Month: May 2026

the collapse of the fertilizer trade

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If they have something wars like the one in Iran (or Ukraine) is that they remind us of the enormous fragility of some of the pillars that support the world economy. And that is something that is beginning to worry farmers. In addition to being a key channel for oil trafficthe Strait of Hormuz is a strategic piece in the world trade in nitrogen fertilizers. The UN estimates that before the war it passed through there one third of global maritime traffic of an input that, in turn, influences performance of the crops. After more than two months with maritime traffic blocked or at least conditionedmore and more voices warn that alterations in the supply of fertilizers may end up leading to a food crisis draft. The alarms go off. Warnings about how the Iran war could affect fertilizer trafficking may not have been raised as early as those in the oil marketbut that does not mean that the topic is not generate concern almost from the beginning. In early March, shortly after the US and Israel attacked Tehran, some analysts They were already raising their voices to warn of the risks that the conflict would alter the global distribution of urea, a nitrogen fertilizer in which the Persian Gulf plays a fundamental role. Graphic: Statista. How fundamental? The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) calculate that around 36% of global urea exports between 2023 and 2025 came from Persian Gulf countries, especially Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Not bad if we take into account two pieces of information that underlines the institute itself. First, urea is the nitrogen fertilizer most used, which gives an idea of ​​its relevance for crops. Second, how distributed the flow is. Its main importers are India, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, the USA and Türkiye. On that map Tehran plays an essential role. Both because of its weight as a producer and exporter, and because of the control it exercises over the Strait of Hormuz, which channels a good part of the world’s fertilizer trade. The UN estimates that around one third of all merchandise moved by sea, which is equivalent to 16 million tons. It is understandable if you take into account that one of the largest plants of urea on the planet (QAFCO) is in Qatar, a facility that, by the way, saw blocked its production at the beginning of the war due to alterations in the supply of natural gas. The reason? Again the interconnection of the global economy. LNG is a essential input in the production of fertilizers such as urea or ammonia. A sinking traffic. The problem is that, after several months of war in the Middle East, the global fertilizer supply chain is beginning to show signs of suffering. The latest signal has been issued by the OECD. And clearly. According to his observations (advanced by the EFE agency), the organization has detected that in April the movement of goods by sea plummeted to its lowest level since January 2019. And that at a minimum, since OECD statistics do not allow us to go back further. The OECD has also detected a decrease in the flow of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) through Hormuz, but the data on urea are especially alarming. To begin with, because the organization has confirmed the great weight of the Gulf in its traffic, with 18 specialized berths. The OECD warning also comes just when some countries are beginning to feel the disruption of the supply chain. A clear case is in Nepal: its volume of reserves is well below what is necessary (171,000 t compared to 250,000), which has already led the Government to purchase 80,000 t of emergency chemical fertilizer thanks to an agreement with India. Is it the only indicator? No. The OECD warning is one more stroke in a much broader picture in which not only the flows of merchandise are altered. Another key indicator is the prices of fertilizers. At the end of April Reuters echoed already from the rise in the value of urea. And although in recent weeks its price has been softenedgo on far above of the one noted on February 27, before the war broke out. It’s not just about the traffic disruptions in Hormuz. LNG also influences the cost of fertilizer. The situation has reached such a point that Fertiglobe, a major fertilizer company, has started operating its plants in the United Arab Emirates at full capacity and then transport the fertilizer in trucks to other ports far from Hormuz, its natural outlet. The operation raises costs so much that under other circumstances it would not be profitable. After the price increase that has changed. “As long as we manage to overcome the logistical obstacles, the price more than makes up for it,” explains a manager from the company to Financial Times. “The market is desperate.” The alarms go off. The big question is what to expect from now on. Although the UN recognize Since not all countries are equally exposed to interruptions in the supply of fertilizers and not all regions of the world harvests follow the same calendar, there are organizations that have already raised their voices to warn of the impact that war can have. There are several factors at play: the problems of transporting fertilizer and the fact that its cost ends up skyrocketing so much that farmers do without it or look for alternativessomething that could affect crop yields. Another question is whether this will be felt in food prices. Déjà vu in the fields. The photo is partly reminiscent of what was experienced at the beginning of the Ukrainian war, although with nuances. “In 2022 much of the fertilizer was finally distributed,” explains to Reuters Shwan Arita, of the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University. “The supply shortages we’re seeing now are much more severe.” Another handicap is that, unlike what happened a few years ago, cereal prices after several campaigns with generous harvests … Read more

