Month: November 2025

Work absenteeism in ITV workshops has skyrocketed in some autonomous communities. The solution: private detectives

by

The public company SITVAL, in charge of managing technical inspections of vehicles in the Valencian Community, has put out to tender a contract of 140,000 euros to hire detective agencies to investigate possible unjustified absences, incompatible activities or fraudulent situations among its staff. Just like inform from El Español, the measure seeks to tackle an absenteeism problem that has skyrocketed since the ITVs went under public management in February 2023. The underlying problem. Since Ximo Puig’s Government reverted service to the public sector, work absenteeism in Valencian stations has skyrocketed to between 16% and 18% on average, according to share the middle. The figure doubles the regional average for absenteeism in the community, which stands at 6.4%, and is well above the national 7%. The result is a collapsed service with waits exceeding eight weeks for heavy vehicles, according to the Valencian Federation of Transport and Logistics Entrepreneurs (FVET). What will the detectives do? The contract, published On October 27 on the Public Sector Contracting Platform, it commissioned the agencies to observe, monitor and prepare documentary and audiovisual reports on SITVAL personnel. Just like share El Español, detectives must collect truthful information about possible unjustified absences and, if necessary, appear before administrative or judicial bodies to ratify their reports. The contract is divided into three lots, one for each Valencian province, with an execution period of two years. It is not an isolated case. The Valencian Generalitat is not the first administration that uses private investigation services to control absenteeism in public ITVs. The Government of Andalusia launched a similar service in August of last year, divided into two lots for the western and eastern areas of the community. Consequences. The middle emphasize That the reversal of the service, which occurred three months before the 2023 regional elections, has generated an unexpected effect: the massive relocation of inspections. According to data Officially, in 2024 a total of 291,662 vehicles chose to pass the ITV in other autonomous communities such as Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha or Tarragona, which means less income compared to the 2,332,087 inspections that were carried out in 2022. Qresion in it transportation sector. The situation has led the Valencian Federation of Transport and Logistics Entrepreneurs (FVET) to announce the departure of its presidentCarlos Prades, from the board of directors of SITVAL at the end of October. “We pay more than in other communities for a less efficient, slower service that generates uncertainty,” denounced Prades, who added that “Valencian stations are no longer a real option for many companies.” The figures don’t add up. Puig’s Government justified the transition to public management arguing that it could generate up to 40 million euros per year in operating income for the Generalitat, compared to the 7 million euros paid by private concessionaires together. Although it seems that the forecasts have not taken into account the impact of absenteeism, the drop in inspections carried out or additional costs such as this investigation services contract. Cover image | FVET In Xataka | Yes, there is a way to check if the V-16 beacon is working correctly. And you are not going to alert the DGT or the emergencies about it.

All these Xiaomi devices mark their lowest prices of the year on AliExpress 11.11

