Year

Boeing wanted to get back on track with Starliner after its most difficult year. The contract with NASA just changed in a key point

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For years, Starliner was presented as Boeing’s opportunity to aspire to a leading role in American manned flights, in a scenario in which SpaceX I moved faster with Dragon. The contract signed with NASA in 2014 It represented that opportunity: six manned flights and an open door to a new cycle of missions. Eleven years later, the situation is different. That agreement has been adjusted and the next mission has become an exam without people on board. That agreement placed Starliner within the program with which the US space agency sought to guarantee two different US vehicles to the International Space Station. The idea was clear: have more than one capsule capable of transporting astronauts, long-term planning and autonomy in low orbit. That document established that, once the ship was certified, Boeing would operate six manned flights for regular rotations. All this with an eye on the station’s deadline, scheduled for 2030. A shortened contract, by mutual agreement. NASA and Boeing have decided to modify the conditions of the original agreement and reduce the number of guaranteed flights. Instead of the six manned missions planned after certification, the new scenario includes a mission without astronauts, intended to validate the system, and up to three crew rotations. In addition, there are two optional flights that NASA can activate depending on its mission needs. This review also reduces the value of the contract, which goes from $4.5 billion to $3.732 million, after deducting $768 million. Starliner-1 changes roles. This mission without astronauts has a name: Starliner-1, and it has become a key piece of the system validation plan. NASA will use it to send cargo to the International Space Station and verify, in real conditions, that the changes introduced after the manned flight in 2024 offer sufficient guarantees. The target date remains no earlier than April 2026, provided the spacecraft successfully completes testing, certification and pre-launch preparation. A history of setbacks: The first warning came with flight OFT-1 in December 2019, when some problems prevented for Starliner to complete the planned profile and approach the International Space Station. The mission had to be terminated early. In 2022, the OFT-2 flight managed to reach the station, but problems appeared in several thrusters. Two years later, during the first manned flight, several thrusters failed again on approachwhich led NASA to order the return of the ship without the astronauts. NASA and Boeing engineers inspect the Starliner spacecraft after landing in White Sands, New Mexico, during the OFT-2 orbital test in May 2022 When NASA decided that Starliner would not bring Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back, they both extended their stay on the International Space Station much longer than planned. In total it was nine months, until the agency scheduled a Dragon flight with two fewer astronauts than usual to have enough space. That landing, in March 2025, allowed the return to be completed and confirmed that the evaluation process on Starliner was still open after the 2024 manned flight. Meanwhile, Dragon. In parallel, Dragon began operating with astronauts in 2020 and was progressively incorporated into NASA’s regular planning. Since then, the SpaceX capsule has covered the planned rotations within the Commercial Crew Program, becoming the vehicle regularly used to access the International Space Station. In August 2025, the Crew-11 mission was completed, and Crew-12 is scheduled for February 2026. NASA has booked additional flights with Dragon until the station’s operational end, scheduled for 2030. Less flights, less income, more pressure. The contract modification also means a change in Boeing’s position within the program. The reduction of the total value to 3,732 million dollars implies 768 million dollars less compared to the original figure, with fewer guaranteed flights and a greater weight of optional missions. According to Reutersthe company has invested more than $2 billion since 2016 in this development, which adds relevance to Starliner’s performance in upcoming flights. Despite this, Boeing says it remains committed to the program. Redundancy against the clock. For NASA, Starliner remains relevant because the agency wants two independent systems that can transport astronauts to the International Space Station. Steve Stich, head of the Commercial Crew Program, summed it up by pointing out that the plan involves certifying the ship in 2026, scheduling its first manned rotation when it is ready and coordinating future flights according to the operational needs of the station, which will remain active until 2030. Maintaining this double capacity is key so that the agency does not depend exclusively on a single vehicle. What happens from now on will depend on the outcome of the next flights. If the system manages to be certified in 2026, Starliner can still participate in up to three crewed rotations, with two additional options subject to NASA decision. Boeing maintains its commitment and suggests that the ship could have a place in commercial projects after the end of the International Space Station, although these scenarios are yet to be defined. The opportunity has not disappeared, but it no longer looks as much like the one signed in 2014. Images | NASA (1, 2) | Boeing In Xataka | Starship’s great hope has gotten off to a bad start: a new and painful explosion

