Barcelona open to tourists despite worst-ever drought
Game executive sentenced to death
Tourists arriving at Barcelona airport or gazing at the Sagrada Familia basilica this Easter holiday will be met with large signs in English that read: “Drought alert. During your stay, save water.”
As the effect of climate change intensifies across southern Europe, Spain’s Mediterranean region is enduring its worst drought on record. Reservoir levels are only about 15 per cent of their capacity, prompting curbs on water use by residents, visitors, agriculture and industry. Beach showers are shut and swimming pools cannot be filled with tap water, among other restrictions. Catalan officials have appealed for tourists to act responsibly. But they are also adamant that the drought should not put them off coming to the Spanish city and region that is most visited by foreigners, where tourism accounts for 14.5 per cent of the local economy.
“The message from Catalonia’s tourism agency and business department to campsites and hotels is one of calm: [People] can enjoy their holidays here as usual,” said David Mascort, the regional government’s environmental chief.
Lobbying by Barcelona’s hotel association prompted officials to relax a total ban on filling pools, allowing desalinated water to be used instead. “If we are not careful, the image of
Barcelona will be impacted,” said association director Manel Casals. Barcelona’s hotels have halved their water use since 2016, a study by the association suggests, though five-star hotels still use the most – 242 litres per day on average in 2022. Restrictions order residents to use only 200 litres per day.
A former executive at the Chinese gaming company Yoozoo was sentenced to death for poisoning the company founder.
Xu Yao poisoned the food of Lin Qi in December 2020 because of a dispute over running the business, a Shanghai court ruled.
Mr Lin, who was 39, died about 10
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days later. Police detained Xu a few days after his colleague’s death. Four other people fell ill but survived after Xu poisoned beverages in the office over disputes.
Yoozoo owns the film rights to Netflix’s 3 Body Problem and developed Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming,a game based on the TV series.
The Five-Clue Cryptic Crossword
Across
6
Down
1 2 4
No 4160 3/5 Nina compiler contrived for a small amount of money (7,5)
Once again rent latest film perhaps (7)
Guessed to have eaten out around four or six (7)
Press for ID (6)
Bird found in very large quarry (6)