Mobile Tech & Gadgets

that China approves the purchase of its H200 chips

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China has given the green light for the first time to the purchase of NVIDIA’s H200 chips for AI, which has allowed several of the country’s main technology companies to import these semiconductors. We had been waiting for a few weeks for Beijing to comment on the matter, since NVIDIA was multiplying its chip production to be prepared for this moment. Although there are some rules that companies must follow. The decision. According to account Reuters, ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent have received authorization to acquire more than 400,000 H200 chips in total, an operation valued at approximately $10 billion. More Chinese companies are expected to receive the go-ahead in the coming weeks, although specific conditions have not yet been detailed. Visiting. The authorization comes during NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to China this week. Huang has toured Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen on his traditional annual trip ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations. However, according to account the Wall Street Journal, has not met with senior Chinese officials. Why is it important. The approval breaks a stalemate that has lasted for months. In April, the United States initially banned the sale of H20 chips to China, a less powerful version that NVIDIA had designed specifically for the Chinese market. Although Washington turned back with the H20, Beijing then told companies not to buy themalleging cybersecurity issues that NVIDIA denied. After a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping In South Korea last October, the United States authorized the export of the H200, a significantly more powerful chip. Now, China is doing its part by approving the import of these chips into the country. The Beijing dilemma. The issue is that China was preparing for a world completely independent of American technology, so after approval it dances in a delicate balance. On the one hand, Beijing wants its best AI developers to be able to build new models and applications quickly, something that NVIDIA chips would greatly facilitate. On the other hand, it has been cultivating a self-sufficient semiconductor industry for years. Although according to account WSJ, the country has encountered resistance especially from private sector companies accustomed to using NVIDIA software products and tools. The conditions of the agreement. According to Reutersthe approvals include restrictions that are still being defined. But what is known is that Chinese companies that want to buy American chips have had to submit documents to authorities explaining how they plan to use them. The country’s authorities have indicated that any purchase must be for uses considered necessary, such as advanced research and development in AI, according to inform WSJ. Some companies have also included plans to purchase chips made in China in their agreements, as authorities require companies to use locally produced semiconductors for some AI training tasks and most inference-related workloads. btechnological right. The H200 represents a significant qualitative leap, exceeding the performance of the H20 by approximately six times. Although Chinese companies like Huawei now they have products which rival the performance of the H20, they are still far behind the H200. And in order not to be left behind in the AI ​​race, large Chinese technology companies have lined up to order more than two million H200 chips, far exceeding NVIDIA’s available inventory. Impact. NVIDIA had seen its share of AI chips in the Chinese market fall from 95% to virtually zero as it awaited actions from both governments, according to declared Huang in October. Meanwhile, Chinese companies have tried fill that void using a large number of lower power chips to increase processing capacity. And now what. According to account WSJ, Huang is soon scheduled to travel to Taiwan, also part of his annual routine, where he is expected to speak with suppliers about manufacturing more H200 chips to feed demand in China. After the October trade truce between the US and China, it seems that the waters have calmed down, at least on the surface. Cover image | Arthur Wang and NVIDIA In Xataka | Meta, Google and TikTok have condemned an entire generation to “doomscrolling.” And now they are going to be judged for it

Germany does not want to depend on Elon Musk for war. So the largest weapons factory in Europe wants a “military Starlink”

