Russian

There was a day when Benidorm had one of the largest Russian mountains in Europe. Today is a closed fiasco and still standing

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Magnus Colossus has been closed since 2016. Considered an icon of mythical terra, its practically definitive closure is a good symbol of everything that has ended up destroying the park: bad organization, embezzlement and a series of murky plots that ended in very serious judgments and convictions. Today, Magnus Colossus is dead, but his journey full of curves leaves a few lessons on the park. Mythical Colossus. Magnus Colossus was one of the most important Russian mountains in Europe (and the largest: length of 1,149.7 meters and maximum speed of 92 km/h) and One of the absolute icons of the ambitious amusement park. However, a series of stumbling blocks in construction, added to the economic and organizational decline of the park, have led to its greatness to end limited to that of mere aesthetic claim. A closed colossus. Almost a decade has closed this spectacular roller wooden mountain that took advantage of the natural terrain of a limestone quarry, 180 meters above sea level. The culprit of its uselessness is the heat that has inflamed the wood, which entails too expensive maintenance. However, his presence under the gigantic poster that presides over the views of the park, on the mountain, has given him a unique personality. The negligence of the owners of the facilities, who have not dedicated the necessary resources for the care of Magnus Colossus, has ended the giant. “Irregularities in maintenance”. In 2016 it was decided to close Magnus Colossus, in principle temporarily to undertake the renovations that would solve problems that existed then, such as the excessive trachetening of the wagons. However, They never got to undertakesince the park had more serious problems to deal with: controversy, suspicions of corruption and various negligence in maintenance, which culminated when an investigation detected that had used creating to treat wood, substance prohibited at an industrial level for being carcinogenic. Photo: Jeremy Thompson Dramas before starting. The controversies and suspicions that have always surrounded the park started even before its inauguration: in August 1992, with Spain submerged in the maelstrom of the expo and the Olympicsa forest fire razed the area known as “the largest Pinada in the Mediterranean”, in the area where Terra Mítica would be built. 450 hectares of non -urbanizable land of special forest protection They were razedand although it was not proven judicially, associations like Greenpeace suspected That the fire could have been intentional, seeking recalification. After the fire, in fact, the land was expropriated and re -qualified, which allowed the construction of a mythical terra, a hotel zone and two golf courses. The current law prohibits the change in forest land use for 30 years after a fire, but this case occurred before the entry into force of the regulations. 1990s in its purest form. Terra mythical is a paradigmatic case of the bubble and the speculation that occurred so much in Spain by those dates. About the park they hit Judicial suspicions and research for embezzlement, fraud, money laundering and influence peddling. The trial began in 2015 and dozens of entrepreneurs and managers were charged. Among other things, there was a plot of false invoices for almost 4.5 million euros to companies for non -existent services in the years 2000 and 2001, in addition to 150 million euros to ghost companies. Photo: Jeremy Thompson The verdict came to light in 2016: Two former director, including the exemptedness of the then president of the Generalitat, Eduardo Zaplana and 20 entrepreneurs were convicted of corruption, scam, documentary falsehood and crimes against the Public Treasury with sentences between 4 and 47 years in prison. Terra mythical is sold. In 2004, only four years after its inauguration, Terra Mítica entered into suspension of payments: like so many projects of the time, business forecasts had been well above their results. The Generalitat Valenciana sold their participation to the company Aqualandia in 2011 for 65 million euros, well below the initial investment of 400 million euros. In the background, the roller coaster. With these accounts, it is not surprising that Terra mythical is very far from their best times (if they came to exist at some point). With very scarce visits, almost exclusively from devotees from the parks, in 2021 Terra mythical He reported 6 million euros in losses and 4.3 of income (let’s compare, for example, with port adventure, with 163 million in revenue). Magnus Colossus has few chances of raising head at some point in the future, and remains for posterity such as the wooden skeleton that reminds us of the great bubble of embezzlement in the construction of the Spain of the nineties. Header | Jeremy Thompson In Xataka | We have known how to eliminate the tails of the attraction parks. Disney keeps them for something

A technology 20 years ago took Ukraine to the Russian bombers. Moscow’s response comes from China: a laser cannon

