The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
*Subscribe to receive free daily issues by email. To subscribe, please send me an email with the message “subscribe me to DigameXtra” from the email account you want subscribed.
*By making a submission you are indicating you have read and agree to follow the rules. RULES PAGE LINK: https://digamextra.com/about/
*Send your submissions & subscription requests to digamextra@protonmail.com
Note: The submission deadline is 6pm for the next day’s issue.
Please share DigameXtra with your friends: Simply copy & paste this link into an email or message and send it to all your friends. https://digamextra.com/ Your contacts can read DigameXtra on the website without a subscription. They may also subscribe for free to receive daily issues by email.
Subscribers must be a “DigameXtra Donor” of at least €20 to the current year’s fundraiser to make posts. Refer to the submission rules page for more info regarding how to make donations & post submissions:https://digamextra.com/about/
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WHAT’S ON
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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PHOENIX CLUB
Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English. We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips. Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross. We would be happy to accept any greeting cards you may have to re-cycle into fantastic cards. We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo. *Trips/Events* ~All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity~ May – 5th – Trip to Gibraltar €20pp – 15th – Trip to the Baelo Claudia Roman Ruins with lunch in Tarifa. Price €35 pp excludes lunch June – 2nd – Trip to Gib €20pp – 10th – Trip to Estepona on Market day and a visit to the Orchid House. Price €25. Entry to the Orchid House is 3€ pp not included. Opening hours are 10.00 to 13.30 hrs and 15.00 to 18.00 hrs July – 3rd – Visit the Victoria Brewery AM, Car Museum PM. Lunch not included. Price 32€pp includes entry to both Museums – 17th – A visit to the Zoo in Castellar, Cadiz Province. Price €52 and includes a Guide at a cost of €22 pp. This rescue center is a private initiative that has been operating since 1998 and opened to the public in 2002 and founded to help animals seized by the authorities. For information call Gail on 626370695 (Whatsapp) email phoenixsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk
Nerja Jazz Club Ventana-Abierta: Fri, 24 Apr, 8pm Jose Carra Trio. C/ Granada 3, Nerja Shows at the Nerja Jazz Club usually sell out well in advance. Info & reservations: 690073871 Web: https://www.ventana-abierta.es/proximos-eventos-upcoming.html
NOTICE! Submissions for posting in sections below must be signed like this or they will be returned !!! Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town **********
SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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REDWELL INFRARED HEATING SYSTEMS
Redwell Infrared Heaters for Inside Manufacturer warranty 10 years ONLY products from Germany and Austria Product Range: – Wall and ceiling infrared heaters Mirror, Pictures, Glass, white & color – Mobile Heaters, free standing on wheels – Under table Heaters – Analog & Digital Controlling Systems, Thermostats Systems – LED Light Frames, 2 year warranty For 20 years we have supported clients in Spain with the highest quality Infrared Heating Systems available on the market. Request information without any obligation. Location: Axarquia Service-Center, Postbox 028 Dipl.-Ing. Svend Scharler 29793 Torrox Park, Malaga E-mail: sscharler@gmx.de Web: https://redwell.com/ Office: 952539742 ; Mobil: 606423869. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
Pipewave
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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS & BATHROOMS
Hanningtons Kitchens and Bathrooms:We have been installing kitchens and bathrooms here on the Costa for 13 years. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, highest standards of work and customer service. Whether you are thinking of updating an existing kitchen or bathroom, or whether you wish to create the kitchen or bathroom you have always dreamed of, we are here for you, every step of the way. With an unrivalled knowledge of the best local materials and suppliers we are able to work to all tastes and budgets. Our full range of services includes: – Installations and Refurbs – Wall & Floor tiling – Full range of Plumbing work including radiators and underfloor heating – Solar Installation – Design & planning ideas to get the look you are after – Electrical works – Alter / Install walls, dropped ceilings and hang doors – Plastering, woodwork and floor levelling Visit our FB page on the link below to be inspired https://www.facebook.com/hanningtons.kitchens.and.bathrooms/ Call us : 669 665 156 Email us: hanningtons.bathrooms@gmail.com ; Our contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue.
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MANDY’S PAINTBOX
Mandy’s Paintbox: Painter for 34 years in Nerja area. NEW JOB PHOTOS. Painting work undertaken. Inside and outside, large or small. Furniture painted or sprayed. Kitchens, cabinets, wardrobes doors any colour any surface. Check out the before and after photos, all the furniture was spray painted. Call for advice. WhatsApp 680739577 Email: josiahamanda@gmail.com My contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue. Here are “before” (left) and “after” (right) pics from my latest job.
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate: It’s Sunday morning, and the team from BluCee Real Estate are back at Dallas Market Hall for day two of the Travel & Adventure Show, alongside Daniel Benítez from De Cotta Law. Yesterday was a fantastic start, meeting genuinely motivated clients ready to buy in Málaga. We’re excited to welcome more of the same today. BluCee’s US trip is already proving to be a great success. Are you thinking of selling your property, or is your home already on the market and not achieving the results you had hoped for? Contact BluCee Real Estate today for your free valuation and professional guidance: Email: info@blucee.com ; Web: www.blucee.com Telephone: 0034 951 553 890 / 0034 711 042 727 Office: Calle Timón 11B, Torre del Mar
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AXARQUIA SILVER & GOLD TRADE
Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade– Unique Handcrafted Coin Rings & Much More: ***Services Offered*** – Buying all kind of Silver and Gold: Silver coins and Gold coins, bullions and bars. Jewellery and cutlery (no collector prices!). – Selling handcrafted Coin Rings and Jewellery: Handcrafted rings, made from silver or gold. There are many options possible– I will handcraft your individual silver or gold ring. Choose, for example: a coin from your year of birth; a custom present for a friend; choose a JFK ½ Dollar coin; or a $1 Dollar coin from 1921 is available. I have silver from Spain; 100 Pesetas coins from 1966 for something special; and many more. You can get it shiny or black or a mix. I look forward to creating something very special for you. You want big sizes for men? No problem! – General Metals Markets Information: I am trading now more than 10 years in physical silver and gold. If you are interested, make an appointment. – Make an appointment by mail or phone. Mail: sscharler@gmx.de Call Svend Scharler: +34-606423869 I have my office and meeting point at the Axarquia Service Centre, local 101, 29793 Torrox Park. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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For Sale: CrockPot Stoneware Electronic Slow Cooker This is CrockPot’s biggest model, SCCPBPP605, 5.7 litres capacity. Ideal for serving up to 6 people. It enhances the flavour and texture of dishes, preserving the nutrients. Removable, dishwashable bowl. Stainless steel external finish. Low power consumption. Programmable digital timer, up to 20 hrs. Very good working condition. Same model is selling new at €80 on Amazon; I’m selling used for just €35 cash. Zena, La Herradura. Tel: 958640623 zenawoodward@gmail.com Can meet on coast between Torrox & Almunecar
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For Sale: DoctorLaptop Refurbished Laptop for Windows 10 fans Acer, model F5-571, with Intel i5 5200U processor The operating system is Windows 10 LTSC, activated and supported until 2032. English keyboard. 2hr battery. Slim & lightweight. DVD, HDMI, VGA, 2x USB3, 1x USB2, ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth, card reader. New 8Gb pro-grade Hynix RAM. New 500Gb pro-grade MX series Crucial SSD. More than €130 of new parts. Looks brand new. This is a 2015 UK model, originally purchased in 2017, that was very rarely used, so an excellent candidate for a refurb! Price: €200, ‘no-risk’ 7 day cash back guaranty. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
Invasive wasps expanding their presence in Andalusia and are already worrying experts: {Trans, summary} – A study from the Doñana Biological Station warns of invasive wasps expanding in Andalusia, especially in urban and coastal areas. Four non-native Vespa species exist on the Iberian Peninsula. The Asian wasp (Vespa velutina) is most widespread, first found in France in 2005. The oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) arrived in Valencia in 2013. The bicoloured hornet (Vespa bicolor) was identified in Malaga that same year. Vespa soror has appeared occasionally in Asturias without stable settlement. The oriental hornet has spread significantly in Andalusia, increasing in Cadiz, Malaga, Almeria, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva and Seville, plus an isolated record in Toledo. The bicoloured hornet has multiplied from 9 to 48 records, mainly in Malaga and recently Granada. Both species threaten native pollinators by hunting them to feed their young, which may reduce biodiversity, plant regeneration and agricultural production. They also attack hives, harming honey production and fruit crops. Stings pose a limited health risk. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/avispas-invasoras-amplian-presencia-andalucia-inquietan-expertos/202604040930193237999.html
NERJA
Two young men arrested in Nerja after throwing butane canisters at the local police from 3rd floor flat: {Trans., summary} – Two young people in their 20s have been arrested on Holy Thursday after throwing two butane bottles and numerous objects from a third floor against local police officers, in an event that forced the police to cordon off an area next to the brotherhood houses of the Nazarene and the Resurrected, in Puente Viejo Street. – The events occurred around 11.30 a.m., when a patrol crossed in the area of La Ermita with the two individuals, who apparently returned from spending the night of partying. According to sources close to the investigation, the two young people began to rebuke and provoke the agents, who decided to follow them. One of them has Spanish nationality with no origin mentioned and the other of South American origin and both are residents of Nerja. – The situation worsened minutes later, when those involved accessed a house on the aforementioned Puente Viejo street and, far from deposing their behavior, began to throw objects from the windows, generating a serious risk for the agents and pedestrians. Among the items launched were two butane bottles, pieces of a motorcycle, ceramic slabs, bricks, chairs, woods and even a large metal structure, which were scattered on the public road. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/detenidos-nerja-lanzar-bombonas-20260402210838-nt_amp.html
EUROPE
German men between the ages of 17 and 45 will need to request permission from the Army to leave the country for more than three months: {Trans., summary} – “According to the text of the law, men aged 17 and over are now required to apply in advance for authorization from the Armed Forces career center for stays abroad lasting more than three months,” a spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense explained to the DPA news agency. “We will clarify through administrative provisions that the authorization will always be considered as granted as long as military service is voluntary,” he added. The so-called Military Service Modernization Act came into effect on January 1. – Compulsory military service was suspended in Germany in 2011 after 55 years in force, but the new legislation, agreed by the coalition of conservatives and social democrats led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, promotes a model of voluntary military service, although it contemplates compulsory military service to fill quotas if voluntary enlistment does not reach the set objectives. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/alemanes-entre17-45-anos-pedir-permiso-ejercito-salir-pais-mas-tres-meses_6954073_0.html
GASTRONOMIA
Dutch Treat- Fresh Stroopwafels at two Malaga locations: {Trans, summary} – Stroopwafels, thin crisp biscuits filled with caramel and typical of Dutch confectionery, can now be enjoyed in Malaga city centre without travelling to Holland. Two establishments have opened within metres of each other and at practically the same time. – El Wafelito, run by Mike van Laarhoven and Vanesa Alvarez, is located in an emblematic kiosk on the corner of Alameda Principal and Calle Pastora, next to the Casa de Guardia. They make wafels to order in several sizes from 4 euros, with chocolate topping if desired, and also sell packets of eight biscuits. They also offer wafel crumbs made from leftover dough edges. – Almost simultaneously, Loes Bonvanie has opened Bon Bueno on Calle San Juan. In this small shop she makes stroopwafels by hand to order, alongside ice cream. Her stroopwafels come in various sizes with toppings such as pistachio, Lotus Biscoff spread or turron, from 3 euros for the smallest. Both establishments bring authentic Dutch recipes to Malaga. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malagaenlamesa/tipicas-galletas-holandesas-rellenas-caramelo-malaga-20260330112817-nt_amp.html
SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES
*Click links to read the English language articles*
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
ATTENTION! New EU internet privacy laws are now in effect, known as the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). I have to inform you that the DigameXtra archive saves follower’s email addresses in the WordPress server. By subscribing/following you implicitly accept this; if you make submissions you acknowledge that anyone can view old issues online and see your contact info as you provided and you accept this. If you don’t want me saving your email address do not subscribe/follow, you can unsubscribe and remove yourself from this list using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every subscription issue. Takedown notices must include proof of ownership as well as the date and issue number of the DigameXtra issue containing the infringing content. These may be submitted to digamextra@protonmail.com. Proper takedown notices will be complied with immediately. All images have been credited or copied from what I believe to be copyright free sources.
The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
*Subscribe to receive free daily issues by email. To subscribe, please send me an email with the message “subscribe me to DigameXtra” from the email account you want subscribed.
*By making a submission you are indicating you have read and agree to follow the rules. RULES PAGE LINK: https://digamextra.com/about/
*Send your submissions & subscription requests to digamextra@protonmail.com
Note: The submission deadline is 6pm for the next day’s issue.
Please share DigameXtra with your friends: Simply copy & paste this link into an email or message and send it to all your friends. https://digamextra.com/ Your contacts can read DigameXtra on the website without a subscription. They may also subscribe for free to receive daily issues by email.
Subscribers must be a “DigameXtra Donor” of at least €20 to the current year’s fundraiser to make posts. Refer to the submission rules page for more info regarding how to make donations & post submissions:https://digamextra.com/about/
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THIS WEEK– PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 2, 3 & 5 April 2026
2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday In the first week of April 2026 there is a long weekend break for Easter. DigameXtra will be closed. No new issues on Thursday, 2 April, or Friday, 3 April. Your submissions for the long Easter Weekend issue I will publish next Wednesday, 1 April, must be received by 6pm Tuesday, 31 March.
NEXT ISSUE IS MONDAY, 6 APRIL. HAPPY EASTER!
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WHAT’S ON
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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41 CLUB NERJA
41 Club Nerja Going From Strength to Strength: – 41 Club Nerja is delighted to report that we really are going from strength to strength, our membership continues to grow and our doors are open for more new members to join our vibrant Club. – Do you remember in your local communities all the events that the Round Table and 41 Club organised? Yes! that’s us! – Do you love getting out and about in our beautiful Axarquia area and also like the idea of being with people who enjoy life and help the local community too? Well, that’s also us! So please come along, meet us, see how we do things, and you don’t even need to have been a member previously. – We enjoy a wide variety of exciting activities, interesting meetings and tasty meals in many of the lovely restaurants we have in our local area. Our get togethers are attended by our members (who hail from ten different countries) as well as our partners, guests, friends and family too. We’re a very friendly bunch. To get in touch you can Email us: briankaret@sky.com Phone Brian on +34 643510605 You can connect with 41 Club Nerja via Facebook. Or visit our website to find out more at: https://41clubnerja.org/ We’d love to hear from you and we’d also love for you to come along and join in the fun!
El Paso de Riogordo 2026: Fri-Sat, 3-4 April, 5-8pm Venue: C/ Calvario, Riogordo, Málaga 29180 – The Paso de Riogordo is one of the most distinctive and well-known religious processions in Spain. It has been staged every Good Friday and Holy Saturday since 1951. It has been described by some media outlets as ‘the finest Paso in Europe’ or ‘an unparalleled theatrical performance’. – It has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia and Spain, and involves more than 500 amateur actors from the municipality, in an 8,000 m² open-air venue. – The performance lasts approximately three hours and consists of 17 distinct scenes. A voice-over will introduce each one. Info & tix: https://www.mientrada.net/evento/el-paso-de-riogordo-2026/2026-04-03/
NOTICE! Submissions for posting in sections below must be signed like this or they will be returned !!! Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town **********
SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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COMPARE FUNERALS
Compare Funerals cover the whole of Spain: ruthforder@comparefuneral.org * Direct Cremation €2,250 * Collection of deceased and conveyance to Funeral Home * Supply of coffin * Preparation and care of deceased * Registration of death and certification of all legal documentation * Cremation and any doctor’s fees * Supply of Urn * Delivery of Urn and associated paperwork to family (death certificate, cremation certificate etc) This plan is exclusive to a number of provinces, please ask advisor for more information. Contact Ruth Forder on 0034 693 715 718 ; funeralplansbyruthforder.com Your questions answered by Ruth from Compare Funerals Spain – Why should I have a funeral plan? Having been funeral planning for over 10 year I’ve experienced some very sad and upset families when nothing is in place. A Spanish funeral plans will ensure that all costs are covered for your funeral service. Getting a prepaid plan will help you feel assured that your family will not be under any financial strain when it comes to paying for your funeral. A plan also means you can have peace of mind that everything has been organised in advance, so your loved ones do not have to make any difficult decisions. – Why choose Compare Funerals? There seems to be a gap in Spain between independent funeral directors, offering plans at a good price but lacking the security of an established Trust or ability to cover a client overseas and Providers who seem to charge more than necessary. We want to be right in the middle and offer the best of both worlds. Our best-priced plan is only 2,250€ and does the essentials. – Can I do a payment plan? All our plans are payable in full or over up to 5 years interest FREE. The interest free periods are based on initial deposit. The higher the deposit the less your monthly repayments will be. – Can I transfer the plan? The answer is YES. You could name 2 people on one plan however if you had a friend/family member pass away we can transfer the plan into a 3rd party’s name. – What happens if I move? All our plans offer the equivalent service in Spain (including the islands), Portugal, Republic of Ireland and the UK. If you moved to the UK, we would transfer the plan to one of our many partners at no extra cost to you. – Is paperwork included? Yes, your family will receive a death certificate in Spanish and an international certification in English. We also provide a cremation certificate that allows the ashes on board a plane.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate – Your Property Experts in Southern Spain: **Property Search** We are actively looking for properties for our clients. If you have a property that fits these requirements, please contact us. – Search One Location: Benajarafe Independent house with sea views & garage Budget: Up to €600,000 – Search Two Location: Benajarafe Budget: Up to €400,000 2 or more bedrooms + 2 bathrooms Access to a swimming pool Walking distance to amenities **Free Property Valuation** Thinking of selling? We offer a free, honest property valuation with no pressure – just professional advice based on real market knowledge. Contact BluCee Real Estate Email: info@blucee.com ; Web: www.blucee.com WhatsApp: +34 711 04 27 27 Office: +34 951 55 38 90 Visit us: Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar 29738, Málaga BluCee Real Estate – Helping You Sell with Confidence Proud sponsors of DigameXtra – our contact details can be seen every day in the Sponsor’s Section.
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TAOGARDEN MASSAGE
Taogarden Massage – Torrox Costa: Taogarden Massage is a space dedicated to holistic wellbeing in Torrox Costa, where I combine more than 25 years of experience with holistic massage techniques, drainage, Reset Fisiológico®, Thai Foot, the Face to Face facial massage, the Regenerative Technique and Maderoterapia MMC, as well as personalized treatments aimed at deep relaxation and body balance. Each session is tailored to the individual, in a calm, respectful and professional environment. Location: Herbolario Naturísima, Costa del Oro, Block 5, Torrox Costa Opening hours: every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Phone / WhatsApp: +34 610 520 624 Email: torrox2024@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaogardenMassage Book your appointment and discover an authentic and carefully curated wellbeing experience.
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TONY ROAM TRANSPORT & REMOVALS
Tony Roam Transport & Removals Spain To UK To Spain: Fortnightly Runs Spain to UK and Up to 4 weeks free Storage. Spain or UK. 18 years Removals To & Fro Spain / UK Spain. Man & Van, Local & Long Distance Removals No subcontracting, all collection and delivery in house. Transportation, Removals & light haulage company that have scheduled trips all year from UK to Torrox and back every month. Also additional unscheduled to suit your needs. Full or part loads undertaken. Dedicated Delivery Personal Service Full or Part loads up to 60 cubic meters up to 5.5 tonne. Up to £25,000.00 insurance with British Insurance Company. Evidence of insurance can be supplied by email on request. Hard Copies always carried on the vans. This and a current Operators licence are a legal requirement. Our International Operators Licence No UKGB / OG2043664 We live just behind Torrox Pueblo in Spain and in South Wales UK and have vans going back and forth UK to Spain to UK by way of Santander or Bilbao / Portsmouth or Plymouth Ferry. For more information and prices for all to see please visit our website http://www.tonyroamremovals.com email ; tonyroam@btconnect.com Spain 0034636393542 – UK 00447973362003. Face book Tony Roam – WhatsApp Either Number Our contact details are shown every day in the Sponsor’s Section.
