The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has requested a total of 16 years in prison for each of the brothers

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has requested a total of 16 years in prison for each of the brothers Álvaro, Zoilo, José María, Pablo, Francisco Javier and Alfonso Ruiz Mateos in the framework of the so-called Nueva Rumasa case.

In his indictment before the National Court, filed today, the Prosecutor's Office states that all of them are accused of the crimes of fraud - by which proposes nine years in prison - money laundering - four years - and uprising of assets - three years-.

Also accused are Zoilo Pazos Jiménez and Alfonso Barón Rivero, both members of the Ruiz Mateos family, as well as the workers and collaborators of Nueva Rumasa Manuel Sánchez Marín, José Ramón Romero, Rufino Romero de la Rosa and Ricardo Álvarez Castaño.

The case goes back to 2009-2011, when the family company presided over by José María Ruiz-Mateos devised a "pyramid" system through the issuance of promissory notes, which allowed him to capture - without disclosing the delicate financial situation of the group - € 337 million contributed by 4,100 individuals, of which 289 million were left unreturned, according to Anticorrupción.

The thesis of the Office of the Prosecutor is that the funds raised "were redirected to a single bank in a branch of Etcheverría bank in Madrid, which the defendants disposed according to the needs" of the group, although they also paid with this money " Expenses of personal nature of the family clan ".

In addition, he points out that for the moment "the final destination of 82 million euros that the defendants withdrew in cash from bank accounts is unknown".

Anticorruption also accuses three people more of an asset uprising - Ángel de Cabo Sanz, Fernando Juan Lavernia and Iván Manuel Losada - for having agreed with the children of Ruiz-Mateos the purchase of Nueva Rumasa companies after the issuance of promissory notes , "In order to control the creditors' competitions (...) and to safeguard, as far as possible, the personal assets of the family".

It requests that the 15 defendants jointly and severally indemnify the persons listed as investors in the promissory notes and other similar securities issued by the group.

However, it specifies that any compensation ordered by the court must be "subsidiary" to the companies issuing such promissory notes and others "whose assets are subject to precautionary measures in this proceeding".

The document includes a list of 58 companies from the Nueva Rumasa area, including Meat and Canned Spanish, Dhul Group, Clesa, Bodegas Teresa Rivero and Cacaolat.

The indictment of the Prosecutor's Office is known a month and a half after the judge of the National Court Jose de la Mata announced the continuity of the judicial process initiated by the "Nueva Rumasa" case.

In the order of the Central Court Instruction number 5, the existence of indications to open proceedings against these fifteen defendants was detailed, but it exempted six of the investigated ones, among them the widow of the entrepreneur, Teresa Rivero, for not finding enough evidence to attest their participation in the facts.

Nine out of ten Spaniards (89%) describe the country's economic situation as "bad" and 94% affirm the same about employment, according to figures released today by the latest Eurobarometer Standard presented at European Commission offices.

This survey, funded by the European Commission, is conducted every two years in all EU Member States to assess the level of citizens' satisfaction and knowledge about the European Union and its socio-economic situation.

This trend continues from last year, according to the Eurobarometer, which also indicates that 66% of Spaniards are "worried" about unemployment and 34% because of the economic situation. Faced with this data: 57% of Europeans believe that the economic situation in their countries is bad and 63% think the same about employment.

BETWEEN THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC

Job creation is closely linked to the business fabric and about two thirds of the citizens, both European (63%) and Spanish (65%) see the private sector better positioned than the public to create such jobs. These figures are very stable compared to those collected in the autumn of 2015, when 64% of Europeans and 62% of Spaniards agreed with this statement.

Also 56% of Europeans consider it a good idea to use public money to stimulate investment in the private sector, down to 42% in the case of the Spanish. These figures have not changed until fall 2015, when 58% of Europeans and 46% of Spaniards were of the same opinion.

Zara is the only Spanish brand that has achieved this year among the 100 most reputed multinational companies in the world

Zara is the only Spanish brand that has achieved this year among the 100 most reputed multinational companies in the world, according to the Global RepTrak 2017 study, published today by the consultancy Reputation Institute.

Zara ranks 92 on a scale of 100 in which corporate performance is rated in seven areas: products and services, innovation, leadership, work environment, citizenship, integrity and financial results.

The top three on the list are for the Rolex watch, the Lego toymaker and the animation studios The Walt Disney Company.

They are followed by Canon, Google, Bosch, Sony, Intel, Rolls-Royce and Adidas.

Those in charge of the study say Rolex and Rolls-Royce's top positions show a rise in luxury brands, while high-end firms hold seven of the top ten.

The biggest drop has been the Samsung, which has lost four positions to reach the 70th position, a trend that the consultancy attributes to the battery scandal of its model Note 7.

According to the consultancy, Volkswagen continues to accuse, albeit to a lesser extent, the emissions scandal of its diesel engines, but has recovered positions after the great decline of 2016.

As a novelty, for the first time a bank enters the list of the 100 companies most valued with ING in the 94th position.

For the development of the study, Reputation Institute has analyzed the situation of the main companies of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Almost one in three women, 32.7%, is unable to save at the end of the month, although they are more planning than men, since they do not enter enough and have to cope with unforeseen events, according to a study Of comparator Rastreator.com

54% of women recognize that they plan and budget their monthly expenses, compared to 51.3% of men, and they are also more compliant, 62.3% compared to 60.9%, but the results are different from end of the month.

By the time of this date, 78% of the men have managed to save some money, while in the case of women only 67.3%, and the amounts also differ.

Thus, 43.5% of women end the month with a saving of up to 200 euros, which is easier for 45.9% of men.

The distance widens the greater the amounts, for example, in the female case, only 5.4% now between 501 and 1,000 euros per month, while for them this percentage amounts to 9%.

The saving of more than 1,000 euros is something that is only available to 1.9% of women surveyed and 3.5% of men.

WITHOUT INCOME AND WITH INCIDENTS

The main reason is the lack of necessary income and the need to cope with unexpected events, despite the fact that women "are more aware of the importance of saving and are the ones that take more measures in this regard," says the CEO of Rastreator .com, Fernando Summers.

In fact, they have reduced their games both in leisure and clothing, as in bills and transport.

One in three recruiters have rejected a candidate for their activities in social networks for reasons such as apology for violence

One in three recruiters have rejected a candidate for their activities in social networks for reasons such as apology for violence, contradictory data with the curriculum, errors of expression or grammatical or lack of communication skills.

This is extracted from the report presented on Wednesday on social networks and labor market, made by the employment portal Infoempleo and the human resources consultant Adecco.

Likewise, three out of four people, 78%, have used social networks to seek employment in 2016, although in the last year the rapid expansion of the use of these platforms to obtain employment has slowed down.

This study indicates that, despite the high level of penetration of social networks, its use in 2016 has experienced a slower growth rate, since the number of candidates who have used them has hardly increased compared to 2015.

However, 91% of jobseekers have an account in social networks, so Adecco's director of service and quality, Iria Vázquez-Palacios, has assured that "courtship between networks and companies is consolidated" .

"The responsibility of companies is to know the concerns of job seekers, and their search habits, because it is the only way to attract the best talent," added Vázquez-Palacios.

The report shows that there has also been a decline in the use of social networks to capture talent from companies, from 87% in 2015 to 84% in 2016, but despite this decline, in the last 86% of companies have claimed to have a presence on these platforms.

According to the CEO of Infoempleo, Jorge Guelbenzu, this large presence of companies in the networks has caused that "the door of access to any company is always open, so that people have more power than ever before on development Of his professional career ".

The main objectives that have been pursued by firms with this use have been 59% improve the quality of the curricula they receive, 53% diversify recruitment channels, 52% reduce recruitment times by 50% Receive more resumes and 31% decrease the budget for recruitment and selection.

The main professional objectives of the users are to send their curriculum (75%), establish and maintain a network of contacts (53%), know the latest developments in the professional field (48%), Investigate company profiles (27%) and create personal brand (22%).

As for the most used social networks in order to find a job offer is first Linkedin with 71%, followed by Facebook with 51%, Google + with 41% and Twitter with 33%.

The February light bill was 22% more expensive than last year, with a mean for the Small Consumer Voluntary Price (PVPC) of 76.10 euros, compared to 62.39 euros for the Same month of 2016, according to the data of the consumer association Facua.

According to this association, the year-on-year increase in the electricity bill continues to "skyrocket", after breaking all records in January at 87.81 euros, 29.4% higher than the 67.84 euros in January of the year past.

The kWh price this February was 15.55 cents (12.23 plus tax), after the previous month reached 18.75 cents (14.74 plus taxes).

In February 2016, kWh stood at 11.69 cents (9.19 plus taxes), so the year-on-year increase was 33%.

Facua has denounced in a statement the "complacent" attitude of the sector with Energy Minister Álvaro Nadal, in refusing to take measures that "protect the interests of users so as not to harm the electricity oligopoly, which last year increased by 9% its benefits".

The association calls for intervention in the sector so that it is the Executive that periodically fixes an affordable rate, since the system of pricing in the market encourages speculation

Facua is a sector in which "there has never been competition that was deceptively promised to consumers when liberalization began, so the only solution is to undertake measures similar to those adopted years ago in the EU with tariffs Of mobile roaming, so that the government fixes prices for electric consumers. "

In addition, it claims that the VAT applied to electricity should be lowered to the minimum rate allowed by European regulations.

Judge José de la Mata has agreed to reopen the case that investigates the existence

Judge José de la Mata has agreed to reopen the case that investigates the existence of a 'B' Box of the Popular Party, considering that the statements of the 'leader' of the Gürtel, Francisco Correa, and the Entrepreneur Alfonso García-Pozuelo Asins in the trial for the first period of activities of the network (1999-2005) on the commissions paid by construction companies to obtain public awards are "relevant and useful". In this sense, the magistrate has again quoted as investigated between the 23 and 24 of March these two people and the intermediary Plácido Vázquez.

The judge heard the petitions filed by both the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and two of the popular accusations filed in various pieces of the Gürtel plot, the IU and the Association of Democratic Lawyers for Europe (ADADE) , After hearing the testimony offered by Correa on donations paid by constructors such as OHL or ACS.

