Seville

The Seville Fair is growing so much that it is no longer just the great macro event in Andalusia: it is the ‘Coachella castiza’

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The Seville Fair wants to grow. And it is understandable. A year ago, when he announced his plans to tug to the fairgrounds, the mayor of Seville already warned that although right now the quote adds up to around a thousand booths There are many other applications waiting. Added to this enormous demand is the tourist success of the event, its ability to attract thousands and thousands of visitors and its economic potential, which translates into a trickle of million euros. There is, however, an even greater merit than Seville can boast: its fair is emerging as the largest macro event of Andalusia, a sort of traditional Coachella that grows while other fairs in the region stagnate or even decay. A ‘pure Coachella’? Yeah. The expression may seem shocking, but saving the obvious distances between the Californian event and the one in Seville, the truth is that both events share some parallels. The first and most obvious are the dates. The second. that both one and the other have become macro events referential, capable of attracting thousands of visitorsgenerate a millionaire business and above all overshadow other quotes of a similar nature. In a way, it also confirms a trend that has been taking shape in a more or less diffuse way in recent years: the festival calendar is polarizing between massive events, such as the April Fair in Seville, capable of attracting crowds and, above all, being promoted thanks to the tourismand others micro events with a much more modest, specialized and local approach. Between both categories there is an increasingly eclipsed dating ‘middle class’. Question of fairs and magnetism. Andalusia leaves a good example of the above. Although many more fairs are held in the region, such as Our Lady of Health in Córdoba (May), the Sherry horse (May), the Corpus Christi of Granada (June), the Malaga fair (August) or Saint Luke of Jaén (October), the one in Seville is probably the one that has achieved the greatest impact. And that is something that can be measured in two ways: through social networks, where it has become an viral phenomenonand in figures of both attendance and business generated. To confirm the first comes with taking a walk through Instagram or TikTok, where the fair has been gaining weight converted into a unifying and touristic event. Beyond the party, for Sevillians it is an opportunity to show their national pride. For those who live far from their cultural code, especially for visitors, it is an exotic event. Question of figures. Regarding the second, the figures are overwhelming. Last year the Seville City Council estimated in 2 billion of euros the economic impact of the fair, a figure largely justified by the high hotel occupancy (and the average price of accommodation) that Seville reaches on those days. Some sources slide This calculation also includes Holy Week, which is celebrated shortly before, but even so the figure is more than considerable. Regarding the volume of visitors, in the last few years The influx at Real de Los Remedios, the place where the fair is held, has been estimated at three million of people. As a reference, in Malaga they calculate that the shows at their fair attracted around 966,000 visitors. The event is in fact so attractive that in Madrid they have already promoted an initiative to organize its own April Fair, a macro event which aims to attract around 800,000 visitors. Fairs that grow… and fall. Aside from the visitor balances, hotel occupancy or business estimates, there is an interesting fact to understand the thrust of the Sevillian fair. Last year the City Council confirmed his plans to give it a ‘growth spurt’, providing the Real de la Feria with new streets and 220 extra booths. The reason? “Currently there are almost a thousand booths and there are another thousand applications from people waiting,” explained the first mayor, José Luis Sanz. The Seville City Council is so determined to undertake the expansion that the project has even caused a little crisis with the Government, owner of the land. The scenario contrasts with that experienced, for example, by the Córdoba Fair, which this year will feature 82 booths. This is relevant information because, as remember theDiaryare four less than in 2025 and mark a historical minimum for the event. New proof that the calendar is increasingly divided between celebrations supported by tourism and others with a more local focus. Images | Laura Liñán Jaén (Flickr) 1 and 2 In Xataka | Recording drunk people at the April Fair has become a tradition. The fines for doing so are not so fun.

