group

The most viral group in recent weeks is also the strangest and most incomprehensible group you will hear today

by

Two figures with masks with very long noses and white suits with black polka dots (or black ones with white polka dots). A double-neck guitar with more frets than usual. A looper operated with bare feet, also painted with polka dots. And 27 minutes of music that divide the scale into 24 tones instead of the 12 of the Western system. This is how Angine de Poitrine entered the lives of millions of people who had never heard of math rock in their lives. How we met Angine De Poitrine. The video that changed everything was recorded by the Seattle public station KEXP during the Transmusicales festival in Rennes, in December 2025. They published it on YouTube in February 2026. In a matter of weeks it has accumulated millions of views, it has almost 8. In the comments, someone wrote: “The AI: Humans no longer have anything to do in music. Angine de Poitrine: Hold the triangular Martian beer for me.” Quite a diagnosis of the crux of the matter. Twenty years playing the Martian. Khn and Klek de Poitrine (pseudonyms, obviously) have been making music together for more than two decades, since they were teenagers. They launched Angine de Poitrine just before the pandemic, in 2019, although they didn’t start performing regularly until 2023. The name, which in French means “angina pectoris”, is a devotion to the absurd, like everything in this project: the costumes came about as a joke because they wanted to play twice in the same week in the same venue, but the venue wouldn’t allow it, so they dressed up to be booked as if they were another group. And they kept the costumes. But what is this? The music that Angine de Poitrine plays is objectively difficult to describe. Themselves They have defined it as “dada-Pythagus-cubist rock-mantra”which does not clarify much but does point to the unclassifiable spirit of the project. Khn plays a double-neck bass guitar custom builtwhich allows you to play microtones, the intervals between conventional notes. Activate the looper with bare feet while Klek maintains a usually frenetic rhythm on the drums, brimming with changes of rhythm and time signature. What is microtonality. The melodies are based on a system of 24 tones per octave instead of the 12 usual in Western music. Some of his compositions move in time signatures as infrequent as 10/4, 17/4 or 28/4. For a listener accustomed to the Western tradition, the result sounds slightly “out of place”, in a constant tension that is difficult to express. Danick Trottier, musicologist at UQAM, has explained that the duo works primarily with quarter tones, half a standard semitone, creating a dramatically dissonant effect. Influences? There are a few: Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, Primus, King Crimson, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and more exotically, Indonesian gamelan and Middle Eastern music. It is not exactly the list of references of a group that thinks about the mass market. And that is the key to why they have attracted so much attention. Nobody knows who they are. The anonymity of its members goes beyond a mere nod to the Internet, but is taken very seriously. Their manager, Sébastien Collin, has undertaken a task of meticulously removing any mention of the band’s two members’ real names on the internet, and the group’s website warns that Angine de Poitrine is “an anonymous artistic project” and that any speculation about the identity of its members may constitute an invasion of their privacy. It goes viral. When KEXP (with a long history of presenting groups that end up becoming references) published the video, the reactions came in cascade: guitarists, jazz fans, progressive rock fans and people who had not paid attention to current music for years decided to spread it. Rick Beatoone of the most watched music analysis YouTubers in the world, claimed to receive 25 emails a day asking about the duo, more than about any other artist in the history of his channel. Dave Grohl He stated that the duo “literally blew his mind” and that he didn’t know how to explain it except to say that they had to be seen. The snowball was unstoppable. What makes the phenomenon unique is that the virality It wasn’t just from top to bottom.: Many of those respected voices started talking about the duo because their own listeners kept sending them the linkmaking fans the real engine of spread, not passive recipients. Ahead of the popes music intellectuals. Immediate success. Success has immediate and quite striking economic translation. Tickets for his concerts in Toronto already have resale prices of over $500. The vinyls of their first album, ‘Vol. YO’, They have sold for $2,000.. Their concert dates in New York, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, France and Belgium sold out in minutes. This past April 3, 2026 they published ‘Vol. II’, their second album, which includes three of the songs from the already iconic KEXP video and three new compositions. Complex but accessible. There is something paradoxical about Angine de Poitrine: inaccessible music usually slows down uninitiated listeners. Here the opposite happens: difficulty generates analysis and curiosity, and this attracts more listeners, who return to the original video, wondering: “Why do I react like this to this strange thing?” James Gutierrez, assistant professor of music at Northeastern University, point because the thirst for something “obviously insimilable” is the axis of the reaction: this band is the emblem of something that no AI can convincingly replicateand in these times of predictable successes, where it is valued that everything is categorizable, the inimitable is an unexpected value. Another distinguished opinion: Pierre Michaud, associate professor of composition at the Université de Montréal, attributes the success to a “stroke of genius” that combines extreme complexity with a casual presentation. The geopolitical context also appears in the analyses. Gutierrez points out that in a 2026 marked by political gravity, something admirable, creative and playful activates the right mechanisms in the public. We can breathe easy: we continue … Read more