the estimated date on which you will have your musical summary of the year

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Let’s tell you What date is Spotify Wrapped 2025 expected?or at least the time frame in which it usually comes out in previous years. It is that summary that shows you in slides the songs, artists or musical styles that you have listened to the most in 2025. Spotify is the most popular music streaming platform, so there are many people who want to be able to see and share the statistics of everything you have been listening to. Of course, remember that these are not statistics for the entire year, but rather they normally only count until the beginning of November. Please note that As soon as Wrapped 2025 comes out we will have a publication on Xataka to let you know and explain how it works and what it offers. When does Wrapped 2025 come out? There is no specific date for the launch of Spotify Wrapped, that is the first thing you should be clear about. However, by knowing when it has been released in recent years you can get an idea of ​​when you can expect this one to arrive, or at least a fairly narrow time frame in which it should happen. Last year Wrapped was released on December 4, which fell on a Monday. But the previous year it happened on November 29, which fell on a Wednesday, but that doesn’t mean anything because every year it is on a different date. The normal thing is that it is in the last week of November or the first week of Decemberso it must be already falling. Looking at this year’s calendar, it seems logical that Wrapped will fall again in the first week of December, between November 30 and December 4. If they do it on Monday the 30th, they would match a move similar to last year’s by doing it on a Monday, and to that of the previous year by waiting until the last day of November. Maybe Spotify decides to go ahead and release it in the previous week, it has happened before, but It seems less likely that they will wait until the second of December. Although you never know in these things. To view these statistics you will need to be a paying user and have an active subscription. To access the statistics you have to enter the website spotify.com/es/wrappedwhich is where the visualizations will begin. But you won’t be able to access the statistics until it is officially launched. In Xataka Basics | 53 third-party tools and apps to get the most out of Spotify with statistics, playlists and new features

This year the Three Wise Men bring something very special to children: children’s cosmetics

