Spain

Spain always longed for the US to look at it like Italy and France. Now that desire is becoming dangerously

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In the middle of the year the rumor of A boycott from Europe to the United States in one of its most profitable sectors: tourism. Among the cultivation broth there was talk of a political situation that had generated rejection, noticing even in reservation falls for summer (up to 25%). Interestingly, this does not happen, or remotely, in reverse. In fact, Americans like Spain so much that an avalanche of citizens is expected in the coming years. We talk about millions. The personal discovery. The truth is that the relationship between American travelers and Spain It is not understood only from statistics, but also of individual stories that have captured attention on social networks. In 2023, the Smith family, originally from Kansas, It was installed in Logroño After deciding to change life in full pandemic. Their Videos on Tiktok and Instagram, just like those of Morgana creator of Michigan transferred to Madrid, made visible the contrast between the American and Spanish lifestyle: the sociability of the dinners at ten o’clock at night, the peace of mind of having a public health system, the culture of sitting down to breakfast instead of eating fast or the naturalness that children’s parks are next to a bar. For millions of followers, their vision served as a country mirror that offered security, quality of life and a different sense of community, aroused renewed interest in experiencing Spain from within. The quantitative jump. That personal interest was later reflected in the numbers. In 2024, Spain received almost 94 million tourists International and broke all records, with a 12% increase in arrivals and 18.6% in spending only in the first seven months of the year. He CaixaBank report Research stressed a especially striking fact: the expense of the visitors of North America in August was 90% higher to 2019, which made the United States one of the most dynamic and lucrative markets. Reasons? The dollar strength And American economic growth explained part of the trend, which was consolidated in destinations such as Catalonia, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. Meanwhile, airlines and United Airlines took advantage of the juncture for multiply direct routes To Spain, opening connections with Mallorca, Málaga, Tenerife and Bilbao. The future projection. The euphoria was confirmed this September with the Publication of the report Portrait of American & Canadian International Travelers, commissioned by Turespaña. According to the study, 70%of Americans plan to visit Spain in the next three years, an even greater proportion among millennials (81%) and high -purchasing power travelers (76%). The figures draw a sustained growth panorama, with spending projections of more than $ 13,000 per traveler and a remarkable interest in authentic cultural experiences, gastronomy and nature. Madrid and Barcelona lead the desired list of destinations, followed by Valencia and Seville, while in the island Tenerife and Gran Canaria stand out, with an interest that exceeds 70%. Because. The big question. The reports indicate Key factors to explain this enthusiasm: security (91%), climate (87%) and cultural activities (87%) are decisive in choice. It also underlines greater sensitivity towards sustainability, With 84% Of the Americans willing to pay more for services responsible for the environment, a provision led by the younger generations. In addition, the Planning habits: The growing weight of online and social networks reviews Like Instagram or YouTubethe preference for multi -city itineraries (84%) and the expansion of the airbnb tourist accommodation market, which competes with traditional hotels and resorts. Spain in front of the competition. On the global board, Spain appears as a destination “balanced and versatile”capable of combining culture, gastronomy and nature in a unique offer. He Report places to the country ahead of France, Portugal or the United Kingdom in the North American market, and in a direct pulse with Italy and Greece for leadership in Mediterranean cultural experience. The data of 2024 and the first semester of 2025 They confirm it: The United States has become the fourth issuer market in total expenditure, with 9,014 million euros and more than 4.3 million visitors, a high -purchasing capacity tourist profile that stays eight days on average and spends more than 270 euros daily. From personal experience to the phenomenon. What started as a phenomenon of discovery staff (families and young people who shared in networks their astonishment from Spanish customs) has become a massive flow that BRAND EXPENSE REGRESS and Project millions of arrivals in the next three years. Spain has not only become a tourist destination of reference for Americans, but also a mirror of values ​​and lifestyles that contrast with those of their country of origin. Among the crowded terraces At midnight, the Mediterranean cuisinethe safety of cities or Public Healthan image is drawn that attracts both travelers in search of leisure and those who wish to rethink their entire life. The challenge, from now on, will be to manage this wave without being Dilute the quality of life That, paradoxically, it is The greatest attraction from Spain for those who discover it from afar. Image | Willian Justen de Vasconcellos In Xataka | Something strange is happening with tourism in Spain: the data is at maximum, the hoteliers insist that there is crisis In Xataka | Making tourism in Spain is getting so expensive that at this point in the year it is more profitable to travel to the Caribbean

Spain has dozens of abandoned unique roads. Now he wants to save them making them “historical roads”

