When temperatures push into the high 30s and 40ºC range, much of Europe tends to slow down, grind to a halt, or struggle to cope. But in Spain, life continues in a way that is now catching the attention of neighbouring France, where officials are reportedly preparing to visit Spain to learn how the country manages extreme heat.

The idea is that Spain could offer practical lessons on adapting to increasingly intense summers, particularly in cities where extreme heat has become a regular feature rather than an exception. At the centre of that interest is Madrid, where even at 40ºC, the city continues to function.

France looks to Spain as heatwaves intensify across Europe

The French government is preparing a study visit to Spain to better understand how public services, infrastructure and daily routines cope with extreme heat. The move reflects growing concern in France about how to adapt to rising temperatures, particularly in urban areas where heatwaves are becoming more disruptive to transport, workplaces and public health systems.

Rather than focusing purely on emergency response, French officials are said to be interested in how Spain has gradually adapted its way of life, from working patterns to public behaviour, in order to function during prolonged periods of extreme heat. Spain, especially cities like Madrid, Sevilla and Córdoba, has long experience of dealing with summer temperatures that regularly exceed 35ºC and often reach or surpass 40ºC.

Madrid’s ability to function in 40ºC heat draws attention

The reference point repeatedly highlighted is Madrid itself, where summer heatwaves are now a familiar part of life rather than an exceptional event. Despite extreme temperatures, the city continues to operate with offices open, public transport running, and daily routines largely maintained, albeit adjusted for the conditions.

Life does not stop during heatwaves; instead, it shifts. That includes later working hours in some sectors, extended evening activity, widespread use of air conditioning in public spaces, and cultural habits such as avoiding peak afternoon heat. It is this combination of infrastructure and lifestyle adjustment that is believed to be attracting international interest.

What France hopes to learn from Spain

The focus is expected to be on practical adaptation strategies, local media reports that French officials want to examine how Spain manages:

• Public health responses during extreme heat 
• Urban planning and cooling strategies in cities 
• Work patterns and labour adjustments during heatwaves 
• Transport and infrastructure resilience 
• Communication with the public during heat alerts 

The aim is not to replicate Spain’s climate or geography, but to understand how systems can remain functional under sustained heat stress. As heatwaves become more common across southern and central Europe, governments are increasingly looking at cross-border learning rather than developing strategies in isolation.

Heatwaves becoming a shared European challenge

The interest from France comes as heatwaves are no longer confined to traditionally hotter southern regions. Countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands have all experienced record-breaking summer temperatures in recent years, leading to increased pressure on hospitals, transport systems and energy grids.

Spain is often viewed as a country that has had longer experience dealing with extreme heat conditions and has gradually built infrastructure and habits around it. This does not mean Spain is unaffected by heatwaves, far from it, but rather that adaptation has become part of everyday life over time.

Why Spain is being used as a reference point

Part of the reason Spain is attracting attention is because of how normalised extreme heat has become in many regions. In cities like Madrid, temperatures above 35ºC are not unusual during summer months, and 40ºC days are increasingly common. Over time, this has influenced how cities operate, from shaded public spaces to adjusted working hours and increased reliance on cooling systems.

A growing change in how Europe prepares for heat

As climate patterns continue to change, European countries are beginning to treat heatwaves with the same seriousness traditionally reserved for cold-weather emergencies. The reported French interest in Spain highlights a wider shift: learning how societies adapt, rather than only how they respond in crisis.

Whether through infrastructure, policy or daily habits, the focus is increasingly on resilience. And for Spain, long used to high summer temperatures, that experience is now being watched more closely than ever by its European neighbours.

Guardia Civil officers have detained three lawyers and placed eleven others under investigation over a criminal network that stole inheritances from deceased foreigners in Nerja. Authorities accuse the group of fraud, document forgery, identity theft, property usurpation, misappropriation, money laundering and organised crime membership.

Bank alert called for police probe

A Spanish bank fraud investigation team contacted police after noticing large unauthorised cash withdrawals from an elderly British client’s account at cash machines across the country. Officers discovered a Nerja lawyer listed with full powers on the account. Records showed the documents used to open it had been falsified, with the victim listed as twenty years younger. Further checks revealed the account holder had already died, yet the account continued operating normally. Two lawyers, both running practices that handled property deals and inheritances for foreign residents in the Axarquia area, were identified as the people withdrawing the funds.

Falsified will used to seize Swiss estate

Investigators linked the same group to the estate of a Swiss woman who died in a Nerja residential care home. Neighbours had provided her with food and clothing before social services arranged her admission due to mental health difficulties. The lawyers produced a forged will claiming she had handwritten it herself. They recruited other network members to act as witnesses, falsely confirming her handwriting and inventing a romantic link to a dead British man whose account they already controlled. The genuine heir, her son in Switzerland, received contact from one lawyer offering power of attorney to transfer the inheritance, including a Nerja apartment. He accepted initially but never received any assets and later reported the matter to Swiss authorities.

