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A Xiaomi tablet for less than 95 euros, top price for the MacBook Air M4 and more in the last Bargain Hunting of the year

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The time has come to say it: we are facing the latest Bargain Hunting of 2025. Week by week we have been bringing you the best offers of the week every Friday, something that we were not going to stop doing now because we are immersed in the middle of Christmas. As usual, we are going to review the most outstanding offers on mobile phones, tablets and more that, obviously, are still available. PlayStation Portal by 168.08 euros with the MES15 coupon, the best accessory for PS5 now that allows you to play in the cloud. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra by 989 eurosthe winner of the award for the best super high-end mobile of this 2025. MacBook Air M4 by 899 eurosa great laptop that returns to one of its lowest prices. Xiaomi Pad Pro Tablet by 94.05 eurosone of the best tablets we can buy quality-price. iPhone 16e by 549 eurosa very attractive option if we want an Apple mobile but have a tight budget. Make your loved ones happy with the best purchases on these dates and don’t skimp on security when browsing with NordVPN. Only in Xataka, enjoy an extra 40% discount in its Christmas campaign, only accessible through this special link. Advice offered by the brand PlayStation Portal We start this selection of offers with the PlayStation Portalan accessory that arrived in stores to be able to play our PS5 remotely, but that, thanks to a recent updatenow allows you to play in the cloud without needing a console (if we have an active subscription to PlayStation Plus Premium). It offers an 8-inch LCD screen and a control that brings DualSense functions, such as haptic vibration or adaptive triggers. We get it on AliExpress for 168.08 euros with the coupon MES15. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra A few weeks ago, the Galaxy S25 Ultra rose like the best super high-end mobile of this yearwhich already tells us how good a phone it is. It is a device that has great performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which uses a 6.9-inch screen with the best anti-reflective treatment there is and has an all-terrain camera system that offers great results. Plus, it’s loaded with AI and has seven years of guaranteed updates. Costs 989 euros in its 512 GB version. Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MacBook Air M4 Just before the year ends, the MacBook Air M4 at its lowest price in several stores. It is not Apple’s most powerful laptop, but it is one that offers great performance and is perfect for working or studying. Furthermore, thanks to the performance offered by the M4 chip and its 16 GB of RAM, it will be a computer that will be with us for many years. We have it available for 899 euros. Apple 2025 13-Inch MacBook Air with M4 Chip: Designed for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-Inch Liquid Retina Display, 16 GB Unified Memory, 256 GB SSD, Spanish Keyboard; Midnight The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Pad Pro Tablet Is it possible to have a good tablet for less than 100 euros? The reality is that yes, especially if we take advantage of this MediaMarkt offer to the Xiaomi Pad Pro. It is a device that, quality-price ratio, is very interesting for studying or watching movies comfortably without depending on a TV. It stands out for its 12.1-inch LCD screen compatible with Dolby Vision and a 10,000 mAh battery that will give us enough autonomy for day-to-day life. When you put it in the cart, its price automatically stays at 94.05 euros. Xiaomi Pad Pro (6+128GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links iPhone 16e We close this selection of offers with another mobile phone, specifically the iPhone 16e. This device is a very interesting option if you are looking for an Apple mobile, but you do not want to spend what the new iPhone 17 costs. It is a compact phone with a 6.1-inch OLED screen and good performance thanks to the Apple A18 that it has. In addition, it has a very good autonomy and, like all Apple phones, it is more than likely that it will last us for many years. We have it available for 549 euros. 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 | PlayStation, Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi In Xataka | The best mobile phones (2025), 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

Apple made privacy its flag. One of his functions has resulted in a fine of 98 million euros in Europe