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If we have the roads we have today, it was because 125 years ago A Scottish and a Welsh were fed up with the dusty roads In those early years of the car. We start to asphalt those paths, some of them part of the country’s spinebut over time they were abandoned when they were advanced by the highways. The Government of Spain wants to give them a second life. Throughout geography, there are Kilometers of national roads that are in a deplorable state. He Maintenance of highways and roads More used is the one that takes the budget, while others are at your fate. Therefore, this 2025, the Government launches a program that aims to recover and enforce those roads. And the first ‘historical road’ will be a section of the N-IV that passes through desaperros. Spain and its new “historical roads” At the beginning of September this year, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and the foundation of the Spanish Railways They signed A collaboration agreement with an objective: recovery of the historical roads of the State Road Network. The idea is to catalog certain ways as “Historical assets linked to transport”which implies that these roads, at some point before being replaced, helped territorial expansion with population or merchandise movements. To do this, the agreement has a budget of 300,000 euros (200,000 by the Ministry of Transportation and 100,000 covering by the Foundation of the Railways) and, during the next four years, they will have to Identify which roads are suitable to become “historical road.” It is an action that will follow the example of the Program of ‘Green Roads’ which has managed to transform more than 3,500 kilometers of old railway paths for non -motorized use. There are numerous towns and cities that have some of these kilometers of ‘Green via‘With trees, some park, pícon areas and roads to hiking or bike. And it is something similar to what is proposed for these historical roads with the objective of curbing the situation of deterioration and loss to which certain pathways are exposed, as well as to value their contribution to the historical infrastructure of the country. The project has the name of Ivapchete And, in addition to identifying the roads, it must hierarchize the sections according to the patrimonial value of the paths of their linked elements. In principle, the initiative focuses on the Spanish road network, but can be expanded to study roads that are competencies of other administrations, provided they have that historical link with the state network. Perhaps the Map of the National Special Firm Circuit of 1926 can give us a clue what other candidates would be Apart from the initiative, There is already a pilot project: The Deseñaperros. During the coming months, the General Directorate of Roads of the Ministry will promote the elaboration of a recovery project of the Posqued of the old N-IV. It is a segment of 28.6 kilometers between Almuradiel in Ciudad Real and Santa Elena in Jaén. It is not surprising taking into account your Historical importance being the main access between Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía, Territorial Unity Symbol which facilitated both trade and mobility between the plateau and the peninsular south. For centuries, before being called N-IV, of course, it was an essential artery, but the opening of the most convenient A-4 highway left the N-VI in the shadow. Now, will return to life as the first “historical road”becoming a way associated with non -motorized mobility and valueing its cultural importance. It remains to see what the impact of the project will be and, above all, what other ways can recover in this way. Images | Emilio J. Rodríguez Posada, Concepcion Amat orta In Xataka | These are the roads where we can suffer more jams in summer. If you have to take the car, you are in time to plan

In the nineteenth century, Spain made the strange decision to build its ways in Iberian width. Now they will be a gift for Renfe in Galicia

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Renfe can breathe calm. The company has a huge business in the Galician corridor. The volume of travelers Between Madrid and Galicia he has shot to the point that airlines are retreating. Time savings since high speed arrives is such that many are choosing to pass to the train due to pure comfort or time flexibility. The Galician corridor is part of the next package of liberalization of the roads, next to the trains with destination Asturias, Cantabria, Cádiz and Huelva. It will not be, at least, until 2028 when the competition is palpable on the tracks because Adif is not complying with the deadlines planned. But Madrid-Galicia has another peculiarity. It is very likely that in 2028 we will see competition on their ways. To find the reason we have to travel to the nineteenth century. The particular Spanish railroad Each new technology arrives with a good rosary of standards of all kinds. It has happened with electric cars and passed with electricity itself. Also with measurement standards or, as in this case, train tracks. The railroad had started in the early nineteenth century. Although the steam machine was already born in the 18th century, it was not until 1804 when Richard Trevithick built A prototype in which the concept applied to transport. The steam locomotive was born. That one of those huge irons with wheels will pull a kind of drawers and could move the goods faster than they had done seemed like a great idea. So great that it soon caught and in 1830 the first train line was opened with passengers. They were the famous 50 kilometers that separated Liverpool from Manchester whose first trip headed George Stephensonwho was the ideologist of the construction of those first route. Those first trains circulated through some roads of 1,422 millimeters, 4 feet and 8 inches. Shortly after, those same ways widen half inch until reaching the famous 1,435 mm. Then they did not know but they had just adopted the “international width”, which is mounted in most trains in the world. Those measures also served to establish Two categories: narrow path (below those 1,435 mm) and wide via (above). The good results of the first trains made the railroad make the leap to continental Europe and the United States. But, like everything in this life, there were those who thought the system could be improved and that it was worth trying. That person was Isambard Kingdom Brunelan excellent British engineer who would create the Great Railroad of the West, joining London with the southwest, western England and much of Wales. Brunel thought that the higher the width of roads, faster speed could reach a train because the greater the stability achieved. Thus, it extended the track width up to 2,140 mm. Then a war of standards began that ended up resolving the Commission of Railroad Widths in favor of Stenphenson and its width of 1,435 mm. It was 1845. In Spain, at that time, we were engaged in the same fight. Railroad yes, but … how? That doubt was the one that set fire in the middle of the 19th century. Observing the good results that were being achieved outside our borders, the Government began to receive requests for the granting of licenses that allowed them to exploit the roads. Aware that it was necessary to harmonize the matter, they consulted a commission of engineers led by Juan Subercase, number one in the Corps of Engineers, acting president of the Advisory Board and director of the School of Engineers since 1837. He was helped Calixto Santa Cruz, number one of his promotion of 1839, and José Subercase, who in addition to his son was also the number one in his promotion the following year, 1840. Together they drafted the report 17.10.1844, on the Madrid Railroad to Cádiz, which recommended to reject a concession to build a railroad from Madrid to Cádiz. This concession was requested by the French engineer Juqueau Galbrun, which was certainly ironic over the years. Explains J. Moreno Fernández in a document in which the whole story of that controversial decision tells that none of the mentioned engineers had left the country and known firsthand how the railroads were abroad. That, perhaps, was one of the reasons why it was omitted that France had opted for international road width. And it is that Subercase was a firm defender of a width of six feet Castilians. The 1,672 millimeters that would end up receiving the name of “Iberian Width”. The defense is that a higher track width forced to use more powerful locomotives. In those days they thought they could increase vaporization with a wider boiler and that this was essential to, in a mountainous country like Spain, to have sufficient power to move the train. They also defended that a higher track width allowed a more stable step per curve but the truth is that time showed that neither one thing nor the other were key. The international width has been versed enough to be used in mountainous areas and the largest boilers in the trains had the problem of increasing the weight so the gain was diluted. In the government they thought that Subarcase motivations They were correct and they didn’t care that in the neighboring country they bet on a narrower track width. To import, they did not care that our other neighbor, Portugal, also promoted their railroads with the international width. In 1844, it was finally decided that the Spanish measure of the six Spanish feet was the one that should be protagonist for its orographic peculiarities. However, that did not condition the government that gave the approval to two routes built on that international width that was quickly imposing. Portugal pressed to have a railway exit to France that Spain ignored. And that created an urban legend that remains until today First in a line between Barcelona and Mataró, projected from the beginning with that exceptional width for the Spaniards … Read more

