bars

40 million dollars in gold bars

by

Sometimes an investigation leaves an image so powerful that it threatens to cover up the most important detail. In this case, the image is that of FBI agents entering a house in Virginia and finding more than 300 one-kilo gold bars (about $40 million), along with about $2 million in cash and about 35 luxury watches. The immediate question is obvious: what was all that doing there? The answer, for now, is not in the formal accusation. According to NPRDavid J. Rush faces, for now, a much more limited charge: alleged theft of public money for military leave payments allegedly obtained through false statements. It all started within the CIA itself. According to a joint statement from the CIA and FBI, an internal investigation by the agency identified possible legal violations and led its director, John Ratcliffe, to refer the matter to the FBI. The search of Rush’s home occurred on May 18 and the arrest came on the 19th. The key to the case. The discovery suggests a huge cause, but the accusation presented so far is much more limited. The New York Times points out that Rush is only accused of having inflated his academic credentials and collecting tens of thousands of dollars in military leave payments. He also falsely claimed that he was still in the Navy Reserve after being discharged. And here is the curious part: these assets are part of the investigation, but they are not yet the formal core of the accusation. An important piece. NPR describes him as a former CIA employee at the Senior Executive Service level, a category associated with high-ranking positions within the federal Administration. We are not talking, therefore, about a minor name within the story that the sources draw. We are talking about someone located at a level that does not go unnoticed. The unexplained hole. The big question is not only how those goods ended up in a private home, but why they had been requested in the first place. Rush began demanding foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in bullion, arguing that it was needed for labor issues. The CIA later searched a storage space associated with it and only located some of the cash. Added to this is that the agency had not yet found records that justified the need to handle such an extraordinary sum. A resume in question. The FBI also looks back, long before the funding requests and registration in Virginia. The man would have included studies at Clemson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in several CIA applications, in addition to military merits that are now under suspicion. The two universities, according to the affidavit cited by US Public Radio, found no records that he had attended class. Something similar occurs with his profile as a supposed pilot: the documents reviewed would not support that he had passed evaluations or that he had a license. The case. Rush remains in the custody of the US Marshals Service after his bail request was rejected, and has yet to make a formal statement. Court records cited indicate that he waived a preliminary hearing and that the detention hearing was postponed until June 5. At the moment, one question still has no public answer: whether the gold was requested for an operation, for an internal project or for another purpose that we do not yet know. Images | Xataka with Grok In Xataka | Against all odds, Madrid has committed itself to building the largest Ferris wheel on the planet: 260 m high and worth 300 million euros

Who do you love more, bars or Mercadona? Hospitality is taking the battle over prepared food to a zero-sum game

