the Ukrainian drone that stopped Russia for six weeks with a machine gun and not a single human soldier

On the Ukrainian front, where every meter conquered or defended is paid for with a human cost that is increasingly difficult to assume, ingenuity is has become a resource as valuable as ammunition. In this context of extreme wear and constant adaptation, some units are experimenting with little visible solutions that, without attracting attention, are beginning to change the way a battle line is held. When there are no soldiers left. In a war marked by a shortage of infantry and the extreme lethality of maintaining forward positions, Ukraine has begun to test a solution that until recently belonged to military science fiction: leaving the front in machine hands. During 45 consecutive daysa Ukrainian unit maintained front-line sectors without direct human presence, entrusting the defense to a single land vehicle unmanned, a bet that summarizes the crude logic of the current conflict: if something can receive enemy fire, it better not bleed. The doctrine. The experience was reported by the NC-13 Strike Company, integrated into the Third Corps of the Ukrainian Army, a unit created specifically to operate unmanned ground vehicles. Its commander, Mykola “Makar” Zinkevych, explained that the idea was radically simple: “robots don’t bleed,” and the ground drone was the only element present in the position, carrying out constant suppressive fire missions to deter Russian advances and force the enemy to confront a defense that could not be psychologically worn down or eliminated with human casualties. The droid TW 12.7. The system used was the Droid TW 12.7developed by the Ukrainian company DevDroida small tracked vehicle armed with a heavy machine gun M2 Browning .50 caliber. Far from being an isolated prototype, the drone was displaced between different positions at the request of local command posts, acting as a mobile punishment platform that turned each attempted Russian advance into a costly and risky operation. The Droid TW 12.7 Wear and tear… also for machines. Although the robot could remain in place for days, it needed withdraw every 48 hours for maintenance, resupply of ammunition and recharging of batteries, tasks carried out by a team located several kilometers from the front. The process, initially four hours, is reduced by half thanks to the purchase of additional batteries paid for by the soldiers themselves, a detail that illustrates the extent to which the Ukrainian war continues to depend on local initiatives and improvised financing even when talking about advanced technology. Limited autonomy. DevDroid affirms that the Droid TW 12.7 can operate at distances of up to 15 miles and has artificial intelligence-assisted navigation functions, although it is unclear to what extent it can act autonomously in combat. Even so, the simple fact that a single UGV has held positions for six weeks demonstrates that the value of these systems lies not only in their sophistication, but in their ability to replace human bodies in tasks where survival is minimal. From experiment to military doctrine. After this experience, the Zinkevych unit plans to expand the use of UGVs in both defensive and offensive missions, relying on new variants equipped with grenade launchers already approved for official use. The demand, recognizeis very high, but so are the costs, to the point that development continues to be partially financed through crowdfunding campaigns. The future of the front. If you like, the case Droid TW 12.7 It is not just a technological anecdote, but a sign of where to go war is headed modern in Ukraine: a battlefield where every meter can be defended with sensors, steel and algorithms instead of flesh and blood, and where the strategic value of a soldier begins to also be measured by his ability not to be physically there. Image | Tank Bureau In Xataka | Russia has reminded the planet that the war in Ukraine is a ticking bomb. And for this he has pressed a nuclear button: Oreshnik In Xataka | Ukraine has become an animal slaughterhouse: Russian soldiers appear with horses and drones blow them up

In the United States you can buy a gun in a supermarket, but a Roscón de Reyes with a surprise inside is illegal

