Madrid Archives - Page 3 of 17

Europe has been a spectator of robotaxis for years. Madrid has just decided that it is okay

May 20, 2026 by usatoday24

The robotaxis They have already landed in some cities around the world, but their use is still testimonial. Even more so in Europealthough everything indicates that soon we will be talking more and more about this type of vehicles. In fact, just as they count In Expansión, in Madrid we are going to see the very first pilot test in December of autonomous taxis with the main VTC platforms on the market. It will be the first real-scale pilot test of the European Union. What has happened. In the last quarter of this year, the Community of Madrid will launch the first EU robotaxis pilot project with real passengers. Uber, Cabify and Bolt will participate in the initiative, although the call is open to more companies with which it is already negotiating. The test will start in Madrid capital and two other municipalities yet to be confirmed, with routes in previously defined and controlled areas. Just like share From the middle, the initial fleet will be between 50 and 100 vehicles with level 5 automation, that is, without the need for a human driver at the wheel. Why is it a milestone? Until now, no European city had launched a project of such magnitude. The only previous experience in the EU was a very limited test in Zagreb with just two vehicles. The rest of the world is years ahead, and the fact is that Waymo already operates about 3,000 autonomous cars in American cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles or Phoenix and has accumulated more than 20 million journeys. in Chinacompanies such as Apollo Go (Baidu), Pony.ai and WeRide have more than 5,500 vehicles in circulation. Europe, on the other hand, had not yet taken the step. How the pilot will work. According to share From Expansión, in a first phase, the vehicles will have a human supervisor on board whose function will be to monitor the automated driving system and inform users about the technology. After a few weeks, and depending on the data collected, we will move on to the driverless phase. To do this, the user will reserve the car from their mobile phone, access the vehicle with their phone and arrive at their destination without anyone in the driver’s seat. Among the vehicle manufacturers that could participate are Jaguar, the Stellantis group and the Chinese brand Arcfox (of the BAIC group). From the media they indicate that the technological operators will be already established companies such as WeRide, Baidu, Pony.ai or Waymo. Legislation. The General Directorate of Traffic has been working since 2015 in a legal framework for automated vehiclesand the Community of Madrid has promoted the creation of the Office for Vehicles and Automated Mobility (OFVA). The pilot has, in this sense, the mission of collecting real usage data to then lay the foundations for future legislation on autonomous transport in Spain. The protocols include specific training for police, firefighters and emergency services. Anabel Díaz, vice president of Uber for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, counted to Expansión that Madrid has “the opportunity to be at the forefront of Europe.” Deployment in Europe. A few months ago, Lyft announced an alliance with the Chinese Baidu to launch robotaxis in the United Kingdom and Germany throughout 2026. Uber, for its part, already has agreements with more than 18 autonomous driving companies globally. Europe is rapidly becoming the next battlefield for autonomous transportation, and the large platforms know that whoever arrives first with regulatory muscle will have an advantage. And now what. The success of the test will depend on whether the data collected is sufficient to build a solid regulation, that users show reasonable acceptance of the technology, and that the companies that intend to participate want to continue investing in the technology. Uber has already indicated that plans to make large investments in this field in Madrid. All eyes are now on the project, as Spain could become a reference laboratory for robotaxis, like the rest of the European capitals that are already on the eve of landing the technology. We’ll see how everything turns out. Cover image | Amy Dugiere In Xataka | China has been boasting about its driverless robotaxis for years. Until more than 100 have stood at once in Wuhan

Vigo already has its “direct” AVE to Madrid without stops in Castilla y León. Now it takes longer than before