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Privacy has been one of Apple’s great arguments to explain why its ecosystem works differently. It is not just a technical issue, but a narrative built over years. Precisely for this reason it is surprising that a tool presented as an advance for the user is at the center of a fine of almost one hundred million euros. The Italian Competition Authority has imposed Apple fined 98.6 million euros for abuse of dominant position, considering that the implementation of App Tracking Transparency restricts competition. The focus is not on the idea of ​​​​protecting data, but on how those rules were applied to developers who distribute their apps on iOS. This is where the underlying shock lies. The origin of the function. Transparency Tracking App It does not arise in this regulatory context, but several years earlier, as part of a broader change in Apple’s privacy strategy. The feature was introduced in April 2021 with the release of iOS 14.5 and was presented as a direct way to return control over advertising tracking to the user. From then on, each app had to ask for explicit permission before tracking user activity on other apps and websites. It was a turn that reordered the mobile ecosystem from within. The logic behind App Tracking Transparency is based on a specific definition of what Apple considers tracking. It is not just about displaying ads, but about linking data collected in an app with information obtained from third-party services for targeted advertising or measurement. If the user chooses not to be tracked, the developer loses access to the IDFA and, according to system rulesnor may you use other personal identifiers for the same purpose. It is a technical cut that simplifies the user’s decision, but has direct consequences on how many applications are monetized. A position of strength in the iOS ecosystem. For the Italian authority, the key is not the subsequent opening of the system, but the situation that existed when ATT began to be applied. During that period, Apple concentrated control over the distribution of iOS apps and over the rules that govern advertising tracking at the system level. From that dominant position, the regulator concludes, the company was able to set conditions that had a competitive impact. All of this, beyond the stated objective of protecting user privacy. The App Tracking Transparency Notice The core of the reproach: “double consent.” The heart of the penalty is how ATT was applied to third-party developers. According to the Italian authorityApple’s screen required a first permit to be requested which, by itself, did not meet all the requirements of European data protection regulations. This forced developers to request a second additional consent for the same advertising purpose. That extra step, the regulator maintains, reduced the probability of acceptance and limited the collection and use of data necessary for personalized advertising. The economic impact is one of the pillars of the file. By increasing the friction of obtaining consent, ATT limited the collection and linking of data used to measure and personalize ads. For the Italian authority, this harmed developers whose business is based on the sale of advertising space and also affected advertisers and intermediation platforms. In the summary of the case, the regulator adds that this design could generate benefits for Apple, both through higher commissions associated with App Store services and the growth of its advertising business. Was there another way to do it? One of the keys to resolution is that the problem is not in the goal, but in the path. The Italian authority claims that Apple could have achieved the same level of privacy protection without requiring duplicate consent requests. Disagreement and notice of appeal. Apple has expressed its disagreement with the resolution of the Italian authority and considers that it does not adequately value the privacy protections provided by ATT. In a statement cited by Reutersthe company insists that the system was created to give users clear control over ad tracking and that its rules apply equally to all developers. The company has also confirmed that it will appeal the fine and that it will maintain its commitment to protecting user privacy. The fine is the result of a long and complex investigation. According to the case summarythe Italian authority opened the file in May 2023 and expanded its scope in October 2024, in coordination with the European Commission, other competition regulators and the national data protection authority. This joint approach underlines that ATT’s analysis was not limited to a single country or a single dimension. Rather, it was approached as a intersection between competition, privacy and the functioning of the digital market. Beyond the announced appeal, the resolution imposes immediate effects. The authority orders Apple to immediately cease the aforementioned conduct and refrain from repeating similar practices in the future. In addition, Apple has 90 days to inform the AGCM how it will comply with those demands. It is not clear, for now, whether this calendar also depends on the appeal process, but the case makes it clear that the debate is no longer just theoretical. Images | Georgiy Lyamin | Screenshot In Xataka | We believed that Microsoft had already put Copilot everywhere. LG shows us that we were very wrong

Telefónica promised great savings by 2030. Its ERE has been negotiated at 2,500 million euros and 4,525 layoffs

