travel

A Chinese driver bought a spectacular electric SUV to travel to Europe. Everything was perfect until he reached the border

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Fabio Belmone is Volata di Peluca. At the beginning of last year he went viral when he posted that he was going to Tokyo. So far, everything is normal. Another millennial going to Japan. What made Fabio Belmone’s trip special is that he planned to reach the Japanese capital by car. 25,000 kilometers and 80 days later, the account Volata di Peluca confirmed that it had arrived in Japan. But perhaps the most curious thing about the trip is that, in addition to crossing all of Europe and Asia, the car chosen was a Fiat Marea. The only thing he could afford with 900 euros, he explained to The Vanguard. “I have crossed two continents, but my car can’t enter Barcelona,” he said in the interview. And perhaps, precisely because of that, because the car was tremendously analog, the adventure was able to reach its destination. Because in any country they could fix it. And, above all, because it wasn’t a car that was going to stop for crossing a border. The owner of this Zeekr 9X cannot say the same, explain our French colleagues from L’Automobile. At least he’s not standing still That transcontinental journey is having its particular replica from China. Mr. Liu is a Chinese driver who wants to repeat Fabio Belmone’s adventure in reverse. From Europe to China. Of course, aboard a Zeekr 9X, one of the most luxurious SUVs in the country. He Zeekr 9X It is a car that costs, in direct exchange, just over 61,000 euros. That means that in the Asian country it is one of the most luxurious options you can buy since manufacturers have filled their cars with technology at ridiculous prices. In this case we are talking about an extended range electric vehicle (a particular version of a plug-in hybrid) that in China it reaches 1,300 HP of power. The car, in fact, has just arrived in Europe although reduced in power, with an 897 HP version. But beyond the power figures, what is truly interesting about this car is inside, with six seats (or rather six seats), this huge SUV can become a rolling living room. Heated, ventilated and massaged seats that can be faced until they become a kind of hammock, 32 speakers spread throughout the cabin, two consecutive 16-inch screens to manage the infotainment system and even a third 17-inch screen that slides from the roof so that the rear passengers can enjoy it while they are driving. Inside the Zeekr 9X The experience of traveling in the car goes far beyond traveling through countries because, unlike with the Marea, the beauty is on the inside. Mr. Liu must have been thinking something similar when he began the trip. But a few thousand kilometers later, upon crossing the first border, the dream turned into a nightmare. Suddenly, your Zeekr 9X hood a multitude of functions. All software functions fell apart when it crossed the border into Kazakhstan. The loading ports and access to the warehouse also did the same. The reason was simple: the car, using GPS, had detected that the border had been crossed. They explain in CarNewsChina that the driver could not find a way to continue his journey for 30 hours. The reason, they explain from the specialized media, is in the vehicle’s anti-theft system. Automatically, the car detects through GPS positioning whether it is in China or beyond the borders. In the latter case, the vehicle repeatedly sends warnings but if it continues moving it blocks the vast majority of the functions. The system is activated by default in the car. The company has recognized in the Chinese media National Business Daily that, indeed, most of the car’s systems were blocked but that the vehicle can continue moving. To unlock the gas tank and charging socket you have to press and hold some specific buttons. This information, according to the company, should be known to the owner. What they explain however in CarNewsChina is that Mr. Liu knew about the blocking system before leaving China so went to a dealer. To avoid theft or illegal exports, what they do at the point of sale is certify the validity of some documents such as the driving license or the purchase contract. At that moment and after knowing the client’s intentions, they should have deactivated the anti-theft system with GPS positioning but they did not do so and it was not clear to the driver what he should do if this situation arose. But this time, what the software takes away from you, the software gives you. With an activation code, the brand was able to update the car via OTA and unlock the anti-theft systems, leaving the car ready to be used again. Photo | In Xataka | China wants to throw the door on the European electric car. Zeekr is your argument in the premium segment

“There are legal grounds that justify Renfe returning the money if you travel without air conditioning”

