unprecedented

The swamps are so full for the rains of March that some face something unprecedented: unwind for the first time

by

For a good part of the twentieth century, storms in the Borbonne Valley were terrible. In 1970, the river overflowed, flooded La Vega and blocked the daily life of the region for weeks. Throughout that decade, The creation of a reservoir began, the Alcorlowhich forced evacuate locations and placed its spillway a few 700 meters from the town of San Andrés del Congosto. Since the dam was closed in 1979, I had never had to take a water to avoid overflow. Until today. What happened in the center of Spain? Although most of the attention has been taken the south, Jana has watered (and much) The entire area of ​​the central system. So much so that, during the weekend, numerous municipalities of the Henares Corridor and La Alcarria have received notices from 112 due to the possibility that the Tajo Hydrographic Conference will land a whole series of swamps from the provinces surrounding the central system. Pálmatos, Beleña and La Tajera They have already been relieved Water over the weekend and three others were about to do so. Among them, Alcorlo’s because, as he said, throughout his history, he had never had to release water before. Nervousness in the Alcarria. The mayor of San Andrés has been expressing her concern all weekend. And, although he acknowledges that the town has never come to flood (“never in its history is aware of any event of this type“),” It looks like a small sea. We had never seen it that way and it impresses see it “, The Gil Consul said in the Digital of Castilla – La Mancha. I also recognized feeling “Chills and fear” for the impact that the flood can have in the municipality. It was not disenchanted because, in the last hours, about 50 people have moved to avoid risks. The domino effect. However, the main problem will not be given in the headwaters of the rivers where these reservoirs are: The problem is downstream. The Castilla Operational Control Center – La Mancha has warned that all that unpacked water will go on the Alberche River. The province of Guadalajara and, by exemption, the entire main branch of the Tagus is preparing for that water coup (that a channel as mistreated as this will thank). And it’s not something isolated. As Álvaro Oliver explained“On just 8 days of March, in the port of Navacerrada it has rained/snowy which usually falls in the 3 months of spring. In 8 days what usually falls in 90 days. 13 times more than usual in the first week of March.” It is raining a lot. It is raining more than some sites can manage comfortably. Mission: Take advantage of each drop of water. A key factor that makes all this special rain is that it comes from Atlantic storms. That is, it normally drains into the areas where we have the reservoirs and that allows us to take advantage of it much more than we can take advantage of the water from the danas. So now we return to the start box: What do we do with all this water? How do we prepare for a summer that, if it fits the trend, will return the ghost of the drought? And again, we return to one of the key problems of our country: that We still don’t order Water resources in a responsible way and with a view to the future. Image | LBM1948 | ASQUELADD

Apple has just taken an unprecedented measure

by

From Friday, ICLOUD users in the United Kingdom can no longer activate the protection of advanced data (ADP) with end -to -end encryption. Those who already had this function must deactivate it in the future. The surprising measure comes after British government pressure For Apple to integrate a rear door in its cloud storage service, a decision that could compromise the privacy of users around the world. A key security feature. End -to -end encryption, known as E2EE in English, is considered the most private and sure network communication method. The data is encrypted and deciphered only in the authorized devices, that is, they travel online safely, so that if someone managed to intercept them, they would find a lot of intelligible text product of the cryptographic masking used. Messaging applications such as WhatsApp or Signal and cloud services like ICloud They offer this security feature. If it is correctly implemented, this means that not even the companies that control these services have the ability to spy our conversations or files. And this also applies to governments and security services, which will not be able to access these data even with the corresponding judicial orders. United Kingdom demand. The Washington Post published An article on February 7 in which he assured that British security services had required Apple to create a rear door in ICloud. In other words, the implementation of a mechanism that allowed them to avoid advanced service measures to access private files. It was a controversial measure that did not distinguish the location of the users. Immediate reaction in the US. Although the alleged contact between the United Kingdom and Apple developed privately, the reports of the aforementioned American newspaper lit several alarms on the other side of the ocean. Several congressmen sent a letter American Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, alleging a threat to emerging security and privacy from the United Kingdom and urging measures. Apple’s response. Weeks after the matter came to light, Apple has made an unprecedented decision. In a statement sent on Friday to Xataka, the Cupertino company said it has never implemented a back door in its products and services, and that they will never. In addition, he detailed the measures he would take with Icloud in the United Kingdom. As of today, affected users can no longer activate the security function that ends end -to -end encryption on the platform. “Apple can no longer offer advanced data protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users and current users of the United Kingdom will eventually have to deactivate this security function,” Apple said. “We are deeply disappointed that the protections provided by ADP are not available for our clients in the United Kingdom given the continuous increase in data violations and other threats to customer privacy,” he added in the email. ADP, an optional measure. Although end -to -end encryption is activated by default in services such as WhatsApp and Signal, in ICLOUD it is an optional measure (although certain sensitive data such as saved passwords and data from the health and maps apps are protected by default). UK users could activate it from the settings of their profile to keep the security of their information to the next level. With the disappearance of ADP in the United Kingdom, British users who want to protect their information from possible indiscreet looks should resort to prior methods to 2022, when Apple implemented their advanced security system. That is, making local backups or using other trusted services. Now, it remains to be seen how the British authorities will respond to this movement. Images | Apple | Screen capture In Xataka | How to change all our passwords according to three cybersecurity experts