In the Western collective imagination there is a preconceived idea: that in the United States you can buy anything. And of course, that image from the series and movies of a character buying a gun in a grocery store without much problem (later we will see that in practice this reality has a lot of fine print) and the hodgepodge of different slogans such as “The country of opportunities” or “the land of the free” do not help to think otherwise. However, if you are in the United States these days and the homesickness hits you so hard that you want a roscón de Reyes, you are going to be in for a surprise: although you can buy this popular sweet in some stores, it has lost a good part of the magic of the true ritual of eating a roscón: that someone randomly (more or less, we do not judge your expertise when moving figurines with the knife that splits) touches the figurine. Because although in the United States you can find the “King Cake”, most stores don’t take the risk and put the figurine aside, so that you can put it inside. They do it to comply with the law and avoid fines since, scrupulously speaking, the roscón de Reyes as it is known in Spain is illegal. There are roscones and roscones. First of all, the traditional roscón de Reyes that is consumed in Spain is neither the only one that exists nor is it only consumed here: France and Portugal also have their respective galette des rois with puff pastry or Gâteau des Roiswith almond cream and a figure. In Portugal there is the Bolo Rei with candied fruits and dried fruits. This European celebration was exported to America, adapting with other flavors and customs of each region. Thus, there are the Roscas de Reyes from Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala and there are also in the United States in the form of King Cakea popular candy in Louisiana for the Mardi Gras and also in Quebec, which has its own shades and glazes. In the case of the King Cake, the figurine in question was a baby that was once baked inside. In the past they were made of porcelain (“Frozen Charlotte”), but then they became plastic and generally, to stand outsideleaving the consumer the responsibility of hiding it inside before serving it, so there are those who who is disappointed. But it is better for a consumer to be disappointed than to face a fine or lawsuits. What the law says. The regulations that apply in this case are the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or FD&C Act) in force since 1938. The section that interests us for this matter is in section 402where it details that “confectionery that is partially or completely embedded with any non-nutritive object is adulterated, unless the FDA has issued a regulation that recognizes that the non-nutritive object has practical functional value to the confectionery product and would not render it harmful or dangerous to health.” The most famous example is Kinder eggs. And spoiler: neither the bean nor the roscón figurine is considered to have any practical functional value. Worse than fines are lawsuits. The fine in question for disobeying the law and integrating the figurine into the roscón is moderately low (to give us an idea, that of smuggled Kinder eggs it’s 2,500 dollars), that is why over the years there have been bakeries that have dared to challenge the law, arguing that culturally, whoever buys a Three Kings roscón, you already know that there are objects inside. However, possible cases of suffocation or injuries such as breaking a tooth that lead to lawsuits can be much more expensive. So there are those who deliver the roscón alone, others who place a large warning label and the figure in a separate bag and in plain sightin places like in the center of the cake or sitting on it. This is the most common practice in industrial bakeries or supermarket chains such as Walmart. It is easier to buy a gun than a roscón with a figurine inside. Returning to the purchase of weapons from the intro, sales in physical stores are centralized in gun stores and large stores with a sports and outdoor section. In the case of Walmartthey have stopped marketing pistols and military rifles to focus on hunting rifles and shotguns and in any case, the process is the same: with a separate counter, specialized personnel, you must be 21 years old and you have to fill out the federal form 4473 accompanied by your identification and they will accompany you to the door to make sure that you do not take it out of the box there. In Xataka | There is an eternal struggle between supporters of the roscón with cream and without cream. This is what science says about it In Xataka | The pastry chef’s wet dream (and the customer’s nightmare) has come true: a roscón filled with cream… without cream Cover | Photo of Nejc Soklič in Unsplash and DAP

Europe has found the antidote to Russian drones. So demand for a 100-year-old gun has skyrocketed.