discount of 60 euros and several gifts included

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If we put smartwatch and best sellers in the same sentence, it is difficult not to talk about HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Series. Well without further ado, good news: HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 Series is here. They are two very interesting new watches (we will talk about their characteristics below) that arrive with a launch promo in the official store of this manufacturer: if we use the code ‘AFIT5XS60’ We can save 60 euros on our purchase. And be careful, because they include gifts. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links This is the launch promo for HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 Series We are going to talk about the key points of the two HUAWEI watches a little further down, but first we are going to stop at the launch promo, starting with the Pro version. This arrives in stores at a price of 299 euros, but, using the code ‘AFIT5XS60‘when we have the watch in the cart, its price will remain at 239 euros. In addition to this, we will get a free additional strap that we can choose from six different colors (its prices range between 39 and 49 euros). Along with this, We will also get 12 free months of HUAWEI Carescreen protection against accidental damage that never hurts to have. What if we prefer the standard version? This comes at a somewhat cheaper price, specifically 199 euros. Although it is 100 euros less, we can use the same discount code ‘AFIT5XS60’ to obtain a direct discount of 60 euros, so it will cost us 139 euros. As gifts, it also includes a gift strap and 12 months of HUAWEI Care (so we will have a free glass replacement in case of breakage during that time), as well as the HUAWEI Scale 3 scale. Battery for 10 days and a screen that looks great HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 Now, let’s talk about these two new watches, starting with the cheaper of the two, HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5. This is a very interesting device made of aluminum alloy and with textile straps, which means that it is very light (so we will barely notice it on the wrist) and that its strap breathes, what is ideal when we do sports. Its screen is AMOLED, it is 1.82 inches and has 2,500 nits of maximum brightnessoptimal for outdoors. Its density is 347 PPI (which makes texts look very sharp) and it has a 60 Hz refresh rate that makes the experience with it very fluid. It is a very interesting and economical option if we are looking to control our heart rate or monitor our sleep, although it is also capable of measuring other aspects such as temperature and female health. Of course, it does not lack sports modes (it has more than 100) and ‘mini-workouts’, which are quick workouts to do at any time of the day. and work up to 11 body parts in a very short time. All this together with the fact that it has an intelligent reminder system to warn us not to sit for too long. and allows NFC payments thanks to Curve Pay. And, like its older brother, it is compatible with Android and iOS. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links WATCH FIT 5 PRO HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 PRO turn, of which we already have analysis in Xataka. At the material level, This model relies on a titanium bezel (more resistant) and its screen has sapphire glass, which is very resistant to scratches. Another point in which this model stands out a lot is its screen, which is a little larger (1.92 inches), has 3,000 nits of maximum brightness and has LTPO technology, which means that it adapts the refresh rate continuously to save resources and battery. It has a more complex sensor system that allows electrocardiograms to be performed directly on the wrist, as well as an analysis of arterial stiffness. It also has a very interesting function which is be able to see offline maps on itideal if you plan to take a route in a remote place where there is no coverage. This model is also compatible with NFC payments and stands out for its autonomy. As explained by the manufacturer (and we have purchased it ourselves), the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 PRO battery lasts 10 days with normal use. Being able to forget about the charger for so long is, without a doubt, a fantasy. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links They are two very good options that, with the discount we get by using the coupon ‘AFIT5XS60’, both have a very good price (and with gifts). Yes indeed: only until June 21. 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 | Huawei In Xataka | Best smartwatch in quality price. Which one to buy based on use and seven recommended models In Xataka | Best activity bracelets. Which one to buy and most recommended models from 25 euros

Microsoft wanted to create a mega data center in Kenya. To function, half the country had to live without electricity

