traveling

When traveling to a hotel, I always go with a VPN. And this is the one I have on all my devices

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It’s almost time for summer vacation. If we go away from home, it is more than likely that let’s end up using some public WiFiwhether at the airport, at the hotel or in a cafeteria. Simply connecting to these can be dangerous, but there are several ways to protect ourselves. Using a VPN is the simplest and safest way, both on your mobile and on any of your devices. The problem here is that there are many VPNs that allow a limited number of installations per account, which can leave you having to choose between all your devices. If you don’t want this, then Surfshark may be a great fit for you, allowing unlimited devices: comes out 1.99 euros per month. Surfshark Starter Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A VPN that can take you to the movies on your next vacation We know that there are free VPNs. These, for very specific use, may be fine. However, in the long run, They are not recommended at all. The reason is simple: They are not as safe as they promise to be.. In that sense, it is worth investing a little in a paid VPN that gives us security, a good connection speed and, in the case of Surfshark, unlimited devices. Let’s now talk about how a VPN can help us in these types of situations. Public or unknown WiFi networks may seem secure, but the reality is that we don’t know if anyone is taking advantage of this. to intercept our data. This is something we do not want under any circumstances, especially when there is important data at stake (imagine, for example, that you order an Uber and you have your card in the app). In that sense, a VPN saves us from the problem. By activating it, we pass our data through an encrypted tunnel, so it remains safe even on one of these networks. This is the main use, but it can also be great if, for example, You are abroad and want to see your DAZN account to watch the World Cup. For all this, you may be interested in carrying the VPN on your mobile phone, but also on your tablet or laptop. Without device limitations, you can install Surfshark with your account on all of them without problems. And, as we said above, its price is quite attractive: it costs 1.99 euros per month in its two-year modality that, in addition, includes three extra months. So, if you do the numbers, you will pay a total of 53.73 euros for 27 months. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | KaleidicSurfshark In Xataka | Best VPNs: guide with the 17 best services to protect your online privacy In Xataka | Why it is dangerous to connect to public Wi-Fi and what you should do to protect yourself

The Earth has had a traveling companion for millions of years and we don’t know where it came from, but there is a ship ready to give us answers

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The Earth does not travel alone around the sun. And not only because of the Moon, which logically always accompanies it, orbiting around it. It also has several traveling companions: objects, called co-orbitals, that take exactly the same time as our planet to make a complete revolution around the star. These objects are well known, but their origin is quite mysterious. There are astronomers who bet that they escaped from the asteroid belt. However, their silicate content suggests that they could be fragments of the Moon that jumped from its surface after the impact of a meteorite. Now, a team of scientists has assigned probabilities to each option, although for definitive proof of its origin we will have to wait a little longer. (469219) Kamo’oalewa. This is the name of one of the best-known coorbitals on Earth. It measures between 24 and 107 meters in diameter and the spectral analyzes that have been able to be carried out Telescopes such as the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) and the Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) indicate that it is very rich in silicates, so it is likely that it comes from the Moon. In fact, the most accepted hypothesis so far indicates that it could have been formed during the impact that gave rise to the Giordano Bruno crater on our satellite. However, this new study, published in the journal Icarus, suggests that it is more likely that it is an asteroid escaped of the belt between Mars and Jupiter. Very unlikely. For an asteroid or a piece of the Moon to become co-orbital, they must not only escape from their place. Also They must have enough energy to be located in what is known as a quasi-satellite orbit. This, for a body the size of Kamo’oalewa, is highly unlikely. Quasi-what? A quasi-satellite has certain similarities with a satellite, but it is not the same. When we look at one of them from the planet it accompanies, in the direction of the Sun, it appears that it is in orbit around the planet, but in reality it rotates around the Sun itself. This, among other reasons, is due to the fact that is outside the Hill sphere of the planet. That is, the environment dominated by its gravity. Being outside of said orbit, it is influenced by the planet’s gravity, but above all, in this case, it is influenced by that of the Sun. Be that as it may, falling and staying in that orbit is complicated, as we have already seen and, above all, as these scientists have demonstrated. Win the asteroid option. These scientists have created models that simulate the trajectory of 12,000 synthetic particles launched from the lunar surface at different speeds and angles, following their orbits for millions of years. The goal was to see how many stabilized at co-orbital points with the Earth. In total they found 70 objects with a diameter greater than 10 meters capable of doing so. 70 out of 12,000! Now, when they repeated the procedure by swapping lunar particles for objects from the asteroid belt, they found more candidates. 1,600 in total. Tianwen-2 will return samples to answer the mystery in 2027 Tianwen-2 will have the key. The origin of coorbitals is so intriguing that China already has sent a ship to analyze the surface of one of them. Specifically from Kamo’oalewa himself. The Tianwen-2 mission left in May 2025 towards this object, with the aim of collecting at least 100 grams of samples and return them to Earth for analysis. It is already known that there are silicates, or at least it is suspected, but a deeper idea of ​​the composition is needed to understand the origin of this object. Orbit insertion is expected to occur next June if all goes well. Then he will spend a few months collecting samples to put them in a capsule, which will land back on Earth. already in 2027. Two options. If the analyzes of Tianwen-2 conclude that Kamo’oalewa came from the Moon, the lunar impact mechanics would have to be rethought, since it would be very rare for one of these fragments to have been able to reach its final location with what we know so far. On the other hand, if it is proven that it comes from an asteroid, it would be necessary to study where these silicates come from, since they are very unconventional for an object of these characteristics. Whatever is concluded, there will be a lot of fabric to cut, that is clear. ç Image | NASA |China News Service In Xataka | The Earth has moons that we don’t know about: exploring them is key to revealing the secrets of our solar system

