fly

Until now Cantabria was only a transit area for flamingos. They have been refusing to fly south for three years

by

When we talk about climate changewe automatically think of melting glaciers or crops altering, but we must also take into account that biodiversity maps are being redesigned in real time. This is what we are seeing in the north of Spain, where southern flamencos have begun to consider Cantabria as your new residence of winter. What the census says. In order to see how the habits of flamingos are changing, we have to turn to the census of wintering waterfowl in Cantabria, which indicates that right now there is a stable population of about 25 southern flamingos who have been settled in the region for three consecutive winters without emigrating. These specimens arriving from the Mediterranean Sea have decided that the climate and conditions of the Cantabrian Sea are sufficient to avoid having to continue their journey to the warmer southern latitudes. And the culprit of this is climate change. The problem of winter. The theory tells us that this type of animal species usually always go to places with optimal temperatures, causing them to be in the north in summer and in the south in winter. But this has changed radically, and these migratory birds are slowly becoming one of the best thermometers of global warming. The explanation here lies in the fact that winters on the Cantabrian coast are increasingly milder, causing this thermal increase to eliminate the barrier of extreme cold that traditionally forced these species, such as the flamingo, to flee to the south of the peninsula or North Africa. Adaptation of the species. By not facing severe frosts that freeze water and limit access to their food, flamingos find the energy expenditure of a long migratory journey unnecessary. They simply “stick” here to an area that is now hospitable. A perfect refuge. For a species to decide to stay, it is not enough for it to be less cold, but food and shelter are also needed. Here Cantabria has one of the richest and most important estuarine complexes in northern Spain. The flamingos in this case have concentrated their colony in two key points of the Cantabrian geography: the bay of Santander and the estuarine complex of the Marinas of Santoña, Victoria and Joyel. Here the high wetland quality It guarantees an ecosystem rich in the small crustaceans and microorganisms that these birds feed on. Images | Jannes Jacobs In Xataka | These birds travel more than 3,000 kilometers every year to reach Spain. The curious thing is that some arrive without fingers

They are already the easiest way to fly to Japan

by

Iran at war. Middle East airspace blocked. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad flights canceled or diverted at prohibitive prices. The corridor that for decades has connected Europe with Asia in a more or less affordable and convenient way is in serious trouble. And in the middle of this chaotic scenario there are those who are taking great advantage of the game: the Chinese airlines. But the thing is not from now, because it is a situation in which They have been accumulating points since 2022with the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Now the wind is playing even more in their favor. Two crises that add up. In 2022, the European Union vetoed the possibility of flying over Russian airspace to European airlines in response to sanctions. Russia, in turn, closed its space to Western companies. This meant that European flights to Asia had to make a detour, leading to more fuel consumption, more flight hours and much higher fares. Issues. From Air France-KLM and Lufthansa They estimated at two and a half extra hours its flights to Asia compared to Chinese airlines. And now comes the second shock. The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, with the airspace of the Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain and Iran closed or restricted since the end of Februaryhas paralyzed the great corridors of the Gulf. Dubai airport, which with 95 million passengers was the busiest in the world in 2025, has had to suspend its operations. Qatar Airways has gone from more than 500 daily flights to less than 100. More than 20,000 flights canceled in the first days of the conflict. And the routes between Europe and Asia, which were already strained by the closure of Russian airspace, have suffered another devastating blow. Why the Chinese win. Chinese airlines have been flying through Russian airspace without restrictions for years, as China has not supported sanctions on Moscow. That allows them to operate more direct and cheaper routes between Europe and Asia than any Western rival. According to data from the consulting firm OAG collected by different media, in January 2025, Chinese airlines They already controlled 85% of the flights between China and Europe, a figure that before the pandemic was around 60%. Quasi-monopoly. In countries like Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece this control is absolute: Iberia has not flown to China since 2020 and does not plan to resume the route in the short term. The situation has only gotten worse for European women in recent months. Already in its day Air France-KLM and Lufthansa they publicly asked the European Union to take measures to compensate for what they described as a situation of “unfair competition”, referring to the conflict with Russia. With the Gulf also in chaos, the advantage widens, as Chinese airlines can reorient their routes flying over Russia and avoid the Middle East conflict completely, unlike European airlines. For those who fly to Japan and to other destinations in Southeast Asia. Asia is experiencing a tourism boom among European travelers. Japan received 36.9 million international visitors in 2024a growth of 47% compared to the previous year. In 2025 reached 42.68 millionthe first time in history that the country surpasses the barrier of 40 million tourists in a single year, driven in part by the increase in flights from several Chinese cities to Kansai International Airport. Mabrian placed Southeast and South Asia as the regions with the highest growth in international travel demand by 2025, with Japan and China accounting for 12.6% of searches when planning trips. And Tokyo, Bangkok, Vietnam and Bali have become some of the most prominent tourist destinations for Europeans. And of course, to get there right now, the path increasingly passes through Beijing or Shanghai. The leading airlines. There are three big names that dominate the sector: Air China, the flag airline based at Beijing airport and a fleet of more than 930 aircraft; China Eastern, the country’s second operator, based in Shanghai; and China Southern, Asia’s largest airline by fleet size, with more than 600 aircraft and a hub in Canton. The latter is especially well positioned for flights to Southeast Asia. In addition to the big three, Hainan Airlines also stands out, which in the Skytrax ranking snuck in as the only Chinese in the world top 10. Typically, Chinese airline fares are difficult to match, and that is being the determining factor in many travelers’ plans. Throughout these last months, according to Kayakit was possible to find flights to Tokyo from Madrid or Barcelona for about 350 euros, through Chinese airlines. Now things are more difficult and most of those flights are already sold out for 2026. They will not always offer you cheap flights. Having said all this, there is one detail that is worth commenting on. And if you open a flight search engine right now, it is possible that what you find is not too similar to those 350 euros we talked about before. The most immediate reason is diplomatic tension between China and Japan earlier this year, which led Air China, China Eastern and China Southern to cancel dozens of routes and reduce frequencies, leaving fewer seats available and higher prices for those that remain. Added to this is that the instability in the Middle East Demand for the Asian corridor has skyrocketed so much that Chinese airlines no longer need to compete on price to fill their planes. The competitive advantage is still there, but with the quota full they can afford to raise prices. There is also a more technical factor. And unlike Iberia or Lufthansa, which publish fares up to 360 days in advance, Chinese airlines usually launch their most aggressive promotions with just four or six months of margin. If you’re looking for flights later this year, chances are you’re only looking at base fares and actual deals haven’t appeared yet. What the price alone does not count. When planning a long-haul trip to Asia, there is something that … Read more

