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when you need to buy the most expensive cable and when the 5 euro one is worth it

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You go to a store like Amazon and type ‘HDMI cable’ in the search engine. The results show a lot of options and all, at a glance, they are almost identicalyes. Yes, there are braided cables, cables of different lengths, or you can even find cables of other colors, but there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them all. Despite this, there are very cheap cables and others that cost more than 20 euros. Your first impulse may be to go for the cheapest one that has the meters you need. Ideally, you should spend a moment on the details, since the cheapest ones are usually HDMI 2.0, while the most expensive ones are HDMI 2.1. What does that mean for you? Let’s take a look at it so you know if it’s worth investing a little more or if one of these cheap cables works for you. Choosing an HDMI 2.1 cable In short, HDMI 2.1 cable is better. The main difference between this and HDMI 2.0 is that it has greater bandwidth (more than double, in fact). In practice, this means that the cable can handle and transport more information per second. Since we are talking about an HDMI cable, we are referring to image and sound. Precisely because it has more bandwidth, this cable can move higher resolution at higher hertz. It is the right one if you plan to see 8K resolution content (although for commercial 8K content there is still) or if you are looking to play something at 4K at 120 Hz. The latter is what leads many people to go for one of these cables because it is the way to get the most out of a PlayStation 5 or one Xbox Series X. To the greater bandwidth of this cable, we must add some technologies such as dynamic HDR or others that are also great for video games and that are not present in HDMI 2.0. The most important one is called VRR (either Variable Refresh Rate), which basically makes the console or PC and the TV “agree” so that the image does not jerk. We have two examples of VRR with two technologies that are usually present in many monitors, such as NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync. There is also ALLM, which makes the TV’s Game Mode activate automatically when you connect the console. This is very convenient because it will save you from doing it manually every time, but it is great when playing because reduce latency. That is, it minimizes the time that passes between you pressing a button and the action being displayed on the screen. For competitive games it is key. If you have a good sound bar for TV at home and you want to connect it via HDMI, then choosing an HDMI 2.1 cable may be a good idea. Here comes into play what is called eARCwhich allows you to command uncompressed audio in the highest quality from the TV. Where is the “but”? So that all these things that we tell you are worth something, It is necessary that both the TV and the console or PC are compatible. You can use the cable if they are not, but you will have spent more money and you will not be taking advantage of it. The good thing is that check if your TV or monitor has HDMI 2.1 It’s not difficult. Choose an HDMI 2.0 cable The best cable doesn’t have to be what you need. The HDMI 2.0 cable has less bandwidth, as we said above, but it is still more than enough for 4K and 60 Hz content. This combination, today, is the most common when playing with all consoles. Plus, it still supports HDR. For this reason, it can be great for consoles from previous generations (PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch, for example) or for a TV Box. Another asset that this HDMI 2.0 cable has: the price. Generally, this type of cable It is significantly cheaper than HDMI 2.1. That, which is great for our pocket, also allows us to buy one of better quality without having to spend a good pinch. Because yes, the quality of the cable or connector matters (a lot). And the distance, because the longer the cable is, the more likely it is to suffer losses or interference. What is the main drawback of this cable? May it become obsolete soon. If you don’t plan to change your TV or console right now, HDMI 2.0 is perfect. Now, when you switch to a newer device that supports HDMI 2.1, you will have to buy a new cable if you want higher resolution and more fps. In other words: if renewing consoles or TVs in the short or medium term is on your mind, buy an HDMI 2.1 directly. The good and the bad of both options, face to face HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.0 THE GOOD 🟢 It reaches up to 8K and 60 Hz (or 4K and 120 Hz) and has exclusive technologies It’s cheaper and still capable with 4K and 60 Hz THE BAD 🔴 It is more expensive and you will not get the most out of it if your TV is not compatible It will soon become obsolete if you plan to renew your TV or console. Ideal for: Play at higher fps and higher resolution with a PS5 or Xbox Series X and to play audio in the best quality Consoles from past generations or watch movies, series and football if you don’t have an 8K TV We do the math to see which one can compensate you more. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, so now let’s see which one may interest you more depending on which cases. Here it will depend a little on what you are looking for, but especially on What TV or monitor are you going to use the cable for?. The advantages in resolution, Hz and technologies of HDMI 2.1 are obvious, … Read more

In 2013, WhatsApp cost almost one euro. And nothing prevents Meta from charging for the app again in 2026

