English

On August 1, 1828, an English captain shot himself in Chile. And thanks to that Darwin devised the theory of evolution

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On August 1, 1828, in Puerto del Hambre, Chile, an English captain shot himself in the head. He died twelve days later, in his cabin, moaning and screaming in pain. His grave is still there, decorated with nautical charts. His ship took two years, HMS Beagleto arrive back at Plymouth and when he did he had a 26-year-old aristocrat named Robert FitzRoy as captain. Along with the Titanic, the Santa María and the Nautilus, the Beagle is one of the best-known ships in the world. For five years it was the home of a very young English naturalist named Charles Darwin who, over the years, would come to state one of the most dangerous ideas ever thought of: the theory of evolution. But the story could have been different (and very different!) because of a simple nose. A captain who did not want to be alone Despite his youth, Captain FitzRoy had several things in his favor: he had commanded a ship for two years, he had completed the expedition successfully and, above all, he was the nephew of George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Granfton. Therefore, it was not surprising that he was entrusted with another of the large number of missions that attempted to carry out hydrographic surveys of the coasts of South America. With the independence of the Latin American republics, this cartographic information was of vital importance for the British army. The only problem was that it was a terribly boring task. Without going any further, Pringle Stokesthe captain I was talking about at the beginning, fell into a very deep depression before committing suicide. That’s why FitzRoy asked for a geologist for the mission. No one disputes that, as they had already verified on the previous mission, bringing someone capable of “knowing the nature of the rocks and soils” of the regions they were visiting could be very useful. But that was only the official reason. FitzRoy didn’t want to be alone. I should have written that ‘only’ in quotes. Evidently a brig of the class Cherokee Like that one, it carried an average of 120 people in its belly. But the aristocracy has always been exquisite for its companies. The captain was looking for a gentleman with scientific interests and a university education who could be excellent company to talk to during the months of the trip. The problem was how to select that gentleman. Luckily, FitzRoy knew how to do it. The mirror of the soul Although physiognomy is as old as human beingsthe idea that people’s personalities could be known through the shape of their faces became popular thanks to Lavater, a Swiss shepherd who lived in the second half of the 18th century. And when I say popular, I say very popular. The great intellectuals of the time accepted the pseudoscientific theses of physiognomy as a proven fact. It didn’t matter who we were talking about: doctors like Charles Bellphilosophers like Herbert Spencer or writers like Balzac; Everyone looked at the drawing of eyebrows, the prominence of a chin or the shape of a nose looking for clues to understand those around them. FriztRoy too. When it became clear that none of his friends wanted to accompany him on the trip, the captain wrote to the Admiralty to find someone who, meeting the requirements, would like to accompany them. They were able to contact the University of Cambridge. After a few unsuccessful attempts, a 22-year-old young man appeared at FitzRoy’s door who, on paper, seemed perfect. But on the paper, understand me, the silhouette of his nose was not there. Oh my goodness, the nose! He was convinced that that nose was not that of a man with the energy and determination necessary for such a trip. FitzRoy did the impossible so that that guy wouldn’t step on the Beagle at any time. But eventually it became clear that he either accepted that nose or he would have to make the journey alone. And thank goodness. That nose collected dozens of samples and collections, took thousands of geological, biological and anthropological notes and, many years later, enunciated the theory of evolution. A nose named Charles Darwin. Physiognomy could change the history of contemporary biology (even if it was call evolutionary thought ‘wallacism’). So that they then say that pseudosciences are not dangerous. Send noses.

Columbus introduced the pineapple to Europe in 1496. 200 years later the English went crazy

