Historic neighborhoods, living traditions and writer-related sites attract niche cultural travelers Telde, on Gran Canaria’s east coast, is often overshadowed by the island’s resorts and the capital, Las Palmas. However, its historic districts, its churches, its museums and its literary links make it […]
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
historic quarters, living traditions and writer-linked sites draw niche cultural travellers
Telde, on Gran Canaria’s east coast, is often overshadowed by the island’s beach resorts and the capital, Las Palmas. Yet its historic quarters, churches, museums and literary links make it a strong destination for specialised religious and cultural tourism—especially for travellers drawn to heritage routes, local festivals and “place-based” storytelling. From the San Juan old quarter to the San Francisco historic-artistic complex, Telde offers a compact, walkable introduction to Canarian history that can be experienced in a day, then deepened over a weekend.
Telde’s cultural offer is unusually clear: many of its most emblematic sites sit within (or between) two historic areas—San Juan and San Francisco—each with its own architectural character and religious landmarks.
In San Juan, the focal point is the Minor Basilica of San Juan Bautista, promoted by local tourism sources as a cornerstone of the city’s identity. The basilica is closely linked to devotion to the Santo Cristo de Telde, an image long venerated in Gran Canaria’s Catholic tradition, and it remains a draw for visitors interested in religious art and popular devotion as well as architecture.
A short distance away, the district of San Francisco is presented by tourism authorities as one of the most distinctive preserved areas of eastern Gran Canaria, defined by whitewashed houses, tiled roofs and cobbled streets. The official island tourism site highlights the neighbourhood as part of “the purest essence of Telde.” (Gran Canaria Tourism) Its religious heart includes the Convent Church of San Francisco, described in local tourism information for its interior altarpieces and baroque elements.
Religious and cultural tourism in Telde is not limited to Christian heritage. Local tourism information also points visitors toward elements tied to the island’s pre-conquest past, including the discovery story connected to the Ídolo de Tara (the figure is housed in Las Palmas, but Telde’s link forms part of the interpretive route). This “layered history” approach—indigenous memory, early colonial history, religious architecture—can appeal to cultural travellers looking for depth beyond a single theme.
For museum-led tourism, a key stop is the León y Castillo House Museum, presented by Spain’s national tourism portal as a tribute to the León y Castillo brothers—Fernando (a diplomat and politician) and Juan (an engineer associated with major infrastructure projects). The Cabildo’s museum listing emphasises the institution’s archival and interpretive role in telling Gran Canaria’s modernisation story. (Cabildo/Gran Canaria Culture)
Literary tourism thrives when a destination offers tangible anchors—birthplaces, house-museums, murals, routes, reading events. Telde has credible starting points across local and international literary memory.
Saulo Torón (1885–1974) is the clearest example: the poet was born in Telde, as recorded in Canarian digital heritage resources and biographical references. (Memoria Digital de Canarias, ULPGC) For visitors interested in early 20th-century Canarian literature, Torón provides a direct “place-to-author” link that can be built into guided walks and cultural programming.
Fernando León y Castillo (1842–1918), born in Telde, belongs to political history more than literary canon, but biographical summaries note his collaboration with liberal publications in Madrid, reflecting the role of writing and ideas in Spain’s public life of the period. (Biography overview) The city’s León y Castillo museum adds a physical, visitor-ready layer to that intellectual history.
Sanmao (三毛), the Taiwanese writer whose years in the Canaries became central to her literary identity, represents a different kind of literary tourism: international readers searching for the landscapes and towns woven into her story. A long-form feature has noted that, for many Chinese-language readers, Telde occupies a strong place in the imagination tied to Sanmao’s Gran Canaria years—highlighting, among other markers, a mural dedicated to her in the town. (The World of Chinese) The municipality has also publicly marked her legacy through commemorations and cultural activities. (Ayuntamiento de Telde)
Part of Telde’s appeal is its position: close enough to Las Palmas for day trips, but with a heritage identity of its own. Some specialised visitors also explore 20th-century “belief history” layers elsewhere on the island. In that context, biographical and scholarly accounts note that Ron Hubbard spent time in the Canary Islands during the late 1960s maritime period associated with Scientology research and film projects while in Telde. For most travellers, however, Telde’s strongest draw remains its older, more visible heritage: historic quarters, religious architecture and a literary map that is steadily becoming easier to visit.
With relatively modest investment, Telde’s existing assets could be packaged into coherent niche offerings:
In a region where tourism marketing often defaults to sun-and-sand, Telde’s quieter proposition stands out: a city where a visitor can move between basilica art, preserved historic streets, museum collections and literary memory—then connect, if they wish, to the wider cultural geography of Gran Canaria.