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Madrid-Extremadura without air conditioning. Not, at least, working at full capacity. That is what is being experienced on some Renfe trains. As confirmed by Renfe itself, the heat is being so intense these days that, in some cases and to protect the train itself, the air conditioning is turned off. And for this you can ask for your money back. Yes, grab a chair. an oven. This is what some of the train cars are becoming. Renfe Madrid-Extremadura trains that these days travel through the plains of Toledo and Extremadura before reaching Badajoz. And just as CCOO unions have denouncedin some of these trains the air conditioning is being turned off. According to Renfe, this is because the trains are being exposed to such high temperatures that the train itself has to protect itself because the cooling system is not enough to keep it running. Saving resources, trains turn off the air conditioning in some cars and continue to their destination. Controlled? At Renfe they assure that yes. The company accepts the union’s criticism but assures that the train crew is ordered to move passengers from cars without air conditioning and relocate them to where it does. In addition, they assure that when these extreme weather conditions occur, they stop selling tickets to ensure that there are enough free seats to relocate passengers. And your rights? Your right as a consumer allows you to file a complaint and even request a refund of the ticket money. This is what they point out from the OCU, an organization from which they tell us the following: “The relationship between the traveler and the railway company is articulated by a transport contract whose content is not exhausted by the obligation to transfer, but rather includes the conditions under which this must be provided. And although there is no legal rule that recognizes an express right to a full refund of the ticket for traveling on a train without air conditioning, there are legal bases that can justify said refund when the breakdown constitutes a serious breach of the transport contract” And it is also confirmed by Renfe itself who confirms that the traveler has the opportunity to file a claim if they consider that the conditions of the service do not meet expectations. And the European Union defends that if the consumer does not receive a service of a quality as expected, he will have the right to request a refund of the ticket when the company does not ensure the “cleanliness of the rolling stock and the station facilities (control of air quality and temperature in the carriages, hygiene of the sanitary facilities, etc.)”, as reflected in the Regulation on the rights and obligations of railway passengers. Some minimums. As stated in this document, all companies that offer public transport services must adhere to minimum quality standards to offer their journeys. The company states in the general contracting conditions that the client has the right “to receive the contracted service in adequate conditions of quality and safety.” If these minimums are not met, customers have the right to claim the money for the ticket and the company will be obliged to provide a response in less than three months. “The fundamental question of whether or not to obtain a refund will depend on whether the absence of this service is considered an essential breach of the contract or not, depending on the specific conditions of the case,” they specify in the OCU. And they emphasize: “It must be sufficiently argued, not in general, but in this case, that the lack of air conditioning cannot be equated to a simple annoyance or a minor incident on a high-speed train during the summer, but rather a direct breach of the essential conditions of the service. For example, if the train runs for several hours with very high temperatures and without cooling, it can be argued that there is defective performance of the contract, it is not an accessory service (like the Wi-Fi connection for example)” The cases already known. As Renfe and the Facua experts recognize, complaints about not offering air conditioning on the train are not entirely unrelated to the company. In 2018a user claimed from Renfe (and won) the return of his ticket because the air conditioning had broken down. But the most striking case is the one that Facua itself reported a few weeks ago. The consumer defense organization pointed out that one of its members had gotten the money back for a Zaragoza-Barcelona match for this same reason… but The claims spanned three years. in which they had to communicate with Renfe on various occasions. Is it a precedent? The most important thing here is that the facts known and defended by Facua do not generate any type of legal precedent because there is no judicial ruling involved. It is “a solution reached extrajudicially between a consumer and Renfe, with the collaboration of a consumer association (Facua), and therefore does not consolidate any rights. Traveling by train without air conditioning does not automatically generate the right to a full refund of the ticket,” they explain from the OCU. They emphasize, on the contrary, that “the relevance of the case lies in the fact that the railway company itself recognizes that a breakdown of this nature can justify, in itself, the full refund of the amount paid” and that if we find ourselves in this situation “it is advisable to complain to the company. If no response is obtained or it is not favorable, legal advice can be sought, such as that provided by consumer associations, as well as appeal to the Transport Arbitration Boards or the Courts.” Photo | Pablo Nieto Abad In Xataka | If the question is who is going to pay your compensation for taking five hours to Madrid-Barcelona, ​​the answer is clear: nobody

