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Benidorm makes history with Europe’s first drone air taxi flight

Benidorm Air Taxi

Twelve drones and an air taxi, an unmanned aerial vehicle that can carry two passengers, flew simultaneously in an urban setting for the first time in Europe in the city of Benidorm. As a component of the European U-ELCOME project, this groundbreaking event was held on Poniente beach.

Several operational scenarios, such as the delivery and transportation of goods, surveillance, and rescue operations, were conducted during the demonstration. The European unmanned airspace management system (U-space) provided digital and automated platforms for flight supervision, ensuring every operation was safe and effective.

Israel Quintanilla, who is the coordinator of the project in the Valencian Community and the director of the Polytechnic University of Valencia’s (UPV) Official Drone Commission said that once the tests required to ensure their safety are finished, the use of these aerial vehicles for passenger and cargo transportation may become a reality within the next four to five years.

“These are validation tests, but the law does not yet authorise it. Quintanilla emphasised that operational safety is the top priority in civil aviation.

Drones are not just used for transportation. They are also essential to surveillance and rescue operations. As an illustration, consider the Benidorm Local Police, who were the first in the nation to use drones for security and rescue missions in 2016.

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“Now this integration of drones in urban environments for emergencies and civil applications is a reality and is carried out naturally,” said the coordinator of the project.


Because of its distinctive skyline and urban design, which includes tall buildings, natural parks, an island, and a variety of urbanised locations, Benidorm was selected as the location for this first aerial demonstration in Europe by the U-ELCOME project, which consists of 51 partners from Spain, France, and Italy. Because of this, the city is a scalable model that may be used to other cities like New York or Dubai.

Quintanilla emphasised Benidorm City Council’s readiness to work with the project, which has enabled the city to establish itself as the standard in Spain for the most drone flights in R&D initiatives.


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Costa Blanca

Sticky Vicky’s daughter quits mum’s iconic Benidorm show

Benidorm

Adhesive the stage act has been sensationally abandoned by Vicky’s daughter, who has followed in her late mother’s footsteps, thereby leaving behind her family’s Benidorm legacy.

The unexpected decision was made after María Gadea Aragón assumed responsibility for the adult-themed magic performances following the passing of her mother, Victoria María Aragón Gadea, in 2023 at the age of 80.

María, who had been employing her mother’s stage identity in the well-known Spanish resort, has now discontinued her performances after a decade on stage.

María performed frequently at venues including the Palladium, Zodiaco, and Rockerfellers, as well as Benidorm which is a popular destination for British expatriates and vacationers.

Des Bellamy-Wright, an employee at the Benidorm Palladium, verified that María is no longer employed in the lively Spanish city. Des stated, “Sticky Vicky is no longer operational in Benidorm.” The ‘Carmen Snake – Sticky Show’ is a similarly entertaining program that is broadcast every night at 12:45 a.m. “

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The official reason for Maria’s retirement was not disclosed, and her final performance was in November 2024.


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Costa Blanca

Elche’s H&M shop closing

H&M Zenia

The Swedish retail chain H&M announced in 2024 that it would be reducing the number of stores and employment it has in Spain due to “organisational, productive, and economic” reasons. Around 50 layoffs were the result of the closure of stores in the L’Aljub retail centres in Elche, Ociopía in Orihuela, and Habaneras in Torrevieja, which had consequences for the province of Alicante.

Additionally, these were the sole instances in the Valencian Community that were impacted. The Torrevieja store was the first to shut its doors in May 2024 since that time. The Orihuela store was subsequently closed on September 14th of the same year. Currently, the Elche store has shuttered its doors. The facility was closed to the public on March 14th, following its final day of operation on March 11th. It will be entirely shut down on March 22nd. Approximately 20 employees are being laid off at this Elche store. It is the final establishment in the province of Alicante that will not reopen, and the circumstances of the dismissal were negotiated in October. The employees have departed the company with an agreement as a result of these negotiations, according to Yolanda de la Casa, the general secretary of the CCOO Services Federation in Alicante.

The dismissal terms that were established following the October negotiations were 45 days until 2012 and 33 days until the present. A gratuity of 3,500 euros was granted for the first five years, 4,000 euros for the next ten years, and a maximum of 4,500 euros for the subsequent years.

Furthermore, three relocations have occurred among the 50 individuals who were laid off in the province, spanning Elche, Orihuela, and Torrevieja. Lely Fernández of UGT l’Alacantí-La Marina informed this newspaper that these were part-time employees from the Habaneras shopping centre in Torrevieja who were transferred to the La Zenia shopping centre, which continues to operate and is accessible.

