Month: March 2026

Shahed drones are spreading terror in the Gulf. Ukraine has offered the solution, and the price to pay has a name

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In the last four years, a flying device barely twelve feet long has gone from being a little-known Iranian military experiment to becoming a one of the protagonists of several simultaneous conflicts. Its design is so simple that it can be assembled in a few hours and its cost is thousands of times lower than the systems that try to take it down. That combination has changed the way many militaries understand air defense. The buzz that changed war. Since 2022, the sound of a small motorcycle-like engine was the alarm signal which preceded many explosions in Ukrainian cities. That metallic and persistent noise belongs al Shahed-136a cheap, relatively simple Iranian kamikaze drone designed to attack pre-programmed targets at long range. With about 3.5 meters in length and the capacity to transport an explosive charge of about 50 kilos, these devices have become one of the symbols of modern warfare because they combine two factors that are difficult to counteract: their low cost and the possibility of mass producing them. The jump between conflicts. After four years of war in Europe, these drones have reappeared in force in another scenario. Iran has launched hundreds of devices against Gulf countriesreaching military bases, airports, refineries and urban areas in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait or Qatar. The attacks seek less physical destruction than psychological and economic pressureforcing the attacked countries to activate expensive defense systems to intercept weapons that can cost only about $50,000. Although many of the aircraft are shot down, even a small percentage that manages to penetrate the defenses is enough to cause damage to critical infrastructure or generate fear among the population. A strategy perfected by Ukraine. The pattern of these attacks is clearly reminiscent of the tactics Russia has employed since 2022 against cities and infrastructure Ukrainian energy companies. Moscow turned the Shahed into the center of a strategy of attrition and terror based on launching large drone waves together with missiles to saturate air defenses and increase the probability that some projectiles reach their target. The mass production has been key in that strategy: Russia not only imported thousands of Iranian drones, but also raised an own factory to manufacture them on a large scale, which allowed hundreds of devices to be launched in a single night against power plants, ports or residential neighborhoods. The anti-drone laboratory created in kyiv. This constant pressure forced Ukraine to become one of the countries more experienced of the world in the fight against these types of threats. After facing tens of thousands of Shahed, kyiv has developed a defense system in layers that combines radarselectronic warfare equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, mobile units and even interceptor drones capable of shooting down attackers in mid-flight. The result is an improvised network but extremely effective which has allowed most of the attacks to be neutralized despite the massive scale of the waves launched by Russia. Terror reaches the Gulf. That knowledge has now acquired a new strategic value. The Gulf countries, which were not used to facing constant drone attacks, have discovered how difficult it is to protect entire cities against weapons that fly low, are difficult to detect and can appear from multiple directions. Even advanced systems designed to intercept ballistic missiles can be overwhelmed by swarms of cheap drones. The recent attacks They have hit airports, refineries, ports and military bases, demonstrating that even critical infrastructures of highly protected economies can be exposed to this new form of air warfare. Zelensky’s offer. In this context, Ukraine has launched an unexpected proposal: share your experience to help Gulf countries neutralize the Shahed. President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to send his best anti-drone defense specialists along with a group of experienced operators to reinforce regional defenses, but, of course, with one clear condition, a name. kyiv wants Middle Eastern governments to jointly use all his influence on Moscow to pressure Vladimir Putin and achieve at least a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine. If you like, it is an offer that mixes military cooperation and diplomatic calculation: one where Ukraine presents itself as the country that knows the enemy best, and there is not much doubt about that, asking in return help to stop the war which made him precisely that expert. Image | Kyiv City State Administration,X, National Police of Ukraine In Xataka | The US has launched its most ambitious weapon against Iran in the last decade: a missile that does not need fighters or warships In Xataka | It is not that Iran is resisting US attacks, it is that it has room to take the conflict to an explosive scenario.

