequency buzz perceptible only by young ears (mainly around twenty) and practically inaudible for those who have passed thirty. Its purpose was as direct as controversial: drill teenagers that congregate in noisy in front of stores, generating discomfort, intimidations and even episodes of theft and violence, without the need for direct confrontation. Personal idea to experiment. The first real mosquito test took place in Barry in 2005, a town in southern Wales, in front of a spar grocery storemanaged by Robert Gough and his family. Before the installation, the place suffered daily La presence of adolescents They smoked, drank, insulted customers and broke into the establishment. Gough had considered resorting to classical music to large volume, but never implemented it. It was Stapleton who offered to install the device testing. In a matter of little time, the usual congregation of adolescents disappeared. Some tried to resist, entering the store with their fingers in their ears and asking to turn off the buzz. Gough, ingenious, told them that the device was to scare birds due to avian flu. The result was a Radical transformation: Before conflicting teenagers now entered, bought, and they went without causing problems. Mosquito installation in a Philadelphia store It hurts, but it doesn’t exhaust. We talk about a device that emits a kind of chirp pulsating by Above 17 kilohertzup to 75/80 decibels, comparable to a noise of tinnitusIt is not painful, but very irritating. Stapleton said he tested different frequencies with the help of his own children to formula That “I did not harm, but it would bother enough to want to leave.” His intention was never punishing, but Simply dissuadecausing an discomfort that pushes the adolescent to retire on its own. While some adults can still perceive the sound, the device is designed thinking about behavior patterns rather than strict age ranges: hardly a 30 -year -old person is around the entrance of a store for hours. Professor Andrew King, an expert in neurophysiology at Oxford University, I recognized years ago To the Times that although the hearing of high frequencies decreases with age, that loss is gradual and, therefore, some adults could also hear it. Stapleton will consider it irrelevant: “The mosquito is not for them.” Cross borders. After its appearance, the mosquito It generated great interest. Stores, railway deposits, shopping centers and British local authorities They requested units. Stapleton, at that time, already contemplated more powerful versions Activable by panic button, designed to repel crowds that enter into mass to steal, which in the United Kingdom is known as Steaming. Its logic It was simple: “It is difficult to steal with the fingers in the ears.” From Europe and the US to Japan. Four years after the invention was established in different cities from the United Kingdom, then Europe, and finally the United Statesthe mosquito made the leap to Japan. Given the numerous acts of vandalism, the district of Adachi decided to resort to the controversial technological solution, but growing in popularity. Pilot test In Japan, some shops and They had implemented Previously after receiving complaints about garbage, noise and concentration of youth groups, but 2009 was the first time it was installed in A public park. The Adachi administration, which had hired the device to the Melc Co LTD company, based in Chiyoda, installed it in the area as part of an essay that would last until March 2010. Background: Vandalism costs in the 470 parks and public areas of Adachi in the previous years had overcome the 3 million yenso any solution that could reduce non -invasive figures represented an attractive option. According to Melc representatives, the objective It was clear: generate an environment uncomfortable for offenders without altering the tranquility of the rest of citizens or provoking neighborhood complaints. And in the trains. Although today the number of facilities of this type is unknown in Japan, in the social networks They abound videos and comments of young people alluding To this type of sounds. Bloomberg had that even a version of the mosquito has also been installed in trains stations. In many of them ultrasonic devices had been placed that emitted a high frequency sound only noticeable for children under 25 years. The devices, designed to discourage merodeus without confrontations, caused obvious reactions In students: discomfort faces, accelerated steps and complaints, without most knew where the sound comes from. Meanwhile, older adults walk imperturbable, unable to hear the signal. The technology, originally from Wales, had found in Japan its most systematic and culturally accepted use. Between defense and stigma. Counted in a long NPR interview to Stapleton that the mosquito has generated a debate about the Technological intervention limits in public space. While some celebrate their ability to restore tranquility in commercial and school areas without violence or clashes, others consider that their indiscriminate use It can be equivalent to criminalizing the default youth. Stapleton responded That the true enemy is not adolescence, … Read more

Lyft, closer to landing in Europe. The platform has taken a key step to buy Freeow from BMW and Mercedes