NASA chose 34 points around the world to track its lunar mission and only one in Spain. It is in Seville, on a rooftop

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If the weather behaves well and no problemsnext April 1 (early morning on April 2 in Spain) NASA will launch Artemis II. It will be the first manned mission of the Artemis programand in it four astronauts will travel aboard the Orion capsule to orbit around the Moon. during the mission 34 locations spread around the world will track the spacecraft’s radio signals and send their data to NASA. One of these headquarters will be in a special location: the roof of the Higher Technical School of Engineering of the University of Seville. A NASA antenna in Seville. In August 2025, NASA published an open call for third-party organizations to demonstrate their tracking capabilities during an actual manned mission. All types of organizations, agencies and institutions showed up, and even private radio amateurs also did so. Of the 34 selected around the world, the ETSi is the only Spanish center that will participate in this monitoring. The Orbisat system in operation. Source: Integrasys. space roof. It will do so in collaboration with Integrasys, a Spanish company specialized in this field and which has installed its platform on the roof of the ETSi building. Orbisat. This 2.5 meter high system has been developed at its Luxembourg subsidiary and is designed to track space vehicles both during launch and during subsequent operations. Plan B. The ETSi and the Orbisat system will receive the radio signals that the Orion spacecraft emits during its trip, process them and send them in real time to NASA for analysis. The key data they will measure is the Doppler effect of the signal: the variation in frequency of the waves depending on the relative speed between the ship and the antenna. It is a key parameter to determine both the position of the ship and to calculate its trajectory. It should be noted here that this system will not be responsible for the main monitoring, which will be done from the network Deep Space Network from NASA. This monitoring will be complementary and will help the agency evaluate what monitoring capabilities it can use outside of its own infrastructure. It’s a plan B. Why 34 antennas?. This support program responds to a very clear strategy of the space agency: build a public-private space tracking ecosystem that does not depend on its own network. Kevin Coggins, deputy director of the NASA SCaN programhe explained in the official announcement that “it is not about tracking a mission, but rather about building a resilient ecosystem that supports future exploration.” The initiative is an evolution of what was already done in 2022 with Artemis I, when ten volunteers tracked the unmanned mission. On that occasion, data format and quality problems were detected, and for Artemis II, participants have been forced to meet certain standards. An opportunity for Seville and for Integrasys. The Orbisat platform will be installed in Seville permanently, which turns the ETSi into a real monitoring infrastructure and not a one-off collaboration. For the company Integrasys, based in Las Rozas (Madrid), this first direct collaboration with NASA adds to those it already had with the Space Force and the US Space Command. Now it remains to be seen if this serves as a gateway to its participation also in future space missions such as Artemis III, which will land on the lunar surface. The Aerospace Technology Group of the University of Vigo will also participate in monitoring the mission. The students are in luck. The Master in Space Systems Operation at the University of Seville is taught for the first time in this 2025-26 academic year. Students will have direct access to the data generated by Orbisat during the Artemis II missionand with them they will be able to apply orbital determination and trajectory analysis techniques in that real scenario. For them this occasion is special, since they will be able to go beyond the books and have access to the telemetry of a manned spacecraft orbiting the Moon. A much more powerful way to learn, without a doubt. Spain on space map. The network of the 34 selected includes organizations such as the Canadian Space Agency, the German DLR, companies such as Telespazio and universities from Switzerland, Japan and the United States. Seville is on that list along with individual radio amateurs from California or South Dakota, amateur radio organizations such as AMSAT in Argentina or Germany, research centers in Cameroon or New Zealand and professional stations in Norway and the United Kingdom. The conclusion is clear: NASA has here the beginning of what can be a heterogeneous and decentralized network with monitoring capabilities. The Spanish participation on the Artemis II mission, by the way, goes a little furtherbut could go much further even. Image | NASA | ETSi In Xataka | In 2018, Elon Musk put his own car into orbit. Eight years later it is still circling the Earth

Loop Infinito, Xataka’s daily podcast, will record live in Seville on March 19: this is how you can come

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The next March 19, Infinite Loop leaves the usual studio. Within the framework of CTx Techthe great technology event that It is celebrated in Seville on the 19th and 20thI will record a special live episode with Antonio Ortizone of the founders of Xataka and current podcast co-host Stochastic Monkeys. It will be at 8:40 p.m. at the ADA Auditorium. The topic: AI without hype. What is real, what is noise and why it is so difficult to distinguish one from the other. If you are going to be in Seville those days – or if the event itself is reason enough to come – we will be there. CTx Tech brings together more than 400 hours of content and 15,000 expected attendees. Tickets are available at ctx-tech.com. Featured image | Transfers