The war in Ukraine has become an immense laboratory for new war technologies, but it has also reminded us that beyond the sophistication of modern artillery, the experience of the past remains a weapon as powerful as any missile. we have seen optical illusionsthe return of the horses or weapons 1940’s vintage. In fact, Europe is arming itself against Russia’s hybrid war with a 100-year-old weapon. The resurgence of a legend. The war in Ukraine has returned a veteran of more than a century to the front line: the M2 heavy machine gun Browning, symbol of 20th century war engineering and now a key piece in the arsenal of modern armies. Designed in 1921 by John Moses Browning and mass produced during World War II, the M2 (capable of firing .50 caliber projectiles at a rate of up to 600 rounds per minute) has once again proven indispensable, especially on the Ukrainian front, where it is used on civilian trucks to shoot down Russian Shahed drones. Its mechanical simplicity, extreme reliability and devastating power have made it a weapon with no direct substitute, and its use has contributed to a surge in global demand reminiscent of the most intense years of the Cold War. Industrial boom. The rebirth of this icon runs parallel to the FN Browning expansionthe historic Belgian firm that from its headquarters in Herstal manufactures not only the M2, but also the FN MAG and FN Minimi (known in the United States as M240 and M249) along with FN SCAR rifles and ammunition of standard NATO calibers. After decades of relative calm, its production of machine guns has been doubled compared to 2022, and the demand for ammunition has quadrupled. Although the company does not sell directly to Ukraine, its contracts with allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom or France have grown exponentially. France, for example, has recovered thousands of M2s abandoned by US troops in 1945 for FN to modernize and return them to service with “like new” guarantees. The conflict has revived interest not only in new generation weapons, but also in those that have proven to be reliable under any circumstances. Economy of rearmament. The war has awakened a cycle of massive rearmament in Europe, with more than 930,000 million of dollars committed through 2030, and FN Browning has become one of the epicenters of this military reindustrialization. Despite a stable business volume (1.3 billion euros in 2024, after the acquisition of the ammunition producer Sofisport), the company is expanding its workforce and increasing the production of weapons and ammunition by thousands of units annually. The stagnation of its sports division, which flourished during the pandemic, contrasts with the avalanche of state contracts that consolidate its strategic role within the European defense ecosystem. The machine gun market, relegated for years, is experiencing a second youth marked by the urgency of replenishing depleted arsenals after the massive shipment of weapons to Ukraine and the perception of a persistent Russian threat. Classic weapons, modern warfare. The Ukrainian conflict has shown that even in the era of artificial intelligence and drone swarms, classically designed weapons still play a critical role. The M2 they have adapted to unmanned ground platforms and remote stations controlled by AI to improve precision in the fight against drones. F. N. Browning collaborates with technology firms to integrate automatic target recognition systems into their turrets, anticipating a convergence between mechanical tradition and algorithmic warfare. At the same time, European militaries, after decades of disinvestment, are faced with the need to rebuild their heavy fire capabilities from the ground up. From the past to the future. The longevity of the M2 It is a testament not only to its design, but also to a cyclical military reality: modern wars continue to depend on the reliability of steel and gunpowder. From the beaches of Normandy to the fields of Donetsk, this machine gun has accompanied Western armies through a century of changing conflicts, and today it once again symbolizes resistance in the face of technological adversity. For FN Browning, the resurgence of its most emblematic weapon marks not only the most active moment since the end of the Cold War, but also the beginning of a new era in which war tradition and digital innovation march, once again, at the same pace. Image | Wikimedia Cominos In Xataka | Europe has decided to take action against Moscow’s hybrid war. So Germany has started hunting for Russian drones In Xataka | “Why don’t we shoot?”: in the face of Russian drone incursions, Ryanair has its own alternative to the European wall

