day

The four -day workday has found an unexpected ally in Moscow: the Ukraine War

by

The conflict in Ukraine continues to reconfigure not only Geopolitics and the European Budgetsbut it will also change the working day of thousands of Russian workers. Avtovaz, one of Russia’s biggest car manufacturers, has announced that it will apply the four -day work week As of September. According to The published by Reutersthis is not a measure oriented to Improve productivity or reduce the stress levels of its workers, but adopts this measure in the middle of a strong fall in vehicle sales, a crisis of consumption due to the wear of the invasion of Ukraine and a growing pressure of exports of Chinese cars. Russia does not sell cars. Avtovaz, is the manufacturer of the acquaintances Lada. After the first months of the Ukraine War, the Russian Automobile Industry lived a brief increase in defense expense and state subsidies. However, according to data from Reutersthis situation has begun to revert quickly. Avtovaz explained through a statement sent to Russian media that their sales fell 25% in the first semester, with only 155,481 units sold, and estimates that this will be the tendency for the entire source year. Avtovaz is not the only one to consider the four -day work week as a measure for shock the crisis of the sector. According to The local pressthe Russian manufacturer Gaz (Gorkovski Avtomobilny Zavod) will also apply the four -day week on his Gorki plant, for the same reasons that Avtovaz argued. Russia’s own Minister of Economy, Maxim Reschetnikov, He warned in June that the country “is on the verge of entering recession.” Avtovaz, as a reflection of this crisis, wants to use the letter of reduction of the work week as a way of maintaining employment without increasing the number of layoffs in difficult times. No money to make them or to buy them. According to published The Moscow Times“The final decision on the introduction of a reduced work week of four days will be taken based on the results of an analysis of market trends and economic factors, including the level of the key interest rate and the availability of credit products,” said the manufacturer’s statement. The main reason that has uncontrolled this crisis (in addition to being a derivative of the conflict in Ukraine), has been the increase in interest rates, which slows so much production Like consumption. “We are talking about a high key rate and more severe demands by the regulator for those facilitating cars loans,” Avtovaz explained in his statement collected. The impact of high types not only feels Avtovaz. The Russian giant of the Seversal Steel, pointed outthat “the high basic rate and low prices” were responsible for a 55% drop in their benefits in the second quarter of the source year. That is, as I know money is expensivecompanies lose profitability and citizens purchasing power to buy cars that are manufactured, generating a chain effect that complicates economic recovery. Chinese cars are unstoppable. To the already complicated economic crisis of the automobile sector worldwide, the massive emergence of imported cars from China is added, which sell their products at such low prices that Avtovaz directly accuses a “price dumping policy.” According to company sources these marches, mostly Chinese, are increasing the market pressure with very small prices to give out more than 400,000 cars that these importers have stored in their dealers and have not yet sold. Gaz starts already, Avtovaz leaves it for September. Russian Fuentes assure that Gorki de Gaz’s factory will implement the four -day work week immediately. From July 21 to August 3, the employees of this plant will enjoy their vacations normally. During this period, several divisions of the plant will continue to operate according to their work schedule. Once they finish, the four -day work week will be implemented at least until the end of August. Avtovaz indicates that it is still analyzing the way to implement the measure, so it will enter into force for September in the factory that the company has in Togliatti, in which one in 20 inhabitants of this city works. You know what it is to work four days. Although it is not done for the reasons for productivity and well -being improvement That this model of day is usually applied, this is not the first time that Avtovaz resorts to the reduced working day to deal with a crisis. In 2022, just after the imposition of First international sanctions To Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, the company implemented a four -day work week for three months. During that same year, the sales of its flagship model, the Lada, fell 48.2%, until 174,688 units, according to data publishedby The New Voice of Ukraine. On that occasion, four -day work week served to maintain a certain level of production In an adverse scenario. Today, three years later, economic conditions remain equally complicated, so companies re -apply the same recipe. In Xataka | Three Spanish companies tell us how it has gone after implementing a job utopia: the four -day week Image | Lada, Unspash (Sten Rademaker)