Participate in our raffle and get two double Experience VIP tickets for the great technology event in Seville

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In just a few days (March 19 and 20) the first edition of CTx Tech in Seville, a great technology, innovation and talent event with more than 400 hours of content that will welcome more than 15,000 attendees. Xataka is the official Media Partner of the event and, to celebrate, we are going to raffle two double Experience VIP tickets for two people and their respective companions. These tickets, valued at 180 euros each, will allow you to make the most of the event and access everything, from the themed hubs to the VIP terrace, including premium and exclusive areas. To be precise, this is all it includes: Full access to the venue during both days. Innovation HUB (thematic agoras, tech, entrepreneurship and innovation). Public & Social HUB (Auditorium of institutional contents). ADA Auditorium with great speakers and star content. General networking within the CTx ecosystem. Access to Investment Hub Thematic Auditorium (investment, AI, tech). VIP terrace with exclusive service. Premium visibility area to the ADA Auditorium. High-level networking with strategic profiles. As is obvious, it is a great opportunity for both technology lovers, entrepreneurs and professionals. And to add something else, on March 19 at 8:40 p.m. in the ADA Auditorium you can attend, if you wish, the live recording of a special program of Infinite Loop with Javier Lacort and Antonio Ortiz, founder of Xataka and co-presenter of Stochastic Monkeys. How to get two double VIP tickets for CTx Tech Image | CTx Tech Participating in the raffle is extremely simple: you simply have to sign up at this form by entering your name, surname and email. It is important to verify that it is written correctly, since it will be that email that we write to in the event of winning. The deadline to participate will end next Tuesday, March 17, at 9:00 Spanish peninsular time. The winners will be chosen at random through EasyPromos, they will receive an email informing them that they have won and must confirm their attendance within 24 hours. If they do not confirm attendance within this period, the tickets will be distributed to the substitutes also chosen at random. To win, in addition to registering correctly on the draw website, you must be of legal age and resident in Spain. There is no geographical limitationso residents of the peninsula, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla will be eligible for tickets. It should be noted that the prize is two double VIP Experience tickets, but travel, accommodation and per diem expenses are not included. That will be in the hands of the attendees. For more details about the procedure you can consult the legal bases of the draw. Images | CTx Tech More information and registration | CTx Tech

On March 19 and 20 we are waiting for you at this enormous event on technology and innovation in Seville

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In just one week, on Thursday March 19 and Friday March 20, the first edition of CTx Techa great event with technology, innovation and talent as the main protagonists of which Xataka is a Media Partner. The event, which has the support of the Junta de Andalucía and the Seville City Council, is not a typical meeting of talks, networking and panels. The organization has opted for an intelligent matchmaking system and personalized agendas, so that every attendee, whether individual or professional, can get the most out of it. For professionals, startups and technology enthusiasts Image | CTx Tech CTx will bring together at the Sevilla TechPark more than 15,000 visitors, more than 1,000 startups250 companies, 200 investment funds and more than 150 international speakers. It is a large-scale event whose content, estimated at more than 400 hours, will be distributed among 11 scenarios, 50 simultaneous events and 5 thematic spaces. Among the topics that will be addressed are the convergence of AI, biotechnology and neurotechnology; quantum computing, real applications of AI and its impact on the industry; cybersecurity and cyberdefense, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, drones, robotics… Whatever field of technology you are interested in, at CTx Tech you will be covered. Among the featured speakers are José Elías (CEO of Audax Renovables), David Carmona (VP of Microsoft), Christine Bjärkby (member of the board of directors of the European Network of Business Angels), Alba Lez (Chief Marketing Officer ofespacio_RES) and creators such as José Luis Crespo (Quantum Fracture) and Carlos Santana (DotCSV). The list of speakers can be found on their websiteas well as the agenda. Join us to record Loop Infinito live Among the many activities that will take place at the event, you can attend the recording of a special edition of Infinite Loop. Our usual presenter, Javier Lacort, will participate in it; and Antonio Ortiz, founder of Xataka and co-host of Monos Stochastics. The title of the podcast will be “AI without the hype” and will last about 30 minutes. During the recording the real state of AI will be addressed without empty promises or catastrophisms. Javier and Antonio will reveal to us what is happening now, what has a real probability of happening before 2029 and what is still science fiction. The coordinates are as follows: Where: ADA Auditorium in Seville TechPark. When: March 19. What time: from 8:40 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. How to participate sImage | CTx Tech Admission to the CTx-Boulevard and Aurora venue is completely free and can be obtained on the event website. The other options vary depending on your profile. You have all the information below and we invite you not to go too far, because Starting tomorrow we will raffle two VIP passes. If you want to attend the talks, the Innovation Hub (thematic areas of technology, entrepreneurship and innovation), the Social Hub (institutional content), the ADA Auditorium with the great speakers and general networking, the ticket you are interested in is CTx Experience. Its price is 20 euros. If you are looking to do business, investment opportunities, networking with more strategic profiles and access to the Investment Hub, it is best to opt for CTx Experience VIP. It is full access to the event, its areas and its possibilities. The price is 180 euros. If you have a startup or are an investor, there are also options for you in the Business and Startups categories. We are waiting for you in Seville and pay attention to Xataka for the ticket draw! More information and registration | CTx Tech

