We have a problem with cardboard recycling. In the United Kingdom they believe that the solution is to use it in a power plant

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Every day, millions of cardboard boxes leave our homes heading to the blue container. They are the last link in an accelerated consumption cycle in online commerce. However, this material, so everyday that we don’t even look at it twice, could be on the verge of an unexpected second life: becoming fuel to generate electricity on a large scale. A residue that enters the energy map. A team of engineers from Nottingham University has shown for the first time that used cardboard can be used as an effective source of biomass in power plants. The investigation, published in the journal Biomass and Bioenergycompares cardboard with a common reference for industrial biomass: eucalyptus. The engineers didn’t just watch the cardboard burn. They crushed it, studied its shape, broke down its chemistry and analyzed how it reacted to heat and what type of carbon it left behind. They even developed their own method—based on thermogravimetric analysis—to measure exactly how much calcium carbonate each sample contains. This component, common in printed cardboard, gives rigidity to the material but also conditions its behavior when burning. Thanks to this procedure, they can predict which type of cardboard will work well in an industrial boiler and which could cause problems. The science behind cardboard that burns “better.” The study did not stop at theories. He tested the combustion of cardboard in two types of systems equivalent to those used in power plants: Drop Tube Furnace: Simulates the rapid combustion of pulverized biomass.Here, the researchers observed that cardboard particles develop chars (the carbonaceous remains that remain after the first combustion phase) highly reactive, with a predominance of fine and porous structures that favor a burnout accelerated. Muffle Furnace: Simulates fluidized bed or grate systems. Even with longer residence times, the paperboard maintained its excellent combustion profile. In addition, the size and shape of the particles were characterized through an analysis with more than one million particles per sample; The tendency of cardboard to form “spongy aggregates” during grinding was observed—a challenge for its industrial handling—and characteristics such as sphericity and aspect ratio were correlated, something that could improve future combustion models. As the academic study explains, this detailed analysis allows predicting combustion efficiency and designing industrial strategies to integrate cardboard into the fuel flow. The result was very favorable. Thanks to this experiment, the engineers managed to demonstrate that cardboard has less carbon (38%) than eucalyptus (46.7%) and its calorific value is also lower (15.9–16.5 MJ/kg versus 21 MJ/kg). However, its chars are finer, porous and reactive, which accelerates combustion; In addition, it contains much more ash (8.9–10.6%, compared to 0.6% for eucalyptus), a critical aspect for boilers. What remains to be resolved? Although the technical potential is evident, the study makes it clear that cardboard is not ready to enter the boilers of a power plant tomorrow. There are three fundamental challenges that must be addressed: Management and processing problems. When ground, cardboard does not behave like wood: it forms spongy lumps of very low density that make internal transport difficult, complicate the continuous feeding of boilers and can increase the risk of blockages and accumulations. The study warns that it will be essential to adapt the grinding and feeding systems to guarantee a stable and safe flow. The behavior of calcium. Cardboard contains very high levels of CaCO₃, especially when printed. This calcium can behave in different ways depending on the temperature and type of boiler. In certain cases it raises the fusion temperature of the ashes – which is positive -; In others it can favor the formation of slag or alter the quality of the fuel. The study recommends analyzing the behavior of cardboard according to the type of plant, because not all technologies tolerate these variations in the same way. Large-scale industrial validation. Laboratory tests are promising, but the decisive step is missing: testing the cardboard in real operating conditions. According to the researchers, the industry will have to carry out tests on different technologies in boilers, evaluate emissions, study the accumulation and composition of ash and check their compatibility with existing biomass mixtures. Only then can it be determined whether the cardboard can be safely and stably integrated into the mix of biomass. An everyday material with an unexpected future. Cardboard protects pizzas, televisions, books and appliances. We recycle it without thinking too much about it. But this research from Nottingham suggests that this everyday waste could become another piece of the energy transition, helping to diversify fuels and take advantage of an abundant and local resource. Today we see it as garbage. Tomorrow it could help produce electricity. The spark has already been lit: now we need to know if the industry wants – and can – convert it into real energy. Image | Unsplash and Geograph Xataka | Selling smoke is now a business in Soria: it purifies it and sells it as CO2 to make soft drinks

The hundreds of black dots on train and car windows are not a whim: they are a shield called ‘frits’

