Spain

There are drone factories in Europe, and Spain is on the list

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Possibly, the case of the oil tankers is one of the clearest examples of how wars work. In 2019, several were attacked in the Gulf of Oman hundreds of kilometers from any declared front, in an area where, on paper, there was no open war. That episode made it clear that modern conflicts no visible lines needed To expand: simply point to a point on the map to make it part of the board. A war that changes the map. Russia ends to take a step more in the Ukrainian war by moving the conflict from the front to a much broader map that includes directly European territory. It has done so through the Ministry of Defense, publishing detailed lists with names and addresses of companies linked to the production of drones for kyiv. Where? Cities appear on that map like London, Munich or Madridwhich transforms industrial infrastructures into possible military objectives in official Russian discourse. This movement is not only symbolic, but redefines the space of the war: it is no longer limited to Ukraine, but draws a network of nodes in Europe that Moscow presents as an active part of the conflict. Europe enters the military equation. Moscow’s message is clear: increase production and supply of drones to Ukraine is equivalent to getting directly involved in the war. From that perspective, countries like Germany, Belgium or Spain appear in this industrial ecosystem that combines local companies with Ukrainian technology, which reinforces the idea of ​​increasingly closer cooperation. This industrial network not only seeks to sustain the Ukrainian war effort, but also shows how Europe is going from being logistical support to becoming in structural piece of the conflict, something that Russia appears to be using as an argument to justify its rhetorical escalation. First six factories on Russia’s threat list From factories to potential objects. Plus: publishing specific brand addresses a turning point in the war conflict, because it turns civil spaces in the heart of Europe into potential targets within the Russian narrative. In fact, figures like Dmitry Medvedev have reinforced this idea by openly qualifying these lists as possible targets for the Russian armed forces, although without announcing imminent actions. If you like, this type of message, halfway between a warning and a threat, seems to point to generate pressure both on European governments and on their own societies, introducing the idea of ​​direct vulnerability within their borders. Spain inside the board. As we said, among the locations indicated by Moscow Madrid appearswhich places Spain within that expanded map of the conflict that Russia has decided to make public. This is not necessarily an immediate target, of course, but a significant inclusion in a list that redefines who is part of the war effort from the Russian perspective. This also reflects the extent to which war has evolved into a industrial and technological dimension in which the countries that participate in the supply chain, even indirectly, become considered relevant actors. More rhetorical than operational (for now). Be that as it may, and despite the threatening tonethese types of movements fit into a strategy that Russia has used on a recurring basis: public warnings or threats designed to deter without yet crossing the threshold of a direct attack against NATO territory. However, the context has changed, and the combination of greater European involvement, multi-billion dollar defense agreements and technological cooperation means that these warnings have a different weight. The key is that the conflict is no longer only fought with missiles and troops, but also with maps, lists and narratives that expand its borders without having to fire a single shot. Image | Sasha Maksymenko In Xataka | Russia is no longer surrendering to Ukrainian soldiers, but to machines: the rules of war are being redefined In Xataka | Europe has its particular “strait of Hormuz” and the war in Ukraine has put it at the center: the Gulf of Finland