Interior Spain has been dreaming of having a beach. Now you will have the largest private in Europe in … Guadalajara

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Much has rained since ‘The Refrescos’ sang that “there is no beach” in 1989. It is true that communities like Madrid either Castilla-La Mancha have several “beaches” in which they can cool off if parks in full heat wavebut by great, beautiful and refreshing that are those gaps, it seems that more water is needed. And, at a time when We are running out of beaches all over the planetGuadalajara has decided that it will open the largest interior beach in Europe. Alovera Beach. Alovera It is a town located in the Guadalajara countryside that has a population of about 13,500 inhabitants and will soon add to its tourist attractions the largest artificial beach in Europe. At least, They say so Those responsible for the project, the company Crystal Lagoons that has seen how the municipal plenary approved unanimously a transfer agreement for 40 years of land very close to the important Mahou beer factory on the outskirts of the municipality. The plot has about 105,000 square meters and the works are expected to begin at the end of this year to open their “doors” in spring of 2027. It is estimated that about 20 million euros will be invested and about 140 direct jobs will be created. It is a project that began to be developed in 2017, but that after the resource of environmental environment and reactivation after the COVID-19 Pandemiahe has seen green light a few days ago. The “Beach”. Within those more than ten hectares, the Chilean multinational Crystal Lagoons, That he has already built “beaches” of this type in other countries, he wants to create facilities that will consist of: An artificial lagoon of about 20,000 square meters with differentiated areas for bathroom and navigation. A white sand beach of 16,000 square meters. Complementary facilities such as a ‘club’ Ibizan style, aquatic attractions, sports activities and restoration. Parking with 1,000 places. In addition to private investment, the company will pay a fee of ten million euros throughout the 40 years of granting the land to the City Council. Crystal Lagoons technology. If we go around the company’s website, this “Lagoons” technology is mentioned several times. They mention that it is something “proprietary and ecological ”and what they detail is that their methodology is sustainable and profitable: Use 100 times less chemical than a conventional pool (thanks to a system of “”Disinfection pulses”), And 30 times less water than a golf course. It requires only 2% of the energy of traditional filtration systems by using pulses to group the largest particles in an area of ​​the lagoon, collecting them all at once. Minimum water consumption because it works with a closed circuit that is replenished only when there is evaporation. They affirmIn addition, that the cost of maintenance and construction is “very low, even lower than those of a park of the same size” and have a technology to capture rainwater and replace the pools and everything is monitored to maintain the parameters at the levels that they consider optimal. The land where the beach will be built Criticism. However, the project has generated controversies since its announcement in 2017, the environmental impact being the trigger. Ecologists in action critical The project by stating that it was a “nonsense and a waste of drinking water” to build something like that in a dry area that needs tank trucks in summer to satisfy the needs of the neighbors. The estimate is that it will consume more than 30 million liters of drinking water every year and that, to be viable, you will need water from the tributaries of the Tagus. They also have manifested political irregularities when carrying out the agreement. Look at 2027. Despite the voices against, Alovera Beach will begin to lift in the short term and the residents of the municipality will be able to access this artificial beach in the center of the Peninsula that will have direct connection with the A-2 and, therefore, with Madrid and all potential clients. As the multinational assures, Alovera’s will be the largest artificial lagoon of crystalline water in Europe, but it will not be the only one. In Spain they built the Alcazaba Lagoon in Malaga and Santa Rosalia in Murcia, in addition to having your eyes on Seville. There is also interest in expanding in Romania, France, Italy or Poland, thus adding these projects to those of the United States District One of Dubai. So, in the end, Madrid will have close -Otra- beach. Wow, go. In Xataka | Half the Canary Islands created an artificial beach to attract tourism. Without knowing it, he set up a sanctuary for angel sharks