The rain in Seville is wonderful and now it is also converted into energy with the new CSIC solar panels

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If there is a renewable energy that has emerged in recent years, it is solar, as can be seen in this graph of the International Energy Agency. However, solar energy still has its limitations: it requires space (hence there are projects in lakes and in the open sea) and of course, it depends on whether there is sun. Yes, putting batteries can cushion that irregular supply (here Spain is a powerhouse), but a research team from the University of Seville with the CSIC has given a twist to classic photovoltaic panels and now can generate electricity with rain. Context. Solar panels lose effectiveness when full sun does not fall on them, either because there are clouds or it rains. Therefore, the ideal scenario is midday on a sunny day, but spoiler: this happens less times than you need to plug something in. Not to mention devices that need continuous and autonomous energy supply, no matter what happens in the electrical grid. The battery option allows us to satisfy the supply on demand and although now They are at their minimum pricestill involves purchasing another component, considering its useful life and its management as waste. The invention. As explains the CSIChave developed a hybrid device that allows capturing energy from both the sun and rain, and also doing so at the same time. As? With a sheet thinner than a human hair (100 nanometers) superimposed on the solar cells. It works on two fronts at the same time: on the one hand as a protective encapsulant for perovskite solar cells, improving their durability in adverse conditions. On the other hand, as a triboelectric nanogenerator: it converts the impact of raindrops into electricity due to friction. Thus, it is capable of producing up to 110 volts, enough to light LEDs or power sensors. Why is it important. Because if this technology is commercialized, it will open the doors for completely autonomous electronic devices to function without batteries or plugs. This is the case of the implementation of IoT outdoors or in remote areas without access to the electrical grid. It serves as an example of use in applications in rural infrastructure or agriculture, such as environmental sensors, weather stations, urban signage or auxiliary lighting. The innovation is not only generating energy from rain, but integrating it all into a single thin layer that solves the main Achilles heel of perovskite: its environmental degradation. In fact, science had already proven with taurine from octopuses. How have they done it. To carry out this device, they used plasma technology to deposit plasma technology in a similar way to that implemented in mobile screens. For the base, perovskite cells, a material with better efficiency and lower cost than traditional silicon, but fragile under conditions such as humidity. The use of triboelectric materials is not new: a research team from the University of Hong Kong a few years ago something similar occurred to him: the generation of electricity by the simple friction of droplets upon impact, such as static electricity generated by rubbing a balloon. Yes, but. Although technically speaking they have generated electricity, the reality is that it is high voltage but low intensity, which in practice is not even useful for charging a mobile phone. And although the perovskite is reinforced with this sheet, in the long term it is still less durable than silicon, so it still has pending issues. Likewise, there remains the great challenge of leaving the laboratory and validating these experiments in real environments. If production can be scaled to an industrial level, another challenge would arise: keeping costs low. In Xataka | Europe produces more clean electricity than fossil electricity for the first time. The hard part starts now In Xataka | Solar panels have an invisible and very brief moment in which they do not work. And solving it is key to your future Cover | Lara John

