The USA will face Spain again on Monday, April 21 at Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano in Alicante to finish the trip. The young Americans got off to a great start, scoring just five minutes into the match as forward Lilah Helwig finished a rebound off a shot from forward Daphne Van der Weide that had been parried by the Spain goalkeeper. Spain responded right away, equalizing two minutes later via a free kick from Ivet Franch Blanco. Spain then took the lead in the 13th minute with Maria Rius Villamana finishing a rebound off a save by U.S. goalkeeper Brooke Volpp. The USA equalized just before half as midfielder Mia Corona converted a penalty kick that was earned by Utah Royals forward KK Ream, the only professional on the U.S. roster. Spain took the lead in the 58th minute off a header from Villamana and then went up two in the 65th off a corner kick goal from Maria Valladolid Curiel. The USA pulled one back late as Van der Wiede converted her one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper in the 87th minute, but it was too little, too late for the USA. These were the first international goals at this age level for all three U.S. scorers. All the U-16s on this trip are age-eligible for selection to the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Morocco later this year. Match: United States U-16 Girls’ National Team vs. Spain U-16 Women’s National Team Venue: Estadio Guillermo Amor; Alicante, Spain Weather: 68 degrees; Sunny with mild breeze USA: 1-Brooke Volpp (12-Lola Ta, 46); 3-Elena Vera, 6-Anaiah Williams (16-Rachel Lawless-Felarca, 79), 14-Meila Brewer, 22-Emily Baxter (13-Marin Kotschau, 46); 4-Loradana Paletta (8-Grace Murray, 62), 5-Taylor Morrell (24-Gabrielle Johnson, 83), 10-Mia Corona (Capt.) (15-Carolina Reyna, 46); 11-KK Ream (18-Maddie DiMaria, 46), 9-Lilah Helwig (20-Camila Palafox, 79), 17-Daphne Van der Weide Subs not used: 2-Kendra Hansen, 19-Amari Manning, 7-Deus Stanislau, 21-Malia Zillman ESP: 1-Antia Veiga Carames, 4-Georgina Morante Marquez (21-Sata Perez Serrano, 73), 5-Abril Rius Sanchez (Capt), 17- Maialen Valladares Mesa (15-Abril Diaz Martin, 46); 20-Maddi Martin Iglesias; 10-Vera Molina Moleon (2-Mabel Sierra Biera, 62), 14-Elena Vizuete Cano (12-Angela Galvez Castellano, 46); 18-Maria Rius Villamana (6-Avril Rius Sanchez, 62), 11-Lidia Gibert Magdaleno; 8-Laia Cabetas Mejias, 7-Ivet Franch Blanco (24-Claudia Sande Dominguez, 62) Subs not used: 11-Lidia Gibert Magdeleno, 18-Maria Rius Villamana, 10-Vera Molina Moleon, 7-Antia Veig Carames ESP – Maddie Martin Iglesias (Caution)49th minute Assistant Referee 1: Naiara Martinez (ESP) Assistant Referee 2: Angela Asensio Borderia (ESP) Fourth Official: Gabrielle Alex Birtles (ESP) singer of the first opening of Dragon Ball TV series will be at the Salon del Manga de Alicante / Alicante Manga Fair today Saturday 26th and tomorrow Sunday 27th of April https://www.facebook.com/JapanWeekendOfficial/posts/pfbid029ngttGRnN82joER1nZA5xKqeU7QFiXjqKRkAiKYibRgUk9cj6KYhoU8D44p3raCjl https://www.japanweekend.com/alicante/ Discover a way to enjoy that music live in SoundTrackFest Here you will find all the information you need to live your favorite Soundtracks and meet the Composers Photo Credit: Alicante city from above Adobe Stock Select a question above or ask something else Following Alicante's recent move to stop licensing any more short-term rental properties officials and residents in the popular coastal city are weighing in on the measure The town stopped issuing permits for more short-term rentals for the next two years Its goal is to “preserve the housing supply available for long-term rentals and future purchases by our residents,” urban planning councilor Rocío Gómez told Skift “Our main aim is to take care of our neighborhoods and citizens always taking into account the tourist character of our city,” Gómez said The city council commissioned an independent report about the state of short-term rentals in Alicante finding 3,292 properties lacked proper licensing.  The estimated 4,108 tourist flats in Alicante comprised approximately 2% of the total housing stock.  “This report recommended us to establish a moratorium on new licenses in order to have time to reorder this sector,” Gómez said Asked if overtourism played a role in banning additional short-term rentals Gómez said: “Alicante doesn't have a problem with overtourism “We are proud of our sunbathed and lightful city and we welcome tourists to visit us,” she said Tourism provides between 15% and 20% of Alicante's gross domestic product and it remained important for the city to supply “the best accommodation” to tourists.  it was “essential to preserve the housing supply” for residents and a large number of tourist rentals “could undermine this supply.” The city council said it would conduct zonal studies to define the specific zones where tourist-use properties will be permitted and those where they will not “We are going to assess all neighborhoods to address how many short-term rentals are allowed in each neighborhood and review all the laws over tourist lets,” Gómez said The city has a population of about 350,000 but over 70,000 expats from Britain live in the region Alicante takes third place for numbers of foreign residents in Spain said The Association for Solidarity with Immigrant workers (ASTI Alicante) Alicante is just the latest in a number of Spanish cities to ban short-term rentals to relieve pressure on housing supply. Alicante is banning short-term rentals in a move it says Malaga banned short-term rentals in over 40 neighborhoods and Barcelona's mayor announced last summer that the city would ban them completely as of 2029.  are also exploring measures to control short-term holiday rentals Athens has introduced a one-year ban on registering new apartments for short-term rentals as authorities seek solutions to the Greek capital's housing shortage The law bans new short-term apartment registrations in several Athenian districts including in-demand areas such as Kolonaki “Many cities and countries are struggling with how to regulate the short-term rental market We are taking some important first steps in that direction we will not hesitate to do them,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a speech in Thessaloniki in September.  