May 13, 2026 by usatoday24

A little over a year ago, controversy arose between autonomous communities. Abel Caballero, mayor of Vigo, claimed that one of the reasons why the AVE to Madrid did not take the promised time was due to “an excessive number of stops in the Castilla y León area.” The response was not long in coming. Now, the people of Vigo have their “direct” train to Madrid, without stops in this autonomous community. The problem: they come out earlier and take longer than before. 215 minutes. That is the promise with which the railway link between Vigo and Madrid was announced. Yes, you read correctly: three hours and 35 minutes. Since high speed was launched in this corridor, the trains that have approached the promise that Óscar Puente put on the table in 2024 have been an exception. Instead, the trains have taken at least four hours. In the best of cases, barely a minute has been cut from the journey, but in practice they continue to move on the psychological border of 240 minutes. As long as there is no delay. And in the Galician corridor they know well what we are talking about. Too many stops. Given the impossibility of fulfilling that promise, Abel Caballero, mayor of Vigo, proposed a simple formula: that the trains not stop in Castilla y León. He did not say anything about Galicia because, in his opinion, it was the arrests in the neighboring autonomous community where the most time was wasted. “The current travel time on some of the routes is very long due to an excessive number of stops in the area of Castilla y León, an area already close to Madrid that currently has a very important coverage of trains coming from all over the north and the rest of Galicia on high-speed routes” The words were picked up in the local media Atlantic.net and, according to Caballero, they were well received by Álvaro Fernández Heredia, president of Renfe since where they quickly denied this possibility. The proposal collided head-on with Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, president of Castilla-León, who in words reported by The Spanish He described Caballero’s words as “intolerable.” Vigo-Madrid route starting May 20 “Straight”. So, in quotes. Because starting May 20, Renfe will have an AVE without stops between Vigo and Madrid. The long-awaited Galician demand has been heard. As you see in the image above, from that day on the train from Vigo will leave at 5:50 a.m. and arrive in Madrid at 9:55 a.m. Once it leaves Vigo, the train will stop only in Galician cities. Once we have passed Ourense, the train will not stop until it reaches the Chamartín station in Madrid. It is, finally, the “direct” AVE that the people of Vigo demanded to be able to travel back and forth to Madrid in the shortest time possible. Vigo-Madrid route until May 19 Sure? And, contrary to what logic says, Vigo-Madrid takes longer than before. And, in addition, it will force passengers to get up earlier. And until that day, the first train that connects Vigo with the capital will continue to stop in Zamora but its journey will take eight minutes less. In addition, it leaves at 6:00 a.m., instead of 5:50 a.m. The reason is that, with the reorganization devised by Renfe, the first train has to stop in Santiago de Compostela, which has been omitted until now. And the residents of Ourense do not see a great reduction in times either, since it will only take four minutes less to reach Madrid despite not stopping in the Castilian-Leonese city. To make matters worse, the residents of Pontevedra will not find a substantial advantage either. In fact, they will now take eight minutes longer than before the last change. Now, with the latest changes, all trains leaving in Vigo and arriving in Madrid will take more than four hours. Adif, in the spotlight. Part of these “delays”, they point out from Vigo Lighthouseare due to the works that are being carried out in the Guadarrama tunnel at the entrance to Madrid. These add seven minutes to the final amount but as they point out from The Region There are numerous temporary speed limitations on the Galician section that hinder the promises of connecting Vigo and Madrid in half an hour less. He Vigo Lighthouse He also points out that Renfe has been complaining for some time about Adif’s management of the roads. According to the Galician media, the operator has requested on several occasions that some crossings between trains be relocated so that they are not on the single track sections. And the passage times have not been updated either, so, they point out, the current speed cannot be increased either. An exception. Since the Galician high-speed corridor began to operate at full capacity thanks to the use of the Talgo Avril that can change track gauge, doubts about the reliability and performance of these trains have been on the table. First for its disastrous arrivalthen for their problems with the change of year in 2025 and finally due to the cracks that appeared in these trains on the Madrid-Barcelona. However, the trains have proven capable of operating at full capacity and getting closer to the famous 215 minutes promised between Vigo and Madrid. Last November, A Renfe AVE managed to cover the journey in 217 minutes. The problem is that it only served to alleviate the delay accumulated at the origin. Being the last service and with the tracks already clear along the entire route, the Avril was able to travel at maximum speed for as long as possible. Photo | André Marques In Xataka | Renfe has found a scapegoat for its problems on the Madrid-Barcelona line: Talgo and its AVRIL trains

Madrid is going to sacrifice one of its busiest tunnels for months. The reason: a new exchanger