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Lyft wants to enter Europe and has begun to move. The company has notified the National Commission of Markets and the Competition the purchase of Freeow, the taxi app that until now shared BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The operation, valued at 175 million euros It represents a key movement: if completed, it will allow Lyft to deploy in more than 150 European cities, including Madrid, Berlin and London. Instead of building a network in Europe, it is committed to acquiring a platform that already operates in some of the most important markets on the continent. Freeow not only has a consolidated presence in key cities: it also has local agreements, active fleets and an approach that fits the European ecosystem, more regulated than the American. The operation would allow Lyft to enter with a base already made. The operation is not closed. On July 9, Lyft officially notified the purchase from the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). With that step the initial phase of the regulatory process in Spain is activated: the agency now has a month to pronounce. If you consider that the operation needs a more detailed analysis, a second phase will be opened that could be lengthened between three and four months, As Europa Press collects. Only after overcoming this process the transaction could be completed. For users, nothing changes for now. But there are clear promises. Both Lyft and Freeow have confirmed that, for the moment, there will be no changes in the experience of use. The app will continue to function as until now. However, in the medium term, improvements such as more consistent prices, faster vehicles and new functions are expected. They are future objectives, even without a concrete date, but that are already in the road map of both companies. The Integration of Freeow would allow him to significantly expand his scope, both in number of cities and in potential volume of users. According to its internal estimates, the total market to which it aspires would reach more than 300,000 million annual journeys, with an expected increase in gross reserves of 1,000 million euros. Freeow does not disappear: he maintains his team, his brand and his local DNA. The agreement contemplates that Freeow retains its current structure. There will be no mergers or rebranding: the brand will remain active and directed by the same team. That continuity is part of the strategic value of the operation, since it allows Lyft to access a consolidated network without altering its internal operation. An agreement that meets two different, but complementary cultures. Lyft arrives with an experience focused on digital platforms and large volume management. Freeow brings the knowledge of the land: relations with fleets, authorities and operators in each city. Both companies assure that it is not an absorption, but a collaboration that aspires to climb what already works, without losing local identity. Images | Lyft/Freeow In Xataka | Europe has denied 1,100 million euros to Spain with a single goal: that we pay more for diesel