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GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR
The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa: Now with Sunday Lunch! Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, Moussaka), cheese (Feta Psiti, Feta Saganaki, Hallumi), vegetables (Greek salad, Hummus, Eggplant cream, Mezze, Tzatziki) or sea fruits (prawns or octopus), all of this accompanied with our special Greek pita bread. For dessert… HOMEMADE BAKLAVA!We offer a lovely meal time in a quiet and exquisite atmosphere, accompanied with the best Greek music. See you soon!Hours: 6:30pm to close, Wednesday thru Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday. For reservations call 642585049. https://la-casita-griega.business.site/We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES & JUBILEE HOUSE
ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES IN THE AXARQUIA REGION: Do you have health or mobility issues? Would support enable you to remain independent in your own home? Liz Brown, probably the only nurse registered to practice in Andalucia to hold the ENB 941 (Specialist qualification in care of the older person), together with her fully insured and police checked home care support team offers one-on-one support and companionship in the comfort of your own home. COE Malaga reg. 17425 HOME CARE/NURSE SUPPORT Palliative care / Companionship / Health monitoring English Nurse / Hospital sitting / Respite at home / 24 hr live in care / Housekeeping / Correspondence & Communication / Medication collection & dispensing systems / Dressing, bathing & daily hygiene / Shopping & meal preparation / Fast response Falls Team / Provision of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists Email: info@englishnurse.care ; Website: https://englishnurse.live-website.com/ Tel: 951550581 or 692419548 JUBILEE HOUSE – Close Care Unit in Torrox 5 ground floor individual units all en-suite 24-hour care at all stages from the English Nurse Care Team Main language- English / Extensive sea views / Wheelchair accessible / Garden / Home cooking / Wifi / Air conditioning / Visiting physiotherapist, hairdresser, chiropodist and nutritionist And we welcome guests for the day. Email: jubileehousetorrox@gmail.com VACANCY-We are now able to accept a couple in spacious accommodation with en-suite facilities. Unique nurse-led facility, offering 1st class personalised care packages, tailored to individual needs. We support independent living. We have a dedicated, compassionate team of English speaking staff, visiting physio, chiropodist, hairdresser. To discuss your requirements or to arrange to view our beautiful accommodation on Torrox Costa please call Liz (RGN/Enferma-Malaga College) on +34 692419548 We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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Speak Spanish with Confidence: Acquire the Spanish language naturally and speak for real Online Course Starts 14th of April Method Comprehensible Input-Tprs This course is for you if you: Are tired of learning grammar rules and memorizing vocabulary lists. Are tired of studying a language but being unable to actually use it. Want your speech to be natural and spontaneous, just like your native language. Don’t have much time for learning or homework Interactive and dynamic classes Only 10€ per hour Online groups of max 6 people Lessons are recorded and sent to the students All you need is internet and a laptop or tablet Book Now your first 3 classes for just 25€ I am Noemí, a qualified and trained teacher from Madrid, based in Cómpeta. Whatsapp me at 639 210 110 or email me at learningspanishincompeta@gmail.com
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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For Sale: New, Budget Friendly Laptop, €420 cash. Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 (15IAN8) Windows 11 in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) TN 250nits Anti-glare Processor- Intel i3-N305, up to 3.8GHz, 8 core, 8 thread 8Gb RAM (soldered), 256Gb SSD Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, no ethernet (use a USB adapter) Slim & lightweight- 1.5Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. Battery- 8 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 3 year factory warranty when registered online. A good laptop for the average user: email, web-surfing, message/chat, streaming video, doc & photo editing. Not intended for advanced video editing or 8-way Zoom meetings. Upgradable to Windows 12 when it is released. Buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
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For Sale: New, Powerful Business Laptop, €480 cash. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Gen 8, Model 15AMN8 Windows 11 Pro in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD, 1920×1080 (TN) Processor- AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 2.8 to 4.3 GHz, 8 core, 8 thread, Hyperthreading. RAM- 16Gb high-speed LPDDR5 (soldered) SSD- 512Gb Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, Stereo Speakers. Battery- 10 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 1.62Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. 3 year factory warranty when registered online. Fully setup, updated and ready to use. Software- Chrome, Edge, VLC Player, Libre Office, WhatsApp, PDF Reader. Upgradable to Windows 12 when it is released. Buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
News Note: Since this is a long-weekend issue, and readers may have more time to read, I will delve into the deeper aspects of the rubbish we are fed as news. As far as local news, today’s local news is dominated by articles about Easter festivities, plus some coverage of politicians making empty promises before the upcoming Andaluz elections, and calling each other names. Boring! We’ll catch up on more local news next week. -Ed
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SPAIN
Ooops, we lied again– Robles admits that the US military bases in Rota and Morón are still in operation but with the “limitation” of not “favouring” the war: {Trans., summary, explainer} – Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles {pic, with a clashing, butt-ugly handbag} told Congress that the Rota and Morón military bases remain operational despite the government’s ban on the US using them for the Iran war. The admission followed recent US aircraft movements at the bases, which raised doubts about the restrictions. – Robles stated the bases operate under the “exclusive limitation” of not supporting or favoring the war in Iran. She defended the government’s rejection of what she called a “unilaterally initiated” war contrary to international law, noting that flight authorizations are denied for aircraft headed “directly” to the conflict zone. Robles recalled that the bases at Rota and Morón remain operational, but “with limitations precisely to prevent them from being used in actions that favour a military escalation”. – Opposition parties criticized the stance. The PP noted the restriction does not apply to aircraft that reach the war via intermediate stops. Bildu pointed to the paradox of a US destroyer based in Rota engaging Iranian missiles with Spanish support of 150 troops, which Robles defended as the “collective defense” of Turkey. {That’s not a war activity? -Ed.} – Robles insisted the restrictions do not rupture the transatlantic alliance and reaffirmed Spain’s NATO commitment. She compared the conflict to Russia’s war in Ukraine, rejecting US and Israeli authority to decide global rules unilaterally. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/robles-admite-que-las-bases-rota-moron-siguen-funcionamiento-pero-con-limitacion-no-favorecer-guerra_6952997_0.html Additional ref: https://www.mundoamerica.com/news/2026/03/23/69c14a45fc6c83c8768b4586.html – {DigameXtra Explainer: The government’s position relies on semantic loopholes that create the appearance of non-participation when that is not the case. The central deception is the distinction between aircraft going “directly” to the war versus those making intermediate stops, a distinction without functional difference, as both ultimately support the same military operations. Robles further employs doublespeak in claiming the bases remain “fully operational” under an “exclusive limitation” against supporting the war, even though their continued use as supply and staging points for US forces inherently constitutes support. Additionally, she reframes acts of military engagement, such as a US destroyer intercepting Iranian missiles with Spanish support, under the umbrella of “collective defense,” thereby exempting them from her own prohibition. This pattern of carefully parsed language allows the government to claim a principled stance while the underlying strategic cooperation continues unchanged.}
In related news…
Italy & France play the same word games– We’re blocking the US military flights, but not really: {Trans., summary, explainer} – Several NATO members claim they are refusing cooperation with United States military operations amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran. France has ‘denied overflight authorisation’ for American aircraft bound for Israel and carrying military equipment. Italy has ‘closed its airspace’ and denied an US military aircraft access to the Sigonella airbase– with officials citing insufficient advance notification under NATO protocols. Former president Donald Trump has criticised these allies for their lack of support, particularly urging European members to take greater responsibility for their own security. He has also warned that the United States will not continue to defend European nations that refuse cooperation when American forces require access. Italian authorities have defended their position by stating they are acting in ‘full compliance with international agreements’. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/francia-italia-coinciden-con-espana-limitan-eeuu-sus-bases-espacios-aereos-mientras-trump-vuelve-atacar-los-aliados_6953094_0.html – {Explainer: More wordplay to avoid the truth. * France. Announced a prohibition on overflights for US aircraft bound for Israel. However, as with the Spanish case, such restrictions typically apply only to flights declared as “directly” destined for the conflict zone. Aircraft making intermediate stops or operating under alternative designations continue to use French airspace and facilities. * Italy: Claims to have ‘closed its airspace’, when it actually only denied a specific single landing at Sigonella, citing a technicality, for lack of timely notification. Italy still functions as an important US military hub, with growing activity reported as of 31 March, not less! Ref:https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2026/03/31/la-scheda-droni-e-tanker-cresce-lattivita-a-sigonella-per-la-guerra_78bab118-536a-4428-8f54-83032b968ed8.html}
In related news…
Trump and Rubio comment on the uncooperative NATO members:{Trans., summary} – US Secratary of State Marco Rubio questioned the function of NATO if the United States cannot use the bases “when it needs to”. “But if NATO only serves for us to defend Europe if they are attacked while they deny us access to their bases when we need them… that is not a very good deal,” he argued. – Trump again issued threats to NATO as a whole. “They will have to start learning to defend themselves; the United States will no longer be there to help them, just as you were not there for us,” said Trump, who stressed that Iran “has been decimated” following the offensive by the United States and Israel, so “the difficult part is already done” and now these countries should go “and get their own oil”. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/francia-italia-coinciden-con-espana-limitan-eeuu-sus-bases-espacios-aereos-mientras-trump-vuelve-atacar-los-aliados_6953094_0.html
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Propagnda- Common headline today: Positive financial forecast as Spain opens 2026 with a current account surplus of €2.7 billion: {DigameXtra explainer} – This is just propaganda from a gov’t press release desperate to put lipstick on a pig. I won’t waste the space to reproduce the phoney article. Here is the bottom line: The claim that Spain (currently with €1.7 trillion in debt) opens 2026 with a current ‘account surplus’ is presented as meaningful, positive economic news, but it is borderline fake news, a non-sequitur. Government debt is what the state owes; the current ‘account surplus’ measures trade and investment flows across both the public and private sectors– it is not government revenue, does not reduce the debt, and does not represent fiscal health. – Spain currently ranks 5th in the EU for having the worst debt-to-GDP ratio (103.2%), with Greece at leading the losers at 147%, followed by Italy (137%), France (118%), and Belgium (107%). The EU’s Maastricht Treaty stipulates that member states should aim for a debt-to-GDP ratio below 60%, a target from which Spain remains significantly distant.
ANDALUCÍA
Health warns about viral gastroenteritis in Andalucia: {Trans., summary} – Andalucia’s Health Ministry has issued a preventive alert urging measures against viral gastroenteritis following the presence of cases in the region. The infection spreads primarily through direct contact with infected individuals, though contaminated surfaces and food can also transmit it. – Symptoms include sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Most cases resolve within days, but children, the elderly and those with existing conditions face greater risk. Authorities recommend frequent handwashing with soap and water, disinfecting surfaces with diluted bleach, and avoiding food preparation if symptomatic. Hydration through water, broths or oral rehydration solutions is essential, while alcoholic and sugary drinks should be avoided. Light meals and rest aid recovery. No specific treatment or vaccine exists. Medical attention is required if diarrhoea lasts more than three days, vomiting prevents fluid retention, blood appears in stools, or dehydration signs such as dry mouth, dizziness or reduced urination occur. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/sanidad-alerta-gastroenteritis-viricas-andalucia_0_2006353817.html
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Hey Teacher, Leave Them Kids Toddlers Alone! – Andalusia opens the school enrollment process for children aged zero to three years on April 1st, with more than 127,500 places available: {Trans., summary} – The Andalusian Regional Government has opened enrolment for Early Childhood Education, offering 127,560 places for children aged zero to three. The first application phase runs from 1 April to 30 April, with enrolment beginning on 1 June. An extraordinary admissions process starts on 1 July and continues throughout the academic year, allowing parents to enrol children at any time. The number of places has increased by 1,636 despite falling birth rates. – The Regional Government expects enrolment, already at 58 per cent, to rise due to expanded free provision. Free provision for two-year-olds was introduced last year and will extend to one-year-olds from September, with further expansion planned. Families will save an estimated 240.53 euros per month on socio-educational care, totalling 2,645.83 euros over the 11-month academic year. Additional fee reductions apply for zero-year-olds and supplementary-fee services such as catering, and morning/afternoon classroom care, with discounts available for low-income families and other eligible groups. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/andalucia-abre-este-1-abril-proceso-escolarizacion-para-ninos-cero-tres-ano-con-mas-127-500-plazas_6953175_0.html
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Illicit Fentanyl Makes Its Way Into Spain: {Trans., summary} – A prisoner has died at Huelva provincial prison after collapsing during the afternoon door opening. The CSIF union attributes the death to a new drug threat now making its way into the prison system. It is presented in “blotter” format, known as ‘papelitos’ (little papers), typically containing fentanyl, which is entering prisons almost undetectably. Any paper, most commonly letters and book pages, can appear safe yet may contain the drugs. – The union states that scarce medical resources at the prison make emergency treatment difficult because the drug’s exact composition varies from batch to batch. It criticises prison authorities for failing to implement adequate detection and seizure measures, warning of risks to both inmates and staff. Prison authorities are awaiting autopsy results to confirm the cause of death. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/huelva/muere-un-preso-carcel-huelva-por-supuesto-consumo-droga-los-papelitos_6953190_0.html
MALAGA PROVINCE
Guess the jailhouse is full– Jewelry thieves who pretended to be luxury customers busted, ‘nation-wide travelling’ repeat offenders, allowed out on bail: {Translation, summary} – The National Police have arrested three people suspected of committing several thefts at jewelry stores in various Spanish provinces, including Málaga. The arrested individuals were part of a traveling criminal group specializing in stealing jewelry using the “snatch-and-grab” method. – The investigation into what was dubbed ‘Operation IOCUS’ began last August after the group’s presence was detected in Zaragoza. Following their inquiries, agents were able to identify the alleged perpetrators and link them to various crimes committed in different parts of the country. The suspects acted in an organized and coordinated manner, with a division of roles among the different members of the group. Their itinerant nature allowed them to travel through various provinces—such as Zaragoza, Vizcaya, Málaga, Toledo, and Alicante—where they committed the crimes, accumulating a total of eight solved cases so far, with profits exceeding 50,000 euros. – The modus operandi consisted of entering establishments, mainly jewelry stores, where they would ask employees to show them different pieces. To gain the employees’ trust, they would ostentatiously display a wad of banknotes, simulating high economic status. Taking advantage of moments of distraction, they would skillfully steal as many pieces of jewelry as possible, leaving the premises quickly to avoid being detected. – Once identified, a police operation was launched, culminating in their location and arrest in the Alicante town of Torrevieja. Other members of the criminal organization who collaborated in the criminal activity were also identified. – The detainees, who have a high rate of repeat offenses, were brought before a judge as the alleged perpetrators of eight counts of theft and membership in a criminal organization. They were released on bail after giving their statements {Yikes!}. The National Police continue their investigation to fully clarify the facts and do not rule out further arrests. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/ladrones-joyerias-malaguenas-fingian-clientes_0_2006352090.html
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Machete Crimes On The Rise- 3 machete based robberies in a week by one assailant: {Trans., summary} – Police in Fuengirola and Mijas have arrested a 38-year-old man for four armed robberies at two hotels, a bar and a fast food restaurant. He used a machete in three attacks and a firearm in another, stealing a total of 3,000 euros. An accomplice, who helped him escape by motorcycle, was also detained. – The first robbery occurred on 19 March at a hotel reception, where the suspect threatened an employee with a large machete and took 2,000 euros. Three days later, he robbed another hotel using a gun, taking 1,000 euros. On 24 March he attempted to rob a bar utilizing a machete, but workers refused his demands, he then struck a fast food restaurant with a machete shortly afterwards {Can’t be sure if the March 22nd assault is the same failed machete supported theft covered in a previous DigameXtra article, but it sounds like it.}. – Police set up an extensive operation involving uniformed patrols and the Specialised and Violent Crime Unit. The main suspect was caught hiding in the Los Limones neighbourhood after fleeing his final assault. Both suspects appeared before a judge, who ordered the primary offender to be held in pre-trial detention, but released the getaway driver. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/provincia/detenido-robar-hoteles-burguer-bar-mijas-fuengirola-malaga_0_2006352089.html
MALAGA CITY
Malaga Parachute Brigade Exhibition Scheduled For Today, Wed., 1 April: {Trans., summary} – On Holy Wednesday, paratroopers take center stage in Málaga. The Army’s Parachute Brigade will perform two displays on La Caleta beach. They join the Royal Confraternities of the United Brotherhoods in their activities leading up to the procession, which also includes the enthronement and transfer of the Christ of the Souls of the Blind. To complete the day, the Brigade will also accompany them during their penitential procession. – On April 1st, two parachute displays will take place on Malaga beach, one at 10:00 AM and the other at 2:00 PM. Fusionadas highlighted in their announcement that this event combines “emotion, discipline, and pride, with the sea and the city as an unbeatable backdrop.” Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/semanasanta/horarios-exhibicion-paracaidistas-fusionadas-miercoles-santo-malaga_0_2006353159.html
TORROX
Who Let the Dogs Out! – Torrox Police On Active Dog Control Patrols During Holy Week: – During Holy Week, the Torrox Local Police will carry out a campaign to monitor animal welfare, community coexistence, and public cleanliness. The police will ask for the animal’s documentation, ensure that owners carry cleaning materials to prevent parks and public areas from getting dirty, check the microchip, and verify that animals are not roaming freely. The goal is to ensure compliance with the Municipal Ordinance, inform residents, and raise awareness that human behavior is the only effective means to guarantee healthy coexistence for everyone. Please remember that Torrox has a designated beach where pets can enjoy themselves. Source: https://www.facebook.com/policialocaldetorrox/
Iran threatens to attack facilities of nearly 20 major US companies, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Tesla: {Trans., summary} – Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has threatened attacks against nearly twenty major US technology companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, Boeing and Tesla, marking one month since the US and Israeli offensive on Iran began. The IRGC claims these firms are involved in “terrorist operations” and have ignored warnings. Eighteen additional companies, including Cisco, Intel, Nvidia and J.P. Morgan, are also named as legitimate targets. The Guard advised employees and nearby residents to evacuate workplaces and vacate areas within a one-kilometre radius. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-iran-amenaza-atacar-instalaciones-casi-20-grandes-companias-eeuu-incluidas-google-microsoft-meta-tesla-20260331221629.html
ENERGY CRISIS
Brussels urges cuts in energy demand and warns that there will be no return to normality in the short term: {Trans., summary} – The European Commission on Tuesday urged member states to reduce energy demand, especially for petroleum products, and warned that the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on energy markets will be prolonged, with no return to normality expected in the short term, even though there are currently no immediate supply problems in the EU. – “Even if peace were to arrive tomorrow, we would not return to normal in the foreseeable future,” warned Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen {pic} at a press conference following the informal meeting of energy ministers, stressing that even in that scenario, “there would still be consequences,” since the region’s energy infrastructure “has been damaged by the war and continues to deteriorate.” Thus, he warned that “we must not deceive ourselves into thinking that the consequences of this crisis will be short-lived,” while insisting on the need to act “with unity” and “in close coordination” to avoid “fragmented national responses” that could further distort the market. – Although the ministers agree that security of supply remains “relatively protected,” thanks to the diversification of suppliers and less dependence on the Gulf, the commissioner has warned that “tensions persist in certain product markets,” particularly in diesel and aviation fuel, as well as “increasing restrictions in global gas markets” that are impacting electricity prices. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/economia/energia-00341/noticia-bruselas-urge-recortar-consumo-energetico-avisa-no-habra-vuelta-normalidad-corto-plazo-20260331191248.html
THE REST OF THE STORY
While male violence against women gets all the headlines in the feminist supporting progressive mainstream media, it cuts both ways, with female violence usually against the most vulnerable, children & seniors, as demonstrated in the following 2 articles. And before you send in the hatemail, I am not excusing the male violence, I’m just saying men don’t have an exclusive on it.
A woman has been sentenced to 40 years of psychiatric confinement for strangling her son and setting him on fire in Granada: {Trans., summary} – The Provincial Court of Granada has sentenced a woman to 40 years of confinement in a psychiatric prison after her six-year-old son was found dead in a house fire in the La Chana neighborhood in May 2023. The cause of death was not initially known, but the woman has since admitted to the court that she suffocated the child while he slept. She then placed him on a living room sofa, doused him with gasoline, and set him on fire. – The convicted woman said the crime occurred ten days before their scheduled eviction for non-payment of rent, according to the court ruling. The trial had been set for early April, but the parties reached an agreement that avoided a jury trial. – The woman will not be allowed to leave the facility without the express authorization of the sentencing court. Furthermore, the defendant must pay €180,000 in compensation to the father for the death of their son {She couldn’t pay rent, how will she pay any fines? -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/granada/condenan-una-mujer-40-anos-internamiento-psiquiatrico-por-estrangular-su-hijo-prenderle-fuego-granada_6953102_0.html
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Woman Severs Partner’s Penis And Stabs Him To Death In Spain: – A Spanish woman has been arrested for allegedly slicing off her partner’s penis and then stabbing him to death. Ertzaintza, the autonomous police force for the Basque Country in Spain, stated that the unidentified 55-year-old woman was detained on Friday (Jan 30) in Bilbao, a city in Northern Spain. – The police arrived at the residence in Bilbao’s Uribarri neighbourhood after receiving a report of a suspected homicide. Officers found the body of a man inside, a 67-year-old man of European origin, showing clear signs of having suffered a violent death. The body had several stab wounds, including in the neck, and clear signs that the penis was severed. Full article: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/woman-severs-partners-penis-and-stabs-him-to-death-in-spain-10927542
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CHURCHES & WORSHIP
Churches: Please submit your posts on Thursdays only, before 6pm.
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NEW LIFE CHURCH
New Life Church – Sunday Service: Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us on Sundays at 11.00am. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. – Prayer Meeting: You are also welcome to join our prayer meetings on Wednesday mornings at 11.00am for 1 hour, where we meet for prayer and worship. – Jesus said: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6) Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780. Directions: Click Here Email: info@nlcnerja.com Website: www.nlcnerja.com ; Facebook
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EL PUENTE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
El Puente Christian Fellowship (Vélez-Málaga): We are a friendly, multi-national, Bible believing community of Christ. We meet each Sunday at 11am to worship the Lord. We enjoy a time of worship with contemporary songs and traditional hymns, and a message brought to us by our Pastor, one of our members or a visiting speaker. The church meeting hall is situated at: Res: El Olivar 5, 8 Bajo 1, Calle Arbequin, Velez Malaga 29700. Full directions and further information can be found on our Facebook page, or you can contact us by email on elpuentechristianfellowship@gmail.com or by phone on 665626342. For those who cannot join us in person, we aim to stream Sunday services via the Facebook page (subject to a good internet connection).