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With the passing of the days, more data about The covert operation which carried out Ukraine in the heart of the air bases of Moscow. Recall: a swarm of more than 100 drones hidden in trucks managed to destroy an important part of the Russian fleet of Strategic bombers. Now the technology that made Spiderweb, and what is Russia’s response to contain Ukrainian drones: a laser weapon … from China has been revealed. Cheap drones and free software. As I counted The medium 404behind the flight of the army of drones was not a sophisticated and secret technology. On the contrary, the devices were driven By Ardupilotopen source software created two decades ago by unmanned aviation enthusiasts. The use of this software, a free system originally designed for civil tasks such as agriculture, rescue or mapping, allowed Ukraine to coordinate that swarm of drones with autonomous navigation functions, air stabilization, waiting modes and contingencies for signal loss, even in a hostile environment saturated with interference and without GPS. Born of leisure … for war. Ardupilot He was born in 2007 of the personal project From Chris Andersonformer editor of the Wired media, who with Lego and Arduino pieces He built a drone browsing system that would later evolve in an open overall source community. What began as a homemade and collaborative experiment ended up being the operational core of a great impact military offensive. As He counted the mediumthe astonishment of its creators in the face of the war use of its software was notable: they never imagined that a tool designed for civil use would end up helping to destroy Russian strategic fighters. Although The website De Ardupilot promotes its use “for the peaceful benefit of all”, its open character makes it impossible to restrict. Irony resides that, while large corporations develop closed and expensive armamentUkraine has managed to use free access tools to execute attacks that remodeled the balance of power. Internet. What happened also leaves another teaching. The technological war between Ukraine and Russia is also a Communities Warforums and repositories. The software that allowed the attack developed collectively over years by programmers and fans distributed worldwide, many of which never imagined that their work would be used in combat. Neither Ardupilot nor its creators can prevent it, and although its code of conduct explicitly facilitates militarization, there is no restrictive license: knowledge is already in the hands of Who wants to use it. In the context of the current conflict, this means a silent revolution: it is not only the armies that free wars, but also free software developers. Ardupilot The Made in China answer. Before the gigantic industry Of low -cost drones that is hitting its troops, Russia has revealed an unprecedented development: a Chinese laser system To tear down drones, they report several Telegram proruse channels. Although it has not yet been officially confirmed, Images and videos disseminated They show a military vehicle shooting a laser beam capable of drilling metal plates and setting fire to drones in full flight. The appearance of the system coincides with the characteristics of the SHEN NUNG 3000 OR THE 5000 MODELan anti -gluvated weapon presented by China and that would also have been delivered to Iran. Analysts of the International Institute for Strategic Studies They point out thatalthough with some modifications, the system used by Russian forces has been derived directly of Chinese design. In fact, Russian military have confirmed that it is already In the hands of units as The Spetsnaz of the nomadic unit, and have even celebrated its effectiveness as an advance against previous technologies considered ineffective or excessively expensive. SHEN NUNG China, Iran and Russia. The entrance of this technology expands the analysis. The growing cooperation Technological between Beijing, Moscow and Tehran is reflected in the circulation of systems Like Shen Nungdeveloped by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics. Although its operational use is still limited and its real abilities have not been tested in high -intensity scenarios, its mere presence on the battlefield indicates a qualitative change: the powers that seek to challenge the western order are sharing advanced capabilities, many of them before reserved for a handful of countries. Plus: The appearance of this system in Russian territory coincides with recent information that indicates that they will also go I would be using itconfirming that it is available in the market and has already been exported. From Ukraine to the Middle East. The use of laser weapons is not exclusive to the Moscow-Pekín-Teherán axis, of course. Israel has also recently deployed Your Iron Beam system (known as Magen or in Hebrew) to intercept Hezbollah dronesa weapon that combines response speed, precision and low cost per shot. The Israeli system, developed by Rafael and the Air Force, is still in the final test phase, but has already been used in combat. United States, meanwhile, has deployed experimental units of laser weapons in advanced positions and ships, although the advances have been slower than expected due to technical challenges such as the sensitivity of the components, thermal limits and reduced efficacy in adverse environmental conditions. Promise and fragility. Be that as it may, and although these weapons represent a significant advance in the anti -aircraft defense, They are still vulnerable: They have a limited scope, their performance depends on the weather, and require specialized maintenance. Even so, in an environment where drone swarms are increasingly frequent and difficult to intercept with traditional systems, lasers offer a solution attractive. Their low cost per shoot and their ability to operate without physical ammunition make them an emerging alternative, especially for countries that seek to overcome technological asymmetries. Between codes and science fiction. The irruption of a Chinese laser system In the Russian-Ukrainian Front marks a turning point in the use of directed energy weapons and in the global geostrategic dynamics. What until recently seemed a matter of fantastic literature is now a real instrument of combat and deterrence. In parallel, Ukraine has been able … Read more

Ukraine knocked a Russian Shahed drone and opened it. A hidden message has revealed Moscow’s advantage in electronic warfare