The fastest private plane in the world is now ready to fly, covering non-stop intercontinental routes and less jet lag

by

Few aircraft projects raise as much expectation as that of the Bombardier Global 8000 because he who It will be the fastest civil aircraft in the world since the Concorde It has some characteristics that leave people open-mouthed and others, such as the promise of ending jet lag, that arouse some skepticism. And furthermore, it is rigorously complying with its roadmap to go from becoming an ambitious prototype in testing to being a certified commercial reality: a few days ago completed its international certification process and can now operate without restrictions in the European sky. He Bombardier Global 8000 breaks records. In its test flights, one of its aircraft reached a Mach speed of 0.941, even exceeding Mach 1.0 (Mach. 1.015) in a dive, making it the first aircraft within its commercial people transportation category to break the sound barrier in a controlled and sustainable manner. And also, in the fastest civil jet in active service. However, his certified maximum operating cruising speed is Mach 0.95, exceeding its own expectations and leaving behind others like the Gulfstream G700 or the Dassault Falcon 10X. This is possible thanks to its engines GE Passport and its aerodynamics. Its propulsion system is optimized for a high bypass ratio and thermal efficiency, enabling long flights. Its wings have a design Smooth Flĕx Wing critical: it is a variable profile structure that optimizes lift both when flying at low speed and at cruising speed. This minimizes resistance and improves stability against turbulence. With intercontinental capacity. Precisely its surname 8000 comes from its autonomy: it is capable of flying 8,000 nautical miles, about 15,000 kilometers. Again, its engines and design are largely to blame. If we take into account its range and speed, in practice it means that it is practically capable of linking two cities in the world without the need for stopovers. It is no longer that it can connect New York with Hong Kong, it is that compared to the traditional commercial flight it could save almost two hours. Goodbye to damn jet lag? As if flying from one end of the planet to another non-stop and in less time was not enough, the Bombardier Global 8000 promises minimize jet lag through pressurization and systems engineering. Go ahead something: the jet lag It’s not just lack of sleep and jet lag, it’s also an effect of air pressure. While a standard commercial airliner maintains cabin pressure equivalent to 6,000 – 8,000 feet, the Global 8000 maintains it at only 2,900 feet (about 880 meters) even when flying 41,000 feet. This means more oxygen in the blood of people traveling, so fatigue is reduced. Likewise, it integrates the Soleil System LED circadian lighting based on the dynamic position of the sun depending on the destination. A most exclusive aircraft. This aircraft does not skimp on details to optimize flight or comfort. Thus, it has a HEPA filtration system that renews the cabin air in less than 90 seconds, it has very comfortable a priori Bombardier patented Nuage seats with zero gravity position, four private suites with king-size beds and there is no shortage of shower on board. Beyond its innovations and luxuries, it has something essential from a practicality point of view: its design allows it to operate in small airports and even on wet and bad runways, so it can land or take off in up to 2,050 airports. According to Bombardier, this marks the difference with the competition. The interior of one of its exclusive suites ready to fly. As we mentioned in the intro, the Bombardier Global 8000 already has everything to fly. After the envelope validation phase which took place between 2021 and 2023 where the company verified that elements such as the wing and the stabilizers supported transonic shock waves without losing structural integrity, they moved on to the testing and certification phase. First Transport Canada, then the FAA American and a couple of weeks ago, the European, which opens the doors to accepting deliveries in the United States and Europe. However, the first customers of the launch have already begun to receive their units from 2025. By the way, those who own the previous model, the Global 7500, you can upgrade it to the new Global 8000. In Xataka | The largest plane in the world has just broken its record for flight hours: its real mission is even more ambitious In Xataka | The whale of the skies says goodbye: the Airbus Beluga ST retires after years transporting other aircraft parts Cover and images | Bombardier