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In May 2024 Microsoft announced what seemed like a historic agreement for Kenya’s technological development. The goal: create a gigantic data center that would be powered by geothermal energy. This center was going to be created in the Olkaria region, but the Kenyan president, William Ruto, has been blunt with Microsoft’s energy claims: to power the total requested 1 GW capacity, the country “would have to shut down half the nation.” too fair. Kenya has an electrical capacity installed capacity of between 3 and 3.2 GW, with peak demand that already reaches 2.44 GW. Microsoft’s project would consume approximately a third of the country’s total capacity. Even the first phase, which requires a capacity of 100 MW, would take a huge bite out of the production of the Olkaria geothermal complex, which generates about 950 GW in total. Kenya seems to be clear that sacrificing domestic consumption was not worth it when most of the project’s profitability will end up in the hands of a large foreign technology company. Financial disagreement. In addition to the energy problems, the negotiations have ended up getting stuck in the economic field. According to sources close to the process cited in BloombergMicrosoft and the investment firm G42 have reportedly asked the Kenyan government for a financial commitment. Specifically, payment for a certain amount of capacity each year, something with which the Kenyan leaders did not fully agree. The project has not been canceled. John Tanui, head of Kenya’s Ministry of Information, explained that his country is still in negotiations with Microsoft and G42, and that the agreement “has not failed or been abandoned. The scale of the data center they needed requires some structuring,” and that includes solving both the energy and economic problems. A project with a lot of geopolitics behind it. This project was not only a technological milestone for Microsoft and Africa, but also a diplomatic one. It is part of a $1.5 billion deal between Microsoft and Abu Dhabi-based G42, which was designed to counter potential deals on this continent with China. In fact, as a condition for the G42 agreement had to divest its Chinese assets and remove Huawei equipment from their systems. While the project is on hold, however, the Chinese company continues to expand in this region and has recently launched new broadband services over fiber with the largest Kenyan operator, Safaricom. Bottlenecks everywhere. The case of Kenya is not the only one that is stopping Microsoft’s plans. The company has announced a capex of 190 billion dollars by 2026 that will be invested in data centers, and the company is adding approximately 1 GW of computing capacity each quarter globally. However, about half of the data centers planned in the US this year have been canceled or delayed due to the shortage of electrical infrastructure. Image | Microsoft In Xataka | In 2024, Big Tech spent absurd amounts of money on AI. In 2025, they managed to spend 77% more

While Ryanair cuts 1.2 million seats in Spain, the gap it is leaving has a name: Wizz Air

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Ryanair continues in its thirteenth cutting seats at regional airports Spanish. The thing is that the rest of the low-cost airlines have not sat idly by and are taking advantage to have a greater presence. One of these airlines is Wizz Air, which is already thinking about grab a larger market share in Spain after the fight between Ryanair and Aena over airport taxes. Without its own bases, but with more routes and more seats. If some leave, others come. Ryanair has been in open war for months with the Government for Aena airport taxes. The Irish company considers that the rates at regional airports are unaffordable and has gone from threats to withdraw from several Spanish airports, closing its base in Santiago de Compostela, canceling flights in Vigo and Tenerife North, and will leave those in Valladolid and Jerez inactive. The total cut amounts to 1.2 million seats for the summer. In addition, next winter the airline also plans to reduce its capacity in Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza and several Canarian airports. Wizz Air has seen that gap. What Wizz Air is doing. The Budapest-based airline has decided to move in the opposite direction: it plans to increase its capacity in Spain by 39% throughout 2026. This is confirmed by Vera Jardan, the company’s corporate communications director, in statements collected by OkDiario. According to the media, the strategy does not involve opening its own bases, but rather expanding operations in the airports where it already has a presence and adding new routes. The company already operates in 16 Spanish airports, including Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Malaga, Alicante, Bilbao, Ibiza, Santander and Fuerteventura, and offers 144 routes to 15 different countries. Its latest novelty has been a direct connection between Menorca and Budapest. What they say from within. “Spain is definitely an increasingly important emerging market for us, on which we are increasingly focusing,” counted Jardan in the middle. “We see that they are more open to adventures and impromptu trips, and we would definitely like to satisfy that demand with more interesting flights and destinations to different countries,” the manager continued. Wizz Air has been betting for years on routes to central and eastern Europe, destinations that large airlines do not usually cover so frequently. He Ryanair withdrawal. Just like we counted For some time now, Ryanair has historically maintained some low-demand routes thanks to advertising contracts with local institutions. When those contracts are no longer profitable (or more attractive incentives have appeared in other markets, like morocco), the company has not hesitated to withdraw its flights. Added to this is the impact of AVE to Galiciawhich has reduced passengers from the plane in a region that has already accumulated a drop of 15.5% so far this year. What changes the travelers. In the short term, those traveling with Ryanair from affected regional airports will have fewer options or will have to travel to another departure point. Wizz Air can cover part of that demand, but its destination network and operating model are still not comparable to that of the Irish airline. What is clear is that the Hungarian company sees at this moment a real window of opportunity to gain share in a market that, until now, Ryanair had dominated with almost no direct competition in the low-cost segment. Cover image | Paréj Richárd In Xataka | If you thought that Ryanair was living outside the Hormuz crisis, its CEO has a message. And it doesn’t look good for Spain

