Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 3

TOP STORIES: "From downpours to scorching heat: Spain's wild weather week" & "Spanish house prices keep climbing as demand outpaces supply"

This week has been nothing if not eventful, from the housing market reaching new highs to Mother Nature showing off all her moods in seven days. House prices across Spain have jumped up yet again, making buyers sweat just to stay in the game. Meanwhile, storms lashed Murcia and Alicante before giving way to record-breaking sunshine as if nothing happened.

On the transport front there’s a spark of hope: the Murcia–Almería high-speed rail link just got a fresh cash boost and work is picking up again. And for bargain hunters, there’s fresh competition heating up in Spain’s low-cost retail scene.

So pour yourself a cuppa, settle in and let’s dive into this week’s top stories.

Costa Fortune

Thinking about buying a place in Spain? Well, unfortunately, it looks as though you’ll need join the queue. September's figures are in and house prices have jumped another 6.9% compared to last year. We're now looking at an average of €2,047 per square metre, whether you're after something shiny and new or a resale property with a bit of character.

Why the housing market madness? According to the experts, it boils down to two things: mortgages are easier to get hold of these days, and there simply aren't enough homes to go around. Yes, supply has improved a bit this year, but nowhere near enough to keep pace with everyone scrambling to buy.

Of course, Spain being Spain, it varies wildly depending on where you're looking. The Balearics have seen the biggest price jump at 8.5%, and they'll set you back €2,871 per square metre on average.

But even that's a bargain compared to Madrid, where you're looking at a frankly ridiculous €3,281.

Fancy something more affordable? Head to Extremadura, where prices are hovering around €993 per square metre and only crept up 3.7% over the year. Not too shabby.

The thing is, with mortgage lending back in action and interest rates behaving themselves, people are diving in. Confidence is sky-high too. The Real Estate Confidence Index hit 58.9 out of 100 in the third quarter, that's nearly 11% up on last year and even better than the 2018 peak.

Another problem is that building new homes isn't getting any cheaper either. Construction costs are up 3.76% year-on-year to €1,323 per square metre, so developers aren't exactly rushing to flood the market with bargain properties.

For anyone doing the maths, the Real Estate Effort Index, which tells you how many full years of salary you'd need to buy a home, now stands at 7.6 years. That's up 2.4% in a year. No wonder so many people are giving up and renting instead.

From floods to flip-flops

Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 3

What a week for the weather. One minute we're dealing with floods and road closures, the next we're back in shorts and t-shirts wondering if summer forgot to leave. Spain's forecast has been all over the shop and honestly, we've had about three seasons crammed into seven days.

It all kicked off with Storm Gabrielle throwing a proper tantrum across the southeast early in the week. Murcia got absolutely hammered, with some spots like Molina de Segura and Murcia city seeing between 40 and 74 litres of rain per square metre in single downpours.

Roads turned into rivers, gullies overflowed and the emergency services were run ragged answering more than 250 calls from drivers trapped by flash floods, particularly along the N-301.

The mayor of Molina de Segura said they'd dodged any serious damage, but the footage of streets under water was pretty dramatic stuff. Residents were urged to stay away from flood-prone areas and batten down the hatches as orange and yellow weather warnings stayed in place throughout Tuesday.

Over in Alicante, the rain was just as intense but frustratingly patchy. Torrevieja took a battering despite all that money they've spent on drainage improvements. Playa de los Locos lived up to its name with communal bins literally floating down the street before authorities had to close the road.

There was also a wastewater spillage at Playa del Cura that needed cleaning up after the drains overflowed, flooding a restaurant and causing heaps of other damage in the process.

Up in Denia, even the hospital wasn't spared. Some intensive care cubicles flooded and had to be shut down, which you can imagine didn't make life easy for the staff. Thirteen municipalities across the province decided to suspend classes on Tuesday, probably a wise call given the alerts.

But after all that chaos, Mother Nature has dramatically flipped a switch. From Wednesday onwards, it's been glorious. Clear skies, sunshine, temperatures shooting up well above what you'd normally expect for October. Parts of Andalucía and the Guadalquivir Valley have been hitting more than 30°C and some corners of the southeast have touched 34 to 36°C.

