Representatives of several associations got together last week in the Rocajuna offices of lawyers ArocaSequier when the Solidarity Fiesta Calendar 2015 was presented. Andy Ormiston explained that this is the ninth charity calendar which various chari...

The Orihuela Costa town hall has inaugurated the proposed information table that will offer advice on the procedures and documents required to ensure that residents of Orihuela are correctly registered on the voting list, and therefore do not miss the...

The clock is ticking. For those who are not on the voters' list, there are less than three months till the list closes at the end of December. C.L.A.R.O. is launching a campaign to increase the number of registered voters in Orihuela Costa and we...

Nearly 100 people demonstrated in front of the Playa Flamenca Post Office on Saturday morning to protest against the withdrawal of home postal deliveries in five Orihuela Costa urbanizations. The Orihuela Costa is not unique in this situation, as i...

Fundraising continues apace for the film The Cucaracha Club, our very own community project here on the Costa Blanca. Some of the female cast volunteered to be ice bucketed in a wet t shirt challenge on the beach front at Playa Flamenca last weekend. ...

Three patera boats arrived in Torrevieja on Thursday morning containing the latest wave of 20 illegal immigrants, five of which are said to be minors (this will be subject to the relevant medical tests for verification) The chief operating officer of...

QUICKER BY BUS

Despite the high demand RENFE has stopped the direct train service between Alicante and Sevilla. The service, which they introduced at the end of June was said to be ‘experimental' with an end date of August 31. However the company did say that if there was demand the service would continue. With the cessation of the route the only option when traveling to Andalucía will be for passengers to change trains in Madrid.

BODY IDENTIFIED

Police on the island of Majorca have said that a dead woman found floating dead in the sea 6 weeks ago was a French tourist and they have refused to rule out murder or suicide as possible causes of her death. Although they are aware of her identity they have not yet released her name. The woman was said to be between 20 and 30 years of age and unaccompanied during her time on the island.

ELECTRIC SHOCK

An 18 year old man was electrocuted in Mallorca at the weekend when he answered the call of nature at the base of a street light whilst leaning against the lamp post, suffering a fatal electric shock as a result. Ambulance staff and police reached the scene within minutes of the accident but despite every effort, they were unable to save the young man's life. He was said to have been be out partying and enjoying the annual summer fiestas in Bunyola.

ROAD DEATHS

Good news for road users as the number of deaths recorded on Spain's roads during the holiday months of July and August fell by 4%. There were a total of 223 fatalities during the period, 10 deaths less than the same period of 2013. However the data was said to be provisional and only applying to Spain's 'interurban' roads.

JOBLESS UP

Jobless figures went up again in August with the unemployment services registering 8,070 new jobless claims, to reach a total of 4,427,930 people who are out of work. August also saw 97,582 fewer contributors to the Social Security system, mostly explained by seasonal factors, in that many temporary education and health contracts came to an end last month.

PLAY THE GAME

Telefónica chairman César Alierta and Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said at the UIMP summer university course in Santander, that the European Union should treat Google, Apple and Facebook in the same way they treat telecom companies. “How can you have an entrepreneurial spirit in Europe if you have to deal with 27 sets of regulations?” said Vittorio Colao. “In the US you have 300 million consumers and just one set of rules. It's not fair that Facebook or Whatsapp, who have a billion users, don't have to follow the same rules we do.”

ARM RIPPED OFF

A 28 year old man lost his arm last week as he drove with it hanging out of the window. Emergency services said that he caught it on some iron bars along the side of the Ibiza town-San Antonio road when it was hanging out of his car window, and it ripped off from the elbow as he was unable to brake in time. A Guardia Civil medical helicopter found the arm on the side of the road and flew it to the Can Misses Hospital in the hope that it could be sewn back on.

SHOWING PROMISE

The Gibraltar Liberal government has celebrated 1,000 days in office. In that time the government has fulfilled over 300 of its 2011 manifesto promises. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: “It has been a positive and constructive 1,000 days. The government has moved in a fast and responsible manner in order to give effect to what is promised.

CASA TOM COMMUNITY CHOIR

From 8 September 2014, Casa Tom Community Choir meets every Monday at 2.00pm for 2.30pm. It is a mixed choir and all levels are welcome. No auditions, no solos. Make new friends and have a good time. Location: Casa Tom, Avenida JACA 31, San Luis, Torrevieja. Phone or email Terry for details. Phone: 647-189-135. Email: casatomsanluis@gmail.com.

AGE CONCERN

It is with regret that, unfortunately, due to the shortage of Volunteers, Age Concern has had to close their Information Office at the Playa Flamenca Town Hall. Anyone wishing to contact Age Concern can still use the Playa Flamenca published telephone number of 697176154 or contact the Day Centre in La Siesta on 966786887, we are still there to help.