This is how he is making his leap towards premium

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There are conversations that are worth more than statements. Nelly de Navia He has been directing Xiaomi’s marketing in Spain for years, which is not just any market for the company: it is its European laboratory, the place where it tests how far it can stretch its identity before exporting the experiment to the rest of the continent. Europe is, in turn, a very special continent: it is its large international market and its premium sales opportunity since the United States continues to be impossible for the orange brand. Nelly and I sat down to talk during the MWC in Barcelona, ​​in the noble area of ​​the stand of Xiaomi, and what he said draws more clearly than any official presentation the exact moment in which the brand is. With a 17Ultra of 1,500 euros and a Leica Leitzphone to 2,000, I asked him how much weight the intention of raising image versus selling volume had in the strategy with those products. “Now we’re maybe 60/40,” Nelly said. 60% dedicated to building aspiration. 40% dedicated to moving units. For a brand that was born with volume as the only argument, that proportion is a statement of intent as striking as the hypercar parked in the stand that will never reach production. The twist has also changed the language. “I’m not talking to you about specifications anymore,” De Navia said. “I make it more aspirational, more experiential.” A leap that has been notable for some time. For years, Xiaomi sold in the language of engineers: megapixels, milliamps, gigahertz… and price, of course. It was the language of bargainwhich allowed the buyer to justify himself rationally. “My Xiaomi does the same thing in half” was a meme-phrase that defined a stage. Now Xiaomi organizes photowalks night trips with FotoEspaña and set up immersive experiences in your showroom. It is a language more similar to that of Apple and four-figure Samsungslearned with the conscience of someone who arrives late but with Chinese determination. And there is a subtle sign that the change is serious: this year there have been no free televisions or aggressive promotions alongside the launches, such as knockdown discounts or included headphones. “The mobile phone costs what it costs because I am offering you the best technology,” he explained. “I’m not going to mess it up with a promotion.” The word chosen is not neutral: dirty. The low price, which for years was the heart of Xiaomi’s argument, has become a threat for the brand they want to build. The thing about Spain deserves its own paragraph because De Navia tells it with a frankness that is unusual in the sector. “We use Spain at Xiaomi as a gateway, as a market to try new things.” The white range (washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners…) was tested here before expanding because there were doubts about whether it would work in a country like Germany, more conservative with its brands, with strong national manufacturers and with purchasing power that takes the quality-price factor out of the equation. Spanish consumers, loyal since the days of the Redmi at 150 euros, are the testing ground where Xiaomi measures how far it can stretch its identity without breaking it. It is a compliment with nuances: the market that was a natural starting point for a price brand is now the first guinea pig of a brand that wants to be something else. The underlying identity conflict, however, does not disappear no matter how much the language changes. Redmi and Poco are still, in De Navia’s words, where the real volume is. The total ecosystem that Xiaomi is building (from mobile to home to car) requires both worlds to coexist without one contaminating the other, and managing that coexistence is probably the most complex challenge that the brand faces. “Many users have continued this path hand in hand,” he said about those who have been with Xiaomi for years since its cheap beginnings and continue walking alongside them. But attracting the buyer who never considered it precisely because it was cheap is a different, slower and more expensive task. And they are there. There is one answer that explains it better than any other. I asked him What KPIs will she look at in three months to determine if the 17 Ultra has been a success?. He did not say market share in premium or units sold of the Ultra, which are the most obvious answers. He said: “I think it’s going to be the effect it has on the T.” The T series, which Xiaomi will launch a few months later at more affordable prices, is where there is a greater volume. The Ultra exists, in part, so that when the T arrives people will have already recalibrated what they expect from Xiaomi. It’s exactly the same logic as Vision GT (behind Nelly in the photo that crowns this article) applied to mobile phones: the unattainable product as a lever to sell the product that you will buy. Luxury as a commercial argument for what is not luxury. Back to big brother, eol Xiaomi 17 Ultra It is a beast that at no time appeals to quality-price or to give you “the same or almost the same” as an iPhone or a Galaxy at half the price. Its price is the same or even higher because effectively Xiaomi is convinced that it is delivering something superior. After testing the Xiaomi 17 Ultra these days, it is impossible not to think that it has things that its range rivals do not have. Their cameras are on another level. Luxury works by accumulation of credibility. And that accumulation has no shortcuts, no matter how much the stand of the MWC try it. In Xataka | Leica is teaching Xiaomi everything it knows: when the student no longer needs the teacher, the agreement will have fulfilled its function Featured image | Xataka