This little heatwave, often called an 'Indian summer' (though we're probably supposed to call it something else these days), is set to stick around for most of the weekend.

There might be a bit of drizzle up north on Saturday, but nothing to write home about. Sunday's looking a bit iffier, with cooler nights likely to follow, but for now? Make the most of it. After the week we've had, a bit of sunshine feels well deserved.

Full steam ahead

Good news for anyone fed up with the travel time between Murcia and Almería: the high-speed rail link is actually making proper progress at last. The Ministry of Transport has just thrown another €6.3 million at the project and things are moving along nicely on this 200-kilometre route.

Track laying is already underway on two-thirds of the line, which means we're closer than ever to seeing this thing finished. The latest cash injection includes €5.3 million for expansion devices on the Vera–Almería stretch, basically the clever bits that stop the rails buckling when temperatures change, plus another €1 million for backup power systems at Nonduermas to keep everything safe and running smoothly.

Work is also progressing on the Lorca San Diego–Vera section.

Over in Almería, they've finished demolishing the Avenida Mediterráneo Bridge ahead of schedule this summer, which clears the way for the next phase of railway integration in the city. All in all, things are looking up.

Bargain bonanza

If you love a good bargain (and let's be honest, who doesn't?), Spain's budget shopping scene just got a whole lot more interesting. Two big players are making serious moves to become your go-to for cheap and cheerful retail therapy, and they're pulling out all the stops to win you over.

First up, we’ve got KiK. Remember when they opened their first Spanish shop in Seville back in September 2022? Well, the German retailer has been quietly taking over the country ever since. In just three years, they've opened more than a hundred stores across Spain, with a particularly strong presence in Andalucía, Madrid and along the east coast. Not bad going.

Their pitch is seriously tempting: "Get dressed from head to toe for 30 euros."

Nothing in their shops costs more than €20, and they've got everything from family clothing to home décor, toys, accessories and beauty bits. No fuss, just bargains.

The whole operation is built on the classic retail formula: buy big, sell cheap, keep costs down. Sound familiar? That's because it's basically the same playbook as Primark.

If you’ve still got a few euros to spend, you’ll want to hear the latest from our favourite online retail giant. This week, Amazon decided to throw its hat into the bargain-hunting ring with the launch of "Amazon Haul" in Spain. This is their answer to the likes of Shein, Temu and AliExpress, and it's available right now on their website and app.

Amazon Haul offers hundreds of millions of products across more than 30 categories, covering everything from fashion to homeware and lifestyle bits and bobs. Nothing costs more than €20, most items are under €10 and some are going for just one euro.

Here's how it works: just search "Haul" on Amazon or find it in the main menu. It's got its own shopping experience with dedicated search, cart and checkout. Orders over €15 get free shipping, while anything under that will set you back €3.50 for delivery.

Spend over €30 and you'll get 5% off, or splash out more than €50 for a 10% discount.

Amazon reckons most orders will arrive within two weeks or less, which is significantly faster than waiting for parcels from China. Returns are free within 15 days, often without needing to print labels or repack anything yourself. Just drop it at a local Celeritas or Seur collection point and you're done.

Between KiK's physical stores popping up everywhere and Amazon muscling in online, Spain's budget shopping scene has never been more competitive. Your wallet might actually thank you for once.

Murcia

Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 3 The people have spoken and Murcia's now got bragging rights for producing the best young wine in Spain. According to thousands of readers of the Guía Vinos Gourmets, the 2023 Juan Gil Etiqueta Amarilla has walked away with top honours, and here's the best bit: it only costs around €7 a bottle.

This organic wine is made entirely with Monastrell grapes from the famous Jumilla region and despite being young, it's got enough body to age nicely in the bottle. The experts praised its surprising bouquet of red and blue flowers, liquorice, pomegranate and cherries, and after a bit of breathing time the taste becomes energetic and complex, with the fruit taking centre stage.

The prize will be presented at the Salón Gourmet de Madrid 2026, where Bodegas Juan Gil will be rubbing shoulders with some of the country's most renowned winemakers.

Meanwhile, Lorca is battling a rather unglamorous problem: mattresses. Loads of them. Nearly 7,100 were dumped on the streets in 2024 alone, many of them riddled with bedbugs.