by

For a few hours now, we have active AliExpress 11.11a promo with the soul of Black Friday loaded with bargains of all kinds. It’s a perfect time to get your Christmas shopping done early. and buy all kinds of devices at very good prices, What can the consoles be like?. In addition to the offers that we can find throughout the marketplace, we also have a series of discount coupons that are perfect for saving more on our purchases: Discount minimum purchase coupon 1 coupon 2 3 euros 15 euros XATAKAES03 ESAE03 5 euros 29 euros XATAKAES05 ESAE05 12 euros 69 euros XATAKAES12 ESAE12 20 euros 129 euros XATAKAES20 ESAE20 40 euros 249 euros XATAKAES40 ESAE40 60 euros 369 euros XATAKAES60 ESAE60 75 euros 469 euros XATAKAES75 ESAE75 85 euros 549 euros XATAKAES03ES85 ESAE85 The promo will be active until November 19, but it is more than possible that the best deals will fly much sooner. On this occasion, we are going to take the opportunity to bring you a selection of Xiaomi devices that have very good prices right now, many of them being the lowest of the year (or very close to them). Xiaomi Pad 7 by 187.51 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, a very interesting tablet if we are looking for the best quality-price. Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite by 162.90 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, a very economical scooter option. Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ by 205.70 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, a robot vacuum cleaner with a charging station. Xiaomi TV A Pro by 328.82 euros with the coupon XATAKAES60, in its 65-inch version. Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro by 139.19 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, another even cheaper tablet option. Xiaomi Pad 7 We start with one of the two tablets that we bring in this selection of devices from the Chinese manufacturer. It is about the Xiaomi Pad 7a very balanced device that at launch was committed to offering a great quality-price ratio, but this AliExpress promotion raises the level even further: it comes out for 187.51 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20. What does it offer? For less than 200 euros, we have a tablet with an 11.2-inch screen, compatible with Dolby Vision and a rate of 144 Hz, making it perfect for working, watching content or even playing. Its 8,850 mAh battery will give us plenty of autonomy, although we can also charge it quickly thanks to its 45 W fast charging. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite With how difficult it is to circulate and park in some cities, having a scooter can give us extra mobility and comfort, as well as a great help to not always depend on public transportation. This Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite It is one of the cheapest that we can buy right now: it costs 162.90 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20. We are looking at an electric scooter that has a maximum power of 300 W and a 5,200 mAh battery, with which we should have a range of approximately 20 kilometers. It weighs 15 kilos, its tires are 8.5 inches and it has a drum brake on the rear wheel. Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ Robot vacuum cleaners are a very interesting help if we want to have the floor at home clean without too much effort. Among all the models that we can buy right now, this Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ is presented as a great alternative for the tightest budgets: we can purchase it for 205.70 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20 and choosing PayPal as a payment method to obtain an additional discount of 20 euros. This model has a suction power of 4,000 Pa and a station that is used to empty the bucket, clean its pads and refill the water tank. With its 5,200 mAh battery, it is capable of offering about 2 hours of autonomy, which is more than enough for small or medium-sized apartments. Its navigation system will prevent crashes and it has a sensor that detects carpets. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi TV A Pro If we are looking for a large TV and we don’t want to spend too much in exchange, look out for this Xiaomi TV A Pro. It is a very interesting model, especially if we are after something with 65 inches. This AliExpress promo allows us to take it home for 328.82 euros with the coupon XATAKAES60 and using PayPal as a payment method. It is a model with 4K resolution and QLED technology, so we can expect vivid colors and very good contrasts. Its operating system is Google TV and it includes Chromecast as standard, which makes it very easy to send any type of content from your mobile. At the sound level it performs well, since it is compatible with Dolby Audio and DTS-X. Xiaomi TV A Pro 65 inches The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro We close this selection of offers as we started it: with another tablet. On this occasion, it is the Xiaomi Redmi Pad Proa model that is difficult not to recommend if we take into account what it offers and what it costs right now: AliExpress’s 11.11 leaves it alone 139.19 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20. Among everything we can highlight about it, it is worth noting that it offers a large 12.1-inch screen with very good resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and compatibility with Dolby Vision. It has a Qualcomm processor, comes with a fairly large 10,000 mAh battery and its four speakers will give us a good multimedia experience. Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro (6+128 GB) 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 … Read more