The “bubble” of the eclipse parties reaches Spain and Iceland

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Next August 12 a long-awaited phenomenon will take place: the first of the three eclipses that make up what many have already dubbed the Iberian trio. In three consecutive years, a solar eclipse will be seen from Spain. Those of 2026 and 2027 will be total eclipses, while that of 2028 will be annular. Be that as it may, it is a statistically improbable event, which excites both astronomy lovers and the general population. That’s why many people have chosen to see it at such imaginative events as music and art festivals designed around the eclipse. The eclipses will not be seen equally in all parts of Spain. For example, in 2026 totality will only be reached in a strip that goes from the north of Galicia to almost all of the Balearic Islands, passing through Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the north of Castilla y León and the Valencian Community, La Rioja, and a part of the Basque Country, Navarra, Madrid, Aragon, Catalonia and Castilla la Mancha. In the rest of Spain it will be seen only partially. Therefore, since the famous sunset of solar eclipses will only be experienced in places where totality is reached, Many of the lucky localities are already preparing events to welcome the eclipse. These are events for the local population, but also for tourists. The emptied Spain will be less empty than ever and tourists will forget about the most typical destinations for a few days to travel to places to which they perhaps would not have traveled under other circumstances. Many hotels have been there for months due to the influx of people who will travel to observe the eclipse outdoors, without many more pretensions. However, there are also those who plan to attend what is possibly the most special festival of their lives. The most unexpected festivals around the eclipse The 2026 eclipse won’t be too long. In Spain, the places where totality lasts the longest They will barely enjoy more than a minute of darkness. Still, multi-day festivals have been planned, with musical performances, scientific talks, workshops and, of course, viewing the eclipse at the appropriate time. These are some of the most striking. Eclipse Festival, in Prades. In this town of Tarragona you will only enjoy 51 seconds of totality. Even so, between August 10 and 13 its Astronomical Park will celebrate a festival with music, workshops, conferences, observations, shows, telescopes and a planetarium. It will also be an ideal time to observe the Perseids. EclipsaFest, in Aldea Santillana. This small village in the also small town of Manjirón, in Madrid, will have 1 minute and 15 seconds of totality. In your case it will be a simpler observation, without the rest of the incentives of a festival, but it will very big. It will only be held on August 12 and admission will cost 147 euros for adults and 117 for children, with a welcome pack that includes glasses and the possibility of guided observation. Playabout Radio Festivalin Ibiza. In Ibiza they will have 1 minute and 6 seconds of eclipse and They will celebrate it as they know best. Accompanied by house and techno music, which will last from August 10 to 14. Umbra Festival, in Agolada. This town in Pontevedra will take advantage of the Brocos Reservoir, which is actually a reservoir, to celebrate a 3 day festival in which visitors will enjoy techno and minimalist music. Of course, also the eclipse, although in this case totality will be fleeting, lasting only 34 seconds. Admission costs 62 euros. Iberia Eclipse Festival, in Vinuesa. In Soria, next to the Duero River, this festival will be celebrated which will consist of four scenarios spread across the hillside and the forest, as well as a camping area and pre-installed tents. For 5 days, attendees, who will have paid an entrance fee of 240 euros, will enjoy music, workshops and a wellness area, which will include yoga, meditation, massages, swimming experiences in nature and art exhibitions. Astral Plane, at the La Pinilla Mountain Station. In this Segovian station you will enjoy the minute and a half of totality in the middle of a set by Detroit techno artist Kevin Saunderson. Admission costs 175 euros. Sizigia Eclipse Meeting, in Alcalá de Gurrea. This town in Huesca has also chosen a reservoir to observe the eclipse in its vicinity, whose totality will last only 40 seconds. Even so, attendees will enjoy 5 days of underground music, among other activities. Admission costs 262 euros, and with an extra fee you can add accommodation in a tipi camp. Also in Iceland Iceland will have its own eclipse viewing events. There, in fact, there will be points where totality can be seen for more than 2 minutes. But perhaps because the weather is less favorable or because Icelanders have a less festive spirit, there will not be as many options to choose from. Some of the most interesting will be the hellissander festivalwhich will include live music and TED talks, and the Grindavíkurbær Blue Lagoonwhich will be held in a spa. Attendees will be able to see the eclipse in an idyllic setting, but they will have to pay 750 euros. The price includes a two-course meal, two drinks, a robe, towel and glasses to view the eclipse. Seeing this, Spanish festivals even seem cheap. Image | NASA and Alfonso Scarpa In Xataka | The trio of eclipses that await Spain on the horizon: an unprecedented and historic chain between 2026 and 2028

While half the world wants to distance itself commercially from China, there is a country that is increasingly doing just the opposite: Spain

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Pedro Sanchez Yesterday he took a selfie with the CEO of Xiaomi as part of his official visit to China. In it he has taken advantage of visit also Tsinghua University in BeijingAI talent pool— and of course for meet with the president of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. But what this official visit tells us is something important about Spain and Europe: we want to depend less on China, but the data says that we are becoming more dependent. The narrative of decoupling. The discourse that we are seeing in general media or in news programs on television networks is usually the same: The West is reducing its dependence on China. There is talk about how supply chains are diversifying or how geopolitics are reordering global trade. Although the message is coherent and is usually supported by European and North American leaders, the reality is different. The numbers simply do not match. The data that dismantles everything. Between 2014 and 2024, EU imports from China increased by 101.9%, while European exports to China grew by only 47%. The relationship between both economic powers is not cooling, but quite the opposite: it is intensifying and, furthermore, becoming unbalanced. In 2024, the EU exported goods worth 213.3 billion euros to China, and imported 517.8 billion euros with a trade deficit of 304.5 billion euros. China remains by far the largest supplier to the EU and represents 21.3% of all extra-EU imports. Behind her are the US with 13.7% and the United Kingdom with 6.8%. Who “buys” more. The three largest importers of Chinese products within the EU in 2024 were Netherlands (109 billion euros), Germany (96 billion) and Italy (50 billion). The only countries with a trade surplus with China in the EU were Ireland and Luxembourg. The case of Germany is paradoxical, because this country leads this discourse of “reducing strategic dependencies”, but at the same time it is the second largest European buyer of Chinese products. One thing is the political message, and another is the commercial reality. Spain has a deficit, but it doesn’t seem to matter. The case of Spain is also special not because of the figures, but because of how it communicates them. In 2024, Spain imported Chinese goods worth 45,174 million euros, only behind Germany. What is striking is that the trade deficit of this exchange was enormous for Spain: 37,706 million, because Spanish exports to China were 7,467 million euros. That is to say: Spain buys China almost seven times more than what it sells. In 2025, imports grew even more, to 50.25 billion euros, but Spain’s discourse is not that of Germany: it does not seem to have any problem with increasing this commercial dependence. The Bank of Spain warns. The products most imported from China were industrial machinery, telecommunications equipment and motors, that is, goods that feed Spanish production. The Bank of Spain warned in 2024 that China is the great commercial weak point for both Spain and the EU. It is due to the volume of imports as well as their concentration and nature. The problem is that this dependency cannot be resolved with speeches: we would need alternative supply chains that are not being created at the moment, at least on the scale necessary to reduce this strategic dependency. Four visits in four years. Pedro Sánchez has visited China in March 2023, September 2024, April 2025 and April 2026. No other European leader has visited the Asian giant with that frequency in this period. It is true that all the presidents of the Government since Felipe González have traveled to China at least once, but none had done so four years in a row. Zapatero also made four trips, but he made them between 2005 and 2011. What Sánchez has done has no Spanish or European precedents. But Europe also builds ties with China. This movement towards rapprochement with China in 2025 and 2026 is not exclusive to Spain. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have visited China in recent months. All these movements are a clear consequence of the tariffs that Donald Trump activated in 2025 and that have accelerated this European conversation about the need to reduce dependence on Washington. Which difference to Spain from the rest of its European partners is that he has been forging that alliance for years. Many visits, but the deficit grows. Although the relations between China and Spain are notable, the trade deficit has been at historic highs for years and Pedro Sánchez’s visits have not only failed to correct them, but have aggravated them. What grows with each trip are the cooperation agreements or investment statements in renewable energy, but that still does not affect the short-term trade imbalance. Not only that: while Spain sells to China automotive components, chemicals or serrano hamChina sells to us our industrial future. There is an asymmetry not only of volume, but also of structure. To reduce strategic dependence, nothing. The conclusion after analyzing the data is uncomfortable. The rhetoric of decoupling, digital sovereignty and the reduction of strategic dependence collide head-on with that commercial reality in which Europe imports products from China as if there were no tomorrow. The difference between Spain and the rest of Europe is that Spain does not maintain this fiction of distance, and this “honesty” may have strategic value. We will see if that ends up serving to reduce the enormous trade deficit with China. In Xataka | We thought that US tariffs would prohibit Chinese cars from entering. BYD wants to challenge them

