EDITION 1138 OF THE COSTA BLANCA LEADER NEWSPAPER 27 JULY – 2 AUGUST 2026
The historic city of Orihuela brought its annual Fiestas de la Reconquista y de Moros y Cristianos to a spectacular close at the weekend, transforming its centuries-old streets into a lively stage of music, gunpowder, and colourful pageantry.
The two-week commemoration, declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest, brought together thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate the city’s 784th anniversary of its 13th-century reconquest.
The celebration officially began earlier in the month with the Acto de Exaltación Festera at the Teatro Circo, where local officials and festival leaders formally introduced Pilar Hernández Gutiérrez as the 2026 Armengola, along with the Christian and Moorish Ambassadors, Eduardo Aparicio Nortes and Francisco Sánchez Mateo. Civic pride took centre stage on July 17 during the traditional Día de la Reconquista, when the Gloriosa Enseña del Oriol - Orihuela’s historic flag - was lowered from the Ayuntamiento balcony and carried through the historic district in a solemn procession accompanied by civil and religious authorities. Midweek events shifted toward dramatic community displays.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
MOORS AND CHRISTIANS
On July 21, the streets echoed with thunderous volleys of blunderbusses during the Guerrilla Única de Pólvora, a simulated battle that enveloped the central avenues in aromatic gunpowder smoke ahead of the symbolic takeover of the festival castle.
The following days featured the younger generation stepping into the spotlight during the
Monday 27th July - Sunday 2nd Aug 2026
Desfile Infantil, followed by the lighthearted and humorous Gran Retreta Festera, which brought colorful carnival energy to the evening crowds. The festival reached its peak over the weekend with the two grand entradas.
On Friday night, Christian forces marched in disciplined formation behind medieval banners, armored knights, and brass bands playing classic marchas cristianas.
On Saturday evening, Moorish troops closed the
festival in lavish silk attire, moving to the slow, hypnotic rhythm of marchas moras alongside dance troupes and elaborate floats led by the Moorish Ambassador.
Local organizers and municipal authorities praised the high turnout across all age groups, once again highlighting the festival's role in preserving local heritage and boosting cultural tourism throughout the Vega Baja region. All images courtesy: vega-baja.com
TORREVIEJA’S CV-905 speed camera emerged as one of Spain’s most prolific during 2025, issuing more than 72,000 penalties and helping push speeding fines across Alicante province to a record e13.2 million.
The fixed camera, positioned at kilometre seven of the CV905, the main route between Torrevieja and Quesada, recorded 72,557 offences during the year.
That made it the second-busiest speed camera in Spain, according to figures published by the motorists’ organisation European Associated Motorists (AEA).
Among the vehicles caught by the camera was an official Torrevieja Council vehicle, highlighting the scale and reach of enforcement on one of the area’s most heavily used roads.
For motorists using the CV-905 daily, the figures underline how closely the Torrevieja approach road is monitored. The camera has become a major enforcement point for residents, commuters, delivery drivers and summer visitors alike.
Only one camera in the country issued more penalties: the device at kilometre 326 of the A-7 motorway in Valencia, which recorded 90,766 fines. It had registered just six penalties in 2024 because it only became operational towards the end of that year.
The Torrevieja camera’s performance helped fuel an 83.5 per cent rise in the value of speeding penalties across Alicante province. DGT speeding fines generated e13,217,799 in 2025, compared with e7,200,643 in 2024.
Alicante recorded the fourth-largest provincial increase in speeding fines in Spain, behind Almeria, where the rise was close to 180 per cent, Granada at 166.8 per cent and Valencia at 87 per cent.
The overall value of DGT traffic penalties in Alicante also climbed sharply, reaching e28,714,641. That was almost
e8 million more than the e20,789,853 recorded a year earlier and represented an increase of 38.1 per cent, the second-largest rise in the country after Granada. Speeding accounted for around 46 per cent of the total value of all traffic fines issued in the province. Alicante’s e13.2 million speeding bill was the fourth highest nationally, behind Valencia, Madrid and Cadiz.
The province also featured prominently in the national ranking of Spain’s busiest speed cameras. Five Alicante devices appeared among the top 50.
A camera at kilometre zero of the A-77A issued 30,742 fines, placing it 11th nationally, while another at kilometre eight of the A-70 recorded 29,488 offences, up by more than 11,000 in a year.
The camera at kilometre 13 of the CV-86 issued 24,732 penalties, compared with only 385 in 2024. A further camera at kilometre 27 of the A70 recorded 14,616 offences, slightly fewer than the previous year.
Nationally, DGT speed cameras generated a record e246.8 million in 2025, a rise of 14 per cent. Speeding penalties represented 41.5 per cent of all traffic fines, excluding Catalonia and the Basque Country, where enforcement powers are devolved.
AEA said the increase was driven largely by new cameras installed at strategic locations rather than a sudden deterioration in driving standards.
More than 1,000 cameras were operating across Spain, with the 50 busiest issuing over 1.34 million penalties.
AEA president Mario Arnaldo questioned whether too much enforcement is concentrated on motorways and dual carriageways, arguing that conventional roads account for about 70 per cent of injury accidents.
The DGT insists that speed controls remain essential in reducing both the number and severity of collisions.
Torrevieja Council has provisionally approved a Plan allowing a private developer to build a funeral home, with a possible crematorium, by the municipal cemetery.
In exchange, the company will transfer 7,187 square metres to the council, enabling the cemetery to expand by around 20 to 25 per cent and securing burial capacity for an estimated 20 years.
A further 7,009 square metres would accommodate the private funeral facilities, while 2,603 square metres are reserved for roads and parking.
All four council groups backed the proposal, which still requires final approval from the Valencian government.
Although officials publicly emphasised the cemetery expansion, the private development is central to the scheme. The crematorium remains optional.
The project has passed environmental assessment, with no public objections.
Family Horror as Barbaric Orihuela Costa Killer Walks Free
The family of murdered Irish woman Avril Flanagan have voiced anguish and alarm following news of the imminent release of Alan Daulby, who stabbed her more than 50 times at his Cabo Roig apartment in May 2009.
Daulby, now 40, received a 19year sentence after Spanish judges described the killing as “brutal and barbaric”.
Avril, 20, had ended their relationship two weeks earlier after he allegedly stalked and repeatedly called her.
He cleaned the apartment, con-
cealed her body beneath a sofa and fled before being arrested following a lengthy police pursuit.
Her brother David believes Daulby remains dangerous and should have been imprisoned for life.
He is expected to face police supervision and a Stalking Protection Order, while reportedly being barred from Spain.
The family is particularly concerned that he may leave temporary accommodation and disengage from parts of the supervision programme after release.
Residents and holidaymakers are demanding action over large accumulations of Posidonia seagrass debris on Orihuela Costa’s beaches during the peak summer season.
Prominent piles at La Caleta, Cabo Roig, and between Aguamarina and La Glea are reportedly restricting shoreline access and disrupting beach-hire businesses.
The council’s new e80,520 removal contract remains under
evaluation and may not become operational until September because several administrative and appeal stages remain. It will cover all 11 local beaches and coves.
Posidonia is a protected Mediterranean seagrass that reduces erosion and supports coastal ecosystems, so removal requires environmental authorisation. Critics say the service should have been arranged before summer’s influx.
Johnny Smyth
POSIDONIA MOUNTAINSSPARK GROWING ANGER ON THE ORIHUELA COSTA
Daulby pictured while in a UK prison
Ecologists seek closure of Lemon Tree Market
Environmentalists have urged the Valencian Government to reject plans to legalise Guardamar’s 600-stall Grandpa’s Market, which has operated without formal planning permission since 1993.