by

Since Spain believe made the “menu of the day” official 61 years agoin Manuel Fraga’s time, workers, travelers and families have gone to bars at midday basically looking for two things, in addition to food: time savings and good prices. That sacred triad turned the menu into the great success of the national hospitality industry (with forgiveness for the omelette). Now it plays against him. The same customers who have been eating in restaurants for generations have found an alternative that offers them food at better prices and with greater flexibility: supermarkets. The hoteliers, of course, they are not willing to give up and have taken out their best weapon: regulation. What has happened? The event was intended to review the data and needs of the sector, but it ended up leading to something else: a call to attention to chains such as Mercadona or Alcampo. Yesterday, during the General Assembly of Hospitality of Spain, the president of the group, José Luis Álvarez Almeida, post against a rival that until recently was off the radar of the country’s bars and restaurants: supermarkets. Without expressly mentioning them, the head of the employers’ association complained about the competition exerted by firms such as Mercadona, Carrefour, Bon Preu or Alcampo (to name a few), which have been betting on the sale of prepared dishes for some time and, in some cases, even include dining rooms in their premises so that customers can consume the food and drinks that they previously bought in the store right there. A model, Almeida insistswhich looks too similar to yours. “Unfair competition”. “Now we have gas stations, stores, hypermarkets or supermarkets that want to be bars. That is unfair competition,” argument the president of Hospitality of Spain during an event that was also attended by the Minister of Tourism, Jordi Hereu. “What we tell them is that, from an economic and competitive point of view, they can do what they want; but we all have to play on equal terms and be equal before the law.” your words have resonated with force in the sector, although it is not the first time that the expansion of the ready-to-eat dishes business within the supermarkets themselves leads to this question: Can it be considered unfair competition? He floated the same idea in December during an interview with SER Emilio Gallego, general secretary of Hospitality of Spain. “It is a controversial question. Either you are a supermarket or you have a space for a restaurant,” argument. “If you have a space where you buy food and eat it, you obviously have to have a restaurant activity license.” The key word: merchant. That the hospitality industry has raised its voice just now is no coincidence. Although supermarkets have been selling pre-cooked and ready-to-eat food for decades, in recent years some chains are shifting towards a new business model: the merchants. It is no longer about buying a tray of sushi, a cold tortilla or some pre-cooked noodles from a factory that the supermarket sells packaged. The key is that the customer can choose what they want to eat on a counter full of steaming stews, stews, fish… and then, if they want, they can devour that same food without leaving the store. The menu dilemma. Things get complicated there for bars, especially those that rely most on the concept of ‘menu of the day’: an affordable, varied and time-saving gastronomic offer. For years bars dominated that field. Now they have to fight with heavyweights like Mercadona, which offer prices that are difficult to match by family businesses that have been juggling for some time to make their menus profitable. This change in trend was summed up wonderfully well a few months ago by a gym instructor who The World interviewed while eating in a Mercadona in Madrid: “Although they pay me for the food, this is more practical and faster. You eat for six euros and I don’t spend 45 minutes. I haven’t eaten from a menu since summer.” In that same reportage The journalist spoke with other customers who came to Juan Roig’s store to buy dishes (stews, casseroles…) that they then ate in their own living rooms or office. Two years ago they might have gone to a bar with a menu or cooked at home. Not anymore. Has things changed that much? The data is revealing. In 2025 Mercadona had a turnover of around 700 million euros in Spain through its ‘Ready to Eat’ section. It may not seem like a big deal for a corporation whose sales exceeded 41.8 billionbut it is good to keep several things in mind. First, the ‘Ready to Eat’ section is very young. It was launched in 2018 and has expanded to more than 1,400 points of sale. Second, that those 700 million of euros are just part of the cake. If we take into account the entire supply of pre-cooked products (refrigerated, trays…) and the business in Portugal, the figure rises to 3,000 million. To give us an idea, this figure exceeds the annual sales of McDonald’s in Spain (2 billion) or Burger King (1,500). In general, it is estimated that the Valencian chain accounts for a 19.7% share of value in food and beverage consumption. That is, almost two out of every ten euros What we spend on that branch ends up in the company’s coffers. A key percentage: 7.6%. To understand how quickly the prepared food business is expanding, it is good to review Algori data advanced a few days ago by theEconomist. According to the consultancy, this segment was (by far) the one that recorded the greatest growth in sales volume last year among supermarkets and hypermarkets in Spain. In general, the sale of pre-cooked and cooked dishes soared by 7.6% in volume. Above fruits and vegetables (7%), meats (6.1%) and fish and seafood (4.9%). The Valencian chain is not the only one that is committed to this business niche, although it has managed to lead it. Your … Read more

More and more Spanish bars refuse to let you pay at the table. Its objective is very simple: greater rotation

