National Police officers have arrested a man in Alicante who is a fugitive sought by Russian authorities. Authorities allege that the man fraudulently appropriated three plots of land worth over 28 million rubles by using previously falsified documentation.

They received information about the man’s possible location in the city of Alicante from the National Central Office of Interpol. The man is alleged to be involved in various criminal activities, including fraud.

The fugitive was a member of a well-organised group of individuals and was acted for the purpose of illicit enrichment and commercial purposes, according to the requesting authorities.

    The National Police has detailed in a statement that this group of individuals apparently intended to appropriate three lands located in the Vsevolozhskiy district of Leningrad. They used previously falsified documentation, which resulted in enough deception for the competent authorities to register the land in his name. The land, which belonged to the municipal administration of Vsevolozhskiy, was valued at over 28 million rubles.

    The 52-year-old fugitive, who is accused of up to three offences and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, was discovered and apprehended by National Police officers after conducting the necessary research.

What is the most scorching location in Benidorm? The inquiry may appear trivial; however, it can assist us in comprehending the city’s response to the “heat island effect.” And that is the objective of the City Council: to ascertain the temperature of various busy or well-known areas of the municipality in order to make future decisions and implement measures to mitigate the impact on residents and travellers.

To this end, the Department of Public Space is conducting a study in collaboration with the University of Valencia to comprehend the impact of this influence. The objective is to determine the areas or locations in the municipality that are impacted by this effect by utilising scientific and research data. This will enable the implementation of decisions and measures to mitigate the effect and enhance the climate comfort of the population.

Additionally, how? Initially, 20 sensors (thermometers) have been deployed in a variety of locations throughout the municipality, including seafront promenades, parks, educational areas, and busy spaces with high volumes of residents and tourists. For more than one month, they have been gathering data. In other words, they collect temperature data at specific locations, resulting in a “mesh” of detailed information, as elucidated by Francis Muñoz, the councillor for the region, and Adrián Ferrandis, a researcher at the University of Valencia.

The data is currently undergoing analysis, following the completion of the initial sampling. Ferrandis clarified that the provisional data obtained indicates that “there are significant differences of between two and three degrees Celsius in several areas,” despite the fact that it is still too early to draw conclusions. This is contingent upon the soil type and the degree of naturalisation in the region. In other words, whether the pavement is less heat-retaining or there are fewer or more trees. This, however, is only the initial phase; a subsequent measurement will be conducted in June.

Adrián Ferrandis further stated that the data collected will be compared “from one measurement to another to obtain a very rough understanding of the situation.” Lastly, the university will compile a report that will be submitted to the City Council, providing guidance on the decisions that should be made.

Benidorm has specific streets or avenues that offer a respite for residents and tourists while they are wandering through the streets in the full sun. This is particularly true if the streets are characterised by tall vegetation that provides shade. This is the case with Avenida del Mediterráneo, which, following a comprehensive renovation, is now adorned with substantial trees in the modernised area. Therefore, the temperature can fluctuate by as much as five degrees during the summer from this bustling street to a mere few metres from the Levante promenade, where the sun is at its most intense.

The City Council intends to verify each of these concerns with dependable data. Muñoz stated that the areas under investigation are meticulously examined; they are not determined arbitrarily or without consideration. The research will enable the formulation of decisions regarding the implementation of “measures such as the renaturalisation of spaces or the implementation of textile architecture,” including shade. The study’s ultimate objective is to “provide the city with an adequate amount of data to establish its priorities in accordance with the information it possesses in order to enhance the comfort of its citizens.”

The activity in this area is a component of Benidorm’s Climate Change Action Plan. The ultimate objective is to “improve and adapt the city to ensure that its spaces are more comfortable for people in terms of temperature.” It is imperative to have the most comprehensive data available to aid the City Council in its subsequent decision-making, the design of the actions to be taken, and the areas in which they will be implemented in order to accomplish this. “It is a scientific method that will ascertain the regions that are affected by the heat island effect, allowing us to reduce it through climate corridors or spaces,” Ferrandis continued.

The initiation of the procedure to award the Police Merit Cross with Red Badge to Local Police officers José Miguel Díaz García and Francisco Martínez Medina has been overwhelmingly approved by the Alicante City Council Plenary Session. This honour is granted in appreciation of their exceptional rescue and assistance efforts during a fire on Calle Padre Esplá in the Carolinas Altas neighbourhood.

The ground floor of a structure that was home to a kebab restaurant was affected by the fire that took place on November 29th, 2024. The fire produced a dense haze of smoke that engulfed the stairwell, enclosing two individuals, one of whom had limited mobility, on the second floor. In an intervention that was essential to the victims’ physical safety, both officers entered the building upon hearing pleas for help, overcoming the toxicity of the smoke and poor visibility. They were able to evacuate the victims.

The action necessitated medical attention from the SAMU (National Police Service) at the site for one of the officers. It was fortunate that he did not require hospitalisation. In a statement dated April 15th, 2025, the Local Police Headquarters commended the officers for their “professionalism, quick reaction, and courage.” The Chief Superintendent also issued an individual commendation to them.