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Telefónica and the majority unions UGT, CCOO and Fetico-Sumados have signed the employment regulation file (ERE) that will affect the seven subsidiaries of the group. The minimum volume of departures is set at 4,525 employees, 14 less than initially planned after a last-minute reduction in the divisions of Telefónica Global Solutions, Telefónica Innovación Digital and Telefónica SA As highlighted by CCOO statementthe agreement is reached after almost a month of marathon negotiations, which began in November when the management communicated its intention to carry out the ERE for objective reasons that would affect 6,088 employees. Fewer layoffs than estimated He agreement reached establishes the minimum departure of some 4,525 employees, which represents a reduction of 25.6% compared to the 6,088 dismissals proposed at the beginning of the negotiations. However, this limit only responds at a minimum estimatethe company estimates that finally about 5,500 employees will take voluntary leave. In any case, it is a lower figure than that announced by the operator before the negotiations. The bulk of the adjustment corresponds to the companies covered by the Related Companies Agreement (CEV), with 3,765 minimum departures distributed as follows: 2,925 in Telefónica de España (almost 33% of a workforce of 8,892 people), 720 in Telefónica Móviles (20% of a total of 3,587 employees) and 120 in Telefónica Soluciones (11% of 1,118 workers). In the case of these companies covered by the Related Companies Agreement, the final number of dismissals is not fixed, but depends on the volume of voluntary adhesions, with a range that goes from 3,765 to 5,040 departures. The group’s global units total 585 layoffs. 109 layoffs in Telefónica Global Solutions (17% of the 638 employees), 182 in Digital Innovation (18.3% of 993 employees) and 294 in the TSA parent company (25.3% of 1,160 employees). Added to these figures are 175 departures from Movistar+, which represent 20.3% of its workforce of 860 people, a significant reduction compared to the 297 departures initially planned. Economic conditions and membership requirements Compensation contemplates different sections depending on the year of birth of the workers. Those born between 1969 and 1971 will receive 68% of the regulatory salary until the age of 63 and 38% thereafter, although in Movistar+ those born in 1971 are excluded. For the oldest For those born between 1965 and 1968, the percentages are 62% up to age 63 and 34% thereafter, while those born in 1964 or before will receive 52% of the salary up to age 63 and 35% thereafter. To voluntarily join with these conditions, 15 years of seniority in related subsidiaries and 13 years of seniority in global subsidiaries are required. In addition, the latter include voluntary bonuses of between 5,000 and 18,000 euros depending on seniority, doubling the amounts initially proposed. The departure process will be carried out in a staggered manner depending on the subsidiary. For related subsidiaries, the voluntary departure request period will begin on December 29 and end on January 26, while for global subsidiaries, it will extend from December 29 to January 29. In Movistar+, the voluntary deadline is postponed until January 7 and will be accepted until February 6. Spend to save Telefónica calculates that this ERE will have a cost of about 2,500 million euros before taxes. For Telefónica España and Movistar Plus+ the provision will be around 2.3 billion euros, while for the corporate units it will be approximately 200 million euros respectively. These staff cuts are part of the new Transform & Grow strategic plan of Telefónica for the period 2026-2030, which seeks to save costs up to 3,000 million euros annually in 2030. However, the company estimates annual savings close to 600 million euros from 2028, with a positive impact on cash generation as early as 2026. Simultaneously with the ERE, Telefónica has reached an agreement with the union centers to extend the collective agreements of the seven subsidiaries until 2030. The most significant advance is the commitment to increase salaries 1.5% each year while the agreement is in force, affecting both the related subsidiaries and the global units of Telefónica. Employees of the linked subsidiaries will receive an additional payment of 300 euros in October, of which 150 euros will be consolidated annually in the salary tables. The social benefits include the extension of the teleworking package up to 12 days, the extension of the 36 hour work week to global units, the improvement of bank guarantees for home purchases from 75,000 to 100,000 euros, aid of 3,000 euros for rent and the declaration of December 24 and 31 as non-working days. In Xataka | The best strategies to ask for a salary increase, the negotiation most similar to a “battle” at work Image | Telephone

Samsung’s top mobile phone is the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Now, you can get it with 512 GB and a discount of more than 500 euros

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If you have decided to end the year by renewing your old mobile phone and have thought about a high-end one, this Amazon offer is for you. Now, you can buy Samsung’s top mobile phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultrain its 512 GB per configuration 999 euros. Although, if you want to do without a little memory, the 256 GB model is available at El Corte Inglés with the Galaxy Buds3 Pro headphones for 999.90 euros. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A top mobile at an unbeatable price Although it is true that this Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra It is not a mobile phone with many new features, it does present some improvements compared to its predecessor. One of those most significant improvements is its 6.9-inch anti-glare screen with Quad HD+ resolution. The processor it mounts is the Snapdragon 8 Elitewith 12 GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 512 GB. As for its battery, it supports fast charging and wireless and the autonomy it offers is a day and a half or two days. Its operating system allows updates for seven years and it is a mobile phone full of Artificial intelligence. Another thing it stands out for is its photography section. Mount a triple rear camera with a 200 MP main sensora 10 MP telephoto lens, a 50 MP telephoto lens and a 50 MP ultra wide angle lens. Some accessories that may interest you for this mobile JETech 5 in 1 Case for Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G with 2 Screen Protectors The price could vary. We earn commission from these links JBL Wave Flex 2, Wireless Headphones 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 | Ricardo Aguilar (Xataka) and Samsung In Xataka | Best Samsung phones: which one to buy and recommended models based on budget, tastes and price quality In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes

There are restaurants charging their customers 15 euros when they do not appear in a reservation. And it is a trend that is going more

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“There are people who accept it and people who don’t. Let them make an effort so that we can make it to the end of the month,” comments Danitza Gabriela, Executive Chef of the Manifiesto 13 restaurant, with a laugh, in a video on the channel ‘The Xef in Kitchen‘. It refers to the charging of a fee if someone does not attend a reservation at your restaurant, But although it may seem drastic, it is not a problem that should be laughed at. It is a whole phenomenon baptized as ‘no show‘, and there are already restaurants that are taking measures. For example, charge 15 euros if you don’t show up. He no-show. Also known as ‘ghost reserve’, it is one of the nightmares of the restoration. The name is quite revealing: it is a reservation for a table that, without warning, does not show up at the agreed time. There the restaurant fills its gap, but there are times when it is not possible, leaving holes of hundreds of euros depending on the case. There are situations in which it is inevitable not to show up, even others of greater cause in which the last thing we think about is calling to say that we will not be able to go, but unfortunately it is becoming common in certain cities. Spread booking. Another Anglicism that is easy to understand. In large cities, there are diners who adopt the strategy of making reservations in several restaurants at the same time. This may seem like nonsense, but it makes “sense”: they secure all the options they like and then decide on the fly which one they prefer, not canceling, or not canceling early enough, on the discarded options. Freak. How often this occurs depends on the city. TheFork platform carried out a study on phantom reservations and, according to their analysis, between January and July of this year, there was not a single month in which no-shows accounted for more than 3.4% of the total. Then, it depends on the regions and, as we say, the city. Others studies They point out that, in large cities in the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, the absence rate is around 15%. In the United States and Canada, 20%. 15 euros. According to that same study by The Fork, of the total number of diners who do not attend the reservation, only 38% do so due to last-minute unforeseen events that have prevented them from calling the restaurant. 7% say that they do not notify because they are embarrassed to call and 55% say that they get lost or forget that they had made the reservation. That is precisely what is leading restaurants to take action. We mentioned the words of Danitza, from the Manifiesto 13 restaurant, at the beginning of the article, and the amount they charge for not appearing is 15 euros. He explains it at minute 8:10 of this video: “Every day we call to reconfirm the reservation. We are applying a cancellation policy, only on weekends, because those are the days when we have the most occupancy. It is 15 euros, just so that people have that bit of respect.” Danitza continues by pointing out that “it’s very hard when you’re starting out. If you don’t have a lot of fuss and the table doesn’t come to you, you’ve already prepared… and it’s complicated. There are people who accept it and people who don’t.” At Gordon Ramsay’s, if you don’t cancel at least 48 hours in advance, it’s 150 pounds. Impact. Manifesto 13 is not the only restaurant that applies this. A couple of years ago, Amelia, a restaurant in San Sebastián with two Michelin stars, charged 510 euros for a service not provided to three diners who did not show up. It was a case that came to court after a complaint from one of the customers, and the result was the ruling in favor of the restaurant. Studies indicate that losses due to no-shows can suppose between 5% and 20%, depending on the type of business, and this is what has motivated locals to move tab. For example, with card number like warranty and deposits, as are done in other forms of entertainment and consumption. It has even come to pose the expulsion from the reservation system of clients who accumulate several. Images | Hitesh Dewasi In Xataka | The restaurant with the longest waiting list in the world is not a Michelin star: it is in Bristol and costs €40

up to 200 euros discount on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL

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It may seem like a lie, but there are less than two weeks left until the end of the year. Despite the proximity to 2026, it is still a great time if we are looking to renew our mobile phone and we look for the best of the best. If we are in the position of looking for a new phone and we want the best Android experience, The official Google store makes it a little easier for us: we have a discount of 100 euros for the Google Pixel 10 Pro which makes it available from 999 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links We also have a discount of 200 euros for the Pixel 10 Pro XL This is a very good opportunity that the official Google store offers us. This promo will only be available until January 6 at 11:59 p.m. or while stocks lastwhichever comes first. With it, we have a great phone available like the Pixel 10 Pro at a discount, although, as we will see below, it is not the only phone that is on sale. The Pixel 10 Pro is one of the best devices that 2025 has left us. It is a phone that It does not lack power and performance thanks to the Tensor G5 chip and its 16 GB of RAM. In addition, it has a 6.3-inch OLED screen and a triple camera system that scores well in any scenario. All rounded out with the most polished Android experience ever and seven years of guaranteed updates. It is a round phone in every sense, ideal if we are looking for something high-end but in a compact format. But what if we prefer a larger phone? Then we can jump to the model Pixel 10 Pro XLa device that is also on sale right now in the official Google store: we can get it from 1,099 euros, a discount of 200 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links This version is similar to the Pro model, although it has differences in three key aspects. The most obvious is on the screen, which in this case is 6.8 inches. This change is added to the battery, which in this case is 5,200 mAh (compared to the 4,870 mAh of the Pro model) and which is compatible with 45 W fast charging and 25 W wireless charging. These two changes, however, do not make the device much heavier, since it is barely 25 grams heavier. They are two very interesting phones, so it will depend on our needs or our budget to choose the one that best suits us. What is clear is one thing: either of the two is a top mobile if we look for Android ecosystem and very good features. 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 quality-price mobiles. Their analyzes and videos are here In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes

This does not reach two euros per month and comes with three extra months

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After Black Friday, this pre-Christmas season we are in is one of the times of the year when we most often buy online. The search for the perfect gift is not easy, but having the Internet It allows us to access many different stores to find even original gifts with which to truly surprise. Buying online (like any other online activity) can carry certain risks, especially if it involves stores that we don’t know much about or if we do it on a WiFi network about which we don’t have much information, such as that of a hotel. The simplest way to protect ourselves is by using a VPN and we have quality like Surfshark for very little: only 1.99 euros per month. Surfshark Starter Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A VPN is one of the best tools there is to protect ourselves on the Internet As we usually tell you, a VPN is a very useful tool that never hurts to have installed on our devices (be it a PC, mobile phone or tablet, among others). Maybe at this moment you are wondering if it is worth paying for one if there are free ones and the truth is that yes. Although there are free options, these are not recommended in the long run because They are not as safe as they say they are.. Now, is it worth using it when shopping online? When using a VPN, what we do is pass all our Internet traffic through a secure and encrypted tunnel, so that no one can see what we are doing. Thus, we will protect our transactions and purchases by keeping things like, for example, our credit or debit card safe. The fact of encrypting our Internet traffic is also ideal when using a public WiFi network or some type of establishment, such as a hotel or a shopping center. Plus, with a VPN too we will keep our IP address safewhich can fall into the wrong hands and be used, among many other things, to impersonate our identity. Now let’s talk about Surfshark, which is with its Winter Sale active. Thanks to them, as we said above, we can get hold of it for 1.99 euros per month if we opt for its two-year modality. With it, in addition, we will take three extra months (same as with the rest of the plans). In this way, to sum it up, we would have 27 months of VPN for a total of 47.46 euros. If we are looking for a tool that offers more and we have a larger budget, then we can opt for the plan Surfshark One. This one, which has a price of 2.29 euros per month in its two-year modality, it comes with VPN and other additional tools such as antivirus or an alert system that notifies us if our data is leaked on the Internet. Surfshark One Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Finally, we have to talk about the most powerful plan that this company has, called Surfshark One+. This one, what does it cost? 4.19 euros per month in its two-year modality, includes everything from the previous plan and an exclusive tool called Incogni, thanks to which we have the possibility of delete personal information from databases. Regardless of the plan we choose, we will have more Internet security at a very good price. 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 | Money Knack, Arun Kuchibhotla In Xataka | Why it is dangerous to connect to public Wi-Fi and what you should do to protect yourself In Xataka | Free VPN and security: what’s the problem, why you should be careful

Torrejón de Ardoz has a plan to control his geese, parrots, rabbits and pigeons. One of 150,000 euros