May begins loaded with offers on the MacBook Neo, the perfect eReader for traveling, sales on TVs and much more. Hunting Bargains

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We welcome the month of May that has begun with several very attractive campaigns and loose offers. Do you need a new television to watch the Soccer World Cup? Do you want to read more and are you looking for your first eReader? Well pay attention because today We’re back with a new Bargain Hunting. MacBook Neo by 749.95 eurosa perfect laptop to make the leap into the Apple ecosystem. nintendo switch 2 by 449 eurosone of the best prices MediaMarkt has had to date (there is also a pack available). Woxter Scriba 195 by 59.90 eurosan e-book reader that is ideal for casual readers. Xiaomi Buds 5 by 44.99 eurosthe brand’s headphones at half the official price. Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC by 494 eurosa good QLED TV with a 65-inch screen. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MacBook Neo He MacBook Neo It is one of Apple’s most popular laptops, and it has been one of the last to arrive. The version of 512GB It is the best seller in the “Traditional Laptops” section of Amazon and it is the one that is on sale, for 749.95 euros (previously 799 euros) in this case. It is a light computer of 1.23 kg, its chip is the A18 Pro of the iPhone 16 Pro and it is, in short, perfect for everyday tasks of writing text, web browsing, playing multimedia content and even image editing. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links nintendo switch 2 MediaMarkt and other stores have lowered the price of the nintendo switch 2. You can now buy it again for 449 euros (before 469 euros). However, if you do not have the first Nintendo Switch and want to receive the current generation with a video game, MediaMarkt also has a pack available for 479 euros from the console along with ‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘ and a keychain. To buy the pack you must select it with the “buy pack” button in the store. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Woxter Scriba 195 If you want to read a little more and are looking to make the jump to digital format because it is more comfortable for you, the Woxter Scriba 195 It is the perfect model for two reasons: it is economical because right now in El Corte Inglés it costs 59.90 euros (before 79.90 euros) and because it is small as it has a six-inch screen. In addition, it includes buttons to turn the pages and not dirty the screen so much and includes a microSD card slot in case you want to store many digital books. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Buds 5 On the other hand, if you are looking for good headphones to enjoy your favorite music anywhere, be careful because the Xiaomi Buds 5 They are on MediaMarkt for 44.99 euros (before 59.99 euros, although its official price is 99.99 euros). They are headphones with audio adjustments signed by Harman, they are resistant to water and dust (IP54) and offer a good theoretical autonomy of up to 39 hours of use according to Xiaomi. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC There is little left until the Soccer World Cup, so if you have decided to take the opportunity to change TV, the Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC has dropped to 494 euros at MediaMarkt (previously 689 euros). It is a QLED smart TV with a 65-inch screen that supports the HDR10+ to have a good image experience on compatible content. It also includes Filmmaker mode for cinema and comes with both voice assistants Alexa and Google Assistant. Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC (65 inches) 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. Image | Apple, Nintendo, Woxter, Xiaomi, Samsung In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs In Xataka | Best wireless headphones. Which one to buy and 21 models from 15 euros to 470 euros

After 20 years of works and 4,000 million euros, Asturians demand one last thing for the AVE: traveling with their dog

