usatoday24

what it is, how it works and who can use Xiaomi’s AI agent platform

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Let’s tell you What is Xiaomi MiMo Claw and how does it work?the artificial intelligence platform created by Xiaomi. This is a service that combines the manufacturer’s own artificial intelligence with the platform OpenClawthe popular AI agent. Xiaomi simplifies all of this to the maximum so that anyone can use it. So that you understand it well, we are going to start by explaining what exactly this tool is and how it works. Then, we will tell you who can use it. What is Xiaomi MiMo Claw MiMo Claw is a platform created by Xiaomi, built on OpenClawan open source AI agent framework. OpenClaw allows artificial intelligence to take control of your devices and do things for you on them, both to manage files and to do things on the network. About OpenClaw Xiaomi uses its most advanced artificial intelligence model, MiMo-V2.5-Pro. It is this version of MiMo that acts as an agent, being able to do the tasks you ask of it. Come on, it’s not limited to answering questions, it can also perform actions for you. Xiaomi has been testing this tool in beta for months, and on June 16, 2026, it confirmed the launch of its official version. Its great asset is yesu integration with Kingsoft Office (WPS Office), the office suite that is the Chinese alternative to Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. With this agreement, whoever uses its programs will have Xiaomi’s AI functions integrated. Xiaomi claims that in its internal tests at ClawEval, a testing ground that measures the performance of AI agents, its model had a task completion rate of 63.8%, with token consumption between 40% and 60% lower than that of similar products. Of course, remember that these are data that Xiaomi itself has given, it is necessary to treat the figures with caution. How MiMo Claw works MiMo Claw works as an AI agent, not a chatbot. This means that it is not limited to writing you answers for what you ask, it can take care of perform complex multi-step tasks without you having to guide them through each one of them. According to the data published by Xiaomi, the system can sustain more than a thousand consecutive calls to tools within the same session. This means that you do not lose track of what you are doing, and the logic is not interrupted in a long task. Come on, it’s harder to stay halfway without knowing what to do when the tasks are especially long. This is possible, among other things, because MiMo-V2.5-Pro ​​handles a context window of up to one million tokens. Tokens measure the amount of text and information that can be remembered and taken into account less work. The model natively supports the protocol MCP or Model Context Protocol. It is a standard that acts as a bridge between the AI ​​model and data sources that feed it to give it the information it needs to function. This means that it allows an AI to call external tools, being able to search the Internet, open files or execute code autonomously without the user having to do anything else. As we have told you, MiMo Claw is integrated into Kingsoft Office, so it focuses on the office field. MiMo Claw is compatible with more than 95% of common document formats, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint or PDF among many others. This allows you to create complete cycles. For example, you can generate a document with AI, preview it and edit it in real time, all without leaving the Kingsoft Office ecosystem or resorting to other platforms. You can also create documents with a single click from templatesmanage files, and execute several tasks at the same time. This entire system is hosted in the cloud, so you don’t need to install anything nor use it on a powerful computer, although this also means that it does not have as much privacy as local alternatives. Of course, it is available 24 hours a day and can continue working or correcting errors while you sleep or do other things. Who can use MiMo Claw MiMo Claw can be used independently on the website of mimo.mi.comwhere in Use MiMo do you have a link for MiMo Claw. Of course, its deployment will be progressive outside of China. The service is in a phase where subscriptions and technical support for abroad are not yet enabled. Even so, when it arrives its free usage time will be 4 hours. MiMo Claw’s integration with Kingsoft Office is also designed for the Chinese domestic market. Therefore, if you use the version of WPS Office available in European app stores you will not find native integration with MiMo Clawit will only be in the Chinese versions. Therefore, at the moment MiMo Claw can only be used in China, and we will have to wait to see if it ends up reaching Europe. European data protection regulations are strict, so it may take a while to arrive. In Xataka Basics | QuickClaw: what it is, how it works and how safe this application is to install OpenClaw on your mobile with just a couple of clicks

“It is not wild boars that cross our roads; it is our roads that cross their habitats”

