1 in 5 Covid-19 cases in the region of Valencia are caused by the British strain The proportion rises to 1 in 3 in Elche as the variant becomes more dominant in Spain The B.1.1.7 variant of Covid-19, better known as the British strain or the “Kent variant”, is continuing to spread across the Comunidad Valenciana..

Albanian Kosovars arrested after 131 warehouse robberies in Alicante, Murcia and Valencia 6 men were arrested despite attempting to evade detection by obeying the 10 pm Covid curfew In a joint operation, the Guardia Civil and the Policía Nacional have detained 6 people who were part of an extremely violent criminal organization which..

Orihuela to start archaeological dig at Bronze Age site in Los Saladares Experts believe the remains of the prehistoric settlement date back almost 3,000 years The Town Hall department of Historical Heritage in Orihuela has completed preliminary preparations at the Los Saladares site a few kilometres south of the city, allowing..

Orihuela will finally add a public footpath across the AP-7 after 16 years of waiting The project was started in 2003 but the developer never completed the work Orihuela Town Hall has announced its intention to finally complete a project set in motion 16 years ago to add a public pathway to the CV-941 bridge that extends over the AP-7..

No new Covid cases reported in Valencia region care homes The vaccination programme is slowing down the rate of contagions in care homes across Spain The Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that there are now “more people protected than infected” There may be problems with the supply and distribution..

Iberdrola investing 235 million into one solar plant in Alicante and two in Valencia The Spanish multinational intends to invest almost 14.3 billion euros in Spain over the next few years with almost half allocated to renewable energy The Iberdrola electrical company has announced plans to spend more than 235 million euros on three new..

7-day average of new coronavirus cases falls below 500 in the region: Valencia Covid 2nd March 585 new cases in the Comunidad Valenciana and 225 in the province of Alicante The official update issued on 2nd March by the Valencia regional government reports 585 new positive coronavirus diagnoses in the region and 225 in the province of Alicante...

Second runway and rail link at Alicante-Elche airport could thwart plan to legalize car hire firms The new infrastructures will reduce the space available for established businesses in the area The legalization of the rental and car park companies located around Alicante-Elche airport in El Altet airport will be conditioned by the second runway at..

Coronavirus traces in Alicante sewage drop to levels last seen before the second wave Only two parts of the city report high levels of genetic material and other areas have dropped to moderate and low levels The Alicante provincial authorities carrying out a weekly analyses of genetic material from Covid-19 in the sewage water in the city..

Resident fined twice in the same night for holding illegal parties in Petrer in western Alicante The police were called out at 11 pm and then again at 2 am to disperse the gatherings A report from the Petrer Policía Local details that the same man was fined twice in one night for hosting an illegal party. The police were called to the property..

8 arrested on drug charges in Santa Pola, Ibi and Torrevieja Officers found over 30 kilos of marihuana, 2.2 kilos of hashish and a “drug den” for heroin addicts Guardia Civil officers in the province of Alicante have detained 8 people for drug trafficking charges in three separate operations, which..

Unemployment total in Valencia region is nearly 457,000, 25 per cent higher than a year ago The February unemployment data is now clearly showing the effects of the pandemic Across the whole of the region of Valencia (the three provinces of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia), unemployment increased by 8,363 people, the total number of..

Valencia health service aims to administer 79,000 Covid vaccine doses this week In April the intention is to accelerate to a rate of 400,000 jabs per week A further 52,000 doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine were delivered to the regional health service of the Comunidad Valenciana on Monday morning and are now being distributed..

Alicante-Elche wins Airports Council International hygiene award for 2020 The honour is shared with 5 other airports in Spain and just 9 more in all of Europe Six Spanish airports have been named by the Airports Council International among 33 all over the world which are adjudged to have provided the best level of hygiene precautions..

Under 10,000 active cases in the region: Valencia Covid 1st March 360 new cases in the Comunidad Valenciana and 135 in the province of Alicante The official bulletin posted by the regional government on 1st March shows a continuation of the decrease in figures of the past few weeks, with 360 new coronavirus cases in..

Cloudy and cool with showers for the first week of March in the Costa Blanca Sunshine not expected to return to Alicante until next week Frustrated readers in northern Europe who might be hankering after the spring sunshine of the Costa Blanca can rest assured that during the first week of March they are not missing out on much..

Orihuela fells monumental palm tree after spending over 3,000 euros on transplanting it The 17-metre tree in the historic Palmeral of Orihuela died despite all efforts to save it Orihuela Town Hall has been forced to chop down a monumental palm tree in the Palmeral of Orihuela, after the tree was unfortunately pronounced dead. The palm was..

