WEEKLY DIGEST – 21 JULY 2014

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A LOAD OF BULL

The department of health of Navarra dealt with 530 injuries during this year´s San Fermin fiesta in Pamploma, slightly higher than the 518 of last year, but lower than the 657 of 2012.

LOCKED-UP HORNS

A total of 94 people were arrested during the bull running fiesta of San Fermin, including 6 for drug trafficking, 3 for robbery with intimidation, 2 for sexual offences, 2 for mistreating a family member and 20 under immigration laws. Some 2,200 officers from the National Police and Guardia Civil looked after public safety at the event.

COME DANCING

The first Orihuela Costa Festival of Flamenco will take place on 29 July in Zenia Boulevard Shopping Mall, and on the 30 and 31 July on the Playa Flamenca promenade. The festival will feature local artist Andrés Hernández, ‘El Porras’ as well as one of the country’s leading flamenco dancers, Lola Montoya.

HEALTHY LIVING

Santa Pola say that with the arrival of holidaymakers they are expecting over 53,000 visitors to their Health centres during the months of July and August. As a result, according to Cllr for Health, Fran Martin, many of their centres, including Gran Alacant, will open both in the morning and the evening.

CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED

A lack of funds in the City of Alicante last year was so critical that the Security councillor, Juan Seva, ordered that the servicing intervals on all Policia Local be doubled from 5,000 to every 10,000 miles. The ‘Union of Local Police and Fire Officers (SPPLB) has said that, as a result, agents were using vehicles which in some cases are not fit for service and were being forced back onto the beat.

HANDS UP

Doctors at the Alicante University Hospital are trialling a robotic arm which will help those who have lost the ability to move the limb through brain signals. The tests are currently being carried out on five patients who have lost the use of their arm through strokes or mental trauma.

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Nearly hundred children took part in the the First Campus Futsal ‘Ciudad de Torrevieja’ last week which was attended by the national coach Juan Ignacio Martinez. He was welcomed to the event by the Councillor for Sport Luis María Pizana and the organiser Juanjo Fernandez.

THE GOING RATE

So as to ensure standard charges, taxi drivers in Rojales will no longer charge for journey’s by a rate card but in future will use meters which are to be fitted into every registered vehicle. Passengers will be charged 2.78 euros at the start of their journey and 0.82 euros per kilometre thereafter.

ON THE TOWN

Demonstrating that he is not one for protocol Spain’s new King Felipe V1 headed out for a meal and a drink with friends in downtown Madrid last week. Breaking with tradition he left the Queen at home as he joined five friends for dinner at a fashionable Asian restaurant in central Madrid’s Chueca district.

NICO FRET

A study by the World Health Organisation shows that smoking has now been connected with memory disorders. As well as linking nicotine to dementia the study concluded that smoking could also be attributed to 14% of all Alzheimer’s cases.

CROSSING THE LINE

More than 20 police officers were injured after an avalanche of people attempted to barge their way through the Moroccan border in Ceuta. Some 3,000 people attempted to cross the border, some throwing rocks and carrying sticks, as security staff tried to keep them at bay.

TRAGIC TRIP

Two Spanish women on holiday in America were knocked down by a coach as they crossed the road near the Hell´s Kitchen area of Manhattan. One woman suffered an injury to her foot whilst the second, whose condition was described as critical, suffered a leg injury. The police say that the bus had a green light as it turned at the junction.

MUSIC SPECTACULAR

Massive Attack and the Kaiser Chiefs have been added to the list of bands playing at the Low Festival in Benidorm this coming weekend, from 25-27 July. The seventh edition of Spain’s 2nd largest music show will see more than a 100 indie artists playing live on 7 stages.

UP IN SMOKE

A photograph was published in last week’s Daily Mail showing Queen Letizia of Spain selling cigarettes while she was a journalism student in Mexico. Shortly after her graduation she was employed by a popular brand to promote their product. The photo shows her posing in a branded uniform.

GASSED OFF

The city council of Madrid has approved new environmental restrictions on vehicle movements, allowing them to slow down traffic on roads and restrict parking for none-residents, should pollution levels reach a certain risk factor.

OILY BEACH

An oil slick has reached the south coastal beaches of Gran Canaria, affecting around a kilometre of beaches. A cleanup operation is underway whilst the cause of the slick is being investigated.

ANOTHER ONE CAUGHT

The National Police have arrested William Thomas Robert Paterson in Madrid, one of the most wanted fugitives from the UK being sought as part of Operation Captura. The 37 year old is wanted in connection with a Glasgow shooting incident, as well as other crimes including the illegal possession of weapons.

PREMIER FAKES

The Guardia Civil has dismantled a workshop in the town of San Servera on the island of Mallorca, which was dedicated to manufacturing fake merchandise branded as Premier League football goods. Officers seized over 3,000 items thought to be worth in the region of 13,000 euro.

AIRBAG RECALL

German car manufacturer BMW has issued a recall notice affecting 1.6 million of its series 3 model vehicles worldwide, due to a possible defect in the passenger airbag the vehicles in question were all manufactured between May 1999 and August 2006. The company has said it will notify car owners direct.

DRUNK DRIVER COP BOSS FINED

The chief of the local police in the western Madrid town of Villaviciosa de Odón failed a breathalyser test after driving his private vehicle off the road on his way home from a flag raising ceremony. No other vehicles were involved in the incident, which is being treated as an administrative offence as he was off duty at the time, and will therefore face a fine and loss of points whilst still keeping his job.

OUT FOR A BITE

Bathers on four beaches in Barcelona were surprised that the red flags were raised prohibiting swimming for a 24 hour period this week, whilst the Cruz Roja patrolled the seemingly calm waters to ensure compliance. However, the beaches were closed after the appearance of three sharks off the coastline, presumably looking to enjoy a bit of summer beach time themselves.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44334/

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