It will open its first store in France and leave unknowns about its landing in Spain

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We have always seen Shein as an online giant, a brand that seemed not to need shop windows to reach millions of people. However, it has just taken a step that changes its history: it will open its first permanent physical store in Europe, and not anywhere, but in Paris, the city that marks the pulse of fashion, luxury and big brands. According to Le Mondewill do it in the BHV Marais next month and then in other locations. What has been announced. The company has confirmed that the opening in BHV Marais will not be an isolated case. The plan contemplates extending the physical model to other French cities with the concession formula in department stores. It is a movement that changes scale: it goes from temporary experiences to stable retail contracts, with permanent inventory and continuous presence. In the words of the company, it is an essay in France that probably sets the course of its strategy in Europe. From the ephemeral to the permanent. Until now, the usual formula of Shein had been the pop-up stores, premises that only work for a few days or weeks and that serve to generate expectation, try markets or reinforce the presence of brand without major fixed costs. These experiences have appeared in several large cities, always temporarily. What is announced in France is different: it implies stable contracts, permanent inventory and a long -term commitment to physical retail. In Spain we have already seen how this strategy works. In June 2022, Shein opened a temporary store in Sandoval Street in Madrid that barely lasted a few days, and In April 2024 he repeated with a space of 900 square meters In the mall ABC Serranoturned into its largest pop-up in the country. He has also done similar evidence in Paris, London, Lisbon or New York. All these openings generated queues and headlines, but none remained in time: they were ephemeral showcase experiences, not permanent stores. Criticism in Paris. The announcement did not take time to turn on the reaction of the French sector. YANN RIVOALLAN, President of the French Federation of Prêt-à-Porter Feminin, He expressed it in France Inter with forcefulness: “They are seizing everything.” He recalled that the BHV Marais is in front of the Paris City Council and added: “They are occupying all the space, both in the media and on the Internet, and now they also want to occupy physical space in the most emblematic places.” For him, Shein’s landing symbolizes the pressure suffered by local trade. SGM defense. Not everyone sees movement as a threat. Frédéric Merlin, at the head of Société des Grands Magasins, assured in Le Parisien that the challenge is to take advantage of Shein’s digital force to give oxygen to shopping centers. “Shein has 25 million French clients,” he recalled, adding: “We are not going to stop the Fast Fashion. The challenge is that it also serves traditional retailers. With physical stores they will have the same weapons as their detractors. ” Société des Grands Magasins enthusiasm is not shared throughout the group. The Lafayette galleries matrix, which no longer controls BHV but does manage its emblematic Paris warehouse, expressed its disagreement with the treatment achieved with Shein. The company made clear in an official statement that will block any attempt to implement in the centers that are still under their direct management. The fracture reflects that Shein’s entrance not only faces the sector, but also the commercial partners themselves. Regulation and sanctions. Shein’s landing coincides with a particularly tense political climate. In France, a law that would apply a “bonus-malus” system to penalize disposable fashion and reward sustainable production is discussed. In July, A French court already imposed on the company a fine of 40 million euros for deceptive practices on discounts. The pressure also comes from Brussels: in May, The European Commission notified Shein practices contrary to consumption regulations. Shein’s vision. The company wanted to give its own version of the movement. Donald Tang, Shein’s executive president, assured in Le Figaro That the election of France seeks to “pay tribute to the country and Paris, the world capital of fashion and cradle of the great modern warehouse.” He denied that Shein is the cause of traditional trade setback: “If sales stores have dropped, it is not for Shein. Difficulties began long before our arrival.” In addition, he promised the creation of 200 new jobs associated with the project. Spain: the official and the unofficial. The contrast with France is evident. In Valencia, the reopening of the mn4 shopping center included A store called Uniqs that the Shein brand was visibly used in signs and posters. The company’s reaction was blunt. To EL ESPAÑOL declared: “We have been informed about unauthorized stores in Spain and other places that claim to be stores, outlets or sellers of Shein. The brand does not operate any permanent physical store in Spain or anywhere in Europe.” A warning to distinguish the official one from what it is not. What we still don’t know. Shein’s plan in France opens many questions for the rest of Europe. For now, the company insists that it does not have permanent stores in Spain or in any other European country, but if the French essay thrives, the unknown is whether it will choose to expand the model to our market. In that scenario, the impact could be noted in stores that today use their name without authorization. At the moment, there is no confirmation and the only sure thing is that everything is still in the test phase. With the decision to open in Paris, Shein breaks the border that for years had separated his online business from physical trade. The movement has generated enthusiasm, rejection and doubts in equal parts, and opens a debate about the future of retail in Europe. In the absence of confirmations about other countries, the French pilot will be the reference to measure how far this change in strategy can go. What is … Read more

Spain has been seeing how housing becomes apparently not affecting the demand. Now something is changing