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Traveling by car or train means looking around the windows. You probably don’t just look at the landscape, but at all the vehicle interior elementsthe closest being the edge of those windows. A common element on the train and on the car window is a black border with a curious pattern of dots that become smaller as the rows increase. It is not paint or an aesthetic element, but something that fulfills a crucial technical function to protect the integrity of the glass. They are called ‘frit band‘ either ‘frits‘, and it is one of the most important passive safety elements that these vehicles have. The Science of Car Window Blackheads Although it seems like it, these dots are not paint: they are ceramics baked at very high temperatures, which fuses with glass during manufacturing of the same. He process It is most curious, since first the still hot black ceramic paste is applied to the edges of the glass, and then it is baked together with the glass in the tempering and bending process. In Xataka In 2001, Renault launched a car ahead of its time: it was a miserable failure that now has another chance It is a structural element of glass and this process involves a permanent bond that does not wear over time. The dot pattern motif, known as “gradient matrix”it is not a whim either, but a solution to something that could spontaneously break the car window. Black glass absorbs much more heat than clear glass, and this is something you can easily check on a sunny day: the black band will be hotter than the rest of the glass. When the temperature is extreme, and on trips where the moon can being hit by small stonesif there were an abrupt temperature transition between the black border and the transparent area, stress points would be created that could cause cracks. That’s why they pulled out that gradient that works like a processor heatsink: creates a thermal transition zone which distributes heat more evenly. It is something that provides protection to the glass, but they serve something else: to help the bond between the chassis and the glass. On the perimeter of the crystals there is glue that joins the elements, and the ‘frits’ have a rougher texture that allows a better adhesion from glass to chassis. Also, being black, they protect the glue against ultraviolet rays, maximizing its durability and the security of the union of the components. A detail from Jeep, which introduced an Easter egg in these frits In the end, what might seem like a simple aesthetic element fulfills an important safety function. In the train, this adhesion and thermal dissipation, and in the car, added to the above, greater resistance of the moon to shocks. In some cars it has been used to place a nod, and the fact that they are circles and not another geometric element has an aesthetic part, but also functional because it makes us overlook them while driving. It is one more example of all that everyday technology that surrounds us and that perhaps we always wonder if it would have some function, but once that initial curiosity passes, we forget to look. Images | Jeep, Abil Saputra In Xataka |Cars have become gigantic. The problem is that our parking spaces do not (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news The hundreds of black dots on train and car windows are not a whim: they are a shield called ‘frits’ was originally published in Xataka by Alejandro Alcolea .

In the midst of a race towards immortality, China believes it has found a way for us to live 150 years: with grapes

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Aging is the objective that a good part of society has right now with different diets to look younger, ‘anti-aging’ treatments or even cocktails that promise this (although our biology has a fairly clear limit). Now, China is targeting a biotechnology company that affirms be developing a pill capable of prolonging human life to 150 years. A simple grape. A priori it seems that it has nothing to do with human aging, but we are quite wrong. The Shenzhen biotechnology company claims to have identified in its seeds a compound called procyyanidin C1 (PCC1) which achieves the effect that many want and has a great antioxidant effect. Zombie cells. To understand how this supposed miracle compound works, we must first talk about the enemy of aging: senescence cellular. As time goes by, some of our cells stop dividing, but they do not die. They remain in a state of limbo, accumulating in the tissues and secreting inflammatory substances that damage neighboring cells that are not so lazy and continue dividing. These cells that do not want to die is what known as ‘zombie cells’ because in the end there are quite a few parallels. As. Once taken into account, this is where PCC1 comes into play, which is nothing more than a natural flavonoid. Where the interesting begins is in a key study published in Nature Metabolism where it is pointed out that PCC1 acts as a senolytic agent. This means that it has a fairly important selective capacity to act on the cells that are bothering us the most. Specifically, at low doses, PCC1 inhibits the toxic substances emitted by zombie cells, but at high doses it kills them without harming healthy cells. And up to this point everything is quite solid, since it has been scientifically proven. There are ‘buts’. The scientific basis that the Chinese laboratory uses for its claims comes almost exclusively from animal models to whom this substance was applied. In this way, the researchers achieved several things by applying PCC1 on old mice: Reduce the load of senescent cells in vital organs. Reverse motor dysfunctions, making the mouse have more strength and better balance. Increase life expectancy between 9 and 60%. The big ‘but’ we found is that it has only been tested on mice and not on humans. And given this we can ask ourselves something quite simple: why are we skeptical about the claim of 150 years in humans? There are several reasons to be so. The first of them is that saying that because a mouse lives 60% longer, a human will live 60% longer is also a biological fallacy. The metabolism of mice and humans is not similar at all, and that is why there are drugs that, although they have worked in a mouse, have failed in humans. we are not equal with the mice. That’s why we don’t age in the same way. Although it is true that humans have senescent cells that are related to aging, we are much more complex. Aging involves genomic instability, telomere shortening, mitochondrial dysfunction, and stem cell exhaustion. That is why cleaning the ‘zombie cells’ could improve health in old agebut it is unlikely that on its own it will make us exceed the current biological limit of our species. This is also added to the fact that to date there are no published clinical trials that support the safety and effectiveness of using this compound in the human body. That is why, in conclusion, we can conclude that PCC1 is a very important finding to identify a door to therapies that make us age better. But talking about extending life to 150 years undoubtedly presents many doubts, since surely this ‘Chinese pill’ will not make us immortal overnight. Images | Maja Petric Daniel Franco In Xataka | Not all brain cells age at the same time: we have found a “hot spot” of aging