your satellite “tug” is ready to fly

by

We are used to talking about satellite launches as if that moment marked the end of the journey. The rocket takes off, the cargo reaches orbit and the mission seems accomplished. But that is not always enough: placing a satellite in space is only the beginning of a much more delicate process, that of taking it exactly to the point where it must operate and ensuring that it can fulfill its mission under the expected conditions. In that silent stretch is where new proposals begin to emerge. Among them, a Spanish startup which claims to have its own orbital transport vehicle ready and a first mission planned for 2026. UARX Space. Behind this proposal appears UARX Spacea company based in Nigrán, on the coast of Galicia. Founded in 2020, the company has defended an unusual strategy within the ecosystem: advance during its early years with a low public profile and focus on technological maturity before presenting to the market. That approach raises the idea of ​​coming up with more developed systems. ready to fly. The most recent turning point comes not from a launch, but from a technical validation. In a post published on LinkedIn a few hours agoUARX Space notes that its OSSIE orbital vehicle has completed the environmental qualification campaign, a phase that includes vibration tests, tightness and conditions representative of takeoff. The results, according to the company, confirm compliance with the mission requirements and place the system in a state of readiness for flight. The work of the “tugboat”. The difference between understanding the concept and seeing its real impact is how those capabilities are applied in a specific mission. A vehicle like OSSIE It not only moves satellites from one point to another, but also undertakes maneuvers that determine whether a constellation works as designed or whether a payload reaches the exact orbit it needs to operate. As we say, the system is designed to execute precise injections, modify orbital parameters and coordinate relative positioning between satellites. When will the launch be? With that milestone on the table, the next question is when liftoff could come. From what we have been able to observe in UARX public informationthe first OSSIE mission takes place in 2026 and is limited to the first quarter of the year, with an initial insertion planned into sun-synchronous orbit around 500-600 kilometers. Other data comes to us from a previously published statementwhich indicates that the orbital launch system contracted for this important step will be SpaceX’s Falcon 9. OSSIE will carry twelve loads on its initial flight. One of them will be CORTISa UVigo SpaceLab initiative designed to compare the performance of commercial radiation sensors with proprietary developments and to test a flight heritage camera planned for another mission. The project has passed vibration tests at the company’s facilities before its integration, a necessary step for any cargo that aspires to travel to space. This collaboration between the academic environment and industrial infrastructure offers a more concrete image of the model that the company is trying to build. Refuel in orbit, but later. The scope of the project is not limited to the movement of satellites, but rather points to a different way of operating in space. UARX works together with Dawn Aerospace in the integration of a docking system that, in this first mission, will only have a structural function, but which is part of an architecture designed to allow in-orbit services in the future. Among them appears the possibility of orbital resupply, an idea still in development within the European ecosystem. Images | UARX Space In Xataka | Starlink’s dominance in space begins to move: another company already has permission for a constellation of 4,000 satellites