The Sunday market, also known as El Campico or the Lemon Tree Market, occupies 7.7 hectares of nondevelopment land near El Raso, with almost half inside the buffer zone of La Mata and Torrevieja Lagoons Natural Park.
AHSA says the site creates traffic, flooding, wildfire and groundwater risks, with more than 4,000 vehicles and 8,000 visitors recorded
on a trading day.
The group argues the long-running unauthorised activity should be closed rather than legalised retrospectively.
The market remains open under temporary court protection while its owner pursues two planning routes. The Generalitat will decide the application.
Hondón Traditional Craft Market
Hondón de las Nieves will
host its traditional craft market on Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, combining handmade goods, live music, children’s entertainment and fireworks.
Around 25 artisans will set up stalls in the town centre, demonstrating their skills
and selling only items they have made themselves.
Visitors can also enjoy traditional music from Sol Redò, workshops, board games, a merry-go-round and food from an Argentine tavern, crêperie and Arab tent.
Organised by the Amata association, the market sup-
ports independent craftspeople and offers visitors the opportunity to commission personalised pieces.
It opens at 7pm on both evenings. Saturday’s event ends at midnight with the spectacular traditional “correfocs”, featuring a huge float parading through the streets.
The Generalitat Valenciana has formally delegated powers to Orihuela City Council to manage the construction of a long-overdue second health centre in Orihuela Costa, targeting completion by 2029. The regional government has allocated up to e8.9 million for the project under the Official Gazette resolution. The budget earmarks e690,188 for project drafting and technical management, with e8.21 million reserved for building works. Tendering for the design is scheduled for this year, with construction expected to start in 2027, subject to annual budget approvals and municipal plenary endorsement.
The new facility will be located on a 2,852square-metre plot on Calle Trepadora (H1 Villa Rosa sector), six kilometres from the existing Aguamarina facility and near the Torrevieja border.
Designed for up to five storeys with dedicat-
ed parking, the planned amenities include consulting and nursing rooms for general medicine and paediatrics, rehabilitation, radiology, dentistry, sexual health, women's care, and emergency facilities.
The project addresses severe healthcare strain in the area. Currently, the deteriorating Aguamarina centre single-handedly serves nearly 30,000 registered residents—a population that triples during peak summer months.
A regional health ministry report justified the expansion based on growing demand, estimating the new facility will share care for over 28,000 patients.
While the Generalitat is financing the construction, Orihuela Council must cover approximately e1 million in site preparation costs, ongoing maintenance, security, utilities, and any expenses arising from contract modifications or delays.
ATTACK
MAN HELD AFTER GUARDAMAR CAMPSITE
A woman suffered a devastating leg injury after allegedly being deliberately run over during an argument at a Guardamar del Segura campsite.
Witnesses said a heated confrontation escalated before a man entered a van and drove into her. The 25-year-old Belgian suspect then allegedly fled in a white Volkswagen Caddy.
Guardamar Local Police treated the injured woman and circulated details of the vehicle. Santa Pola officers intercepted it on the N332 heading towards El Altet and arrested the driver.
The woman was taken to hospital with a severe open wound. The case is being inves-
tigated as a possible gender-based violence offence.
GUARDIA APPEAL FOR HELP AFTER SECOND NIGHT OF TORCHED VEHICLES
Police are appealing for help locating a young man after Guardamar del Segura suffered a second consecutive night of suspected arson attacks, taking the number of reported fires to 18.
Four cars were reportedly set alight early Monday, another vehicle was damaged and a motorcycle was burned. The attacks followed several vehicle fires during the previous night. No injuries have been reported.
The individual sought is described as a tall, slim male aged 16 to 19, with lightbrown hair shaved at the sides. He may be walking or riding an electric scooter. Police have warned residents not to approach him or publish sightings online. Information should be reported immediately through 112 or Guardamar Local Police.
The Guardia Civil is leading the investigation and has not announced any arrests so far.
SAT ANIMAL RESCUE
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A 76-year-old Ukrainian man died after becoming unwell while swimming at Los Náufragos Beach in Torrevieja early Monday.
The emergency was reported at 7.43am, before lifeguard services began at 10am. The sea was calm and conditions appeared suitable for swimming.
A SAMU medical team and ambulance attended, while Guardia Civil officers assisted with advanced resuscitation. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man, a Torrevieja resident, was accompanied by his wife. His body was removed shortly before 10.40am following judicial authorisation. The cause of death remains under investigation pending a post-mortem.
PILAR STEPS UP SUMMER PATROLS
Pilar de la Horadada’s Civil Protection volunteers have launched a special summer operation to strengthen safety, fire prevention and emergency assistance during the municipality’s busiest months.
Running until September, the operation responds to extreme heat and the sharp seasonal increase in the coastal population. Twenty-four volunteers will participate, supported by three four-wheel-drive vehicles, a rapid-response water tanker and four motorcycles.
Two permanent teams will operate daily. One will patrol woodland and countryside areas to detect smoke, fires and other emergencies. A response unit based in Pinar de Campoverde will use a first-intervention vehicle to provide rapid assistance.
The second team will patrol coastal areas, offering information and support to residents and visitors while coordinating with Local Police and Ambumar SYA lifeguards.
Forest-fire prevention remains the operation’s main priority. Volunteers will investigate possible smoke columns, monitor vulnerable countryside and
assist firefighters when required. They will also report vandalism or behaviour threatening the natural environment. All teams will remain connected through an internal radio network, enabling continuous coordination with emergency and security services. Volunteers will also support summer events, celebrations and markets across the municipality.
Orihuela City Council has tendered a e233,000 renovation of the Correntías district medical centre, six years after the PSOE described it as unfit for purpose. The six-month project will completely redesign the 155-square-metre clinic, which serves around 800 people, and incorporate an adjoining storage building.
Plans include new consultation and nursing rooms, a reception area, accessible toilets, upgraded utilities, fire protection, ventilation and photovoltaic panels. The roof, façade and interior finishes will also be renewed.
Step-free access, adapted doors, wheelchair-friendly service points and specialist signage will improve accessibility. The centre will remain closed throughout construction.
Pilar de la Horadada’s Civil Protection volunteers
‘I’m missing a sock off one of my feet …!’
So before we start, please allow me to tell you a little story; the story that inspired the title of this week’s YCBS.
One night about four years ago I landed into Alicante airport at a very late hour. My son collected me and as it was so late I stayed overnight - rather than going the short distance to my own apartment.
Despite my grandchildren’s mother trying to keep them quiet next morning as they prepared for school around 0730, I was wide awake. ‘No, you cannot see Grandad; he is sleeping and he’ll be here when you get home from school;’ I could hear Lynne advising the brood of three. Cillian, the then five year old, was finding it hardest to accept the ruling.
Soon I heard the door handle move ever so quietly; the door inched open just wide enough for two little blue eyes to peer through. Surprise in store for my youngest grandchild for there I was sitting up in the bed.
Caught in the act, Cillian had to think fast and come up with an excuse for waking his granddad. Then he delivered a gem; ‘Grandad, I’m missing a shoe off one of my feet!’
I thought of Cillian the other day after deciding to do an audit of the top drawer in a chest of drawers in my bedroom. We are talking about the ‘sock drawer’. You would hardly believe the range and variety of socks we have here; some since Adam was a gosson. There are dress socks, walking socks, heavy working socks … just in case I might decide to do an honest day’s
work again someday.
There are lots of these teeny weeny sockeens that make it look as if I’m wearing runners without socks. I have Westmeath GAA socks, long socks, short socks, coloured socks and plain socks, woolly socks, nylon socks and a pair of socks with a maple leaf on each one.