Ouigo cancels services between Madrid, Seville and Malaga, with thousands of passengers affected

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Maybe you already had the ticket purchased and your suitcase half packed, or maybe you had taken advantage of one of the recent Pink Days by Ouigo to move between Madrid, Seville or Malaga at a particularly low price. Everything seemed to fall into place until, upon reviewing the trip or receiving a notification, the plan began to go awry without much visible explanation. Traveling at high speed is usually synonymous with predictability, but these days it has become a source of uncertainty for thousands of people. Ouigo has canceled several of its high-speed services during this month of January in the Madrid-Seville and Madrid-Málaga corridors, a decision that the company itself attributes to “operational reasons.” as explained to newspapers such as El País and the world. The cut affects eight daily services from Friday to Monday and six daily services from Tuesday to Thursday on those same routes. The problems would last until January 22, with an estimate of about 15,000 passengers affected. Ouigo’s message to those affected. According to the information provided by the company itself, affected passengers have been informed of the cancellations in advance and have received direct communications about the available options. In these notices, Ouigo proposes two main alternatives: change the ticket for free to another available service or cancel the trip. The company maintains that this decision has been made to guarantee the quality of service during the period affected by operational problems. Those who decide not to relocate their trip and opt for cancellation may also qualify for financial compensation. The amount of this compensation varies depending on the moment in which the cancellation was notified and is between 200% and 50% of the ticket price. The company defends that this scheme aims to cushion the impact of cancellations on travelers. In this framework, Ouigo adds that these compensations “go beyond what is legally required.” What the OCU says. In a statementthe OCU emphasizes that the refund of the ticket must be made by the same means of payment used in the purchase and that accepting a voucher is not mandatory, but a voluntary option. Furthermore, it points out that in certain cases those affected can claim additional compensation for the damages suffered, such as accommodation expenses already paid, lost reservations or tickets to shows that could not be attended, as long as they can prove it with documentation. If the traveler considers that the solution offered is not sufficient, the OCU reminds that there are formal mechanisms to complain to Ouigo. The organization explains that you can submit a complaint form directly on the company’s website, in addition to contacting its customer service by telephone. Specifically, Ouigo provides a toll-free number, +34 900 759 781, and another with a local rate, +34 911 674 583. Ouigo takes it away from you and Renfe gives it to you? Renfe moved quickly on two fronts that were very visible to the traveler. On the one hand, activated special AVLO trains in the Southern corridor to absorb part of the demand, with two additional services between Madrid and Seville, one at 12:00 p.m. and another at 5:17 p.m., both with tickets from 7 euros. On the other hand, he did not waste time telling it on social networks, where he launched direct messages to warn of those alternatives. The company has also indicated that it will reinforce the capacity of its trains if demand demands it in the coming days. Renfe messages in X No statement on Ouigo networks. Beyond the notifications received by those affected, there is a simple check that allows us to better understand the scope of the situation. When reviewing Ouigo’s website During the purchasing process, there is a lower supply of daily services on the Madrid-Seville and Madrid-Málaga corridors, especially on the dates affected by the cuts. On the other hand, according to our review, we have not located specific communications about these cancellations on the website or social networks of Ouigo in Spain (x, Facebook, instagram). What to do if I am one of those affected. The first thing is to check if we have received a cancellation notification and check exactly what affects our trip. From there, it is time to decide between a free ticket change or cancellation and confirm what compensation corresponds to each case. If the cancellation has generated other expenses, it is advisable to gather all the documentation as soon as possible to be able to make a claim and, if we need to travel on those dates, there is no choice but to check what alternatives are still available in the affected corridor. Images | OUIGO In Xataka | I have tried to buy one of the 7 euro Renfe tickets. And Renfe has done Renfe’s