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“Our dogs are family. They are not an extra suitcase, they are an essential part of the trip. Europe is already ahead of us by allowing dogs of all sizes on trains. Why can’t Renfe be just as modern and empathetic?” With these words and the support of more than 5,000 signatories, Isa Díaz Yusta, who promotes a petition on Change.org, summarizes the feelings of Renfe travelers in the north of the country as stated The New Spain. And the train company does not allow the access of dogs weighing more than 10 kg on the routes that go to Galicia, Asturias or the Basque Country. That impossibility has open a wound in northern Spain. The aforementioned request is not the only one. With almost 5,000 supports, another user of the same platform also has a petition open for Renfe to allow dogs weighing more than 10 kg to travel on these routes. “We can’t always drive or leave them with someone. Many of us need the train to go see family or for work, and leaving our colleagues behind is not an option,” says the promoter on this occasion. Arancha Gómez, again another Change.org user, asks that the possibility of carrying accompanying dogs be expanded on all lines operated by Renfe. It is the same thing that Laura Serena asks for, whose request has already been collected more than 26,000 signatures. I don’t have a driving license, so I depend entirely on public transportation. And, although I have been waiting for a change for years, Renfe only allows traveling with dogs weighing more than 10 kg on four routes. FOUR!!. The rest of the country remains inaccessible for those of us who travel with large dogs. Not without my dog Indeed, as noted in the last petition, Renfe only allows traveling with dogs weighing more than 10 kg on limited routes. Since the petition was launched, Renfe has been expanding the destinations in which you can travel accompanied by large dogs but, for now, the only AVE available are still the following: Madrid-Barcelona Madrid-Zaragoza Madrid-Alicante Madrid-Valencia Madrid-Seville Madrid-Málaga Madrid-Granada However, the company The possibility of traveling with dogs is not enabled between 10 and 40 kg on all high-speed and long-distance lines. On the contrary, dogs of this size and any other can ride on Cercanías trains. If we want to travel with a dog weighing less than 10 kg, Renfe allows us to do so on all AVE, long-distance, AVLO, medium-distance and metric gauge trains. Except in the latter, the pet can travel in a carrier that does not exceed 60x35x35 cm for a surcharge. On those trains that have places specifically reserved for dogs to travel, you can pay 35 euros so that the pet does not travel in the carrier. However, as we say, only on selected routes you can travel with dogs weighing more than 10 kg. In this case, it is mandatory to fill out a document discharging the company’s responsibilities and another to confirm that we are aware of the regulations. The dog will travel in the adjacent seat and this cannot be chosen because there are pre-established places for this purpose. Furthermore, in these cases, the company provides a travel kit and has a series of standards and recommendations that are summarized in this document. In the delivered kit there is a seat cover and a mat to place on the window seat. The dog must be on a leash of a maximum of 1.5 meters and with a muzzle. In all cases, only one pet is allowed per traveler, but in the particular case of dogs weighing more than 10 kg, no more than two pets are allowed per car on the same train. Furthermore, on the Madrid-Málaga and Madrid-Granada corridors, only one pet of this size is allowed per train. Asturian users, as we have seen, complain about this type of restrictions for a line that It opened in 2023 after 20 years of work (13 years late) and a investment of 4,000 million euros. Even on lines that do allow it, some travelers also complain that the purchasing process can be too complicated. They explain in the blog Pipperontour that not all trains on the enabled lines allow traveling with dogs and, furthermore, this possibility only appears to be added in the last step of the purchase process, which makes it difficult to get a ticket. To try to make everything clearer, Renfe has a space where all frequencies can be consulted that allow large dogs but the aforementioned blog states that this list is not always updated. To all of the above we must add that it is no coincidence that some of the popular petitions requested through the Change.org platform come from northern Spain. In one of them it is remembered that Gijón is one of the cities in our country with the most registered dogs and Asturias is the Autonomous Community with the most dogs per inhabitant of our country. Photo | john crozier and Phil Richards In Xataka | “In 1961 it took Bilbao three hours and five minutes. Now it takes three and ten”: Cantabria and Spain’s drama with the train

Yemen is one of the most dangerous places on the planet. And despite this there are Spanish tourists traveling to one of their islands

