Month: July 2025

Continue playing as if it were 1955

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Every day millions of people face a deafening squeak. They do it every time They take the subwaya means of transport with many lights but with this great shadow. It is something that we live together almost without realizing: we have done everyday unbearable, but the question is: What is that noise? Damn rolling. As he points out In the country Soledad Torres Guijarro, professor at the University of Vigo, the problem with the subway is the rolling, a noise whose origin comes “from the roughness of both the wheel and the raíl”. The problem has been studying for half a century, and affects both the subway and the railroad. Even the naughty ones that unite the rails “can be excited with those vibrations and become radiated elements.” The tunnels do not help. While railroads circulate outdoors, the subway usually does it underground, inside a tunnel. That aggravates the situation because the tunnels are very reverberant spaces that amplify all the noises produced by the train. A study Made by Cecor in May 2022, it was concluded, yes, that “there is a small number of people exposed to noise levels greater than those marked” in official documents. This plane shows noise levels in one of the areas covered by Metro line 5 in 2022. Source: Community of Madrid / Cecor. Worse in curves. The squeak produced by the friction of the train tracks is aggravated in closed curves. That “howl” It is due to the lateral sliding of the wheels on the upper part of the railroad. There are other noises that add to those squeaks: the separation between the rails-to allow the thermal dilation of the metal-also causes the traditional “click-clac” sound when the subway cars pass over. Rescue brakes. The problem has tried to mitigate with varied improvements. For example, they decreased by replacing Zapata brakes with the disk, this expert explained. The former rely on the wheel surface itself, but those of disco, much more silent, do not act against the contact surface. And smaller wheels. Smaller wheels have also begun to be used, because the smaller the vibrant surface, the less capacity it has to generate sound. Even so, Torres stands out, roughness will always be there. Other solutions. There is no unified response to the problem, but there are subway networks in which varied measures have been applied. In the New York Metro for example It was modified the way in which the tracks were fixed to the ground. The concrete naughty used there were covered with rubber to mitigate vibration, for example. In addition, panels were installed that absorb the noise on the ceiling and walls of the station, something that is complemented with the increasingly common protective acoustic screens – like those that were installed In the Biscay metro– installed close to the roads. WHO recommendations. The World Health Organization (WHO) has specific recommendations for different noise sources. According to A document Updated in 2022, less than 54 decibels for noise caused by trains (44 decibels at night) are recommended. To try to mitigate the problem, the experts of this agency propose to “apply line rectified procedures to eliminate deformations and corrosion in the railways.” In a study on Hongkong Metro made in 2019 It was concluded that the average noise was 74.1 dB with 100.9 dB peaks. BOE No. 178, of July 26, 2012. And in Spain, what limits are there? In Spain, state reference regulations regarding environmental noise is the Law 37/2003, of November 17, of the noise (BOE No. 276, of November 18, 2003), and the Royal Decrees 1513/2005of December 16 (BOE No. 301, of December 17, 2005) and 1367/2007of October 19 (BOE No. 254, of October 23, 2007). The latter was updated with the Royal Decree 1038/2012of July 6 (BOE Nº 178, of July 26, 2012) with limits 5 dB higher than those of the previous document: the noise was not less, but more. 65 dB on residential soil. All of them transpose the 2002/49/CE European Directive, of June 25, on Evaluation and Management of Environmental Noise (DO No. 190, of July 18, 2002). In that last Royal Decree Annex III determines the limit values in rail and airport infrastructures, which fit what the Who points out although they do it depending on the type of soil: from day, up to 60 DBA for land of sanitary or teacher use (55 in the previous annex, for example), 65 dba for residential and 75 for industrial (50, 55 and 65 DBA at night, respectively). Image | Ronnie Schmutz In Xataka | Spain has a rail giant in the shadows. And just achieved the “contract of the century”

Train liberalization in Spain has been a success for travelers. The problem is that companies are losing a money