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Accustomed to An overheated market in which demand far exceeds supply, Latest statistics real estate have left us a surprise. The Community of Madrid, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands or Cantabria said goodbye to the second quarter with less purchases of houses than last year. Not just that. The most curious (or not) is that this ‘puncture’ has not softened prices, which far from containing have continued upespecially in the capital. There is who appreciates and signs that the increase in housing begins to stop the most tension markets. What happened? That the Madrid real estate market is experiencing A curious phenomenon. Or not. While the country as a whole records more sale operations than a year ago, in the Community of Madrid the opposite occurs: less transactions are closed. It is not the only region of Spain that is unmarked from the general trend, but it is the one that does so in a more evident way. In case that trend was not interesting, it coincides with another equally clear: the increase in housing. In the capital you may sell less houses than a year ago, but those that change hands do it with higher prices. How much is the fall? There are different sources to answer that question. One of the most reliable is Official statistics of transactions that the government periodically publishes. His latest data is from the second quarter and reflect a clear setback in the Madrid market. From 23,267 operations in 2024 we have moved to 21,614, 7.1% less. The percentage is interesting for several reasons. The main is that this negative data contrasts with the growth experienced in the country as a whole, where transactions grew 3.1% during the same period. The Community of Madrid is not the only one that is declined from generalized growth, although it is the one that has suffered a clearer fall. In the second quarter, they also ‘pricked’ other tension markets such as the Balearic Islands (-2.7%), Canary Islands (-6.1%), Cantabria (-2.7%) and La Rioja (-4.6%). Is there more data? Yes. Those of the General Council of Notaries, which gives us Another perspectivemore updated. His latest report on the real estate market shows that in July the sale of homes grew in 11 autonomous communities, with increases especially pronounced in Navarra (21.5%), Aragon (14.1%) or Castilla y León (11.6%). In the opposite pole the Community of Madrid is located again, where the agency counted 8,235 purchases15.5% less. ‘Click’ again the Canary Islands (-11.7%) and Cantabria (-8.2%) and to a much lesser extent, with falls close to the percentage point, the Valencian Community, Catalonia and Andalusia. His setback explains that in the country as a whole, notaries have registered a 1% year -on -year fall in the sale flow. The Madrid market not only exceeds that setback. The country remember In addition, July is the fourth consecutive month in which it scores an interannual fall of transactions, although with more moderate declines. What about prices? That is the key. The decrease in sale does not seem to have thrown down prices. On the contrary. They go up. And bluntly. If the Madrid market highlighted by the fall of transactions, it also does so by the increase. According to Official data From the government, buy a residential square meter in the free market of the Community of Madrid cost in the second quarter of 2024 3,198 euros. In the same quarter of 2025 that value had already shot at 3,630, that is, 13.5% more. The percentage exceeds that of the national average, which stood at 10.4%, and left the value of the free residential square meter in 2,093. What do notaries say? Something similar. Your July report It reflects that prices continued to grow in the most overheated markets, even in those in which transactions fell: in the Canary Islands they rose 5.3%, in Cantabria 14.6%, in the Valencian Community 7.7%and in Catalonia 7.5%. If there is a community that stands out, however, it is the Madrid, which combines two ‘silver medals’ at the same time: it is the second in which prices rose the most in July, 16%, only behind Navarra; And it is both the second with the most expensive M2. Its value is at 3,529, a fact that only exceeds the Balearic Islands, with 4,100. Notaries have also detected an increase in the number of bank loans for the purchase of homes. In general, 6% grew with an average value of 179,450 euros, 9.4% more than a year ago. In general, more mortgages were granted in 13 autonomies, which is largely explained by its cheaperalthough its volume fell in Cantabria, the Canary Islands, Navarra and the Community of Madrid. Why is it important? The phenomenon recorded in Madrid, Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands or Cantabria, where there were less sale in the second quarter while housing continued to make it more expensive, is interesting for what suggests us from the market: fatigue signs and less joy in purchases in a market suffocated by the increase. José García Montalvo, Professor of Economics, I recently recognized to The country that a “slowdown” in the Madrid market is appreciated. “A growing pressure is being experienced that is now late for a little more to sell floors, that the number of days is lengthening,” he clarifies before adding that the last records show a 18% rise in sales times. The notaries They point However, their July data should not be interpreted yet as “a change in trend.” In fact, they appreciate a growth trend, although “with a lower intensity in recent months than in the period covered by the last quarter of 2024 to the first of 2025, which points towards a certain cooling in the market.” Are there more factors at stake? Yes. As García points out or notaries, the data invite you to think about a “slowdown” or “cooling” of the market that coincides with the price increase, but the increase in housing is not the only … Read more

The “Rider Law” aspired to improve the delivery of Spain. In the sector there are those who believe it has served the opposite