You get the picture; and maybe you are thinking this guy is hard up for something to write about this week; but please bear with me. I have a huge problem … a huge and mysterious problem … and here it is!
How in the name of Jaysus, can I have such a percentage of odd socks in my sock drawer? To quote my smart grandson and his shoe; ‘I’m missing a sock off one of my feet!’
How can this happen? I have come home from places missing something but never, I swear, ‘missing a sock off one of my feet!’
We just have one washing machine. Mrs Youcantbeserious wouldn’t touch one of my socks with a forty foot pole – even after it being through the suds; so where can the other half of the odd socks have gotten to?
Starting from the beginning; I have never bought an odd or single sock in my life.
They all come in pairs – so where does the odd one disappear to? I am now so paranoid that I count the pack of two socks at the checkout; holding them tightly in one hand as I do a ‘tap and go’ … or a ‘hit and run’ in this case, with my free hand.
I have heard of twisted male weirdoes who sneak around stealing women’s knickers off clothes lines. I am so desperate for an
answer here to my sinking sock stock that I have to wonder if there is an equivalent or fetish female felon getting her kicks stealing my sock off the line. Every possibility has to be considered … I’ll show you my sock drawer if you like …
I have tried to pair up the odd socks with a comrade that looks closest to itself, but it doesn’t work for me – even though I knew famous men like Garret Fitzgerald who regu-
larly wore odd socks – and even odd shoes. No, Mrs Youcantbeserious would never allow that.
If any reader can fathom out a cure for my conundrum please let us know – as I am no closer to a solution. All that I can think of is that if any of you know a man with a wooden leg or missing a foot, I have enough single socks to see him out. Or if you would like a duster for either hand –I’m your man!
Sitting here on a hard wooden chair trying to figure what to do next isn’t helping. On the floor beside me is a nice pair of shoes.
I have an almost new sock covering one pretty foot and the other one is bare. You see, I am missing a sock off one of my feet!
DON’T FORGET
A newspaper editor’s job is to separate the wheat from the chaff and see to it that the chaff gets printed.
CHEQUE DONATION TO ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
The Orihuela Costa Branch of The Royal British Legion would like to thank the Rocky Raccoons Petanca Club for their generous donation of €420 which was handed over to Chairman Mark Benton last week through one of their members Geoff Thomas, who is also a Branch member.
FINE FOR DRUNK PASSENGER
A passenger flying from Manchester to Alicante has been ordered to pay £253 (around e300) after admitting she was drunk aboard an EasyJet aircraft.
Diane McKenna, 42, from Oldham, appeared before Manchester Magistrates’ Court following the incident on flight EZY2015, bound for Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport on February 8. She admitted breaching the UK’s Air Navigation Order 2016, which prohibits passengers from boarding or remaining aboard an aircraft while intoxicated.
The court fined her £120 and ordered her
to pay £85 in prosecution costs plus a £48 surcharge. The £253 total will be deducted from her benefits in £20 instalments.
The case again highlights alcohol-related disruption on popular flights between Britain and Alicante during the tourist season.
ORIHUELA STRENGTHENS STREET CLEANING FLEET
Orihuela City Council has added a e174,240 water tanker to its street-cleaning fleet, strengthening services across the city, surrounding villages and Orihuela Costa.
The vehicle features a 10,000-litre tank, high-pressure washing equipment, GPS tracking and intelligent fuel-consumption controls. It will enter service immediately, improving efficiency and working conditions for municipal crews.
The purchase forms part of a e3.4-million programme to replace an ageing fleet affected by breakdowns and maintenance problems. The council has also introduced refuse lorries, road sweepers and vehicles for removing bulky waste. Supplied by Volvo Group España, the tanker includes a three-year warranty. It honours retired employees Manuel Albero Lidon and Pedro Jaime Marcos Bru, former operators of
similar municipal vehicles during their long careers serving Orihuela.
BAA’D NEWS FOR SECRET SAN MIGUEL FLOCK
Civil Guard officers have placed 29 sheep and goats under a movement ban after finding them unregistered and without identification, documentation or veterinary supervision on a farm in San Miguel de Salinas.
Seprona discovered seven adult sheep, 13 goats and nine kids in a concealed enclosure during a routine agricultural inspection. The person responsible could not prove their origin or provide registration and health records.
The animals remain on the property but cannot be moved, sold or transferred without official permission. Veterinary authorities will assess their health and decide whether further action is necessary.
Officials stress that livestock traceability is essential for controlling disease and protecting food safety. Serious offences under Valencian livestock law can attract fines up to e60,000.
GUARDIA CIVIL BOOST TO LAGOON PROTECTION
Six officers from the Guardia Civil’s Murcia Maritime Service have completed specialist training to strengthen environmental protection and enforcement across the Mar Menor.
The Cartagena-based officers studied lagoon regulations, protected species, anchoring restrictions, exclusion zones and environmental monitoring systems.
Training was provided by regional departments responsible for the Mar Menor, natural heritage and climate action, together with the Murcian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development.
They also learned how coastal equipment collects meteorological and water-quality data used by public authorities. The six officers will now train their Maritime Service colleagues, ensuring a consistent understanding of environmental rules.
ORIHUELA BANS USE OF AI BY MUNICIPAL STAFF
Orihuela City Council has restricted municipal employees from using public artificialintelligence platforms including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek and Microsoft Copilot Chat over data-protection and security concerns.
A mandatory circular signed by Mayor Pepe Vegara and the council secretary allows authorised Microsoft 365 Copilot only for limited support tasks, such as proofreading, summarising public documents and preparing basic outlines. Employees must verify all AI-generated content and remain professionally responsible. Personal, financial, police, personnel and administrative information must never be uploaded. AI cannot produce official reports, decisions, decrees, minutes or procurement assessments.
Staff are also barred from sharing protected information through WhatsApp and similar messaging services. Breaches could lead to disciplinary, administrative or financial penalties and, in serious cases, potential criminal liability.
Every summer, as reliably as sunburn and e5 bottles of water, the same question returns to Spain’s coastal towns: why do shirtless men risk fines for wandering through the streets, while women in tiny bikinis often seem to pass untroubled? It is one of those great Mediterranean mysteries, somewhere between “why is the parking machine out of order again?” and “how can a beach bar charge that much for calamari?”
The answer, inconveniently, is not quite as simple as men versus women. Across Spain there is no single national law banning bare chests, bikinis or the confident public display of holiday flesh.
Instead, these rules are usually set by local councils through civic-behaviour ordinances. In other words, the law changes depending on which town you are in, how the by-law is worded, and how enthusiastic the local police are feeling that particular day.
Many coastal councils draw a distinction between the beach and everywhere else. Swimwear is acceptable on the sand, beside the pool, and often along the seafront. But once someone marches into a supermarket, bank, restaurant, shopping centre or town hall dressed as though they have just lost an argument with a towel, the mood changes.
In some municipalities, the rule refers specifically to people walking around with a bare torso. That makes enforcement fairly straightforward for men. A shirtless man is, by definition, shirtless. There is very little room for legal philosophy there. If the ordinance says no bare torso away from the beach, the man strolling past the chemist with his sunburnt chest on display is not exactly a difficult case.
Women in bikinis, however, occupy a more awkward legal grey area. A bikini top, however optimistic in its engineering, is technically clothing. It may not be much clothing. It may be fighting a heroic battle against physics. But it is not the same as being bare-chested.