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There was a time when WhatsApp was paid. This was more than ten years ago, before Goal was done with the application and ended up completely changing its structure over time. The latest beta of the app leaks something that seemed inevitable after the arrival of the announcements: a paid subscription to avoid them. He leak. WhatsApp has two versions, the stable and the beta. It is common for the code of the next beta versions to be leaked, giving us a preview of the functions that will end up reaching the final app. And the latest leak points in a very specific direction. Since you recently removed your WhatsApp account from your Accounts Center, the price of your subscription for no ads in Status & Channels has decreased. Review your subscription to accept the new price of %1$s/month; or choose to use Status & Channels free of charge with ads. Additionally, Android Authority has managed to force the code so that the app displays a message in its interface about the possibility of canceling the subscription. WHATSAPP Tricks and tips to HIDE YOURSELF TO THE MAXIMUM and maintain your PRIVACY A plausible hypothesis. So far, practically all the WhatsApp code leaks have ended up materializing: either as functions tested in the beta version, or as features that have ended up reaching the final version. One of them has been the introduction of advertising in the app, which for now is limited to statuses, promotional channels and channel subscriptions. In the case of states, the operation is very similar to what Meta applies on Instagram, interspersing ads every certain number of publications. So… what if I don’t want ads? What do you give me in exchange?. If Meta wants to implement a subscription system with any modicum of success, it will have to offer more than just removing ads in return. The subscription opens the door to new WhatsApp functions, and a business model similar to that of Telegram with its premium version. One in which the app can continue to be used without any inconvenience in the free version, but which opens the door to benefits and a better experience if we check out. Because. If the question is why Meta may intend to charge you for WhatsApp, the answer is very easy: it needs money. In 2014, Facebook paid nearly $1 billion for WhatsApp. Almost 10 years later, He had barely recovered 10% of what he paid for it.. The company continues to need ways to make the investment profitable, and betting on a subscription model is a necessary plan. Image | Xataka Mobile In Xataka | WhatsApp Web: What it is, how it is used and comparison with the mobile app

The sale of a 22 million euro mansion moves the axis of luxury on the Andalusian coast: to Sotogrande

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The price of housing in Spain it doesn’t stop going upbut this unstoppable increase has not been a brake on closing the most expensive real estate sale in Andalusia. That the mansion protagonist of the unusual record have your own name It is already an indicator of the economic level to which this home points: Niwa, a mansion in Sotograndehas closed for more than 22 million euros. To put it in perspective, that price implies that its new owner has paid about 5,116 euros for each of the 4,300 meters built of this property. Taking into account that the average price in the province of Cádiz is about 2,249 euros/m2, places the operation at levels of the price of homes in premium areas of the big cities.​ Niwa: 4,300 m2 of sustainable luxury Niwa is located in The Seven, the most exclusive sector of the already exclusive luxury development The Sotogrande Reserve. The property occupies a 10,000 m2 plot on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean and facing Gibraltar, surrounded by the Los Alcornocales Natural Park.​ The mansion consists of 4,300 m2 built, distributed in nine suites, with an outdoor infinity pool, an indoor covered pool, spa, gym, cinema room, wine cellar and garage for eight cars. The project came from the pencils of Manuel Ruiz of ARK Architects and was carried out with construction techniques more advanced and sustainable with the environment since 95% of its structure was prefabricated in a factory and then assembled in the chosen location. This allowed us to reduce the impact on the environment and reduce emissions.​ Sotogrande began its development in the early 60’s as a private residential area with 24 hour security. It currently has five golf courses and is considered one of the most luxurious urbanizations and exclusive to southern Europe, which attracts foreign buyers for its designer mansions, its privacy and its proximity to exclusive services. In 2024, the average sales prices of their houses reached 1.9 million euros, with transactions reaching up to 17 million euros. Some of the new construction phases that were started were sold at 85% in phases such as Village Verde. Plots in the most exclusive areas of Sotogrande, such as The 15, start at three million euros, while in The Seven, where Niwa is located, they can exceed eight million euros per plot. “Over the last ten years, Sotogrande has invested in its facilities, maintaining its essence as a low-density, high-quality destination. It is very exciting to see how this positioning is increasingly relevant for our clients,” assured in statements to The Confidential Rita Jordão, Marketing Director of Sotogrande SA. Luxury moves south “The sale of NIWA marks the beginning of a new era for Sotogrande, where architecture and lifestyle multiply their value on the Costa del Sol and, I would dare say, on the entire Mediterranean coast. NIWA is a modern palace reinterpreted with a contemporary language that is situated halfway between the classic and the current, with a very special materiality,” confirmed its creator, pointing to a substantial change in the preferences of ultra-rich clients who seek to settle in Andalusia. Given the growth in popularity of these new luxury enclaveshistoric luxury areas, such as Marbella, are losing relevance after decades of urban pressure, and foreign buyers They have begun to set their sights on Sotogrande. “The record sale of NIWA firmly consolidates Sotogrande as a destination among the best in the world. What is happening is not a change of course, but a natural consequence of what Sotogrande offers is increasingly valued in the luxury market,” confirmed Jordão. In Xataka | A businessman built a mega mansion without permission: the neighbors have gotten the city council to demolish it Image | ARK Architects