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In 1959, the biologist Jane Goodall documented how newly opened roads in East Africa altered ancestral routes displacement of primates and other mammals, forcing them to change movement and feeding patterns. Decades later, that early observation has become one of the great certainties of modern ecology: a road never divides just one landscape. The city as an invisible barrier. Modern cities are often thought of as perfect machines for moving people: cars, subways, scooters, roads and avenues designed to optimize each human journey. But that logic has a hidden cost. Under that network of asphalt and glass, thousands of animals coexist in an environment that for them functions as a permanent trap. Urban mobility, so efficient for us, becomes for wildlife a territory full of obstacles, noise and death points that alter their daily lives and reduce their living space. The noise that forces change. One of the deepest impacts is the acoustic. Many birds depend on song to defend territory, find a mate or communicate, but the constant noise Traffic has forced many species to change their behavior. Some raise their pitch, others advance their songs at dawn and others they just disappear. Adapting has a price: more energy expenditure, less reproductive efficiency and constant stress that breaks balances built over thousands of years. Glass, cars and silent deaths. They counted on a Vanguard report that the deadliest threat is often not even seen. Glass surfaces, transparent screens and illuminated infrastructure cause thousands of bird collisions each year. Robins, chiffchaffs and thrushes are among the most affected speciestrapped by an architecture that to the human eye is neutral, but for them it is an invisible trap. Added to this is road traffic, which turns secondary roads and urban roads into authentic corridors of mortality, especially for amphibians during their migrations. They are not the ones who invade. Here comes the idea that summarizes the true change of outlook. As the ecologist states Joan Pino in the middle“it is not wild boars or roe deer that cross our roads; it is our roads that cross their habitats.” The phrase dismantles a widespread perception: that fauna breaks into human spaces. The reality is the inverse. For decades we have fragmented forests, natural corridors and passageways with roads, train tracks and housing estates. When a wild boar appears on a highway or a roe deer in a district, is not invading anything; He is trying to move through a territory that was always his. The price of cutting up nature. That cut has measurable consequences. In Catalonia, accidents with wildlife have been doubled in the last decade, already exceeding several thousand a year. In that sense, it is not only a question of road safety, but a sign that ecological connectivity is failing. Spaces like Collseroladespite their proximity to large green areas, are becoming increasingly isolated due to traffic density and the proliferation of infrastructure. Physical distance matters less than the hostility of the middle ground. Rethinking the shared city. It is possible that the solution will not only involve building isolated wildlife crossings, although they remain essential. The challenge is much broader: design permeable territories where biodiversity can move without encountering lethal barriers every few hundred meters. Glazing adapted for birds, less aggressive lighting for bats, green corridors and less private traffic are part of this new logic. From this prism, the city of the 21st century can no longer be thought of as an exclusively human space, it will have to be understood, increasingly, as a shared ecosystem where moving does not imply expelling or silencing the rest of the invisible neighbors. Image | x In Xataka | In Spain we are putting GPS on wild boars to follow their wanderings. And we are discovering surprising things In Xataka | An “enemy” is invading the United Kingdom on a large scale and it is one of the most intelligent it has faced: the octopus

What is the best cheap dongle for your TV in 2026?