Wanderlust follows the latest stories in tourism and experiences from across the globe you agree to receive email communication from Skift Tags: athens, greece, short term rentals, spain Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news Already a subscriber? Login Alicante has imposed a two-year moratorium on new short-term rental licenses to protect the housing supply for long-term residents An independent report revealed that a significant number of rentals were unlicensed and the city aims to regulate the sector without affecting tourism This move aligns with broader trends in Europe where cities are capping short-term rentals to address housing shortages New users get20% offtheir first year of Skift Pro the event focused on real-world solutions for restoring marine ecosystems with particular emphasis on coastal resilience in the Mediterranean - a region that exemplifies both the urgency of the problem and the potential for impactful change The Ocean Race has inspired millions to connect with the sea blending sport with a deep commitment to sustainability The Ocean Race Summits build on this legacy acting as catalysts for collaboration and driving meaningful action and business leaders to come together and explore ways to strengthen society’s relationship with the ocean The tone for the day was set by Elisabetta Balzi Head of the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters who joined on live video to deliver a rousing keynote: “We really need to work all together - from scientists to citizens to governments We really need to join forces because there are some really big challenges ahead of us.” Balzi’s call for unity resonated throughout the day echoed by speakers who shared innovative insights and inspiring strategies for ocean restoration Guiding the discussions with insight and energy Marine Ecologist and Ocean Citizen Science Mediator provided a space where diverse perspectives converged Her ability to foster dialogue brought the day’s themes to life leaving attendees with a sense of purpose and possibility The Summit featured an exceptional line-up of speakers from across sectors and regions each contributing their unique perspective: The Summit also featured regional leaders such as César Bordehore PhD Biologist at the University of Alicante Head of Sustainability at the Cartagena Port Authority who highlighted innovative Mediterranean-focused restoration efforts Restoring Coastal ResilienceSpeakers presented pioneering projects like Volvo Cars’ biodiversity initiatives and successful coastal restoration efforts in the Mediterranean showcasing scalable solutions with global implications The Ocean Race Europe 2025A dedicated panel examined how the upcoming race will amplify the urgency of ocean advocacy and host city representatives shared insights into the transformative potential of combining sport and sustainability Relay4Nature CeremonyThe Relay4Nature ceremony provided a poignant moment as Nature’s Baton passed between leaders symbolising the shared commitment to advocating for ocean protection The Summit offered an invaluable space for reflection and exchange and start building frameworks for future action As we look forward to The Ocean Race Europe 2025 and beyond the message is clear: protecting our blue planet is not only possible Find all the latest weather and climate change news here or join our Alicante Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article The cuisine is excellent and the wine so cheap it makes me want to cry But there’s one thing Spain doesn’t have: Haribo Twin Snakes I snarl at anyone who tries to approach me and even avoid the Big Issue seller outside Waitrose Over the winter I have devolved into something like Gollum so used to the darkness that I now avoid the light and the kindly society of my peers The first two social encounters were with women much younger much better-looking and almost certainly much more intelligent than me but they wanted to go out with me for a drink And as I am still just about in a position where I can buy my round Romance is definitely not on the cards – I’ve had it with that nonsense – but it does no harm to the ego to be seen in public with such people The other people were my friends D— and N— who invited me round for a roast dinner for no reason that I could think of and also given to absolutely shameless puns You thought my “take a wok on the wild side” last week was bad His puns leave that one at the starting gate I won’t inflict any of them on you – you’d throw this magazine to the floor and cancel your subscription has to put up with them on a regular basis D— has what younger people might call considerable dad energy He has a TEAC reel-to-reel which impresses me mightily “You might want to know,” he says with a sly smile at one point “why I have two identical amplifiers on that shelf.” N— rolls her eyes She not only knows this story; she has lived through it and he tells me how he jury-rigged them together to fix a problem with the channels Normally it’s Ben and his wife who invite me round for meals but he has gone off to his flat in Alicante He bought one there a few years ago with the intention of moving out there (unlike many a British expat he can actually speak Spanish and loathes Nigel Farage) but Brexit put paid to that so now he’s only allowed to go there for 90 days in a six-month period His Brighton gaff I have already written about It’s the tower block with the junkies in the stairwell and the scaffolding and blue netting around it which cuts off almost all natural light and is driving the residents crazy (Brighton & Hove Council seems to go the extra mile when it comes to spoiling people’s views it would seem: D— and N— have a lovely view of the South Downs from their front room ruined by a huge and ugly hotel and conference centre just where you don’t want it.) As the head of the residents’ association but that netting’s going to be staying up there for another couple of years at least He has written to Angela Rayner in the hope she can tell the council to get a move on and as I happen to know that either she or someone close to her reads this column I would like to add my voice to his petition I have been keeping Ben up to speed with recent political developments The most recent one was Trump thinking it’s illegal to boycott Tesla This elicits a rant over the phone from Ben which goes on for a full half hour at one point wondering how he can meaningfully boycott Tesla cars if he doesn’t have a driving licence He pauses to make a gross ad hominem attack on me “learning to drive is the only way you’ve succeeded as a grown up.” I am about to reply that I am so grown up I don’t even have sugar in my tea or coffee any more but then I remember I ate a whole bag of Haribo Twin Snakes in a sitting last night The weather out there is lovely and flights can be ludicrously cheap The cuisine in Alicante is excellent and the