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Railway liberalization has reached cruise speed with spectacular results for passengers … but demolving for operators accounts. Why is it important. The train price war is changing the transport map in Spain. Users earn with more low options and prices, but companies are bleeding money in a battle that has also begun to question the sustainability of the current model. In figures: Almost 40 million travelers They used high speed in 2024. That is 77% more than in 2019, before pandemic. Prices They have fallen up to 42% On some routes. Passenger income is 35% below the levels prior to liberalization. The context. Ouigo has become the undisputed EY of low prices. In the first quarter it was the Most economical operator in four of the five liberalized runners: Madrid-Barcelona (18.59 euros). Madrid-Sevilla (29.09 euros). Madrid-Málaga (26.89 euros). Madrid-Aliante (20.80 euros). Only in Madrid-Valencia surpassed him Avlo, and it was for just 25 cents. This aggressive strategy It is giving results. The French subsidiary has managed to capture 36% of the market in Madrid-Aliante, 25% in Madrid-Valencia and 15% in Madrid-Barcelona. Yes, but. Profitability is another issue. The sources do not indicate the concrete losses of each operator in 2024, but The data They indicate that the average income remains far from the levels that Renfe achieved alone. The operators have increased only 6% the average income in Madrid-Barcelona, to the 8 cents per traveler and kilometer, a figure that remains 35% lower than the era of the monopoly. Deepen. Beyond numbers, liberalization is changing mobility habits. The train has won the battle to the plane bluntly: In Madrid-Barcelona, the rail share went from 65%to 81.5%, while other routes exceed 80-90%. And now the financial sustainability of the sector is at stake. If current margins do not allow long -term profitability, something will have to give in: either prices, or some operators will end up withdrawing from the market. In Xataka | Renfe trusted the Avril trains to face the Low Cost of Ouigo and Iro. They do not stop giving problems Outstanding image | Dani guitar

Europe has realized that the rearme must start on the roads. A Russian invasion would unleash a fatal congestion

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In 2022 there was already talk of this: having a better army does not help much if it cannot be launched. That year was the beginning of many meetings in Europe with the Russian Ukraine Invasion as a fuse. Then there was talk of rearmebut attention also focused on something that Europe has just elevated in the priority list: the need to prepare roads, railways, ports and airports for the rapid movement of troops and tanks. Background: Russia. European military vulnerability. Had three years ago The political environment that the debate on the real capacity of Europe to resist an eventual Russian attack had put a fundamental aspect that usually is hidden behind rearmament ads: it is not enough to have more tanks or soldiers if the necessary infrastructure To move them quickly. Roads, railroads, ports and airports of the European Union show serious limitations when it comes to supporting the weight and volume of modern armored ones, or absorbing an intense military traffic in times of crisis. The east. As He warned then The American Lieutenant retired Ben Hodges, excommanting of the United States Army in Europe, the problem is aggravated the more advances east: bridges unable to support German, British or American combat cars and mountainous routes that hinder access to key countries such as Romania. In case of emergency, bottlenecks could delay the deployment of allied forces just at the points where they would be needed more urgently, such as the passage of Suwałki between Poland and Lithuania or the routes towards the Black Sea. The first mechanism. To deal with these shortcomings, The EU launched The mechanism connect Europe (CEF), an infrastructure fund that also covers military mobility. However, the budget for this mission was drastically reduced: of the 6,500 million euros initially proposed only 1.7 billionand that money, the commission ended up assigning 340 million to 22 projectsthe majority of small scale and focused on central Europe. Among them They highlighted the improvement of rail links between Antwerp and Germany, the modernization of two airports in Poland and the connection of the Military Tapa base in Estonia. Modest support were also included to large strategic projects Like Rail Balticathe railway corridor of 5.8 billion euros that will connect the Baltic countries with Poland, or Via Baltica, the road that crosses the region, which it received just 60 million of community support. The new warning. Back to the present, he counted this week The Financial Times That the European Transport Commissioner, Apostols Tzitzikostas, has re -launched a warning that shook the foundations of the European defense: the continent It is not prepared For a large -scale war against Russia because its roads, bridges and rail networks are inappropriate for rapid transfer of troops and armored. According to explainedmany bridges are Too closetoo old or directly non -existent, which would prevent the transit of tanks from, for example, 70 tons thought to operate in a matter of hours. In practice, moving military forces from west to east of Europe would take weeks or even months, an unacceptable lag in case of a sudden Russian offensive. The strategy. Solution? To correct this structural weakness, Brussels now work on a 17,000 million plan of euros that provides for the modernization of 500 critical projects along four major military corridors that will cross the continent. It is a design made in coordination with NATO and its military controls, whose details remain classified for security reasons. The idea is that troops and heavy equipment can move in a matter of hoursfar reducing the reaction time to an aggression. In addition to reinforcing bridges and adapting roads, it will be sought Eliminate bureaucratic obstacles To prevent military convoys from being held on European borders by customs protocols that, in times of war, would be a fatal ballast. The context of rearme and Russia. The new plan is enrolled in a broader effort of rearme Continental that We have been counting. The European Union studies a package of up to 800,000 million euros to reinforce its defensive autonomyin part in response to the pressures of Washington and the possibility of a substantial reduction of the US military presence in Europe. To this is added The warning The NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, who in June warned that Moscow could attack a member of the Alliance before 2030. The message of Tzitzikostas fits this urgency logic: without the ability to move troops agilely, any European defense plan would be on wet paper in front of Russian military machinery. The budget struggle. Although the European Commission has included military mobility in its proposal for the 2028-2034 budget, diplomats warn that the initial figure of 17,000 million It could be diluted In negotiations. This budget fragility is seen as a dangerous contradiction: While considering the expense in defense 5% of GDP (With 1.5% specifically intended for military infrastructure), some Member States (Spain at the head) They resist to assume the costs of such vast modernization. Tzitzikostas, meanwhile, insists in which Europe cannot afford to continue depending on others or be disarmed by its own bureaucratic slowness. The modernization of bridges, tunnels and railways is not just a matter of civil transport: it has become the backbone of the future European defense. One thing is clear for curator: an invasion would not wait for forms to be resolved or to reinforce a bridge. Image | 7th Army Training, US Army Europe, European Roads In Xataka | If Europe rearma we will find a problem that will affect us all: cars and trains In Xataka | The “rearme” in Europe has encountered an obstacle that neither US imagined: Spain

