Europe

What Israel does in a “Europe” competition

by

On paper is the song festival. In practice, Eurovision has been much more years ago. There is music, dance, lights and the profusion of brightness and expected eccentricity in any spectacle worth its salt; But also political. Increasingly. The 2025 edition has left a clear example on the account of Israel (already It happened in 2024 either Three years agowith Russia) and reverges a question that usually arises every year: if Israel is a country of Western Asia (geographically speaking), why do you participate in Eurovision? Moreover, why is it part of UEFA or is he a member of European associations in sports such as swimming? And above all … does it make sense that it is so? Music, politics and flags. Although on Saturday he stroked the victory thanks to TelevotoIsrael’s passage through Eurovision has been marked by controversy, just as the 2024the first after the Gaza conflict initiated in October 2023. His representative, Yuval Raphael, a victim of Hamas attacks, has monopolized headlines. And most did not focus precisely on their music. The organization of the festival has expelled spectators for showing Palestinian flags and has been engaged in a Sour controversy With RTVE for his comments on Gaza’s conflict during retransmissions, nothing compared to what Belgian TV did, which directly chose not to broadcast Raphael’s performance. Looking back. Israel may have monopolized the spotlights EUROVISIVES This edition, but is not a newcomer to the festival. On the contrary. Although Eurovision is organized by the European Radiodifusion Union And that name can lead us to think about the EU or at most in the European continent, Israel, a country in Western Asia, has been part of its history for more than half a century. The country debuted in 1973. And it hasn’t been bad. Saturday remained In second placebut he has won four times. The last one relatively recently, in 2018, with Netta, which explains that a year later the festival It was celebrated in Tel Aviv. And yes, on that occasion too Voices sounded They encouraged boycott. But is not a European festival? Yes. And no. The festival is effectively called Eurovision and organizes it, but the latter is an alliance that goes far beyond strictly geographical Europe: it groups 113 organizations of more than 50 countries and 31 associates of Asia, Africa, Australasia and Las Américas. Membership, like Remember the Uer itselfis aimed at entities whose countries are members of the European Council or are within the European broadcasting areaa wide umbrella under which some countries from outside Europe are located. The result is that among the 113 members that make up the Uuer are French, German, Dutch, Czech or RTVE organizations, but also Cyprus entities (which although it is part of the EU belongs to the Southwest Asian), Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Egypt or Morocco. Also Israel, which allowed him to debut at the Eurovision song festival in the 1970s. Eurovision and much more. The Uuer is not the only European forum in which Israel has made a hole. Something similar occurs with UEFA, the Union of European Soccer Associations. Among their National Federations We find the Spanish, English, Lithuanian, German, Belgian … and the Israeli. Also Kazakhstan, Türkiye or Russia, although in February three years ago UEFA and FIFA They decided to expel her. Why is Israel included in that list? On its website, UEFA explains that Israel became an active member of the Asian Soccer Confederation in 1956, but in 1974 he decided to “abandon her by political reasons“. The reality, Remember DWIt is that in the Arab and Muslim world there were countries that refused to compete with their representatives, such as Türkiye, Indonesia or Sudan. That tension resulted in A vote In 1974 that ended with Israel outside the Asian Federation. In European competitions. In the early 90s, he played regularly in Europe and, after what UEFA calls a “Prolonged process”its federation ended up becoming a member of the organization shortly after, in 1994. MacCabi Haifa Or Hapoel Tel-Aviv, for example, have competed in European tournaments. It is not a rarity of football. In handball, athletics either swimming Israel is also a member of associations based in the old continent. As a backdrop (and as it happens in Eurovision) there is much more than sport: behind the peculiar role of Israel is its complex history, its controversial political role and tensions with other Muslim neighboring nations that can go back to the foundation of the state of Israel, In 1948. These tensions have marked their recent history at the geopolitical level, but has often spread to other areas such as sports, which has led him to look at the West. A potato (increasingly) hot. The funny thing is that this potato has not stopped heating, especially after the beginning of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023 and the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians. The Eurovision Festival leaves the most recent example, but not the only one. Your participation in the contest already generated controversy last year and in 2019 the boycott movement, divestment and sanctions (BDS) even cheer up To artists and chains to ignore the final held in Tel Aviv. In the sports field, Israel’s participation also It was marked in part by The controversy In the Olympic Games and several associations of the Middle East They have claimed Already FIFA to go to the country in international football. The question. The scenario is further complicated by the case of Russia, than after starting the invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, it did receive a severe response from international organizations. The Uer He separated her of Eurovision, despite its warm initial reaction claiming that the festival is a “cultural event of a non -political nature”, and UEFA and FIFA adopted A similar measureclosing the doors of the World Cup and The Euroleague to the country of Putin. Your athletes too They stayed out of the Olympic Games held in 2024 in Paris. The different response to Israel … Read more