new interface, YouTube, redesign of Maps, and a lot of AI

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In addition to all the news that Google has revealed about Android 17, Gemini Intelligence and Google Bookthe company has also taken the opportunity to tell us all the details about the new and great Android Auto update. And the company has revealed which would be the most ambitious renewal of vehicle software since the platform hit the market eleven years ago. The update features a complete redesign of the interface, new navigation features, the arrival of YouTube and everything wrapped in AI. Gemini. Under these lines we tell you all the new features of the system. An interface that no longer leaves dead spaces on the screen The most visible change is the design. And now the interface adapts to any shape of screen, no matter how irregular it may be. This is especially useful, since we will stop seeing empty spaces with unused margins. “You have the new BMW Neue Klasse with a screen that is like an irregular trapezoid. I don’t even know what to call it. It’s something like a parallelogram. And I was like… I have to go back to teaching geometry classes,” counted to The Verge Patrick Brady, vice president of Android Automotive at Google. Brady defined the new design as “full bleed,” meaning that applications like Google Maps occupy the entire surface of the screen, regardless of its geometry. Google demonstrated the system’s ability to adapt to screens in three very different cases: the circular screen of the Mini, the irregular one of the Lucid Air and the trapezoidal BMW iX3. In all of them, the map covered the space from edge to edge. The design language Material 3 Expressiveuntil now exclusive to mobile phones, also comes to the car with its own fonts, more fluid animations and customizable wallpapers that can even transfer the colors and themes of the user’s mobile phone. Dashboard widgets and 3D navigation The new version incorporates widget supportsomething that had been rumored for a while. These widgets can be pinned onto the navigation map without interruption. For example: quick access to your favorite contacts, a button to open the garage door, weather information or options to control the home automation of our home. At the center of this experience is what Google calls Immersive Navigation, defined by the company as “the largest update to Google Maps in more than a decade.” The map view becomes completely three-dimensionalshowing buildings, overpasses and the relief of the terrain. In addition, it highlights elements such as available lanes, traffic lights and stop signs in real time. According to Google, the function is designed to help with complicated maneuvers such as changing lanes or entering highways. Finally, video in the car: YouTube at 60 fps and in high definition Android Auto incorporates video playback for the first time. Applications such as YouTube will be available while the vehicle is parked, with Full HD quality and at 60 frames per second. According to Brady, users have been asking for this function for some time when they charge their electric car, wait in a parking lot or are standing at the school door. The system has intelligent behavior when starting: if the user was watching a video and starts the car, the image disappears but the audio continues automatically in the apps that support background playback (a great idea to check out with the YouTube Premium). As confirmed by the company, the first manufacturers that will have this function are BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo. In parallel, Android Auto will add compatibility with Dolby Atmos to deliver spatial and immersive sound. This function will initially reach a somewhat smaller group of brands: BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo. According to Google, music apps, including YouTube Music and Spotify, will also receive a visual update to improve their usability while driving. Gemini Intelligence comes to the car Google’s artificial intelligence assistant, Gemini, was already available on Android Auto, although its arrival has been much more timid than on mobile devices. According to the company, those who have Gemini Intelligence On their phone they will be able to access this more advanced version also from the car. The main difference is that Gemini Intelligence understands user context and promises to act autonomously. The Magic Cue function is the clearest example: if someone receives a message asking for an address, the system analyzes the content, searches for the response among the user’s emails, messages or calendar and offers to send the response with a single touch. Brady affirms that this function seeks to reduce phone use while driving: “We do distraction studies while driving in simulators. We test everything thoroughly.” The company ensures that Gemini will also be able to execute actions in other applications on the phone without the need for special integrations. The example that Google offers It’s the classic way of ordering food, describing to Gemini what you want to order and having it ready for pickup. An extra layer for the coches with integrated Google Vehicles that already have Google incorporated as standard (those with Android Automotivea base integrated system in the car itself) will receive all these new features and, in addition, some exclusive ones from its more integrated architecture. The most notable is lane guidance in real time within Immersive Navigation. Unlike conventional Android Auto, these cars can take advantage of the vehicle’s front camera to analyze the road and know which lane the driver is in, advising them in real time during lane changes or exits. All processing happens inside the car itself. Gemini in these vehicles will also have additional capabilities. According to Google, will be able to answer specific questions about the car: identify what a warning light on the dashboard means or calculate whether an object that the driver is going to pick up fits in the trunk. Zoom and other meeting apps will also arrive in these cars throughout the year. Availability: throughout 2026 Google … Read more

