AGP Executive Report

AI & Publishing: Secondhand booksellers across Europe (including Spain) report a surge in large, unexplained orders for old and obscure titles, with patterns that raise suspicions that AI firms are buying physical books for training. Film & Literature (Spain): Good Films Studios Spain is bringing Geraldine Brooks’ novel People of the Book to the TIFF market, with filming wrapped in Valencia (Ciudad de la Luz) and in Italy; the story follows a sacred artifact across centuries, from Inquisition-era Spain to Nazi-occupied Bosnia and a modern Iraqi refugee escape. Literary History: On 17 August 1945, George Orwell’s Animal Farm is published—an anniversary piece revisits Orwell’s wartime context and Spanish Civil War background. Culture & Books: A Spanish writer and anthropologist’s book, He jugado con lobos, is spotlighted as the “wolf boy of Sierra Morena” story returns after Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja’s death at 80. Health & Research: A study reviews prognostic markers in nivolumab-treated pleural mesothelioma, underscoring the need for better biomarkers.

Ancient-World Reading Picks: Bettany Hughes shares her top five books on the ancient world, spotlighting works like Anne Carson’s If Not, Winter and Emily Wilson’s The Iliad translation. Medieval History for Readers: Georgios Theotokis argues that pitched battles were rare but decisive in shaping the medieval balance of power, framing his book around 20 key conflicts. Travel + Books Culture: A roundup of “readaway” slow-travel trends highlights how book lovers are turning holidays into immersive routes beyond the page. Spain-Linked Travel Story: A Spanish farming “agri-influencer” from Malaga goes viral with traditional vegetable-growing tips, showing how local knowledge is finding new audiences online. Public Health Warning: Researchers flag measles immunity gaps that could raise risk for travellers, urging vaccination checks before trips. Publishing/Media Legal Climate: A US appeals court lets thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok proceed, keeping pressure on platform design claims.

Kyiv Book Market Hit: Russia and Ukraine traded missile and drone strikes, with a Russian attack destroying a famed Kyiv book market and disrupting Wildberries logistics. AI & Biosecurity: Stanford and Arc Institute researchers used an AI model to generate new bacteriophages, aiming for viruses that can’t infect humans or animals. Social Media Liability: A U.S. appeals court let thousands of lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over alleged addiction harms involving minors move forward, rejecting arguments for broad immunity. Reading as Travel: “Book-cations” and “readaways” keep growing, with trips inspired by novels like People We Meet On Vacation and itineraries built around literary settings. Spanish Sports Culture: José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is driving major media buzz, with Netflix and the club’s new chapter fueling public conversation. Ancient World Picks: Bettany Hughes shared her favorite ancient-history reads, including Anne Carson’s If Not, Winter and Homer translations. Climate Fiction Push: A new push argues climate fiction is already urgent, not speculative, as heatwaves reshape daily life.

Publishing & Books in Spain: This week’s most book-relevant items are mostly international, but they still point to what Spanish readers and publishers care about: Literary Travel: “book-cations” and “readaways” are booming, with trips built around novels and BookTok trends (including a Croatia itinerary inspired by Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation). Ancient History Reading: Bettany Hughes shares her top five ancient-world books, including Anne Carson’s If Not, Winter and Emily Wilson’s The Iliad. Spanish Culture in Print & Performance: A new stage adaptation of Calderón’s Life is a Dream (“Sueño”) brings Spain’s Golden Age to audiences abroad. AI & Media Risk: A U.S. appeals court lets thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok proceed, adding pressure to how platforms handle minors—an issue that will keep echoing in publishing and media policy.

Publishing & Books (Spain angle): A new wave of “book-cations” is taking off, with travel companies building itineraries around popular novels—like an EF Ultimate Break Croatia trip inspired by Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation, featuring Dubrovnik, Split and island cruising—showing how BookTok and “readaways” are turning reading into tourism. Catholic Publishing: Stabat Mater Press has released a new English translation of Fr. Théotime de Saint-Just’s The Social Kingship of Christ According to Cardinal Pie, positioning Cardinal Pie as a “neglected” voice for today’s debates on the role of states and civil society. Literary Culture: A “holiday reading” piece urges readers to pack three books (fun, serious, poetry), pointing to Forward Prize longlist picks and highlighting Maggie O’Farrell’s Land as late-summer reading. Media/AI Policy: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for thousands of lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over claims of social media addiction harms to young users, keeping the legal fight alive.

AI & Platforms: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for thousands of lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over claims their products are addictive and harmful to young users, rejecting arguments that Section 230 blocks suits. AI Misuse & Biosecurity: Researchers used an AI model to design new bacteriophages, raising fresh questions about how far AI should be allowed to generate biological material. Publishing Culture & Reading Habits: A viral “salt” book moment is boosting Mark Kurlansky’s Salt: A World History again, showing how social media can revive long-shelf publishing hits. Book-to-Trip Trend: “Book-cations” and “readaways” are booming, with travel itineraries built around novels like Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation. Spain in the Spotlight: A Spanish-made lamppost in Stratford links to Cervantes and Shakespeare, while a separate Spain-linked story highlights how Don Quixote echoes through culture. Sports & Media: Real Madrid reappoints José Mourinho as Netflix’s football doc series fuels renewed attention around the club.