How Trump’s threat is the bitterest reminder of our fossil dependence

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The spark that set the White House on fire was Pedro Sánchez’s refusal to participate in the offensive against Tehran, under a speech that evokes the popular sentiment of 2003: “No to war.” Sánchez defends that Spain’s position is consistent with its actions in Ukraine or Gaza, seeking to avoid a spiral of global violence. However, Trump’s anger was not born yesterday. According to official documentsSpain had been discreetly blocking the transit and export of weapons to Israel for months, denying ship stops and vetoing dozens of military operations. Added to this is Trump’s historic reproach for Defense spending: the American president demands 5% of GDP, while Spain barely exceeds 2%. Trump’s response has been withering, mentioning for the first time the word “embargo”, a tool that the US usually reserves for “enemies” like North Korea or Venezuela, not for NATO allies. A life preserver that can sink. The threat of cutting trade ties is not a minor issue. In January 2026, the United States consolidated itself as the leading supplier of natural gas to Spain, accounting for a historic 44.4% of the total imported (15,259 GWh), far surpassing Algeria, how to collect Europa Press. Spain has spent a decade reinforcing its energy dependence on the US market to replace Russian gas after the invasion of Ukraine. In 2025, the US supplied 30% of our gas and 15% of our oil. Strategic companies like Naturgy have critical exposure, with 40% of their LNG contracts linked to plants in Texas and Louisiana, according to The Independent. If Trump turns off the tap, Spain loses its main gas resource. The collapse of the Gulf, can we look the other way? Faced with the American threat, the Spanish Government is trying to send a message of calm. Minister Sara Aagesen maintains that the supply is “broadly diversified” and that only 2% of our gas transits through the conflictive Strait of Hormuz. Spain has seven regasification plants, which allows us to bring ships from almost anywhere in the world. However, optimism collides with a suffocating global reality. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes, is experiencing a technical closure due to war tension. QatarEnergy declared for the first time “Force Majeure” after suffering attacks on its LNG plants. This creates a domino effect: if Asia loses gas from Qatar, it will compete fiercely against Europe for the few ships available from the US or the African continent. As the expert Ignacio Urbasos explains in it The Countrythe market is interconnected; Although the gas does not pass through Hormuz, the price we will pay is decided there. 12 euros more per month. The impact of this perfect storm already has figures. According to the calculations of the Roams platform, The gas bill in Spain could increase by up to 18% and the electricity bill by 17%. An average household would go from paying about 50 euros for gas to almost 60, while the electricity bill could rise by about 12 euros per month, as he also explains The Newspaper. Natural gas in the Netherlands TTF market has already been triggered almost 80% in just two days. Furthermore, gasoline is not far behind: experts predict increases of up to 8% at the pump, placing a liter of gasoline above 1.58 euros. This is not just energy; It’s inflation. The European Central Bank warns that a prolonged conflict could bring inflation in Spain to 3%, forcing interest rates to remain high for longer, directly affecting variable mortgages. The dilemma of the “energy island”. The point is that Spain has plenty of regasification infrastructure to help Europe, but it lacks interconnections (pipes to France) to pump that gas to the heart of the continent. Furthermore, our gas reserves they are at 59%a figure notably lower than 72% last year, because companies did not fill warehouses waiting for lower prices that never arrived. The only consensus between analysts and the Government is that this crisis accelerates a lesson learned hard: the vulnerability of depending on foreign fossil fuels. As Alison Candlin points outof the think tank Ember, until we complete the shift to a renewable-based system, we will always be hostage to these price shocks. In Spain, the effort to scale wind and solar power has already reduced the influence of expensive gas on the price of electricity by 75% in the last six years, but the road ahead is still long and, now, is full of diplomatic mines. Image | Hannes Grobe Xataka | The EU has a perfect plan to suffocate Russia. The problem is that now it needs its oil to survive

You can now reserve the new iPhone 17e, but be careful because the 16e is already dropping a lot in price

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The iPhone 17e can now be pre-purchased in many stores, so before doing anything we should stop and think about whether that extra money is worth what we are looking for. Especially considering that his previous generation, the iPhone 16ecan be found on sale in stores like MediaMarkt. In its eBay outlet, for example, right now you can buy for 512.10 euros in white and others 512.10 euros in black. In both cases we are talking about a brand new mobile phone that has not been used. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The previous generation drops in price He iPhone 17e It has an official price of 709 euros and the iPhone 16e right now it is found 512.10 eurosare 196.90 euros differencewhich is not little money. Do we find differences between the two generations? Yes, the main ones being the processor, A18 and A19 respectively, and the minimum storage configuration, which has increased twice as much for the new generation. This is really one of the most attractive points, and one that I personally advise taking more into account when choosing one model or another. The iPhone 17 starts with 256 GB of internal storage while the iPhone 16e starts with 128 GB. If we are looking to have more storage, the 256 GB iPhone 16e costs 729 euros. With this we have to: He iPhone 16e 128 GB is cheaper, so if you have this storage left over, I would go for this generation. He iPhone 17e 256 GB is cheaper than its previous generation with the same storage, so if you want to take a lot of photos or videos, I would choose this mobile. With all this, there are not too many differences between both generations. The MagSafe arrives in this range and orn more year of software updates which, on Apple phones, is not so noticeable, since they are usually updated for many years. The iPhone 16e, for example, will be updated until 3031For example. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: iPhone 16e offer today ✅ THE BEST It’s much cheaper: If you are only looking for a good price, the iPhone 16e costs almost 200 euros less than its new generation. Few changes between generations: Beyond the storage or the processor, we are talking about two very similar mobile phones. ❌ THE WORST Oh, the storage: In 2026, 128 GB of storage could be very tight, so if you usually take a lot of photos or videos, it is better to opt for a mobile phone with at least 256 GB. 💡 BUY IT IF… You want to make the jump to the Apple ecosystem without spending too much money, or if you want it for what it is: calling and accessing some apps, without pretensions to taking a lot of photos or videos, unless, in that case, you prefer to pay for a cloud service to have more storage. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You are looking for a mobile phone that allows you to save many photos, videos or files locally, without having to pay a subscription to a cloud service in a short time to have more storage. You may also be interested Apple AirPods 4, Wireless Headphones, Bluetooth, with Custom Spatial Audio, Water and Sweat Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip and up to 24 Hours of autonomy The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Apple Watch SE 3 GPS with 40 mm Star White Aluminum Case and Star White Sports Band – Size S/M. Training and sleep monitors, Heart rate monitor, Always-on screen 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 | Ricardo AguilarApple In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best wireless headphones. Which one to buy and 21 models from 15 euros to 470 euros