The price of rice has raised so much that Japan has had to make an unprecedented decision: resort to its reservations

by

Few things reflect to what extent there is a crisis situation that the price of a basic product in the supermarket. In Japan, and in most Asia, Rice is a fundamental pillar of foodsupporting the life of much of the population. However, a combination of factors threatens the essential cereal. In Japan he has never been so expensive, and the government has made an unprecedented decision. Tons of rice. Given the increase in rice due to distribution problems, the Japanese government has announced that, As of March, it will release 210,000 tons from its emergency reserve To stabilize the market. It is, therefore, The first time this reserve is used with the purpose of reducing pricesinstead of doing so for emergencies such as bad harvests or natural disasters. The Minister of Agriculture, Taku Eto, emphasized that rice production has been enough to meet demand, but bottlenecks in the distribution have maintained high prices. In 2024, Production increased by 180,000 tons compared to the previous year. However, the amount collected by distributors fell into 210,000 tons, which suggests that Farmers and wholesalers retained stocks anticipating new price increases. According to researcher Masayuki Ogawa at UTSunomiya University, The mismatch is due to the entry of speculative buyers They have artificially maintained prices without the benefits reaching producers. Crisis factors. As we said at the beginning (And in past weeks), there are several. The price of a five kg package of Japanese rice has risen from 2,023 yen to 3,688 yen in a year. Causes? The 2023 record heat wave reduced agricultural yields and reserves, while consumption increased due to unprecedented tourism. Besides, The warnings of typhoons and earthquakes unleashed panic purchaseswhich led some retailers to limit sales. To this we must add what we commented before. The harvest has not been bad, but quite the opposite, but everything indicates that farmers and wholesalers retained stocks anticipating new price increases. Liberation strategy and expectations. To relieve market pressure, The Ministry will initially auction 150,000 tons of rice to agricultural and wholesale cooperatives, mostly composed of a grain of 2024, with a small part of 2023. Subsequently, another 60,000 tons will be releaseddepending on the impact of the first phase. The auction will take place in mid -March, which means that rice will begin to reach shops between the end of March and April. The main objective is clear: Improve distribution without intervening directly in the market price mechanism. In this regard, Eto reaffirmed the government’s position that Prices must be regulated by supply and demandtrusting that the measure helps normalize the situation. In addition, the Ministry plans to replace (buy “back”) the amount released within the year, with flexibility in the deadlines according to the market reaction. Impact on consumers and industry. While the measure is expected to reduce the price of rice, Ogawa warned that The decrease will not be immediate or uniform at all points of sale. Instead of directly impacting prices in supermarkets, released rice probably is destined for the prepared food industry, such as restaurants, hospitals and schools. What is that reserve of the nation. Japan implemented its rice reservation system in 1995, after the supply crisis caused by an unusually cold summer in 1993. Since then, since then, since then, The government maintains a stock of approximately one million tons and are stored in some 300 facilities nationwide, annually renewing 200,000 tons to guarantee the supply in emergency situations. In fact, a warehouse in Saitama, near Tokyo, allowed access to media before the ad, Showing 20,000 tons of rice, enough to fill 300 million bowls. In the past, these reserves have been used after natural disasters such as the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 in Tohoku and the Lady of Kumamoto in 2016. Now it remains to be seen that the movement has effect and the stabilization in the distribution is containing the price increase In the medium term. Image | Rawpixel In Xataka | In full tourist boom, Japan has encountered a historical rice crisis. Now pay 30% more expensive In Xataka | Japan has no doubt that he approaches a brutal crisis. The cost of cooking your star dish has never been so high