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In Ukraine, the capture of enemy artillery has become a box of surprises. In November last year, a Dron Parody revealed to what the United States this In the conflict (without being physically). A few weeks ago, the interception of a Russian cruise missile by Ukraine was shocking: they had it Made the “Allies”. The latest: the capture of a Shahed carried a surprising hidden note. The air war intensifies. Already We counted yesterday. The Russian air offensive on Ukraine has reached a new level of brutality, with a last attack that exceeds the limits previously considered exceptional. Russia launched an unprecedented mass attack that included 298 drones and 69 missiles On one night, a record figure that has put the Ukrainian anti -aircraft defenses in check. Faced with the foreseeable failure of high the fire conversations, Ukraine is forced to ration your interceptorswhich implies that more and more Russian projectiles will achieve their goal, hitting cities, industries and civilians with increasing intensity. North Korean missiles and Iranian drones. In addition, since the beginning of the year, Russia has transformed its aerial campaign, focusing its efforts into ballistic missiles (many from North Korea) and in a new generation of Shahed drones of Iranian origin. These drones, like We have been countingnow they are in their sixth version and use automatic learning to attack highly defended areas such as kyiv, which has resulted in recent impacts in shopping centers, residential areas and military training fields. Plus: The speed of ballistic missiles makes them virtually impossible to intercept without the scarce and expensive PAC-3 missiles of the patriot system, which Ukraine has in insufficient number. For its part, the manufacturing rate of Shahed drones in Russia has grown exponentially: if 300 a month before, now that same amount is generated in less than three days. Filtered documents suggest that Kremlin plans to increase production Up to 500 drones dailywhich could lead to swarms of 1,000 drones in a single operation. Projection of a shahed Telegram and drones. Economist He counted exclusively An unprecedented fact. A finding within a Shahed drone demolished in Ukraine has revealed a worrying evolution in Moscow’s technological strategy: a note, allegedly left by a supportive sympathizer engineer, said that Russia is controlling its attack drones through bots in bots in The telegram messaging application. The reason? This method allows to send flight data and live broadcasts directly to human operators, eliminating GPS dependence and making them much more resistant to Electronic interference Ukraine. The implementation of AI, added to the use of Ukrainian mobile networks and possibly connections via Starlink, marks a qualitative leap in the lethality and autonomy of Russian drones, especially those most recent models of Shahed who use automatic learning to reach precision protected targets. A threat that does not yield. The response of the West, as we explained this week, has been to eliminate the red line of the “Long -range weapons” For Ukraine to defend himself. Ukrainian crews continue to break down about 95% Of the drones launched against kyiv, but that remaining 5% is enough to inflict devastating damage. Russian tactics have evolved: drones fly to low height to avoid being detected and then They ascend sharply at altitudes that exceed the scope of short -range weapons. To counteract it, Ukraine He resorted to F-16helicopters and even interceptor drones, but the defense against ballistic missiles remains the weakest point. Only a few countries have systems capable of stopping them, and the United States, which produces the Patriots and its PAC-3 interceptors, it has own strategic priorities. Time is exhausted. As We summarized yesterdaydespite its urgent need for more patriot batteries (Zelensky estimates that at least ten additional would be necessary to cover the territory), the US administration has adopted a warm posture. Under the pressure of other conflicts and the influence of the hard wing of the Republican party, which is prioritized, Ukraine has ceased to be a strategic priority. PAC-3 production will increase to 650 units annuallybut that is still insufficient in front of 500 ballistic missiles that Russia would already have stored, according to kyiv. In addition, each Russian missile usually requires two interceptors to be shot down, which accentuates the disadvantage. New doctrine. Perhaps the latest Ukrainian movements are understood. Given the shortage of media and the growing aerial threat, kyiv contemplates a turn in its survival strategy: not to intercept, but to go to destroy complexes launch, Russian factories and deposits. This more aggressive position, defended by Analysts like Kostiantyn Kryvolappart of the conviction that without a deterrence activates the rhythm of the attacks will only increase. While Western Defense Systems They arrive with droppers And their abilities will take At least one year In expanding, Ukraine prepares to face an air war alone every time more asymmetric and lethal. In that scenario, each drone or demolished missile can offer clues to combat the disadvantage. Image | Kyiv City State Administration In Xataka | The war in Ukraine had a red line of 70 kilometers. West has just eliminated it after Russia’s last attack In Xataka | Russia has made its combat drones fly higher. Ukraine has found the solution in North Korea: balloons

For the first time an unmanned boat has knocked down Russian combat planes

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At the beginning of February there was An unusual factnot for war in Ukraine, but for any other armed conflict known in history. If the battle of drones was redefining the modern combat, the conflict gave green light to something new: dwarfs of drones “mother” in turn launching other drones to attack in turn to rival drones. The latest: boats with missiles demolishing Russian fighters, and without No one behind the wheel of vessels. Lethal innovation in the Black Sea. In an unprecedented event, the Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR) managed to tear down two Russian fighters Su-30 Flanker using air-air missiles AIM-9 Sidewinder. The surprising thing is from where they launched: Magura-7 naval dronesas Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov declared exclusively To The War Zone. This unpublished action, which occurred in the Black Sea, represents not only the first time that combat planes are dejected From unmanned vesselsbut also the First lethal use AIM-9 missile confirmed from this type of platform, which underlines the degree of sophistication and innovation achieved by Ukrainian forces in the Maritime Theater of Operations. Details of an unusual attack. Apparently, the operation used three magura-7 dronesan anti -aircraft variant of the model Magura-5of which two shot at the Russian fighters. According to Budanovthe first SU-30 was reached and its crew survived after being rescued by a civil ship, while it is presumed that the pilots of the second apparatus perished in the attack. So far, there are only images of the first demolition disseminated in networks social. We remember that the use of AIM-9M missiles, a more advanced variant than R-73 Sovietdemonstrates Ukraine’s ability to integrate Western armament into unconventional platforms. Unlike R-73, the AIM-9M lacks the High-Off-Boresight capacity (Hobs), forcing the missile to be oriented directly towards the objective to acquire white. However, their best background discrimination, infrared countermeasures and smokeless propulsion offer significant tactical advantages, especially in an environment where drones must operate with discretion. Precedents and evolution of doctrine. The incident is put along with the occurred in DecemberWhen Ukraine reported the successful use of an R-73 triggered from a USV to deed a Mi-8 helicopter Russian. Since January, according to Budanov, Ukrainian engineers began to install AIM-9 in these unmanned vehicles, consolidating an evolution that Combine elements of air defense, electronic war and asymmetric naval combat. Although the exact launch configurations have not been disclosed by Ukrainian intelligence, everything indicates that Magura-7 represents A hybrid node high mobility capable of operating in areas where air control is highly disputed. Russian reactions and consequences. Moscow’s response has not been waiting. Through various Channels in Telegrammilitary analysts and commentators have recognized the effectiveness of the attack and indicated the growing deficiencies in the defensive capacity of the Black Sea. The War Cárs correspondent Kitten channel He expressed his alarm For three factors: the loss of the maritime initiative, the degradation of the Black Sea fleet after the destruction of the Moskva cruise, and the apparent Ukrainian domain in the use of unmanned vessels capable of projecting power even on the Russian coastal airspace. The analyst Vladislav Shurygin regretted That the attack followed the same lure and ambush pattern already observed in other Ukrainian operations, criticizing that Russian doctrine seems unable to adapt to these tactics. Meanwhile, the Two Majors channel strongly questioned the Lack of effective means To neutralize the USV, proposing the use of FPV drones or the combination of UAV of Zala recognition With ammunition Lancet Merodetersas already happens on the mainland. Technological implications. No doubt, the use of air-air missiles on non-manned naval platforms redefines the rules of combat in the black Sea. Historically, The Sidewinder They have adapted to naval defense systems Like the Chaparralbut its surface Kamikaze drones grants Ukraine a mobile, hidden and scalable tactical capacity, capable of deterring Russian aviation without compromising high -value human or material resources. In addition, it reflects a constant evolution in the use of donated western systems, many of which, such as AIM-9M, were originally thought For manned fighters and now they are reconfigured on innovative platforms that They multiply its impact strategic. Although the United States and its allies have not publicly detailed how many missiles of this type have delivered to Ukraine, it seems clear that its use is far from limiting themselves to conventional air combat and is expanding the lethality of the Ukrainian autonomous systems. A turning point. In short, the demolition of the two SU-30 fighters by Ukrainian naval drones Mark a symbolic and operational turning point. As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the control of the maritime space becomes as crucial as the land domain, and kyiv once again demonstrates its ability to convert material limitations in asymmetric advantages. We have come counting as that grew Industry without a paragon Around drones. By integrating Western technologies with its own doctrine, Ukraine is creating a new class of hybrid threats difficult to detect, anticipate or counteract. The incident not only represents a punctual victory in tactical terms, but also a meridianly clear message: Russian naval power is no longer unquestionable not even in front of small unmanned boats that are capable of driving fighters tens of kilometers from the coast. Image | Alex BeltyukovGUR SCREENCAP In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has entered its deranged phase: there are drones throwing drones to attack other drones In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has become a video game. Kill gives points and rewards to exchange in a military Amazon