It is equal to a three euro Steam game

by

On September 2 a story started whose end is still expected to be long. That day, the United States claimed that it had shot down a drug boat off the coast of Venezuela. From then until now the tension levels have been increasing with continuous arrival of a Washington fleet in the area and a disturbing idea that floats in the air about the true magnitude of Washington’s movement. And, in response, Venezuela has just presented a simulator for its navy. A Russian video game. They counted it on Insider. At the Military Academy of the Bolivarian Army of Venezuela, in Caracas, they spread recently images of young cadets learning to handle kamikaze drones through flight simulators. The machines, covered and equipped with joysticks and flat screens, were intended to show the technological leap of the Venezuelan army in terms of unmanned warfare. However, the video images caused international surprise: the software used is practically identical (if not the same) to the Russian video game FPV Kamikaze Dronedeveloped by the company HFM Games and sold on the Steam platform for just $3.99. The shadow of the copy. The interface, graphics, engine physics and even the mission selection menu are exactly the same. From Moscow, the studio’s own co-founder, Aleksei Kolotilov, confirmed that there was never contact with the Venezuelan government nor any adaptation of the program for military purposes. “Our game was created only for civil entertainment,” he said, ironically saying that, if Caracas wanted to thank the “involuntary collaboration,” they could “send a couple of barrels of oil” in exchange for fixing some software bugs. Cheap simulators. He institutional videospread between patriotic speeches and slogans of loyalty, was published just when the tension between the United States and Venezuela reached one of its peaks. highest peaks in years, fueling fears of an open confrontation. In other materialthe army commander, General Johan Hernández Lárez, solemnly states that the young people are “ready to destroy the enemy”, while a cadet shows how his virtual drone is launched against a complex of buildings, in a recreation identical to the missions of the Russian game. In another broadcast recording For the academy itself, a uniformed presenter thanks the Armed Forces for the “joint effort” that allowed them to acquire the simulators, while dozens of cadets practice in a row of terminals with recreational aesthetics. From Ukraine to Caracas. we have told before: FPV drones have become a lethal tool low-cost, popularized by the Ukrainian army and quickly adopted by powers and developing countries. Unlike reconnaissance drones, FPVs are operated as if the operator were inside them, allowing for precise attacks at low cost. Their proliferation has transformed battlefields, democratizing the ability to inflict harm. In the Ukrainian war, pilots train with digital programsbut they must also demonstrate their expertise in real tests before operating in combat. Armies around the world have taken note, and now even countries without a technological tradition, like Venezuela, are seeking to adapt the model with limited resources. The symbolic effect. The use of a commercial video game as a supposed military simulator reveals the paradox of the Venezuelan defense apparatus: an army that exhibits power, but depends from improvised means. In a context of international sanctions, technological isolation and scarce resources, the adoption of Russian civilian software to train officers becomes both a propaganda gesture and a symbol of precariousness. Unlike the United States or Ukraine itself, where learning is completed with real practices, the Venezuelan army seems to resort to low cost solutions to project an image of modernization. However, beyond the irony of a cheap video game being transformed into a military tool, the episode reflects another global trend: the blurring of the border between digital entertainment and real war, where the preparation of soldiers and the simulation of combat can depend, literally, on software designed for gaming. Image | Military Academy of the Bolivarian Army In Xataka | The US has sent B-1 bombers into Venezuelan airspace: everything that is happening is close to a word In Xataka | The US has several warships deployed off Venezuela. Venezuela has a Soviet missile capable of penetrating them

In Galicia, shellfish harvesters are capturing clams and then returning them to the sea. There is a reason and it is in Canada