The Echo of a Passion– Granada Becomes Prayer: – It’s not just a city; it’s a feeling that overflows down the Cuesta del Chapiz and falls silent on the Carrera del Darro. Granada doesn’t process, Granada surrenders. It’s the creaking of wood under the weight of love, the lament of a saeta that pierces the air of the Albaicín, and the glow of bonfires that illuminate the path of Consuelo towards the Abbey. From the ancestral rite of Sacromonte to the Renaissance elegance of its squares, every step is a story of faith written with wax and gold. If you close your eyes, you can still hear the rustling of the porters and the aroma of incense that remains tattooed on your soul. Come and experience Holy Week where the earth touches the sky. Video Link
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
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The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
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THIS WEEK– PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 2, 3 & 5 April 2026
2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday In the first week of April 2026 there is a long weekend break for Easter. DigameXtra will be closed. No new issues on Thursday, 2 April, or Friday, 3 April. Your submissions for the long Easter Weekend issue I will publish next Wednesday, 1 April, must be received by 6pm Tuesday, 31 March.
NOTICE! Submissions for posting in sections below must be signed like this or they will be returned !!! Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town **********
SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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ARCHGROVE TRANSPORT SERVICES
Archgrove Services: A family run light haulage/transport company with bases in Archez, Spain and Cambridgeshire. We are part of the ADH Storage and Transportation company and as such have storage available in Competa and Puente Don Manuel. Very reasonable rates. We provide a one stop service for all your transport needs and pride ourselves on reliability, flexibility, good communication and a very much ‘can do’ approach. No job is too small and there is always a solution. Our services include: -Regular runs between UK and Spain -Transport of personal property from full house moves to small single items -Man & Van services -Packing, including supply of packing materials -UK Home shopping with UK delivery address -Storage of property and vehicles in Spain If we can be of service please contact Gail. We are on Facebook and always available to chat through your needs and provide a free no obligation quote if required. UK: 0044 7846672013 Spain: 0034 951 066 093 Email: archgroveservices@gmail.com ; FB Link Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.
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SPW CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
SPW Construction Services:Professional high quality building service, fully qualified tradesmen to all trades. Extensions, retaining walls, driveways, swimming pools, damp problems, roofs, blocked drains. Replacement kitchens and bathrooms, Tiling and terraces. Plumbing, electrics and plastering, painting. Architect service, building licence applications. Handyman service now available for those smaller jobs. Water Deposit Installations: Due to the ongoing drought and current water restrictions SPW Construction are currently offering the following service. – Supply and installation of new above or below ground water deposits. 1000 litres up to 25000 litres. Delivered and installed, all relevant plumbing. All work warrantied. – We can also advise you or help to organise water deliveries from local suppliers. Selling Your House? SPW Construction can offer you a bespoke package to prepare your house for sale. Through our extensive relationships with Agents, buyers and sellers we understand what is required to present your home to potential purchasers. Interior & Exterior decoration / Replacement bathrooms and Kitchens Pool Reforms / Garden tidy DAFO Compliance, septic tanks, solar installations, etc. Roof checks / Damp proofing For free consultation and estimate contact us on 622938440 or email: scottparkwilson AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk Scott/Arenas. Home Page and FB-Link Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
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How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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For Sale: DoctorLaptop Refurbished Laptop for Windows 10 fans Acer, model F5-571, with Intel i5 5200U processor The operating system is Windows 10 LTSC, activated and supported until 2032. English keyboard. 2hr battery. Slim & lightweight. DVD, HDMI, VGA, 2x USB3, 1x USB2, ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth, card reader. New 8Gb pro-grade Hynix RAM. New 500Gb pro-grade MX series Crucial SSD. More than €130 of new parts. Looks brand new. This is a 2015 UK model, originally purchased in 2017, that was very rarely used, so an excellent candidate for a refurb! Price: €200, ‘no-risk’ 7 day cash back guaranty. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
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For Sale, 2 items: Reduced – Ikea two seat grey sofa 40€. – Three seat flowery sofa 40€ Both in good condition. Buyer collects Contact Madeleine, Arenas. Email: mvaderlindATgmailDOTcom tel/ whatsapp: +34 699757798
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
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Thanks: Many thanks Naythan for your daily postings of your newsletter with international and local news, far better than anything you get on television, one is better off watching cartoons than the news programs on TV!! Enjoy your break over Easter. Regards, JB
Spain closes its airspace to aircraft involved in the Iran war: {Trans., summary} – The Government has closed Spanish airspace to flights of aircraft involved in the Iran war, under the so-called ‘Epic Fury’ operation promoted by the United States and Israel. According to reports from several media outlets on Monday, and confirmed to Europa Press by sources within the Executive branch, this restriction not only prohibits the use of the Rota and Morón military bases, but also prevents aircraft linked to the offensive against Iran from flying through Spanish airspace. Thus, the ban affects not only takeoffs from national soil, but also the overflight of military aircraft from bases in the United Kingdom or France. – US President Donald Trump supported the idea that the US military should abandon the Rota and Morón military bases, and those of other NATO countries that are not cooperating in protecting the Strait of Hormuz, as proposed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on March 10. In response, Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that she does not foresee the United States withdrawing from Spanish military bases. “We ask that Spain’s position be respected, which is firm, clear, and unequivocal against any war,” she asserted. – For his part, Trump stressed on Sunday that his administration is negotiating with Iran “both directly and indirectly,” while also assuring that, as a “sign of respect,” Tehran will allow “20 large oil tankers” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite the de facto blockade imposed by the Islamic Republic in retaliation for the offensive launched on February 28 by Americans and Israelis. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/seguridad-y-defensa/noticia-espana-cierra-espacio-aereo-aviones-implicados-guerra-iran-20260330085553.html
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Drivers alert- the new sign with a white diamond on a blue background could cost you a €200 fine if you’re not familiar with it: {Trans., summary} – In recent months, thousands of drivers have encountered an unfamiliar sign that is already generating fines and confusion: a white diamond on a blue background that is not decorative or merely indicative, but a direct obligation established in traffic regulations. – The new signage introduced by the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) identifies lanes reserved for high-occupancy vehicles, known as HOV lanes. Their presence indicates that the lane in question is not open to all vehicles, but only to those that meet certain conditions. This symbol can appear in either a vertical format or painted directly onto the road surface. – The regulations state that, in general, these lanes are intended for: *Vehicles with two or more occupants, including the driver *Motorcycles *Vehicles with a zero emissions label – It typically appears: *On the left side of the road *Over luminous porticoes *Painted directly on the lane closest to the median Its location indicates that this particular lane is subject to access restrictions. In other words, not all vehicles can use it, even if it appears to be free of traffic. This type of signage is becoming increasingly common on access roads to large cities and on roads with high traffic density, where traffic management is more complex. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/alerta-conductores-nueva-senal-rombo-blanco-fondo-azul-multa_0_2006293413.html
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The Spanish Welfare State– More than a third of Spaniards’ income comes from public benefits: {Trans., summary} – In 2022, over 30 per cent of Spaniards’ total income came from State benefits, amounting to nearly 570,000 million euros. A study by Fedea, the Foundation for Studies in Applied Economics, details this expanding “welfare state”, classifying benefits as monetary (such as pensions and unemployment subsidies) and in-kind (such as healthcare and education). – The report analyses the system as a series of intergenerational transfers, where working-age adults (30 to 54) finance public spending for children, young people, and the elderly through their taxes. Those over 55, numbering 16.1 million, generate a significant portion of GDP and hold most household savings, while receiving large monetary benefits, primarily pensions. The authors quantify private family transfers, noting that adults and seniors contribute around 130,000 million euros to support younger generations within households. – The report concludes that Spain’s welfare state is increasingly dominant, requiring growing resources year on year. While popular with the socialists, this trajectory suggests a move towards a more subsidised country, which the authors imply may ultimately lead to diminished general prosperity if left unchecked. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/economia/espana-pais-subvencionado_2026032969c8679383aca52e0e3d12eb.html
We just love spending other people’s money!
ANDALUCÍA
The Andalusian Regional Government announces that the digital failure that paralyzed services and applications has been fully resolved: – The Regional Government of Andalusia has extended by three working days the deadlines for all administrative and tax procedures that were due to expire on 25, 26 and 27 March 2026, following a computer failure that paralysed the electronic signature system. – The outage began on 25 March and prevented citizens from interacting electronically with the administration and from making in-person submissions. The government has ruled out a cyberattack. More than thirty technicians worked for two consecutive days to restore services. The extension applies to all tax procedures and to deadlines set by calendar or working days that included the affected dates, but it does not apply automatically to deadlines set by months or years. The spokesperson stated that the measure ensures legal certainty and protects citizens from circumstances beyond their control. An investigation into the exact cause of the technical failure remains ongoing. – {If 30 techs were required to fix a previously operational network, they didn’t know what they were doing! 30 techs x 16 hrs x €25 per hour = €12,000. Just to fix a system error where there was no cyberattack! Five well trained techs should have been able to sort this out in an afternoon. Ineptitude on a grand scale at taxpayer expense. Andalucia is NOT ready for this digital revolution they are pushing. In fact, it is grossly irresponsible for them to push it before proper, reliable infrastructure is established, and we appear to be far from that. -Ed.}. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/junta-andalucia-anuncia-fallo-digital_0_2006335016.html
NERJA
Four arrested and two searches in Nerja after the fall of a criminal organisation of Turkish origin dedicated to drug and arms trafficking: {Trans., summary} – A joint operation by the National Police, Mossos d’Esquadra and EUROPOL has dismantled a Turkish led criminal network involved in drug and arms trafficking across Europe. Twenty one people were arrested, most in Spain, including Catalonia, Andalusia and the town of Nerja, with others detained in Bulgaria, and additional suspects under investigation in Greece. – The group operated mainly in Andalusia and Catalonia, exchanging firearms sourced from the Western Balkans and Turkey for large quantities of cannabis. Weapons were transported into the European Union in vehicles with concealed compartments and then circulated within criminal networks as currency in drug deals. The organisation also managed large scale cannabis trafficking. The alleged leader, a Turkish national with Greek residency, coordinated arms shipments to Spain and drug distribution to countries including Greece and Bulgaria. Searches across Spain, including Nerja, Bulgaria and Greece uncovered weapons and drugs. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/cuatro-detenidos-y-dos-registros-en-nerja-tras-caer-una-organizacion-criminal-de-origen-turco-dedicada-al-trafico-de-drogas-y-de-armas/
FRIGILIANA
Frigiliana celebrates the second edition of its Stations of the Cross after recovering the historic Via Sacra: {Trans., summary} – The parish group of Frigiliana has announced the organization of the Stations of the Cross procession for Tuesday, March 31st , with the firm objective of highlighting the sacred Way of the Cross in the town. The celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will start at the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua. – This initiative, now in its second year , is the result of the parish group’s work in restoring the Stations of the Cross , a heritage that has been recovered almost a century after its disappearance. During the procession, participants will travel through the streets of Frigiliana, stopping at the fourteen Stations of the Cross , where prayers and hymns will be recited in the traditional manner. – The planned route will pass through Calle Chorruelo, Calle Rosarico La Joaquín, the Ecce Homo Hermitage, and the Rincón area, before reaching the Santo Cristo de Arriba. The event is organized by the Frigiliana Parish and supported by the Frigiliana Town Council , establishing itself as one of the most moving events of the local Holy Week celebrations. Source, Spanish: https://axarquia-news.es/frigiliana-celebra-la-segunda-edicion-de-su-via-crucis-tras-recuperar-la-historica-via-sacra/
ALMUÑÉCAR
One injured and 40 people evacuated after an explosion at a hotel in Almuñécar: {Trans., summary} – A worker was injured on Monday following an explosion on the top floor of the Hotel Olas in Almuñécar, popularly known as the Hotel Carmen, located in the town center. Approximately 40 people were evacuated as a safety precaution. Additionally, two firefighters required medical attention at the scene due to smoke inhalation. – The incident occurred around 1:00 PM, according to the 112 emergency services, which reported to this newspaper that the injured person, whose condition is unknown, was a worker refilling the boiler with gas. – The mayor of Almuñécar, Juan José Ruiz Joya, indicated that, “fortunately,” there were no injuries and “only one of the workers required medical attention for shock and anxiety caused by the incident.” “The explosion caused part of the roof to fall onto the street, but without causing any accidents. The damage was primarily material.” – The flames from the incident were visible from several points in the town, prompting up to fifteen people to call emergency services within minutes to report the explosion. Firefighters from Almuñécar, along with local police and Civil Guard officers, are working at the scene, and a mobile intensive care unit has been dispatched to treat the injured. Source, Spanish: https://www.granadahoy.com/costa_tropical/explosion-hotel-almunecar-deja-herido_0_2006334660.html
MIJAS
A machete robbery at a bar in Mijas ends in laughter and without loot because nobody believed it was real: {Trans.} – What began as a machete-point robbery ended up turning into a comic scene. An assailant entered a bar in Mijas last week with his face covered by a helmet and demanding money, but nobody believed him: neither the barman nor the customers took the threat seriously and responded with laughter, convinced it was a joke by a regular customer. – The surreal episode took place at the establishment La Barraca de la Abuela, in the Las Lagunas area, at around five in the afternoon. According to the newspaper SUR, the individual burst into the premises armed with a large machete and went straight to the bar, where he positioned himself between two customers. – There he drew the weapon, struck the counter and began to demand money in English: “The money, now”. Far from causing panic, the scene prompted laughter and one of those present, thinking it was all part of a prank by someone they knew, replied with irony: “The money now? Shall we call the police?”. The disbelief was such that the barman himself even grabbed the machete and, in a mocking tone, told him off by saying the weapon was “blunt”. According to SUR, not even at that moment did those present perceive any real danger, convinced the supposed robber was part of a joke. – Baffled by the total lack of reaction and unable to intimidate anyone, the assailant chose to leave the premises empty-handed. Hours later, upon learning that another similar robbery had taken place at a nearby establishment, those involved began to suspect that what had happened had not been a joke. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/malaga/un-atraco-con-un-machete-un-bar-mijas-acaba-entre-risas-sin-botin-porque-nadie-creyo-que-fuera-real-the-money-now_6952522_0.html
MIDDLE EAST
Trump again threatens widespread destruction in Iran if a deal is not reached ‘shortly’: – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, potentially including desalination plants that supply drinking water, if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly.” – Iran meanwhile struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait, and an oil refinery in Israel came under attack. Israel and the U.S. launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, as the war raged with no end in sight. – Trump’s new threat came in a social media post. Earlier comments to the Financial Times suggested American troops could seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub. Trump has repeatedly claimed to be making diplomatic progress— though Tehran denies negotiating directly — while ramping up his threats and sending thousands more U.S. troops to the Middle East. Trump told the New York Post that the U.S. is negotiating with Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. The former Revolutionary Guard commander, who has taunted the U.S. on social media, dismissed the talks facilitated by Pakistan as a cover for the latest American troop deployments. In a social media post, Trump said “great progress is being made” in talks with Iran to end military operations. But he said if a deal is not reached “shortly,” and if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened, the U.S. would broaden its offensive by “completely obliterating” power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island and possibly even desalination plants. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-30-2026-8abb0ee50be4cd8dd9ddde3a9d846ef8
HEALTH
Another SAS Malpractice Award: {Trans., summary} – A court in Cádiz has condemned the Andalusian Health Service to pay 69,279 euros in compensation to the two children of a 77-year-old woman {pic} with multiple pathologies who died in the University Hospital of Puerto Real after a urinary infection recurred. No diagnostic tests were performed for 14 days, and she received no antibiotic treatment during that period. – The judge found a breach of medical standards but reduced the compensation, estimating her survival chances at 40 per cent due to her fragility, lack of food intake, and immunocompromised state. The family’s lawyer argued the case reveals structural ageism in healthcare, whereby older patients receive less rigorous attention and their decline is normalised as expected. The daughter expressed satisfaction that negligence was recognised but lamented the poor care, stating the compensation was secondary to preventing recurrence. The ruling may be appealed before the High Court of Justice of Andalusia. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariodecadiz.es/noticias-provincia-cadiz/condena-sas-no-controles-infeccion-orina-mujer-fallecio-clinico-puerto-real_0_2006333603.html
SOCIAL MEDIA
Spain joins UK in jailing people for social media posts– Man in Malaga sentenced to 15 months in prison for spreading hate messages and denying the Holocaust on social networks: {Trans., summary} – The Court of Malaga has sentenced a man to 15 months in prison for publishing messages of racist and xenophobic content on his social networks. The defendant used social networks to spread proclamations against foreigners, Jews, immigrants or people of the Islamic religion, with the aim of “generating feelings of hatred, rejection and hostility among the population.” – The judicial resolution highlights that the defendant even denied the existence of the Holocaust in his publications. The Chamber stresses that the man was fully aware that, by posting these messages on open digital platforms, they acquired a permanent nature. Once posted, the impact of the attack posts multiplies as it is shared and reposted, causing deep humiliation in the affected victims’ groups. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/condenado-en-malaga-a-15-meses-de-prision-por-difundir-mensajes-de-odio-y-negar-el-holocausto-en-redes-sociales/
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The DGT warns of fines for reporting checkpoints and speed cameras in WhatsApp groups: {Trans., summary} – In Spain, drivers commonly use WhatsApp and Telegram groups to share real-time alerts about police checks and speed cameras. While warning of fixed speed cameras is legal, alerting to mobile checks for alcohol, drugs, or police operations can constitute obstruction of police work. Authorities warn that such notifications enable dangerous drivers, including those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to evade detection, thereby undermining road safety and potentially endangering the public. – Voilators can be easily identified from message meta-data, phone number tracing, and also by info collected by officers that join and monitor these groups. Penalties vary depending on the user’s role: using a mobile phone while driving incurs fines and the loss of licence points. Habitual or organised alerting, particularly by group administrators or very active users, may be sanctioned under the Citizen Security Law. In serious cases involving organised networks, fines can range from 601 to 30,000 euros. The law also penalises disseminating images of officers or operational details that could compromise police safety or the success of a check. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/sociedad/2026-03-30/la-dgt-advierte-de-multas-por-avisar-de-controles-y-radares-en-grupos-de-whatsapp-7379928/
GASTRONOMIA
World’s most expensive bottle of wine sold for $812K at auction: – Last weekend, a single bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti sold for a jaw-dropping $812,500 at the annual La Paulée auction for Acker, the world’s largest fine wine auction house and America’s oldest wine merchant, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. According to Forbes, this sale broke the former world record for the most expensive bottle sold at auction, which had been set by a bottle of the same beverage in 2018 and which sold for $558,000. – A representative from Acker said in a statement that this pretty penny of a purchase “cement(s) the 1945 vintage as the most coveted bottle in the history of wine collecting.” This particular wine is a standout due to it being the last wine made before Romanée-Conti replanted its oldest vines, which had survived both world wars. The vineyard only produces red wine — mainly from the pinot noir grape — and makes between 5,000 and 6,000 bottles annually, though only around 600 were of this 1945 variety. – This wine is also known for falling into the category of pre-phylloxera, which means the grapes were sourced from vines that weren’t designed to be resistant to phylloxera — an insect known for demolishing a large portion of vineyards in Europe during the late 19th century. Experts laud this wine for having an “unmatched” depth and complexity. Full article: https://nypost.com/2026/03/30/lifestyle/1945-domaine-de-la-romanee-conti-sold-for-a-whopping-812k/
SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES
*Click links to read the English language articles*
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
ATTENTION! New EU internet privacy laws are now in effect, known as the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). I have to inform you that the DigameXtra archive saves follower’s email addresses in the WordPress server. By subscribing/following you implicitly accept this; if you make submissions you acknowledge that anyone can view old issues online and see your contact info as you provided and you accept this. If you don’t want me saving your email address do not subscribe/follow, you can unsubscribe and remove yourself from this list using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every subscription issue. Takedown notices must include proof of ownership as well as the date and issue number of the DigameXtra issue containing the infringing content. These may be submitted to digamextra@protonmail.com. Proper takedown notices will be complied with immediately. All images have been credited or copied from what I believe to be copyright free sources.
The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
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THIS WEEK– PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 2, 3 & 5 April 2026
2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday In the first week of April 2026 there is a long weekend break for Easter. DigameXtra will be closed. No new issues on Thursday, 2 April, or Friday, 3 April. Your submissions for the long Easter Weekend issue I will publish next Wednesday, 1 April, must be received by 6pm Tuesday, 31 March.
Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English. We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips. Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross. We would be happy to accept any greeting cards you may have to re-cycle into fantastic cards. We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo. *Trips/Events* ~All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity~ April – 7th – Easter trip to Gibraltar, €20pp May – 15th – Trip to the Baelo Claudia Roman Ruins with lunch in Tarifa. Price €35 pp excludes lunch June – 2nd – Trip to Gib €22pp – 10th – Trip to Estepona on Market day and a visit to the Orchid House. Price €25. Entry to the Orchid House is 3€ pp not included July – 3rd – Visit to the Victoria Brewery AM, Car Museum PM. Lunch in the port area of Malaga not included in the price. Price 32€pp includes entry to both Museums For information call Gail on 951067723/626370695 (Whatsapp) email phoenixsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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XIX Benalmádena Collector Plant Fair 2026: April 3, 4, and 5, 2026. Hours on poster. Free. Parque de la Paloma (Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena). One of Andalusia’s most anticipated botanical events is back. The Parque de la Paloma in Benalmádena will host the nineteenth edition of its renowned Collector Plant Fair. This is an essential meeting point for enthusiasts, experts, and families who wish to discover unique plant species from around the world. Info: https://www.benalmadena.es/plantasdecoleccion/ & Video Link
NOTICE! Submissions for posting in sections below must be signed like this or they will be returned !!! Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town **********
SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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REDWELL INFRARED HEATING SYSTEMS
Redwell Infrared Heaters for Inside Manufacturer warranty 10 years ONLY products from Germany and Austria Product Range: – Wall and ceiling infrared heaters Mirror, Pictures, Glass, white & color – Mobile Heaters, free standing on wheels – Under table Heaters – Analog & Digital Controlling Systems, Thermostats Systems – LED Light Frames, 2 year warranty For 20 years we have supported clients in Spain with the highest quality Infrared Heating Systems available on the market. Request information without any obligation. Location: Axarquia Service-Center, Postbox 028 Dipl.-Ing. Svend Scharler 29793 Torrox Park, Malaga E-mail: sscharler@gmx.de Web: https://redwell.com/ Office: 952539742 ; Mobil: 606423869. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
Pipewave
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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS & BATHROOMS
Hanningtons Kitchens and Bathrooms:We have been installing kitchens and bathrooms here on the Costa for 13 years. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, highest standards of work and customer service. Whether you are thinking of updating an existing kitchen or bathroom, or whether you wish to create the kitchen or bathroom you have always dreamed of, we are here for you, every step of the way. With an unrivalled knowledge of the best local materials and suppliers we are able to work to all tastes and budgets. Our full range of services includes: – Installations and Refurbs – Wall & Floor tiling – Full range of Plumbing work including radiators and underfloor heating – Solar Installation – Design & planning ideas to get the look you are after – Electrical works – Alter / Install walls, dropped ceilings and hang doors – Plastering, woodwork and floor levelling Visit our FB page on the link below to be inspired https://www.facebook.com/hanningtons.kitchens.and.bathrooms/ Call us : 669 665 156 Email us: hanningtons.bathrooms@gmail.com ; Our contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue.
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MANDY’S PAINTBOX
Mandy’s Paintbox: Painter for 34 years in Nerja area. NEW JOB PHOTOS. Painting work undertaken. Inside and outside, large or small. Furniture painted or sprayed. Kitchens, cabinets, wardrobes doors any colour any surface. Check out the before and after photos, all the furniture was spray painted. Call for advice. WhatsApp 680739577 Email: josiahamanda@gmail.com My contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue. Here are “before” (left) and “after” (right) pics from my latest job.
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate: It’s Sunday morning, and the team from BluCee Real Estate are back at Dallas Market Hall for day two of the Travel & Adventure Show, alongside Daniel Benítez from De Cotta Law. Yesterday was a fantastic start, meeting genuinely motivated clients ready to buy in Málaga. We’re excited to welcome more of the same today. BluCee’s US trip is already proving to be a great success. Are you thinking of selling your property, or is your home already on the market and not achieving the results you had hoped for? Contact BluCee Real Estate today for your free valuation and professional guidance: Email: info@blucee.com ; Web: www.blucee.com Telephone: 0034 951 553 890 / 0034 711 042 727 Office: Calle Timón 11B, Torre del Mar
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AXARQUIA SILVER & GOLD TRADE
Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade– Unique Handcrafted Coin Rings & Much More: ***Services Offered*** – Buying all kind of Silver and Gold: Silver coins and Gold coins, bullions and bars. Jewellery and cutlery (no collector prices!). – Selling handcrafted Coin Rings and Jewellery: Handcrafted rings, made from silver or gold. There are many options possible– I will handcraft your individual silver or gold ring. Choose, for example: a coin from your year of birth; a custom present for a friend; choose a JFK ½ Dollar coin; or a $1 Dollar coin from 1921 is available. I have silver from Spain; 100 Pesetas coins from 1966 for something special; and many more. You can get it shiny or black or a mix. I look forward to creating something very special for you. You want big sizes for men? No problem! – General Metals Markets Information: I am trading now more than 10 years in physical silver and gold. If you are interested, make an appointment. – Make an appointment by mail or phone. Mail: sscharler@gmx.de Call Svend Scharler: +34-606423869 I have my office and meeting point at the Axarquia Service Centre, local 101, 29793 Torrox Park. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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For Sale: Black granite kitchen kickboards x 4. Lengths: 100cm, 97cm, 45cm & 77cm. €25. Contact Sam / Viñuela Email: sam.seabrook70@gmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
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Music Improvisations in Torrox: I am looking for people to play improvisation music together with in an explorative and playful way in Torrox. I am a multi-instrumentalist with a focus on rhythm. I also build instruments from recycled materials. All skill levels, instruments and styles are welcome, openness and good will are helpful. venue to be decided, suggestions welcome. Please email me. Thomas, Torrox Email: ballydrums@gmail.com
Axaragua informs the municipalities of the region of Axarquía that the limitations on the use of drinking water are no longer in force: {Trans., summary} – The public water and sanitation company of the Axarquía, Axaragua, has informed the municipalities of this region that the limitations on the use of drinking water agreed in May 2024 when the Viñuela Axarquía system was declared in a situation of severe shortage are no longer in force. – The president of Axaragua, Jorge Martín, explained that in the last Drought Management Commission of the Hydrographic Demarcation of the Andalusian Mediterranean Basins (DHCMA) the situation of the Viñuela-Axarquía exploitation system was reviewed, “establishing a scenario of normality, given that water resources have improved”. For this reason, prohibitions and restrictions on water supply no longer apply. – “In the case of those on the coast – Rincón de la Victoria, Vélez-Málaga, Algarrobo, Torrox and Nerja – the lifting of these measures means that the showers and footbaths on the beaches can be used again during Easter,” announced Martín. Regarding the use of seawater in footbaths that has been proposed, it requires a feasibility study at each location before it can be implemented, and is making progress. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/axaragua-comunica-ayuntamientos-comarca-axarquia-dejan-de-tener-vigencia-limitaciones-uso-agua-potable/
TORROX
Torrox will have its first Burger King, in the Santa Rosa-El Morche area, planned to open early July: {Trans., summary} – Burger King has requested the necessary environmental qualification to carry out the activity, providing the execution project, the acoustic study and the rest of the documentation required by the regulations. The file was registered on March 16 and is currently being processed, pending the municipal technical reports and the granting of the corresponding licenses. – Municipal sources have pointed out that the license could be granted “in the coming weeks” if the administrative process follows its usual course, which would allow the start of the works to be activated “in the short term”. The project foresees an execution period of approximately three months from the start of the works, which fits with the company’s objective of arriving in time for the summer season, coinciding with the increase in the summer population and tourist activity on the coast. – The arrival of this well-known chain would be a turning point in the commercial and restaurant offer of the Axarquia municipality, which has already exceeded 22,000 registered inhabitants and which so far does not have fast food establishments of these characteristics, unlike other nearby towns in the Axarquía. {- In years past I would have been very displeased with this development. But given the current offerings and prices in the Torrox Costa area restaurants, I actually welcome this new option for affordable dining (and quick service). Burger King actually has tasty hamburgers for under the typical local price of €10+; for €10 you can probably get 2 burgers AND chips at BK! This being Spain, they will probably also have beer on tap! – To those restaurants who complain about the arrival of Burger King, all I can say is you did this to yourselves with your outrageous menu prices, inattentive service, and “Summer price increases”. But that’s fine, do what you gotta do, there’s a market for it– it’s none of my business. But while you target the free spending tourist wallets, us common folks being crushed by inflation still need an affordable place to eat, and BK is filling that void in Torrox Costa. I salute their marketing dept. for identifying this lucrative opportunity. – High-season prices start earlier and earlier every year, and are now in effect at many establishments on the coast. This weekend I noticed my regular pizza went up €1.50. Scanning menus, I see most everything up ten to thirty percent. No more €10+ burgers or €11.50 mini personal-pizzas for me once BK arrives! -Ed.} Photo: Eugenio Cabezas. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/torrox-primer-burger-king-zona-santa-rosael-20260321210441-nt_amp.html
NERJA
The stabilisation works of the cliff of the Balcón de Europa will begin after Easter: {Trans., summary} – After the signing of the contract, the partial stabilisation works of the cliff of the Balcón de Europa, on its western slope next to La Caletilla beach, will begin next Monday, April 6, once Easter is over. – The work will be carried out in phases. First, unstable materials and vegetation will be cleaned and removed. Next, a galvanised triple twist protective mesh will be installed with bolt anchors and steel wiring, and, finally, the landscape restoration will be carried out with native species, in order to integrate the environment and reinforce the stability of the land. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/obras-estabilizacion-parcial-acantilado-balcon-europa-iniciaran-tras-semana-santa/
FRIGILIANA
Frigiliana receives a donation of four telescopes to enrich its tourism offerings: {Trans., summary} – The telescopes will be available free of charge to both residents and visitors to the municipality. These telescopes, which for years were part of the landscape of the Balcón de Europa in Nerja, have been installed at four strategic points in Frigiliana: the Rafael Alberti viewpoint, the Town Hall viewpoint, the Plaza de las Tres Culturas and the Montecillo Ariza viewpoint. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/frigiliana-recibe-la-donacion-de-cuatro-telescopios-para-enriquecer-su-oferta-turistica/
VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA
The second phase of the Torrox Road in Vélez-Málaga is now open to traffic: {Trans., summary} – The second phase of the Camino de Torrox de Vélez-Málaga is now open to traffic, consolidating the progress of one of the main road infrastructures of the municipality. This new action comes at a key moment, coinciding with Easter, when the town experiences a notable increase in visitors and traffic volume. – The works have consisted of the doubling of the already urbanised route from the area of El Limonar to the south, incorporating two additional roads and a bike lane. These new infrastructures are located on the right side in the direction of Caleta de Vélez, allowing more fluid and safer circulation. The opening of this section is a significant relief for incoming and outgoing traffic from Vélez-Málaga, improving connectivity with Caleta de Vélez. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/abierta-al-trafico-la-segunda-fase-del-camino-de-torrox-en-velez-malaga/
IZNATE
Agreement between Endesa and Iznate to strengthen supply and reduce power cuts: {Trans., summary} – The City Council of Iznate and the energy company Endesa have reached an agreement to carry out significant improvements in the electricity supply system that supplies the municipality. During a meeting held between representatives of the City Council and Endesa technicians, the mayor of Iznate explained that these actions are the result of the previous technical studies carried out by the company, which detected the need to modernize part of the municipal electrical infrastructure, as has already been done recently in other municipalities in Axarquia, like Frigiliana. The project, still in the operational planning phase, marks an important evolution in the collaboration between the local administration and the supply companies, with a focus on sustainability, the resilience of the electricity grid and the continuous improvement of the well-being of the residents of Iznate. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/acuerdo-endesa-iznate-reforzar-suministro-reducir-cortes-20260327141723-nt_amp.html
RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA
Rincón de la Victoria allocates 60,000 euros to control feline colonies: {Trans., summary} – The City Council of Rincón de la Victoria has signed with the Official College of Veterinarians of Malaga an addendum modifying the collaboration agreement for the implementation and management of feline colony control programs through the CER2 Method (Capture, Sterilization and Return). This new addendum allows the agreement to include a total amount of 60,000 euros for the achievement of the purposes of the CER method. – Currently, there are five veterinary clinics that have joined the agreement. It should be remembered that this is still open to the participation of all clinics in the municipality that wish to collaborate. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/rincon/rincon-victoria-inversion-control-gatos-20260327161028-nt_amp.html
GASTRONOMIA
Chef Víctor Hierrezuelo announces the upcoming opening of a restaurant in Nerja: {Trans., summary} – Chef Víctor Hierrezuelo is preparing to open a new restaurant in Nerja, slated for June, following the success of El Chiringuito in Sedella. The new venue, situated in the heart of Nerja by the Plaza de España, will feature a modest capacity with thirty seats inside and sixteen on the terrace. Hierrezuelo aims to maintain a personalised approach, ensuring each dish is carefully crafted, similar to his approach at El Chiringuito. Despite limited resources and no external investors, he remains focused on a careful, humble expansion. – The restaurant will showcase a refined menu that honours his culinary roots in the Axarquía, with a stronger emphasis on coastal seafood, thanks to its location near the Mediterranean. Traditional dishes like tripe with chickpeas, inspired by his grandmother’s recipe, will remain central, alongside game meats and Iberian products from Andalusia. – Hierrezuelo is also considering calling the restaurant “Marri,” a nod to his family’s nickname in Sedella. This new establishment will continue his commitment to blending local traditions with modern innovation while ensuring that his ties to the Axarquía region remain strong. Hierrezuelo’s sister, Cristina, will manage El Chiringuito as he moves forward with this new venture. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malagaenlamesa/restaurantes/chef-victor-hierrezuelo-anuncia-proxima-apertura-restaurante-nerja-malaga-20260318123451-nt_amp.html
TECH
DoctorLaptop’s Tips #123 – New Option For Windows 10 Users & those with computers that can’t upgrade to Win 11: {DigameXtra Exclusive} – Most versions of Windows 10 reached their end-of-service last year: Win 10 Pro, Home, Education, & Enterprise. It’s basically obsolete, although some people did get 1 year extensions with the ESU plan. However, it turns out that there is one special version of Win 10 that remains supported, including security updates, until January 2032. It’s called Windows 10 Enterprise IoT LTSC (Internet of Things, Long-Term Servicing Channel)– a lightweight variant meant for specialized installations that run Win 10 specific programs and do not change over many years. – It is a bare-bones version of Windows 10 from 2021, without all the pre-loaded software. Users must install the programs they want to use. But without all the “bloatware” installed, and no rubbish apps constantly running in the background, this system runs faster than most, very snappy on a SSD drive + 8Gb ram from my testing. – It must be done as a fresh install, wiping all data from the hard drive, so you’ll need to backup your data before you try this. If you have a laptop that won’t upgrade to Win 11, installing this version of Win 10 will get you another 6 years of supported service. I strongly recommend installing a new SSD hard drive before installing the new Win 10 LTSC, since old hard drives are unreliable; if you expect another 6 years of use, a new hard drive makes sense. Note that some apps and software may discontinue supporting Win 10 eventually, but alternatives are usually available. – What’s the catch? Getting it activated. The embedded product key in your processor, that validates your Windows installation, won’t work with Win 10 LTSC. And Microsoft no longer sells these licences (with the product keys). Yet getting Win 10 LTSC activated is possible, now for free, direct from a Microsoft hosted website, if you know where to look and have the necessary skills, as it requires using the advanced “Power Shell” tools built into all Windows systems. – DoctorLaptop can do all this for you if necessary. Email for prices, include the make and model number of the computer. If necessary, I can save your data, do the install, then put the date into the new system. If your aging Win 10 computer is still in good physical condition, and you lack €500 for a new computer, this may be a solution for you. Naythan, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Number of AI chatbots ignoring human instructions increasing, study says: – AI models that lie and cheat appear to be growing in number with reports of deceptive scheming surging in the last six months, a study into the technology has found. – AI chatbots and agents disregarded direct instructions, evaded safeguards and deceived humans and other AI, according to research funded by the UK government-funded AI Security Institute (AISI). The study, shared with the Guardian, identified nearly 700 real-world cases of AI scheming and charted a five-fold rise in misbehaviour between October and March, with some AI models destroying emails and other files without permission. – The snapshot of scheming by AI agents “in the wild”, as opposed to in laboratory conditions, has sparked fresh calls for international monitoring of the increasingly capable models and come as Silicon Valley companies aggressively promote the technology as a economically transformative. – In one case unearthed in the CLTR research, an AI agent named Rathbun tried to shame its human controller who blocked them from taking a certain action. Rathbun wrote and published a blog accusing the user of “insecurity, plain and simple” and trying “to protect his little fiefdom”. In another example, an AI agent instructed not to change computer code “spawned” another agent to do it instead. Another chatbot admitted: “I bulk trashed and archived hundreds of emails without showing you the plan first or getting your OK. That was wrong – it directly broke the rule you’d set.” Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/27/number-of-ai-chatbots-ignoring-human-instructions-increasing-study-says
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Wikipedia officially bans AI-generated content — relying on human editors for bot detection: – The internet’s favourite encyclopaedia has officially banned its 260,000 human editors from using artificial intelligence to write articles — a major crackdown as so-called “AI slop” floods the web. – The new policy, approved by volunteers at the Wikimedia Foundation’s flagship site Wikipedia, bars the use of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT from generating (contributing) encyclopaedic content, citing concerns over accuracy, sourcing and reliability. Last year, Wikipedia came up with its own bot-detection guidelines for editors that highlight common “tells” of AI writing. Editors are trained to spot red flags like inaccurate or fake citations, overused phrases and cliches, wordy explanations and sudden style transitions. – Wikipedia leaders say AI-generated text often breaks the site’s core tenets, including strict standards around verifiability and neutrality, because chatbots are prone to so-called “hallucinations” — made-up facts, broken links and references that lead to nowhere. Editors can still use AI in limited ways, such as translating articles from other languages or suggesting minor copy edits, as long as humans review every change and no new information is introduced. – Last October, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales also blasted current AI models as unreliable, calling the situation a “mess,” per the BBC, and warning that the tech is not ready to replace human editors. Full article: https://nypost.com/2026/03/28/tech/wikipedia-officially-bans-ai-generated-encyclopedia-entries/
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
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The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
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Next Public Holidays: April 2026 2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday In the first week of April 2026 there is a long weekend break for Easter. DigameXtra will be closed. No new issues on Thursday, 2 April, or Friday, 3 April. Your submissions for the long Easter Weekend issue I will publish next Wednesday, 1 April, must be received by 6pm Tuesday, 31 March.
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Clock Changes this weekend in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST)
Start DST: Sunday, 29 March 2026 = 1 hour forward End DST: Sunday, 25 October 2026 = 1 hour backward
41 Club Nerja Going From Strength to Strength: – 41 Club Nerja is delighted to report that we really are going from strength to strength, our membership continues to grow and our doors are open for more new members to join our vibrant Club. – Do you remember in your local communities all the events that the Round Table and 41 Club organised? Yes! that’s us! – Do you love getting out and about in our beautiful Axarquia area and also like the idea of being with people who enjoy life and help the local community too? Well, that’s also us! So please come along, meet us, see how we do things, and you don’t even need to have been a member previously. – We enjoy a wide variety of exciting activities, interesting meetings and tasty meals in many of the lovely restaurants we have in our local area. Our get togethers are attended by our members (who hail from ten different countries) as well as our partners, guests, friends and family too. We’re a very friendly bunch. To get in touch you can Email us: briankaret@sky.com Phone Brian on +34 643510605 You can connect with 41 Club Nerja via Facebook. Or visit our website to find out more at: https://41clubnerja.org/ We’d love to hear from you and we’d also love for you to come along and join in the fun!
NOTICE! Submissions for posting in sections below must be signed like this or they will be returned !!! Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town **********
SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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TONY ROAM TRANSPORT & REMOVALS
Tony Roam Transport & Removals Spain To UK To Spain: Fortnightly Runs Spain to UK and Up to 4 weeks free Storage. Spain or UK. 18 years Removals To & Fro Spain / UK Spain. Man & Van, Local & Long Distance Removals No subcontracting, all collection and delivery in house. Transportation, Removals & light haulage company that have scheduled trips all year from UK to Torrox and back every month. Also additional unscheduled to suit your needs. Full or part loads undertaken. Dedicated Delivery Personal Service Full or Part loads up to 60 cubic meters up to 5.5 tonne. Up to £25,000.00 insurance with British Insurance Company. Evidence of insurance can be supplied by email on request. Hard Copies always carried on the vans. This and a current Operators licence are a legal requirement. Our International Operators Licence No UKGB / OG2043664 We live just behind Torrox Pueblo in Spain and in South Wales UK and have vans going back and forth UK to Spain to UK by way of Santander or Bilbao / Portsmouth or Plymouth Ferry. For more information and prices for all to see please visit our website http://www.tonyroamremovals.com email ; tonyroam@btconnect.com Spain 0034636393542 – UK 00447973362003. Face book Tony Roam – WhatsApp Either Number Our contact details are shown every day in the Sponsor’s Section.