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With bird flu and the african swine fever grabbing headlines, the Torrejón de Ardoz City Council wants to protect itself against “possible health risks”. The City Council is looking for a company to help it “control” the populations of certain wild species that live in the municipality. Specifically, it has focused on four: parrots, Nile geesepigeons and rabbits, although the list can be expanded. It offers interested firms a three-year contract (extendable) with a budget of up to 150,000 euros. Its mission: quantify, control and capture. What has happened? That Torrejón de Ardoz (Community of Madrid) wants to control the wildlife that populates its fields and parks, especially parrots, Nile geese, rabbits and pigeons. “It is necessary to maintain the population and avoid possible risks to health, public safety, maintain environmental health and the ecosystem,” the Consistory states in your ad to attract companies interested in providing the service for three years. The deadline for submitting offers ended in November. Now the Contracting Platform reports that it is in the “evaluation” phase. The budget: a maximum of 150,000 eurosVAT included. But what exactly do you want to do? “Control and manage” the populations of certain species and anticipate possible “unhealth risks” or damage to ecosystems. Hence the focus is on three types of animals that stand out precisely for their ability to expand: “invasive exotic birds” (a category in which the City Council includes the Argentine parrot, Kramer parrot and Nile goose), pigeons and turtledoves and the European rabbit. “This includes any other wild animal that could cause a risk to health, safety and/or ecosystem,” they require from the Consistorywhich leaves pest control, disinfestation and deratization tasks outside the contract. The objective is for the company to carry out an annual “diagnosis” on the situation of these species and carry out health controls. If necessary, it will undertake sampling, analysis and veterinary tests to detect diseases. Just that? No. The documentation of the contest clarifies that, if circumstances demand it, the company will have to carry out work to control wildlife populations, which includes removing nests, controlling eggs, work with compressed air rifles and cages or capturing specimens. In the case of rabbits, the contract states that the company may control them with the help of ferrets and capillos, as long as it meets certain conditions. Captured healthy rabbits will be moved to preserves. When this is not possible, the contract contemplates euthanasia (in compliance with the animal welfare law), just as occurs with geese. One of the conditions placed on companies is that they have agreements with captive breeding and recovery centers. But… Is it so urgent? This is considered by the Madrid City Council, which recalls, for example, that parrots and Nile geese are “exotic species that can become invasive if control is not carried out” on the population. “Therefore, it is necessary to develop this service to reduce its distribution area, reduce the number of specimens or stop its spread,” prevents. About the rabbits, technicians remember that it is a wild species “capable of colonizing urban ecosystems” and that is already causing “damage” in green areas of the city, especially in groves, bushes, meadows and even in irrigation systems and land. “That is why it is necessary to control the population to prevent the increase and severity of damage. In addition, they can pose a risk to public safety and health,” duck. As for pigeons, the City Council recognizes that they are “adapted” to urban life, but their proliferation can cause annoyance and health problems. Images | Wikipedia 1 and 2 In Xataka | Torrejón de Ardoz thought it had found a golden opportunity by hosting the Madrid macro festivals. Now he’s canceling them.

and the gap is 787 euros

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In the middle of the debate on the pension revaluation Looking ahead to 2026, the data show a much starker reality: there is a significant (and growing) gap between the pensions charged in the most industrialized communities and those that are less. With an aging population increasingly dependent on pensions, this gap between territories has become one of the great axes of economic inequality in Spain, to the point that between Vizcaya and Orense there is already almost 800 euros of difference in the average retirement pension. The two Spains in retirement. The Social Security data of November 2025 show that the provinces with higher salaries and a denser industrial fabric also concentrate the highest pensions, while the areas with lower salaries and older people are left behind. Social Security places the average retirement pension in Vizcaya at 1,872 euros per month, while in Orense it remains at 1,085 euros, which represents a gap of 787 euros per month between the province that pays its retirees the best and the one that does the worst. In 14 payments, this difference is equivalent to more than 11,000 euros per year between a pensioner from Biscay and one from Ourense. An upward trend. If we compare these same data with those of the same month As of 2020, the distance between the highest and lowest retirement pensions by province was around 615 euros per month, so in just five years this gap has increased by just over 170 euros per month according to the series from the National Social Security Institute. The data for November 2025 confirm that the Basque Country remains at the top of the retirement pension ranking, accompanied by Navarra, Madrid, Asturias, Aragon, Cantabria, Catalonia and Ceuta, which are above the national average. For their part, Galicia and Extremadura remain in the pension queue, well below the national average. Average Pension by autonomous communities. November 2025. Source: Social Security The weight of salary and the industry. This pension gap It is nothing more than a reflection of the salary situation of each of these communities. The Annual Salary Structure Survey from the INE for 2023 indicates that the average annual salary in the Basque Country was 33,504.92 euros, while in Extremadura it was 23,684.22 euros; The difference is around 41% and indicates that the Basque Country is clearly the community with the highest salaries and Extremadura is the one with the lowest salaries. These territorial differences are not the result of chance, but of type of jobs and salaries that each community has had for decades. The Social Security distribution system itself rewards long careers with high contributions, so that provinces with more industry and high salaries transform that advantage into more generous pensions. They are the same positions that they occupy in the ranking of communities with the highest and lowest pensions given the close relationship between the salaries received by workers, your Social Security contributions and the amount of their pensions. Therefore, those from more industrialized communities that have traditionally paid higher salaries are the ones that now have the highest pensions. An increasingly decisive pension. Given the aging of the population, pensions have already become the main stable income of a growing part of Spanish households, especially in the territories of emptied Spain, with the highest average age. In provinces like Orense or Zamorathe number of pensioners is approaching that of busywhich reflects the extent to which the local economy depends on the money that arrives each month from Social Security. This reality is aggravated in communities with less industrial fabric and worse salarieswhich have average pensions clearly below the national average and negative balances between contributions and benefit income, as occurs in Andalusia, Extremadura or Galicia. In Xataka | Being your own boss has a price: an average retirement pension 657 euros lower than that of employees Image | Unsplash (Val Vesa)