A two -gun shotgun where only one points to the enemy

Shortly before the World War Ithe name of the commander Cleland Davis, of the United States Navy, began to appear in military circles. The reason: the skill with which he had developed a weapon that would end Keeping your name. That design connected two cannons one after another, with the first targeting loaded with lead and fat bullets of the same weight as the projectile of the other cannon, acting as counterattack. In Ukraine they have remembered their figure. Drones with Davis cannons. In the vicinity of Bajmut, the 2nd Motorized Battalion of the 30.ª Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine has deployed a “novel” Air Defense System: Drones armed with double cannon shotguns able to reduce other enemy drones in full flight. Yes, the design is based on that of Davis, and of this they attest to a videos series disseminated by the unit, where it is observed how these platforms intercept and demolish Russian drones, mainly DJI Maviccommonly used for recognition or bombing missions. These actions are part of one of the greater collections Documented air duels between drones, reflecting the rapid evolution of technological war in the Ukrainian conflict, in this case with a lap to the past. The Davis cannon IGM technology. As we said, the design of these weapons, based on the principle of cannons without setback designed by Cleland Davis in 1910, allows drones to shoot from one end while a second opposite cannon It generates a counterweight that stabilizes the platform by avoiding recoil. Effectiveness lies in the dispersion of pellets More than precision, becoming an ideal solution to tear off commercial drones such as the Mavic and then get them. Apparently, although they lack automatic recharge mechanisms, these units are demonstrating to be a most valuable resource in the air wear war that is fought at low height over Donbás. Improvisation and decentralization. It We have counted in other occasions. The war in Ukraine has led to the greatest advances to date in the Drones development fighting. In the case at hand, innovation is not exclusive to the 2nd Battalion. Other units, such as Ukraine Presidential Brigade and civil organizations such as Lesiaua, have developed similar prototypes since the late 2024. Similarly, Russian manufacturers had already experienced armed drones with cannons, although always simple double direction versions. This dynamic of adaptation and counter-adapt has generated a true improvised arms racefed by Decentralization and flexibility of the Ukrainian drone industrywhere soldiers, volunteers and small businesses design, try and perfect models constantly. Strategies and a question. The use of these platforms not only shows the Ukrainian capacity to develop effective solutions with accessible technology, but also highlights a weakness of the great powers, especially from NATO. While the West has focused its efforts on the development of sophisticated and expensive weapons, Ukraine demonstrates once again than systems relatively simple and low costlike drone mounted shotguns, They can be decisive in asymmetric combat scenarios. A lesson that has generated concern between analysts that warn that technological superiority It does not always guarantee Efficacy against adaptive tactics and ingenious solutions arising directly from the battlefield. Even from World War I. Image | Sandia LabsMotorized Battalion of Ukraine, US National Archives and Records Administration In Xataka | Ukraine is capturing the drones of Russia thanks to an unexpected shield: the fishing networks of a town in Denmark In Xataka | The paradox of the huge drone industry of Ukraine: an advantage against Russia, a problem for its pilots

Output gun of the Amazon spring offers party

As soon as a few months have passed since the last Black Friday and Amazon has just offered us their first sales campaign of the new year: the Spring Offers Partywho has given his departure gun a few minutes ago and what It will last until next Monday, March 31. And these are some of the first chollos that we can already get: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K by 37.99 eurosa super sales with a value for money brutal price Amazon Kindle 2024 by 99.99 eurosthe most economical and current version of the basic electronic reader of this family Set of LEGO R2-D2 by 89.95 eurosthe most gifted and perfect set for fans of the galaxies war Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 by 148 eurosa great option within the current mid -range SSD WD_BLACK SN850X 2 TB per 149.99 eurosone of the best SSD of this capacity at this price Fire TV Stick 4K Yes all These Amazon devices They are ideal to turn any old television into a most current smart TV, The 4K model It is undoubtedly the best purchase option in quality price when it is on offer. Now, As usual in these campaignswe find it for only 37.99 euros and an irresistible purchase seems like. As the name implies, he admits 4K resolution and is perfect to accompany Ultra HD panels. In addition, it is compatible with Wifi 6, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and HDR 10+. All this, With a command that allows us to get the most out of it through Alexa. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (last generation) * Some price may have changed from the last review Basic Kindle 2024 Another regular of these amazon spring offers parties are the Kindle devices: Electronic book readers just seen renewed a good part of your catalog Just a few months ago. On this occasion, One of the best offers stars in the basic model that goes down to only 99.99 euros. This is the latest version of the basic Kindle, launched to the market at the end of last year. It has 16 GB of internal storage, a 6 -inch screen at 300 PPP, integrated light and a long -term battery that offers several weeks of use with a single load. New Amazon Kindle (16 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review Lego Star Wars R2-D2 With more than 1,000 positive reviews and positioned as number one within the category of most gifted construction toys figures in Amazon, this Lego set will delight Star Wars fans. If we want to have our own R2-D2 at scale we will only have to make a disbursement of 89.95 euros: reduced price of this lego set that usually around 100 euros. It has just over 1,000 pieces and, in addition to R2-D2 itself, comes with a Darth Malak minifigure in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Lego Star Wars. * Some price may have changed from the last review Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 The PVP of Redmi Note 14 Xiaomi is not much older, but now we find it reduced by only 148 eurosa really content price that makes this phone one of the best purchase options if we want to spend very little. Not by cheap it is less interesting, and despite its low price, it has: a 6.67 -inch screen with 120 Hz AMOLED panel, a configuration of 6 GB of RAM plus 128 GB of storagethe Mediatek Helio G99-Ultra processor and several rear camera sensors (plus a front). All this, with a 5,500 mAh battery with a fast charge of 33 W. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 6/128gb * Some price may have changed from the last review SSD WD_BLACK SN850X If in recent years we find very good prices in the SSD unitscampaigns such as the Amazon spring offers party are the Perfect occasion to save us even more In them. This digital western, reduced to 149.99 eurosit is the best between those of its category. We talk about the SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIE GEN4 With a capacity of 2 TB. Specifically, of the high -end, as with the Black SN850x. Moreover, if they have passive heat dissipator. This Western Digital has all this and costs little more than models in half its capacity and similar benefits. All this, with a speed that exceeds 7,000 MB/s. WD_BLACK SN850X NVME SSD, 2TB M.2 2280 * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Amazon, Lego, Xiaomi, Western Digital In Xataka | Better 1 TB or more SSD to not have storage problems In Xataka | This is the gaming tower that I would buy. Computers with better value for money recommended by Xataka