In Spain we love to have dinner at ten at night. To our biological clock and our heart, not so much

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Eating dinner at 9 or 10 at night is something that is quite normal for Spaniards, but seen by foreigners, it is something that shocks them quite a bit as it is so different from the customs of other countries. And although our normality is to eat at three in the afternoon and dinner at ten at nightthe reality is that our biological clock is not designed to digest large amounts of food when the sun has already set. Time matters. Although in recent years we have been obsessed with looking at the ingredients of what we eat or the amount of calories it contains, the reality is that science gives more and more importance to consumption. This is where chrononutrition comes from, an emerging discipline that studies the relationship between circadian cycles and our diet, and that little by little is seeing that eating late dinners has a direct impact on our metabolic health. our quality of sleep and our risk cardiovascular. The biological clock. Our body works like an orchestra perfectly synchronized by circadian rhythmsand leaving them has serious consequences. We see it, for example, with the famous jet lagthe time change or even when we go to bed at a time that is not ours. The result is that the body has to recover again and has important effects, such as great fatigue. In the case of eating at odd hours, especially at dinner, we are desynchronizing the peripheral clocks that the cells of organs as important as the pancreas or liver have. And this results in a drastic worsening of glucose tolerance and also insulin secretion. Its effect. And it has consequences, since when we eat dinner close to our biological bedtime, that is, when the sun is setting, the body reduces the consumption of nocturnal fats and there is also a large release of cortisol, which is the stress hormone, and the release of melatonin, which is essential for falling asleep, is delayed. This is something that became clear in a 2025 meta-analysis, where it is detailed that eating after nine at night worsens the rhythms of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which not only has a metabolic impact, but also an emotional one, increasing the risk of depression. The Spanish case. If we focus precisely on our country, we have as a reference the study led by the ISGlobal institute that analyzed to 100,000 participants of the NutriNet-Santé cohort. Here it was concluded that dining after 9 pm is associated with a greater cardiovascular risk, especially impacting the risk of cerebrovascular disease in women. In the case of weight. If you want to lose weight, dinner time also has a lot of influence, as noted in a study by researcher Marta Garaulet that showed that people who eat later at midday lose less weight than those who eat early, even when they consume the same calories and expend the same amount of energy and sleep the same amount. Added to this are studies in Catalan adults that associate the delay of the first meal of the day with a higher BMIwhile extending overnight fasting is related to a lower BMI. Beyond the scale. Although we may keep in mind the impact on digestion, the reality is that studies suggest that having late meal times is related to poorer quality of sleep. This was seen in the United States, where science pointed out that in middle-aged women it has been proven that bringing dinner time closer to bedtime prolongs the time it takes to fall asleep, therefore shortening the effective duration of rest. And as we already know, having poor quality sleep generates many other problems, such as a worse cardiometabolic profile, which generates a true vicious circle. Its nuances. Logically, having a late dinner alone does not explain the state of health of the Spanish population, since the context has a lot of influence. This is where the traditional Spanish Mediterranean diet comes in, which makes dinners later meals, but also much lighter, leaving the main energy weight for the midday meal. That is why you should keep in mind that a late, copious and ultra-processed dinner followed by a trip straight to bed is not the same as a light dinner accompanied by some physical activity before going to sleep. Even so, science suggests that, if the objective is to reduce metabolic risk, improve carbohydrate metabolism and lose weight, the winning strategy involves advance dinner time and maintain a longer overnight fasting window. Images | Eiliev Aceron Shane In Xataka | Healthy obesity does not exist: why “being fat but fit” is nothing more than a myth

Two gigantic submarine cables between Spain and Italy, among the large European electrical interconnection projects