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When the gun is drawn it is to shoot, the one who takes it out to show it is a parguela. That always made me more amused than necessary. phrase of one of Callejeros’ ‘caughts’ on public roads, and I always associated it with what we buy for status. If we are what we have, we show what we have to demonstrate our position. And in 17th century England, what the richest people took out for a walk to show off their power was… a pineapple. The Blackberry phones back in the dayto the just like watchesjewelry, cars or yachts, are status symbols. They are elements that we use to show the social level in which we find ourselves. Up to a Labubu would go into this example, and if these symbols have something in common, it is that they are expensive. In the case of the pineapple, the fruit was introduced to Europe in 1496 with a single specimen of a pineapple. And this exotic fruit did not hit hard in Spain, but in an England that experienced a real “piñamania”. From the pineapple fever… It was on his second transatlantic voyage when the explorer in the service of the Spanish crown returned with the pineapple. In the Guadeloupe island He found the fruit and took back to Spain a large quantity of this “pina de Indes”, or fruit of the “pine of the Indians”. He offered it to the Catholic Monarchs and it seems that… they liked it. So much so that, according to the historian Peter Martyr d’Anghierathe king “preferred it over everything else.” It was what was needed for the subjects will embrace the fruit with open arms. It is a mystery how and when pineapple was introduced to England, but it is believed that, in the mid-17th century, Charles II of England held a feast at which pineapple was the exotic dish. And more important than its flavor, was that the pineapple, being unknown in the Old Continent, was not associated with any cultural reference. If the apple was the forbidden fruit, the pineapple was a blank canvas. In an article by BBC We can read how Lauren O’Hagan, from the School of English, Communication and Philosophy at Cardiff University, explains that this allowed the pineapple to be given a mythical quality: it was the symbolic manifestation of the divine right of the king. There it is nothing, but it is still easy to identify thanks to the “crown” of the pineapple and the golden color of the exterior and, above all, the interior. This earned him the nickname “King Pine,” and the royals wasted no time in doing what they did best: turning something unattainable to the people into something more than separated them from the plebs. King Charles II commissioned a portrait of himself being entertained with a pineapple, the ornamentation of palaces and mansions began to adopt the pineapple as a structural ornament. Drawings, tapestries, more paintings, tableware, furniture ornamentation, medals and… this: Dunmore Pineapple It was exotic, but there was also an interest in starting to cultivate it in Europe, and that was possible in the mid-17th century. Heated greenhouses They allowed us to replicate the tropical climate (more or less) to start growing pineapples. And you would think that the more pineapples on the market, the lower their value will be, right? Well, the opposite happened. Since these greenhouses were very expensive, and growing the first pineapples was not an easy task, the fruit was seen as a investment. It took years to flower in a very expensive facility and, furthermore, it was possible that a large part of the harvest was lost for different reasons. There were more, yes, but since the upper classes were the only ones who could afford a pineapple and were aware of its value… they were not going to eat it. And thus began the climax of this story: pineapple rental. The wealthiest, who could spend 80 pounds on one (tight to inflation, between 12,000 and 16,000 pounds), they were not going to eat a piece of fruit worth 20,000 euros, so they used it as ornamentation. Since they last several days without going overboard, they organized events in which they had the pine cones as if they were vases (or LEGO figures), clearly visible to the guests. When it started to get soft, they ate it. And what did those who had money, but couldn’t afford a pineapple, do? Rent it. This is how a parallel business emerged. to satisfy that demand. Shark mentality of those businessmen who thought about the business of renting pineapples to the wealthy classes, but not much. It was considered shameful to be caught leaving a pineapple rental store (it would be admitting social defeat), and the absurdity reached limits like seeing people walking around holding a pineapple. The equivalent of going out into the street with a ‘Luisvi‘ bragging about ‘Luisvi’. But soon the gentrifiers’ worst nightmare would occur: globalization. …to the democratization of the pineapple The progress In transportation, with steamships that began to make more frequent trips between Great Britain and the colonies where pineapples grew wild, pineapples began to be stored in warehouses, along with other goods. Soon, the pineapple invaded the market, and if before only the upper classes could afford a pineapple, now the working class could also delight in its flavor. O’Hagan recounts that “at the time, the pineapple-eating working class was used as a visual metaphor for the problem of progress in satirical prints.” If everyone could eat pineapple, It wasn’t special anymore.. Suddenly, the image of pineapple as a prohibitive fruit fell away, like “I liked Nirvana before it became mainstream.” They were sold in carts on the streets, even cheaper than potatoes, and when a way was devised to fit a pineapple in a can, the fruit definitively lost its appeal for the wealthiest. There was only one thing left to remember that glorious past: art, tableware … Read more