China and Nvidia star in the “great technological divorce” of 2026. A bureaucratic hell that is erasing it from the market

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Talking about Nvidia is talking about artificial intelligence glue. The GPU giant has invested millions financing cocompanies like OpenAI or Anthropicbut along the way has not forgotten startups or to make purchases for strengthen your position in the market. The problem is that it is missing out on a potential $50 billion market: China. Because Nvidia is eager to enter China, but it is trapped between bureaucracy, the Trump Government, Xi Jinping’s Government, and the smuggling of its graphics cards. The great divorce. In a very short time, Nvidia has gone from dominating the Chinese GPU market for artificial intelligence to losing it completely. The restrictions of the Trump Administration and the intensification of the trade war between the powers left Nvidia out of the game. Either it would adapt its GPUs and create less capable versions of those it sold in the West or it would not be able to sell in China. For a time, Nvidia was selling the H20 to adapt to the new rules, but it is something that has taken its toll. As AI needs demanded more powerful GPUs and own chinese industry with Huawei, Cambricon and Moore Threads was developed, Nvidia was being left out of the game. Official quota. In the middle of last year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang pressed Donald Trump to see reason: it was better for Nvidia to be able to enter China both to make money and to slow the accelerated development of the domestic industry, one that Western restrictions had given wings to. In the end, the US gave in previous tariffs of 25% and one condition: all GPU orders from Chinese companies to Nvidia would be reviewed one by one. There is a problem: the US body in charge of reviewing these export licenses has decreased by 20% in recent months, which is causing delays of months when it comes to fulfilling an order. From when a Chinese company asks for Nvidia GPUs until they are given an answer, the ‘chinese dragons‘They have already released some product. The result? Huang points out that Nvidia has gone from being a leader in China to have a 0% quotapainting the situation as a true drama and pointing directly to the strategies of both China and, above all, the United States as the cause of his company falling into the offside of the large Asian market. Furthermore, it is China itself that encourages its companies to, to the extent possible, use Chinese hardware that they is developing at accelerated rates. “Official” fee. But the fact that Huang claims that his market share in China is 0% does not mean that there are no GPUs for AI in China because it seems that there are H100, H200 and even B200 due to something very simple: smuggling. Despite the proprietary technological solutions they are developing, it is evident that a large part of the AI ​​industry is built with Nvidia GPUs and that implies that the tools are very well optimized for them. There are several occasions in which Nvidia AI chip smuggling networks have been reported, with modest seizures on occasions (just tens of millions of dollars) and somewhat larger seizures on others (hundreds of millions in a few months). Chinese companies obtain these chips through indirect routes from Hong Kong and Singapore and, although Nvidia tries to trace the origin, the clandestine flow and opaque chains make the task complex. trapped. Someone is lining their pockets and that someone is not Nvidia. And the problem is that Huang’s pressure had an effect, but the solution they gave him is not as agile as the market needs. Returning to the issue of bureaucracythe United States Office of Industry and Security, which is responsible for reviewing these export licenses, reduced its workforce by 19% in 2024. Specifically, those who develop standards linked to the semiconductor industry and review licenses have decreased by 20%. The result is an average of 76 days to resolve export requests, something that is extending so far this year and which is disastrous news for both Nvidia and others deeply involved in the AI ​​segment, such as AMD. From China, things are not much better, since companies must make it very clear why they need Nvidia AI chips and cannot meet their objectives using national alternatives. Jensen, almost excluded. In any case, it is evident that Huang does not like to be missing the AI ​​party in China, in the same way that he is going to miss the new trip of Donald Trump and other executives to a summit between Trump and Xi Jingping that will be held between the 13th and 15th of this month. Or so it seemed. This is an event in which conversations will focus on agriculture and commercial aviation, so a priori Jensen didn’t have much in mind. But of course, alongside Trump are CEOs like Elon Musk, Cristiano Amon or Tim Cook, among others. And, although it seemed that he was not invited, as we see in South China Morning PostIn a message from Trump on his social network, it was confirmed that Huang will finally accompany him on the trip. In the end, it’s about money. Jensen Huang doesn’t want China to have the best chips because He wants to save those for the United States.but it is a very large market in which Nvidia can offer chips strategically: it makes money while making companies opt for its product instead of that of the Chinese companies themselves. In Xataka | Nvidia’s superpower is not having money, it is making everyone work for it: Foxconn is the latest to join

