INSIDE ISSUE 475 OF THE LEADER

Issue 475 of The Leader newspaper is out now, a day later than normal, due to the fiesta, but cram packed with news, sports and features. On the internet, it´s available at our dedicated website for virtual newspapers, which is www.virtualleader.info.

Starting off as usual with the front page story, we go on a journey through modern history, with the inauguration of the AVE High Speed train from Madrid to Alicante. We have mentioned this before, in many different ways, but this week we go a little more in depth, looking at comparisons with other routs and the reality of their promises, as well as the actual trains themselves. The train that carried the VIP´s for example, which we might expect to be the flagship vehicle, was over 20 years old. Think back to the last days of British Rail, if you can, before privatisation and the onset of Virgin Trains and the likes, that is when this train entered service, so not quite the futuristic service we might think, although there are still a lot of positives too.

The inauguration and speeches marred with protests and riots, a number of arrests, police beating back the crowds, and how society actually did unite with one aim, to object.

On the subject of protests, and the sea, the next story is about a group of people who hijacked the flag raising ceremony to protest about the lack on investment on the Orihuela Costa, and a concurrent protest from taxi drivers about the number of illegal “pirate” taxis in the area. The positive in this story being the fact that the beaches of the Orihuela Costa are better than ever.

Next we group together stories of a national interest, including political collusion, cable cutting, prison release for a banker, manufacturing in Spain, prison for those corporately responsible for a deadly fire, Google being in trouble and more cuts, which will see the closing down of the military and Guardia Civil horse breeding program, as well as the youth council and the amalgamation of many more.

In local news from the area we start at Elche, with a summer market coming to los Arenales del Sol, Santa Pola being inundated with applicants looking to work at Burger King, counterfeited soccer memorabilia confiscated at Guardamar, a free bus for Elche´s young people, a shock for a bar who offered free drinks to school leavers and a couple of Italians being arrested for an age old scam.

In Torrevieja, we look at the subject of Sunday opening hours and the fact the council are “strongly” requesting that Orihuela don´t allow it, despite the fact they allow it themselves and are also being criticised by local traders for allowing a free bus to Habaneras. Torrevieja to celebrate gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual pride day, the none existent train line that Torrevieja still pay for, stalls in the city centre La Plasa market being available for a bargain rent, the Nutcracker comes to Torrevieja, as does another version of the “tapas trail”, this time costing 50 euro per person, and the confusing parking in the centre has been withdrawn for summer.

Barrie Mahoney talks rubbish (actually a word we can´t type here) as he looks at the sewage system in his village for his Twitters From The Atlantic column, and there are more confessions from Calder.

We next look at political corruption, as we have done many times before of course, but this time we map out the locations. A group of academics have created a “corruption map”, which highlights where the worst places for political corruption are across Spain, and gives more details of other interesting facts, all collated from over a decade of cases.

Water safety is next, as we are now in the early onset of summer, with 186 people losing their lives in water last year, the government want to try to reduce that with an awareness campaign, as well as reminding parents and guardians of their responsibility for looking out for children.

Motoring news talks about speed increases and helmets once again, with a number of 130 kilometres per hour stretches already having been identified, plus having road safety built into the education reforms and hire car companies facing investigations from consumer groups. We also feature a local mechanic too, in case you are in need of work on your car.

A fun day out organised to raise money for the Pink Ladies is covered in a nice little picture feature, with the best part of 1,300 euro being raised by generous donators.

Health news looks at cancer research contributions from AECC, Google Glass, heart failure, smoking packet designs, the government´s plans to bad independent food testing, such as those that identified horse and dog meat, and the welcome return to Spain of a popular fizzy drink.

Sticking with health, this time of matters related to dispelling the myths and rumours surrounding mental health, there is a great feature on one man´s journey to do just that, Kevin Shepherd from Colchester, who has now dedicated his life to raising awareness of the stigma that so many people suffer from.

Helping homeless veterans is another charity feature, with a BBQ being arranged for early July to raise funds for that cause.

Great news for mortgage holders, with a successful legal battle that could change the lives of many struggling families, airport passenger numbers on the increase and the airports getting into long term parking are a couple of other stories thrown in.

Then we jump into Orihuela, first with our regular columnist Sandpiper talking about the rights of residents on the Orihuela Costa, before we move onto the news of improvement work starting at La Regia, SERVEF making it easier for the unemployed to register and find work, more staff in the tourist office, more bins for the streets, auditors for contractors, including the beach safety teams, taxi numbers increasing on the coast for summer, school protests and noise complaints increased.

Next, we look in some detail at the new collection service for garden waste, the savings and the benefits, and what to do to avoid having rubbish piled on the street for days or weeks. If the collector’s don´t know it´s there, they might not collect, so a simple call or email is all that might be needed.

There are also well over 30 sports related stories, plus the comprehensive TV guide, classified adverts, trades and services, as well as great offers and incentives from our advertisers, some of whom have been with us, supporting you, since The Leader first hit the streets many, many years ago.

Distributed on Tuesday this week, as a one off, to hundreds of venues across the area, make sure you pick up your copy, or visit the virtual newspaper website, and then keep a sharp eye on the main website, www.theleader.info, which is updated around the closk with the latest news as it happens.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/39572/

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