That is where the apparent unfairness begins. A man with no shirt may clearly break a “bare torso” rule, while a woman in a very small bikini may not, unless the ordinance specifically bans swimwear in streets and public premises. Where the rule does mention swimwear, it can apply to bikinis, swimming costumes, trunks and anything
else more suited to a sunbed than a bakery queue.
Enforcement also depends heavily on context. Someone walking twenty metres from the beach to a nearby bar may be treated differently from someone wandering through a town centre, supermarket aisle or municipal office dressed for a lilo.
Police may issue a warning. Businesses may simply refuse entry. And residents may quietly mutter dark things into their coffee.
The real issue is not prudery. It is the clash between holiday behaviour and normal public life. Tourists often feel that, in a beach town, beachwear should be acceptable everywhere. Many residents disagree, especially when “everywhere” includes pharmacies, restaurants and food shops.
So yes, the rules can appear uneven. Men are easier to spot, easier to classify and easier to fine. Women in bikinis often fall into a more ambiguous category unless the wording is clear.
The safest rule is wonderfully old-fashioned: when leaving the beach, put something on. A shirt, a dress, a cover-up — almost anything will do. Spain may welcome tourism, but even paradise occasionally asks people to get dressed before buying tomatoes.
SAME GRID TWO SETS OF CLUES
QUICKIE CROSSWORD
ACROSS ACROSS
1.Deceased (4)
3.Wary (8)
9.Warrior (7)
10.Speak (5)
11.Expectancy (12)
13.Nook (6)
15.Jail (6)
17.Exorbitant (12)
20.Smell (5)
21.Disagree (7)
22.Overcame (8)
23.Remain (4)
DOWN DOWN
1.Remoteness (8)
2.Distribute (5)
4.Sudden (6)
5.Equilibrium (12)
6.Foolish (7)
7.Entice (4)
8.Dejected (12)
12.Lineage (8)
14.Worried (7)
16.Heavy food (6)
18.Vigilant (5)
19.Serene (4)
1. Which Benedictine Monk made important contributions to the art of making Champagne?
2. What kind of loaf is literally 'Toni's bread'?
3. Which focal scientific word stems from the Latin for 'little nut'?
4. What is both a French wine region and a luxury American automobile?
5. Put the following in the correct order starting with the heaviest: a golf ball, a baseball, a cricket ball and a tennis ball
6. Which British playwright wrote "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead"?
7. Kalamata, Nyons, Lugano, Empeltre, Nicoise and Manzanilla are all tasty examples of what?
8. In which country were Grace Kelly films banned after April 18, 1956?
9. The name of which famous Russian newspaper means both 'truth' and 'justice' when translated?
10. The following words are from songs with the word 'yellow' in the song title. Can you name the song? a. As we live a life of ease. b. Electrical banana is gonna be a sudden craze. c. So long boy you can take my place got my papers I've got my pay. d. Mongrels who ain't got a penny, Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground. e. Dreamed I was an Eskimo
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS ACROSS
1.No fiction in the start of the first act (4)
3.Boasts about small tails? (8)
9.Artist giving six oil works for food (7)
10.Beginning to alter notes (5)
11.He maintains a small opening behind the stumps (12)
13.Part of a river quiet during incursions (6)
15.Girl meeting another girl over in Austrian city (6)
17.Book of EEC policy and translation (12)
20.Oddly-numbered pages in the phone directory? (5)
21.Most are upset by distinguished musician (7)
22.Possibly lack bite as formal dress (5,3)
23.Need a change? This is paradise! (4)
DOWN DOWN
1.Arocket for investigating arson? (8)
2.About four in charge of the citizens (5)
4.Drink like an egg-beater? (6)
5.They can be hair-raising! (5,7)
6.Terribly earnest Oriental (7)
7.Location for a spectacle, say? (4)
8.OK ad somebody created for a land survey (8,4)
12.Biscuit showing a vehicle in a far-off place (8)
14.Acanape prepared as a cure-all (7)
16.Graduates of London University in the main, perhaps? (6)
18.Taken out, being old-fashioned (5)
19.Insect larva as food (4)
11. Due to the large number of immigrants from Somalia found in Minneapolis, Minnesota, what is one of Australia's largest exports to this part of the USA?
12. Which American broke 3 track and field world records and tied a fourth within 45 minutes on May 25, 1935?
13. Who have been previously named 'The Detours' and 'The High Numbers'?
14. Which actor played the pilot in each of the following films? a. Dr. Strangelove. b. Airport (the original). c. Flightplan. d. The Spirit Of St Louis. e. The Flight Of The Phoenix (1965). f. The Flight Of The Phoenix (2004)
15. In which football competition do teams play for the 'Henri Delaunay Trophy'?
16. Which events made headlines around the world on the following dates? a. 28th June 1914. b. 21st May 1927. c. 12th April 1961. d. 26th April 1986
17. Legend has it that the body of Alexander the Great was preserved in which liquid?
18. In the Sinead O'Conner/Prince song 'Nothing Compares 2 U', how long has it been "since you took your love away"?
19. 'Chicago Pile No. 1' was the first what in the world in 1942?
20. In film, Admiral Sir Miles Messervy is better known as what?
OXYMORON PARADOX CLIMAX PERIPHRASIS SIMILE EXCLAMATION ARCHAISM UNDERSTATEMENT EUPHEMISM METAPHOR SYNECDOCHE ANTITHESIS ALLEGORY IRONY HYPERBOLE ELLIPSIS ALLUSION METOMYMY PUN
SUDOKU CHALLENGE
WORD WHEEL CHALLENGE
The target is 42 words
My Total
* Answers page 18
Youraim is to create as many words of 4 letters ormore using the letters in the word wheel only once in each word and always including the letterin the centre of the wheel. No propernames are allowed.
WORD SCRAMBLE CHALLENGE
Unscramble the letters to reveal the names of 10 types of Holiday
HOLIDAYS
THREE AWARDS - €26,000 - BEST OVERALLSCORE
The Chamber Choir of the University of the Americas Puebla emerged as the outstanding winner of the 72nd Torrevieja International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition, collecting three major awards and €26,000 in prize money.
The prestigious annual event, one of Torrevieja’s most important cultural traditions, celebrates the habanera music brought to the salt-mining town by sailors trading with Cuba during the 19th century.
Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, the competition attracts leading choirs from around the world and has become an
important event on the international choral calendar.
The Mexican ensemble won the Ricardo Lafuente First Prize for Habaneras, the César Cánovas Second Prize for Polyphony and the Alicante Provincial Council Award for the highest overall score.
Its musical director, Honey Moreiro Abreu, was also presented with the José Hódar Talavera Award for Best Conductor.
Moreiro Abreu played a prominent role in the closing ceremony, directing the combined choirs in a performance of Habanera de Sal, the compulsory work for this
year’s competition. The piece features lyrics by Belén Puente Carmona and music by Antoni Mas.
Spain’s Aurum choir, from Luanco in Asturias, also enjoyed considerable success. It secured the Juan Aparicio First Prize for Polyphony and the Francisco Vallejos Second Prize for Habaneras, earning a total of €15,000.
Third prize in the Habaneras section, the Francisco Grau Award worth €2,500, went to the Viva Mixed Choir from Brezice, Slovenia. The Chamber Choir of the National College of Buenos Aires received the €2,000 third
prize for Polyphony.
Meanwhile, the Audience Award, decided by competition subscribers, was presented to Coro Encanto from Griñón, Madrid.
This year’s jury comprised Cristóbal Soler, Ruth Revert, Antoni Mas and Selena Cancino. The announcement of the winners produced emotional scenes in the Municipal Theatre’s bar, where members of the Mexican choir erupted in celebration as each of their awards was revealed.
