Month: November 2025

The DGT is clear that the future is the V-16 beacon… or the V-16 beacon

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On January 1, 2026 comes one of the most profound changes that Traffic regulations have experienced in our country in recent years. In just over a month, the way of signaling a breakdown or accident will completely change on our roads with the V-16 beacons connected. A system that has raised controversy but about which Traffic already warns: there is no turning back. “It is clear”. Nor will there be any extension. This is what Pere Navarro, director of the DGT, has warned about in the presentation of the Dekra 2025 Road Safety Report at the Mapfre Foundation headquarters, as stated Hybrids and Electrics. Regarding the possibility of not taking them, Navarro has assured that “there are no excuses or extensions. It is clear to everyone, right?” At that same event, the director of the DGT also recalled that the decision has been approved since 2021 and that this change should not catch anyone by surprise. 2021… The truth is that Navarro is not telling the whole truth when he assures that the exclusive use of the V-16 beacon was approved in 2021. In practice, this is the case and, in fact, it is already This possibility was discussed in 2020 when it was rumored that it would be mandatory a little earlier, in 2024. But Navarro’s statement is a half-truth. Because at the time we did not know that, in the end, the only approved lights would be those that can be connected with DGT 3.0. That regulatory change came in 2023. Now everyone who bought a beacon at that time has to spend the money again because your device is not valid. The reasons. For this change, the DGT has been arguing for years that putting triangles on the road is too dangerous. On the contrary, they have defended the use of the beacon by emphasizing the possibility of installing it on the roof of the car without having to leave the vehicle, just by sticking your arm out the window. To reaffirm this, Tráfico defends that on average Around 20 people were dying a year “after getting out of the vehicle” on the road. However, their data does not specify whether this refers to opening the door and getting out of the car, for example, or if the accident occurred when installing the triangles. It must be remembered that installing the beacon does not exempt passengers from standing outside the car. From 2023this operation must be carried out if there is a place away from traffic where you can wait for the emergency services. If it does not exist, that is when the passenger has to wait inside the car with the seat belt fastened. They do not convince. At least to some associations and road safety experts. To questions from Xatakathe Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC) assured that dangerous situations had already occurred with the use of the V-16 beacon as the only warning element on the road. José Lagunar, road safety expert at Auto FM shared concerns, pointing out similar reasons in both cases. The main fears of critics with the measure are related to the low visibility of the device in daytime conditions but also to the duration of 30 minutes (minimum required by the DGT) that the device must be in operation, pointing out that if the arrival of emergencies or a tow truck takes longer than expected we will be sold out on the road, without the possibility of using any other device. And they can fine you. Both for ignoring the beacon and for not carrying it in the glove compartment of the car or, directly, putting in the emergency triangles. In any of these cases, an agent could fine us at least 80 euros (it is considered a minor infraction) for not wearing the appropriate equipment to mark an obstacle on the road or not marking it correctly. Despite everything, the AUGC recommended continue carrying the triangles in the car (something that is not a reason for a fine). The experts consulted by Xataka They remind us of the importance of being able to warn of a breakdown where the connected V-16 beacon is not effective, such as on a secondary road where changes in grade or sharp curves are more common. Photo | DGT In Xataka | The “made in China” business of the DGT’s V-16 beacons: homologating the same product 24 times and selling it under different brands