China already has a robot that installs 1,000 solar panels per day. It is your weapon to continue dominating renewables

by

The world is converting deserts into photovoltaic oasis. In recent years, we have stepped on the accelerator to achieve ambitious objectives of decarbonization (That the amount of energy consumed by AI are slowing down) And they are being built ‘Solar farms‘Absolutely demential. Many are in Chinacountry that has taken renewables seriously, and to build at the rhythm they needhuman labor is not enough. That’s where robots come into play, and they already have one that places 1,000 panels up to date. Saturn. Sunpure is a company that is dedicated to the integration of robots in the photovoltaic industry. We have already talked about them because the key point of a solar farm is not so much the amount of panels it has, but If these are clean. For example, they have a solar energy fed robot that is responsible for Keep panel ranks clean to optimize your energy generation. But they also have the Saturn. Presented A few weeks ago, this robot has a head that allows to raise a pallet of solar panels and an arm capable of taking those panels and placing them in the rails. Precision. Those responsible claim that it takes less than five seconds to calculate the position in which the panel should go, it fixes it with an accuracy of about five millimeters and the four -meter arm allows to operate with both large panels and very large guide structures. Its autonomy is 72 hours and claim that it is between three and four times more efficient than a human by being able to place between 600 and 1,000 panels per day. He is already working in some solar plants and seeing it in action is a hypnotic: Essential. This integration of robotics into photovoltaic farms is striking, but much less is new or original. In Spain we have Robots-Jardineros that take care of the plants, but we are also installing panels with Sunpure saturn robots similar. In the United States, more of the same. There they have maximum, A robot that also works tirelesslyraising and installing panels of up to 40 kilos in trial fields that, according to its creators, will be essential for the future of world energy. Reason does not lack, since the estimate is that 15,000 solar modules per hour are being installed in the US with a weight of 225,000 tons and the objective is to increase that rhythm by 2035 to 50,000 panels per hour. 24/7. The problem? We want more renewable energies, but there are difficulties in finding labor. That’s where this type of robots come into play. In the United States, 90% of solar energy companies have admitted complications When finding qualified personnel for the installation of these farms. With robots that have autonomy for several days, they work tirelessly thanks to sensors that allow operating in any condition of light and protection against water and dust, humans are relegated to “simple” observers, controlling that the machine does its work correctly. Dominate the market. Beyond having robots, whether the first or not, that China is investing in automating the placement of panels to increase the rhythm, responds to a clear declaration of intentions: that of Continue dominating the market with iron fist. The Asian giant has established itself as the greatest power in green energy, with investments of more than 625,000 million dollars in clean energy in 2024 (three times more than what was invested, and that were very focused on it), and that energy already represents 10% of its GDP. In addition to direct implications, it is something that implies that 90% of the Global Polisilicio Production80% of Lithium batteries and about 70% of the magnets of Rare earthall key both renewable and electric car is under its control. And this huge industrial infrastructure is allowing that China handles very interior prices for technology and has become the great supplier of the world in energy matters. And, in the end, it translates into the fact that it produces so cheap that the rest of the countries buy them instead of competing with their own developments. In Xataka | The tractors have competition in the field: El Solix, a solar robot that spreads herbicides, is the test

Something is happening in Silicon Valley. More and more startups are going to the day ‘996’ of China