If Europe drums arrive, it will respond with a duplicate nuclear force

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At the end of the 1950s, France, in the figure of Charles de Gaulle, promoted the idea that the nation could maintain some strategic dependence by launching the Nuclear deterrence policy Sovereign, a kind of nuclear umbrella arguing that, although the United States was an ally, its interests could Do not match Always with those of Europe. Half a century later, that idea sounds strongly in the old continent with an unpublished Anglo-French alliance. An unprecedented agreement. United Kingdom and France, the only two sovereign nuclear powers of Western Europe, have first announced the decision to coordinate the Use of its atomic arsenals in response to any extreme threat that endangers the safety of the continent. He agreementpresented by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron during a state visit to London, brand A significant turn In strategic cooperation between the two countries, especially in the face of the renewed fear of Russia’s aggressiveness and uncertainty about American commitment to European collective defense under Trump’s leadership. Asterisk. Very important; although the British and French arsenals will continue to be technically independentnow they can be used jointly in case of conflict, an unequivocal signal for both allies and adversaries that any serious aggression against one of the two will be answered by both. Differences overcome by a threat. The pact represents a symbolic overcoming of traditional differences between London and Paris in nuclear doctrine. United Kingdom has integrated its arsenal in the nuclear planning structure of NATO And it depends technically on missiles supplied by the United States, although it operates autonomously. France, on the contrary, has always defended with zeal Total sovereignty About his deterrence, refusing to participate in the NATO nuclear cast system, and maintaining An independent doctrine whose strategic scope (“vital interests with European dimension”) has been deliberately ambiguous. The decision to act coordination does not involve merging capabilities, but synchronizing potential responses and generating a unified front against possible aggressions, especially in a scenario of weakness in transatlantic commitment. Storm Shadow Complement and evolution. Both countries possess Comparatively small arsenals In relation to the great nuclear powers. United Kingdom bases its deterrence In Trident missiles launched from submarines, but has announced plans to incorporate an air capacity by F-35a aircraft of American origin capable of carrying nuclear weapons. France, on the other hand, maintains a completely national force, which combines maritime and aerial vectors. In addition, he works In the ASN4Ga next-generation hypersonic air-earth missile with nuclear capacity (which United Kingdom Study adopt), which would mean having for the first time in decades of an air nuclear system independent of American control. The new coordination will allow, among other options, synchronize underwater patrols or stepped maintenance periods to ensure a continuous presence in the sea. Experts such as Camille Grand and Lawrence Freedman highlighted the transcendence of the ad, since France He had never admitted Publicly no type of nuclear cooperation of this type, which implies an important doctrinal change. TRIDS DIAGRAM The American umbrella. He underlined The New York Times That the decision to move towards an incipient form of coordinated nuclear deterrence responds, in addition to the Russian threat, to the Strategic emptiness that has left Washington’s ambiguous attitude towards European defense. The traditional dependence of the NATO nuclear shield, under American leadership, has It was questioned for Trump’s skepticism regarding the usefulness of protecting the allies of the continent. In this context, Franco-British tandem assumes the responsibility of projecting a credible European alternativealigning their respective defensive doctrines and sending a clear message to Moscow about the consequences of continuing his offensive in Ukraine. The pact is articulated within a greater strategy to revitalize the call “Coalition of the willing”an informal alliance of European countries that seek to sustain the Ukrainian war effort before the American replication. Challenges: Ukraine and coalition. Plus: The agreement comes in a moment especially delicate In the Ukraine conflict, where the promise of a high fire driven by Washington has not been completed and Western military aid, especially from the United States, is He has slowed down. Starmer and Macron, which lead the hard core of the Pro-Ukrainian coalition, seek to recover the impulse through A virtual conference with other allied leaders from a military base on the outskirts of London. However, some countries continue showing reluctance To send material means such as combat airplanes, which underlines the difficulties in maintaining cohesion in a fragmented coalition for divergent interests and national agendas. The joint nuclear initiative is thus enrolled in a broader logic of diplomatic pressure to Hold the commitment European in the face of transatlantic umbrella. Friends after Brexit. The nuclear pact, in addition, symbolizes a significant thaw in the relationships between London and Paris, deteriorated after the referendum Brexit. Starmer and Macron have presented this relaunch of links as a stage of pragmatic understanding, cemented not only in collective safety, but also in thorny areas such as migration. Both governments negotiate A new agreement To stop migrants’ crosses in small boats from the coast of northern France, a growing problem that has generated bilateral tensions. The objective is to reduce flows without giving up humanitarian obligations, in the midst of growing political pressure by populist parties as reform uk. The Lancaster Pact. The Franco-British alliance also extends to the joint development of new conventional capacities. Within the framework of the so -called “Lancaster House 2.0”both powers will sign an update of the Defense Treaty signed in 2010. This new agreement provides for the creation of a new generation of long -range missiles that will replace the Successful Storm Shadow/Scalpused by Ukraine, in addition to an extension of the joint expeditionary force. Likewise, development is contemplated of Air-Aire missiles latest generation, microwave weapons to interfere with drones and missiles, electronic war systems and intensive artificial intelligence use To coordinate attacks with millimeter precision. These initiatives reinforce the projection capacity of both countries and consolidate their role as central safety guarantors in Europe, at a time … Read more

If Europe is beating solar energy records this summer, why has the price of light shot?