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There’s barely a month left until Christmas and the first catalogs are already in hands of thousands of families. But this year, among dolls, constructions and car tracks, something unexpected has appeared: construction kits. skin care aimed at girls. unicorn masks, jade rollers “to play spa” and even “children’s” serums. On TikTok, creators like Mommy of three and Alottameg They accumulate thousands of views criticizing the fact that these products are promoted as toys. The alarm has gone off: what is facial care being part of the letter to the Three Wise Men? A global phenomenon that reaches children’s catalogs. What the Christmas brochures show is not an anecdote: it is part of an international trend. According to The New York Timesactress Shay Mitchell launched Rini, a brand of masks aimed at girls as young as 4 years old, whose promotional images caused massive rejection on networks and among dermatologists. And the data increases the tension. A Nielsen IQ study has pointed out that American households are spending more than $2.5 billion annually on beauty products for girls between 7 and 12 years old. In Spain, in addition to the boom on TikTok, stores already include children’s spa kits in their toy sections. More and more girls are asking for jade rollers, creams and creams on their Christmas lists. glowmasks peel off or antioxidant serums. dand the Sephora kids to the toy aisle. According to Yale Medicinemany children and preteens are “obsessed” with creating skin routines copied from TikTok and Instagram: scrubs, serums, masks, night creams… Even without having acne or any dermatological problem. Dermatologist Kathleen Suozzi explains that: “Our study shows that 20% of tweens and teens spend more than $50 a month on products they don’t need, sometimes layering five or more products.” The phenomenon has a name in digital culture: Sephora kids. The academic study of Rachel Wetstone and Jane Grant-Kels details that Girls between 8 and 12 years old show routines of between 6 and 12 products on social networks, many of them designed for adult skin. In these videos, exfoliating acids, retinoids, concentrated vitamin C and steps that imitate a 10-step adult routine are repeated. Beyond the skin risks, the authors warn of the ethical effects: premature aesthetic pressure, misinformation and economic exploitation of an extremely impressionable public. When skin care becomes a feminine role. In parallel, children’s advertising has been pushing girls towards the field of aesthetics for years. The Women’s Institute analyzed toy advertising in the Christmas campaign and found that: In 38.5% of advertisements aimed at girls, archetypes linked to beauty or the role of caregiver/mother/wife appear. The color pink dominates in almost a quarter of toys for girls, while boys appear linked to vehicles, action, professions such as pilot, police or military. 11% of advertisements sexualize girls, while no examples of sexualization of boys were detected. In that context, that sets of skin care As a toy “for girls” it is not an anomaly, but one more piece of a puzzle: that of a female childhood associated with aesthetics, beauty and body care from a very young age. As we already explained in Xatakathe Alpha generation (born after 2010) is growing up under an “early ritual” of aesthetic care, driven by algorithms that serve them videos of perfect skin, filters and routines, often before they have reached puberty. Dermatological risks. There is broad medical consensus here. According to KidsHealthmost children and teens only need three things: a mild soap, a fragrance-free moisturizer, and sunscreen. For their part, acne-prone adolescents can use versions oil-free of moisturizer and photoprotector, but always with medical advice. In addition, they emphasize that anti-aging products (anti-wrinkle, blemishes, firmness…) are not necessary and can cause just the opposite: acne, irritation, burns or eczema. However, between different sources The ingredients that most worry about trends in preteens are: Retinoids and retinol, which can cause severe irritation, peeling, and photosensitivity. AHA/BHA acids such as glycolic or salicylic acids, associated with redness and chemical burns in children’s skin. Fragrances, one of the main triggers of allergic dermatitis in children Drying alcohols, which damage the skin barrier Chemical sunscreens, more irritating than mineral ones Comedogenic oils such as coconut, cocoa or lanolin, which clog pores and can aggravate cosmetic acne. There is a psychological impact. From Yale Medicine describe how some children They begin to feel a real compulsion to maintain long routines, to the point of affecting sleep, social time, or even school performance. The Wetstone and Grant-Kels clinical study points to growing anxietyconstant comparisons, and teenagers who feel “insufficient” if they don’t replicate the routines they see on TikTok. For their part, the case of girls between 10 and 12 years old who speak openly of fear to “get old”, a meaningless concept at his age. And some come to think that “without products they are not worth enough”, a symptom of what several experts They are already beginning to identify it as infantile cosmeticorexia. It is not the first controversial toy. But the first with real assets. For example, children’s makeup cases have existed for decades: barely pigmented shadows, almost transparent lipsticks, peelable nail polishes. They were toys. However, the current difference is twofold: on the one hand, the products imitate real cosmetics, with active ingredients (although in low concentration) and claims typical for adults: illuminates, blurs pores, anti-aging, repairs barrier. On the other hand, they are not sold only as a game, but as a routine, as a habit of care and self-care. That is, as something that is not used from time to time, but every day. As The Guardian detailsdermatologists already treat 10-year-old girls who use vitamin C, retinol and exfoliants “because they saw it on TikTok.” This is not a mask with friends: it is the idea that they should “take care of themselves” to avoid non-existent wrinkles. Is this really a toy? Christmas catalogs raise an uncomfortable question: at what point did a face mask become a normalized children’s gift? It is not … Read more

Seeking to reduce emissions, ships are turning to cutting-edge technology. Punta in the year 3000 BC, specifically