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The European Union is immersed in a full energy transformation at two levels: the transition towards renewable sources and a structural change deep, so that success depends less on each country’s individual generation and more on the ability to move that energy efficiently across borders. In this framework, the European Network of Electricity Transmission Network Operators (ENTSO-E) works on a continental grid that eliminates technical bottlenecks. An example: the energy island called the Iberian Peninsula. The objective is for energy to flow from areas with surplus to others with deficit, preventing it from being trapped without a commercial outlet due to lack of transportation capacity. With that logic, the ENTSO-E just published its complete portfolio of the Ten-Year Network Development Plan 2026 with almost 200 transmission projects, 22 of them completely new. Among these novelties there are two particularly important for the Iberian Peninsula: they connect Spain with Italy. The cables. Apollo Link and Iberia Link are two high-voltage direct current submarine cable projects that would cross the Mediterranean to connect the Iberian Peninsula with northern Italy. They are independent of each other but share the same mission: to create a direct electric highway between an area with great renewable generation capacity such as Spain and one of the industrial regions with the highest electricity consumption in Europe, northern Italy. None of the projects has support from the transport network operators of each state, Red Eléctrica and Terna, respectively, but rather They are initiatives of private investors of Italian origin whose identity has not been revealed. Why is it important. The emerging continental grid is vital for the decarbonization of the continent as it allows the full use of renewable energy surpluses: Spain is one of the leaders in solar and wind energy (Italy stands out in solar, but not so much in wind) and this interconnection makes it possible that when there is excess production in the Iberian Peninsula, that clean energy can supply Italian demand instead of being left without a commercial outlet due to lack of transport capacity. The foreseeable net flow would be predominantly from west to east, although the connection would also allow energy to be imported from Italy in times of shortage on the Peninsula. But for the Iberian Peninsula it is even more relevant: this future east-west corridor allows its surpluses to be evacuated to the rest of Europe, thus ending its limited interconnection capacity. And also something essential: this connection provides security of supply (as evidenced the blackout) and the possibility of coupling markets to reduce electricity prices for the final consumer. Context. The Iberian Peninsula is considered an energy island within Europe. Its interconnection capacity with France round 3,000 MW, far below of the 15% target of installed capacity established by European regulations. And this has consequences: in times of high renewable generation, prices become negative within the peninsula and surplus energy cannot be exported. In times of scarcity, it cannot be easily imported either. This is just one of the projects that seek to end the energy isolation of the peninsula: they are also on the table the Bay of Biscay submarine cable planned for 2028 and included in all PCI lists since 2013. And under construction is a new northern interconnection of Portugal with Galicia which will add an extra 1,000 MW of exchange capacity. On the other hand, the trans-Pyrenean projects in Navarra and Aragon they are still blocked and with no date on the horizon to unclog them. Retail. Some technical curiosities of both cables: Apollo Link is the more ambitious of the two. It consists of an interconnection between Spain and northern Italy with a capacity of 2 GW planned to enter service in 2032. It would implement the most modern standard for long-distance underwater transmission for bidirectional control and minimize losses, bipolar HVDC technology with VSC converters. It would operate with the standard adopted by the European industry of 525 kV, facilitating interoperability. Its capacity allows it to supply several million homes. According to its promoters, it would generate more than 300 million euros annually in net social benefits. Iberia Link shares the same technology and operating voltage, but has a lower capacity: 1.2 GW. What distinguishes it is its length: 1,034 kilometers of submarine cable between southern Spain and northern Italy, which would make it one of the longest underwater electrical links in the world. It has no published entry into service date. Specifications of both cables. TYNDP map Yes, but. That they are included in the TYNDP 2026 is the prerequisite to qualify for the status of Project of Common Interest that opens the doors to community financing and an accelerated regulatory framework, but for the moment the situation of both is “under consideration”, which means that they are in the study phase and do not yet have European regulatory approval: they will have to pass the cost-benefit analyzes of the ENTSO-E to take the first step to materialize (we will know in the last quarter of 2026). And furthermore, they do not have the support of state operators, nor permits or approved layout because they are in preliminary phases. Likewise, the history of blocking similar projects invites caution. But even if they became a reality, these projects would only partially mitigate the electrical isolation of the peninsula: they are only 3.2GW of the 10-15GW of total interconnection necessary to truly influence the European market. In Xataka | The submarine cables belonged to the teleoperators, and now the big technology companies are controlling them In Xataka | The first great Atlantic submarine cable that connected us to the internet says goodbye for a simple reason: it was too expensive to repair it Cover | ENTSOE