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Summer is a paradox season for the energy sector. On the one hand, renewables are reaching historical figures. June marked the month of greater production of solar energy ever registered in the European Union: Friolera of 45 twh22% more than the previous year. On the other, many Europeans saw how their light of the light doubled or even tripled. The question is inevitable: if we swim in solar energy, why do we pay more for electricity? The demand is triggered. The heat waves that run Europe They have put the thermometers around 40 ºC in numerous points in Spain, France and Germany. With air conditioning systems, working at maximum power, the electrical demand has shot. According to him Last Ember reportdaily demand grew by 14% in Spain, 9% in France and 6% in Germany during the month of June. A greater electrical demand, alone, already presses the prices of upward light. But the heat brought with it a second problem, this time on the offer side. Thermal plants are suffocated. The same heat that drives the demand for air conditioning puts traditional energy plants, especially nuclear. These facilities need huge amounts of river water to refrigerate their reactors. When the water temperature rises too much, its refrigeration capacity decreases, forcing to reduce production and, in extreme cases, to stop it completely. France It has been the most affected country. Its fleet of nuclear centrals, one of the pillars of the European interconnected network, is suffering capacity reductions in almost all its facilities. But it is not an exclusively nuclear problem. In Poland, the cooling of coal centrals is being a constant concern, and in Italy, the overheating of the network cables was the most likely cause of the blackout of July 1. At the time of maximum need, a crucial part of the generation of traditional energy is not available. Missing storage for the solar. The saving of this crisis is photovoltaic solar energy. In Germany, the Solar came to generate 50 GW peaks, covering between 33% and 39% of the entire electricity of the country. With a marginal cost close to zero, solar panels are doing exactly what is expected of them: maintain the stability of the network during the day with abundant and cheap energy, despite their Performance problems under extreme heat. The night is another song. At sunset, solar production falls to zero, but the refrigeration demand remains high. When the high temperatures persist until well into the night, Insufficient storage capacity (either in batteries or With pumping hydroelectric) forces to resort to gas and other fossil sources to cover the hole, shooting prices. The damn “Spred”. This temporal mismatch caused by the abundance of variable energy and the lack of resources to store it is what causes madness in prices. A daily price differential (the “spred”) of up to € 400/MWh in Germany and € 470/MWh in Poland. This night peak, and not the average price, is what triggers the final bill and makes the light through the clouds when more cheap energy is producing. The lesson is clear: the challenge is not only to generate cheap renewable energy, but manage it. More storage is needed to buy energy at low prices at noon and sell it at high prices in the afternoon. But also More European interconnections. The heat wave did not affect all of Europe with the same intensity and the same day. The biggest June peaks arrived in Madrid on Domingo, Paris on Tuesday and Berlin on Wednesday. The reinforcement of the interconnections will allow to distribute the cheap energy more and better. Image | Agrisolar Clearinghouse (CC) In Xataka | Spain and Portugal are tired of promises: they ask France to leave the electric alley

If China attacks Taiwan, Russia and North Korea will also do so … but to Europe

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An interview of the New York Times It has opened the possibility of a scenario that concerns a large number of nations. NATO general secretary Mark Rutte, explained The closest thing to a chess board where the movement of a key piece produced a geopolitical earthquake of extraordinary dimensions, according to the leader, everything would begin if China finally decides Attack Taiwan. What would come later would be the closest thing to world war. The context. The extensive interview He came to a key point: the fear of an escalation of Chinese military intervention on the island of Taiwan It has increased drastically He launched his invasion On a large scale of Ukraine. The approach: the war has served as possible model How both taipéi and the international community could answer if Beijing decides to invade. Of course, Rutte took the opportunity to spread the message we listen to incessantly: rearmamentbut from a disturbing perspective. Routte word. “There is more and more awareness, and let’s not be naive about it: if xi jinping attack Taiwan, he would first make sure his smallest partner in all this, Vladimir Putin, and say: ‘Hey, I will do this and I need you to keep them occupied in Europe attacking NATO territory’”, Routte declared. “It is very likely that this is how this advances. And to dissuade them, we need to do two things. One is that it, collectively, is so strong that the Russians never do it. And the second, collaborate with the Indo -Pacific, something that President Trump is promoting vehemently,” added. The strategic clamp. We have coming counting These months. As the military pressure China on Taiwan reaches levels unprecedentedthat key date of 2027 It is glimpsed on the horizon and, meanwhile, Western strategists begin to fear a more gloomy scenario: than Beijing, when launched into an eventual invasion of the island, activate its Russian partner to open a second front in Europe. That was about Rutte’s wordsthat this coordination would not be an improvised act, but a deliberate play. They remembered the Analysts on Twz That, although it seems alarmist, the warning fits with the growing alignment between Moscow and Beijing, which not only share strategic interests, but also reinforce each other in their respective wars: Russia with Chinese technical support in Ukraine, and China benefiting from the distraction that represents the European conflict for US military resources. NATO troops The 2027 horizon. A few months ago We point that Western intelligence reports agree that both China and Russia would be working with similar temporal horizons. Xi Jinping would have ordered the EPL armed forces to be ready to Take Taiwan in 2027a period supported For the CIA and by The statements of the then head of the IndoPacom, when talking about the call “Davidson Window.” In turn, the Rutte ownas well as high controls military from Germany and Ukraine, they argue that Russia could reconstitute your abilities To attack NATO territory Towards 2029. That is, by the end of this decade, both powers would be (it does not mean that it will be so) in technical and logistics conditions to open A double front which would test the American reaction capacity. In practice, this would mean that any Chinese offensive on Taiwan It could coincide With a Russian offensive on the eastern flank of Europe, forcing the United States to divide its resources between two simultaneous war theaters. Pressures on Taiwan. The United States Indo-Pacific Command data (INDOPACOM) leaves no doubt: Chinese military pressure on Taiwan has Increased 300% Annual, with Naval maneuversexercises amphibians, drills landing, rocket and operations releases of aircraft carriers Around the island. Admiral Samuel Paparo warned of a “boiling point” that could crystallize in a real operation if Beijing considers that Washington is too dispersed to respond effectively. Although some analysts consider unlikely that Russia is ready Right to attack NATO, others recognize that even a credible threat or hybrid war actions could force the United States to mobilize resources preventively. And the simple expectation of conflict would already be enough to dilute the American response capacity in the Pacific. Iran and North Korea. Beyond Russia, experts agree that China has other “saturation actors” to divert US attention and media. The recent offensive With B-2 Spirit bombings on Iranian nuclear facilities, it shows that Washington already has part of its arsenal committed in the Middle East. The maintenance of Two groups of aircraft carriers In the region, along with the sustained war Against the hutis In Yemen and the constant tension with Iran, they already suppose a drainage considerable operation. To this is added the latent threat North Koreawhose structural dependence on China makes it a strategic pawn willing to sow chaos if Beijing demands it. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow would have to launch into a total war: it would be enough with actions of “Gray Zone” Sufficiently to force a reaction from the United States and its allies, dispersing strength, anticipating conflicts and undermining the logistics and tactical concentration that would require a Taiwan effective defense. Wear strategy. The key to the scenario that is emerging is not in the immediate brute force, but in asymmetric deterrence. China knows that a Taiwan invasion is not simply a military operation, but a total geostrategic bet. To have any chance of success, It must guarantee that the United States cannot concentrate your forces quickly in the region. Russia, North Korea and even latent conflicts in the Middle East are part of this architecture. In that context, a weakened, distracted or forced to defend their eastern flank while Washington has to operate on several fronts, would offer the “Window of opportunity” that Beijing needs. Hence the revitalization of the European rearmethe reinforcement of the Defenses in Finland and Poland, and the Increase in spending Military in almost all the countries of the Alliance, are not only reactive measures against Russia, but essential elements of the strategy to also deter China. Washington and unpredictable deterrence. The Trump … Read more