The municipal company Limusa is constantly responding to reports of abandoned mattresses and furniture clogging up public areas, and it's costing the council €103,000 a year just to deal with them.

The waste treatment plant uses one of the most powerful shredders on the market to break them down and recover the metal springs for recycling, but it's a highly specialised machine that needs constant maintenance.

Furniture dumping is just as bad, with truckloads turning up all year round despite Limusa offering a free collection service by appointment. The Polcía Local have upped surveillance and issued 45 fines in the first half of the year and by early next year, 15 video cameras will be installed in key problem areas including Los Ángeles, San Cristóbal, the Old Town and Purias. Let's hope it makes a dent.

On a more positive note, Cartagena's got 14 plots of land in the historic centre up for auction, all of them owned by people who never got around to building on them. The plots are part of an initial group of 41 properties where owners hadn't met their obligations, though 27 have been excluded from the auction after their owners finally applied for planning permission.

Those applications include plans for around 170 new homes, a student residence with 97 rooms, plus commercial units and parking spaces.

Mayor Noelia Arroyo says there are plenty of fiscal incentives on offer to encourage development, including a 90% discount on construction tax in the Old Town and direct financial aid for archaeological excavations.

The Region of Murcia government is also introducing new measures to make development in archaeologically sensitive areas more viable. Starting prices for the 14 plots range from €114,434 to €408,212, and they're spread across key parts of the Old Town including Calles Aire, Balcones Azules, Duque, San Diego, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Risueño and Calle Honda. All the details are up on the city council's website.

Finally, if you're looking for something to do this Sunday, the Mar Menor Craft Market is back on October 5 at the Explanada de Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera.

From 10am until 2pm you can browse handcrafted goods and artisan creations, everything from jewellery and soaps to home décor and hand-painted textiles. It's a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning supporting local artisans while picking up something unique. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

See our EVENTS DIARY for more events and activities coming up soon in the Region of Murcia:

Spain

From October 1, the DGT has shaken up the theory test for new drivers with some important changes. The big one is the inclusion of questions based on the updated road sign catalogue that came into force back in July.

So if you're learning to drive, you'll now need to recognise things like the new pharmacy symbol with a stopwatch, the modern image that's replaced the old steam train at railway crossings and various other redesigned signs.

With only three mistakes allowed out of 30 questions, there's not much room for error.

The updated signs cover modern road realities like lanes for cars with multiple passengers, electric vehicle charging points, bike and e-scooter crossings, warnings about vulnerable pedestrians and new markings for steep slopes.

There's also a new sign called S-991c that warns about "foto-rojo" radars, the cameras that catch you running red lights and will cost you €200 and four points if you're caught.

Looking ahead to 2026, the DGT plans to introduce video-based questions that put candidates in real-life driving scenarios, like dealing with a cyclist swerving into your lane or a child stepping off the footpath. It's already used in countries like the UK and aims to test practical awareness rather than just rote learning.

Driving schools have been updating their materials for months, so if you're taking your test anytime soon, make sure you're up to speed.

Don’t forget to join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for all the latest updates.

Every year, older people across Spain take advantage of the Imserso Tourism scheme, a brilliant initiative that offers pensioners the opportunity to book budget, off-peak holidays. But now there’s a new player in town to rival these bargain-basement vacations: El Corte Inglés.

Under the slogan "You deserve to travel no matter what", Viajes El Corte Inglés is offering national and international cultural tours, coastal stays, island trips, sea and river cruises and Christmas getaways to anyone over the age of 60.

The perks include booking from as little as €14, free cancellation on selected trips, a €30 discount on future bookings and even a raffle for trips to Egypt. You can also finance your holiday over six months.

Within Spain, destinations include the usual suspects like Benidorm, Peñíscola, the islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Mallorca and Menorca) and cultural tours through places like the French Basque Country, Picos de Europa and Rías Baixas.

Internationally, they're offering tours to Italy's Amalfi Coast and Tuscany, Portugal, Egypt and Morocco, plus a range of Mediterranean and northern European cruises.

For winter and New Year's Eve, you can book getaways to Vienna's Christmas markets, Vigo's festive lights or see in the New Year in Marrakech.