Laurance Li, CEO of Honor Spain

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Laurance Li is a reference within the mobile telephone sector. He started working for Huawei in Shenzhen in 2008 and has been in the industry since then: first linked to Huawei especially in Mexico and then, starting in 2021, already in Honor. He has experienced from the inside the rise of smartphones, the changes between 2G and 5G and much, much more. On the occasion of the MWC we were able to sit down and talk to him, and the truth is that he is quite clear about where he is going to go. the present and also the future of the smartphone. You can innovate in mobile phones in 2026 Honor may currently be the brand that is experimenting the most with new mobile device formats. For years they have been fighting to lead the folding category, and this MWC they surprised everyone with the Honor Robot Phone. Honor Robot Phone in an image taken during its presentation at MWC Although the most striking thing about the phone is that camera that is “stored” in the back and unfolds, for the CEO of Honor Spain this new type of device is very relevant because They will change the way we communicate with the phone. On the Honor Robot Phone, the camera responds to you, looks at you, reacts to your requests. “There will be communication with you, excitement.” Beyond phones with robotic arms, Honor has been betting on folding phones for some time. In 2023 I visited their factories in Shenzhen and from then on it was one of its main strategic priorities, and the arrival of the Honor Magic V6 comes to endorse it: thinner and with more battery than ever. A foldable that doesn’t look like a foldable from the outside. “I think folding phones are going to be the future,” he says convinced. For now, he believes that many people are not daring to take the leap because of the cost, but he believes that this will change. Honor’s plan to convince people to make that leap? Paradoxically, it happens, in part, through the iPhone and its users: it is no coincidence that in their MWC presentation they spent some time explaining all the compatibility between the iPhone and the Honor ecosystem. “Some iPhone users want to switch, but they can’t because of the ecosystem.” These types of initiatives open the door to more users: “more and more users will choose foldable devices.” “I want to change their minds, but step by step. Apple users can use Android devices and other devices,” he adds. The importance of operators and stores in the present and future of Honor Finding a place in an already complex and competitive market like the Spanish one is not easy, and Honor knows it. It is no coincidence that when we asked how 2025 has gone, much of the conversation focused on highlighting how Honor is growing with some of its great allies. According to figures that Laurance Li shared with us, with MasOrange they have “more than 8% of the smartphone market share.” The figure grows, according to the executive, up to 20% if we talk about tablets sold through the operator. Together with Vodafone, it claims to have “800 points of sale” in which Honor as a brand has direct contact with the consumer. This year they have started working with MediaMarkt. Despite not yet being present in all MediaMarkt stores, 8% of smartphone sales went to Honor and, if we talk about tablets, the figure grew to 10%, according to their figures. They continue working with El Corte Inglés, and it is not strange to go to a store and see a counter decorated with their brand. “It has been a good 2025,” Li summarized when he shared the figures with us. Its goal for the future is to strengthen its presence in these distributors and work more closely with them, but also to look for new partners with whom to continue growing. In terms of market share, Honor ended 2025 growing 18% in Europe compared to the previous year, according to figures from Counterpoint Researchranking as the fourth brand with 4%. Ahead, Apple with 33%, Samsung with 29% and Xiaomi with 6%. In other rankings, however, it appears in fifth place: in Omdia They place Motorola ahead in fourth position. The big question: prices in 2026 It is impossible to talk about mobile phones in 2026 and not talk about the big question: what is going to happen to the shortage of components? In reality… it is impossible to talk about any consumer device and not ask this same question. We have told it ad nauseam: it is not only the RAM crisisbut the crisis of components in general sponsored by the massive proliferation of data centers to serve AI. “This is the biggest challenge in the last 20 years for the phone industry,” Li tells us convinced. On the one hand, he sees it as a way to confirm that Honor’s strategy with Alpha and its plan focused on artificial intelligence is on the right track. On the other hand, it confirms what we have already seen: “increasing the cost of memory will greatly affect entry-level devices.” That is why its strategy involves focusing more on mid-range devices onwards. On these phones “it will impact, but not as much”, as the cost of memory is lower in proportion to the rest of the phone. Where is the mobile phone industry going? Sitting down with Laurance Li to talk is like sitting down with someone who has witnessed firsthand all the changes in the telephone industry. I can’t help but ask you what you think is going to happen next, what you think is going to happen to the current smartphone industry. “We have had different revolutions,” he explains. “2G to 3G, 3G to 4G, 4G to 5G. From 2G to 3G was a big leap for video conferencing, for video calls. From 3G to 4G was … Read more

In 1599 someone wrote down how tortillas were made in Spain. And settles once and for all the debate between “con and sincebollistas”