May 8, 2026 by usatoday24

Madrid has several gigantic projects underway. In this house we have talked about the work of the Mayritt tunnel boring machineof the burial of the A-5the improvements and transformation of Metro Madrid, the Sales Parkand countless urban works that they barely give the capital a break. On this occasion, its residents will have another area blocked for a time, as the busiest underpass in the southern area of Madrid will close for ten months to allow progress in another of those great transformations: the new interchange. Why is this happening now? Madrid City Council announced A few hours ago, the Conde de Casal road tunnel would close to traffic in both directions starting at 6:00 a.m. this Friday, and will not reopen until February 2027. The delegate of Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, confirmed it on Thursday at a press conference after the Government Meeting, explaining that the closure is necessary to continue with the works on the new transport interchange and to execute the connection between the lines 6 and 11 Metro. This is a particularly delicate blockade, since according to data consulted by El Diario, 39,000 vehicles pass through this tunnel every day, with greater intensity in the center-outskirts direction and in the afternoon time slot, especially between 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. What changes on the road. During the ten months of closure, traffic will be redistributed for the surface. Two entry lanes will be enabled from the A-3 towards the Plaza de Conde de Casal and one exit lane from the Plaza de Conde de Casal towards the A-3 Valencia and the M-30 North. Just before the M-30 bridge, the section entering Madrid from the A-3 will go from two lanes to one. On the other hand, the outbound link branch from the M-30 towards Conde de Casal will remain open. In addition, two turns will be prohibited in the square itself: the turn to the left towards O’Donnell towards Doctor Esquerdo, and the turn to the left from Doctor Esquerdo towards Avenida del Mediterráneo and Glorieta Mariano de Cavia. Starting in September, the council plans to progressively expand the number of surface lanes. Where to go if you want to avoid the area. The Town Hall has published Alternative routes both to enter and leave Madrid. to enter: A-3 – Plaza Conde de Casal – Glorieta Mariano de Cavia; A-3 – Plaza Conde de Casal – Doctor Esquerdo – O’Donnell; or the M-40 for long-distance routes. to leave: Glorieta Mariano de Cavia – Cavanilles – Doctor Esquerdo – surface branch A-3 towards Valencia; Doctor Esquerdo – Plaza Conde de Casal – surface branch A-3 towards Valencia; or O’Donnell – M-30 southbound – A-3. What changes in public transport. The Madrid Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM) has activated several adjustments to the EMT urban bus network. Line E recovers stops 2125 and 2126 near the square, although it stops stopping at 2127 and 2128. Line 32 deviates through Cavanilles towards Conde de Casal. Lines 63, 143 and N9 recover stops near the square. The headers of lines 20, 30 and 140 are still located in the Pavones intermodal area. The Town Hall recommended in its publication the use of public transport to reduce pressure on an area that has already been accumulating traffic restrictions since works began in August 2023. The project behind the chaos. As we have said on several occasions, the objective is to extend Metro line 11 from Plaza Elíptica to Conde de Casal, a 6.9 kilometer route that will include two new stations, in Parque de Comillas and Madrid Río, and three interconnection nodes: Palos de la Frontera with line 3, Atocha with line 1, Cercanías and AVE, and Conde de Casal with line 6. Precisely this last connection will allow, according to Carabantedecongest line 6, which moves a million passengers a day and is the most saturated on the network. In parallel, the transport interchange is being built, which will integrate the buses that currently operate on the surface underground. When it comes into operation, scheduled for the first half of 2027, it will benefit more than 65,000 daily travelers, according to data of the consistory. And meanwhile. The special mobility device activated by the City Council includes the deployment of Municipal Police officers and mobility in the surroundings during the entire works phase. Working hours are limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., a limit that the delegate recalled in response to neighborhood complaints about noise and dust. Carabant recognized that the council is “aware” of the inconvenience, but insisted that the works “are necessary to continue.” Cover image | Madrid City Council In Xataka | The Madrid Cercanías have become a nest of problems and delays: their solution is new “megatrains”

Even if you are neither from Barça nor from Madrid, a Clásico is a Clásico. You can watch it without leaving home on Movistar Plus+