by

“To pay, at the cashier.” It doesn’t matter if you live in the very center of Madrid, the most touristy area of ​​Barcelona, ​​next to Malagueta, in Vigo or a remote town in Bierzo, it is most likely that at some point in the last few months you have heard that phrase when you ask a waiter to please charge you. To pay for the coffee you just had, you must get up and go to the checkout yourself. Or what is the same, you do not have the option of being charged at the table. It seems like a minor issue, but this decision is not accidental: it responds to a logic that seeks to speed up the rotation in the premises and get the most out of them. “Excuse me, can I have the bill?” In Spain there are some 87,000 restaurants and food stalls, almost 163,400 drinking establishments and 270,200 “food and beverage services”, according to INE datawhich gives a pretty clear idea about how we live in Spain: we like (a lot) to go out for coffees, beers and tapas. Therefore, no matter what region you live in, chances are that in recent months you have sat at a table in a bar or restaurant. And that’s also why you’ve probably noticed that it’s becoming more and more common that when you want to pay and ask for the bill, answer the same: “To pay, at the cashier.” Unraveling the mystery. The question is obvious. Why the hell are they asking us to pay at the cashier? Are we not hindering the passage of other customers like this? Does it have any advantages over the option of paying the bill directly at the table? The mystery was cleared up a few months ago Jairosanbor, a tiktoker that usually publishes on his account videos related to the world of hospitality. And the answer is quite simple: although several factors come into play, everything is limited to a simple question of rotation in the premises. In other words, make a business profitable and get the most out of it. Time and agility. The logic is simple. If the customer receives the bill at their table, pays and the waiter charges them, even having to return to the bar to get change, a process is lengthened that could be simplified if the payment is made at the cashier. It may be a matter of minutes, but over the course of an entire day, a week, a month or a year (even more) that time can translate into higher turnover. More rotation. More clients. Higher income. “A little trick”. “What you get is that the customer gets up without any problem and leaves you the table free so that someone else can automatically sit down. If you had him here waiting for you to bring him the bill, charge him, he leaves and comes, in the end more time is wasted,” comments Jairposanbor in his TikTok video, of just 30 sure. “It’s a little trick for the rotation.” Personnel issue? The “little trick”, as the hotelier defines it, may seem simple, but it has given rise to a good number of articles about the themein the pressand some debate in the comments of the video. There are those who relate it, for example, to the greater or lesser availability of waiters in the establishment. “Another trick: add more staff and if the customer leaves happy that they don’t have to wait, they’ll probably come back,” comment a user. Another adds that charging cash may increase turnover and profitability of the establishment, but it can have a negative effect: it places more workload on the employee behind the bar. Cash vs card. They would come into play more keys. For example, although it is increasingly common for restaurants or cafes to allow payment by card, especially in large chains, in those cases in which the business only accepts cash, the “collection at the counter” rule simplifies the process quite a bit. No picking up cashround trips between the bar and the table to look for change or for the money to ultimately pass through several hands within the business. Useful, not infallible. Of course the tactic can be useful, but it is by no means infallible. First because, as some users also comment on TikTok, there are customers who do not like being sent to the bar to pay for their drinks. Second, because rotation is not 100% guaranteed either. As another remembers tiktokerthe trick fails when there is more than one person at the table, only one gets up to pay and then returns to his seat to continue chatting. A sector in change. César Sánchez-Ballesterospresident of the Tourism and Hospitality Federation of the province of Pontevedra, Feproturprovides some extra keys. Tricks like the one shared by Jairoposanbor seek greater optimization, but that is not the only way that hoteliers follow to achieve it. For years the group has opted for new strategies, such as online reservations, letters with QR codeapps that allow you to make orders and pay… Until reaching extreme examples such as experiments of McDonald’s in the US, with stores where there is hardly any interaction with staff. Of orders, payments… and personnel. “We see more and more examples of optimization,” comments Sánchez-Ballesteros, who remembers in any case that the client always has the last word, as has been made clear in the comments of TikTok: he is the one who decides what compensates him, what practices he considers good, what bothers him or the services he is not willing to give up. Against this backdrop, there is another factor that conditions work in restaurants and bars: the shortage of qualified personnel, which further reinforces the urgency that businesses have when it comes to polishing internal processes. It’s nothing new. For years the hospitality industry has been pointing out on a recurring basis the shortage of professionals, a deficit that becomes especially visible in times of … Read more

Amazon is discounting high-end mobile phones, sound bars and more with discounts of more than 40%: the best deals today

by

Amazon has become one of these online stores that we first turn to when we want to buy something. If you are looking for deals on technological devices, these are the best technology deals on Amazon that we found today, February 24. WiFi 6 system Cudy ZX3000 2 by 122.19 euros: Allows you to connect up to more than 200 devices. smart plug Tenda Beli SP3 by 5.99 euros– Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. sound bar Ultimea Poseidon D60 by 171.47 euros: with a power of 410 W and Dolby Atmos. Wireless headphones Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 by 149 euros: with noise cancellation and up to 30 hours of autonomy. smartphone Huawei Pura 80 Pro: 6.8 inches and with telephoto lens. Cudy ZX3000 2 WiFi 6 System Nowadays, having a good Internet connection at home is essential since we have a multitude of devices connected (mobilestablets, computers, smart TVs and even some appliances). To receive the best signal, a good WiFi 6 system is a solution. Now, on Amazon you can get this one on sale cudy ZX3000. It has gone from costing 229.90 euros to 122.19 euros. Its 2.5 Gbps multi-gigabit WAN port offers Ethernet speeds, ideal for Internet connections faster than 1 Gbps. Allows connect more than 200 devices And if there is something it stands out for, it is its easy configuration. CUDY AX3000 2.5G Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System, 3-Pack The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Tenda Beli SP3 smart plug If you want to control any device in your home remotely, even if you are away from home, this smart plug from Tenda is one of the essential bargains on Amazon today. Normally it costs around 10 euros, but now it has a 40% discountbeing able to buy it for 5.99 euros. To control it, you can use the app available for smartphones. Thanks to this smart plug you can schedule schedules and timers and it has an away from home mode that will be very useful when you are on vacation, for example. Likewise, it stands out for being compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. Tenda Beli SP3 Wi-Fi Smart Plug The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Ultimea Poseidon D60 Soundbar Do you want to set up your own home theater and are looking for a sound bar good, pretty and cheap? This Ultimea one is now a bargain on Amazon, thanks to the 43% discount that has been applied. Now you can get it for 171.47 euros. This is best selling sound bar on Amazon and it is a 5.1 channel model. It offers an RMS power of 410 W and has Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. It is compatible with Dolby Atmos and also incorporates HDMI eARC. ULTIMEA Poseidon D60 5.1 Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless headphones Google’s Pixels have become one of the most successful smartphone models lately. The brand also has wireless headphones and they are now very well priced. On Amazon, you can get these Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 with 100 euros discountsince they have gone from costing 249 euros to 149 euros in these moments. These wireless headphones from Google have noise cancellation and are small, light and comfortable. Your brain is Tensor A1 chipwhich has Artificial Intelligence. They also incorporate conversation detection and their battery offers up to 30 hours of autonomy. Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Huawei Pura 80 Pro smartphone If you are looking for a mobile high-end, this Huawei Pura 80 Pro It is a terminal that you can now get discounted on Amazon. It has gone from costing 1,099 euros to 899 euros in these moments. The Huawei Pura 80 Pro stands out for its ultra-illuminated camera with telephoto lensmaking it a perfect mobile phone to take good photos. Its screen is 6.8 inches and its design is very elegant. Regarding its battery, it supports fast charging SuperCharge 100W wired and 80W wireless. HUAWEI Pura 80 Pro Mobile Smartphone, 12GB+512GB 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 | Javier Penalva (Xataka), Google, Huawei, Ultimea, Tenda and Cudy In Xataka | Home alone: ​​buying guide for smart devices to take care of your home when you go on vacation In Xataka | Best iPhones. Which one to buy and recommended models based on budget, tastes and quality-price

