ALICANTE NEWS

No, the Spanish tax office will not monitor your personal Bizum payments in 2026Both the Tax Agency and Bizum have dismissed social media claims that everyday transfers will be monitored from January A bit of panic has been sweeping across Spanish social media and WhatsApp groups in recent days, with users convinced that from.. 17/12/2025

Doctors' strike put on hold after breakthrough talks with Health MinistryPreliminary agreement on working hours and retirement brings pause to planned industrial action Plans for a fresh round of doctors’ strikes across Spain have been put on hold after unions and the Ministry of Health reached a preliminary agreement.. 17/12/2025

EU backtracks on banning sale of petrol cars from 2035Spain rejects the watered-down emissions rules as the EC caves to automotive industry pressure The European Commission has dramatically watered down its ambitious plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, bowing to pressure from.. 17/12/2025

Spain fines Airbnb €64 million for advertising illegal rentals, and a big chunk of them are in MurciaSpain’s consumer watchdog found more than 65,000 unlicensed properties on the website, 2,709 of which are in the Region of Murcia It would appear that Airbnb, the leading platform for tourist rentals in Spain, is determined to continue offering.. 17/12/2025

No White Christmas for Spain: Aemet predicts one of the warmest winters everMeteorologists believe winter 2025 could be one of the mildest we’ve ever seen in Spain We might have had a dusting of snow on the mountains over the past few weeks and, in recent days, more than enough rain, but the experts believe it&rsquo.. 17/12/2025

Half of road deaths in Spain linked to drink driving over last 25 yearsCampaigners renew calls for tougher action as festive season approaches More than half of the 73,500 people who have lost their lives on Spanish roads over the past 25 years were over the legal alcohol limit, according to new figures released this week.. 17/12/2025

Festive season in full swing in TorreviejaDiscover drone shows, parades, ice skating and family-friendly events still to enjoy this Christmas in Torrevieja and La Mata Christmas in Torrevieja is already under way, with the popular Carols in the Square having kicked things off last week. Now the.. 16/12/2025

Winter solstice 2025: This Sunday is the shortest day of the year as winter starts in SpainDecember 21 is the start of astronomical winter and from that date onwards, the days will start getting longer in Spain Anyone who has been enduring Spain’s recent miserable weather and dreary short days can take heart as this Sunday marks the.. 16/12/2025

Celebrate Christmas Day in La Zenia with the biggest beach party in EuropeThousands of people flock to the Orihuela Costa’s Cala Bosque each year for a Christmas Day with a real difference Are you tired of the same old Christmas celebrations? Looking for a unique and exciting way to spend the holiday season? Look.. 16/12/2025

Alicante-Elche Airport breaks another record with 18.6 million passengersThe Costa Blanca’s main airport continues its remarkable growth with its busiest year yet Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has smashed its annual record, surpassing last year’s passenger total with more than 18.6 million travellers.. 16/12/2025

Electric scooters in Spain will need mandatory civil liability cover from January 2In 2026, any riders in Spain caught without insurance will face fines of up to €1,000 For drivers, the start of the new year brings the much talked about V-16 beacons which will replace the old emergency triangles across Spain. But there&rsquo.. 16/12/2025

Spain launches €60 monthly travel pass for unlimited rail and bus journeysThe new flat-rate ticket will cover commuter trains and state buses across Spain from mid-January Spain is about to introduce a nationwide travel pass that will allow unlimited journeys on commuter trains, regional rail services and state-run buses.. 16/12/2025

Renfe offers free changes and refunds as weather alerts disrupt southeast travelPassengers travelling through Valencia, Murcia and Almería can alter or cancel tickets at no extra cost during the Aemet alert Renfe has confirmed that passengers affected by severe weather warnings in parts of southeastern Spain can change or.. 15/12/2025

Will you be able to afford a home in Spain in 2026?By the end of 2025, the average increase in the cost of apartments for sale in Spain is expected to be over 15% Spain’s house prices have been going nowhere but up all year and the question on everyone’s mind now is definitely: what will.. 15/12/2025

Old Covid masks may not protect you as flu cases surge across SpainWhy health experts are warning that face coverings from 2020 could now be ineffective as flu levels climb As flu cases continue to rise sharply across Spain, health experts are urging people to think twice before relying on face masks left over from the.. 15/12/2025

English gang leader shot multiple times in Orihuela CostaThe 32-year-old was attacked in Lomas de Cabo Roig just two weeks after being released from prison A 32-year-old English man who had been released from prison just two weeks earlier was shot multiple times on Thursday night, December 11, in an underground.. 15/12/2025

Storms and yellow warning issued: Alicante weather forecast December 15-18Aemet forecasts more unsettled weather in the coming days across the Alicante province, with heavy showers and possible thunderstorms After a weekend of rain and flooding in some parts, it looks like the unsettled weather is here to stay. The forecast.. 15/12/2025

Brit arrested in Benidorm over life sentence for drug traffickingExpat drug boss from massive cocaine ring faces UK extradition to UK A British man living in Benidorm has been arrested by Spain's Policía Nacional on an international warrant for a life sentence back home over serious drug and weapons.. 15/12/2025

Spain's public health leans heavily on private handsMinistry report reveals 30% of hospitals now privately run, with billions in public spending A new report from Spain's Ministry of Health lays bare a big shift in how public healthcare is delivered. Three out of every ten public hospitals are now..

British film firm eyes six big shoots in Alicante next yearGlobal Films could bring €30m boost and 15,000 hotel nights to the region Exciting times ahead for Alicante, with British production company Global Films Media Productions in advanced talks to film six feature films at the Ciudad de la Luz studios.. 12/12/2025