a bizarre vote in Congress leaves the closure intact

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What started as a political maneuver by the Popular Party to open the door to prolonging the life of Spanish nuclear power plants ended up becoming one of the tightest and most surprising votes of the legislature. The amendment that sought to suppress the closing dates of Almaraz, Ascó and Cofrentes was rejected by a single vote, a minimal difference that was only possible thanks to the – unexpected – abstention of Junts. The result was 171 votes in favor – PP, Vox and UPN -, 171 against and seven abstentions from Junts, who shot down the proposal. The Government breathed a sigh of relief, although the underlying debate—what to do with nuclear energy at the height of electricity demand—remains more open than ever. Congress stops the PP nuclear amendment. The amendment introduced by the PP in the Sustainable Mobility Law It intended to eliminate from the ministerial orders the dates for the definitive cessation of operation of the Almaraz, Ascó and Cofrentes plants. With this, the popular parties sought to open the door to possible extensions, especially at a time when the owners of Almaraz They have already formally requested extend its useful life until 2030. According to El PaísJunts left the vote in suspense until the last moment, leaving it unclear whether they would vote with the PP and Vox or support the Government. His abstention finally tipped the balance. The movement was even surprising due to the political context: it came just 24 hours after a tough confrontation between Míriam Nogueras and Pedro Sánchez, in which the Junts spokesperson accused the president of being “cynical and hypocritical.” However, in the vote the strategy was different because Catalonia consumes more electricity from nuclear origin than any other community. What does this rejection really mean? Although politically the vote had a huge impact, technically things remain more or less the same. The amendment would not have automatically extended the life of the plants, but it would have modified ministerial orders without requiring the report of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), a mandatory requirement by law. Besides, They remembered a precedent: In 2012, the PP itself demanded this report when it reopened the discussion on the Garoña plant. The tension was amplified because the debate had no direct relationship with the Mobility Law, a regulation linked to the receipt of 10,000 million euros of European funds, as various media emphasize. The PP amendment thus introduced an energy element in a text on sustainable mobility, which increased unrest among the Government’s partners. So, is the nuclear shutdown schedule still valid? Yes. With the fall of the amendment, the calendar agreed in 2019 between the Government, Enresa and the electricity companies remains intact. The calendar, as we have already explainedit looks like this: Almaraz I: closure in 2027 Almaraz II: 2028 Chests: 2030 Ascó I and II: between 2030 and 2032 Vandellós II and Trillo: until 2035 However, the fact that the calendar is still standing does not mean that an extension is ruled out. Contrary to what it may seem, the rejection of the amendment does not prevent companies from requesting an extension nor does it block the Government from authorizing it. As the Executive himself recalled —as cited by El País—: “The right to request an extension is not created by a ministerial order, but by current regulations.” In fact, as mentioned above, Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy have already formally requested that Almaraz remains operational until 2030. Administrative clash. The real problem is technical and bureaucratic. According to The Independentthe bureaucratic procedure has been crossed unexpectedly: the CSN can take up to a year to issue its report, but the regulations force the plant to request closure in March 2026, if the calendar is not reviewed before. That means Almaraz could be asking to close while the CSN evaluates whether it can continue operating. A scenario that no one thought of in 2019 and that adds more uncertainty to the nuclear transition. Everything that nuclear encompasses. Added to this is the Government’s position. The Minister for the Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, has reiterated on several occasions the three red lines of the Executive, that the expansion does not entail costs for citizens, guarantee of nuclear safety and security of supply. However, these three conditions clash precisely with the diagnosis that they make the electric ones: operating the plants beyond 2027 with the current tax burden is economically unviable if the market does not exceed €65-70/MWh. The expected prices are around 55, so Iberdrola and Endesa insist that keeping the nuclear park open requires alleviating taxes that, according to the Ministry, would end up having an impact on consumers’ bills. The economic debate does not end there. Enresa’s fund for the dismantling of the plants only covers 43% of the real cost. According to figures that we have had access to in Xatakathere is a hole of 11.6 billion euros not yet financed, a fact that overrides any discussion about deadlines and extensions Can Spain do without nuclear power? The underlying issue is no longer political, but technical. Spain wants to build a 100% renewable system, but it has yet to be demonstrated that the network can sustain that model without the stability that nuclear energy provides. The new digital systems that must replace inertia of the reactors are still in the testing phase, and the CNMC has detected inconsistencies in the frequency and voltage control procedures. In parallel, regions with strong industrial and digital growth—such as Aragon, which is experiencing a data center boom—warn that the network is practically at the limit. Simply put: companies ask for time; The territories ask for certainties; The Government asks for guarantees. An official closure, but an open debate. Congress has closed the door to the PP’s fast track, but it has not closed the nuclear debate. On paper, the calendar remains intact; In practice, the transition coexists with technical tensions, industrial interests and territories that fear what will come next. The question … Read more

In 1521 Spain established a timid colony on the island of Borneo. Today they demand 15,500 million euros for it