In his plan to put Europe against the strings, China has a master plan: attack the French alcohol

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China has imposed tariffs of up to 34.9% for five years to Brandy from the European Union, exempting the punishment of the main producers of French Coñac (Hennesy, Rémy Martin and Pernod Ricard, among others), under condition that they sell at a minimum agreed price. The measure It emerges a year after Antidumping research which China launched in early 2024. What happened. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce reported on Saturday of “anti -dumping” tariffs between 27.7% and 34.9% to Brandy imports from the EU. The new rates apply to all distributors, except for those companies with which minimum prices will be agreed. As long as the products of these companies are exported to China, fulfilling the agreed conditions, they will not be subject to anti -dumping rights. Why it is important. With this movement, China has ensured the commitment of 34 Brandy producers of the European Union. The country led by Xi Jinping is using French alcohol as a geopolitical control strategy, a pressure game in which it shows its ability to retaliate against European tariff policy. The context. New tariff rates to Brandy are no accident. China initiated its anti -dumping research at the beginning of 2024, three months after the European Union began a procedure on The influx of Chinese electric cars in Europe. It was investigated how the policy of “huge state subsidies” was translating into “artificially low prices.” Shaun Reingeneral director of the China Market Research Group based in Shanghai to Reuters, explained on those dates how the measures of the Asian country “are a shot to let Europe know that China can also plan hard measures against its growing protectionism.” The largest market in the world for brandy. China has occupied a historic role in European brandy imports. Before the growing tensions, the country was the second largest destination for world exports of French Coñac, only behind the United States. It is a market for which they earn by market value, not by volume, if not paying more for bottle. Why attack Brandy? Because France is, however much, The largest exporter of alcoholic beverage to China. Putting the focus on your product is the best way to attack Europe. China and European alcohol. Chinese predilection for European alcohol does not have brandy as the only pillar. Chinese investors have been with predilection for wines like Frenchhaving come to buy entire warehouses that years later they went on sale. Chinese groups found in European alcohol a diversification for their portfolio of assets in addition to that, as a country, China is one of the main wine consumers in the world. Despite this, this consumption has suffered an accelerated fall for about a decade. The truce. The tariff to alcohol arrives in full uncertainty about what will end up happening with the rates imposed by Europe in the Chinese car. Europe is opening the door to the elimination of themwith the aim of looking for a land price depending on the type of vehicle. The EU wants to prevent China from playing with a practically inevitable competitive advantage. With tariff or without it, The Chinese car is eating the European in front of our eyesand the destiny of the industry passes through Asia. In Xataka | The great alcohol crisis in Spain: how young people are changing their relationship with radically drink Image | Ambitious Studio | Rick BarrettABODI VESAKARAN