There was a war in Europe for giving the second -hand digital market and we already have a clear winner: Vinned

by

Percentile, the Spanish startup, of resale of fashion items, has been for two months In a bankruptcy processin search of a lifeguard. Wallapop continues to compete in that market, but without clear leadership in it. And Vinned, meanwhile, sweeps. The resale sector in Spain and in Europe is in a change of cycle. The panoramic. The second -hand clothing is a hypercompetitive market, and Vinted not only survives in it: it is dominating it. It has managed to grow where others are going back or searched for a place where they settle without finding it. To achieve this, Vinned has diversified its catalog and has also done something not so common: to earn money with its activity. The context. Percentile was a pioneer. It was founded in 2012, thirteen years old, and operated in four countries, with almost a million customers and more than a dozen millions of garments sold. However, and despite the heavyweights of the risk capital they invested in it (François Derbaix or Cabiedes & Partners between them), has not resisted the price war of the Fast Fashion. Not even the increase in the second -hand clothing market, increasingly popular and widespread, has been able to compensate for that pressure. And now look for a buyer to avoid disappearance. Between the lines. The Percentile model contributed a lot of comfort to the user, because he did everything for him: collection, classification and sale. But it was more comfortable than profitable. He only accepted half of the garments and offered rather low margins. Now its founders They speak to focus on “higher quality brands”, but maybe it’s too late. In figures. Meanwhile, Vinned in 2024 … It has tripled its benefit before taxes: 95.4 million euros. 813.4 million euros in revenue, 36% more than in 2023. He managed to reach 23 markets … … already the 2,200 employees. It is valued in 5,000 million euros. In detail. A part of his secret is in the invisible: Vinted Go and Vinted Payits own logistics and payments units. Also Vinned Ventures, his investment arm. Vinned’s ultimate goal is not just selling clothes. That is just a part. The idea is to build a complete ecosystem around the resale. Yes, but. Wallapop competes and has millions of users, true. But his generalist approach has not allowed him to emerge in the resale of clothing. It is too broad to compete in a concrete niche, as Vinted does. It has a very large catalog, but its brand is not associated with the style, and that weighs in an environment (sell used clothes) in which trust is key. In addition, Vind has many filters to locate garments (size of any part of the body, color, etc.) of which Wallapop lacks. The alarm signal. As a percentile slid, the sector grows, so the problem does not come from a lower demand. The threat is in the Low Cost from Zara, Shein and company, which have changed the rules. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy new than second hand. Only platforms with a lot of scale, focus and efficiency can survive and be profitable. Percentile is staying the way to see if a new owner can correct his course, and Wallapop resists, but Follow in losses. Who wins is Vind. And now what. Vinned wants more: he has long opened his doors beyond clothes, and now he is going something beyond electronics or luxury. Although it runs the risk of opening so much that Wallapop’s problems to lead in fashion move to it. Predictably, “circular fashion” will continue to grow and European regulations will add pressure to the conventional textile industry. In Xataka | I am a seller with five stars in Wallapop. Thus surviving in this second -hand jungle Outstanding image | Vinted

In Europe, more rent among women always equals less children. A country has managed to change it: Sweden