We talked to the Spaniards who have tried the Russian mountain of Ozempic

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After the media explosion of the so -called “medicines for diabetes that lose weight”, we have spoken with three people who carry approximately One year using semaglutida, the active substance of Ozempic and Wegovy (The brand launched by the Ozempic manufacturer for the general public), in order to know your real experience beyond noise. From 160 to 105 kilos: “It has been a change of life” Pilar, Alicantina, 65, began her treatment with Ozempic over a year by medical prescription. “I have a fairly considerable weight, I reached 160 kilos during the pandemic. My knees hurt, I went to the doctor and the endocrine advised me to try with Ozempic“He explains. The result was overwhelming: 55 kilos less in a year. “I lost a lot of weight, I had some times dizziness and that, but nothing out of the ordinary,” he says. After a year of treatment, Pilar left it and recovered 20 kilos, until reaching the current 125. Recently he tried to resume the treatment, but he has encountered two problems: on the one hand, “he has not sat as well as the first time”; On the other, “Ozempic is very scarce, the pharmacy does not give it to you.” Then we will go with the matter of shortages. Pilar points out that the drug radically changed its relationship with food: “When you take Ozempic you don’t have that anxiety you have when you don’t take it. It takes away the desire to eat sweets especially and processed products.” Jorge, 38 -year -old Andalusian, has been using Wegovy for months (the specific version for the weight control of the semaglutida) by private route. With a height of 1.79 cm, its initial weight was 95 kilos. It is currently at 85.7. “I started taking it because due to an injury I won in a period of three or four months about 12 kilos,” he explains. “To play sports again and be in a physical state similar to the one before the injury, the first thing I had to do was lose all that weight.” Unlike Pilar, who received his medicine for social security, Jorge agreed to him through a private specialist: “He made me analysis to verify that everything was in order, and we started with a dose of 0.25 mg, the pen of 0.25”. Its monthly cost is around 180-190 euros. Wegovy pen shown by Jorge. Ceded image. The side effects soon appeared: “I started noticing in the first food intake. I click the dose at 8 in the morning and already at noon food I noticed that it was hard for me to eat.” Jorge describes a constant feeling of satiety and even some rejection of food: “Meals with a lot of fat, with a lot of sugar, sauces, heavy carbohydrates … They were meals that did not feel well.” Clara, 36 years old and resident in Madrid, began using Ozempic thirteen months after several failed attempts with traditional diets. “I tried everything: oto, intermittent fastingcounting calories … I lost 3 or 4 kilos at most and then recovered them with interest, “he says. Starting from 87 kilos, he has managed to go down to 69. “The first month was a bit hard for the nausea, but then I got used to And now I barely have side effects, just some occasional constipation, “he explains. Unlike Jorge and Pilar, Clara obtained the medicine by an alternative route. “A diabetic relative gave me a pen to try and then I got the recipe through a doctor friend,” he admits. “I know it’s not right, but I was desperate.” For her, The most shocking thing has been the change in their eating habits: “It is as if someone had turned off a switch in my brain. I no longer constantly think of food, or obsess myself with chocolate or fried potatoes.” The expert’s voice: beyond the “insulin that thinns” The Dr. Alicia Taboadasubspecialized family doctor in cardiovascular risk and endocrinological diseases, clarifies: “Ozempic is not an insulin, as many people think. It is a LPG-1 (peptide similar to type 1 glucagon) that in principle was for the treatment of diabetes, but it was discovered that it had an effect on weight without affecting glucose levels.” As explained, these medications “They act delaying gastric emptying, which has a feeling of satietyalready cerebral level they take away that need to eat. “However, he warns:” This drug will help you lower weight, but if you do not change habits you will have rebound effect, because very few people can afford to be putting this drug all your life. “ The doctor has noticed an increase in consultations related to these medications: “has increased a lot. Many people want that ‘insulina’ that makes you lose weight. That is why Ozempic has ended in the market and diabetics have been affected. “ Side effects and relationship with food The three interviewees agree that they experienced side effects, especially at the beginning of treatment. “I had a little anguish, dizziness, a vomit once and headache,” says Pilar. “I went to the doctor, he told me it was normal.” Jorge describes a feeling of “rejection of food” and “discomfort if I exceeded me a little, like empacho.” Clara adds: “I got 24 hours without hunger, the body simply asked me.” Pilar’s Ozempic box. Ceded image. The relationship with food changes radically. “It takes away your desire to eat sweets and processed products,” explains Pilar. Jorge coincides: “The main effect is that it takes away your cravings, the typical craving of six in the afternoon of something sweet.” The three interviewees agree on The importance of combining exercise with exercise and food changes. “Totally,” says Pilar. “The endocrine tells you: if you get Ozempic and you don’t make a diet and don’t walk, it’s not the miracle.” Jorge has maintained an intense regime of exercise: “I have continued and resumed high intensity sport with six weekly training”, which has accelerated its weight loss: “The loss has been … Read more

