We thought catnip was cats’ favorite drug, there is another plant that they like more. And it’s not because of the high

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Cats love catnip, just look at the shelves of any pet store full of toys with catnip. They sniff it, bite it, roll on the floor and even drool, as if they were entering a kind of trance. We believed that this herb was our kitties’ favorite “drug”, but researchers have discovered that there is another plant that attracts them even more. The experiment. A group of Japanese researchers set out to discover which plant attracts cats the most, catnip or matatabi (also known as silvervine). To do this, they combined three trials: free cats in a garden with fresh plants, free cats with a brick impregnated with the extract of both plants and cats in captivity with impregnated papers. The researchers recorded on video the episodes of self-anointing, which is when they rub each other and make “croquettes” near the different plants. The matatabi wins by a landslide. All groups of cats that participated in the experiment showed a clear preference for matatabi. In the case of free-ranging cats that had access to both the plants and the impregnated brick, almost all self-anointing episodes occurred with the matatabi. Among the captive cats, 15 responded only to the matatabi, three to both, and three sniffed a little but did not rub against them. The curious thing is that the chemical analysis revealed that catnip was much more powerful (it contains much more nepetalactone) than matatabi, but despite this the cats had a very clear preference. Masao Miyazaki, project leader, states in Phys that One might expect that a plant containing more active compounds, and compounds that clearly work in laboratory tests, would trigger a stronger behavioral response under free-choice conditions. But that’s not what we observed.” The Overwhelmed Smell Theory. The authors’ hypothesis is that catnip, especially when fresh, releases an excessive amount of these compounds and makes the smell too intense, hence cats prefer matatabi because it is milder. This fits with an anecdote in ‘The Gardeners’ Dictionary’ published in 1789, which observed that cats preferred catnip when it was wilted rather than fresh, which reinforces the idea that it can saturate their senses. A biological reason. Rubbing against these plants is not simply to get high, it also hides an evolutionary purpose: it acts as a defense mechanism against mosquitoes and other parasites. When you rub your face and body with the plants, they become impregnated with the substances (iridoids) that they release, acting as an insect repellent. The reason they prefer matatabi would be because it offers more reliable protection as it produces a more complex mixture of iridoids, especially when they nibble on the plant. That is to say, it is much better against mosquitoes. Image | Sergey Dvorkin, Pexels In Xataka | We have been vaccinating our dogs and cats every year all our lives. Science is seeing that it is not the most correct

Western brands are looking for the perfect car. Their way of achieving this is to sell us renowned Chinese cars