There are so many English people living in Alicante that the largest British pub chain has decided something: open there

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The millions of British tourists who land in the province of Alicante each year will now have a piece of their country just before they leave. As if Benidorm, Torrevieja or the entire Costa Blanca had not been enough, next January the first Wetherspoon in all of continental Europe will open at the Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández airport. A “100 Montaditos British style”, but installed in the boarding area and designed, paradoxically, for those who are already queuing to return to the United Kingdom. The very British landing. According to The Guardianthe chain has confirmed that its premiere outside the United Kingdom and Ireland will be in Alicante, where it will open a newly built pub called Castell de Santa Bàrbera (when in Valencian it would be Castell de Santa Bàrbara), in “homage” to the fortress that crowns the city. This is a striking move for the company founded by Tim Martin more than four decades ago and which had never operated on continental European territory. For its part, as The Independent has detailedthe store will open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will be located in the departures area, aimed mainly at British people returning from vacation. The space will be about 93 square meters and will have an outdoor terrace. In addition, the menu will replicate 90% of the typical Wetherspoon pub menu: full English breakfasts, fish and chips, burgers and pizzas. Even so, it will also incorporate some typical Spanish dish such as garlic prawns or Spanish tortilla, an adaptation that the company has already confirmed. The choice is not accidental. British tourism in the province of Alicante is one of the most important in the region; Benidorm is well known for this. According to data collected by La Vanguardiaalmost 90% of English people choose the province as their favorite destination. Although a decade ago the owner publicly celebrated Brexitthe chain has recently experienced slowing growth in the UK: like-for-like sales of 3.7% in the first 14 weeks of the financial year, lower than in previous years. According to The Telegraphthe company is suffering from the increase in labor, energy and tax costs, which has led its president to explore new markets, and hence its strategy focused on airports: places where traffic is guaranteed and the clientele is usually predisposed to consume, even at times when most bars would not open. A British icon, almost invisible for Alicante. Despite the commotion that the news has generated in the province, the truth is that this first Wetherspoon on the European continent will be out of reach of the general public. It will be necessary to pass security control to access, which makes it a rarity: a British icon installed in Alicante, but almost invisible to the people of Alicante. Although Alicante will be the first, it will not be the only one. Tim Martin has reiterated in different British media that his intention is to open “several pubs abroad in the coming months and years, including some in airports”. The new location at Alicante airport will, therefore, be a test by fire. One last drink before heading home. Alicante can now boast of having the first Wetherspoon on the continent, although only travelers who fly will be able to enjoy it. For British tourists, it will be the last sip of home before returning; For the province, further proof of the weight that this market has in its economy. Time will tell if this little pub next to the departure gates is the start of a new European conquest or simply a last pint in the sun before heading home. Image | FreePik Xataka | Years ago Alicante thought it was a good idea to build an artificial island with a luxurious restaurant. It didn’t turn out as I expected

Speaking in English to a baby still in the womb seems like an absurd idea. Science has just discovered that it is effective