De la Mata considers that, given the contribution of these new elements of verification, it is pertinent to reopen the cause of the alleged illegal financing of the PP. Moreover, he stresses that Correa's statements, those of Garcia-Pozuelo - who took advantage of his right not to testify in the investigation - and those of the intermediary Plácido Vázquez are "relevant and useful" as well as "novel".

"It is enough to point out, as the prosecutor-Antonio Romeral- in his report, that they are the only testimonies that point to a relation between the money deliveries for the execution of public tenders, also offering a consistent report on The methodology apparently followed to 'manage' (in the terms of Correa Sánchez) the requests of the companies, and the mechanics of the distribution of the profits obtained by the commissions delivered by the companies in case of 'success' in the intended adjudication "Said the magistrate in his car.

He also recalls that the object of this investigation is to verify if there is a 'B' box of the party and if in the certain annotations in the known ones as 'Barcenas papers', 'rudimentary as it may be', reflect the "cash consideration" Obtained by the PP and certain individuals in exchange for "intercession or pressure" in order to obtain certain public works awards to the payers of illicit commissions.

COMMITTEES BETWEEN TWO AND THREE PERCENT

The leader of the plot detailed during his statement before the court of the National Court that he tried along with 36 other people that companies like OHL, ACS and Dragados appealed to their services to mediate for them before the Ministries of Development and Environment, among others. A changed, said that after intervening in the granting of "many works, neither in 10, nor in 20, nor in 30," paid commissions of between two and three percent to ex-PPP Luis Bárcenas.

"They were highways, highways, AVE works, the Environment, different ...", he explained, while saying that with this practice "saved a lot of money to the PP". "I do not know if 1,000 million or more," he said and said that he delivered the money to Bárcenas at the headquarters of the PP, Genoa Street or his house and that the former manager was in charge of managing the issue with the Ministry " corresponding".

Garcia-Pozuelo said in his speech at the trial that the fate of the money handed over to Correa were "central bodies", which - according to the accusations in his writings - referred to the Ministries of Environment and Development and To the PP, as well as that the four companies that paid commissions are OHL, ACS, Dragados and Degremont.

PETITIONS OF ACCUSATIONS AND TAXATION

In response to these allegations, last October, IU and ADADE sent written statements to the investigating judge requesting that these statements be investigated. In addition, from the subpoenas of Correa, García-Pozuelo and Vázquez, they requested that he call to declare the former president of OHL Juan Miguel Villar Mir, ex-treasurer Luis Bárcenas and businessman Rafael Palencia.

For its part, Anticorrupción was favorable to the reopening of this case in February this year and requested the hearings of the aforementioned, with the exception of Villar Mir, Bárcenas and Palencia.

Finally, the head of the Court of Instruction number 5 of the National High Court has decided to call to declare Garcia-Pozuelo investigated as of 23 March at 10 am; To Correa, the same day at 12.00; And to Vázquez, a day later at 10 am.

However, the magistrate rejects for the moment the statement of the other persons who have requested the parties, in whose car does not offer any type of motivation. It only refers to the exminister of the Environment and former president of the Balearic Government Jaume Matas, claiming that it is not known that he has given a statement to the prosecutor or another judge.

In addition, De la Mata asks the Second Section of the Criminal Chamber of the National Hearing to forward the procedure on which his predecessor Pablo Ruz agreed to end the investigation in March 2015 and asks to incorporate the statements Provided by Correa and García-Pozuelo in the oral trial for the first period of activities of the Gürtel plot.

'BOX B' FOR 18 YEARS

The instruction of the 'Barcenas Papers' concluded on March 23, 2015 when then-judge instructor Pablo Ruz, considering that it is proven that the PP "served for 18 years" - from 1990 until at least 2008-- Of several systems of accounts that recorded financial inflows and outflows of money outside the official accounts declared by the party and filed before the Court Accounts.

In a 190-page book, the judge concluded that there are "solid and well-founded indications" to bring to trial the 'popular' expropriators Luis Bárcenas and Álvaro Lapuerta - dismissed of any responsibility in the trial of Gürtel's early dementia And the former manager Cristóbal Paez for crimes against the Public Treasury and misappropriation.

Ruz considered the PP responsible civil subsidiary for the donations received in 2008 and the payment in black of 1,552,000 euros from the works of its headquarters to the company Unifica and proposed to try three other people, partners of the study of architecture Unifica, Gonzalo Urquijo and Belén García, and his employee Laura Montero, to whom he attributed, in addition to the crime against the Public Treasury, documentary misrepresentation.

This was how Francisco Correa moved
The judge pointed out that in the "indictment plan" the PP would be "responsible" for an offense against the Public Treasury for "not having filed the corporate income tax return for fiscal year 2008," since those donations, Of euros, "did not comply with the budgets, requirements and limitations, both formal and material, established in the current regulation regulating the financing of political parties."

And, he considered the expropriators of the PP "incorporated to the patrimony of the first certain funds of the political formation that were used for the subscription of shares in the capital increase of Digital Freedom".

OCU believes that the out-of-court system designed by the Government does not adequately protect those affected and favors banks

1. What effect does a floor clause have?

OCU recalls that in an average loan of 150,000 euros at 25 years, signed in March 2001, revisable to the Euribor plus 1%, with a floor of 3.5%, the amounts paid more as a result of the clause soil more than 12,000 Euros.

2. What has the Government decided?

OCU believes that the out-of-court system designed by the Government does not adequately protect those affected and favors banks. This Decree-Law has obliged financial institutions to implement a specific mechanism to claim, prior to the lawsuit. It will be the bank that decides what it returns and in what conditions, becoming thus judge and part.

3. How to complain?

OCU recalls that, as a voluntary procedure, it will not start until the affected party files a complaint. OCU makes available a complaint template at www.ocu.org/modelos. If you accept the claim, the entity must provide a calculation of the amount to be returned, which should add legal interest over the overpaid amounts. The bank may decide that the claim does not proceed but must state its reasons. Due to the refusal to admit the claim, the user may file a lawsuit.

4. Is it in the interest of consumers to use this voluntary procedure?

OCU recommends that those affected who have not initiated judicial proceedings should first resort to this extrajudicial system: it is free and must be answered within a maximum of 3 months. If you do not agree with what the entity offers, you can always go to court. OCU will support those affected in all cases.

5. Will they refund the cash?

OCU has always defended the option of a cash refund if they so wish; However, the standard leaves other possibilities open, such as amortizing part of the outstanding capital of the loan or entering it into some savings product of the entity, such as a pension plan or savings insurance. Entities may also propose repayment in cash, but in exchange for modifying the loan (for example, passing it to fixed interest); An option that OCU does not consider advisable.

6. How do you know if the bank's offer is of interest?

Firstly, those affected must check whether the amount offered by the bank is the one that really corresponds to them. The task is not simple. OCU advises to use the free OCU calculator, which will also offer the option to obtain loan repayment tables with and without floor clause, for clarity. The OCU calculator is available at www.ocu.org/calcular-clausula-suelo.

7. If the procedure is initiated, should the affected parties accept what they are offered?

In no case: if the entities offer less than their share, those affected can reject the agreement and go to court. The decree also provides for banks to be ordered to pay costs, that is, to pay attorney and attorney fees, if the sentence finally establishes compensation higher than the one proposed by the bank.

8. What is the deadline to claim?

The standard does not set a deadline, but OCU recommends filing the claim as soon as possible. The deadline for obtaining a reply is 3 months: if there is no response, the out-of-court procedure is deemed to have terminated without agreement.

9. What to do if the judicial process has already been initiated?

The rule provides for the possibility of suspending legal proceedings if the person concerned and the entity agree, but vary according to what is agreed on the costs of the procedure up to that time: it is best to consult the lawyer or organization in charge of the procedure .

10. Do I have to declare what has been recovered in the IRPF?

No, it is not necessary to include these amounts as income in the income statement, nor the interest of delay; But it may be necessary to correct statements from past financial years if there were higher deductions in the past or deductible deductible rent expenses, which are greater than they should have been. OCU recalls that if a deduction for home acquisition was taken, 15% of the loan installments paid could be deducted, up to a maximum of 9,040 euros per year; As the quotas with soil were higher, perhaps a deduction was made higher than that which could have been practiced in case of no soil; In that case, that difference must be returned.

Finally, OCU also recalls that it has initiated a campaign to demand from the banks the return of expenses of formalization mortgages. At the end of 2015 a judgment of the Supreme Court, won by OCU, considered that the clauses that impose to the consumer all the expenses of formalization and constitution of mortgages (Notary and Registry) and the payment of the taxes that correspond to the bank, On average 3,100 euros per mortgage. OCU considers that, as a consequence of the abusive nature of this clause and of the

The banks are going to loose pasta and stop entering it

More than 3,000 million euros in floor clauses, a risk of 20,193 million in mortgage costs, low interest rates that can only rise ...

If it has to be done, let it be as soon as possible. 2017 will be worse year than 2016, but better than 2018, to hire a mortgage. Cheap loans come to an end.

The bank tightens its belt. The man bites the dog. To present a healthy balance sheet this 2017 will require commercial gear to cover the holes derived from the last batch of judicial sentences.

The banks are going to loose pasta and stop entering it. Bad equation. The more for Spanish entities, whose blood flows from mortgage credit, which represents up to 50% of their market share.

And, to provision those millions of euros, banks are looking to improve the profitability of their products.

Mortgages have begun to rise in the first eight weeks of the year
Mortgages have begun to rise in the first eight weeks of the year. And slight rebounds are still expected in 2017 and 2018, the last year in which the European Central Bank is set to raise interest rates, which will hit the Euribor, the indicator to which most of the Mortgages in Spain.

The Spanish model is going to mutate. A change of trend begins to appear. Fear of recurring situations such as soil clauses, upward forecasts on interest rates, specifically on the euríbor ... The monthly fixed rate likes more and more. Faced with unforeseen fluctuations, the mortgaged is folded at the fixed rate. Without being still majority, these mortgages were multiplied by four in 2016.

In December alone, 31.6% of the mortgages constituted used a fixed interest rate, compared to 68.4% of the variable, in data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Almost half of the mortgaged Spaniards changed at a fixed rate, to double the number of loans, from 7.6% to 14.8%, while variable interest rates fell from 91.5% to 84.3%. They are still favorites, but according to progress 2017 will lose fans.

A fixed, a variable, with a mixed model or to play. One in three mortgages in 2016 was paid in cash. In numbers: 403,866 homes sold and 281,328 loans contracted, in INE data.

