The Government Delegation in Cantabria has switched to an automated system that assigns TIE fingerprint appointments directly to applicants. The change comes after appointments were being sold illegally for up to €200, making slots nearly impossible to obtain. The Cantabria Bar Association had pressed for reform, uncovering that some hospitality companies obtained appointments for employees through irregular channels.
Emergency services sent an ES-Alert at 16:27 on Sunday ordering the immediate evacuation of Catí in Castellón. The wildfire remains active at emergency level 2, with two fronts and a perimeter of roughly 19 kilometres. No injuries have been reported, but farms have been protected as crews battle the blaze.
The body of a man found in Ceuta's waters has pushed the death toll from the July 30 mass entry to 83, with Spain recovering 72 bodies and Morocco 11. That same day, more than 15,000 residents from the city's four religious communities packed Plaza de la Constitución demanding urgent responses from Spanish and European authorities. The rally, backed by the Hindu Community president Ramesh Chandiramani, saw political figures from PP, PSOE, and Ceuta Ya! attend, while Vox stayed away.
A Ministry of Housing report finds 28.6% of Spanish dwellings—about 7.7 million homes—are not principal residences. A principal home is defined by effective residence and empadronamiento (municipal registration), and a person can only have one. The Bank of Spain has estimated the country's housing deficit at 750,000 units. The figures highlight the gap between the large number of empty and secondary homes and the nation's affordable housing shortage.
The average mortgage financing cost rose to 2.89% in June, up from 2.67% at the start of the year, reaching its highest level since January 2025. The increase follows an earlier-than-expected ECB rate hike triggered by the Middle East conflict and its effect on the Euribor. Spain's six largest banks are also under CNMC investigation for possible anticompetitive practices, while fixed-rate segments of mixed mortgages have been revised upward.
Controls at ports and airports for passengers arriving from Italy began on Saturday after publication in the BOE, a response to migratory pressure on the central Mediterranean route. Third Vice President Sara Aagesen stressed that Schengen has not been violated and that no one has arrived on the mainland from Ceuta. Any extension would require a new reasoned decision under the Schengen Borders Code.
Between January and May 2026, 25.8% of homes were bought without a mortgage, down from 32.5% a year earlier and matching the 25.5% recorded in 2021. Overall home sales dipped 3.4% to 288,176 units while mortgage signings jumped 6.2% to 213,777. The trend reflects rising prices and still-attractive borrowing conditions.
The Aug. 12 eclipse will attract an estimated 446,700 additional visitors and generate a net economic impact of €347.6 million. International accommodation searches for Aug. 12-13 have surged 522% in Soria, with León and Palencia also seeing sharp increases. The DGT has announced road restrictions to manage the influx.
New US tariffs of 25% to 50% on artificial quartz surfaces take effect on Aug. 15, directly striking Almería-based Cosentino. The multinational draws half its sales from North America. The measure was requested by US rival Cambria, whose CEO is a Trump donor; Canada, Mexico, and several other countries are exempt while the EU is not.
A little over ten years after the European Commission urged Spain to find alternatives to razor wire on Ceuta and Melilla fences, the EU now debates migrant return centers in third countries. The Commission is opening the door to reinforcing external borders with more physical, technological, and human resources, marking a sharp turn from earlier demands for proportionality and fundamental rights.
The blaze has been active since Thursday and now involves 605 professionals, according to Infoca director Antonio Sanz. The affected area covers 8,000 hectares, and authorities warn the situation remains unpredictable.
A continent-wide packaging regulation takes effect on Aug. 12, initially rolling out up to 24 new labeling combinations per package. From 2030, supermarkets must stop plastic-wrapping fruit and vegetables, and single-dose packaging, lightweight bags, and hotel amenities will be prohibited. Containers will also carry uniform labels next year to help consumers separate materials.
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