Wednesday Mar 29, 2023 - Spain - Watchdog launches case against Google, Workers shortage, Komodo Dragon good news

These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Wednesday March 29, 2023

Spain's competition watchdog, the CNMC, has launched a disciplinary case against Google for allegedly engaging in anti-competitive practices that affect Spanish news agencies and publishers. The investigation will look into whether Google abused its dominant position in the Spanish market and imposed unfair conditions on press publishers. The proceedings involve Google LLC, Google Ireland Ltd, Google Spain, S.L., and their parent company Alphabet Inc. The case was initiated after a complaint was filed by the Spanish Reproduction Rights Centre (CEDRO). The investigation is expected to last for 18 months, during which both sides will have the opportunity to present their arguments. A spokesperson for Google Spain said that the company is willing to address any questions the CNMC may have and works constructively with publishers.

Spain is gearing up for a record-breaking tourist season this year, but the country's hospitality sector is struggling to find enough workers to meet the demand. While prices are projected to rise by up to 20% this summer, a lack of trust and enthusiasm among workers for the hospitality industry, fueled by the pandemic, is creating a labor shortage. The Spanish Hotel Alliance reports that bookings for Easter Week are up 20 points from last year, and the sector is expected to exceed 90% occupancy this summer. But the country will need at least 60,000 additional workers in the tourism and hospitality industry, according to human resources company Randstad. Leading companies such as Meliá are scouring social networks for young talent, while hospitality schools in Madrid report that graduates are guaranteed a job if they want one.

In some good news for conservation efforts, a Spanish zoo has successfully bred five Komodo dragon hatchlings, the first of their kind in the country in ten years. The hatchlings were born after their mother, Ora, laid 12 eggs in August last year. The eggs were artificially incubated over a seven-month period, and five were selected to hatch. The tiny hatchlings are currently lighter than a lemon and shorter than a shoebox, but will one day grow to be nearly 3 meters long and weigh up to 70 kilos. Komodo dragons are an endangered species, with only around 1,500 specimens remaining in habitats threatened by climate change. In captivity, the hatchlings will be monitored by vets until they are mature enough to be presented to the public.

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