Your experience at Xataka goes up a level with exclusive newsletters, raffles, El Consultorio and more

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Xataka was born in 2004 as a blog for technology fans, and boy has it rained since then. Cell phones were not from that time smartphonesMP3 players were the fashionable devices and I don’t think anyone, not even us, imagined everything that was going to come next. But there is something that has not changed since then: the support we have received all these years from all of you, our xatakeros and xatakeras. Today I want to tell you what the next step is for Xataka, something we have been working on for almost more than a year. Today we announce the arrival of Xataka Xtraa new subscription community with which we want to offer a much more direct relationship between the public and the editorial staff, in addition to including some advantages that we think may interest you. But before going on to detail what Xataka Xtra is, I’m going to skip all the style rules and explain to you what it is not: It’s not a paywall. I want to make this clear from the beginning. Xataka Xtra It is, as its name suggests, an “extra.” A way that we propose to support all of us who make this medium. But the usual Xataka experience does not change: everyone will be able to continue enjoying our open content as before. Xtra is an “plus” for those who want to support us and go a little further. And yes, under subscription. We are aware of “subscription fatigue”, ourselves we have talked about her. In an increasingly hostile environment for those of us who create content for the web, initiatives like this allow us to continue doing what we do and, in the process, thank you for your support through different advantages. Our priority has been to design a value experience while keeping the price as low as possible: at Xataka Xtra you can support us for what a coffee costs each month. We want to continue making content made by humans and for humans. Made by us for you. And we want to maintain a closer and more exclusive relationship with our xatakeros and xatakeras, something that on a large scale today is practically impossible but that we do believe we can achieve with the Xtra Community. And now, let’s explain what it includes Xataka Xtra. What advantages does Xataka Xtra include? Three exclusive newsletters: Chip War (weekly, every Monday): The semiconductor industry is the technological, economic and geopolitical battlefield of our time. Every week we analyze what is happening in the race for chips: from the tensions between the United States and China to the decisions of TSMC, Intel, SK Hynix or Samsung that will determine who leads the next decade. Next X (biweekly, every other Thursday): Biweekly analysis of the trends in technology and science that are changing the present and will define the future: AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, space exploration. Context and perspective on where we are going and why it matters. B-sides (weekly, every Saturday): Five curious and fascinating readings each week. Strange, counterintuitive or unexpected stories that we find on the Internet and that deserve your attention. From industrial accidents that changed the world to surprising scientific research or absurdities of late capitalism. Close and direct relationship with the Xataka team: Exclusive community on Discord: access to our Discord server, only for the Xtra Community. The office: We resolve your doubts with preferential treatment and you will have a direct line with the entire team. Available via email or on Discord. Write to us with your query and our team of editors will try to provide the best solution. Monthly video Q&A with the Xataka team: We provide the team that attends, you set the agenda and what you want to talk about. Giveaways and exclusive benefits Raffles and discounts. Just by being Xtra members you will participate in exclusive draws and have special discounts. And pay attention because very interesting products are coming up to be raffled off. Today we announced the first: a 75-inch LG TV. Advantages and offers with our partners. At launch we will have the following: Nextory: Extended free trial for 45 days. NordVPN: 3 months free for 1 and 2 year plans. NordPass: 10% discount for 1 and 2 year plans. Saily: 10% discount on new hires. Other benefits Xataka Xtra badge in the user profile. It will be seen when an Xtra user comments and on their profile. Ad-free option: For those who want to browse without advertising banners, there is also an option. And this is the beginning: we want to take advantage of the creation of this Xtra Community so that you can tell us what things you miss and would love for us to add. We will design the future of Xataka Xtra together. How much does it cost and available versions Xataka Xtra It is available in monthly subscription mode and annual mode. Signing up is easy, with a couple of clicks, and unsubscribing is equally simple: just by clicking the corresponding button in your Xtra area. The available plans are the following: Monthly plan: 4 euros per month (2 euros per month in introductory offer) Annual plan: 30 euros a year (15 euros per year in introductory offer) Annual plan without ads: 60 euros a year (30 euros per year in introductory offer) For all those who sign up with the introductory offer, the 50% discount remains as long as they do not cancel or change their subscription. As you can see, we have included the possibility of contracting a plan that eliminates all banners from the website and makes reading easier. This has been an addition that we have included based on your feedback, since it was one of the most requested features. Thank you, really and this is Xataka Xtraat least for now, since as I mentioned, the idea is that this fluid relationship with the Xtra Community helps us find other interesting ideas that you may like to … Read more