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We have long known that Babies recognize their mother’s voice from the womb and who show a preference for their mother tongue a few days after birth. However, now we know a little more thanks to studies neuroimaging studies that have confirmed something we intuited: the brain of a newborn is prepared to recognize foreign languages ​​if it has heard them in the womb during gestation. The experiment. To reach this conclusion, a team from Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal recruited 60 pregnant women from monolingual French-speaking families. From here they did two different phases: prenatal exposure and brain analysis after birth. Prenatal exposure. In this case, a group of 39 fetuses was selected and exposed to recordings of a story during the last month of gestation. To do so, the mothers placed headphones on their abdomen so that the fetus could hear the story in its native language, which was French, and also in a foreign language, which was German or Hebrew. These languages ​​were chosen specifically because their rhythmic and phonological properties are very different from those of French. The second group, of 21 fetuses, acted as a control and did not receive any experimental exposure, hearing only the French of their natural environment, which is what happens in any type of normal pregnancy. Brain analysis. A few days after birth (between 10 and 78 hours), the brain activity of all these newborns began to be monitored while they listened to the same story in three languages: French, German and Hebrew. To do this, they used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive technique that measures changes in blood oxygenation in the brain to see which areas are activated. The results. They were certainly surprising. The brains of newborns reacted almost identically to their native language and the foreign language they had been hearing in the womb. In both cases, an increase in activity was observed in the temporal regions of the left hemisphere, which is a key area for language processing with Broca’s area, among others. In contrast, when these babies heard the completely new foreign language (the one they had not heard before), their brains showed a different response, with less activation in language areas and more activity in general sound-processing regions. The conclusion. This finding suggests that the fetal brain not only hears, but “learns” to recognize the patterns of a language, which causes a specialization of the left hemisphere. One of the authors point specifically that “Our results provide evidence that even brief prenatal exposure to a foreign language could make it recognizable to neonates, leading to brain activation patterns similar to those observed when listening to their native language.” Anne Gallagher, a neuropsychologist at the University of Montreal and lead author of the study, qualifies the concept of “learning”: “We cannot say that babies ‘learn’ a language prenatally. What we can say is that neonates develop a familiarity with one or more languages ​​during gestation, which shapes their brain networks at birth.” Understand development. These findings reinforce the idea that a newborn’s brain is not a ‘blank slate’, but that the gestational environment contributes a lot to its brain development, since its brain processing begins here to be shaped before birth. However, experts caution that this study should not be interpreted as a guide for parents to expose their babies to multiple languages ​​in order to make them more intelligent or multilingual. But it does give us an idea of ​​how this important characteristic is developing. Limitations. The study, while revealing, also has its limitations, such as a relatively small sample size that prevented, for example, directly comparing responses to German versus Hebrew. Still, it shows that even brief, repeated exposure to linguistic stimuli can modify a newborn’s language brain networks, laying the foundation for future development. Images | Volodymyr Hryshchenko In Xataka | When the first meal is not porridge, but a chop: the rise of carnivorous babies

While all Spain is pending that their children learn English, in the Canary Islands they have another obsession: the German

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The Canarian ties with Germany are strong. And they come from afar. They date back (at least) at the end of the 19th century And they have been reinforcing thanks to the Expats and the Huge weight which has the German market in the Canarian tourism sector, capital piece in the economy of the region. This link explains that in its classrooms it is studied more German than anywhere else in Spain and Parents committed in which their children learn at the same time the languages ​​of Cervantes and Goethe. It is the ‘Germanization’ of Canarian education. What happened? That Canary Islands show signs that little by little in a key area is being germanized: early childhood education. At least if we compare it with the rest