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Ships long ago stopped sailing with ten guns per side. They don’t do it under full sail either, although there are a couple of companies determined to change that. The thing about the sails, not the cannons, since we have examples of great ships sailing with sails of the 21st century (and cannons are now electromagnetic). Are a bet to row against emissions of the maritime industry, and the truth is that the technology sounds good for the biggest ships that star almost all world trade. The banner is the Pyxis Ocean, an 81,000-ton ship that has been circling the oceans of half the world, showing the viability of returning wind-powered ships to the sea. And the industry is taking note: a few weeks ago the first oil tanker with sails began sailing with promising figures. Ships with state-of-the-art sails to decarbonize the oceans The maritime industry has a major challenge ahead: reducing its emissions to achieve decarbonization goals. We look at hydrogen, to methanol already electrification as ways to achieve those objectives, but the Pyxis Ocean is proving that candles can play a role in all of this too. Owned by the Mitsubishi Corporation, it is a ‘bulk carrier’. In Spanish, a bulk ship focused on the transportation of bulk cargoes such as cereals or minerals. Along with the container ship already the Ro-Roare essential ships in the global trade chainand the fact that it has sails does not prevent it from being a ship of considerable dimensions. 229 meters in length and 32 meters in width, typical for this type of boat. What is not so common are its two huge sails in the front and middle part. Each one is 37.5 meters high and 20 meters wide, and they work as you expect: taking advantage of the force of the wind to propel the boat. However, they do not ‘inflate’ like traditional sailboats. Named WindWingsare a rigid structure of steel and fiberglass that have more to do with the wings of an airplane than with conventional sails. They take advantage of wind energy, adapting in real time and automatically to maximize efficiency in different wind conditions. It works autonomously and does not require additional energy or personnel to handle it. When the Pyxis departed, not everyone was convinced the system would work, qualifying it as “a risky bet.” Two years later, we have some conclusions further. Under favorable conditions, the ship’s two WindWings are estimated to have reduced main engine power consumption by 32% per nautical mile. During the six-month testing process, the ship achieved savings of about three tons of fuel per dayand after those six months, the Pyxis Ocean continues sailing. Mitsubishi is not responsible for these sails, a credit that belongs to BAR Technologiesand the success of the pilot test has led to them expanding the sail catalog with more 20 and 24 meter models aimed at both smaller ships and ships for the chemical industry. The estimate is that each sail saves 0.7 tons of fuel per day and can be easily installed on both new and veteran boats, whenever adaptation work is done. Beyond the curiosity and interest of BAR Technologies in promoting this, it seems that the industry is considering it as an option to both electrification and traditional fossil fuel systems. In June of this year, the Brands Hatcha Union Maritime tanker that has three WindWings and departed from Rotterdam last September. It is estimated that more than a third of its propulsion was thanks to the wind, avoiding 13 tons of CO₂ per WindWing per day. The company has ordered sails for a further 34 new vessels and BAR Technologies has received another order for new LR2 tankers due to be launched in 2027. When the technology was introduced, John Cooper, director of BAR Technologies, commented that “by 2025, half of new ships will be powered by wind.” It is evident that their estimates have not been metbut the good results are encouraging the International Windship Association to calculate that there will be more than 100 large ships with the system by the end of this year and, by 2050, up to 40,000 systems installed. In the end, as has happened more than once, we look again to a technology from the past to achieve objectives in the present. We will see if sails are that agent that once again transforms maritime navigation on a global level, since neither BAR Technologies is alone in this nor are WindWings the only ones. next generation sails that are in development. Images | WindWaves In Xataka | It’s not a ship, it’s a floating “Empire State”: the ONE crush surpassing the record of containers on board

Microsoft had the deal of the century on its hands. A break of a year and a half was given to one of his rivals on a platter

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With its early deal with OpenAI, Microsoft was leading the AI ​​race in 2023. A year later it froze its expansion. Now Oracle serves OpenAI models and competitors share what Nadella’s company rejected. Why is it important. This isn’t just about lost data centers. Microsoft has assigned contracts with OpenAI valued at $420 billion to Oracle, equivalent to $150 billion in gross profit over five years. That would have increased its annual profitability by 18%. This means that in addition to losing growth, Microsoft also financed the entry of a rival into the most profitable business of the decade, according to analysis by Semianalysis. The facts. In 2023, Microsoft multiplied its investment in OpenAI tenfold to $10 billion and broke ground on the largest data centers ever built. Represented more than 60% of all infrastructure leases cloud among the greats. In 2024 it stopped everything in its tracks. It canceled 3.5 gigawatts of planned capacity — enough to power 2.5 million homes — and projects in a dozen countries. Its share of contracts fell below 25%. Between the lines. The company has used the argument of financial prudence: it did not want OpenAI to represent 50% of Azure’s revenue with lower margins than the traditional business. But the reality is simpler: he couldn’t keep up: OpenAI demanded a speed that Microsoft couldn’t match. Yes, but. The company has returned to the market with some urgency. The problem is that the options have been running out. Now rents capacity to neoclouds —specialized companies that build infrastructure—to resell it to third parties. It is a business with worse margins. The company that refused to build now pays commissions for having miscalculated. The money trail. Oracle is not the only winner. CoreWeave, Google, Amazon, Nscale and SB Energy have signed large contracts with OpenAI. In 2025, the story of OpenAI has been the story of its diversification away from Microsoft, although it is true that What seemed like a bad divorce ended in a separation of assets with forced smiles. The world’s most valuable AI lab had to fragment its infrastructure across multiple vendors because its original partner couldn’t—or wouldn’t—scale. In applications, Microsoft’s historical dominance with GitHub Copilot is also eroding. There are startups that have built more integrated code editors and scaled beyond Copilot. Microsoft has been forced to add the models of its rival Anthropic on GitHub Copilotwith a brutal cost for their margins. The company that had exclusive access to OpenAI now depends on its competitor to keep its code editor relevant. And now what. Microsoft has until 2032 before its agreement with OpenAI expires. It has Copilot with 100 million users. You have Office 365, Azure, and a business ecosystem that no one else can match. But the “great pause” of 2024 will take years to heal. The company has bet that the future of AI will be enterprise – with security and localization requirements – and not centralized in remote megacenters. You may be right. But 18 months of technology advantage is worth billions. And Microsoft just gave them away to its rivals. In Xataka | OpenAI has to pay debts of $400 billion in 2026. Nobody has the slightest idea how it is going to pay them Featured image | Simon Ray in Unsplash