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Although it is true that 4K dominates marketing, HD streaming is still the king of the second homes, bedrooms and old TVs who refuse to die. If you want to convert a standard television into smartwith a simple dongle you can achieve it and for less than 50 euros. Today, there are two devices of this type that are leaders: the Fire TV Stick HD and the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen). We confront both throughout this post so that you can choose one of them to give a second life to an old television that you have at home. Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (latest generation) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi TV Stick HD 2nd Gen The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Technical data sheet of the Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) and the Fire TV Stick HD Xiaomi tv stick hd (2nd gen) fire tv stick hd Maximum resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps processor Quad-core Cortex-A55 Quad-core 1.7 GHz (Optimized) ram memory 1GB LPDDR4 1GB DDR4 Storage 8GB eMMC 8GB operating system Google TV (based on Android 14) Fire OS (Amazon Ecosystem) video codecs AV1, VP9, ​​H.265 (HEVC) AV1, H.265 (HEVC), H.264 hdr HDR10, HDRO10+, HLG HDR10, HDRO10+, HLG audio Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Dolby Atmos (passthrough), Dolby Digital Connectivity Wi-Fi 5 (Dual Band), Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi 6 (Basic Support), Bluetooth 5.3 Ports HDMI (built-in), Micro-USB (Charging) HDMI (built-in), USB-C (Charging) voice assistant Google Assistant Alexa extra features Chromecast built-in Support for Ring/Echo cameras remote control Bluetooth with direct access to YouTube Bluetooth with TV channel buttons price from 59.99 euros (only for sale at Powerplanet) 49.99 euros (not yet for sale) At first glance, in this comparison table you can already see how these are similar and what they are not. dongles. But so that you are clearer about the best option for your TV (and your own tastes and needs), we are going to delve into their differences. Software and philosophy: customization or recommendation? This is the main difference between both models, since you are not buying just hardware but you are choosing the operating system that you will see every time you turn on the screen. The Xiaomi device works under the latest version of Google TV. One of its great advantages is neutrality, since Google recommends content based on what you seewithout aggressively prioritizing its own platform. In addition, having Chromecast integrated is a lifesaver, since you can send content from your mobile directly, with just one touch. Instead, the Fire TV Stick HD uses Fire OS. Here, you could say that Amazon is the owner and this shows. The interface is fluid, but designed for you to consume Prime Video content. One of its strong points in 2026 is its integration with home automation. So if you have a smart home with the Alexa ecosystemyou can see who is knocking at your door (if you have a Ring video doorbell) or ask the voice assistant to turn off the lights in the living room, for example. Of course, you have to be prepared to see banners of advertising for their own series on the home screen, something that not everyone likes. The controller: the physical connection with the content Both controls They work via Bluetooth (which prevents you from having to point them directly at the TV); The sensations of use are different. Xiaomi bets on the extreme minimalism. Its buttons are very quiet and have dedicated shortcuts. Of course, Google’s voice assistant delivers, but sometimes it may seem a little slower, especially when processing complex requests. On the contrary, Amazon’s command is already a reference. Is ergonomic, robust and the button intended for Alexa works instantly. Voice search allows natural commands and the system gets it right. Performance and memory management On paper, both devices are entry-level, although there are some differences in performance. Don’t be fooled by the RAM numbers, which are still frozen at 1 GB in both models. The secret of this renewal (in the case of Xiaomi) is purely hardware: the processor makes the leap in architecture A53 to A55while the graphic section is modernized from a Mali-450 to Mali-G31 MP2. How does this show up on a day-to-day basis? It doesn’t change the number of apps you can keep in the background, but rather the pure speed at which the stick responds. Both models, on the other hand, decode the AV1 codecsomething vital in 2026. This means that it allows you to watch HD streaming with superior image quality while consuming 30% less data. If your connection is unstable or you use your mobile as a hotspot, AV1 can significantly reduce interruptions during playback In this section we would also have to talk about connectivity. Here the Amazon Fire TV Stick stick out his chest with his WiFi 6 compatibility (compared to WiFi 5 of the Xiaomi model). If you have a modern router at home, the connection is stronger and has less latency, something you will notice a lot, especially if you use cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Amazon Luna. Why buy the Xiaomi Stick HD (2nd Gen)? Although still It is not officially for sale in Spain (at the moment we have only found it on Powerplanet for 59.99 euros), if you want to wait to get it dongle from the Chinese manufacturer in other stores, these are the reasons why it would be worth waiting to buy it. You send a lot of content from the mobilelsince the built-in Chromecast is much more stable than Amazon’s mirroring system. It’s perfect if you project photos from your gallery, videos from social networks or Chrome tabs to your TV. Do you like to enjoy a Clean interface without intrusive ads. Want customize your home screen to the millimeteruse apps that are not in official stores or you want full access to the Google … Read more

PAU students have become obsessed with Gardening FP. It actually makes complete sense.