While Spain does everything possible to preserve the Iberian wolf, one group has very different ideas: ranchers

by

A few days ago, a six-year-old Iberian wolf named Raksha traveled from the Basabrere center in Lezaun (Navarra) to the Jerez de la Frontera Zoobotanical Center. A trip that aims enrich the captive breeding program started in 1995 in order to guarantee the conservation of the species. The problem is that it is being done at a time when ranchers are fighting against the presence of the wolf due to the damage it is causing. Wolf x-ray. To understand the conflict, you first have to look at the numbers. According to the last national censusSpain has 333 stable herds, which translates into about 1,600 to 1,700 individuals, and it is good news because it marks an increase of 12% compared to the previous census. Here the vast majority is concentrated north of the Duero River, although a clear trend of expansion is observed towards the south and east of the peninsula. The problem is that we are still quite far from reaching the 500 herds that can guarantee good genetic variability that allows them to survive. That is why the Government maintains until this March the classification of the wolf’s conservation status as “unfavorable.” The war in the countryside. If science is telling us that there is a need for wolves, livestock farmers affirm that there are plenty of them, and they see this due to the increase in attacks on livestock that has forced the State to inject 20 million euros annually for prevention measures with fences or mastiff dogs, as well as to compensate financially. However, organizations such as WWF denounce that management by the autonomous communities is deficient, with a lack of transparency and little progress compared to what is set out in the 2022 National Strategy. Lots of criticism. But these measures seem to be not enough for some, such as the Popular Party, which points out that in the province of Lugo, where more than 1,400 affected animals were registered, much more still needs to be done. The Xunta de Galicia itself also points out that right now the winners do not have state funds to be able to face these attacks. Although the tension is undoubtedly placed right now on the temporary inclusion of the wolf in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime (LESPRE). Under this legal umbrella, any action of capture, disturbance, sale or destruction of the species’ habitat is prohibited. A legal pulse. If we look back, a few months ago various amendments and regulatory changes They allowed a partial departure of the wolf from LESPRE, authorizing controls based on hunting to mitigate economic damage. But in February 2026 a ruling from the Supreme Court turned the situation around 180 degreessince it tightened the requirements to authorize these extractions, obligatorily prioritizing non-lethal alternatives and drastically limiting hunting. This sentence has acted like gasoline in regions of northern Spain where ranchers report significant attacks on their animals, and that is why the autonomous communities threaten to report the Spanish government to the European Union for not acting on the regulation of this species. But what is clear is that the crossroads of the Iberian wolf in 2026 is the perfect reflection of a coexistence problem. While Raksha and other specimens in captivity ensure the genetic lifeline of the species, in the offices and meadows of northern Spain the formula that allows the wolf to howl without the rural world starting to tremble has not yet been found. Images | Arturo de Frias Marques In Xataka | We have managed to make the dire wolves return after 10,000 years of being extinct. The problem is that “come back” may not be the right word.

All about Lepas, the new Chery Group brand that arrives in Spain with Chinese cars designed specifically for Europe