by

“If you want to leave at 5 you are not at the right work.” Lucy Guo said it, Founder of the Startup Scale AI. And it is not the only one. More and more Silicon Valley startups, especially those dedicated to AI, which are betting on this “extreme commitment” model that reminds us of the endless 996 Conference that were so controversial in China. What is happening? New culture. The culture of ultra-productivity defended by figures like Elon Musk It has been installed in Silicon Valley. In statements a WiredAdrian Kinnersley, CEO of a hiring company, says that “it is becoming very common. We have several clients who have as a prerequisite when selecting candidates who are willing to work on days 996”. Hysteria. In California, labor legislation is very favorable for workers and Kinnersley is surprised that many companies are “breastfeeding it.” It is one of the consequences of the AI career. Not only is there a great competition between China and the United StatesSilicon Valley has become the battlefield where small startups fight for being number one in his. The price: squeeze your workers. What was given was over. Not long ago, working in Silicon Valley was a dream for many. Companies like Google were known for offering gyms, coffee shops and even masseuses. All kinds of comfort for that employees felt at home. That is over. With the return to the offices after the pandemic, The dream began to fade. The tortilla has turned around. Today it is common for any startup to ask its employees to make marathon days and even work on weekends. Extreme commitment. It is another way of saying that you will not go through home much. We recently talked about the young CEO of Greptile and his controversial statements. “We do not offer conciliation”he said in Your X profile. The CEO says it directly in the work interviews: they work from 9 in the morning until late at night and, often, also on Saturdays. It looks a lot like China 996: from nine to nine, six days a week. The excuse: be competitive. In an interview, this CEO said that “nobody cares about the third best company, not even the second best, in any software category. If you are going to strive 95%, it is the equivalent of striving to 0%.” There are arranged people. In Spain we have attended the opposite in the hospitality sector: The waiters rebelled against the 12 -hour days, to the point that there was no labor. In Silicon Valley it seems that there are enough people willing to work 996. In Rilla, another AI startup, they say that 80% of their employees are working 72 hours a week. Even They put it in their job offers And they are not having problems hiring. His CEO says that there is “a very strong and growing subculture, especially in my generation (the Gene z), who grew up listening to stories by Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, entrepreneurs who dedicated their lives to create companies that changed the world. ” 996 in China. The 996 day became popular in China among Chinese technology last decade. This model was the growth engine of companies such as Alibaba or JD.com for years, but there came a point where The workers were fed up and The protests began demanding better working conditions. The Chinese government ended up prohibiting The endless days and went from 996 to 1065 (from 10 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon, five days a week). Temporary and only for those who want. There are startups that defend a slightly more moderate hyper-productive culture. The CEO of Sotiraa startup that applies AI solutions to the logistics sector, sees it as something temporary: “During the first two years of your startup, you have to work in the 996 style.” He also states that these days are for the leaders of the companies and does not believe that the entire employee base must be imposed. This vision creates a kind of structure on two levels, where only a part of the company meets these schedules. It is what the CEO of the “Telesalud” Fella & Delilah company proposed to its employees in a Publication in your LinkedIn. Employees who adhere to this schedule will receive a 25% increase in their salary. Image |Ron Lach, Pexels In Xataka | Work tired, stress and generates burnout. There is a way to reduce all that impact: the four -day week

A study reveals that the best of the four -day work week is not what it achieves: it is what eliminates

by

There are discrepant voices among those who argue that it is impossible to reduce working hours Without bringing the economy to bankruptcy of the country, while others argue that applying the work week to four days without reducing salary is demonstrating to be beneficial Not only for employees but also for companies. International investigation published in the magazine Nature Human Behaviour It reveals that the reduction from working hours to a four -day work week model produces Clear improvements in well -beingphysical and mental health, and labor satisfaction of workers, without the change having any effect About productivity. A two -year study. The study ‘The reduction of working time through a 4 -day work week improves the well -being of workers‘, conducted by researchers from the University of Boston and Dublin, was carried out between 2022 and 2024. 2,896 employees of 141 companies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States participated. The researchers divided participants into three groups according to the amount of weekly reduction hours: one with a reduction of eight hours or more (32 hours per week), another with reductions of five to seven hours and another with reductions from one to four hours in their weekly day. In addition, they formed a control group of 285 workers from 12 companies that were initially interested in reducing the day, but Finally they did not apply it. According to the authors of the study, these countries were chosen “partly by linguistic convenience, but also because their neoliberal labor systems are known and the stress levels among employees are high.” Before starting, some tips. As indicated in the study, on average, companies reduced the weekly work hours of 39.12 to 34.48 hours, which is equivalent to 80% of the usual schedule, but maintaining 100% of the salary. 30.8% of employees managed to reduce his day In eight hours or more per week, while 24.3% maintained the same amount of hours. As already demonstrated in the pilot tests of the four -day week, it is impossible to reduce the working day Without applying some changes in the way of working in companies. Therefore, the researchers had mentoring of the non -profit organization 4 Day Week Global, which has supervised the tests of the work week of tests such as the one that It was carried out In Valencia. However, as investigations point out, their role was limited to consulting to advise companies, but did not participate directly in the study of the study or in the interpretation of the data. The results soon arrived. Such and as indicated in Popular Sciencethe biggest surprise was that there was no surprise. The studies of the study coincide largely with the results obtained from the analysis of the different four -day work week pilot programs that have been carried out around the world. The more visible results indicate that the feeling of work exhaustion (Burnout) decreased by 16% in those who participated in the four -day work week, while in the control group it increased its exhaustion by 1.4%. General fatigue was reduced by 14%, and improvement in physical and mental health resulted in better self -perception by employees. In addition, sleep problems also descended 16%, showing the direct connection among less work hours and better capacity for rest. Better results are more reduced. The group of employees that reduced their working hours in eight hours or more recorded the highest percentages of improvement, including a reduction in exhaustion, increased job satisfaction and improvements in mental and physical health. For their part, groups with a minor day reduction Between one and four hours and between five and seven hours, they also experienced similar benefits, although in these cases the improvement percentages were lower. Improve because they are committed. Although the results confirm the positive effects of the four -day work week for the health and productivity of the workers, the researchers warn about some conditions. All participating companies were predisposed to apply the reduction of working hours, which can influence the positive motivation of the results. In addition, the information comes mainly from employee self -reports, so future research should include more varied methods and broader samples to consolidate these conclusions, at least to the same extent as this study consolidated the Results obtained by other researchers that have been collecting the data in the different pilot projects around the world. However, its authors consider that “despite their limitations, this study has important implications to understand the future of work, in which probably 4 -day work week will be a key component.” In Xataka | Not everything is 38.5 hours a week: the formulas for a waiter or temporary to benefit from the reduction of day Image | Unspash (INNN agency)