of Spain. German influence on the archipelago (and more in zones With a strong foreign presence) it is nothing new, but there are indicators that help to better understand what extent they are pending in their classrooms and homes. The last one left it a few months ago The confidential in A report which shows how parents are betting on their children speak of Goethe’s tongue (almost) from the cradle or even cases of children who chapurre them before the Spanish. Are there figures to try it? Yes. Those of the Ministry of Education, which reflect how the teaching of German stands out in the archipelago against other regions of Spain. Although Canary Islands is one of the communities Less populated of the country is the one that has the most students studying German in the classrooms. At least in the 2020-2021 course They added 31,300considerably above the Community of Madrid (28,300), Catalonia (24,600), Andalusia (18,100) or Balearic Islands (13,800), two regions in which there is also a strong presence of tourists and Expats. And who studies it? That is the most interesting. The language is not only learned by young people who study ESO or university students. In the archipelago he has also penetrated among the youngest children. The 2020-2021 course there was almost 500 students Studying German in the Early Childhood Education stage, data that exceed only Catalonia and Andalusia, with much greater population. If we talk about Primary the figure, the largest registration in the country is triggered. In general the learning of German It is less extended than that of English or French, but still reaches a notable weight in the Canary classrooms. The region stands out For how extended the study of the second languages ​​is. What is the reason? There are several factors that explain that clear Germanization, but two stand out above the rest: the first are the Historical ties Between the Canary Islands and Germany, which date back to 19th century And they explain that there is a German school in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and another in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. According to the Canarian Institute of Statistics (Istac), the Germans are one of the main foreign population groups in the region, although they are significantly below nationalities such as the Colombian, Venezuelan or English. The second factor is tourism. The sector has A crucial weight In the GDP of the region, where it generates thousands of millions of euros every year. And much of that flow of money comes out of German pockets, such as I recognized Recently the Canary Islands government itself, taking stock of the 2024 campaign. statistics From Exeltur they show that in 2024 the German was The second market International most relevant to the tourism sector of the region. Only the British is overcome. What supposes that in practice? That speaking German becomes a key tool, both in the Canary Islands (work or not in tourism) and when looking for a job in the rest of the country or the EU. “Everything that is science and engineering is very enhanced in German, but nothing happens if the girl later chooses to be a hairdresser and not continue studying. I try to give her best for her future,” Explain to The confidential A Canarian mother who pays 600 euros per month (activities included) so that her daughter is formed at the German school. “I know people who have studied in this school and thanks to that they work or live outside.” Is it important? There are those who believe it. “Learning this language here is a priority for two reasons. First because it gives you the possibility of leaving the islands to, for example, exercising as an engineer or sanitary in other places. It is also essential to work in the southern area of ​​the island (Gran Canaria), where tourism is concentrated and people are always needed to deal with Germans,” Marta García reflectshistorian of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. “Here is key to accessing certain positions and ascending.” That influence explains that there are also adults who throw themselves to study the language to prosper, that the Canarian government has reinforced your bet For the linguistic immersion scholarships to study in Germany (and Ireland) or that there are even cases of children who begin to Chapurrean German before Spanish. Although it is not a generalized trend, a few months ago The confidential He reviewed A specific case, that of a four -year -old girl who entered the German school in Santa Cruz de Tenerife without speaking at all Spanish and surprised her parents by expressing themselves first in German. “I had a delay in language and I worried when I saw her speaking first German. I thought I was wrong and went to see the pediatrician, but luckily she started speaking Spanish last year.” Images | Norbert Braun (UNSPLASH), Guillaume Didelet (UNSPLASH) Via | The confidential In Xataka | For the first time in ten years, La Palma has shown the best creatures of its parties: the disturbing dwarfs that dance Polca