by

Spain is experiencing a flood of Chinese brands in the automobile market. Manufacturers from this country have considered that Spain is a perfect country for their entry into the European market. Their reasons: key ports to unload cars and a customer who values ​​the quality/price/equipment ratio above brand loyalty. This is candy for Chinese companies. These brands have the challenge of winning over the customer with new models whose added value is, as a general rule, a very attractive price compared to the offer of Western vehicles, always with the same size, equipment and/or technology. With all this in mind, the Chery Group has started in Spain with Omoda and Jaecooin addition to Ebro Although it is a brand with Spanish capital, it uses the models that arrive in kits to Barcelona to build its own cars in our country. To these companies is now added Lepas. Chery will have a third own brand in Spain as a first step in an expansion that should continue throughout Europe soon. The objective is to put on the market a car that begins to target the premium market. This is your plan. What is Lepas and where does it come from? Lepas will be the third brand of the Chery Group to arrive in our country and is the youngest company of the automobile conglomerate since it was created in 2024. It must be taken into account that Chery already sells the Omoda and Jaecoo brands in China but also Jetour, iCar or Exeed. The name, they point out, is the mixture of “Leopard” and “Passion” and aims to position itself as an alternative company created specifically for Europe. It must be taken into account that Chery Group was founded in 1997 and has been exporting cars outside of China for more than 20 years. Its main market, until its arrival in Europe, was South America, but the objective is to continue expanding its borders in the coming years. With this roadmap in mind, Lepas will position itself as a brand designed by and for Europe. Its cars will be Chinese but the brand assures that it is about “responding to new customer profiles in different markets”, so the differentiation with Omoda and Jaecoo should be evident in the next launches. Omoda is, right now, the most youthful brand in Chery’s catalog. The conglomerate has positioned this company as an attractive bet for the most urban client, with a striking aesthetic and somewhat more aggressive or sporty shapes. Jaecoo is committed to the more rural market, with more or less mild offroad ambitions and a somewhat more country aesthetic. Lepas will occupy a slightly more refined position. The shapes of their cars, we assume seeing their first launch, will be softer and less aggressive. Everything indicates that Chery wants to have in Lepas an alternative with a slightly more premium character than its two previous brands. We are not talking about fighting with Audi or Mercedes but we are talking about playing in a league superior to the general league, halfway between both worlds. Lepas L8 Lepas L8, his first car For now, the Lepas landing comes with the Lepas L8. This car is an SUV 4.68 meters long, 1.87 meters wide and 1.69 meters high with a clear family vocation thanks to a trunk capacity of 507 liters. As a plug-in hybrid, it promises a range of up to 1,300 kilometers following a scheme that is common in other models of the group: 1.5 TGDI engine with dedicated DHT hybrid transmission and offers 205 kW (279 HP) of power and 365 Nm of torque. The promised electric range is up to 100 kilometers supported by an 18.4 kWh battery. Interior of the Lepas L8 The car is built on a multi-energy platform that allows plug-in hybrid versions to be put on the market, like this case, and completely electric or extended-range electric options. The latter is a type of car that works the vast majority of the time as an electric car and has a small gasoline tank to generate electricity and support electrical technology in case of emergency. The interior of this Lepas L8 has a steering wheel similar to that of the Omoda 9 so we found soft plastics and attractive design of the steering wheel, with only two horizontal spokes. It has wireless charging for your mobile phone and a large vertical screen. It is a differentiation from the Omoda options, whose screen is horizontal. Some functions with physical buttons are also maintained, although the air conditioning is carried out on the screen. The company points out that the car will arrive with more than 20 ADAS driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, parking assistant (with remote parking) or “540º panoramic camera.” In the future In addition to this Lepas L8, the company’s roadmap involves continuing to send cars to our market. We are talking about the Lepas L4 and L6. At the moment, we know very little about these two cars. Yes we have confirmed that the Lepas L4 is an urban SUVof about 4.30 meters that will help the company to lower the price of entry to the brand. We are not clear, however, what the technology will be and if it will be based on exclusively electric specifications or will add options with combustion engines. The little progress that the brand has made is that the car is already being manufactured in Wuhu, where the Chery Group headquarters is located. As for the Lepas L6 we find ourselves in the same situation but this time we are talking about a compact SUV. We will know the details throughout the year. If we talk about its launch. The company’s roadmap involves putting the first cars on the market at the end of this first half of 2026. Therefore, all the details of the Lepas L8 and the first contacts should arrive shortly before the summer. In the coming months we should know all the … Read more

hunt down Russia’s most ruthless group without a single shot

by

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has been a succession of adaptations forced, where each side has had to learn faster than the other to survive. What began as a bet on speed and political collapse led to a long conflicttechnical and increasingly ruthless, one in which the rules have changed as many times as the weapons on the field. From wear to operational calculation. After almost four years of war, Ukraine has begun to accept that inflicting massive casualties like explained recently A minister, by himself, does not change the logic of the conflict. Russia has shown that it can absorb huge losses without modifying its strategy, while using drones and deep strikes to erode the Ukrainian rear, cut off supplies and psychologically break the troops holding the front. This context has forced a rethinking from kyiv: the battlefield is no longer decided only on the line of contact, but in what happens dozens of kilometers behind, where commanders, drone operators and logistics routes support the Russian advance in slow motion. The war of the rearguard. In open regions like Zaporizhzhia, the difference between resisting and giving ground comes down to the ability to deny the enemy freedom of movement in the rear. Russia has converted medium-range drones in your key weaponattacking Ukrainian roads, convoys and equipment before they even enter combat. Ukraine, on the other hand, has depended for too long of death zones close to the front, betting on annihilating Russian infantry when it is too late to stop the general pressure. More and more Ukrainian commanders assume that, if it is not hit before to the system that fuels the assaults, war becomes a race of attrition impossible to win. The window of opportunity. This change of mentality coincides with a series of blows that have disorganized the Russian army. Disconnection of terminals key communications and internal decisions that have limited its own coordination channels have created a temporary vacuum in enemy command and control. Ukraine has read that weakness not as an occasion to launch local attacks, but as a strategic opportunity rare: for the first time in months, a large Russian formation appears exposed, dependent on fragile lines of communication and struggling to coordinate its defense in depth. And not just any one. The hunt for an army, not adding corpses. The plan that begins to take shape It goes far beyond “kill more or how many more.” The objective now is to encircle, isolate and destroy a specific and hitherto implacable formation of the Russian army, depriving it of reinforcements, ammunition and effective command until it becomes a a burden for Moscow instead of an offensive instrument. Where? In the southeast of Ukraine, where movements indicate that kyiv tries to wrap to the 36th Russian Navybut not through a great armored advance, but with a constant pressure on their flanks, selective attacks on key nodes and a systematic denial of their rear. In other words, it is not a spectacular offensive, because the least important thing is the shots, but rather a prolonged and methodical hunt. A risky but necessary position. There is no doubt, the shift involves risks more than obvious: for example, it demands more intelligence, more medium-range drones and even complex coordination at a time when Ukraine remains very limited by resources and irregular external support. But it also reflects a harsh and realistic conclusion: as long as Russia can rotate units and replenish men, the casualty accounting does not decide the war. Only the destruction of formations entire, unable to withdraw or reorganize, may alter the operational balance and, with it, Ukraine’s position both on the front and in any future negotiations. In that sense, what is underway is not just another offensive, but an attempt to change the rules of the game on the ground. Image | RawPixel In Xataka | An unprecedented experiment is happening in Ukraine: bombs have turned dogs into other animals In Xataka | Europe has been wondering for years “what Russia will do when the war in Ukraine is over.” The answers are not optimistic