by

The normal thing when shellfish harvesters collect clams is that this product then ends up in the fish markets and goes from these to the fishmongers, supermarkets and finally to the tables. That’s normal. Over the last few weeks in the brotherhoods of Vilanova and Rianxo, in the Rías Baixas, things have been something different: The bivalves arrived at the market, but from there they returned to the sea, a frustrating round trip for professionals that reveals a lot about the market. To understand it you have to cross the Atlantic. What has happened? The news spread a few days ago the newspaper Vigo Lighthouse. Over the last few weeks, some brotherhoods in the Arousa estuary have been forced to withdraw lots of clams from the auctions to return the catches to the sea. It happened on at least one occasion in Rianxo and two others in Vilanova, where the professionals also decided to give up two days of work. In reality, there is little mystery about it: the merchandise was quoted at prices so low that it did not even cover the minimum cost. In order not to undersell it, the shellfish collectors choose to withdraw the lots from the auctions and return the bivalves to the estuary. Was it quoted that low? It seems so. Óscar Fernández, president of the group of shellfish harvesters of Vilanova, remember that at the end of 2024 the group decided to update its prices to prevent its professionals from continuing to lose purchasing power. To be more precise, what was agreed is that the minimum rate for japonica clams would rise by two euros/kilo, going from seven to nine, and the fine clam would remain at 30 euros/kilo, ten more than before. Any quote that fell below that minimum would be discarded. Or in other words, the seafood would be removed from the market to be returned to the sea, which is exactly what they have done in Arousa. “The decision was made a year ago, but until now there had been no need to remove lots of clams from the fish market,” Fernández told Lighthouse. Among the discarded merchandise there was so much japonica clam as fine. Not only that. Faced with the prospect that the rates would not exceed the minimum, in Vilanova they chose to give up two days of work. Better that than underselling. Can it go further? That seafood moves in ‘discrete’ figures at this time of year is nothing exceptional. Summer is behind us and there are still several weeks until Christmas, so the sector is accustomed to November not being exactly a buoyant month. This fall, however, is out of the ordinary. The Galician Fishing platform sample that the average price (market) in Arousa so far this year is €15.05/kilo. They are 50 cents less than the average for 2024 and are far from the 16.38 that were reached in 2023. The figures (yes) must be handled with caution. To begin with, because they show annual averages, so those of the last two years include December. If we look at the monthly data, in October the kilo was quoted at €13.1, its lowest level since March. In November the average has risen again to 17.54. Another key is that the indicators include slimy clams, bicudasfine, blonde and Japanese. However, professionals in the area do not hide their misgivings. “When Noia opened we noticed a big drop in prices. This week they rose a little, but they are still below those of 2024,” comments Fernandez. And what are the causes? More important than prices are the factors that influence them. And the sector clearly points out two: the effect of Noia opening and the arrival of foreign products. “Seafood is coming in from other places,” says Miguel Ángel Iglesias, Rianxo’s senior boss, who warns that the problem is not so much the pressure it exerts on the native merchandise but rather certain questionable practices. “There are people who sell it as if it were from here.” Hence, a greater effort by the Xunta is missing to avoid fraud and mislabelling. “There is a consumer who is willing to pay a little more for our product and we have to prevent them from taking clams from other sources because the labeling is ambiguous,” Iglesias claims in statements to Lighthouse. Just like other branches In the primary sector, shellfish harvesters demand that the authorities demand the same standards for imported products as local products, with the same “sanitary guarantees” and transparent traceability. In the union, of course, not everyone seems to be having the same bad time: in Vilaxoán they have also noticed a drop in the price of, for example, the japonica clam, but in Cambados they have seen a rise in prices in recent days. Is it something new? Not quite. Before the production crisis suffered by the shellfish banks of Galicia, part of the industry has chosen to look for gender abroadin countries like Canada, Italy, Portugal or Morocco. I explained it a few months ago The Voice of Galicia in a comprehensive analysis in which he recalls that, although the competition from the Dutch, Portuguese or Irish bivalve comes from afar, it seems to have intensified since 2023, when (on the eve of Christmas and after strong erasures) the Galician shellfish harvesters found themselves with a challenging scenario: an increase in clam and cockle mortality. Where does the merchandise come from? Now professionals work in a market that has been forced to look for alternatives to cover the demand for seafood, which, in practice, means that the local genus must compete with bivalves from Bulgaria, Ireland, Sweden, Morocco, Portugal, Holland or Canada. “It comes from many places,” recognized in summer to The Voice Trini Lois, a good connoisseur of the Arousa fish markets. “Galicia is the only place where shellfish harvesting did not rebound. In Portugal it was at a low point, but they once again have high production and are selling.” Regarding … Read more

Shein has opened its first store in Europe in Paris. Paris has reacted as always: staging a revolt