The new alcohol law limits bars from placing beer chairs or umbrellas. And now millionaires fear losses

by

We’ve been seeing it all our lives. Bars that fill their terraces with umbrellas, napkin rings, tables, chairs, sideboards and other furniture that promotes beer brands. For decades this advertising support was a boon for business. Now the hospitality industry fears that it will become a poisoned gift. The reason: the new law on alcohol and minors promoted by the Government and which already has the endorsement of the Council of Ministers wants to snip that kind of promotion. The locals calculate that the loss of that advertising support it will cost them millions. Blow to the hospitality industry? That’s what seems to fear the sector as a result of the law promoted by the Government to prevent alcohol consumption among young people. Although the regulation has not yet been finalized, the group is already managing a study which warns that it will seriously affect the finances of bars, restaurants, cafes, pubs and other hospitality establishments in Spain. The reason: the bill of Health seriously restricts any advertising sponsorship related to alcohol. And that is a problem for businesses that have been filling for years with awnings, tables, chairs, ashtrays, umbrellas, napkin holders, refrigerators and furniture in general on which beer brands are advertised. What exactly does the standard say? He billwhich can be consulted in the official Congress bulletin and received in march The Government’s endorsement sets some limits on advertising in the sector. Its article 26 is clear about this: “Any direct, indirect or covert form of commercial communication of alcoholic beverages is prohibited, or of products that imitate or simulate being one, or of non-alcoholic beverages that share their brand and differential features with those of alcoholic beverages, including the commercial name, corporate name, symbols or brands of the people or companies that produce said beverages, as well as their distributors when they are exclusively associated with alcoholic beverages on public roads, or places visible from them.” Does it clarify anything else? Yes. The law differentiates between two types of spaces: the ‘most sensitive’ and the rest, where the advertising restriction will be somewhat more flexible. “However, advertising limited to the trade name, corporate name and identifying brands or symbols of the producing companies may be permitted in a perimeter that is more than 150 linear meters from the access to educational centers that teach early childhood education, basic education, post-compulsory secondary education and elementary artistic education, health centers, social and socio-health services, parks and places for children’s leisure.” How will it be applied? In the statement March in which it reports the approval of the Council of Ministers to the Bill, the Ministry of Health clarifies, however, that it will allow the advertising of fermented drinks with less than 0.5% alcohol. Mónica García’s team also points out that the veto will not be immediate: it will come into force twelve months after the publication of the law in the BOE and will not affect “those situations that already existed before that moment”, which suggests that it will not affect the furniture that already exists. A different thing is when it comes time to renew it. Will it affect the sector that much? It seems so. At least that is what a Comprehensive Economic Analysis (AEI) report indicates. advance by The Economist. The analysis, prepared for the Spanish Hospitality and Brewery associations and which is having a notable impact, ensures that the loss of sponsorships from alcohol brands will be quite expensive for bars and restaurants. To be more precise, AEI estimates that it will cost the sector up to 1.7 billion euros. The estimate is based on two figures: a direct cost of around 600 million euros and a drop in sales of between 1,080 and 1,680 million. He AEI report It doesn’t stay there. It also warns that the measure will affect between 8,000 and 10,200 jobs and will be felt beyond bars and cafes, with a reduction in the contribution to the national GDP that it estimates between 900 and 1,176 million euros. The study also suggests that the money that alcohol manufacturers will stop investing in advertising furniture will probably be directed towards other channels, away from small hoteliers and their businesses. Why this suspicion? Although Health has clarified that the measure would still take time to come into effect and will not affect “existing” facilities, the AEI report points out that its wording leaves little room for doubt: “In practice it implies the removal of logos, signs, chairs, tables, umbrellas or napkin rings with beer brands from thousands of bars and restaurants in the country.” His estimate is completed with another from Hospitality of Spain that gives an idea of ​​the scope of the measure. According to their data, of a total of 130,000 bars and cafes in the country, between 70 and 80% incorporate elements sponsored by breweries. Will it affect everyone equally? “If approved, the new law will practically eliminate all this support, forcing the brand’s advertising to be withdrawn, which will have an estimated cost of 12,000 euros per store,” remark the study. The penalty that could be felt especially strongly in areas of Spain where hoteliers work in smaller markets and with less room for maneuver. The Economist slide that about 20% of the municipalities that now have only one bar (235) could see their doors close. Images | Guillaume Flament (Flickr) and Ccalm Film Festival-María del Mar López Morales (Flickr) In Xataka | From prohibiting purchases to prohibiting consumption: the changes in the recently approved draft reform of the anti-smoking law