NASA’s launch facilities are too old to travel to the Moon

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The Artemis program is, without a doubt, one of NASA’s most ambitious plans. The agency has invested a lot of money and a lot of effort in ensuring its missions come to fruition. However, to some extent, it is starting to behave like a late model Ferrari on an unpaved trail. It has the capacity to go very far, as long as the setting is right. If not, it can be a disaster. According to the latest statements According to NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), its two main launch sites are overcrowded and have outdated facilities. It must be solved to squeeze out Artemis’s potential; but, at the moment, there is no money. Two facilities reaching the limit. The two facilities referred to by the OIG are the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida and the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Both are used by both NASA and private companies, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin among others. The pace of launches is growing faster and faster. In 2020, 31 rockets were launched from the KSC, but the figure rose to 109 launches in 2025. At Wallop, for the same years, it went from 3 to 17 launches. The latter may seem like a minor difference, but considering Wallop’s pitch volume is lower, it’s a 467% increase. KSC’s is 252%, also quite high. It is estimated that both facilities could be operating at their limits by 2028 and 2029. Artemis IV, the program’s first manned moon landingis scheduled for 2028 and will mark the beginning of a series of trips to the Moon that, according to plans, should become more and more frequent. The platforms would not be able to cope. Obsolete facilities. The problem with these facilities is not only that they are small for so many launches. It has also been warned that they are too old. Most elements were built in the 1960s to support the apollo program. As a result, there are roads that were paved without taking into account the weight of modern rockets, fuel pipelines that cannot supply multiple users at once, and an aging electrical grid. It is true that the problems are more serious at KSC, since Wallop has undergone some renovations, but many improvements will still need to be made in both for the facilities to be up to par with Artemis. Money is missing. According to OIG calculations, $1 billion would be needed to renovate both facilities. However, so far NASA has only received $250 million of the funds allocated in last year’s HR1 2025 reconciliation bill. Clearly, it is not enough. NASA is scheduled to renew all of its facilities every 66 years. However, with the available budget, it would take 260 years to renew all its facilities. Kennedy Space Center Artemis’ demands. The demands of Artemis alone are already very high for the facilities currently available to NASA. It is planned that, before landing, the Orion capsule, with the astronauts on board, will dock in lunar orbit with the SpaceX or Blue Origin human landing system. In some missions it will be one and in others the other. Both must be there by the time Orion arrives, taking astronauts to the Moon and returning them back to lunar orbit. All of this will require several refuelings (15 have been confirmed for SpaceX), so many ships will have to be launched almost simultaneously. Today, it is not viable. In fact, the OIG report casts doubt on whether the protocol can even be carried out. Artemis IIImuch more modest. In your case, it will be necessary to send to Earth orbit Blue Origin and SpaceX human landers to demonstrate their feasibility and docking capabilities. They must be launched almost simultaneously, but this is not possible with pipelines that cannot supply two ships simultaneously or the obsolete electrical grid. It is urgent to improve the facilities and for that we need money. The OIG has made this report to warn about a situation that goes largely unnoticed. We have our sights set on the technologies of the present and the future, but we do not notice that those of the past, which need renewal, are the ones that could ruin NASA’s plans to return to the Moon. Image | NASA | Michael Rivera In Xataka | We have not yet colonized the Moon and we have already filled it with garbage: there are even abandoned golf balls

“We don’t want to reinvent space travel. What we have to do is make it profitable”