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Socotra is a paradisiacal archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, near the Gulf of Aden, just over 300 kilometers from the southern coast of Yemen, the country to which it belongs. Its biodiversity and abundance of native species earned it becoming a World Heritage Site 18 years ago. However, despite its idyllic appearance, for a few days Socotra has been something more: a large mousetrap in which they have been trapped. 600 touristsincluding 20 Spaniards. The reason? Socotra is full of corners instagrammablebut it is also (like the rest of Yemen) a destination that Foreign advises against visiting. What has happened? What was promised as a dream vacation on an idyllic island in the Indian Ocean has ended up turning into a nightmare. And all by the work and grace of the complex situation politics that Yemen is going through, marked by tensions between the Government and a separatist faction that at the beginning of December took control from two important provinces in the south of the country. With this backdrop, on December 30, the Executive decided to apply a air embargosea and land of several days that fully affected flights with Socotra, the largest of the islands that make up the archipelago of the same name. The territory was left without one-way services. No return. And how do I get out of here? That is the question that more than one in the archipelago asked. About 60,000 islanders who depend on Yemen reside there, but also hundreds of tourists. In fact, at the time of the cancellation of the flights, it is estimated that there were close to 600 foreigners. Although not all of them have the same nationality, they do share the same problem: How to leave the island? With flights cancelled, they were stranded more than 300 km from the coast. The regional deputy governor for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Yahya Saleh Afrar, was quick to clarify that the situation in Socotra is “good” and the archipelago “safe.” “Everything’s fine”, emphasized a few days ago after ensuring that tourists continued with “their activities thanks to the agreements of the tourism companies.” That does not mean, Afrar also acknowledged, that “a certain anxiety” about the situation spread among travelers. In fact, as soon as talk of evacuation began, the authorities they found each other with that “everyone wanted to travel, but they were afraid.” Does it affect Spain? Yes. Most of the 600 affected tourists are Russians and Polesbut the list includes travelers from many other countries: Brazil, Italy, Russia, Poland, the US and China… Also Spain. Local authorities have confirmed that there have been a variety of cases on the island “between 15 and 20” who suffer exactly the same fate as the rest of international travelers. Yesterday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured to the EFE agency that the group is fine, but is still on the island, with no choice but to extend their stay in Socotra. Everything indicates, however, that their ‘adventure’ will not last much longer. Why’s that? Because in recent days evacuation flights have begun to take off. The first one left on Wednesday with 179 people on board, another one followed yesterday with 145 foreign travelers and the idea, assures Swiss Infois that two more trips are scheduled today and tomorrow to get the rest of the tourists out of the archipelago. A priori and according to the data managed by EFEthe twenty Spaniards were still in Socotra yesterday, so they would fly today or tomorrow. Evacuations come after Russia and Poland They will confirm on Tuesday a new scheduled air route of the Yemeni national airline, Yemenia Airways, to Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia. As slide The New York TimesUntil now, tourists traveled to Socotra basically from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) aboard the Air Arabia airline. The change is interesting because both countries, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, are indirect protagonists of the Yemen conflict. The first supports the recognized Yemeni Executive. The latter (UAE) support the separatist forces. Holidays in Socotra? Like many other tourist destinations, Socotra has “a side A and B” for island lovers: it is a paradisiacal enclave, but clouded by the political scene. UNESCO stands out that the archipelago has “global importance” for its biodiversity, flora and fauna, with a great abundance of native species that are only found on its islands. The images that are shared on networks also show endless sandy beaches bathed by turquoise water, dunes and unique vegetation. The “B side” (much less friendly) is marked by the conflict in Yemen. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very clear. On your website make it clear which “advises against travel under any circumstances” to the country, including the island of Socotra, and invites any Spanish visitor to leave the territory “as soon as possible.” “Some agencies and tour operators organize trips to offshore islands, such as Socotra. This type of trip is discouraged due to the lack of safety guarantees and the possibility of problems returning.” Images | Valerian Guillot (Flickr) and Rod Waddington (Flickr) In Xataka | The Valencian Community has a single inhabited island. And when summer arrives, tourism is the least of their problems