TVs, sound bars, laptops and more

by

Amazon has already become one of the online stores par excellence when it comes to shopping from the comfort of our home (or from anywhere you can imagine). If you are thinking of renewing any of your electronic devices; Like every week, we show you some of the best deals on technology in the e-commerce giant. These are some of the bargains we found today. convertible laptop HP Pavilion x360 14-ek2004ns by 799 euros: 14 inches and with Windows 11 Home. Wireless headphones Xiaomi Buds 5 by 51.67 euros: with battery life of up to 30 hours and ergonomic design. sound bar Samsung HW-B400F/ZF by 69.99 euros: 40 W and with Bluetooth. Smart TV Toshiba 40LF3F63DAE by 219.99 euros: 40 inches and with Fire TV. Robot vacuum cleaner Tapo RV20 MAX Plus by 161.49 euros: with self-emptying base and 5.3000 Pa. HP Pavilion x360 14-ek2004ns Convertible Laptop If you were looking to renew your computer equipment and had thought about buying a notebook computer convertible, this HP Pavilion x360 14-ek2004ns It is one of today’s bargains on Amazon. With a usual price of almost 1,100 euros; is now available for 799 euros. This device has a 14 inch FHD screen which incorporates multi-touch function and features micro-edges, which makes it appear much larger. It has an Intel Core 7 150U processor, with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB of internal storage. Works under the operating system Windows 11 Home and has dual speakers, keyboard backlit and webcam. HP Pavilion x360 14-ek2004ns – 14″ Full HD Laptop The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Buds 5 wireless headphones Xiaomi has an extensive catalog of devices, perfect for any type of user. If you are one of those who enjoy listening to music at all hours, headphones Xiaomi Buds 5 They are one of the bargains that you cannot miss. Now you can buy them almost half price on Amazon, for 51.67 euros. These are some wireless headphones with an elegant design and offering superior sound quality, thanks to ‘Lossless’ technology, Hi-Res certification and Harman Audio EFX. They allow you to connect to two devices and their handling is very simple and intuitive. Its battery offers up to 30 hours duration and supports fast charging. Xiaomi Buds 5 – Wireless headphones The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung HW-B400F/ZF Sound Bar Audio is also essential for those who enjoy watching movies and series at home. If you are one of them and you are wanting to set up your own home theater, this sound bar from the Korean company will be the perfect accessory for your TV. Now, you have a discount of more than 50% and remains available for 69.99 euros. Very compact and with an integrated woofer, this Samsung sound bar is perfect even for small spaces. It has a Bluetooth connection and HDMI ARCas well as a night mode, with which you can watch TV without disturbing anyone. Offers a 40W power and it also comes with a USB port. SAMSUNG Sound Bar HW-B400F/ZF The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Toshiba 40LF3F63DAE Smart TV For those who want one good, pretty and cheap tvthis 40-inch Toshiba model (which is ideal for the bedroom or small living room), is one of the essential bargains on Amazon today. Its price is 219.99 euros in these moments. This TV from Toshiba has a 40-inch LED panel with Full HD resolution. Is compatible with HDR10, Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X. It works under the Fire TV operating system and, in addition to integrating Alexa, is compatible with Apple AirPlay. Toshiba 40LF3F63DAE Full HD Smart Fire TV 40 Inch The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Tapo RV20 MAX Plus Robot Vacuum Cleaner Technology has also burst into an area like the home, to help us perform everyday tasks more comfortably and easily. If you are looking for a robot vacuum cleaner, this one Tapo RV20 MAX Plus It’s on sale today on Amazon. Specifically, it has a 27% discount applied and you can buy it for 161.49 euros. Something for which this stands out robot vacuum cleaner It is because of its excellent suction power of 5,300 Pa. It also comes with LiDAR laser navigation, smart mapping and is only 83 mm high, so it will clean perfectly under any furniture. His self-emptying base It has a capacity of three liters and, finally, it can be highlighted that it has carpet detection. Tapo RV20 MAX Plus Robot Vacuum Cleaner, The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Webedia, Tapo, Toshiba, Samsung, Xiaomi and HP In Xataka | Best tablets: which one to buy and 12 recommended models for all budgets and needs In Xataka | Mega-guide to set up a home theater: projector, screen, sound system and more