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Bit (Or very little) today has to do with today’s delivery sector, before the government approved the Legislative change that forced that Thousands of dealers stop being autonomous to swell the template of the platforms with which they operate. The known as ‘Rider Law’ He has marked the last years of the sector and has left a deep mark on both the service and in the hospitality. So deep, in fact, that in the middle of 2025 there are still voices that They question their effectiveness And they warn that it is harming Riders, websites, restaurants and customers. A “lose-lose ‘by quadruple”, They regret. What happened? That despite the over four years that have elapsed since its approval in Spain, The impact that he has had the measure at the community level and that his guidelines have been pending little by little Among companies, the ‘Rider Law’ still does not get rid of the controversy. A quick search arrives on Google to find news more or less recent than They question their effectsbut perhaps who has summarized its impact on the sector is Alejandro Hermo, CEO of the Hamburgueserías chain Goiko. Recently the manager, a voice with A certain weight In the guild, He exhibited on LinkedIn The blow that (in his opinion) is advising him the legislative change: “Delivery has been very complicated for a few months, impacting customers and restaurants.” What exactly has he said? More or less, that any past time was better. “We have gone from having a delivery system that worked as a clock, giving good service to customers and restaurants, to have a rigid, expensive and inefficient system that makes it almost impossible to cover with enough riders the peak hours, causing the restaurants to appear without service available or/and that the orders are late (if they arrive),” he laments in Your post The Goiko CEO. Is there more? Yes. Hermo assume that adapting to “such a drastic model” will require a certain “time”, but is also convinced that the service will never recover its “previous level.” “What is happening after the forced change of a model of autonomous Riders to 100% hired Riders is a ‘Lose-Lose’ by quadruple,” insists the manager before exposing why, in his opinion, the law harms both the distributors and the platforms, the restaurants and the clients themselves. Hermo warns that, when reconverting in wage earners, the first (the Riders) have seen how they diminished their income and the freedom to self -manage. Moreover, the manager is convinced that the change has “hindered” that they can access the most occasional the most occasional riders, those who only accepted orders to complete their economy, such as students. As for platforms such as Glovo or Justeat, Hermo warns that the increase in operational costs has subtracted flexibility to cover the ‘peak hours’. How does restaurants affect? In 2023, during An interview With the EFE agency, the businessman already warned that although the ‘Rider Law’ focuses mainly on platforms and hoteliers are only “a secondary actor”, in the long run they would end up being affected. Now confirm it. “Restaurants lose business and profitability,” summarizes its publication of LinkedIn, in which it slides that the legislative change has resulted for them in a less flexible and more expensive delivery service. “Thinking about our sector, we cannot afford at this time another torpedo in the flotation line of the restoration,” he remarks. The consequences for customers are from their obvious point of view: a less efficient delivery. “The service worsens because there are fewer restaurants available, it takes longer and reaches a worse condition. And it will eventually be more expensive per order to pay the model change party.” What does it propose? That platforms, distributors and administration “feel and be heard” to find a consensual exit. “The solution is not white or black, there must be intermediate points that approach the demands of both parties and serve as inspiration for other countries.” For Hermo the Delivery is only One more example of the new business model that do not have to be guided by the inherited guidelines of the twentieth century. “With their pros and cons, but they are less flexible than today is demanded.” Is it the only one to complain? No. And that’s why his reflection is even more interesting. Beyond the debate that accompanied the approval and entry into force of the ‘Rider Law’, in 2021, the discussion around the pros and cons of the measure have been maintained over the last four years. In August The newspaper asked To the spokeswoman for the RidersxDerechos Trade Union Platform, Núria Soto, if the collective is better today at work level than a five years. His answer was clear: “Yes, although it depends on who you ask.” “Riders have more rights, but also less income. And those without work permission who distributed renting accounts have been excluded from regularizations and have lost their source of income,” Soto warned. There are deeders that are even more blunt And they regret that the ‘Rider Law’ has sunk them even more in the “precariousness” that promised to free them. They have even been published academic studies that confirm how legislative change has had some unwanted effects, such as worsening of salaries or destruction of employment. Why that complaint now? The law is 2021, but it makes sense that the sector continues to pronounce today. After all, a good part of the Riders They were still not hired until not so long. This year however Glovo gave A key step by deciding that all their distributors become salaried. The decision was made after a few complex years, marked by large fines and The scrutiny of the authorities, and not without suspicion. “We will hire 20,000 workers, but they will gain less than as self -employed,” He warned in February Your CEO. According to The newspaperin August almost 70% of the packages that were distributed in Spain they did it through a delivery man with … Read more

Aberting in Spain has become a real odyssey based on the province. So the government has launched a website