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For decades, European security has rested on critical infrastructure controlled from the United States. But with the war back on the continent and space communications becoming a decisive military assetGermany is beginning to assume that it cannot afford depend on Elon Musk nor from Washington for something as basic as talking and fighting in case of conflict. A “military Starlink”. Rheinmetall and OHB are in preliminary talks to present a joint offer to create a satellite communications network in low orbit for the Bundeswehr, a system that in Berlin already is openly described as a “Starlink for the German army”. The initiative aims to capture part of the ambitious German plan for invest 35,000 million euros in military space technology, with the aim of providing a secure, sovereign infrastructure specifically designed for military use, reducing dependence on US services such as Starlink, owned by SpaceX. Technological sovereignty. The background of the project will be one of the great themes of this 2026, and it is both strategic and political, since the war in Ukraine has shown to what extent satellite communications in low orbit can be decisive when terrestrial networks are destroyed or degraded. Although Starlink (and its military version Starshield) became in a key asset for kyiv, many European countries distrust to base critical capabilities on a foreign private provider, which has accelerated plans to build national or European networks under state control. The weight of Germany. With this program, Germany aims to become the third largest investor world in space technology, only behind the United States and China, according to the consulting firm Novaspace. German military authorities have already defined the technical specifications and are preparing the tender, prioritizing coverage of NATO’s eastern flank, where Berlin deploys a permanent brigade of 5,000 soldiers in Lithuania as part of its defensive reinforcement. From armored to space. Traditionally associated with tanks, artillery and ammunitionRheinmetall is rapidly expanding its presence into new domains in the heat of German rearmament. At the end of last year it obtained its first major space contract, up to 2,000 million eurosto develop together with Iceye a constellation of radar satellites capable of operating at night and in bad weatherwhich puts it in a solid position to now aspire to a military communications system in low orbit. HBO and opportunity. For HBOthird largest European satellite manufacturer and navigation system supplier Galileothe project represents a key opportunity to strengthen its military business. The company faces the possible creation of a European space giant as a result of the merger of the divisions from Airbus, Thales and Leonardoan operation that its CEO considers potentially anti-competitive and that could leave OHB at a disadvantage if it does not expand its scale and capabilities. Boiling market. The simple announcement of the talks has OHB price skyrocketedreflecting the extent to which the sector perceives German military space spending as a catalyst for opportunity. That said, the project is still in an early phase, with no official comments from the companies or the Ministry of Defense, and is part of a growing competition for multi-million dollar contracts that will define who controls future critical military communications infrastructure in Europe. Image | Support Forces of Ukraine Command In Xataka | Germany is experiencing a new “industrial miracle” that it already experienced 90 years ago: that of weapons In Xataka | Europe’s largest arms factory faces an unexpected problem: earning an indecent amount of money

Galicia has proposed to put an end to the “zamburiñas fraud” once and for all. So he’s already issuing fines

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The Spanish proverb warns about not being given a “cat in a hare”, but the most common deception when we talk about Spanish gastronomy of the 21st century is that they serve you a plate of volandeiras or Pacific scallops as if they were exclusive (and much more expensive) Galician zamburiñas. To an untrained eye the three bilvaves (volandeiras, scallops and scallops) are more or less similar to each other. The problem is that they are not the same and mixing their names violates regulations, represents unfair competition and (most seriously) deceives the client. That’s why in Galicia they have said enough. What has happened? That the Galician authorities they have gotten tired that in the community’s restaurants and bars they play with names, selling as “zamburiñas” dishes that actually contain two other species: volandeiras or Pacific scallops. It’s not just about passing off one thing as another. It is that, beyond the fact that the three are similar bivalves, their consideration it’s not the same. They do not match their prices. Nor its origin. Nor is its flavor exactly the same. Volandeiras and zamburiñas are shellfished in Galician banks (although with certain differences) and are usually sold fresh. The Pacific scallop is normally a frozen product that comes from aquaculture and arrives from Peru and Chile. Photos showing the exterior and interior of the right valve. Image A) corresponds to the “Mimachlamys varia” (zamburiña); B with Argopecten Purpuratus (Pacific scallop) and C with Aequipecten Opercularis (volandeira). And what have they done? Basically what the Galician authorities have done is investigate Yes, when a customer orders a portion of seafood in a bar in A Coruña, Vilagarcía, Ourense, Lugo… or any other Galician town, they are being served what they have ordered and not another product of more or less similar appearance. It’s not exactly something new. In September the local press has already advanced that the Xunta was carrying out an inspection campaign and that during the control they had found bars in which the menus advertised scallops when in reality what was served on the table were scallops or (sometimes) volandeiras. Has it stayed there? No. And that is the great news. The Voice just revealed that the controls carried out by the Resource Inspection and Control Service (SICOR) and Consumer Affairs officials have not been mere slaps on the wrist. They have also resulted in sanctions and fines. To be more precise, the newspaper speaks of the processing of just over 100 disciplinary proceedings since last summer for the use of incorrect commercial names: 53 to hospitality businesses in the province of A Coruña, 46 from Pontevedra, 14 from Lugo and 6 from Ourense. Among the ‘hunted’ there are not only bars, taverns and restaurants. There are also a few intermediaries. How much did it cost you? The Voice appointment at least one case in which the hotelier received a fine of 300 euros for advertising volandeiras and then serving scallops. The Xunta claims that before resorting to fines, a campaign was launched to remind professionals that they cannot mix terms and that a “deterrent effect” was even perceived, with hoteliers correcting their letters. Not even that has prevented there from being a hundred businesses with files. What is the problem? Basically, passing off one seafood as another (mixing commercial names) “violates traceability standards and can mislead the consumer,” the Xunta specifies. Not only does it confuse data related to traceability, but it goes against sales regulations and represents unfair competition against businesses that do respect the regulations. In fact, the problem is not limited to the zamburiñas alone. Are there more cases? That’s how it is. The majority of the files processed in Galicia are related to scallops, scallops and volanderias, but the inspectors also hunted down infractions that affect other merchandise. For example, passing off octopuses and barnacles as Galician seafood when in reality it comes from Moroccan waters. Agents also found cases in the food chain where farmed salmon and turbot were sold as wild. The Department of the Sea assures that there is no specific campaign and that the files are the result of “ordinary control work.” Regarding the sanctions, since these are minor infractions, the fines can reach 300 euros, although they remain at half (150 euros) if the offender meets certain requirements. Is there that much difference? Yes. Although in the hospitality industry we usually talk about “zamburiñas” in general, that word is reserved for a very specific species: Mimachlamys variaa sought-after bivalve appreciated for its flavor. The ‘Pesca de Galicia’ platform detailed on Monday the 26th that the kilo was priced in the markets at an average of 13.4 eurosfar above the volandeira (Aequipecten opercularis), which is also collected in Galicia, although it is more abundant. Things change when we talk about the Pacific scallop (Argopecten purpuratus), which is usually the result of aquaculture, is frozen and arrives from the coasts of Peru and Chile. The problem is that all three (scallops, scallops and scallops) are relatively similar, at least if you don’t have a trained eye. If the characteristics of their shells are known, it is easier to identify them. Does it only happen in Galicia? In 2020, a team from the University of Oviedo carried out a study which proved two things. First, the frequency with which the word Zamburiña is used “incorrectly” to refer to other species. Second, that “there exists widespread fraud in its commercialization in Asturias”. Your data is certainly compelling. After analyzing 148 different samples, they found that in 49% of the cases (73) the seafood was incorrectly labeled, presenting other bivalves, usually volandeiras, as scallops. How common is it? To complete their analysis, researchers from the University of Oviedo went to 20 restaurants and ordered dishes that were identified on the menu as “zamburiñas.” They were left wanting to taste them. “In 100% of the cases the species offered was the Pacific scallop,” reveals. The organization remembers that although there may not … Read more