The English Court throws a new save the VAT with technology discounts

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We have already started October and there is less for the end of the year. These last months of the year are always closely related to offers and promotions of all kinds, so it is a Very good time to renew devices or to give us some whim. The first major event of this type we have comes from El Corte Inglés and it is about A save the VAT. From today And only until next Sunday 5we have very good offers in technology of all kinds. There is much to choose from, but to make the task a little simpler, we leave you below an offer of the most prominent chollos. Digital Western portable hard drive by 106.61 eurosan option with 5 TB to safely save our files. V8 Advanced vertical vacuum cleaner by 298.33 eurosideal to keep our house clean and especially effective with pet hair. Laptop ASus vivobook Go 15 by 371.05 eurosan easy team to transport and perfect to work or study. SMART TV OLED PANASONIC by 799 eurosan integrated TV OLED and compatible with Dolby Vision. Krups estenteial superautomatic coffee maker by 279.32 euroscompact, with grinder and a 1.7 -liter water tank. Digital Western portable hard drive The first of the options stars An external hard drive of the Western Digital brand. It is one of those options that can come in handy in many scenarios, ideal to always have our safe files and hand. The PVP of the same is 135 euros, but this save the VAT leaves us cheaper. Specifically, by 106.61 euros. It is a model that stands out for offering 5 TB capacitya quite important figure to have a ton of files, images or videos. In addition, it has USB 3.2 and incorporates the possibility of protecting its data with password and encryption. Western digital portable hard disk 5TB 5TB USB 3.2 Black The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links V8 Advanced vertical vacuum cleaner We continue now with a vertical vacuum, one that is also one of the most recognized brands in this sector, As is Dyson. This is the V8 Advanced model, which is currently one of those who offers better value for money. His PVP was touching the 400 euros, but now we have it with a great discount: Cuesta 298.33 euros. Although it is perfect for all types of households, works especially well with pet hair. It has a suction power of 130 W in its Boost mode and has an autonomy of up to 40 minutes, a more than enough time for medium -sized home. It comes with several different accessories, so we can even make it a hand vacuum cleaner. Dyson V8 Advanced Rechargeable Blood Aspirator with Cyclones 2 Tier Radial ™ The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links Laptop ASus vivobook Go 15 What if we are looking for a new laptop? This save the VAT of El Corte Inglés also has several reduced at very interesting prices. One of the most outstanding is this Ase Vivobook Go 15, A team designed to work or study that, in addition, it is very easy to transport. His PVP was touching the 450 euros, but this offer leaves us for 371.05 euros. This Asus laptop stands out, above all, to offer A 15.6 -inch screen with OLED technology. At the hardware level, it meets very good note thanks to a Ryzen 5, 16 GB processor of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Its autonomy is not a problem, but it is also compatible with fast charge: it is able to load up to 60% of it in less than 50 minutes. Laptop ASUS VIVOBOOK GO 15 E1504FA-BQ2448, RYZEN 5-7520U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, 15.6 “, without so The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links SMART TV OLED PANASONIC Now we continue with a TV, this time one of the Panasonic brand. This is the model TV-55Z80bez in its 48 inches version. It is a very interesting smart TV, more if we take into account this offer from El Corte Inglés. Your PVP touches 1,200 euros, but we have it available for 799 euros. It is an OLED model, which means that its image will show us very bright colors and fantastic blacks. In addition, it has HDMI 2.1 and a 120 Hz refreshment rate, which makes it perfect for consoles such as PlayStation 5 Pro either Xbox Series x. It also has integrated TV And it is compatible with both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. OLED TV 121 CM (48 “) PANASONIC TV-55Z80BEZ, UHD 4K, HDR10+, DOLBY ATMOS, SMART TV The price could vary. We obtain commission for these links Krups estenteial superautomatic coffee maker We close this selection of offers with A KUPS SUPPEROMATIC CAFETERwhich is especially remarkable as far as quality-price relations is concerned. Its PVP is 399 euros, but this promotion of El Corte Inglés makes us much easier to get it with an offer that leaves it in alone 279.32 euros. This coffee maker, EA810 essential model, It has a pressure of 15 bars and has an integrated grinder with 3 different types of grinding degrees. It allows to adjust the volume of the drink very flexibly and has a 1.7 -liter water tank. Its design is quite compact, which makes it ideal for small kitchens. SUPPEROMATIC CAFETER KUUPS ESENTIAL EA810 Conic gloat cappuccino 15 bar 1.7 L 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 | Buying, Western Digital, Dyson, Asus, Panasonic, Krups In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which to buy and seven recommended 4K 4K In Xataka | Better cable vertical vacuum cleaners. Which buy and seven broom vacuners recommended from 139 euros

The English Court changed the credit card model. And along the way it has become a Fintech

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In just two years, El Corte Inglés has financed 1,372 million euros in purchases outside its commercial universe, according to reports Expansion. All for allowing you to use your card anywhere in the world. A silent transformation that has made these department stores an unexpected rival for traditional banks and Fintech emerging. Why is it important. With 11.7 million cards in circulation, the chain has converted its loyalty program of the sixties into a powerful financial weapon. Has moved more money than many Fintech that aspire to revolutionize the sector. The transformation. The change arrived in 2022 Thanks to an agreement with Mastercard. For the first time in its history, the card was the surroundings of the department stores to compete with the banks in neutral territory. The strategy is being a success. They maintain traditional advantages (interestless payments up to 60 days in ECI, 30 in other shops) but add functionalities Fintech: mobile application, notifications Pushcontrol of limits and geolocated promotions. The numbers. The total volume of the card reached 3,778 million euros in 2023, adding internal and external purchases. It is far from the 2018 record (4,895 million), but the new modality is growing. 1,372 million financed outside ECI in two years. Only 191 million in modality Revolving (Interest of 19.56% TAE). Free: without issuance or maintenance expenses. 4% bonus in Repsol for future purchases. The play. The English Court already had the largest loyalty clients in Spain. I just needed to open the doors. A much more interesting and advantageous play than the Fintech forced to find users from scratch. Yes, but. His proposal remains conservative. The revolving model barely represents 5% of the business, well below the standards Fintech. They prefer the safe margin of the interestless interest that monetize via cross consumption. The threat. For traditional banks, the English Court represents something worse than a Fintech Disruptive: a competitor with financial muscle, a huge customer base and brand credibility built for decades. Financiera El Corte Inglés, 51% controlled by Santander since 2013is the giant of consumption financing in Spain. In perspective. The chain has achieved what many financial startups only dream of: monetizing an existing user base without burning millions of euros in marketing. Its competitive advantage is not so much the technology and the confidence of 11.7 million Spaniards who already carry their card in the portfolio. In Xataka | Mercadona earns more and more money selling money, no food: the effect of interest rates on their results Outstanding image | Financiera El Corte Inglés