All these Xiaomi devices mark their lowest prices of the year on AliExpress 11.11

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For a few hours now, we have active AliExpress 11.11a promo with the soul of Black Friday loaded with bargains of all kinds. It’s a perfect time to get your Christmas shopping done early. and buy all kinds of devices at very good prices, What can the consoles be like?. In addition to the offers that we can find throughout the marketplace, we also have a series of discount coupons that are perfect for saving more on our purchases: Discount minimum purchase coupon 1 coupon 2 3 euros 15 euros XATAKAES03 ESAE03 5 euros 29 euros XATAKAES05 ESAE05 12 euros 69 euros XATAKAES12 ESAE12 20 euros 129 euros XATAKAES20 ESAE20 40 euros 249 euros XATAKAES40 ESAE40 60 euros 369 euros XATAKAES60 ESAE60 75 euros 469 euros XATAKAES75 ESAE75 85 euros 549 euros XATAKAES03ES85 ESAE85 The promo will be active until November 19, but it is more than possible that the best deals will fly much sooner. On this occasion, we are going to take the opportunity to bring you a selection of Xiaomi devices that have very good prices right now, many of them being the lowest of the year (or very close to them). Xiaomi Pad 7 by 187.51 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, a very interesting tablet if we are looking for the best quality-price. Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite by 162.90 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, a very economical scooter option. Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ by 205.70 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, a robot vacuum cleaner with a charging station. Xiaomi TV A Pro by 328.82 euros with the coupon XATAKAES60, in its 65-inch version. Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro by 139.19 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20, another even cheaper tablet option. Xiaomi Pad 7 We start with one of the two tablets that we bring in this selection of devices from the Chinese manufacturer. It is about the Xiaomi Pad 7a very balanced device that at launch was committed to offering a great quality-price ratio, but this AliExpress promotion raises the level even further: it comes out for 187.51 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20. What does it offer? For less than 200 euros, we have a tablet with an 11.2-inch screen, compatible with Dolby Vision and a rate of 144 Hz, making it perfect for working, watching content or even playing. Its 8,850 mAh battery will give us plenty of autonomy, although we can also charge it quickly thanks to its 45 W fast charging. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite With how difficult it is to circulate and park in some cities, having a scooter can give us extra mobility and comfort, as well as a great help to not always depend on public transportation. This Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite It is one of the cheapest that we can buy right now: it costs 162.90 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20. We are looking at an electric scooter that has a maximum power of 300 W and a 5,200 mAh battery, with which we should have a range of approximately 20 kilometers. It weighs 15 kilos, its tires are 8.5 inches and it has a drum brake on the rear wheel. Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ Robot vacuum cleaners are a very interesting help if we want to have the floor at home clean without too much effort. Among all the models that we can buy right now, this Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ is presented as a great alternative for the tightest budgets: we can purchase it for 205.70 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20 and choosing PayPal as a payment method to obtain an additional discount of 20 euros. This model has a suction power of 4,000 Pa and a station that is used to empty the bucket, clean its pads and refill the water tank. With its 5,200 mAh battery, it is capable of offering about 2 hours of autonomy, which is more than enough for small or medium-sized apartments. Its navigation system will prevent crashes and it has a sensor that detects carpets. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi TV A Pro If we are looking for a large TV and we don’t want to spend too much in exchange, look out for this Xiaomi TV A Pro. It is a very interesting model, especially if we are after something with 65 inches. This AliExpress promo allows us to take it home for 328.82 euros with the coupon XATAKAES60 and using PayPal as a payment method. It is a model with 4K resolution and QLED technology, so we can expect vivid colors and very good contrasts. Its operating system is Google TV and it includes Chromecast as standard, which makes it very easy to send any type of content from your mobile. At the sound level it performs well, since it is compatible with Dolby Audio and DTS-X. Xiaomi TV A Pro 65 inches The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro We close this selection of offers as we started it: with another tablet. On this occasion, it is the Xiaomi Redmi Pad Proa model that is difficult not to recommend if we take into account what it offers and what it costs right now: AliExpress’s 11.11 leaves it alone 139.19 euros with the coupon XATAKAES20. Among everything we can highlight about it, it is worth noting that it offers a large 12.1-inch screen with very good resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and compatibility with Dolby Vision. It has a Qualcomm processor, comes with a fairly large 10,000 mAh battery and its four speakers will give us a good multimedia experience. Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro (6+128 GB) 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 … Read more