In Madrid there are 24 tons of Canarian volcanic sand giving tumbos. So they will become a “dry garden”

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Every summer has its informative soap opera. That is no novelty. What is less common is that, As is happening In La Palma, a few sacks of sand star. It sounds strange, but after all it is the history of the 24 tons of volcanic sand that in May 1,800 kilometers traveled to value the Canarian culture and then ended up abandoned. From the case we already talk to you A few weeks ago. Now we finally know its conclusion, which is no less surprising. Volcanic sand … and traveling. A few months ago, in May, the Canary Authorities had a peculiar idea: they collected more than 20 tons of sand from Tajogaite volcano (La Palma), prepared it and put it in large bags and then uploaded it aboard a ship that transferred it to Cádiz, from where she traveled again on board trucks to Madrid. It took several days to cover the entire journey. Once in the capital they opened the sacks and scattered those blackish grains in the middle of Callao, drawing a huge, dark and bright circle. And all that, for what? To value the Canarian struggle, a popular sport on the islands, but that many do not know in the Peninsula. Coinciding with the Month of the Canary Islands, on May 17 the outdoor playing field was prepared in the Plaza de Callao and everything arranged so that two of the teams with the most footprint in the islands, the Saladar of Jandía and the Candelaria de Mirca, dispute in Madrid one of the most emblematic days of the DISA Government of the Canary Islands. As was in charge of emphasizing The regional government was the first time in the very extensive history of the island sport in which an official fighting day was held in the center of Madrid. But even so, to give it more epic, they decided that the fighters were measured on authentic volcanic land of La Palma. Hence the whole logistics deployment of sacks, permits, ship, trucks and crane. First stop: Callao Square. The experience was a success. In addition to the Arena, in Callao, stands were installed and the appointment attracted a nourished audience that included some authorities, such as the island president, Fernando Clavijo. “Fighting about the sand with which so many palm trees continue to fight to get ahead was a spectacular moment. We were recorded in memory,” Recognize in The Spanish newspaper (EPE) Lorena Hernández, general director of native sports of the regional government. At first, the sand, he remembers, sounded like “crazy”, but the idea went ahead for his “romanticism.” And what do I do with all this sand? That was the next question. Once the competition is over and the experience is over the next question was what to do with those 24 tons (some versions speak of 20) expelled in their day by the Tajogaipe volcano. They could take the way back to the palm. Or they could stay in Madrid as a gift, which was the idea that ended up. There were those who thought that the grains would be divinely in the Madrid volleyball pigs and for that purpose they reserved, but there was a problem: the sand was heated too much, so it was not a good idea to dedicate it to that end. Second stop: Torrelodones. The history of those volcanic sands ended A report With a suggestive headline: “Without a trace of the 24 tons of sand from the palm volcano that Canary Islands gave to Madrid for beach volleyball fields.” The newspaper said that the Consistory had no evidence that they went to dedicate volleyball sand to its volleyball fields. Apparently the material was lost track. The mystery did not last little. A day later the same medium revealed That the sand of discord was actually in a Torrelodones warehouse, where they accumulated dust waiting for the City Council to ultimately accept the sacks formally and look for a new use. Discarded the Volleyball fields and without short -term plans that the Canarian struggle was to take root in Madrid, then it was pointed out to be given a third use: environmental. Third stop: “Dry Garden”. The story seemed to conclude there, but EPE He has just contributed A new fact that (at least apparently) puts the end to the soap opera of volcanic sand, at least for the moment: instead of allocating sports clues, the sand will be dedicated to gardens. And not any kind. There is talk of “dry gardens.” One of the ideas on the table is to create a garden with low water consumption species and a typology similar to those that exist in the Canary Islands. Another option is to use it in other green spaces to take advantage of the properties of the material, of porous structure, good for drainage and that prevents the land from flooding. “It is a high material in minerals, in the Canary Islands it has worked wonderfully. If the sand can have a second use and create a green space with the sand of the palm, it will be wonderful,” Recognize Hernández. Why does it take so long? Simple: bureaucracy. The Cabildo had already prepared a document with the details of the donation, but now it is time to modify it: instead of allocating the sand to sports uses, it will be dedicated to the parks and gardens of Madrid. “Being a donation between public institutions, it requires a lot of paperwork. With this, we believe that we can put an end to management in one or two weeks,” they explain to EPE after specifying that a few days ago new documentation was requested. While the procedures advance in the offices, in the Torrelodones ship follows the one that is probably the most traveling sand in the history of the palm. Images | The Government of the Canary Islands (X) In Xataka | The Canary Islands have seven islands, but only one has escaped from the … Read more