A group of Spanish pilots wait in front of Russia for an alarm that will sound 500 times in 2025. They only have 15 minutes to launch their fighters

by

A few minutes from Russian airspace, a handful of Spanish pilots live in the most tense routine that exists in peacetime: be ready to take off at any moment from an icy base from the Balticone where the sky is watched as if each blip on the radar could be the start of something bigger. Fifteen minutes. At Šiauliai, a Lithuanian air base that functions as first line of surveillance over the Baltic, the routine can be broken at any second with a siren and a countdown. When the alert goes off (in 2025 alone it did so up to 500 times), the Spanish pilots of the 15th Wing They put on their equipment, get into the vans and run towards the hangars with a single objective: to be in the air in less than fifteen minutes. It is a millimetric mechanic, repeated so many times in training that becomes automaticbecause the mission does not wait for anyone and because in that area an unidentified plane, without a transponder or without communication, can be the beginning of a serious incident. The shadow of an enemy. The function of these quick exits, called “scrambles”is to intercept and escort suspicious aircraft until they leave Allied space or their intentions become clear, and in the Baltic they are almost an everyday language. The route is especially sensitive because it connects Russia with the militarized enclave of Kaliningradand there intersect fighters, surveillance planes and traffic that sometimes fly without a flight plan or without the expected signals. The result is constant tension: some days there are several outings and other weeks everything seems calm, but the feeling is always the same, that the next warning can come when you are resting or half asleep. 15th Wing Fighter Mission since 2004. NATO started this baltic air police in 2004 to protect the space of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and since then the countries have taken turns in rotation four months so that the umbrella is permanent. Over time, the deployment was expanded to other bases in the region, first after the first Russian invasion of Ukraine and later with further expansion, because the Eastern Front ceased to be a theoretical concept. In recent months, furthermore, the incursions became more disturbing due to a new detail: not only manned aircraft appeared, but also drones that crossed borders and forced us to react quickly. Spain and the fighters. The Spanish contingent arrived in December with more than 200 troops and eleven EF-18Ma modernized version of the Hornet that Spain operates and maintains ready to fly day or night. The planes are armed with air-to-air missiles and the pilots train with night vision goggles, because surveillance does not stop when the sun goes down. Behind each exit there is a system that monitors the sky relentlessly, control centers that detect traces on the radar and a decision chain that, when activated, turns the entire base into a fast, silent and perfectly rehearsed choreography. Drones change the script. The big twist is that now the problem is not only the classic military plane that approaches without identifying itself, but the emergence of cheap dronesslow, low and erratic, more difficult to classify and more complicated to stop with means designed for another era. It we have counted. In September last year, a wave of Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine, and then there were similar episodess that forced the activation of fighter jets in countries like Romania. In parallel, small unidentified drones began to be seen near airports, bases and sensitive facilities throughout Europe, fueling the feeling of vulnerability and suspect that someone is measuring response times and blind spots. Crow, the anti-drone. For this reason, in this deployment the 15th Wing arrived with a historical novelty for them: the Indra Crow systeman anti-drone defense that adds a different layer of protection to the base and its surroundings. Crow combines radars, cameras and sensors to detect small aircraft and, once located, attempts to take them down using signal jamming, that is, electronic warfare from fixed or mobile positions. Its range not only protects planes and runways, it also covers the nearby city, because the real goal is to shield critical infrastructure and reduce the risk of a cheap drone causing disproportionate damage. The cost dilemma. Behind this adaptation is a problem that NATO is being forced to solve at full speed: intercepting cheap drones with weapons designed to shoot down fighters is an unsustainable equation. Firing expensive missiles from a fighter jet to take down a small aircraft may work, but it turns every defense in a waste and opens the door to volume saturation. That is why procedures and tactics are being reviewed, looking for cheaper and more specific systems, and assuming that the fighter will no longer always be the best tool to put out the fire. The strategic signal. The arrival of fighters with anti-drone protection It reflects a Europe that begins to fortify the sky as if war were already knocking at the door, although it has not yet fully crossed. In the Baltic, each rotation is a political and military message: there is presence, there is a response and there is an intention to fill gaps that did not exist before. Thus, what was previously an almost routine escort and identification mission is becoming a comprehensive defense exercise against hybrid threatswhere the enemy can be a large plane, a tiny drone or a provocation designed solely to check if, when the alarm sounds, there is really someone capable of taking off in those fifteen minutes. Image | Pexels, Pavel Vanka In Xataka | There are “invisible” Russian submarines happily sailing through the Baltic and that has led Europe to unprecedented measures In Xataka | A Russian submarine has appeared off the coast of France. And Europe’s reaction has been surprising: have a laugh