The last to get to the China parade was Kim Jong Un. Because in North Korea the leaders do not fly, but they travel armored

by

Where is Kim Yong Un? The question shortly before the beginning of the Military Parade in Beijing For the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, it began to circulate among the attendees. The answer would come shortly after. Just because The missiles that North Korea He had shown hours before they fly at a vertiginous speed, the nation leaders do it slow and on land, but completely safe. A trip loaded with symbolism. The displacement of Kim Jong-un a Beijing represented much more than a simple transfer: it was his reappearance in the multilateral scene accompanied by an emblem of dynastic power, the known armored train as “the sun” (Taeyangcho). This convoy, painted green off and armored in each of its wagons, has been the means of favorite transport of the Kim family from the Foundation of North Korea, linked to both the personal security of the leader and the propaganda staging of the dynasty. Its use reinforced the continuity narrativetradition and strength in an event where state leaders of more than 20 countries coincided, including strategic allies such as Russia and Iran. The rail legacy. The train predilection comes from afar. Kim Il-Sung used it as Modernity symbol and closeness to the people, and Kim Jong-il made him Your exclusive vehicle for fear of flying, reaching a journey of thousands of kilometers Until Moscow in 2001. His trips were long expeditions in which the train became a residence, command room and meeting space with foreign leaders. After his death in 2011, occurred precisely on this train, one of his wagons was converted in exposed relic In his mausoleum in Pyongyang, consolidating the image of the railroad as an essential part of the cult of personality. Kim Jong-UN has continued tradition, although it combines the train with rented aircraft when travel demands to cross oceans, as happened at its summit With Donald Trump in Singapore In 2018. A armored office. Beyond tradition, the train is today an authentic Mobile Command Center. Their wagons have offices, meeting rooms, sofas, satellite communication systems, televisions and computers, in addition to a permanent bodyguard and medical staff. Security measures include Comprehensive armor and weapons Heavy on board, in addition to space to transport the leader’s own car. This infrastructure makes it an Rself -sufficient and safe efugiobut also in an extremely slow medium: its maximum round speed 60 km/hwhich, together with the precarious state of the North Korean roads, prolongs any journey for days. Thus, in 2019 he needed almost three days to reach Hanói from Pyongyang in his meeting with Trump. Luxury and ostentation. The train not only guarantees protection and functionality, it is also the scene of the excesses associated with the dynasty. For example, during the trips of Kim Jong-il, I They served live lobsters and delicacies of various international kitchens, while French wines arrived in air cargoes along the journey. They even organized shows on board with singers and actors to liven up displacements. Although similar anecdotes have not been documented in the era of Kim Jong-UN, South Korean intelligence services believe that the leader has inherited his father’s inclination by the Refined gastronomy and the ostentation. The train as a metaphor. So, “The Sun” It is much more than a vehicle: it symbolizes the rigidity of power that moves slowly, but with Absolute armorwrapped in luxury for the leader and sacrifice for the people. In each international trip, the image of the green convoy touring borders becomes a metaphor for the survival of an isolated regime, which combines tradition, ostentation and fear in equal doses. Kim Jong’s arrival a Beijing in this kind of strength about Raíles not only evoked his father and grandfather’s legacy, but sent the world a continuity message: The dynasty remains firm, armored against external threats and determined to maintain its rituals even in the era of hypersonic missiles and autonomous drones. Image | Heute In Xataka | China has just told the world the place it wants to occupy. And he has done it with a parade of weapons that seem like science fiction In Xataka | In 2021 North Korea drew a stage as a power. Russia and a secret base have turned the plan in four years

A Chinese city has had an idea to simplify changes in meaning: to fly 180º in the middle of the highway