I have tried to buy one of the 7 euro Renfe tickets. And Renfe has done Renfe’s

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January 8 in Madrid. A cold that cuts the face. Traffic jams everywhere with the children returning to school. Back to normal, to the office. To the computer. Depression. We Madrid residents need few excuses to flee the city. Perhaps that is why the Renfe discounts sounded like a swan song. Beach and paella. It almost doesn’t matter if it’s in May, April or the next weekend in January. Aware that It would be almost impossible get a ticket at that price, I missed the opportunity to avoid unwanted frustrations. Let’s try tomorrow, see if… And here I am, hooked on the Renfe website, with thousands of people ahead of me in a virtual queue that leads nowhere. I was looking for a relaxing weekend. An appetizer to put in my mouth during this return to routine. And right now I feel like I’m in line at Doña Manolita on December 21, two kilometers from the door and 20 minutes until the lottery administration closes. Seven euros (or many more) And well, here we are. I go to the Renfe website. I select the offer that promises tickets for seven euros. And we have to wait. Seven minutes and just over 3,000 people. It could be worse, I think. Much worse, in fact, because since yesterday the website has been crashing. Of course, They are not the more than 166,000 people which my colleague Javier Pastor encountered in April 2022. Then the tickets cost 15 euros and there were 100,000 seats available to buy in three days. This time Renfe The number of seats has not been made public. but it has confirmed that the reduction with seven euro bills will be active until January 18. I think that with ten days of margin, the volume of people who aspire to buy their ticket will be somewhat lower. Time, in fact, seems to be working in my favor. The minutes are falling. A little slower than what is stated on the sign above but just over 10 minutes after logging in, Renfe confirms that I have started the purchase process. According to them, it should have been on the platform for a couple of minutes. I therefore have 18 minutes left. Or I should wear them. Because I confirm that I want to access the site as soon as possible. “Yes please”. The screen refreshes. Another minute has passed. We have 17 minutes left. “Yes please”. Wow, it seems that my turn has expired despite having waited patiently and confirmed all the steps without leaving the active tab (whatever might happen). And here we are, starting the whole process again. Again seven minutes ahead and more than 3,000 people in the virtual queue. My paella is starting to choke. Again, same screen: “Yes, please” This time yes. This time it seems that I have been able to access the platform. Obviously, the tickets are not as I expected. I sail between weekends. The only seven euro tickets on a Friday are those that leave at 6:30 am. I discard that option because I have the bad habit of working on Fridays. I choose to leave on Saturday at that same time. The relaxing weekend starts with an early morning, but hey, we’ll disconnect until Sunday night. But to return on Sunday night there are no offers. Accepting that I will have to spend more than 14 euros to go and return, I stretch the gum to the maximum. I tell myself “I’ll take Friday off on vacation but I’ll take full advantage of the weekend.” I’m going to June. I select departure at seven euros at 6:30 in the morning. But dynamic prices have done their thing. Returning on Sunday at the last minute will cost me over 60 euros. There are no longer even weekends at bargain prices. And assuming that hotels will be much more expensive, I return to the month of January. I think that going for seven euros and returning for 35 euros from Valencia is not bad at all. I have already taken the bait of compulsive buying and I’m not willing to let go. I select the departure on Saturday at 6:30 in the morning. I eat that paella. I select the return after 9:00 p.m. I’ll see what I do until that time, Alberto’s problem from the future. Mech. Mistake. Yes, I have selected the one-way ticket but Renfe tells me no. I refresh and go back. I select the idea again. I select the return. Now, I go one step further. It remains to fill in the traveler’s information and pay. I would like to do it but At this point the website freezes. It starts to malfunction. The scrolling is jerky and it is impossible to press any button. I can’t fill out the form. It won’t let me change the email. Of course, it doesn’t let me go to the payment platform. Soda. I have 4245 people in front of me. Photos | Renfe and Xataka In Xataka | Renfe is obliged to compensate for delays of more than 15 minutes starting January 1. The Government wants to prevent it