The EU spent more in Russian oil and gas that in helping Ukraine

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They are fulfilled three years since Russia began its invasion In Ukraine. During this time, The economic impact is still deep In both countries. Although general attention has been logically focused on human suffering, these days economic figures have been disclosed that reveal the magnitude of the damage: Ukraine records An annual inflation of 12%, while in Russia it reaches 9.5%. Numbers that show the persistence of economic deterioration on both sides. And next to this, another fact: Europe has invested more in Russia than in Ukraine. The “dependence” to Russia. A recent Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA): The European Union has allocated More money to the purchase of Russian fossil fuels than to direct financial support granted to Ukraine During the third year of the conflict caused by the Russian invasion. According to the analysis presented on the occasion of the third anniversary of the war, the EU spent approximately 21.9 billion euros in Russian oil and gas Only in the last year of conflict, significantly higher than The 18.7 billion euros delivered to Ukraine In financial aid for 2024, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IFW Kiel). The data has many readings, but the main one is paradoxical, since the situation highlights a deep contradiction between the European verbal support to Ukraine and the concrete economic actions that indirectly benefit the Vladimir Putin regime, providing essential income to sustain its military campaign. Historical figures and comparisons. The numbers are even more striking when the total expenditure on Russian fossil fuels by Europe is observed throughout the last year (2024), which exceeded 39% the financial aid assigned to Ukraine. In addition, the report emphasizes that Russia has obtained global income equivalent to 242,000 million euros only for energy exports During the third full year of the conflict, bringing their total profits from the beginning of the invasion to figures near the billion euros. In other words, European agency is especially critical when considering that Russia receives up to half of its fiscal income directly from the energy sector. The economist Christoph Trebesch of the IFW Kiel, although he did not participate directly in the analysis, The surprising gap remarked between the help mobilized for Ukraine and the economic support granted in previous historical conflicts. For example, Germany was considerably more generous during Kuwait’s liberation (1990-1991) compared to the provisions of Ukraine so far, measured proportionally in terms of national GDP. Consequences of energy dependence. The data leads to the same conclusion: the report underlines how this unit follows indirectly promoting war in Ukraine by economically sustaining the Russian government. Vaibhav Raghunandan, co -author of the study, explicitly declared that buying Russian fossil fuels It is practically equivalent to finance the Kremlinfacilitating the continuity of his military aggression. In addition, the Russia’s ability to overcome sanctions economic imposed by the West through its so -called “shadow fleet”of which We have spoken before (A fleet of old ships) allows the country to maintain approximately one third of its income from fossil fuel exports. The European response: sanctions and challenges. It is the last of the legs to be treated: what does Europe do? In reaction to these realities, European ambassadors recently approved new measures in its 16th round of sanctions against Russiadirected specifically against that “shadow fleet.” The report also warns that, strengthening existing sanctions and closing some legal gaps, The EU could reduce Russian income up to 20% from these fuels. In particular, he recommends close the so -called “refinement lagoon” (Through which Europe can acquire Russian oil processed in third countries), as well as even more restricting the Russian gas flow Through the Turkstream gas pipeline. In addition, the report indicates another emerging problem in European energy trade: The growing dependence on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). Although The EU has considerably reduced imports Russian gas channeled since the beginning of the conflict, partially compensated this decrease through greater imports of Russian LNG, which reached record figures in 2022, placing Russia as The second most important exporter From this type of gas to Europe. The war three years later. I counted in A report the Guardian On the economy of both countries since the beginning of the conflict that, in a Moscow key, traditional economic indicators seem to favor Russia. Although initially the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell -1.3%, has shown a solid recovery in the last two years, growing at 3.6% annual according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Instead, the Ukrainian economy suffered a dramatic collapse of 36% in mid -2022, closing that year with a 28.3% drop. Although Ukraine has managed to partially recover with growth rates of 5.3% in 2023 and 3% in 2024, its national income still remains 20% below the levels prior to invasion. Resiliation and perspectives. Despite adversities, Ukraine resilience has been remarkable. Christopher Dent, professor of international economy, argues that Ukraine has better long -term perspectives of what Russian propaganda affirms. A concrete example is the recovery of the Ukrainian electricity sector, which after The attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in 2023 (which caused losses of at least 2 billion dollars), has significantly increased its electrical exports to Moldova, Hungary and Romania, integrating more closely into the European energy network. Maritime trade through the Black Sea and the Danube continues to work, and agriculture also shows clear signs of recovery. The future potential of Ukraine also lies in its wide mineral resources, including metal deposits valued at about 11 billion dollars. On the other hand, tax collection has improved substantially, with significant increases in corporate taxes and consumptionalso supported by international IMF and Western agencies. Bad? On the other sidewalk and despite these advances, the Ukrainian economy faces huge structural challenges. The most important: the labor market remains negatively affected, with An unemployment rate of 16.8%aggravated by mass migration abroad and mandatory military recruitment. The adaptibility of Russia. For its part, Moscow, Despite international isolationhas demonstrated a … Read more