the best deals today, January 28, at MediaMarkt

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Until next January 2 (at 9 in the morning), MediaMarkt is celebrating its campaigns “The downhill” and “Web Week“. This is a good opportunity to get technological devices with excellent discounts. Below we show you the best deals on technology that we have found today, January 28, in MediaMarkt. smartphone Motorola G86 Power by 237.15 euros: 6.67 inches and 512 GB. electric scooter Segway Ninebot F3 Pro by 579 euros: with autonomy of up to 70 km and TFT screen. Smart TV LG 55QNED87A6B by 629 euros: 55-inch QNED with webOS. Locator Apple AirTag by 30.99 euros: with UWB ultra-wideband technology and IP67 certification. Tablet Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 by 180.98 euros: 11 inches and 256 GB. Motorola G86 Power Smartphone If you are looking for a mid-range mobile at a good price, this Motorola G86 Power is one of those on sale at MediaMarkt. It is available for 279 euros (below its usual price) but, now, it also has a additional 15% discount and, when you add it to the cart, you can buy it for 237.15 euros. This Motorola G86 Power It is a terminal with a 6.67-inch screen. Its brain is the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, accompanied by 8 GB RAM and 512 GB internal storage. Its battery has a capacity of 6,720 mAh and its design is very elegant. Motorola Moto G86 Power 8+256 GB The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Segway Ninebot F3 Pro electric scooter Along with the electric bikesscooters have become one of the most used means of transportation (especially in big cities) to get around. If you want a discounted quality model, this Segway Ninebot F3 Pro is available now for 579 euros at MediaMarkt. This electric scooter It has a powerful 1,200 W brushless motor. It can climb slopes of up to 24% and reaches 25 km/h. Provides a autonomy of up to 70 km and can be synced with Apple’s “Search” app. It also comes with a TFT color screen with integrated navigation. Segway-Ninebot, Electric Scooter, Model F3 Pro E The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Smart TV LG 55QNED87A6B If you are thinking of renewing the TV in your living room, this LG 55QNED87A6B is a very good option now at MediaMarkt. Its usual price is 909 euros, but now it has a 30% discountwhich makes it remain available for 629 euros. This TV from the Korean firm has a 55 inch QNED panel with MiniLED backlighting and 4K UHD resolution. It supports HDR10 and HLG and works under the operating system webOS. As far as connectivity is concerned, it comes with WiFi, Bluetooth, four HDMIs and two USBs. QNED MiniLED TV 55″ – LG 55QNED87A6B, UHD 4K The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Apple AirTag locator Although it has already been presented Apple AirTag 2at MediaMarkt you can find the lowered previous model. Specifically, if you buy one, it costs 30.99 euroscompared to the almost 40 euros that it usually costs. If you are one of those who lose your keys or wallet easily and you have an iPhone, the AirTag It is that perfect accessory for you. Has the size of a coin and has IP67 certification and UWB ultra-wideband technology. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 Tablet Within the tablets mid-range, Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 It is one of the best sellers, especially considering its price. Its usual price is 249 euros but, now, at MediaMarkt Web Week, it is available for 180.98 euros. This Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 is a tablet with 11 inch WQHD screen. It has a MediaTek G100-Ultra processor, accompanied by a RAM 8 GB and an internal storage of 256 GB. It also stands out for weighing only 516 grams. XIAOMI Redmi Pad 2 Mint Green 8G RAM 256G ROM 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 | Webedia, Xiaomi, Apple, LG, Motorola and Segway Ninebot In Xataka | Best home theater projectors. Which one to buy and five recommended models from 299 to 18,000 euros In Xataka | Mega-guide to set up a home theater: projector, screen, sound system and more