from Barcelona to Seville direct for 22 euros

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Last April, Renfe began operating between Barcelona and Seville with a direct high-speed train. Without transfers, the company connects both cities in just under six hours, making some intermediate stops but offering a service that now does not require transfers. Coinciding with the arrival of the Christmas, Ouigo will also activate this service. In this case with intermediate stops in Zaragoza, Madrid and Córdoba where passengers will be able to get on or leave the train on a route that will last just over six hours but that offers some relevant changes compared to Renfe. Ticket simulation between Barcelona and Seville for 22 euros From Barcelona to Seville… passing through Madrid Starting today, October 23, Ouigo has launched the sale of train tickets between Barcelona and Seville. He has done it with an exit offer that leaves the possibility of covering this entire line for just 22 euros. Prices can reach up to 100 euros on specific days but most of the tickets that have been put on sale currently range between 22 and 55 euros. The exit campaign is very aggressive. It does so to promote a new route that aspires to impact the Andalusian and Catalan corridors. In the latter, Ouigo had gone presence and had focused on the southern areamore sensitive to ticket prices. However, AVLO departure of trains between Madrid and Barcelona It gives a new opportunity to the company that will take advantage of it with a train that leaves the Catalan capital shortly after 7:35 a.m. and arrives in Seville before 1:51 p.m. In six hours and 16 minutes, it is possible to move between both cities at a ridiculous price. At least on the way out. In addition to putting a very attractive connection on the map during vacation times, Ouigo makes its service more efficient since the high-speed train makes previous stops in Zaragoza, Madrid and Córdoba. In fact, this forces the company to lengthen the trip compared to Renfe, which with its direct train connects both cities in less than six hours. Where is the advantage for Ouigo? With this train, Ouigo remains alive in the high speed between Madrid and Barcelona without making a greater effort. However, it may be difficult for Renfe to make its offer between the Catalan and Andalusian cities more profitable because it has options that take less time but at the risk of do not stop in Madrid. In exchange, what is offered with the AVE is a much faster connection. Since this route, which does not pass through Madrid, was launched, you can travel between Barcelona and Seville in five hours and 37 minutes. That is, the AVE takes about 40 minutes less. A new chapter in the high speed battle. While Renfe is committed to joining both cities in the shortest time possible in exchange for raising prices and at the risk of making it more difficult to make the service profitable, Ouigo offers a cheaper option but in which some concessions must be made in terms of the time available. Photo | Tania Mousinho and Pourya Gohari In Xataka | Renfe has found a scapegoat for its problems on the Madrid-Barcelona line: Talgo and its AVRIL trains

In Seville they are cloning voices with AI to beg for money for Bizum

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AI has been able to clone almost perfect voices. What we did not expect is that these types of tools began to be used to cheat a Sevillian brotherhood. The event. The Archbishopric of Seville He has given the alarm to his brotherhoods. The reason: An scam attempt at the Andalusian level in which cloned voices are starting to try to impersonate the bishops. One of the brotherhoods of the capital recently received a call imitating the voice of Monsignor Teodoro Muñoz, one of the auxiliary bishops. The request. In Xataka we have been able to talk to the brotherhood, and confirm that the request was the most rocambolesco. He called the brotherhood posing as the bishop. A certain amount of money was requested through Bizum. The petition was justified to pay a succession tax necessary for the Brotherhood to collect an inheritance The voice. As the brotherhood explains, the voice was “a practically perfect clone.” In addition, it was not a voice recording, the interlocutor was talking to the auxiliary bishop until he hung after his refusal to access the required payment. It is not an isolated case. In February 2024, Jaén today echoed of an identical event. A fortnight of convents of the province received at the beginning of the year called in which he claimed to be the bishop, also requiring an economic amount in this case to help the bishopric. The new Timo del CEO. Hyperrealist scams are not new. In fact, We have spent more than four years talking about them. The Zendal Pharmaceutical Group was the victim of a scam worth 9 million euros in 2020. In this case there was not even an implementation of AI: someone passed through the head of the company by email requesting high -value transfers. With the rise of artificial intelligence tools, Scams with cloned voices are increasingly frequent. These tools allow not only to create recordings with the simulated voice, but to imitate it in real time, making the even more realistic call. Suspect, always suspect. Differentiate what is AI and what is not increasingly complicatedso the biggest protective factor will always be suspicion. If money is requested. If personal data is requested. If it does not fit the least. Hanging. Image | Archdiocese of Seville and Xataka In Xataka | “People want something more intimate and emotional”: Christian baptisms have found relief in Spain, civil christening

