AGP Executive Report

Book Industry Watch: A major alarm is raised over a bid to repeal Spain’s fixed book price law, a move that could shake up how publishers price titles and how retailers compete. Publishing Policy: Moldova’s parliament approved denunciation of an old CIS agreement on publishing, distribution and printing, arguing it’s outdated and lacks real funding tools for publishers, libraries and authors. Digital Reading & Access: A new report warns that AI firms scan and then destroy rare book editions, putting unique collections at risk. Author Spotlight: Local author Willard Thompson publishes “The De La Guerras of Santa Barbara,” adding a new memoir voice to the regional scene. Literary Culture: The San Sebastián Film Festival reveals early international competition titles, including Nicole Garcia’s “Milo,” with Golden Shell contenders also featuring Mike Leigh’s “Tender Loving Care.”

AI & Books: A new report says AI firms are scanning then destroying rare book editions, raising fresh alarms for publishers and collectors. Publishing Policy: Moldova’s parliament approved denunciation of a CIS agreement on publishing, distribution and printing, arguing the old deal no longer fits its cultural and book-sector goals. Literary Culture: The Gabo Awards spotlighted Latin American journalism, including murdered reporters and gender violence in newsrooms, with Spain and Portugal in the mix. Spain Book/Media Adaptations: Prime Video is set to release The Last Sunrise, a young adult drama based on Anna Todd’s novel, filmed with Mallorca as a key setting. Local Book Scene: A translator and writer near Benidorm has published Looking Down on Benidorm, reframing the resort’s history for readers who dismiss it. Arts & Translation: Cartagena’s La Mar de Músicas will feature Ireland as guest country in 2027, expanding the festival’s literature and arts programme.

San Sebastián Film Festival: The 74th edition has unveiled early Golden Shell competition titles, including Nicole Garcia’s Milo (with Marion Cotillard) and Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care, plus entries from Hans Petter Moland and others, setting up a strong international slate. Young Adult Publishing-to-Screen: Prime Video released the trailer for The Last Sunrise, a YA drama based on Anna Todd’s novel, filmed in Mallorca and premiering Aug. 26. AI & Books: El País reports a spike in bulk purchases of out-of-print books by tech firms, with suspicious delivery patterns suggesting material is being bought for digitisation and AI training. Climate & Reading Culture: Spain and France face major wildfire evacuations amid a renewed heatwave, with travel disruptions hitting popular holiday areas. Tourism Backlash in Spain: Mallorca’s anti-mass-tourism protests escalated into a violent flashpoint, underlining how cultural and economic pressures are reshaping visitor life. HBO Max Series Deal: HBO Max has acquired Kill Jackie (based on Nick Harkaway’s novel) for Spain and other European markets, expanding the streamer’s local reach.

Wildfires & Heatwave Response: France and Spain are bracing for another heat wave as “megafires” force massive evacuations, with Spain declaring an emergency and firefighting stretched across the region. Publishing & Culture (Spain tie-in): A new Spanish-language film spotlight includes The People Upstairs as part of a broader “The Odyssey” movie weekend roundup, keeping classic literature in the spotlight. Language & Learning Research: New neuroscience work suggests bilingual brains may rely on a shared “grammatical engine,” a finding that will interest educators and language learners in Spain. Tech for Readers/Researchers: University of Barcelona researchers unveiled an open-access Paleocoordinates Calculator to help map Earth’s ancient geography without advanced coding—useful for schools, museums, and science communicators. Health in Spain (AI in practice): A pilot in Granada, Madrid, and Barcelona tested AI-guided handheld cardiac ultrasound in primary care, aiming to cut specialist referrals and costs.

Wildfire Crisis in Spain: Spain’s meteo agency AEMET warns of another “long” heatwave starting Wednesday, with fire risk at “extraordinary” levels and temperatures near or above 40C, as firefighters struggle with blazes that have already scorched tens of thousands of hectares. Wildfires’ Human Toll: France and Spain face evacuations of hundreds of thousands, with “weather whiplash” (wet-to-dry swings) helping fuel the fires and complicate response. Publishing & Faith: Vatican Publishing House is set to release an English edition of Pope Leo XIV’s peace anthology, “Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift,” with Spanish-language coverage highlighting its focus on peace “through suffering.” Language & Culture: A new study estimates a sharp decline from a “golden age” of tens of thousands of languages to today’s roughly 7,500, driven by empire expansion and colonial replacement. Community Reading: A Spanish Conversation Club story spotlights how library-led language groups become real community support, not just classes.

Overtourism Backlash (Mallorca): Armed riot police clashed with anti-tourism protesters in Palma as demonstrations turned violent, with crowds chanting “tourists go home” and police firing rubber bullets after bottles were thrown. Wildfire Crisis (Spain/France): Pope Leo XIV urged prayers as wildfires forced mass evacuations across Spain and France, with Madrid-area evacuations and large burned areas reported amid extreme heat. Publishing & Culture (Spain-linked): A Spanish-language literary spotlight surfaced via a new novel project, “Los diez encantos,” aimed at encouraging youth reading through multilingual access. International Book/Author News (Hemingway): Scholars gathered in Toronto to examine Ernest Hemingway’s early Toronto Star journalism, reframing his move from reporter to writer. Tech/AI (US-China): US lawmakers advanced AI export controls toward China as Anthropic argued the US still holds a lead in frontier models.