Deepseek has given the starting gun in the race for a cheaper AI. And China starts with advantage

Deepseek echo resonates three weeks after stirring the foundations of the industry of the artificial intelligence (AI). And possibly will continue to monopolize attention for much longer. After all, this model created by the Chinese company High-Flyer has been transformed In a symbol for China. In this Asian country there are dozens of companies involved in the development of AI, but none has so far made so much noise in such a short time As Deepseek. Also, according to Reuters Several experts in this sector have predicted that the open source nature of this model and its low access rates through its own API (application programming interface) could promote the adoption of AI and the development of applications for this technology for this technology . In Deepseek practice it has the ability to help Chinese companies cope with better Export restrictions of the avant -garde GPUs produced by US companies, such as NVIDIA or AMD. Huawei and other manufacturers want to expel Nvidia from the Chinese market Nvidia is losing competitiveness in China. It is inevitable. The H20 GPU on paper is much less capable than the most sophisticated chips that Jensen Huang’s signature currently sells. At the moment the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China has not officialized anything, but the administration led by Xi Jinping has restricted since last August the purchase of GPU H20 of Nvidia by Chinese companies. GPUs for Chinese are appreciated by companies such as Bytedance for their good performance in inference tasks On the other hand, Huawei has lists its own GPU for AI, the chips ascend Ai, for more than five years. During this period of time it has been refining them and increasing their abilities with the purpose of matching or even overcoming the performance of the chips A100 and H100 of Nvidia. “Training is important, but it only happens a few times. Huawei focuses mainly on inferencewhich, ultimately, will give us access to more customers “, Ensures Georgios Zacharopoulosa senior researcher of AI who works in the Huawei laboratory in Zurich (Switzerland). During the last weeks Huawei and other Chinese chip designers for AI, such as Hygon, Enflame, Tsingmicro or Moore Threads, have declared that their solutions will be compatible with the models of AI developed by Deepseek, although for the moment they have barely given more details. The interesting thing, and this is the authentic trick of Chinese companies, is that their GPUs, especially Huawei Ascend 910b chips, are appreciated by companies such as Bytedance for their good performance in inference tasks. Inference is broadly the computational process carried out by language models with the purpose of generating the responses that correspond to the requests they receive. Anyway This declaration of Lian Jyechief analyst of the omdia technology consultant, expresses very well Why Deepseek is a great opportunity For Chinese GPU manufacturers: “This development is very aligned with the abilities of Chinese designers (…) GPUs for Chinese and require a more localized and specific understanding of the industry. “ Image | Huawei More information | Reuters In Xataka | The Nvidia pulse and US administration becomes more virulent. The B20 GPUs for danger

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