Cruise employees with days of 11 hours a day and 7 days a week

by

In the brightest covers of the luxury cruises They pass Dream holidaysinfinite pools, spectacular buffes and night shows. But under all that fun, in the lower covers, the true human machinery that operates these is hidden colossi of tourism: A population of employees who work 12 hours. The cruise industry continues to grow: 34.64 million passengers will embark in 2025, according to The latest reports of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which has generated a record demand for personnel. Getting one of these jobs requires, in many cases, to master English, Obtain regulatory certifications and accept contracts for months, with minimal breaks and far from the home. Mass recruitment allows more and more workers in countries with emerging economies and low salaries to be part of the crew, such and As publishes I monde. Life and work on the lower covers. Under the luxuries of the main roofs, a diverse community of employees from India, the Philippines or Peru, Honduras or Colombia is crowded. There, the cabins cease to be private and the carpet is replaced by the cold metal. Most share a room with other companions, in two bunk beds and with hardly any places for personal rest, as confirmed The Alba Sud report ‘work on cruises. Of the extension to the intensification of the working days’. This 2021 report confirms that hierarchically lower positions support an average of 11.3 hours of daily work and 6.97 days per week, accumulating around 80 hours per week. Working conditions prevent having 24 -hour consecutive days and, when the cruise is on the high seas, the crew “does not enjoy any full day of rest. At most, a few hours of holidays,” says its authors. The law of the sea and precarious contracts. Most cruises navigate under convenience flags (such as Panama, Bahamas, Bermudas), with which not only many taxes dodge: they also allow to avoid strict labor regulations. Workers on board lack union representation and there is hardly any margin to negotiate rights or schedules. Social protection is limited to the essential: basic medical care and minimum rest, stipulated by the Convention on Maritime Work. The interpretation of these regulations is very lax and there is no benefit for maternity or guaranteed compensation in case of accident, nor is the right to strike of employees ensures. According to what was published by I mondewages vary according to the position, but the most common ranges for unqualified employees of cleaning, kitchen or maintenance range between $ 900 and $ 1,100 per month. Contracts usually extend between 4 and 9 months, after which employees return to their country for a period of two to three months until they summon them again for a new season. These periods are considered on vacation, but are not paid. Precarious, but save. Despite the hardness of conditions, work on a cruise It is still an aspiration For many employees from Southeast Asia and Latin America. “Working on a ship is a dream for me. So I think I will continue to do it while I can, because after 40, it is difficult to find work in the Philippines,” he said I mondeVanessa, a 45 -year -old Philippine who cleans cabins in one of those cruises. Working on a cruise maintains its appeal for those who seek to save for a specific goal, such as buying a house or setting up a business when you return home. “I can pay the education of my children,” added Glitz, lifeguard and single mother who has left her two children with her parents in the Philippines. Not having maintenance or accommodation expenses on board, they can send virtually all the full salary to their families and plan a more stable future than their country of origin allows. A job with a lot of rotation. According to the Alba Sud study, 81% of the employees surveyed received a Increase in workload After the stop of the pandemic, and 56% say that their day lengthening in recent years. Precarious salaries linked to the long days and the time they spend away from their families, make work on a cruise an activity with high labor rotation. Companies have recognized that it is difficult retain employees Throughout the season. “The challenge for companies is to hire people who are not going to stay in a port port. It often happens, so the company reassures when an employee has a family to send money,” he tells the French newspaper, Cédric Rivoire-Perrochat, co-founder of the Compagnie Française de Croisières Compagnie Naviera. In Xataka | A millionaire has lived as a cruise cruise for 25 years: its biggest problem has not been money, but balance Image | MSC CruisesUnspash (Nestor Pool)