AI & Language Equity: A new report warns that today’s large language models are trained on a tiny slice of the world’s languages, leaving minority-language communities at a growing cultural and economic disadvantage. Publishing & Adaptation: Netflix’s “Notes From the Last Row” spotlights Spanish playwright Juan Mayorga’s work, showing how Iberian theatre keeps crossing into global screen storytelling. Spain in the Spotlight: Spain’s World Cup win is driving fresh media attention and debate, with commentary focusing on tactics and football culture. Research for Education: The University of Barcelona launches an open-access “Paleocoordinates Calculator” to help the public explore Earth’s ancient geography without needing complex software. Health Tech: Researchers in Madrid test an AI approach that could flag early Alzheimer’s by analyzing brain activity during sleep. Climate & Cooling Demand: After Europe’s record heat, air conditioning sales are surging, signaling a major shift in everyday tech habits.

Literary Culture & Translation: Jabbour Douaihy’s craft is explored through the lens of Walter Benjamin’s split between news and storytelling, with attention to how his work travels across languages, including Spanish. Sports & Narrative: A Spain-focused World Cup analysis argues La Roja’s tiki-taka control left Argentina “rudderless,” while another piece spotlights the cultural afterlife of the match. Publishing & Books: El País interviews Chuck Palahniuk on transgressive fiction after 9/11, and a separate feature reflects on bullfighting as “theater of cruelty,” a long-form cultural critique. Media & Adaptations: Prime Video’s “Neagley” teaser (Reacher spinoff) lands a September 16 debut date, and Nolan’s “The Odyssey” film gets early praise in a cinema round-up. Science & Environment: A study finds microplastics carry “memory” of past ocean motion, shaping how they travel. Tech Mystery: Phineas Fisher remains uncaught a decade after major spyware-maker hacks, revisiting the legend.

Spain Wildfires: The New York Times spotlights evacuations and a “critical” situation as Spain declares emergency over fires advancing toward Madrid and Ávila, with thousands forced to evacuate or shelter. Publishing & Culture: Guillermo del Toro says there will be “no AI” in the Pan’s Labyrinth 3D re-release, relying on restoration techniques for the Oct. 9 return of the Spanish Civil War fantasy. Literature & Debate: El País reports on how contemporary thinkers like Judith Butler have become public cultural icons in Madrid, drawing crowds beyond academia. Bookselling After Disaster: Black Spring Vintage Books seeks to recover after flooding destroyed hundreds of books and records, including damaged Spanish titles. Media Policy: EBU policy advisor Vincent Sneed discusses the EU Digital Networks Act and the push to keep broadcast radio available in vehicles. Tech & Law: Spain’s judiciary is moving toward regulated AI use in courts, after a case where hidden instructions were detected by an AI system.

Euro Banknotes Vote: The ECB has unveiled a shortlist of ten designs for the first euro banknote redesign since 2002, with the public voting between “rivers and birds” and “European culture” themes featuring figures like Beethoven and Marie Curie, with new notes set to enter circulation gradually. Juan Carlos Biography: Historian Paul Preston’s new book, Downfall of a King, revisits the former Spanish monarch’s contradictions and opaque private life, framing his rise and disgrace as a clash between democratic ideals and hedonistic self-interest. Judicial AI Use: A case described by EL PAÍS highlights how hidden instructions can be embedded in legal filings to steer an AI system, and notes Spain’s judiciary has issued guidance on AI use by judges. Extreme Heat & Health: Reporting from Barcelona Institute for Global Health warns that extreme heat is worsening sleep, irritability and cardiovascular risk, urging practical changes like carrying water and avoiding peak-hour exertion. Shakira’s Madrid Residency: Live Nation Spain is building Macondo Park alongside Shakira’s fall residency dates, adding pavilions for music, gastronomy, literature and art around the concerts. Literary Spotlight: A new House of Wisdom book club season in Arabic and English uses “friendship” to connect readers through works from Spain and beyond.

Health & Climate: A study led by Spain’s ISGlobal links higher heat exposure during pregnancy and early infancy to slower thalamus growth later in childhood, with possible links to adolescent behavioural symptoms. Publishing & Culture (Spain tie-in): The ECB has unveiled possible designs for a new euro banknote series, including Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes on the €50 note—good news for book lovers who like seeing literature on everyday money. Data & Privacy: Spain’s data protection authority (AEPD) fined 23andMe €2.4 million over security and notification failures tied to its 2023 breach, affecting 2,642 people in Spain. Environment & Emergency: Spain declared a national emergency as wildfires near Madrid and Avila forced thousands to evacuate amid forecasts of up to 44°C. Games/Publishing Industry: Ubisoft reported Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has sold 3.5 million copies in two weeks, exceeding annual expectations, even as overall net bookings fell 9.2% year-on-year. Sports & Media: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called Argentina’s World Cup final on-field incidents “intolerable and unacceptable” as FIFA investigates.