May 8, 2026 by usatoday24

Football has an impact all over the world, but not just any game. The Champions League always has a lot of pull, but if we talk about specific matches, there are few more attractive nowadays than a Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. This weekend we have the last one of this season and we can see it on Movistar Plus+ for 9.99 euros per month. Remember: without permanence and whatever operator you are. Monthly subscription to Movistar Plus+ The price could vary. We earn commission from these links You also have the new Movistar Plus economic plan for less than five euros per month If you were waiting for something to arrive to try Movistar Plus+, there are few things better than a great game like El Clásico. The platform, as we say, does not have any type of permanence. This means that you can subscribe, try everything it offers and, if you are not convinced, unsubscribe whenever you want. What do you end up enchanted with? Well then you can switch to the annual plan with which you would save two months (costs 99.90 euros). The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which will take place next Sunday at 9:00 p.m., is not the only match that we will be able to see. Movistar Plus+ will also show the Alavés – Barcelona on May 13, as well as a match on matchdays 37 and 38 of LaLiga. In addition, it will also broadcast the Champions League final and the FA Cup finalanother great game between Chelsea and Manchester City. To all this we must add a catalog of series, movies and documentaries with very good options. From ‘Gladiator 2‘ which premieres today, to other award-winning films such as ‘Sundays‘ either ‘Sirat‘. Of course, there is also room for series like ‘I always sometimes‘or documentaries true crime by Carles Porta, among many other things. One thing remains to be added. If in your case you are not too interested in football, but you are interested in the rest of the Movistar Plus+ catalogue, then you have their new one available Free Plan. This, in essence, offers all the movies, series and documentaries on the platform (as well as more than 70 television channels) for only 4.99 euros per month. Also without permanence and, as with the other plan, you can share it with a friend without problems. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Movistar Plus+ In Xataka | Movistar Plus+ activates its Free Plan with complete programs and a lot of content, regardless of which operator you are In Xataka | Less than five euros per month and without permanence: this is the new Movistar Plus+ plan that you can even share with a friend

The gigantic Mayrit tunnel boring machine makes its way through the underground of Madrid to transform Metro L11

May 6, 2026 by usatoday24

It started on March 26 and in just over a month it has already left behind the first 200 meters of tunnel under the capital’s subsoil. The Mayrit tunnel boring machine advances towards Madrid Río with the objective of completing more than 5,200 meters of gallery before the end of 2027. And all to prepare the ground for the transformation of Metro L11. full throttle. The first month was slower than usual because the TBM was still in the adjustment phase. So has explained it the Department of Transport and Infrastructure of the Community of Madrid. And those first 200 meters have been drilled with the machine still running. However, from now on, Mayrit will reach its cruising speed: between 400 and 500 meters per month, which is equivalent to about 15 meters per day. What exactly is he doing underground. In addition to excavating (logically), as its cutting wheel, equipped with 54 discs, 172 picks and 24 battens, crushes the ground, the machine also places rings of concrete segments that form the final structure of the tunnel. At the same time, extracts about 3,500 tons of earth per day through conveyor belts that extend to the surface, where a hundred and a half trucks are responsible for transporting this material to landfills and disused mining operations. Transfer to the capital. Assembling a 98-meter-long, 1,500-ton machine at a depth of 27 meters is not a simple process. Mayrit was manufactured for 20 months in the German city of Schwana and traveled 2,000 kilometers by land and sea until reaching Madrid. Once here, it took 70 workers three months to assemble it piece by piece inside the future Comillas station. When does it stop and why? Mayrit works tirelessly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in continuous shifts. But has scheduled stops. The first will be when it arrives at the future Madrid Río station, 1,114 meters from Comillas. There it will undergo a technical review of up to two weeks. Then he will repeat the process in Palos de la Frontera, Atocha and, finally, Conde de Casal. It can also stop at any intermediate point if any part needs replacement, which is scheduled approximately every 1,000 meters. The final destination and when it will arrive. The total route entrusted to Mayrit is 5,227 meters between Comillas and Conde de Casal, where the future interchange is located. The general director of Collective Transport Infrastructure of the Community of Madrid, Miguel Núñez, estimated In statements collected by 20 Minutes that the complete excavation will take between 13 and 14 months. With startup at the end of March, that puts the end of drilling around May or June 2027. Opening to the public will take a few more months, once installations, equipment and testing are completed. The work behind the tunnel boring machine. To complete this section 32,000 tons of steel will be needed210,000 cubic meters of concrete and more than 25,000 segments, whose production began in September 2025 in a factory created expressly for this project. The overall progress of the works already exceeds 50%, according to the City Council, and the investment in this phase amounts to more than 740 million euros. The biggest project behind it. All of this is just a part of something much bigger. The future Line 11 will travel 33.5 kilometers from end to end of Madrid, from Cuatro Vientos to Valdebebas, with 20 stations that will connect points such as Atocha, the airport, Zendal Hospital or the future Formula 1 circuit in Ifema. The complete route can be done in one hour and six minutes. The total investment exceeds 2.5 billion euros and the works will be carried out in four phases until 2031. Cover image | Community of Madrid In Xataka | From devouring diesel to being 100% electric: the incredible transformation of a 650-ton mining excavator in India