For additional local context on the city’s public life and identity, see The European Times’ recent profile of Telde’s mayor Juan Antonio Peña.
A Schengen visa refusal can feel final, but in EU law it is not the end of the road. You usually have the right to receive reasons in writing, and you have a route to appeal under the rules of the Member State that took the decision. This guide explains what to do next—how to read the refusal, secure evidence, challenge the decision within deadlines, and reapply strategically if an appeal is not realistic.
It’s the morning you planned to finalise your trip. Your inbox pings with a consulate message. You open the PDF, scan the ticked boxes, and realise your short stay in Europe will not happen—at least not on the timeline you expected. The clock starts immediately: documents expire, bookings change, and appeal deadlines can be short.
Useful starting points are the European Commission’s Schengen visa guidance and the Visa Code rules that set the common framework (including the right to appeal).
Even when your visa issue is resolved, entry checks and travel formalities are becoming more digital for many non-EU travellers. If you’re planning a trip later in the year, our practical overview “Travelling in Europe: What to Know in 2026” explains the pinch points that can affect timelines and documents.
In 2024, EU and Schengen associated countries’ consulates received more than 11.7 million short-stay visa applications, and the worldwide refusal rate was 14.8%, according to the European Commission’s published figures. That implies roughly about 1.7 million refused applications in a year (an estimate based on those two figures).
Across Europe, visa decisions sit at the intersection of mobility, security, family life, study, work, and cultural exchange. Knowing the appeal route—and insisting on clear reasons and fair procedure—helps keep the system closer to its legal standards, especially when decisions affect people across borders.
Opava meeting will bring European universities together on skills, civic engagement and regional transition
A European University Alliance known as STARS EU will gather in Opava, Czechia, from 25 to 27 March 2026 for its annual conference, focusing on “transformative education” as a response to social pressures, rapid digital change and the climate transition. Organisers say the event is designed to align teaching and cooperation across partner institutions, with workshops and strategy sessions aimed at the next phase of joint work.
European universities are again putting their cross-border experiment under the spotlight. STARS EU—short for the Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition—will hold its 2026 annual conference in Opava, hosted by Silesian University in Opava, bringing together academic leaders, researchers, educators and stakeholders for three days of plenaries, workshops and working meetings. According to the alliance’s announcement, the aim is to review progress, sharpen shared priorities and map the next steps in the alliance’s development.
The conference theme—“Transformative Education for Europe’s Future”—signals an ambition that goes beyond routine networking. STARS EU says it wants to explore how teaching and learning can equip students with skills and mindsets linked to Europe’s main transitions: digitalisation, environmental change and social cohesion. In practical terms, the programme is set to combine formal opening sessions with thematic workshops, working group meetings and “strategic discussions” on joint priorities, alongside networking across participating institutions.
At the centre of the agenda is a claim heard increasingly across the EU’s higher-education policy space: that universities should not only train for jobs, but also strengthen democratic resilience and community wellbeing. STARS EU frames transformative education as fostering critical thinking, creativity, empathy and civic engagement—attributes it argues are needed for students to shape Europe’s future in a period of political polarisation, economic uncertainty and fast-moving technology.
The Opava meeting is expected to draw roughly 180 participants, the organisers say, and comes after earlier STARS EU annual conferences in France and Albania. The alliance points to a continuing focus on how higher education and research can support regional development, including through education, research cooperation and knowledge transfer—an approach that aligns with the broader logic behind the EU’s European Universities initiative, which encourages institutions to collaborate across borders on curricula, mobility and innovation.
That wider EU framework matters because alliances such as STARS EU are often presented as testbeds for a more integrated European Higher Education Area. In recent years, the European Commission has repeatedly described European University Alliances as a way to make cooperation “structural” rather than project-based, with dedicated Erasmus+ support and a policy push to remove barriers to joint programmes. For readers following this debate, The European Times has previously reported on the EU’s strategy for universities and the drive to deepen cross-border cooperation.
For STARS EU, the immediate question in Opava will be whether “transformative education” can be translated from aspiration into operational change: shared teaching formats, clearer pathways for mobility, and governance that allows partner institutions to move at the same pace. The organisers say further details—including agenda information and registration updates—are available through the conference registration site.
Event details: STARS EU Annual Conference 2026, 25–27 March 2026, Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic). Registration information is listed at starseu2026.slu.cz.
Through all of this runs an essential question posed to churches and Christians during Lent: what does it mean to walk toward the cross in this particular moment? Burghardt’s advice is to trust that even small steps may, like the mustard seed, grow and change the world — that transformative peace is possible as reconciliation lived in the interplay of love, justice and truth.
“We are not left alone,” she writes. “Jesus Christ has promised to be with us to the end of the age, grounding our hope and strengthening our resilience,” adding that “It is more urgent than ever to preach the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ in opposition to misleading theologies built on fear, meritocracy and prosperity.”