by

Changing meaning on some roads is a real nightmare. If we go for a National Highway It is relatively simple, but skip a highway exit or in large avenues of some of the larger and more congested cities on the planetit involves going huge to change the meaning of the march. And in a Chinese city they are applying a solution that facilitates the maneuver: the ‘U -urn‘, or “U turning”. The videos are not very convincing if we talk about security. U -urn. There are several designs when making changes to meaning. The idea is to make as many maneuvers as possible and that these are safe. Roundabouts are an efficient design for this, but on roads with a large number of lanesThey are little practical. You can always turn in the street and turn the block to rejoin the main road, but it takes longer. There the U-Turn that has begun to apply in cities such as Jinancapital of Shandong. The concept is simple: a lane stuck to the median that allows not to turn left, but to make an even more closed turn to join the opposite direction of march. AAAAAHORA. The video that we leave just on these lines is revealing: several cars stop in several numbered squares and wait for their turn to make that change of meaning. A continuous white line makes the difference between that lane and the rest of its march, and a yellow makes medium. How do you get the impatient drivers wait for your turn? Through a traffic light, which is the one that regulates the maneuver. The coordination between the traffic lights allows to stop the traffic of the lane to which we want to incorporate while opening the traffic light that gives green light to the incorporation maneuver, and discontinuous lines on the ground serve as a guide for drivers. Jinan’s U-Turn Risks. Now, although in This video Posted by People’s Daily and In this other Published by MAO NO, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the maneuvers seem idyllic, if we look at both videos and in the above we can see two of the problems, and consequent risks, of this maneuver. On the one hand: the scope that can be produced by the vehicles that already circulated in that direction. There is a traffic light that cuts trafficbut … what happens if they jump it or if they circulated at more speed? The same goes for those who want to incorporate. As the turn is so closed, there may be touches between them. In fact, there are several cars that must lessen or even correct the trajectory so as not to “eat” any of those that are incorporated. An example in the United States. In Florida, specifically Nothing exotic. Now, this U turning is not exclusive to China and, although the implementation in Jinan has caught attention, There are other areas in which it is allowed. The United States or Taiwan are two of them, but in the case of the North American country, it depends on the State and the implementation varies from a discontinuous line on the ground, the regulation through a traffic light or more extreme cases such as a road design that, in Spain, seems exotic: Therefore, although very colorful, that Jinan lane is another implementation of this 180 degree turn to change meaning. In countries outside Europe, where apples are usually smaller and narrower roads, it is normal to see this type of implementations, but in the case of the solution applied in Jinan, the striking is the amount of cars simultaneously that can make the change of meaning. And the problem is that, although functional because it allows a road with a large number of lanes Several cars can make a 180 degree turn simultaneously, in the published videos you can perfectly see that the possibility of a range is there. Images | Mrswagger21 In Xataka | It looks like a 240 -kilometer roller coaster, but it is one of the most amazing and complicated highways in China (Function () {Window._js_modules = Window._js_modules || {}; var headelement = document.getelegsbytagname (‘head’) (0); if (_js_modules.instagram) {var instagramscript = Document.Createlement (‘script’); }}) (); – The news A Chinese city has had an idea to simplify changes in meaning: to fly 180º in the middle of the highway It was originally posted in Xataka by Alejandro Alcolea .

The new largest plane in the world will be a beast to revolutionize wind. The big question is whether it will fly

by

In the Albores of the Ukraine WarRussia took control of the airport space of Hostomel. It was where two aviation monsters, Antonov-124 and Antonov-225They were trapped. The result of the attacks? Serious damage to one of the merchandise transport aircraft more used in Europe and Destruction of Antonov-225the largest plane in the world and pride of Ukrainian aviation. His loss has left a void that a startup wants to take advantage of with the Windrunner, the world’s new biggest plane Focused on the transport of wind turbines. The problem is that there are serious doubts that one day he undertakes the flight, but there is already an interested party that has nothing to do with him renewable energy sector: The Pentagon. Drive wind. The company after this ambitious project is Radiaa startup that considers that, in