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In a corner of Southeast Asia, the island of Borneo has been the scene of a historical entanglement that seems like something out of a novel. What began more than a century ago as a trade agreement between a local sultan and European businessmen today translates into multimillion-dollar lawsuits and international arbitrations involving Spain, Malaysia and the descendants of the Joló sultanate. The surprising thing is that the origin of all this mess goes back to a detail that many would overlook, but given that when it happened the island was under Spanish jurisdiction, a century and a half later, the judicial imbroglio has spilled over into a Spain that has been involved in a lawsuit for 15.5 billion euros without a hitch. Signing of the agreement and colonial movements In 1878, the island of Borneo was under Spanish administration in certain areas, although real authority corresponded to the Sultan of Joló, the highest authority in a small Muslim kingdom located to the north of that island. In that year, Sultan Jamalul Alam signed an agreement with two British businessmen, Baron of Overbeck and Alfred Dent for the exploitation of natural resources of the area. However, for the descendants of the sultan, that contract had a lease character, while for the British it implied a definitive transfer. First point of disagreement. Spain, as the administrative power of the time, left evidence of its limits and neither punctured nor cut nor cut in that agreement. Reproduction of the 1878 agreement In 1885 the Madrid Protocol between the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, with which Spain formally renounced any right over Borneo and recognized British control of the area, left in hands of the British North Borneo Company to its colonial exploitation and became part of the British colonial territories. Already in 1963, the island of Borneo was integrated in the newly formed Malaysia, and the Joló sultanate was integrated as the state of Sabah. Under the agreement signed in 1878, the Malaysian government was the “heir” of that transfer/lease of the territory, so kept a symbolic payment annual payment of about 5,300 ringgit (about 1,110 euros per year at the exchange rate) to the sultan’s heirs. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, oil and gas deposits were discovered in that territory, so Malaysia, through the company Petronas. With a treasure of such magnitude under the soil of their territory and with a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of the initial agreement, the heirs of Sultan of Joló began to pressure Malaysia to return their lands. Something that Malaysia rejected outright. Invasion of Sabah and start of battle Everything changed in 2013, when a group of 235 linked to the heirs of the Sultan of Joló invaded Sabah, starting what became known as the Lahad Datu conflictclaiming the sovereignty of the region. Malaysia responded with military force and stopped the rebels declaring that the state of Sabah was part of the sovereignty of Malaysia. In retaliation, he decided to suspend historic payments to the sultan’s descendants. This suspension marked the beginning of a long international legal dispute since now the heirs did not have the right of ownership of the lands nor did Malaysia recognize the agreement signed in 1878. Since in 1878 the kingdom of Sabah was under the administrative control of Spain, the sultan’s heirs considered that the historical jurisdiction belonged to Spain and requested arbitration in Spain, trusting that the country’s courts could act as a neutral venue to resolve the conflict between Malaysia and the heirs of the Sultan of Joló. Territory in dispute From trade disagreement to billion-dollar international conflict In 2019 and already in Spain, the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJM) assigned arbitration in principle to lawyer Gonzalo Stampa. However, in 2020 and after studying the case in more detail, the same court ordered arbitrator Stampa to stop the arbitration by determining that the State of Malaysia could not be judged by another State. Despite the disqualification and orders from the Spanish justice system, Stampa ignored it and continued with the mediation process. Since it had been banned in Spain, Stampa moved the arbitration to Paris and, in 2022, he dictated a favorable award to the heirs of the sultan. In the award issued by Stampa, which we remember at that time was “free” and no longer recognized by Spain, it could be read: “(…) the Arbitrator decides that the Claimants have the right to recover from the Respondent the restitution value of the rights over the leased territory in northern Borneo. (…) and orders the Respondent to pay the Claimants the sum of 14.92 billion US dollars.” Painting of the Sultan from the late 19th century That is to say, not only had he ignored the instructions of the Spanish justice system, but he also condemned Malaysia to pay compensation of 15,000 million dollars to the heirs. Obviously, nor Malaysia neither Spain nor even Paris Court of Appeal and then the Cour de Cassation French recognized the nullity of the arbitration. In fact, the Supreme Court recently condemned to referee Stampa for contempt and usurpation of functions. Although no authority recognized this arbitration, the heirs attempted to enforce the award by confiscating Malaysian assets, in the form of Petronas assets, in Holland and Luxembourgbut European courts temporarily stayed the action. At the same time, the heirs of the Sultan of Joló filed a new complaint against Spain claiming 15.5 billion euros, alleging that the country had hindered the execution of the award. This demand has just been dismissed by the ICSID (International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes) tribunal dependent on the World Bank, which considered that there was no “protected investment” and ordered the heirs to assume the costs of the procedure. The result is that Spain leaves the dispute without paying a single euro, while the legal battle for territory and compensation against Malaysia remains open and on multiple fronts in Europe and Asia. What began as an agreement … Read more