Who is Oesía, the Spanish technology company that has become the new major defense contractor

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Unless you closely follow the defense sector in Spain, surely the name Oesía will not sound too familiar to you. A few days ago, the company it was news because it will be in charge of providing “eyes” to the Pizarro infantry combat vehicles, and it is not the only defense contract it has recently won. What is Oesia?. It is a business group financed 100% with Spanish private capital, chaired by the Catalan businessman Luis Furnells, who in turn is the main shareholder. The company has taken an important turn in the last decade and has gone from offering consulting and digital transformation services to focusing on solutions and services for the defense sector through its different brands: Oesia Networks: is the original arm of the company dedicated to digital consulting and hyperautomation processes. Tecnobit: the jewel in the crown. It is the reference brand in optronics (infrared and night vision), tactical communications and simulation. Cipherbit: Oesía boasts that it is the first cybersecurity and secure communications brand certified by NATO. UAV Navigation: specialized in guidance, navigation and control systems for unmanned vehicles. Inster: focused on satellite communications on the move (SOTM) in land, naval and air environments. Who is Luis Furnells. He is a Catalan businessman and manager who has dedicated himself mainly to the technology sector. He has been in charge of the Oesía Group since 2012 and, since 2014, also of its subsidiary Tecnobit. On your resume We find companies such as BBVA, La Caixa and Telefónica, in which he served as Chief Information Officer. He also founded the consulting firm LUCARit, which was later integrated into Oesía. One of his recent objectives at the head of the group, embodied in the 2023-2025 strategic planwas precisely to consolidate its position as a reference company in the field of defense. And he is achieving it. Why it is important. Oesía, specifically its subsidiary Tecnobit, has been chosen by Santa Bárbara Sistemas to modernize the fleet of Pizarro combat vehicles. Tecnobit has also been selected for produce key components for the PAC 3 missileof Lockheed Martinone of the more advanced missile defense systems. Oesía will manufacture specialized wiring and harnesses, positioning itself as an important player not only in national territory, but in international defense programs. Oesía is not alone. The company is not alone in its entry into the defense sector. As they point out in Digital Economyone of the most important contracts they have signed with their subsidiary Cipherbit, was achieved through an alliance with Epicom, a company dedicated to the design of cryptographic and key solutions in National Security. Oesía owns 30% of Epicomanother 30% Indra and the remaining 40% belongs to the State Society of Industrial Participations (SEPI). cifras. He Rearmament report from the National Security Observatory includes the contract won as a result of the alliance between Cipherbit and Epicom, which is placed in 11th position with an amount of 167 million euros. Another Oesía contract of more than 25 million euros also appears in the same report. In the case of the contract with Santa Bárbara Sistemas to modernize the Pizarro tanks, we are talking about 264 million euros. According to Economía Digital, the awards to Oesía are of at least 192 million euros, almost what the company invoiced in 2024. Image | Army, Oesía In Xataka | A space war looms over our heads and Europe is the power that invests the least in defense technology