Spanish mortgages are already more expensive than in Europe. In Spain they are granted 1.97% on average compared to 1.62% in Germany, 1.55% in France or 1.82% in Portugal.

MORTGAGE MORTGAGES

A fixed type, and up. Only five banks already grant mortgages below the psychological threshold of 3%. Most are between 3% and 4%, still 6% and 7% a few years ago, when variables were spoiled by the boom banking.

Fixed rates will rise further in the coming months, "but in moderation," David Ruiz of International Financial Analysts (Afi) points out. In INE data, in January 2016 only 10% of the new mortgages were fixed rate. However, in September of the same year the figure has increased to 30%.

MORTGAGES TO VARIABLE TYPE

Banks prepare mortgage loans with opening fees, a hitherto higher rate on fixed mortgages. The measure is a guideline of the Bank of Spain, but helps to curb losses by negative rates.

The Euríbor has been in free fall since April 2014, which has benefited thousands of mortgaged people who have seen their monthly quota year-on-year. But everything has its end. With the entry into force of the Euribor Plus in July this year, mortgages will be more expensive. The rise will not make a hole in the pocket, most likely to be testimonials for the majority but for the first time in four years the fee will not go down. For significant increases, we will have to wait for 2018 and even 2019, in forecasts of David Ruiz of Afi.

The mileuristas have it more difficult to accede to the mortgages. Among the 10 cheapest mortgages on the market, only two offers do not require a minimum wage to hire them. Thus, for a medium mortgage in Spain (109,785 euros at 22 years), a consumer who could access the best mortgages on the market would pay an average initial interest of 0.99%. A single person earning a thousand euros a month would only have direct access to mortgages with an average interest of 1.15%, 16.16% more than the cheapest deals on the market.

The banks will freeze the interests of their loans at variable rates and if they move they will be upwards. In this situation, the sector will persevere in mortgages with an initial fixed rate, the first or the first two years. 80% of variable rate mortgages already have an initial fixed interest rate. David Ruiz attributes this to the need, also on the part of the bank, to guarantee a mortgage income, after the margins have waned since the bursting of the real estate boom.

The dock workers' unions have called off the first two days of unemployment of the nine planned

The dock workers' unions have called off the first two days of unemployment of the nine planned, that is, those scheduled for March 6 and 8, to encourage the Ministry of Public Works to "leave its closed position" and open a "negotiation real".

Thus, the dockers ask the Department headed by Íñigo de la Serna to open a dialogue table on the amendment of the Decree Law approved by the Government and to be validated by Congress.

To this end, trade unions in the sector (Coordinadora de los Trabajadores del Mar, CC.OO., UGT, CIG and USO) unveil the first two days of the nine-day strike in the ports for the next three weeks.

"With this decision to suspend the strike the first two days the workers show our willingness to dialogue and we hope that it will be matched by the Ministry and by the employer Anesco," said Antolín Goya, leader of the Coordinadora in a statement.

The State Coordinator of Sea Workers (Cetm), the majority union of stevedores, explained today in a statement that the refusal of the PSOE and the other political groups "opens the possibility of a new table of real negotiation for the achievement of a reform Of the stowage model in a consensual way ".

The unions convening the nine days of partial stoppages on alternate days between the 6th and 24th of March, Coordinator, UGT, CCOO, CIG and CGT consider that the opposition of the PSOE "opens a new opportunity for dialogue and negotiation," Also demanded by the other political groups: United We Can-In Comú Can-En Marea, Citizens, IU, EAJ-PNV, ERC, PdCat, Compromis and Canarian Coalition.

WHAT TO DO
The trade union organizations have agreed to suspend the strike calls foreseen for the days indicated, with the intention that a climate of labor standardization "encourages the Ministry of Public Works to leave its closed position and invite the real negotiation, by means of the constitution of a Table of dialogue on the modification of the decree law presented by the Government for its validation ".

According to the unions, the regulations proposed by the government "dispel any possibility of agreement with the companies", as it offers the international financial groups and speculators, top shareholders and owners of the terminals in all Spanish ports, the opportunity to get rid of Their workers in the public purse, as well as precarious employment and working conditions.

Trade union organizations have noted that "there has been no progress" in collective bargaining with companies despite the technical meeting held yesterday afternoon at the headquarters of the ESC and the opening of a formal and ongoing process of dialogue, agreed With the employer Anesco.

The companies do not undertake to keep their port workers in their jobs, nor did they provide the data that they were going to deliver to the trade unions and to the mediator, the president of the ESC, Marcos Peña, to justify the supposed surpluses of the templates in each port.

With the decision to suspend the strike on 6 and 8 March, the workers show their willingness to dialogue and hope that it will be matched by the Ministry of Public Works and by the employers Anesco, said the coordinator of Cetm, Antolín Goya.

In order to avoid the conflict, "it is not possible to ask those dismissed to be reasonable, it is reasonable to guarantee continuity in employment to workers, which is nothing other than labor subrogation established in the Workers' Statute," added .

In its view, the dismissal of dockworkers can not be attributed to the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), which is, in fact, a "political decision" of Puertos del Estado, ratified by the Minister of Encouragement, Íñigo de la Serna, has concluded Goya.

More than 300 workers of the Nueva Pescanova Group have today agreed in assembly to go on strike

More than 300 workers of the Nueva Pescanova Group have today agreed in assembly to go on strike for 24 hours on March 14 and 21 after rejecting the last proposal of the management in the negotiation of the collective agreement.

In the assembly, convened by unions UGT, USO, CIG and CUT, there has also been unanimity regarding the granting of a margin until April 3 for the company to accept its demands and submit a proposal for a "decent" agreement, and Which otherwise will start an indefinite strike from that date.

Despite respecting seniority, the unions oppose the so-called "flexibility" of the day and of hiring by the management, which seeks to implement a "double wage scale" between the current workers and the new additions to the workforce, with Differences of up to 40%.

These unions censor that management 'threatens' that, if there is no agreement, they will be governed by the collective agreement of processed products of the sea with processes of freezing and refrigeration.

The call for a strike takes place despite the appeal to the 'responsibility' made in the last hours by the management of Nueva Pescanova, as much for the strike in the industrial centers as the partial stops in the offices of Chapela, summoned in this case By CCOO.

Since March 2016, the Nueva Pescanova group has been negotiating new agreements at the centers of Arteixo, Chapela, Porriño, Chapela / Porriño cold center and Chapela de Pescanova back-office centers in Spain, Nueva Pescanova and Novapesca Trading.

Some centers that, after the exit of the competition of creditors and after the merger and double segregation in Pescanova Spain and Nueva Pescanova, were left without collective agreement.

The management of the Galician multinational has warned that, in case of not reaching an agreement, the workers of these companies will be governed by the agreement of the sector, where they are not recognized neither the seniority nor the rises of level.

In addition, he recalled that if an agreement is reached in the negotiation of the agreements, a "stable employment plan" is foreseen, with the aim of generating about 80 new jobs in the next three years between industrial centers and Offices.

Sets and without bond. The National Court has rejected on Friday to impose any measure on Caja Madrid's Miguel Blesa and Rodrigo Rato, who were sentenced to six and four and a half years in prison for the use of 'black cards', as their attendance at the trial "makes unnecessary any Type of precautionary measure ".

After the "vistilla" held today, during which Blesa and Rato have remained in the National Audiencia just over an hour, section 4 of the Criminal Chamber has considered that Rato "protects the presumption of innocence, as not Could be otherwise, "and also his procedural behavior has been" absolutely complete. "

As regards Blesa, he emphasizes that there is no risk of destruction of evidence or of reiteration of the crime, and also recalls that his conduct and conduct during the trial make it "unnecessary" to adopt precautionary measures.

THE PROSECUTOR HAD REQUESTED ELDERLY PRISON WITH BOND

The court has not responded to the petitions filed by the Inter-Trade Confederation of Credit (CIC) and the CGT, which demanded imprisonment for both the prosecutor's office and the prosecutor's office, who this morning demanded imprisonment on bail of € 100,000. Blesa.

Regarding the risk of escape, the room has taken into account what Blesa's lawyer has explained, which has explained that his defendant lives and "has always lived in Spain", has no criminal record, is married and has children and Grandchildren and their age is close to 70 years.

All this, together with the fact that it has not been proven that he has goods abroad, has led the court to reject the requests of the accusations; To this impeccable behavior must be added that their assets are embargoed, and their roots in the country is unequivocal.

RATO "CABAL" BEHAVIOR

In the case of Rato, for which the Inter-Confederation of Credit (CIC) requested its immediate admission to prison, the Chamber emphasizes that by virtue of its "full" behavior during the whole process "no risk is envisaged", therefore Which precludes the adoption of precautionary measures.

In addition, he emphasizes the "presumption of innocence" of the former minister in relation to the different judicial proceedings opened both in the National Audience with the IPO of Bankia and in the courts of Plaza de Castilla for the investigation of its patrimony.

In this way he opposes the request of the CGT, which asked for the withdrawal of the passport, as well as the prohibition to leave the country to Rato when he considered that there was a high risk of escape given his contacts and his personal situation in other causes.

"That forecast of the future does not seem to be minimally serious or rigorous", explains the court that adopts the criterion of the prosecutor Alejandro Luzón, who during the dressing has explained his decision not to impose measures when being a convicted person with lower penalty To five years' imprisonment and with less advanced procedures than Blesa.


EFE
Both Rato and Blesa have confirmed to Efe their intention to appeal the sentence, which condemned them as the main perpetrators of an offense of misappropriation through a card system with which they depleted the cash flow.

The CIC, for its part, has already appealed to the Supreme Court for the acquittal of Caja Madrid's Miguel Blesa and Rodrigo Rato's offenses of unfair administration; Both were convicted only misappropriation.

The sentence acquitted Blesa and Rato of the crime of unfair administration in concluding that the facts denounced by the CIC could not be proven, reason why now the accusation raises its request to the Supreme when estimating that the room did not solve all the mentioned points In his writing.

The PSA Peugeot Citroen group announced Monday that it has bought General Motors

The PSA Peugeot Citroen group announced Monday that it has bought General Motors (GM) from its subsidiary Opel / Vauxhall in a € 2.2 billion operation, which will make it the number two in Europe.

The purchase is broken down in the acquisition of Opel / Vauxhall for 1.3 billion euros, and the one of the financial subsidiary of GM in Europe for 900 million, said PSA in a statement.