a Decarbonization scenario and with one artificial intelligence so voracious In energy terms, it is necessary to boost the installation of wind turbines throughout the world. The problem is that, to accelerate that installation, the cadence of Warmers installation And the transport of its elements, such as blades, is a problem. The towers can be set up by pieces, but the blades are another song. Radia considers that none of the load aircraft They have the ability to transport large blades, and there their plan with the Windrunner and a winery that will allow three 80 -meter blades, two of 95 meters or just just or barely one 105 meters long. And it will do it directly on an improvised landing floor at the construction of the wind farm. Comparisons are hateful. To put in context what type of plane we are talking about, if the Antonov-225 was a monsterthis Windrunner would be unqualifiable: Winrunner Antonov AN-225 Total length 108 meters 84 meters Wingspan 80 meters 88.4 meters Height 24 meters 18.1 meters Winery length 105 meters 43.3 meters Bodega volume 8,200 m³ 1,300 m³ Comes with a price. The problem is that putting such a plane in the air has a problem: fuel. For the 250 tons that the Antonov-225 could load, the Windrunner will stay in more modest 72.5 tons. Enough for its main mission of transporting shovels that in its largest lengths are around 60 tons. But autonomy can also be the big problem of that plan that allows winding throughout the world. Driven by four engines that will work with Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAFits autonomy will be up to 2,000. It will be its great limitation, since it will relegate it to an almost local use in Europe, America or Asia, with continuous reposses or with the need for shovels to be manufactured to those 2,000 kilometers of its destination. Windrunner on the left, Antonov An-124 in the center, Boeing 747-400 to the right Serious doubts. It is evident that the Windrunner is promising, but experts from the aerospace industry are not so clear that Radia can materialize their vision. The argument that analysts and experts of the aviation industry use is that Radia is a startup that will need a lot of money and have seen projects with better commercial arguments and lower technological risks. Also, and how we read in BBCRadia goes against everything that is usually done in this industry and, after testing a scale model in the wind tunnel, wants to speed up times and reduce costs passing from that model to scale to real -size test aircraft. As? Instead of building traditional prototypeslooking for digital design tools. And this is not like building a car on your own: once built, an overwhelming aircraft certification process begins. Virtually the interior of the Windrunner is a winery. Trust. In the same BBC article, Mark Lundstrom, founder of Radia, confessed that, although there are numerous challenges, the fundamental principles of the development of the Windrunner go through “not doing anything new and developing the minimally viable aircraft for aviation”. That makes them discarded alternatives such as the airships, which should go through new regulations and supply chains, and also that they have opted for a more traditional supply chain. For example, hiring experienced suppliers Like the Italian Leonardo for the fuselage, the American Afore to review the security or The Spanish Aernnova For wings and pylons of engines. It is not yet known who will provide the engines, but from Radia they commented to BBC that they have “selected an existing certified engine and are working to define the integration strategy in the fuselage.” That is, Radia is using already tested technologies and components, which will allow them to “the unit cost is proportional to the weight and size of the aircraft and, therefore, comparable to that of other civil aircraft of wide fuselage,” according to Radia’s spokesman. And it is expected that the 70% of suppliers of Radia are European. The Pentagon has taken his eye. Of course, Radia is not the first visionary Aerospace Company, but if you do not set the objective of building the Windrunner for its main objective of filling the aircraft planet, whoever has recently called at their door I have something interesting to offer. In May of this year, the United States Department of Defense signed an agreement with Radia To analyze if the Windrunner could transport military load. Although the weight it can carry is much lower than that of the missing Antonov-225, its winery is huge and is something that has captured the attention of the Pentagon. From Radia they maintain that its objective remains to serve the wind energy market, but recognize that the unique capabilities of its plane make it interesting for additional applications. Boeing heats engines. Radia aims to have several real -size test units to make a first test flight at the end of this decade. Again, an excessive ambition if we take into account that planes such as the aforementioned AN-225 barely made a few flights a year … and there was only one. And we will see how the pressure of … Read more