Madrid places the last piece of the park that will fly over the M-30

May 4, 2026 by usatoday24

The work on Parque Ventas in Madrid meets its deadlines and, in fact, is already has finished placing the 96 beams that will serve as support for the structural platform of the new space on the M-30. The idea is that this same space serves as a union for the districts of Salamanca and Ciudad Lineal, which have been separated for decades by the same highway. Meeting deadlines. Ten months after the start of work, the supporting structure is now complete. The delegate of the Works and Equipment Area of the Madrid City Council, Paloma García Romero, has confirmed that, in addition to having placed the last beam, the roof development work is already underway and the first of the eight walkways that will give access to the park have been connected. The schedule remains unchanged and the opening is scheduled for spring 2027. Objective and figures. Parque Ventas has a platform 197 meters long and 16,370 m² in surface. This will fly over the 16 lanes of the M-30, the point with the highest traffic density in Spain, which supports about 150,000 vehicles per day in each direction. Its objective is to connect the neighborhoods of Salamanca and Ciudad Lineal, which have been separated by the same highway for decades. How it is built. The structure rests on piles founded between 16 and 17 meters deep. The 96 prefabricated prestressed reinforced concrete beams have been arranged in 32 transverse frames to the highway, supported on the edges of the platform and on piles located in the medians that separate the main lanes from the auxiliary ones. On those beams a concrete slab is now being laid 30 centimeters thick. The complete deck reaches 2.7 meters deep, with a middle layer of soil of 1.5 meters to allow for landscaping. Both the concrete and the prefabrication techniques have been chosen, according to the City Council, so that it affects traffic as little as possible during the works. Logistical challenge. Placing these pieces takes a lot of effort. According to counted A few weeks ago, Javier Nájera, head of the City Council’s structures service, told El Mundo that working during the day on that stretch could have generated delays of up to 14 hours. For this reason, the most critical operations were concentrated in summer, when traffic fell by 40%, and were carried out at night with cranes weighing more than 500 tons that, before six in the morning, had to be completely removed. The beams, weighing up to 200 tons and 40 meters in length, arrived from Rivas Vaciamadrid and Seville, since according to Nájera Manufacturing only from Madrid would be unfeasible for the pace they need. What will there be when it opens? The future park will include pedestrian areas, gardens with 591 trees and more than 48,800 bushes, more than 2,150 m² of meadows, children’s games, calisthenics equipment, a small grandstand for outdoor performances, two kiosks, fountains and street furniture. The eight walkways will connect the platform with both banks of the M-30, creating a green corridor between the Quinta de la Fuente del Berro park and the green area of Ciudad Lineal. The other side of the project. The works progress, but not without disturbances. And the neighborhood platform AfectadosM30 has publicly denounced the impact of the nighttime operations on the more than 50,000 people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods. The platform also He contacted Xataka and questioned some aspects such as the discovery of underground water during the excavation, which forced the work to be readapted, or the final cost of the work. The City Council estimates the investment at 80 million euros, although the neighborhood platform elevates that figure up to 94.9 million if the modifications introduced after the initial award are included. What remains to be done. With the structure completed, the work now focuses on the concrete slab on the beams and the development of the roof. Next will come the waterproofing, the drainage system, the soil layer and, finally, the landscaping. Cover image | Google Maps and Madrid City Council In Xataka | The great artery between Madrid and Valencia had been awaiting renovation for years: 500 million euros will end the wait

Charging the battery properly is a hassle. So the Madrid firefighters have had to come out and explain how to do it.

