Beijing's Economy Surges 5.2 Percent in 2024
In 2024, Beijing's GDP increased by 5.2 percent, driven by growth in high-tech manufacturing (nearly 300,000 new energy vehicles produced), a booming pharmaceutical sector (over a trillion yuan in revenue), and a surge in tourism (117 million airport passengers).
Beijing's Economy Surges 5.2 Percent in 2024
In 2024, Beijing's GDP increased by 5.2 percent, driven by growth in high-tech manufacturing (nearly 300,000 new energy vehicles produced), a booming pharmaceutical sector (over a trillion yuan in revenue), and a surge in tourism (117 million airport passengers).
Progress
44% Bias Score
Ryanair Cuts Spanish Flights Due to Airport Tax Hikes
Ryanair will cut 800,000 seats on 12 routes across 7 Spanish regional airports from March 2025, closing operations in Jerez and Valladolid due to Aena's 2024 tax increases, impacting regional connectivity, employment, and tourism; Summer 2025 traffic will decrease by 18%.
Ryanair Cuts Spanish Flights Due to Airport Tax Hikes
Ryanair will cut 800,000 seats on 12 routes across 7 Spanish regional airports from March 2025, closing operations in Jerez and Valladolid due to Aena's 2024 tax increases, impacting regional connectivity, employment, and tourism; Summer 2025 traffic will decrease by 18%.
Progress
60% Bias Score
Black Sea Oil Spill Impacts 2025 Tourism, Cleanup to Take Years
The collision of two tankers in the Black Sea on December 15, 2024, caused a major oil spill, rendering the 2025 tourist season unusable; cleanup is expected to last 5–10 years, with swimming potentially resuming in 2026.
Black Sea Oil Spill Impacts 2025 Tourism, Cleanup to Take Years
The collision of two tankers in the Black Sea on December 15, 2024, caused a major oil spill, rendering the 2025 tourist season unusable; cleanup is expected to last 5–10 years, with swimming potentially resuming in 2026.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Italy Cracks Down on Fake Online Reviews to Protect Tourism Sector
Italy's new law mandates verifiable IDs and proof of visit for online reviews, prohibits paid reviews, and allows businesses to remove false or outdated ones, aiming to counter the 6%-30% revenue loss from fake reviews in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Italy Cracks Down on Fake Online Reviews to Protect Tourism Sector
Italy's new law mandates verifiable IDs and proof of visit for online reviews, prohibits paid reviews, and allows businesses to remove false or outdated ones, aiming to counter the 6%-30% revenue loss from fake reviews in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Spain Announces 100% Tax on Non-EU Property Purchases to Tackle Housing Crisis
Spain will implement a 100% tax on property purchases by non-EU buyers to combat its housing crisis, impacting approximately 27,000 transactions in 2023, part of a wider strategy by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Spain Announces 100% Tax on Non-EU Property Purchases to Tackle Housing Crisis
Spain will implement a 100% tax on property purchases by non-EU buyers to combat its housing crisis, impacting approximately 27,000 transactions in 2023, part of a wider strategy by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Zermatt's Zero-Emission Transportation System: High Costs, High Environmental Benefits
Zermatt, a Swiss village, banned combustion engine vehicles in the 1980s, replacing them with 500 standardized electric mini-buses costing around CHF 150,000 each, prioritizing environmental sustainability despite high costs; visitors must park in Tasch and take a train.
Zermatt's Zero-Emission Transportation System: High Costs, High Environmental Benefits
Zermatt, a Swiss village, banned combustion engine vehicles in the 1980s, replacing them with 500 standardized electric mini-buses costing around CHF 150,000 each, prioritizing environmental sustainability despite high costs; visitors must park in Tasch and take a train.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Italy Cracks Down on Fake Online Reviews to Protect Tourism
Italy's government is introducing a law requiring verifiable identity and proof of visit for online reviews, aiming to combat fake and paid reviews that negatively impact tourism businesses.
Italy Cracks Down on Fake Online Reviews to Protect Tourism
Italy's government is introducing a law requiring verifiable identity and proof of visit for online reviews, aiming to combat fake and paid reviews that negatively impact tourism businesses.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Anapa Beach Cleanup: Thousands Remove Oil, Minor Traces Remain
A major oil spill in the Kerch Strait resulted in 2,400 tons of fuel oil reaching Anapa's beaches on December 15th, prompting a large-scale cleanup involving thousands of volunteers and the removal of over 161,000 tons of contaminated sand; while cleanup is largely complete, some minor traces remain...
Anapa Beach Cleanup: Thousands Remove Oil, Minor Traces Remain
A major oil spill in the Kerch Strait resulted in 2,400 tons of fuel oil reaching Anapa's beaches on December 15th, prompting a large-scale cleanup involving thousands of volunteers and the removal of over 161,000 tons of contaminated sand; while cleanup is largely complete, some minor traces remain...
Progress
40% Bias Score
Record Tourism in Spain Sparks Overtourism Concerns
Spain welcomed a record 94 million tourists in 2024, generating €126 billion in revenue, but sparking overtourism concerns leading to government-initiated measures to curb short-term rentals and protect local communities.
Record Tourism in Spain Sparks Overtourism Concerns
Spain welcomed a record 94 million tourists in 2024, generating €126 billion in revenue, but sparking overtourism concerns leading to government-initiated measures to curb short-term rentals and protect local communities.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Madrid Hotels: Soaring Profits Amid Stagnant Worker Salaries
Madrid's hotel industry shows a stark contrast between booming profits—with revenues tripling and prices increasing by 61.5% since 2021—and stagnant worker salaries, which only saw a 10% rise, prompting crucial wage negotiations affecting 16,000 employees and potentially influencing other Spanish re...
Madrid Hotels: Soaring Profits Amid Stagnant Worker Salaries
Madrid's hotel industry shows a stark contrast between booming profits—with revenues tripling and prices increasing by 61.5% since 2021—and stagnant worker salaries, which only saw a 10% rise, prompting crucial wage negotiations affecting 16,000 employees and potentially influencing other Spanish re...
Progress
56% Bias Score
Greece Approves Short-Term Rental Bill Amidst Stakeholder Debate
Greece's parliament approved a bill regulating short-term rentals, prompting mixed reactions from stakeholders; while most support its direction, concerns remain about retroactive application and labor rights, particularly for Airbnb workers, whose numbers are largely undocumented and who often lack...
Greece Approves Short-Term Rental Bill Amidst Stakeholder Debate
Greece's parliament approved a bill regulating short-term rentals, prompting mixed reactions from stakeholders; while most support its direction, concerns remain about retroactive application and labor rights, particularly for Airbnb workers, whose numbers are largely undocumented and who often lack...
Progress
48% Bias Score
Unusually Cold Snap Hits Bangkok
Bangkok experienced its coldest January day in years on Monday, with temperatures plummeting to 15.2 degrees Celsius due to a high-pressure system from China; the unusual cold snap is expected to last until mid-February.
Unusually Cold Snap Hits Bangkok
Bangkok experienced its coldest January day in years on Monday, with temperatures plummeting to 15.2 degrees Celsius due to a high-pressure system from China; the unusual cold snap is expected to last until mid-February.
Progress
12% Bias Score