The English Corte

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It is increasingly difficult to choose a TV due to the large number of models in the market. Therefore, when there is a good offer for a specific model, we do not hesitate to show it in case you are looking for a smart TV for your home. On this occasion, the English Court has very low 55C7K TCLthat you can take with a 30% discount, for 594.15 euros. TV QD-MINI LED 139.7 cm (55 “) TCL 55C7K * Some price may have changed from the last review A TV with good performance and almost 300 euros discount Even now, this TV of the TCL firm is much cheaper than two weeks ago in the same store. It stands out for having a 55 -inch panel that Use QD-MINI LED technology and offers 4K resolution. In addition, its soda rate is 144 Hz, it has HDMI ports 2.1 and is compatible with FREESYNC Premium. This makes it an ideal television model also for gaming, so you can use it as much as with a Xbox Series x or one PlayStation 5 Proamong other consoles. The audio section is signed by the prestigious firm Bang & Olufsen And you can highlight this TV that is also compatible with HDR10+Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. Finally, we must mention that it works under the Google TV operating system. Some accessories that may interest you for this TV Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (last generation) * Some price may have changed from the last review HS2100 – Sound bar 2.1, 240W * 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 | Webedia and TCL In Xataka | Best home film projectors. Which to buy and five recommended models from 299 to 18,000 euros In Xataka | Mega-guide to ride a home cinema: projector, screen, sound system and more

For years we were condemned to physical travel agencies. The English Court is investing millions in demonstrating otherwise

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The English Court has renewed 60 of its 430 travel officesand plans to reform another 44. The idea is to implement open spaces, sofas, digital screens, previous appointment and advisors with “emotional connection.” Why is it important. The message to be sent is that the physical store has not died, but only needed a new experience. In perspective. It is the classic play of retail Traditional: redesign the spaces to sell a transformation that between, especially, by the eyes. Along the same line as the changes applied to the low floors – the accesses – of some of its stores, modernizing the bookstore or giving more weight to the section Gourmet. EITHER The premiumization of its supermarkets. What is at stake is the role that a traditional physical agency can play in the Skyscanner era, Google flightsAirbnb and Booking. What is happening. Travel El Corte Inglés is more profitable (More than 100 million euros from Ebitda8% more than a year ago), but loses in volume against its great rival, Ávoris (Barceló Group). To renew your offices is a way to reaffirm as a premium brand and differentiate in a world in which the average customer has become accustomed to organizing their vacations from your mobile. The physical network is reduced to transform. Personalized attention is insisted as an advantage over the digital model. Between the lines. The reform is real estate, but first of all it is a way of sustaining the story: we are not a vestige, we are a luxury; We are not an agency, we are a space of inspiration. From store a Boutique. The passage of time will tell us if this is a real modernization or if it is rather an attempt to keep the physical channel alive. The company has not gone wrong: after years seeing how the environment rewarded its new competitors, the English Court is still alive despite insistent rumors of serious crisis. There is also the doubt of the long -term value of that “human contact” as a differential pillar. He is seductive, but difficult to climb. Yes, but. The new model has a very good press, but with the unknown of whether there is insufficient demand. There are still many clients who continue to go to a physical office, but they are increasingly minority. And those who do it, often look for something very concrete: custom trips, honey moons, large budgets. Can you sustain an entire model so capillary around those profiles? In addition, post-pandemic tourism has recovered, but It has also changed. The traveler has become accustomed to certain flexibility levels, price comparators, online opinions, immediate decisions. All of that has a difficult fit in an agency by appointment. The decision to invest in so many offices sends a message: trips El Corte Inglés remains convinced that there is a place for physical agencies if they become experiences. It is quite possible that it is right, although it is a commitment against the direction in which the future of the sector seems to go. In Xataka | Spain has become a country addicted to something that some years ago enjoyed little prestige: the white brand Outstanding image | El Corte Inglés trips