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Whoever writes this (honesty above all) is a sincebollist unredeemedone of many supporters of the firm conviction that the Spanish tortilla should not contain onion under any circumstances. Having said that, I have to admit the following: if there is an ingredient that can claim its historical place in the national omelet, in addition to eggs, it is the onion. Even before the oil or the potato. And not only because the latter did not reach Europe until well entered the 16th century. Long before the Spaniards even became familiar with what a potato was, they were already feasting on onions and eggs, without the need for any tuberculous seasoning. In fact, it took centuries for the potato to join the party. “Of the art of cooking”. Jesús Munárriz said that “it’s all in the books”. That (pardon the redundancy) is applicable to everything, from history to science, through human passions, religion, geography and of course gastronomy. A few weeks ago, coinciding with Tortilla Day (March 9), the Royal Academy (RAE) wanted to remind us on Instagram dusting off an old book that reveals how our 16th century ancestors ate. The work in question is titled ‘Book of kitchen art’ and basically it is a recipe book from 1599 in which culinary techniques, advice on food and drink and the secrets of the jobs of butler, maître, waiter, carver or cook are detailed. Some recipes for meat and fish are also included. The work is interesting both for its age and content and for its author. As remember The Royal Academy of Gastronomy was written by none other than Diego Granado Maldonado, the head chef of Philip III himself. And are you talking about tortillas? Yes. Although probably the tortillas that Diego Granado tells us about are not similar to that pincho that you usually have with beer. What Felipe III’s chef does is explain how to make a juicy omelet using eggs, bacon, cheese, cinnamon… and (exactly) onion. “Ten fresh eggs are enough and you have six ounces of streaky bacon cut into cubes, and three ounces of onion that has been cooked in the embers of the embers, and finely chopped, and fried with melted lardo, and with the bacon cut, put with the eggs three ounces of buttery cheese, half an ounce between pepper and cinnamon, and finely chopped herbs, and put everything in the pan where the bacon and onion are, and make the tortilla, and serve hot with orange juice on top. Later the cook clarify including how to make a double 14-egg omelet or even other options of up to 15 eggs with salted pork jowl, cheese and breadcrumbs. In the latter case, many of the original ingredients vary, but the basics are repeated: eggs and finely chopped onions. The ‘pre-patatil’ era. Curiosities aside, Granado’s book is interesting because it shows us how the Spanish ate (and prepared tortillas) long before potato consumption spread throughout Europe. After all, humans have been familiar with this tuber for millennia, but its popularization on the old continent is relatively recent. Although it is believed that the potato began to be cultivated ago 8,000 years in the Andes mountain range did not make the leap to the other shore of the Atlantic until late in the 16ththanks largely to the soldiers of Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. No love at first sight. Today it may seem incredible to us that our ancestors 500 years ago did not succumb to the delights of good roast potatoes or that they were quick to change bacon for potatoes in their tortillas, but the truth is that at first that elongated tuber from Peru and Colombia did not exactly cause a stir. José Carlos Capel, critic and member of the Royal Academy of Gastronomy (RAG), remembers it in an article published in March 2024 precisely coinciding with Tortilla Day. The potato did not begin to triumph until a few centuries later. In fact, we have to go back to the 18th century, during the reign of Charles III, when crops were organized to combat famine. The Spaniards of that time looked at the tuber with eyes so different from those of 2026 that in 1785 an Irishman living in Madrid, Henry Doylededicated a book to him to clear up doubts: ‘Treaty on the use and benefits of potatoes’. A success story. Perhaps in Austrian Spain, potatoes were not very successful, but things changed over time. So much, in fact, that right now each Spaniard consumes on average around 20 kilos per year if we add the fresh, frozen and processed varieties. Around 1767 the agronomist José Antonio Valcárcel already wrote on the use of potatoes to make tortillas. At some point between the 16th century and that date, the tuber sneaked into the recipe, forming a successful tandem with eggs that was consolidated over time. It worked so well that it ended up eclipsing the rest of the ingredients that Granado kept in his pantry, in the palace of Felipe III. The great unknown. Who, when and how had the happy idea of ​​creating what we know today as ‘Spanish omelet’? There is theories They attribute the credit to General Tomás de Zumalacárregui, in the 19th century, during the siege of Bilbao, but the reality is much simpler (and discouraging): we have no idea. “No matter how much we search through old recipe books and literary allusions, we will never know who created one of our iconic dishes,” explains Capel. What is clear is that the potato omelette as we understand it is not such an ancient culinary work. In fact, it was not consolidated until the 18th or 19th century. Even more recent is the name with which we distinguish it: ‘Spanish omelet’. Turning the tables. Capel contributes another key that complicates (even more) the story. Perhaps in Spain, omelettes were made with eggs and onions rather than with potatoes, but as time passed and once the concept of what we … Read more

Spain has been building a bridge with China for years. Now it is the European Union that needs to cross it

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Pedro Sánchez is going to land in China this week for the fourth time in three years. No other Western leader comes close. Why is it important. What seemed like a diplomatic eccentricity has become a trend. A year ago, Spain seemed an outlier in Europe due to its favorable and close stance towards China. Today it is France, with its calls for tougher trade measures against the Chinese government, who seems isolated, according to analyst Noah Barkin in his specialized newsletter. Watching China in Europe. The context has changed everything: the war in Iran, the volatility of the Trump government and the tariff as a political weapon have pushed Europe towards where Spain already was. The context. In recent years, Spain has attracted a constellation of Chinese companies while maintaining a discourse of rapprochement with China that the rest of the EU viewed with skepticism, if not suspicion. The map of Chinese presence in the country is already considerable: The result of all this rapprochement is also reflected in capital flows: Chinese investment in Spain went from 149 million euros in 2024 to 643 million in 2025, an increase of 331% in a single year. Nevertheless, has done little to reduce Spain’s large trade deficit with the Asian giant. The pattern is known: investment arrives, but Spanish exports do not grow at the same rate. Openness has a price. Between the lines. Barkin describes it like this: Pedro Sánchez has positioned himself as the most openly pro-China and Trump-critical leader in Western Europe. This gives Spain a position as unique as it is uncomfortable. Being China’s favorite interlocutor on the continent means assuming the diplomatic costs of that position when the EU needs to maintain a common voice vis-à-vis China. The contrast. While Spain opens its arms, the European Parliament cautiously reopens its ties with China after eight years of distance. A delegation of MEPs visited China this week on the first official trip since 2018, with a clear message, according to coverage by Traffic light China: commitment does not mean concession. The European Union negotiates with one hand and shields with the other. Spain, on the other hand, has opted for the extended hand, practically alone. The big question. Is Spain a pioneer or a lever? A pioneer sets the path that others end up following because it is the right one. A lever is an instrument that others use for their own purposes. Barkin warns that Spain is following the Orbán model: welcoming Chinese investment without the necessary checks and balances. The comparison may be unfair in its nuances, but it points to a very real risk: that the Spanish opening strategy lacks the reciprocity that Europe needs to negotiate as a bloc. In Xataka | Donald Trump’s tariffs are having an unforeseen effect on China: its factories are getting stronger Featured image | ZQ Lee, Sam Williams