Seville wanted more security in its streets at night. So he has recovered an old figure: the serene

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In many towns and cities of Spain, serene are a I remember distanta another time figure that he was in charge of around night through the streets while the rest of the neighbors rested in their beds. In Seville no. There the City Council decided to recover them to late 2023 And the experience has been good enough so that now, once that test is over, he has decided to return big, with more personal, more hours and covering more neighborhoods. Its mission will not consist of replacing the police, but in something much more interesting: demonstrating that serene can fit in the 21st century. What happened? That Seville wants that at night its streets are monitored by a figure that has disappeared in most towns and cities of the country: the serene. And he wants to do it big, in addition, dedicating considerable investment to the program (around 2.6 million euros) so that the guards can cover a large part of the Hispanic capital during every night of the year. Why do you do it? It may be shocking at a time when cities are already controlled by municipal agents and other agencies responsible for ensuring the safety of neighbors and businesses, such as the National Police, the Civil Guard or 112; But Seville acts with knowledge of cause. The Consistory already launched a program with “civic agents” to late 2023a service that worked for months and gave such good results that He wants to consolidate it. What do they do? The Hispanic City Council It makes it clear: The serene figure is not intended to replace the Polysa. On the contrary. His mission is to complement the work of the agents, inform neighbors and tourists, mediate in conflicts, accompany people who may need it, such as the elderly, dependent people or lost visitors, notify problems in urban furniture and alert the Cecop (Operational Coordination Center) Before emergencies. They are a “first proximity front”, In words of the Consistory. Their first year of operation gives a clear clue what the serene can contribute. In just one year they gave almost 500 notices To the CECOP room to inform open shops, problems with lighting, robberies, fires or medical emergencies. In Seville they have accompanied people at night, advising, mediating in the attention to homeless people and even provided “Preventive Protection” to a clerk before a case of harassment. And what does the City Council think? Its mayor, José Luis Sanz Ruiz, I made it clear This week when announcing the commitment redoubled by the serene: “we launched a pilot project in 12 neighborhoods of the historic center and the balance was quite positive. It has achieved a better coexistence, more security for neighbors and better job opportunities for hired people.” That first test was in fact launched as part of a public employment plan that ended Last December Without option In extension. Hence, now the Consistory has tendered a contract for the service to assume a company As of Octoberbetween the 1st of that month and on September 30 of the next year, although the sheet contemplates that the contract can be extended. What will the service be like now? Much more ambitious. If the pilot project had 18 “civic agents” and two coordinators, the new service will expand its seedling until adding 36 agents and two coordinators. This increase will also allow them to expand the Seville area that supervise: of the 12 neighborhoods planned in the 2023 plan, it will be passed to 26 zones. As for the schedule, the serene will be in charge of making rounds from 23.00 to 7.00 h 365 days a year, an hour more than before. That increase is possible thanks to a greater economic effort of the institution. The pilot program was financed by 725,800 euros. Now the investment is triggered to rise to 2.6 million euros. In that amount, They clarify at the City Councilthe salaries of the agents and the material they use, from geolocation devices to the clothes that identify them as serene are included. Are they exclusive to Seville? No. Although Seville has stood out for his commitment to the “civic agents” is not the only town in Spain that keeps serene. His figure has also recovered in Several municipalities Catalans Another example is Gijónwhat are you doing More than 25 years He decided to recover them to make rounds through the streets of the city from entrance at night and to the early morning. His work is very similar to that of his colleagues Sevillians: they help neighbors, merchants and tourists, prove that urban and lighting furniture is in good condition, they inform and warn the police in cases of robberies. Images | Seville City Council and Andrea Leopardi (UNSPLASH) In Xataka | A richer, more live years: the two neighborhoods of Seville that illustrate inequality in life expectancy

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