by

The heart of Le Marais The morning of November 5th was troubled. In front of the old Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville (BHV), that art deco building that overlooks the City Hall, Shein opened its first physical store in Europe. But consumer enthusiasm soon mixed with cries of indignation. French-style protests. At the doors of the BHV, the tension was immediate. A group of protesters shouted “C’est honteux!” (“This is a shame!”) and carried signs with slogans such as “Protégez les enfants, pas Shein” (“Protect the children, not Shein”). Both unions and environmental associations joined the protest denouncing the chain’s working conditions and its environmental impact, according to France24. Outside, slogans were chanted; Inside, lines snaked between shelves. Riot police guarded the entrances while the smell of a stinking aerosol – released by a protester – permeated the air. The rest of the day, the store continued to operate normally. Thousands of consumers lined up in front of the fitting rooms. The Observer estimated that more than 50,000 people They visited the new premises in its first days, and Le Monde It is estimated that about 8,000 people They passed only during the inauguration. In the words of the British newspaper, “behind the protesters who shouted shame, lines of shoppers stretched out with bags full of polyester.” Why so much fuss? The Parisian revolt was not born out of nowhere, nor is it just an environmental problem. Days before, the General Directorate of Competition, Consumption and Fraud Repression (DGCCRF) had revealed that Shein France sold child-like sex dolls, as revealed by Le Parisien. The institution stated that the descriptions “left little doubt about the pedopornographic nature” of the product. The discovery led to the opening of four judicial investigations by the Paris prosecutor’s office against Shein, AliExpress, Temu and Wish, for the dissemination of violent or pornographic content accessible to minors. In parallel, the conservative deputy Antoine Vermorel-Marques reported that on the platform Machetes and brass knuckles, category A weapons, prohibited in France, were also sold. Under pressure, Shein reacted. According to BBCone day before the opening, the company announced a global ban on all sales of sex dolls, the closure of the accounts of the sellers involved and the elimination of the adult products category. “The fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable,” CEO Donald Tang told Time. Shein spokesperson in France, Quentin Ruffat, stated exclusively for French radio RMC: “What happened is serious, unacceptable and intolerable. It was an internal failure in our processes. We will cooperate 100% with justice and we will reveal the identity of the buyers.” Two days later, according to Reutersthe Ministry of Finance temporarily stopped the suspension procedure, upon verifying that Shein had removed all illicit products, but stressed that “the company will remain under close surveillance.” The French crusade against fast-fashion. The Executive’s offensive is not only moral: it is also legal and economic. According to Politicothe French Government has activated two parallel procedures to suspend the Shein website. The first, based on the Consumer Code, would allow the domain to be blocked if the company disobeys an order to remove illegal content. The second, protected by the Digital Economy Trust Act of 2004, seeks to demonstrate that there is a risk of recidivism. Both processes could lead to a ban on access to the site and its applications in France. Le Parisien announced that a court hearing will be held on November 26, where a judge will decide the future of the platform. Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Finance, Amélie de Montchalin, led an unprecedented operation at Charles de Gaulle airport: more than 200,000 Shein packages from China were inspected in a single day. According to the ministrythree out of four did not comply with European regulations. But the pulse goes beyond customs. As The Guardian recallsFrance has been questioning the ultra-fast fashion model for years: in 2023 and 2024 it approved laws and fines of almost 200 million euros against Shein for misleading advertising and environmental violations. The arrival of the brand at BHV, details Times“contradicts the ecological and high-end vision that Paris wants to project.” Even iconic designers, such as Agnès B, announced their withdrawal from BHV. “I am completely against this fast fashion, there are jobs in danger,” told BBC. Despite the scandal, Shein has not stepped on the brakes. According to Le Mondethe company will open new stores in Dijon and Reims on November 18, and in Grenoble on the 21st, with additional plans in Angers and Limoges. Frédéric Merlin, president of the Société des Grands Magasins (SGM) – owner of BHV – defended his alliance with Shein in statements to Le Monde: “The products we sell here do not exploit workers or children. We are convinced of their quality.” However, parent Galeries Lafayette broke ties with SGM over “strategic divergence,” according to Timesrefusing to associate his name with the Chinese brand. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 French people have signed a petition against Shein’s expansion, according to The Guardianand numerous brands have left BHV in protest. Despite this, the plans continue. The battle for the soul of fashion. The story of Shein in France is no longer just that of an investigated company, but that of a country that refuses to surrender to the dizzying pace of global consumption. However, it opens up a paradox: while the authorities are preparing laws and blockades, thousands of young people are lining up to buy 5-euro t-shirts. France is waging a symbolic — and perhaps lost — war against fast fashion: that of the country that invented haute couture facing the phenomenon that turns it into waste. On November 26, French justice will speak. But fast fashion has already won a part of the most difficult trial: that of consumption. Image | Flickr and DMCGN Xataka | Years ago buying “white label” was synonymous with poor quality: today it is the number one priority of Spaniards

