Image Highlight of the week: Halt Cruises
“Definitely tourism, just not in this manner,” was the British interpretation of a sign seen at a protest in Palma de Mallorca, a favourite choice for holidaymakers on the Balearic island of Mallorca. The issue, according to protesters not only here but also in several Spanish cities including Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, and Tenerife, is not tourism itself but excessive tourism.
Among Spaniards, the anxiety about the detrimental consequences of massive tourism – and the dependency of the Spanish economy on such large-scale tourism – is escalating. Concerns range from escalation in property rates and scarcity of rentals to the strain on amenities like waste disposal, water resources, and public transportation. The appalling aftermath of inebriated antics in the public domain isn’t helping to uplift the public temperament.
Signs such as “not on sale”, “we need a turnabout”, “sufficient congestion, the town belongs to its inhabitants”, and the prevalent “halt cruises” were visible among demonstrators in Mallorca, with cruise ship tourism identified as one of the globally most detested forms due to its propensity to densely populate without providing enhancement to the local economy.
The trending terminology today is “quality tourism,” signifying a preference for fewer, more affluent and “conscious” tourists – the preferred category – over the hordes. Naturally, the issue with this is that other locations have the same aspiration.
Statistically speaking: Delta dismay
5,469
This represents the quantity of flights cancelled by the American airline, Delta, in the immediate five days following the worldwide Crowdstrike IT system failure. Delta’s ordeal has been more severe and lengthier than for other carriers, which has initiated an official US enquiry.
2
Equivalent to two entire years’ worth of cancellations for Delta, exceeding its total flight cancellations for both 2018 and 2019, pointed out Kyle Potter, Managing Editor of the American digital platform, Thrifty Traveler.
$500m
The anticipated dip in Delta’s earnings as a consequence of the disorder, based on a prediction by Citigroup analyst, Stephen Trent. On a related note, Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, journeyed to Paris on Wednesday in relation to the Olympics. Possibly to check out the high jump event?
Understanding the East Solano Plan
The East Solano Plan is a project launched by several magnates from Silicon Valley, aiming to create a sprawling 17,500-acre city designed to accommodate approximately 400,000 inhabitants, nestled between San Francisco and Sacramento. The initiative, spearheaded by California Forever, is envisioned as an active, thriving community offering mid-income housing within secure and pedestrian-friendly districts. The project has garnered support from notable investors including Stripe’s Patrick and John Collison, pioneering internet entrepreneur Marc Andreessen, co-founder of LinkedIn Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs. These stakeholders are highlighted on the project’s website as individuals who are optimistic about the future of California.
Despite this optimism, the future of this ambitious project remains uncertain. Notably, the previously criticized plans have been temporarily halted for no less than two years as per California Forever. Initial exploration of bypassing a thorough environmental examination and an agreed development contract with the authorities of Solano County, ahead of the November election, have been shelved. The company instead has chosen to undergo these preliminary steps, according to its CEO, ex-Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek. Thus, the Californian dream continues to simmer.
Regarding BBC Star Salaries
In an attempt at transparency, the BBC has disclosed the annual earnings over £178,000 (€212,000) for its employees till March 2024. This declaration is excluding individuals who receive their remuneration via their affiliated production companies, including Graham Norton. So, who were the top salary earners when including on-air personalities?
Stephen Nolan and Fiona Bruce find themselves in joint sixth position. Nolan hosts the Nolan Show on Radio Ulster and Nolan Live on BBC One Northern Ireland, along with the Stephen Nolan Show on 5 Live. Bruce, on the other hand, is the presenter for Question Time and BBC News. Each received a salary in the range of £405,000-£409,999 during the year.
Greg James, the popular Radio 1 breakfast show host, was fourth on the list. His yearly remuneration fell within the £415,000-£419,999 band, reward for his commitment to early mornings.
Huw Edwards, the previous news anchor once entrusted with major news programmes and special broadcasts, had a salary range of £475,000-£479,999, despite leaving the airwaves three months into the period. Zoe Ball, host of the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Radio 2, earned between £950,000 and £954,999, a sum that arguably justifies the early morning starts. However, both salaries were trumped by that of Gary Lineker, the regular highest earner, who received a pay packet of £1,350,000-£1,354,999 for his work on Match of the Day, Sports Personality of the Year and other football presenting gigs. Lineker also possesses a successful podcast empire, Goalhanger, as a financial safety net.