by

A while ago Martin Kolk, a demographer from the University of Stockholm, asked an interesting question: does the income level influence the number of children who have men and women throughout their lives? And if so, to what extent? To answer these issues he dedicated himself to combing the fertility and income databases of his country, Sweden, of the last decades. The result He published it In 2022 in Population Studieswhere it reveals a change in tendency in Swedish society that, like Kolk himself stands outcould move to other nations. Your conclusion It is as simple as it is interesting: Sweden seems to have ended The paradox that often the richest people are the least children. Issue of children and money. Having children demand money. Last year Save the Children He made accounts And he concluded that, on average, in Spain he leaves 758 euros per month, if they have as soon as all the factors involved in parenting, from food to education, health or the need for a broader housing. Despite that reality (paternity costs) there are many low -per capita income in which the fertility rate is Very superior to that of other richer nations. For example, it occurs with Niger and the United Kingdom. The other question. Another phenomenon that demographers have observed in the past, such as remember The Institute for Family Studies (IFS), is that in the rich countries women with the highest level of education and labor perspectives have fewer children. “While the theoretical arguments that (…) affirm that the richest parents should be able to have more children, industrial societies of the twentieth century have shown the reverse pattern,” Kolk points out. The United States offers A good example: The highest birth rate is achieved by the poorest families. The big question is … Is that trend still true? Diving between data. To answer that question and others as to what extent the income affects birth or, in reverse, how motherhood in income influences, Martin Kolk opted for a peculiar strategy: took into account the accumulated income by its compatriots throughout its life, analyzing in detail the 40 -year Swedish data and income for each birth cohort. Its analysis covers a wide period that extends to the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, valuing the “accumulated income” in Swedish crowns. The analysis, of course, has its biases. Kolk focused only on the Swedish population, leaving even the people who had emigrated. However, his work is thorough: he analyzes people between the ages of 20 and 60, valued the income that they “accumulate” when they reach 50 years and took into account factors such as available income or aid to fatherhood. Men: richer, more children. In the case of men, he appreciated a fairly clear relationship between accumulated income and fatherhood that has not left great surprises over the years. “The richest men are the ones who have the most children and that pattern has accentuated over time. At higher income, more children,” Comment The Stockholm expert, which even warns: “It is increasingly frequent that men with very low income do not have children.” In his study, Kolk points out that it is not so much that the richest men accumulate a lot of offspring as it is more frequent that they have two, three or four offspring compared to other men with a more adjusted income level. And what about women? It is there where research gets interesting. Among the Kolk women did appreciate a trend change. And of course. While between those born in the 1940s and 1950s, lower income (accumulated income available) was accompanied by more children, which did so over the subsequent years (between 1960 and 1970) showed the opposite photo: the highest income indicated greater offspring. “The trend is reversed: the pattern is more similar to that of men”, Confirm. The full photography is somewhat more complicated. Women with the highest income, for example, are not necessarily those who have the greatest number of children and the trend is not exactly the same if we talk about “accumulated income” or profits. But from the University of Stockholm they appreciate in any case a “significant change” in the fertility pattern of women. And a change that breaks with what was the general tonic for a long time. “The results contrast with those of many other high -income countries in the twentieth and twenty -first centuries, in which researchers have shown that it was more common to have many children among men and women with lower income.” Looking for the causes. Detected the change in trend, the next question is obvious: why? What has caused it? Kolk points to social changes (especially those related to the labor market) and family policies of Sweden. Unlike what could happen decades ago, when many of the women who had children were housewives dedicated to home care, now “women do not have to choose between having children and follow a career.” “What is observed is a transformation of a society where women, to some extent, had to choose between a professional career or have children to a society in which these decisions no longer have to make.” Among the women of the 1940s and 195th, those of lower income were often housewives. It is demography … and above all it is economy. The study shows another valuable reading, especially for countries that have seen how their fertility descended over the years. Research shows that in general people with very low income levels do not usually have children, something extensible to men and women. Also clarify that this pattern “It has accentuated over time”which confirms to what extent the economic factors influence motherhood. “Today, an increasing number of women and men with low income in Sweden decide not to have children,” concludes The expert as an example. “The paradox is left behind”. For IFS Kolk’s research reveals that “at least in Sweden the paradox that the richest people have less children seems to be left behind,” … Read more

A man wanted to put order in the fish of the fish market. His invention financed one of the largest cars collections in Europe