The price of chocolate is rising so much that chocolate bars are no longer legally chocolate bars.

by

Imagine for a moment that Nocilla, the famous Spanish spread, reduced the chocolate in its recipe so much that they could not use its famous ditty about “milk, cocoa, hazelnuts and sugar” without incurring fraud. Imagine the shock, the controversy, the disbelief. Well, something very similar to that. just happened in the uk and, honestly, it is a warning of the future of chocolate. What has happened? For decades, McVitie’s tried to become in the UK’s quintessential chocolate cookie: “If you like your cookies with lots of chocolate, join our club,” has been their advertising slogan all this time. But that’s over: Pladis, the parent company (one of the country’s largest producers of cookies, sweets and salty snacks), has so limited the chocolate in the recipe for its Club cookies and Penguin bars that, legally, they are no longer chocolate cookies. Now They only have a chocolate ‘flavor’. But why? The explanation is simple: cocoa prices have risen so much (especially, in 2024 and early 2025) and skyrocketing production costs. As we have been warning for months, this pressure was wreaking havoc on the world of chocolate. Manufacturers very quickly realized that they could not transfer all the increases to final prices: demand was going to be savagely reduced. The reduflation and countless other strategies to contain prices. And as both in the United Kingdom and in the European Union, the regulation requires that at least 20% of the product are “cocoa solids”crossing that line requires a change of name. And what does all this imply? Although it may seem strange, the consequences of all this in October 2025 are that although consumption falls due to price, business improves. Although chocolate is 13% more expensive today than at the beginning of the year and almost 19% more than just a year ago; the sector has been able to generate more than 80 million profit than last year. However, the future is uncertain. In a recent report, Produlce (the sector’s employers’ association) recognized that consumption fell last year (according to their calculations, by 8.6%), although spending per person increased by 5.5%. But that is something worrying: because, despite the fact that cocoa is giving some rest, the price is still double what is usual. And everything suggests that will continue to rise in the medium term. Image | Ubcule | Monika Guzikowska In Xataka | A chocolate bar filled with pistachio has become the most desired viral on TikTok: the “Dubai chocolate”