All their plans are discounted and come with 3 extra months

by

Better safe than sorry. It is obvious that nothing should happen to us while we browse the Internet normally, but it is undeniable that there are more and more dangers. Every so often we are seeing major data breaches, large-scale cyberattacks and even the presence of spyware. We have ways to protect ourselves, although few are as effective as a VPN. Now that we are in full Black Fridaywe are facing one of the best times of the year to get a quality one. We have a great option with Surfshark, since all their plans are discounted. Thanks to this, we can take your VPN from 1.99 euros per month. And be careful, because, as we will see below, their promo does not only imply discounts. Surfshark Starter Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Surfshark’s Black Friday gives us its VPN at a great price As we always tell you, we cannot ignore the fact that there are free VPNs. These work and fulfill their purpose, although using them frequently is not ideal. The reason? Two very specific reasons: They are not as safe as they say they are. and they usually fall short in terms of connection speed or functionalities. In that sense, it is worth investing in a paid one, especially now that we are in the middle of Black Friday. This Surfshark promo, which has already been active for a few days and will still be active until December, allows us to take any of their three plans for less money. If we are only interested in their VPN, then the ideal one for us is their Starter plan, which, as we have told you a little above, has a price of 1.99 euros per month if we opt for its two-year modality (which brings three extra months, so it would be 27 months). And it doesn’t come alone, since it brings the Alternative ID tool. If we don’t mind spending a little more every month, then the most interesting thing we can do is opt for the plan called Surfshark One. It is the one with the most discount right nowleaving its price at more than attractive ones 2.19 euros per month. It brings everything that the Starter plan includes, including the three extra months. These are all the tools that we would have with it: VPN. Antivirus. Real-time alerts on email breaches, credit card and ID data theft. Private search tools. Personal data security reports. Webcam protection. Anti-spyware and malware protection. Surfshark One Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links We have an additional alternative with the most complete subscription from this company, called Surfshark One+. As the name suggests, this is an improved version of the previous one that includes the same and an additional solution called Incognidesigned to eliminate our information from databases. If we opt for two years of this subscription, the price of this plan is 4.19 euros and it also comes with three extra months. 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 | surfshark In Xataka | Best VPNs 2025: guide with the 17 best services to protect your online privacy In Xataka | The best solutions to protect your data and your company’s IT equipment

It is also one of the largest art collections in the world

by

We are used to finding Juan Roig’s fortune in the lists of richest people in Spain. However, it is not so common to find his wife, Hortensia Herrero, on this type of list, who, as a partner and vice president of the main Spanish supermarket chainalso treasures an important heritage, not so much in economic value (that too) but in its artistic value. Specifically, Herrero has been included in the list of 200 biggest collectors internationally according to the prestigious magazine ARTnews. The role of Juan Roig’s wife as a patron of art was not well known despite the fact that she has been investing in works of art of great artistic value for more than a decade. The magazine highlights her status as “a prominent Spanish patron and philanthropist, married to Juan Roig, known for her commitment to the conservation of Valencian cultural heritage.” The beginning of a great passion. Hortensia Herrero has been intensely dedicated to art collecting since 2013. As and how does it count Herrero herself, her interest in art arose after a visit to Dallas to the opening of the exhibition “Sorolla and America” ​​where she met its curator, Javier Molins. It was at that moment when he decided to dedicate time and resources to this hobby, which over the years became a true passion supervised by Molins, who has served as a mentor and expert consultant. Since then, his dedication has been constant, visiting exhibitions and searching for the best works for his collection, which has allowed him to build a high-level selection recognized internationally. Your own art gallery. Since 2023, the co-owner of Mercadona manages the Hortensia Herrero Art Center (CAHH) in Valencia, which is a national reference. The exhibition center is located in the historic Valeriola Palace in Valencia, currently offers 3,500 square meters dedicated to contemporary art and houses more than 100 works by nearly 50 recognized artists, both national and international. “Who was going to tell me that this love of painting, which began at the age of 14, would end up becoming a passion that has led to the construction of this art center, now offered for Valencians and visitors to enjoy,” said the patron. on the web from the center. The project involved an investment of more than 40 million euros and has had the objective of bringing contemporary art closer to Valencians and visitors, stimulating dialogue between historical heritage and modernity. This commitment has allowed him to share a position on the list of the largest collectors of ARTnews alongside world figures such as Bernard Arnault, François Pinault, Jeff Bezos or investors Larry Fink (BlackRock) and Kenneth Griffin. It’s not just “love of art.” Beyond artistic interest, art continues to be one of the most profitable investments for great fortunes. This is confirmed in the report “The Wealth Report” prepared by the consulting firm Knight Frank. During 2023, the price of works of art worldwide increased by 11%, while luxury items such as jewelry rose by 8% and watches by 5%. On the contrary, collector cars fell 6% in their valuation. In the long term, art has experienced a cumulative growth of 105% in the last decade. These data reveal not only the taste and passion of great collectors like Herrero, but also the financial strategy that art represents among the main international investors. In Xataka | Who are the biggest millionaires in Spain: the list of the ten richest people in the country Image | Wikimedia Commons (Jlafuentesanchez)