by

In everyday life, there are inventions as simple as it is essential that, however, they often go unnoticed. One of them is the “shift” ticket dispenser that we find in fishing, butchers and supermarkets, and that has ended the discussions in Waiting tails. Behind this invention is Rodger Dudding, a British who with his business vision kneaded a great fortune that allowed him to fulfill his great dream: to gather one of the Collections of more impressive cars from the United Kingdom and Europe. As They counted in Motorpasionthanks to his ingenuity, today we not only enjoy more orderly linesbut we can also contemplate one of the largest private collections of classic cars in Europe with More than 450 cars ranging from Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin or the Ford T, to such humble models as the Fiat Topolino. Rodger Dudding and the invention that changed the queues Rodger Dudding was born in the United Kingdom and is a training engineer. At 87, he is responsible for the distribution in the United Kingdom of one of the most used inventions in businesses around the world: the queue management system based on a Shift ticket dispenser. In 1970, Dudding He founded Lonsoa company that is still active, and began to manufacture the ticket dispensers that have avoided more fights and confusion when waiting for the turn and supermarkets. The classic red dispenser quickly became a standard, facilitating life to both customers and merchants. Even today, a significant percentage of Dudding’s benefits comes from the commercialization of this system, which remains essential in businesses of all kinds. Passion for cars With the money obtained from ordering the tails of the shops, Rodger Dudding decided to invest in his great passion: classic cars. Although, the millionaire collector has preference for British models, in An interview For the channel Bellow the Radar Carshe confessed that he had not been able to resist to the Ferrari or any beautiful car that was shot. Dudding said that, at first, not his intention to start a collection as such, but was limited to going buying the cars they liked. One day, his wife got fed up with his garage full of old cars, so Dudding acquired An old tram garage To save your cars. Almost without realizing it, the garage with capacity for about 120 cars He was smallgiving rise to the current collection that already It occupies three stores. The Dudding collection, known as Studio 434includes models of all times and styles: from 1911 models, such as Ford T, through racing cars prior to World War II or exclusive Limited luxury editions. The collector millionaire confesses that, beyond the Ferrari, Rolls-Royce or Aston Martin that form his collection, there is only one car through which life would be played to rescue him from a fire: a Morris Minor that his father bought again in 1952 and that his sister inherited. He bought a more current car equivalent and incorporated his father’s car to his collection. According to estimated Dudding, the collection is valued in More than 40 million pounds sterling (which are about 47.7 million euros) and includes, in addition to cars of all kinds, motorcycles and objects related to the motor world. His fetish: Aston Martin Lagonda Despite the diverse of the Studio 434 collection, there is a model for which Dudding feels a special predilection: Aston Martin Lagonda. The millionaire has no less than 24 units of different versions, including the first and last one that were manufactured. The Dudding collection had 26 lagonda in its catalog, but, as confessed in its interview with Bellow the Radar Carsthey made a purchase offer for them that he could not reject and were to be part of other collections, so he dispensed with two of them. One of the most striking aspects of Rodger Dudding’s collection is that All vehicles are in perfect condition of operation. The collection has a motor engineer who works full -time by cyclionally reviewing each and every one of the cars and has them A day in maintenance. In addition, provided that the British climate allows it, the revised vehicles go around the storage apple so that the suspensions and mechanical elements They move. Studio 434, the company that manages the collection, is responsible for renting some of these Classic cars for eventsweddings, movies and television series, thus contributing to the conservation of the collection that has become a reference for motor lovers. Some of the cars in this collection have participated in series such as The Crown or in the saga of Harry Potter. In Xataka | They are founders and ultra -ups, but they have not always driven luxury supercoches: a review of the cars of the Tech millionaires In Xataka | McLaren only sent five units of this Senna LM to the US: a millionaire bought them all to be the only one to drive it Image | Flickr (Elyse Horvath, Niels), Studio434

Tesla trusts the Robotaxi as his next Milmillonario business. China is already in conversations to get ahead in Europe

by

Robotaxi is the business of the future in urban mobility. At least that is what technological giants such as Tesla, Google or Baidu believe and what some analysts have been saying for years. Although for now it is a business where profitability does not seem to be in sight, expansionist plans continue. And the next battlefield is Europe. That is what they claim from The Wall Street Journal. The American media ensures that Baiduconsidered the Chinese Google, works to try its vehicles without driver in Switzerland. Türkiye would follow the deployment and would be the first step to hit the table and position himself as pioneers on European soil. The information comes after Baidu has opened conversations with Swiss Post for Postauto, one of its units that provides the public bus service, has vehicles of this type on the street. If everything goes ahead, the goal is to start testing at the end of this year. The project with Türkiye, internal sources have affirmed WSJ It is similar. Objective: Be the first Putting autonomous buses on the market that can make trips for themselves without the intervention of a driver is a shortcut to open the way to a future robotaxis business. While in the United States and China, this business is being tested for a long There are active tests with busesa horizon for a robotaxis service in the street has not been completed. The problem of these services is that, for the moment, they are not generating any profitability. In the United States, General Motors burned so many Cruise tickets that he has preferred Cancel the project Despite having squandered billions of dollars along the way. Waymo’s success is partial because despite working in various cities in the country, its reach is small. And, at the same time, Tesla has also put all the machinery in motion to enter the market. However, the company’s own shareholders They have expressed their doubts on whether this must be the path that the company has to take. The project seems to have surpassed a more affordable Tesla, which has generated doubts. As to ChinaRobotaxis are much more widespread. In fact, Baidu operates in 12 different cities with its apologue service but Face Weride competition that is already available in eight cities, Pony.ai either Momenta that are in full phase of expansion. Given the competition and the hard challenge of profitable services, these companies are in full expansion to third countries. For example, Weride has already reached an agreement with Uber to integrate into its platform and offer trips with autonomous robotaxis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The objective is to take the service to 15 different cities in the future. In spite of everything, companies that want to enter the European market have it complicated. At the moment, European regulation is very demanding with autonomous vehicles and, in fact, Tesla herself has to save some functions In vehicles that are able to advance without a driver inside the park, offering a service cut in front of what they have on the street in the United States. For now, the closest thing to a robotaxi is what offers Mercedes. The company already has functions for the driver to completely disregard the car, as long as it circulates less than 60 km/h, the environment has previously mapped and the weather conditions are good enough. Despite doubts, as we say there are companies that see in this business a clear commitment to the future. Tesla has joined In the background to the business proposal of Waymo or Baidu, technological giants that aspire to develop their own software for autonomous vehicles and put them on the street associating with a large vehicle company that provides them with the hardware, that is, of the car in itself. The only difference with Tesla is that Elon Musk’s company can manufacture its own vehicles and with their own assembly chains and the acquired knowledge They aspire to earn more money working in vertical integration with proper vehicles and software development that stays at home. Photo | Baidu In Xataka | I have tried a totally autonomous taxi. This is traveling without driver