wine is so cheap it makes me want to cry He says all I have to do is pack a toothbrush: I can buy any clothes I need out there for practically nothing But he has worked out that I am not grown-up enough to buy an EasyJet ticket all on my own and so will take me out there himself the next time he goes he is cutting his stay short and will be coming back early [See also: Inside the media circus] This article appears in the 19 Mar 2025 issue of the New Statesman, The Golden Age Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain is coming back to Alicante for the third year in a row The event will also offer more than just burgers Food trucks like Cheeck’s will serve fried chicken Those with a sweet tooth can visit Ioan’s Bakery for doughnuts and Puto Café for coffee and tea options like espressos A new feature this year is a neon entrance arch inspired by classic American highways which will light up on the first day of the event Visitors can also enjoy various recreational activities during the festival it will now visit over 40 cities from February to December More than four million people attended the event in 2024 across 18 cities it will head to Madrid from April 24 to May 11 More cities will be announced throughout the year the 35 most-voted burger restaurants will face off in a final competition in December to decide who takes home the title of “Best Burger in Spain Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Spain: Alicante City Council has imposed a two-year ban on new licences for short-term holiday rentals in order to address concerns over mass tourism and local available housing supply The moratorium in the city comes into force with immediate effect urban planning councillor Rocío Gómez said that it would “emphasise the need for stricter enforcement and a comprehensive review of rental practices” while stating its aim to “purify all those homes that do not comply with the regulations” The council vote was met with only one vote against the measure and two abstentions A recent report that was commissioned by Alicante City Council revealed that there are an estimated 4,108 holiday rental properties in the city representing 2.31 per cent of the total housing stock in Alicante it is believed that 3,292 properties are currently operating without the sufficient licensing the council may look to impose strengthened limits on holiday rentals and the duration for which they can be rented out each year as well as to establish a public registration system to crack down on illegal rentals Gómez said that her primary goal behind the measure was to prioritise the wellbeing of residents in Alicante – one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Europe Meanwhile, in-demand island destinations such as the Balearic and Canary Islands are also working on new regulations with the latter recently announcing plans to ban the construction of new holiday homes for at least five years It was her second goal of the trip after she scored in the first game vs. Spain as well, that one coming just five minutes into the match. Forward Daphne Van Der Weide helped create the goal, winning a tackle in Spain’s defensive third. Helwig then dribbled into the penalty box before finishing low into the right corner. Spain had taken the lead deep into first-half stoppage time on a score from Angeloa Galvez Castellano. Match: United States U-16 Girls' National Team vs. Spain U-16 Women’s National Team Venue: Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano; Alicante, Spain Weather: 68 degrees; Sunny with a few clouds USA: 21-Malia Zillman; 13-Marin Kotschau (22-Emily Baxter, 46), 23-Brooklyn Vann, 16-Rachel Lawless-Felarca (4-Loradana Paletta, 59), 2-Kendra Hansen (3-Elena Vera, 50); 24-Gabrielle Johnson (10-Mia Corona, 46), 8-Grace Murray (6-Anaiah Williams, 59),15-Carolina Reyna (5-Taylor Morrell, 79); 7-Ella Stanislaus (17-Daphne Van der Weide, 79), 18-Maddie DiMaria (11-KK Ream, 46), 19-Amari Manning (9-Lilah Helwig, 79) Subs not used: 14-Meila Brewer, 1-Brooke Volpp, 12-Lola Ta, 20-Camila Palafox ESP: 23-Goiatz Ferraz Ibarrondo; 4-Georgina Morrante Marquez (20-Maddi Martin Iglesias, 76), 15-Abril Diaz Martin, 3-Aliza Fernandez Exposito (17-Maialen Valladares Mesa, 66); 12-Angela Galvez Castellano (14-Elena Vizuete Cano, 76), 6-Avril Serrano Morreno (5-Abril Rius Sanchez, 90), 8-Laia Cabetas Mejias, 7-Ivet Franch Blanco; 11-Lidia Gibert Magdaleno (24-Claudia Sande Dominguez, 34) (10-Vera Molina Moleon, 90); 9-Maria Valladolid Cureil (19-Elsa Ayats Serrano, 66) Subs not used: 21-Sara Perez Serrano, 16-Jana Muro Diaz, 18-Maria Rius Villamana, 1-Antia Veiga Carames, 13-Martina Campa Cuevas, 22-Eva Blanco Gonzalo ESP – Avril Serrano Moreno (Caution)13th minute Assistant Referee 1: Leticia Lorenzo Lista (ESP) Fourth Official: Talia Arcos Navarro (ESP) Archaeological excavations carried out in La Vila Joiosa have brought to light more than 4,000 fragments of an ancient Roman mural painting carried out in the old Roman village of Barberes Sur has uncovered some of the most important rooms that made up a luxurious villa thought to have been built during the first years of the second century The work was supervised by the Municipal Archaeology Service in close collaboration with the Alebus Historical Heritage company the city’s local museum have collaborated in the cleaning of the villa The surprising discovery was found on an area of 840 square meters, thought to be located next to the old road that once connected the Roman city of Allon, now La Vila Joiosa with what we now call the Marina Baixa region In a communication posted in the La Vila Joiosa Ayuntamiento website experts leading the archaeological works say the walls of the villa were likely built with tapial a complex technique based on compacted clay although they probably collapsed over time The fragments of painted plasterwork that once covered the walls were extracted one by one by the team of restorers The research work carried out in the museum has revealed the rich decoration of the room and it has even been possible to reconstruct part of a panel with 22 fragments of the 866 fragments documented in the collapse These elements include designs inspired in vegetal shapes alternating with birds and topped by a moulding at the top This is not the first instance of ancient Roman remains found in this area, as the south east of Spain is influenced by its Roman heritage. Last year, remains from a High Roman Empire ship which once sank off the coast of La Vila Joiosa on its journey from Cadiz to Rome Its replicas were then handled by UNESCO and featured in an exhibition that