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There was a day when China lured Europe with the promise of vacant land and cheap labor. Today those days are over. Today the automobile industry has taken the road back. Today, more and more Western manufacturers are partnering with Chinese companies. And the reason is obvious: to sell you a rebuilt Chinese car as your own. What is happening? That traditional manufacturers are assuming Chinese technology to simply sell their product to you cheaper. A product that has little of its own and a lot of Chinese, for better and for worse. The reasons They are different: Pressure to jump to the electric car Complications in making that leap (either due to monetary issues or internal difficulties) Duty A Chinese technology that is above Brands that are on the verge of bankruptcy For some of these reasons (or the sum of several), more and more traditional manufacturers are intertwining with Chinese companies to advance their products. Products that, as we say, are sometimes pure Chinese cars “disguised” as Western. The Stellantis case It is the most recent but far from unique. It is also probably the most complex. The automobile conglomerate has faced serious financial complications in recent years. The cost reduction in many of its models led to the PureTech scandal. With the obligation to manage 14 brands, some of them have lost all types of identity. And their partnership with Leapmotor has shown them that they can get a lot of juice out of the Chinese electric car. During the presentation of its latest strategic plan, the company confirmed that they have reached an agreement of 1,000 million euros with the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng to produce Peugeot and Jeep cars in China. They will be New Energy cars (NEV). This is what they call electric cars and plug-in hybrids in China. At the moment, not many more details have been given but a key detail does seem confirmed: These are cars designed to be sold in China and exported. That is, they are not cars manufactured in China whose main market is Europe. This suggests that they will probably be entirely Chinese cars that adopt the design language of these two Western brands. Chinese production is not the only one that is compromised. The agreement opens the possibility for European plants to produce Dongfeng cars, specifically the Voyah brand. This allows Stellantis to keep the work committed in its plants (specifically, the Rennes plant in France is targeted) and Dongfeng could sell these electric cars without paying tariffs, as is happening right now. But in addition to this latest news, China has become more and more rooted in the bowels of Stellantis. Since 2023, this automobile conglomerate manages the distribution and sale of Leapmotor outside China. This company is one of those that seems to have greater potential when it comes to selling electric cars at a low price. For now, Stellantis has already confirmed that some of these cheap cars will be produced in Europe. Specifically, Figueruelas (Zaragoza) has been one of the chosen locations. This plant, therefore, will carry out small electric cars from Peugeot, Citroën and Opel and, in parallel, those from Leapmotor because they do not share a platform. However, the latter has already begun to be debated. Tianshu Xin, director of Leapmotor International, pointed out a few weeks ago that “Leapmotor vs Stellantis They are two independent manufacturers and have their own platforms. However, one of the strategic objectives of this alliance is to generate synergies, which could include platforms and their components. “About 65% of Leapmotor components are manufactured in-house, and there are synergies that would allow Stellantis to use Leapmotor parts in its future platforms,” ​​in words reported by forumelectriccars. A few days ago Stellantis presented its STLA Onethe new modular platform that will replace STLA Small for segments B, C and D. This leaves the door for the smallest size, that of segment A, just where the new Citroën 2 CV will arrive, which has fueled rumors about a greater presence of Chinese components or software in the car. To this we must add that A new Opel electric car from 2028 will have Leapmotor technology but German dress. And the relationship between Stellantis and China does not seem to end here. In recent days the rumor has gained strength that the automobile conglomerate could look to JAC for a collaboration to move Maserati forward. The Italian sports car firm has already thrown away billions of euros in its jump to the electric car and JAC manufactures luxury cars together with Huawei in China. Producing them would allow Stellantis to put an electric Maserati on the street without taking more risks. Are you sure it’s western? That a car uses Chinese technology and is re-bodied like a Western one does not have to be bad in itself. In fact, automotive conglomerates such as Stellantis or the Volkswagen Group have made their synergies between brands one of the keys to building their success. However, in some cases yes it can be a problem. When a brand boasts of being different and unique, it has a problem if it only uses a “disguise” to camouflage that what is under its body comes from outside its factories. This is what can happen to Maserati and what Mazda is playing with. Until now, the Maserati customer has bought Maserati because, quite simply, their product was a Maserati. Italian elegance with a heart inherited from Ferrari to conquer a public that preferred its cars to, for example, Porsche. When you buy this type of car, not only buy numbersbuys an aesthetic and a sound and boasts of going against the grain compared to the majority German options such as Porsche or Mercedes. Just give up the engines ferraristas It was a serious problem for his image.. The Mazda 6e and CX-6e have a Chinese heart and soul despite the fact that the brand defends the Japanese philosophy in both cars If Maserati only … Read more

All that was needed was a subsidiary in Malaysia

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The US Government has suspected for several years that Chinese companies and research centers dedicated to artificial intelligence (IA) acquire Nvidia’s most advanced GPUs through Singapore and Malaysia intermediary companies. In 2022 it decided to ban the sale to China of the most powerful AI GPUs designed by Nvidia, AMD and other American companies in an attempt to stop the use of this technology by the Chinese military. Since then, the US and Chinese Administrations have maintained a constant pulse that not only affects the integrated circuit industry; It permeates everything to the extent that AI chips support a critical technology for both nations. Be that as it may, the biggest obstacle that the US faces in this scenario is parallel import routes. The Commerce Department is trying to make it harder for cutting-edge American chips to reach China, but surprisingly, the Trump Administration hasn’t made it easy. In May 2025 the Government led by Donald Trump decided to freeze the AI ​​Diffusion rulean AI GPU export control regulation that the Biden Administration approved in its final days in office, in January 2025. This regulation established a three-tier system for global access to advanced AI chips. In this way, US allies could obtain them without limitations, but China, Russia or Iran had access completely blocked. Malaysia: the biggest legal loophole in the chip war between the US and China AI chip designers led by Nvidia reacted strongly against the AI Diffusion rule. Their argument maintained that this regulation was essentially bureaucratic and penalized sales to allied or neutral countries. Donald Trump’s government responded. In May 2025 it announced that it would develop its own regulations, and that it would be “bolder and more inclusive”, so it left the AI Diffusion rule not applied. The Trump Administration unintentionally created a legal loophole that has been taken advantage of by many Chinese companies Here comes the unexpected turn of events. By suspending its application, the Trump Administration unintentionally created a legal loophole that has been taken advantage of by many Chinese companies. The AI Diffusion rule required the granting of a license by the US Department of Commerce to be able to sell chips to foreign subsidiaries of Chinese companies. Since this regulation did not prosper, according to SCMPDuring the last year, many Chinese companies have freely purchased Nvidia’s Blackwell and Rubin GPUs, and AMD’s MI350x, from their subsidiaries in Malaysia. Just 48 hours ago the Office of Industry and Security of the US Department of Commerce public a guideline that seeks to close that legal loophole. What it does is simply require compliance with licensing requirements for advanced chips destined for entities based in China, even when those entities are physically located outside the country. However, this new guideline does not require data centers to stop using chips already purchased, so according to Chris McGuirea technology expert and former State Department official, “closes one loophole, but leaves another open.” McGuire does not specify what that second loophole is, but experts point out to the path that remains open through TSMC: Chinese subsidiaries can also access the manufacturing capacity of the Taiwanese semiconductor giant without the new guideline explicitly regulating it. Image | Nvidia More information | SCMP In Xataka | We can forget about AI without hallucinations for now. Nvidia CEO explains why