Apple announced with great fanfare that the new Siri would be different from the rest of the AIs. It turned out that without Google there was no Siri

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I’m not going to hide, I’m one of those who believed Apple when announced with great fanfare that Apple Intelligence It would be different from the rest. He had reasons to do so: his financial muscle, his obsession with taking care of the software and his philosophy of arriving late to the game to score the goals at the last minute. But here I was wrong. The only way Google has had to play in this game has been using someone else’s deck. From waiting almost two years to having it now. Apple announced Apple Intelligence in its 2024 keynote. One in which it did not give too many details but showed us a different approach to AI than that of Google and OpenAI. An AI with real interaction with the operating system, integration with both native and third-party apps… a real “co-pilot” completely integrated into iOS, and not a super-vitamined app, but isolated from the whole. From that keynote until then the only thing we have is Siri being able to open ChatGPT when the question gets a little complicated. And, just a few weeks after announcement of the agreement between Apple and GoogleGurman affirms that we will see the new Siri in a matter of weeks. If the prediction came true, it was not a matter of time. It was a matter of not having the resources. What’s coming in February. Gurman tells Power On that the Siri 2.0 that we have been waiting for since 2024 can become a reality in the second half of February. In fact, he points out that one of the reasons why Apple made the announcement of the collaboration with Google official was because it was close to obtaining sufficient demonstrations of its functionality. Although there are no details about how their disembarkation will be, the modus operandi from Apple is easy to predict: we will have to update our iPhone to the corresponding version of iOS 26 that includes these new features, since Apple introduces improvements to its native apps through system updates. Not so fast. Although there are no details on how long Apple and Google have actually been working, what we do know is that the new Siri is not ready yet. Gurman points out that it will arrive in beta phase starting in February, and that the objective is not to delay the final version until beyond April. Again, evidence that Apple did not have the Siri that it boasted so much about ready, accelerating and putting two extra gears now that it has the support of Google. It can turn out well. My colleague Javier Pastor told, very correctly, how Apple can the parasite’s strategy works for him. The company is not going to enter the investment battle for new models: it is going to spend millions of dollars to take advantage of an existing infrastructure and use an already proven pillar. The new Siri will be a premium wrapper for Gemini and, landing in the real world, few beyond those of you reading these lines will even be aware that Google’s AI is what is powering your iPhone’s AI. Image | Xataka In Xataka | The Apple Intelligence and Siri disaster has caused something unusual: Apple gives the keys to its kingdom to Google

Your phone is already more powerful than many basic laptops. This accessory wants to turn it into your new office

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We have been seeing proposals for years that promise us turn your mobile into a desktop computer. The idea of ​​systems like Samsung DeX is that by connecting the mobile phone to a computer, we can control it with a keyboard and mouse. The problem is that we need a computer with the financial outlay that it entails. From here comes the idea of NexDock, an accessory to turn your mobile into a laptopeven if you don’t have a laptop. A portable shell It has a screen, it has a trackpad, it has a keyboard… looking at the photos we would say that it is a normal laptop, but in reality it is simply a shell. The NexDock has no operating system, processor or storage, but rather his “brain” is his cell phone that we connect via USB. The NexDock has a 14-inch screen with 1920×1200 resolution, has two stereo speakers, a full backlit keyboard and a integrated 5,000 mAh battery. This allows the mobile phone to be charged and the autonomy to be closer to that offered by a normal laptop. According to its creators, it offers more than 7 hours of autonomy. When connecting the mobile, the interface adapts to the screen and we can operate it with the keyboard and mouse, but there is more. We can also connect a console such as the Steam Deck, a Raspberry Pi or use it as a secondary screen for another computer. Price and compatible mobile phones The NexDock costs $229, a much lower price than a normal laptop, so it may be interesting for users who want the desktop experience without spending too much. However, it is already a significant amount and perhaps there are those who prefer to invest a little more and have a real computer. In addition, if you buy from Spain you have to add shipping costs, which increase the price to more than 290 dollars, about 245 euros at the current exchange rate. Regarding compatible mobile phones, it can be used with all those who have a desktop mode, such as those that are compatible with Samsung DeX, Google Pixel, Huawei with ‘Easy Projection’ and Motorola phones with ‘Ready For’. Google is expected to activate desktop mode for all Android soon, since It is a hidden feature in Android 16. In the case of iPhones, NexDock does not indicate that it is compatible, but it can be used through the app infiniteX2P which allows you to adapt the iOS interface to a large screen. More information | NexDock In Xataka | Windows 95 had a little secret that made rebooting faster. The reason was in its more chaotic architecture