from 30 to 60 euros per month to travel throughout the country

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Almost like Groundhog Day, the announcement of a public transport pass to move around the country hits the headlines. He does so because Pedro Sánchez, in his press conference this morning, announced that in a month this single ticket for all of Spain will be active, which was already advanced in January of this same year and about which there had been no further news. All over Spain. It will be approved in the last Council of Ministers of this year, as Pedro Sánchez has pointed outPresident of the Government, at a press conference this morning. The price will be 60 euros per month but will be reduced to 30 euros for those under 26 years of age. In his presentation, Sánchez confirmed that this pass will be available to travel on Cercanías and Media Distancia trains and on public buses. That is, high speed is out. Some doubts. The Government has indicated that it will be available in “the second half of January” and that it will be used, as we said, for the aforementioned trains and buses. However, in the appearance, Sánchez indicated that “he calls on the Autonomous Communities to progressively join all regional and local public service networks.” What does it mean? Although the Government has to give more details, everything indicates that the holders of these passes will only be able to travel on the Renfe trains that provide public services (including here Cercanías and Media Distancia) and the buses that also provide these public services defined by the State. Therefore, it is not explicitly mentioned but everything indicates that municipal buses or metro or tram services, dependent on the cities or, in any case, on the Autonomous Communities, are excluded from this subscription. The same happens with the bus services provided by the latter. Aids. In his statement, Pedro Sánchez assured that aid for public transport will be maintained. This aid has been active almost all year. They were announced in the last days of 2024 specifying that would cost 1.6 billion euros. A few days after their application, they fell because the Congress of Deputies did not approve an Omnibus Decree which included aid. Weeks later it was approved again after a new negotiation. The point is that the aid was only maintained where the Autonomous Communities and municipalities confirmed that they co-financed the user aid. And the State only maintained the discount on the price of season tickets at 50% if the municipal or regional entity contributed 20% of that reduction. The question is whether these aids will now be part of the negotiation so that the passenger continues to access the discounts. It remains to be seen whether the Government will use it as a pressure measure to get regional or municipal public transport to join the single ticket for all of Spain if they want to continue receiving aid to lower the ticket price for their travelers. Background. Although it has been announced and a specific date has been set for its arrival, it is not the first time that the Government mentions the entry into force of this ticket. In January of this yearÓscar Puente, Minister of Transport, already indicated that the intention in 2025 was to define this new transport pass and have it prepared for its activation in 2026. The measure is no exception in Europe, which has seen how this type of proposals gained strength with the Covid-19 crises and the economic damage caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In Germany this ticket has become available for 9 euros and after dying of success It has ended up settling at 58 euros. Austria has a very similar subscription although in this case there are no restrictions on the chosen means of transport. Its price is 79 euros per month and a subscription of 110 euros/month allows you to travel with up to three children. The main doubts that have been raised with this type of transport passes were collected Financial Times. And it is not entirely clear that increased travel will take drivers off the road. They point out in the economic newspaper that the increase in journeys was due to greater mobility of those who already used the train but that after the first call effect, drivers stayed in their cars. Photo | European Union and Juan Enrique Giraldi In Xataka | The most pacifist city in Germany lived off its legendary train factory. Now they will make it from a gigantic tank factory

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