the holy grail of space propulsion is closer thanks to plasma

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For many years, the aerospace industry has worked on the development of rockets powered by solid fuels. These have many advantages, such as simplicity, long life and high thrust-to-weight ratio. However, they have a huge drawback. Once these fuels start burning, they continue to do so until they are spent. There is no way to stop and restart the reaction, as is normally done in space maneuvers. Despite everything, a group of scientists from the Aerospace Corporation, the University of Southern California and the Naval Postgraduate School has been working in the development of new generation solid fuels, in which there are solutions for each of these drawbacks. At the moment, they only have a proof of concept in the laboratory, but that first experimental development has given very good results. The problem. Solid fuels are blocks of solid propellant that already include within them the oxidizing substance that, with the necessary spark, starts the combustion reaction. The problem with these fuels is that, once they start burning, there is nothing to stop them and restart them. It would be useful to use electricity to dictate when combustion starts and stops, but until now that has not been possible. An ingredient and a mechanism. These scientists have developed their solid fuel with the help of an ionic liquid polymer. Although this is manipulated to form part of a solid matrix, it retains the electrical conductivity properties of the molten salts with which it was manufactured. On the other hand, this new solid fuel undergoes a process known as nanosecond pulsed plasma discharge (NPPD). In this process, very short, very high voltage pulses are generated, lasting less than 100 nanoseconds, giving rise to an ionization process in which we obtain plasma as a product. Then what? NPPD plasma is generated in the gas of the combustion zone. During ionization, electrons and free radicals are generated that, thanks to the ionic conductivity of the propellant, can interact with the flame front and control combustion. This can be stopped or reactivated by activating or interrupting the electrical pulses. Other advantages. Other great advantages of these fuels is that, due to their compact shape, they can be integrated into all types of space platforms, from CubeSats even large ships. The most benefited. Although many agencies and companies could jump on the solid fuel bandwagon if they become viable, the small ones will benefit the most. satellite operatorssince they normally cannot afford a complex liquid propellant-based upper stage in their rockets. Although they are simpler, they also need to maneuver, turning combustion on or off in steps such as orbit insertion. Solid fuel engines are simpler and can be cheaper. If the problems they already have are solved, they will become a real revolution for big and small fish. Image | 中央通訊社 In Xataka | 2023 was the year with the most space launches in history. The vast majority of SpaceX and China