inside a living being

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For some time now, the most powerful nations in the world have started a race to find the rare earths that China dominates with iron fist. They all did it from the same perspective: with mining as part of the fundamental process for its extraction. And this is when China has announced the most shocking element in memory regarding these minerals. What if the mines were not needed? Challenging mining. The discovery by a Chinese-led team of scientists of a rare earth mineral formed inside a fern alive Blemchnum orientale It represents a profound break with the extractive logic that has dominated this sector for more than a century. For the first time, a hyperaccumulator has crystallized monazite (a critical material for strategic technologies) under normal environmental conditions, without heat, pressure or industrial processes. This natural ability turns the plant into a chemical laboratory capable of organizing metallic elements into functional structures, a phenomenon never documented in any living organism. The plant monazite. The monazite generated by the fern concentrates fundamental elements such as cerium, lanthanum or neodymium, all essential for magnets, lasers, advanced optical devices or energy systems. Its physical properties (thermal resistance, chemical stability and durability against radiation) place it in the core of the modern technology industry. That a plant can produce this mineral without human intervention reveals a completely new road to obtain materials that normally require intensive mining and aggressive chemical processes. Monacita The internal logic of the process. The identified mechanism shows that the plant crystallizes the mineral in their extracellular tissues to prevent non-nutritive elements from entering the cells. This spontaneous organization reproduces, on a plant scale, structures similar to the so-called “chemical gardens”, formations that arise when metallic salts self-assemble in aqueous media. This biological self-organization turns the fern into a system capable of transforming metallic solutions in minerals solids without altering their physiology. Hyperaccumulators as a tool. The process is based on the extraordinary capacity of certain plants to store metals in concentrations hundreds or thousands of times higher than those of the soil in which they grow. This ability makes hyperaccumulators ideal candidates for mining valuable items. without digging or removing large volumes of land. The detected mineral formation demonstrates that these organisms not only capture metals, but can convert them into a recoverable and stable form. A Blechnum Orientale fern A sustainable circular model. And here comes the possibly most transformative fact of the announcement. The combination of absorption, crystallization and plant detoxification allows us to imagine a model for obtaining rare earths based on plant cultivation in metal-rich soils. Once harvested, the biomass would serve as a direct source of the desired mineral, reducing dependence of mining operations traditional. The process also allows for simultaneously recovering degraded soils, treating them and returning them to an ecologically functional state, integrating production and restoration in the same cycle. Environmental implications. There is no doubt, the possibility of extracting rare earths without aggressive mining could alleviate geopolitical tensions in a sector dominated by few countries and marked by strategic risks. At an industrial level, it opens the door to cleaner and more diversified supply chains. And at the environmental level, it proposes a solution capable of reduce toxic wasteemissions and ecological damage, offering an alternative path to secure essential materials without repeating the impacts of the conventional extractive model. A new frontier for science. If you like, the discovery not only transforms the understanding of how minerals are formed in nature, but also opens up an innovation space radical that unites biology, geology and advanced technology. If the fern’s ability can be replicated, optimized or expanded to other species, plant mineral production could become in a key piece in the transition towards more resilient and sustainable supply chains. Science has shown that the plant can replace the mine, and now the challenge of transforming that possibility into a practical tool for the 21st century industry begins. Image | Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad In Xataka | The great paradox of the US: the world keeps asking for more F-35 fighters, but China has turned off the tap to build them In Xataka | Battery fever reaches the abyss: mining waste is changing life in the depths of the Pacific

the 15% that shows who has the power

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Apple has closed a deal with Tencent to charge a 15% commission on purchases within WeChat mini-games, half of what it usually charges, according to Bloomberg. After more than a year of negotiations, Apple accepts conditions that it would never have admitted in the West. Why is it important. WeChat It is not just another app: it is China’s unofficial operating system, with 1.41 billion monthly users. If Apple had blocked features or put too much pressure on Tencent, it risked a backlash that could have severely damaged its position in its third-largest market. Tencent I knew it. Apple too. 15% is the price the company pays to keep the peace in a market where it does not dictate the rules. The money trail. WeChat mini-games generated 32.3 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) in social media revenue in the last quarter alone for Tencent. Until now, Apple did not see a cent of that pie because developers avoided its payment system. With 15% on that basis, Apple could earn about $675 million annually if current rates are maintained. It seems like a lot, but it’s pocket change: Apple had a turnover of $383 billion last year. This deal doesn’t move the financial needle. Between the lines. The most striking thing is not how much Apple earns, but how much it has had to give up. In its global App Store, Apple takes 30% from most developers as a non-negotiable toll. In China, Tencent has forced you to accept half. The arithmetic speaks for itself: Apple has given up 50% of its potential revenue before even starting to charge. That is not “a trade agreement.” It is a recognition of who has the real bargaining power. Yes, but. Ultimately, for Apple, something is better than nothing. For years it has watched one of China’s fastest-growing digital entertainment segments develop entirely outside its payments ecosystem. The agreement opens a tap of income that did not exist before, even if it is a small tap. And it sets a worrying precedent: if the most powerful player in China gets a 50% discount, what will stop others from demanding the same in other markets? It will be a matter of negotiating strength. Not everyone has a market of 1.4 billion consumers. The contrast. In Europe and the United States, Apple has had to give ground due to regulatory pressure: antitrust lawsuits, digital market laws either court battles with Epic Games. In China, it has given way due to pure market reality. He has not needed a regulator to force him to lower the commission. It was enough for Tencent to sit down to negotiate knowing that it manages the digital infrastructure without which Apple cannot operate effectively in the country. The big question. Is this 15% the new standard for platforms with sufficient negotiating muscle, or can Apple manage to maintain it as a Chinese exception? What is clear is that the era of the universal 30% commission is over, replaced by a fragmented reality where whoever has the users dictates the conditions. It is another symptom of end of globalization as we knew it. In Xataka | Tim Cook promised them very happy expanding Apple thanks to China. The reality is that China has ended up conquering Apple Featured image | zhang kaiyv, Amanz