Neither Mediamarkt, nor the English Court. Power Planet launches one of the best technology campaigns before Prime Day 2025

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There are very few days left for the arrival of the new Amazon Prime Day 2025. Meanwhile, many stores have launched very powerful campaigns, and without a doubt one of the best we do not find it in Mediamarkt, or in El Corte Inglés – eojo, that does not mean that they are bad – but in the Power Days PowerPlanet. We already tell you that some of the best discounts are found in Samsung devicesalthough there are also Xiaomi at a very good price. Samsung Galaxy A56 by 374.99 eurosone of Samsung’s mobiles with better value for money. Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd gen) by 59.50 eurosan excellent Xiaomi Box TV in its latest generation. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 by 109.90 eurosa tablet with microSD slot up to 1 TB. 8bitdo ultimate by 54.99 eurosa load -based control that is compatible with Nintendo Switch 2, Android and PC. Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro by 129.99 eurosexcellent bluetooth headphones with one of its best prices to date. Samsung Galaxy A56 Samsung is one of the most interesting brands in mobiles and stands out both in the high range and in the mid -range. Beyond the Galaxy S series, the Samsung Galaxy A56 It is a most interesting model for the price it has in PowerPlanet during the Power Days: 374.99 euros in its 256 GB configuration. And … What does this mobile stand out? First, the Samsung Galaxy A56 Mount a 6.7 -inch super amoled screen (larger than that of other high -end models), It is very comfortable in hand and has an excellent finishoffers very good autonomy and offers six years of software updates. Samsung Galaxy A56 (256 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd gen) Xiaomi launched very recently the new generation of its TV Box, offering a quite interesting generational leap. He Xiaomi TV Box (3rd gen) offers a 4K UHD resolution and is compatible with both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ as with Dolby Atmos and DTS: x. In addition, its operating system is Google TV And it comes with Chromecast and with Wi -Fi connectivity 6. Its price in this case has fallen to the 59.50 euros. * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Ok, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 It is a tablet that, in this case, comes with 64 GB of internal storage, but a very positive point is that it includes a microSD card slot up to 1 TB (such as the Samsung Evo Selectalthough there are other cheaper brands). And by 109.90 euroswe are faced with an excellent model with 8.7 -inch screen whose speakers are compatible with Dolby Atmosso it is ideal to see multimedia content. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 (64 GB) * Some price may have changed from the last review 8bitdo ultimate Yes, Switch 2 Pro Controller is very expensive, but fortunately there are alternatives. 8bitdo is an excellent brand that has a good assortment of controls in its catalog and 8bitdo ultimate It is an excellent purchase option, especially since it has dropped in price to the 54.99 euros And because it is already compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. It includes a load base, comes with two programmable rear buttons, allows you to change the game profile (it has three in total) and has both movement control and vibration. The 8 -bitdo command is compatible with both Android and PC as with Nintendo Switch (The original). Recently the brand has launched an update so that it is also compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. To do this, just access the Command page or directly to Update programwhich can be downloaded both in Windows and Mac. * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro For the fifth and last place of this list, I have debated to mention the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (369.99 euros) or the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Prothat have come down to the 129.99 euros. Finally, this last device is the one that has the best value for money, since we have rarely seen them with a similar discount. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro They are very comfortable Bluetooth headphones that include a very light load case. They offer excellent audio quality and a very good active noise cancellation. In addition, taking into account the load case, they offer a Autonomy of up to 26 hours With active noise cancellation, a figure that is not bad. * 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 | PowerPlanet, Samsung, Xiaomi, 8bitdo In Xataka | The best mobiles (2025), we have tried them and here are their analysis In Xataka | Best wireless headphones. Which to buy and 21 models from 15 euros to 470 euros

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