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Everyone manages their nerves as best they can (or knows how). A few weeks ago, while thousands of young people were preparing the PAUthe old ‘Selectivity’, a tiktoker called Ikero800 published a comic video in which he joked about the future that is presented to students with bad grades. The piece, which lasts just 15 seconds, shows a telephone with an incoming call that reads “FP de Jardinería” while the tiktoker hum those three words over and over again to music Joseph Haydn background. Funny or not, has gone viral. But… Does it make sense? Reducing tension. To understand it you have to go back a few weeks back, when thousands of young people from all over Spain were glued to their desks reviewing the last lessons before the PAU, the test in which many risked access to their dream career. To relieve tension and pulling sarcasm, Ikero800, a tiktoker with almost 11,000 followers, he published a video in which he jokes about the outlook that was presented to those who failed. What panorama? The average cycle (FP) of Gardening and Floristry. Or at least that’s what Ikero800 slides into his video, in which he hums over and over again “Efepé gardening…” while a Haydn trumpet concerto plays in the background. In the image we see the young man dancing, the capture of an incoming call in which the same thing is read (“Gardening FP”) and a text that explains: “POV: you fail all the course exams and see how the gardening FP is approaching.” As a video says more than a long explanation, here we leave the link: @ikero800 Did you like my gardening FP song? ♬ original sound – Ikero800 @danistudyy 😭🤣all of us who have exams right now😭🫣 This would have been my lucky case that proxus.es saved me from this and helped me get good grades, I hope I don’t get caught in the body and paint exam students university high school humor ♬ original sound – Ikero800 15,900 videos (and counting). The truth is that the sketch it worked. So much, in fact, that Ikero800’s video is on its way to 87,000 likes and his joke has transcended far beyond his account. The original audio of his piece, in which the tiktoker humming out of tune ‘gardening ephepe’ while Haydn plays in the background has already been used around 16,000 times. The staging changes, but the ‘soundtrack’ is always the same. Same as the message: most people use it to joke about their PAU or their grades. “POV: there is one day left until the PAU and it starts to ring,” one publishes while recording himself studying. “We when we see the language exam tomorrow,” shares another in a video in which a group of teenagers are seen in a garden with a pot and a shovel. The list goes on and on (and on and on). Why is it important? Beyond its viralitythe joke is interesting because it reflects a reality that transcends TikTok, networks or the Internet: accessing the dream university career is increasingly difficultwhich translates into an extra burden of anxiety for students who are risking their future. It has always been like this (the Selectivity already left similar scenes), but the situation seems to have worsened due to the pressure endured by the most in-demand degrees. Last year elEconomista.es did a study analyzing a selection of degrees and universities and concluded that in just one decade the cut-off marks had risen on average by 24%. From the 7.78 average in the 2015-2016 academic year, it had gone, according to the newspaper’s calculations, to 9.63 in 2025-2026. elDiario.es did a similar exercise and although their data do not coincide, the general trend does: their estimate shows that in just one decade it went from 6.85 to 8.05. Racing inflation. If before there were only four careers that required a outstanding grade 13 (or higher), last year that was already the price to pay to access some 70 degrees. a few weeks ago The Mail did a similar exercise in Galicia and concluded that in almost 80 formations the cut-off score had suffered the effects of ‘inflation’, that is, it had increased in just a couple of years (2023-25). In another hundred the trend was the opposite. The pressure it is not the same in all training courses and stands out above all in double degrees, Mathematics, Computer Science and certain training courses in the scientific field. With this data, we can better understand the TikTok publications in which students show their reactions upon learning about their PAU grades or jokes like that of Ikero800, who, given the success of the video on the Gardening FP, published other similar videos (the music changes) about the Plumbing FP, Welding FP, Sports FP, Cooking FP or even “FP of Churrero”. Are FP that bad? Not at all. What’s more, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid recalls that in certain cases FP has become “a much more attractive path than university” in the eyes of students who finish the Selectivity. At least if we talk about employability. According to a study cited by the agency, last year between 73% and 79.5% of VET graduates were in active employment, a percentage that drops to 66% among university students. Of course, the membership rate depends a lot on the type of training we are talking about. For example, according to U-Ranking in the degree of Medicine or Computer Engineering it exceeds 90%. What Social Security says. The disclosed data in 2025 by Education show that the average affiliation rate in the first year was 36.2% among those who graduated in 2020-21 in Intermediate Vocational Training and 51.1% among those with Higher Education. These percentages grow as the years go by. The third year is around 63.5% among higher graduates and 72.1% in dual modality. If we talk about university degreesIn general, the average affiliation rate is 49.6% after the first year, 65.6% in the … Read more