The US every day trusts less than China. Now plan to prohibit the use of submarine cables of Chinese origin

by

The distrust held by the US and China is absolute. And probably both countries have solid reasons not to trust the other. After all, they are struggling to get world supremacy. The last sample of distrust has been put on the table the nation led by Donald Trump. And is that the Federal Communications Commission, known in English as FCC (Federal Communications Commission), wants to ban submarine cables of Chinese origin used to connect USA with the rest of the planet. This American institution is responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, telephone, satellite and cable, so it has power to execute a prohibition like this. In fact, Brendan Car, the president of the FCC, holds in a statement That his intention with this measure is to defend the integrity of the US Internet connection infrastructure in the face of the security threat that China represents. This initiative is also supported by the Plan “America First” that the Trump administration officially launched in February this year. In the current context, submarine cables are more important than ever “Submarine cables are the anonymous heroes of global communications. In fact, they transport 99% of Internet traffic,” Brendan Carr assures in its statement. “As the US builds the data centers and the infrastructure necessary to lead the world in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and next -generation technologies These cables are more important than ever. “Although it does not express it clearly, Carr’s statement contains a very important message that we cannot overlook. “We have witnessed how submarine cable infrastructure has been threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, such as China” What the FCC fears is that China, which is climbing at full speed in the manufacturing industry of submarine cables, uses its technologies to spy on the US. Currently the companies that lead the production of these cables reside in France, Italy, USA and Japan, but HENGTong Group, Zhongtian Submarine Cable, Orient Cable and Dosese cable, All of them Chinese companiesThey are increasing their competitiveness and market share. Car proposes to adopt a double approach. On the one hand, it aims to encourage the use of US repair and maintenance of submarine cables, as well as completely reliable technologies from foreign countries. And, on the other hand, it aspires to discourage the use of Chinese technology in global infrastructure by imposing additional restrictions on its use in any underwater cable that connects to the US. “We have witnessed how submarine cable infrastructure has been threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, such as China,” Brendan Carr in its statement. This is not at all the first time that the US launches an initiative to prohibit the use of Chinese technology in its communications infrastructure. In fact, in 2019 the Donald Trump government prohibited using telecommunications equipment manufactured by Chinese companies ZTE and HUAWEI. This was one of the most important chapters of the conflict held by the US and China for almost a decade. More information | Tom’s hardware In Xataka | 2025 has started with another cut cable cut. The problem is where and the suspect: in Taiwan and China

A British F-35 has been stranded in India. Almost as surreal as the day a hunt landed in a Spanish container