What are the chances that Artemis II will take off for the Moon on February 7 and everything that NASA must validate before

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Since the Apollo 17 mission, in December 1972, humans have not returned to the Moon. It’s been 53 years since that last manned trip to the satellite, but that could soon change with Artemis II. Of course, it will not be a return to plant a flag and walk on the surface, as Eugene A. Cernan and Harrison H. “Jack” Schmitt did. To set foot on the Moon again (if the program continues as planned) We will still have to wait for Artemis III. What Artemis II proposes is something else: a manned lunar flybya large-scale validation mission and a return to Earth after testing a long list of critical systems. Technology has changed since the 1970s, and that makes this mission something special: not only because of what it represents on a symbolic level, but because of what it implies on a technical level. Artemis II is, in practice, the final exam before the moon landing. And hence the inevitable question: when is it released? As is often the case in the space sector, it is not enough to set a date on the calendar. The window depends on a combination of operational, logistical and meteorological factors, and the room for maneuver is more limited than it seems. Artemis II plays everything in very specific windows The first concept that should be clear is that of the launch window: the time interval during which a specific mission can take off. In the case of Artemis II, NASA has already published a calendar with 16 opportunities distributed between February and April. The first starts on Friday, February 6 at 9:41 p.m. (Eastern time in the United States), which in peninsular Spain is translated as Saturday the 7th at 03:41 in the morning. Artemis II release window schedule for early 2026 And those dates are not set at random. Artemis II requires millimeter orbital choreography: a lunar flyby trajectory, a translunar injection with narrow margins, a free return taking advantage of the satellite’s gravity, and a reentry profile that prioritizes safety and fault tolerance. With such a level of demand, it would be strange to have a broad and flexible calendar. In practice, these missions always move within fairly limited launch opportunities. Artemis II technical calendar: opening of each window, local and UTC times, and duration of each launch opportunity But the orbital schedule is not the only bottleneck. The launch complex itself imposes relevant restrictions. At 39B, the same one from which the Saturn Vthe spherical tanks used to store cryogenic propellant allow a limited number of attempts. Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen are loaded into the core stage and upper stage on the same day of launch. And if the takeoff is canceled, you cannot try it again the next day as if nothing had happened: you have to wait. at least 48 hourss to try the process again. Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Hammock Koch, next to the Orion capsule at the Kennedy Space Center (August 8, 2023) If today there is talk of a near launch it is because the mission has already been closing important milestones. The SLS rocket and the Orion capsule are already on the launch pad. They arrived last January 17 after a slow transfer, of about 12 hours, from the Vehicle Assembly Building. From there, the teams began the tasks of connection and integration with the terrestrial facilities, a job that was as inconspicuous as it was decisive so that the next steps could progress smoothly. The big dot marked in red on the calendar is the “Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR)“, the general fuel loading rehearsal. It is, basically, a complete simulation of the launch day. The team positions itself as if it were the real takeoff and executes the filling procedure with the same level of detail: some 2.7 million liters of cryogenic propellantsbetween liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, following the schedule that will be used in the final launch. Of course, the RS-25 engines will not start: the test will stop before that phase. NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida NASA has explained in a recent statement who plans to take this test on Saturday, January 31. He also assures that the preparations are going as expected and that they have even managed to advance some tasks. But here experience weighs: the WDR of Artemis I, initially planned for April 2022ran into difficulties and was not completed successfully until June. That delay ended up directly affecting the launch schedule, and is a reminder that, at this point, every detail counts. Therefore, at this point, the scenario still allows for several twists. If any problems appear during WDR, NASA could choose to postpone it, repeat it, or even organize additional rehearsals. There is also a possibility that, after completing the test, it will decide to move the SLS and Orion back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to perform additional work before returning to the ramp. If the WDR is completed successfully, the next step will be a flight readiness review in early February. At that meeting, the management team will evaluate the availability of all systems involved: flight hardware, ground infrastructure, and launch, flight, and recovery equipment. Only after passing that review will an official date be announced. With all this on the table, the first slot on February 6 (already February 7 on the peninsula due to the time difference) appears as the first real great opportunity. QBut just because it exists doesn’t mean it will be used.. Even with everything aligned, NASA could decide to jump directly into one of the next planned gaps in the schedule. The good news is that once the WDR is run, we will have a much clearer map of what can happen. And there is still the factor that has broken perfect plans the most times: time. In a launch of this type, the weather is not a nuance, it is a filter. The rules … Read more