an anomaly of up to 15 degrees never seen since 1950

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Right now, as I write this, “there is the possibility that next week’s temperatures will be Record”. That is, “the highest recorded in Spain since 1950” for that date. The American model, without going any further, It is 46 degrees for areas of Portugal and Extremadura. What there is no doubt is that a “very extreme” warm episode is coming with anomalies between 10 and 1 degrees above normal. I repeat because it is difficult to assimilate: between 10 and 15 degrees. At this point in June 2026, the only discussion is whether we will see the first heat wave of the year. A debate that does not focus on the heat we are going to experience (which, except in areas affected by storms, will be a lot), but on how long the extreme event will last. What is going to happen? In principle, as explained Álvaro Oliver“a ridge will spread from the Sahara that will practically reach the polar circle.” The consequence of having a “great subtropical advection, with temperatures at 850 hPa close to 30°C” is that, “on the surface, 40°C will be reached in many points and will be widely exceeded in the valleys.” It is true that “no need to take it for granted maximum temperatures” because there will be convection, cloudiness and “stormy spells that generate intense gusts of wind.” In other words, the warm advection will probably not be as “stable” as the last one and that will be especially noticeable in the western Cantabrian. However, the resulting picture is dramatic. What can we expect? In terms of temperatures (and beyond an unprecedented crisis in the south of France), maximums around or above 35 ºC in the middle of the week even on the Northern Plateau and the possibility of 40 ºC in the interior of the southern half. This, however, refers to the most intense phase of the phenomenon. What worries experts is that many scenarios maintain the warm anomaly throughout the last fortnight. Hence the doubt persists about whether or not there will be a heat wave. To do this, the extreme temperatures have to last three days. Either way, this is real. Whether or not there is a ‘heat wave’ will be a technical question. The important thing is that the signal is there: the heat waves in Spain they doubled their frequency in 2011-2020 compared to each of the previous decades since 1975 and appear earlier and earlier. June 2025 was cool, but we already have the heat knocking on our door here. What does all this imply? Plus the heat is already here. It’s a wake-up call: the first extreme events of the season They are always the most dangerous. Neither our houses, nor our clothes, nor our physiology are completely adapted. And that, in people with health problems (or very exposed to heat) can be a top priority health problem. Image | Tropical Tidbits In Xataka | We have not known for 30 years why there is an area of ​​the Atlantic that cools while the planet burns. Now we have an idea

MediaMarkt is selling out all these portable air conditioners right before summer starts

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Summer officially starts next Sunday, but it’s already hot. Many of us have been caught by the bull and we don’t have anything at home to make it more bearable, so it’s time to go for something. If you don’t want a fan nor anything that requires installation like a split type air conditionerone of the best alternatives is a portable air conditioner. And MediaMarkt is liquidating several of them. Portable air conditioner – Cecotec ForceClima 9150 Style, 2250 fg/h, 2 speed The price could vary. We earn commission from these links There are several models to choose from, but we have selected five that we find especially interesting: Cecotec Force Clima 9150 Style by 209 eurosideal for rooms of about 25 square meters. Koenic KAC 9026 W by 190 eurosan economical option with night mode. De’Longhi PAC EM90 Silent by 599 eurosa very quiet portable air conditioner ok OAC 7026 ES by 153 eurosperfect for small rooms. Koenic KAC 12126 by 299 euroswith a dehumidifier function and with refrigerators for a large room. Cecotec Force Clima 9150 Style The first of these portable air conditioners is the Cecotec ForceClima, which has 2,250 frigories. It is ideal for rooms of about 25 square meters and also has a lot of versatility, since it can be used for cooling, ventilation or as a humidifier. At the MediaMarkt outlet, in ‘New’ condition, it is available for 209 euros. Portable air conditioner – Cecotec ForceClima 9150 Style, 2250 fg/h, 2 speed The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Koenic KAC 9026 W An option very similar to the previous one but somewhat cheaper: this is the Koenic KAC 9026 W. It has the same refrigerators as the Cecotect one and also has 3 operating modes. This also has a ‘Night Mode’ to save energy and emit less noise. It has a timer, includes a window kit and, in ‘New’ condition, comes out 190 euros. Portable air conditioner-KOENIC KAC 9026 W ES Mobile Air conditioner,Temp 24h The price could vary. We earn commission from these links De’Longhi PAC EM90 Silent The most expensive of these airs is this one from De’Longhi. It has 2,450 frigories, making it suitable for larger rooms than the other two above. But, beyond that, this model stands out for making less noise than other airs of this type. In addition, it has energy efficiency A, something that we will appreciate on the electricity bill. On MediaMarkt it is available for 599 eurosalthough we found it on Amazon for 495.04 euros. De’Longhi Pinguino PAC EM90 Silent The price could vary. We earn commission from these links ok OAC 7026 ES If you are looking for one that is especially economical and that works for small rooms, this one from the ok brand may fit you very well. It has 1,750 frigories, although it is also more compact and narrower than the other models on this list, which also makes it easier to move from room to room. In ‘New’ condition, we have it available at the MediaMarkt outlet for 153 euros. Portable air conditioner – ok. OAC 7026 ES, 1720 fg/h, 2 Speed, 16m², 55 dB(A) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Koenic KAC 12126 Another from the Koenic brand, although this time we are looking at a model more oriented towards large rooms, such as a living room. Of all those in this selection of portable air conditioners, it is the only one that also has a heat function so you can continue taking advantage of it in winter. It also has a timer, night mode and is out right now at the MediaMarkt outlet for 299 euros. Portable air conditioner-Koenic KAC 12126 W ES Mobile AC, 4 modes, 400 m³/h, T 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 | Cecotec, Koenic, De’Longhi, ok, In Xataka | Which smart air conditioner to buy. How to choose a connected air conditioning system and featured models In Xataka | Silent portable air conditioner. Which one to buy? Tips and recommendations

