Bundesbank’s alert

BERLIN: Bundesbank Chief Jens Weidmann has warned Angela Merkel’s Cabinet that a Greek exit from the eurozone would rip billions of euros out of the German budget, German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Sunday, citing government sources. The paper said that Weidmann had warned that the costs of a Grexit would hit Bundesbank profits, which flow into the budget. It added that Bundesbank losses would be greater than the 14.4 billion euros already put aside in provisions linked to the eurozone debt crisis because it would make losses on Greek securities bought by the central bank.

Barcelona struggles

BARCELONA: Tourists are vital to Barcelona’s economy, but the 27 million people who visit each year have become a headache for the new mayor as she battles to save the iconic Spanish Mediterranean port from becoming a bland theme park. ‘Tourists go home’ is frequently found painted on the walls of buildings in the centre of Spain’s second-largest city, which is struggling to cope with a surge in tourism that started when it hosted the Olympics in 1992. The city of 1.6 million residents is now the third most visited in Europe.