let’s start traveling on foot

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“It is common in Europe.” With these words, Óscar Puente, Minister of Transport, justified the possibility of traveling standing on medium-distance trains. Puente referred to this possibility in Twenty-something hourprogram of the Chain Being. There, it was assured that the Government is studying this possibility and 2026 aims to be key to carrying out a new way of traveling. “It is not being done”. And it is totally true. Puente pointed out in the aforementioned program that on medium-distance trains in Spain you cannot travel standing. And as in France or Portugal, it is prohibited to use regional trains without reserving a seat (as long as Renfe does not say otherwise, as we will see) so you can only stand in the spaces between carriages or in the area relative to the cafeteria. At that moment, Puente took the opportunity to announce that Renfe welcomes the proposal and that they have on the table launching a pilot test on a short line, one that is not particularly long. In Xataka We have asked Renfe about this possibility but they have not given an answer as to when this pilot test would be launched or where. They assure, in this case, that the decision belongs to Transport. Logroño-Zaragoza. The origin of the statements must be sought on the line between Logroño and Zaragoza passing through Pamplona. There, passengers have seen how medium distance trains have been replaced by Cercanías’ own vehicles for shorter trips. This caused some passengers to have to make the trip standing since there were no seated seats available, since the trains had a smaller number of seats. Already in July 2024Puente pointed out that this was something that had to change. In September 2025Renfe announced that new trains were arriving for the route between Logroño and Zaragoza, with a greater number of seats and cafeteria service since the new vehicles prioritized capacity over this option. Can you travel standing for medium distances? Technically yes, as long as there are any of the circumstances that Renfe points out on its website: Medium distance services without reservation Trains that stop at stations without sales, in which the traveler must buy the ticket en route: since it is not possible to reserve a seat, it is possible that there are no free seats. Travelers who have boarded without a ticket and have to regularize it en route, if at that moment there is no free seat. As an exception, on trains with the right to a seat, if Renfe so determines. And on the company’s own website, two cases are specified in which it is common to travel like this in our country. The first is the regional trains of Catalonia, as Puente pointed out in the Cadena Ser interview. The other is the possibility that a Cercanías train is being used for a medium-distance service, which is exactly what has been happening in Logroño-Zaragoza. In addition, it is specified that “travel insurance is assigned to the ticket, not to the seat. That is, every traveler with a ticket travels insured, regardless of whether they do so standing or sitting.” Europe. In his speech, Puente already pointed out that this is common in some European countries. Although the Minister did not then indicate which trains he was referring to, the truth is that in the Netherlands, Switzerland or Belgium they offer the sale of trains in which a seat is not assigned unless they are indicated. In the countries where this possibility is available, it is because travelers usually make relatively short regional journeys. So, for example, in Germany You buy a ticket for a regional train and the seat reservation is an added bonus. Something similar happens in Italy where their regional trains do not have an assigned seat unless you opt for their first class. And where is the advantage? Mainly, there are two advantages to the service. The first is that if this option is offered, the volume of passengers traveling on each train can be greatly increased. Of course, Renfe would have to use modified trains or versions more similar to those of Cercanías to be able to offer this service. The second is that, as in Italy, the train ticket schedule is flexible. For example, in Italy a travel day is allocated but you can take the train at any time you prefer. In other cases, a time is selected and that same train can be taken in an open time window before and after the original time, which makes the possibilities for the traveler more flexible. Obviously, this requires the train to be able to accommodate a number of passengers that exceeds the seating capacity, so if the seat is not reserved in advance, it is possible that the passenger travels the entire journey standing or has to get up at some point to leave said space for another passenger. Photo | PJH and Xataka In Xataka | We have tried to write this article using the AVE WiFi and we have come up short

Insects have been traveling to space for decades. Now the ESA is studying putting them on the astronauts’ plates