includes up to a 50 euro Amazon card

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Protecting our equipment (whether mobile phones, tablets or computers, among others) is important. We have a wide selection of tools for this, such as an antivirusas well as others designed for our Internet traffic, such as VPNs. The relevance of betting on these applications in our personal sphere is great, but it is much more so if we have a company. The reason for this is simple: not only our information comes into play, but also that of employees and customers. If we are looking for a complete and secure enterprise-level solution, then the Kaspersky Small Office Security package (or KSOS) may fit us very well. Much more now, which is on promotion: if we use the code ‘AFBIZ’, we can get a whole year for just 143.33 euros. A beautiful piece that also includes a couple of very interesting gifts. Kaspersky Small Office Security – 1 year The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A very secure business solution that is super easy to install This is a great opportunity to get KSOS if we take the discount into account. Outside of the promotion, the price of this service for five different devices for an entire year is priced at 227.50 euros, so we would be saving almost 85 euros. Not only that, but we will also take, totally free, a 50 euro Amazon gift card and a global eSIM with 1 GB of Internet, ideal if we are going to travel outside of Spain. Now, let’s talk about what Kaspersky’s Small Office Security offers. As you can imagine, KSOS comes with a complete antivirus that we can use on any device in our company, regardless of whether it is a computer, a mobile phone or even a file server. Besides, It is compatible with both Windows and MacOSwhich gives it a lot of versatility. To the antivirus we must add software that is to avoid all types of malware and ransomware, as well as a password manager that will allow us to give extra security to an element as important as these. Additionally, KSOS also includes a VPN that stands out for being fast and very secureso we can protect both Internet transactions and our IP and our traffic. All in a package that is very easy to install, so it will not be necessary to request help from a technician. In short, a quite interesting and complete pack that stands out especially now that we can get it at a lower price (and with two very good gifts). Finally, we cannot forget that KSOS includes a 30 day trial period in which we can test the service as much as we want and, if it does not convince us, request a refund. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | Kaspersky In Xataka | Best antivirus for computer: the best paid alternatives to protect your PC In Xataka | Password managers: which ones are the best to protect and remember all the ones you have

Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a 210 euro discount if we buy them together

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It is true that Black Friday is already over, but that does not mean that we have already missed the boat of taking advantage of some interesting promotions. It will depend a lot on what we are looking for, but if we are after a new mobile phone and we like what Android offers, the Google Store has a great promotion right now: we can take a Pixel 10 Pro next to some Buds Pro 2 with a discount of 210 euros: it would cost us the combo 1,138 euros. And be careful, because we would also get a great gift. Google Pixel 10 Pro + Pixel Buds Pro 2 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A great combo that comes with a discount and gift This is a great option to renew two devices with a single purchase and with good savings along the way. This promo, which will only be active until next December 18 (or while supplies last), it is very easy to take advantage of: all we have to do is put both items in the cart and the discount will be applied automatically. The only thing we must keep in mind is that this offer cannot be combined with others. The discount that both devices have is very attractive, but it becomes even more so if we take into account that the combo also comes, with 70 euros of balance to spend in the Google Store. In this way, after making the purchase, we will receive the balance so that we can spend it within a period of one year from its issuance and with which we can save a good bit on other brand devices that we buy in the Google Store. And what would we get with this combo? First, a great phone like the Google Pixel 10 Pro. This device stands out for having the best Android experience and for being full of AI thanks to Gemini, but also for offering seven years of updatesvery good performance and a 6.3-inch screen that looks great. We can enjoy the phone together with our new Pixel Buds Pro 2, headphones that stand out for very good sound quality and corresponding noise cancellation. With this activated, we will be able to enjoy up to 30 hours of autonomy if we add the battery in the case. Furthermore, as we already highlighted in his analysis, They also stand out for being a super comfortable option. A combo that, if we add features, price and gift, will allow us to get two devices that we will enjoy for many years and that will also allow us to save a lot on our purchase if we take advantage of this Google Store promo. 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 | Google In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best wireless headphones. Which one to buy and 21 models from 15 euros to 470 euros