by

The truth is that the United Kingdom expected The F-35b out A practically invincible huntbut today it flies little, and the times that does certainly surrealist situations like the one that is happening right now In India. Be that as it may, not even the current scene approaches what happened in 1983, when the indescribable episode known as the incident in the Alraigo occurred. The hunt does not start. British f-35b furtive furtive hunt, one of the most advanced and expensive on the planet, remains stranded more than a month In India since he made an emergency landing on June 14 at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (Kerala) due to a technical failure related to the hydraulic system and the auxiliary power unit. A team of British engineers and military He arrived in the country on July 6 To take exclusively responsible for the repairs that are carried out under strict security measures in a deprived hangar of Air India, completely sealed and with restricted access to local forces. Although the aircraft was transferred from its initial location after three weeks immobilized, there is no news about when it will be operational again. The Government of India has taken the opportunity to take advantage of the hunting situation Everything goes wrong. But as we said at the beginning, the story, although difficult to believe, is little compared to What happened several decades ago. In June 1983, during NATO maneuvers off the coast of Portugal, the young British lieutenant Ian “Soapy” Watson took off from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious aboard a Hunt is Harrier For a simulated search mission under combat conditions. Together with another pilot they had to locate a French aircraft carrier keeping the radio silence and the radars off until they reached the assigned area. After activating them, they both separated and, at the end of the search, Watson tried to meet with his partner, but failed to contact. When running out of precise navigation references and with the inoperative radio, It was disoriented In full ocean. Without any contact, without a signal in the radar and with the fuel running out, the pilot knew that he had to make a drastic decision. The impossible maneuver. Looking for maritime traffic signs, its radar finally detected a goal: the Spanish merchant ship Alraigowhich was heading to Tenerife. Unable to communicate with the crew, Watson decided to make a past to get his attention. When observing that the containers on the roof formed a flat platform similar to a training track, he opted for Try the unthinkable: land your vertical hunting on load containers. Although He managed to perchthe aircraft began to slide back until its landing train partially fell from the edge, even impacting Against a van destined for a florist on the island of Tenerife. However, the hunt did not fall and was embedded on the containers. The scene (and images) were forever in the history of aviation. Arrival. The Captain of the Alraigo, impassive, notified the British authorities that they would deliver the pilot and his plane In Tenerife in four dayswithout altering your route. Upon arrival in Puerto, a multitude of journalists waited for the surreal scene with the Sea Harrier mounted on a merchant ship. This was the hunt after the “impossible” maneuver Diplomatic consequences. Upon arriving at Puerto, both Naviera García Miñaur and the Red Crew considered that they had starred in an authentic Maritime rescueas contemplated by Spanish legislation. The value of the Harrier, then encrypted at 1,500 million pesetas, was not a small thing. To ensure the collection of a fair award, lawyer Fernando Meana He requested without success The preventive embargo of the plane. Given the judicial refusal, it was decided to go to An arbitration in Londonwith the certainty that British legislation (unlike the Spanish) would grant the entire reward to the shipowner, leaving out the crew. Legal justice. It was then when He entered the scene The lawyer José María Ruiz Soroa, who defended the sailors commissioned by the Merchant Marine Free Union. Thanks to a thorough investigation, Ruiz Soroa located in his father’s archives a forgotten British law, The Maritime Conventions Act of 1911, which established that the distribution of the prize should be made according to the legislation of the country of the Salvador ship. That norm changed everything. After harsh negotiations, he managed to be signed A new contract with the British embassy in Madrid that guaranteed the application of Spanish law. Thus, the crew and owners of the ship received compensation close to The 570,000 pounds (about 1.14 million dollars of the time). The case became a mixture of diplomatic anecdote, media circus and legal rarity. Responsibilities Initially, Watson underwent A research board aboard the Illustriumus, which did not take disciplinary measures. But once the aircraft carrier returned to Puerto, a second board attributed partial responsibility, claiming that it had only completed 75% of its training and that the hunting had technical failures, especially in the radio system. The pilot was reprimanded and relegated to administrative functions. However, Watson continued his career, accumulating more than 2,000 flight hours in Sea Harriers and 900 more in F/A-18 before leaving the Navy in 1996. Despite the controversy, always He assumed responsibility Without excuses: “It was my fault. I was there. And there should end everything.” Thus, what began as a routine operation ended up becoming one of the most unique and bizarre episodes of British naval aviation. Image | Navy, Reddit In Xataka | The United Kingdom was waiting for an invincible hunt. Today, the F-35 flies little and cannot shoot its own weapons In Xataka | The hunt that still resists in Iran more than 40 years after his arrival. It is not Russian or Iranian. It is the American F-14

Spain produces more solar energy than ever, but it only gets a cheap time of electricity a day

