International

The AK-47, the first Kalashnikov rifle, turns 75 in the Ukrainian trenches

The AK-47, the most fired rifle in history, turns 75 years old without losing its validity, as demonstrated in the current war in Ukraine, where both sides continue to use it, although it hardly officially appears in their arsenals.

“Mijail Kalashnikov was a true patriot. He invented the rifle just to defend himself from the enemy,” he told EFE Nelli, the eldest daughter of the legendary gunsmith (1919-2013) a few years ago.

The first rifle designed by Kalashnikov entered service in the Soviet Army on June 18, 1949, in the middle of the Cold War.

The gunsmith of the former Soviet Union, then a modest sergeant, was impressed by an episode during the Great Patriotic War (1941-45) in which a soldier died at the hands of the Germans because his weapon was boxed.

Although its initial objective was to create an automatic rifle that would allow the Red Army to win the war, the AK-47 never fired at the German invader.

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

The first AK made its fame for its simplicity and its resistance to elements, water and sand. With only eight moving parts, it can be used by any fighter, child or adult, and can be disassembled in less than a minute.

The characteristics of the AK-47 have gone in history: 4.3 kilos of weight, 30 ammunition bullets, 800 meters of range and a firing rate of 600 shots per minute.

Since 1949, more than 100 million units of this rifle have been manufactured, according to Russian sources, which represents 15% of the total volume of light weapons in service in the world.

Although only twelve countries have a production license – China and North Korea, among them – there are many countries that manufacture it, have clandestinely transferred the technology or, openly, use their parts to design modified rifles, including Western countries.

Its popularity in certain corners of the planet was so great during the wars of liberation that the Kalashnikov, ideal for guerrilla warfare, was included in the flags and shields of several countries (Zimbabwa, Mozambique, Burkina Faso or East Timor).

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

The AK-47 was adopted by armies of 55 countries, but it has rained a lot since 1949. The Kalashnikov state corporation itself, which now also manufactures assault drones, has since designed the AKM, the AK-74, the AK-15 and the AK-12, among others.

In fact, the consortium, which is under Western sanctions, signed with the Army in 2021, on the eve of the start of the Russian military campaign in Ukraine, a three-year contract for the supply of light weapons.

Last April, Kalashnikov announced the delivery to the Ministry of Defense of a batch of renewed AK-12 assault rifles, which includes a dioptric telescopic peephole and a two-way security device.

Kalashnikov emphasizes that the fighting within the framework of the so-called special military operation showed that the AK-12 should be perfected to make it “lighter”, improve its ergonomics and facilitate its use.

According to official sources, the consortium provided the Russian Armed Forces with twice as many AK-12 rifles in the first year of the war in Ukraine in 2023.

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

The United States authorities also announced in April the supply to the Ukrainian army of about 5,000 AK-47 rifles from their own arsenals.

Although his last name is known all over the world, that fame caused remorse to Kalashnikov, who before dying wrote a letter to the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, since he understood that he had created “a weapon that killed people all over the world.”

“The pain I have in my soul is unbearable. An unanswered question resounds again and again: since my rifle killed so many people, is it me, Mikhail Kalashnikov, 93 years old, son of peasants, Christian and of Orthodox faith, guilty of his death, even if it is enemies?” the letter said.

In the last years of his life, Kalashnikov, who has a statue where he poses with his invention in the center of Moscow, admitted to his descendants that he was “not prepared” for the universalization of his invention as a weapon “against humanity” in the hands of terrorists

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

International

Pilot killed and two Pennsylvania state troopers injured in mid-air collision

A pilot was killed and two Pennsylvania state police officers were injured when a Cessna 150 airplane collided with the helicopter they were traveling in during a routine training exercise at a regional airport in the state.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified the officers as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. Both are expected to recover from their injuries, according to ABC.

The county coroner’s office identified the pilot as 57-year-old Paul Sokoloski.

George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the collision occurred at around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. The helicopter was flying several feet above a grassy area near a runway at Carlisle Regional Airport when the small plane approached from behind.

According to investigators, the Cessna suddenly veered to the right moments before the collision, striking the helicopter’s tail rotor before also hitting its main rotor.

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

The airplane crashed a short distance away and broke into several pieces, while the helicopter lost its tail and other components before crashing on its side.

Police said Corporal Corman opened a window and helped Trooper Mills escape from the helicopter because they feared the aircraft could catch fire.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

International

Argentina’s Milei Links Low Birth Rates to Abortion and Feminism

Argentine President Javier Milei on Thursday blamed feminism and the legalization of abortion for the country’s declining birth rate, arguing that the demographic trend is creating economic and pension-system challenges.

“We are paying a very high price for the madness of the green scarves,” Milei said during a speech at the Council of the Americas in Buenos Aires, referring to the symbol associated with the feminist movement and the campaign for legal abortion in Argentina.

According to Milei, Argentina is failing to reach the population growth and birth rates needed to maintain demographic replacement.

He also linked the decline in births to future challenges for the country’s pension system and workforce.

“That passion for killing children in the mother’s womb is costing us in terms of growth and pensions. It is also costing us in terms of human capital,” the president said.

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

Milei has consistently opposed abortion, which has been legal in Argentina since 2020. The law was considered a major victory for the feminist movement across Latin America at the time of its approval.

In February 2024, lawmakers from Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party introduced a bill seeking to repeal voluntary abortion legislation.

Under Argentina’s current law, abortion is legal, safe and free of charge up to the 14th week of pregnancy. After that period, it is permitted when the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s life or health, or when it resulted from rape.

Milei has repeatedly criticized abortion

The Argentine president has also criticized abortion and feminism in international forums. During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2024, he attacked the feminist movement and denounced what he described as the “bloody agenda of abortion.”

His latest comments come amid growing concerns over Argentina’s demographic outlook and the potential long-term effects of declining birth rates on economic growth, the labor force and social security.

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

International

Virginia Police Arrest Salvadoran Man in Great Falls Woman’s Killing

Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, 19, identified by federal officials as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested in connection with the death of Carmen Lizet Puch, 42, who was found dead Monday, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Authorities said Cedillos-Campos and Puch were coworkers and were also involved in an “intimate relationship.”

“Our victim suffered numerous stab wounds in a truly brutal and indescribable manner,” Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a news conference Wednesday.

Investigators said surveillance video showed Cedillos-Campos at the restaurant where he and Puch worked, allegedly taking a fixed-blade knife, a pair of black latex gloves and a bottle of water before leaving.

“He left with the intent to harm and kill the victim,” Davis said.

20260101_dengue_cubeta_728x90

Cedillos-Campos was arrested Wednesday morning in Maryland and confessed to the killing, according to Davis. He is awaiting extradition to Virginia. Authorities have not said whether he has an attorney representing him.

The Department of Homeland Security said Cedillos-Campos had previously been arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2024 after allegedly crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally near El Paso, Texas.