What they are and how to use them to put order among the members of a group

by

Let’s explain to you what it is and how to use it Member Tagsa new WhatsApp feature for groups that has been rolling out over the last month. It is something that can serve both as entertainment within a group of friends and for the organization of more serious groups. We are going to start the article by explaining what exactly this new function is, as well as its possibilities. And then we will guide you step by step how you can create yours in any of your groups. What are member tags Member tags is a feature for WhatsApp groups. With them, any of the members of a name can add a label or nickname, and What you type will appear under your name when you write in one of these groups. The label will be visible to all group members, and will appear every time you type. Just as the name you appear under will depend on how each person has added you to their contacts, The label you put will be the same for everyoneand all members of a group will see the same thing. This means that the labels can be used to give context of who is who in those groups where you do not have the members in their contacts. When you don’t have someone in contacts, within a group you will only see their number or a kind of nickname that the person has set up, and the label can serve to better identify who each person is. You can change your label whenever you want and as many times as you want. Therefore, if you are not satisfied or if you have gotten bored with one you have placed, you can change it as many times as you want. And finally, The label you put on yourself in a group is only for that group.and it will not be seen in others where you participate. In fact, you can give yourself a different label in each group you are in. What can you use these labels for? Labels can be used for different things depending on the context of each group. In groups that are more serious, these can serve to identify each person that is inside. For example, in a group of parents of students each person can say who they are the father or mother of. In a more professional setting, member tags can be used to clarify the roles of each of the members. Think that you are in a group related to your work, because with them the human resources person or the boss can identify themselves so that everyone recognizes them. And in groups of friends, labels can also serve as entertainmentso that each member can give themselves a nickname, something descriptive or simply an inside joke. How to set your label in a WhatsApp group To configure your personal tag in a group, the first thing is Click on the image or group name to enter your settings. The easiest thing is to click on the image, since it is easier to hit it with your finger. Once you are in the group settings, you have to go to the members list and click on your name. The list of members will appear almost at the bottom. In the list you will also see the tags of the other members so that you can identify them as well. If you have never configured your tag in a group, you will directly go to the screen where you can write the one you want to use. And if you already have a label, an intermediate screen will appear with your name, telephone number and label, and you will have to press where it says Edit member tag. When you enter the screen to add or edit your tag, a writing field will appear where you can put the word or phrase you want. Below you’ll see a preview that shows you how the label will appear in messages you write. And that’s it. From now on, when you write in a group, all members will be able to see your tag below your name or phone number. You can also always see other people’s tags every time they write something. In Xataka Basics | How to translate WhatsApp messages: converting them from any language to Spanish

when Group C appeared on the streets because they wanted to compete on the circuits