now it has a 250 euro discount

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Carrefour has emerged as one of those stores where you can find very interesting televisions on sale. Now, the supermarket chain is celebrating its Cyber ​​Week. This TV Samsung TQ65QN74FAT It is a bargain now, since it has a 250 euro discount. It has gone from costing 999 euros to 749 euros. Samsung TQ65QN74FAT 65″ TV The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A large screen TV with a great discount When buying a large TV, this one from the Korean firm is a good option. Assemble a panel 65-inch Neo QLED with 4K resolution. It has Filmmaker mode, a 144 Hz refresh rate (which makes it an ideal option for gaming) and is compatible with HDR10+. Its two 2.0-channel speakers offer 20 W RMS power and offer surround sound, although you can always enhance this section by adding a sound bar. Regarding its design, this TV is AirSlim typesomething that makes it thinner than many other models and its base is Aero Center type. The operating system under which it works is tizencoming with the Bixby assistant as standard. It is also compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa and Apple AirPlay. Like many Samsung TVs, it comes with Multi-View mode (to view two screens at the same time). Likewise, it stands out for a wide connectivity section, with two USB-A, four HDMI, digital audio output, Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 5, Ethernet and HDMi eARC. Movistar Plus+, a streaming app to maximize this TV If you want to make the most of this TV, a good option may be to hire a streaming app like Movistar Plus+. Now, you can contract your subscription for 9.99 euros per month (without any commitment to permanence). With Movistar Plus+ you can access an extensive catalog of series and moviesmatches from major football leagues (such as LaLiga and Hypermotion), other sports, documentaries and children’s content. Movistar Plus+ subscription The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some accessories that may interest you for this TV LG S40T – Smart Sound Bar, 300W The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select (latest generation) 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 and Samsung In Xataka | Best home theater projectors. Which one to buy and five recommended models from 299 to 18,000 euros In Xataka | Mega-guide to set up a home theater: projector, screen, sound system and more

It is equal to a three euro Steam game

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On September 2 a story started whose end is still expected to be long. That day, the United States claimed that it had shot down a drug boat off the coast of Venezuela. From then until now the tension levels have been increasing with continuous arrival of a Washington fleet in the area and a disturbing idea that floats in the air about the true magnitude of Washington’s movement. And, in response, Venezuela has just presented a simulator for its navy. A Russian video game. They counted it on Insider. At the Military Academy of the Bolivarian Army of Venezuela, in Caracas, they spread recently images of young cadets learning to handle kamikaze drones through flight simulators. The machines, covered and equipped with joysticks and flat screens, were intended to show the technological leap of the Venezuelan army in terms of unmanned warfare. However, the video images caused international surprise: the software used is practically identical (if not the same) to the Russian video game FPV Kamikaze Dronedeveloped by the company HFM Games and sold on the Steam platform for just $3.99. The shadow of the copy. The interface, graphics, engine physics and even the mission selection menu are exactly the same. From Moscow, the studio’s own co-founder, Aleksei Kolotilov, confirmed that there was never contact with the Venezuelan government nor any adaptation of the program for military purposes. “Our game was created only for civil entertainment,” he said, ironically saying that, if Caracas wanted to thank the “involuntary collaboration,” they could “send a couple of barrels of oil” in exchange for fixing some software bugs. Cheap simulators. He institutional videospread between patriotic speeches and slogans of loyalty, was published just when the tension between the United States and Venezuela reached one of its peaks. highest peaks in years, fueling fears of an open confrontation. In other materialthe army commander, General Johan Hernández Lárez, solemnly states that the young people are “ready to destroy the enemy”, while a cadet shows how his virtual drone is launched against a complex of buildings, in a recreation identical to the missions of the Russian game. In another broadcast recording For the academy itself, a uniformed presenter thanks the Armed Forces for the “joint effort” that allowed them to acquire the simulators, while dozens of cadets practice in a row of terminals with recreational aesthetics. From Ukraine to Caracas. we have told before: FPV drones have become a lethal tool low-cost, popularized by the Ukrainian army and quickly adopted by powers and developing countries. Unlike reconnaissance drones, FPVs are operated as if the operator were inside them, allowing for precise attacks at low cost. Their proliferation has transformed battlefields, democratizing the ability to inflict harm. In the Ukrainian war, pilots train with digital programsbut they must also demonstrate their expertise in real tests before operating in combat. Armies around the world have taken note, and now even countries without a technological tradition, like Venezuela, are seeking to adapt the model with limited resources. The symbolic effect. The use of a commercial video game as a supposed military simulator reveals the paradox of the Venezuelan defense apparatus: an army that exhibits power, but depends from improvised means. In a context of international sanctions, technological isolation and scarce resources, the adoption of Russian civilian software to train officers becomes both a propaganda gesture and a symbol of precariousness. Unlike the United States or Ukraine itself, where learning is completed with real practices, the Venezuelan army seems to resort to low cost solutions to project an image of modernization. However, beyond the irony of a cheap video game being transformed into a military tool, the episode reflects another global trend: the blurring of the border between digital entertainment and real war, where the preparation of soldiers and the simulation of combat can depend, literally, on software designed for gaming. Image | Military Academy of the Bolivarian Army In Xataka | The US has sent B-1 bombers into Venezuelan airspace: everything that is happening is close to a word In Xataka | The US has several warships deployed off Venezuela. Venezuela has a Soviet missile capable of penetrating them