Now they are returning to Romania leaving a void in the labor market

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During the 2000s, Spain was the host country for many Romanian citizens. With the real estate bubble about to explode and a financial crisis in the making, the outlook in Spain was still better than that of the Romanian economy. Now, almost three decades later, those emigrants return to a growing Romania, leaving Spain without a valuable skilled labor. The Romanian exodus. According to Eurostat databetween 2010 and 2013, Romania’s population decreased by more than two million people. A good part of these people had emigrated to countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria or Israel. According to the INE data Regarding the foreign population residing in Spain in June 2013, the Romanian community was the largest in 2012 with 798,970 people of that nationality, closely followed by the Moroccan nationality with 771,632 people. The latest data from December 2025 available data reveal that, currently, the population of Romanians residing in Spain barely exceeds 609,270 people and has fallen to the third largest community in the country. Qualified workforce. Most of those migrants who arrived in Spain in the early years of the 2000s did so fleeing unemployment and the poor economic situation in sectors such as construction or agriculture in Romania. These new workers incorporated as labor for those sectors in Spain, and the second generation of those citizens was formed to become a skilled workforce for the Spanish labor market. The Romanian miracle. In recent years, the economic situation in Romania has given a turnaround. “When the Romanians overthrew its regime in a rapid (and violent) revolt in December 1989, it was one of the poorest countries in Soviet-dominated Europe. That is no longer the case. After a slow start, Romania’s free-market reforms took effect. The country’s economy has quadrupled in size since 1989, and it has joined NATO and the EU,” noted Daniel Fried, former US ambassador to Poland in a report for Atlantic Council. According to data According to the World Bank, the GDP Per Capita adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP) of Romania has gone from 13,313 dollars in 1990 to 40,666 dollars in 2023, compared to the 31,639 dollars that Spain registered in 1990 and the 47,142 dollars in 2023. The most notable difference in the GDP of both countries was recorded precisely in the period of greatest migration of Romanians to Spain, between 2000 and 2012. This is what Csaba Balint, member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), rated of the “golden era” of the Romanian economy. Coming home: exodus 2.0. After the invasion of Ukraine, the economic boom and the Romania GDP growth has slowed down, but continues at a rate of 0.7% in 2025. However, this upward trend has built the foundations so that those first migrants who arrived in Spain in the 2000s can return to their country, just as the Spaniards who emigrated in the 60s and 70s returned years later. According to the immigration data According to the INE, between 2024 and 2025 alone the population of foreigners with Romanian nationality decreased by 11,193 people, chaining the downward trend of recent years. This workforce is now much better trained and more productive than the one that arrived at the beginning of the millennium. The return of Romanian citizens to their country is another factor in the labor shortage recorded by the construction sector, since a good part of this migrant population were bricklayers, carpenters, electricians or plumbers and they filled those positions that now they are left without generational relief. A version of this article was published in January 2025 In Xataka | With unemployment at historic lows, Spanish companies are looking for workers. The problem is that they can’t find them Image | Unsplash (aboodi vesakaran, Mina Rad)

how long it usually takes for your 2026 return and what they can review if it takes them long

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Let’s tell you When are they going to pay you the refund? of Income 2025, which is what we do in 2026 to catch up on the last fiscal year. According to the Income calendarthe period to submit the declaration ends at the end of June, but if you have already done it and you get a refund, it is normal that the Treasury has already paid you. The in-person declaration It started in June, so it is normal that returns are not being made yet. But if you have made the rent online either by phone In the past few months, perhaps you should have received it by now. Therefore, we are going to try to clarify the times for you. How long does the Treasury take to pay? The normal thing is that the Treasury takes a little time to pay you once you present a tax return that you have to return. In fact, it could be a week or two if everything goes well and they haven’t detected anything. However, there are times when Payment may be extended due to additional checks what the tax agency has to do. In these cases, the Treasury has a period of six months since the declarations end on June 30. In other words, returns can be extended until the end of the year. There are some factors that can accelerate the process. For example, submit the declaration as soon as possible, since they are usually processed in order. Also confirm the draft without changes, although you should ALWAYS review it to avoid errors. And if you attach your correct bank details with an account in your name, delays due to verification are also avoided. Why it may take them a while to get your money back If you detect that your return has been returned, but several weeks have passed and the Treasury has not yet made the payment, it may be because They are reviewing some points of the declaration or making some checks on aspects that are not clear. To find out if the delay is due to this, you can check the status of your declaration from the web or from the mobile app. If the status shows that it is under verificationthis means that the delay is effectively due to the fact that they are carefully reviewing the information you have submitted, and that is why the return is being delayed. One thing you should know is that when the Treasury starts to look at something closely, You may receive a request for information. This will be a postal letter that will arrive asking you to provide invoices for deducted expenses, tax certificates, money movement information, or whatever they consider necessary. These are the main reasons why the Treasury may be reviewing your data and sending you a request: Deductions: There are a large number of income deductions through which you can save money on your tax return, from renovating your car to buying a car or spending money on glasses. But there are some that vary depending on the autonomous community, and if you have deducted something in the declaration that does not correspond or something for which you have not provided the necessary information, they will require invoices or more information to verify it. Housing rental. When you rent a home you have income that is not billed as such, so at the beginning of the rental you may be asked for the contract and payment receipts so that the deduction can be applied correctly. It will be verified that everything is as indicated on the papers. Cryptocurrencies. The Tax Agency increasingly checks the movements you can make with cryptocurrencies, and it is very important that you declare them properly in your Income Tax to know the benefits you may have had with them and that the corresponding percentage of Personal Income Tax is applied to you. Debts with the administration: On some occasions, even if the declaration is correct, the return may also be delayed in the event that you have a debt with the Treasury, Social Security, your town hall or even unpaid fines with the DGT. If so, these will be deducted from your deduction. If any of these cases occur, the Tax Agency officials will take extra time to check your data, and will send you a request to ask for additional information if they see it necessary. The Treasury has until December 31, 2026 to make returns, so they may take it easy. In Xataka Basics | Income Guide 2025: calendar, previous steps and how to prepare for the 2026 declaration