by

Speaking of cars, my father has always told me “why do you want 200 HP if you can only go 120 km/h?” Someone had to say that to the manufacturers who, in the nineties, registered beasts with more than 600 HP designed for driving on the street. Le Mansbut with which someone could go on a picnic on a Sunday morning. They are the heirs of Group C. And they could only have been possible in one era: the 90s. Supercars with license plate The world of motorsports has a lot of rules when we talk about competition. Logic tells us that technological advances should result in increasingly faster and, above all, powerful cars. However, the organization that is in charge of regulating all this four-wheel motor competition, the FIA, has been imposing a series of rules so that the power does not get out of control. The Lancia Delta S4, the Ford RS200, the Peugeot 205 T16 and the Audi Quattro, legendary group B rallies An example we saw it in the rally world. The category is extreme, with cars that accelerate like a racing motorcycle and display enormous speed. However, in the 80s, manufacturers began to modify both the engine and the chassis, taking it to the extreme and creating spectacular machines. Accelerations from 0 to 100 in two seconds on land. It was truly crazy. In five years, cars advanced a lot and what had to happen happened: uncontrolled power, maximum competition and pressure, insufficient safety measures and some negligence caused fatal accidents. One of the most remembered is that of Portugal in March 1986, when Joaquim Santos’ RS200 lost control and ran into a crowd, killing three spectators instantly, putting a fourth in the hospital and injuring around thirty people. In May of that year, those who died were those who were driving the car. Toivonen and Cresto lost control and fell off a cliff. The FIA ​​decided that would cut off the development of Group B because, directly, it had gone too far. And if I tell you all this nonsense it is because, in parallel to this extreme development of rally cars, Group C was also emerging. It was in 1982 when this group was introduced, designed for the competition of purely prototype sports cars. While in other categories the FIA ​​limited the engine displacement, braking power, in Group C the limitation came due to fuel. They were endurance racing cars. and control was achieved through 100 liters of capacity with a minimum of five refueling stops every 1,000 kilometers. That allowed 600 liters per 1,000 km. A stupid thing. The FIA’s intention was for manufacturers to limit themselves to improving power through turbocharging. For 20 years, Group C cars put on a show at endurance races and Le Mans, with legendary machines and racing technologies. Formula 1 who were adapting to that competition. The result? Perfect machines that reached average speeds above 200 km/h in Le Mans and peaks of 330 km/h in the Mulsanne straight. But after two glorious decades, the FIA ​​did what it does best: change everything and distort the competition. Within six years, the organization announced that it wanted non-turbo engines and races of 430 km at most (when before they were 1,000). That completely distorted the competition and the meaning of Group C. Furthermore, although the new engines would supposedly be more economical, developing them from scratch would be a great effort for the teams, so they abandoned them, and before the start of the 1993 season, the competition and the category were cancelled. This is how the GT1 was born and manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, Porsche, Jaguar and Mercedes found themselves with hundreds of millions that were going to waste. And all this context for the girito: unless they took advantage of those supercars that, with a couple of changes, they could register and sell as a street car, taking advantage to finance the development of the cars of the newborn GT1. The Mercedes CLK that had nothing CLK, the most exclusive Nissan and the flying Porsche Taking advantage of this technology and development, the companies used the prototypes created for Le Mans to give life to a series of street supercars that shared many characteristics. They used to be carbon fiber monocoques, they had very high-power engines with sophisticated electronic management, transmission made for racing, active aerodynamics in some cases, very low weight and, in some cases, space for a cabin suitcase. The Porsche 962 When brands like Nissan, Toyota or Mercedes raced in Group C, they didn’t need to manufacture vehicles with street versions: they only focused on the most untamable beasts. However, heThe GT1 category required the production of some registrable units before validating the racing prototypes. The companies took advantage of some regulatory loopholes to get racing, but that need to have a street version caused wild racing cars to circulate directly on the streets. Our colleagues from MotorPassion They have reviewed some of the most representative specimens of this crazy period, and some stories are unbelievable. Heirs of the Porsche 962 Dauer 962 Le Mans It was one of the most representative cars at Le Mans and its chassis was taken as a reference by three manufacturers. One was the Dauer 962 Le Mansa car modified with the help of Porsche itself that had Kevlar panels, a flat floor for stability, a second leather seat, hydraulic suspension and a trunk in the front. The engine had 730 HP and, as it was one of the firstachieved approval by producing only 13 copiesnot the 25 street prices that would be requested later. How did they manage to homologate a racing car so that it could circulate on public roads? Through a hydraulic suspension that allowed the car to be raised up to 10 centimeters and, after passing some emissions and crash tests, the German ITV gave the go-ahead. There were some more heirs from 962, such as Schuppan 962R of which only … Read more

While Madrid becomes the “European Miami”, a group has grown to historic numbers: Venezuelans