And now, a bit of a cautionary tale from Ibiza. Eddie Burton, 23, and Sian Banks, 25, both from Liverpool, have been jailed after their massive international drug operation was dramatically brought down inside Pacha nightclub.

Burton got 19 years and Banks received five for their roles in smuggling drugs worth £20 million.

In summer 2022, two lorries were intercepted at Dover Port carrying enormous quantities of heroin, cocaine and ketamine. In total, the authorities seized 307 kilos of drugs.

Forensic evidence linked Burton directly to the consignments and a manhunt traced his movements across the Netherlands and Spain before he was finally arrested at the Ibiza nightclub in August 2023, attempting to evade capture with a false identity.

After extradition via Germany, he was returned to the UK in March 2024.

Banks had been regularly travelling to Amsterdam and Spain carrying drugs back in her luggage, and also used her network to launder the profits and set up fraudulent Covid travel documents.

Burton apparently started dealing drugs at age 10 and was deeply involved by his early teens before relocating abroad. The National Crime Agency called it one of Britain's boldest drug trafficking networks, run by two people who became organised criminals before reaching their mid-twenties.

Alicante

Nature lovers on the Costa Blanca have reason to smile, as the Provincial Council is making efforts to enhance the region’s outdoor spaces.

Thanks to fresh funding, a total of 60 municipalities across the province will be able to maintain and improve hiking trails and natural areas.

Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 3 The provincial deputy for the environment, Magdalena Martínez said this funding enables town halls to carry out essential environmental work for their future, which otherwise they might not be able to afford.

The council is distributing a total of €325,000 euros in two key areas. The largest tranche, €225,000, is split into two parts: one to help councils obtain official certification for their trails, and the other for maintenance and improvement works.

While the former part is being allocated to just four town halls (Famorca, Fageca, Quatretondeta and Penàguila), the rest will benefit more than 60 municipalities in areas all over the province, including Orihuela and Redován in the Vega Baja.

The remaining €100,000 is for conserving and enhancing natural areas in Alcoy, Callosa de Segura, Castell de Castells, Ibi, Monforte del Cid, Monóvar, Mutxamel, Novelda, Petrer, Pinoso, Redován, Sax and Xixona.

Furthermore, the Provincial Council has introduced funding for municipalities with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants to purchase plant shredding machines to help them maintain green spaces.

Twenty town halls will share this €50,000 fund: Alcosser, Alfafara, Balones, Benilloba, Benillup, Benimarfull, Benimassot, Benimeli, Bolulla, Confrides, Fageca, Famorca, Gorga, La Vall d’Ebo, L’Orxa, Millena, Penàguila, Planes, Quatretondeta and Tollos.

Also in the Vega Baja area, an off-duty Guardia Civil officer in Orihuela Costa bravely restrained a dangerous man, who was wanted for a vicious knife attack in Almoradí.

On September 15, a 19-year-old man was stabbed and suffered significant injuries, which required him to be rushed to hospital and admitted for several days.

The attack happened on a street in Almoradí town centre, and witnesses were shocked by how violent it had been in such a public place.

The aggressor ran away afterwards but the investigation found that the attack seemed to be a settling of scores between the suspect, who is 38 years old, and the victim, both of whom had previous police records.

The alleged assailant was caught in Orihuela Costa on September 23, when an off-duty Guardia Civil officer based in Almoradí recognised the man and restrained him until a patrol arrived.

Following the arrest, officers identified a 25-year-old man, who had allegedly supplied the other suspect with the knife used in the attack, and arrested him in Almoradí.

An investigating court in Orihuela has jailed both suspects on remand. The victim had to spend several days in hospital and is now recovering at home. The Guardia Civil are continuing their enquiries to determine what motivated the attack.

And finally, do you fancy a bit of the limelight?

Benidorm is calling aspiring actors to appear as extras in a new British TV crime drama, "Death in Benidorm", which is being produced for Channel 5.

Casting takes place today, October 3, at the Meliá Hotel, with sessions from 10am to 2pm and then again 4pm to 8pm.

Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 3 They’re after men and women aged between 20 and 65 of any nationality, though Spanish and British extras are especially welcome.