China is raising an unprecedented dam where millions of people live. The problem is seismic activity

by

Before finishing 2024 we advanced what was known about China’s last megonstruction. Actually, we could not talk about “another” as if it were something else in a long list, because it is possibly one of the most ambitious projects that are reminded of the nation: a super prey so monumental that would leave The three throats relegated to the background, producing three times more energy than the spectacular structure of more than two kilometers long. Of course, there is some problem. The superpress. It is a reality: China advances with the construction of the Motuo Superpress in Tibetan unprecedented infrastructure project that, if completed, will become the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world taking advantage of an abrupt slope of 2,800 meters, exceeding the capacity of the three throats dam (currently the biggest in the world). Located in The Grand Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpoon the border with India, the dam has aroused environmental, geopolitical and humanitarian concerns, especially due to the lack of transparency of Beijing about its development. Experts warn that the project represents a “water pump” for millions of people in India and Bangladesh. Seismic risks. The Tibet is One of the most seismically active regions on the planetit has been known for a long time because it is located in the collision of the Indian plaque and the Euroasy Plate. In fact, a recent 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Shigatse It caused damage to five hydroelectric dams and the death of 134 people, demonstrating how vulnerable infrastructure in the region is. Although Motuo’s work can be designed to withstand earthquakes, landslides and mud alluds could serve as a fuse and unleash, representing a direct threat to nearby populations. We speak, again, millions of people. This risk is aggravated by the phenomenon of Seismicity induced by reservoirs (RTS)where the weight of accumulated water in large dams can trigger earthquakes. An example is the zipingpu damwhose construction was followed by Sichuan’s devastating earthquake in 2008 which charged 87,000 lives. In addition, sediment retention by the dam could reduce the fertility of the soil downstream, causing erosion in the rivers and coasts of India and Bangladesh. Gran_Cañón Yarlung Tsangpo Environmental impact. The dam too would alter the water and climatic patterns Crucial for agriculture in the region. The Tibet, where Brahmaputra is born, is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world and a key regulator of Asian climate. The construction of the superpress could, for example, alter the monsoon rainfallwith devastating effects for agriculture in India and Bangladesh. In addition, the ecological impact of Chinese megaemblses is already evident in other international rivers, Like the Mekong, where the dams have caused droughts recurring and the intrusion of salt water in agricultural deltas. Impact between the premises and (des) information. It is another leg that must tie the project. The Tibet is under a strong control of the Chinese Communist Party, so the magnitude of the displacement of Tibetans that will require the work is not known. In this regard, Beijing has not revealed details about costs (It is estimated that total investment will exceed 130,000 million euros), The companies involved or the number of people who will be relocated. And if we are guided by other cases in Chinese provinces, protests against hydroelectric projects have been repressedit is suggested that any opposition in the Tibet will be silenced. Geopolitics of a superpress. He Brahmaputrawhich flows to India and Bangladesh, is a vital artery for millions of people. Again, that lack of Chinese transparency has generated distrust in New Delhi and Daca, whose scientists have demanded access to hydrological data to evaluate the risks of the work. India, meanwhile, Fears China use river control as a geopolitical weaponrestricting or diverting the flow in case of conflicts. Thus, and in the face of uncertainty, some Indian officials have proposed an alternative: Build a dam in a Brahmaputra tributary to counteract possible flow reductionsalthough this solution does not seem ideal and could also harm the ecology of the region. Imminent risk. Nikei had this week That the possibility of a catastrophic collapse is not a simple speculation. China has suffered hundreds of dam failures throughout its historyincluding the worst disaster ever registered: The collapse in cascade of the Banqiao dam And another 61 dams in 1975, an event that caused 85,000 direct deaths and displaced 11 million people. Even The three throats dam was on the verge of collapse in 2020endangering 400 million people. Therefore, if a strong earthquake hit the region and cause the rupture of the superpress, Millions of people in the Brahmaputra Valley in India and Bangladesh could be affected by catastrophic floods, aggravating. In addition, geopolitical and humanitarian tensions in the region. If you want also, it is feasible to think that with this mega -Obra, China would not only reinforce its control over the water resources of Asia, but also converting Brahmaputra into a geopolitical weaponincreasing their pressure capacity over their neighbors. Image | Harvey BarrisonNASA In Xataka | China prepares the most expensive megaestructure on the planet: a hydroelectric power plant on the most controversial place possible In Xataka | The three throats dam is so huge that it has caused something unexpected: extending the days of the earth

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.