7 stuffed wild animals seized by the Guardia Civil in Santa Pola The owner was fined as he could not prove the taxidermies had been obtained legally Guardia Civil officers have confiscated seven stuffed wild animals, one of which was an endangered species, from a hunting refuge in the protected natural park in Santa..

500 kilos of plastic removed from the river Segura in Guardamar The Confederation wants to install grids in the river and has improved control of the water quality The CHS, the body which manages and administers the water supply infrastructures in the Segura basin, has removed half a ton of plastic waste, mostly containers..

Face mask no longer mandatory for people exercising outdoors in the region of Valencia Individuals exercising individually outdoors can dispense with their mask from 1st March The regional ministry of Health in Valencia has stated that it is no longer obligatory to wear a face mask while exercising or playing sport individually outdoors..

Only 335 new Covid cases in the whole of Valencia on Sunday: Valencia Covid 28th February Just 135 positives in the province of Alicante on the last day of February but the risk of contagion is still high The latest official update posted by the Valencia regional government on 28th February reports 335 new coronavirus cases across the region..

30-million-euros to build controversial 26-floor skyscrapers next to the Doña Sinforosa park in Torrevieja The 82-metre towers have been the subject of heated debate among residents and councillors Over the last few weeks an ambitious project to build two 26-storey residential skyscrapers alongside the Doña Sinforosa park in Torrevieja has been..

University Hospital of Torrevieja renews “healthy walks” for ICU patients Patients can now benefit from a stroll in the fresh air accompanied by medical staff The intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Torrevieja has resumed its “healthy walks” program for long-stay patients, an initiative which is part..

3 in 10 bars and restaurants in Alicante still closed due to a lack of outdoor seating space Over 2,500 businesses will have to wait until the interior spaces are allowed to re-open The lifting of anti-covid restrictions will allow terraces to open from 1st March, but not all bars and restaurants in the Costa Blanca will benefit from the partial..

Outdoor terraces open from Monday in the region of Valencia and perimetral closure to be lifted after this weekend 4 people allowed per table and a closing time of 6 pm in bars and restaurants The de-escalation of anti-covid restrictions will begin in the region of Valencia from Monday 1st March, including the lifting of the weekend perimetral closure which has been..

Mass vaccination will begin across Valencia Region from 1st April in 161 municipalitiesThe three provincial capital cities will have multiple vaccination points The president of the Valencian regional government has said that a mass Covid-19 vaccination scheme will begin on 1 April in 161 municipalities of the three provinces of Alicante..

Only 235 new coronavirus cases in the province of Alicante; Valencia Covid 25th February The 7-day average of new daily cases is 1,000 in the region of Valencia for the first time since October The official update posted by the regional government on Thursday 25th February reports under 1,000 cases in the region for the fifth day in a row..

Benidorm pizzeria owner arrested after robbing 73 cashpoints using explosives Removal of ATMs with tow trucks is the preferred method in Alicante with the latest incident in San Fulgencio this week! After a joint investigation with the Carabinieri in Italy the Policía Nacional have arrested an Italian pizza restaurant owner..

Obligatory booking needed to climb the Peñón de Ifach in Calpe The nature reserve will allow only 300 visitors per day from now on The natural park of Peñón de Ifach, the majestic headland which stands over the town of Calpe in the Costa Blanca, has announced that from now on visitors will need to make..

Rojales starts improvement and renovation projects on some of its oldest streets Water and sanitation pipes will be replaced and streets re-surfaced The building and services department of Rojales, home to a large population of British expats and other non-Spaniards, is carrying out a series of improvements, including the renewal..

Benidorm to partition its beaches from 1st March as Covid precaution The Mayor promises safety and enjoyment for beachgoers as hopes grow for a resumption of tourism With coronavirus case numbers having fallen sharply in the region of Valencia and the anti-pandemic restrictions beginning to be relaxed it has been confirmed..

Valencia health authorities map out optimal routes for Covid vaccinations at home Mobile units are sent to the homes of those who are unable to travel to the Primary Attention centres The Primary Attention centres in the Comunidad Valenciana are searching for the most efficient routes to administer Covid-19 vaccinations at home for..

Coronavirus case numbers in Alicante continue to drop steadily; 228 new cases on Wednesday The Wednesday update reports 228 new cases in the province and 530 in the region of Valencia The latest update published by the regional government on Wednesday afternoon details 530 new coronavirus cases in the Comunidad Valenciana and 228 in the province..

Bar and restaurant terraces to open throughout Alicante and Valencia from Tuesday 2nd March Outdoor terraces will be allowed to open at 50% occupancy until 6 pm After over a month of forced closure for bars and restaurants in the Comunidad Valenciana and unrest in the hospitality sector, the regional government has made the decision to partially..