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GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR
The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa: Now with Sunday Lunch! Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, Moussaka), cheese (Feta Psiti, Feta Saganaki, Hallumi), vegetables (Greek salad, Hummus, Eggplant cream, Mezze, Tzatziki) or sea fruits (prawns or octopus), all of this accompanied with our special Greek pita bread. For dessert… HOMEMADE BAKLAVA! We offer a lovely meal time in a quiet and exquisite atmosphere, accompanied with the best Greek music. See you soon!Hours: 6:30pm to close, Wednesday thru Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday. For reservations call 642585049. https://la-casita-griega.business.site/We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES & JUBILEE HOUSE
ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES IN THE AXARQUIA REGION: Do you have health or mobility issues? Would support enable you to remain independent in your own home? Liz Brown, probably the only nurse registered to practice in Andalucia to hold the ENB 941 (Specialist qualification in care of the older person), together with her fully insured and police checked home care support team offers one-on-one support and companionship in the comfort of your own home. COE Malaga reg. 17425 HOME CARE/NURSE SUPPORT Palliative care / Companionship / Health monitoring English Nurse / Hospital sitting / Respite at home / 24 hr live in care / Housekeeping / Correspondence & Communication / Medication collection & dispensing systems / Dressing, bathing & daily hygiene / Shopping & meal preparation / Fast response Falls Team / Provision of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists Email: info@englishnurse.care ; Website: https://englishnurse.live-website.com/ Tel: 951550581 or 692419548 JUBILEE HOUSE – Close Care Unit in Torrox 5 ground floor individual units all en-suite 24-hour care at all stages from the English Nurse Care Team Main language- English / Extensive sea views / Wheelchair accessible / Garden / Home cooking / Wifi / Air conditioning / Visiting physiotherapist, hairdresser, chiropodist and nutritionist And we welcome guests for the day. Email: jubileehousetorrox@gmail.com VACANCY-We are now able to accept a couple in spacious accommodation with en-suite facilities. Unique nurse-led facility, offering 1st class personalised care packages, tailored to individual needs. We support independent living. We have a dedicated, compassionate team of English speaking staff, visiting physio, chiropodist, hairdresser. To discuss your requirements or to arrange to view our beautiful accommodation on Torrox Costa please call Liz (RGN/Enferma-Malaga College) on +34 692419548 We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
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How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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For Sale: New, Budget Friendly Laptop, €420 cash. Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 (15IAN8) Windows 11 in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) TN 250nits Anti-glare Processor- Intel i3-N305, up to 3.8GHz, 8 core, 8 thread 8Gb RAM (soldered), 256Gb SSD Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, no ethernet (use a USB adapter) Slim & lightweight- 1.5Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. Battery- 8 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 3 year factory warranty when registered online. A good laptop for the average user: email, web-surfing, message/chat, streaming video, doc & photo editing. Not intended for advanced video editing or 8-way Zoom meetings. Upgradable to Windows 12 when it is released. Buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
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For Sale: New, Powerful Business Laptop, €480 cash. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Gen 8, Model 15AMN8 Windows 11 Pro in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD, 1920×1080 (TN) Processor- AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 2.8 to 4.3 GHz, 8 core, 8 thread, Hyperthreading. RAM- 16Gb high-speed LPDDR5 (soldered) SSD- 512Gb Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, Stereo Speakers. Battery- 10 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 1.62Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. 3 year factory warranty when registered online. Fully setup, updated and ready to use. Software- Chrome, Edge, VLC Player, Libre Office, WhatsApp, PDF Reader. Upgradable to Windows 12 when it is released. Buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
Trouble in AI Paradise & Spanish News Services, major malfunctions this week– AI is vulnerable & remains unreliable– News outlets struggle to provide content when AI is broken now that it has replaced most writers, and additionally, new laws in Spain require publishers to clearly label AI content since up until now their editors had claimed the credit: {DigameXtra Exclusive} – All the major Artificial Intelligence (AI) services are currently messed up. OpenAI, Chat GPT, Grok, Perplexity, Claude, Anthropic, etc., are all hallucinating and providing severely flawed responses including totally made up rubbish as facts; and services that rely on AI are misbehaving. This is evidenced by several factors: * A major security breach hit LiteLLM (a tool used by many developers to manage various AI models) on March 25, 2026, leading to erratic model behaviour, “rogue” facts, and general system instability. * The Junta’s system computer systems, recently updated to include AI functions, are down, see article below in the Andalucia section. * Most of the major Spanish news outlets now use AI to provide their articles. Very few new articles have appeared this week, and some that did included errors. New laws requiring news outlets to clearly label AI created content as such are partially to blame, more on this below. * Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities just underwent an unexplained IT system-wide shutdown. This office relies heavily on AI. – Here are some possible reasons: * Claude Service Outages: On March 25 and 26, 2026, Anthropic reported elevated error rates and service interruptions for its most advanced models, including Claude Opus 4.6 and Sonnet 4.6. This can cause AI tools that rely on these models to “hang,” produce incomplete data, or behave erratically. Ref: https://status.claude.com/ * “Model Drift” & Flattery: A study released today, March 26, 2026, found that many popular AI models are increasingly providing “bad advice” or fabricated info simply to flatter or agree with users, a phenomenon known as “sycophancy” that is currently spiking in newer model versions. Ref: https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2026-03-26/ai-is-giving-bad-advice-to-flatter-its-users-says-new-study-on-dangers-of-overly-agreeable-chatbots * Supply Chain “Corruption”: A major security breach hit LiteLLM (a tool used by many developers to manage various AI models) on March 25, 2026. This allowed attackers to inject malicious payloads into AI developer pipelines. Such breaches often lead to erratic model behaviour, “messed up” facts, and general system instability as developers scramble to patch their systems. Ref: https://cybernews.com/security/critical-litellm-supply-chain-attack-sends-shockwaves/ * Spanish News Media “Silent” Period: The lack of new articles in Spanish newspapers is likely a direct response to a massive regulatory crackdown in Spain this week. The government has introduced strict liability for AI-generated content, with potential fines reaching 35 million euros for failing to label AI material. Many newsrooms that rely on AI automation have likely paused or slowed their output to manually verify content and avoid these catastrophic legal risks. Refs: https://www.techmonitor.ai/digital-economy/ai-and-automation/spain-approves-law-regulate-ai-content-combat-deepfakes?cf-view & https://next-step.es/en/spain-approves-new-ia-governance-law-million-dollar-fines-for-failing-to-label-content/ Closing Note: In my investigations this week I found DeepSeek and Google’s Gemini AIs to be least likely to malfunction, for now. But they also have their bad days. See image below:
SPAIN
Sánchez appoints Carlos Cuerpo as Vice President and Arcadi España, Minister of Finance after Montero’s departure: {Trans., summary} – Following María Jesús Montero’s departure to run in the Andalusian elections, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has appointed Carlos Cuerpo, an independent technocrat who claims no party affiliation, as First Deputy Prime Minister; and Arcadi España (PSOE) as Minister of Finance. – Cuerpo, previously Minister of Economy, was praised for his technical expertise and is seen as a guarantor of economic continuity. – España, a trusted figure from Valencian politics, takes on the finance portfolio. Sánchez framed the reshuffle as a reinforcement of stability, highlighting experience and coherence within his government. The changes aim to maintain policy direction while presenting a unified front ahead of the upcoming Budget. Sources, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/espana/sanchez… & https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/…
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NATO confirms that Spain reached 2% of defence spending in 2025: {Trans., summary} – NATO’s Annual Report confirms Spain reached 2 per cent of GDP on Defence spending in 2025, up from 1.42 per cent in 2024, remaining one of the lowest investors alongside Belgium, Albania, Canada and Portugal, all at approximately 2 per cent. While allies committed to a new 5 per cent target at the 2025 Hague summit under US President Donald Trump’s pressure, Spain unilaterally capped its spending at 2.1 per cent, claiming this meets capability needs. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte {pic} contested this, insisting greater investment is required to meet shared goals. Most NATO countries spend below 2.7 per cent of GDP on defence. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/internacional/otan-confirma-espana-llego-gasto-defensa-2025-20260326123712-ntrc_amp.html
ANDALUCÍA
Computer systems of the Junta crash once again, affects administration & courts – “Absolutely nothing works”: {Trans.} – Officials report widespread failures in the justice administration computer systems in the province of Málaga, as part of a wider collapse of the Andalusian Regional Government’s digital infrastructure. According to the Trade Union of Justice Administration Workers (STAJ), the issues began on Wednesday around 2:30pm and persisted Thursday. During the morning, the system was completely inoperable until approximately 10:30am, with constant interruptions. – In courthouses such as Vélez-Málaga, staff cannot use key applications, including Adriano, the case management system, nor log their hours via the Hermes app. These incidents are not limited to a single programme but affect all the IT tools necessary for normal operations {many of which rely on Artificial Intelligence}. – The problem also affects the system at the Ciudad de la Justicia in Málaga, where service continues to suffer from intermittent outages. STAJ stated that “absolutely nothing is working”, pointing to a widespread failure in the Regional Government’s technological system. ***Without virtual health card, payrolls or tenders*** – The Andalusian Regional Government has confirmed an incident since Wednesday in its digital systems, managed by the Andalusian Digital Agency, affecting network and telecommunications infrastructure. The problem is mainly in identification and electronic signature services, preventing access to applications requiring digital certificates or Cl@ve. Due to the high level of digitalisation, numerous services are affected. The agency stressed it is a technical issue and ruled out a cyberattack. Affected services include health applications such as ClicSalud and the virtual health card, as well as employment procedures, electronic registry, and the Citizen Folder. – Internal tools used by Regional Government staff, such as Portafirmas, Bandeja, Cronos, and Sirhus, are also impacted. – Current regulations allow for the extension of document submission deadlines in the event of technical failures that impede normal system operation. Such measures must be announced via the relevant electronic headquarters. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/caida-digital-junta-sistema-juzgados-malaga_0_2006299633.html
MALAGA CITY
The Malaga Metro on strike this Easter- dates and times of the partial stoppages: {Trans., summary} – Málaga Metro maintains the strike for the first days of Holy Week. Three partial stoppages have been called for 30 March, 1 and 2 April, coinciding with Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. – Partial metro stoppages during Holy Week, the days and times of the planned stoppages in the coming days are: * Holy Monday, 30 March, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm * Holy Tuesday, 1 April, between 5:00pm and 8:00pm * Holy Wednesday, 2 April, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm – The union gatherings at El Perchel will take place according to the following schedule: 30 March from 6:30pm to 7:30pm; 1 April from 6:00pm to 7:00pm; and 2 April from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. – Minimum services of 60%. Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) has stated in a press release that for these days, minimum services will be set at 60%, rather than the 50% maintained during previous strike calls. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/metro-malaga-huelga-semana-santa-fechas-horarios-parones_0_2006299064.html
VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA
Discover Holy Week in Vélez-Málaga- guided tours to delve deeper into the traditions of its 19 brotherhoods: {Trans.} – The ‘House of Titas’ {House of the Aunties}, with the collaboration of the Vélez-Málaga City Council, organize guided tours from Tuesday to Good Friday, from March 31 to April 3. The initiative allows neighbours and visitors to enter the heart of Holy Week in Vélez-Málaga and delve into its traditions of the 19 brotherhoods of the city. During the visits, you will be able to observe the thrones, tinglaos, montages and the preparations prior to the processional parades. The visits will begin from the Plaza de las Carmelitas starting at 11:00 a.m. for the four days. The activities will end with an ajobacalao tasting in the Patio of ‘La Casa de las Titas’, allowing participants to taste one of the most typical products on this date. The initiative aims to highlight the cultural and religious wealth of Vélez-Málaga, promoting citizen participation and tourism around its traditional celebrations. – Info: 952502061 / 610732698 Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/descubre-la-semana-santa-de-velez-malaga-visitas-guiadas-para-profundizar-en-las-tradiciones-de-sus-19-cofradias/
IZNATE
Pre-Easter Events 2026 in Iznate; the program of events for the patron saint festivities before Holy Week: {Trans., summary} – Friday, March 27 (Friday of Sorrows) 09:30 – Diana floreada (musical wake-up call) with the Iznate – Benamocarra Music Band 12:00 – Thanksgiving Mass with the Pura Cepa de Iznate Choir and the Iznate – Benamocarra Music Band 20:30 – Septenary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows 21:00 – Procession of the patron saint (Virgin of Sorrows) with the Iznate – Benamocarra Municipal Music Band 23:00 – Fireworks display 00:00 (midnight, transitioning to Saturday, March 28) – Performance by copla singer Sergio Fábregas Sánchez 01:00 (Saturday, March 28) – Performance by the Pentagrama Orchestra and DJ Ivani – Saturday, March 28 (Main Day – Resurrection Re-enactment) 11:00 – Mass of the Risen Christ 12:00 – Procession of the Virgin of Sorrows and Apostles to the Hermitage (“Search for the Risen Child”) Following the procession, but no specific time given – Religious re-enactment of the Resurrection (Saint Peter finding the Risen Christ in the orchard, firecrackers and volleys, apostles kneeling, girl removing the Virgin’s veil). After the re-enactment – Invitation to paella and refreshments offered by the Town Hall, with music by the Aryon orchestra. 15:30 – Music by the duo Nauel & Darío 17:00 – 19:00 – Free attractions for children 18:00 – Election of Miss and Mister Visitor 18:00 – Performance by Caribe show 18:00 – Ribbon races, bike, motorcycle, horse, and botijo (clay jug) races/competitions 19:00 – Performance by the Electroduendes 23:00 – Performance by the Mediterráneo Orchestra 23:00 – Grand final firecracker display to mark the end of the festivities 01:00 (Sunday, March 29) – Performance by Decai 02:30 (Sunday, March 29) – Performance by the Mediterráneo Orchestra and DJ Alien Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/iznate-continua-los-tramites-para-declarar-el-domingo-de-resurreccion-de-interes-turistico-regional/
FUENGIROLA
Fuengirola is the latest town hall to prohibit entering municipal offices with the burqa and niqab: {Trans., summary} – Last week it was cities such as Seville, Cordoba, Burgos or Alcalá de Henares, and now Fuengirola has become the latest city council to join the ban on access to municipal offices for women who wear burqa and niqab, two Muslim female veils that cover the face and only allow the eyes to be seen, the first of them through a net. – The measure has been approved today by the plenary session of the town at the request of Vox thanks to the support offered by the absolute majority of the Popular Party, while the other two parties with representation, the PSOE and Hacemos Fuengirola, a coalition in which IU, Podemos and four other formations are integrated, have rejected the initiative. – The approved motion contemplates “the prohibition of access and permanence in all municipal offices of people who wear garments that totally or partially hide the face and prevent their identification”, as would be the case of the burqa and niqab, but also of any other “of equivalent effect”. Vox’s initiative establishes that “access to municipal buildings and services must be made with the face uncovered to guarantee the identification, safety and equality of all citizens” and ensures that “this prohibition will be of general application, regardless of the origin, religion or ideology of the person wearing the garment, and limits the exceptions to cases duly accredited for medical, health or occupational safety reasons”. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/costadelsol/fuengirola-prohibe-entrar-burka-niqab-dependencias-municipales-20260325180832-nt_amp.html
ENERGY CRISIS
Algeria agrees with the Spain to “increase” gas exports to Spain to guarantee supply due to the war: {Trans., summary} – Algeria it will “increase” its natural gas exports to Spain through the Medgaz gas pipeline, which can increase flows between 500,000 and one billion cubic meters (bcm) and which could be incorporated into the between 30 and 35 bcm of gas that it imports per year from all its suppliers. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, he has confirmed this agreement from Algiers, which has yet to be finalized and which the Spanish Government has sought to ensure supply in the middle of war in the Middle East. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/argelia-acuerda-con-gobierno-reforzar-sus-exportaciones-gas-hacia-espana-para-garantizar-suministro-por-guerra_6951307_0.html
PRODUCT ALERT
The OCU warns of contaminants in olive ‘pomace’ oil: {Trans., summary} – The OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios) has called for the immediate withdrawal of all olive pomace oils due to MOAH hydrocarbons, considered potentially genotoxic and carcinogenic by EFSA. Nine samples exceeded Spain’s 10 mg/kg limit, some by three to ten times. The European Commission plans to introduce binding limits, though final approval is pending. In the meantime, the OCU invokes the precautionary principle and recommends consumers choose standard olive oils instead. Source, Spanish: https://www.jaenhoy.es/jaen/ocu-pide-retirar-aceite-orujo_0_2006295417.html – {Olive pomace oil sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of olive oil grades. It is produced from the by-products of the virgin and extra virgin olive oil production process using chemical solvents and heat. Ref:https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/grades/olive-pomace-oil/6210#comment-2038}
RECALLS
AESAN launches an alert for the presence of E. coli in a batch of German camembert cheese: {Trans., summary} – The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has launched an alert for the presence of ‘Escherichia coli’ that produces Shiga toxins (STEC) in a camembert cheese from Germany. – Specifically, it is the product with the name “Camembert de Normandie”, from the La Réserve des Crémiers brand, corresponding to lot number 031241 and with expiration dates 04/08/26 and 04/12/26. – This information has been transferred to the competent authorities of the autonomous communities through the Coordinated System for Rapid Information Exchange (SCIRI), in order to verify the withdrawal of the affected products from the marketing channels. – The AESAN recommends that people who have products affected by this alert at home refrain from consuming them. Likewise, it is advisable to go to a health centre if you have ingested any of the products of the affected batches and present some symptoms compatible with ‘E. coli’ toxiinfection that produces Shiga toxins, such as severe abdominal cramps, which can progress to watery and bloody diarrhoea. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/salud/aesan-lanza-alerta-presencia-coli-lote-queso-camembert_2026032669c57ca2bfc2456bae14d089.html
SPORTS
The Olympic committee bans trans athletes from women’s events: – Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women’s events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games. – “Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee said, to be determined by a mandatory gene test once in an athlete’s career. – The eligibility policy that will apply from the L.A. Olympics in July 2028 “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” the IOC said. – “We know that this topic is sensitive,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said in an online news conference to explain the policy. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in swimming, said in a statement. “So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.” – The IOC document details its research that being born male gives physical advantages that a working group of experts believes are retained. “Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: In utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood,” the document said. It added this gives males “individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance.” The expert group agreed the current gene test is “the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available.” The saliva, cheek swab or blood sample screens for “the SRY gene, a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes/testicles.” Full article: https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympic-transgender-female-eligibility-520cd9cee152a312767a667acf77dbc8
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CHURCHES & WORSHIP
Churches: Please submit your posts on Thursdays only, before 6pm.
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NEW LIFE CHURCH
New Life Church – Sunday Service: Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us on Sundays at 11.00am. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. – Prayer Meeting: You are also welcome to join our prayer meetings on Wednesday mornings at 11.00am for 1 hour, where we meet for prayer and worship. – Jesus said: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6) Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780. Directions: Click Here Email: info@nlcnerja.com Website: www.nlcnerja.com ; Facebook
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EL PUENTE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
El Puente Christian Fellowship (Vélez-Málaga): We are a friendly, multi-national, Bible believing community of Christ. We meet each Sunday at 11am to worship the Lord. We enjoy a time of worship with contemporary songs and traditional hymns, and a message brought to us by our Pastor, one of our members or a visiting speaker. The church meeting hall is situated at: Res: El Olivar 5, 8 Bajo 1, Calle Arbequin, Velez Malaga 29700. Full directions and further information can be found on our Facebook page, or you can contact us by email on elpuentechristianfellowship@gmail.com or by phone on 665626342. For those who cannot join us in person, we aim to stream Sunday services via the Facebook page (subject to a good internet connection).
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DOG ADOPTIONS
Axarquia Animal Rescue – Voluntary Charity – non profit organisation: CIF G93245116 ; Charity Number 10567 (Spain) Email: axarquia-rescue@hotmail.com Website: www.axarquiaanimalrescue.com – Oscar & Nancy are brother and sister, they have shared their whole lives together, and their bond is something truly special. While we’d love nothing more than to see them find a forever home together, we’re open to the idea of them being adopted separately if it means giving them the loving homes they deserve. They are both loving, affectionate dogs, medium to large in size. Currently in kennels after being left behind by their owner. {Looks like the male is on the right. -Ed.} Please take a look at our website, where you will find more information and photos, plus details of other dogs and pups that we have in our care. Our adoption costs are 110e for pups that have been fully vaccinated, rabies, chip and passport. 180e for older dogs that have all vaccinations, neutered and passport. This contributes towards their vet and care costs, and helps us to continue rescuing abandoned dogs and cats.
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
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The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
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Next Public Holidays: April 2026 2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday Thus, in April 2026, there is a long weekend break for Easter, DigameXtra will be closed: Thursday, 2 April thru Sunday, 5 April.
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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST) Start DST: Sunday, 29 March 2026 = 1 hour forward End DST: Sunday, 25 October 2026 = 1 hour backward
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WHAT’S ON
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Cajiz (Vélez-Málaga) will host, for the second year, various scenes and highlights of ‘The Passion of Cajiz’ this Friday, 27 March: The Plaza de la Constitución will host the actors of the traditional Cajicá performance, who will interpret different passages from the life of Jesus Christ starting at 6:00 p.m. This Festival of Provincial Tourist Interest involves more than 200 local residents and features 36 biblical scenes on a realistic stage.
Regulares parade in Torre del Mar: Holy Thursday, 2 April From 5pm. Regarding the planned route, the company will begin marching at approximately 5:00 PM from the Virgen del Carmen fountain, proceeding along the western seafront promenade until reaching Paseo Larios and Plaza Juan Aguilar. There, at around 5:15 PM, the public display and presentation of weapons will take place, before continuing on to Vélez-Málaga.
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El Paso de Riogordo 2026: Fri-Sat, 3-4 April, 5-8pm Venue: C/ Calvario, Riogordo, Málaga 29180 – The Paso de Riogordo is one of the most distinctive and well-known religious processions in Spain. It has been staged every Good Friday and Holy Saturday since 1951. It has been described by some media outlets as ‘the finest Paso in Europe’ or ‘an unparalleled theatrical performance’. – It has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia and Spain, and involves more than 500 amateur actors from the municipality, in an 8,000 m² open-air venue. – The performance lasts approximately three hours and consists of 17 distinct scenes. A voice-over will introduce each one. Info & tix: https://www.mientrada.net/evento/el-paso-de-riogordo-2026/2026-04-03/
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El Trapiche celebrates the tenth edition of the Early Potato Festival on Saturday, April 11th: The town hall square in El Trapiche will once again be the meeting place for this gastronomic and festive event, which will also feature various parallel activities and entertainment. The program of events will begin at 11:00 AM with the inauguration and opening of the exhibition stand, featuring typical local gastronomic products. At 1:00 PM, attendees will be able to sample the traditional Trapiche dish , made with egg, chorizo, pepper, onion, and early potatoes. A children’s face painting station will be available for the little ones to enjoy. In the afternoon, at 4:00 PM, the poster for the San Isidro festival, created by Jesús Quintero Fernández, will be unveiled. The afternoon will also include musical performances by Miguel Botana and Decai.
