Readers of the Costa Blanca News Facebook page responded to the headline ‘Pier repairs still in the pipeline’, with the report appearing on page 16 of this week’s paper. A town hall spokesman noted that the council board has approved the procedure to put the works out to tender for €8.46 million. However, many readers want the job speeded up. Isabella Palmer said she ‘walked on it two weeks ago, the boards are really bad and unsafe in places. I stayed on the paved path. Shame really cos its lovely usually’. Sharon Baxter stated that ‘it’s dangerous, full of holes’. And Jan Fleming noted: “It’s ..read more

As I saunter an avenue of overgrown gravestones The sunlight’s already descended way past dusk. There’s the indistinct sound of muted whispers Accompanying the smell of old bodily musk. There are sounds of lowered muffled voices Carried past me, on a soft night time breeze. As I listen more closely, what’s that I hear? Surely not, the jangle of mausoleum keys. There is the sound of departing soft footfalls When I pass close by the archaic crypt. Surely no one’s still transposing in there, The ancient building, now long years, derelict. From behind the clouds an appearing moon Lights up names o ..read more

Email May 5 There has been much in the papers lately about the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence and the real danger of natural stupidity, mainly in politics, especially with a well-known example in the US. What would happen if we combined them? Politicians could be replaced by robots using AI. They would probably make more sensible choices, more quickly and without the need for expensive committee reviews. They would help the environment as they would not be as full of hot air as politicians are. They would probably speak English better than some politicians and could be programmed ..read more

Put down your weapons Forget all the hate. Stop bombs from falling Before it’s too late. Hold out your arms To your brothers with love. Remember God’s teachings. From Heaven above. Let families live As they should. All in peace, Living and thriving Once all conflicts cease. The world is a big place There’s room for us all, No matter what colour Or faith on we call. God’s universal His name might adjust But we all look above To someone we can trust. No famine no children With nothing to eat. Nobody to walk Without shoes on their feet. A water supply That is there out a tap. No homeless on stree ..read more

A Briton who is accused of being a Manchester drug dealer has been arrested in Benidorm. A National Police spokesman said the suspect – who has not been named – faces life imprisonment in the UK for dealing cocaine, amphetamines, ketamine and cannabis. He has been on the run since 2020, according to the spokesman. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News   ..read more

A report by Alicante chamber of commerce claims that Alicante-Elche airport will reach its limit for growth in 2026 – unless a second runway is built. They presented their study on Wednesday, which was commissioned by the Valencia government, with regional president Carlos Mazón already stating at the beginning of April that their findings would show the need for a second runway, sparking criticism that the report had been ‘tailor made’. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News ..read more

Spain’s second-largest bank, the BBVA, has announced a hostile takeover bid for the Sabadell, three days after an earlier approach was rejected. The new bid would be carried out under the same conditions as the merger proposal which was turned down by Sabadell’s board of directors this week, according to the BBVA. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News ..read more

Human activity has played a key role in the erosion of the coastline in Guardamar del Segura, according to researchers from Madrid polytechnic university (UPM). Their study analysed this area of the Mediterranean coast because it has attracted attention due to the way that the sea ‘has gained ground from the coast, affecting some houses on Babilonia beach’. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News   ..read more

A woman is under investigation for running an unofficial old people’s home in a private house in Almoradí, according to the Guardia Civil. She acted as the manager of this illegal care home, where almost a dozen elderly German people were staying. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News   ..read more

Valencia has retained its leadership as the region with the most Blue Flags in Spain with a total of 159, including six new ones. These distinctions include 138 for beaches, 19 for ports and two for tourism boats for beaches, ports and tourism boats 87 of them in Alicante province, 39 in Valencia and 33 in Castellón. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News   ..read more