May 4, 2026 by usatoday24

The Madrid Security and Emergency Agency has published a series of recommendations (something that comes remembering year after year) as a result of something they see constantly (: domestic accidents due to bad practices when charging a phone. What in 2026 seems obvious does not have to be so obvious, so it is worth collecting some of the points in which some users continue to fail. It doesn’t work anywhere. Raise your hand if you have ever carried your cell phone on the bed or sofa. Such a common practice can end up leading to a fire. The basic recommendations are clear. Do not charge the device near any device that emits heat, such as the car dashboard itself (when it is connected by cable to it) or a radiator. Do not carry it on beds, chairs or textile surfaces. These, in addition to increasing the temperature of the device, are highly flammable. The 112 recommendation is the same that we have been doing for years at Xataka: charge on a smooth, non-combustible surface, and if possible cool and ventilated. Be careful with chargers. 112 explains that we should only use “approved chargers.” To verify that this is the case, all we have to do is look at whether or not the charger has a visible CE marking. This type of charger always includes data on its input voltage, output, amperage and power. As Xatakero advice, we recommend buy chargers with official fast charging protocols such as Quick Charge (QC), Power Delivery or PPS. This is a perfect indication that the manufacturer has taken care to offer compatibility with the best charging protocols of the moment, since the final power does not tell us everything: how it charges matters. Add to this that, although chargers are specifically designed to collect heat (all the heat they collect is heat they take away from your device), it is best not to put them near flammable surfaces. Be careful with repairs. A point that we do not usually take into account and that can end in a bad outcome is the quality of the replacement battery. Nowadays it is more than common to use compatible batteries instead of the original ones, since they are much cheaper. Here it is important to be clear about where the battery comes from and what its safety guarantees are. A poor quality battery can bloat, not control the temperature like an original one, and cause significant damage. Go deeper. It is no coincidence that year after year, and with the arrival of heat, you discover these articles with tips (that you may or may not know) on how to charge your cell phone. Fires caused by plugged-in electronic devices remain on the order of the dayand every memory about the recommendations for charging our devices makes sense. With the rise of silicon-carbonincreasingly larger batteries, and fast charging systems that exceed 100w, we have advanced and safe technology, but it requires a little effort on our part. In Xataka Mobile | A 12,000 mAh battery in a mobile phone is possible: Xiaomi advances the future of silicon-carbon with the next Redmi

Evangelism has been leading a revolution in Madrid for years. Now he has turned the Metropolitan into a huge church

May 4, 2026 by usatoday24

evangelism build muscle in Madrid. The weekend tens of thousands of people gathered at the Riyadh Air Metropolitan stadium to participate in The Change 2026a Christian event that had its first edition in August 2023 at the Benfica da Luz stadium (Lisbon) and revolves around gospel, prayer and evangelization. The event is important not only for its content or participants, which includes the footballer Daniel Alves. It is above all because it connects with other manifestations recent and multitudinous Christianity. What matters, but even more so when and where. What is The Change 2026? A Christian macro event held this weekend in Madrid. Its highlight came on Saturday, when a massive event was organized at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium (Atletico’s field) which, according to organizers’ calculations, was attended by more than 35,000 people. In the website from The Change details that the first event of these characteristics took place in 2023, in Lisbon, and has already attracted thousands of people. At its genesis is the Rodrigues Pereira Association, an organization promoted by the preacher of the same name. Tickets to the event were freealthough they required prior registration and the organization accepted donations. Why is it important? Its attendance data is interesting in itself, but if there is a reason that explains the curiosity that The Change has aroused (and the comments that it has generated in networks) is that it connects with other much broader trends. The main one, the celebration of massive religious events in Madrid. We had the best example beginning of 2026when the city hosted two events almost simultaneously that had thousands of attendees. He January 10 Vistalegre served as the setting for a concert by Kahuna Group Music, a Catholic group that brought together thousands of people. On the same dates, the Movistar Arena hosted the prayer meeting Callswhich had Alpha España among its organizers and had the evangelical group Hillsong as the opening act. They were not two isolated cases. In April some 85,000 people They participated again in the fourth edition of the Festival of the Resurrection, organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists and which once again featured Hakuna. Catholics and/or evangelists? It is not a minor issue. The Change vindicate that their event “is not the fruit of a single organization”, but “the heartbeat of a united church, with the same feeling.” The Catholic Church, however, has distanced itself from the event held this Saturday at the Metropolitan. In fact, on March 12, the Archdiocese of Madrid sent a statement brief and firm in which he made it clear that it had nothing to do with The Change. “This initiative is being promoted in our diocese by people outside it, in collaboration with a priest and an association led by a Portuguese evangelical pastor,” pointed out the Madrid Catholic Church, which clarified in passing that it was only informed of the event “when it had already been called.” “Consequently, the Archdiocese of Madrid does not consider itself linked to this event and regrets the call for activities of this nature in its jurisdiction without the necessary coordination with diocesan pastoral care.” Is it an important detail? Yes. Because it connects with a broader phenomenon that transcends the event held this weekend at the Metropolitano. Beyond the rise of Christianity (a trend that studies do not always support: some suggest a growing interest in the spiritual, rather than in orthodoxy), The Change or Llamados show a change in the way of expressing faith. A shift that also pivots towards a form of collective prayer and celebration centered on pop music, rock, big screens and collective prayers, manifestations far from the liturgy of more traditional Catholicism. Is it something new? No. The change comes from years back and it has not been without debate. The Online School of Apologetics has published, for example a list of “twelve reasons why it is not good to listen to Protestant music” and in 2011 the website Religion in Freedom he was wondering Whether Catholics should take note of the evangelists’ use of music. All this, between the controversy by Hillsong. In recent days, voices uncomfortable with the Metropolitan event have also emerged. One of the clearest is Universitarios Católicos (almost 132,000 followers on X), which took advantage of the weekend event to remember the rise of evangelism in the Community of Madrid. “One of the consequences of mass immigration: the loss of our Catholic identity,” concludes. Religion in Freedom assures that, although on Saturday people linked to the Catholic Church or Charismatic Renewal of Madrid could be seen in the stadium, the vast majority of attendees were not linked to the Church of Rome. Specifically, the media estimates that if in the event held in 2023 in Lisbon Catholics represented 25% of the public, in the case of Madrid they were 10%. What was seen in The Change? The event revolved around gospel, corporate prayer and preaching. Among the participants, names stood out such as Rodrigues Pereira or Dani Alves, former footballer for FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team sentenced to four and a half years in prison (sentence later revoked by the Superior Court of Justice) for a violation. From that same thing, from his experience in prison, Alves spoke before the thousands of people gathered at the Metropolitano. “I was in prison for 14 months, but there Christ set me free. I have lost everything, but by losing everything I found Jesus.” Is it just religion? No. It’s culture. And demographics. Events like Saturday’s may grab headlines, but they are rooted in a much more important… and silent reality: over the last few years, evangelism has been expanding throughout Madrid, coinciding with the increase in Latin American migration. The Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain recorded a few months ago 834 places dedicated to evangelical worship in the region, which made it the minority confession with the greatest presence, ahead of Muslims. The phenomenon, very visible in the polygons where new … Read more