PSA expects, thanks to this acquisition with which it increases its market share in Europe to 17% (last year its joint production was 2.95 million vehicles), to realize 1,700 million euros of synergies annually by 2026, Which in "a significant part" should be achieved by 2020.

"These savings should contribute to accelerating the recovery of Opel / Vauxhall", referring to the company's delicate financial situation, which has led to 16 consecutive losses: 257 million dollars (about 242 million dollars). Euros) in 2016 after 813 million in 2015.

In particular, the new owner is confident that Opel / Vauxhall will achieve a current operating margin of 2% by 2020 and 6% by 2026, in addition to generating a positive operating cash flow by 2020.

"CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT"

PSA President Carlos Tavares, who expressed his satisfaction with the commitment to GM on Opel / Vauxhall, pledged to "continue the development of this great company and accelerate its recovery."

Tavares said that his will is to manage PSA and Opel / Vauxhall taking advantage of "the identities of the respective brands", and in that respect said that with the "excellent models" that have already developed both groups for the European market, is convinced that the subsidiary European GM "is the good partner."

"For us, it is a natural extension of our alliance and we are impatient to move at a higher speed," he added.

The acquisition of EUR 900 million from GM's financial subsidiary in Europe, which serves 1,800 dealers in 11 countries, will be carried out by PSA and BNP Paribas with a 50% share each.

This business had represented a flow of about 9.6 billion euros at the end of 2016, of which about 5.8 billion million financed with deposits or securitization.

"GREAT STAGE"

GM CEO Mary T. Barra said that for her company, the assignment "is a new big step in the current one currently deployed to improve our efficiency and accelerate our dynamics", before remembering that this transformation is allowing them to obtain "results Record and sustainable for our shareholders. "

In practice, the "immediate improvement" of adjusted EBIT, the adjusted EBIT margin, adjusted free cash flow for the automotive business, and the reduction of the balance sheet risk, will allow GM, according to its calculations, to decrease by 2,000 Millions of dollars their liquidity needs.

That will open the possibility of increasing the purchases of shares "according to the market conditions".

GM will remain "exposed to the success" of what will be the "number two" of the European market, as it will have PSA share subscription bonds.

In addition, the two companies plan to collaborate in the deployment of electric car technologies, existing agreements will be maintained for the supply of some models with Holden and Buick brands, and PSA could be provisioned in the long term in fuel cell system with the consortium GM / Honda.

The bottle of extra virgin category smashes already six euros in the supermarkets

The rain. After the storm, everyone accuses the rain. When the price of light rises, when olive oil exceeds maximums and it becomes more consistent to call it yellow gold instead of green gold ... lack of rainfall is to blame. Do you think olive oil is expensive? If it is.

Who has raised the olive oil?

The bottle of extra virgin category smashes already six euros in the supermarkets. And, although the ticket varies according to stores and locations, they all sell the liter of brand over five euros. The price of Hojiblanca and Hispaniola is 5.99 euros in many supermarkets, while Coosur and Carbonell are traded at 5.98 euros and Señoría de Segura and Borges at 5.1 euros in most of them.

The rise is explained by a very old equation, that of supply and demand. The first is scarce, the second is abundant.

The Spanish olive grove produced 10% less the 2015/2016 campaign. He was not the only one. In Italy the bump was even more expensive, reducing the harvest by 50%. Greece fell 20%, while Tunisia and Turkey each thinned theirs by 15% over the previous season.

There is also no stock after three years of dwindling production. The world pantry of olive oil is empty and, given the shortage in other countries, the outside distribution is practically Spanish.

For a decade there were no similar prices, these are even higher than the crisis of 1995, when the oils were placed at 500 pesetas per liter, again because of the drought.

If you do not, raise your hand to make you sick to the green liquid. Bread tumaca, muffin with oil, vinaigrettes ... Mediterranean diet. Spain is not a country to fry eggs in butter.

White marks, on the other hand, hold less than four euros per liter. Dia sells its extra virgin olive oil at 3.73 euros, Carrefour at 3.99, while Lidl (Olisone) and Eroski go through the box at 3.69 and 3.99 euros respectively.

Differences of two euros between brand manufacturers and white brands. And this, because they can or because they want? Here the mess.

A bird's eye view, the lack of rain seems the main factor of the price increase. The main, but not the only one. This is what the different agents in the sector tell us about. Second, cross accusations and gloved slaps come. They say that there is someone who is interested in raising the price, that there is who does not want to lower it. Because they want to or because they can?

Who speculates with the price of oil?

"Soon we will see the oil at more than five euros per liter." This is the reason Dia gave to allow the aggressive offers of the last months. It was communicated by its CEO, Ricardo Currás, and company sources ratify it to El Huffington Post. The commercial strategy has caused a strong discomfort in the industry, which accuses the company of selling olive oil to losses. But Dia is not alone, the rest of white supermarket brands are kept below the four euros.


INTERPROFESIONAL OIL
With the increase in the price at origin (2.4 euros in bulk, at almost 4 ready to consume), Mercadona tried to pull prices up, "but none of its competitors followed," so he had to recant alone , Explain from the bosses of packers Anierac.

Nothing is happening to the oil, the rains will be coming
Pedro Cheap
At the peak of the production pyramid, Pedro Barato, a veteran of the agricultural policies at the head of the Olive Oil Interprofessional, removes the issue. "The oil is not going to happen, the rains will be coming", Mariano Rajoy welcomes a rise in the price of light. He recognizes, yes, as another member of the Government, Álvaro Nadal, that of a scrambled river, profit of fishermen. "The issue is conjunctural and will happen," he says, "but in these circumstances there are always those who take advantage." Intermediaries ?, he asks. "And distributors," he replies.

Although the Spanish crop, which accounts for half of world production, has been only 10% lower and is in the average of the last five years, global production has accused a very dry summer. The annual global average is about 3 million tons and total consumption exceeds 2.9 million. What was eaten by what was served, practically consumed the entire production. "But this season there is a deficit of 200,000 tons and prices are rising," says Barato. In Italy, for example, home prices closed February at around six euros.

Consumer organizations make a sharper analysis of price hikes. They point out intermediaries, who buy oil down before the start of the campaign and claiming to protect themselves against drought, understand from the Consumers Union. Although the Government considers this practice to be residual, the industry estimates that it is 50%

Although the Spanish crop, which accounts for half of world production, has been only 10% lower and is in the average of the last five years, global production has accused a very dry summer. The annual global average is about 3 million tons and total consumption exceeds 2.9 million. What was eaten by what was served, practically consumed the entire production. "But this season there is a deficit of 200,000 tons and prices are rising," says Barato. In Italy, for example, home prices closed February at around six euros.

Consumer organizations make a sharper analysis of price hikes. They point out intermediaries, who buy oil down before the start of the campaign and claiming to protect themselves against drought, understand from the Consumers Union. Although the Government considers this practice to be residual, the industry estimates that it is 50%

The packers from Anierac deny any type of commercial strategy, and point out that there are only losers in this rise: "Many people have caught their fingers when buying according to forecasts and are now selling at a loss."

Expensive prices until when?

"The usual thing is that prices will be maintained if the oil is still sold at this rate," says Rafael Sánchez de Puerta, president of the Sectorial Council of Olive Oil of Agro-food Cooperatives of Spain, "but if the marketing drops the prices Will slow down, "he says. The old rule: supply and demand are always adjusted, trust, who nevertheless values ​​a possible fall in consumption, although making forecasts at this time of year is a kind of exercise of science fiction when according to the normal development of a campaign that data Can not be known until June.

Will we have less olive oil on a hotter future planet? Will prices continue to be high? Will other cheaper oils come to stay?


INTERPROFESIONAL OIL
The winters of mild temperatures and the scarcity of rain are a threat to the sector if they are repeated in the next years. In fact, in Spain, the new production is moving more and more towards the north and harvests are already found in Navarra or La Rioja.

The situation of high prices will continue until at least May, when the demand is adjusted again by the forecasts of the harvest, explain from Anierac. If that does not happen, the price will continue to be high and although for Pedro Barato the Spanish will not substitute olive oil for other cheaper productions, in the OCU they fear that consumers will mix oils with the consequent damage to their health.

The Government has decided to postpone the debate and vote in the full Congress of the Royal Decree Law on reform of the stowage sector

The Government has decided to postpone the debate and vote in the full Congress of the Royal Decree Law on reform of the stowage sector, initially scheduled for Thursday, March 9, and against which a schedule of strikes in the Ports, according to announced the Minister of Development, Íñigo de la Serna.

With this measure, Fomento intends to give "a new opportunity" to the negotiation between employers and unions, so that an agreement between the parties leads the parliamentary groups to support a reform that is urged by Europe and may impose a sanction to Spain. At the moment, the Executive does not have support from any group of the Lower House.

The announcement of the minister takes place while the employers Anesco and the unions of stevedores (Coordinator of Workers of the Sea, CC.OO., UGT, CIG and USO) have announced that they will meet again this Wednesday, day 8, with the mediation of the president Of the CES, Marcos Peña.

The guarantee of employment and working conditions of stevedores is the main demand of unions for reform, either by subrogation of workers or by the constitution of a professional register. It is a demand that, according to Fomento, Europe does not allow inclusion in the Decree Law and that, for that reason, should be dealt with in collective bargaining.

Also, it is also done four days after a schedule of stoppages on the ports begins on Friday, which will last for two weeks, with the consequent impact on the economy.

However, De la Serna considers that the agreement "is possible" and that in this next week that grants before the validation of the reform "there is more than enough margin" for the sector to reach an agreement on the maintenance of employment.

"If there is a will to reach an agreement, and if what you really want is the guarantee of employment, and not other things like maintaining the old 'status quo' of the sector, there is more than enough room this week to achieve it," he said. Minister who also confirmed the intention of the Government to collaborate in the achievement of the pact.

Willing to help

Thus, De la Serna confirmed that the Government is ready to "help" to reach an agreement on the guarantee of jobs "articulating legal instruments with the Ministry of Employment."

"This is a gesture more of the will of the Government and its conviction that it is possible to achieve an agreement with guarantees for employment in the stowage sector," he stressed de la Serna before participating in an event on youth mobility.

Thus, the holder of the Fomento set the next seven days as the deadline for industry players to reach an agreement on the reform, which in turn considers that the parliamentary groups to support it to approve it in plenary.