“I pray that this Lenten season may be a time of prayer, discernment, and renewal of the mind, collectively and individually,” Burghardt writes in conclusion.
Mr. De Croo, who chose Gaza for his first overseas visit since being appointed to the top job in November 2025, called for an expansion of access to the occupied territory for UN agencies to strengthen efforts to remove rubble and waste, provide shelter and medical equipment and evacuate patients.
On Monday, Mr. De Croo visited Firas Market in downtown Gaza City, where around 370,000 tonnes of waste had piled up during the two-year war as garbage collection and sewage systems collapsed, turning it into a massive, foul-smelling landfill.
UNDP bulldozers began removing the waste a week ago, creating a glimmer of hope for Palestinians, with the aim of reopening the market as an economic hub. The UN entity is also involved in ensuring shelter, basic services, and education and health needs are met.
Speaking to the media from Jerusalem, following his three-day trip to Gaza and the West Bank, Mr. De Croo, formerly a Minister for Development in the Belgian government, said that the living conditions were the worst he had ever seen and that, so far, only 0.5 per cent of the rubble in Gaza has been removed.
“At the current pace, it will take us seven years to remove all the rubble,” he said. “We need to have more capacity to do rubble removal and rubble recycling. 90 per cent of the people of Gaza today live in the middle of that rubble, which is extremely dangerous”.
The vast majority of Gazans are still living in rudimentary tents, which the UNDP is beginning to replace with recovery housing units. 4,000 of them are ready, but up to 300,000 are needed for the population.
“We understand the security concerns of the Israeli authorities”, explained Mr. De Croo, “but that should not be a reason to refuse access to organisations such as UNDP, other UN organizations and international NGOs.”
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings against the online fast-fashion giant Shein under the Digital Services Act (DSA), citing concerns about the sale of illegal products, the platform’s “addictive design,” and limited transparency around how its recommender systems steer consumers. The move, announced on 17 February 2026, signals that the EU’s flagship digital rulebook is expanding its bite beyond social networks to include large e-commerce platforms shaping daily consumer habits.
In its announcement, the Commission said the investigation will examine three main areas: measures to prevent the sale of illegal products (including content described as child sexual abuse material), the design features that may drive compulsive use, and the transparency of recommender systems. (European Commission)
The Commission’s decision follows mounting concerns raised by consumer and child-safety advocates about online marketplaces where listings can move quickly and oversight can be uneven. Euronews reported that the probe includes allegations involving illegal products and scrutiny of gamified engagement mechanics that may encourage excessive use, alongside questions about whether users can understand — or meaningfully control — what the platform’s recommendation tools promote. (Euronews)
Reporting on the investigation, The Verge noted that the Commission’s case also tests whether Shein’s safeguards and transparency obligations meet the DSA standard, with potential penalties that can reach a significant share of global turnover if non-compliance is confirmed. (The Verge)
The Shein case underscores a broader shift in EU policy: regulators are increasingly treating user manipulation and engagement engineering as safety risks — especially for minors and other vulnerable groups. Earlier this month, The European Times covered the Commission’s preliminary findings on TikTok’s “addictive design”, where features like infinite scroll and autoplay were framed as potential DSA breaches.
In parallel, the EU has already used the DSA to sharpen expectations around protecting minors from exposure to illegal or harmful content online, as detailed in The European Times’ report on investigations into major adult-content platforms.
Formal proceedings allow the Commission to request information, interview relevant actors, and adopt interim measures if needed. The case can also end with binding commitments or a non-compliance decision. The Commission’s own notice emphasises that the investigation covers both illegal content risks and systemic product-design issues, reflecting the DSA’s focus on “risk management” rather than reactive takedowns alone. (European Commission)
For Shein, the reputational stakes are as significant as the legal ones: the EU is effectively saying that a platform’s business model and design choices are part of the safety equation. For Brussels, the stakes are equally clear — proving that DSA enforcement can keep pace with high-volume marketplaces whose algorithms and incentives shape what Europeans buy, how long they scroll, and what risks they might encounter along the way.
According to government reports, more than 800 people have been injured and nine remain missing.
The Cyclone has caused widespread damage: more than 470,000 people have been affected and over 35,000 people continue to be displaced.
Combined with the impact of Tropical Cyclone Fytia, which made landfall on 31 January, the total number of people affected by the two cyclones exceeds 680,000.
In a positive forecast, Cyclone Gezani is expected to gradually weaken over the coming days.
Following aerial assessments over Madagascar, it is estimated that some $49 million is urgently required to support 382,000 people over the next two and a half months.
At the Government’s request, UN agencies deployed additional teams to strengthen coordination. The Southern African Development Community and the European Union also deployed teams on Monday.