Europe detected the oscillations of the blackout in Spain but did not know how to anticipate collapse

by

While It is still done Analysis Committee meetings to find out what happened in the blackout of April 28. A new preliminary report of the European Network of Electricity Transportation Networks (ENTSO-E) has thrown An important focus on something that Europe could not see. Short. So far, what was known were the data of the “Black box”where second to second it has been investigated that it began to fail. But a new preliminary report of the Entso-E has confirmed That it is not only about the oscillations that were recorded in Spain: collapse was a “complex sequence of events.” In depth. The point is that the report explained that during the half an hour before the incident, two power and frequency oscillations were observed in the European electricity grid, between 12:03 and 12:07 and between 12:19 and 12:21. And of course, both Red Eléctrica in Spain and RTE in France took measures to mitigate these oscillations. However, at 12:33, the electrical system of the Iberian Peninsula He collapsed completely. The matter has more crumb. At that time, no oscillations and system variables were detected within the normal range of operation. But that did not mean that everything was under control. Europe had detected those oscillations, but when Spain and France intervened, they did not interpret it as a critical risk. This was how in southern Spain, a series of failures in electricity generation caused a loss of 2200 MW. This loss was sufficient to trigger a drop in the frequency of the system, which fell to 48 Hz. In other words, the electrical frequency must be maintained around 50 Hz. If it drops from 48 Hz, the system can enter a critical state. And that was exactly what happened. From that moment on … The blackout was inevitable. The electricity exchanges between Spain and its neighboring countries were at high levels: 1000 MW towards France, 2000mw to Portugal and 800MW to Morocco. But when the system collapsed, these connections were also lost. The transmission lines between France and Spain stopped working at 12:33:21 and automatic protection systems disconnected the entire Iberian network three seconds later. There was a figure that circulates in networks. The president of the Government in his appearance before the media said: “15GW disappeared in 5 seconds”I immediately ran this statement in the networks, but the Entso-E has specified that the loss was 2.2GW. So where did that figure come from? The 15 GW that circulated after the blackout comes from an initial REE estimate based on automatic defense systems. According to the Secretary of Energy of MitecoJoan Groizard, 10 GW were counted in automatic cuts (demand breakdown) and 5 GW in contribution of interconnections that stopped supplying energy. However, the report of the ETSO-E specifies that the loss recorded in southern Spain was 2200 MW (2.2 GW), a significantly lower figure, evidencing that the initial calculation did not reflect the loss of generation itself, but the global impact of the event on the electrical system. And now what? Entso-e has created A panel of experts to continue investigating what happened. These experts, from countries not affected by the blackout, will collect all the available data to rebuild minute by minute what happened on April 28 to prepare a technical report that will be presented to the European Commission throughout the second half of the year. In turn, the Spanish committee will continue working in parallel, analyzing not only technical failures, but also possible cyber attacks or errors in digital systems, according to has detailed The vice president, Sara Aagesen, in an interview for eldiario.es. Forecasts In the same interview, Sara Aagesen He has insisted in that the causes of the blackout are “enormously complex” and that no hypothesis is ruled out. But many unknowns are left: what centrals were disconnected exactly? What triggered the drop of 2200 MW? And why not the alert signals were detected in time? The first “green” blackout He has put Testing the Iberian Electricity and has evidenced the vulnerabilities of a system in full transition to renewables. While the full analysis of the blackout could take months, both system operators and governments They move in a field full of uncertainty. The key now is to rethink the Microredes, Energy storage and Gridorming technologies capable of stabilizing an increasingly volatile network. The road is being configured now and is in the present where you have to continue working. Image | Unspash and Eric Fischer Xataka | The other uncomfortable truth of the blackout: Spain does not yet have enough batteries for its renewable boom