In Aragon, farms are starting to do something with their slurry ponds: cover them with solar panels

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only in Aragon there is more than 4,000 farms of pigs, farms from which every year thousands and thousands of tons of meat that later is marketed in the rest of the world. In the pigsties where the cattle are raised, however, something else is generated: an enormous amount of slurry that represents a real challenge environmental. At the end of the day, these wastes end up stored in ponds that emit harmful gasessuch as methane, ammonia or nitrous oxide. In Aragon they have had an idea: cover them with solar panels. From farms and slurry. Spain is one of the big producers of pork in the European Union, something that is possible thanks to a vast network made up of thousands of farms. The problem is that not only cattle come out of them. The industry generates millions of tons of slurry, a manure that can be used as fertilizerbut whose management poses some challenges. Although the composition varies depending on its source, farm manure generally generates greenhouse gases and pollutants, including methane and ammonia. It is not a minor issue if we take into account that some calculations They estimate that the Spanish pig sector produces just over 60 million tons of slurry each year. A challenge, an opportunity. Manure management takes time under the magnifying glass of the environmentalists and is regulated in the lawwhich includes measures such as cover at least part of the ponds or the use of systems that reduce their emissions. With this backdrop, a few years ago a consortium formed by the Aragonese firm Intergia Energía Sostenible and two other entities became a question: What if necessity were made a virtue and the space occupied by the slurry ponds was used to generate energy? What if, at the same time that manure deposits are covered to reduce their emissions, photovoltaics could be expanded? A “win-win”. The result was a project developed between 2020 and 2023 which, with the support of the European EAFRD fund and the Government of Aragon, dedicated itself to investigating this path. His idea was very simple: cover the slurry ponds with floating solar panels to achieve a win-win manual. Polluting emissions remain at the levels established by regulations and, at the same time, the farms improve the performance of their ponds, converting them into sources of solar energy production. Instead of covering rooftops or acres of fields with solar panels, they are deployed directly over manure deposits. Rethinking floating systems. From Intergia they explain that the project developed between 2020 and 2023 let some interesting lessons. For example, the ammonia in slurry ends up oxidizing and degrading some elements of photovoltaic installations. Specifically, certain parts of the module fastening system and wiring. Now the company wanted to go one step further and open the way. “While floating photovoltaics are already widely used in bodies of water, such as irrigation ponds or lakes, their use in other liquid bodies is in the study phase,” claims. Hence, the firm (along with other allies, such as the University of Zaragoza) is promoted Fotopura project that wants to help the pork sector reduce its emissions while generating energy. One project, two bets. To move in this direction, the company has set up two facilities pilot with which he hopes to learn more about the potential of photovoltaic panels to cover slurry ponds. In fact, both are designed to “maximize” reducing polluting emissions and resisting ammonia corrosion, although they differ in a key aspect: one of them uses standard commercial parts, designed for floating photovoltaics; the other has been designed specifically for ponds in which livestock manure is stored. A Zamora farm. That is the place where Fotopur has assembled its first prototype. In November They installed their photovoltaic cover on an 880 m2 slurry pond located on a breeding farm in Calzada de Tera, Zamora. To be more precise, Intergia deployed a 13.5 x 25 m floating platform with 56 panels and a peak power of 33.04 kWp. In total, the entire installation covers 90% of the pond and those responsible hope that it will help cover up to 22% of the farm’s electricity bill. The interesting thing is its components. The company used a commercial floating photovoltaic system used in water ponds. That is, it was not created specifically for slurry ponds. What Intergia and the rest of Fotopur’s partners have done is apply small changes. For example, to avoid corrosion, they replaced the steel parts that came from the factory with aluminum and stainless steel parts. To reduce friction they also incorporated a plastic sheet. …And a Zaragoza farm. He another prototype It was assembled weeks later at a bait farm in Tauste, in Zaragoza, and unlike the Castilla y León version, it was designed specifically for use in slurry ponds. For example, its creators devised a system that “minimizes the air-slurry contact surface between the floating elements and that will facilitate the support of the photovoltaic panels.” Another of the tasks they have had to face is “design a specific structure”formed by a matrix of anodized aluminum beams anchored to the platform and with brackets that allow the panels to have an inclination of 15º. In total they house 16 panels with a power of 9.44 kWp. The screws are made of aluminum and stainless steel to prevent corrosion. If its authors’ plans are fulfilled, the floating platform will “effectively” cover 10% of the pond’s surface and its photovoltaic production will reach 15.2 Mwh/year, enough to cover up to 53% of the farm’s electrical demand. That plus, claims Intergiawill allow the Aragonese exploitation to reduce its fuel consumption, “expensive and polluting.” And now what? With its prototypes Fotopur aims to continue advancing on the path that was already opened in 2020, solve the problems that were identified then and demonstrate the advantages of covering the slurry ponds with solar panels. Now, once the Zamora and Zaragoza facilities have been set up, the experts will dedicate themselves to controlling … Read more