by

In full July, with the air conditioning Working tirelessly and The tuned light billin Spain there is a single moment of the day when electricity consumption does not hurt so much in the pocket. That little energy respite is concentrated at noon, a time strip in which electricity costs half or even less than in the rest of the day, but why is it just time? The fire triggered. On Wednesday, July 16, the average price of electricity had been in the € 164.06/MWh at the regulated rate (PVPC), According to data from Electrica de España. For this Thursday 17, a slight drop is expected to € 102.85/MWh, but that half hides an unequal reality: for much of the day, the cost exceeds 120 euros per megavatio hour, As the Iberian energy market operator has collected (OMIE). Only for a single hour there is a “affordable” price. In just seven hours, electricity will go from relatively affordable to almost double its price. At 15:00, it will cost € 73.00/MWh. At 22:00, it will reach € 129.85/MWh. The explanation is not in a peak of consumption, but in a change of source: the sun is exhausted, the gas enters and the market reacts. Why only in that time strip? The reason is in the sun. From three in the afternoon, the solar production curve increases considerably. The electrical system then enters an overoferta phase: there is more renewable generation than real demand. This surplus translates into an abrupt fall in the price in the wholesale market (‘pool’), which reflects in real time the imbalance between what is produced and what is consumed. The problem is that this surplus cannot be stored properly. Spain still does not have batteries No infrastructure sufficient pumping to save That cheap energy and release it when it is most needed. Thus, the system is forced to sell cheap at noon and buy expensive at dusk. To this lack of storage is added a less visible problem: he Curtailment. Although more renewable than ever, part of that energy is lost due to saturation of the network. According to Red Eléctrica, in some knots of the central-south peninsular-such as Arenas de San Juan or Caroyuelas— It has wasted up to 30 % of the electricity generated due to lack of capacity to evacuate it. Meanwhile, the price of light continues to rise. This schedule imbalance generates what experts call a daily “spread”: a price difference that can exceed € 200/MWh between the cheapest time and the most expensive of the day. It is what makes an invoice shoot although part of electricity is generated almost free. It is not just guilt of the sun. The price of light not only depends solely on solar radiation. From the blackout of April 28, Red Electrica has activated A reinforced operational modewith more weight of the combined gas cycles to stabilize the network. This emergency measure It has become the new normality While structural reforms are implemented that will not be ready until next year. The direct impact on the invoice. Consumers with regulated rate (PVPC) are the most exposed to this volatility. Every day, your bill depends on the price hour by time. But even free market customers are noticing uploads: some electrical companies are transferring the contracts to the contracts, As Facua has warnedwhat could be illegal if it is not foreseen contractually. With this panorama, many consumers try to concentrate the use of appliances such as washing machines, ovens or air conditioners during that cheap time of the day. However, not everyone has room to reorganize their life around a single low cost strip. The solution is more than clear. In this environment we have spoken many times: it goes through More energy storage, greater demand management, More local micro -redes and best interconnections with Europe. The government already has launched Royal Decree-Law 7/2025 To accelerate these changes, and has initiated the creation of a capacity market to guarantee the supply. But none of these measures is immediate. Some have deadlines until September, but others will lengthen until mid -2026. Meanwhile, the gas dependence will continue to mark night prices. A race against clock. Every day, the Spanish electrical system offers a single cheap electricity window. It is the reflection of an energy paradox: there has never been so much renewable energy, and it has never been so difficult to take advantage of it efficiently. As long as storage and flexibility deficiencies are not resolved, the cheap time will be a timely privilege and not a guarantee. In a summer marked by heat waves, the cost of not acting on time will be measured not only in euros, but also in emissions, social vulnerability and energy dependence. Image | Unspash Xataka | Broady in April, more expensive invoice in May: thus has affected the system reinforcement

China promised them very happy with day 996. Until they realized that it was shot in the foot