Now we know what the US Army did in Finland. Russia is expanding its troops on its border with Europe

by

In April there was a paradox that we count. While Finland again became the “happier” nation From the planet, a United States army had reached its borders to prepare for “the worst.” Thus began a simulation where Finland’s defense forces and a Washington operation were trained together for a eventual invasion. If there was any questions about who the enemy was, Russia has just cleared it. Remove silent. I told it in Exclusive the Wall Street Journal supported by the satellite data that he had achieved. While much of international attention is still focused on war in Ukraine, Europe begins to worry to a series of strategic movements of the Russian army that, without making almost noise, are redefining the military balance of the continent. In the Russian city of Petrozavodsk, about 160 kilometers from the border with Finland, military engineers work on the expansion of bases and the creation of a new headquarters that will house tens of thousands of soldiers in the coming years, many of which today fight in Ukraine. These troops, according to Intelligence sources Western, they are not designed for the current war, but for future confrontations with NATO. Moscow has intensified recruitment, modernized rail infrastructure in border areas and duplicated its military budget, already exceeds 6% of GDP. President Putin has ordered that the size of the Russian armed forces increase until 1.5 million troopsand although publicly denies expansionist aspirations, its government continues to give contradictory signs, including official statements that affirm the need to prepare for a possible confrontation With the Atlantic Alliance. Rejuvenate the army. It is one of the consequences. The rebound of military spending has promoted an unprecedented acceleration in weapons production. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia manufactured around 40 T-90m tanks a year. Now produce almost 300although many are not sent to the front, but are reserved in national territory. Artillery and ammunition production has also increased, and Russian drones have won in quality and volume. Thus, the Moscow army, far from collapse, is being reconfigured faster than most analysts had planned, with new units, equipment and a constant rotation of troops that allows to maintain pressure in Ukraine while other formations are prepared on Russian soil. In fact, some European intelligence services alert A “B” scenario: If a fire is achieved in Ukraine, Russia could be in a position to launch a large -scale war in Europe within five years, or even before if you perceive weakness in NATO cohesion. Tensions on the eastern flank. No doubt, Russian military strengthening has unleashed immediate reactions in Baltic and Poland countries, which have already Started to reinforce Its borders with ditches, antipersonnel mines and anti -tanks, the acquaintances as “dragon teeth”. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have abandoned international treaties on mines, and several governments consider plausible that Russia seeks to test the solidity of NATO through a limited incursion in a member state with Russian population, as Estonia. To this is added the concern caused by covert operations attributed to the Russian Intelligence Servicessuch as sabotage attempts and murders in Western Europe. Hence, many analysts warn that the Kremlin could bet on a lower provocation that fractures consensus within the alliance, especially if you perceive internal divisions or lack of coordinated response. Territorial strategy For its part, The Journal remembered that Putin has resorted to the historical legacy of the Russian military force (which beat Napoleon and Hitler) to justify the war in Ukraine and his ambition to recover influence on former allies who have leaned towards the West. The Russian government has reorganized its internal military structure creating new districts Around Moscow and St. Petersburg, and has increased logistics cooperation with Belarus, its main ally and basis of operations in the current war. In the Leningrad Military District, which borders Estonia, Latvia and Finland, medium -sized brigades are being transformed into divisions of up to 10,000 troopsand barracks, hospitals, warehouses and new railway routes are being built that connect with Norway, Finland and the south of St. Petersburg. Finland, who historically has tried to avoid tensions with Russia but is now part of NATO, Observe carefully The renewal of ancient border steps and the construction of railway headers that would allow the passage of mechanized forces, with direct implications for their national security. New social elite. Explained the medium that one of the pillars of this military reconstruction is the huge Increased recruitmentpowered by Financial incentives that in some cases exceed $ 20,000 to sign a contract. These sums far exceed Average annual income In many Russian regions, and have allowed a constant flow of new soldiers (between 30,000 and 40,000 per month According to estimates) that allows Russia to maintain its presence in Ukraine without exhausting its strategic reserve. Not just that. In addition, the medium exposed another measure that we have already counted a few weeks ago: veterans are receiving Extended benefitsas positions in local governments and seats in Parliament, consolidating the military estate as a New National Elite. The new recruits will be mostly intended for the units that are deployed at the border with NATO, and for them the new armament is reserved, while the Ukrainian front continues to receive reconditioned Soviet material. Russia’s next strategic military exercises, called Zapadthey will focus on these border regions, and they are expected to serve as a demonstration of force addressed to both NATO and internal public opinion. New power architecture. In summary, Russia is betting very strongly that her military resurgence, combined with a possible Western fatigue before the Ukrainian conflict, returns her back A seat in the table where new security rules in Europe are defined. Although figures like Trump They discard the possibility that Russia has ambitions beyond Ukraine, the facts Described in the Journal On land and warnings of multiple European intelligence agencies suggest otherwise. If you want also, Moscow seems to trust that an NATO divided, uncoordinated or weakened by internal conflicts will be forced to negotiate from a disadvantage … Read more