by

In the streets of Madrid every time it’s easier hear Latin American accents, but there is one in particular that stands out above the rest: Venezuelan. The number of Nicolás Maduro’s compatriots has skyrocketed in recent years in the community. So much so that the latest data from the INE show that they have already overcome the barrier of 200,000 peoplewell above the 120,400 of just five years ago. In fact, there are those who already refer to part of the capital as the “Little Caracas” or see one in Madrid “European Miami” which attracts immigrants of all kinds, including rich people who want to buy. The data shows that they are not wrong. The “Latin American” Madrid. That the Latin American population and specifically the Venezuelan has been growing for years in Madrid, it is nothing new. A year ago The Country revealed that the region had for the first time surpassed the symbolic figure of one million immigrants arriving from Hispanic America, a milestone achieved largely due to the increase in Venezuelans. Now the latest data from the INE They confirm that, far from reversing, the trend continues. And clearly. Community of Madrid Venezuelans Romanians Moroccans 2025 210,408 111,309 100,939 2024 184,387 115,911 98,360 2023 158,422 117,274 94,631 2022 130,779 123,834 92,563 2021 120,434 128,793 92,279 One figure: 210,408. The figures They speak for themselves. In 2021, the INE counted 120,434 people born in Venezuela in the Community of Madrid, the following year there were 130,779, in 2023 there were 158,422, in 2024 there were 184,387 and this year the figure has taken another rise until reaching 210,408. In short, a growth of almost 75% in a matter of five years. If we look back a little further and go to the last decade, the growth is even clearer. In 2020, 115,289 people born in Venezuela resided in the community, in 2019 there were 90,254 and in 2018 the indicator marked 66,421. A collective at the head. Beyond the percentages, there are two other approaches that demonstrate the extent to which the Venezuelan population has grown in the region in recent years. The first is that right now it is the most abundant foreign group in Madrid, significantly above the other most populous groups: Colombians (199,760), Peruvians (164,786), Ecuadorians (140,794), Romanians (111,309) and Moroccans (100,939). What’s more, The Confidential remember that Venezuelans in the region now exceed the sum of Romanians and Moroccans. The other clue is obtained by looking beyond Madrid and analyzing the Venezuelan diaspora in Spain as a whole. According to the INEIn our country there are 692,316 people born in Venezuela, of which 210,408 (almost a third) live in the Community of Madrid. The capital’s figure far exceeds that of any other region. In fact, the other two with the largest volume of population from Venezuela are the Canary Islands and Catalonia and in none of them do Venezuelans even reach 90,000 people. In Andalusia, there are barely more than 47,000. Year Population born in Venezuela registered in Spain 2025 692,316 2024 599,769 2023 518,918 2022 440,953 2021 411,996 One question: Why? At this point the big question is: Why? What is the reason for this migratory flow to Madrid? There are several factors at play. One (crucial) is the Venezuelan diasporathe volume of people who have left the country in search of better opportunities or as exiles. UNHCR estimates that 7.9 million of people have left Venezuela in search of protection or a better life. In 2024, Nicolás Maduro himself assured that between 2013 and 2023 2.5 million Venezuelans They emigrated from the country, although at that time he maintained that half (1.2) had returned between 2020 and 2023. The Trump factor. Beyond the dance of figures, the undeniable thing is that Spain has long been one of the main destinations of Venezuelans who choose to pack their bags as immigrants, refugees or asylum seekers. Years ago many of them headed to the US, but with Trump’s return to the White House “the American dream became a nightmare” for a large part of that diaspora refugee in the US, such as recognized in May Saray Díaz The Country. He knows well what he’s talking about. She is Venezuelan, she had resided in the US since 2024 thanks to a humanitarian permit and basically dedicated herself to cleaning houses. After Trump activated his policy anti-immigration Saray received an email from Department of Homeland Security inviting him to “leave” the US. A few days later he was on a flight to Barajas. It is not a unique case. During the first trimester 23,724 Venezuelans They requested asylum in Spain, a record. But… Why Madrid? That so many Venezuelans choose to settle in Spain and more specifically in Madrid is not a coincidence. Influences the open arms policy applied for yearsthe presence of relatives who have already migrated to Spain (this is, for example, the case of Saray, who had relatives here) to help them upon their arrival and of course the cultural ties with the country. Like other cities in the country, Madrid has also welcomed protests of critics of the Maduro regime and in defense of the opposition María Corina Machado. “There are several ingredients to take into account. The political and economic crisis in Venezuela is worsening. Trump’s immigration policies, together with a possible military intervention, with this situation of insecurity, also have an impact. And we must take into account that in other Latin American countries the entry of Venezuelans is being rejected,” comment to The Confidential Elisa Brey, expert in international migrations and professor at the Complutense University. “In Madrid there are already many Venezuelans and more arrive through contact and support networks.” Beyond the statistics. The influx of Latin Americans and specifically Venezuelans is felt beyond the statistics, in society, the economy and even in the residential market, as explained in 2024 the BBC network, which reminded that not only people in difficulties come to the capital. In fact, … Read more

As Japan runs out of children, it’s starting to adopt some ceremonies for one group on the rise: dogs