brought the pieces all around Europe a Premier Partner of The Ocean Race unveiled two new coastal health initiatives under the Volvo For Life Fund “As a company rooted in the coastal city of Gothenburg we hold the health of our coastal ecosystems close to our heart,” Volvo Cars Head of Global Sustainability Vanessa Butani said earlier today at The Ocean Race Summit Alicante The Volvo For Life Fund is a global fund supporting projects that aim to empower people and provide protection when natural disasters strike It brings Volvo’s safety heritage into the future to ignite hope for people Today unveiled here at the Ocean Race Summit in Alicante the Volvo For Life Fund launched two new coastal health initiatives in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and the University of Gothenburg These projects aim to preserve biodiversity and support local communities Butani stressed that the health of the ocean and coasts is vital for sustaining biodiversity and ensuring the livelihoods of millions around the world Clean and thriving marine environments contribute to climate stability “With the world's current triple planetary crisis – climate change pollution and biodiversity loss – it is simply not enough to just focus on CO2 emissions and it is our greatest ally in the fight against climate change through critical carbon dioxide absorption by forests and oceans” She also highlighted that ocean and coastal ecosystems protect and improve water quality support maritime and terrestrial biodiversity contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and provide nature-based solutions that help adapt to the effects of climate change such as protection against coastal erosion and prevention of flooding “The timing and place of this announcement is no coincidence We are at The Ocean Race Summit to encourage action for ocean health and we are proud to announce our partners here Sustainability is about so much more than CO2 emissions and Volvo Cars will continue to take significant steps to address our impact including coastal health,” Butani continued Held under the themes “Restoring society’s relationship with the Ocean and Connecting Europe,” The Ocean Race Summit Alicante gathered representatives from The Ocean Race Europe 2025 host cities solutions and policies for ocean health in the Mediterranean and beyond Volvo Cars ambitious work with coastal health restoration and biodiversity Representatives from host cities of The Ocean Race Europe also shared their best practices in water management and blue economy “Over 80% of life on Earth is found in the Ocean a substantial part of it in coastal regions,” says Richard Brisius the Race Chairman of The Ocean Race.“Together with Volvo Cars we are part of a movement working for a healthy Ocean We are excited that The Nature Conservancy and the University of Gothenburg are joining us on our journey with a focus on coastal health” Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race announced an extension of their 25 year partnership well into the new decade Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race both share the strong commitment to a more sustainable future and to contribute and deliver actual change where it’s needed including in the restoration and preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity it is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales to customers in more than 100 countries Volvo Cars is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange where it is traded under the ticker “VOLCAR B” To give people the freedom to move in a personal sustainable and safe way.” This purpose is reflected in Volvo Cars ambition to become a fully electric car maker and in its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint with the ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 Volvo Cars employed approximately 43,400 full-time employees marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg Volvo Cars; production plants are located in Gothenburg The company also has Research and Design centres in Gothenburg and Shanghai (China) The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other it has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the greatest sailors and been the proving ground for the legends of our sport The 14th edition of The Ocean Race started from Alicante in Italy on 1 July 2023 after visiting nine iconic cities around the globe the American 11th Hour Racing Team won the race which was contested for the first time in the flying The Ocean Race celebrated its 50th anniversary during 2023 and is looking ahead to The Ocean Race Europe in 2025 Germany; The Ocean Race Atlantic - New York to Barcelona in 2026; and the next edition of the around the world race we have a proven commitment to sustainability and with the support and collaboration of our sailors we are inspiring action and creating tangible outcomes Building upon our award-winning legacy in sustainability our innovative Racing With Purpose programme is a catalyst for positive change while accelerating innovative solutions to help restore ocean health Alicante is currently working on restoring a newly discovered Roman archaeological site in La Almadraba The site contains the remains of a Roman villa connected to the ancient city of Lucentum and dates back to the 3rd and 4th centuries AD The goal is to turn this space into an open-air museum so that residents and visitors can explore and learn about the city’s Roman past The area was first excavated in 2009, and that work is now being completed as part of the redevelopment of La Almadraba. So far, archaeologists have uncovered the foundations of Roman houses, well-preserved ceramic pieces, Roman coins, and an Islamic-era fire pit. Once the excavation is complete, the next step will be to prepare the site for visitors. The remains of the housing structures, which mostly consist of foundations, will be partially reconstructed to give a clearer idea of what these Roman rooms looked like. Wooden walkways will be installed to guide visitors around the site, and informative panels will be placed throughout to explain the discoveries. Alongside the remains of Roman homes, archaeologists have found many ceramic items and coins that help tell the story of how long this area was inhabited. These include Campanian pottery from as early as the 2nd century BC, Iberian painted ceramics, coins from the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius, and various types of fine and everyday Roman pottery dating from the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD. Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox! Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Website#d927b611a4005b74fe7dddca{display:none} Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE! Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home. With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close. Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE. Download our media pack in either English or Spanish. Exclusive: easyJet allowing passengers to postpone flights by up to 72 hours or take voucher I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Transport systems are unravelling in Spain and Portugal following massive power cuts across the Iberian peninsula The electricity supply in both countries appears to have shut down at around 12.30pm local time – hitting everything from traffic lights to trains While the exact cause of the shutdown is still not clear the impact on travellers is all too evident Spain is by far the biggest draw of any overseas country for British holidaymakers, and Portugal is also very popular The Independent estimates about 500,000 tourists are currently in Spain – including the Balearic and Canary islands Portugal remains a popular destination for British travellers An estimated 70,000 UK holidaymakers are in the country hundreds of thousands of British people are long-term residents of Spain and Portugal The Foreign Office travel advice is fairly general It says: “We are aware of reports of power outages across Andorra mainland Spain and mainland Portugal and are monitoring the situation check with your tour operator or airline for more information before travelling Follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local updates.” The aviation analytics firm Cirium says over 500 flights were due to operate from UK airports to Spain and Portugal today, representing nearly 100,000 seats. While there was no complete closure like Heathrow last month when a power cut happened At Lisbon, TAP Portugal has cancelled dozens of flights in and out of the Portuguese capital. British Airways has grounded at least one round trip from London Heathrow Madrid is also badly affected. If power is not fully restored quickly later on tonight there could be problems with the normal overnight departures from both Madrid and Lisbon to Latin America on which thousands of passengers are booked three out of 10 flights from Lisbon have been cancelled so far – a total of 96 departures Nine flights from the UK to Portugal are grounded fewer than 3 per cent of departures are grounded More than 6,000 flights to and from Spain were expected today Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca seeing the highest numbers.Portugal was expecting 1,400 flights At 5.20pm UK/Portugal time (6.20pm Spanish time) the delays in minutes in arrivals/departures are as follows at the key airports: EasyJet has cancelled four flights to and from Bristol The key holiday airports of Alicante and Malaga in Spain do not appear to be badly affected. The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands are seeing only cancellations of domestic flights announced that at 12.30pm power to its network had been cut halting trains and throwing stations into chaos – with Spain has by far the most extensive high-speed rail network in Europe with dozens of trains each hour on the busiest route from Madrid to Barcelona – which came to a halt at various locations on the fast lines the Metro networks were halted – with passengers trapped on trains and in stations underground Anyone who decided to take a taxi instead will have found gridlock as traffic lights failed Portuguese Railways are not affected by power outage – because of a strike by rail workers that brought all services to a halt With up to 100,000 passengers due to travel from Spain and Portugal to the UK today some are asking: “I am booked to travel home from Spain or Portugal If your flight goes ahead (even with a delay) then the airline is entitled to say, “tough luck, claim on your travel insurance” In practice they may well offer the chance to book on a later flight – but planes are flying very full so it may take some time to find a suitable departure The Independent has asked British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and Tui for details of the impact on their operations and the policy for passengers who inadvertently miss flights home. An easyJet spokesperson said: “Power outages in Portugal and Spain are impacting access to some airports and affecting some airports operations including Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona. “As a result, like all airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flying programme meaning that some return flights from Lisbon and Madrid have been unable to operate. Our flying programme at Porto and Faro airports is operating as planned. “As the situation remains fluid, we are advising customers to check local travel advice and our flight tracker for information on their flights. For passengers who are in Spain or Portugal and unable to travel to the airport today, we are providing free of charge transfers to an alternative easyJet flight within 72 hours or a flight voucher.” “Although this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience and continue to monitor the situation closely.” The other response so far has been from Ryanair: “Due to a general power outage affecting mainland Spain and Portugal today Mon 28 April, we are monitoring potential disruption to flights operating to/from all airports in mainland Spain and Portugal. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this power outage, which is outside of our control.” Dozens of flights linking the UK with Spain and Portugal are being cancelled or heavily delayed as a result of the power chaos. Whatever the cause of a long delay or cancellation, the airline is obliged to provide meals, and if necessary, accommodation until you can reach your destination. When a flight is cancelled, the airline must offer an alternative departure as soon as possible – including on a rival carrier if it is the only way of getting you to your destination on the same day. Cash compensation is not due, as the cause is beyond the airlines’ control. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies King Signs with Spain's Lucentum Alicante08/02/2024 | Men's Basketball Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. had been on holiday in Alicante when he was reported missing in December A Belfast man whose body was found in Spain had been stabbed and shot John George, 37, a father-of-two from west Belfast, also known as John Hardy, had been on holiday in Alicante when he was reported missing in December Several members of his family, including his brother Darren and father Billy, travelled to Spain to help in the search and a body was found earlier this month A man has appeared in court in Spain on suspicion of his murder Solicitor firm KRW Law, representing the George family, said in a statement that relatives had received a post-mortem examination report from the Spanish authorities They said it indicated that Mr George had been stabbed before being shot and added that they had instructed another pathologist to conduct a second post-mortem examination “We can confirm the family have received an autopsy report from the Spanish authorities,” KRW Law said “The findings point to John having been stabbed before being shot “As a precautionary measure and in order to make sure we have absolute clarity on the cause of death we have instructed another pathologist to conduct a second autopsy on John’s remains we have been liaising with the family together with the coroner’s office the appointed pathologist and nominated funeral director on the logistics engaged in this very sensitive matter “It is hoped that the second autopsy will be completed at some stage early next week.” the family were “encouraged by the latest development confirming the issuing of arrest warrants for a suspect in relation to John’s murder” “They are hopeful that all engaged authorities will pursue implementation of the warrants in order to take the case to the next very important stage of the investigation,” the firm added Spanish authorities have now issued three arrest warrants for an individual suspected of Mr George’s murder, according to the BBC. Earlier this month, officers arrested a 32-year-old man who has since been bailed. DI Jennifer Rea, from The Police Service of Northern Ireland, said earlier this month: “My thoughts are, first and foremost, with Mr George’s family at this distressing time. Our dedicated family liaison officers continue to provide support to the family, and we continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies. govt and politics"},{"score":0.626552,"label":"/law Family now discover he was ‘stabbed and shot’","description":"John George The arrival of the tram in Alicante 22 years ago changed the way people get around the city and the surrounding areas With Alicante continuing to grow the time has come to expand the tram system even further One planned line would start at the new Intermodal Station and pass through Benalúa and La Florida heading towards Mercalicante and Pla de la Vallonga along Ocaña Road Another proposed route would start at the General Hospital it would cross the Gran Vía and Red Bridge to reach the Barco roundabout on Calle México A third line would also begin at the General Hospital, travelling along Gran Vía and through Garbinet to Avenida de Denia. This route would connect public transport across the city from Playa de San Juan all the way to San Gabriel A fourth route would also head north from the hospital but instead of following the current Line 2 towards the university it would go along Avenida de Novelda to Ciudad Jardín The last proposed route would run underground from Luceros to Marq then continue along Avenida de Denia and Bulevar del Pla to Santa Faz The plan also highlights the need to keep tram stops between 400 and 800 metres apart and to introduce park-and-ride facilities to reduce traffic in the city centre Website#e74f8ad213483dbca7dfdc7a{display:none} Portuguese producer Tom Enzy has teamed up with HUGEL and Italian duo Danny Roma x Matrix on their new release ‘Alicante.’ The track is available now on Make The Girls Dance Records ‘Alicante’ merges Tom Enzy’s signature production with HUGEL’s expertise and Danny Roma x Matrix’s innovative approach they’ve created an energetic mix of tribal house The track showcases sophisticated percussion and dynamic rhythms while Gonzalvez’s trumpet melodies flow through atmospheric soundscapes The breakdown blends atmospheric pads and vocals before dropping back into the groove Listen to ‘Alicante’ below and secure your copy here. in Alicante as part of “Operation Tafi24,” on suspicion of carrying out more than 80 home burglaries in the coastal town of Jávea (Alicante province) led by the Investigation Unit of the Jávea Guardia Civil began in July 2024 after a spike in burglaries affecting both primary and vacation residences The intruders typically operated when the properties were unoccupied gaining entry using the so-called “slip method”—a technique that bypasses the door latch without causing visible damage Following months of surveillance and intelligence work officers identified the suspects and carried out coordinated raids on April 9 at two homes in Alicante city and another in Villajoyosa The operation involved support from the Reserve and Security Group (GRS) No Special Security Response Units (USECIC) from Alicante and Torrevieja and a specialized canine unit trained to detect currency The reinforcements were deployed due to the possibility that the suspects could be armed or attempt to resist arrest Searches at the properties uncovered a wide array of stolen items electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops Many of the recovered items have already been returned to their rightful owners Investigators confirmed that the suspects were part of an organized criminal group operating systematically in the region have extensive criminal histories and previous prison sentences for similar offenses Their arrest marks the dismantling of a local burglary ring and restores a sense of security to residents of Jávea The suspects were brought before the Court of Instruction No The Guardia Civil urges residents to report any suspicious activity in residential areas and thanks the public for its vital cooperation which was key to the success of this operation Log in to leave a comment © 2021 The Leader Digital will officially be inaugurated on Saturday The event will follow a concert starting at 6:00.PM in the square located at the intersection of the Rambla and the Explanada Traditionally displayed in the hall of Alicante Town Hall, the scene will be moved to Espacio Séneca for Christmas 2024-25 due to the ongoing restoration of the Town Hall façade This Nativity Scene has held its Guinness World Record title since 2019 the addition of the Three Wise Men enhanced the display Guinness World Records officially recognises it as the “Largest Nativity Scene Figurines.” The figures are monumental: Baby Jesus in the manger stands at 3.32 metres tall Joseph reaches an incredible height