What can you do to remedy it

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Let’s explain How to prevent Google Maps from spending so much drums When you are using the application as GPS in your car. It is normal that when you are doing this the mobile consumes more battery, since the application will be making continuous use of many of its resources and chips. However, there are some things that can do that they allow consumption is not so exaggeratedly great. Do not wait miracles, but to increase autonomy a bit when you are using the application continuously. Use the dark mode One of the problems when using Google Maps as GPS is that you will have the screen always on. And the best way to reduce the battery with the mobile screen always active is enable dark mode In the application. Thus, the Maps interface will have dark tones, which will make bright consumption lower, and battery will be saved. To activate the dark mode on your Android mobile or your iPhone you have to enter the Google Maps settings by clicking on your profile photo. Once inside, you have to look for the option of Dark mode and mark it as activated. Beware of apps in the background This is an advice applicable to any use that you give to the mobile, but especially important when you are going to be using an app and only an app for a long time, such as Google Maps. Try close any other app that you don’t use and that can be consuming battery in the background. Normally we always advise to force the closure of any app, since if you close it but after a while you will open it more battery than leaving it in the background. But if you are going to be driving, you can allow you to close all except Maps and maybe the music app that you are going to be using. Restricts Maps in the background If for any reason you stop actively use Google Maps in a section of the journey, but do not close it or stop navigation because you will return later, The application will be active in the background. This means that it will continue to consume a lot of battery. In Android you will be able to manage its operation in the background. For that, you have to go to the settings, enter the section Applicationsand search Maps. Inside your adjustments click on Batteryand then Restricted. When activating the restricted mode, the consumption of Maps will fall significantly when you have it in the background. Use battery savings mode Mobiles usually have a battery or low consumption savings mode. They are modes optimized by the operating system itself, and that you can use when you have very little battery as an emergency. You can affect your experience with Google Mapsbut above all it will control other elements of the operating system so that they consume less. When you activate this mode on your mobile, it will affect aspects such as the use of networks, brightness, screen updates, visual effects, screen blockage and, above all, the applications in the background. Google Maps will be a little slower And the screen will look darker, but its consumption will be remarkably lower. You will have this mode in the section Battery of your mobile settings. Take advantage of the no connection mode One of the reasons why Google Maps consumes so much drums is because it is connecting to the Internet at all times to update the map content. Therefore, it is highly advisable to use Google Maps without connection previously downloading the maps from the areas through which you are going to drive. To download maps, click on your profile picture up to the right in Maps, and in the options that open click on Maps without connection. On the screen you are clicking on Select your own mapand then you will go to a visualization where you can choose the area you want to download to use without connection. If you are going to be listening to music, I also recommend you download your streaming app music on the device. Thus, the mobile will not connect to the Internet to play music, and you will save even more battery. In Xataka Basics | 61 European alternatives to Google, X, Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Dropbox, Google Drive, WhatsApp and other popular services