Before the results were declared, the six highest-rated choirs took part in a gala performance that brought the competition to a close.
Organisers said the concert reflected the event’s exceptional musical quality, its international character and its continuing commitment to Torrevieja’s habanera heritage.
Mayor Eduardo Dolón thanked the organising committee and technical staff for their work.
He said more than 700 singers had participated and described the standard of performance as among the highest in the competition’s
recent history.
He announced that next year’s 73rd edition will be held from July 18 to 24, 2027, again at the Municipal Theatre.
By then, the City Council expects construction to be well underway on a new Habaneras auditorium that is to be built beside the historic Eras de la Sal salt flats.
University of the Americas Puebla choir dominates the 72nd International Competition
HONEYMOREIRO ABREUBest Conductor
Aurum Luanco Asturias 1st prize for Polyphony
ANDY’S POLITICAL ‘HOPE OPERA’.
So, Andy Burnham plans to bring hope back to Britain. Well, it’s about time, but have we heard all this rhetoric before? Oh yes.
There was a bloodbath as Andy hacked through former Prime Minister Sir Keir’s “loyalists”, creating a new cabinet for change. Thank goodness Ed Milliband with his ultra net zero policy is shunted to foreign secretary. I wonder how long it will be before he and Trump come to blows!
Andy’s first policy announcement was to cut VAT on electricity to zero. On the surface that sounded good, until we learned that VAT was only 5% anyway, so the saving would be a mere 45 pounds per year for the average household. Big deal, that might just pay for a meal out for two excluding drinks, thanks to the sky high tax on alcohol!
What’s needed are encouragements to get employers to take on apprentices, encouragements to get employers to invest in expansion and growth, plus measures to cut welfare for lazy good for nothings who can work but won’t.
Andy has a university degree in English, but many MPs have degrees in politics. What we want are MPs who have degrees in the university of life rather than learning how to spout out endless bull***t. 90% of UK MPs have university degrees and 82% of civil servants also have degrees. 90 are career politicians who have never had a job outside politics.
They live in a dream world of never having lived in the real world. Here’s where a change is needed – putting an end to the snobbishness around universities.
TRUMPED BY LA ROJA
I couldn’t have been more delighted last
Sunday to see Spain win the World Cup –not just because I feel Spain is my second home but because of the appalling antics of Argentina.
They should have been punished for what they did after the Argentina v England match when players went political to raise the Falklands issue.
Yes, if England had been left on the offensive after winning their first goal rather than building up a defence, then perhaps they would have scored another and put Argentina out of the running.
Then it would have been England v Spain and my loyalty would have been tested.
However, I am delighted over the win –not just for Spain, but for a slap in the face for that ever in your face American president who has said so much to belittle Spain.
TRUMP’S SMOKE OFFENSIVE
While on the subject of Trump and his stupid nonsense, I couldn’t believe his absurdity in suggesting he would raise tariffs against Canada because of smoke from wildfires “daring” to enter America’s airspace. He framed the smoke as “wilful Canadian negligence”.
Yes, the smoke fog over some US cities from the many wildfires from forested Canada must have been appalling, but instead of embarking on his usual threatening crap he should have offered US help to Canada to fight the fires, which have been totally out of control.
The world is now facing a huge threat because of global warming, summer droughts and tinder dry countryside and all world leaders should stop the rhetoric and realise there is a global problem which all countries should work together to combat.
112 WAYS TO WASTE POLICE TIME
And now for something a little less serious. I have often in the past sighed in disbelief in seeing gross, ageing men on holiday in Spain in winter, many with pot bellies walking into shopping areas topless – something I hope they wouldn’t do back home.
I couldn’t resist a chuckle when I read that a woman telephoned UK police to complain that her next door neighbour was mowing his lawn topless and asking police to reprimand him.
Can you imagine being married to her?
Anyway, it seems that UK police frequently receive absurd, non-emergency 112 calls
Tony Mayes Rant
and bizarre complaints from the public. Actual examples include a woman terrified of a spider in her hallway, complaints to police about an Emmerdale soap opera storyline, and a person who reported a stolen pineapple!
And it’s just as bad in Spain. A person phoned the Guardia Civil to demand police force a hairdresser to fix an unflattering haircut or give a refund.
Another complaint to police was against a restaurant for serving cold soup and tough meat.
And Spanish police have had complaints from people complaining about neighbours. One was moaning about vacuuming too late at night, making too much noise rearranging furniture and – best of all – complaining about too noisy sex!
LOOKY LOOKY MAN FACES PROMENADE BAN
Torrevieja Council has joined legal proceedings against an illegal street vendor accused of assaulting a Local Police officer and is seeking an unusual exclusion order.
The authority wants the court to ban him from returning to the specific section of the Juan Aparicio promenade where he allegedly traded and the confrontation occurred.
Security councillor Federico Alarcon said the man returned to the same location and allegedly threatened officers shortly after being released by the court.
If granted, breaching the order could carry
more serious consequences than an administrative fine for illegal vending.
The proposal emerged from coordination between police, courts, social services and health authorities addressing repeated public-order problems.
The council says the targeted measure would offer a stronger tool against persistent offending without banning the suspect from the entire municipality or seafront.
A judge will decide whether to approve the restriction and determine how long it should remain in force. It could establish a new legal route locally.
Torrevieja Burglar Remanded M
A21-year-old man has been remanded in custody after the Guardia Civil arrested him over a series of burglaries in Torrevieja’s residential areas.
He is suspected of carrying out at least five breakins, mainly on housing developments and outskirts neighbourhoods.
Investigators believe he
monitored properties and struck during brief absences by their owners. In one case, he allegedly entered while residents were still inside.
Evidence linked him to five offences, prompting officers to locate and arrest him.
Asearch of his home
uncovered suspected stolen property, entry tools and clothing allegedly used to hide his identity.
ATorrevieja judge ordered provisional imprisonment while the continuing investigation seeks to establish whether he was involved in further burglaries across Torrevieja and elsewhere.
urcia’s nautical sector has rejected demands for a permanent ban on jet skis in the Mar Menor, arguing that there is no scientific evidence linking them significantly to the lagoon’s environmental crisis.
A petition supporting prohibition has attracted almost 22,000 signatures, citing seabed damage, pollution, noise and risks to swimmers. Association president Jose Miguel Martinez Castejon said studies instead highlight agricultural runoff, wastewater and extreme weather. He acknowledged irresponsible riding but called for stronger surveillance, tougher penalties and clearly defined navigation zones rather than collective punishment.
The association wants coastal police to patrol nearshore waters alongside the Civil Guard and maritime authorities.
It says responsible users and nautical businesses depend on protecting the lagoon’s health and should not be blamed.
Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved a draft anti-smoking law that would prohibit smoking on beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, public swimming pools and in numerous other outdoor spaces.
The legislation, which must now pass through Parliament before becoming law, would also make it illegal for minors to smoke or vape for the first time.
Those caught could face fines ranging from e200 to e600, for which their parents or legal guardians would be responsible. Some penalties could potentially be replaced with community service.
Smoking would also be banned within 15 metres of entrances to public buildings, hospitals, health and social centres, schools, universities, museums, libraries, sports facilities, parks and children’s playgrounds.
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking on Beaches and on Bar Terraces
include outdoor entertainment venues, national parks, sports grounds, bus shelters and shared work vehicles. The restrictions would generally apply equally to conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, shisha and other smoking-related products.
Nicotine pouches would not be covered by the outdoor restrictions, although their use by minors would be prohibited.