Region of Valencia intends to restrict movement at Easter despite easing of coronavirus restrictions Ximo Puig and the regional government opt for caution amid fears of a fourth wave The Valencia government intends to extend the closure of the region’s borders until after Easter to avoid non-essential travelling that could contribute to the spread..

7.7-million-euro rehabilitation of the Eras de la Sal venue in Torrevieja to go ahead The project plans to completely restore the historic salt facility, home to the annual Habaneras festival The ambitious plan to rehabilitate the historic complex of Eras de la Sal in Torrevieja was presented on Tuesday morning and the project will be..

Video: dolphins sighted off the Orihuela coastA dozen or so dolphins were seen from the beaches between Cabo Roig and Campoamor A pod of a dozen or so dolphins was spotted near the coast of Orihuela this Saturday and were seen from the beaches between Cabo Roig and Dehesa de Campoamor. ¡#..

Exhumation of 11 executed by Francoists after the Civil War begins in Alicante this week The first of four exhumations of mass graves will take place in the Nuestra Señora del Remedio Municipal Cemetery The first exhumation in the province of Alicante of a mass grave in search of the remains of individuals executed by General Franco..

Restaurant-owner in Elche fined after attempting to hide customers After a long wait the Policía Local saw clandestine diners emerge from the premises A restaurant owner in Elche who had allowed customers to eat inside despite anti-covid restrictions faces charges after refusing to collaborate with the police..

Covid vaccination of over 80s to start in the region of Valencia this week 42,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine and 15,600 AstraZeneca doses for the over 80s and dependent groups Now that the first dose of immunization has been given to care home residents and members of the over 90’s group, the regional ministry of Universal..

Valencia government proposes partial re-opening of bars and restaurants from Monday Measures include a 6-person maximum per table and limited opening times After weeks of unrest in the hospitality sector over the forced closure of bars and restaurants, the regional government are finally starting to reveal when and how the de-escalation..

Passenger numbers at Alicante-Elche airport down by 90 per cent in January The UK roadmap out of lockdown raises hopes for visitors returning to the Costa Blanca in May The lack of holidaymakers in the Costa Blanca continues to be reflected in the latest data published by Aena, the group which manages almost all of the airports..

19-year-old arrested for muzzling a puppy with a sock in Altea The man faces charges related to the maltreatment of animals A 19-year-old man has been detained by the Guardia Civil in Altea for animal abuse after a two-month-old puppy was found locked in a room, tied to a wooden pallet and muzzled with a sock held..

Delivery driver in Alicante steals 250,000 euros of chocolate The man sold the cargo for only 1,200 euros before abandoning the 70,000-euro vehicle he was driving A delivery driver who had only been employed for eight days has been detained in Callosa de Segura, in the province of Alicante, for stealing 12,000 kilos..

Saharan dust blurs the views in the province of Alicante Visibility was greatly reduced due to the red dust in the air on Sunday For the second time this month dust from the Sahara Desert reached the province of Alicante this weekend, just over two weeks after “blood rain” left a coat of red dust..

Orihuela Town Hall contracts extra beach cleaning services Image: a throwback to pre-Covid times in February last year, with volunteers cleaning the beaches of Orihuela and not a facemask in sight! The contract will reinforce the cleaning services already offered by the municipality Orihuela Town Hall is..

Over 90’s to be vaccinated against coronavirus in Torrevieja this week The Health department has received 91 vials of the Pfizer vaccine to reach 546 patients The Health department in Torrevieja has started administering Covid vaccines to citizens aged 90 and over and the immunization campaign aims to have vaccinated 100..

22 arrested in Alicante and in the Region of Murcia on drug trafficking charges 34 kilos of cocaine and and crystal meth seized in raids in Murcia, the Vega Baja and Aspe The Policía Nacional have brought down a drug trafficking group operating in the province of Alicante and the Region of Murcia, arresting at least 22 individuals..

Woman freed after over a year of imprisonment in a garage in Alicante The Algerian victim was forced to do housework and held in sub-human conditions Guardia Civil officers in Alicante have freed an Algerian woman after she was imprisoned for over a year in a garage at a home located in Agost, inland from the city..

Boundary closures in major towns and cities for the fourth weekend in a row in the Comunidad Valenciana Travel restrictions are once again in place from 3 pm on Friday until 6 am on Monday For the fourth consecutive weekend the perimetral closure designed to bring down coronavirus infection rates in the Comunidad Valenciana affects 16 cities and large towns..