by

Does a few weeks Miki Toguchi, a 51-year-old Japanese woman, went to a temple in Tokyo so that little Kotora could participate in the Shichi-Go-Sanan ancient Shinto ritual during which we thank children for their birthdays and pray for their protection. The ceremony is usually performed by young people aged seven, five and three, which is why it is often called that: ‘7-5-3’. Kotora is now five years old, hence Toguchi’s determination to have him blessed. The funny thing is that Kotora is not a child. Not a girl. It’s a schanuzer miniature that upon arriving at the Tokyo sanctuary for the ‘7-5-3’ ritual, he met other poodles, pomeranians, chihuahuas, bichons… Together represent better than any statistics demographic drift from Japan. A different ‘7-5-3’ ritual. The story of Kotora (and others like it) has just been told The New York Times in an article in which he reveals how in the sanctuary Ichigaya Kamegaoka (Tokyo) dogs are slowly replacing humans in the Shichi-Go-Sana ceremony designed for children. The origins of the ritual date back to Heian period (794-1185 AD), a period with a high infant mortality rate, which explains why the country’s aristocrats celebrated when their children reached three, five and seven years of age. Parents came to the shrines with their little ones, showed gratitude and prayed that their offspring would enjoy long, prosperous and healthy lives. From children to dogs. The ‘7-5-3’ has maintained its spirit for generations, but as Japan ran out of babies Shrines like Ichigaya Kamegaok have had to make a living. The country may have fewer and fewer children, but their homes they have been filling of dogs and cats, so dozens of temples throughout Japan have chosen to adapt the ritual to animals. The idea is the same: the little ones are blessed, thanks are given for their lives and protection is prayed for… although in this case the little ones are not children, but poodles, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, bichons or Akitas (among many other species), dogs that often appear before the priests with kimonos and amulets. For reference, TNYT remember that the Tokyo temple receives seven times more pets than infants every fall: about 50 children compared to 350 animals. “Obsolete shrines”. Kenji Kaji is a priest at Ichigaya Kamegaoka Temple and explains that he has had to tweak some sentences to fit the pets. It may not be an orthodox practice, but he himself acknowledges that there is a less attractive scenario: “The worst thing would be if both Shintoism and the shrines became obsolete.” So pray that families and their furry friends enjoy “happy” lives. For the ceremony they ask 5,000 yen ($32). In cases like Kotora, the temples have found two things: a new source of income and a way for young people to get closer to tradition. “People have gone from having children to having pets,” Toguchi confesses.. She doesn’t have children, but she wants her pet to participate in ‘7-5-3’. It is not an isolated case. Looking back. In 2023 Reuters spoke already from an ancient temple located 35 km from Tokyo, the Zama sanctuary, which had a special prayer area designed for pets and their families to participate in the Shichi-Go-San. At the time, Natsumi Aoki, a 33-year-old woman who had blessed her Pomeranians, lamented that there were not enough pet-friendly sanctuaries in Japan. Today The New York Times assures that in the country there are already “dozens” of sanctuaries willing to say prayers for dogs. Much more than a ceremony. That the ‘7-5-3’ is opening up to pets and there are temples in which more rituals are already celebrated for more dogs than children is more than a simple anecdote. It is a symptom of the social changes that Japan is facing, mired in a deep population crisis from which it cannot escape. In 2024 the country registered 686,061 birthsa disastrous fact for two big reasons. The first is that it marks a new historical low. Never since records began in 1899 has Japan received fewer babies. The second is that this rate of births was far below the rate of deaths. Last year they died in Japan about 1.6 million peopleso for every baby born, two deaths were recorded. The result is a vegetative balance in the red that cost the country the greatest population loss since at least the late 1960s, which is when records began. Fewer babies, but no pets. During the pandemic the country saw how they increased cats and dogs in homes, although at the beginning of 2024 the Japan Pet Food Association detected that this increase was slowing down. That does not mean that pets have become a business of millionaire with growth forecast. Images | Rosewoman (Flickr), Japanexperterna (Flickr), Radim Jaksik (Unsplash) In Xataka | Japan has been mired in a demographic catastrophe for years. Now you know the price to get out of it: foreign babies

How to make a Christmas greeting by creating a family or group photo from separate photographs

by

Let’s tell you how to create Christmas greetings by generating a group image from separate photos. For this we are going to use artificial intelligencespecifically Gemini with its Nano Banana, being possibly the best free alternative to do this. Here, the secret is again to use an appropriate prompt in which you describe exactly what you want. We are going to tell you everything you should take into account and the prompt you should use later to create the image. You will see that it is quite simple. Group Christmas greeting with Gemini Before you start, you first have to Carefully select the photos you want to use. Try to have similar lighting, or that the same part of everyone’s body can be seen. Gemini is going to try to cut and paste all the photos together making as little modifications as possible, so keep that in mind. They should be photos that look similar. Of course, you should also know that you will be able to change their clothes to the people in the photos. Therefore, and although the ideal is for everyone to be dressed similarly, it is not essential, because then you can have Gemini put the clothes you want on them. Once you have everything, start a conversation with Gemini. Inside, first upload the photos you are going to use. Afterwards, you can copy and paste the following prompt and send it along with the photos: I want you to create a Christmas card with a family photo. I’m going to give you separate photos of people, and I want you to create a family photo where they all appear together. Under the photo you have to say “Merry Christmas”. Make the background with Christmas motifs. In this prompt you can make changes or more details. You can describe the background to be used, and also the font and text. Don’t be afraid to try, experiment and try again if the first result doesn’t work out for you. After doing so, as we have told you before, you can ask Gemini to change their clothes. This way, if people’s clothes are different in the photos, you can unify the result a little. In fact, if you have a group photo you can also simply ask them to change their outfits. Another option is to upload the group photo and then an individual photo of another person who is not there and ask Gemini to add this person. And do you remember when we told you how to turn your photos into video game scenarios either in a character from Stranger Things? Well, you can also use these tricks here to make the greeting as original and personalized as possible. In Xataka Basics | Gemini Image Editor: 16 Ways and Tricks to Squeeze Nano-banana with Google’s AI

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.