Spain’s “no” to the F-35 has led to a curious agreement. The US is going to send you its Harriers like Ikea: in pieces to assemble

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In 1982, during the Falklands War, the British had to modify and move several Harriers were hurriedly shipped to the South Atlantic. Some arrived at the area of ​​operations transported on adapted merchant ships and were prepared for combat during deployment, an example of the extent to which this aircraft has always been associated with logistical solutions. unconventional. An emergency solution. The Spanish Navy faces a countdown that has been conditioning its future for years. Maintaining aviation on board the Juan Carlos I is considered an essential strategic capability, but the problem is that the Harriers that make it possible are reaching the limit. end of useful life and the natural relief, the F-35B, continues out of plans of government procurement. Faced with this situation, Defense has opted for a formula as pragmatic as it is unique: prolonging the life of current aircraft until 2032 through a massive reserve of spare parts coming from the last American Harriers that are being retired from service. Harrier Av 8b The Harriers arrive, but not to fly. The operation has something of a logistical paradox. Spain is going to receive five AV-8B Harrier complete from the United States, but none of them are destined to join the flight line. Its mission will be much less visible and perhaps more important: to become a gigantic reserve of components. Although initially it was studied to take advantage of the transatlantic voyage of the Juan Carlos I to transport them, finally the devices will be dismantled at origin and sent to Spain andn separate packages. They will arrive practically as a kit of parts to assemble from the famous Swedish furniture store, although in this case ready to be cannibalized in Rota and keep the fighters of the 9th Squadron operational for the next few years. While others advance, Spain stretches the calendar. The decision reflects the particular situation in which the Navy has been left. USA will officially retire its Harriers this year and Italy plans to do the same before the end of the decade, both replacing them with the F-35B, the only real heir to the short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities of the veteran British-American aircraft. Spain, on the other hand, is preparing to become the last relevant operator of the model. The refusal to buy The F-35 has forced additional time to be sought for a fleet that should have begun its transition to a more modern successor years ago. The Spanish industry gains prominence. This scenario is also driving an unusual industrial effort. The Navy and Airbus have extended contracts maintenance of the Harriers and significantly increased the work hours dedicated to inspections, repairs and recovery of components. The objective is not only to maintain the current aircraft, but to develop in Spain a technical capacity capable of sustain a fleet increasingly scarce in the world. The fewer operators left, the greater the importance of having knowledge, tools and own spare parts to continue maintaining the devices in flying condition. The price of postponing the decision. All this effort has a very specific objective: to prevent Spain from losing its ability to operate aircraft combat from the sea before having an alternative. However, it also shows the provisional nature of the solution. The American Harriers that will cross the Atlantic will not do so to reinforce the Spanish embarked air force, but to feed the specimens that are already in service. If you like, it is a quite revealing image of the current moment: while other allies replace their old planes with a new generationSpain tries to gain a few more years by assembling the Marines’ latest Harriers and transforming them into a floating parts warehouse. In a way, the negative to buy the F-35 has led to an agreement as peculiar as it is symbolic: receiving the fighters retired from the United States disassembled… ready to assemble, disassemble and reuse as the survival of the fleet demands. Image | RawPixel, Michael Pereckas In Xataka | The US opted for the quality of the F-35 rather than quantity. China opted for the opposite and it is already a problem In Xataka | Europe has asked its military experts how to become independent from the US for the next war. The answer is déjà vu: the F-35