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Spain has an advanced law in abortion, with deadlines until week 14 and assumptions extended until 22. The difficult thing is to take it to the real field. Access depends on the Autonomous Community, the degree of involvement of public health and, too many times, on the economic capacity of women. While the law ensures universal coverage, many interventions are carried out in private and not a few women are forced to move. In that context it is born I want to go .orga portal that aims to become a compass in front of a system that, despite legal reforms, continues to raise obstacles on a day -to -day basis. A new release. The Ministries of Health and Equality have launched a website, presented at the act for the 40 years of the legalization of abortion. The portal offers what the government calls a “safe public space”, designed to guide women in a system that still varies a lot from one autonomous community to another. The platform It has been elaborated For health health health and activists, it is based on scientific evidence and guidelines of organizations such as WHO, Figo, Fiapac or Sego, and has the accreditation of the College of Physicians of Barcelona. It is not just an informative portal, what it seeks is to offer practical guidance, accompaniment and concrete resources. Therefore, the website includes a WhatsApp number attended by professionals from Monday to Friday, as well as a telephone line available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, managed by formed volunteers. In addition, it will have a legal, emotional and technical support service for women who need to interrupt their pregnancy beyond week 22. The law vs. reality. Spain opened the door to abortion In 1985, although in a very restricted way: only in three assumptions priced by law. The great transformation came in 2010, with A BADE LAW which the decision of women recognized for the first time as sufficient reason until week 14. The norm also contemplated interruptions until Week 22 in medical cases. The last reform arrived in 2023where the three -day reflection period was abolished, the autonomy of children under 16 and 17 years was recognized without the need for paternal permission and the obligation to create a record of objectors of consciousness was established. The latter was carried out so that public health was not overflowed or blocked by the refusal of professionals. In August 2024, only five communities had launched the registration of conscientious objectors – La Rioja, Murcia, Cantabria, Catalonia and the Canary Islands—, According to data cited by the country. The lack of this instrument in the rest generates an unequal application of the law and keeps many women dependent on private clinics or transfers to other provinces. Besides, As Efe points outallegations of harassment persist at the gates of clinics and bureaucratic delays in the procedure. A fragmented map. The Ministry of Health has published that in 2024 106,172 voluntary interruptions of pregnancy (IVE) were recorded, which is equivalent to a rate of 12.36 per 1,000 women between 15 and 44 years. The figure reflects a slight increase Regarding 2023. According to the data, the general photo reveals an obvious gap: almost eight out of ten abortions (78.7%) were carried out in private clinics, while public health assumed only 21.2% of the total. Hence, the website has been launched, designed to overcome the territorial differences that continue to mark real access to abortion. In territories such as Cantabria, more than 88% of IVE are carried out in public hospitals, while in La Rioja and Navarra the proportion exceeds 75%. In Galicia, three out of four abortions are practiced in the public network. The distribution of abortions in Spain reflects unequal access to the public system. In Madrid, more than 162,000 women interrupted their pregnancy in the last decade, but only 177 could do so in a public hospital. In other territories, such as Extremadura, Ceuta and Melilla, official data are even more sharp: not a single procedure was carried out in public health. And in communities such as Aragon, Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Andalusia or the Basque Country, the proportion did not exceed 5%. This territorial disparity reveals the almost absolute dependence of the private network in much of the country. Critical voices. During the act on the occasion of the 40 years of legalization, activists such as Silvia Aldavert, from the I want to abort, They denounced that many autonomies They interpret the legal deadlines in a restrictive way: “When the law speaks of 14 weeks, it must be 14 + 6 days. In many communities it is interpreted as 14 exact, not one more day.” Minister Ana Redondo He stressed That 80% of IVE are carried out in private clinics, which “violates the principle of territorial equality” and converts abortion into “a class issue.” The cost of moving hundreds of kilometers, asking for free days at work or paying a private clinic makes the difference between being able to exercise the right in decent conditions or not. The testimonies confirm it. The case of Marta Vigara, a woman who was denied a therapeutic interruption in Madrid, uncovered that in some public hospitals There were hardly any abortions and that the usual solution was to refer to the private one. There is also the testimony collected by Newtral De Laura Gil, who had to travel to Brussels to interrupt her 31 weeks pregnancy before the refusal of Spanish clinical committees, an example of how economic capacity acts as a filter. The investigation points to two key factors: systematic outsourcing to private clinics and the objection of consciousness applied collectively, despite the fact that the law establishes that it must be individual and in writing. Conscientious objection as wall. The right of professionals to object is still one of the main pitfalls. “You cannot sacrifice a fundamental right of women at the expense of conscientious objection,” Minister Ana Redondo warnedremembering that the Article 139.1 of the Constitution … Read more

Microsoft rises strongly the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in Spain. The increase comes next to a renewal of plans

