Italy will only reopen Schengen with Spain based on the 'very worrying' situation in Ceuta, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. Italy reintroduced border controls on July 31 after the mass migrant entry. Spain has suspended Schengen with Italy until September 7. Controls remain for travelers moving between the two countries.
The MEI contribution will rise from 0.9% to 1% of the contribution base in 2027. Workers will pay 0.17% and employers 0.83%. A solidarity quota will also apply to the portion of salary above the maximum contribution base. The increase is part of the schedule to reinforce the pension system and will continue rising to 1.2% starting in 2030.
Nearly three weeks after the mass entry from Morocco, government figures still conflict: Fernando Grande-Marlaska cited 72,000 people, while Ángel Víctor Torres spoke of 80,000. Regional president Juan Jesús Vivas accuses the government of masking reality, saying thousands remain. Ceuta doctors warn of a real epidemic risk after 5,800 migrants were treated in 15 days. More than 100 migrants on Trampolín beach began a hunger strike demanding asylum.
A landlord at Paseo de la Chopera 29 in Madrid evicted existing tenants to rent out flats by the room through Madrid Compartido, raising prices from about €900 to €2,000. The company converts living rooms into bedrooms. One flat has five bedrooms and no living room, housing eight people. A neighbor pays €690 for a room she shares with her partner.
Housing prices, up 68.4% in a decade, are expected to rise more slowly as sales fall for two consecutive quarters. April–June sales totaled 167,934, down almost 6% from the start of the year and 2.3% year-on-year. Salaries have grown only 34% in the same period. Economist José García Montalvo says prices will keep rising because demand is strong and supply is insufficient.
Royal Decree 416/2026 takes effect on August 28 and expands flexible retirement, allowing people to combine a pension with part-time work or certain self-employment. Salaried workers must work between 33% and 80% of a full-time schedule. The percentage of pension received depends on workday length, with incentives linked to when the pensioner returns to work.
Spain lost 42,500 employer autónomos in three months due to fiscal pressure, despite a record total of about 3.5 million. Half a million autónomos are foreign. The collective's weight in the labor market is falling because salaried employment is growing faster. Tax pressure forces a significant number to close each month.
Electricity prices in the first half of August point to a bill above €101 for PVPC users, the highest since 2022. Facua calculates the bill at €101.23 if prices hold. Prices are up 17.3% year-on-year, with peak-hour kWh at 27.74 cents, flat at 19.29 cents, and valley at 21.34 cents including indirect taxes.
Spain registered 1,108 deaths attributable to high temperatures from August 1 to 15, 146 more than the same period last year. Most victims were over 65, and 670 were women. Catalonia had 575 deaths, followed by Andalusia with 105. Since the 2026 heat plan began, 4,191 heat-related deaths have been estimated.
An OCU analysis of 117 Madrid neighborhoods ranks Orcasitas as having the highest rental yield at 5.5%. A reference home there costs €268,000 and rents for about €1,787 monthly. San Diego follows with 4.7%, Los Cármenes 4.6%, Lucero 4.5%, and Entrevías 4.3%. The OCU considers a 7.5% yield the threshold for a recommended investment.
Live and Invest Overseas ranks Tarragona sixth among ideal retirement locations, while Madrid and Barcelona are absent. Tarragona, part of the Costa Dorada, offers a calmer pace of life than larger cities. Spain remains a top destination for foreign retirees.
The forest fire at Las Peñas de Riglos is stabilizing, with 17,500 hectares affected and a 100-kilometer perimeter. A UME military member died in an accident during extinguishing work. Rain on Sunday allowed productive work overnight. Some evacuated residents may return on Tuesday to areas like Bailo or Larués.
Granada's seismic series has reached 348 events since August 14, with a maximum magnitude of 4.8 on Saturday. Only 37 were felt by the population, and most were below magnitude 2 at depths under 10 kilometers. The main quake was felt in more than 500 localities. The metro station at Alcázar Genil is temporarily inaccessible for people with reduced mobility.
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