This remains in Europe and the US

by

If you planned to get an Xbox, you may be late at the best price. Microsoft He has just announced a global climb in their consoles and controlsa rates review that, for now, will not affect Xbox Game Passbut that anticipates changes in the price of games First-Park At the end of the year. The announcement arrives at an especially delicate time for the industry, with a commercial war between the United States and China. From this May 1, the new prices are already active in Europe. The Xbox Series S of 512 GB It goes from costing 299.99 euros to 349.99 euros, an increase of 16.67 % compared to the price that maintained since its launch in 2020. It is a considerable rise for a console that stood out precisely for its low cost of entry. The model with 1 TB of storage It is also more expensive: 349.99 euros passes to 399.99 euros. The Xbox Series X Digital now costs 549.99 euros, while The version with record reader It is 599.99 euros. Finally, the special edition Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black It reaches 699.99 euros, consolidating as the most expensive console of the current Microsoft catalog. The controls do not get rid of this upward revision. The Xbox Wireless Controller (Core), in its basic version, will be sold for 64.99 euros, while the color model amounts to 69.99 euros. Those who seek a more advanced option must prepare the portfolio: the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) reaches 199.99 euros. As for official headphones, Microsoft has confirmed that price changes, for the moment, only affect United States and Canada. In the lower table of the article you can consult all the prices updated both in euros and in dollars. Price in Europe Price in the US Xbox Series S 512 349.99 euros $ 379.99 Xbox Series S 1TB 399.99 euros $ 429.99 Xbox Series X Digital 549.99 euros $ 549.99 Xbox Series x 599.99 euros $ 599.99 Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition 699.99 euros $ 729.99 Xbox Wireless Controller (Core) 64.99 euros $ 64.99 Xbox Wireless Controller (Color) 69.99 euros $ 69.99 Xbox Wireless Controller – Special Edition 74.99 euros $ 64.99 Xbox Wireless Controller – Limited Edition 89.99 euros $ 89.99 Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) 149.99 euros 149.99 dollars Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) 199.99 euros $ 199,99 Xbox Stereo Headset 59.99 euros (no price change) $ 64.99 Xbox Wireless Headset 109.99 euros (no price change) 119.99 dollars In addition to the consoles and accessories, Microsoft has also advanced that some games will see their price for the Christmas campaign increased. In the US, the price will go from $ 69.99 to $ 79.99. It is another sign that the cost of the great titles follows an ascending trajectory. The case reminds future releases of Nintendo Switch 2, that will reach the market with higher prices than usual In some cases. What is kept without changes, at least for now, are Xbox Game Pass rates. From Redmond they say that “these changes are challenging and have been taken after careful market evaluation and the growing cost of development.” Although the company has not directly mentioned tariffs, the context is difficult to ignore: the commercial escalation between the US and China is already causing tensions in international prices and it is likely that this is not the last adjustment we see in the industry. The striking thing is that Microsoft is not the only company that has chosen to raise prices. Sony also increased last month the cost of its PlayStation 5 console in Europeincluding the United Kingdom, applying a 10% rise in the digital edition. The new PS5 digital costs 499.99 euros, 50 euros more than it cost so far, matching the standard PS5 price in its launch. In the midst of these oscillations, there is a curious fact: the PS5 external record reader has dropped in price. It goes from costing 119.99 euros to 79.99 euros, which partially compensates for the increase if acquired together with the digital version. The standard PS5 with Blu-ray unit remains at 549.99 euros, and the PlayStation 5 Pro retains its price of 799.99 euros. It is not the first time that the Sony console rises in price. In August 2022, the digital edition has already gone from 399.99 euros to 449.99 euros, and the standard version rose from 499.99 euros to the current 549.99 euros. Images | Billy Freeman | Jaime Marrero In Xataka | The Nintendo Switch 2 has reached the market with an important price increase. People are giving the same