This is how you can win a 75” LG QNED evo AI television

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Xataka Xtra It is already a reality and comes loaded with advantages for subscribers. One of them is that the xatakeros and xatakeras who are part of this community can access exclusive giveaways of products of all kinds, from televisions and robot vacuum cleaners to mobile phones or translators with AI. Is that a little spoiler for the things we have in the oven? Maybe, but also a preview of the level that these draws will have. Today the first giveaway begins: a television LG QNED evo AI 75 inch. Therefore, it is necessary to explain what the dynamics will be not only of this draw, but of all those to come. If you are not yet a Xataka Xtra subscriber and you also want to have the chance to win this and many other prizes in the future, remember that You can join the community from two euros per month. How to participate in the exclusive Xataka Xtra draws Make sure you check that box to automatically participate in the exclusive Xataka Xtra draws | Image: Xataka To participate in the exclusive Xataka Xtra draws, in addition to being a subscriber, you must make sure that you have this box checked in your member area. You can access it directly by clicking on this link or by displaying the side menu and clicking on “Manage subscription”. You will see the access below or next to the modality to which you have subscribed, depending on whether you are reading Xataka from your computer or from your mobile. By simply checking that box you will be participating in the draws. That includes the television one that concerns us today, but also all those that are yet to come. When the day of the draw arrives, all users subscribed to Xataka Xtra who have the box checked will automatically participate, they do not have to do absolutely anything. That being said, here are some frequently asked questions: ¿How the winner will be chosen? From Xataka we will choose a random subscriber and two substitutes. If the winner does not respond within the period stipulated in the legal bases of each draw, the winner will go to the first substitute and, if this does not happen either, to the second. Winning a giveaway does not prevent you from winning in the following ones. How did I find outI will Is there a new giveaway? We will communicate all new giveaways through the website and social networks, as usual, as well as through the exclusive Discord server and our daily newsletter. You can consult the history through this link or watch it directly on the dedicated Discord server channel. How will the winner be contacted? The winner will be notified in the same raffle article, on the Discord server, and will also be notified by email. What products will be raffled? We will raffle products that brands kindly give us, as well as products that we have analyzed and that we consider interesting. For example, a high-end robot vacuum cleaner valued at more than a thousand euros. If it is a product that we have previously analyzed, we will make it clear in the description of the giveaway. Needless to say, we will check it thoroughly before shipping. When will each draw last? 12 days. Do I have to be a Xataka Xtra subscriber to participate in the exclusive draws? Yes, subscribers who are registered on the day of the draw will participate in the draws. The first giveaway: a 75-inch LG QNED evo AI TV As we said before, the first exclusive draw for Xtra subscribers features an LG television, specifically a LG QNED evo AI QNED86 valued at 3,199 euros. It is a MiniLED TV with 2,040 dimming zones, 4K resolution, native 120 Hz, webOS 25 and a ton of AI features to make your life easier. A fully-fledged high-end television that, with the World Cup being held this year, doesn’t sound bad at all. The giveaway begins today, March 4, and the winner will be revealed on March 13. You can find the legal bases in this link. You can only participate in this raffle from the peninsula, but we are working to have raffles for the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and even worldwide. We will keep you updated. If you want to participate and choose to take this television, Take advantage of the introductory offer and subscribe. On March 16 we will have a new giveaway that, as we told you, will be really useful. In Xataka | Subscribe now to Xataka Xtra