France leaves Zoom and Teams behind in its administration and aims for something greater

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For years, digital services from American companies have enjoyed a clearly dominant position in Europe. A mix of consolidated trust and lack of regional alternatives competitive on many fronts, it has been constantly expanding its user base, both individuals and companies, while fueling a shower of million-dollar contracts also coming from governments and public administrations. The footprint of large American technology companies in the Old Continent is impossible to ignore. Gmail, Instagram, Spotify and YouTube are part of the daily lives of millions of Europeans. Likewise, it is common to find public organization computers running Windows, Office or Microsoft 365, a scene so normalized that it is rarely questioned. To this visible layer is added another much less obvious, but perhaps even more strategic: cloud computing. Providers such as Microsoft’s Azure, Amazon’s AWS, or Google Cloud host everything from everyday services to critical infrastructure. In parallel, in the field of cybersecurity, platforms such as CrowdStrike Falcon They are integrated into the core of sensitive systems used by airports, airlines or financial entities. When technological dependence becomes a strategic risk However, this balance is beginning to show cracks. The question is no longer just who provides the service, but what would happen if that partner considered reliable suddenly stopped being so. How would Europe respond to such a scenario? And, above all, are you preparing to face it? For some this is an extreme hypothesis; for others, a risk that can no longer be ruled out. The truth is that the debate is no longer marginal and has reached the offices of Brussels and several European capitals. As The Wall Street Journal reports, Since the re-election of Donald Trump, those responsible for strategic sectors in Europe are putting pressure on the large American cloud service providers to facilitate quick exit mechanisms. The objective is clear: to be able to transfer systems and data to local centers or to European suppliers if necessary. And what is considered an emergency situation? The possibility, remote but not impossible, that the United States limits or even suspends access to services and data centers operated by its own companies. It would be an unprecedented move, with profound consequences for the European economy and public services. Finding an argument to justify it is as difficult as it is simple: everything can end up revolving around a concept that is increasingly present these days: “national security.” Despite the existing tensions between Europe and Washington, everything indicates that such a scenario remains unlikely in the short term. Even so, there is one incontestable fact: The concern is real. In Brussels and in several European capitals, discrete but constant steps are already being taken to reduce dependencies and gain room for maneuver. Visio, the alternative to Zoom and Teams promoted by France France has become one of the most illustrative cases. The Government is promoting the progressive withdrawal of extra-European videoconferencing solutions in the public sector to replace them with Visioa “sovereign” and open source alternative. The State’s own digital strategy portal admits that, until now, the different departments have operated with a mosaic of tools and expressly mentions Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex. According to the official statement, this fragmentation “weakens data security, creates strategic dependencies of external infrastructures, generates additional financial costs and makes cooperation between ministries difficult.” The answer lies in a unified solution, developed by the Interministerial Directorate for Digital, under government control and based on French technology. Visio already has about 40,000 regular users and its deployment is planned to reach 200,000 public employees. Among the first organizations to adopt it widely during the first quarter of 2026 are the CNRS, the National Health Insurance Fund, the General Directorate of Public Finances and the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Zoom, the video conferencing platform that became popular during the pandemic The scope of the movement is better understood with a specific piece of information: the CNRS will replace your Zoom licenses with Visio at the end of March for its 34,000 employees and the 120,000 researchers associated with its research units. American solutions are thus beginning to lose ground in France, as has already happened in other countries. Denmark moves towards LibreOffice and Munich opted for Linux for years, although in this last case the path was not linear and ended with a partial return to Microsoft due to compatibility problems. These types of strategies, extrapolated to other attempts to promote sovereign alternatives, are not without obstacles either. It is worth remembering that open source does not automatically guarantee quality or pace of evolution. When maintenance, auditing, and development fall to a limited number of actors, product progress can slow down. Pointing out these tensions does not invalidate the approach, but it does help to understand its real complexity. Furthermore, the debate is not limited to public services. In a hypothetical decoupling of American platforms, ordinary users could also be affected. Some people, like our colleague Jose Garcíahave chosen to start a process of technological emancipation with respect to the United Statesa path that is not without friction. After years of moving in an ecosystem dominated by North American Big Tech, getting out of it requires time, sacrifices and assuming new limitations. Images | Government of France | Mika Baumeister | Yoyus sugiharto In Xataka | France and Germany have created a “European Notion” with a very simple objective: depend less on the United States