You must be able to commit to a few full, non-consecutive days of filming, and bring recent photos on your phone of your head and full body is fine), as well as ID, bank details and social security number for payment.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing yourself on the small screen, here’s your chance to join the cast of a sunny new detective series set right here in Benidorm.

The town’s no stranger to the camera, having starred in countless shows and adverts, but this time you might get to be part of the mystery-solving action!

It could be your moment to shine!

Andalucía

Andalucía is spreading a little extra cheer for families with a fresh batch of tax cuts announced by regional President Juanma Moreno. One of the standout moves is a new €100 income tax deduction for anyone living with celiac disease, or whose partner or children do.

Moreno highlighted the extra financial effort this condition demands, with gluten-free products sometimes costing up to four times the price of regular foods. With nearly 40,000 people in Andalucía affected, the relief should take a good chunk off the bills for over 30,000 families.

But there’s more. The government is also scrapping income limits on the popular €200 personal tax deduction per child, making it available to all families from 1 January 2025. That’s a big win for thousands, including adoptive and foster families. For those in towns facing population decline, the deduction even doubles to €400.

Plus, gym-goers can claim back 15% of their fees, up to €100, encouraging everyone to stay active and healthy. Pet owners aren’t left out either, with new deductions on veterinary expenses for their furry companions.

Together, these measures pour an estimated €61.3 million back into Andalusian pockets, continuing a tax-saving streak that has already saved residents nearly a billion euros since 2019.

Switching gears from tax relief to natural wonder, Andalucía’s largest Holm oak, La Peana in Serón, is slowly succumbing to the wear and tear of time. Known locally as 'The Pedestal' for its impressive 15-metre wide trunk base, this giant tree boasts a sprawling crown covering nearly 302 square metres.

Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Oct 3 Unfortunately, a deep crack, stretching almost four metres from the base to a main branch, has continued to widen despite ongoing efforts to support and stabilise it. Experts blame a mix of fungal rot, weighty branches, and harsh weather for its decline.

Since 2022, nearly 20 inspection visits have tracked its slow ageing process, described as 'advanced senescence,' with specialists doing all they can to delay the inevitable. Pruning and cabling have helped reduce strain, but the tree's ultimate fate seems sealed. Still, its towering presence remains a proud symbol of Andalucía’s rich natural heritage.

From ancient trees to buzzing neighbours nearby, Granada residents recently discovered they had been sharing their home with an enormous colony of bees - over 100,000 of them!

For years, a mysterious droning noise had puzzled those living in the apartment block, until a beekeeper uncovered the massive hive nestled within the building’s roof. Removing the bees took patience and precision, using a vacuum device to safely collect the colony without harm.

Experts were intrigued by the queen bee’s choice of neighbourhood, as urban settings offer protection from pesticides common in rural farmland. What started as a noisy nuisance turned into a fascinating story of nature’s adaptability and the silent life thriving right above the city streets.

You may have missed…

Infant turtles get their first taste of the sea in Torrevieja
A year after being born in a nest on La Mata beach in Torrevieja, 16 loggerhead turtles have been released into the sea after being reared at Valencia’s Oceanographic Foundation to give them a better chance of survival.
La Manga's abandoned shopping arcades face demolition this October
San Javier is set to demolish 39 dilapidated premises of the former La Manga shopping mall opposite the Doblemar Hotel, beginning October 6.
Woman killed in plunge off A-7 motorway viaduct in Murcia
A 56-year-old woman died on Tuesday and a 21-year-old woman was seriously injured in a traffic accident on the viaduct of the A-7 motorway, near the Javalí Viejo district of Murcia.
October 10 to 12 Las Cocinas del Jubileo gastronomy fair returns to Caravaca
Showcasing the gastronomic richness of the Region of Murcia, this year's Las Cocinas del Jubileo gastronomic fair in Caravaca features more than 20 tasting points as well as numerous parallel activities.
Lorca remains without commuter and AVE trains after four years
A On October 1, 2021, the rail service to Lorca was halted. At that time it was said that the Cercanías service would be restored within two years but four years later, Lorca is still without commuter trains, and there is no confirmed date for their return or for the arrival of the AVE high-speed train..

And that’s all we’ve got for you this week. See you again next Friday.

Happy weekend

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