Apple is back with the ‘cheap’ MacBook. This time it’s really cheap

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Five devices in three days. That was Apple’s plan for this week, a plan that culminates with the new MacBook Neo. This is a new attempt by the company to bite into the cheap laptop segment and, although we know that ‘cheap’ does not mean the same for us as it does for Apple, in this case… it is true. Next, we go with all the features of a MacBook Neo that targets a very specific segment and that does not come with an M processor, but with that of the iPhone 16 Pro. Yes, we have not missed the mark with the iPhone model. MacBook Neo technical data sheet MacBook Neo screen 13 inch LED screen Resolution of 2,408 x 1,506 pixels 219 pixels per inch 500 nits brightness processor A18 Pro RAM 8GB storage 256GB ports UBS-C 480 Mb/s USB-C 10GB/s Headphone port WEIGHT 1.23kg Camera FaceTime HD at 1,080p Connectivity Wi-Fi 6e Bluetooth 6 battery 36.5 Wh battery 20W charging Up to 16 hours of battery price From 699 euros Laptop body, iPhone 16 Pro heart The design of the MacBook Neo is very reminiscent of the MacBook Air with the latest redesign. At least, on the outside, with those very rounded corners and a somewhat more robust finish. On the sides there are only two ports (two USB-C that do not go at the same speed, but can be used interchangeably for charging) and the two speakers. The body is made of aluminum, the keyboard has good-sized keys and the trackpad is as large as usual, but the pronounced bezels return on the screen. If the iPhone 17e maintains the traditional notch, the cheap MacBook has not switched to the notch of its older brothers. The screen has a maximum brightness of 500 nits (which is not too much, but enough for indoors) and the resolution yields a density of 219 pixels per inch. On the outside it looks like a MacBook but the trick is that on the inside it’s not a MacBook: it’s an iPhone. In your file in the web From Apple, the company does not dwell much on the processor either. It simply says that it is enough for daily tasks. What tasks? Emails, video calls, surfing the Internet… and puts many practical cases in the classroom. We are looking at a MacBook for students or for mobility with up to 16 hours of autonomy. And, again, it is thanks to the fact that its SoC is that of a mobile phone. This is the Apple A18 Pro, the same one that ‘fit’ the iPhone 16 Pro. It is a more than enough chip for daily tasks, for somewhat more demanding tasks such as occasionally editing a video, for consuming content and even for games. But, even if it has a mobile SoC, the system is MacOS, with everything that this implies in terms of productivity, functionality and the interconnection that we are already accustomed to with the iPhone. The iPad is sure to watch with jealousy that an Apple A18 Pro can handle macOS while he rides up to an M5 with iPadOS. MacBook Neo launch and price The MacBook Neo will hit the market on March 11. You can book now and will arrive at two prices: 256 GB capacity with Magic Keyboard for 699 euros. 512 GB capacity with Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for 799 euros. And, like its brothers, it will not include a power adapter. In development…

China makes them almost as efficient as silicon ones

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For years, polymer solar cells (popularly known as organic or “plastic” plates) have promised a real revolution in the renewable energy sector. Being light, flexible and even printable, their potential seemed limitless. However, in practice they had a big Achilles heel: they degraded quickly when exposed to air and their capacity to generate energy was far below that of the classic and heavy silicon panels. They were, in the eyes of the industry, almost a laboratory toy. But this narrative has just taken a historic turn. A team of scientists has managed to simultaneously overcome the barrier of performance and degradation, finally bringing these flexible plates closer to their long-awaited large-scale commercialization. A milestone that comes from China. Until today, manufacturing flexible solar panels meant taking a toll: either you lost efficiency or the material degraded quickly in the open air. Researchers at Wuhan University of Technology just broke that rule. Its new polymer cell reaches an efficiency of 19.1% – close on the heels of commercial silicon – and, above all, solves the problem of wear. As endorsed by the scientific journal matterthe device supports more than 2,000 hours of outdoor operation while retaining 97% of its initial capacity. In technical jargon, they have achieved a “T97 lifetime”, a metric that definitively takes this technology out of the experimental phase. The step definitive towards marketing. In statements to the magazine PV MagazineTao Wang, co-author of the research, highlights the magnitude of the finding: the stability demonstrated in these 2,000 hours allows us to extrapolate a useful life of the device that would exceed 100,000 hours of operation. Furthermore, this breakthrough puts an end to organic photovoltaics’ historic dilemma of the war between “efficiency vs. stability.” As the research indicatesUntil now, polymers (formed by long molecular chains) were very thermally stable and flexible, but inefficient; On the contrary, the “small molecules” were more efficient but too fragile and tended to crystallize over time, ruining the plate. This new development manages to combine the best of both worlds. The “invisible comb” at the microscopic level. Therein lies the secret of its success. Wei Li, another of the study’s lead authors, explains in PV Magazine that polymers have a mechanical problem: their long molecular chains tend to tangle, forming “disordered aggregates.” That disorder not only blocks the flow of electricity (reducing efficiency), but it exposes weak chemical bonds that accelerate the degradation of the board in sunlight. To solve this, the Wuhan team applied a strategy that was as elegant as it was effective: they introduced a small fraction of “small acceptor molecules” (SMA) into the polymer matrix. According to the studythis mixture acts as an invisible comb that “untangles” the long chains of the polymer, forcing them to pack together in a linear and orderly manner. This reduces empty spaces in the material, creating direct “highways” for electricity to flow without being lost, boosting efficiency and stopping photochemical deterioration in its tracks. A high-tech “sandwich”. For this chemical cocktail to work, the design of the plate was not left to chance. The cell was literally built like a sandwich on a microscopic scale. Instead of complicated heavy metal alloys, they used a transparent base on which they applied several ultrathin layers: one that captures light (the improved polymer), others that act as guides so that electrons do not escape and, finally, a very thin layer of silver to conduct electricity. The whole set results in a high precision, but extremely light device. And what does all this mean for the average user? According to the portal Interesting Engineeringthese findings pave the way to integrate highly efficient panels into tents, backpacks, clothing or covering the curved facades of buildings, without having to support the immense weight of silicon. This vision of the future is already taking its first commercial steps. As we saw a year ago at CESbrands like Anker Solix are already experimenting with prototypes of jackets that integrate solar panels and power banks to keep a mobile phone charged, or beach umbrellas capable of charging a portable refrigerator using continuous photovoltaic cells. The difference is that, thanks to the new molecular advances achieved in China, this “wearable” and portable self-consumption technology will take a brutal leap: it will be much more stable, durable and easier to mass produce. The future is already flexible. The absolute hegemony of silicon – rigid, heavy and with a high manufacturing energy cost – is beginning to have a real alternative on the horizon. Research from Wuhan University of Technology shows that understanding and manipulating how molecules behave and intertwine was the master key to getting organic technology out of the laboratory. The future of solar energy no longer only seeks to be efficient; Now it is ready to be flexible, ultralight and, finally, durable. Image | RawPixel Xataka | Solar panels have an invisible and very brief moment in which they do not work. And solving it is key to your future