A loaf of bread costs one euro in the supermarket. For the same price Europe just bought 18 fighter jets

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A loaf of bread from a supermarket or basic bakery usually around the euro in many cities. An automatic coffee machine in stations, hospitals or universities is also found at that price (okay, not always). In supermarkets, seasonal fruits such as a large apple, a banana or a loose piece of fruit can be around the amount. Even a single bus ticket in some cities is still close to the euro. What we were never going to imagine is that what a loaf of bread costs, 18 fighter jets cost. A strategic transfer. The transfer of 18 F-16 fighters from the Netherlands to Romania for the symbolic price of one euro It is, on the surface, an administrative gesture, but in practice it constitutes a strategic move with direct implications for the European security architecture and for the war in Ukraine. The formalized operation the full incorporation of these devices to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC), installed at Fetești Air Base 86, in the southeast of Romania, and whose function is train Romanian and Ukrainian pilots in the management of the F-16 under interoperable NATO standards. Further. The presence of these aircraft on Romanian territory no longer depends on Dutch ownership, which allows expand and secure training places, adjust training rhythms to Allied needs and consolidate Romania as a key country on the eastern flank, in a context marked by Russian pressure in the Black Sea and on the border with Ukraine. Romania as a hub. The EFTC has become a space where instructors, pilots and technical personnel from multiple NATO countries and Ukraine work under homogeneous methodsensuring that new F-16 operators not only learn to fly the device, but also to integrate it into air defense doctrines, airspace control and combined operations. The center benefits from a tripartite structure: Romania provides the base, infrastructure and logistical support; The Netherlands provided the aircraft, and Lockheed Martin, as manufacturer, supplies instructors and advanced maintenance. Implications in war. This combination facilitates training of ukrainian pilots in an environment that reproduces real mission patterns and also guarantees constant course rotation without depending on US airspace or dispersed structures. The fact that these F-16s are European AM/BM standard models, the same ones that Ukraine has begun to receive from various allies, allows for immediate continuity: what is learned in Romania is translated without transition to combat operation. Relevance for Ukraine. The nation has received commitments to deliver dozens of F-16s from from Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgiumand its arrival has marked a slow but cumulative turning point in the modernization of its air force, until now dominated by MiG-29 and Su-27 Soviet design. The pilots trained in Romania (and in parallel in the United States) are already operating on defensive missions against Russian attacks with missiles and drones, and the value of the F-16 depends on both its number and the degree of training and the ability to sustain its maintenance and doctrine. In that sense, the EFTC is a structural piece, since it guarantees not only initial learning, but continuous trainingthe accumulation of Ukrainian instructors and the doctrinal integration with allies who have already dominated the apparatus for decades. Furthermore, the future possibility of these same aircraft transferred to Romania ending up in Ukraine is not ruled out, especially as Romania moves towards adoption of the F-35planned for after 2030. Implications. Plus: The strengthening of the EFTC reflects a broader shift in European defense: The progressive reduction in the number of F-16 operators in Western Europe, replaced by the F-35, has left room to reorient these aircraft to training, interoperability and reinforcement functions on the eastern flank. Romania, together with Bulgaria and Slovakia, is part of the group of new F-16 operatorsbecoming recipients of capabilities previously concentrated in northern and western countries. This geographical shift of air capabilities towards the east is significant because it accompanies the shift from the center of gravity strategic of NATO after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Training, maintenance, doctrine and response capabilities are now concentrated in territories closer to the possible confrontation. Other transfers. The symbolic sale of weapons between allies has relevant precedents that show how the financial price can be irrelevant compared to the strategic objective. The best known case is the transfer of 22 fighters MiG-29 from Germany to Poland in 2002 for one euro per unit, an operation that allowed Polish air capacity to be maintained while Berlin advanced in its modernization and that, years later, facilitated the shipment of those same devices to Ukraine. Another example is the transfer of former Hamilton class coast guard cutters by the United States to the Philippines. for a dollarwithin the program Excess Defense Articlesstrengthening Philippine naval capabilities in the South China Sea without a prohibitive cost. Added to this is the howitzer transfer self-propelled M109L from Italian arsenals to Ukraine, also under symbolic conditions, when the priority was no longer their accounting value, but rather putting proven, repairable and compatible systems with available ammunition in the hands of the Ukrainian army. At one euro. The sale for one euro It is not an isolated symbolic gesture, but the formalization of a capacity transfer process that consolidates Romania as NATO strategic node in air training and preparation, reinforces the technical base of the Ukrainian air force in transition, and reflects the structural readjustment of European defense to the east. He EFTC It provides not only pilots, but also doctrine, interoperability and operational continuity at a time when the stability of the eastern flank depends both on the number of aircraft and the quality and consistency of those who operate them. Image | US Air Force, Dutch Ministry of Defense, Romanian Ministry of Defense In Xataka | A very dangerous idea is gaining strength in the corridors of Europe: paying Russia in kind In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has triggered delays and canceled flights. And Europe has the solution: a wall of drones