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If you are an Xbox Game Pass user or you are thinking of subscribing to the Microsoft service, prepare for important changes. Adjustments have just come into force that do not go unnoticed, including a strong increase in the price of its most complete modality. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs now 26.99 euros per month. It is a 50% increase compared to the 17.99 euros paid so far. It is not the first time that this plan increases its price: in July 2024 it had already gone from 14.99 to 17.99 euros per month. The justification. According to the company, Ultimate will give access to more than 400 titles worldwide, “including most of our partners who wish to continue bringing their future games to Xbox Game Pass.” In addition, the service will offer support for 1440p resolution and improvements in the bits rate on certain devices. How far the changes arrive. Microsoft has also reorganized the offer and says goodbye to the previous nomenclature. Xbox Game Pass Core is called Xbox Game Pass Essential, while the standard plan is transformed into Xbox Game Pass Premium. Game Pass Essential Game Pass Premium Game Pass Ultimate Game Pass for PC available games More than 50 More than 200 More than 400 “Hundreds of games” for PC Cloud streaming Yeah Includes own games Yeah Shorter waiting times Includes own games Yeah “With the best quality” With shorter waiting times Includes own games No available games day one No No, they join up to 12 months Yeah Yeah Online multiplayer Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Rewards points Up to 25,000 a year Up to 50,000 a year Up to 100,000 a year Up to 50,000 a year Advantages in games Yes, in ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Cod: Warzone’ Yes, in ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Cod: Warzone’ Yes, in ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Cod: Warzone’ Yes, in ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Cod: Warzone’ others – – EA play and ubisoft+ included EA play included price 8.99 euros 12.99 euros Free 14 -day test 26.99 euros 14.99 euros With Ultimate already on the table, it is time to see how they are premium and essential, what they include and how migration will apply to current subscribers. Premium, the intermediate option. With this plan you access more than 200 games both in console and PC, in addition to the possibility of playing in the cloud without limit, even with titles you already have in your library. • More than 200 games in console, PC and cloud • Access to classics such as Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5 or Grand Theft Auto V • New games published by Xbox available within a maximum period of 12 months (excluded Call of Duty) • Game in the unlimited cloud, also with own titles • Advantages In-Game in League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone or Rainbow Six Siege • Rewards of up to 50,000 points a year The ancient standard plan subscribers will automatically pass to Premium. It remains in the strip of 12.99 euros per month, that is, there is no price increase with respect to what we paid with the plan with the previous denomination. Essential, the new entrance door. With a more tight price, it offers the basics for those who want to try the service without great pretensions: a reduced catalog, cloud game and online multiplayer. • More than 50 games in console and PC • Access to prominent titles such as Hades, Stardew Valley or Cities: Skylines Remastered • Game in the unlimited cloud, including some games that you already have • Online multiplayer in console • Benefits in games like League of Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone • Rewards of up to 25,000 points a year We could say that they are designed for those who seek to start in Game Pass or just want access to a more limited set of games with basic advantages. Its price is encrypted at 8.99 euros per month. What about active plans. Restructuring does not force users to do anything: Microsoft will apply migration automatically. As we say, the old Core will pass to Essential, those of the standard plan will move to Premium and those who already pay Ultimate will continue in that modality. In development. Images | Xataka with Gemini 2.5 In Xataka | Saudi Arabia is not buying EA for video games. He is buying cultural influence in hundreds of millions of homes

‘Universalis V’ Europe is the most ambitious strategy game in history. And brings surprise: he was born in Spain

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‘Universalis V’ Europe, the last installment of the legendary Strategy saga of Interactive Paradox, is an ambitious jump in depth, realism and complexity for the Fans of the genre. The series, venerated for two decades and competing face to face with giants as civilization It reinvents itself to offer unprecedented historical simulation. But the most interesting of all is that, after four deliveries developed in Swedenthis fifth part is being developed entirely in Spain by the Paradox red study, based in Barcelona. It goes more. We attended the presentation that Paradox red carried out in the Comic-with Malagajust a few weeks after its launch on November 4, and between Sonia Linares (Director of Operations), Álvaro Sanz (Head of Content Design) and Matías Tiscornia (2D Art Coordinator) made it clear that the title was, above all, “” Ambitious. We have people with 7000 hours played at our games, people who live the saga. ” And it is from a superficial first glance: “The fourth install 500 years of simulation. And so with everything: in ‘EU4’ there were 900, and here, 2,000. In the previous delivery, 16 combinations of land (climate, topography and vegetation), and now we will have 672. in ‘EU4’ there were 367 cultures, and in ‘EU5’, 2,000. And if there were only 27 religions there, we will now have 300. 16,000 kilometers of map and more than 500 years of history, from 1337 (the beginning of the War of the Hundred Years) until 1837 (the dawn of the Victorian era). That is, the players will live the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the absolutism, the revolutions and other key periods structured in six ages (traditions, rebirth, discovery, information, absolutism and revolution). Exhausting but infinitely stimulating. Three pillars. To stand this ambition, the game has been based on “three organic pillars: first, A credible world based on systems, mechanical, etc. simulations; Second, an almost infinite rejugability, that thousands of hours occur for the family’s freedom of action; And third, that the game is really from the community: we have spent the last year and a half of development going to the forum every week to be part of the creation of the game, talk to the community directly, ask what they want, to make fixes and changes instantly, all thanks to the community. “ Maximum detail. All this sets in an obsession with absolutely demential detail: for example, the team presented us with a panoramic view of how the game in 1337 was contract according to variables controlled by the player. ” There are mechanics for exploration and colonization of territories, “with the possibility of sending populations to colonize, create commercial companies and exploit resources.” And of course, possibilities of diplomacy and war. Even music. In total, “more than 100,000 lines of content, more than 60 countries with unique content made by hand, more than 8,000 events, 2,000 decisions, hundreds of forms of government, laws, privileges and situations. More than 1,300 historical characters have also been investigated. And that only in 1337 dynamic that changes according to the player’s actions. And much more. And with this we are only scratching the surface of what the game contributes, since decisions have been made of enormous complexity. For example, “if there is an empire that includes different ethnicities within it, it is tried to reflect the genetic and cultural burden throughout the country.” And all this embodied, as the art coordinator told us, in “Illustrations of events, disasters and dynamic organizations, showing the cultural diversity of the game and how the same event can manifest itself differently in different cultures.” That is, a huge and even effort to the ambition of the project, for an entirely developed game in Spain but has an absolutely international scope. So much, which covers five centuries. In Xataka | This war strategy video game has a very special player: the pentagon

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