Many people use the eco mode of the dishwasher thinking that it is the most responsible option. There are two reasons why not

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I am a faithful user of the dishwasher’s eco mode. In fact, I don’t think I’ve used another one since they installed it in… 2018? It cleans my dishes and saves water, all advantages, or so I thought. It turns out that There are two reasons why it is not recommended Only use this mode. Using the eco mode reduces water consumption and also electricity consumption by not heating it as much. According to a study by the OCUeco mode consumes, on average, 16% less water and 20% less electricity than the normal program. In liters, they calculated that the normal mode consumes about 13 liters and the eco 11 liters, so it is not a huge saving either. If we look at the money, they calculated that per year we save 7.7 euros, 0.60 euros of water and 7.1 euros of electricity. The problem: temperature As a general rule, dishwasher eco programs heat the water up to 50 degrees. This is enough to soften the dirt so that it comes off the plates and cutlery, but not to eliminate certain bacteria that we can find in a kitchen such as E. coli or salmonella. To get rid of most bacteria, different food safety guides They talk about temperatures starting at about 60-65 degrees combined with sufficient exposure time. Below that range, even if we have used soap and see the dish clean, there is no guarantee that no bacteria will remain. Normal dishwasher programs are usually around 60 degrees and also have intensive modes up to 70 or 80 degrees, although it is best to consult your model’s manual to be sure of the temperature of each mode. Another thing we usually do that can harm disinfection is open the dishwasher door prematurely. Even if you have finished washing, the residual heat continues to do its job to dry the dishes and also to kill any bacteria that may have remained. The fact that the water is not as hot in eco mode has another consequence and that is that it can end up damaging the machine itself. With the passage of time, grease and debris deposits are created in the dishwasher ducts, but if we use a program that does not heat the water much those deposits accumulate morewhich can cause bad odors and even lead to long-term failure. A user account on Reddit that his dishwasher broke down and, when the technician arrived, he told him that the culprit was the eco mode because the temperature of the water was not capable of completely dissolving the soap and it had been accumulating in the ducts until it clogged them. That does not mean that you should never use this option, but it does mean that it should not be the only one. For my part, I am going to continue using it, but seeing that the savings are not as great as I thought and that using hotter water has advantages, I will alternate it from time to time with the intensive mode. Image | Xataka In Xataka | Your refrigerator has a compartment designed for eggs in the door. It’s the worst possible place to keep them.

Shots have been heard throughout Europe.