The “military” returns, this time voluntary

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In Varces-Alliéres-et-Rissetbefore the troops, with a solemn tone and a large French flag behind. President Enmanuel Macron took care of the staging on Thursday to make a particularly delicate announcement: the return of military service. The famous ‘military’ will return in 2026 as a ten-month voluntary benefit aimed primarily at boys and girls between 18 and 19 years old, although from the Elysée it is not hidden that, if circumstances demanded it, Parliament could give the green light “exceptional” to mandatory recruitment. France it is not the first country European Union that is moving in that direction while looking askance at the “threat” of an emboldened Russia in Ukraine. The military arrives (with nuances). France will activate a new ‘military’although with nuances. During an act held at an infantry base near Grenoble, Macron announced on Thursday that in mid-206 the country will launch a “military service” that will be implemented gradually. It will be voluntary, it is designed for young people aged 18 and 19 and will last 10 months. During this period, recruits will receive a pay of between 900 and 1,000 euros per month, in addition to maintenance, accommodation and a discount for train travel. Also the promise that they will be deployed only in the “national territory”. One figure: 3,000. This is the number of young people that France hopes to mobilize in the first stage of its new military, although the idea is that this number will grow gradually: from the initial 3,000 it would rise to 10,000 in 2030 and, “depending on the threat”, to 50,000 in 2035. Once they finish their training, the recruits will have to decide whether to return to civilian life, join the reserves or pursue a career in the armed forces, which would allow the country to gain military muscle. Right now France has some 200,000 troops active military and 47,000 reservists. The objective, clarify Guardianis that these figures will increase to 210,000 and 80,000 by 2030. Achieving this will not come cheap for the country. There are those who point out that the plan will cost around 2 billion eurosan expense that the president considers “a necessary effort”. They look at the 90s. Macron’s announcement comes after the failure of the Universal National Service (SNU), introduced years ago, and almost three decades after the end of the mandatory military service in France. The Government abolished it in 1996, during the time of Jacques Chirac and at a time when the end of the USSR and the Cold War made it “unnecessary”, in words by Macron. The truth is that the idea of ​​recovering some kind of military service has been kicking during the last few years in the country, although it has gained relevance since 2022, with the war in Ukraine. “A threat”. “France cannot sit idly by,” claims Macron, who insists the new plan is “inspired by the practices of our European partners at a time when all our European allies are moving forward in response to a threat that weighs on us all.” His announcement comes after General Fabien Mandon, head of the French armed forces, generated stir by ensuring that France lacks “strength of character to accept suffering to protect what we are” and “accept the loss of its children.” “We must dispel any confusing notions that suggest we are sending our young people to Ukraine,” rushed to clarify Macron. Why now? Words and details matter, but above all, context matters. Macron’s announcement comes in a scenario marked by three major factors. The first, key, are the tensions between Europe and Russia, with the war in Ukraine at the center of the board. The second, the doubts thrown at the time by Trump about the US role in NATO. For decades one of the keys to European security was precisely Washington’s defense guarantee. The third factor, crucial and directly related to the previous one, is the increase in military spending on the continent, driven from within NATO itself. The objective on the table in fact is to allocate to defense 5% of GDP. Beyond France. That France is betting on the military (even if it is a voluntary one, lasting only 10 months and with the commitment that the participants will be deployed only on national missions) is news in itself, but it is even more so if it is put into the European context. Paris is not the first to move in that direction. Germany want to activate a voluntary service, Belgium is sending thousands of letters to their teenagers to enlist, Denmark has begun to recruit women and Lithuania or Latvia They have already made similar decisions. In France Macron has public opinion in his favor. Surveys like is disclosed by the BBC show that the majority of citizens are in favor of voluntary military service. To be more precise, an Elabe survey concluded that 73% of the country views him favorably. The group in which the optional ‘military’ generates the most suspicion is that of young people between 25 and 34 years old (directly affected), but even among them the support is majority, 60%. What has generated less consensus in the country is the salary announced by the Executive for volunteer soldiers, between 900 and 1,000 euros per month, a figure that, criticizes Rebellious Franceis “well below the minimum wage.” Images | Lucas Lemoine (Unsplash) and Elysium In Xataka | Germany has wondered how it might respond to an invasion. And he has found the answer in Taiwan: underground