is that it is not interconnected with Europe

by

THE SPANISH ELECTRY RED (REE) He has ruled out A cyber attack as the origin of the blackout that affected the country yesterday. The preliminary cause is pointing to a massive disconnection of renewable energy, especially in the peninsular southwest. This vulnerability of the system, According to RBC Capital Markets in statements to Reutersit is because “the Spanish system depends strongly on solar energy, but lacks storage and a robust backup network.” Isolated from Europe. The European Union has one of the networks more interconnected in the worldallowing countries to import or export electricity in moments of shortage. In fact, just a few days ago, Spain before the renewable boom had to export energy to Portugal and France. However, this timely case does not hide a structural underlying problem: the entire peninsula It is still an energy island. Other places where it does work. Denmark has more than 80% of its electricity from wind energy, so the question arises from why it does not suffer blackouts. The answer is in the interconnection, since in case of fall it can import from Germany, Sweden or Norway almost immediately. The Nordic model. Being part of the Nordic electric market or Nord Pool has adopted A flow -based market coupling model to improve network efficiency and facilitate the integration of renewable energy. This system has optimized the flow of energy in the Nordic and Europe a flexibility which allows you to maintain the stability of your electricity network even with a high proportion of renewable energies. The door: France. Spain Only exchange 2.8% of its capacity with France, well below of 15% target established by the European Union for 2030. One of the projects that is in development to improve this situation is underwater interconnection by the Gulf of Bizkaia, which will connect Gatika (Spain) with Cubnezais (France). Managed by INELFE will increase the exchange capacity up to 5,000 MW and is expected to enter into operation in 2028. However, the progress of interconnections has faced obstacles. France has shown reluctance to increase electrical connections with Spain beyond the submarine cable of Biscay, which has generated diplomatic tensions and has slowed the process, According to EFE. Besides, You are using Its nuclear network as a strategic tool to maintain under the level of interconnection of Spain, consolidating its role as dominant node in the European electric flow. In this way, France is allowing its nuclear to “monopolize” part of the export system to central Europe. Facing the future. The blackout highlighted the need to reinforce electrical infrastructure to guarantee system stability, such as Expand the interconnections With other countries such as underwater cable with Italy, maintain plants such as hydroelectric or thermal, and invest in storage technologies, such as Large -scale batteriesthat They replicate the inertia of traditional systems. Image | Pxhere Xataka | What is the “energy zero” and why the supply can go suddenly but it takes hours to recover

Spotify will rise in price this summer in Europe and Latin America, according to FT. Some countries will be out of adjustment

by

Everything indicates that Spotify will adjust its prices again. According to Financial Timesthe streaming giant plans a new climb that will affect several countries in Europe and Latin America as soon as this summer. It would be a strategic change that, for the moment, has not been officially announced and that relies on anonymous sources. What seems clear is that the United States would be out of movement. It is not a minor detail: it is its largest market and already lived a price increase in July last year. The scope of the adjustment is not yet confirmed. There is no concrete list of affected countries, but the British medium offers clues that allow anticipating the course. In recent weeks, and almost silently, Spotify has increased its rates in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In both cases, the price of the individual plan has gone from 10.99 to 12.99 euros per month. For the rest of Europe and Latin America, however, there is talk of a more gradual approach. According to these same sources, the company would be considering a rise of only 1 euro in the individual plan. It would be a more content adjustment, probably to avoid any adverse reaction in markets where there are millions of customers. In the case of Spain, the history of upload is limited. For more than ten years, the individual plan remained at 9.99 euros. It was not until July 2023 when Spotify applied its first adjustmentraising the price up to 10.99 euros. If the rumors are confirmed, the new price could be at 11.99 euros per month from this summer. It should be remembered that in the United States, where the climb is already a fact, users are currently paying $ 11.99 a month for the same plan. It will be necessary to see how the market reacts if this new round of increases is formalized. And above all, what countries are finally included. At the moment, the only certain thing is that Spotify moves. And it is not an isolated movement. All this happens at a key moment for the company. Spotify has just registered benefits after 18 years accumulating losses. A milestone that marks a before and after in its financial strategy. Besides, The rumors point to work in a new subscription that would finally include audio in high fidelity. A long -awaited promise that could be part of the redesign of its offer to justify the new price positioning. Images | Emojisprout emojisprout.com | Eyestetix Studio In Xataka | Modern algorithms decide for us to see. YouTube is the last redoubt where the algorithm does not choose for you

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.