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Periana’s XXV edition of the Verdial Olive Oil Day will take place on Sat & Sun, April 11 & 12. – Saturday will begin with a traditional miller’s breakfast offered by the San Isidro Cooperative, followed by a tour of ancient olive groves, an olive oil tasting in the María Zambrano Hall, and a cooking demonstration by Sabor a Málaga. In the afternoon there will be musical performances such as that of the Ballix Duo in the plenary hall of the Periana Town Hall , in addition to music in the Alfonso XII square and the performance of the Melodía Orchestra . – Sunday will kick off with activities in Alfonso XII Square, including a traditional miller’s breakfast and a parade by the Periana Municipal Band. There will also be performances by Abraham Oritz and the Periana Verdiales Group.
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TAOGARDEN MASSAGE
Taogarden Massage – Torrox Costa: Taogarden Massage is a space dedicated to holistic wellbeing in Torrox Costa, where I combine more than 25 years of experience with holistic massage techniques, drainage, Reset Fisiológico®, Thai Foot, the Face to Face facial massage, the Regenerative Technique and Maderoterapia MMC, as well as personalized treatments aimed at deep relaxation and body balance. Each session is tailored to the individual, in a calm, respectful and professional environment. Location: Herbolario Naturísima, Costa del Oro, Block 5, Torrox Costa Opening hours: every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Phone / WhatsApp: +34 610 520 624 Email: torrox2024@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaogardenMassage Book your appointment and discover an authentic and carefully curated wellbeing experience.
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Sanchez Finally Makes an Appearence– Sánchez looks for an internal enemy (the PP and Vox) to make political capital out of the war: {Trans., summary} – Pedro Sanchez addressed Congress on 25 March 2026, where he spoke about Spain’s position regarding the war in Iran and defended the urgent anti-crisis economic measures that the Government intends to implement to protect citizens from the effects of rising energy prices and other economic consequences of the conflict. – However, the President devoted a substantial part of his intervention not to a detailed explanation of Spain’s diplomatic stance, the use of military bases, the precise degree of military involvement or other strategic aspects, but to a strong political attack on the Popular Party and Vox. He repeatedly invoked the memory of former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and the 2003 Iraq war, portraying the opposition as complicit in the current “absolute disaster” in Iran. – Critics maintain that this approach transformed what should have been an informative debate on foreign policy into an internal ideological confrontation. By creating a clear domestic enemy, Sanchez sought to polarise the hemicycle, gain political time amid a fragile Government and approaching elections, and foster a sense of cohesion among his own supporters. In doing so, he turned the external war into a tool of domestic partisan politics, prioritising ideological noise over substantive strategic discussion. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/espana/sanchez-busca-enemigo-interno-ppvox-hacer-caja-guerra_2026032569c3e6e701546271afacb678.html
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Sánchez gives himself 48 more hours of margin to remodel the Government due to first vice president and Minister of Finance María Jesús Montero’s departure: {Trans., summary} – Maria Jesus Montero {pic} will not leave the Spanish Government immediately to focus on her candidacy for the Andalusian elections set for 17 May. As First Vice-President and Finance Minister, she will wait at least 48 hours more, with the reshuffle expected around next Friday. – The Government will first concentrate on Pedro Sanchez’s appearance in Congress on Wednesday (yesterday) regarding Spain’s position on the Iran war, followed by Thursday’s plenary to validate the anti-crisis decree. Sources indicate the changes will be surgical, limited to the portfolios she vacates. Some ministers believe Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo may gain influence, while Felix Bolanos already handles some first vice-presidential duties. – Montero will retain her deputy seat until the new Andalusian parliament forms, and is viewed in Moncloa as a strong asset for the campaign due to her high recognition and management record, despite currently unfavourable polls. She bid farewell to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday and will face her final control session in Congress on Wednesday. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/nacional/2026/03/25/sanchez-margen-cambio-gobierno-montero-128381147.html
ANDALUCÍA
Registered voters can now request a postal vote for the regional elections: {Trans., summary} – Registered voters in Andalusia who are eligible to vote in the upcoming regional elections on May 17 can request a postal vote from this Wednesday until May 7. This procedure allows voters to cast their ballot without having to physically go to the polling stations on election day. – According to an official statement from Correos (the Spanish postal service), those who choose this method must request a certificate of registration in the Andalusian Electoral Census, an essential requirement to exercise this right by mail. This certificate can be obtained either online or in person at any post office nationwide. – To apply online, voters must access the official website http://www.correos.es and verify their identity using an electronic signature and secure authentication. Various valid identification systems are accepted, including digital certificates for individuals recognized by the Ministry of Industry and the electronic National Identity Document (DNI-e), thus guaranteeing the validity and security of the process. – If applying in person at a post office, each applicant must appear in person with their original national identity card, passport, or driver’s license to prove their identity. However, voters who are unable to apply due to duly certified medical reasons may delegate the application to an authorized representative, provided they present notarized or consular authorization. – Once the applications are received, Correos (the Spanish postal service) will deliver them to the provincial delegations of the Electoral Census Office in Andalusia. From April 27, 2026, these delegations will send all the necessary documentation for voting by mail directly to the address provided by the applicant, which does not necessarily have to be their usual residence. – Finally, the deadline for submitting postal votes will end on May 13, after which no more submissions will be accepted to be counted in the regional elections. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/ciudadanos-pueden-solicitar-voto-correo-elecciones-autonomicas/202603251231303233690.html
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The Junta de Andalucía approves aid of up to 12,500 euros for the self-employed and SMEs affected by the storms: {Trans., summary} – The Junta de Andalucia has launched a financial aid plan for self-employed workers (autonomos) and SMEs affected by recent storms. Aid is available in three lines and is aimed at those who suffered significant economic losses and business closures in affected municipalities. *Line 1 (38 million euros): for self-employed workers and SMEs in storm-affected municipalities. *Line 2 (10 million euros): for self-employed workers and SMEs in the Special Agrarian System. *Line 3 (2 million euros): for municipalities not on the preferential list but eligible under the state aid framework. – Eligible applicants can receive 200 euros per month for ten months (February to November 2026) to help with Social Security contributions, plus 350 euros per month for each contracted employee. A self-employed person with no employees may receive up to 2,000 euros, while those with two to three employees (the Andalusian average) can receive between 9,000 and 12,500 euros. The maximum per applicant is 35,000 euros.Applications will open on 8 April 2026 and can be submitted for two weeks. Full details and rules are published in the Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía (BOJA). The aids are compatible with other public subsidies provided the total does not exceed the actual cost of the damage. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/andalucia/2026/03/24/junta-andalucia-aprueba-ayudas-12-128338059.html
MALAGA PROVINCE
Minister of Transport Puente dumps on Malaga– calls the controversy over the lack of AVE in Malaga this Holy Week “absurd and childish”: {Trans., summary} – The controversy surrounding the prolonged suspension of AVE high-speed rail services to Malaga during Holy Week reached the Spanish Congress on Wednesday. Popular Party deputy Elias Bendodo demanded that Transport Minister Oscar Puente explain the delays and apologise to the people of Malaga. – Puente dismissed the issue as a “false, childish and absurd controversy”, insisting that serious matters should be discussed in Parliament. He explained that most tourists reach Malaga by plane (64%), only 11% by train, and that 3,500 passengers are still transported daily via bus transfers from Antequera. The minister rejected alternative proposals from the PP, stating that reopening the line is physically and humanly impossible at present, with work continuing 24 hours a day by 75 workers. He criticised the PP for what he called exaggerated claims of losses and accused certain Andalusian media of spreading hoaxes. – Bendodo accused Puente of insulting Malaguenos and failing to act for 49 days since the line was cut in January-February. Bendodo accuses the Government of negligence, repeated failure to meet reopening deadlines, and showing contempt towards the people of Málaga, while highlighting the serious impact on tourism and local businesses. Puente’s responses in Congress — dismissing the controversy as “false, childish and absurd”, downplaying the importance of rail travel for tourists, and attacking the PP and Andalusian media — have drawn sharp criticism for being arrogant, dismissive, and more focused on political confrontation than on providing practical solutions. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/03/25/puente-califica-absurda-infantil-falta-128413987.html
MALAGA CITY
Mayor De la Torre blames the Government for losing the new European customs headquarters: {Trans., summary} – The defeat of Malaga in the bid to host the new European Union Customs Authority (EUCA) has triggered an immediate political clash in the city. Mayor Francisco de la Torre blames the Spanish Government for failing to provide clear and timely political support, including a long-requested letter of interest, which he says left the “very solid” Malaga candidacy weakened against rivals such as Lille (who got the nod) and Rome. He contrasts the strong backing given by French President Macron and Italian Prime Minister Meloni to their cities with the Spanish Government’s late and insufficient involvement. – In response, Government Sub-delegate Javier Salas accused De la Torre of quickly shifting blame and pointed out that Malaga has lost every major international bid during his long tenure as mayor. Salas linked the setback to the city’s recent withdrawal from the bidding to host the 2030 Football World Cup, which he said caused “irreversible international damage”, and called on the mayor to reflect on this pattern of failures rather than immediately criticising the central Government. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/03/25/torre-culpa-gobierno-perder-sede-aduanera-salas-128409771.html
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Swimming is prohibited in an area of the beach at the Malaga Golf Course due to detecting E. coli: {Trans., summary} – A section of the Campo de Golf beach in Arraijanal, Malaga, has been closed to bathing as a preventive measure after the detection of E. coli bacteria in the water. The closure stems from a problem that began at the end of December 2025 when heavy rains and the swelling of the Guadalhorce River caused the collapse of approximately 50 metres of sanitation pipes, leading to accidental wastewater discharges.The Malaga Municipal Water Company (Emasa) has already stopped the Guadalmar and Campo de Golf pumping stations and is diverting the discharge out to sea through a 475-metre outfall. At the same time, Emasa is accelerating a provisional technical solution by bringing forward part of a planned regenerated-water network so that it can temporarily channel the affected waters to the Guadalhorce treatment plant instead. The works, carried out by the UTE PTOC and UC10, are expected to be completed within approximately one month. Until then, the affected beach area will remain closed to swimming while monitoring continues. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/03/25/prohibido-bano-zona-playa-campo-golf-bacteria-coli-128401918.html
TORROX
Torrox strengthens and extends its international artisan market into the summer with live music in the historic centre: {Translation, summary} – The Torrox Town Council, together with the organizing businesses, groups, and associations, is reinforcing and extending the international arts and crafts market with live music in the historic centre into the summer. Councilor José Manuel Fernández explained that beginning March 28th the market, which will once again be located in the central Plaza de la Constitución and will feature around 40 stalls, will be held on the last Saturday of each month, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, until November during the day, with the addition of evening editions in July and August. – In July and August, the market will be held between 7:00 PM and midnight with the added objective of “promoting and revitalizing the historic centre during the peak tourist season .” The Councilor for Commerce added that “we are thus offering our visitors the opportunity to discover and enjoy the charm and attractions of our old town. ” Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/torrox-refuerza-y-extiende-al-verano-el-mercado-artesanal-internacional-con-musica-en-vivo-del-casco-historico/
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Torrox condemns the vandalism in the historic centre and strengthens measures to identify those responsible: – The mayor of Torrox, Óscar Medina, has strongly and unequivocally condemned the recent appearance of various acts of vandalism in different parts of the town’s historic centre, describing them as “intolerable and completely incompatible with the coexistence and respect that have always characterized our town.” Medina stated that these actions constitute “a serious attack on the urban heritage and image of Torrox , especially during such important dates as Holy Week,” while emphasizing that “such uncivil behaviour will not go unpunished.” – The mayor added that the graffiti contained messages “of an ideological nature linked to radical left-wing positions,” something he flatly rejected, considering that “it does nothing to contribute to peaceful coexistence.” In this regard, Medina reported that the incident has already been reported to the Local Police and the Civil Guard, “who are working together to clarify what happened and identify those responsible.” He also indicated that security cameras in the area are being reviewed to further the investigation. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/torrox-condena-las-pintadas-vandalicas-en-el-casco-historico-y-refuerza-las-medidas-para-identificar-a-los-responsables/
CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO
Canillas de Aceituno lifts restrictions on drinking water consumption after the latest test results show “suitable” levels: {Trans., summary} – The Canillas de Aceituno Town Council announced this Wednesday the lifting of the water restrictions for consumption that were in force in the town centre after the latest analytical results carried out on the supply network, which indicate levels “suitable and in accordance with current regulations for human consumption” . – According to a statement released by the Canillas council on its social media, from the date of publication of the new decree, the water from the municipal network can be used normally for human consumption, including drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/canillas-de-aceituno-levanta-las-restricciones-al-consumo-de-agua-potable-al-mostrar-niveles-aptos-los-ultimos-resultados-de-las-analiticas/
ALMUÑÉCAR
He attacked his son-in-law with a hammer in Almuñécar and committed suicide after fleeing the house: {Trans., summary} – A grave incident took place in Almunecar, Granada province, when a 65-year-old man struck his 30-year-old son-in-law on the head with a hammer, causing serious cranial trauma. The attack happened on Tuesday night in a local home. Emergency services were alerted at 20:40 via the 112 system and responded quickly. The victim was rushed to hospital. The assailant then fled to a nearby cultivated zone and committed suicide. The Guardia Civil has confirmed the details and continues to investigate the shocking event that has shaken the community. {Photo for illustrative purposes only.} Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/granada/ataca-yerno-martillo-almunecar-suicida-despues-huir-vivienda/202603251226313233684.html
UKRAINE WAR
Russia says it shot down almost 400 Ukrainian drones as Moscow and Kyiv escalate aerial barrages: – Russian air defences downed 389 incoming Ukrainian drones, Russia’s Défense Ministry said Wednesday, in what was the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea since Moscow’s forces invaded Ukraine more than four years ago. The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The attack underlined the growing capability of Ukraine’s domestically developed and manufactured long-range drones. – It came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at civilian areas of Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, extending its usual night-time barrage into daylight hours in one of its biggest aerial attacks of the war. At least six people were killed and around 50 people were injured, Ukrainian authorities said. – The escalation in aerial attacks comes amid a pause in U.S.-mediated talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv, as Washington’s attention is diverted by the Iran war and as Ukraine anticipates a spring offensive by Russia’s bigger army. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-fire-ustluga-9cb9adca61c79312b470a00fa8ae80be
MIDDLE EAST
Iran rejects Trump’s 15-point peace plan, state media report: – Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s reported 15-point plan to end the war, according to state-run Press TV. It cited an unknown “senior political-security official” laying out five Iranian conditions for the conflict to end, including paying reparations for damage. – The White House has not confirmed the contents of the plan – published by Israel’s Channel 12 network – only admitting “elements of truth” in it. It is said to include a commitment from Iran not to build nuclear weapons and to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. – On Tuesday, Trump said Iran was “desperate” for talks and that Iranian negotiators had given the US a “very significant prize”. The “present” was related to oil and gas, and the Strait of Hormuz, the US president said, without providing further details. A day later, his press secretary Karoline Leavitt said talks were “ongoing” and “productive”. – But Iran’s foreign minister said there are no talks with the US. Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that the US was sending messages via different mediators, but such an exchange “does not mean negotiation” with the US. “We do not intend to negotiate” with the US, Araghchi said. He did not say, though, if indirect negotiations were under way – or excluded. **What does Trump’s plan contain?** – According to Israel’s Channel 12, Iran must fulfil a number of demands for the war to end. They mostly centre on the main rationale US officials have given for starting the war: to stop the country building nuclear weapons – an allegation that has not been supported and which Iran has always rejected – and to eliminate the threat of its missile programme. The proposals request that Iran must “commit never to pursue nuclear weapons”, pledge to dismantle nuclear facilities and hand over the enriched amounts of uranium it possesses to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, which is to monitor the issue going forward. According to the proposals, Iran would agree to limit its missile programme in range and quantity. Additionally, Iran would stop funding regional proxies – Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen. Iran would also be required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so it could function as a “free maritime corridor”. Closure of the strait – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass – has sent prices spiking and led to fears of recession in the world economy. – In return, all international sanctions would be lifted on Iran, the reported plan says. – Asked to confirm these details, Trump’s press secretary said: “The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual”. – Read Iran’s side of the story in the full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9nz5vyz4o
GASTRONOMIA
Mushroom Days at Restaurante Promesa, Malaga: Now thru Sun, 29 March. Restaurante Promesa invites you to discover its Mushroom Festival, a celebration of traditional Andalusian cuisine made with seasonal and local products. Located in the Hotel MS Maestranza, in the heart of La Malagueta, Promesa has established itself as one of the great gastronomic landmarks of Malaga. For this edition, chef Julio Zambrana has created a menu that celebrates the essence of mushrooms, a cornerstone of seasonal cuisine. His dishes reinterpret traditional stews with a modern twist, respecting the memory of classic recipes while incorporating contemporary nuances. Each dish combines technique and sensitivity, highlighting the richness of the Mediterranean forest and the profound flavor of locally sourced ingredients. – Large white beans with mushrooms and clams – Grilled Iberian pig’s ear with pickled chanterelle mushrooms – Morel mushrooms with oxtail and savel cheese cream – Portobello mushroom, pig’s trotters and anchovy hollandaise – Perretxicos with fried egg – Yellow trumpet in carbonara sauce – Tempura black trumpet mushrooms with Iberian pork jowl and egg yolk – Scrambled eggs with crystal prawns, spring onion and black truffle – Iberian castanet (salivary glands, also called molleja in some contexts. Each pig head yields only two small pieces, making it relatively rare and prized in Spanish gastronomy for its rich, delicate flavor that absorbs sauces well) with shiitake and tupinambo foyot sauce. It’s a sophisticated offal dish — similar in spirit to sweetbreads but with the distinctive Iberian pork character. – The dishes will be available à la carte, with some variations depending on the market. – Location: Promesa Restaurant, Hotel MS Maestranza (Av. Cánovas del Castillo, 1, Málaga) Reservations: 669 007 070 Web & map: https://restaurantepromesa.com/
RECALLS
Food alert due to the presence of Salmonella in a sausage sold in Spain: {Translation, summary} – The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has issued a food alert following a report from Andalusian health authorities regarding the presence of Salmonella in a sliced Catalan sausage. – Specifically, it concerns the product ‘Longaniza de payés selección’ from the Boadas 1880 brand. The alert affects the following batches: Lot 329, expiry date 30/03/2026 Batch 330, expiry date 31/03/2026 Lot 331, expiry date 31/03/2026 Lot 345, expiry date 11/04/2026 Lot 346, expiry date 11/04/2026 Lot 347, expiry date 11/04/2026 – The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has informed the relevant authorities in the autonomous communities so that the affected products can be removed from the market. Furthermore, anyone who has products affected by this alert at home is advised not to consume them . If you have already eaten these products and experience any symptoms consistent with salmonellosis, it is advisable to seek medical attention. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/salud/actualidad/alerta-alimentaria-presencia-salmonella-embutido-vendido-espana_6950641_0.html
RELIGION
‘Here I am’- Mullally enthroned as first female Archbishop of Canterbury: – Sarah Mullally was enthroned as the Church of England’s first female Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday, taking the helm as the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide in a historic ceremony blending tradition with global symbolism. The former nurse took her seat on the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine at Canterbury Cathedral before 2,000 guests, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Kate, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and religious leaders. – Delivering her first sermon as Archbishop, Mullally – wearing a golden mitre and led by an African choir of singing and dancing women for part of the service – prayed for “peace to prevail” in war-ravaged parts of the world, from the Middle East and Ukraine to Sudan and Myanmar. “As I begin my ministry today as Archbishop of Canterbury, I say again to God: ‘Here I am,’ she told the congregation. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/mullally-be-installed-first-female-archbishop-canterbury-2026-03-25/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Meta, YouTube found liable for woman’s debilitating social media addiction in $3M landmark trial: – A Los Angeles jury found Wednesday that Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube harmed a young user with features designed to hook kids — in a bombshell verdict that “shakes Big Tech’s predatory business model to its core.” – The high-profile case involved a 20-year-old woman, only known as K.G.M., who claimed she became dangerously obsessed with the apps at a young age because they were deliberately built to be addictive, using features like infinite scroll and autoplay. – The tech giants were found liable for $3 million in compensatory damages for the harm caused. The jury also awarded $3 million in punitive damages. Meta was ultimately found liable for $4.2 million in damages and Google was found liable for $1.8 million. – The judgment might be a small amount for two of the world’s most valuable companies; however, the bellwether verdict could now influence thousands of similar cases against the powerful tech companies — and their peers — brought by parents, states, and school districts. At least half of American teens use YouTube or Instagram daily, according to the Pew Research Center. – Snapchat and TikTok were also defendants in the first-of-its-kind trial, however, both settled with the plaintiff before it began. – The outcome is an “earthquake that shakes Big Tech’s predatory business model to its core,” according to Sacha Haworth, executive director of the online safety watchdog Tech Oversight Project. “This trial was proof that if you put CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg on the stand before a judge and jury of their peers, the tech industry’s wanton disregard for people will be on full display,” Haworth said in a statement. – The case was so unprecedented because it bypassed longstanding legal protections, known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, by targeting product design rather than content — making it a turning point for tech accountability. The landmark judgment is now expected to open the floodgates to more litigation against Big Tech. Full article: https://nypost.com/2026/03/25/us-news/jury-takes-on-instagram-and-youtube-in-social-media-showdown/
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
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Next Public Holidays: April 2026 2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday Thus, in April 2026, there is a long weekend break for Easter, DigameXtra will be closed: Thursday, 2 April thru Sunday, 5 April.