they went to the trouble of cashing ridiculous checks

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Have you ever wondered if Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos Or would Bill Gates bend down to pick up a coin from the ground? And for a 20 euro bill? Apparently that same question was asked in the 90s in the satirical magazine Spyso they decided to test the extent to which some of the most famous rich Americans cared about ridiculously small amounts of money, even when they already had enormous fortunes. Which It started as an inside joke. ended up becoming a real experiment with very specific figures and proper names that was published in said magazine in July 1990. Spy’s prank: ridiculous checks for millionaires To carry out the experiment, the magazine’s editors had to think about what would be the equivalent of taking the trouble to bend down to pick up a penny when you’re already a billionaire. The solution they found to carry it out was quite ingenious: send checks to the millionaires worth a few cents. Since each check was nominal, when the chosen millionaire cashed his check, the magazine’s editors received the charge and knew which millionaire had “bent down” for his coin. In this case, the effort is even less, since the millionaire in question has to go to a bank to cash the check, which is much more intentional than simply bending over while walking. As and as they remembered in Celebrity Networththe editors left no loose ends and Spy created a fictitious but legal company called National Refund Clearinghouse and opened a real bank account to use in the experiment. From that company all refund checks for small amounts of money would be sent to a list of very rich people. To avoid raising suspicions, a note would be sent along with each check explaining that it was a refund for an erroneous charge, something that in those years sounded routine and not at all suspicious for anyone used to handling many invoices. The first shipment was made with $1.11 checks addressed to 58 very famous billionaires at the time. Among them were names like Cher, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Douglas, Christopher Reeve, Martin Scorsese, Ralph Lauren, Rupert Murdock or the young heir to a real estate empire: Donald Trump. In a period of approximately two months, 26 of those 58 millionaires cashed the $1.11 check they had received. The remaining 32 millionaires simply ignored it completely, establishing a clear percentage from the start: around 44.8% of the recipients decided that $1.11 was well worth the effort to “bend” to collect it. The rest did not lift a finger for that amount. To no one’s surprise, Donald Trump was one of those who did not miss the slightest opportunity to get a little richerfalling in this first round: its price was $1.11. Putting more bait on the hook After the surprisingly good result of the first round of checks, Spy editors wanted to find out how much the combination of effort and reward could be played with. So they decided to send a new check to the 32 millionaires who hadn’t bothered to cash the first check. This time they doubled their bet by issuing checks worth two incredible dollars. The actor Richard Gere and the singer Carly Simon, along with four other celebrities ended up succumbing to the generous reward of the new consignment. Not happy with the percentage of millionaires and celebrities that the second round had collected, the editors of the satirical magazine decided to up their ante to an impressive $3.47. Only two millionaires fell into the new trap and cashed Spy’s generous check. Given the low success rate, it was clear that the maximum limit they were willing to cash had been reached and that they would have to raise the figure much higher to attract the attention of those who did not bother to cash the check. It was time to test to what extent the 26 millionaires who had cashed the $1.11 checks would be able to lower their reward level. Those 26 celebrities who had cashed the first check were sent a second one again. check worth 64 cents. The paper it was written on was more expensive than the amount of the check. Curiously, on that occasion only 13 millionaires decided to collect them, just 50% of the initial group. However, Spy still had one final trick: send a third check to those serial collectors who had cashed the $1.11 and the 64-cent checks. On this occasion, the amount of the check would be 13 cents of dollar. It wasn’t even worth the ink it was written with. money is money As expected, this time the percentage of collections plummeted. However, only two people collected the last amount. What surprised the Spy editors most were the names of these people: the frequent arms dealer of the jet set parties of Marbella of the 90s, Adnan Khashoggi, and Donald Trump, current president of the United States. At first glance, Spy’s experiment seems to remain an ingenious and brilliant joke by the magazine to the greatest fortunes of the 90s in the United States. However, what is really revealed is a psychological background in the relationship of some millionaires with regarding finances. Even if they are worth billions of dollars, they collect everything. No matter how insignificant the profits, money is money. In Xataka | The emir of Qatar travels in a private jet so big it helped upgrade Sardinia airport Image | Nano Banana, Flickr (Gage Skidmore), Unsplash (Joshua Hoehne)