ROYAL SPLIT

There is increasing speculation that the marriage of the former King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are about to announce their divorce. It is no secret that the pair have led virtually separate lives for many years and late last week the Italian newspaper La Repubblica claimed that an official statement has been released by the Royal Household, claiming that a Royal separation “is imminent”.

OPERATIONAL CORVERA?

Murcia's Regional Minister of Development, Manuel Campos, has said in an interview on Spanish Radio that "Corvera International Airport could open as early as April 2015". This is the same Minister who just last month said that the airport would be operational by March 2015. In the same interview, however, he was unable to say when AENA will be fully compensated for the 75 Million Euro they have invested in San Javier Airport, a payment which needs to be made before they will agree to close the older and much smaller airport.

CAUGHT RED HANDED

Local police arrested three men on Monday evening after surprising them while they were robbing a warehouse in La Matanza, Orihuela. The men, aged 16, 17 and 51 entered the building through a broken window. When arrested they were in possession of a large quantity of scrap metal, aluminium bars and copper wire.

BRAIN DRAIN

Eurostat, the official statistics agency of the European Union, has said there are an increasing number of University Graduates who are choosing to leave Spain and seek employment overseas. The reports says that he UK is the most popular destination for applicants (55%), followed by Italy (10%) and Germany (10%), with Teaching, Nursing and Law leading the brain-drain exodus.

COSTLY LIBRARIES

A controversial new library tax is set to be introduced in Spain with libraries ordered to pay €0.05 for every registered user that checks out books at least once a year, and a further €0.04 to authors when their books are borrowed. Each library has been told that it is responsible for reporting its own records to the tax office. A trial of a similar scheme was introduced by the EU in 2007, which collected just €127 across the whole of Spain.

BARE FACED GERMANS

According to Expedia's annual ‘Flip Flop report', Germans continue to dominate Spain's nudist resorts. The report says that, for the third consecutive year, when it comes to stripping off, Germans were the most likely to sunbathe fully nude. The report also says that nearly half of Spanish women have gone topless at the beach with some 4.1 out of 10 female Spaniards having no problem stripping off at least their bikini tops.

DEADLY SIESTA

A man in the Valencian town of Benicarló has shot dead his neighbour during an argument over a dog and its barking. The victim, aged 64, was spending his summer holidays in the town but was killed when the neighbor said that he was unable to take an afternoon nap because of the noisy dog.

SLIP OF THE TONGUE

Carlos Olías de Lima, a stadium announcer working at the Basketball World Cup in Bilbao, has lost his job after making a sexist remark over the PA system. The announcement was made during a performance by a group of cheerleaders on Saturday when he was heard to say “One should be so lucky as to be able to spend a night with one of them...” A few days later Olías de Lima, who has been the announcer for Bilbao Basketball club for the last 12 years, was fired for his remarks.

ROAD DEATHS

Good news for road users as the number of deaths recorded on Spain's roads during the holiday months of July and August fell by 4%. There were a total of 223 fatalities during the period, 10 deaths less than the same period of 2013. However the data was said to be provisional and only applying to Spain's 'interurban' roads.

JOBLESS UP

Jobless figures went up again in August with the unemployment services registering 8,070 new jobless claims, to reach a total of 4,427,930 people who are out of work. August also saw 97,582 fewer contributors to the Social Security system, mostly explained by seasonal factors, in that many temporary education and health contracts came to an end last month.

PLAY THE GAME

Telefónica chairman César Alierta and Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said at the UIMP summer university course in Santander, that the European Union should treat Google, Apple and Facebook in the same way they treat telecom companies. “How can you have an entrepreneurial spirit in Europe if you have to deal with 27 sets of regulations?” said Vittorio Colao. “In the US you have 300 million consumers and just one set of rules. It's not fair that Facebook or Whatsapp, who have a billion users, don't have to follow the same rules we do.”

ARM RIPPED OFF

A 28 year old man lost his arm last week as he drove with it hanging out of the window. Emergency services said that he caught it on some iron bars along the side of the Ibiza town-San Antonio road when it was hanging out of his car window, and it ripped off from the elbow as he was unable to brake in time. A Guardia Civil medical helicopter found the arm on the side of the road and flew it to the Can Misses Hospital in the hope that it could be sewn back on.

It is with regret that, unfortunately, due to the shortage of Volunteers, Age Concern has had to close their Information Office at the Playa Flamenca Town Hall. Anyone wishing to contact Age Concern can still use the Playa Flamenca published telephon...

LAND AHOY

The Cartagena based yacht 'Carmen' skippered by Joseph Coello claimed victory on handicap in the 50th edition of the Cruise from Torrevieja to Cabo Roig in which twenty boats took part last Tuesday morning. The Murcia boat ‘Malice' out of San Pedro was the first to cross the finish line taking one hour and twenty-seven minutes to complete the 10.5 nautical miles. 'Carmen' finished 2nd while in 3rd place was the Norwegian yacht 'Apex' sailed by Ole-jan Midttun.