Extensive laundering operation uncovered

Over several years the three main figures are said to have carried out property transactions repeatedly, fake family donations, vehicle sales between associates, investment fund placements, ATM cash withdrawals and bank transfers designed to give illegal gains a lawful appearance. Total proceeds exceeded €1,000,000. Seven house searches in Nerja and Almuñecar come up with €200,000 in cash, jewellery, electronic devices and documents belonging to the deceased victims. Two of the detained lawyers have been remanded in custody while the third remains under investigation. The case, led by Nerja officers under Torrox court direction, remains open to identify more possible victims and participants.

Protecting foreign residents from exploitation

Foreign residents in Spain must treat inheritance and property matters with extreme caution, especially when elderly relatives live alone or have limited contact with family abroad.

Independent legal verification of any local representative prevents criminals from gaining control through falsified documents or powers of attorney. Regular communication with overseas heirs and prompt reporting of unusual bank activity or unexpected legal approaches reduce exposure to organised groups that target isolated foreigners. Official channels and registered wills provide stronger protection than informal arrangements in popular coastal areas.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are one of the most popular investment options available today.

They give investors easy access to many different assets without the high price tags seen in actively managed funds. But as user-friendly as these products are, finding an ETF investment for you is going to take some time and consideration. Here are a few things you should consider before making an ETF investment.

What is an ETF?

An ETF (exchange-traded fund) is a fund that owns a group of assets such as stocks and other securities. When you buy shares of an ETF, you buy a piece of the portfolio, which can include any asset the ETF holds.

So why do people invest in ETFs? Here are the top three reasons. ETFs can help diversify a portfolio, increase flexibility and provide a level of transparency and liquidity that actively managed funds just cannot provide. You can purchase and sell shares throughout the trading day, which is another bonus.

Define your investment goal first

When considering whether to invest in an ETF, the first step is to define what you’re looking to accomplish. Remember, not all ETFs are created equal, and if you don’t have a goal, the ETF you choose might not meet your expectations.

The investor saving for retirement, for example, will likely focus on broad-market ETFs, which tend to offer long-term growth prospects. Conversely, the income-minded may consider bond- or dividend-focused ETFs. Investors with regular monthly contributions may also look to market ETFs.

Whatever your goal, it should be at the centre, and you should remember it whenever building your ETF portfolio. If you don’t have an investment goal, you’ll never really know if any particular ETF investment is right.

Think carefully about diversification

One of the main reasons to buy an ETF is diversification. But not all ETFs offer the same level of diversification.

Broad-market ETFs spread your investment over hundreds, sometimes thousands, of different companies. This diversification can reduce the impact of one company having a bad year.

Sector and thematic ETFs can pose a higher risk. They concentrate on a single industry or theme, which can give your portfolio extra growth potential. However, funds like these can also be riskier. For most investors, a broad market ETF serves as a better building block for a long-term portfolio.

Know your costs, fees and liquidity

Even small costs can add up over time. Look at underlying expenses when comparing ETFs, including the expense ratio, and any additional management or performance fees.

Liquidity is also something to keep in mind. Highly liquid ETFs usually have tighter ratios in trades, which can make it both easier and less expensive to trade. While ETF investing fees are usually lower compared with most traditional investing methods, a cost comparison remains an essential step in making a choice.

Accumulating vs distributing ETF

You should also know the difference between an “accumulating ETF” and a “distributing” ETF.

An accumulating ETF accumulates any dividends paid into the fund, so they can help you to benefit more through compound interest. This makes them ideal for somebody looking to maximise their long-term growth.

A distributing ETF will pay any dividends out to you. For anybody looking to take a regular stream of income, this will suit you. You’re not going to miss out on more growth by the fund reinvesting your dividends.

Currency & domicile/tax considerations

Some ETF investments are made in other currencies. When there are fluctuations in the forex rate, this can have a big impact on your investment. It’s important to know how much of an ETF’s exposure is made up of other currencies.

Similarly, where an ETF is domiciled can also influence regulatory and tax considerations. Tax treatment can vary between different countries, so you might want to do some further research before investing.

Common mistakes made by ETF investors

One of the most common errors is buying a particular ETF because it’s popular or has experienced a run of good performance. Just because a particular ETF has done well in the past, it is no guarantee that the ETF will be a top performer moving forward.

Another is using multiple funds that own many of the same underlying investments (i.e. owning an S&P 500 fund along with a domestically focused Large Cap Growth fund). This creates unnecessary risk and can actually concentrate exposure to a single market or asset class. Individuals can also underestimate the risk in ETFs because they incorrectly think that owning a large number of stocks will smooth out all volatility in the marketplace.

Taking the time to understand objectives, costs, diversification, and structure can help investors avoid these common blunders…

How to build a smarter ETF portfolio

There is no doubt that ETFs can represent a useful and cost-effective way to generate wealth, achieve retirement goals, and accomplish passive investing with ease. However, this success largely hinges on how investors go about uncovering their risk profile, investment goals, time horizon, and asset allocation requirements. Ultimately, investors should avoid getting caught up in the “blogosphere” hype, as finding the right fund is more of an individual process. Take the time to carefully compare funds, keeping the above features in mind, and jump into your first ETF investment with purpose and a long-term outlook.