It is one thing to spend 5% of GDP to rearm and a very different one is to sell weapons to Europe. Spain that has it very clear

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The “pacifist” Spain, which has faced the United States alone by questioning the “unit” of NATO compared to that 5% defense expense pursued by Washington, lives a paradox. Because While he refuses of the rearma, or at least the figures that are handled, has the opportunity to accompany a national company in the epicenter of that Dispension in artillery and military resources for the old continent. It We count A few days ago. The first track Morgan Stanley gave it: Indra had raised its target price by 118%. A crossroads. Of all this did an analysis The Financial Times. In the epicenter of a continent that accelerates Your rearmeSpain is presented as the more particular case Of all: The country historically more reluctant to military spending in NATO now tries Turn Indraa company of civil roots and computer tradition, in a kind of European defense champion. Partially supported by the State, which It has 28% of its capital, Indra is undertaking an ambitious (and risky) transformation with the aim of rivaling with consecrated names such as Bae Systems, the Almighty Rheinmetall or Thales. New DNA. Its new president, Angel Escribanoentrepreneur with industrial DNA forged in the manufacture of turrets for combat cars in the Middle East, has placed the reconquest of manufacturing capabilities as cornerstone of this new stage. “There has never been an opportunity like this in three decades of defense in Spain,” has declaredaware that the Expenditure supercycle European military, triggered by war in Ukraine, represents an unrepeatable occasion for the company. From radar to armored ones. Until recently, Indra It was synonym of air traffic control systems or military missions management software. His presence in defense was important but discreet, focused on digital solutions rather than tangible product. However, in the middle of a war where drones, artillery and armored scenethe company now seeks to occupy the physical space of The military industry: Also manufacture the “metal”, not just electronics. In June, he raised his participation in Tess defends 51%taking control of the consortium that produces The VCR Dragon For the Spanish army. The step was not exempt from friction: Indra faced Santa Barbara Systems (controlled by the American General Dynamics) for the course of the company, even suggesting its purchase. Although this was rejected, interest persists and the company explores other acquisitions, including the defense division from Iveco In Italy. Indra Buy and buy. The Financial Times counted That to reach 10,000 million euros of billing in 2028 (a two -year advanced target compared to the original plan), the road map includes more than 20 possible purchase operations in Europe. On the horizon even an option as delicate as tempting appears: acquire Mechanical & Engineering notary (EM & E), the armament firm founded by the president himself, which, a priori, would create an obvious conflict of interest, but also a technical synergy difficult to match. The civil DNA dilemma. Despite of the turn Towards the defense, Indra remains a mostly civil company: its IT unit, MINSAIT, represents 62% of your income, compared to 21% of the military area. Minsait competes in the corporate world with giants such as Capgemini or Infosys, providing technological services to banks, health systems and public administrations. Some analysts and former director see in this duality a Structural contradiction: defense and services are “water and oil”, Explain the FT. In fact, when in 2024 the company announced that the defense It would be his priority And that Minsait would become “not strategic”, the market reacted positively Given the possible sale of your business not related to war. The company failed to close any agreement and now notary states that it only wants burn off the branch of payments, while it begins to revalue the rest of the unit as a source of dual use technologies (AI, cybersecurity or cloud solutions) that can adapt to the military environment. This reconsideration, although pragmatic, keeps alive the tension between what the market desires (a purely defensive company) and what the management is willing to offer. Reputation and influence. It is the last of the legs that was analyzed in the Times report. Although their actions have quadrupled since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and its market value already exceeds 6,000 million In euros, Indra continues to quote with a strong discount regarding its European counterparts. While Bae is valued at 25 times its planned benefits, and Rheinmetall touches 60 times, Indra stays in just 18. Reasons? According to analysts As Beatriz Rodríguez de Bestinver, the growing interference of the Spanish government in the corporate strategy, which generates uncertainty about economic logic behind some decisions. It is also pointed out that, despite its turn, Indra is not yet perceived as a defense company in its purest form. Nor does the perception of improvisation in the transition from software to military hardware or doubt about whether the State be willing to firmly support the qualitative leap. The put by war. No doubt, the Spanish case tests the European model of rearme: Can a historically pacifist country lead a robust defense industry without sacrificing its institutional culture? The scribe plan It seems clear: cover all dimensions of the Modern combat. In the sea, Indra supplies Radars and Sónar for the submarines of Navantia, and in the air, leads Spanish participation in the Future Fuat Air System (FCAS), together with Airbus and Dassault. Plus: in space bought 90% of the Hispasat satellite operator for 725 million euros, and on land, already controls part of armored production, with a view to incorporating armament and sensors. It even has a participation In ITP AeroManufacturer of aeronautical components. Yes or no. In summary, the concept of “total war” seems to have penetrated the Indra strategywhich is no longer raised as a party supplier, but as a Comprehensive actor of the European war ecosystem. Notary summarize His vision with a phrase that contains both urgency and ambition: “We would not forgive if we were not able to transform this company into what … Read more