in being profitable

by

The battle to lead the artificial intelligence sector has many frontsand among its greatest exponents are the startups OpenAI and Anthropic. While the first grabs headlines with ChatGPT and continues to expand its product ecosystem, its rival Anthropic has chosen a different path around its chatbot Claudeone that seems to be leaving him with greater profitability. AND the numbers show that this strategy could prove him right. Figures. According to documents to which The Wall Street Journal has had access, Anthropic plans to reach break-even in 2028, the year in which the company would begin to be profitable. OpenAI, for its part, He does not expect to achieve it until 2030and for that year projects operating losses of about $74 billion, roughly three-quarters of its revenue. Two opposing philosophies. There is a clear strategic difference. OpenAI is betting on massive investment in infrastructure: data centers, chips and reserve computing capacity. In fact, Sam Altman, its CEO, has already announced spending commitments of about 1.4 trillion dollars for the next eight years. Their goal is to turn OpenAI into a multibillion-dollar tech giant, even if that means burning through cash at a breakneck pace for years. Anthropic, founded by Dario Amodei after leaving OpenAI, has opted for a more conservative approach. The company is focusing its efforts on enterprise customers, which They represent 80% of your incomeand has all this time avoided entering into higher cost areas such as image and video generation, which require exponentially greater computing capacity. Efficiency. Just like affirms WSJ, this year, both companies have burned money in similar proportions: OpenAI will spend 9 billion after generating 13 billion in sales, while Anthropic will burn close to 3 billion with revenues of 4.2 billion. In both cases, around 70% of revenue evaporates into costs. But starting in 2026, everything indicates that the trajectories would begin to diverge. Anthropic projects reduce its spending rate to just 9% of its income in 2027, while OpenAI will remain at 57%. The difference is abysmal. The Claude Factor. The Anthropic chatbot has found a gap especially promising among developers and technical teams, thanks to its capabilities in programming and analysis. That they have specialized in this has allowed them to build a solid base of paying customers without needing to compete directly on all the fronts that OpenAI is opening up. Altman’s risk. OpenAI’s bet is risky but consistent with Altman’s personality and his vision of setting the pace of the AI ​​revolution. Recently, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar declared that the company could break even if it wanted to, highlighting the growth of its corporate business. However, the current strategy requires constant funding rounds and could falter if the market cools or investors lose patience. Asymmetrical valuations. Despite their different approaches, the market continues to value OpenAI very highly: 500 billion dollars compared to Anthropic’s 183 billion. Almost all the big investors in Silicon Valley have stakes in one or the other, hoping that both will star in historic IPOs. Cover image | Anthropic and OpenAI In Xataka | DeepSeek has broken its silence after months without appearing: its chief researcher has warned about the impact of AI on employment