A hunt is aiming two Tesla Cybertruck to fly through the air

by

In the military field, it is normal Try to get ahead to the scenarios that can Pose the enemy. However, what is about to happen in a specific area of the United States possibly breaks with any other operation of the past. In a play that mixes futuristic technology with military strategy, the United States Air Force has two Tesla Cybertrucks between eyebrow and eyebrow, but not to use them, but to destroy them. A singular purchase. Yes, the United States Air Force has launched a peculiar request: has acquired two Tesla Cybertrucks And it is placing them as targets for tests precision with missiles. Although at first glance it may seem an eccentricity, the decision contains a reasoning that goes far beyond symbolism or technological extravagance. The goal declared It is to evaluate how certain types of ammunition react and behave when they hit vehicles that, according to internal projections, could be in the hands of enemies in future combat scenarios. The acquisition is part of a larger package of 33 vehicles that will be allocated to the White Sands Missile Range base in New Mexico, where the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) carries out advanced exercises, many of them in collaboration with the US Special Operations Command (Socom). Cybertruck as part of the enemy. The specific inclusion of the cybertruck inside the list (when no other brand vehicle appears cited) responds to An internal study of February 13, 2025, which evaluated the design, materials, impact resistance and technological innovations of this model. He justifying documentpartially censored but published online, concludes that the angular design and the without painting stainless steel of the vehicle place it in a separate category, completely different from conventional vehicles with steel or painted aluminum chassis. To this is added its electrical architecture of 48v, an still incipient technology among competitors. According to The AFTCthere are no comparable vehicles in the market. One More Thing. But the most disturbing of the application is the premise that supports it: it is considered “probable” that future adversaries begin to use cybertrucks in combat areas, and it is pointed out that these vehicles have demonstrated unexpected resistance to damage after greater impacts. Without specifying the scenario or the enemy to which allusion is made for obvious reasons, the document underlines the need to replicate realistic environments in training, including vehicles that could be used by hostile forces. The war truck. He Geopolitical context in which this restlessness is placed has broader implications. Although it is not explicitly mentioned, SOPGM (Stand Off Precision Munitions) programs are mainly designed to neutralize mobile threats In the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and other environments where the objectives are usually adapted civil vehicles. In this context, the cybertruck not only embodies a symbol of technological status, but can represent A tactical threat real if used by armed or insurgent actors who seek improvised armor, silent electrical mobility and structural resistance. Recent history offers some clues: Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya, He showed publicly Several modified cybertrucks With machine guns 12.7 mm caliber, allegedly sent to Ukraine. Beyond its doubtful origin (given its inclusion in sanctions lists), these vehicles symbolize the growing crossing between consumer technology and irregular war. Other tests in the past with cars Musk’s “apocalyptic” car. When Elon Musk presented the cybertruck in 2019, he did it with a promise: a vehicle “Apocalypse proof”with armored windows, ultra -resistant and science fiction chassis. Since then, it has been subject to fervor and mockery in equal parts. Ha suffered withdrawalcriticism for Your finishesdoubts about Your reliabilityand a growing perception that the initial vision has been weighed by structural problems. In spite of everything, Tesla has sold about 46,000 units (according to estimates of this spring), with the majority concentrated In North America. However, it has been confirmed that some copies have already arrived in the Middle Eastand Tesla announced in April that it will open direct sales In Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar before the end of the year. The importance of the enclave. That geographical turn of the Cybertruck distribution cannot be overlooked. If the vehicle becomes available in regions where militias or state actors with interests facing the United States operate freely, it could become an impromptu platform For mobile attacksarmored transport or even paramilitary use. In fact, several companies are already offering Modified versions of the cybertruck for security agenciespolice bodies or armed forceswith additions such as additional armor, tactical kits and unnimlined unipersonal configurations. The United States Department, which this year considered Acquire cybertrucks for diplomatic use, canceled that intention shortly after, probably because of the political and symbolic implications of the vehicle. Consumer technology (or conflicts). The history of the use of civil vehicles as whites in military training It is not new. For years, the US army has employed Toyota Hilux or Land Cruisers trucks, Imimitations of Asian SUV or sedans used by insurgents, as part of its simulation exercises. The new in this case is The qualitative leap which represents the cybertruck: a high -end electric vehicle, sold as an emblem of modernity and status, which now enters the orbit of asymmetric war. The decision of the Air Force to use it as a target of proof reflects a broader transformation in the way in which armies are prepared for the conflicts of the future. It is no longer just training against armored armored or pickups, but to assume that high -tech civil arsenal (globally commercialized) can be integrated into operations theaters in an unconventional way. Between the plausible and the absurd. The Tesla case as a missile goal Raises broader questions about the evolution of modern combat. If the military considers plausible for a future enemy to use luxury electric vehicles as mobile war platforms, what other elements of the civil world could be militarized? The same logic that promotes the acquisition of these training vehicles can be applied to Other technological artifacts whose use moves from private consumption to … Read more

“I don’t want money. They fly without suitcases”