Europe has insisted that Spain must change its laws for unfair dismissal: it is too cheap

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It is not the first time that from Europe There is a pull of ears to the Spanish regulations that apply to those cases in which it is incurred in an inadmissible dismissal and, therefore, that companies must compensate or readmit to workers. In your opinion, the Bars that applies Spain in these cases are insufficient and workers are not protected. The European Social Rights Committee He has just answered to the complaint filed in November 2022 by CCOO. The resolution of this body is not binding or sanctioning, so it must be read more as a recommendation than as a reprimand from Europe. What has Europe said. The European Social Rights Committee, an organ dependent on the Council of Europe, considers in its resolution that “there is a violation of article 24.b of the letter”, in reference to article 24 of the European Social Charter than Spain ratified in 2021 and whose objective was to harmonize the labor legislation of the EU member countries. In this article 24, the Council of Europe recommended, “the right of dismissed workers for no valid reason (inadmissible dismissal) to adequate compensation or other appropriate reparation.” Therefore, the Council’s decision follows the path of the first resolution with which he responded to the UGT demand in 2022insisting that the dismissal compensation system is not repair. At CCOO, the Council He has spoken on the compensation of the TEMPORARY PERSONNEL OF ADMINISTRATIONS in fraud of law that, as in the case of inadmissible dismissals, They are considered insufficient. On the other hand, the demand for CCOO also puts the focus on which Spanish legislation does not offer sufficient guarantees so that employees dismissed in the improper way must be readmitted in your position. The EU establishes that this is a point that Spain must reinforce in its labor regulations. Why are compensation insufficient? The Committee considers to establish A universal scale Like the one applied in Spain, with fixed compensation of 33 days per year worked with a maximum of 24 monthly payments, it does not serve to “repair the damage suffered by the victim in all cases and be deterrent to the employer.” In its resolution it is explained that in the calculation of these compensation the specific circumstances of each case are not taken into account (a dismissal is not the same to a 60 -year -old person than someone of 20 years, members of a single -parent family, etc.). In the brief, it is considered that a fixed allocation system allows companies calculate the convenience of dismissalthus eliminating the deterrence for the employer when the dismissal is not done due to justified objective causes, and is unfair for workers with Minor contracts. In addition, the little weight of the readmission and the fact that this is an option that is only offered to companies, and not to the employee who has lost its job for no justified reason. What do they say in Spain? In a Union statementUnai Sordo, general secretary of CCOO, insisted that this writing “what is at stake is the compatibility of the dismissal model in Spain with the European Social Charter. From now on there are only two paths: not do anything and let the jurisprudence resolve case by case, or open a tripartite, mature and responsible negotiation, that adapts our dismissal regime to the European social standards.” For its part, Yolanda Díaz has shared From your profile In Bluesky your disposition “to open social dialogue table” to adapt legislation on dismissal in Spain and comply with what is recorded by Spain. “The inadmissible dismissal has to comply with the European Social Charter. Without excuses. It is in the Government Agreement and will be a reality,” said the head of the Ministry of Labor. It should be remembered that, in a parliamentary response of 2024, the current government assured that Article 56 of the Workers’ Statute “It is already consistent with article 24 of the European Social Charter, providing adequate reparation to dismissed workers without valid reason (inadmissible dismissal), so a modification of the regulation in this regard is not expected and, therefore, particular effects on vulnerable groups or on small and medium enterprises are not estimated.” How is it being managed now. At present, if an employee considers that his dismissal is inadmissible he must go to the judicial means, and it will be the court who establishes the regulations to be applied. In this context, employees cannot claim Additional compensation to the one already marked by the legislation in relation to the years worked, as CCOO denounces in its demand and supports article 24 of the European Social Charter. On very few occasions, the courts have preferred to opt for the prerogative of admitting international legislation over the state, so it is expected that, as of July 16, the Supreme Court will rule on this situation and establish a doctrine. Until now, the High Court considered that it was not possible increase this compensation by judicial means. In addition, although it is true that the courts always offer readmission alternatives or Payment of the assigned compensationthis decision remains in the hands of the company, which in the vast majority of cases chooses to pay compensation. What the Council recommends in this case is that the election falls on the employee and choose if you want to return to an employee from which it has been fired without objective reasons. In Xataka | 55,245 euros for eating a sandwich and a beer: Mercadona must compensate an employee for unfair dismissal Image | Unspash (Antoine Schibler, Manuel)