It is proof that China has won the robot vacuum war

by

Already it was seen coming for a long time: iRobot is sinking and bankruptcy is knocking on the door. The one that pioneered robot vacuum cleaners has been going through difficulties for years and their current situation is critical: they have admitted that they barely have cash to operate and there are no more ways to earn income. It looks very bad. what has happened. iRobot has published the third quarter results of the year and paint a very gloomy scenario. Revenue was $145.8 million, down 33% in the United States, 13% in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and 9% in Japan compared to the same period last year. The serious thing, according to its CEO, is that due to “market difficulties, production delays and unforeseen interruptions in shipments” the use of cash increased and right now they only have 24.8 million dollars and no additional source of income in sight. Why is it important. iRobot was the one who started the robot vacuum cleaner market in 2002 with the first Roomba model. In 2016 They were market leaders. with a share of 64%, but the emergence of more competitors meant that the pie began to be shared more and more, reducing its portion. iRobot reached its peak valuation in 2021 and from there it was downhill and without brakes. In 2022 Amazon threw her a lifeline and tried to buy herbut regulatory problems in the European Union they caused the agreement to end up being diluted. Its fall is not only important because it was the company that inaugurated the sector, which made us call robot vacuum cleaners ‘Roomba’, it is also confirmation that Chinese companies have conquered the sector. Possible bankruptcy. In a document addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission Last October, the company warned of its critical situation and opened the door to bankruptcy as soon as December 1st. The reason is that it has a credit agreement with The Carlyle Group and has two key requirements: to demonstrate that the company can continue to operate and to maintain a minimum of core assets, something they cannot currently meet. The problem is that they have already received two extensions and the deadline is December 1. They need another extension or sell the company, but they have no buyer. What’s wrong with my Roomba. In statements to The VergeiRobot says the company continues its daily operations, including support for its products. However, if the company closes and the cloud stops working, it will mean that the Roombas will lose their online connectivity. That is, they cannot be controlled from the mobile phone with the app, but they will continue to work using the buttons. It’s already happened. Even if iRobot goes bankrupt, its cloud services may continue for a while, the question is for how long. This is what has happened with Neato vacuum cleaners. The company closed in 2023 and their cloud continued to function, until a couple of weeks ago when they announced that they turned it off permanently. Neato vacuum cleaners only work in manual mode and it is no longer possible to use the app to control the robot or create cleaning routines. Image | Xataka In Xataka | Dyson is late to the robot vacuum party. Your ace in the hole is an AI that identifies and removes difficult stains

The two most important weather models in the world are discussing whether Santander is going to freeze next week. And the cold is winning

by

Where has all the cold gone? So far this fall (with the sole exception of Siberia), temperatures have been relatively mild on all continents. And it seems that the situation is going to continue like this: it is true that the forecasts speak of a progressive decrease in temperatures in the southeast of Canada, the eastern United States and northern Europe; but no model paints a scenario that is particularly cold (except some very long term prediction). However, all eyes are on the polar vortex. If the models are right, it is very possible that the vortex will experience an unprecedented disturbance in November, leading to an interesting weather period starting in December. “There is no way this is fulfilled.” While November continues with its strange meteorology, the models draw increasingly strange scenarios. At this point in the week, we cannot rule out that on the 18th and 19th we have a more than considerable winter storm with the ‘beast from the east‘looming over Western Europe. In the next few hours we will have a war between models: The American marks a cold entry on Santander, the European said no. Little by little, the two seem to be converging towards a cold scene. It’s too early to say, but in a very few hours the daisy will be shedding its leaves. Anyway, the central issue is that all of this is minute sin. The breaking of the vortex. Except for that event in the middle of next week, autumn will continue to be very warm and mild on almost all continents. However, this could change if sudden stratospheric warming appears. That is, the vortex breaks. Sudden stratospheric warming? To understand it simply, we have to remember that the atmosphere is a kind of “lasagna of air layers” and each of them follows its own logic. That is, they work quite differently and independently. As far as it affects us: the circulation of air in the troposphere (the one closest to the surface) and the circulation in the stratosphere (the layer directly above) are related, yes; But, in general terms, they each do their own thing. During the “sudden stratospheric warming“, a part of the troposphere warms rapidly and, as a consequence, invades the stratosphere, causing a profound alteration of the circulation at high altitude. That is, for a few days, everything turns upside down. And what happens? The most common consequence of this is that the polar vortex weakens and may break down. The polar (arctic) vortex is a current of air that runs from west to east around the north pole and contains cold air at high latitudes. When this current is strong and stable, preventing it from flowing towards places like Spain. If the vortex It destabilizes and its winds lose strength (due to, for example, “sudden warming”), it is relatively common for cold air masses to escape on their way south. What if it doesn’t break? In reality, the vortex does not even need to break. It only needs to move from the Arctic region to lower latitudes. By moving a huge mass of cold air with it, the result is always very similar: an icy cold that can turn any country upside down (even the best prepared ones). And that seems to be what we are going to see. It’s hard to know if it will affect us or not, but there’s no doubt that the late fall weather is getting “interesting.” Image | Meteociel In Xataka | The last hope of winter in Spain is desperate, but increasingly possible: the breaking of the polar vortex

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.