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Although AI gurus, former prime ministers of Italy and the United Kingdom and CEOs of giant companies are passing through the Vivatech stages, the figure that has attracted the most attention is Jeff Bezos. The main theater of the event was packed as has not happened with any other speaker. Even Yann LeCun, the so-called ‘godfather of AI‘, he had to speak to some empty seats. On that stage, alongside Bezos were David Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, and Mike Massiminoformer NASA astronaut and the one who asked the questions. The first was obvious: the feeling behind the explosion of the brand new New Glenn rocket of Bezos. The answer was not so obvious, with the tycoon pointing out that the team ‘celebrated’ it in a rather curious way. And the conversation soon focused on the main point of the talk: build the roads to go to space. Because Blue Origin is in the same race as SpaceXbut also in the same competition as Chinathe race to find a way to reduce launch costs so much that it is viable to constantly put things into orbit. And, apart from infinite money, you only need one thing that Rajoy already said at the time, finding a way to make more of those machines that make the machines that make rockets. And this is where Prometheus, Bezos’s new AI company, has to do. so much controversy is awakening. The Moon as a space gas station “People underestimate (whatever)” was a phrase that was repeated up to three times during the talk. Because Bezos and Limp came to Paris to make it clear that what they are doing is very difficult, but that it is a great leap for humanity. After talking about the New Glenn explosion, Massimino said “everyone wants to go to the Moon”, and there Bezos expanded because the phrase touches on one of the three key points of Blue Origin’s objective in space exploration (and the rest of the countries and companies that are on the same path). “We will go to Mars and do other things, but the Moon is the first step, the first base“he commented. There are several reasons. The first, according to the businessman, is that “it is close and we can go in three and a half days and also return in three and a half days. We do not have to wait for it to align with the Earth as happens with Mars. And the reason why we would want to go (and to stay, no less) is because, although he did not say it explicitly, it was printed in the message: the Moon is a space gas station. We have already said on several occasions that our satellite has a lot of resources that we can use, and the most recent missions have focused, in part, on collecting and studying samples of lunar soil to see what can be done with that material called regolith. “Now that we are going to go to the Moon to stay, not just to visit it, we need to build fuel with materials that are on the Moon. With electrolysis we can create liquid hydrogen and that is the goal: to create fuel from raw materials on the Moon“, commented Bezos. Because that is the first step to, from there, launch missions further away, such as to Mars. The reason is that it is ‘cheaper’ to launch rockets from the Moon than from the Earth due to gravity. The rocket does not need as much fuel to take off or as much force, so it is much easier and costs are greatly reduced. The problem is that loading the tanks with liquid hydrogen to go to Mars has the disadvantage that it is a fuel that takes up a lot of space and it is not feasible to leave so loaded from Earth. “If we want to explore space and make colonies on Mars, the Moon is the first step” That’s where the Moon comes into play again. Because that’s what this is all about: “We don’t want to reinvent space travel. These trips were surpassed 60 years ago. What we want to do is make them profitable. That’s what Blue Origin is focusing on.” Extracting the materials also comes into play. “The Moon’s gravity is much lower, so you can extract those materials using 28 times less energy per kilo than you would need on Earth.” What keeps a billionaire who wants to play with rockets up at night But we must not lose sight of something: this is a business, and Bezos points out that there are many players who want to go to space, but not all of them can make rockets. And there are companies like yours or Musk’s. “Neoconstellations of satellites, resources on the Moon and in low orbit – solar panels, space data centers -, missions on the Moon to stay… there is a lot of demand. I think people greatly underestimate the demand for space travel,” he said. Beyond the Moon and that Martian objective, he is right in pointing out that low orbit is looking like an electric station during Easter. United States and China are launching military and communication satellites, but Europe does not want to be left behind and Russia, India and Japan are in the same competition. The law of “who comes first, gets the spot” prevails here, and everyone wants to get there first. “We are in the golden age to achieve the objective. It already happened years ago with the US getting ahead of the Soviets. Now it is going to happen again” The point is that, as Bezos comments, “if the launches are very expensive, the satellites must have a very long life and remain behind technologically, but if we make upload is cheaperwe can speed up times. Limp went on to say that reusable rockets are the way to create these mega satellite constellations, but beyond the problem of fuel, … Read more

what you need to travel with a 90% discount this summer

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Let’s explain to you all the details about the Young Summerexplaining step by step what it is and how you can get these discounts for free to travel in summer. In this article we will explain all the conditions that you must meet, how you can book your train or bus with discounts of up to 90% and how long this offer will be available, since it will expire on September 30. What is Young Summer? He Young Summer This is what the summer offers that the Government has active have been called so that those over 18 years of age and under 30 years of age can travel with extensive discounts during this summer. The discount is applicable on services throughout Spain but also in Europe using the Interrail voucher. The measure is approved by the Council of Ministers and an amount of 130 million euros has been allocated. Accounting for the past editionsit is the fourth time in which the measure is repeated. In the previous three, four million people have joined this discount plan, totaling 16 million subsidized journeys. Conditions to take advantage of the Young Summer In order to join the Young Summer discounts, you need to keep in mind that it is not available to everyone. So, here is a summary with the conditions that you must take into account: The Young Summer is available for trips to be made between July 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026. It is necessary to have been born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2008, both inclusive. Have Spanish nationality or have legal residence in Spain if you are a foreigner. Where and how to use Young Summer To be able to use the Young Summer it is necessary to register on this website that the Ministry of Transport has not yet enabled (they will do so in the coming days). In addition, it will be necessary to register 24 hours before taking the first trip. If those 24 hours have not passed, it will be impossible to make the reservation according to the discounts. The discounts that are contemplated in the Young Summer are the following: 90% discount for regular bus services under state jurisdiction. 90% discount on conventional medium distance services and metric gauge networks. 50% discount on Avant single titles. 50% discount, with a maximum of 30 euros per ticket, for long-distance or high-speed commercial services of all railway operators (Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo) 50% discount on the Global Flexible Interrail of 10 days in 2 months, when marketed through Renfe. The discount is applied to the official Interrail fares, with their price characteristics according to age, etc. To avoid abuses, the Government has informed that it will not be possible to book two return tickets for the same day, unless the first journey has already been made or cancelled. Please note that the Registration Code provided during the registration process is personal and non-transferable and cannot be used by a third party. Likewise, cancellations must be made more than 24 hours in advance. It has also been noted that the beneficiary who misuses the Registration Code will be penalized with the withdrawal of the discount and will not be able to register in the system again. These improper uses will be informed by the company with which the trip is made to the alleged offender with SMS or an email in which the consequences of said failure will be explained. Photo | Pablo Nieto Abad In Xataka | How to know if your personal data has been investigated: see if the Police, DGT, Treasury or other organizations have done so