COLOURFUL BIRTHDAY

'Petita', the most famous elephant in Terra Natura Benidorm, celebrated his 42nd birthday on Saturday with a colorful Hindu battle. The elephant sprang to fame when he was disowned by his herd as he was considered to be "ugly". According to Terra Natura, Saturday's party was the only 'Holi' festival in Valencia to commemorate the birthday of an elephant.

COURTEOUS BRITS

A recent survey by holiday site Tavelzoo shows that BRITISH tourists are thought of as the heaviest drinkers while on holiday. The Spanish are said to be the most likeable travellers, with the French ranked as the least popular. Almost half of Spanish respondents claimed UK travellers are the least generous when abroad, but the Germans think they are humorous, courteous and helpful.

DRUG CLEANUP

The authorities in Ecuador seized 7.8 tons of liquid drugs, assumed to form the ingredients of cocaine, disguised as disinfectant and heading to Spain. The company responsible for the cargo declared 7,000 litres of the fake disinfectant, bound for Valencia.

NO FLYBE

Airline Flybe will not be extending its routes from Exeter to Spain and Portugal in the winter, with the last flights to Alicante, Faro, Malaga and Palma scheduled for the 30th of September, 2014.

LIPSTICK BEAUTY

Beauty Queen Patricia Yurena Rodríguez, crowned Miss Spain in both 2008 and 2013, has been praised for opening up about her sexuality, by posting an intimate picture of herself with her girlfriend, singer and DJ Vanesa Cortes, on Instagram. Now the only known openly gay beauty queen, both gay and women's groups have praised her actions.

IRISH TEENAGER HELD

An Irish teenager is in custody on an attempted murder charge after a street fight on the Costa del Sol. The 17-year-old was part of a group of Irish holidaymakers who got into a row over a girl during a night out in Puerto Banus. His brother allegedly punched a friend unconscious before the teenager kicked him in the head as he lay on the ground

BACK IN RING

MATTHEW MACKLIN, the Marbella based boxer, whose proposed fight against Argentine fighter, Jorge Sebastien Heiland in a WBC eliminator on August 30 was postponed after his trainer, Jamie Moore, was shot in Marbella, is set to return to the ring on September 27, on the Felix Sturm - Paul Smith WBA middleweight ‘Super' title fight undercard in Kiel, Germany. His opponent is as yet unnamed.

COUNTRY PURSUITS

POLICE have uncovered a marihuana plantation in a private bullring in the Almogía area of Malaga! The ‘plaza de toros' is located within the grounds of a country estate in Los Pilones. It had effectively been converted into an enormous greenhouse housing hundreds of marihuana plants, with plastic sheeting covering the arena.

NO LOGO

A second protest has been organised against fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, who is using a sacred Islamic symbol in his products. The demonstration will take place on the 8th of September, with the hashtag #TakeOffJustLogo being used on social network sites to highlight the complaints of the members and supporters of the Islamic community.

STUPID IS

A 51 year old Belgian resident of the Girona town of Empuriabrava was seriously injured this week, when he stood under the path of a fire fighting plane, which dropped 1,500 litres of water onto him. Police believe that the man was attempting an extreme version of a stunt known as the “Ice Bucket Challenge”, which was being filmed by another person. The aircraft was dropping its load prior to landing, having been involved in fire fighting duties.

TURTLE RISK

The body of a two-metre long turtle was found near the beach in Huelva this week, showing signs of decomposition. One of the largest breeds of turtles, the species faces an increased threat of extinction, a state which has been declared as “imminent”. Eating the daily equivalent of their own weight, overfishing poses a risk to their food supplies, as does the increasing threat of pollution from engine oil and vessel strikes. They are also prone to digesting waste products in the sea, such as plastic bags which they mistake for jellyfish, being caught in fishing nets and face an increase problem in finding safe places to lay their eggs.

GARDENS AT RISK

Residents of Alicante have complained to the city council about the neglect currently being experienced by the centre's parks and gardens. They say that the shrubs and trees in La Rambla haven't been pruned for 3 months while a lack of irrigation is putting the plants at risk in the green spaces of el jardín del Portal de Elche and la plaza de Gabriel Miró.

TUNNEL VISION

National Police Officers in Elche discovered a tunnel last week, 150 feet long, eight feet deep and two by two meters wide, running from a house in la calle Calderón de la Barca to the vicinity of the Banco Popular in an adjoining street. Although no arrests have yet been made they are currently scrutinizing tapes from the security cameras of a nearby bar where the alleged tunnellers regularly ate.