This is where the TVs, cell phones and more that we return in El Corte Inglés go, a refurbished section with offers

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What do stores do when we return a product? In El Corte Inglés, they are put on sale again under the reconditioned section which, for example, we can find online on their website. And many of them are on sale. Some have been used and others simply have damaged packaging, but are unsealed. In this article we are going to review some of the best deals that we can find right now. Samsung TQ65QN90CAT by 908.65 eurosa TV with Neo QLED technology in almost perfect condition. OnePlus 12 by 594.15 eurosa very interesting high-end mobile for its price. MacBook Air M2 by 849.15 eurosa brand new Apple computer. iPad Pro M2 by 594.15 eurosa powerful brand new Apple tablet. Samsung Galaxy A55 by 262.65 eurosa good Samsung mobile with a very reasonable price. Samsung TQ65QN90CAT In the refurbished area of ​​El Corte Inglés there are many televisions on offer with the most reasonable prices. One of them is the Samsung TQ65QN90CAT which right now costs 908.65 euros. This is a grade A refurbished TV with light use, no cosmetic damage and packaging in good condition. Incorporates a screen 65-inch Neo QLED and offers 4K resolution. It also offers a resolution of 120 Hz, is compatible with the format HDR10+your panel has anti-reflective treatment and has a three-year warranty. Samsung TQ65QN90CAT (Neo QLED, 65 inches) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links OnePlus 12 It will not be the most current mobile phone on the market, but El Corte Inglés has the OnePlus 12 by 594.15 euros in its configuration of 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. It is grade A refurbished with light use, no cosmetic damage and packaging in good condition. If you prefer it in black, PcComponentes has it new even cheaper: 589 euros. It is a mobile phone that comes equipped with the processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Its screen is 6.82 inches and offers 2K resolution. We really liked the battery life, as well as its performance and the set of cameras. OnePlus 12 (16GB, 512GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MacBook Air M2 On the other hand, if what you are looking for is a good Apple laptop that has a reasonable price, the MacBook Air M2 of 8 GB of unified memory and 512 GB of SSD is found by 849.15 euros. It is an ideal computer for working, but above all for studying. It is a Brand New Grade A refurbished device that is unsealed, but unused. Its packaging is slightly scratched. MacBook Air M2 (8GB, 512GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links iPad Pro M2 There are also some very interesting prices on tablets, as is the case of the iPad Pro M2 which is found by 594.15 euros. It is powerful thanks to the M2 chip, includes 128 GB of internal storage and its screen is a delight. In this case we are talking about a device Grade A Brand New unsealed, whose packaging is scratched. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung Galaxy A55 Finally, if you are looking for a good, pretty and very cheap mobile phone, El Corte Inglés has the Samsung Galaxy A55 128 GB for a price of 262.65 euros. It is a mobile phone that has a finish that we liked, as well as its audio section and how well balanced it is in general. Of course, in this case it is a mobile grade B refurbished with light use, without cosmetic damage. Samsung Galaxy A55 (128GB) 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 | El Corte Inglés and Compradicción (header), Samsung, OnePlus, Apple In Xataka | The best mobile phones (2025), we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

After months without flying, the DGT’s Pegasus return to the skies. And they are already hunting offenders