Spain has broken employment records. It has also broken a record of workers who need two payrolls

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The Spanish labor market closed 2025 with a record that no one would want to celebrate: never before have so many people needed to juggle two jobs at the same time. While the data highlighted in bold reveals record in memberships and a unemployment downthere is a figure that tells another equally revealing story about how the reality of employment in Spain is changing. Low salaries and the imposition of part-time work hours are the main triggers for the need to have several jobs to make ends meet. The data collected by a study of Randstad reveals that the number of employed people with more than one job In Spain they have already exceeded 630,000, which is a historic figure. The highest number ever recorded. At the end of 2025, a total of 632,800 employed people in Spain had a secondary job (or several), which is 50,000 more people than last year. In it last data Collected by the INE in 2022, the number of multi-employed people stood at 520,500 people. That of 2025 is the highest figure and represents an increase of 8.6% in just twelve months. The phenomenon continues to be a minority in relative terms since it affects around 2.8% of the total number of employed people, but its growth reveals that something is happening in the labor market. However, this growth is also included in the logic of growth of the labor market: there are more employees with jobs, so the probability that these employees have more than one job also increases. Precariousness is one of the keys. One of the keys to understanding this increase is not so much to look at the number of people with more than one job, but rather at the number of people with part-time work. According to EPA data From the last quarter of 2024, full-time employment decreased by 115,600 people, while part-time employment increased by 191,800. This information is relevant because a worker who wants to work full-time will look for a way to combine two (or more) part-time jobs to complete (or exceed) the time and salary that he or she would obtain with a full-time job. More women, but just barely. Although the difference is small, women slightly outnumber men in moonlighting. According to INE data corresponding to the end of 2025, a total of 317,200 women had more than one job, which is equivalent to 3% of the total number of employed women, compared to 315,400 men, which represented 2.6% of the total number of men. Once again, we find ourselves in a scenario in which, due to the need to reconcile childcare and precariousness, women are more likely to occupy positions with part-time hours. According to official dataIn 2025, part-time contracts for women increased by 62,311. A few hours in hospitality. The sector where the majority of those who chain two jobs are concentrated is the services sector, which brings together 87.5% of all multi-employed workers in the country. As and how I collected Investedof the more than 632,000 workers with double occupation, some 553,300 carried out their activity in this hospitality sector and services. The industrial and productive sectors reduce the presence of multi-employment workers due to the high demand for full-time labor that is registered in them. Thus, Industry recognizes 40,700 employees with more than one job, Construction 21,600 multiple employees and Agriculture 17,000. ​What’s coming in 2026. Randstad Research’s forecasts for this year indicate that Spain will reach an annual average employed population of 22.64 million people, which would represent a growth of 1.9% compared to 2025. The unemployment rate, according to these estimates, will continue to decline and will reach an annual average of 9.8%. However, 2026 presents a complicated economic scenario in which inflation can reduce purchasing power of families, which will predictably contribute to multiple employment in Spain continuing to rise, setting new records. In Xataka | A 22-year-old engineer combined two full-time jobs. His secret: do the minimum so that they don’t give him more work Image | Unsplash (Valentine)