carry your laptop in “taco mode” through airports and offices

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The video is, the truth, weird. It shows a hand carrying a closed laptop while climbing some stairs. A few moments later, the shot changes, and that same hand is carrying the same laptop slightly open, held only so that it does not close completely, as he descends the stairs. The question, of course, is why. And then you look at who posted and you start to understand what’s happening, because that video is from OpenAI. People carrying laptop slightly open. With it, the AI ​​company wants to imply that there is a new fashion in Silicon Valley: that of going with your laptop everywhere, but not like before, when you carried it closed. Instead, people are carrying it slightly open because that allows the laptop to continue operating normally and not go to sleep or activate power saving modes. And the people who carry their laptop like this are people who do not stop using AI. @openai iykyk but we may be in for a treat soon 👀 ♬ Cant Go Broke (Remix) – Zeddy Will What seems strange or an oversight is actually a technical necessity imposed by AI agents to program. Both Claude Code and OpenAI Codex are used non-stop by Silicon Valley AI engineers, but to keep them running you have to prevent your computer from going to sleep. So what engineers who don’t stop working on AI projects with these agents do is, when moving from one place to another, they carry their laptops slightly open to prevent work from being interrupted. The code must survive. The problem is simple but compelling: many of these AI agents are used for long programming processes that work autonomously but depend, for example, on an active WiFi connection or on AI models that run locally. If one closes the lid completely, operating systems often go into sleep mode, killing the active session and even losing accumulated progress. The solution for many is that “taco mode”: they hold the hinge with a finger so that the operating system keeps the screen and the session active. A symbol of the times. In Business Insider they stood out how this way of carrying the laptop from one place to another is increasingly common in all types of scenarios. Not only do engineers and professionals in the technology segment in Silicon Valley do it, but it is also used by students and fans of AI who are working on all types of projects with these types of agents and do not want their work to be interrupted. There are other options… On Reddit some users they criticized to those who carry their laptops like this, remembering that there is no reason to carry the laptop in cue mode so that it does not go to sleep. It is possible to change the power options of macOS, Windows or Linux so that when you close the laptop everything continues to function normally, but there are also tools such as Caffeinate that allow it even without changing energy options. …but companies rule. The problem is that the professional reality is usually somewhat different: most corporate employees are forced to use “capped” laptops by the policies of the IT departments of those companies. It is usually impossible to install new tools beyond those “validated” by the company, and it is also not possible to change system preferences. The half-open laptop thus becomes a “physical hack” that solves the problem. Virtual machines or agents in the cloud. There was also criticism of the fact that those same developers could simply have these AI agents running in the cloud, where the machines run 24/7. This would allow these processes to remain active regardless of the state of the laptop, and would also solve possible connection interruptions if one travels by plane or is in a place with a poor Wi-Fi or data connection. However, these intensive AI users prefer to carry the laptop in tow and have that immediate and total control of the situation. Silly or prestigious? Fashion has become something that, according to BI testimonies, is increasingly common in Silicon Valley. Although some users feel a little strange and try to hide this way of carrying the laptop, others say they feel good because they see that more people do it. It is in some ways a sign of a certain professional prestige, because it seems to identify these people as heavy users of AI who are probably “on the crest” of the technological wave. In Xataka | AI models already have their new obsession: before it was vibecoding, now it is cybersecurity

fill rivers with converted plastic bottles

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It must have been the end of 2009 and, while no one was looking, a handful of wasps crossed the Nivelle River and sneaked into Dantxaria. We found them a few months later installed in Amaiur, 15 kilometers further down, already in the Batzan region. Since then, heto vespa velutina has been consolidated throughout the Cantabrian coast, Galicia and the entire Ebro valley. We have been finding and destroying nests throughout the peninsula. And in 2025, nine of them were found in Alcañiz, the first documented case in the province of Teruel. Given this, the Government of Aragon decided to take action on the matter: set traps made from plastic bottles. What are they doing? In a joint action by the Forest Guard of the Alcañiz City Council and the Nature Protection Agents of the Government of Aragon traps have been placed on the banks of the Guadalope River to catch the Asian queen wasps as they emerge from torpor. In fact, there are two types of traps: on the one hand, there are the VespaCatch, which have special holes for these queen wasps. vespa velutina for which, for example, the native wasp does not fit Vespa crabro. On the other hand, handmade traps made with plastic bottles and a pair of black zip ties have also been installed. The mechanism is the same: they work with a natural attractant made with water, sugar and fresh yeast. Once inside, they cannot leave. In this way, it is hoped that they will be prevented from creating their primary nest and end up forming a new colony. And does it work? According to Alcañiz, they have already captured 62 Asian wasp queens in what seems like a huge success. The Environmental Biology group at the University of Vigo is not so clear. This group, coordinated by Sandra V. Rojas-Nossa and Salustiano Mato, has published between 2018 and 2024 a series of works that compare the effectiveness and selectivity of the most used trap models. And the results are bittersweet. Bittersweet? Yes, it’s true: VespaCatch is the one that records the highest capture rates of the Asian wasp. But it does so at the cost of capturing vulnerable native species. In fact, according to their conclusions, “with the traps tested, bait trapping continues to be environmentally unsustainable and is not recommended as a control method in regions with an already established invasive population.” To give us an idea, according to Rojas-Nossa data, approximately 100 individuals of other species for each V. velutina captured in spring. It’s true that it’s difficult transfer Galician data to Teruel, but the capture of 62 queens could have caused a small damage to the local fauna of Guadalope. It is the great paradox of the velutinas: we have reached a point where ending them means ending everything else. Image | Alcañiz Town Hall via La Comarca In Xataka | After centuries of disappearance, there are people releasing beavers into the Tagus and other rivers in Spain. The problem is that we don’t know who