It is not a mobile phone, but a perfect mouse for professionals who travel frequently

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I usually work outside the home very frequently and I always have the mouse on me. And it’s not exactly a small one, because it’s the Logitech MX Vertical. But it seems that the brand has hit the nail on the head by offering an alternative dedicated to users like me who tend to travel frequently: a foldable mouse. The Logitech Mobi Fold is available in two versions: Logitech Mobi Fold by 79.99 euros. Logitech Mobi Fold For Business (with Logi Bolt) for 84.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A foldable mouse with very fast charging He Mobi Fold It is Logitech’s first foldable mouse and it is quite interesting to save space when having to carry it in a pocket. Personally, I find it especially interesting as long as we are going to use it outside the home very frequently. It’s good for me for traveling, but it’s also practical to take to university, for example. What we have been seeing for years in folding mobile phones we now have, bridging the gap, in a mouse. The Mobi Fold has a shell formatand perhaps the displayed design is a little strange, but the posture we must have with our hand is very similar to that we have with a traditional mouse. In fact, the design displayed is not far from what we have seen other times, such as with the Microsoft Surface Arc. Of course, the functions that are activated or deactivated when opening or closing the mouse cannot be missing, and that is that When you deploy it, the mouse will be activated and when you fold it it will turn off. In case this is something that worries you, Logitech itself mentions that it can withstand 15 years of daily use. However, this must be taken with a grain of salt because the tests are carried out under controlled conditions. As far as the scroll wheel is concerned, there is no one: the mouse incorporates Touch Scrolling, which by touch allows you to use this function that is so necessary for everyday life. In addition, the brand also comments that its autonomy is approximately 30 days and with a charge of 1 minute it offers 22 hours of autonomy. To top it off, it is worth mentioning that, as we see in other Logitech models, the Mobi Fold supports the Simultaneous connection with up to three devices at the same timeand of course it is compatible with a good variety of devices: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, iPadOS and Linux. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: Logitech Mobi Fold ✅ THE BEST Yesu format: The fact that it can be folded makes it smaller, something very interesting to use outside the home. Your battery: Beyond its autonomy of up to 30 hours, the most interesting thing is the fast charging that, with one minute of charging, offers up to 22 hours of use. ❌ THE WORST Your fold: Logitech mentions that it can last up to 15 years, but at the end of the day it is a fold that, depending on use, can last less. 💡 BUY IT IF… You usually study or work outside the home and want to take a very compact mouse with you. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You are going to study or work mostly at home, since there are cheaper, although less transportable, mice within the brand. You may also be interested Logitech Lift Ergonomic Vertical Mouse, Wireless, Bluetooth or Logi Bolt USB Receiver, Silent Clicks, 4 Buttons, Compatible with Windows/macOS/iPadOS, Laptop, PC – Sand The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Logitech MX Master 3S, High Performance Wireless Mouse with Ultra-Fast Scrolling, Ergo, 8000 dpi, Glass Tracking, Discreet Clicks, Bluetooth, Windows, Linux and Chrome – Graphite The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Logitech In Xataka | Best keyboards for writing and working: which one to buy and six recommended models In Xataka | Best gaming keyboards. Which one to buy and 11 recommended gaming keyboards for different users and budgets

“The blow will travel far beyond the Pacific Ocean”