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Since entering service in 2013, Pegasus helicopters have become one of the systems with which the DGT monitors the roads. Apart from controlling the speed of traffic, the cameras are so powerful that they allow them to distinguish whether we look at the cell phone while driving either we don’t wear the seatbelt. Due to maintenance and contract issues, the nine Pegasus they stopped flying for almost two months. 51 million euros later, they are back on the roads. AND they are already catching to drivers who circulate as if the highways were circuits. The Pegasus of the DGT return From September 1 to October 25, the nine Pegasus of the General Directorate of Traffic were grounded. They did so due to the expiration of the maintenance contract they had up to that point and, as no company interested in occupying that position for the maintenance of the helicopters had presented itself, the deadlines forced them to leave the service. Failing that, drones with similar capabilities were responsible for monitoring from the air, but a few weeks ago an agreement was reached to renew this maintenance, as well as an improvement in some components, such as recording systems. With everything in order, the DGT has as aim double annual flight hoursgoing from the 2,750 hours registered so far to 5,500. It is already bearing fruit. The video on these lines was caught on November 1, one of the key dates in mobility in Spain, and we can see how a driver without a seat belt reaches a peak of 217 kilometers per hour on a Malaga highway. The ‘prize’ is a 600 euro fine and six license points for going at that speed, as well as another 200 euros for going without a seat belt. He hasn’t been the only one caught doing 200 km/h recently. In total, The investment will be 51 million euros until 2028 for this road control from the air, but it could reach up to 80 million if the contract is extended for another 22 months. And you may be wondering how they work: They are helicopters Eurocopter AS-355 Ecureuil 2 and AS 350 armed with the MX-15 radar that detects speeding at 300 meters high and up to a kilometer away. They have GPS positioning to have exact coordinates. Using a laser rangefinder, they measure distances and record the position of the vehicle every three seconds. They also calculate the average speed of the vehicle. In the case of a violation, recording begins and the fine is sent electronically. Pegasus has shortcomings, such as it cannot record the license plate well in adverse conditions or at night, but The Mossos d’Esquadra have another lookout in the skies: Falcó. It operates in a similar way to the Pegasus, but with the advantage that it allows the license plate to be read both at night and in the rain. Precisely, one of the problems of the Pegasus is that some of its technologies have become outdated, but with the new maintenance and technological update plans, they want to catch up. But hey, in the end, the easiest way to avoid being hunted by these helicopters is to pay attention to both the signs and common sense. Images | DGT Magazine In Xataka | Very effective and practically undetectable: how the DGT’s “invisible radars” work

Tensions at Nexperia threaten the supply chain. One party accuses the other of “destructive actions”

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Until a few months ago, Nexperia was known mainly in industrial circles. It manufactured essential but inconspicuous chips, basic components for electronic systems, especially in sectors such as the automotive industry. Today his name appears in public letters, cross accusations and messages warning of production stops. The controversy is no longer limited to internal decisions: it involves governments, regulatory frameworks and a supply chain that has become especially sensitive. The conflict between headquarters did not arise spontaneously. It was built through a combination of regulatory decisions, judicial interventions and business measures that, in a matter of weeks, altered the balance between the Dutch parent company and the Chinese entities. The confirmed facts follow this sequence: September 29, 2025. The United States extended its export controls on companies that are 50% or more owned by entities included in the Entity List. Wingtech has been on that list since December 2024 and, by extension, affected Nexperia. September 30, 2025. The Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands applied for the first time the Goods Availability Act to supervise Nexperia’s activity. October 4, 2025. China prohibited Nexperia China and its subcontractors from exporting certain finished components and subassemblies manufactured in Chinese territory. October 7, 2025. The Amsterdam Company Chamber suspended CEO Zhang Xuezheng and appointed an independent administrator with authority over corporate decisions. October 12, 2025. The Dutch Government officially confirmed the activation of the control framework. October 14, 2025. Nexperia publicly acknowledged the veto imposed by Beijing and stated that it was in talks with the Chinese authorities to resolve it. October 29, 2025. Nexperia BV announced the suspension of the supply of wafers to its subsidiary due to its refusal to make payments. November 10, 2025. The US Department of Commerce suspends for one year the “Affiliates Rule” as part of a broader trade agreement with China. November 28, 2025. The Dutch Government suspended its ministerial supervision after talks with China, although the measures of the Amsterdam Business Chamber remain in force. What the Dutch matrix demands. Nexperia BV, the Netherlands-based entity that exercises global corporate governance of the group, states in his open letter of November 27 that it has made multiple attempts, both formal and informal, to contact its entities in China through calls, emails, proposed meetings and formal communications, without obtaining “any meaningful response.” He warns that clients from different sectors speak of “imminent production stops.” It calls for reestablishing regular flows of production, delivery and operational planning, and offers to start negotiations even with professional mediation. One of Nexperia’s facilities in Guangdong Accusations from China. Nexperia China claims that has always been available for formal communication and denies that there is a lack of response. According to its statement, the Dutch parent company would have carried out “destructive actions”, such as the elimination of corporate email accounts and the restriction of access to internal systems, which would have prevented the normal functioning of the subsidiary. Wingtech, the parent company in China, maintains that there has been an “unlawful deprivation” of its control rights and that this is the origin of the current disorder. He adds that, since October, they have continued to ship components to hundreds of customers as part of a “self-rescue” effort. A basic chip that supports a complex industry. Nexperia produces the so-called foundation chips, essential components that manage electrical functions in automotive and electronic systems. They are manufactured in Europe, assembled and tested in China and re-exported to the rest of the world. Companies like Nissan and the German supplier Bosch have warned that the current tension could affect availability in the coming months if flow is not restored. The German employers’ association VDA has warned of high risks. Nexperia has become a point of friction between corporate governance, regulation and industrial policy. As we have seen, the Dutch parent company and the subsidiary in China maintain opposing stories and accuse each other of having caused the current situation. None rules out dialogue, although the conversations continue in writing. The public communications consulted speak of “imminent” stops, but do not include interruptions that have already materialized. Manufacturers express their concern and anticipate possible effects if supply is not stabilized soon. We have to wait to see how this situation will end. Images | Nexperia In Xataka | The problem is not that Europe has “expropriated” Nexperia from a Chinese company: it is that it approved its sale just a year ago