Call to political groups

"It is important that both political groups and unions are aware that, as everyone knows, the agreement is possible if there is a will," he insisted.

"If there is no agreement on the maintenance of employment this week, then it is that something is sought, that there is no will to achieve it or that what is intended is to maintain the 'status quo' that the sector had so far "Reiterated the head of Development.

"This would also save many millions of euros in the pockets of the Spanish," he added, referring to the sanction that the EU Court can impose on Spain for contravening its rules with current stowage legislation. It is 134,000 euros per day until it adapts, which would add to the 21.3 million already accumulated since the first pronouncement, made in December 2014.

The stevedoring conflict coincides with the visit made to Spain by EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc who, according to the minister, "is aware of the evolution of the matter. In addition, he asserts that he has ratified what he already communicated a few days ago by letter, that is, the need to approve when before the reform in the legal terms in which it is to avoid such a fine.

Negotiation in progress

The unions of dockers and employers Anesco will meet again next Wednesday to resume the process of collective bargaining with the mediation of the president of the Economic and Social Council (CES), Marcos Peña, confirmed today Efe sources of the two parties.

Last February 28, stevedores and employers agreed to open a formal negotiation process, although the unions decided to keep the call for strikes.

However, on Thursday, the unions suspended two of the nine days of work stoppage, today and Wednesday, in the hope of knowing if the real statute reform bill is finally validated next Thursday in the Congress.

The Golf revolves

The Volkswagen Golf is the GTI by definition. And not only because it inaugurated the category of sports compact. It has always stood as the reference for its virtues. But now, in this face-to-face of Peugeot GTi against the Volkswagen Golf GTI, we find that German has emerged the toughest rival in its history.




The Volkswagen Golf GTI has 230 hp and a very neutral behavior. The Peugeot 308 GTi strikes with 272 hp and a fulminating acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in just 6.1 seconds. French is not going to make it easy. We checked it at the wheel. Face to face: Peugeot GTi vs Volkswagen Golf GTI.


Face-to-Face Gallery : Peugeot 308 GTi vs. Volkswagen Golf GTI

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The German needs, by the way, five tenths more to reach 100 km / h. Our Peugeot 308 GTi test carried brake calipers in red and two-color body. The truth is that you accelerate the pulsations just by seeing it. It carries firm suspensions and of short routes and a powerful turbo engine under the hood. And it mounted navigator, Alcántara linings and parking aid system, as well as keyless access and bizona climate control. Come on, he was well endowed.

In the Golf , the adjustable DCC chassis is optional, but highly recommended. Thus, the shock absorbers have two faces: a soft or comfortable, the other firm and sporty. This makes it a very comfortable car for day to day, and a devoracurvas to go on weekends to spend it bomb in a mountain port.
See how the Golf GTI Clubsport hits its record!






We've taken them to the top on the Contidrom circuit, and the Peugeot has taken no less than three seconds to the Volkswagen . And that its more powerful engine attacks the front axle with greater fruition causing some slips of the wheels. The advanced electronic of the Golf achieves a better footprint of the front axle, whereas to the differential Torsen mechanic of the Peugeot sometimes the work accumulates to him.

But the advantage is brought out by the French out of the corners, with the huge thrust of the turbo and shorter gear ratios. Its small steering wheel requires getting used to it, but it goes very well with its fast and communicative steering, and the Michelin sports tires provide a good grip. A pity that the rear suspension is softer than we expected, and force to correct the trajectory to prevent the rear skid.


Gallery Peugeot 308 GTI: It is not a GTI either

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The Golf revolves as if it were a compass, with a degree of cleanliness and perfection such that it even lacks some spectacularity, passion. The sub-rails are very light and controllable. Binding curves is sewing and singing. Also the engine gives the impression of being somewhat contained. The needle of the cuentavueltas rises with great homogeneity, the delivery of power is linear and that makes it very comfortable to carry. But I miss more punch in a car like this. The engine of Peugeot is not only more powerful: it also has a much more vivid and spontaneous response. Maybe that's not the best thing for day to day, (it's like a beast that you have to tame contiguously, but if it's sports driving, it's a lot more fun.

The Switch that hybrid between console and laptop is one of the most exciting pieces of hardware

The Switch that hybrid between console and laptop is one of the most exciting pieces of hardware that we have been able to test in the video game industry over the last few years. And that's saying a lot. After the commercial failure of Wii U and the exhaustion of the model started with Wii, the Japanese had only to reinvent itself. But if there is a firm capable of doing that, an equivalent of Madonna in videojueguil format, that is Nintendo.

At Teknautas, we had the opportunity to try the Switch a few weeks ago. The sensations were good, as were the first impressions when the console was announced and it was confirmed that Nintendo was behind that hybrid between console and laptop. Now, after a few days of testing and despite the meager number of its catalog (we have only been able to test the new 'Zelda', which has a look unbeatable), all our feelings have been confirmed: the console has a huge potential that should be deployed Over the years if the catalog accompanies. In other words: on paper everything is very beautiful, but now it is necessary to confirm where it really counts, on the screen.
Let's go at the beginning. Switch gives off, to a certain extent, an old school scent. Not exactly because of its proposal, which is completely new in this industry, but because it is simple to remove it from the box and play. It does not even need to be connected to the television. Just adapt the two controls, called 'joy with', to the sides of the screen to start playing. After a few very brief steps, the machine is ready to boot. In the version that has come to us, it was not possible to update the 'firmware' first, but we have done during these first hours and, aware of the fact, the process has lasted no more than 30 seconds. A blessing compared to the hours that Wii U was upgraded before being able to play the first match.
You can play Switch on the subway, although we do not recommend it for short trips.You can play Switch on the subway, although we do not recommend it for short trips.
But Nintendo is bent on selling Switch as a desktop console with laptop heart. Removing the 'marketing', comes to tell us that it is a two in one more focused on the traditional game but that allows you to take it out. And if something is necessary to remove the hat with the console is in the facility that gives the user to move from one to another mode. The installation of all the components (the base from which the power cable and the hdmi come out) only lasts a few minutes and the transition between desktop and laptop mode takes everything that is used to transfer the 'joy with' from The base that acts as traditional control until the sides of the tablet.
The transition time is so fast that in the first few occasions you will be surprised. But what really gets the console, and in our case is still difficult for us to adapt still to it, is to dilute that barrier between playing in the traditional way and do it anywhere, not from home, but the street or the public transport.
The version in red and blue is especially resultona.  (JE)
The version in red and blue is especially resultona. (JE)
For example, I am very clear that television is where I play 'FIFA', 'Skyrim' or 'The Last Guardian'. And that mobile, which has become a companion inseparable from fatigue, is an ideal format for games that are designed for it, either 'Hearthstone' or an 'Animal Crossing' in a 3DS. With Switch, that border is erased: you can take it to the bathroom in a time of trouble or take advantage of dead times in public transport.
This last point may be somewhat controversial. We are facing a console that is something bigger than a PlayStation Vita (the screen of the Switch is the approximate size of the latest Sony laptop), so we take it out for very short trips, something that we would do with the mobile phone, it seems outside of place. Even some games, the same 'Zelda' that we have tried, ask you for a little longer game sessions. Maybe four or five subway stops do not give you a chance to enjoy the game, but those people who have half-an-hour trips a day in public transport will appreciate being able to dedicate that window to games that, to date, To the TV and sitting on a sofa.

In the background, the idea of ​​Switch is not far from what was in a way pointed to Wii U. That the command had a large screen that would give some independence of the console itself. This time, the console 'is' the controller and to my surprise, I spent more time playing with it in portable mode than in my traditional room dedicated to games with a generously sized TV. If this attitude has been the result of novelty, it is something that only time can solve.
The controls: three in one
We do not refer to the famous degreaser, but the 'joy with' can be used in up to three different formats. Glued to side and side of the tablet in portable mode, in a plastic holder to turn them into a traditional controller, and each separately in very specific games. In our experience, we have tried the first two, while the third mode, designed for '1-2-Switch' mini-game titles, we could taste it in our test with the console a few months ago.
The two 'joy with' fit well in the palm of your hand.  (JE)The two 'joy with' fit well in the palm of your hand. (JE)
In their two most traditional formats, the controls have their pros and cons. It misses once more, and there are already a few, that Nintendo includes analog triggers that only respond to two 'inputs' as opposed to the triggers that can be found in the controls of PlayStation or Xbox. The loss of the traditional crosshead, the first in a console from NES, is also missing, although the philosophy of the console has forced the Japanese to leave it on the way.
It may seem a little ergonomic, but the controller in this format is comfortable enough to play with in long sessions.  (JE)It may seem a little ergonomic, but the controller in this format is comfortable enough to play with in long sessions. (JE)
Perhaps more surprising is the performance of the remote with the bracket. At first glance, and seeing the photo on these lines, it does not look like it will be a comfortable driver. With my partner Sergio Ferrer we have discussed on more than one occasion: after Sony and Xbox have nailed the guidelines of what should be a driver, it is not necessary to go off on the tangent. Steam and its Controller are a good example.
Despite this, the command emerged from the union of a base next to the two 'joy with' (and that, putting a lot of imagination, looks like a perrete) is not especially uncomfortable. Moreover, after a few minutes, you have forgotten the same, which is the best you can say of a command. I wish the same could be said about triggers.
Few games and little battery
What's wrong with Switch? Perhaps the most important is the battery of the tablet and it could be argued that the catalog is somewhat scarce. Nintendo, once again, wanted to point out that we are not before a portable console but before a desktop that can be taken to the street and take you wherever you want. Yes, on the paper is a very nice definition, but when it comes to the truth is a bit short. A three-hour 'Zelda' game has been enough for us to squeeze it all the way, and although Nintendo claims that some games will be able to reach six hours of life, it is a statement that, for the moment, has to be taken with tweezers.