They stole almost 23,000 euros from him with the SIM swapping scam. Now Vodafone and Ibercaja will have to return them

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First, for no apparent reason, you are left without line or data coverage on your mobile. The next thing is to realize that your bank account has been emptied. This nightmare is the result of ‘SIM swapping’one of the most dangerous scams and protagonist of the sentence we are discussing today. what has happened. The Plasencia court has sentenced Vodafone and Ibercaja to return all the money to a client affected by this type of scam, as reported in Economist & Jurist. Vodafone issued a duplicate SIM card to the victim, but it was not she who requested it, but rather a third party who used it to obtain virtual bank cards without her authorization. When he reported it, the bank returned several transfers made by the scammers, but they did not cover the entire amount; There were still 22,833 euros to recover. The ruling concludes that both the bank and Vodafone are responsible and must replace that amount. Why is it importantand. The ruling places the responsibility for this type of scam on companies, not only banks but also operators. Vodafone tried to pass all responsibility to the bank, while Ibercaja alleged that it was not a security failure on its part, but rather negligence on the part of the client. The sentence is clear: both are responsible; Vodafone for not identifying who requested the duplicate SIM and the bank for not having implemented protection measures to avoid this fraud, which had been known for a long time. The ruling concludes that “generic warnings from banks cannot be used to impute negligence to the user”. Precedents. There have been other favorable rulings for those affected by ‘SIM swapping’, such as this one from the Supreme Court that condemned an entity (also Ibercaja, by the way) to return 56,474.63 euros. The cases in which the operators are also held responsible are less common, but they also exist. In 2022, the Court of First Instance No. 15 of Zaragoza sentenced Telefónica to pay 2,680 euros to another victim of this scam. Fines. Although the operators are not always sentenced to pay the stolen amount, they have received numerous fines. The AEDP has already fined different operators for allowing this practice for an amount of 6.7 million euros. Digi has been one of the most affected companies, with a initial fine of 70,000 euros that finally It reached 270,000 euros. SIM swapping. The mobile phone has become the center of our digital life. With it we access and identify ourselves in all types of services, also in our bank, which is why it has become such a valuable object for scammers. ‘SIM swapping’ consists of the scammer requesting a duplicate of our SIM card in order to control our bank accounts using SMS verification. The problem usually occurs due to a lack of security measures in the operators’ stores, which fail to identify who is going to request the duplicate. Image | Pexels, Vodafone In Xataka | What you can do to avoid “SIM swapping”, the cyberattack that wreaks havoc and allows bank accounts to be emptied

Anti-abuse bracelets were going to be a technical solution to a social problem. They are generating chaos of incidents