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For years, many of us have thought of insects as something foreign to our table, but they have been part of space history for much longer than we imagine. Even before the first astronauts reached orbit, these small species they had already shown that could withstand the conditions of flight. Today, with long-duration missions on the horizon, the conversation has changed. Europe wonders if these animals, so nutritious and easy to maintain, could become a real option to feed those who live far from Earth. Why insects. Although they are still a culinary rarity in Spain, insects are part of the regular diet of billions of people. The FAO estimates more than 2,000 species consumed on different continents, valued for their contribution of protein, iron, zinc and beneficial fats. Their ability to develop with few resources and transform waste into useful biomass makes them an attractive candidate for controlled food systems. That is why several European teams are analyzing its nutritional potential and its viability in environments where every gram counts. What we know about microgravity. Research with insects in space has accumulated decades of datafrom early suborbital flights to tests at orbital stations. During this journey, different species have been tested, with very different results: some managed to complete essential phases of the life cycle in microgravity and others showed sensitivity to factors such as movement or radiation. This contrast has been useful to understand what biological mechanisms remain stable outside of Earth and what processes are altered even in very resistant organisms. What the ESA is looking for. The European team work with a specific idea: to know in detail how these organisms behave in key phases of their development when they spend prolonged time in orbit. The agency has brought together diverse profiles to study their ability to recycle nutrients and produce protein under controlled conditions, a line that already has candidate species such as the common cricket and the mealworm. This research aims to clarify what biological requirements should be met before considering its production in long-duration missions. Fruit fly habitat used for scientific research in space Although there is an extensive history of testing with insects, much of the results are scattered and come from short missions. The majority of experiments did not reach times that allow the complete life cycle of a species to be followed, an essential requirement to evaluate its use in long missions. Furthermore, many of these investigations are old and used different methodologies, making it difficult to compare them. That is why ESA is preparing new studies specifically aimed at measuring changes in reproduction, development and behavior in orbit. Drosophila model. NASA’s experience with Drosophila melanogaster has demonstrated its usefulness as a model organism to understand physiological changes in space. The agency highlights that it shares a good part of the genes related to human diseases and that its accelerated reproduction facilitates the analysis of several generations. He Fruit Fly Lab, installed on the International Space Station, it allows us to follow their behavior and freeze samples for study on the ground. It also incorporates a centrifuge that helps distinguish which effects depend on gravity and which are linked to space radiation. Astronaut James D. “Ox” Van Hoften examines a bee experiment From the laboratory to the menu. For now, the food use of insects in space missions continues to be a line of study and not an immediate application. Researchers need to check how they behave in prolonged phases and what it would mean to stably grow them in inhabited modules. Added to this is the challenge of transforming this biomass into safe, manageable and acceptable products from a nutritional and sensory point of view. Everything is moving in the direction of exploring options, not automatically incorporating them into the astronauts’ menu. Images | ESA | POT In Xataka | Astronauts’ food is not appetizing at first, especially in China

Portugal and Spain have proposed that traveling between Lisbon and Madrid be as comfortable as in 1881. This is excellent news

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31 years after the first promise, we will have a high-speed train from Madrid to Lisbon passing through Extremadura. We will have it, of course, if the plans are fulfilled. And four years later we will be able to travel the space that separates both capitals at high speed. 2030 and 2034. At least that’s what they’ve committed to. Portugal, Spain and the European Commission, who have reached an agreement to bring the connection between Lisbon and Madrid back to life in 2030 with a conventional train and in 2034 with a high-speed line that should make the journey in three hours. The calendar. To launch the line between the capitals, the project requires various phases and actions. Poceirão-Bombel section: new line that will begin construction in 2026 and should be completed in 2029. Évora-Caia section: this high-speed section should be ready in 2026. Lisbon-Évora section: the project study should be completed in 2027. Plasencia-Talayuela section: should be operational in 2028. Madrid-Lisbon at high speed: the new lines should allow travel between the Spanish capital and Portugal in three hours from 2034. In addition, the possibility of opening a Caia-Badajoz-Elvas high-speed line has been raised to reduce times and reach three hours if the planned times are not being met. Target: airlines. One of the great objectives that the European Union has with this new high-speed line is to reduce the number of flights between both cities. They point out in elDiario.es There are currently about 40 daily flights between Madrid and Lisbon. For years, European institutions have been working to reduce the volume of air traffic by improving rail connections. Spain either France These are some of the countries that want to implement policies to reduce them. A 600 kilometer railway line to travel in three hours is exactly the type of trip that can do a lot of damage to airlines if it works correctly. A good example is the Galician runner which, despite requiring more travel time, has made passengers turn their backs on the plane. And Galicia? If travelers who aspire to take their trains from Madrid are the big beneficiaries, Galicia seems to be the big loser. In recent yearsPortugal had insisted that its true intention was to create a high-speed line between Lisbon and Vigo with an intermediate stop in Porto. The project now takes a back seat, however, since they will have to focus efforts on high speed between capitals. In Atlantic They highlight that the European Union has already dedicated more than 250 million euros to promoting high speed in Portugal and more than 750 million euros to do the same in the connection between Extremadura and Madrid, so it seems logical that the first corridor to support this. A continental network. The project to link Lisbon and Madrid on a high-speed line is part of the European Atlantic Transport Corridor. The project plans to link Portugal, Spain, France, Germany and Ireland with intermodal connections that include roads, airports, ports… and railway lines. Regarding the latter, the connection with Madrid would allow connecting Barcelona with Lisbon in less than six hours. It would be a key stage for unite Lisbon with the rest of the European Union by train since, at the moment, the Portuguese capital is isolated by rail. In addition, it would allow rapid connection with other hot spots on the Spanish high-speed rail network, such as Valencia and Alicante or connections with Asturias and Cantabria. The exit to Vigo with the high-speed network that was already planned is the other possibility to reach the north of the Peninsula. The eternal promise. The connection between Lisbon and Madrid is a promise that has been going on for more than 20 years. In The World Order They highlight that the railway connection between both cities is worse today than in 1881 when a train line was opened between both cities for the first time. Between Berlin and Warsaw, they point out, there is a similar distance traveled by seven trains a day. Despite the first promises of having a cross-border AVE ready in 2010the line is still not operational. With the latest advances in the high-speed line, already present between Plasencia and Badajoz, the travel time between Lisbon and Madrid has been reduced to just over eight hours, as explained in The World Order but you have to take three different trains. In 2022, the same trip exceeded 11 hours, collected in The Country. At least 144 years ago, travelers only had to take a train and wait for it to drop them off in one of the two cities. Photo | Phil Richards, Annie Sprat and 야스민 ㄹㅁㅅ In Xataka | A hydrogen train has crossed Spain and Portugal for the first time: 10,000 km of route, including the Pyrenees