Airbus has launched an urgent alert for the A320, the most delivered aircraft in the world: “operational interruptions” are looming

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If you are about to take a short or medium-range flight, such as the one that connects Madrid and Barcelona, ​​Paris with Rome or Berlin with Prague, you may want to look carefully at the ticket and check what model of plane you are going to travel on. It’s not about worrying, because air transport remains by far the safest meansbut it is important to understand that a very relevant part of these journeys is made on airplanes Airbus A320. And precisely that model, the most delivered in history, is at the center of a preventive alert that could lead to specific delays, aircraft changes or operational readjustments in the coming days. Airbus has recognized thatafter analyzing a recent event on an A320 family aircraft, detected that intense solar radiation could corrupt data essential for the operation of the flight control system. The company identified that this risk could affect “a significant number of aircraft currently in service.” For this reason, it has asked airlines to apply immediate preventive measures, including software or hardware protections, with the aim of guaranteeing operational security. An unexpected descent in mid-flight. Reuters, citing industry sourcespoints to a JetBlue flight as a possible origin of this technical review. It was a route between Cancún and Newark, on October 30, which recorded a sudden loss of altitude and a flight control problem. Several passengers were injured and the aircraft had to divert and land in Tampa. The case is being investigated by the US authority, although it has not been officially validated as triggering the alert. The response of the authorities. After receiving the results of the analysis from Airbus, the European Aviation Safety Agency has issued an emergency airworthiness directive which establishes that, if an affected flight control system component is identified, the correction must be applied before the next flight, following the manufacturer’s technical instructions. The document also prohibits reinstalling components that have been classified as affected. It does not mean grounding the entire A320 family, but it does force airlines to take immediate action and adjust the scheduling of their operations when necessary. European Aviation Safety Agency Emergency Airworthiness Directive When the Sun affects flight systems. Airbus explained that certain levels of intense solar radiation can alter data essential for the operation of flight control, something rare, but which requires additional protection. In aviation, these situations do not imply a failure of the aircraft, but rather the need to reinforce the systems to prevent external interference from affecting sensitive components. Hence the importance of applying software or hardware updates that ensure that, even in exceptional conditions, the system’s behavior is stable and predictable. European Aviation Safety Agency Emergency Airworthiness Directive The most present plane in airports. The Airbus A320 is not only familiar to passengers, it is also the model with the greatest real presence at airports. According to manufacturer datathere are about 11,300 A320 family aircraft in operation, of which 6,440 correspond to the A320 model. In October, This family surpassed the Boeing 737 as the most delivered aircraft in historywith 12,260 units officially delivered since its entry into service in 1988. In aviation, deliveries do not refer to orders, but to aircraft completed, certified and already in the hands of an operator. Present on the most common routes. The Airbus A320 is not only a very widespread aircraft, it is also the one carried by many passengers without knowing it on common routes. Flightradar24 identifies it as one of the most used models on short and medium range flights within Europe, and also in other parts of the world. Routes such as Madrid–Barcelona, ​​operated by Iberia with Airbus A320, are frequently carried out with this model. This constant presence means that any preventive measure can have visible consequences in daily operations, even on routine journeys. How it can affect you as a passenger. The directive does not imply that Airbus A320 flights will be canceled across the board, but it does mean that airlines must adjust their programming while applying the indicated technical measures. Airbus recognizes that these recommendations “will cause operational interruptions for passengers and customers,” which in practice can translate into aircraft changes, specific rescheduling or delays. Therefore, as we pointed out from the beginning, it is advisable to check the status of the flight until the last moment. Commercial aviation is not the safest means of transportation by chance, but because it operates under a very strict technical and regulatory framework. In this context, instruments such as the emergency airworthiness directive allow us to react quickly when a possible risk is identified, as has happened in this case with the A320. Airbus, the European Aviation Safety Agency and airlines are implementing preventive measures while the fleet continues to operate, in a constant balance between service continuity and enhanced safety. Images | Miguel Angel Sanz | Screenshot In Xataka | The Comac C919 symbolizes China’s aerial dream: the trade war threatens to clip its wings in mid-takeoff