AGE CONCERN

Age Concern re-opens today after the summer break and they are in need of more volunteers. for the day Centre in La Siesta and their shops in Los Montesinos and Torrevieja. Additionally, they need volunteers to join the Residential Home Visiting Team and to act as Be-Frienders to elderly and lonely people in the Playa Flamenca, Quesada and Torrevieja areas. Call 96 678 6887 for information.

NO NO

Both Spain and Belgium would block an independent Scotland's application to join the European Union, a former president of the EU's finance council has predicted. Ruairi Quinn, an Irish politician, said the secessionist movements in both countries meant it was "highly probable" their parliaments would vote against Scotland joining.

COSTA GOURMET

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that Homo sapiens in Spain ate snails around 30,000 years ago, 10,000 years before the French, whose escargot dish is now celebrated. Excavation at the Cova de la Barriada, Benidorm, say that the shells were found near human constructs believed to have been used for cooking, evidence that they were a part of human diet during the period.

GANG BANG

Police in Mallorca have dismantled a Bulgarian prostitution network operating on the island. A total of 12 people, eleven Bulgarians one Spaniard, were detained on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean, after an eight-month investigation. Bulgarian women gave their clients drugs in order to rob them, Spanish Terra Network's online news service reports.

BOARD NOW

The planning department of Torrevieja town hall has issued notice of around 120 illegal advertising billboards which it aims to demolish. Warnings were issued in both Torrevieja and Orihuela that these boards, most of which are on public land and lack authority and insurance, would be removed.

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

El castillo de Almirra, 50km inland from Benidorm, is to become the first site declared to be a World Heritage site of special historical significance by even though it is currently being rebuilt. The castle was the site where the crucial pact was made between Aragon and Castile which drew the boundaries between the two realms. It was also the location where, in 1244, an agreement between King James I and the then Prince Alfonso of Castile, gave birth to the former Kingdom of Valencia.

A POLITICAL LOT

After enjoying a two-month holiday, deputies sitting in Les Corts resume their parliamentary duties on 16 September, with the general policy debate, one of the most important events of the new session, almost two weeks after Valencia's schoolchildren returned to their duties.

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE

The courts in Torrevieja are investigating ex-councillor José Manuel Pizana, who may face charges of forgery, in relation with a case which was shelved in which the Partido Popular held an election rally in an unauthorized building. The politician testified that he was not at the meeting where the arrangements for the rally were made, but the certified minutes state that he attended.

INCOME TWEETS

Twitter´s Spanish subsidiary is coming under fire for being the latest multinational company to shift taxable operations to Ireland, thus avoiding paying into Spain´s economy. Having earned around a million euro, the profit declared by Twitter in Spain is just over 26,000 euro. Globally, the company is expected to earn the equivalent of a billion euro this year.

PILOT OVER HERE

The pilot of a Spanish fire fighting plane, a 43 year old Chilean national, which dropped 1,500 litres of water onto a 51 year old Belgian national as part of a prank has been charged by the police with gross negligence injury. The main hypothesis is that the pilot and the victim had agreed to carry out the dangerous move, in order to film the event and post the video on YouTube as an extreme Ice Bucket Challenge.

NEW AECC CENTRE

The Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer , AECC, will open a new centre on the Orihuela Costa on the 5th of September, with the provincial president, Pablo Enríquez Valens, attending the opening. The centre will deal with both Spanish and foreign residents, and will work closely with the centre in Torrevieja, just a short distance away.

GOOD CAR-MA

Car make General Motors has begun assembling their the Opel Mokka sub-compact SUV in their Spanish plant at Figueruelas this week, a model that had previously been manufactured exclusively in South Korea.

FADING AWAY

Although the summer temperatures in Spain may have exceeded many previous records, there is an apparent and unexpected benefit to some visitors to the country as cyclists taking part in the Vuelta a España, the tour of Spain competition, are said to be losing 10 pounds in weight each day, despite having to drink 12 bottles of water each day.

GENEROUS VISITORS

In the first 7 months of the year, foreign tourists spent 34.497 billion euro in Spain, a 7% increase over last year, with British tourists leading the way having handed over 6.812 billion euro, a rise of 7.1%. The average daily spend per tourist stood at 109 euro, increasing by 0.4% year-on-year, with the overall spend being 950 euro, around the same as last year.

FEELING DEFLATED

Deflation in Spain deepened more than expected in August, with consumer prices falling by 0.5%, compared to 0.3% in July. Analysts had anticipated a 0.2% drop in August, sparking fears over deflationary pressure in the euro zone's fourth largest economy.

The councillor for the coast, Martina Scheurer, has explained this week how the town hall departments of the coast and tourism have collaborated with the company providing beach services, Chiringuitos del Sol, in providing approved and additional acces...