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The best ice cream makers in the world met in Benidorm

Benidorm Ice Cream Grand Prix

Gelateria Pinocchio’s Alex Fratini, an ice cream maker and representative for Abreca (Association of Bars, Restaurants and Cafeterias), together with Marco Levati, the organization’s director, joined the mayor on a tour of the various stands.

In the Benidorm Ice Cream Grand Prix, 150 competitors vie for the coveted title and exclusive prizes, with a Porsche Boxter taking first place, a Vespa Piaggio coming in second, and a Bravo machine coming in third. The competition blends creativity, technique, and flavour.

Prominent figures from the industry, including Paco Torreblanca, the world’s top pastry chef in 2022 and the recipient of the Generalitat’s Medal d’Or 9 d’Octubre in 2024, as well as 150 participating businesses and over 4,500 operators from throughout Europe, attended the tournament. Among these, Gelateria Pinocchio stands in for Benidorm. According to Marco Levati, the event has doubled the number of attendees each year, with over 6,000 specialists participating overall in 2025.

Toni Pérez’s attendance was intended to highlight Benidorm’s dedication to projects that “boost the projection of the city as a first-class tourist and gastronomic destination.” As the mayor has stated, “The Ice Cream Grand Prix not only highlights the talent of ice cream makers, but also reinforces the image of Benidorm as a place where excellence and innovation have a place.” This event is significant for the town. In a field that has its roots and recognition in the province of Alicante, he has identified this event as the second most significant in the world.

With suggestions that delighted the jury and the general public, the event, which concludes today, has flooded the Melià Villaitana hotel with flavours and scents. The jury has tasted the pros’ chocolate and mango masterpieces in anonymous containers. Twelve of them were chosen, and they have since produced the traditional Cremino ice cream from Piedmont, Italy. The awards ceremony, which is a much-anticipated event that will wrap up two days of fierce competition, will take place today. This new edition of the 2025 Ice Cream Grand Prix solidifies its standing as one of the sweetest and most eagerly awaited events on the calendar, adding to Benidorm’s cultural and economic vibrancy. Other ice cream competitions in Budapest, Hungary, Vienna, Austria, and Split, Croatia, will follow throughout 2025.

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However, the event organisers have already said that the winner would receive a Maserati and that the awards will be upgraded to a higher level the following year.


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Hospitality and recreation establishments in Elche receive 36 infringement reports from local police

The Elche Local Police conducted an operation that involved inspecting thirteen hospitality and leisure outlets in various neighbourhoods, resulting in one arrest and 36 violations. The data was made public on Friday, 28th March, mainly as a reminder of the work that is being done. Councilman Juan de Dios Navarro gave the police top for their efforts.

According to local police inspector José Antonio Corrales, the majority of the infractions included drug usage and possession, including four for cocaine possession and seven for hashish, as well as improper company documentation. Additionally, there were two reports for disturbing the peace or disrespecting law enforcement, four for not following the minimum hygienic standards for food storage, one serious infraction for conducting the activity after hours and behind closed doors, and seven for irregularities found on the property, including improper documentation.

Additionally, officers found six infractions for permitting smoking in unapproved indoor locations, three for type “B” slot machine identification guide deficiencies, and one major infraction for emergency escape and door flaws. Additionally, a report was made about the selling of illegal tobacco at a pub, where 20 packets were confiscated and one individual was detained on court order and imprisoned.


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Visitor to Catral cemetery locked inside

Catral Local Police Cemetery

As nightfall approached on one of these soggy spring days in March, a young man decided it would be a good idea to visit a cousin or acquaintance’s grave and take a walk through the cemetery. Because the cemetery still closes its (automatic) gates at six o’clock at this time of year, but without the winter gloom that may discourage anyone from going.

However, the door was locked when he attempted to exit. The visitor didn’t seem to want to spend any more time among the cemeteries, despite the cemetery’s reputation as a particularly tranquil spot. Unaware of the placard bearing the mobile phone number for anyone needing help, he dashed out the gate. It was all on camera.

Joaquín Lucas, the mayor of Catral, maintains that this occurrence is unrelated to the privatisation of the cemetery works and feels that management by an outside company is an efficient approach to provide this service in a municipal office. He went on to say that the young man who who was locked in is from the nearby municipality of Dolores rather than Catral.

The local police took to social media and atacked the man’s “reckless” behaviour. He has been named in connection with “criminal proceedings for a crime against another’s property.” Nonetheless, the business will be liable for any damages brought on by the damaged door anchors.

In addition to clarifying that the business employs two workers—a gravedigger and a labourer who maintains the communal areas and restrooms—the Councillor for Services, Daniel Escudero, reaffirmed that the automatic door is an option offered by the company itself.

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Five arrested in Alicante and Murcia for shoplifting

Five individuals involved in grocery theft have been taken into custody by the Guardia Civil. In the regions of Alicante and Murcia, the thieves were stealing in a number of locations for a well-known supermarket company. The things that were stolen are worth over 8,000 euros in total.

The investigation started after the retail chain representative filed a complaint. The pattern was consistent across all cases: three or four people went into the store, and one of them loaded up a cart with expensive things like canned goods, extra virgin olive oil, sausages, or alcoholic drinks. The last one hurried out of the grocery without paying, and another diverted the attention of the staff.

It was discovered that the same people were responsible for the crimes in multiple towns in Alicante and Murcia after examining the security footage from the impacted businesses. Since the suspects did not live in the residences where they were registered and lacked a stable address, it was very difficult to find them.

Shortly after committing another theft at a store in a suburban neighbourhood of Rojales (Alicante), officers caught two of the suspects off guard and took them into custody. Many of the stolen goods were found at that time and brought back to the impacted business.

The other three were later taken into custody in the cities of Almoradí (Alicante) and Guardamar del Segura. The majority of the pilfered items were sold on. Additionally, the two cars that were utilised in the crimes were taken.

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Eleven thefts have been resolved as a consequence of the investigation conducted by the Novelda Civil Guard’s investigation section. The cities of Novelda, Torrevieja, Almoradí, Catral, and Rojales in Alicante as well as the municipalities of San Javier, Jumilla, San Pedro del Pinatar, Cartagena, Archena, and Caravaca de la Cruz in Murcia were the sites of these crimes.


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