The most emblematic trucks in the US are multiplying in Russia. And they are using them to bomb Ukraine

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Last week, a documentary broadcast on the television channel of the Russian Army, Zvezda, revealed the Greater Russian Drones Factory fighting. In the images not only We saw hundreds of drones Geran-2 black finished, all in a row within the secret installation. We also saw that the factory had its own test field where the devices were mounted on trucks that serve as a shuttle. The model was surprising. Made in USA trucks. A Kyiv Independent Research He has revealed a mechanism for evasion of sanctions that allows Russia to have American pickup trucks, specifically the successful RAM 1500 models TRXdespite the prohibition of exporting them after the large -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The finding is particularly alarming because after the Zvezda documentary It has been verified that Kamikaze drones They are launched from these modified RAM 1500 models. According to the mediumalthough Ukraine points out that fixed catapults are more reliable for takeoff, the simple appearance of these vehicles in official propaganda demonstrates the use of western goods in Russian military machinery. Evasion of sanctions. After the imposition of sanctions, Stellantis (owner of the RAM brand) interrupted in 2022 All export to Russia. However, since then At least 130 RAM 1500 They have entered the country through indirect routes. Here are several companies based in the Arab Emirates, such as Automax Motors Fze, Fine Cars Eaeu-Fze or Mehrzad Post & Shipping, who have acted as intermediariesre -exporting dozens of vehicles to private Russian companies in San Petersburg and Moscow. This technique of “Transhipment”It is a classic evasion method, where goods first travel to a non -sanctioning country before being sent to Russia. In social networkssome of these firms have openly presumed shipments for Russia, which shows the laxity of control in certain Gulf markets. The direct route from the USA. But there is something more serious. It was discovered that Arivir Corpa company based in Virginia, sold at least eight RAM 1500 TRX manufactured in 2023 directly to the Russian subsidiary Arivir Rus, owned by a Russian citizen. According to filtered customs documents, the procedure It was systematic: The American company acquired vehicles in concessionaires, reluctant their Russian counterpart and managed shipping. No doubt, this trade clearly violates US export restrictions unless there was A special licensewhich is almost impossible to obtain in this context. Neither Arivir Corp nor the other firms contacted responded to research consultations. Instead, the Stellantis group has given explanations. The group remember that “has stopped all sales of vehicles in Russia and suspended its manufacturing operations in that country” from 2022. And he adds that “contractually prohibits all distribution channels sending vehicles to Russia.” Strategic implications. The experts consulted By ki they underline That any export of this type without a license constitutes a violation of the export controls of the United States, regardless of the location of the intermediary. In addition, the companies involved could face to secondary sanctions that would affect their ability to operate in the international market. For Ukraine, the situation reveals both the insufficiency of sanctions compliance mechanisms and the need for Western manufacturers to reinforce YOUR CONTROL SYSTEMS of customers and distributors. What are apparently simple trucks becomes a war resource capable of integrating into the Attack infrastructure Russian, adding another layer of complexity to the international effort to weaken Moscow’s military capacity. Image | Zvezda In Xataka | We already know what Russia’s trick is to multiply its drones: it is called “cooling units” and comes direct from China In Xataka | The Russian threat has activated the “Nordic model” in Germany. The Plan: Recruit 40,000 adolescents a year in the Army

Mediamarkt launches a top offer in the Kindle of Amazon, an excellent seven -inch ereader to devour books