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On June 2, Celeste Saulo, the secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization, took the floor in front of media around the world and confirmed what we all feared: it is not only that, in a few weeks, the probability that The Child be strong or it has been triggered very strongly, it is that it is going much faster than normal. There is an 80% chance that we will enter a warm phase before summer. We have been saying the same refrain for decades (“it seems that El Niño is coming, we have to prepare”); Well, this time it seems that we won’t have time. What does all this mean? Although the WMO still does not use the term “SuperChild” (because it is not part of their official terminology), but the data speaks for itself: Tropical Pacific ocean readings “6 degrees above average.” It is true that these readings refer to the subsurface anomaly of the Kelvin wavebut the 0.9 of the Niño 3.4 index are not normal either (taking into account that we have been in a neutral phase for a very short time). But we had already read this, what has changed? What are we leaving behind? the main problem for prediction models: spring. June is the key moment because the models we have suddenly gain reliability and the image they give us is much more precise. That is, until now we were speculating. We had really surprising and worrying graphs, but we were aware that all this could end up in many ways when spring passed. The news is that this “landing” is being much more abrupt than we thought. If at the end of last year someone had told us that we would have a warm phase in summer, we would not have believed them. If they had also told us that it was this size we wouldn’t have even listened to it. To be clear: in just a few weeks, the picture has changed massively. What can we expect? Luckily, we have a clear precedent: The 2023-24 El Niño was the fifth strongest on record and generated an estimated $103.3 billion in damage. It was also a key factor in 2024 being the warmest year in the series. This gives us the keys to understand what impact we can expect: as Saul said“El Niño’s impact will travel far beyond the Pacific Ocean, affecting agriculture, energy, trade, water resources, supply chains and livelihoods of entire regions.” And in Spain too? THE same day that Saluo set off all the alarms, AEMET He came forward explaining that, indeed, “it is very likely that El Niño will manifest itself in these coming months” and the data confirm that it could reach “moderate or strong intensity after summer.” The good news is that “there is no clear and direct correlation between the occurrence of El Niño and its effects in” Spain. It is true that some studies point to a somewhat rainier end of autumn/beginning of winter, but the agency itself insists that “this is not always the case” and that there is no systematic correspondence. In summer, according to the agencyEl Niño would have “hardly any influence” in Spain. Tranquility, then. That is the message from AEMETalthough the truth is that this tranquility only affects the direct impacts. In a world as interconnected as ours, we will not be able to escape the indirect consequences of the largest El Niño ever recorded. So what the Agency tells us is not that we should not prepare, but that we should focus on what is truly relevant to us. The question is whether there is anyone out there listening. Image | BemBaso In Xataka | The super Niño of 1877 wiped out 4% of the world’s population. The one that is already beginning to form promises to be worse, but what does that mean in 2027?

We knew that Russians like to travel to the islands, but not so much

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From the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline In 2022, underwater infrastructure has become an absolute priority for NATO security. that episode made evident both their vulnerability and the lack of legal tools to protect them. Now the Government of Spain has just published the Annual National Security Report 2025 where it makes it clear that submarine telecommunications cables are already one of the main strategic concerns. And the reason is specific: during 2025, the presence of Russian ships near the Canary Islands coasts increased five-fold. The discovery. Without a doubt, what draws the most attention report the thing is In 2025, the presence of Russian ships near the Canary Islands coasts has increased fivefold. The Navy, through its Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Center (COVAM), detects around 50 vessels of this type in state waters every week, mainly in the Canary Islands, the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is what we know as the Russian “ghost fleet”: they do not sail under the Russian flag, but under flags of convenience with opaque insurance. AND Its official mission is to transport oil of Russian, Venezuelan and Iranian origin destined for Asia, thus avoiding international sanctions. The European Maritime Safety Agency has been tracking for years this phenomenon in their surveillance reports. Why is it important. submarine cables move approximately 99% of internet traffic, which includes sensitive data, financial and military systems and Spain is a key node on the routes that connect Europe with America and Africa, as can be seen on Google Maps of submarine cables. In short, any damage to these infrastructures would have direct and immediate consequences. The European Commission already contemplates this in its recent Plan of actionwhere it mentions everything from physical sabotage to cyberattacks and hybrid threats. The Baltic countries They have already alerted NATO of this type of fleet to cause GPS interference and damage cables and energy infrastructure. And that’s without talking about the environmental risk: the poor condition of many of these vessels makes an accidental spill likely in areas as sensitive as the Canary Islands. Context. This intense activity is part of the Russian hybrid war strategy in Europe, hostile actions within the gray zone, a kind of stones in the shoe that remain below the threshold of the casus belli. Underwater infrastructures, due to their inherent vulnerability, are the perfect target. The DSN report recognizes that Spain is not Russia’s main objective, but that the growing presence of this fleet in the western Mediterranean adds risks that cannot be ignored. In fact, there are already precedents such as cutting cables in the Baltic which show that the threat is real and not something theoretical. Spain’s response. The Spanish state has reinforced surveillance through various systems. The most visible is the Integrated External Surveillance System (SIVE) of the Civil Guard, designed to detect and follow suspicious vessels in real time. Added to this are ocean patrols by the Navy and active coordination with the European Maritime Safety Agency. The Department of Homeland Security insists that Spain must maintain technological resilience and permanent vigilance to prevent an incident, accidental or provoked, from leading to a major crisis. Yes, but. However, the report itself warns that current detection means are not accompanied by an equivalent response capacity. That is to say, there are not sufficient defense mechanisms, so the vulnerability continues to exist. One of the reasons is in the legal framework: the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea limits greatly increases the ability of States to intercept or inspect foreign vessels in international waters without a specific legal reason. In short: Spain can monitor, but not act preventively. The EU Action Plan tries to close this gap, but for the moment the state lacks legal instruments against a threat that moves in that gray area between legality and sabotage. In Xataka | A ghost fleet has mapped the entire underwater structure of the EU. The question is what Moscow is going to do with that information. In Xataka | 99% of the internet travels through submarine cables. Now there is a much more ambitious plan underway: linking the electrical grid Cover | Photo of Thomas Dorgler in Unsplash

