ORIHUELA COSTA, LOCAL NEWS ORIHUELA COSTA

Police free kidnapped Norwegian in Alicante in 72 hoursFour arrested after alleged Swedish mafia gang demands €70,000 ransom A Norwegian man kidnapped in Alicante has been rescued by the Policía Nacional just 72 hours after his abduction, in an operation targeting the Swedish criminal organisation.. 23/01/2026

Doctors' strike threat returns as talks stall and February action confirmedAfter hopes of a breakthrough before Christmas, medical unions now set out a fresh timetable of nationwide strikes and protests For a brief moment before Christmas, it looked as though Spain’s long-running dispute between doctors and the Ministry.. 23/01/2026

Tourist rentals in Spain drop for the first time in years in the country's most popular holiday hotspotsA new Exceltur report shows how tourist rentals fell nationwide as a result of the new regulations The number of tourist rental properties in Spain’s 25 most visited destinations fell by 4.1% in 2025. This is the first nationwide drop.. 22/01/2026

Musk polls fans on buying Ryanair in O'Leary Wi-Fi feudInsults lift airline bookings as CEO welcomes investment but rules out full takeover The public row between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary began on January 14 over Starlink Wi-Fi (SpaceX's satellite internet service) for the airline.. 21/01/2026

Mar Menor burglary gang dismantled with 13 arrestsGuardia Civil links suspects to 25 offences across San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar and Orihuela The Guardia Civil in Murcia has arrested 13 members of a criminal gang operating from San Javier, connecting them to 25 burglaries and thefts in the Mar.. 21/01/2026

Butane cylinder price edges up again for households across SpainA small increase takes the regulated price to €15.58, following higher transport and raw material costs The price of a traditional butane gas cylinder has gone up again in Spain, bringing an end to the brief relief many households felt late last.. 21/01/2026

Partner of Northern Irish murder suspect investigated after fatal crash in El CampelloMadison V., the 20-year-old British woman driving the BMW, is being investigated following a collision that killed a 54-year-old man A 54-year-old British man has died following a traffic accident on the A-70 in El Campello. The crash occurred.. 21/01/2026

DGT cracks down on WhatsApp checkpoint alertsFines up to €30,000 for warning about police alcohol and drug checkpoints If you're in one of those WhatsApp or Telegram groups that ping alerts about police checkpoints, it might be time to think again. The DGT has launched a determined effort.. 20/01/2026

Date set for opening of Wetherspoon pub at Alicante AirportA chance for a pint and a feeling of home for UK passengers at Alicante Airport as Wetherspoon confirms opening of its first European pub It’s official: Wetherspoon will be opening its first pub abroad in continental Europe, which will be at.. 19/01/2026

Mandatory January 2 electric scooter insurance shelved in SpainHalf a million scooter riders in Spain get a reprieve as traffic bosses admit the national register won't be ready for January deadline Electric scooter owners across Spain are getting an unexpected break after the government admitted its mandatory..

Bizum moves into shops with new tap-to-pay featureCaja Rural becomes first banking group to roll out contactless Bizum Pay on mobiles Bizum is about to take a significant step forward in how people pay in Spain, with a new contactless system allowing shoppers to pay in physical stores simply by holding.. 16/01/2026

Orihuela Costa drives population boom as British remain largest foreign groupHuge growth along the coast has pushed Orihuela municipality close to 89,000 residents Orihuela Costa has become the main engine behind a sharp rise in population across the wider municipality, which ended 2025 with close to 89,000 residents. New.. 16/01/2026

Spain's medical cannabis milestone comes with training warningPatients and doctors welcome new rules but say specialists must learn to prescribe it Patients and medical groups have cheered a key step towards legal medical cannabis in Spain, which was agreed in October, but warn the real test will be training doctors.. 16/01/2026

Government weighs up stripping Julio Iglesias of arts medal as pressure grows over allegationsMinisters consider next steps as institutions across Spain review honours linked to the singer The Spanish government is considering whether to withdraw Julio Iglesias’s Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, following allegations of sexual assault.. 15/01/2026

Alicante-Elche airport nears 20 million passengers in record-breaking 2025International travellers, led by the British, drive an 8.5% increase in passenger numbers Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has capped 2025 with a new record, nearly reaching 20 million passengers. Final figures show the airport handled 19.. 14/01/2026

Plans move forward for new desalination plants on the Alicante and Murcia coastsThe Torrevieja and Águilas facilities should increase the water supply in southern Spain Another step forward has been taken towards building two new desalination plants in Torrevieja and Águilas, which together could supply up to 150.. 14/01/2026

Scams on the rise in Alicante as police warn of growing threatsFake bank calls, bogus rentals and child-in-distress schemes top the list of crimes troubling the province Alicante residents are being warned to stay alert as scams continue to rise across the province. Building on previous, recent alerts about increasing.. 14/01/2026

Dense fog at Alicante airport leaves thousands of British passengers stranded in SpainAt least 18 inbound flights were diverted as thick mist blanketed the Costa Blanca on Tuesday morning British travellers heading to and from Alicante were thrown into chaos yesterday after heavy fog brought the airport to a standstill and forced airlines.. 14/01/2026

Alicante Policía Nacional warns of rising scams and car theftsCybercrime up 14% in 2025 with vehicle break-ins also on the increase The Policía Nacional in Alicante is urging residents to stay vigilant as online scams and thefts from cars continue to climb. Between January and September 2025, cybercrimes.. 13/01/2026

Doctors warn of tougher protests in February as strike threat returnsMedical unions say talks with the Health Ministry have broken down and warn action could escalate into an indefinite strike Doctors across Spain are preparing to step up their protests in February, warning that mobilisations will be “much more intense.. 12/01/2026