A 1,500-ton tunnel boring machine is already traveling to Madrid to drill the new Line 11

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“Notify when you leave and when you arrive” Mayrit has already done the first. The second will be in more or less a month when all the pieces are already on Spanish soil. Mayrit is not the youngest son of a family. Mayrit has many fathers and mothers. Many. Those necessary to give life to a 1,500 ton tunnel boring machine. That tunnel boring machine that will directly expand line 11 of the Madrid Metro. A line that, until now, has been excavated with much more traditional means and that of course will take a huge leap forward in its future projection with this gigantic and enormous artifact. What’s coming, what’s coming Connecting Cuatro Vientos, southwest of the capital, with Valedebebas, northeast of it, Line 11 wants to become in one of those star connections in Madrid. Tracing a diagonal, the intention is to convert what is currently just seven stations into one of Madrid’s great corridors. The qualitative and quantitative leap in the progress of the works will be made by Mayrit. This gigantic tunnel boring machine weighs 1,500 tons and is 98 meters long. It is expected that each day about 15 meters can be advanced on the land, key in a line that will have stations 33 meters below ground from Madrid. My colleague Javier Márquez explained a few months ago that the transfer is not easy. The machine is built by Herrenknecht AGa German company that has assembled the entire gigantic puzzle of pieces, screws and components in its country. Once assembled, the machine is cut into pieces to be sent to our country. Of course, “it won’t be quick or easy,” as my partner explained. Now we know that the powerful tunnel boring machine has already set out on its way to Spain. It comes by land and sea. And the bulk of its pieces will arrive in Santander by boat where they will board land transport to reach the capital. Another good package of these pieces will arrive at the port of Valencia, originating in Venice. Map of the new Line 11 Once the pieces arrive, they must be transported to Carabanchel. There, next to Plaza Elpítica, this monster will drill into the ground at a rate of 500 meters per month to connect with Conde de Casal, about six kilometers from the point of origin. This stage is considered one of the most problematic and complex. Until now, the connection between Parque de Comillas (which will have a new station) and Plaza Elíptica is being done by hand. However, the transfer and assembly is so delicate and complex that it will not be until March 2026 when everything is expected to be ready in the Madrid neighborhood to begin drilling the ground. The system is so complex because the tunnel boring machine is not only responsible for excavating the earth and disposing of what is found there. While working advancing into the subsoil, an auger transports the excavated material with a conveyor belt. This material can be washed if it encounters mud but it can also affect the stability of the ground with injections of bentonite, water or foam. All while sensors control the pressure the machine experiences to control how fast it can work. If everything happens according to the planned deadlines, the last piece from Mayrit should arrive in December and, as we said, it is not expected to come into operation until March 2026. For now, it’s time to pull the shovel and pneumatic hammer. Photo | Madrid Metro In Xataka | Faced with daily collapses, the Madrid Metro could increase frequencies or put in “pushers.” He has chosen the second

The incident of the plane in which Von der Leyen was traveling was not another scare. It is a vulnerability that Europe cannot ignore