The normal thing when a product is successful is that the manufacturer renews it the following year. Hello iPhone Air

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Apple has a problem, almost a syndrome with the fourth iPhone. For years it has been trying to integrate a new variant of the “classic” iPhone into the family, but the success of these models has always been limited. It happened with the iPhone mini and then with the iPhone Plus in its different versions. And now it seems to be happening with his brand new iPhone Air. No iPhone Air 2 at the moment. As indicated in The InformationApple has warned “engineers and suppliers that they would remove the future iPhone Air (next generation) from planning without providing a new release date.” Three different sources have confirmed that Apple has no intention at the moment of relaunching a second iteration of the iPhone Air. We expected it in 2026. Theoretically, the second-generation iPhone Air should have been launched next fall alongside the iPhone 18 family and the rumored iPhone Fold. And it was going to be much better. It was expected to be even lighter than the current iPhone Air and still have a higher capacity battery. In fact, sources close to the project also reveal that Apple was working on a new cooling system that debuted with the iPhone 17 Pro and that would be adapted to those hypothetical iPhone Air (2026). It was even rumored that instead of a single camera I would have two. Bad sales. The reason for that decision seems to be sales of the iPhone Air below expectations. News had already appeared that Apple had ordered a huge production cut to just 80% of the original capacity: that ultralight model does not seem to have attracted the mass public. Minimum production. In The Information they confirm this reduction in production. According to their data, Foxconn has “dismantled all but one and a half production lines, and expect to stop production completely at the end of this month.” Apple’s other major manufacturing partner for the iPhone Air, Luxshare, already stopped its production of this model at the end of October. New release schedule. Following the news, what is now expected is that Apple will present its new family of devices in two different phases: Fall 2026: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Fold (unofficial name) Spring 2027: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e The other possibility. Sources close to the company reveal that the iPhone Air could simply be suffering important changes —like those mentioned— for a theoretical second generation. That would make its development process a little longer, but it is not ruled out that this model will end up appearing in spring 2027 along with the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e. The condemnation of iPhones that are liked but do not sell. we loved it the iPhone mini—like everyone else who bought it—but it didn’t sell much. The iPhone Plus also proved to be an interesting product, but it didn’t catch on either. In both cases, Apple ended up abandoning these models to focus on what worked in sales, and now seems to be doing the same, or, at least, adjusting production to demand, something that makes perfect sense from a business point of view. In Xataka | If the question is which of the big tech companies is winning the AI ​​race, the answer is: none

On this island in Japan there is a traffic light that only turns green once a year, and not precisely to control traffic