by

You enter to work at 9 in the morning and leave at 9 at night. So Monday to Saturday, with a single rest day. 72 hours per week. It may seem crazy, but it is known as Day 996 They have followed many Chinese companies in the technological sector for years. The Chinese government ended up taking letters in the matter Upon realizing that the endless days were not only bad for workers, they were also bad for the country. Culture 996. A few years ago, working 12 hours a day was common in Chinese technological. Richard Liu, founder of JD.com He described these “blessing” and Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, said that “if you don’t work from nine in the morning at nine o’clock at night when you are young, when are you going to do it?”. The term 996 was coined in 2019 following a protest against this work model to which they baptized 996-Icua word game that referred to that day would take workers to the ICU. This movement unleashed a wave of criticism at the national level and it is believed that it was the seed that The Government prohibited it. The change. In 2021, with the marathon days at the point of view of the government, there were many companies that turned back and brought back the weekend of two days. There were also companies like Tencent that cut the daily work hours from 10 to 6 in the afternoon, from 996 to 1065. Why this change? Fed up workers. Day 996 has been gasoline for the growth of the Chinese technological sector and its end responds to several reasons. The most obvious is that the workers were fed up in these exploitation conditions in which there were even cases of deaths due to exhaustion. The government said in its ruling that “workers are entitled to rest and take a vacation”, but we must not forget that it is the same government known for go against unions and imprison activists. National consumption. Inhuman working hours were a shot in the foot for the Government’s development objectives. In 2021, Xi Jinping promoted the idea of the “Common prosperity”an initiative that intended to grow the economy both outside and within its borders. However, promoting internal consumption was not compatible with 12 -hour working days. Technological workers charged more than in other sectors, but if they spent all their awake weather inside the office, they had no chance to spend it. Birth. Birth problems in China come from afar, but before the problem was that There were too muchnow it is Just the opposite And schedule 996 did not play in his favor. They counted in This articlethat in Chinese companies there is an entrenched idea that they call “ascend or out.” This is the belief that if a worker does not rise to a high position before having children, he runs the risk of replacing him with someone younger. In addition, men who have children and work with these schedules cannot take care of them or home, which in many cases expels women in the labor market. This makes many workers delay the time of having children, some even completely renounce. All happy? Ending 996 benefits workers, but also plays in favor of these objectives. The labor market expands because there is no age roof so low, birth rate and domestic consumption rises. All perfect, or almost. The end of 996 has not left many workers for free, when Bytedance announced that its employees would not work on weekends, He did it together with a 20%salary cut. In addition, for many workers the nightmare is not over. Last year, the head of Baidu media published a series of videos in which he denounced that he was forced to be available 24 hours a day. Culture 996 is still rooted above all in citiesmaking many young people choose to go to smaller nuclei where life is calmer. Image | Amparo Babyloni, Xataka In Xataka | Deepseek marked a turning point in the AI race. Now another Chinese company wants to imitate its success: Kimi K2 is born

Prime Day ends, but the super technoprecios of El Corte Inglés are still. These are five of his best offers

by

The prime day of Amazon has already finished, but we can still find very good offers in other stores. The English Court, for example, will have its available Super Tecnoprecios Until tomorrow July 13 with good discounts on mobiles, watches, headphones and even televisions. Samsung Galaxy S25 by 871.20 eurosan interesting price considering that it is the configuration of 512 GB. Huawei Watch Fit 4 by 149 eurosa striking offer because it also comes with some gift headphones. Sony Wh-1000xm4 by 199 eurosBluetooth top headphones from Sony with a precious. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ by 379.90 eurosan excellent mid -range mobile with 256 GB. Sony Bravia 3 K65S35BP by 999 eurosa very good TV released this year that mounts a 65 -inch screen. Samsung Galaxy S25 In recent months, the Samsung Galaxy S25 has gone through many offers and El Corte Inglés now has it for 871.20 euros in its configuration of 512 GB. It is ideal for those who seek a lot of storage, but also a practically impeccable system, a Very compact size and many software updates over the next few years. Samsung Galaxy S25 (512 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review Huawei Watch Fit 4 Although it is no longer available in almost any store, El Corte Inglés maintains the launch pack of the Huawei Watch Fit 4. By 149 euroscomes with headphones Huawei Freebuds SE 2. The clock is ideal for sports, but also to take it on a day -to -day basis thanks to its elegant design. Includes rotating crown, a good assortment of sensors to monitor physical activity and many training modes. Huawei Watch Fit 4 + Huawei Freebuds Se 2 * Some price may have changed from the last review Sony Wh-1000xm4 Although two subsequent generations are available, Sony Wh-1000xm4 They are still a very good purchase option, especially for the price that the English Court has during its super technoprecios. By 199 euroswe talk about very comfortable headphones that offer excellent audio quality. Include One of the best active market noise cancellationsThey have NFC and offer good autonomy of up to 30 hours. * Some price may have changed from the last review Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Xiaomi has a huge mobile catalog between its different brands and Redmi Note 14 pro+ He is one of the most interesting for his excellent value for money. In El Corte Inglés is on offer for 379.90 euroshas 256 GB of storage, offers excellent performance and Its battery can offer without problems an autonomy of up to two days. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ (256 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review Sony Bravia 3 K65S35BP Sony televisions are usually quite expensive, but there are exceptions when we find them offer. In the English Court we have the Sony Bravia 3 K65S35BP 65 inches (a television released this year) by 999 euros. Has operating system Google TVit is compatible with both Dolby Vision as with Dolby Atmos and offers a very good image quality. * 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 | The English Court and Buying (header), Samsung, Huawei, Sony, Xiaomi In Xataka | The best mobiles (2025), we have tried them and here are their analysis In Xataka | The best smartwatch (2025): their analysis and videos are here

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.