five Xiaomi bargains from the AliExpress Summer Promo

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Although next Prime Day is already on the horizon, we are immersed in AliExpress Summer Promo. It is being a campaign with many interesting offers in mobile phones, headphonesconsoles and almost any device. This time, let’s spin a little more finely. and we are going to focus only on Xiaomi products. Discount minimum purchase coupon 1 coupon 3 coupon 4 COUPON 3 euros 15 euros XATAKAES03 WEBEDES03 ESSS03 SSES03 6 euros 39 euros XATAKAES06 WEBEDES06 ESSS06 SSES6 10 euros 69 euros XATAKAES10 WEBEDES10 ESSS10 SSES10 20 euros 139 euros XATAKAES20 WEBEDES20 ESSS20 SSES20 30 euros 209 euros XATAKAES30 WEBEDES30 ESSS30 SSES30 45 euros 319 euros XATAKAES45 WEBEDES45 ESSS45 SSES45 65 euros 459 euros XATAKAES65 WEBEDES65 ESSS65 SSES65 110 euros 650 euros XATAKAES110 WEBEDES110 ESSS110 – Just above these lines you have the discount coupons for this promo, although it is true that there are some that are no longer available (such as those for 45 euros). Despite this, we can still find good offers like the ones these five Xiaomi devices have: POCO X8 Pro by 253.62 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30’, one of the best-selling mobile phones of 2026. Xiaomi A 32 by 79.37 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES10’, a compact and very economical TV ideal for small rooms. Xiaomi L1 Pro Projector by 197.41 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30’, a very interesting option to watch the World Cup wherever you want. Xiaomi Pad 7 by 217.56 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30’, versatile tablet with 8 GB of RAM and a good screen. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G by 257.35 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30’, a phone that stands out for its 6,500 mAh battery. POCO X8 Pro He POCO X7 Pro It was one of the best-selling mobile phones last year and in 2026 it looks like it will repeat its successor, the POCO X8 Pro. It is a fairly balanced phone, which highlights its 6,500 mAh battery with 100 W fast charging, its 6.59-inch screen with 1.5 K resolution and notable performance thanks to its MediaTek processor. Right now it’s coming out 253.62 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30‘. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi A 32 If you are looking for a compact and economical television for a bedroom or a second residence, this one from Xiaomi comes in handy. 79.37 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES10‘. It is true that it has HD resolution, but it is not something that matters too much since it is 32 inches. It has a Google operating system, so we can install almost any app that comes to mind, like DAZN to watch the soccer World CupFor example. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi L1 Pro Projector There is also the option of getting a projector like this Xiaomi L1 Pro, which is a quite interesting option. With it, we can project an image on a diagonal that ranges from 40 to 120 inches. It has speakers, WiFi and Bluetooth, as well as the Google TV operating system. It came out at a price of 299.99 euros, but we can get it for 197.41 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30‘ The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Pad 7 The Xiaomi Pad 7 is one of the best quality-price tablets that we can buy. It has an 11.2-inch screen with 3.2 K resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate, so we will have a fluid experience that is perfect for reading. It has four speakers with Dolby Atmos and an 8,850 mAh battery. goes out with 217.56 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES30‘ in its version with 256 GB of storage. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G Finally, another mobile. He Redmi Note 15 Pro+ It is a very balanced and versatile phone that, for the 257.35 euros With the ‘XATAKAES30’ coupon that comes out, it’s worth it if you’re looking for something cheap. It has a 6,500 mAh battery that also has 100W fast charging, a 6.83-inch screen compatible with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and more than enough performance for everyday use. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G 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 | Xataka, Xiaomi In Xataka | DDR4 or DDR5? What RAM to choose so as not to pay even more than necessary in the middle of the price crisis In Xataka | Best home theater projectors. Which one to buy and five recommended models from 299 to 18,000 euros