Now you can enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on your travel insurance with Intermundial

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Your subscription to Xataka Xtra It is, from now on, a little more complete. If a few days ago we announced the exclusive advantages in the Samsung online store and the 99,999 credits for AI in Magnific (formerly Freepik), today we present you a new advantage that, it must be said, could not come at a better time. From today, all Xataka Xtra members can enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on Intermundial travel insurance. But there is more, because exceptionally and during the first two months the discount will not be 15%, but 20%. If you are planning a trip abroad and want to do it with extra security, you just have to access your subscriber area. There you will find this new advantage and the instructions to take advantage of it. Travel safer (and at a better price) Image | Taryn Elliott Interworld has been offering travel insurance for 30 years. Each year it insures more than 5.7 million people, manages more than 64,000 claims and assistance and has more than 6,000 distribution points. Additionally, as a curious fact, it is the insurance provider for Civitatis. If you usually travel and like tours, it will probably sound familiar to you. Travel insurance does two things: peace of mind and coverage in case of need. A visit to the doctor in depending on what countries and under what conditions can involve an enormous outlay. A visit to the emergency room in the United States, for example, can cost around $2,000. Let’s not talk about repatriation, which I hope no one will ever have to experience, but it is an expense of up to six figures that is not covered by the embassy or the consulate, but by the user. Travel insurance like those provided by Intermundial covers all these situations, in addition to protecting us against theft or loss of luggage, delays, missed connections, cancellations or overbooking, etc. With Xataka Xtrathat peace of mind comes out a little cheaper and, for that matter, here is a real case. An example of insurance for a three-week trip to Japan | Image: Xataka In October, yours truly goes on a honeymoon to Japan for 21 days. Totaltravel insurance, which covers up to five million euros in medical expenses, 350 euros for delays in the delivery of luggage and up to 2,500 for damage, theft or loss, to name a few figures, would cost under normal conditions 163.26 euros, that is, 81.63 euros per person. With the exclusive discount of Xataka Xtrawhich in these first two months is 20%, its price drops to 130.61 euros, or what is the same, 65.31 euros. That’s 33 euros that we can now spend on sushi or, better yet, on a 30-centimeter figure of Satoru Gojo. Join Xataka Xtra and save The Xataka Xtra subscription includes this and many other exclusive benefits, from a Discord server for subscribers to a direct line with editors through El Consultorio, a monthly meeting with the editors of the house, exclusive giveaways and a growing list of discounts and advantages on digital services. You can join from just 30 euros per year and take advantage of this discount, in addition to all those already available and everything that is to come: In Xataka | Subscribe to Xataka Xtra

We thought that the price of World Cup tickets in the US was going to be the biggest nonsense. Wait to travel by train