Legal & Tech: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for thousands of lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of fueling social media addiction harms to minors, rejecting arguments that Section 230 blocks suits. Publishing & Reading Tech: Rakuten Kobo is back in U.S. retail via Best Buy, after sales doubled in 2025–26 and the company pushes newer color e-readers. Spain Culture & Literature: Spain is marking the 90th anniversary of Federico García Lorca’s execution with commemorations across towns and cities. Local Politics & Tradition: In Andalusia, a PSOE move to shift a town’s May 4 saint holiday to April 30 has sparked backlash from residents and a citizens group. Scam Watch for Travelers: Spain’s cybersecurity watchdog warns of WhatsApp hotel impersonation scams using real booking details to lure victims to cloned payment sites. Books & Ideas: A new book argues “postliberalism” has failed and may leave the Church with a public perception problem.

Publishing & Culture: A new book argues that “postliberalism” won’t strengthen the Catholic Church, reigniting debate over how political models shape religious life. Local Governance & Rights: Spain’s INCIBE and the Guardia Civil warn of a WhatsApp hotel scam that uses real booking details to push victims to cloned payment sites. Publishing & Adaptation: MGM+ sets a release date for its four-part Charles Dickens adaptation, A Tale of Two Cities, rolling out weekly in Spain and other markets from Sept. 6. Books & Ideas: A review of Anton Jäger’s Hyperpolitics frames modern life as constantly political, but questions how that shapes people. Religion & Community: In Andalusia, Albanchez de Mágina faces a fight after PSOE officials voted to move a centuries-old Saint Francis of Paola holiday to a different date, separating civic and Christian observances. Industry & Immersion: Experts outline what makes immersive experiences commercially viable, stressing operations and storytelling over tech alone.

Publishing & Adaptations: MGM+ drops the first trailer for its four-part Charles Dickens series “A Tale of Two Cities” (premieres Sept 6), with Kit Harington starring alongside Mirren Mack. Books & Culture: Chris Hannah discusses adapting Orwell’s “1984” for the stage, arguing the novel still reads like a warning for today’s intolerant age. Publishing & Media Business: Netflix-backed Mexican action resurgence gets a new outfit: Durango Films launches after “Counterattack/Contraataque”’s record performance, with “Facing El Chapo” set for Aug 21. Spain Tourism & Culture: Spain’s total solar eclipse becomes a major travel story, with estimates of hundreds of thousands of extra visitors and a €347m-plus boost—plus a reminder that eclipse demand is driving eye-watering pricing. Consumer Safety (Digital): INCIBE and the Guardia Civil warn of a WhatsApp hotel scam that uses real booking details to lure holidaymakers to cloned payment pages.

AI & Biosecurity: Researchers used an AI model (Evo) to generate new bacteriophages, reporting some AI-designed viruses can multiply faster in lab tests while being unable to infect humans or animals. Publishing & Culture: Julian Sancton’s Neptune’s Fortune revisits the 1708 Spanish galleon wreck off Cartagena, blending archival treasure-hunting with today’s legal and ethical disputes over what lies on the seabed. Education & Futures: Analysts warn some universities could go bust before 2026 freshers finish, driven by falling student numbers plus immigration and tuition pressures. Spain Spotlight (Books/Readers): A wave of eclipse tourism is hitting Spain hard, with millions expected to watch the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse and major viewing-site planning across the country. Heritage & Hate: Córdoba’s city council moved to clean a defaced Maimonides statue after a swastika was sprayed on its base. Travel-Reading Crossover: A Spanish eclipse-viewing surge is also boosting travel planning demand, with route comparisons and destination interest rising sharply.

Total Solar Eclipse in Spain: Spain braces for a total eclipse on Aug. 12, with officials warning viewers about eye safety and setting up hundreds of viewing sites as millions are expected along a narrow path from A Coruña to Mallorca. Travel & Viewing Logistics: Travel platforms are already mapping routes and demand spikes for northern cities like Zaragoza, León and A Coruña, while eclipse chasers share plans for best viewing spots. Publishing & Culture (Spain tie-in): A Spanish exile filmmaker, Luis Buñuel, is profiled through newly surfaced migration documents, adding fresh material for readers of film history. Road Infrastructure: Murcia’s RM-1 dual carriageway linking the city to the Mar Menor via San Javier is set for longer-lasting repairs after years of potholes. Public Debate: A commentary piece compares Spain’s Ceuta migration crisis coverage to dystopian fiction, reigniting arguments about narrative framing. AI & Research: Researchers describe an AI model that designs new bacteriophages in lab tests, feeding the wider debate on AI’s real-world risks and uses.