‘solo-maxxing’ is Gen Z’s answer to the stifling dating industry

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It’s Friday night. A decade ago, the routine for a person in their early 20s would have been predictable: choose clothes in front of the mirror, reserve a table at a trendy restaurant and go out in the hope of meeting someone. Today, that same scene is interrupted by a lethal crossroads of notifications on the mobile screen: the notice of rent collection, the status of the bank account and, in the background, the endless catalog of faces on a dating application. By adding up the expenses, the user does the math and reaches a clear conclusion: falling in love is an unaffordable luxury. He cancels the plan, closes the app and stays home. Love is not dead, but its business model has gone bankrupt. Generation Z faces a perfect storm where inflation, the housing crisis, job insecurity and psychological exhaustion after years of digital overexposure have turned traditional romance into a risky sport. Faced with a scenario where a date can cost hundreds of euros and rejection seems more public than ever, dating applications are facing a structural problem: their users are discovering that singleness is not only cheaper, but also much less exhausting. The data paints an uncomfortable picture for the entire romance industry. According to a report by Bank of Montreal collected by Fortunethe total cost of a date in the United States—including dinner, transportation, drinks, and preparations—now reaches $189. Among Generation Z the figure climbs to $205 per meeting, while millennials are close to $252 after experiencing a 32% cost increase. Faced with this emotional inflation, the response has been simple: spend less or not spend at all. A report from Bank of America reveals that 53% of young people from Generation Z He doesn’t spend a single dollar a month on dating. Among those who do, most try to stay below $100 a month. Inflation is not only making the shopping basket more expensive or making it difficult to access housing. It is also transforming the way an entire generation relates to each other. The phenomenon already has visible consequences. a study cited by Newsweek points out that 46% of members of Generation Z do not have any romantic relationship, compared to 28% of millennials and 26% of Generation X. Even large technology platforms are noticing the change. Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Match Group, recently recognized that applications like Tinder can be “intimidating” for those under 30 years of age, in a context marked by the drop in active users and the growing exhaustion towards the traditional model of dating apps. The Spanish case: when rent eats up social life Although many of these trends were first detected in the United States, the Spanish context adds additional pressure: housing. According to the latest data of the Emancipation Observatory of the Youth Council of Spainthe average rental price absorbs 98.7% of a young person’s salary. The risk of poverty among young people who live in rent increases drastically once the cost of housing is taken into account. The problem goes beyond economic figures. For decades, romantic relationships followed a relatively clear sequence: meet someone, become independent, live together and, eventually, start a family. Today that chain has been broken. Spain registers some of the highest ages of emancipation in Europe. Millions of young people continue to live with their parents much longer than they would like, not by choice but by economic necessity. In this context, the problem is no longer just paying for a dinner or a drink. It is also having your own space where you can build intimacy, coexistence or a shared life project. Precariousness not only delays the purchase of a home. It also delays relationships. As Holly O’Neill summarizedBank of America executive, Generation Z is discovering that adulthood has a much higher price than they imagined. However, money explains only part of the phenomenon. The call “paradox of preparation” describes an increasingly common contradiction among young people: they want stable emotional ties, but they feel less and less prepared to initiate them. After years of living much of their relationships through screens, many members of Generation Z perceive dating as an emotionally demanding experience. The fear of rejection still exists, but it is now combined with a constant feeling of public exposure. Social networks have turned every relationship into a small media event. Make a couple official on Instagram using a hard launch or hint at her through a soft launch It can feel like a public statement that is difficult to reverse if the relationship fails. As a result, the first step becomes increasingly complicated. An appointment is no longer requested. Instagram is requested. Then come weeks of messages, reactions to stories, and intermittent conversations that often never lead to a real meeting. The potential connection exists, but the action is suspended indefinitely. The rise of solo-maxxing In this context, a new philosophy has emerged, baptized in social networks as solo-maxxing. Far from presenting singleness as a transitory situation or a waiting stage, this trend redefines it as a conscious choice. Being alone is no longer necessarily interpreted as a sentimental failure, but as a strategy to protect time, money and emotional stability. A MyIQ survey reveals that almost half of young people between 18 and 34 years old consider that being single is more peaceful than being in a relationship. A third say they actively avoid dating to preserve their mental well-being. Behind this trend there is a logic that is difficult to ignore. If each romantic interaction involves increasing economic costs, emotional uncertainty, and a high risk of disappointment, singleness ceases to be a provisional state and becomes a rational decision. For many young people, peace of mind has become an asset too valuable to risk. The crisis is also forcing us to rethink the way people get to know each other. For years, dating apps promised that an infinite number of options would make it easier to find a partner. The result, however, has often been … Read more

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