They already know how to avoid the norm

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After the USB-C victorythe European Union has set its eye on another aspect of our mobile phones and He wants batteries to be easily removable by 2027. The objective behind this change is twofold: to extend the useful life of the devices and, in the process, reduce electronic waste. The deadline for the change is February 18, 2027, just over nine months, and it is striking that The big mobile brands haven’t said a word. There is a reason for his silence. Open consultation on exemptions. The Commission has proposed adding more products to the list of exemptions, including smartwatches or activity bracelets and electric toys. At the end of April, The European Commission opened a public consultation so that whoever wishes can express their opinions about the standard, which includes citizens, companies, academics or public authorities. Total silence. This consultation, which closes on May 26, is an opportunity for manufacturers of affected products to present their complaints and thus avoid applying the standard. Returning to removable batteries would mean profoundly changing the designs of the majority of mobile phones that we use today, which is why the silence of smartphone manufacturers is striking. Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO… so far no one has raised their voice to oppose the measure. Because? The small print. There is a reason why there are no complaints from mobile phone manufacturers, and it is that they have already found a way to not have to apply it. In the fine print of the new law, it contemplates two conditions by which the devices are exempt from applying the standard: Battery Durability: if it retains 83% of nominal capacity after 500 charge cycles or 80% after 1,000 charge cycles. Water resistance: devices that have an IP67 certification or higher. High-end mobile phones (and many mid-range ones) already meet these conditions, so they will not have to make big changes. In addition, manufacturers have the ability to ensure that their devices have longer-lasting batteries, as well as waterproof designs, even in the low ranges. Who has complained?. The consultation has collected complaints from other types of manufacturers that are dedicated to small accessories such as wireless headphones and other wearables. Companies such as Shenzhen Baseus Technology and Conduction Labs state that making certain products with removable batteries is “technically infeasible without destroying the product.” They refer, above all, to devices such as headphones or rings, which are not currently part of the list of exemptions. What does the norm say?. The European Commission recently detailed what he means by removable battery and what standards electronic devices must comply with from 2027. They are as follows: The battery must be “easily removable.” This doesn’t mean that cell phones are going to be like your old Nokia, but that the battery has to be removable with “commercially available tools.” If a specific tool is needed, the manufacturer is obliged to supply it free of charge. The user must not use, under any circumstances, heat or solvents to disassemble the mobile phone, so the use of glue is restricted. Manufacturers will be required to provide clear instructions so that anyone can remove and replace the battery. The software cannot hinder the battery replacement process, for example blocking it because the change was not made at an official service. Manufacturers must sell replacement batteries for at least five years after the product is removed from the market. The price of batteries must be “reasonable and non-discriminatory.” Image | Apple In Xataka | The European Union regulates too much. We are not saying it, the European Union itself has just admitted it

In its unstoppable expansion throughout Spain, mass tourism is claiming a new victim: the Albaicín of Granada