In the Iraq War, Spain was left “alone” supporting the United States. 23 years later, she has been left alone refusing to help him

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If a Spaniard from March 2003 could take a look at the press today (03/04/2026) it is most likely that he would not understand anything. And not because of the lack of context, references or the (logical) change of political leaders. Probably what would catch your attention is the 180º turn in the geopolitical chessboard that concerns the US and Europe. Let’s remember. In 2003 José María Aznar he posed smiling together with George W. Bush and Tony Blair to confirm itself as one of the great supporters of the US in the Iraq war. Today the opposite happens. Spain has become almost the loose European verse for his rejection of Trump’s offensive in Iran. It seems like a simple historical curiosity, but it says a lot about how Europe, the US and their relationship have changed over the last two decades. Trump’s anger. This is not the first time that Donald Trump publicly displayed his lack of harmony with Moncloa. In October, in full tug-of-war over the percentage of GDP that should be allocated to defense, the Republican came to suggest that Spain should be “expelled” from NATO. Rarely, however, has the US leader spoken out with the emphatic (and angry) expression he used yesterday when talking about the negative of Pedro Sánchez’s Government to have the US army use the Morón and Rota bases to attack Iran. “Spain has been terrible”. In the threatening tone that has become the hallmark of his second term, Trump made it clear that he does not take no for an answer. “Spain has been terrible,” started . “In fact I have told Scott (Bressent, Treasury Secretary) to cut all relations with her. Spain said we cannot use their bases. We could if we wanted to. Nobody is going to tell us no. But we don’t have to. They have been unfriendly.” In case there were any doubts, the Republican threatened with cutting “everything that has to do with Spain” and pronounced the cursed word: “Embargo.” He didn’t go much further, but neither that nor the fact that other previous announcements have fallen on deaf ears has prevented his words from causing an earthquake. Especially among the sectors that would have it worst if Washington decided to move forward and “cut off trade” with Spain, an otherwise complex scenario since trade policy does not depend on Madrid, but on the European Union. “No to war”. The problem is not only that Spain has refused to allow the US to use the bases in Rota and Morón to bomb Iran. Probably what has raised the most blisters in Washington is that Sánchez has clearly positioned himself against the actions of the US and Israel in the Middle East. did it yesterday and he has done it again this morning with a deliberately emphatic message: “Spain’s position is the same as in Ukraine or Gaza. No to war.” During his speech, Sánchez even recalled the Iraq war, which left (he denounced) “a more insecure world.” His position also has an internal reading: the ‘no to war’ of 2003 was a shock for the PSOE. One club, three positions. Sánchez’s position is not only important for what he says, but also for where and especially when he says it. His speech clashes with that of other European leaders who have been much more understanding of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. In fact, just a few days ago their counterparts from France, the United Kingdom and Germany they have closed ranks with Trump. On Sunday the three powers (E3) released a statement in which they demanded that Tehran stop its “attacks” and they advanced their willingness to coordinate with the United States. “We will take measures to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially with necessary and proportionate defensive actions to destroy Iran’s ability to fire missiles and drones,” states the joint writing by Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz. It should be remembered that on Sunday a French naval base in Abu Dhabi suffered an attack with drones and on Monday another drone impact against the British RAF facilities in Cyprus. Tehran has also hit bases with German troops. Madrid’s position thus clearly differs from that of Paris, London and Berlin. Also from that of the community club, which has opted for a more ambiguous position. Although the European Commission has not been slow to guarantee its “full” solidarity with its members in a veiled support for Spain in the face of Trump’s threats, the truth is that Brussels maintains a very different tone from that of Sánchez. On Monday Von der Leyen claimed that “diplomacy” is “the only solution” to the open crisis in Iran and, although he condemned Tehran’s attacks on Middle Eastern neighbors, he did not mention the bombings launched by the US and Israel. Just 23 years later… This morning Sánchez not only insisted on his “no to war.” He also wanted draw a parallel with what happened in 2003 when the Government of Spain, then headed by Aznar, decided to clearly support the US deployment in Iraq, distancing of its European partners. “The world has been here before. 23 years ago another US administration led us to an unjust war. The Iraq war generated a drastic increase in terrorism, a serious immigration and economic crisis. That was the gift of the Azores trio, a more insecure world and a worse life,” Sánchez claimed. Ironies of history, the socialist refers to the famous photo taken just 23 years ago, in March 2003, in the Azores and in which Bush, Blair and Aznar pose smiling. Have things changed that much? The truth is that yes. And not only because where Bush, Blair and Aznar sat 23 years ago, today Trump, Starmer and Sánchez sit (respectively). The most relevant change affects the roles and dealings with Washington. In 2003, the invasion of Iraq caused a fracture of Europe into two blocks well differentiated. One, against … Read more

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