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On the small Japanese island of Himakajima there is a traffic light which remains flashing amber or red all year round. Only during one day in May does it change its usual behavior and activate its green light (or blue, as they insist in Japan). This is not a fault. It was designed this way for a reason that goes beyond traffic control. An educational traffic light. The traffic light was installed in 1994 at the Himakajima East Port intersection, but not to regulate traffic. The island barely has 2,000 inhabitants and few vehicles circulate on its roads. The traffic light exists solely to teach children of the place how the urban signals work before they leave the island for larger cities. One less problem. According to explains the Himaka Road Safety Association, which promoted its installation, minors grew up without real experience with traffic lights. Before, they used small models in traffic safety classes, but the children themselves asked “what does a real traffic light look like?” account Kazuo Sugiura, former president of the association, to the local media Asahi. One day a year to learn. Every May, the traffic light is activated for a full day. Third and fifth grade students from the local school go to the crossing accompanied by teachers, parents and authorities. There they practice how to cross correctly: they wait for the color to change, look both ways and cross the zebra crossing with their arm raised, just as they would in any city in Japan. More difficult than expected. The children also discover that calculating the time they have to cross the pass is not as simple as it seems. “It was complicated because it turned red when I was trying to cross,” explained a third-grade student after practicing with her bicycle. The exercise helps them understand the real times of light change and develop security reflexes that they cannot acquire in their daily life on the island. An unexpected tourist curiosity. This little anecdote has gained notoriety beyond Japan. Every year videos and photos circulate on social networks showing the peculiar educational ritual. Some users even consult the local government website to find out the exact date of “green day” and witness the event, although it varies slightly each season. It is already part of the island’s identity. Once the annual training is completed, the traffic light returns to its flashing lights routine. It does not serve any practical function in traffic control, but it has ended up becoming a small symbol of how the community of this island prepares its children for the urban world. The rest of the year, Himakajima remains a quiet place known for its beaches and octopus dishes, with a traffic light that counts down the days until it can turn green again. Cover image | Google Maps In Xataka | Convenience stores were an emblem of Japan. Until the demographic crisis has revealed the dark side of opening 24 hours

Yes, next year I am going to carry the V-16 beacon because they force me to. It doesn’t even occur to me to throw away the triangles

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January 1, 2026 we will say goodbye to the triangles. Or maybe I would have to say that “we should say goodbye to triangles.” Because that is what the DGT wants. Traffic has decided that in just over two months, the V-16 beacon will be the one that signals breakdowns or accidents that occur on the road. And by the way, it prohibits the use of triangles. And I will say that, when I need them, I will continue using them. It’s not a tantrum. It is not a question of simple rebellion because I have to spend 30, 40 or 50 euros on a new accessory for my car. It is as simple a question as deciding what is best for my safety, that of my passengers and that of my car. A good (but improvable) idea I am not one of those who rant about the V-16 light for the simple fact that the DGT forces us to spend money on a new accessory for our car. I think it has its good parts but I also think it has some things that could be very improved. And, above all, I don’t understand why both devices cannot be combined. According to the DGT, we are experiencing a kind of epidemic of abuses when it comes to put emergency triangles in our country. Well, there are reasons to be skeptical. Between the years 2018 and 2022 (that is, a period that includes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), an annual average of between 18 and 26 people died in accidents “after getting off the vehicle” on high-capacity roads, as reflected in the document itself which explains why the regulations and technical requirements of this connected V-16 beacon are changed. The DGT highlights the year 2019, the year in which 58 pedestrians lost their lives on high-capacity roads, of which 18 people were run over “after getting off the vehicle” by a particular group. In those five years, there were 108 pedestrian deaths on our roads that can be classified in that particular group. According to data collected by Statista8,615 people died on our roads between 2018 and 2022. That is, 1.25% of those killed on Spanish roads died from a collision under these circumstances. But the most problematic thing about the matter is that these very particular circumstances do not reflect the abuses that occurred while a person placed a triangle. Are you looking for that number? The DGT does not offer it. It talks about accidents on high-capacity roads but does not pay attention to the number of accidents when putting the triangles. That is, the organization is putting a patch on a problem for which we do not have clear or verifiable data. Yet, I break a spear for of the connected V-16 beacon. It seems like a good idea to have a system in the car that warns of an obstacle on the road and that can be installed on the roof of our car without having to get out of the vehicle. And all this despite the fact that it is already mandatory to start the car flashing. It also doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me that the beacon connects with the DGT in its platform 3.0 and so from Traffic they can give notice through the road panels that there is an obstacle on the road. Of course, notifying the emergency services is the responsibility of the driver and passengers. It would be appreciated if, since there is connectivity with DGT 3.0, Traffic would study fluid communication with these emergency services. Not to mention that in all new cars sold there is already the function eCall to sound the first alarm. I will continue wearing the triangles That said, I will continue to carry emergency triangles in my car. And I threaten to use them! (Insert image of Abraham Simpson yelling at the clouds here) No jokes. I have already seen the V-16 beacon in operation connected to the DGT in operation and I am sorry to say that its visibility level during the day and in good light tends to zero. I fully agree with what A few days ago José Lagunar expressedroad safety expert Auto FMin the article in which we asked three voices to give us their opinion. In broad daylight, the differences between setting the DGT V-16 beacon and activating the car’s flashing are: none. In fact, it should give us a clue about this that Netun Solutions, the creators of the invention and the first beacon approved by the DGT, are already selling us “more powerful” lights than the minimum required by Traffic. Will I put the beacon on the roof of my car? Well yes, because it is of no use to me to buy it and carry it in the glove compartment. Furthermore, the connection with DGT 3.0 to alert by the lights is welcome. But I will also put the triangles. With great care and with all the caution in the world but I consider that it improves visibility in case of breakdown. And we’re talking about a highway in broad daylight. But, What happens on a secondary road with a sharp curve? And with a pronounced change in gradient? Not putting emergency triangles in those situations, especially during the day where the light beam from the V-16 beacon is diluted, seems at least dangerous to me. In those cases, it is essential for me to place the emergency triangles. I am firmly in favor of the fact that both systems can coexist. The connected V-16 light doesn’t seem like a bad invention to me. At night, for example, the visibility of the triangles improves and even in a secondary vehicle in the above conditions it is likely to alert the rest of the vehicles sooner than the triangles. But if you use a battery, you are only forced to run it for 30 minutes. What happens if I am left stranded with … Read more