of 18.05 metres with a width of 4.70 metres and a depth of 3.07 metres a person standing 1.70 metres tall would only reach Joseph’s ankle Alicante has asked the Ministry of Transport to extend discounts on urban transport passes until December 31 These discounts are currently set to last until June 30 The aid will apply to urban transport in Alicante The Governing Board approved a request for direct aid agreeing to cover at least 20 per cent of the price reduction for multi-trip passes and tickets and tourist passes in the Coordinated Metropolitan Transport System (TAM) Alicante City Council will continue offering a 50 per cent discount on city bus multi-trip passes until June 30 The City Council will cover 20 per cent of the discount with the Government covering the remaining 30 per cent the 30-day urban bus pass now costs €20 instead of €40 The Móbilis Multi-Trip pass with 10 trips is €4.35 (half of €8.70) and the 30-trip Móbilis pass is €13.05 instead of €26.10 The Ruta 4/30 Youth pass costs €7.50 (down from €15) and the Móbilis Jove pass for people aged 16-30 with 30 trips is €10.60 (down from €21.20) Similar discounts apply to the Móbilis Oro pass for seniors over 65 and the Móbilis Escolar pass for children aged 5-15 your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt has highlighted a colourful setting that seems to have been taken from the most creative minds of the Asian peninsula - but perhaps it was inspired by a Spanish design is a building that seems to have copied the colourful scenery of the series Designed in the 1970s by the visionary architect Ricardo Bofill this building is not only a dream for architects and photographers but also a magnet for fans of the series and the real locations who want to feel like they are on their way to one of the deadly sets (although here the greatest danger would be getting lost among the staircases) With its 50 private flats, secret courtyards and interconnected narrow streets, The Red Wall is inspired by Arab and Mediterranean architecture. But what really makes it stand out is its colour palette: pastel pinks and blues that look like they were made for Instagram. The trick? According to the experts, the colours highlight the reliefs and create fascinating shadows, giving the building a surreal air. A bit like the series, it's hard to believe that the South Korean government doesn't account for the disappearance of at least 455 people (since one of them wins the prize) on an annual basis But don't get too excited, because getting in is not that easy. While you won't be kidnapped, this architectural oasis on the edge of the cliff is privately owned (from which you can rent a house via AirBnB) so only one of the flats is open to the public But there's nothing to stop you from wandering around and capturing those dreamlike sea views Although it has always been a popular place, success came with 'The Squid Game'. The creators of the series may have taken inspiration from constructions like this for their sets (although it's not officially confirmed) and the result has been (and is) a pilgrimage of fans looking to recreate the experience.. without the mortal perils and without the financial prize And as if its architectural fame and stardom in 'The Squid Game' weren't enough The Red Wall has also conquered the world of video games It turns out that the Ustwo studio was inspired by this iconic building to bring the second instalment of its hit game 'Monument Valley' to life A visual puzzle that combines dreamy architecture and geometric settings that look like they came straight from the mind of a designer with too much coffee a princess who traverses impossible landscapes that would make any GPS sweating the developers couldn't find a better muse than The Red Wall to give her that magical a touch of why does getting lost work here So, if you visit Calpe and see someone in a pink jumpsuit briefcase-wearing gentleman offering to play a similar version of Ddjaki don't be alarmed: it's probably just another excited tourist Just make sure you don't get lost in the stairwell or end up in a secret courtyard- and don't forget to take a photo for social media Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open You are visiting us because we have something you value Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. FEARS ARE GROWING for a missing Irish tourist last seen at Alicante airport on Saturday Barry Kelly’s sister Colette sent out an SOS alert on social media overnight She wrote on an expat Irish Facebook group alongside photos of her brother sitting in the sun outside an ice cream parlour: “My brother is missing He has no charge in his phone and very little It was not immediately clear where in Ireland Barry comes from or what age he is and whether he was trying to get back home when he vanished Colette says on Facebook she is from Leitrim on the River Shannon in County Leitrim Police could not be reached early this morning for comment on Barry’s disappearance Create an email alert based on the current article Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin to get a comprehensive email with all the week’s news for Spain Get a sneak peek – here are a few of our recent Subscription Bulletins: On the eve of the much-anticipated Three Kings’ Day and Baltasar with a parade that has been celebrated for centuries The Three Kings’ Parade has its origins in the Christian celebration of the Epiphany which commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus in the manger Although the tradition of the Epiphany was established in the 2nd century the custom of the Parade in Spain was consolidated during the 19th century The Three Kings Parade is set to take place on January 5 in Alicante and various other towns and cities across the Costa Blanca The route for Alicante’s parade has been confirmed and is expected to draw large crowds the Council estimates that over 60,000 people will attend the event and enjoy the parades and entertainment that accompany it To help with visibility, 6,000 seats will be installed along the parade route. These seats are priced at €4. Seats can be reserved online through the vivaticket.es website with a maximum of eight seats allowed per person Tickets are also available at the Bullring box office until January 4 The parade will begin at Plaza de los Luceros and make its way to the Town Hall One of the main attractions of the parade is the distribution of 5,000 kilogrammes of sweets and 2,000 toys which will be thrown from the floats for children to collect Entertainment will include performances by three dance groups accompanying the floats