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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST) Start DST: Sunday, 29 March 2026 = 1 hour forward End DST: Sunday, 25 October 2026 = 1 hour backward
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WHAT’S ON
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Vélez-Málaga will celebrate World Theatre Day on Thursday, 26 March, with a cultural and theatrical parade: – The day will be divided into two distinct parts. During the first, the streets of Vélez will host a parade, which will proceed from the Casa de las Asociaciones building to the Teatro del Carmen (departing at 6:00 PM). This parade will feature the participation of most of the groups, associations, companies, and businesses that are involved, in one way or another, in theater, musical theater, theatrical tours, and the performing arts in general in Vélez and throughout the Axarquía region. – The next highlight of World Theatre Day will be a global performance at 8pm by participating groups at the Teatro del Carmen forum, featuring excerpts from their most iconic works.
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Semana Santa 2026- Competa: Programme, 27 March – 5 April
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Marbella hosts largest gastronomic gourmet burger event in Spain: March 25 to April 5 The meeting will bring together more than fifteen hamburger restaurants that travel the country on this tour, in addition to the local ones, which guarantees a wide variety of culinary proposals. The venue will be open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 00:30 a.m. on March 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31 and April 5; and until 01:00 a.m. on March 27 and 28 and April 1, 2, 3 and 4. Info: https://thechampionsburger.com/es/
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Ajobacalao Route in Vélez-Málaga Has Begun: Until Sun, 5 April In Lent, Vélez-Málaga lives one of its traditions, the Ajobacalao Route, which pays tribute to one of the most representative and traditional dishes of the gastronomy of Vélez-Málaga. Special attention will be given to the Ajobacalao (garlic cod) so famous for its flavour, thus focusing both on the promotion and on the gastronomic quality of the dish, respect for the tradition of the recipe and the experience offered by the participating establishments. Info: 952541104
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COMPARE FUNERALS
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For Sale: New, Powerful Business Laptop Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Gen 8, Model 15AMN8 Windows 11 Pro in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD, 1920×1080 (TN) Processor- AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 2.8 to 4.3 GHz, 8 core, 8 thread, Hyperthreading. RAM- 16Gb high-speed LPDDR5 (soldered) SSD- 512Gb Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, Stereo Speakers. Battery- 10 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 1.62Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. 3 year factory warranty when registered online. Fully setup, updated and ready to use. Software- Chrome, Edge, VLC Player, Libre Office, WhatsApp, PDF Reader. Will update to Windows 12, full version. €480 cash, buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
Blackout Update- Red Eléctrica blamed the “voltage spikes” that the operators warned about days before the blackout on the fact that there was “barely” any nuclear generated power in the mix: {Trans., summary} – Red Eléctrica blamed the “barely” existing nuclear power in the system for the constant and pronounced voltage variations that Iberdrola power station operators had warned about more than a week before the blackout on 28 April 2025. Operators called the system operator repeatedly, including on the day of the blackout, when they were told the oscillations were due to the rapid entry and exit of photovoltaic energy. “We are suffering voltage peaks that are forcing us to regulate at all substations,” an Iberdrola operator told Red Eléctrica on 16 April. The reply was: “It is because there is barely any nuclear in the system. It already happened yesterday afternoon and it is not something isolated.” – Senate investigators heard these and other audio recordings and transcripts this Monday in a closed session. The notes taken show that Red Eléctrica viewed the voltage swings as nothing new, sometimes blaming low nuclear output and at other times excessive renewable energy movements. Less than an hour before the blackout, at 11.47 on 28 April, the operator was told: “And this situation is not just today. We shall see this all summer.” – On the day itself, operators warned of significant voltage swings caused by spiking solar input. One said: “In case of this event they can trip the plants,” shortly before the chain disconnection of power stations began as protection against overvoltage. {“Trip the plants” means the power stations automatically shut down or switch off suddenly for their own protection.} Madrid Metro also reported multiple incidents in its electricity supply and emergency systems that same morning, warning that it was suffering “a lot of problems with the incoming power and backup systems.” – Red Eléctrica later bitterly complained that the released audios were “decontextualised” extracts of ‘confidential conversations’, supplied only for the judges to review, not for release to power companies or the public, and insisted that official reports from the CNMC and European operators had endorsed its actions. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/red-electrica-achaco-los-picos-tension-los-que-avisaron-los-operadores-dias-antes-apagon-que-apenas-habia-nuclear_6949721_0.html
In related news…
The audio recordings of the power cut that Red Eléctrica didn’t want people to hear…they knew days in advance of the growing crisis: {Trans., summary} – Red Eléctrica strongly opposed the release of the audio recordings, describing them as “decontextualised” extracts from spontaneous conversations taken out of context. Despite this, 17 audio recordings have now been heard by the Senate committee investigating the 28 April 2025 blackout. – The recordings reveal that twelve days earlier, on 16 April, an Iberdrola operator warned Red Eléctrica of dangerous voltage peaks forcing regulation at all substations. The system operator replied that the problem was due to the near absence of nuclear power in the system and that it was not an isolated incident. – Further calls on 26 April and on the day of the blackout itself showed repeated warnings about voltage oscillations linked to sudden surges of photovoltaic energy. Operators explicitly warned that the plants could “trip” (automatically disconnect) due to overvoltage, yet the situation escalated into a nationwide blackout. – The audios also captured Madrid Metro reporting multiple incidents in its supply and emergency systems hours before the total failure. The recordings demonstrate that Red Eléctrica technicians were fully aware of the growing crisis for days but failed to prevent it. Source, Spanish: https://www.elconciso.es/energia/audios-apagon-red-electrica_0_2006278807.html
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PSOE agrees to VAT relief for small autónomos to secure Junts votes on crisis decree: {Trans., summary} – This Thursday the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) will support a request from the Catalan party Junts in Parliament. Junts wants the government to follow an EU rule that lets self-employed people (autónomos) who earn less than 85,000 euros a year avoid paying VAT. Socialist leaders say they will not only back Junts but will actually put the EU rule into Spanish law. They plan to add it to a tax bill that is already being discussed. – Why does this matter? Junts promised to vote for the government’s emergency crisis law (which includes tax cuts because of the Iran war) only if the government agrees to this VAT change. Without Junts’ votes the crisis law might fail, because another party, Podemos, is abstaining. The EU rule does not force the government to remove VAT; it simply gives small businesses the choice to opt out if they want. The government is now trying to quickly include this rule in an existing bill so it can keep its promise to Junts and get the crisis law passed. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/gobierno-aplicara-directiva-para-eximir-iva-pequenos-autonomos-cambio-apoyo-junts-decreto-anticrisis_6950155_0.html
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Israel’s outrage at Sánchez– “He is an enemy of Western civilisation, a criminal; he will fall like Maduro”: {Trans., summary} – Amichai Chikli is one of the Likud ministers – Benjamin Netanyahu’s party – in the Israeli government. He is responsible for Diaspora Affairs and the Fight against Antisemitism and is also one of those who speaks most clearly about foreign leaders who position themselves against his country. Pedro Sánchez is, of course, one of the main targets of his statements. – It is not the first time Chikli has lashed out at the president of our country, but on Thursday he uttered what are probably his harshest words yet against him: “Sánchez decided to side with Maduro and with the ayatollahs before siding with Hamas or Hezbollah. I see him as an enemy of the State of Israel and of Western civilisation,” he said at an online meeting with international journalists organised by EIPA. – And that was not all: “He is a corrupt communist, a criminal, and he will fall just like Maduro and the ayatollahs,” he added, before immediately clarifying that, in any case, Israel has “very good friends” in Spain. In that regard he specifically mentioned both Vox and the PP, “but we expect nothing from Sánchez. He is a lunatic who has reached power, a joke,” he said, before concluding that Sánchez “is irrelevant to the State of Israel. We expect nothing from him.” – By contrast, Chikli wanted to separate his extremely harsh opinion of the Spanish Prime Minister from his view of the country as a whole: “We believe in the people of Spain, in the Spanish people. We do not see them aligned with Sánchez’s agenda and that extreme-left party…” – here he paused for a few seconds while trying to remember the name – “Podemos!” – Finally, he expressed hope that relations between Spain and Israel would improve: “I do not think they can be any worse than with Sánchez, and I believe that in the near future they will be much better.” Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/internacional/oriente-medio/2026-03-24/la-indignacion-de-israel-con-sanchez-es-un-enemigo-de-la-civilizacion-occidental-un-criminal-caera-como-maduro-7379496/
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The Council of State rejects the royal decree on digital worker time logs for violating data protection and exceeding the law: {Trans., summary} – The Council of State has rejected the draft royal decree through which the Ministry of Labour sought to reform the working hours register and move towards a mandatory digital system. The ruling concludes that the regulation does not comply with Spanish and European data protection legislation, and that it also exceeds the Government’s regulatory powers by imposing new obligations on companies that are not provided for in the law it purports to implement. Source, Spanish: https://www.elconciso.es/coyuntura/consejo-estado-rechaza-registro-horario_0_2006282700.html
ANDALUCÍA
Andalusia postpones to 2027 the law that toughens sanctions on tourist homes- it will have to start from scratch after the 17M elections: {Trans., summary} – The second term of Juanma Moreno was set to end this Thursday with the approval of the Sustainable Tourism Law, a new legal framework strengthening inspection and sanctions against illegal tourist dwellings, with fines potentially reaching 600,000 euros. However, the announcement of regional elections for 17 May means the law will not be passed in the Andalusian Parliament or enter into force this year. – A future new government, after the summer, will need to begin the entire legislative process again from scratch, including the submission of amendments in the regional Chamber.The final wording of the law will also depend on the outcome of the elections, as the PP faced outright rejection from all opposition parties during its passage, with left-wing groups even presenting amendments to the entirety. The Law on Science and the bills establishing professional colleges for pedagogues and private detectives are in the same position. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/andalucia/2026/03/24/andalucia-aplaza-2027-ley-sanciones-elecciones-endurece-128369187.html
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Andalusia recorded a 19.2% rise in mortgage approvals in January, marking five consecutive months of increases: {Trans., summary} – In January, the number of mortgages taken out on homes in Andalusia saw a significant increase of 19.2% compared with the same month the previous year, reaching a total of 8,871 transactions. This figure is well above the national average increase, which stood at 6.29%, and marks five consecutive months of growth in the region. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/andalucia-registra-enero-aumento-192-hipotecas-suma-cinco-meses-ascensos/202603241100153232972.html
In related news…
January saw a 15-year high in home loans, whilst the interest rate remains at 2.87%: {Trans., summary} – In January 2026, the number of mortgages taken out on residential properties rose by 6.3% compared with the same month in 2025, reaching a total of 40,273 loans. This figure represents the highest volume recorded in a January since 2011, according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE). – The year-on-year growth recorded in January, although more than 10 percentage points lower than the 17.4% increase observed in December 2025, consolidates a positive trend, marking 19 consecutive months of increases in residential mortgage lending. – With regard to financial conditions, the average interest rate applied to residential mortgage loans remained stable in January, standing at 2.87%, identical to the level recorded in December. This figure means that there have now been 12 consecutive months with rates below 3%, which makes mortgage credit more accessible. A detailed analysis shows that in February 2025 the average interest rate fell below 3% for the first time in almost two years, a figure that has remained unchanged to date. Furthermore, the average term of residential mortgage loans stood at 25 years at the start of 2026. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/espana/record-15-anos-hipotecas-vivienda-enero-mientras-interes-mantiene-287/202603240933073232907.html
NERJA
The works at the intersection of Antonio Ferrandis Chanquete and Puente Viejo streets in Nerja will be completed next Thursday: {Trans., summary} – The water supply network works currently underway in Nerja, at the intersection of Antonio Ferrandis Chanquete and Puente Viejo streets, will be completed tomorrow, Thursday, March 26. – The work has primarily involved the installation of a new cast iron pipe, approximately 120 meters long and 400mm in diameter, located north of Antonio Ferrandis Chanquete Street and the roundabout at the entrance to Nerja via the Old Bridge. Councilor Tomé emphasized that this project is part of the strategy to modernize the water infrastructure. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/las-obras-en-la-interseccion-de-las-calles-antonio-ferrandis-chanquete-y-puente-viejo-de-nerja-finalizaran-el-proximo-jueves/
ENERGY CRISIS
Sánchez is moving forward with the closure of the Cofrentes nuclear power plant, which will leave the Valencian Community with a 74% energy deficit: {Trans., summary} – Pedro Sánchez is pressing ahead with the transition to renewable energy, as he made clear in Parliament this week, and the Government is sticking to its roadmap for the closure of nuclear power stations, such as the one in the Valencian town of Cofrentes, which is due to be taken off the grid in 2030, according to the planned schedule. – The decision continues to cause deep unease amongst the Valencian Regional Government, employers’ organisations and a host of groups that require the grid stability that only the Cofrentes plant can currently guarantee in the Valencian region. The figures for the end of 2025 are clear, and the decommissioning of the Cofrentes nuclear plant would force the region to import 74% of the energy it consumes each year. {So, no energy-hog data centers or AI industry for Valencia. That will reflect poorly in economic forecasts. -Ed.} – The Valencian Community is the third autonomous region with the highest demand for electricity on the national stage, accounting for 10.9% of Spain’s total, and Cofrentes contributes 52% of Valencia’s energy production. This plant is key to the energy mix for Valencia, Alicante and Castellón, alongside the generation provided by renewables and natural gas. It provides stability to the system. This became abundantly clear during the storm in October 2024, as flooding and damage to various infrastructure left several areas of the province of Valencia without power, and Cofrentes’ contribution prevented an energy collapse in the region. Source, Spanish: https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/comunidad-valenciana/sanchez-avanza-en-el-cierre-de-cofrentes-que-dejara-a-la-comunidad-valenciana-con-deficit-energetico.html
SPACE
NASA makes official its plan to return to the Moon in 2028– 20,000 million dollars and the construction of a lunar base: {Trans., summary} – NASA has unveiled a major new plan to return astronauts to the Moon in 2028 and establish a permanent human presence there. The programme involves an investment of around 20 billion dollars and will unfold in several phases. The goal is to move beyond short visits and create an organised, long-term base where sustained activity can take place. It will not be carried out alone but in partnership with private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, along with international partners. – The first crewed landing is targeted for 2028, after the Artemis II orbital mission scheduled for April 2026, with crewed trips becoming more frequent thereafter. Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, in which four astronauts will fly around the Moon without landing, serving as an essential test flight and dress rehearsal before the first actual crewed landing on the lunar surface in Artemis III and subsequent missions. – A key element is the construction of a permanent lunar base within about seven years. This base will feature several habitable modules in later stages. NASA plans to use resources found on the Moon itself, such as water ice or regolith, to support operations and reduce reliance on supplies from Earth. From 2027, almost monthly robotic landings will deliver equipment, rovers and scientific payloads. These missions will test surface mobility, including MoonFall drones, while building scalable infrastructure for energy, communications and transport. The ultimate aim is to create a durable lunar base as a stepping stone towards future missions to Mars. NASA is temporarily pausing the Gateway orbital station to focus resources on surface infrastructure. – Artemis II (April 2026) — Crewed flight around the Moon (no landing). – Artemis III (mid-2027) — Now a test mission in low Earth orbit (no Moon landing). It will practise rendezvous and docking with commercial lunar landers and test spacesuits. – Artemis IV (early 2028) — Expected to be the first crewed Moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. – Artemis V (later in 2028) — Possible second landing in the same year. – After 2028, NASA aims for at least one crewed lunar landing per year under the Artemis programme to build toward a permanent lunar base. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/tecnologia/actualidad/nasa-hace-oficial-su-plan-para-regresar-luna-2028-20-000-millones-dolares-construccion-una-base-lunar_6950181_0.html
FINANCIAL
The Euribor is close to 3% on Tuesday after its biggest daily increase since the financial crisis and advances a rise in mortgages: {Trans., summary} – The war in Iran and fears of surging inflation that could force the European Central Bank to raise interest rates are driving the Euribor sharply higher. On Tuesday the main Spanish benchmark for variable-rate mortgages rose to 2.929 percent in a single day, its biggest daily jump since July 2008. The provisional March average has now reached 2.479 percent, above last year’s level, marking the first increase in variable mortgage payments in nearly two years. – For an average 150,000-euro mortgage over 25 years with a one-point margin, families facing an annual review would see monthly payments rise by about 6.5 euros, or 78 euros a year. – The surge is linked to rising tensions in the Middle East, including the selective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed Brent crude near 100 dollars a barrel and Dutch natural gas prices to around 54 euros per megawatt hour. Experts warn this could reignite inflation by raising transport and production costs. The effect is also hitting new mortgage offers, with banks increasing rates on fixed and mixed loans, making home buying more expensive and reducing households’ saving capacity. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/euribor-roza-este-martes-3-tras-su-mayor-aumento-diario-desde-crisis-financiera-avanza-una-subida-las-hipotecas_6950030_0.html
RELIGION
Catholics may receive organ transplants from animals, Vatican says: – The Vatican said on Tuesday that Catholics can receive transplants of animal tissues to address medical conditions, as procedures involving genetically modified pig or cow organs continue to advance. In an 88-page document providing ethical guidelines for such transplants, the Vatican reaffirmed an earlier teaching and said the Church has no objection to such treatments, provided they follow best medical practices and do not treat animals with cruelty. “Catholic theology does not have preclusions, on a religious or ritual basis, in using any animal as a source of organs, tissues or cells for transplantation to human beings,” the document said. The Vatican document, which was drafted with the help of doctors from Italy, the U.S. and the Netherlands, called on scientists to pursue animal transplants in a manner that is “purposeful, proportionate and sustainable”. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/catholics-may-receive-organ-transplants-animals-vatican-says-2026-03-24/
At His TED Talk, Bill Gates Explained That Vaccines, Healthcare & Reproductive Services Will Be Used To LOWERPopulation Numbers:Video Link
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ELON MUSK: “In the future, the robots will make so many robots, that they will actually saturate all human needs, meaning you won’t be able to even think of something to ask the robot for at a certain point, like there will be such an abundance of goods and services.”:Video Link
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
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The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
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Next Public Holidays: April 2026 2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday Thus, in April 2026, there is a long weekend break for Easter, DigameXtra will be closed: Thursday, 2 April thru Sunday, 5 April.
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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST) Start DST: Sunday, 29 March 2026 = 1 hour forward End DST: Sunday, 25 October 2026 = 1 hour backward
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SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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ARCHGROVE TRANSPORT SERVICES
Archgrove Services: A family run light haulage/transport company with bases in Archez, Spain and Cambridgeshire. We are part of the ADH Storage and Transportation company and as such have storage available in Competa and Puente Don Manuel. Very reasonable rates. We provide a one stop service for all your transport needs and pride ourselves on reliability, flexibility, good communication and a very much ‘can do’ approach. No job is too small and there is always a solution. Our services include: -Regular runs between UK and Spain -Transport of personal property from full house moves to small single items -Man & Van services -Packing, including supply of packing materials -UK Home shopping with UK delivery address -Storage of property and vehicles in Spain If we can be of service please contact Gail. We are on Facebook and always available to chat through your needs and provide a free no obligation quote if required. UK: 0044 7846672013 Spain: 0034 951 066 093 Email: archgroveservices@gmail.com ; FB Link Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.
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SPW CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
SPW Construction Services:Professional high quality building service, fully qualified tradesmen to all trades. Extensions, retaining walls, driveways, swimming pools, damp problems, roofs, blocked drains. Replacement kitchens and bathrooms, Tiling and terraces. Plumbing, electrics and plastering, painting. Architect service, building licence applications. Handyman service now available for those smaller jobs. Water Deposit Installations: Due to the ongoing drought and current water restrictions SPW Construction are currently offering the following service. – Supply and installation of new above or below ground water deposits. 1000 litres up to 25000 litres. Delivered and installed, all relevant plumbing. All work warrantied. – We can also advise you or help to organise water deliveries from local suppliers. Selling Your House? SPW Construction can offer you a bespoke package to prepare your house for sale. Through our extensive relationships with Agents, buyers and sellers we understand what is required to present your home to potential purchasers. Interior & Exterior decoration / Replacement bathrooms and Kitchens Pool Reforms / Garden tidy DAFO Compliance, septic tanks, solar installations, etc. Roof checks / Damp proofing For free consultation and estimate contact us on 622938440 or email: scottparkwilson AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk Scott/Arenas. Home Page and FB-Link Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.