The police and firefighters have turned it into a 60 billion company

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It is true that in reality The iPhone did not completely kill Motorola, but it left it very touched. In 2007 their cell phones were selling like hotcakes. Their previous foldables, the RAZR, were part of popular culture thanks to the promotional agreements that made Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria Abril Lavigne or David Beckham They will pose proudly with them non-stop. But then the iPhone arrived and things began to change for many traditional manufacturers. Nokia and Blackberry were never the same again, and something similar—although not as severe—happened to Motorola, which, faced with declining sales, decided to split into two different companies in 2008. The “Motorola” of before is now Lenovo The first of them, Motorola Mobilityit ended up being bought by Google in May 2012 and then to be repurchased by Lenovo in 2014. This manufacturer has kept the brand and has managed to revive that part of the business with a remarkable mobile catalogbut the original company went down a completely different path. In fact, the firm has reinforced its proposal with the new Razrthe “mid-range” folding ones that present a certainly interesting option, especially for small cell phone lovers. The popularity of these devices is not the same as in the past, but this year we experienced a nice nod: Paris Hilton, who was already the star of a limited edition with the original Razr 20 years ago, has returned again. At the beginning of the year we knew the Motorola Razr Plus Paris Hilton Editionvery pink, very “exclusive” and not cheap at all. The real Motorola is now Motorola Solutions Inc. But what is truly striking is that Motorola Solutions Inc.the “boring” part of the company that was split up in 2008, has emerged strongly from the situation. It has done so by focusing on what it already did well then: critical communications. Source: Bloomberg. Their products have become a success among security forces and bodies, who use them massively in the United States, but also in countries such as Bulgaria, Brazil or the United Kingdom. In fact, Bloomberg highlights that since they separated from Motorola Mobility the return for investors has grown by 1,000%more than double what the S&P 500 index has achieved, for example, and much more than what other companies such as Ericsson or Nokia have achieved, to which the iPhone did much more damage. Source: Motorola Solutions Inc. Motorola Solutions’ products are very varied, and range from body cameras for police forces to communication equipment for emergencies in health or fire departments and, lately (of course) drones. Greg Brown, the company’s CEO, has achieved turn it into a 60 billion dollar giant. It has achieved this with a strategy in which acquisitions have been a fundamental part and have accelerated traditional organic growth, often much slower. Brown’s path has not been easy, although the hardest part was that division at a time when the company was suffering a real financial hemorrhage: “we froze pensions, we laid off 15,000 people, we announced that we were getting out of the mobile phone business… which were the true identity of the company.” He ended up surviving that and managed to revive the company precisely by returning to what it had become famous for: Motorola was already providing communication equipment to the police shortly after its founding in 1928, although we met it much later. First, when he developed the famous Motorola 68000 processor which was part of legendary computers from Apple, Commodore or Atari. Then, in 1983, when it began its particular mobile revolution with the legendary DynaTAC 8000X. The future of Motorola Solutions seems promising, although it is not without challenges. The company, which will turn 100 years old in 2028is now starting to integrate AI into its products. The SVX body camera integrates AI functions and is the clear exponent of where the current Motorola (Solutions) is heading. This year they launched a body camera for law enforcement that uses AI to create automatically audio transcripts, provides directions to remote operators, and examines surveillance footage. It is the demonstration that that original Motorola – not the current mobile phone, which is now Lenovo – is still alive and well. In Xataka | What happened to NeXT, the company that Steve Jobs founded when he left Apple and that ended up being his salvation

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