Bilingual mental health support: Keeler Women’s Center in Kansas City says it’s adding visibility to free counseling led by Dr. Silvia Byer, who speaks Spanish, Italian, English and French—aimed at people needing nonjudgmental help regardless of background. Lebanon political travelogue (Part 1): Redspark’s collective publishes a two-part overview of a week crossing Lebanon north to south, warning against reducing the country to Beirut and describing the tense post-ceasefire atmosphere. Science & climate context: A study links Corn Belt thunderstorm complexes to moisture rising from fields and irrigation, while another MIT-led analysis suggests ozone depletion began decades earlier than the ozone hole was discovered. Church publishing update: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces 10 new hymns for its “Hymns for Home and Church” rollout. Spain in global culture: World Cup coverage keeps spotlighting Spain’s win and its massive international audience, with follow-on discussion about whether the surge in interest will last. Spain publishing-adjacent tech: Spanish studio Vermila Studios lays off 19 staff and faces possible closure after launching Crisol: Theater of Idols earlier this year.

Publishing & Culture: Venice’s 83rd edition (2–13 Sept) announced 20 titles for the Golden Lion, with cinema framed as a mirror of today’s wars, climate change, migration and social tensions. Film & Books Crossover: Fandango Sales boarded international rights for Alina Marazzi’s The Girl With the Leica, opening Venice Horizons; it spotlights photojournalist Gerda Taro and the Spanish Civil War. Spain in the Spotlight: Spain’s 2026 World Cup win triggered a wave of fan reaction and a social-media identity theft scare involving Georgina Rodríguez, while Argentina supporters pushed for a replay petition after a disputed final. Local Literary Events: Porto Book Fair returns (21 Aug–6 Sept) with a record programme of 200+ events and 140 stands, plus a tribute to poet Inês Lourenço. Industry/Jobs: Spain-based Vermila Studios laid off 19 staff and says closure is a “feasible possibility,” after launching Crisol: Theater of Idols earlier this year. Tech & Media: Hearst says it’s using AI to turn ad RFPs into bespoke audience strategies, expanding beyond targeting into campaign planning.

Sports & Culture: Spain’s World Cup win keeps echoing beyond football, with fresh debate over FIFA and the final’s officiating, including an Argentine push for a replay after a petition gathered tens of thousands of signatures. Publishing & Books (Spain angle): A Vatican Publishing House release spotlights “Félix Varela: A Biography,” a 208-page volume tied to Cuban national culture and written by Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, with a foreword by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia. Literature & Global Myth: Wendy Doniger’s new book draws cross-cultural comparisons across mythologies to map what’s shared in humanity. Poetry: “Sky Green” appears as a new poem, continuing the week’s mix of literary pieces alongside broader culture coverage. Media & Rights: A report on a mysterious media company alleges unpaid work and leads to a police report filed against the investigator—another reminder of the publishing-adjacent labor pressures shaping creative industries.

AI & Copyright: Anthropic is accused of training large language models on Dutch bestselling novels without authors’ consent, using “shadow libraries,” reigniting the fight over digital rights. World Cup & Media Politics: Spain’s World Cup win came with a social-media spat as FIFA and Spain cropped Donald Trump out of trophy photos, while the White House posted counter-images. Publishing & Books (Spain tie-in): Anna Todd’s romance The Last Sunrise is set to launch on Amazon Prime, with filming across Mallorca spotlighting the island as a literary/TV destination. Literature Review: Valeria Luiselli’s Beginning Middle End continues her earlier work and leans into themes of storytelling, refugees, and uncertainty. Arts & Culture: Warner Bros. Discovery unveils Back to Hogwarts for the Philosopher’s Stone film’s 25th anniversary, with live events and exclusive content. Transport & Industry: Valencia port reports rail freight growth in H1 2026, even as overall volumes soften.

World Cup Culture: Spain’s 2026 triumph over Argentina is being framed as more than sport—fans and commentators are using it to talk about collectivity, identity, and the tournament’s global pull, with multiple pieces looking at what the win means beyond the pitch. Arts & Publishing Angle: A Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Art Award-winning image by Elaine Byrne (and other medical-arts commissions) highlights how visual storytelling is being pulled into cultural institutions—an indirect reminder of how publishing and art funding ecosystems overlap. Travel & Reading Habits: Interhome reports that sustainability labels are appearing on nearly a third of summer vacation-rental bookings across Spain and other European markets, shaping where people go—and what they pack to read. Science & Health: New research maps how influenza A rewires infected human cells, feeding the broader pipeline of medical writing and future public-health communication.