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The Cometa system, which manages anti-abuse control bracelets, registered this Tuesday a new technical incident which ended up causing an overload of the service for several hours. The ruling forced the Ministry of Equality to implement the emergency protocol to guarantee the safety of the approximately 4,500 women who use these devices. In recent months, these bracelets have been the talk of the town. the problems that have caused. And while they promised to solve a big problem, they are also generating other parallels. What exactly has gone wrong. This last problem has been located in a router that distributes alert messages according to the type of incident (entry into exclusion zones, manipulation of the device, low battery, etc.). According to Equality, around 10% of these messages has generated incidents recurring events that have collapsed the system. The failure was detected at 4:30 in the morning and the service did not regain stability until 5:25 p.m., although complete normalization did not arrive until 9:00 p.m. During this time, the panic button, emergency calls and Bluetooth alerts remained operational, according to informed the ministry. The Government’s response. From the moment the incident was detected, the protocol planned for these situations was activated: the 4,500 users of the service received text messages informing them of the problem and the Security Forces and Bodies were alerted to reinforce surveillance. Minister Ana Redondo and the Government delegate against Gender Violence, Carmen Martínez-Perza, traveled to the headquarters of the Cometa service and maintained direct contact with the Vodafone-Securitas UTE, the company responsible for the system. “No victim has been unprotected at any time during these hours of crisis,” has assured Round in a message spread through social networks. A device that accumulates problems. This incident comes just two months after the State Attorney General’s Office uncovered an even more serious mistake: During the transfer of management from Telefónica to Vodafone, access to the geolocation data of hundreds of attackers was lost for several months. This caused, according to the annual report of the Prosecutor’s Office, “a large number” of dismissals and acquittals in cases of violation of restraining orders, since the judges could not have the necessary evidence. That episode generated a strong political controversy, with the PP asking for resignation de Redondo, who defended that the victims were never in danger and criticized the “lack of prudence” of the Prosecutor’s Office in making the ruling public without providing concrete data. A technology in question. What was presented at the time as an effective technological solution to protect victims of gender violence is showing that it also has important limitations. The Government has announced that the next tender for the service, scheduled for spring, will include “technical improvements” and that an audit is currently being carried out to check whether Vodafone is complying with the contract. “We will investigate until the end and, if necessary, we will take appropriate action,” has warned Round. Beyond technology. Despite the incidents, anti-abuse bracelets continue to be considered a valuable tool. Since their implementation in 2009, no woman wearing one of these devices has been murdered. The ministry insists that the protection system goes beyond technology and includes an “institutional network” of professionals that guarantees the safety of victims. However, we have also witnessed that technology fails, and it is precisely in these cases that we must prevent this from happening at all times. Cover image | EFE (Herbert Neubauer) and National Police In Xataka | How to share location with your entire family permanently with your mobile

If with the Fujian it sat at the US table, the images of the next aircraft carrier place China in another dimension: the nuclear one