H&M initiated 2024 by announcing the closure of 28 stores and approximately 588 collective redundancies. The figure was reduced to 521 reductions in a subsequent revision.

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The Torrevieja store closed its doors to the public on May 17th, 2024, and the lease expired on May 24th, never to be reopened. Nevertheless, numerous employees at this establishment were granted the opportunity to relocate to other nearby stores that were still operational. In September 2024, Ociopía followed suit, and Elche followed suit in March 2025.

The H&M group operates over 100 stores and employs nearly 4,000 individuals in the country. This decision was made by the Scandinavian company in order to “adapt and perfect” its stores in a “changing” shopping environment for its consumers. Additionally, Spain would be responsible for 17% of the brand’s global closures, as indicated by the data that the company disclosed months ago when it presented its 2023 financial year.


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Man stole fire extinguishers to sell as scrap metal

Guardia Civil Stolen Fire Extinqishers

A 20-year-old male is currently under investigation by the Guardia Civil for the purported theft of ten fire extinguishers. The fire extinguishers were discovered by Seprona officers during an inspection of a scrap metal establishment in Torrevieja. The store manager and the criminal are both the subject of an investigation.

The fire extinguishers, which were in near-new condition and completely charged, were discovered by the Servicio de Protección a la Naturaleza (Seprona) officers during the inspection. The investigation was initiated due to the fact that this material is “uncommon” in this form of business, as explained by sources from the Armed Forces.

Upon discovering the fire extinguishers, the officers enquired about the scrapyard manager’s documentation regarding the extinguishers’ arrival. The manager responded that he did not possess any proof of ownership. Additionally, he disclosed that a woman and her son had abandoned them there without his permission.

The company responsible for maintaining the fire extinguishers was identified by Seprona officers after they analysed the evidence and proof acquired. This verified that the extinguishers were located in a building in Torrevieja. The missing equipment was reported by the property manager of this community of proprietors shortly thereafter.

Fire extinguishers were recovered


Officers were permitted to confiscate the fire extinguishers and transport them to the Torrevieja Civil Guard barracks as a result of the formal complaint. Upon verification of their origin, they were returned to their legitimate owners.

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The individuals implicated have been identified as a result of the operation. The 20-year-old man who is supposed to have stolen the fire extinguishers is being investigated for theft, while the 23-year-old proprietor of the scrap yard is being investigated for receiving stolen goods.

The Guardia Civil emphasises the necessity of reporting these types of incidents and reminds all individuals of the significance of doing so. In order to prevent the acquisition of stolen material, scrap metal dealers must establish rigorous controls, such as document checks on sellers and items received.


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Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona
May 27, 2025    
20:30 - 22:00
With their wildly popular show,  Cirque du Soleil - CORTEO is making a triumphant return to Spain. You can see Cirque du Soleil - CORTEO [...]
F1 Barcelona 30 May to 1 June 2025
May 30, 2025 - June 1, 2025    
All Day
F1 Barcelona will take place between Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June. Practice 1 Friday 30th May at 13.30 Practice 2 Friday, 30th May [...]
Justin Timberlake in Concert in Seville
May 30, 2025    
20:00 - 22:00
Boy band icon, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and businessman, Justin Timberlake promises to be the best start to the Icónica Santalucía Sevilla Fest 2025.
Ed Sheeran in Concert in Madrid
May 30, 2025    
21:00 - 22:30
Ed Sheeran is now at the very top of the pop game, filling out venues as large as the iconic Wembley Stadium multiple times over.
Ed Sheeran's Second Night in Concert in Madrid
May 31, 2025    
21:00 - 22:30
Ed Sheeran is now at the very top of the pop game, filling out venues as large as the iconic Wembley Stadium multiple times over.
Phantom of the Opera in Torrevieja
June 6, 2025 - June 8, 2025    
All Day
When The Phantom of the Opera comes to Torrevieja, it will be one of the most famous shows ever. This show started its long-awaited tour [...]
Kool and the Gang in Marbella
June 27, 2025    
20:00 - 23:00
Kool and the Gang in concert Friday 27 June at the Statlite auditorium, Marbella. Doors open 8pm. Age restriction 3+
Madness in Concert in Barcelona
July 4, 2025    
19:00 - 22:00
Madness live in concert in Barcelona on Friday, 4th July at the Poble Espanyol, Barcelona. Doors open at 1900hrs
Madness in Concert in Seville
July 6, 2025    
22:30
Are you ready to be taken back to the 70s and 80s with the help of the very popular English band and their mischievous sense [...]
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Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona
27 May 25
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Kool and the Gang in Marbella
27 Jun 25
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Events on July 4, 2025
Madness in Concert in Barcelona
4 Jul 25
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Events on July 6, 2025

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