Tourism & Culture: Spain is in the spotlight for the Aug 12, 2026 total solar eclipse, with millions expected along the path of totality and huge travel interest; local astronomers are already planning viewing spots, while coverage also highlights how to watch via live streams. Travel Costs: The eclipse is also hitting hotel prices hard, with demand surging in northern Spain and Iceland after wildfire-hit tourism patterns. Publishing & Books (Spain-linked): A new book-focused roundup on eclipse stories points readers to classics like Homer’s The Odyssey and medieval epics, tying astronomy to literature and film. Local Life & Media: A viral “sunbed wars” clip from a Spanish hotel shows tourists racing to reserve loungers, sparking debate online. International Mobility: UAE travelers face delays around the EU’s ETIAS rollout, with Schengen entry rules still in place for now. Health & Research: Separate reporting flags AI-designed viruses research, though the work targets bacteriophages that can’t infect humans or animals.

AI & Biosecurity: Stanford and Arc Institute researchers used an AI model to generate hundreds of new bacteriophage genomes, then tested viable variants in petri dishes—raising fresh questions about misuse even as the viruses were chosen to avoid infecting humans or animals. Film & Publishing Crossover: A24’s “The Invite” (remake of Cesc Gay’s Spanish film “The People Upstairs”) is set for digital release, underscoring how Spanish screen stories keep migrating into international publishing-and-media pipelines. Spain Tourism Pressure: Hotel “sunbed wars” in Spain are going viral again, while eclipse-driven demand is also pushing prices sharply higher in parts of Spain. Science in Spain for the Eclipse: Italian teams are bringing a new solar instrument (CISS) to Spain’s Javalambre Observatory for a make-or-break total-eclipse test on 12 August. Literary/History Spotlight: A new review highlights “Remember me to my Comrades,” a collection of British volunteers’ letters and diaries from the Spanish Civil War, bringing primary-source publishing back into focus.

Publishing & Philanthropy: Alexander Debelov’s devotional, The Prayer: Rise with Jesus, is being published in multiple languages and is tied to a royalty model that funds free books in rural Malawi and support for San Francisco’s homeless. Spanish Culture & Books: A new book, Remember me to my Comrades: Letters and Diaries of the International Brigade, spotlights largely unpublished British volunteers’ letters and diaries from the Spanish Civil War. Film-to-Book Ecosystem: A24’s streaming push for The Invite (remake of Cesc Gay’s Spanish film The People Upstairs) underlines how Spanish stories keep crossing into global audiences. Arts Calendar: An August 2026 arts calendar and poetry/music events highlight ongoing demand for literary programming. Border & Migration Discourse: A broadcast discussion on Ceuta’s crisis frames responsibilities across Spain and EU institutions, feeding into the broader public debate that often shapes publishing themes. Science & Reading Culture: Research on AI-designed viruses and new medical guidance (including liver cancer treatment frameworks) shows how fast-moving science continues to drive public interest in expert-led reading.

AI & Biosecurity: Stanford and Arc Institute researchers used an AI model (Evo) to generate new bacteriophage genomes, reporting some variants that multiply faster in lab tests—while stressing the phages can’t infect humans or animals. Health Research: Johns Hopkins and other centers published BEACON-HCC guidance for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, updating how therapies are matched to tumor stage and biology. Publishing & Culture: A memoir/travel hybrid, It Happened. Make of It What You Will, spotlights Spain and other European stops through “still frames” of everyday life. Poetry & Events: Blue Raven Poetry Reading Series brings Kim Addonizio and Danny Caron for a poetry-and-music evening. Spain-Adjacent Publishing/Heritage: A book on Ceferino “Pelé” Giménez and a bishop’s martyrdom links Spanish religious history to Romani life. Tourism & Borders: Laureano Oubiña’s “narcotour” plan faces a Galicia block over licensing rules, keeping his smuggling past in the spotlight.

AI & Biosecurity: Stanford and Arc Institute researchers used an AI model (Evo) to generate nearly 300 synthetic bacteriophage genomes, finding 16 viable phages that can multiply in petri dish tests—prompting urgent biosafety concerns. Publishing & Culture: A Spain–India diplomatic row is reportedly set to remove Ambassador Juan Antonio March over alleged cultural-event spending and lack of Madrid approval. Books & Ideas: Madrid’s Reina Sofía hosted a high-profile public conversation with Judith Butler, with the piece framing her as a “rock star” intellectual and mapping how major thinkers become cultural celebrities. Arts & Adaptation: Eastbourne’s Grove Theatre is staging a new musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, with local performers being sought. Local Festival: Coin (Málaga) launches the Verbena Tomatera (Aug 13–15), spotlighting the mega “Tomate Huevo Toro” and featuring Spanish pop singer Melody as patron. Science & Environment: A Nature Ecology & Evolution synthesis finds 79% of butterfly range shifts link to climate change and extreme weather, with major gaps in tropical monitoring.