Another controversial aspect is the console's output catalog. In 2017, a new 'Super Mario' ('Odissey', which we will not see until the end of the year) is expected to appear, and an updated version of 'Mario Kart 8' should be released in a matter of weeks. There are few new features (next to 'Splatoon 2' or 'Arms') to convince the user to be undecided.
Much has been said about the console catalog compared to PS4 or Xbox One, although some voices have recalled that not so much, in the days of NES, Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64, the consoles came to the street with a meager catalog. What does it mean for the user that there are so few exit games? That patience is your best ally. These first months, at least until the arrival of the Christmas period, will serve to see which route the Switch takes and which games are announced for 2018.
Do I buy it?
But that the catalog is small does not imply that you should not run to buy it. If you're a fan of Nintendo, Switch is the type of console that will return to ingratiar with the Japanese manufacturer. And if you are also a lover of 'Zelda', you should know that the first criticisms have not been exceptional but have put it through the clouds, with several websites specialized as the best title of the franchise ever created, above even 'OCarina Of Time '.
The 'joy with' leaves the traditional crosshead for the first time since the NES.  (JE)
The 'joy with' leaves the traditional crosshead for the first time since the NES. (JE)
In our case, we think it may be soon enough to get a Switch unless you have it very clear or you know that you're going to pay it off with 'Zelda' now, 'Mario Kart' in a few months and the next 'Super Mario' In Christmas. In that case, you should do it with a head.
It seems almost impossible to make a forecast of the commercial performance of Switch in the market. The console has everything to win the player: has a reasonable price (320 euros), works great in both portable and desktop mode and offers something that, to date, neither Sony nor Microsoft have been able to provide. It remains to be seen whether the catalog of the console, which really gives it meaning, will be up to the consequences.

Losing time with video games at work seems a legitimate reason for dismissal

Losing time with video games at work seems a legitimate reason for dismissal, but it is just what the Spanish startup Gamelearn encourages . The trick is that, in fact, the games they have developed promote such useful skills in the workplace as leadership, team management and time, negotiation and customer service. Now, this management- focused learning system has just received an investment of two million euros from Kibo Ventures.

The idea came when three fellow mates, Ibrahim Jabary, Mai Apraiz and Eduardo Monfort, founded a company to give face-to-face training to managers. Realizing the popularity of video games between people aged 25 and 40, they decided to offer a product instead of a service. Thus was born in 2014 Gamelearn, which already has 85 employees. Its business model is to sell 'online' licenses to companies interested in these courses, either as a complement to their training program or as a unique learning tool.
To date they have developed four titles - with a fifth in gestation -: Triskelion, to improve personal productivity; Pacific, to improve leadership skills; 2100 to boost customer service capabilities; Shipping companies to learn how to trade. The latter, for example, makes us a merchant of the Venice of the fifteenth century who must create his own fleet of ships.

"They are the most realistic situations possible, you have to make decisions and if you do not find the right solution, it explains what you had to do," said Gamelearn executive director, Virginia Donado, to Teknautas. If the player is 'stuck', the video game throws clues that help him to reach a good port.
The key to these training courses is that, while educating, they share the spirit of any video game: entertain and engage. "We have a completion rate of 92%, which in the world of e-learning is very high," adds Donado. The leaderboards allow dozens of employees of the same company to compete with each other and 'peck' to improve their score and finish the game.
Shipbuilders makes us a merchant of the Venice of the fifteenth century who must create his own fleet. To do this, you will need to learn how to negotiate
Each game is available for mobile, tablet and computer, so it can be used from work or dead times. The duration is between ten and fifteen hours, so that it can be completed in a couple of weeks without getting too long. The titles are available in eleven languages, from English and German to Chinese and Arabic, an internationalization designed to reach multinationals with presence in several countries.
"We go to multinationals with many employees, but it can be coupled to smaller companies because at the budget level it is cheaper than the face-to-face training," says Donado. Its clients include well-known companies such as Repsol, Iberia, LG and BMW and in total reach about 7,000 players connected every month.
Donado says that the advantage of online games is that they can be updated and improved to extend their life. One of the latest built-in options allows the technical team of the company that buys the license to customize the video game: "The titles have very generic situations, and so each company can have their logo or a smartphone or A specific product ".

Chema Alonso the hacker and signing star of Telefónica almost two years ago

Chema Alonso the hacker and signing star of Telefónica almost two years ago , arrives at the interview with this newspaper dressed in a Superman T-shirt but as pale as if he had eaten kryptonite. It's almost three o'clock and he has not actually eaten anything. He can not take a step without someone stopping him. And everyone asks for the same thing: the fourth platform. This is a personal bet "the boss", José María Álvarez-Pallete , president of the operator, who intends to give back control of our data, the ones the company handles over us. "Your data are yours and you can do with them what you want," explains Alonso while devouring a wrap. The idea sounds very altruistic, but it is in fact the first step of the next big business of the operator.

If Google, Facebook or WhatsApp have spent millions entering years at the expense of our data, why not do something similar? And why not ask for help instead of charging against them? It is just the project in which he is immersed Alonso, for which he has counted among others with the support of Sheryl Sandberg, the number two of Facebook. Something unthinkable a few years ago. The idea of ​​Alonso is ambitious: to create an application called Aura that allows us to know all the data that Telefónica handles about us and to choose if we want to share them (or not) with third companies in exchange for receiving a consideration.
Before we were not enemies of WhatsApp or Google, nor are we now. Sometimes there are discrepancies, but it is logical
"A good example is CaixaBank: they offer you a discount if you let them see the risk of default on Telefónica. Knowing if you have been a good payer and client with us for 15 years may interest other companies. Offer people something in exchange for knowing it, all happy, "smiles Alonso. On paper, round. But there are many doubts to clear. The most important: where is the border between protecting our privacy and building a big business thanks to it?
Question: You have allied with Facebook to launch the fourth platform. From wanting to plunge WhatsApp or Google to be its partners. What a change.
Answer : I can not tell you much about what happened before, I was not [laughing]. But since my arrival there has never been any intention of getting in the middle of an internet firm, or blocking it. Before we were not enemies of WhatsApp or Google, nor are we now. Like all companies, sometimes there are discrepancies, but of course.
The Chief Data Ofiicer of Telefónica, Chema Alonso, during the presentation of 'Aura'.  (Photo: EFE)The Chief Data Ofiicer of Telefónica, Chema Alonso, during the presentation of 'Aura'. (Photo: EFE)
P. Google and Facebook have set up an empire thanks to our data. Now do you want to do the same?
A. No, it's different. We have been doing something similar to the fourth platform for some time. In 2012 Telefónica launched Dynamics Insights, a service with which we sold general information to companies, not aggregated and anonymised data. It is a business that works very well and we have it all over the world and for a long time. Our priority is mobile communications, hence 70% of revenues. The remaining 30% are digital services. But where we are not going to get involved is never in the sale of personal data, as other Internet companies. We get along with them, but each one has its model.
Q. Define the fourth platform in a couple of phrases for everyone to understand.
A. The idea is to give customers three powers: one, that the services of Telefónica by those who pay each month to operate in the simplest way possible. Two, transparency with all the data generated by the use of these services. And three, give them back, let them be the owners of all that and decide what they want to do with them. And all through an application of artificial intelligence managed by voice like Aura.
"What I do not want is for someone to cage and steal the data to the customers. Let's control who connects, but without being a guardian"
Q. How are you going to make money with Aura?
A. It's very simple. 45% of the calls made to the call center are to clarify doubts about the bill, about contracted services or about television programming. The annual cost of managing that is brutal. If we manage to reduce it a bit, simply giving customers what they ask for, which is more clarity and information, would be a breakthrough. But there is another way: to stay more customers with us instead of changing operators because they can manage their router by voice or ask the mobile in five seconds to record an episode of Game of Thrones. And we let them do what they want with their data. And if someone is willing to pay for them, they have to pay the customer, not us.
Q. On this last, you are closing agreements with CaixaBank, Facebook ... Can any company join the new platform and access the data with our consent?
A. Yes, but we will be very careful. What I do not want is for someone to cage and steal the data to customers. We will control who connects, but without being a guardian. Do you have something good that you might be interested in? Do you meet a number of security requirements etc? Ahead. We have to define these principles, but we seek partners that enrich people's lives.
The president of Telefónica, José María Álvarez-Pallete.  (Photo: EFE)
The president of Telefónica, José María Álvarez-Pallete. (Photo: EFE)
Q. What kind of economic deals will you close with the companies joining the platform?
A. In these first agreements we are not charging anything. It is more valuable to us that the client is interested and that we have to charge something to the companies. We won more like this. It is what we think now, but we do not discard in the future to charge to connect to our platform. To this day we have not decided.
Q. It sounds like Telefonica is becoming just what I criticized about Facebook or Google: selling aggregated user information to other companies.
A. It is not the same. In the case of Facebook, I do not care that I do business with my data, I accept it because it brings me much value. But we are not in that world. If one day we decided to charge other companies for connecting to Aura, what we would be doing is a typical Telefónica business, which is charging for the use of an infrastructure. It is the same as when Google charges for using the Maps API, does not charge for the information of those maps, it charges for the consumption of the connection. It seems to me a totally licit business model.
P. Licit, but confused. Are not you disguising as a benefit for privacy something that is actually a business based on our data?
A. That is not our goal now. There is no business model, that's why we do not talk about it. For example, imagine a company that wants to do a study of how pollution in cities affects the diseases of the population. And they need data of 80,000 people. They can do it via surveys or connect to our platform. We have tried a case like this with Carlos III University: it connects to the platform, we ask for permission from the clients, we explain what data they were giving and how they would receive a payment of three euros in return. Whoever accepts, who does not, does not. It would be extremely twisted to say that that is to sell data, when in fact it would be to charge for using the API, the connection, and to take an insight or a data that is totally anonymous. I repeat: we are not selling data.
There is no business model right now. There is no excel where we calculate how much we are going to win. Really. Does not exist
Q. Not directly, but you sell the connection to a platform that provides information based on customer data.
A. That already happens. When you enter Google, you look for your favorite restaurant and it tells you that people spend there between 2 and 3 hours per visit, that's an 'insight'. We have data to offer the same, give better service and our customers do not leave. We have made a commitment to this platform to improve customer service. But right now there is no business model. There is no excel where we calculate how much we are going to win. Really. Does not exist.
Q. When can we use Aura in Spain to check it?
A. In the next 12 months it has to be ready and Spain will be among the first countries. I do not want to commit to any date that the boss already gives me lots of sticks so he does not say anything [laughs]. I can only comment that in Spain the thing is very advanced.