Valencia company develops first Covid-safe holy water dispenser for use in places of worship The dispensers are being installed in churches and cathedrals around Spain and enable the holy water that had been removed from churches at the start of the pandemic as a safety precaution, to return The coronavirus crisis has certainly created a significant..

Alicante City Council to impose 30 km/h speed limit on 156 streets The adjustments are part of the “Ciudad 30” plan to reduce pollution and increase road safety The department of Mobility and Traffic in Alicante City Council has divulged that they will be reinforcing the signage in order to slow down traffic..

Supposed UFO sighting in Alicante explained away by bolide experts A strange circular light was seen across the province leading to speculation on social media Speculation abounded on social media sites on Wednesday after several people saw a strange circular light in the sky at around 7.00 in the morning in the province..

Rail travel disruption between Murcia and Alicante as essential maintenance is undertaken Services between Murcia and Alicante will be disrupted Work is still reported to be progressing well on the infrastructures which will eventually allow the city of Murcia to be incorporated into Spain’s AVE high-speed rail network, but in the meantime..

La Vuelta 2021 passes through Alicante province and Valencia region between August 19 and 21 La Vuelta a España starts on August 14 in Burgos and concludes in Santiago de Compostela on September 5 The official presentation was made on Thursday of the 2021 Vuelta a España, cycling’s Tour of Spain, an event which is one of the..

Brexit collides with 1975 military law in Spain; British housebuyers must now obtain military permits in parts of the Vega Baja (Note: the limit of the military importance zone is not exact but approximate) Purchasers from third countries buying in areas designated as “Zones of Interest for National Defence” along the coastlines of Spain must obtain a military permit..

Sterling tumbles on gloomy outlook for British economy TORFX exchange rate news Read our latest exchange rate news and plan your currency transfers for the right time. This week’s rates Weekly Highs Weekly Lows GBP/EUR €1.1278 €1.1043 GBP/USD &..

The Spanish tax deadline approaches for owners of second homes In Spain. Spanish Taxes Online Do you own a second home in Spain? The deadline for Modelo 210 tax submissions is looming on December 31 st – and a new service, Spanish Taxes Online, can save you hundreds in fees. As well as loads of time and all the hassle of having to interact..

US Dollar surges as corona virus panic sweeps through markets TORFX Weekly exchange rate news Read our round up of the latest exchange rate news and plan your currency transfers for the right time. This week’s rates Weekly Highs Weekly Lows GBP/EUR €1.1098 €1.0985 GBP/USD &..

Pound fluctuates on Brexit uncertainty TORFX exchange rate news Read our round up of the latest exchange rate news and plan your currency transfers for the right time. This week’s rates Weekly Highs Weekly Lows GBP/EUR €1.1100 €1.0960 GBP/USD &..

Make savings when moving money to your Spanish bank account An essential part of many expats’ lives is moving your savings, wages, or pension from your country of origin to your Spanish bank account. If you use your bank to manage your currency transfers you could be losing out due to transfer fees and uncompetitive..

Understanding the Funeral Process in Spain helps to avoid stress at a difficult time In Spain, it is the norm to plan ahead for your funeral. It’s all part of making things easier for the family and loved ones. The cost of a funeral in Spain continues to rise and most Spanish families take out some kind of funeral plan to cover..

Villajoyosa Roman ingot exhibited in Madrid archaeological museum The Bou Ferrer wreck is believed to date from the time of the Emperor Nero One of the ingots which have been retrieved from the “Bou Ferrer” Roman ship, which was wrecked in the 1st century AD off the coast of Villajoyosa, is now on display in..

Extreme weather conditions leave trail of damage across Valencia Region Torrential rain and winds gusting over 85 km/h cause damage throughout Valencia The storm which swept across the Comunidad Valenciana on Monday caused significant damage and disruption in the three provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellón, with..

Generalised Gota Fria warning issued for this weekend Aemet have issued a generalised warning for this weekend, with Sunday likely to register heavy rains Halloween weekend looks like being a bit of a damp squib for all those who have organised outdoor events and planned to spend the Festivals of All Saints..

Beware fraudsters. 8 things your bank will never ask you to do Fraud is on the increase, particularly on the internet so be aware of potential scams Fraud hurts and there’s nothing worse than being ripped off by an unscrupulous conman. Although the internet is one of the most useful tools for rapid communication..

British residents living in Spain must now make passport applications online The new process aims to minimise errors for those living here in Spain Passport applications for Britons resident overseas must now be made via the GOV.UK website All British residents living in Spain must now make their passport applications online..

Save money and transfer your pension to Spain using a currency broker How to save money when transferring a pension to Spain Even with the global economic crisis taking a toll on housing prices and living costs, the prospect of retiring to Spain remains an attractive one for many people – particularly those dreaming..