Journalist Кристина Гинер explores Montanejos, a natural paradise in Valencia, Spain, known for its connection to water. Visitors can engage in active sports like rafting on the Mijares River, which has a third-level difficulty due to high waves and obstacles like rocks. The thermal springs in the area are accessible year-round, with natural pools in the river canyon offering 25ºC mineral-rich waters, believed to be beneficial for stomach and kidney ailments. A legend states that during King Abu Zayd's reign, baths were built for his concubines, fed by a hot spring. In 1863, the springs were opened to the public, attracting Valencia's wealthy for health benefits. Montanejos offers various leisure activities, from nature retreats and sports to relaxation.

West Kowloon in Hong Kong is home to a new cultural district, one of the largest and most ambitious global projects in the cultural sphere, spanning 40 hectares of reclaimed land in Victoria Harbour. The district includes business centers for art trade and headquarters for brands like the auction house Phillips. The Xiqu Centre, opened in 2019, is a multipurpose venue that houses Cantonese opera, offering a Tea House Theatre Experience suitable for newcomers. Cantonese opera, a genre dating back to the Ming dynasty and recognized by UNESCO, is a synthesis of singing, stylized action, mime, dialogue, dance, and acrobatic fighting. Phillips, present in Hong Kong since 2015, has expanded with a new Asian headquarters designed by Herzog & de Meuron, strategically located amidst world-class museums and commercial galleries.

The Asturias region of Spain, with Villaviciosa as its epicenter, is renowned for its apple orchards and cider production, boasting 500 apple varieties and a Denomination of Origin quality brand. Ovidio Tomás, an apple grower, and Tano Collada, a fourth-generation cider maker from El Gaitero, discuss the importance of blending different apple varieties to create diverse cider flavors, including natural, organic, iced, and sparkling ciders. The historic El Gaitero cellar, dating back to 1898, is where the idea of sparkling cider was conceived for preservation and export. Tino Cortina of the Cortina family cider mill has introduced 'ice cider,' a sweet beverage made from frozen apple juice. Traditional cider remains the most popular in the region, deeply embedded in Asturian culture and served in a unique aerating ritual called 'escanciado.'

Sherry vinegar, discovered by accident in Spain's Andalusia region, has become a vital ingredient in haute cuisine. It is produced from noble wines of Jerez, with the Albariza soil playing a crucial role in vine cultivation. Manuel Delgado oversees the González Byass vineyards, where the Palomino grape variety thrives. The vinegar's maturation method, 'criaderas y soleras', involves aging in oak barrels. Esperanza Ramírez, whose grandfather commercialized the vinegar in the 1940s, classifies it into three categories based on age. Chef Javier Muñoz of La Carboná restaurant values sherry vinegar for its flavor enhancement in dishes. Sherry vinegar also enjoys a Protected Designation of Origin label.

Ace Oblivion, a young Ukrainian hacker, has become a key figure in the IT Ukraine Army, a digital volunteer force created by Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation. The group, which has grown to around 300,000 volunteers, organizes cyber attacks against Russian targets, such as the technology giant Rostec. Cybersecurity experts acknowledge Ukraine's digital capabilities, noting the country's quick response to a Russian attempt to disrupt its electrical grid. Despite the risks, Ace Oblivion remains committed to the cause, undeterred by the potential attention from Russian security services.

Over 600 start-ups participated in the '4 Years From Now' event at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which is a global trade show for the latest mobile and digital technology. Euronews' Cristina Giner interviewed some of the entrepreneurs and startups present.

At the Mobile World Congress, over 600 startups gather at the 4YFN platform, a meeting place for startups and investors facilitated by GSMA. The pandemic and digital transformation have strengthened this segment of the Barcelona tech week. This year, sectors like education and sports, heavily impacted by the pandemic, are added. Greek startup Magos has developed a glove that allows users to touch and feel the digital world, tracking each finger joint for realistic interactions, currently aimed at educational purposes. Japanese startup Orphe has created smart shoes with sensors for athletes, providing professional-level data to prevent injuries. These innovations represent the dynamic and enthusiastic startup and innovation universe at the fair.

FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, begins in Madrid, marking the first in-person event for the sector. With over 5,000 professionals from more than 55 countries, the event focuses on recovery and hope for the tourism industry, emphasizing safe and sustainable travel. The Dominican Republic, having made significant health efforts, showcases its culture and nature, aiming for greener and more inclusive tourism. Andalusia, a popular destination for domestic tourists, is seeing a resurgence in bookings, with expectations of reaching pre-pandemic traveler numbers by 2022.

Europe is gradually lifting lockdown measures. France has ended quarantine with travel allowed within a 100-kilometer radius, but with bars and restaurants closed until June, social life consists of picnics in parks and gardens. In Lyon, people gather in parks and on the banks of the Saône River, with many not wearing masks. In Rome, the absence of tourists is noted, and Italians reflect on the concept of freedom and sacrifices made during the pandemic. Elderly people in Barcelona are seen respecting the rules and wearing masks, while there is concern that the youth are not fully aware of the pandemic's impact.

As of Monday, Barcelona residents are enjoying their move to phase 1 of the de-escalation process, but are confined within their municipality due to the Catalan government's division of the territory into health regions. This prevents free movement within the province, with citizens only allowed to leave or enter for work, health, or emergency reasons. Many residents argue that the de-escalation should be done by province, not health zones, and express concerns over the impact on the local economy. Some find the measures excessive and inconsistent, particularly when comparing the freedom to go to bars and restaurants with restrictions on movement for exercise or meeting with friends and family from nearby municipalities.

Urban areas, home to half of humanity and projected to rise to 68 percent by 2050, face challenges in mobility and sustainability. The Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona envisions a sustainable, intelligent, and inclusive urban revolution. Key issues include sustainable urban mobility, with manufacturers providing solar or electric-powered bikes, motorcycles, scooters, and micro-cars. Mastercard's Miguel Gamino highlights their work with Transport for London, implementing open payment systems to save the agency money. The advent of 5G technology will further urban digital transformation, enabling autonomous vehicles and remote public lighting management. Collaboration is essential, with cities and companies sharing experiences to learn from each other. While technology is a driver, Harvard's David Ricketts emphasizes that quality time and life are also crucial to the city of the future.

In Catalonia, the independence referendum has caused divisions even within families. Cousins Xavi Oliveres and Francesc represent opposing views on the issue, with Xavi voting 'no' and Francesc voting 'yes'. Despite their differences, they maintain respect within the family, avoiding the breakdown in relations that some have experienced. The population is nearly evenly split on the issue, with the latest polls showing almost 50 percent against and just over 41 percent in favor of independence.

Over the past 30 years, pro-independence sentiment in Catalonia has surged from around 20% to a peak of 49% in 2017. Catalans have shifted from apolitical, Catalanist, or federalist positions to strongly favoring separation from Spain. This shift is attributed to events such as the Spanish Constitutional Court's 2010 ruling against 14 articles of Catalonia's Autonomy Statute and the Spanish government's rejection of a proposed Fiscal Pact in 2012. Personal stories reflect a sense of pride and emotional connection to the independence movement, with many Catalans feeling humiliated by the Spanish government's actions. Despite surveys suggesting a stagnation in pro-independence sentiment, recent events may have influenced a change in public opinion.

On Thursday, university and secondary school students flooded the center of Barcelona in support of the October 1st referendum and Catalan independence. The march, with 16,000 participants according to Guardia Urbana, marked the most significant event of the student strike that began in Catalonia on Wednesday. The Generalitat reported high participation in the strike across Catalonia's seven public universities. The platform Universidades por la República, which called for the strike and rally, stated that everything is ready for a peaceful vote on Sunday. Meanwhile, Sociedad Civil Catalana, which opposes the illegal referendum, has called for responsibility and the cancellation of the vote.