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Like our mobiles or our cars, airplanes turn to satellites to know where they are. These signals, integrated into the FMS management system (FMS)improve the precision and efficiency of aerial trajectories. Nevertheless, That system is not unique or infallible: In interference situations, pilots must resort to classical aid such as inertial systems, terrestrial radio aids or even paper maps. In times of war, These setbacks have become more commonespecially in areas close to active conflicts. What was previously a rare incident is a real concern for airlines, controllers and governments. The recent flight of Ursula von der Leyen to Bulgaria has put it back in the fore, remembering that even the most advanced systems can fail and that Europe is reinforcing its defenses to avoid it. When the GNSS system of a plane gives problems Surely you have heard of “GPS” to refer to satellite positioning. It is a popular term, but technically incorrect: the system is called GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and integrates several constellations, such as the American GPS, European Galileo, Russian Glonass and Chinese Beidou. In aviation, modern receptors can combine signals from different networks To improve reliability, which allows aircraft to plan more efficient routes and land accurately in airports where it was unthinkable before. The incident with the Ursula von der Leyen plane is a good example of what happens when that network fails. The European Commission confirmed that its flight experienced an interruption of the satellite signal on August 31, 2025, when it approached Plovdiv, south of Bulgaria. According to Reutersand Financial Timesthe pilots completed the landing using printed letters and traditional navigation procedures. Bulgaria explained that “The satellite signal that transmitted information to the GNSS system of the plane was neutralized.” The commission added thataccording to the Bulgarian authorities, there is suspected “flagrant interference” by Russia; Moscow denies it. If you have ever wondered how a plane continues to fly when GNSS loses, the answer is in the redundancy. In addition to satellite signals, it has inertial systems They calculate the position using accelerometers and gyroscopes, as well as radiusayudas on land as. In Europe, The Galileo Network Work next to Egnosan increase system that corrects errors and allows precision operations. This technological network makes GNS loss complicate the flight, but reduces risk scenarios. When we talk about “interferences” we do not always refer to the same. There are two main techniques: Jammingwhich blocks the signals, and Spoofingthat introduces false information to deceive the receiver. For pilots, both phenomena can translate into changes in experience and greater workload. Therefore, although Von der Leyen’s flight ends well, the event has served as a reminder: the skies have become a more complex land with this type of threats in the air. The president of the European Commission greets Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov upon arrival in Plovdiv, on a trip marked by an incident of Jamming Satellitan A clear example of these risks occurred in March 2024. The positioning system of the Royal Air Force plane that transported the then Secretary of Defense of the United Kingdom, Grant Shapps, It was interfered for several minutes while flying near the Russian enclave of Kalinningrad. According to British government sources cited by Reutersthe pilots had to resort to alternative navigation methods. The Kremlin did not comment on the event, which was interpreted in the West as a demonstration of the electronic warfare capabilities of Russia. Bulgaria and the European Commission point to Russia as possible responsible for the interference suffered by the Dassault Falcon 900lx (registration oo-gpe) that transferred Ursula von der Leyen, Operated by Luxaviation Belgium and en route aab53g between Warsaw and Plovdiv, According to Flightradar24 data. The aircraft was a charter flight, since community institutions do not have an official fleet, and there are no conclusive evidence or confirmation that it was a deliberate action against the plane. Moscow has denied any involvement. The aircraft was a charter flight, since community institutions do not have its own official fleet. To what extent is it dangerous to lose GNSS signal in full flight? Redundant systems and emergency procedures drastically reduce the risk of an accident, but do not eliminate concern. EASA warns that interference GNSS can degrade communication, navigation and supervision functions, and cause false TAWS alerts (Terrain Awareness and Warning System), the alert system that warns the crew when there is Risk of collision with land or obstacles. Each extra alarm in cabin implies more workload for crews, which must react rapidly to maintain flight safety. According to Airbuswhen the GNSS signal is lost, the aircraft does not lose its main navigation capacity. The flight management system (FMS) compensates for loss using data from other sources such as inertial reference systems (IRS) and RadioAyudas (Vor/DME), maintaining a precise position calculation. However, some high precision navigation and surveillance functions that depend exclusively on the GNSS can be temporarily affected until the signal is recovered. The institutional response also advances. The European Commissioner of Defense, Andrius Kubilius, announced that the European Union plans to strengthen its satellite network in low orbit To improve the detection of interference, although deadlines or operational details have not yet been completed. Galileo already offers Osnmaan operational service since July 24, 2025 that authentic navigation messages and helps identify and mitigate attempts to supplant signal (spoofing). Ursula von der Leyen plane landed without serious incidents, but the message is clear: without satellite navigation, modern aviation loses an essential piece. Europe works to reinforce this infrastructure, both technological and defensively, with the aim that what happened in Bulgaria is an isolated episode in a technological war that is already fought in space and cyberspace. The details of these measures are yet to be defined. Images | Dassault Aviation | Rossen Jeliazkov In Xataka | For years the Airbus A380 symbolized European power against Boeing. Today it survives as a colossus without the kingdom

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