97% of a key mineral for Europe comes from China. Spain has a plan of 197 million to turn it around

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Constant technological development has unleashed a silent but relentless geopolitical war. At the center of the target are rare earths and critical minerals, essential for manufacturing everything from mobile phones to electric cars or wind turbines. Nowadays, how to explain Europa PressEurope is in a situation of extreme vulnerability: 97% of the magnesium we consume comes from China and 98% of the borate we import from Türkiye. However, the solution to this deep dependence could be buried under Spanish soil. A new plan. As detailed in the National Mining Exploration Program 2026-2030 (PNEM), the official document promoted by the Government of Spain20 of the 34 raw materials that the European Union classifies as fundamental have been detected in the Iberian Peninsula. Of them, 17 are considered strategic due to their high technological and defense impact. To map and take advantage of this “treasure”, the Executive has launched an ambitious plan. The financing table of the PNEM itself projects a total investment of 197 million euros for the five-year period 2026-2030, adding public financing, aid and private investment that is expected to be mobilized. A breath for Europe and an opportunity for Spain. The European roadmap, crystallized in the Fundamental Raw Materials Regulation (Critical Raw Materials Act or CRMA), is very clear: guarantee access to a safe and diversified supply. By 2030, the European Union has set a goal of extracting at least 10%, processing 40% and recycling 25% of its domestic demand for these materials. In this context, Spain is not a secondary actor, but is the only producer of strontium in Europe, hosting 15% of the world’s reserves in the Montevives and Escúzar basin in Granada, and holds the position of second largest copper producer on the continent. according to data provided by Europa Press. The main focus of exploration is located in the Variscan or Iberian Massif, an extensive geological strip that crosses the west of the peninsula from Galicia to Andalusia, passing through Cantabria, Asturias, Castilla y León and Extremadura. The official document highlights, within this great massif, the so-called Central Ibérica, Ossa-Morena and South Portuguesa Zones as priority areas for general exploration. The private sector takes positions. On a practical level, intentions are already being translated into business movements on the ground. In Extremadura the Junta has granted a license to explore an area of ​​49,500 hectares in the Cáceres regions of Los Ibores and Campo de Arañuelo. In Andalusia, specifically in Jaén, the Australian company Osmond Resources will promote the Orion projectcovering 228 square kilometers in the former mining region of Linares-La Carolina to search for unusually high concentrations of rutile, zircon and rare earths such as neodymium. For its part, the European Commission has already blessed seven strategic projects in Spanish territory to protect the supply, located in enclaves of Ciudad Real, Orense, Cáceres, Badajoz, Huelva and Seville. Cutting-edge technology versus “pick and shovel”. The National Mining Exploration Program does not contemplate blindly digging holes. The Ministry’s text outlines six great performances interconnected to locate these raw materials. The process will begin with an exhaustive review of historical data and geoscientific reports, followed by the preparation of highly detailed geological-mining cartography. From there, technology will take over. Geochemical soil prospecting campaigns and complex isotopic analyzes will be carried out to find anomalies in the terrain. In addition, cutting-edge geophysical techniques will be deployed, using everything from airborne gravimetry and magnetometry equipment (planes and drones), to remote sensing using high-resolution hyperspectral and satellite images provided by the European Space Agency. All of this will be complemented by carrying out physical surveys to confirm the mining interest of the anomalies. Finally, as the official plan highlights, all this huge amount of data will be processed using algorithms, artificial intelligence and machine learning to generate predictive models of mineralization. The inevitable clash: Mining vs. Biodiversity. However, technology collides head-on with strict environmental reality. The clearest example is in Campo de Montiel (Ciudad Real). There, the company Quantum Minería has been trying to exploit a promising monazite deposit to extract rare earths. But the project has encountered strong neighborhood opposition due to the very high water consumption it requires and an unexpected defender: the iberian lynx. The recovery of this feline’s territories in the area has become a major legal obstacle for the mining company, paralyzing permits due to fear of destroying its habitat. Although before the environmental alarms go off, it is important to make a fundamental point: this National Program serves to know what we have, it is not an authorization to dig it up. The Ministry’s own document clarifies that the plan does not establish “binding or indicative objectives” for exploitation. That is, it is a purely prospective roadmap and data collection that does not compromise or zone the territory to open real mines. The mine is in the “garbage”. Faced with this paralysis and the immense difficulty of opening new mines in natural areas, Spain has an ace up its sleeve: secondary mining and the circular economy. The National Program reserves one of its main transversal lines to respond to article 27 of the European regulations (CRMA), thoroughly investigating the economic potential of mining waste facilities that were closed or abandoned in the past. The Ministry document remember thatalready in the 80s, an inventory was prepared that cataloged 21,673 waste structures (rafts and waste dumps) spread throughout the national territory. Now, the State’s objective is to review this catalog and promote geochemical characterization work to recover those fundamental raw materials that, at the time, were not of interest or could not be extracted and were discarded. As pointed out Europa Press, Research teams from the University of Seville led by professors Joaquín Delgado and Antonio Romero are already working in Río Tinto (Huelva) designing experimental plants to recover valuable metals and rare earths from the acidic waters of abandoned mines. Even beyond the mine. A clear example of this circular bet is the RC-Metals projectled by the National Center for Metallurgical Research (CENIM-CSIC). … Read more

