COSTA BLANCA, ALICANTE PROVINCE: NEWS

Could your fingerprint replace your bank PIN? The new payment trend arriving in SpainFaster checkouts, fewer passwords and a new way to pay that could soon become the norm The days of trying to remember your bank card PIN every time you pay for shopping could eventually be numbered. A growing number of banks and technology companies.. 15/05/2026

Drivers in Spain face tougher ITV tests under sweeping EU reformsThe new rules will bring stricter inspections to Spain and could even allow motorists to get an ITV abroad Drivers in Spain could soon face a very different, and possibly more stressful, ITV inspection as the European Union moves ahead with plans.. 15/05/2026

Spain sees surge in racist social media posts as more than 1,000 hateful messages appear every dayNew figures show most abuse targets North Africans and Muslims, while campaigners push for stronger action online More than 105,000 racist and xenophobic messages were detected on social media in Spain during the first three months of 2026, according.. 15/05/2026

Prison sentence for woman whose dog died after being tied up on scorching Torrevieja rooftopMaikel the dog suffered fatal heatstroke after being left tied up on an exposed terrace for several days in August 2022 A woman in Torrevieja has accepted a one-year prison sentence after her dog, Maikel, died following several days tied up on a sun.. 15/05/2026

British population continues to grow as Torrevieja tops 113,000 residentsThe Costa Blanca city continues to attract thousands of international residents from across Europe and beyond Torrevieja’s population boom shows no sign of slowing down, with the Costa Blanca city now officially home to more than 113,000 registered.. 14/05/2026

Spain electricity and gas bills set to rise again as VAT returns to 21% in JuneThe end of temporary tax reductions is expected to push up household bills across Spain again from next month Households across Spain are set to feel another hit to their finances from June after the government confirmed temporary VAT cuts on electricity.. 14/05/2026

Costa Blanca promoted as one of Spain’s top destinations for learning SpanishAlicante officials say the province is attracting more international students thanks to its mix of education, climate and lifestyle The Costa Blanca is stepping up efforts to attract international students by promoting the coast as one of Spain&rsquo.. 14/05/2026

Mostly sunny weather with a chance of thunderstorms: Alicante weekend weather forecast May 14-17The forecast points to a mainly dry and warm weekend following a slight dip in temperatures and some scattered thunderstorms The spring-like weather will continue into this weekend with plenty of sunshine on the way. But as it is spring, you can.. 14/05/2026

Pilar de la Horadada murder probe after man allegedly killed friend and dumped his bodyThe suspect allegedly tried to make the killing look like a hit-and-run after a violent argument at his Costa Blanca home A 53-year-old man has been arrested in Pilar de la Horadada after allegedly beating a friend to death with a wooden stick and.. 13/05/2026

May 17 English-speaking dog lovers invited to Orihuela charity walks and adoption eventAsoka Orihuela is holding special shelter walks in San Bartolomé to help abandoned dogs socialise and find new homes Animal rescue association Asoka Orihuela is inviting animal lovers to take part in a new edition of its popular “Solidarity.. 13/05/2026

Valencian government approves new 10-year contracts for key Costa Blanca bus servicesExisting routes will continue but with plans for improved links to Alicante Airport, train stations and Torrevieja Hospital The Valencian government has approved plans to renew and modernise two of the Costa Blanca’s main intercity bus corridors.. 12/05/2026

Costa Weekly News now available to read free online... find out where!You can now also read the Costa Blanca's newest weekly print publication, CWN, in digital format on their brand-new website Readers interested in up-to-date information about Alicante and the coastal areas of southeast Spain can now access the.. 12/05/2026

Vega Baja leads Alicante's property boom with 2,000 new homes built in just three monthsTorrevieja alone has already surpassed its entire 2025 total for new housing construction The Vega Baja, which includes Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Guardamar and other Costa Blanca hotspots, is powering Alicante province’s latest property boom.. 12/05/2026

Record-breaking Alicante Airport among Europe's busiest and most punctualThe Costa Blanca hub is handling millions more passengers with fewer delays Alicante-Elche Airport is continuing to cement its position as one of Spain’s busiest and best-performing airports after recording its highest passenger numbers ever.. 12/05/2026

Your bank may be calling - but it could be a scam: Police warn over rising 'spoofing' fraud in SpainFraudsters are making calls appear genuine to trick victims into handing over banking details and security codes A worrying phone scam that makes calls look as though they are coming directly from your bank is continuing to spread in Spain, with Polic.. 11/05/2026

Major facelift underway for Avenida del Cabo in Orihuela CostaThe €200,000 project aims to improve accessibility and year-round traffic flow in Cabo Roig Work is continuing along Avenida del Cabo in Cabo Roig as the local government pushes ahead with a €200,000 upgrade aimed at modernising one of its.. 11/05/2026

Torrevieja approves €8.5 million makeover for Los Locos beach promenadeMore than 1km of Torrevieja seafront will be pedestrianised as part of the ambitious redevelopment Torrevieja is set for a major beachfront facelift after the council officially awarded the contract for the long-awaited redevelopment of Los Locos.. 11/05/2026

Alicante woman tests negative for hantavirus after cruise ship scareThe Costa Blanca woman was on the same flight as a Dutch passenger who later died from the virus A 32-year-old woman from Alicante has tested negative for hantavirus for a second time after being hospitalised following possible exposure linked to.. 11/05/2026

Clear skies and sun with a chance of some scattered showers: Alicante weather forecast May 11-14Mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures on the way for the Alicante province, with the risk of some showers and thunderstorms The worst of the bad weather is over for now, but it's not plain sailing yet as some unsettled weather is expected.. 11/05/2026

Hantavirus cruise ship set to dock in Tenerife as quarantine plan moves aheadThe MV Hondius is due in Granadilla on Saturday, with British passengers also affected by the outbreak and health authorities insisting the risk remains low Spain is preparing to receive the MV Hondius in Tenerife on Saturday after the cruise ship at.. 08/05/2026