The periphery was always the refuge of those fleeing the housing prices of Madrid. That’s over

May 3, 2026 by usatoday24

With an untouchable market, exorbitant prices and draconian conditionsfor years many residents of Madrid who wanted to buy a house had no choice but to look outside the capital, in the metropolitan area. The logic was very simple: perhaps they couldn’t afford a flat in Castellana, but they could in Alcobendas, Coslada, Leganés or Móstoles, towns relatively well connected to Madrid and with more ‘friendly’ real estate markets. The problem is that these shelters are becoming fewer and fewer shelters. Where do I buy a house? There was a time when the answer to that question was obvious. One bought where one could, but usually the market offered enough margin so as not to have to leave the municipality in which one wanted to live due to roots, personal ties or work. In recent years that margin has been increasingly narrowing in cities like Madrid or Barcelona, forcing buyers to consider your future beyondin metropolitan areas. There are even people who, taking advantage of teleworking and the improvement of public transport, decide to put their things in boxes and move dozens (or even hundreds) of kilometers away without giving up their jobs in Madrid. It is something that is already perceived, for example in Valladolidwhich has seen its registry grow thanks in part to Madrid residents who come there attracted by a more affordable residential market. There are around two hundred kilometers by car between both cities, but the AVE allows you to cover the journey in just over one hour. Click on the image to go to the tweet. Is it a real solution? The problem, like pointed out a few days ago José Manuel García Suárez in Their prices may still be lower in many cases than those paid on average in the capital, but that distance is being reduced little by little. What’s more, the more affordable their markets were initially, the faster they seem to be becoming more expensive, lowering their value as housing ‘havens’. What does that mean? Although housing in these locations is still cheaper than in Madrid, the m2 has begun to become more expensive than in the capital, which raises an uncomfortable question: Will they continue to be an alternative for those fleeing the capital? And if so, how long? The phenomenon is best understood with Idealista data. Right now on the real estate portal, the average residential m2 in Madrid is offered at 5,960 euros. Except for some luxury developments, there is no town in the province with such expensive housing. However, what Madrid no longer stands out for is the rate at which prices rise. According to Idealistahouses have become more expensive there by 12% in the last year compared to 16% in Pozuelo de Alcorcón, 19.8% in Majadahonda, 19.3% in Alcobendas, 16.2% in Rivas-Vaciamadrid or 20.8% in Getafe. Population Price (March 2026) Quarterly variation Annual variation Madrid €5,960/m2 +2.4% +12% Alcobendas €3,962/m2 +3.5% +19.3% San Sebastian de los reyes €3,861/m2 +3.4% +12.1% Three Songs €3,904/m2 +2.1% +16.9% Las Rozas €4,031/m2 +3.3% +19.2% Majadahonda €4,675/m2 +4.6% +19.8% Pozuelo de Alarcón €4,966/m2 +2.8% +16% Boadilla del Monte €3,924/m2 +2.6% +17.4% Mostoles €2,924/m2 +4.5% +20.6% Leganes €3,120/m2 +2.1% +20.2% Fuenlabrada €2,810/m2 +4.6% +19.6% Getafe €3,162/m2 +3.7% +20.8% Rivas-Vaciamadrid €3,241/m2 +3.4% +16.2% Coslada €3,121/m2 +1.7% +23.5% San Fernando de Henares €2,983/m2 +1% +20.9% But it was something to be expected, right? More or less. That housing is becoming more expensive at a faster rate in Fuenlabrada than in Madrid capital is in a certain way logical. The higher a value is, the more difficult it is for it to register large percentage increases. In other words: that in Madrid housing has risen by 12% and in Coslada by 23.5% does not have to mean, in net terms, that the latter requires disbursing a greater amount of money. Making the above clear, data such as those published by Idealista show that the real estate market is overheating more quickly in the periphery than in the metropolis. And that is relevant because it paints a scenario in which the metropolitan area stops being the “plan B” of those looking for affordable housing. The phenomenon also It is not exclusive to Madrid. Something similar is happening on the outskirts of Barcelona, which has seen how housing in Badalona, Santa Coloma or Cornella de Llobregat becomes more expensive at a faster rate than in Barcelona. What can we expect? The outlook is complicated for several reasons. Firstly, because the Madrid or Barcelona market does not give any signs that it is cooling, not at least as far as prices are concerned. Also in Spain they continue to be created homes faster than new homes are being built, suggesting that the deficit that stresses the market will not be corrected in the short term. The question is how that will affect large metropolitan areas. Teleworking and public transportation mean that there are more and more people willing to live far from their jobs (the number of those who live and work in different provinces has increased by 30% since 2019), but cases such as those in Madrid or Barcelona show that price increases do not take long to spread to new markets, especially targeting the most affordable ones. Image | Joshua Aguilar (Unsplash) In Xataka | In its crazy rise in housing prices, Madrid has just broken a barrier: that of the most expensive apartment in its history