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At the beginning of the 20th century, a Russian fleet mistook British fishing boats for Japanese torpedo boats in the North Sea and opened fire, killing two fishermen and nearly to provoke a war between the United Kingdom and Russia. More than a century later, another clash in European waters has once again reminded us that when Moscow shoots, even “by mistake,” the echo always reaches much further. A sailboat and a frigate. It all started with a almost absurd image: a retired British couple calmly sailing off the Isle of Wight and a Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovichopening warning fire a few hundred meters away. On paper it was a minor incident, with no injuries or damage, but the symbolism is huge. In the heart of the English Channel, one of the busiest maritime arteries on the planet, shots fired into the air have transformed a routine maneuver into a sign of the extent to which the Ukrainian war is projecting military tension onto European waters themselves. Admiral Grigorovich The two versions. Moscow holds that the British yacht approached dangerously, ignored acoustic signals and flares and forced the Russian crew to fire to avoid a collision. London and the couple on board offer a version much less dramatic: They claim that they did correct course after hearing the horn and that they were never really in the impact path. This clash of stories matters because it changes the reading of the incident. If it was a simple poorly managed naval protocol, it is an anecdote, but if it was a Russian overreaction, it is another piece of a pressure strategy. A nervous ship in European waters. There is one key detail that changes everything: several British sources believe that the Russian frigate could be drifting due to mechanical or propulsion problems. That would explain both his apparent vulnerability and the speed with which the situation escalated. An immobile or semi-paralyzed warship on such a congested sea route is almost the closest thing to a wounded animal: more dangerous, unpredictable and sensitive to any approach. The shots, seen this way, not only speak of Russian aggressiveness, but also of operational fragility. The shadow of the captured tanker. Impossible to ignore and cross stories, because the incident comes just days after the United Kingdom will intercept he tanker Smyrtoslinked to the so-called Russian “shadow or ghost fleet” and loaded with sanctioned crude oil. Officially, London insists that the two episodes are not connected. But it costs ignore synchrony: an unprecedented seizure, tightening sanctions and, immediately afterwards, a Russian frigate firing on one of the most guarded routes in Europe. In other words, although it is not direct retaliation, the context makes each naval gesture acquire much greater political weight. Russia getting closer. Be that as it may, the presence of the Admiral Grigorovich in the Channel is not punctual. It has been escorting Russian ships for months, resupplying at sea and maintaining constant activity between the Channel and the North Sea. That has forced the Royal Navy to follow her almost permanently with patrol cars like HMS Mersey and HMS Tynewhile the Royal Air Force deploys surveillance aircraft such as the Boeing P-8 Poseidon. The consequence is crystal clear: what was previously a commercial and civil area is gradually becoming militarized, with constant contact between rival forces. Fire that sounds throughout the continent. It is the consequence of the entire scenario. The important thing is not so much that some shots in the air almost hit a sailboat, but also. The most important thing is perhaps where they occurred and what they represent on the current board. A British couple was sailing off the Isle of Wight and, in a matter of seconds, became trapped on the invisible frontier of a new European confrontation. The message that this strange episode leaves is, to say the least, uncomfortable: war is no longer confined to the Donbas or the Black Sea. As in the episodes of the “lost drones” outside the conflict, it is felt in scenarios such as the English Channel, at the gates of the United Kingdom, and every honk or shot warning echoes throughout the continent. Image | CROWN In Xataka | The Canary Islands receive another “invasion” unrelated to tourism every week: 50 ships from the Russian ghost fleet In Xataka | While we all look at Iran, the UK is intercepting and boarding the Russian ‘ghost fleet’ in Gibraltar

has lost almost 20% of travelers in four months

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The INE data confirms the worst start to the year for Spanish high speed since the pandemic. Between January and April, the number of travelers on AVE, Avlo, Iryo and Ouigo It decreased by 19.6% compared to the same period in 2025going from 13.75 to 11.06 million passengers. The collapse comes after the Adamuz accident on January 18 and the numerous outages and breakdowns that the railway network is suffering these months. Adamuz has been a turning point. The train accident that occurred on January 18 in the Cordoba town of Adamuz, which claimed the lives of 46 people, caused the immediate cutting of the corridor between Madrid and Andalusia for several weeks. Furthermore, the tragedy led Adif to impose multiple temporary speed limitations (LTV) at different points of the network, after the train drivers denounced the poor state of the infrastructure. The result was longer travel times, poorly functioning services and sub-par punctuality. Month by month. February was the worst month. And the number of high-speed travelers plummeted by 32% compared to February 2025, according to INE data. In March the drop was 18% and in April, 15%, despite the arrival of Easter (where there is normally a great demand). The accumulated figure for the first four months of 2026 is even lower than that of the same period in 2024, when 11.63 million travelers were registered. A second runner out of commission. After the closure of the corridor affected by Adamuz, another blow was added: the Madrid-Málaga corridor was disabled for four months due to the detachment of a slope at the height of Álora (Málaga), caused by the intense rains that fell in Andalusia at the beginning of the year. Service was not restored until April 30. Punctuality. Beyond the cuts, high speed in Spain too has a punctuality problem. And according to him AVE and Renfe long distance punctuality reportonly 46.9% of trains arrived less than five minutes late during this period. In the Madrid-Barcelona corridor, the operators had to remove the last train of the day to avoid it coinciding with the maintenance slots, a direct consequence of the LTV. Just like account La Razón, Adif also extended travel times by 25 minutes in that corridor to facilitate conservation tasks. Other transport. The fall in high speed has not ended up being transferred to public transport as a whole. And it is that according to INE datain April, intercity bus grew by 4.7% and air transport by 3.2%, while urban transport (metro and city bus) rose by 8.4%, with the metro growing by almost 10%. Maritime, on the other hand, fell 11.2%. The sign of recovery. Despite the bad start to the year, there are signs that demand is picking up. The Trainline comparator points out that ticket prices are rising, with Madrid-Barcelona routes 9% more expensive compared to the summer of 2025, as a sign that demand is reactivated. Its general director in Europe, Pedro García, counted to El Mundo that predicts a “super promising” summer for the train, also supported by aid from the program Young Summer of the Ministry of Transportation and in the effect of railway liberalization since 2020, which has reduced the cost of routes such as Madrid-Málaga or Madrid-Valladolid by more than 50% compared to 2019. The underlying problem. What the Adamuz accident has highlighted is the fragility of a network that, in words from Trainline’s own Pedro García, needs investment to be able to compete with other European countries. The constant growth in passengers that the Spanish high speed had been registering (42% more since liberalization, according to Trainline) came to a halt in January, and recovering that trend will depend above all on the speed in the repair of the infrastructure as well as the confidence that travelers regain in the system. Cover image | Renfe In Xataka | The punctuality of trains in Germany is a myth: 100,000 million euros are going to be spent to solve it