It is the time it will take to see self-employed cars for sale at a dealership

Between five and ten years. It is the time it will take to see self-employed cars for sale at a dealership. The prediction comes from Ken Washington, Ford's world leader in advanced research and engineering and responsible for the company's million-dollar investment in this field . A nuclear engineer, forged at MIT and Star Labs , the ultra-secret technology research unit of defense giant Lookheed Martin, Washington is clear that the machines will outpace us. "The 'software' is going to replace the wheel and make decisions, just like humans ... only better," he says with a half smile in an interview with this newspaper.

Washington already has a fleet of 30 self-employed cars the company tests in the US and a recent $ 1 billion investment in Argo, an artificial intelligence firm created by ex-directors of Google and Uber. And all to try to make the car of the future take us home without a pedal pressing the Ford logo. It will not be easy. Uber, Google, Tesla , Apple, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz ... everyone wants to be the first to get us to stop driving. Forever.
Question. There are only four years left for 2021. Are they going to arrive in time to release their autonomous cars?
Answer. Of course. The exact way we are going to market them is yet to be seen, but we are looking at two options: use them for parcel delivery or as a taxi service. It may in the end be a combination of both, but the two options involve a fleet of autonomous vehicles in a mapped area. It will be like in a city today, there will be plenty of conventional cars around, pedestrians ... all mixed up.
Sensors and software neither drink nor distract by sending WhatsApps while driving, they will do better than us
Q. Do you really believe that you can mix humans and machines on the same road?
A. Yes. The sensors and the software neither drink nor distract by sending WhatsApps while they drive, they will do better than us. Because, remember, more than 90% of accidents resulting in fatalities are due to human error. It is a de facto opportunity to improve security.
Q. When can we buy an autonomous car?
A. It will not be in 2021, at least we will not sell them in that year. It is difficult to predict a date, but I think it will be between the next five and ten years as technology gradually becomes cheaper.
Q. What is left to do from the point of view of technology to get there?
A. Very much! In the tests we are learning that we have to improve a lot in identifying objects in the distance and also in predicting the intentions of movement in the next seconds of everything surrounding the car. There are many things we still do not know, problems that arise as we test.
The latest version of the self-contained Ford cars.The latest version of the self-contained Ford cars.
Q. There is increasing competition between technology and traditional car manufacturers. Uber is already trying out a taxi service. The 'startup' NuTonomy has released it in Singapore. Google has been involved for years, Apple, Tesla ... Ford will not do something similar until 2021. Are not you ahead of your competitors?
A. No. We started working on freelance cars 10 years ago. We are already very advanced with the prototypes we have. And we know what it takes to make vehicles fully autonomous. Maybe we have a different philosophy on how to release this safely. We try the cars with our engineers, we do not put the people inside to see what happens.
Q. It refers to Tesla and its accidents with the autopilot ...
A. I will not give names. I'm just saying it's not our way of doing things.
Q. Do you think Tesla was quick to launch its autopilot function, or did not explain it well?
A. I'll let you ask that question to Tesla, I'll just say that we test the technology very seriously before allowing people to use it. And when we say autonomous vehicle we mean 100% autonomous. That's different from what a Tesla does right now. We should not confuse an autopilot function with an autonomous car. If a driver believes that function is more capable than it actually is, it can be very dangerous. Ford already has cars with autopilot function for some time. But we have always said it: you can not lean back to read a book, you have to keep pending at all times.
(Photo: MAM)
(Photo: MAM)
Q. Do you really see Uber, Google or Apple selling their own cars, made by themselves, and freelancers?
A. There are three types of companies that are working on this: traditional manufacturers such as us, startups, which focus on developing software and algorithms, and large technology companies such as Uber, Google and others. What we are seeing is that startups and technology in the end have to work with a manufacturer because integrating 'software' into a car is much more difficult than they thought.
Q. What about ethical decisions about saving the driver or pedestrians in case of possible accidents. Should self-employed cars make such decisions?
A. I think it's important to realize that such hypothetical situations are generated by humans. Our hope is precisely that autonomous vehicles avoid such situations. But in case they happen, the whole industry must agree on a solution. Among all. It can not be that Ford goes on one side, GM on the other, BMW on the other ... These moral dilemmas must be openly and publicly debated, and governments and regulators must be part of that debate.

Q. I do not agree with the Mercedes-Benz manager who said that in the event of an accident between an autonomous car and pedestrians, the vehicle should save the driver because he is most likely to survive.
A. I think it's too early to say something like that. It is a very complicated issue. We still do not know what is the most morally and socially correct way of solving this. And that has to be established throughout the industry.
Q. How will we know that the car, the software, is not making such decisions for us?
A. Any algorithm that is used in an autonomous car can be registered and known. What needs to be resolved is to know how open and accessible that code will be for governments, regulators, insurers ... and all parties that have something to say in the case of accidents.
Q. When will you start to try out self-drive cars in Spain?
A. I do not know. We have promised that this year we will begin testing in a country in Europe. But we have yet to choose which. Spain has as many possibilities as the rest of the countries.

Research focused on increasing the quality and duration of batteries has been going on for decades

Research focused on increasing the quality and duration of batteries has been going on for decades, but recently there has been a clear increase in interest from researchers and companies. Working for improvements, scientists experiment with a long list of components called to become the secret ingredient for batteries to last longer . Graphene, magnesium, variations based on lithium, sodium and even other candidates that may sound more surreal like beer or beach sand, among many others, star studios and advertisements.

There are more and more portable devices and tools: vacuum cleaners, computers, telephones ..." explains Teknautas Carlos Roldán Porta, professor and director of the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Valencia , justifying the increase in research. "But it's mainly because of the proximity of the electric vehicle, which will mean there will be an immense market for batteries," adds the expert.
Zachary Favors, Scientific Director at NexTech Batteries, a startup focused on developing new batteries, and postdoctoral researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab also points to electric cars as one of the main reasons for this investigative peak. "Companies like Tesla have made batteries a bit 'sexy' for the first time in history, and researchers want to be part of that growing electrification of the world around us," he explains.
"Another reason for this popularity is the explosive growth in the field of nanotechnology, which has opened the door to countless advances and new materials in the field of energy storage," adds the researcher. In addition to working on the development of lithium-sulfide batteries - one of the great hopes in the field of electric vehicles - this scientist was the main signatory of the study that proposed beach sand as a possible solution to improve the duration of Lithium-ion batteries - present in most of our mobile phones, laptops and music players.
The winning ingredient
Talking about a winning ingredient called to revolutionize the battery market is tremendously complicated. Rather, and according to researchers, different components will improve certain aspects. "If a company found something that would improve everything, all the characteristics of the battery, would revolutionize the market, and that is more difficult to produce," says Roldan.
Lithium ion batteries are present in our mobiles, but pose different problems.  (Source: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr)
Lithium ion batteries are present in our mobiles, but pose different problems. (Source: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr)
Even so, there are materials with which progress is being made: "I believe that progressive improvements are being achieved. The batteries have improved compared to what they had a few years ago, "he adds. Favors shares his opinion and notes that it all depends on the application: "If we think of batteries for electric vehicles and aircraft, we are seeing the introduction of silicon oxide in the anodes and a continued reliance on cobalt and nickel based metal oxides for The cathodes, "says the researcher.
"In addition, lithium is gaining widespread attention as a possible successor to graphite at the anode, while materials such as metal oxides rich in sulfide and lithium metal are gaining popularity in research for cathodes," he adds.
For his part, Roldan admits that investigations with lithium are certainly interesting, but it is a metal more expensive than aluminum or sodium. "With the lithium batteries is progressing a lot. It improves aspects, like with a solid electrolyte instead of liquid that makes them safer, for example ". According to their point of view, the sodium batteries also look promising, although there are still no conclusive results that allow to affirm that they will replace others.
The professor also points to graphene as a possible engine of change . "It can play an important role in improving current batteries," he says. A great interest of the scientific world , which considers it the material of the future, and large injections of funding also point in that direction.
Along with these ingredients, which seem to be leading the battle for the materials of the future, there are others who also have options. "Although there are now things and materials that do not seem profitable, in a few years they may be. That's why it's hard to dismiss ideas, "he says. "I intuit that there are organic and lithium-air batteries that may be important in the future, but now they are very green."
Ads for financing
Although often discoveries concerning batteries are in their early stages, every so often the media announce something that seems destined to revolutionize the market: graphene, hydrogen , vanadium , magnesium and all kinds of organic materials -from Sugar to the remains of beer - seem to be at a certain time the great find.
Faced with this, both experts ask for patience. "Since the launch of an idea, from laboratory results, and since it is said that it can be until it is commercial, there may be a period of five years and a great technological investment," explains the professor of the Polytechnic University From Valencia.
Research with different versions of lithium batteries is one of the most popular.  (Source: Adelphi Lab Center | Flickr)
Research with different versions of lithium batteries is one of the most popular. (Source: Adelphi Lab Center | Flickr)
"Behind any innovation and any scientific bet is always the risk that nothing comes out," adds Roldán. However, without means can not be reached until the end, so scientists need to publish studies and star headlines. "That's why a lot of people announce things that are not completely done, with the objective of attracting the economic investment", remarca.
However, there is still a long way to go. Batteries with lithium as the main component but in different versions, the still developing sodium batteries and materials such as graphene or magnesium will have to solve a long list of problems. "Current batteries have a number of drawbacks that limit their use: they are heavy, their useful life is short ...", quotes Roldan. It is also necessary to improve the charge density, that is, the amount of energy that is stored per kilogram of battery. "They are trying to weigh less, but they store the same energy," he adds.
In addition, they also aim to load faster - especially for the vehicle market - and extend their useful life in terms of the number of loading and unloading cycles. "In the field of portable electronics, the devices consume more energy year after year, because they increase their capacities and the power of computation", indicates Factors. "The development of the batteries will ensure that consumers do not experience shorter battery life and their devices do not burn."
Solving these problems is also to combat the use of fossil fuels. "One of the most important reasons for continuing research is climate change. The development of safer, longer-lasting and more energy-efficient batteries will allow electric cars to have the same scope and cost as internal combustion and that renewable energy can provide an increasing amount of clean and reliable energy for These work ", defends the scientist.
Many challenges and important reasons to continue the research in a great obstacle course that, at least for the moment, does not have a clear favorite. If there was, the revolution would have started, our devices would be different and the main material would be on everyone's lips. Since this has not happened, we still have to wait.