Other smoke-free locations would
Health Minister Monica Garcia described the reform as Spain’s most significant update to smoking legislation in more than a decade. She said customers should be able to enjoy a
coffee on a terrace without being exposed to tobacco smoke.
The bill would also tighten advertising, promotion and sponsorship rules across shops, vending machines, online platforms and other media.
Sales of electronic cigarettes and similar products would be restricted to authorised specialist outlets.
According to the Ministry of Health, almost half of Spaniards aged between 14 and 18 have tried electronic cigarettes, while reported use during the previous month rose from 14.9% in 2019 to 27.1% in 2025.
The proposal will now begin its parliamentary passage, during which its provisions may be amended before final approval.
Vinicius Jnr Goes Under the
Knife as Fans Spot a New Look
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has been making use of his summer break in a way most footballers do: relaxing, posting on Instagram and, apparently, fitting in a little facial fine-tuning before pre-season calls him back.
The Brazilian winger is currently on holiday after a disappointing World Cup campaign, in which Brazil were knocked out in the last 16 by Norway. For a squad packed with expectation, it was not exactly the samba summer supporters had imagined. Erling Haaland and Norway had other ideas, which is inconvenient if you happen to be Brazil.
Vinicius is due back at Valdebebas later this month, but before returning to Real Madrid duties, he reportedly underwent a cosmetic procedure to reshape and enhance his chin.
According to Brazilian outlet LeoDias, the treatment took place in Goiania and was carried out by dermatologist Alessandro Alarcao, a highly regarded specialist who travelled from Miami to
attend personally to Vinicius and his partner, Virginia Fonseca.
The report claims the clinic closed to the public for the day so that the Real Madrid player could be treated privately.
A special security protocol was also said to have been put in place to prevent photographs or videos from leaking.
In the age of smartphones, that is less
SILENT KILLER Extreme Heat Linked to 98 Alicante Deaths in Just 20 Days
Nearly five people a day are estimated to have died because of extreme heat in Alicante province during the first 20 days of July, according to official mortality monitoring data.
The Daily Mortality Monitoring System, known as MoMo, attributes 98 deaths in the province to excessive temperatures between July 1 and 20—an average of 4.9 every day.
Alicante has borne the brunt of the heat emergency in the Valencian Community, accounting for more than 54% of the region’s estimated 181 temperature-related deaths during the period.
The darkest days came between July 6 and 12, when 55 deaths were attributed to the heat in Alicante province alone.
July 10 was the deadliest day, with 13 estimated fatalities. Another 11 were recorded on July 11, while both July 9 and 12 saw ten deaths. Together, those four days accounted for 44 fatalities—almost 45% of Alicante’s entire 20-day total.
There was little respite during the following week. A further 37 heat-attributable deaths were estimated between July 13 and 19, including nine on July 13, eight on July 14 and six on July 15.
ELDERLY BEARING THE BRUNT
a precaution and more a survival strategy.
The aim of the procedure was reportedly to improve and project the chin, giving greater balance to his facial features. Whether that helps with dribbling past defenders remains to be seen, although in modern football every marginal gain counts.
The new look quickly attracted attention on X, formerly Twitter, where users wasted little time doing what social media does best. One joked: “Vinicius Jr. has become Vinicius Sr.” Alarcao later praised the Real Madrid player, describing it as a pleasure to welcome him to the clinic and calling him not only one of world football’s great talents, but also simple, courteous and full of contagious energy. For now, Vinicius can enjoy the rest of his break with a fresh look and, presumably, a slightly sharper profile.
Real Madrid fans will be more interested in whether he returns with a sharper finish.
Older residents have suffered the greatest impact. Of Alicante’s 98 estimated deaths, around 84 involved people aged over 65, including approximately 60 victims aged 85 or above.
Across the Valencian Community, heat-related mortality rose sharply from ten deaths during the first five days of July to 104 between July 6 and 12. A further 62 were attributed to high temperatures during the following week, followed by another five on July 20.
The regional peak also came on July 10, when 22 deaths were attributed to excessive heat. There were an estimated 20 deaths on July 9, 19 on July 11 and 17 on July 12.
The figures point to a significant worsening compared with last summer. Alicante recorded an estimated 70 heat-attributable deaths during the first 20 days of July 2025, compared with 98 this year—an increase of 40%.
Only 2015 produced a higher provincial toll for the same period, with approximately 106 deaths.
MoMo figures are statistical estimates rather than a count of death certificates specifically recording heatstroke. The system compares observed mortality with expected deaths and models the number attributable to unusually high temperatures. Recent figures can be revised as further registrations are received.
Caravaca de la Cruz, around 75 kilometres west of Murcia, is one of Spain’s most fascinating historic destinations. Crowned by its hilltop castle and Basilica of the Vera Cruz, the city combines medieval fortifications, magnificent churches and centuries of religious tradition.
Visitors can explore its remarkable spiritual and military heritage during a free guided tour on Friday, August 21.
Entitled “The Cross and the Sword”, the tour explores the two forces that shaped Caravaca over several centuries: devotion to the Vera Cruz, or True Cross, and the city’s strategic position on the medieval frontier between Christian and Muslim territories.
The experience begins at 11am at the Basilica of the Vera Cruz, the impressive sanctuary standing within the walls of Caravaca’s hilltop castle. This unusual combination of church and fortress perfectly represents the theme of the tour, bringing together faith, military power and defensive architecture.
The two buildings are so closely connected that local people commonly refer to attending Mass “at the castle”.
During the guided walk, visitors will learn how Caravaca developed from an impor-
tant frontier settlement into one of Catholicism’s five recognised Holy Cities. The route includes the basilica and a selection of the city’s religious and military monuments, covering periods from the Middle Ages to the Baroque era.
At the centre of Caravaca’s religious identity is the Vera Cruz, believed by the faithful to contain a fragment of the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified.
According to tradition, the relic appeared in 1232, when the priest Ginés Pérez Chirinos was ordered by the Muslim ruler Abu-Zeit to celebrate Mass. After the priest realised that there was no cross on the altar, two angels are said to have appeared carrying the sacred fragment.
The relic transformed Caravaca into an important pilgrimage destination. The city is now regarded as one of Catholicism’s five Holy Cities, alongside Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liébana.
Pope John Paul II granted Caravaca the privilege of celebrating a Holy Jubilee Year every seven years, beginning in 2003. The sanctuary was later given the title of minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.
Caravaca’s history, however, is not solely
religious. Following the Christian conquest of Murcia during the 13th century, the city stood close to the frontier with the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.
Its location made it strategically important for around 250 years. The castle was strengthened, military-religious orders became influential and defensive structures were constructed to protect the surrounding territory.
The tour explains how this combination of religion and warfare influenced the architecture, traditions and development of Caravaca. From the elevated castle complex, participants can also enjoy sweeping views over the historic centre and the surrounding north-west Murcia countryside.
Visitors are encouraged to remain in Caravaca after the tour and explore its churches, convents, museums and traditional streets. The Museum of the Vera Cruz, situated beside the basilica, contains religious artworks, historic vestments and objects connected with the city’s celebrated relic.
The free tour begins at 11am at the Basilica of the Vera Cruz. It will be conducted in Spanish, although guides will be able to assist English-speaking visitors.
Advance online registration is required as places may be limited. Comfortable footwear and light clothing are recommended, as the route involves walking through the historic centre and up to the castle complex.
Further information is available from Caravaca Tourist Office on 968 702 424 or at turismo@caravacadelacruz.es.
Castle Hill in Caravaca de la Cruz
With a background in family and matrimonial mediation, life coach Sara Bell supports The Leader’s readers in navigating everyday concerns.