drones and robots against Russian troops

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In the war and from the military point of view, the Definition of an offensive It is “that way of acting from an army that attacks the enemy.” The offensive in a contest has as its own characteristics the movement, action and initiative, and the adversary is sought where it is to destroy it. All these guidelines have been followed in one way or another in the different wars and conflicts with a common denominator: humans. In The Ukraine War is no longer. The first exclusive combined assault. It happened at the end of 2024, when the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (“Khartiia”) carried out The first combined attack in history using only drones surprising the Russian forces in the Járkiv region, near Lyptsi. This innovative operation used a variety of air and terrestrial drones, from FPV units to armed robots and recognition drones operating in different functions: attack, recognition and support, and resulting The first mechanized assault without human intervention in direct combat. The operation was directed by the Brigade land robotics squad, known as “Deus Ex Machina”led by the soldier with badge “Happy”, a 22 -year -old with a formation in military engineering. His unit, specialized in the use and innovation of terrestrial drones, assumed the challenge of organizing a completely automated assault in just one week. To do this, Routes, control points and specific communication channels were established. The role of drones. The objective of the attack was to prepare the terrain for future offensive, disorganize Russian troops, destroy key objectives and test coordination between the command center and drone units. According to the Brigade “Shuhai” officer, The use of robotic platforms to attack the enemy and explore its positions is already a need on the modern battlefield. Ukraine has stressed that the operation marks a milestone in the future of wars. One of the Ukrainian terrestrial robots used, in tests. The plan. The preparation was meticulous due to the lack of precedents in this type of offensive. Three physical and virtual simulations were performed to ensure precision in executionand although the exact number of deployed drones was not revealed, the participation of several dozens was confirmed, including aerial and terrestrial FPV drones, terrestrial drones with machine gun torrettas, heavy four -seater drones of bombing and aerial drones of recognition and surveillance. Two days before the attack, The drones were transferred to their initial positions. Less than 100 soldiers participated in the offensive in operators, logistics and planning. Approximately 30 drones of different types were deployed, each managed by a human pilot instead of using swarm technology. Enemy execution and reaction. As we said, the offensive took place in a Russian fortified position near a dense forest. The simultaneous arrival of terrestrial and aerial drones took the Russian soldiers by surprisewho, accustomed to air drones attacks, did not expect the combination with armed terrestrial units. Ukrainian intelligence has explained that through the radio interceptions they found chaos in the Russian lines, which were confronted with an invisible enemy without human soldiers in sight. One of the main challenges was the land. They say that the thick mud characteristic of Ukraine hindered the movement of terrestrial drones, and although some were stuck, none was destroyed by enemy fire. In addition, the offensive was carried out with a huge level of precision: No drone losses were reported due to Russian electronic warfarea Common problem in this type of operations. Lessons learned. The Ukrainian infantry took and assured the position, consolidating an advance in the Járkiv front. Despite the success, the operation presented several challenges. How do we count, Several terrestrial drones were stuck in the fieldwhich slowed some aspects of progress. Some video records They showed that the Russians tried to repel the attack with mortars, drones with bombs and FPV units, although without achieving a significant destruction of Ukrainian devices. In this regard, one of the main learning was The need to improve coordination between terrestrial and aerial drones, as well as the management of communications in combat. That said, and despite the obstacles, the operation reaffirmed that robotic systems have enormous potential in modern war. A different war. We have told it in the past. The development of military robots is booming In various parts of the world. Companies such as Milrem Robotics (Estonia), Roboteam (United States-Israel) or Unmanned System Technologies (United Kingdom) have advanced in the production of terrestrial systems, although no one has yet managed to completely replace human soldiers. Reliability, coordination and adaptability remain challenges in real combat. In that sense, the experience of the Khartiia brigade is unique, since they have managed to execute a robotic assault on real war conditions, providing valuable lessons for the industry and the armies of the world. “We are in the era of muskets in regard to war with drones,” The sergeant chief of the Ukrainian non -manned land vehicle unit reflectedcomparing the current technological advance with the first firearms. The war future: autonomous. As technology progresses, the development of completely autonomous robots is approaching. Even so, priority remains to improve coordination, overcome logistics difficulties such as land and improve communication systems. “Russians should expect more operations like this”, “Shuhai” warnedunderlining that the war with drones will continue to evolve. What began as an experimental mission with low expectations became a historical operation, demonstrating the ability of drones to coordinate a combined attack without direct intervention of human soldiers in the front. Image | Alan Wilson, Michael Kötter In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has entered its deranged phase: there are drones throwing drones to attack other drones In Xataka | Ukraine does not have much to win in a peace agreement with Russia. Except if you bring out your rare earth reserves