Something big is coming in European money. The ECB has set a date for a key step towards the digital euro

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The European Central Bank has made a move in one of the most sensitive projects in its recent history. After two years of preparation, the organization has decided to move on to the next phase of the digital eurothe initiative with which it seeks to adapt public money to the era of electronic payments. It is not a launch, nor a final decision: if the European regulations are approved in 2026, there will be a pilot starting in 2027 and the Eurosystem wants to be ready for a possible first emission in 2029. The decision comes after a preparation stage started in November 2023in which the ECB and the national central banks defined the technical and operational pillars of the project. In these two years, progress was made in the draft of the operating regulations, in the selection of technological suppliers and in tests with market participants. Political momentum has also been key: euro leaders called at the October 2025 summit to accelerate work to ensure that Europe retains its own capacity in digital payments. A pilot to get out of paper. The announced step opens a phase aimed at validating that the system can work in practice, both from a technical point of view and from real use. The ECB talks about a pilot in which Banks, technology providers, businesses and consumers would participate, with tests on payments in everyday situations and security controls. The objective is to verify that the digital euro, if it exists, can operate reliably and offer a simple experience for the user. Despite the progress, this does not mean that the digital euro is ready for launch or that it will replace paper money. The institution emphasizes that the cash will continue to exist and that the project requires legislative support before any final decision. Furthermore, it is neither a decentralized token nor an experiment to displace the banking sector. The proposed architecture, they assure, maintains banks as the main access and operation channel for citizens and businesses. Three points before starting. The digital euro roadmap is supported by three conditions: legislative progress, technical validation and the formal decision of the ECB later. The European Regulation will establish the rights, limits and obligations of the system, including the way in which financial institutions participate. In parallel, the architecture will be deployed in modules to adjust development as results are obtained. Nothing in this phase implies committing unlimited resources or guarantees the final emission. A project that still needs to convince. Initial support for the digital euro is not homogeneous across Europe. In Germany, a survey prepared for the Bundesbank In April 2024 it showed that half of citizens “could imagine using it” and that 41% already knew about the project. In Spain, a study by Monitor Deloitte In 2024, it indicated that 61% would not adopt it for now, largely due to lack of knowledge and satisfaction with current methods. At European level, a survey published by BEUC In 2025, it indicated that privacy is a priority for 81% of those surveyed, along with security and the absence of commissions as essential elements. From now on, progress will be as technical as it is political. As we say, the ECB wants to have the pieces ready for a pilot in 2027 and to consider a possible initial emission in 2029, provided that the European regulation is approved and tests confirm its viability. The process will be gradual and reviewable, and therein lies its importance: Europe is preparing for an option that could expand its autonomy in payments Images | ECB | omid armin In Xataka | The world seemed unprepared for the end of cash. The digital euro makes it clear that yes

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