If you are experiencing challenges in your relationships, family life, work, or any other area of life, help is available. Email your question to office@theleader.info.
My father lived a long and full life, outliving all eight of his siblings. Three of his brothers fought decorated careers in World War II, though none ever married or had children.
In his 90s, after a lengthy probate process following his brothers' passing without wills, my father discovered he was the last one standing and stood to inherit their substantial estates, properties, and assets.
I remember the day he found out. Amazingly, he was unmoved. "What use is money to me now, at my time of life?" he asked.
Having lost my mother, he simply felt he had little time and joy left— that no amount of wealth could make up for his loss.
Though he and my mother had enjoyed a wonderful retirement together in Spain, he passed away during the pandemic. Sadly, he never got to enjoy his windfall.
Your story about your own father offers a powerful contrast. Despite a lifetime of relentless hard work and financial success, he never truly felt satisfied or fulfilled.
Perhaps this is something for us all to consider: another way to live. Instead of chasing endless financial wealth, we can choose to be happy with our lot in life and recognize the fortune we already possess. After recently losing a dear friend to a sudden, shock diagnosis, I am reminded of a simple truth. Wealth is lovely, but if we are alive and well, we are rich indeed.
Julio Iglesias Sues Spain Deputy PM Yolanda Díaz
Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has filed a civil lawsuit against Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, accusing her of unlawfully damaging his honour and privacy through comments concerning sexual abuse allegations made by two former employees.
The action, lodged with Spain’s Supreme Court, seeks e50,000 in compensation, a public retraction and payment of the legal costs. It relates to statements Díaz made on Bluesky and during an appearance on RTVE’s La Hora de la 1 earlier this year.
Iglesias claims the Sumar leader presented the allegations as estab-
lished facts by suggesting sexual abuse had occurred at his homes and that employees were kept in conditions resembling slavery.
The singer pursued court action after a conciliation hearing in May failed to produce an agreement and Díaz declined to withdraw her comments.
She maintained that her remarks had not unlawfully harmed Iglesias’s reputation.
The dispute followed allegations made by two women who formerly worked at Iglesias’s properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
Their accounts were published following a three-year investigation by
Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation but later closed it because the alleged incidents occurred outside Spain and were therefore considered beyond the jurisdiction of the National Court.
The decision was based on jurisdiction and did not determine whether the allegations were true or false.
Iglesias has separately filed a criminal complaint against elDiario.es editor Ignacio Escolar and several journalists, accusing them of insult, slander and an offence against moral integrity.
The newspaper has defended its reporting as rigorous and verified.
1. Dom Perignon. 2. The Italian 'Panettone'. 3. Nucleus. 4. Cadillac. 5. Cricket ball (155.9-163g), Baseball (142-149g), Tennis ball (56-59.4g), Golf ball (45.93g). 6. Tom Stoppard. 7. Olives. (different kinds of olives). 8. Monaco. (after the official wedding, Prince Rainier III banned the screening of her films in Monaco). 9. Pravda. 10. a. Yellow Submarine. b. Mellow Yellow. c. Yellow River. d. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. e. Don't Eat The
Yellow Snow. 11. Camel meat. 12. Jesse Owens. 13. The Who. (the band 'The Who'). 14. a. Slim Pickens. b. Dean Martin. c. Sean Bean. d. Jimmy Stewart. e. Jimmy Stewart. f. Dennis Quaid. 15. UEFA European Football Championship. (the 'EURO' championship). 16. a. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. b. Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic. c. Yuri Gagarin is the first man in space. d. Nuclear disaster in Chernobyl. 17. Honey. 18. "It's been 7 hours and 15 days". 19. Nuclear reactor (man-made reactor). 20. 'M' (in Bond films)
Iglesias represented Spain at the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest held in Amsterdam, the year that the competition was won by DANA
“CAN
I USE OFFICE 365 FOR FREE?”
You can access Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) apps completely free and legally. Microsoft offers full web-based versions of their most popular software, so you don't need a paid subscription or a product key to do standard day-to-day work.
Here are the best ways to get it, along with what you need to know.
1. Microsoft 365 for the Web (For Anyone)
The easiest way is to use the free, webbased version of the suite. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook running directly inside your internet browser.
How to get it: Go to www.microsoft365.com and sign in
with any free Microsoft account. If you don't have one, you can create one for free on that page.
What you get:
Full ability to create, view, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
5 GB of free cloud storagevia OneDrive to save your work automatically.
Real-time collaboration with others.
The catch: You must have an active internet connection to use them (they do not run offline), and they lack a few niche, advanced power-user features (like running complex Excel macros or custom document styling).
2. Free Mobile and Tablet Apps
If you are using a smartphone or tablet, Microsoft offers free standalone apps. How to get it: Open theGoogle Play Store(Android) orApple App Store(iOS)
Scan the QR Code right to find out exactly what the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group has to offer
and search for "Microsoft 365" or individual apps like "Microsoft Word".
What you get: You can view, create, and perform basic editing on any mobile device or tablet for free just by logging into your Microsoft account.
3. Microsoft 365 Education (For Students & Teachers)
If you are currently a student, teacher, or faculty member at an eligible school or university, you can get the full, downloadable desktop versions of the apps entirely for free.
How to get it: Visit the Microsoft 365 Education pageand enter your official school email address.
(microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/ office)
What you get: If your institution is registered, you'll receive free access to the web apps plus the ability to install the desktop apps on up to 5 PCs or Macs, along with 1 TB of cloud storage.
A Quick Tip on Saving Files:
Meetings at Dilly's Bar, Av. Castuera, 3, 03184 El Chaparral, Alicante.
Group meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10:00 to 12:00.
The Next meeting is on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026.
All are welcome. Online meetings take place on the 2nd Thursday of every month.
Whether you are using the free web-based apps or the paid desktop version, Microsoft setsOneDriveas the primary storage location.
For the Web Apps: When you create a new document on Microsoft365.com, it is automatically saved to the root folder or a "Documents" folder inside your personal OneDrive cloud storage.
For Desktop Apps: If you are signed into a Microsoft account on your PC or Mac, clicking the standard "Save" button defaults to your connected OneDrive account.
Even though the free web versions save your files to the cloud (OneDrive) by default, you can easily download a copy directly to your computer's hard drive at any time.
Just open your document, go toFile > Save As, and chooseDownload a Copyto save it as a standard .docx or .xlsx file.
To ask a question or to join the Technology Help group, send an email toBrian Hoile at cbtechnology.help@gmail.com
Brian Hoile, Technology Help Group
TRANSLATIONS/ EFFICIENT RATES
ROYAL BRITISH LEGIO N
DOCTORS,HOSPITALS, EMPADRON'S.
Any documents or medical reports translated.
Dates available for NIE's.
TIE Application dates : August and September Residencia Renewals.
Driving licence UKSpanish also available.
Contact Jason : Mobile/WhatsApp 603 86 87 56
CHURCH SERVICES
Church of JESUS CHRIST of LATTER-DAY SAINTS
We meet at 10am each Sunday in the chapel at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia, 104. Torrevieja
Phone or WhatsApp 659 016 733
SALT CHURCH Sundays at 10.30 am. A friendly church, bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship.
Meets at Calle Daya Nueva 12, Polígono Ind. Levante 11, 03187 Los Montesinos. www.Saltchurchspain. Facebook SaltChurchSpain
CORNERSTONE
PENTECOSTALEVANGELICAL CHURCH
Sunday Service 11.00am
C/Escultor Ribera Girona 67
Pilar de la Horadada
Join us for a multitude of activities, coffee mornings, exercise, bereavement group https://pilarchurch.com philm.cornerstone@gmail.com
HOPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
English speaking interdenominational church in La Marina welcoming all nationalities and church backgrounds.