Putin has ordered to launch a Russian version of Eurovision. The last time the nation voted on lighting the light of the living room

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In geopolitics, very few things are left to chance, much less if what it is about is to extol the national values. Let’s put as an example Europe and “your” Eurovisionthat strange mixture of cultural exaltation of the peoples of the continent through music, a formula Martian that continues to awaken passions and quite the opposite for decades. In fact, even Russia has signed up for the formula. It is called interview, and in reality its history is older. Relive Russian music. As we said, Vladimir Putin has ordered the return of the Musical Interview contestthe ancient Soviet response to Eurovision, After the exclusion of the nation of the European contest in 2022 Due to the invasion of Ukraine. The event, which will apparently will be held in Moscow this fall, seeks to promote cultural and humanitarian cooperation among the allied countries of Russia, with the participation of nations such as Brazil, China, India and Cuba. The origin of interview. Released in 1977 in the middle of the Cold War, Interview It developed as A platform to promote cultural unity within the communist bloc and compete with the popularity that Eurovision already had then. It was also sought to show aval after Stalin’s death. However, if the event is remembered for something, it was for an unusual event. A peculiar vote. The lack of phones in Soviet homes forced The implementation of an unprecedented voting method: The spectators had to light the light of their house if they liked a song, or remain dark if not, allowing the electric company to register the consumption peaks and determine the winner. The success of the program resulted in surreal situations, with much of the nation in the dark at times, or totally illuminated. During its four editions, The contest managed to attract non -European countries like Cuba and Mongolia (or Finland, who was the only country he can say with “pride” that he has participated in the fever Kitsch In both blocks), standing out as a propaganda event that sought to project an image of diversity within the socialist block. End to the first stage of interview. The sunset came as the Soviet Union began to weaken at the beginning of the 80s. The contest was canceled in 1981 And since 1984 it would be Polish television TVP that resumed the organization of the festival With the old name of Sopot. In 2009, Putin proposed to restart interviewthis time between Russia, China and the countries of Central Asia, mostly members of the Shanghai cooperation organization, although it did not crystallize. Eurovision and rupture with Russia. From his first participation in Eurovision in 1994, Russia became one of the most competitive nations of the contest, although achieving its only victory in 2008 with Dima Bilan. However, Kremlin’s rejection of the evolution of the festival, where messages of diversity and visibility LGBTQ+ have won prominence, led to great tensions. Conchita Wursst’s victory in 2014 marked a breakdown: while Europe celebrated its inclusion message, In Russia the reaction was outragedwith Putin and his allies condemning the “moral degeneration” of the contest. As we said, the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 sealed the definitive exclusion of Russia, which has now promoted the search for its own alternative. The “new” interview. The Guardian told this week That unlike the current Eurovision, which celebrates diversity and inclusion, this “remake” interview will adopt a conservative approach. Planning documents have revealed that Artists must respect “traditional spiritual and family values” and avoid any political content or “humiliate the honor and dignity of society.” In fact, Russian officials have affirmed that the contest will serve to promote “real music”, as opposed to what they consider “false” Western influences. International support and doubts. Apparently, Putin has discussed the initiative with Xi Jinping, receiving the support of Chinawhich suggests that the program could become an emblematic event for the geopolitical alliances of Russia. That said, doubts persist about its success, since Moscow has failed in previous initiatives to replace Western events, Like friendship gameswhich sought to rival the Olympic Games. In a world where entertainment is a weapon of mass influence, Putin’s commitment to a festival with its own seal is a declaration of intentions: Russia not only wants to challenge the West in the military and geopolitical field, but also in the cultural. That Eurovision is prepared. Image | Flowcomm, Serge Serebro In Xataka | Film rooms are becoming “show rooms” of all kinds. The best example: Eurovision In Xataka | China is filling with Russia products. The problem is that many of these products come from China itself

The EU has finally become independent of Russian gas. Now faces an equal uncertain dependence: the US LNG