Science says that eating three oranges is health and drinking them is a mistake

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One of the most characteristic images of the ideal breakfast is undoubtedly the freshly squeezed orange juice that They try to place us in any cafeteria thanks to being an icon of health and vitamin C. However, in recent years it has been seen that the way to get the most out of this fruit is to leave it whole and without squeezing it. The juice is different. A juice, whether natural or bottled, It is not the same as fruit, no matter how much they try to sell it to us that way.. And the difference is precisely in what ends up in the trash, better known as food matrixwhich has a large number of benefits that we are constantly discarding. The matrix rotates. To understand why juice is not the same as fruit, we must understand how our digestive system works in the presence of food. In the case of eating whole fruits, what we eat is a complex “matrix” that has water and fructose ‘trapped’ inside. This is a network of insoluble and soluble fiber that forces our body to work a little to be able to absorb the nutrients that are in between. The fact of having to ‘search’ for nutrients among the fiber favors a much slower digestion that makes the sugars pass through the body in a more ‘controlled’ manner and not abruptly. But when you squeeze the fruit, this matrix ends up destroyed and the sugars are released from its prison, making it much easier for the body to trap them. The consequences. For the WHOintrinsic fructose, the sugar from the fruit itselfis now called ‘free sugars’ since they have nothing to hold them back. In this way, when drinking the juice, gastric emptying is very fast because there are no solids to process and the result is a large amount of glucose and fructose reaching the bloodstream. Something that represents stress for the body that is not prepared for it. The glucose curve. While eating whole fruit generates a much more moderate and sustained curve, juice causes an acute glycemic peak, followed by reactive hypoglycemia that awakens hunger shortly after. Although anyone in these cases may think that logically the amount of sugar in both the juice and the fruit is the same, so the behavior of the organism should be identical. But the reality is quite different, since science has been able to demonstrate that although the amount of sugar is identical, insulin response is significantly greater in the liquid version. For metabolic purposes, the pancreas does not distinguish much between industrial orange juice, homemade one or a sugary soft drink: it detects a flood of energy that it must manage immediately. What the data says. In this context, science already pointed out in 2014 a figure that should make us rethink breakfast: a higher intake of fruit juice was associated with a 14% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, the consumption of whole fruits (especially blueberries, grapes or apples) is systematically associated with a reduced risk. The fructose trap. Beyond glucose, which is like the main enemy against health that many of us have in mind, another enemy must be highlighted: liquid fructose. In this case, when it suddenly reaches the liver, it converts its excess into fat, generating uric acid as a byproduct, raising blood pressure and the risk of gout. In parallel, inflammatory pathways are activated that contribute to insulin resistance in the long term. But the key data is found in a 2025 Chilean analysis that concluded that, although 100% natural juices are “neutral” in small doses, They are consistently inferior to whole fruit in preventing major diseases. The satiety factor. There is a very interesting relationship between juices and obesity in the act of chewingas pointed out by different Japanese studies that have shown that the act of chewing not only crushes the food, but also sends satiety signals to the brain. But when we are drinking we skip these control signals to stop eating when the body says it is fine. If we start talking about figures, a glass of juice requires more or less 2-3 oranges (depending on the size), and it is very easy to drink it in forty seconds. But it is much more difficult to eat three oranges in a row, chewing slice by slice, since we are giving the body time to assimilate that sugar. It is not absolute evil. Obviously, juice is not poison for the body, but different nuances must be taken into account. Reviews published in 2024 and 2025 suggest that 100% natural juices may have a place in a healthy diet under very specific conditions. The dose in this case is very important, since It has been shown that small amounts (less than 150 ml per day) do not increase cardiovascular risk and they can provide vitamins. The problem is that the usual consumption size is usually double or triple that amount. Furthermore, the context matters since a high-performance athlete who takes that quick energy shot is not the same as a sedentary person already prone to diabetes. However, general public health advice increasingly aligns with the radical stance: if you have the choice, always choose whole fruit. Images | Mateusz Feliksik In Xataka | It turns out that a longevity expert has said something that makes sense. And the reason is the juices

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