Real Madrid, Premier League and the final of the Mutua Madrid Open. Everything in Movistar Plus+

May 1, 2026 by usatoday24

We have just started May, a month in which many sports competitions are decided. There we can include LaLiga, the Premier League or the Euroleague basketballjust to cite a few examples. If you like all this, you have a lot to see in Movistar Plus+: a platform that you can subscribe to regardless of which operator you are and what it costs 9.99 euros per month. Monthly subscription to Movistar Plus+ The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The last Clásico of the season can be seen on Movistar Plus+ Have you ever thought about trying this streaming platform? Any time is good, but if you like sports in general (and football in particular), now is a good time. Also, since it has no permanence, you can try it for a month and, if it doesn’t convince you, unsubscribe whenever you want. That’s also what your ‘Free Plan‘, although this is more limited in content. Now let’s go to the sports agenda (about premieres, we’ll talk a little further down). This weekend there are quite interesting things, especially on sunday: Espanyol-Real Madrid, Manchester United-Liverpool and the men’s final of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis. If that’s not enough, next week things are going to be intense with Bayern Munich-PSG and the Clásico. And movies? We have a huge catalog on the platform with several Oscar winners, such as ‘Sentimental Value‘ either ‘Weapons. Others will also arrive like ‘Gladiator 2‘ in the coming days, although we cannot lose sight of the Movistar Plus+ series. There are own productions on the platform that are very worthwhilelike the recently released ‘Yo siempre sometimes’ or others that have been around for longer but are hilarious, like ‘Poquita fe’. If you are planning to take a getaway these days, Movistar Plus+ could be very good for you. You can download whatever you want from the platform to watch it on the plane or train. In addition, it supports two simultaneous playbacks, so you can watch what you want wherever you are while someone at home continues enjoying the platform. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Movistar Plus+ In Xataka | Movistar Plus+ for non-Movistar customers: what it is, how much it costs, channels, additional services and how to contract it In Xataka | Movistar Plus+ activates its Free Plan with complete programs and a lot of content, regardless of which operator you are

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