by

Ryanair entered more than 13,400 million euros in 2024. Of them, 4,299 million euros had nothing to do with the explicit transport of passengers. That is, money that came from the “extras” that the company already offers those that must be folded if, for example, we want to fly with a cabin suitcase. Michael O’Leary, his CEO, says what happens of them (and their money). “I don’t want it”. “I don’t want any suitcase money. I prefer passengers to fly without suitcases.” O’Leary’s words have resonated in Dublin (Ireland), during a meeting with journalists, as he has collected eldiario.es. In the talk he was asked about the Internal conflicts in Europe and those who are facing the airline on the occasion of the hand or cabin suitcase. That for which Ryanair charges an extra, for which sanctions those who have not billed her And they exceed its limits and, above all, that same that Ryanair wants to eliminate. The costs. During his talk, O’Leary has insisted that suitcases cost him too much money because “we have people used to put our bags on the plane, the plane weighs more and consume more fuel.” Before taking into account the fuel, Ryanair figure the cost of a passenger at 34 euros, according to an internal slide projected in Milan and exposed by The Flight Club. That cost is more compensated with each invoiced suitcase … or not invoiced, although its CEO ensures that it would prefer that passengers forget it. To keep it in mind, bill a suitcase of up to 10 kg (allowed in free cabin by other companies) costs Ryanair between 23.99 and 44.99 euros. But if the passenger has not chosen this option in his ticket and exceeds the measures agreed by the company, the cost of sending the luggage to the winery will be 46 euros in the best case. In fact, it could reach 60 euros, as they reflect On your own website. A business. As my partner Javier Lacort explained In this exhaustive analysis From the company, Ryanair does not make money with the flight in itself. Your business is in everything that orbits around the plane ticket, from the billing of the suitcase to the soda that is taken on board, through the choice of seat or commissions to hire on its website services such as hotels or rental cars. And to this we must add that the company punishes very hard to whom the rules skip. Not only on the occasion of hand luggage, too If the customer behaves badly Or, simply, he has not made the billing for himself at home. Very soon wants to charge us If we do not wear our ticket on the mobile phone. An open battle. O’Leary’s statements come just when the debate on the hand suitcase is more open than ever. A few days ago, The Council of Europe took a step forward to impose minimal measures in the hand luggage allowed by airlines. The problem is extremely concise and coincide with the proposal of the airlines Low Cost. The road seemed marked but The European Parliament has taken the opposite sense and his proposal becomes significantly increasing the agreed measures in the other European institution. To move forward a regulation in which the minimum measures allowed are explained, it is necessary for both parties to reach a final agreement. Some changes. At the same time, Ryanair has made a very slight concession. Since this summer, they will allow handbill with a maximum size of 40 x 30 x 20 cm, after the Airlines For Europe (A4E) association, which Ryanair is a member, will sign an agreement so that the minimum of the suitcases admitted as hand luggage is 40 × 30 × 15 cm. Until now, Ryanair allowed access with packages of up to 40 x 25 x 20 cm. With the agreement, it will maintain the depth and height but let the suitcases be five wider cenimeters. This, according to BBCIt will allow expanding the capacity of the backpack in four liters, moving from the current 20 liters to a maximum of 24 liters. Yes, but. This change is not accidental. Those 40 × 30 × 15 cm to which the members of Airlines For Europe (A4E) are committed to the European Parliament Proposalthat he wants the suitcase for free but the proposed measures are, as we have seen, almost traced to which Ryanair already applied, so it is understood as a sample of good will to the changes. He Europe Council bet Retail for hand luggage although the proposed measures to travel with him in the cabin are exactly the same. That is, what Ryanair is doing is simply adapting to what seems to be the new standard. Thus demonstrates good will and facilitates understanding. Meanwhile… Meanwhile, at least in Spain, we live in a limbo. Because Justice is not fully clear whether or not we can travel with a suitcase superior to the measures that Ryanair demands. In current regulations there is talk of a lump that allows “essential” luggage but exact measures are not mentioned. That has made some judgments in our country They have proved the airline And others, however, have opted for Strengthen user thesis. The government is clear about its position: what Ryanair is doing is illegal And that’s why he fined it. Photo | Polish Presidentncy of the Council of the EU 2025 and Giorgios Savidis In Xataka | The great secret of Ryanair’s success is that he does not earn money to fly: he does so squeezing you in everything else

In his attempt to fly through the airs the global supply chain, the US has a new obsession: copper

by

After a few weeks of relative tranquility, the US administration is again climbing the C tensions in its commercial war with China. Trump has announced a new 50% tariff for copper imports. A key step to torpedo China’s strategy, who currently leads its refining and casting processes. Tightening the nuts. The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday The imposition of a new 50% tariff to all copper imported to the United States. It is unknown for the moment when the measure will enter into force, but this points to a key material not only for the semiconductor industry: copper is crucial for sectors such as transport, energy or construction. The US position. Unlike his war declared to China with the Rare earthThe United States is one of the largest copper producers in the world. He currently occupies fifth place, although his main problem is a very concrete: consumes much more than it produces. Much of the copper it uses arrives as refined cathodes from Asia, especially from China. The goal. The United States not only seeks to protect its national industry. It aims to change the roles in this value chain: Encourage that copper refines within the US Reduce dependence on Chinese Foundions Press Latin America to export copper without going through China. Although Latin America Head the list of copper producers (Chile currently dominates primary mine production with more than 20% global position), dominating refining capacity is a central role in the supply chain. The reactions. The price of copper in the United States has reached its historical maximum in the national market After Trump’s statements, even with doubts about how it will apply and what will be the possible exceptions. The impact. The 50% tariff on copper imports would have a remarkable impact on key industries. Semiconductors: copper is, along with other critical metals such as scandio, disposium or bismuth, a fundamental material for the chips industry. A few milligrams per chip are key to its manufacture. Automotion: The electric vehicle needs much more copper for its manufacture (motor, battery, wiring). Electrical networks: transformers, substations, cables. Consumer electronics Construction Although Trump wants to obtain control over the supply chain, the measure can be shot in the foot. The United States does not have enough capacity to produce and refine all the copper it needs. The doubts. Although Trump has announced that the copper tariff will reach 50%, it has not detailed whether the measures will affect the entire refined copper, or certain products dependent on this material. They are not known to the measure, or date of entry into force. Be that as it may, The war for the domain of metals It will be crucial to control commercial tensions. China’s dominant position on rare earths It puts the United States in a delicate situation, which is trying to face attacking materials as concrete as copper. In Xataka | In 1978 Chinese engineers visited two key US companies. On his return an empire began: the rare earths

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.