Chips manufacturers seek talent urgently. In Europe only 100,000 more engineers are needed

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During the next five years the global semiconductor industry will need to incorporate nothing less than One million qualified workers. This prognosis is no elucubration; It comes from SEMIan international organization that watches over the interests of the electronics industries and integrated circuits. According to their forecasts Europe will face a deficit of 100,000 engineers, and Asia will need 200,000 qualified technicians. These a priori figures may seem exaggerated, but they are not at all if we consider that for 2024 the chips industry grew by 19.1% compared to 2023 thanks to the demand for GPUs for artificial intelligence (AI) and consumer electronic products, as well as to the expansion of 5G communications throughout the planet and the development of the car market. In 2024 the global semiconductor industry invoiced 627.6 billion dollars. There are not enough professionals to support the growth of this industry TSMC, The biggest chips manufacturer on the planethe goes hunting again year after year to be able to meet his needs. During 2023 recruited 6,000 engineers For its Taiwan facilities, and presumably this trend also remained for 2024. And between 2025 and 2028 it will start several semiconductor manufacturing plants in the US, Germany, Taiwan and Japan. TSMC is one of the most successful companies in this sector, but with all probability other chips designers and manufacturers will also need to strengthen their templates. The average salary of an engineer without previous experience, backed by a master’s degree and newly arrived at TSMC exceeds $ 65,500 annually In this situation the salaries offered by these companies are very high. The average salary of an engineer without previous experience, endorsed by a master’s degree and newcomer to TSMC exceeds $ 65,500 annually (Approximately 56,000 euros), But this is just the starting point. It is assumed that as their salary acquires experience. The problem facing semiconductor companies, According to semiis that as many people with technical profile are not being formed in universities as they will need in the short and medium term. In addition, many of the most experienced engineers are retiring or will do so before 2030. As a button shows: in the US, a third of employees of integrated circuit companies have 55 years or more. And in Germany a third of the technicians who have developed their work career in the chips industry will retire throughout the next decade. However, there is another challenge that also compromises the future of these companies: the next batch of engineers will have to have advanced skills in AI and Automatic learning. The companies that are dedicated to the semiconductors are aware of the problem that already looms on them, which has caused some to have launched initiatives that initiatives that initiatives that initiatives that They go beyond offering good salaries. Some of these measures are to invest in the progression of their professionals and offer them flexibility to prevent them from leaving; in seeking candidates with non -traditional profiles in which their skills prevail and not their training, or in promoting the incorporation of women into this industry. At the moment Women represent only 17% of technical positions in the semiconductor industry. Image | TSMC More information | SEMI In Xataka | We already know what the chips that will arrive until 2039 will be. The machine that will manufacture them is close

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