Mobile, sound bars and more with discounts of almost 50%

by

If you are thinking of renewing any of your technological devices, such as every Monday, in Xataka Selection, we want to offer you a selection with some of the best chollos in technology. These are some of the devices that have very good Discounts on Amazon And they may interest you. Smart TV LG OLED55C44LA.AEU by 899 euros: 55 -inch and Webos OLED. Xiaomi Redmi 15 by 139.99 euros: With 6.9 inches screen and Xiaomi Hyper OS. Sound bar Samsung HW-C430/ZF by 109 euros: With power of 200 W and Bluetooth 4.2. Monitor LG 32GS95UV-W by 693.32 euros: 31.5 inches and 4K resolution. Power Bank Anker 737 by 84.99 euros: 24,000 mAh and with bidirectional load. SMART TV LG OLED55C44LA.AEU This offer is ideal for those who are thinking about renewing their old TV. With a 10% discountnow you can get this LG OLED55C44LA.AEU, which is number one in sales, by 899 euros. This LG firm TV rid an OLED panel of 55 inches with 4K processor. They have 144 Hz of soda (resulting perfectly for gaming) and works under the operating system Webos 24. It is compatible with AirPlay, Alexa and Google Assistant and the only one compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC/AMD FREESYNC. LG OLED55C44LA.AEU, 55 “, OLED 4K The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links Xiaomi Redmi 15 This Redmi 15 of Xiaomi It is one of the last cheap releases of the Chinese manufacturer. Its usual price is about 180 euros, but now you can take it for 139.99 eurosin its 128 GB version. This cheap mobile from Xiaomi mounts a 6.9 -inch screen with FHD+ resolution and 144 H soda rate. Its processor is the Snapdragon 685 and mounts a system of Dual 50 MP Chamber. Works under the Xiaomi operating system Hyper Os and its battery admits fast charging to 33 W. Xiaomi Redmi 15 – 6+128GB smartphone The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links Samsung HW-C430/ZF sound bar Now that autumn has arrived, if you want to mount your own home cinema, a sound bar is the perfect accessory for your TV. If you don’t want to spend much, now in Amazon you have a 36% discountthis one of the Samsung firm. It is available by 109 euros. This sound bar with wireless subwoofer offers a 200 W RMS Power and sound in Dolby Digital. It has connectivity Bluetooth 4.2 And it also incorporates a game mode, so that you can enjoy your video games with the meona audio quality. Samsung sound bar HW-C430/ZF The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links LG 32GS95UV-W monitor For those who are riding their setup and want to have a MONITOR WITH VERY TOP CHARACTERISTICSthis of the LG firm now has a 27% discount on Amazon. Now, you can take this LG ultragear 32gs95UV-w by 693.32 euros. This monitor Mount a 31.5 -inch OLED panel with 4K resolution. It has dual mode technology (240/480 Hz) and offers Pixel Sound -type surround sound. In addition, it incorporates Micro Lens Array+technology, which provides 37.5% more shine. LG 32GS95UV -W – ULTRAGEAR OLED GAMING MONITOR, 31.5 ”, 4K UHD The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links Power Bank Anker 737 The last of the Amazon chollos that we want to introduce yourself is ideal if you always have the concern of running out of battery in your devices such as mobile, tablet or even the laptop. Now you can take this Anker Power Bank With almost 50% discount, for 84.99 euros. This anker 737 is a Power Bank which offers ultra -powerful bidirectional load. It is equipped with Power Delivery 3.1 technology and offers powerful ultra load of up to 140 W. has digital screen And it has a capacity of 24,000 mAh, which allows you to load, for example, up to five times an iPhone 13. Anker Power Bank Fast charging 737 The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Webedia, Anker, Xiaomi, LG and Samsung In Xataka | Best vacuum robots in quality price. Which to buy depending on the use and five recommended models In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which to buy and seven recommended 4K 4K

Mobile, Macbook, sound bars and very lowered televisions in the offers of El Corte Inglés during the weekend

by

As every week, El Corte Inglés has launched a good assortment of discounts that will be available until April 23. There are many discounts in the technology section: mobiles, laptops – many eye for a macbook that we will talk about in this article – wearable and much more. Of course, it is worth mentioning that four of the five offers are from Samsung because They are the devices that have the best value for money in El Corte Inglés. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra by 499 eurosa great Samsung smartwatch that we now have much cheaper in the English Court. MacBook Air 13 (2022) m2 by 879 eurosa very interesting price for a MacBook that comes with the m2 chip. Samsung Galaxy S24 by 649.90 eurosa good price for the mobile of the previous generation of Samsung. Samsung HW-Q600C by 299 eurosif you are looking for an off -road sound bar, but with a very tight price, this is an interesting model. Samsung TQ65QN85DBTXXC by 999 eurosa television with more than 1,000 euros discounted that comes with a 65 -inch neo QLED screen. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra He Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra It is a premium smartwatch that has a very high price, although in the English Court it is now for a somewhat more assumed price of 499 euros. There are many aspects where this Samsung model stands out, but above all it does in its 1.5 inches AMOLED screen (Its maximum brightness is up to 3,000 Nits), in its autonomy despite having the operating system Wearos and its sporting registry so wide. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra * Some price may have changed from the last review MacBook Air 13 (2022) m2 If you are looking for a Mac, but do not convince you the prices that you usually have and do not seek to have the latest, the MacBook Air of 2022 It has dropped a lot of price in its 256 GB configuration. By 879 euros We have it in El Corte Inglés and, the truth is that it is a computer with a Very good value for money. First, it is worth mentioning that it is the MacBook with a 13.6 -inch screen and that it comes with 16 GB of unified memory. The second, and most importantly, is that it comes with the Apple m2 chip which is compatible with the update that has already been launched from Apple Intelligence. MacBook Air 13 (2022) m2 (256 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung Galaxy S24 If we are looking for a good mobile and we don’t care that it is not that of the last (or current) generation, the Samsung Galaxy S24 You can currently find a very tight price. In the English Court we have it for 649.90 euros In its 256 GB configuration, but we are looking for a slightly lower price in Mediamarkt is per 649 euros. He Samsung Galaxy S24 It is (or is still) an excellent mobile if we seek to enter the brand’s ecosystem, and without paying a fortune. The mobile has a Excellent screenbut also with good specifications, both to play games and to navigate the apps or use their Artificial Intelligence Functions. Samsung Galaxy S24 (256 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung HW-Q600C Today we can find many sound bars with very varied prices. If you do not know what model you choose and look for one that has a good value for money, the Samsung HW-Q600C has a very tight price of 299 euros. This model comes with its own wireless subwoofer, is compatible with Dolby Atmos And it comes with several audio configuration modes and has a fairly complete connectivity section: includes Bluetooth, HDMI EARC and an optical input, among other options. * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung TQ65QN85DBTXXC Finally, if what we are looking for is a good TV, there is much to choose from. But it highlights, above all, the Samsung Qn85d For the discount of more than 1,000 euros in El Corte Inglés, staying in this way for 999 euros (although it can be found by 989 euros in Amazon). He Samsung Qn85d It is a high -end television that mounts a 65 -inch neo -brand screen. Offers a 4K resolution and a 100 Hz soda rate, it is compatible with Dolby Atmos And it comes with the voice assistant Alexa integrated. In addition, it has the function Multi-View To divide the screen into two sections, thus allowing to be able to see two different contents at the same time. Samsung QN85D (65 inches) * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Buying and El Corte Inglés (header), Samsung, Apple In Xataka | The best mobiles, we have tried them and here are their analysis In Xataka | Best Samsung mobiles: which buy and recommended models based on budget, tastes and quality price