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In the last five years, the supply of liquefied natural gas in Europe depended mainly on Russian reservesrepresenting almost 40% of imports thanks to their competitive prices and an extensive network of gas pipelines. However, Europe has sought to reduce the dependence on Russian gas by the Ukraine War, facing an uncertain energy panorama. Also, still imports Russian LNG record amounts By boat and Hungary and Slovakia oppose restrictive measures. The reserves, which had reached historical levels before winter thanks to storage policies, are now beginning to descend. Given this situation, Europe has chosen to diversify its sources and increase LNG imports from other countries, being the United States one of the emerging suppliers. However, this transition will not be easy. Short. At the time he assumed, in less than 24 hours, Donald Trump signed an executive order with the different measures that Ipso facto was going to take. In addition, the issue of gas and tariffs to Europe comes before assumingbut now the president of the United States has launched a warning to the European Union demanding that more oil and liquefied natural gas be bought or, otherwise, will face the imposition of tariffs. This threat occurs in a context of commercial and energy tensions, where the US seeks to gain ground in the European market, which has historically depended on Russia’s energy imports. However, the EU does not have a centralized purchasing power that allows it to negotiate large -scale contracts, since it is individual companies that decide where to buy the gas. Evolution of European LNG imports in recent years The evolution of the gas supply. This graph represents the supply of LNG in Europe, which has experienced notable changes such as more than 15 years ago liquefied natural gas came in most countries such as Qatar and other producers. However, Russia’s agency was marking over time. However, the position of the United States as a supplier of Europe is from 2020, which is observed how it is consolidated. This was due, in large part, to the sanctions and commercial restrictions imposed on the Kremlin, which forced the EU has diversify its sources. In the last year, US imports have reached historical levels, even exceeding traditional suppliers. Europe’s position. Although Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has shown its willingness to replace Russian gas with American LNG, the EU does not have the centralized purchase capacity on a large scale, so each member country negotiates it independently. For its part, Hungary and Slovakia, more aligned with the Kremlin For their energy treatment, they may not share these EU measures. However, Brussels aims to reduce the dependence of Russian fossil fuels for two years, but the high price of American LNG compared to Russian gas remains an important obstacle. In addition, the EU is struggling to protect its industries and reduce high energy prices, especially in countries such as Germany, which depend on gas for its industry. And Russia? Despite the Ukraine War and the sanctions imposed by the United States and the EU, Russia remains the largest gas supplier for the latter. The reason is because European companies continue to import large volumes of Russian LNG due to the lowest prices and the lack of short -term affordable alternatives. For its part, the Kremlin is looking for new markets for its energy and is approaching more to the Asian continent. Commercial relations. The production capacity of American LNG is increasing, and more natural gas plants are expected to enter into operation in the coming years. By 2026, the United States, Canada and Qatar may meet much of the European LNG demand, thus reducing the need for Russian gas. In addition, the EU seeks to reduce its natural gas consumption by 25% by 2030, modifying import and market patterns. However, prices will remain a considerable obstacle for total change to American LNG. Image | Unspash Xataka | Russia has managed to make fun of Europe’s sanctions: I just had to disguise its gas with Azerí flag

Thousands of Ukrainians have escaped from Russian occupation. Many others have not achieved it … because of their phones

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In wars are hundreds of terrible paradoxes. A few months ago we had one that was given on the Russian side revealing a cruel and murky equation that encourages military participation: There are Russian soldiers that “are worth” more dead than alive in its origin regions. On the Ukrainian sidewalk there are also circumstances as incomprehensible as that a citizen’s personal phone is his cross to escape the war. The importance of phones to flee. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, thousands of Ukrainians have tried to escape the occupied territories, facing an extremely dangerous and complex process. At this point the figure of people like Stefan Vorontsovwho fled from the occupation of Nova Kajovka in 2022 and directs the humanity organizationwhich has helped more than 6,000 people escape from the south and east of Ukraine through Russia, the only viable route due to the impossibility of crossing the front line. However, the success of these evacuations depends largely on previous preparation, and a crucial factor, as explained, is The total cleaning of the mobile phones of the evacuees. The reason? That the Russian authorities meticulously inspect each device at the border control points, and do so looking for any indication of loyalty to Ukraine. The escape process and the “legends.” I counted these days Kajovka that to cross the border to Russia, Ukrainians must have a credible story or “legend” that justify their trip. These false narratives are meticulously designed to avoid suspicions, presenting reasons such as medical visits in Russian hospitals or recreational trips to the Black Sea. That said, Young people apparently face greater difficultiessince any trace of Pro-Ukrainian activity in its social networks can be a reason for detention. In this regard, Russian authorities thoroughly question the evacueesreviewing its devices, contacts, searches and social networks, looking for words in Ukrainian, images of the national flag or connections with the Ukrainian army. The trick: clean the mobile. To increase your chances of success, Humanity advises evacuated to eliminate maps, photos of sensitive infrastructure and suspicious contacts. In addition, he suggests adding “Russian” elements in his digital profiles, such as following prorruse Telegram channels or subscribing to Russia favorable content on platforms such as YouTube. In fact, The organization uses Telegram secret chats To discreetly coordinate every step of the evacuation, minimizing the risk of communication being intercepted. Dangers at control points. The crossing points in Crimea and Rostov of the Don are controlled by the Russian forces, which subject those evacuated to those interviews that can last, according to the organization, up to six hours, with questions designed to cause emotional reactions and detect Ukrainian sympathies. At this point and how they underline, An error in the narrative can result in prisondeportation to remote regions of Russia or forced disappearances, as has happened with several acquaintances of Vorontsov. Here, the elderly, children and sick people are more likely to cross successfully, although the situation has become more difficult over time, according to Vorontsov. The passport. Since January 2024, Russia demands that all Ukrainians get a Russian passport In order to get out of the occupied territories, a measure that has further complicated evacuations and has increased pressure on young people to join the Russian armed forces. This new regulation represents an additional obstacle, since many are forced to choose between clandestine resistance or acceptance of Russian citizenship under coercion. Logistics and financing. Humanity Organize transport with drivers with a license to bring those evacuated to safe points in Crimea or Rostov del Don. If the evacuees cannot arrive by their own means, the organization covers the expenses of taxis, accommodation and food. In this regard, they compete with Russian conductors that charge inflated rates of up to $ 400 per person, while Humanity spends less than $ 50 per transfer. With everything and despite the economic difficulties, in 2024 they managed to evacuate 360 ​​Ukrainians, including 106 children, as well as several domestic animals. By the way, The organization operates without profitdepending exclusively on donations to finance train tickets, bus and other logistics expenses. Image | President of Ukraine In Xataka | For months the North Koreans were “ghosts” in Ukraine. Now that they are a reality the dilemma is what to do with them In Xataka | Ukraine has found a drawing on the battlefield. The sacrifice of the North Koreans has been revealed to evade drones

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