Sunday Worship 11am with Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Calle Justo Antonio Quesada 19A. +34 966 184 728
Open twice a week for a programme of English speaking activities and Spanish lessons. Activities include Games & Quiz on Mondays. Art sessions and Easy Conversation on Wednesdays. Information and advice regards living in Spain. Anyone wanting to join CCAsocial activities can pop along between 1-2pm Mondays and Wednesdays for more info from Eva or Norah in the Cafe area. Email: oc.communitycare@gmail.com
PERSONALSERVICES
TORREVIEJA. BRAZILIAN MATURE LADY
Offers relaxing therapeutic massage and holistic therapy. Silky hands and waxing. Hotel/home or outings. I use natural products to improve health. 674 674 932
ROYAL NAVAL ASSN, TORREVIEJA BRANCH
Afriendly and engaging group of people who embrace their ethos of Comradeship, Loyalty, Patriotism & Unity while enjoying a variety of social events, meet on the first
Wednesday of each month at 1700 hrs at Silverstone’s 2023 (Bar/Restaurant). Av. Romero, 03176 Montebello, Contact: For Membership Carl Louden; email: carllouden@msn.com or Phone +34 678 518 202
The European Commission is examining technology that could automatically slow vehicles when they exceed the legal speed limit, potentially marking a major shift from warning drivers to directly intervening in how fast a car can travel.
The proposed system would use satellite navigation, digital maps, traffic-sign recognition cameras and possibly 5G connectivity to determine the correct speed limit for each road.
If a driver went too fast, the vehicle’s software could reduce engine power or restrict accelerator response until the car returned to the permitted speed.
Drivers would probably still be able to override the system temporarily in emergencies or while overtaking. However,
unlike current warning systems, motorists would not simply be able to ignore repeated alerts and continue speeding without intervention.
The idea remains at an early exploratory stage. No formal EU law has been proposed or approved, and there is no confirmed start date. Although 2030 has been suggested as a possible target, the measure would first require technical studies, industry consultation and approval through the European Union’s legislative process.
The proposal would build on Intelligent Speed Assistance, known as ISA, which is already compulsory in new vehicles sold across the EU. ISA became mandatory for new vehicle models in July 2022 and for all newly registered cars and vans from July 2024.
Current ISA systems use cameras and navigation information to identify speed limits, then warn drivers through dashboard messages, sounds, vibrations or resistance in the accelerator pedal.
Some vehicles can also reduce power, but motorists must still be able to override or switch off the system, although it usually reactivates whenever the engine is restarted.
Supporters believe stronger speed control could cut road deaths and serious injuries, particularly in urban areas where pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists face greater risks.
Road-safety organisations argue that excessive speed increases both the likelihood of collisions and the severity of injuries.
However, critics have raised concerns about reliability. Cameras can miss obscured, damaged or temporary signs, while digital maps may contain outdated information.
Satellite positioning can also place a vehicle on the wrong road, especially where motorways, service roads and parallel carriageways run close together.
Roadworks could create further problems if the system detects a temporary limit that no longer applies or fails to recognise a newly introduced restriction. An unexpected reduction in power could also be dangerous during overtaking, motorway entry or emergency avoidance manoeuvres.
Cybersecurity is another major issue. Technology capable of controlling engine output would need strong protection against hacking, signal interference, corrupted map data and software failure.
Privacy campaigners are also expected to seek guarantees over how location and driving information would be processed, stored or transmitted. Rules would also be needed to determine legal responsibility when technology makes mistakes.
The system would not necessarily replace speed cameras, as enforcement would still be needed for older vehicles, motorcycles and drivers who deliberately disabled or overrode the technology.
For now, automatic speed restriction remains only a possible future step in Europe’s road-safety strategy, not an imminent legal requirement.
San Miguel Swings behind Butterfly Children
Fortunately, this week saw a welcome return to our weekly Stableford competition after the brutal Bogey Shield held on the 1st of the month.
The temperature was up there with the Friday night bar bills at DejaVu, and the air was almost as wet as the drinks, so those brave enough to tackle La Finca did so out of love, not duty.
Once the sun finally pushed through the heavy morning cloud, it became clear that patience, plenty of water and a good sense of humour would be every bit as useful as a reliable swing.
It was a small field by our standards, with a group of members having absconded north of Valencia for a cheeky away trip, but 25 members and 2 guests still arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Admittedly, a few were already beginning to look as though the sticky conditions had followed them from breakfast to the first tee.
La Finca, as ever, looked in fine condition and offered its usual blend of temptation and trouble, rewarding the steady players while punishing anything a little too ambitious.
Despite the sticky conditions, there were still some excellent scores post-
ed, with several players managing to keep both their cool and their concentration.
It was a day for steady golf rather than heroics, and the best cards showed that sensible course management, resilience and the occasional lucky bounce were well rewarded.
Gold: Sam Hancock (43 pts on countback with a joint best score with Kenny Cunningham)
Silver: Andrew Jones (40 pts)
Two “Twos” today came from Sam Hancock and Andrew Jones, both finding the right combination of accuracy and nerve when it mattered.
Nearest the Pins went to Andrew Jones on the 3rd, Sam Hancock on the 6th, Barry “BTB” Roehrig on the 13th and Drew Niblock on the 16th.
Ken Flaherty was the gracious recipient of the McBride Bottle this week, accepting the honour with the dignity such a prestigious award deserves.
After a sticky round in trying conditions, no doubt a little “rehydration” was required once everyone was safely home.
Away from the scorecards, San Miguel GS was delighted to donate e215 to DEBRA Butterfly Children
in La Marina. This donation has been made possible through the generosity of our members, whose continued support of our charity fundraising helps make a real difference to deserving causes in our local community.
It is always pleasing when a day’s golf can also contribute something positive beyond the course, and the society is very grateful to everyone who helped make the donation possible.
We hope this contribution will assist DEBRA in its wonderful work supporting children and families affected by epidermolysis bullosa (EB), and we are proud to support such an inspiring charity. DEBRA is currently seeking volunteers in their charity shop and if interested they should contact rsc@pieldemariposa.esor call +34 616 07 60 72.
Next week sees us heading to New Sierra in Murcia, which, in stark contrast, was rained off back in January, so it will be good finally to get the chance to play it.
Set in a peaceful natural environment in the south-east of the Murcia region, New Sierra is now becoming well established as a full 18-hole layout, having originally operated as a 9-hole course played twice.
It should offer a very different challenge to La Finca, with members hoping for dry weather this time, a good turnout, and perhaps fewer excuses than umbrellas.
Pictured top are Mick Pryke (SMGS Captain), Branca Pereiro (Manager, DEBRA La Marina shop) and Sandra Dibble (SMGS Secretary).
Also pictured left (we have the winners: Kenny Cunningham (Gold 2nd), Mick Pryke (Captain), Andrew Jones (Silver), Sam Hancock (Gold 1st), Ken Flaherty (McBride Bottle), Drew Niblock (NTP), Kenny Winton (Gold 3rd) and Barry “BTB” Roehrig (Silver 4th).
SUNNY CORNER @ VISTABELLA GOLF
Our latest outing was at Vistabella G.C. with twenty four playing.Best score with 39 pts was Alan Carr, (pictured L.H.S.) runner up was Alex with 35 pts with Shane coming third with 33pts.Winners of the team event were Alex, Shane Margaret and Alan with a total of 130 pts. nearest the pin on the 2nd, John Sayers and nearest the pin on the 15th, Nick Palin.