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Mediamarkt has been launching discounts that apply once we add the product in the cart. After finding numerous offers in virtually all kinds of devices, now it has touched the turn of the Kindle Paperwhiteone of the most interesting ereader of Amazon that can be bought by now 139 euros instead of 169 euros. * Some price may have changed from the last review A good, beautiful and now cheaper ereader He Kindle Paperwhite It is a very interesting ereader for both those who want to make the leap to this type of devices and for those who have already had a reader. Its screen is excellent, and not only for its quality but also for its size of seven inches that allow visualizing more content. Among its functions, the Kindle Paperwhite offers the possibility of adjusting both the size of the letter and its typography, allows you to configure the frontal light, the margins or the spacing and the spacing Your panel is anti -reflexesso it looks good even in broad daylight. In addition, the screen offers 300 PPP and the reader has 16 GB to store thousands of digital books. One of the key points of Kindle Paperwhite lies on its battery, since this model is capable of reaching a Autonomy of up to 12 weeksan even high figure to be an ereader. In addition, by connecting it to a 9W charger by USB-C route, it is able to recharge its battery completely in 2.5 hours. You may also be interested in these alternatives Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32 GB) of Amazon | Our faster kindle, with self -regulatory frontal light, wireless load and battery weeks | Metallic black * Some price may have changed from the last review New Amazon Kindle Colorsooft: with 16 GB of storage, color screen and adjustable warm light * 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 In Xataka | Best electronic books. Which to buy and nine recommended models In Xataka | The 25 best science fiction books

The bad news is that the EU is losing in the tariff pact with the US. The good is that Spain is relatively airy

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The European Union He has accepted A 15% tariff on its exports to the United States. Although details about the agreement are still lacking – such that affect the automotive, pharma and semiconductor sector – this significantly clarifies the bases on which trade between the two regions will settle. Among the obvious pergouts, there is an inevitable for us: how this will affect the technological sector in Europe and, particularly, in Spain. The agreement. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, explained in its statement How the trade between the US and the EU has a value of 1.7 trillions of dollars per year and brings together 800 million people. The key data of the agreement are important. 15% unified tariff. The threat that weighed on Brussels was 30%tariffs. The increase is considerable with respect to the prior to the commercial war initiated by Donald Trump. The agreement is very similar to the one reached between the US and Japan A few days ago. Washington already applied to the EU (false) “reciprocal tariffs with an additional 10% to 4.8% general that already taxed the European products that entered the US before this climb. Even so the tariff is much higher than in the past: according to The World Trade Organization, before Trump reached the presidency the average tariff applied to foreign goods was 2.2% while that of the EU was 2.7%. More and more assignments of the EU. There will be no similar imposition for American products that buy Europe. Besides: Europe must buy energy (especially liquefied natural gas, LNG) to the USor value of about 640,000 million euros over three years. Von der Leyen, of course, has presented the figure as a way of disconnecting more from Russian crude and gas. There will also be European investment commitment in the US arms sector, but there are no figures. Trump Indian that the EU will invest 600,000 million dollars additional to current investments, but did not clarify whether those cited investments in military equipment are included in that amount. Commercial rebalancing. The Commercial Deficit of US goods with the EU It was 235.6 billion dollars In 2024 according to data from the US Census Office: Europe “was winning” so far, but that situation will be “rebuilt” following the agreement, such as highlighted Von der Leyen. Keep in mind that this US deficit was already balanced with the Exchange of digital servicesin which the US has a competitive advantage that supposed Something more than 100,000 million euros with data from 2023. Automotive. The automotive industry has been especially present in negotiations. According to the president of the European Commission, “we should not forget where we come from, today the cars pay 27.5% and we have managed to lower it to 15%. It is the best we could achieve.” German automotive giants such as Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW were for example very impacted by those 27.5%tariffs. Spain does not manufacture cars that are exported to the United States, which makes The impact in this case Be null. Bad news for steelurgy. In the agreement, yes, there are also negative exceptions. Thus, 50%steel and aluminum tariffs are maintained, something that damages one of the important sectors of the Spanish industry and of course to the European. The EU already responded to those tariffs where it hurt: In soybeans. However, it remains to be seen if there are new details that impact that concrete situation in the future. Von der Leyen said, however, in the CE statement that in those matters “the EU and the United States face the common external challenge of excess world capacity. We will work together to guarantee a loyal world competition. And to reduce barriers between us, tariffs will be reduced. In addition, a quota system will be established”, but there were no specific data on this regard. Spain, little affected. As pointed out The governor of the Bank of Spain, José Luis Escrivá, Spain is a country little affected by the tariff because our exports to the United States are 4.7%, one of the lowest figures in Europe. The impact according to him will be “moderate”, although future classulas may negatively affect that situation. Although in the technological field Spanish exports are reduced, there are sectors such as electrical machinery or automotive components that will see their competitiveness reduced. Semiconductors. In the absence of details, 15% tariffs will also apply to products from the pharmaceutical sector and that of semiconductors, but According to the statement From the European Commission, the tariff “will not apply in the aviation industry, some chups, critical raw materials and some agricultural products.” There are no specific data on the scope of these exclusions of the Araceles, and it seems clear that this agreement still has notable fringes that could cause a sensitive impact on all types of sectors and companies. Gigafactories of AI. The European Union announced in February The research project ai to create “gigafactories” of AI with tens of thousands of ia chips. These projects have been part of the commercial agreement, because in the European Commission statement it is specified that “the US chips will help enhance our AI gigafactories and help the US maintain their technological advantage.” The agreement seems that among other things can stimulate the creation of these data centers in Europe and Spain. Your mobile and your laptop (probably) will rise in price. But the most obvious impact – and practically inevitable – will be that of the price increase. Although Donald Trump established exemptions for electronic equipment such as mobiles and computers in April, he also assured that they would review this matter. In the agreement with the EU there is talk of exemptions to tariffs for semiconductors as those that have already been announced at that timebut there are no specific data that clarify whether these types of products will be free of tariffs. Not only consumers are affected here, but of course companies: the operational costs of computer equipment will … Read more