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Last week China announced its first 100% national aircraft carrier hitting the table and making it very clear what its naval aspirations are. Now the appearance of new images from the Dalian shipyard has revived one of the most significant naval movements of the 21st century: China’s advance towards an aircraft carrier that places it at an unknown level. The strategic leap. We are referring to what aims to be the first nuclear-powered one, provisionally known as Type 004. He visible discovery of a structure reminiscent of a reactor compartment (similar to those found on US supercarriers) suggests that Beijing is taking the definitive step towards a capability that until now only the United States and France have. The transition is not symbolic, but structural: A nuclear aircraft carrier offers virtually unlimited autonomy, massive electrical power for advanced sensors, and sustained ability to operate further from shore, an essential element for a China that aims to project power beyond its immediate periphery. The Fujian catapult. The recent entry into service from Fujianits first aircraft carrier with electromagnetic catapults had already marked a break with the It was STOBAR.but Type 004 represents a technological leap even greater by integrating nuclear propulsion with the most advanced launch ecosystem that the Chinese navy has. Even so, Chinese naval planning appears to bifurcate: as it builds this ambitious vessel, reports indicate who also works in another conventional aircraft carrier improved, a sign that Beijing wants a combination of mass and elite to accelerate its naval transformation. On new aircraft carrier under construction Comparative architecture. The reason why Type 004 arouses so much attention is that, in its designconcentrates the synthesis of global trends: a helmet inspired by the lines of the American Ford, EMALS catapults similar to the North American and French ones, and a deck capable of operating from J-35 stealth fighters even naval drones GJ-11 or airplanes AEW&C KJ-600. The satellite images reveal a deck under construction that will include two catapults in the port area (in addition to two in the bow), matching the layout of American ships and surpassing the capacity of Fujian itselfwhich only has a catapult in the oblique section. Extra ball. The vision of the program is clear: provide the Type 004 with a heaviest air wingvaried and technologically complex, optimized for sustained operations and for air and maritime space control roles beyond the Chinese coastline. The parallel development of a possible “Type 003A” conventional (cheaper, faster to produce and based on an already dominated architecture) demonstrates how China combines disruptive innovation with industrial iterationensuring sufficient volume to saturate any attempt at regional containment. If nuclearization provides range and resilience, the simultaneous construction of conventional ships ensures pace and fleet density. Unlimited energy. Plus: its function is not only to move aircraft further, but to serve as an energy platform for a set of emerging weapons that would transform naval warfare. Official voices, such as Professor Liang Fang of the National Defense University, they claim that the future Chinese nuclear class could carry directed energy weapons (including high-power laser weapons and the long-awaited electromagnetic cannon or rail gun). These weapons are not mere futuristic add-ons: they require colossal amounts of energy and an electrical stability that only a naval nuclear reactor can offer. He rail gunbased on the acceleration of metal projectiles to hypersonic speeds using electromagnetic fields, is a system that the United States abandoned due to costs and technological maturity, but that China continues to develop as part of its strategic disruption. And more. Its appeal lies in exit speedthe lack of explosive and the possibility of devastating kinetic impact at low cost per shot, although its electrical consumption is gigantic. The convergence between nuclear aircraft carriers and electromagnetic weapons aligns with the plans already outlined by figures such as Admiral Ma Weimingresponsible for the PLA’s electromagnetic program, and represents a clear attempt to turn a flagship into a technological node capable of challenging US naval dominance in emerging domains. The operational dimension. TWZ analysts recalled that the future Type 004 air wing combines aviation advanced manned and drones large in size, creating a hybrid system Designed for offensive projection and situational awareness over an extended range. The integration of stealth drones like the GJ-11, heavy AEW&C aircraft like the KJ-600, and fifth-generation J-35 fighters would allow China to adopt an operating model closer to the American one: extended air-to-air combat, persistent surveillance, distributed electronic warfare, and deep strike capability. Added to this are the new amphibious ships Type 076 (also equipped with electromagnetic catapults to launch drones) that would complement the aircraft carriers with saturation functions, regional air control and operations support directed towards Taiwan or the South China Sea. The result is, a priori, a navy that, although still inferior in number to the eleven American supercarriers, closes the gap with a unprecedented speed. China and the new balance. In summary, Type 004 symbolizes a decisive strategic shift: China is no longer just modernizing its fleet, but aspires to equal the autonomy, technological capability and global reach of US aircraft carriers by combining nuclear poweredelectromagnetic weapons, high energy lasers and a new generation embarked aviation. The visible integration of the reactor module in Dalian confirm that Beijing seeks to operate a type of super aircraft carrier capable of sustaining prolonged ocean missions and powering futuristic systems that could redefine naval warfare. At the same time, the parallel development of another conventional model demonstrates a dual strategy that seeks volume and sophistication at the same time, quickly reducing the gap with the US Navy. In other words, China is moving towards a maritime architecture based on abundant energy and dominion of the electromagnetic spectrum, a change that forces us to completely rethink the global competition for control of the seas. Image | x, x In Xataka | The Fujian is officially China’s largest power catapult: Beijing already has a button to challenge the US Navy In Xataka | China has just tested the … Read more

These are five of their best bargains

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Amazon has finally joined the early Black Friday that we are also seeing in other stores like MediaMarkt. In the case of Amazon, we can find quite interesting offers on a good assortment of devices, so in this article we are going to review five of the best deals that will be available until December 1 or while supplies last. Roborock QV 35A by 349.99 eurosa robot vacuum cleaner with a self-emptying base that features room navigation and mapping. Soundcore Boom 2 by 84.99 eurosa Bluetooth speaker with 80W sound power and autonomy of up to 24 hours. Petkit PuroBot Max Pro 2 by 509 eurosa smart cat litter box that includes odor elimination. Soundcore P30i by 26.99 eurosBluetooth headphones with noise cancellation and autonomy of up to 45 hours. Kodak Dock Plus 4Pass by 106.03 eurosan instant and portable photo printer with a pack of 90 sheets. Roborock QV 35A One of the offers that Roborock has recently launched through Amazon is the robot vacuum cleaner Roborock QV 35Awhich for 349.99 euros (its minimum price) includes a self-emptying base. It offers a suction power of 8,000 Pa, includes an anti-tangle side brush and has a scrubbing function. In addition, it has navigation PreciSense LiDARis able to avoid obstacles, is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri and can map the rooms in the house. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore Boom 2 Now that Christmas is approaching, it is a good time to buy a speaker that allows us to liven up dinners with family or friends. He Soundcore Boom 2 has dropped to 84.99 euros and stands out mainly for its 80W audio power, but also for its battery that offers a autonomy of up to 24 hours and because it is waterproof. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Petkit PuroBot Max Pro 2 If you have a cat at home, this may interest you. He Petkit PuroBot Max Pro 2 has dropped to 509 euros and it is a smart sandbox that comes with some interesting features. The first thing is that it has 20 sensors to prevent it from working when the cat approaches —for security—. It also comes with a 76 liter capacity and an 8 liter waste container, so it is large for one or two cats to use, it has an odor elimination system and incorporates cameras with night vision that connect to your mobile. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore P30i If you are looking for very cheap Bluetooth headphones that have active noise cancellation, be careful with the Soundcore P30i that have gone down to 26.99 euros. Its battery offers a autonomy of up to 48 hoursthey have resistance to water and dust (IP54 certification) and its charging case allows us to place the mobile phone as if it were a stand. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Kodak Dock Plus 4Pass Also for the Christmas season, it is good to have an instant photo printer to immortalize moments with friends and family. For this, the Kodak Dock Plus 4Pass It is a good purchase option now that it has dropped to 106.03 euros. Connects to your phone via Bluetooth to print photos with size 10 x 15cm. In addition, it is a pack that includes 90 additional sheets. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Amazon and Compradicción (header), Roborock, Anker, Petkit, Kodak In Xataka | The best mobile phones (2025), we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