We knew that freezing bread was convenient, cheap and fashionable. What we are not clear about is that it is “so good” for health

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The world has changed. And if there is something where that It is more noticeable than in water, land or airthat’s bread. HE note on bread and it shows a lot. So much so that, despite the attempts in recent years to revitalize it, the culture of bread (those 315 varieties that identified Jose Carlos Capel at the end of the 80s) is in clear decline. Thus, the idea of ​​buying bread every day is increasingly in the minority and the big question that thousands of people ask is… “Is it really a good idea to freeze it?” And, to the surprise of many, it is a good idea (although not as good as it wants to let us know). You just need to do it well. So you don’t lose properties? As the dietitian-nutritionist explained Nuria Romero in Ideal“we can rest assured, because when frozen, bread does not lose nutritional properties.” Although, it is true that “sometimes its texture or flavor can be affected.” And is any bread worth it? The best are “those that are less toasted, since they are the ones that best hold the moisture balance between the crust and the crumb.” For the same reason, it is also a good idea to freeze large breads or those that are made from whole wheat or rye flour. How do you freeze bread? Although it may seem obvious, freezing bread is very very simple. There are three easy steps to implement. The problem is that most consumers They are not usually applied systematically. The first thing is to choose fresh bread at room temperature. If the bread is already starting to get hard or hasn’t cooled completely yet, the end result will be much worse. Later, it is highly recommended to cut it into portions that make it easier to defrost later. In this sense, many people choose to cut it into slices. And then pack it airtight. This way we ensure that moisture from the freezer does not come into contact with the slices. And so (well isolated) you can last up to six months in a lot of trouble. And how do we defrost it? That is usually the other big problem: if we do not defrost it correctly, it can lose its freshness. Therefore, the most effective way to do it is at room temperature: placing it on a rack so that moisture does not accumulate, defrosting gives very good results. If we are short of time, it can be defrosted in the oven (at about 160 degrees, wrapped in aluminum foil for 10 or 15 minutes) or directly in the toaster if we have it sliced. Is that where the magic begins? We have seen it in many articles: for example, as he explained Dr. Karen Alarcón Fuentesgastroenterologist and endocopyist, when unfrozen “a large part of the carbohydrate in the bread will be converted into prebiotic fiber.” Something that “not only benefits your microbiota, but will also regulate your blood glucose.” But is it true? It is not clear. As our colleague Liliana Fuchs explained to usis something that “has a certain scientific basis, but is of no use in practice.” The key to all this mess is in the resistant starch“a type of carbohydrate that is difficult for our body to process, it is not completely digested and has a similar effect to fiber.” The problem is that, in the case of breadit has only been possible to demonstrate that freezing it (and roasting it later) reduces the glycemic index, although it was a fairly small study. The process does not affect resistant starch. And, in fact, “the effect on the health of a normal person will be practically nil; the total diet and daily habits matter much more.” Image | Charles Chen | Coffee Danube Still Life Photography In Xataka | We have been eating bread with “hidden salt” for so long that we have forgotten its true flavor. That’s going to change

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