The four -day workday has found an unexpected ally in Moscow: the Ukraine War

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The conflict in Ukraine continues to reconfigure not only Geopolitics and the European Budgetsbut it will also change the working day of thousands of Russian workers. Avtovaz, one of Russia’s biggest car manufacturers, has announced that it will apply the four -day work week As of September. According to The published by Reutersthis is not a measure oriented to Improve productivity or reduce the stress levels of its workers, but adopts this measure in the middle of a strong fall in vehicle sales, a crisis of consumption due to the wear of the invasion of Ukraine and a growing pressure of exports of Chinese cars. Russia does not sell cars. Avtovaz, is the manufacturer of the acquaintances Lada. After the first months of the Ukraine War, the Russian Automobile Industry lived a brief increase in defense expense and state subsidies. However, according to data from Reutersthis situation has begun to revert quickly. Avtovaz explained through a statement sent to Russian media that their sales fell 25% in the first semester, with only 155,481 units sold, and estimates that this will be the tendency for the entire source year. Avtovaz is not the only one to consider the four -day work week as a measure for shock the crisis of the sector. According to The local pressthe Russian manufacturer Gaz (Gorkovski Avtomobilny Zavod) will also apply the four -day week on his Gorki plant, for the same reasons that Avtovaz argued. Russia’s own Minister of Economy, Maxim Reschetnikov, He warned in June that the country “is on the verge of entering recession.” Avtovaz, as a reflection of this crisis, wants to use the letter of reduction of the work week as a way of maintaining employment without increasing the number of layoffs in difficult times. No money to make them or to buy them. According to published The Moscow Times“The final decision on the introduction of a reduced work week of four days will be taken based on the results of an analysis of market trends and economic factors, including the level of the key interest rate and the availability of credit products,” said the manufacturer’s statement. The main reason that has uncontrolled this crisis (in addition to being a derivative of the conflict in Ukraine), has been the increase in interest rates, which slows so much production Like consumption. “We are talking about a high key rate and more severe demands by the regulator for those facilitating cars loans,” Avtovaz explained in his statement collected. The impact of high types not only feels Avtovaz. The Russian giant of the Seversal Steel, pointed outthat “the high basic rate and low prices” were responsible for a 55% drop in their benefits in the second quarter of the source year. That is, as I know money is expensivecompanies lose profitability and citizens purchasing power to buy cars that are manufactured, generating a chain effect that complicates economic recovery. Chinese cars are unstoppable. To the already complicated economic crisis of the automobile sector worldwide, the massive emergence of imported cars from China is added, which sell their products at such low prices that Avtovaz directly accuses a “price dumping policy.” According to company sources these marches, mostly Chinese, are increasing the market pressure with very small prices to give out more than 400,000 cars that these importers have stored in their dealers and have not yet sold. Gaz starts already, Avtovaz leaves it for September. Russian Fuentes assure that Gorki de Gaz’s factory will implement the four -day work week immediately. From July 21 to August 3, the employees of this plant will enjoy their vacations normally. During this period, several divisions of the plant will continue to operate according to their work schedule. Once they finish, the four -day work week will be implemented at least until the end of August. Avtovaz indicates that it is still analyzing the way to implement the measure, so it will enter into force for September in the factory that the company has in Togliatti, in which one in 20 inhabitants of this city works. You know what it is to work four days. Although it is not done for the reasons for productivity and well -being improvement That this model of day is usually applied, this is not the first time that Avtovaz resorts to the reduced working day to deal with a crisis. In 2022, just after the imposition of First international sanctions To Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, the company implemented a four -day work week for three months. During that same year, the sales of its flagship model, the Lada, fell 48.2%, until 174,688 units, according to data publishedby The New Voice of Ukraine. On that occasion, four -day work week served to maintain a certain level of production In an adverse scenario. Today, three years later, economic conditions remain equally complicated, so companies re -apply the same recipe. In Xataka | Three Spanish companies tell us how it has gone after implementing a job utopia: the four -day week Image | Lada, Unspash (Sten Rademaker)