Fish has been in a deep crisis in Spain for years. Mercadona believes it has the formula for that to change

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He video It is from October 2024, but it could have easily been recorded yesterday, today or even tomorrow. In a piece lasting just under a minute, Jana Quiles, tiktokerrecounts his disastrous time at a fishmonger: “I just wanted a piece of fish for dinner and, because I didn’t know what to order, I ended up buying 25 euros worth of hake.” Your case is interesting because it connects with a phenomenon shared by many other young people on networks and that is reflected in the statistics from the Government: Spanish households buy less and less fish. Mercadona has taken note and has decided to step on the accelerator in a bet that it’s been a while implementing: the move from the fishmonger to the trays. What has happened? That Mercadona wants a “new fish sales model” in its stores. The chain itself announced it in a statement posted on its website, a note that, beyond its corporate tone, stands out for two things. The first, the message. The company advances its intention to complete the transformation of its sections, betting 100% on the packaged product. “We transfer all products to trays, guaranteeing quality and freshness.” The second thing that draws attention is the images. Mercadona’s statement only shows photos of fish already packaged, labeled and arranged in open refrigerators. Not a counter. Not even a stand with fresh goods and fishmongers to consult about the goods or a special cut. Nothing, in short, that can lead to experiences like the one that Jana Quiles lived in her day. @janaquiles This happens to me as a beginner 😂🐟 ♬ original sound – Jana Quiles Is it something new? In a way. Although Mercadona seems determined to complete its “reengineering” of fish, in reality the change comes from behind. Does more than a year There was already talk of the chain’s desire to find a more efficient model for the section, betting on the consumption of clean merchandise arranged on trays. The idea, how it progressed TOB.C. in January 2025: greater offer in packaging, with items ready for consumption, and much less assisted sales, moving away from the model that prevails in traditional markets. From the traditional image of customers browsing the hake, turbot and mussels displayed on ice, with the fishmonger on the other side of the counter, we move to a more functional one in which there is only the customer and the tray. Why this change? Mercadona argues who wants to “adapt” to how we consume in our homes and defends the benefits of the new model: “The key is to reduce as much as possible the time that passes from when the fish comes out of the water until you consume it.” To older claims that the trays allow it to reduce waiting times in stores, offer an “assortment adapted to real consumption” and work with merchandise “clean and ready for consumption.” In short, selling merchandise made almost to measure for a clientele that has lost the habit of buying fish and no longer has the vocabulary and the keys to ordering fresh goods. Again the case by Jana Quiles is paradigmatic. His experience with hake is not something isolated, it connects with an entire generation that has not acquired the habit of going to traditional fishmongers. That’s all? No. To these advantages are added others that Mercadona does not cite and directly affect its production costs, logistics and even the management of spaces in the store. In January the company already made it clear In any case, the change in model would not imply dispensing with employees, they would simply be assigned new roles. “The entire fishmonger’s team continues to be part of Mercadona. Their work adapts to other needs in the store.” Does it only affect fish? No. The focus may now be on fish, but it is only part of a much larger Mercadona strategy that connects with two of its main bets. One is food ready for consumption. For years, the chain has aspired to be more than just the place where you buy products to fill your refrigerator and pantry; It seeks to be directly the space in which you feed yourself. The clearest reflection of this slogan is the section “Ready to eat”but the commitment to trays of fish that are clean, cut, filleted and practically ready to put in the oven goes in that same direction. And the other bet? The ‘Store 9’the new local format that the Valencian chain wants to bet on. Your goal is optimize processes and improve efficiency, but in practice that translates into moving even further away from traditional counters and moving towards already packaged merchandise. Interaction with staff during purchases is reduced to a minimum. No chats with butchers, fishmongers or fruit sellers, like in traditional supermarkets. Speed, efficiency, and functionality prevail, which in turn leads to handling and packaging tasks being removed from public areas. Is this just about Mercadona? Not at all. Roig’s chain has managed to gain a considerable market share in Spain, close to 30% in terms of value, so their decisions affect thousands and thousands of families. However, the changes in fish consumption go further and partly connect with the Quiles video that we mentioned at the beginning of the article. We Spaniards buy less and less fish. The official data of the Government show that per capita consumption of fish (both fresh and frozen) in homes has been plummeting for years. And it doesn’t get better. He latest reportfrom November, shows interannual falls of between 4 and 5.5%. With its latest movements, Mercadona seeks to position itself in the part of the business that performs best. While Fedepesca talks about the closure of thousands of fishmongers Since 2007, there are businesses in the sector more focused on the sale of ready-to-buy merchandise, online orders and home delivery that they keep growing. Fish consumption itself is leaving homes to focus at leisure. Now Mercadona aspires to carve out … Read more

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