The Opus schools decided to keep up with the government and continue segregating by sex. His students are running away

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When it came into force in January 2021 the new education lawno one missed that in its provisions there was a direct missile to the waterline of dozens of schools and institutes throughout the country: segregation by sex was prohibited; Only mixed schools could continue to be chartered. What we discovered a couple of weeks later is that the missile came with a timer. Five years later, the timer is reaching zero and many centers are preparing to stop being chartered. Immediately afterwards, a wave of students are trying to leave those schools. What did the law say? The LOMLOE, which is what the law is called, demanded that educational centers that receive public funds “develop the principle of coeducation in all educational stages.” That is, they were prohibited from “not separating students by gender.” However, as competition is regional and each place has different regulations, many of the attempts to apply this point they have been delayed. In Catalonia, for example, when the ERC department tried to eliminate agreements with differentiated education centers, the courts stopped the measures until the agreements were renewed. That period begins at the beginning of 2026. And why does it affect Opus Dei? Strictly speaking, talking about “Opus schools” is a bit inaccurate. It is true that there are many centers in that orbit, but the relationships between them are complex and that means that they are not a uniform whole. However, this group of centers (which in Catalonia number a dozen and receive 35 million each year) are the spearhead of the “anti-coeducational” movement. Thus, many Catalan schools linked to the Prelature are doing the math. Continuing to be concerted would mean losing one of its hallmarks; Not losing it means becoming private (with the increase in fees that this entails). For this reason, the steps they were taking in two schools in the Sant Cugat/Bellaterra area (La Vall – for girls – and La Farga – for boys) were seen as the great privatization experiment. The area is one of the richest and most exclusive in all of Catalonia and, in that sense, it seemed logical to think that they would be two of the schools that would suffer the least from the jump. But the flight of students has begun. El País requested in July (through a complaint to the Commission for Guarantees of Access to Public Information) the data from the official pre-registration process and what these data show is a complete leak. 63 students from La Vall and 96 students from La Farga tried to go to other schools. Finally, only 38 of the first and 74 of the second achieved it; but it is a warning to sailors. Applications for admission also decreased (between 10 and 14%). All this, while a group of families try not to abandon the concert. However, the decision seems firm. Last week, two schools in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat also linked to the Prelature (Xaloc – for boys – and Pineda – for girls) announced that they were going to begin preparing for a more than possible non-renewal of the agreement and the problems that this will entail. According to data from El Paísonly those two schools (with more than 2,800 students) receive seven million euros from the Generalitat. And what situation does all this leave us in? In recent years, the debate about whether single-sex or mixed education it has become more intense. In fact, in some countries like the US, differentiated education It has been experiencing a real boom for a decade. However, the current conversation makes it clear that research on the topic is the least of it. The opposing positions at an ideological, economic and social level They make these investigations become ammunition with which to attack the opponent. For this reason, what everyone in the sector is wondering is how long the legislature will last and what will happen if, eventually, a government of the opposite direction arrives. Meanwhile, what is clear is that differentiated education is going to verify, for the first time in many years, the commitment of its families to the project. Image| Vazovsky In Xataka | The generation of parents who feel guilty because their children spend a lot of time looking at screens

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