Social networks have become a fundamental part of our lives

Social networks have become a fundamental part of our lives. Many users use services such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, among many others, on a regular basis, where they share and enjoy their own experiences and friends in the most healthy way possible. However, the unstoppable growth of this type of service has caused many malicious users to have found anonymity that offer a perfect opportunity to attack and harm , protected by the lack of protocols that regulate the behavioral limits in networks .

Unfortunately, acts of hate on social networks are becoming more commonplace. Who does not remember the insults that the bullfighter Victor Barrio received after his death? Or, more recently, the lack of respect after the death of Bimba Bosé ? And they are not the only actions out of place in the networks, as we also remember the videos of criminal acts like that of the driver who took his car from the passenger seat or that young man who knocked down a young woman with a kick in full Avenida Diagonal of Barcelona. Who is responsible for prosecuting these cases?
Silvia Barrera is one of the people that watches over our security in the networks. Inspector of the National Police , with many years of experience in the Technological Research Unit and five years as head of the group of networks, has dealt with some of the most known cases of recent years in our country. Through his book 'Keys to research in social networks' , Barrera explains how networks affect users' privacy , the measures we can take to protect ourselves, the dangers to which we expose ourselves, and even how the Police investigations.
"The networks offer us many advantages, but there are also dangers," confers Barrera to El Confidencial. The problems come when the user "does not understand that there are limits that he can not cross", believing that he has total impunity to make any kind of comment or action, curiously in the same way that he understands that those same actions can not perform them in the street. The problem is the lack of legislation or a protocol to criminalize: "There are important legal difficulties, legal gaps and lack of attention" by the leaders, which complicate the work of the authorities.

"The prosecutor's office still does not know where to shoot. There should be limits between what is freedom of expression and what is a crime," he confesses, which would allow more legal weapons against those who trespass. And is that the networks are no longer a speaker with a lot of power, that can send a comment or behavior to the other side of the planet. In the opinion of Barrera herself, one of the "successful cases" that managed to get ahead was the Barcelona kick. The important diffusion of the networks is what allowed the crime to be much more serious.
It happened in 2015, when a young man from Talavera was recorded by a friend while beating with a brutal kick to a girl who was next to another on the sidewalk. "This case would have remained anonymous, in one more aggression. However, the fact of recording it and uploading it to social networks becomes 6 years in prison and 45,000 euros penalty," he says. "People should be aware of the consequences that can have a video of these characteristics," adds Barrera who, despite this, understands that the lack of legal basis allows many other cases to go unpunished.

* Video: The brutal kick of Barcelona
The cases of harassment, the hardest
"Worst of all is that there does not seem to be movement to create a protocol in the networks," he says. "There are many cases that have made me feel very bad, especially those that have to do with harassment," says Barrera. "It has even happened that the main suspect has admitted to being the culprit, but the case ends up being closed because the law to be applied at the time of judging him so determined. Other times, some users commit very serious crimes, but erase their Profiles and the problem is canceled, protected by the advantages offered by the law, "visibly annoying.
Increasingly, social networks have become a place where insults , outbursts and attacks are more common, but legislation continues to light years of finding a solution in which any user can protect, beyond The decisions made by each judge, based on their own criteria. "For example, almost all comments against the dead end up on file," he says. There is still a lot to work for in Spain, where Silvia Barrera continues day by day trying to end the injustices in the networks. The case of the young man from Barcelona is undoubtedly his greatest example.

Whether at work or at home to watch a movie or to play a video game no model is worth

Whether at work or at home to watch a movie or to play a video game no model is worth. We are talking about computer monitors , those screens bigger or smaller and whose size is precisely one of the variables that can not be disdained when buying or replacing it: it is not the same if we just use the computer for leisure that if we work As graphic designers .

It's not a matter of keeping their eyes on them, either. Equally, not all budgets are the same. Therefore, today we will talk about the best monitors and what we should look for when selecting one. Which one fits your needs?
Some concepts
In the same way that when we buy a television, the type of light is very important. There may be LED monitors (whose light source are LEDs) and OLED (pixels are LEDs that generate light), although the most affordable and popular are LED technology. Also 4K, 5K and UHD, but these only get the maximum performance with a computer powerful enough.
Take into account where the monitor will be placed, to adjust the size that we are going to buy. That is to say, if it is going to be very close to our face, it does not compensate for a 28-inch one, but if it is going to be far away (for example, installed on the wall or at a distance to watch movies and videos) higher. Before buying it or starting to look at options, let's also measure the space available to discard an excessive width.
The light of a monitor is important: there may be LED monitors (whose light source are LEDs) and OLED (the pixels are LEDs that generate light)
Also, when you consult the different options of monitors, you will see the concept of resolution in pixels, ie how sharp the image of the screen. For professionals of design and workers or lovers of the cinema will be necessary a greater resolution, but this will not be so important for the computers of an office. Today it is generally considered that at least to operate without forcing the view too much, it must be 1920 x 1080 pixels.
You can also find a concept called panel type, which refers to the image quality. It is considered that the IPS is the best quality, but also the most expensive and with the worst response times. There are also the TN and VA, which looks like the TN: it improves the image quality, but it raises its response time.
The use that you are going to give or the distance to the one that is going to be of your face are some of the considerations that you must take into account when choosing monitor.  (Image: Samuel Huckins | Flickr)
The use that you are going to give or the distance to the one that is going to be of your face are some of the considerations that you must take into account when choosing monitor. (Image: Samuel Huckins | Flickr)
Finally is the aspect ratio. In other words: if the monitor is more square or more rectangular (panoramic). This will especially interest film fans, because if we do not buy a widescreen monitor we will probably see the movies with the classic black bands above and below. One of the most popular formats is the 16: 9 widescreen type. Probably this feature only interests you for professional uses or watching movies.
In addition to these concepts, you should look at some physical characteristics. For example, the number of connectors and their nature (HDMI, USB, USB Type-C ...) or a monitor foot that allows you to put it higher or lower and vary its angle. The first thing is especially interesting if you want to connect the monitor to cinematographic equipment, such as a DVD; The second, if several people are going to use that computer and want to adjust it.
For home or office
Sure you want a size as big as possible and at a good price and that can serve to browse Facebook and watch a movie. However, some 18.5 inches is more than fine for a home use or labor intensive. For this, for example, you have a V5 brand model of 1366 x 768 pixels for just 66 euros through Amazon sellers. LED technology with 16.78 million colors, is also ideal for certain moviegoers and creative workers (editors, photographers, musicians ...).
An 18.5-inch monitor is more than fine for home or work intensive use
The LG company also has computer monitors. An affordable 19.5-inch model, which can be used for the office or home, is the TN type 20M38A-B.AEU ( 81 euros on Amazon ). With a screen resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels, it has two USB ports.
If you are looking for a VA (because you are interested in a better response time), something more in size and you can afford to spend something more, an attractive option could be the BenQ GW2270H ( 99 euros on Amazon ), 21.5 inches 1080 pixels) and with 2 HDMI ports.
Designers and photographers: big donkey ...
Those who use the computer for jobs such as photography, graphic design or video editing probably want a large monitor (or two) and something better than the previous options. The alternatives are expensive in these cases, but it is a question of investigating well, while knowing our needs.
The Philips BDM3270QP2 / 00, a monitor for demanding professionals (and with budget).  (Image: Philips)
The Philips BDM3270QP2 / 00, a monitor for demanding professionals (and with budget). (Image: Philips)
For example, the Philips BDM3270QP2 / 00 ( 505 euros on Amazon ) will serve the most demanding professionals: 32 inches, 2560 x 1440 pixels and up to 4 USB ports. It is an LCD backlit LED display, included speakers and DVI-D and DisplayPort ports. According to the manufacturer, it has 1074 million colors. In addition, it can be adjusted in numerous positions and even placed vertically
Movie buffs
Some of the monitors we have talked about could pass perfectly the test of the best moviegoers, but there are other models that we could not fail to review. For example, the LG 29UM68-P, 29-inch screen and 2560 x 1080 pixels. Its panoramic aspect (the ratio is 21: 9) is ideal for watching movies as if they were in the cinema. Its price, yes, can pull back: 289 euros on Amazon . Now, it can also serve you to enjoy video games, so consider this option if you have a budget.
It's not the same as your own movie theater, but with a good monitor you can also enjoy the movies in your office.
It's not the same as your own movie theater, but with a good monitor you can also enjoy the movies in your office.
Another model, if you are one of those people who wants to see 3D movies at home, is the ASUS ROG Swift PG248Q ( 477 euros on Amazon ). This Full HD 24-inch 16: 9 ratio is compatible with NVIDIA 3D Vision 2, suitable for playing three-dimensional content, also video games.
And since we talk so much of video games, let's now focus on the 'gamers', that there is also cloth to cut there.
Monitors for players
While an IPS monitor is the most common type, gamers should opt for a VA or their TN brother, since responsiveness and refreshment is greater. Here the inches are very important. For example, you can opt for a BenQ ZOWIE RL2755 , 27 inches and 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution ( 279 euros on Amazon ) and with a frame that reduces the reflexes with the aim, according to the manufacturer, not to distract. BenQ also ensures that the response time is 0, in real time, ideal for players who can not stand a millisecond delay.
27 inches that can be rotated 90 degrees: thus are the AOC G2460PF and the AOC G2770PF (Image: Amazon)
27 inches that can be rotated 90 degrees: thus are the AOC G2460PF and the AOC G2770PF (Image: Amazon)
This model has 2 HDMI ports, but for ports that have AOC G2460PF and G2770PF ( 277.92 euros the first and 387.92 euros the second ), 24 and 27 inches respectively. 2 USB, VGA, DVI, DisplayPort ... The response time is 1 millisecond, the resolution of 1920 x 1080 and the refresh rate of 144 Hz. With built-in speakers, it draws much attention that can be turned up to 90 Degrees and place it in a completely vertical position, a feature that may also interest graphic designers or photographers.
And if your budget is exorbitant and you want to throw the house out the window, you have models with a curved screen, such as the LG 34UC98-W , an IPS bestiality of 34 inches (3440 x 1440 pixels) and ratio 21: 9, 5 millisecond refresh Image or the most diverse ports (two USB 2.0, two HDMI, two Thunderbolt ...). Lovely to work and watch movies. Its price? 816 euros in Amazon . Now, is it what you need or is pure whim? If your answer is the second, you may want to go back to the beginning and stick with one of the economic options that we have proposed.