If you spend more than 25,000 euros a year with your card, the PIN will not be the only information they ask for

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He cash is increasingly anecdotal for consumers, not only because of the lack of concern that comes with not having to be looking for a cashier to withdraw cash from time to time, but for the convenience that the mobile payments. However, from January 1, 2026, the Treasury will have stricter control over payments made with bank cards. If a card accumulates more than 25,000 euros in annual expenses, financial institutions will be obliged to “submit an annual informative return” on these movements to the Treasury. Payments of more than 25,000 euros must be declared. The new measure is included in the regulatory modification introduced by the Royal Decree 253/2025allowing the State to detect possible fraud and ensure that capital movements of a certain size are transparent and justified. This control comes at a time when most payments are made digitally and cash is increasingly used less. Therefore, the regulations that already required financial institutions to notify cash movements have been reinforced. The scope is expanded. Until now, the regulations required notification of payments with cards and Bizum of more than 3,000 euros per year to companies and professionals. However, the scope of the measure is now extended to all charges made by card in any payment method, both in physical establishments and online, as well as through platforms linked to telephone numbers. That is, it not only affects credit or debit card payments, but also extends the measure to Bizum or other mobile payment systems. “Banking or credit entities and other entities that, in accordance with current regulations, provide the collection management service through cards, with physical or virtual support, that offer cash, debit, deferred debit, credit and electronic money functions, in any currency, as well as through payments associated with a mobile phone number, to businessmen and professionals established in Spain,” the regulations specify. Differentiation between companies and individuals. The new regulations establish differences between business and private use, but in both cases entities must notify movements of more than 25,000 euros annually. For self-employed workers and companies, the new regulations eliminate the minimum limits to communicate card operationswhich implies that any payment, regardless of its amount, must be reported to the Tax Agency. This significantly increases the monitoring and traceability of all commercial operations carried out with card or mobile payment. On the other hand, for individual consumers, only those who have a high annual spending with cards will be subject to this more exhaustive tax control. What information is reported? In accordance with the provisions of article 38ter that modifies the new Royal Decree, financial entities must notify the Treasury of the following data about the holders and linked payment products of those who spend more than 25,000 euros per year in card spending: Contract number formalized by the entity for the issuance of cards. Identification data of the contract holders (or their authorized persons or beneficiaries), which will include name and surname or company name, tax identification number, country of residence, and date of birth for natural persons. In the absence of a tax identification number, the passport number or identity number valid in your country of origin and the country issuing the identification documentation will be provided. Card number (PAN) associated with the contract and type of card. Number of subscriptions and their total amount, registered on the card in the year, with indication of the number of cash recharges and their total amount, made on the card in the year (movements and total amount of the expense) Number of charges and their total amount, recorded on the card in the year, with an indication of the number of spending operations carried out with the card and their total amount, derived from payments made in establishments in the year and the number of cash withdrawals and their total amount, made with the card in the year. Identification of the account, if applicable, to which the card operation is linked, through its International Bank Account Code (IBAN) or, failing that, through the corresponding customer account code. In Xataka | In 2030 we will no longer have to enter card numbers in purchases. Mastercard already has a substitute Image | Unsplash (Nathana Rebouças)

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