While in the West we continue to discuss whether to use in class, China wants students to use it more and more

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In many Chinese university campuses, the use of artificial intelligence is no longer discussed: it is used. According to a mycos institute surveyonly 1 % of teachers and students claimed not to use generative tools. The remaining 99 % do and almost 60 % declare to use them frequently. It is a notable turn with respect to two years ago, when accessing Chatgpt It involved resorting to mirrors and VPN. Today the movement is the opposite: the centers drive their use. As Mit Technology Review points outthe transition has been fast, but planned. At the University of Zhejiang, an introductory subject of AI is mandatory for all students since 2024. Others such as Fudan, Renmin or Nanjing have opened transverse courses to any discipline, beyond computer science or engineering. Beijing marks the passage for AI The focus is in the use with criteria: internal guides, concrete examples, recommendations on what tasks can rely on generative models and which human judgment should prevail. Interaction with the machine is treated as one more skillcomparable to other technical literacy. McKinsey estimates that China will need 6 million professionals with AI domain for 2030 Several universities are developing their own courses focused on local alternatives to Chatgpt. Centers like Shenzhen and Zhejiang have launched teaching programs on Deepseeka model that seeks to position itself as a national reference in generative. Others are already forming their students in the use of Doubao, the chatbot developed by Baidu and one of the most widespread in academic environments. In April 2025, The Chinese Ministry of Education issued national guides for Primary and Secondary, aimed at promoting critical thinkingdigital fluidity and practical application in these academic stages. For its part, Beijing has already mandatory the teaching of AI in all centers of the city, from primary to high school. For the University, these general recommendations have resulted in plans of each institution and the creation of internal courses and regulations. Spain is already moving In Spain there are universities that have gone from the debate to action: new degrees focused on AI and tutors based on AI that accompany the study Without giving the answer made. All with an objective: to train professionals who work with ia without losing critical thinking. If we focus on the rest of the West, the use is massive, but the rules not so much. Let’s deepen a little. USA: Ohio University He has made mandatory The training in AI for all its first year students. In California, programs such as Chatgpt Edu are arriving at public universities to offer free access to generative models. Europe: the European Commission promotes the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027with ethical guides and teacher training. Universities such as Maastricht, Gothenburg or Edinburgh have approved their own frames. Networks like Yerun or the US work to harmonize criteria and share good practices. Decisions, for now, remain mostly decentralized: They depend on each institutionof each faculty … and, in many cases, even of each teacher. It is a flexible model, with advantages and disadvantages, compared to the most structured approach that China has adopted. Two different paths to address the same reality: AI has come to stay, and mastering these tools will be key. What is still being defined is how to teach them, when and under what criteria. Images | Xataka with Gemini 2.5 Flash | Igor Omilaev In Xataka | There are those who believe that the best AIs become more silly over time. It is no madness

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