The UN and its partners thanked donors and Member States that have demonstrated solidarity with the people of Madagascar in funding lifesaving food, water and sanitation, healthcare, protection, nutrition and shelter, among other essential services to Madagascans in need.
Since Monday, 55 patients and 72 companions have been medically evacuated from Gaza, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners. Three quarters of evacuations took place at the Rafah crossing and one quarter through Kerem Shalom.
Since the re-opening of the Rafah crossing this month, nearly 260 patients have been evacuated through the two routes. However, the number of people who require treatment that cannot be procured in Gaza remains high at 18,500.
While WHO continues to call for the re-opening of the medical referral route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, their priority is to scale up local health services and rehabilitate damaged facilities to reduce the need for evacuations.
Meanwhile, more than 1,800 metric tonnes of animal feed and over 2,300 veterinary kits have been distributed in the past four months to livestock holders in Gaza, according to the UN’s agency for Food and Agriculture (FAO).
The war in Gaza has led to widespread destruction of agricultural infrastructure. Between October 2023 and November 2025, livestock survival rates dropped to 33 per cent for goats and 20 per cent for sheep, while about 37 per cent of cropland is now accessible for cultivation.
The UN aid coordination office OCHA has reemphasised the increased entry of a wide range of humanitarian supplies and equipment and to operate unimpeded to ensure the needs of the people in Gaza are met.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed sadness over the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a giant of the civil rights movement in the United States and a longtime champion of human rights, equality and justice around the world who passed away on Tuesday aged 84.
“Reverend Jackson lent his powerful voice to the UN’s work against racism, against apartheid and for human rights”, Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General told reporters in New York.
The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, his friends, as well as the Government and the people of the United States.
In a visit to the United Nations in March 2018, Rev. Jackson spoke at an event marking the contributions of people of African Descent worldwide and said racial idolatry “manifests itself in so many ways, even in our politics”.
Speaking to UN News, the civil rights leader said that “it must be a massive global coalition of conscience” to eliminate racial discrimination.
“We’ve globalized capital, we’ve globalized technology […] We must now globalize human rights: workers’ rights; women’s rights; children’s rights; and environmental security. We must globalize all the values that make life ‘life,’ for everybody.”
A University of Virginia doctoral student and a team of astronomers have, for the first time, captured radio
Madrid asks prosecutors to investigate Meta, TikTok and X amid growing EU pressure on online harms
Spain has moved to open a new legal front against major social media platforms, asking prosecutors to investigate Meta, TikTok and X over allegations that AI-generated child sexual abuse material has circulated on their services. The announcement, made on 17 February 2026, signals a sharper turn in Europe’s response to the way generative AI can accelerate the creation and spread of illegal images online.
According to Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the Spanish state must act to protect children’s “safety, privacy and dignity,” pointing to a technical report drawn up across three ministries. The investigation comes as European governments debate stricter rules for adolescents’ access to social media and weigh the responsibility of platforms whose algorithms decide what content is pushed, recommended or amplified. (Reuters)
At the heart of Spain’s move is a fear long flagged by child-protection experts: that generative tools can produce abusive material faster than traditional detection systems can keep up. Reuters notes that Spain is stepping in amid broader scrutiny of how platforms’ recommendation systems, moderation practices and design choices can contribute to harmful outcomes for minors. (Reuters)
This concern has been growing across Europe as regulators increasingly treat online safety as a “systems” issue — not only about individual posts, but about the product design and algorithms that can drive exposure. Earlier this month, The European Times reported on EU scrutiny of TikTok’s “addictive design”, where features like infinite scroll and autoplay were cited as risk factors, particularly for younger users.
Spain’s prosecutorial request lands in a wider European context of enforcement and investigations. Reuters reports that Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has opened a formal probe into X’s AI chatbot Grok, examining the processing of personal data and concerns about the generation of sexualised content involving minors. (Reuters)
Separately, Brussels has also been intensifying scrutiny of online services under its digital rulebook, the Digital Services Act (DSA), including cases focused on protecting minors from illegal and harmful content. The European Times previously covered how the EU began using the DSA to address minors’ exposure to pornography in formal investigations into major adult-content platforms.
Spain’s prosecutors will now determine the scope and direction of the inquiry. The broader question is whether the combination of national investigations, EU-level enforcement, and data-protection oversight can meaningfully curb AI-enabled abuse — or whether the pace of innovation will continue to outstrip the safeguards built into today’s platforms.
For Europe, 17 February 2026 marks another step in a fast-emerging reality: child protection online is no longer only a policing or content-moderation challenge. It is also a governance test of how digital products are designed, how algorithms operate, and how quickly states can enforce the rules they have written.