The best offers of El Corte Inglés on Smartwach Samsung, LG sound bars, Xiaomi mobiles and more during the weekend

by

The stores are beginning to launch very good offers in their different campaigns. Aliexpress is already prepared for its anniversary, Amazon has its eyes on the spring offers party, and the English Court has not been left behind. The store has a good price a good price of devices, so We have gathered your five best offers. Samsung Galaxy Watch7 by 199 eurosa great smartwatch that now has a discount that leaves it almost at half price. Xiaomi Mix Flip by 799.90 eurosXiaomi’s folding mobile in its 512 GB configuration. LG QP5W by 559.20 eurosa very elegant sound bar that also stands out for its power and for its compact format. XGIMI MOGO 2 PRO by 299 eurosa very cheap projector that has Android TV operating system. Lego Star Wars – Grogu with Aerocuna by 79.95 eurosa set of the character of ‘The Mandalorian’ that has a very good design. Samsung Galaxy Watch7 One of the best offers of El Corte Inglés will find it in the Samsung Galaxy Watch7specifically in the 44 mm model that remains for 199 euros instead of the usual 349 euros. Mount a good 1.5 -inch Super Amoled panel, Your operating system is Wearos 5has 32 GB of storage and comes with many sensors to monitor physical activity. In addition, it has IP68 certification and includes two side buttons. Samsung Galaxy Watch7 (44mm) * Some price may have changed from the last review Xiaomi Mix Flip We can also find a good discount on the folding mobile of Xiaomi, in the Xiaomi Mix Flip 512 GB. Is in the store for 799.90 euros instead of the usual 1,299 euros and stands out mainly for its designby the screens – in concrete the exterior, which is one of the largest in Flip -type folding mobiles – in its autonomy and in the fast charge. * Some price may have changed from the last review LG QP5W If we talk about Sound barsthe LG QP5W It is one of the most elegant within the brand (and market). Its price has dropped in the English Court to the 559.20 euros From the usual 699 euros and stands out mainly for its elegant and very compact design, for the 320W audio power RMS at 3.1.2 channels and for compatibility with Dolby Atmos. * Some price may have changed from the last review XGIMI MOGO 2 PRO In El Corte Inglés we can also find some offers in projectors, but it is that of the XGIMI MOGO 2 PRO One of the best. It is an projector that has an official price of 469 euros, but now we have in the store for 299 euros. Its main virtue is that it comes with operating system Android TVbut it is also worth mentioning that it has a compact format and that it comes with both Chromect and Google Assistant. * Some price may have changed from the last review Lego Star Wars – Grogu with Aerocuna And we couldn’t forget the Lego sets. In the English Court there are many offers in constructions, but the most interesting is that of the GROGU LEGOwhose price has dropped from 99.99 euros to 79.95 euros. It stands out mainly for its design, but also does it because the set has the figure of Grogu as with the aerocuna, a support and different accessories. Lego Star Wars – Grogu with Aerocuna * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Image | Buying and El Corte Inglés (Header), Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, XGIMI, LEGO In Xataka | The best smartwatch: their analysis and videos are here In Xataka | The best mobiles, we have tried them and here are their analysis

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.