depicting biblical scenes with children’s entertainment at the bullring At 6:00pm the Three Kings will be officially received at the bullring The parade will start at 7:00pm when the Three Kings arrive at Avenida de la Estación and will conclude at 9:30pm with their greeting from a stage in Town Hall Square A group of travel journalists from New York will visit Alicante for two days to experience the city’s top tourist spots and later feature them in major publications The Alicante City & Beach Tourist Board is working to increase Alicante’s visibility in the North American market through this promotional visit The trip is organised by the Spanish Tourist Office in New York with support from the Ministry of Tourism and the Alicante Costa Blanca Provincial Board Arriving on March 23, the journalists will tour key landmarks, including Santa Bárbara Castle A key focus will be Alicante’s designation as Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy The Tourist Board will provide insights into the city’s cuisine including a hands-on rice cooking workshop and a guided tour of the Central Market to showcase local products The journalists represent top media outlets such as CNN ensuring Alicante gains international exposure Beneath the moss-covered mountains of the Sierra Helada National Park, overlooking the Mediterranean sits one of the world’s top destinations for integrative health and wellness. SHA is a two-hour flight from London to Alicante followed by a 40-minute drive to the secluded hilltop clinic This is the original SHA Wellness Clinic, but they’ve recently opened SHA Mexico SHA attracts those seeking a complete lifestyle reset that targets emotional and physical well-being Although they offer first-rate spa facilities the focus here is getting to the root of your health issues through diagnostics aiming to reset your lifestyle with habits that have an immediate health impact and change your habits for good once you return home SHA is popular with everyone from celebrities and CEOs to those just looking for a health MOT and answers to niggling issues When he was recovering from a serious illness he began following a strict macrobiotic diet that followed the Buddhist traditions of balancing yin and yang His wellness trajectory was so impressive that he felt he needed to share his experience with others He developed this integrative medical clinic traditional medicine and holistic treatments under one roof Perietti’s sons are now part of this family business This is the one-stop shop to cure all those maladies with thorough medical testing and integrative wellness practices Many come in a bid to find a cure for an ailment that modern medicine alone hasn’t managed to solve There are extensive high-tech testing facilities (including on-site blood testing) so every possibility is covered when it comes to getting answers Though SHA offers weight loss and detox options even the most restrictive of menu plans is truly delicious – a big selling point The entire ethos of SHA is centred around rebuilding health and wellness from the inside out There are numerous packages and programmes to choose from adding in extra treatments like an incredible Watsu treatment that uses water therapy to soothe muscles and rebalance the mind through gentle stretching or ozone therapy to help boost immunity and lower inflammation there are options for those who are pregnant or have medical issues – email the team who can advise the best programme before you book One of the newest programmes is Leader’s Performance rebalancing and therapies for those who work in stressful environments you’ll be advised which experts you’ll be seeing Your programme will be tailored depending on your needs and the outcomes of your tests Many request an appointment with Dr Bruno Ribeiro who specialises in neurocognitive assessments and treatments like transcranial stimulation (a non-invasive magnetic form of brain stimulation) there are lots of ways to relax and recuperate try a yoga class or take part in a cooking class to change your habits and gain new skills make the most of the glorious locale by hiking the surrounding mountains and There’s a gym with personal trainers and bookable padel courts End your stay with a beauty treatment for a top-to-toe refresh The rooms at SHA are comfortable and modern flooded with natural light with a minimal Muji-chic vibe Some rooms have roof terraces and an in-room jacuzzi Some of the programmes can be a little intense so speak to the team if you need to plan in some downtime Add a massage into your schedule if it feels too jam-packed This is the place to fix all your health woes in one go You’ll return home with a new outlook and approach to your health and well-being routines The high season has started at Alicante-Elche Airport and the first big challenge is approaching: Easter From April to October, the airport will offer 226 routes to 135 airports in 120 cities across 30 countries After two months of record-breaking flight numbers and a busy March expected to break more records the airport is ready for a large influx of travellers airlines have scheduled 360,000 seats to the Costa Blanca A third of these seats will come from the United Kingdom, the region’s largest market, with about 120,000 seats. The UK is well-connected with Alicante, with flights to four London airports and other cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. The new Jet2 base at London-Luton has also increased service with 19,000 seats across 15 routes to cities like Berlin now the fourth busiest airline at Alicante even taking over routes previously abandoned by other carriers A grand vision is taking form in Alicante’s Rabassa district where Intercity football club’s Alicante Park stadium promises to make €100 million annually through concerts and sports events The club’s feasibility study paints a glossy glitzy picture: a multifunctional venue generating jobs and delivering an €87 million economic input to the province With 30 events yearly drawing 250,000 visitors The innovative dual-site design features shared facilities, including a 20,000-capacity open-air concert space with a permanent stage and 5,000 fixed seats, along with a football stadium for Intercity’s matches also starting with 5,000 seats but easily expandable for bigger events Music tourism is the ace up Alicante Park’s sleeve made even more attractive by the area’s sunny climate The study predicts €15–20 million in salaries from new jobs Intercity touts ‘significant economic benefits bringing plenty of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for local businesses