Bank of Spain warns financial institutions they are too dependent on the US
The Bank of Spain, in its most recent supervisory report, has explicitly warned financial institutions about their dependence on the United States.
Director General of Supervision, Mercedes Olano, acknowledged that the banking sector has a "very significant" dependence on technological services from American corporations. She urged them to "avoid extreme concentration, to have several providers for different services, and to develop exit plans in case they need to switch from one provider to another".
They are particularly referring to cloud computing services and artificial intelligence from companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Dress rehearsal for Spain's total solar eclipse
This Thursday April 30th will act as a dry run for anyone wishing on see the total solar eclipse in Spain on August 12th. This is because today, the sun will be at the same altitude and will follow the same path as on the day of the eclipse.
Experts are urging anyone interested in the astronomical event to treat this as a dress rehearsal to find the best spot to see it on April 12th. Essentially, if you can see the sun today at 8:30pm without any obstructions in the way, then it will be the perfect place to see the total eclipse from this summer.
Spain's oldest Parador hotel to close for renovations
The Parador de Gredos, located in Navarredonda de Gredos in Ávila, was the first establishment in Spain's Paradores de Turismo network and was inaugurated on October 9th 1928 by King Alfonso XIII.
In October, the Parador is due to close its doors for a major renovation project, costing an estimated €5 million. This will all be in preparation for the centenary celebrations of the Parador, commemorating 100 years since it opened.
The temporary closure is scheduled between October 1st, 2026, and March 31st, 2028.
Patti Smith to be given Princess of Asturias Award
Legendary American singer-songwriter Patti Smith has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, becoming the fourteenth woman ever to receive this prize.
The jury said she was given the prize "for her impetuous creativity, which connects rock, symbolist poetry, and the spirit of the counterculture with great expressive power" and for "capturing the rebellion of the individual".
The awards give prizes to those who have made an impact in the fields of art, literature, social sciences, communication and humanities, technical and scientific investigation, international relations, sports and human rights. Tennis star Serena Williams was presented the prestigious prize for sports in 2025.
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