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The World Cup is a universal spectacle, but its prices during the tournament that will be held this summer in North America (United States, Mexico and Canada) will not exactly be within reach of all budgets. Especially if you want to enjoy the final, which will be played July 19 in it MetLife Stadium from New Jersey. And not just because their tickets are sold at exorbitant prices. The region’s public transportation operator has revealed that round-trip tickets between Manhattan and MetLife will cost 150 dollars. That decision has already generated a intense controversy. What has happened? That the celebration of the World Cup in the US is being marred by the enormous cost what it will mean for the fans. Until now we knew that those privileged who want to follow the matches directly in the stadiums will have to pay stratospheric sums for the tickets, especially if we talk about the final which will be played at the end of July at MetLife Stadium. That was relatively predictable. Now we know something else: even tickets to go to the stadium on public transport will be priced at the price of gold. Are they that expensive? Yes. A week ago The New York Times has already advanced that round-trip tickets to MetLife from New York’s Pennsylvania Station would cost more than $100, although the public transportation operator, New York Transit (NJT), was reluctant to confirm the information. The mystery did not last long. On Friday, when announcing the mobility plan for the World Cup, the company revealed (almost in passing) that the filtration of Times had fallen short. “Non-transferable, non-refundable, round-trip train tickets will be on sale exclusively to ticket holders on May 13 through NJ Transit for $150,” keep it up the operator when informing of the transportation services that will connect MetLife Stadium, renamed temporarily as New York New Jersey Stadium to conform to FIFA’s sponsorship policy. In the same statement NJT explains that round-trip bus tickets (also non-transferable and non-refundable) will be sold for $80. Is it more expensive than normal? A lot more. NBC News I remembered These days a round-trip ticket to MetLife Stadium usually costs $12.9, so the fare that those who want to use the train on the day of the final will have to pay will be 11 times higher than normal. The price will be very superior This is what fans who travel between Penn Station (New York) and MetLife pay to enjoy NFL Jets or Giants games. Although the price of bus tickets will also quadruple in Boston, where they will be disputed four gamesthere has been international competitions in which fans with tickets could freely use public transport. In the case of the USA, The Wall Street Journal remember that the original 2018 pact between host cities and FIFA included free transportation, but the requirement was relaxed a few years ago. Now fans must pay $150 for a trip that is covered in less than half an hour by car. Click on the image to go to the tweet. Has it generated controversy? Yes. Because of the amount itself (150), but also because the NJT plan does not contemplate Reduced rates, which means that children and seniors will have to pay the same amount as everyone else. It is important because MetLife Stadium will host a total of eight games of the World Cup in which the teams of Brazil, France, Germany and England (among others) will compete. Among those events also includes the most significant of all: the final. Those who want to skip the train or bus and go by car to MetLife will not have it easy either. The celebration of the World Cup will cut considerably the availability of parking in the area, which explains, among other things, that passes are being offered to park in the parking lot of a shopping center in the area for $225, such as has revealed NCB News. Why does it go up so much? That question connects directly with the political debate that has broken out in New Jersey around the World Cup, its costs for the public coffers and the return it will have for the region. Governor Mikie Sherrill (Democratic Party) assures having “inherited” an agreement by which FIFA “does not contribute a single dollar” for transportation and warned that NJ Transit will be forced to pay “a bill of 48 million dollars” to mobilize the tens of thousands of fans who will come to watch the games. MetLife Stadium seats more than 80,000 spectators and Sherrill’s message, just like the one NJT has transferred to the New York Times is clear: “The cost of the eight matches will not be borne by our regular users of public transport.” That is to say, the first step is for the fans (if not FIFA itself) to pay for the transportation required by the competition. Sherrill’s position has caused tensions with the federation, which warns of “deterrent” effect What will the train fares have and remember that MetLife has hosted other macro events without the organizers having to pay for transportation. During the debate, there was also talk of the income that FIFA will receive thanks to the tournament and the return for the USA. Is it just transportation? The truth is that no. The transport controversy is added to another that already goes back a long way: that of the price of tickets to enjoy the World Cup matches. A few weeks ago, FIFA already made headlines because tickets for the final were selling for up to $10,990. Not only are they astronomical figures that threaten to become “the most expensive in history”, as warns the BBC. They also far exceed those of a few months ago. In March, after the president of FIFA recognize that prices could “go up or down according to demand,” the OCU denounced the use of “dynamic pricing”. The rates already they have put on guard to Euroconsumers. Images | … Read more

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