BARCELONA (Reuters) - About 22,000 people protested in Barcelona on Saturday, in the latest demonstration to demand lower housing rental prices and better living conditions.
Housing has become a major issue in Spain as it struggles to balance promoting tourism, a key driver of its economy, and concerns over high rents due to gentrification and landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term tourist rentals.
The price of rentals signed in the second quarter of 2024 in Barcelona was almost 70% higher than in the same period of 2014, data from the Catalan Housing Agency shows.
"We are spending half our wages in rent ... This must stop!," said Carme, 28, a spokeswoman for a tenants union.
Smaller protests were held across Catalonia, and in Burgos, Asturias in north Spain and Jerez de la Frontera in the south.
The government announced a crackdown on short-term and seasonal holiday lettings in July and plans to investigate listings on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com to verify if they have licences.
Demonstrations have been held this year in Madrid, the Canary Islands and Malaga, where seasonal hospitality workers struggle to find accommodation, with many sleeping in caravans or even their cars.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25 June, covering the latest developments you need to know. ...
The Trump administration is expected to move forward with a proposed $750 million sale of F-110 jet engines to Türkiye despite objections from a seni...
Strong earthquakes struck west of Venezuela's capital on Wednesday, toppling buildings in Caracas, trapping people in the rubble and prompting scienti...
Brazil moved closer to the World Cup 2026 knockout stage with a Vinícius Jr double, while Morocco fought back in a six-goal thriller against Haiti, a...
A weekend of FIFA World Cup matches was headlined by Spain as they produced a clinical display against Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Belgium were held to a tense draw by Iran in a day of contrasting Group-stage results.
The wife of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must stand trial on corruption charges and has been banned from leaving the country, a judge has ruled.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 produced drama and surprises on 14-15 June, with Iran fighting back to draw 2-2 with New Zealand, Ivory Coast scoring a stoppage-time winner over Ecuador, Sweden thrashing Tunisia 5-1, and debutants Cape Verde holding Spain to a goalless draw.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-U.S. peace talks, as the top U.S. diplomat tours the Middle East to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Russia has called for clarification on whether U.S. President Donald Trump has changed his position on the war in Ukraine following remarks made at the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Strong earthquakes struck west of Venezuela's capital on Wednesday, toppling buildings in Caracas, trapping people in the rubble and prompting scientists to warn of potentially heavy casualties.
A cemetery in the Gaza Strip containing the remains of 22 Canadian soldiers killed during a 1956 United Nations peacekeeping mission has been destroyed, according to media reports citing families of the deceased.
Tesla has been sued by the family of a 76-year-old Texas woman who was killed when a driver using the company’s Model 3 driver-assistance system crashed into her suburban Houston home, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday (23 June).
Extreme heat in France has killed hundreds of thousands of poultry and overwhelmed carcass disposal systems, agricultural organisations said. A severe heatwave continues to disrupt farming, energy supplies and daily life across Western Europe.
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