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History on all four sides. Culture. Views of the Alhambra. In theory, living in the Albaicín, a historic neighborhood in Granada, should be a privilege. In theory. The tourist overcrowding that has already devoured other cities from Spain (and other countries) is making everyday life in the most popular areas of the neighborhood resemble a gymkhana in which residents must navigate visitors in search of the best selfie. And that’s not even the worst. Part of the residents they take time warning of how tourism is affecting housing and services. They claim a “Livable Albaicín”. What has happened? That the list of Spanish cities in which the tension between mass tourism and the daily lives of residents is growing adds a new town: Granada. For some time now, the residents of the city, more specifically the Albaicín neighborhoodwarn of how the arrival of visitors to the area alters their routine and something just as or even more important: services, commerce and, above all, housing. It’s not something new. In fact, the platform that gives voice to the complaints of locals, ‘Albayzín habitable’, It was launched in 2024. However, a quick search on Google shows how their complaints have not stopped over the last two years. On the contrary. On Instagram, where they accumulate 10,200 followersshow intense activity in the streets. Their purpose, they clarify, is to act against “a tourism model that is killing the neighborhood.” They are not against the sector or visitors, but against overcrowding. What is the problem? The photo is not very different from what can be found in other points where the rope that unites residents and tourists has been tightening for some time. The group cries out against the transfer of housing that migrates from the residential market to tourist rentals (“where before there were neighbors there are now lockers“) or the risk of losing spaces for citizen use in favor of the sector, as, they warn, may occur with Saint Agnes and Saint Michael. The first is a old convent. The second was a juvenile center. Now they both could become hotelswhich has already brought out the neighbors to the street to protest. Is it that serious? On Monday The Country public a chronicle in which he points out other consequences of the tourism of the neighborhood, effects well known in other great destinations in the country, such as Barcelona, Santiago de Compostela either Palma de Mallorca. For example, crowds at the San Nicolás viewpoint to achieve the best selfie of the sunset or a change in the commercial fabric of the neighborhood, with traditional businesses that look with concern at the medium-term future and new ones that open despite not having any cultural link with the environment. “Look, now the groups of tourists surround us, before it was the neighbors who were on the street,” commented a neighbor sarcastically told the newspaper. But is it so noticeable? He is not the only one who points out this progressive mutation that, little by little, is making the neighborhood more adapted to the needs of those who are passing through and less to those of those who live there permanently. In August, Tatiana, a spokesperson for Albayzín Habitable, lamented the closure of a supermarket and a clinic, essential for residents. Businesses such as hairdressers or supermarkets give way to retail stores. take away and cold sangria. “Local shops and supermarkets continue to disappear and are replaced by trinket shops for tourists or hospitality establishments only available to the most privileged,” they insist on the neighborhood platform. @aidajr_93 The residents of Albayzin have united under the platform #albayzinhabitable to make ourselves heard and for the city council or the Andalusian board to hear us and regularize the uncontrolled tourism that we have in Albayzin, where speculation is driving out neighbors who have been in their homes all their lives to build tourist apartments, historic Carmens are converted into luxury apartments. The streets are uninhabitable for those of us who live here because they are always full of tourist groups, thefts, parties and it is impossible for the families who live here to take a bus because it is full of tourists. Elderly people do not dare to go out because they cannot go home, families with children cannot use the buses because it is impossible and if you are in a wheelchair, forget about it. We are not kicking tourism out of the neighborhood, we just ask for control and for neighbors to be more protected and to be able to be inhabitants of our streets and homes. #Grenade #UncontrolledTourism #stopspeculation #Albayzin @EL NIÑO DEL ALBAYZÍN @Sonsoles Ónega @Antena 3 @6️⃣LaSexta6️⃣ @Cuatro @RTVE @Pepe y Vizio @Junta de Andalucía @Andalucía Directo @Al Rojo Vivo ♬ original sound – Aidajr_93 Are they just impressions? There are also figures. Last year Albayzín Habitable estimated that in the area there were around 7,400 places for tourists, which would exceed, he assures, the number of registered residents, which is around 7,000. Correct or not, their data is not the first to warn of the tourist saturation that the neighborhood is experiencing. A few years ago the Granada City Council commissioned a study on the topic that concluded that Fígares and Albaicín are the areas with the highest concentration of tourist rentals in the city. By measuring the proportion of tourist apartments over available family homes in each part of the municipality, the technicians concluded that in both areas it reached 24%. In hard and fast figures, that translated into 715 homes out of 3,038. What are the consequences? The report suggests that this tourist pressure may be driving out neighbors. Although during the period analyzed (2015-2022) the whole of Granada had recorded a negative demographic dynamic, the trend seemed to be accentuated in Albaicín, with the transfer of 712 of the almost 9,300 residents initially registered. It is not the biggest ‘bleed’ in the town in net terms, but the data does stand out if analyzed in proportion. … Read more

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