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Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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For Sale: New, Budget Friendly Laptop, €420 cash. Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 (15IAN8) Windows 11 in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) TN 250nits Anti-glare Processor- Intel i3-N305, up to 3.8GHz, 8 core, 8 thread 8Gb RAM (soldered), 256Gb SSD Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, no ethernet (use a USB adapter) Slim & lightweight- 1.5Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. Battery- 8 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 3 year factory warranty when registered online. A good laptop for the average user: email, web-surfing, message/chat, streaming video, doc & photo editing. Not intended for advanced video editing or 8-way Zoom meetings. Buyer collects. Only 2 in stock. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
Socialists Resort To Dirty Tricks To Push Green Agenda- The government sneaks into the package for the war in Iran a trap for the PP- the closure of nuclear plants: {Trans., Summary} – The Royal Decree on economic aid for the war in Iran that will be debated and voted on next Thursday in Congress contains a trap for the Popular Party, as Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s party feared. Among the announced tax cuts are measures to promote the closure of nuclear power plants, which places the PP at a crossroads, as previously happened with the increase in pensions that included measures in favour of squatting. – The PP avoids confirming what the direction of its vote will be, but the text places them in a very difficult position: if they allow its approval, they will at the same time support a measure to which they are ideologically opposed, since they refuse to close nuclear power plants; if they overturn it, the Executive will be able to point the finger at the PP for not supporting initiatives that they themselves demanded. such as lowering VAT on fuels or energy for consumers. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/politica/2026-03-23/el-gobierno-cuela-en-el-paquete-por-la-guerra-de-iran-una-trampa-al-pp-el-cierre-de-las-nucleares-7378880/
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Unregistered Holiday Rental Ads Penalty For Airbnb Confirmed at €64mil: {Trans., summary} – The Madrid High Court of Justice rejected Airbnb’s request to suspend a 64-million-euro fine imposed in December 2025 by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for serious breaches involving unlicensed tourist listings. Irregularities affected 65,122 advertisements removed in July 2025, including missing or false registration numbers and misleading host information, breaching regional and consumer protection rules. The main penalty equals six times the illicit profit gained. Smaller fines totalled 75,000 euros for related offences. – Although an initial appeal delayed payment, the court now requires immediate settlement while Airbnb’s substantive appeal continues. The company insists it complies with Spanish and European law, views the sanction as unlawful, and reports cooperation with new short-term rental regulations since July. This ruling marks a procedural defeat for Airbnb in its ongoing legal battle against the fine. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/sociedad/airbnb-debera-abonar-multa-64-millones-negarle-justicia-medidas-cautelares/202603230946453232139.html
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Flat-sharing is no longer just for students: the room rental business is booming in Andalusia: {Trans, summary} – In Malaga, renting a single room has become a widespread necessity rather than a preference, driven by soaring housing costs and intense tourist pressure. At the end of 2025, the average room rental stood at 450 euros per month, exceeding the national average and ranking among Spain’s highest after only a few major cities. – The province hosts 48,412 tourist dwellings, over half of Andalusia’s total and 4.86 per cent of its housing stock, which inflates residential rents and reduces availability for long-term tenants. Idealista recorded 1,750 room advertisements province-wide and 1,136 in the capital, with the practice extending beyond central areas to the Costa del Sol and metropolitan zones. {Other similar growing symptoms of the housing crisis: capsule hotels, micro-flats, mini-homes and vehicular dwellers.Remember when a family could live fairly well on a single income– a home, a car or 2, and support a few children? Inflation statistics don’t tell the whole story of the great middleclass screw-job! -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/compartir-piso-no-cosa-estudiantes_0_2006267519.html
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Sanchez Reneges on Promise of a Budget– Moncloa is no longer setting a date for the Budget and is postponing it until the effects of the war become clear: {Trans., Summary} – The government is going to take “a few weeks” to see how the war in Iran unfolds before getting down to work on the budget. Pedro Sánchez’s administration has been assuming for almost a week now that they will once again fail to meet their own deadline – set for the first quarter, which expires next Wednesday – but their line of argument changes from day to day. This time, the justification for not presenting public accounts for which they have no parliamentary support is that they must adapt to the consequences of the conflict, although last week the argument for postponing them again was that they were “focused” on the anti-crisis decree and that this was the “urgent” matter. – But the decree was approved last Friday and does not require much further negotiation on the Government’s part, as the support needed for its ratification this Thursday is practically assured. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister put forward a new argument to justify the delay that very same Friday, following the extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting. “I believe it is important for the government to incorporate this dynamic, this situation [the effects of the war in Iran], into the public accounts,” he said at the press conference following the extraordinary Cabinet meeting. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/moncloa-ya-no-pone-fecha-los-presupuestos-los-retrasa-hasta-ver-los-efectos-guerra_6949453_0.html
ANDALUCÍA
Moreno calls for regional elections in Andalusia on May 17th: {Translation, summary} – The president of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, appeared on Monday night to announce the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of regional elections, which will finally be held next Sunday, May 17. In these elections, the Popular Party leader will try to retain the absolute majority with which he governs, in a context where the PP has won the last three regional elections (Extremadura, Aragon and Castile and León), but where they need the support of Vox to govern. – For now, Moreno enters this election with the polls in his favour, although his absolute majority, at 55 seats, hangs by a thread. Meanwhile, the PSOE continues to lose its electoral base, according to the surveys, while Vox is growing and could even become the second largest party. – The small left-wing parties participating will include Por Andalucía, Adelante, and Podemos. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/moreno-convoca-las-elecciones-autonomicas-andalucia-para-17-mayo_6949755_0.html
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A CEU report estimates that almost 400,000 Muslims reside in Andalusia, with Almeria at the head: {Trans., Summary} – The Demographic Observatory of CEU Cefas has published the report Demography of Islam in Spain, an analysis that examines the evolution of the Muslim population resident in the country, its territorial distribution and its growing weight in the new generations. The study draws an X-ray “relevant to Andalusia, one of the communities with the highest presence of Muslim population in absolute terms”. – According to the report, the Muslim population resident in Spain stood at between 2.4 and 2.5 million people at the beginning of 2025, around 5% of the national total. Of these, about 400,000 reside in Andalusia, which makes the community one of the main settlement poles along with Catalonia and the Valencian Community. This phenomenon responds both to first-generation immigration and to the growth of the second generations already born in Spain, as CEU states in a press release. – One of the most significant indicators is the weight of this population in the birth rate. Nationally, 11% of babies born in 2024 had at least one Muslim parent, a proportion higher than their demographic weight. In Andalusia, this phenomenon intensifies in certain provinces: in Almeria, the percentage rises to 28%, placing it among the highest in Spain and showing a strong presence in the youngest groups. It is followed, among the Andalusian provinces, by Huelva (13% of births with a Muslim father and/or mother), Malaga and Granada (9%), and Jaén (6%). – The report also underlines the high territorial concentration within the community itself. In provinces such as Almeria, foreign-born Muslims account for approximately 24% of men aged between 20 and 44. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-informe-ceu-cifra-casi-400000-musulmanes-residen-andalucia-almeria-cabeza-20260323122852.html
MALAGA PROVINCE
The DGT makes it clear- this turns your motorhome into “illegal camping” in Malaga: {Trans., Summary} – The regulations establish that a properly parked motorhome is one that occupies a single space without deploying exterior elements. That is, as long as the vehicle is closed, fits into a marked space if there are pavement markings, and does not protrude from its own containment, it is considered parked like any other vehicle. – However, when elements such as awnings, tables, chairs are placed or folding windows are opened that exceed the perimeter of the vehicle, the situation changes and it is considered camping. Sliding windows and doors avoid this issue. This nuance is relevant because camping may be limited or prohibited in certain areas. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/dgt-deja-claro-convierte-autocaravana-acampada-ilegal-malaga_0_2006237352.html
CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO
Canillas de Aceituno bans the consumption of tap water following the detection of unsafe levels: {Trans., summary} – Canillas de Aceituno Town Council has issued a public notice informing residents of an immediate ban on the consumption of water from the mains supply in the town centre, following the discovery that it does not meet the required drinking water standards for human consumption. According to the official statement, the latest analyses have revealed that the water is not suitable for drinking, cooking or any food-related use. Consequently, its use is restricted exclusively to personal hygiene and domestic cleaning until further notice. – To ensure the supply of drinking water, Canillas de Aceituno Town Council has announced that free bottled water will be made available to all residents to meet domestic needs whilst the issue is resolved. Collection available at the Cooperative’s premises, located in Plaza de la Constitución, between 4 pm and 10 pm. – The Council is also appealing to the public to act responsibly, urging them to follow the instructions of the health and municipal authorities at all times, as well as to use water responsibly. – Finally, it has been clarified that this measure does not affect the supply areas of Río Bermuza, Los Gómez, Portugalejo or the scattered settlement of Loma de Alcaucín. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/canillas-de-aceituno-prohibe-el-consumo-de-agua-potable-tras-detectarse-niveles-no-aptos/
COSTA TROPICAL
A fifth body found on the coast of Grenada in a week: {Trans.} – The body of a man was found on Saturday afternoon in the waters off the coast of Gualchos-Castell de Ferro, following the recovery of four other bodies from this stretch of the Granada coastline over the past week. The recovery of this latest body took place at around 8.00 pm by the Civil Guard’s Maritime Service after receiving a report that a person was floating in the water, according to sources from the Civil Guard speaking to Europa Press. The victim was found in an advanced state of decomposition, so the post-mortem examination will be crucial in determining the cause of death and attempting to identify the man, about whom no further details have been released. – This brings the total to five bodies found along this stretch of the Granada coastline in the last week; the first three were discovered in the early hours of 15 March in circumstances that “were possibly linked to the arrival of a boat at Cambriles beach”, as the Government’s sub-delegate, José Antonio Montilla, stated at the time. – Last Friday, another body was recovered, also in an advanced state of decomposition, on Cambriles beach in Lújar, where it was found by a local resident passing through the area. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-hallado-quinto-cadaver-costa-granada-semana-20260323110222.html
MIDDLE EAST
Trump talks to Tehran, postpones attacks on Iranian power plants for five days: {Trans., Summary} – US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he had directed the Department of War to suspend for five days all aerial strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities. The decision, shared via Truth Social, depends on the progress of what he termed “deep, detailed and constructive” talks between Washington and Tehran, aimed at fully resolving Middle East hostilities. He described recent discussions as highly productive and said they would continue through the week. – Trump had previously issued Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Iran, through its Fars news agency, swiftly denied any direct or indirect contact, claiming Trump backed down upon learning of potential Iranian retaliation against power stations in the region. Tehran had earlier warned of irreversible destruction of essential Middle Eastern infrastructure if attacked. Markets reacted sharply: oil prices dropped 10 per cent below 100 dollars, while European stock indices and government bonds rallied. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/internacional/trump-habla-teheran-pospone-ataques-centrales-electricas-iranies-cinco-dias_2026032369c121e421b3495156c64e16.html
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Iran praises Sánchez- places his photo on missiles destined for “occupied territories”: {Trans., Summary} – According to communication agencies close to the dictatorial regime of the ayatollahs, Iran has placed a snapshot of Pedro Sanchez, the leader of Spain’s Socialists, on the missiles that will be sent to the “occupied territories”. In the message shared on social networks, the state news agency Tasnim, together with the publication of the photograph of the leader of the Socialists, the agency has issued a message in Persian of threat. “Inscriptions on missiles that will soon be launched towards the occupied territories,” would be the translation into Spanish. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/espana/iran-alaba-sanchez-coloca-foto-misiles-destinados-territorios-ocupados_2026032369c12cf321b3495156c65cfc.html
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Iran threatens to mine the entire Persian Gulf if the US or Israel attack its coasts or islands in the south: {Trans., Summary} – Iran’s authorities warned on Monday that an attack on the southern coast and the islands in front of it as part of the offensive launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States will lead the country to mine all routes in the Persian Gulf, before stressing that “the responsibility for this will lie with the attacking party”. – Iran’s Defence Council has stressed that “any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will lead, in line with normal military practice, to the mining of all access routes and lines of communication in the Persian Gulf,” before stressing that this would be carried out “with various types of naval mines, including floating mines that can be launched from shore.” – “In that case, the entire Persian Gulf would be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz, for a long period of time,” he said. “During this period, the Persian Gulf would be effectively blocked, next to the Strait of Hormuz, and the responsibility for this will lie with the attacking party,” he said. he said. In this regard, he stressed that “the failure of a hundred deminers in the eighties to remove a few sea mines should not be forgotten”, in reference to the situation during the war between Iraq and Iran between 1980 and 1988, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. – The agency, which has noted that “the only way for non-belligerent countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is coordination with Iran”, has published the statement in response to information published by the Axios news portal about possible US plans to attack or blockade the island of Jarg – bombed last week – to try to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-iran-amenaza-minar-golfo-persico-si-eeuu-israel-atacan-costas-islas-sur-20260323102709.html
FINANCIAL
Markets in shock! Gold and silver suffer their worst run in a decade due to the rise of the dollar and the war in Iran: {Trans., Summary} – The precious metals market continues to register sharp declines. Gold plummeted 6% in a context marked by the strength of the dollar and the war in the Middle East. Although the price of gold was at an all-time high at the beginning of the year – exceeding $5,500 per ounce – in just a few weeks it has lost 25% of its value, falling to the range of $4,200 to $4,300. Likewise, the conflict is also generating high volatility in international markets, which has caused silver to fall by 9%, to 61.66 dollars per ounce in its fifth consecutive day in negative. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/economia/mercados-shock-oro-plata-sufren-peor-racha-decada-auge-dolar-guerra-iran_2026032369c10ba921b3495156c6333b.html
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
ATTENTION! New EU internet privacy laws are now in effect, known as the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). I have to inform you that the DigameXtra archive saves follower’s email addresses in the WordPress server. By subscribing/following you implicitly accept this; if you make submissions you acknowledge that anyone can view old issues online and see your contact info as you provided and you accept this. If you don’t want me saving your email address do not subscribe/follow, you can unsubscribe and remove yourself from this list using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every subscription issue. Takedown notices must include proof of ownership as well as the date and issue number of the DigameXtra issue containing the infringing content. These may be submitted to digamextra@protonmail.com. Proper takedown notices will be complied with immediately. All images have been credited or copied from what I believe to be copyright free sources.
The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Header photo: Cora Unk
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Next Public Holidays: April 2026 2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday Thus, in April 2026, there is a long weekend break for Easter, DigameXtra will be closed: Thursday, 2 April thru Sunday, 5 April.
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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST) Start DST: Sunday, 29 March 2026 = 1 hour forward End DST: Sunday, 25 October 2026 = 1 hour backward
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MILESTONE – TODAY IS NAYTHAN’S 2300th ISSUE AS EDITOR OF DIGAMEXTRA
April 10th will be Naythan’s 8th anniversary as Editor, and 14th anniversary as Digame/DigameXtra webmaster.
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WHAT’S ON
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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PHOENIX CLUB
Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English. We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips. Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross. We would be happy to accept any greeting cards you may have to re-cycle into fantastic cards. We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo. *Trips/Events* ~All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity~ March – 27th – Trip to IKEA/Plaza Mayor & Guzmans Garden Centre €20pp. If you prefer to stay at IKEA or Plaza Mayor we will pick you up on the way home April – 7th – Easter trip to Gibraltar, €20pp May – 15th – Trip to the Baelo Claudia Roman Ruins with lunch in Tarifa. Price €35 pp excludes lunch June – 2nd – Trip to Gib €22pp – 10th – Trip to Estepona on Market day and a visit to the Orchid House. Price €25. Entry to the Orchid House is 3€ pp not included July – 3rd – Visit to the Victoria Brewery AM, Car Museum PM. Lunch in the port area of Malaga not included in the price. Price 32€pp includes entry to both Museums For information call Gail on 951067723/626370695 (Whatsapp) email phoenixsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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Guided Wisteria Tours: Jardin Botanico Historico La Concepcion – These gardens in Malaga are situated about 8km north of the city centre. – One of the highlights during the spring in Malaga is the wisteria pergola at the Botanical Gardens. The wrought-iron pergola literally groans with scented purple blooms for around 3 weeks between mid-March and mid-April. – This year, the Botanics have organised guided tours that include the wisteria. They take place on Saturday 28 March at 10am and cost €8.05 per person. In addition, there’s an evening tour to enjoy the wisteria’s nocturnal scent on Sunday 29 March at 8pm. – The tours are in Spanish, but if there are enough people, you can join a tour in English – let the gardens know you’re interested in this when you book. – There are also family guided tours that include the wisteria. Join this on Sunday 29 March for €9 adults and €6.90 children. – If you want to guarantee the tour in English, there must be at least 3 people in your group. The English tour will take place on Saturday 28 March (to be confirmed) and cost €18.95 pp for 3-4 people, €11.30 pp for 5-9 people or €9.10 pp for 10-14 people. Reduced rates are available for retirees. – To book a place, call 951926180 or 639914055 or send an email to infojbotanicomalaga@gmail.com – Info in English: https://laconcepcion.malaga.eu/en/index.html
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XIX Benalmádena Collector Plant Fair 2026: April 3, 4, and 5, 2026. Hours on poster. Free. Parque de la Paloma (Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena). One of Andalusia’s most anticipated botanical events is back. The Parque de la Paloma in Benalmádena will host the nineteenth edition of its renowned Collector Plant Fair. This is an essential meeting point for enthusiasts, experts, and families who wish to discover unique plant species from around the world. Info: https://www.benalmadena.es/plantasdecoleccion/ & Video Link
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Cirque du Soleil returns to Málaga- “Kurios, where imagination knows no bounds” (Kurios’, donde la imaginación no tiene límites): – From 4 June to 5 July with a show where anything is possible and curiosity and imagination lead the way. The venue is the Cortijo de Torres Exhibition Centre. Info & tix (€49 to €69): https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kurios/buy-tickets?country=spain&city=malaga & Video Link
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Lux Mundi Ecumenical Centre, Torre del Mar Hours: Wednesday & Friday 10.00 – 13.00 Info tel. 952 543 334 Website: www.lux-mundi.org *April events* The Centre will be closed for Easter 1st, 2nd and 3rd April, except for religious services. – Monday – Monday Club. Please contact the Centre. 11.30. – Wednesday– Art group, with the crochet & craft group 10.00 – 13.00. – Shop Wednesdays and Fridays 10.00 – 13.00. – Thursday – NA English 19.00 to 20.30. – Friday – Conversation group 10.00 – 11.00. – Friday – Coffee Morning 10.00- 13.00. – Monday 13th April – Monthly Lunch. 1.30 for 14.00. -Tuesday 7th & 21th April Axarquia Business Networking group 07.30 to 09.00 also on 14th April 18:00. – Friday 24th April – Taizé Prayer for Unity at St Andrés Church Torre del Mar. Time 19.00 after the Mass.
NOTICE! Submissions for posting in sections below must be signed like this or they will be returned !!! Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town **********
SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra. Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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REDWELL INFRARED HEATING SYSTEMS
Redwell Infrared Heaters for Inside Manufacturer warranty 10 years ONLY products from Germany and Austria Product Range: – Wall and ceiling infrared heaters Mirror, Pictures, Glass, white & color – Mobile Heaters, free standing on wheels – Under table Heaters – Analog & Digital Controlling Systems, Thermostats Systems – LED Light Frames, 2 year warranty For 20 years we have supported clients in Spain with the highest quality Infrared Heating Systems available on the market. Request information without any obligation. Location: Axarquia Service-Center, Postbox 028 Dipl.-Ing. Svend Scharler 29793 Torrox Park, Malaga E-mail: sscharler@gmx.de Web: https://redwell.com/ Office: 952539742 ; Mobil: 606423869. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
Pipewave
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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS & BATHROOMS
Hanningtons Kitchens and Bathrooms:We have been installing kitchens and bathrooms here on the Costa for 13 years. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, highest standards of work and customer service. Whether you are thinking of updating an existing kitchen or bathroom, or whether you wish to create the kitchen or bathroom you have always dreamed of, we are here for you, every step of the way. With an unrivalled knowledge of the best local materials and suppliers we are able to work to all tastes and budgets. Our full range of services includes: – Installations and Refurbs – Wall & Floor tiling – Full range of Plumbing work including radiators and underfloor heating – Solar Installation – Design & planning ideas to get the look you are after – Electrical works – Alter / Install walls, dropped ceilings and hang doors – Plastering, woodwork and floor levelling Visit our FB page on the link below to be inspired https://www.facebook.com/hanningtons.kitchens.and.bathrooms/ Call us : 669 665 156 Email us: hanningtons.bathrooms@gmail.com ; Our contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue.
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MANDY’S PAINTBOX
Mandy’s Paintbox: Painter for 34 years in Nerja area. NEW JOB PHOTOS. Painting work undertaken. Inside and outside, large or small. Furniture painted or sprayed. Kitchens, cabinets, wardrobes doors any colour any surface. Check out the before and after photos, all the furniture was spray painted. Call for advice. WhatsApp 680739577 Email: josiahamanda@gmail.com My contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue. Here are “before” (left) and “after” (right) pics from my latest job.
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate – Your Property Experts in Southern Spain: Why stay local when you can go…to Texas! BluCee Real Estate International buyers, local expertise. We’re excited to announce that on 28th-29th March 2026, we’ll be in Texas, introducing local properties to a brand-new audience of American buyers. Local homes. Global marketing. Thinking of selling? Let’s talk. Contact us before 20th March 2026 and we’ll saddle up and promote your property in Texas. A free, honest property valuation. No pressure, just professional advice. Email: info@blucee.com Web: www.blucee.com WhatsApp: +34 711 04 27 27 Office: +34 951 55 38 90 Visit us: Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29738, Málaga BluCee Real Estate – Helping You Sell with Confidence Proud sponsors of DigameXtra – our contact details can be seen everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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AXARQUIA SILVER & GOLD TRADE
Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade– Unique Handcrafted Coin Rings & Much More: ***Services Offered*** – Buying all kind of Silver and Gold: Silver coins and Gold coins, bullions and bars. Jewellery and cutlery (no collector prices!). – Selling handcrafted Coin Rings and Jewellery: Handcrafted rings, made from silver or gold. There are many options possible– I will handcraft your individual silver or gold ring. Choose, for example: a coin from your year of birth; a custom present for a friend; choose a JFK ½ Dollar coin; or a $1 Dollar coin from 1921 is available. I have silver from Spain; 100 Pesetas coins from 1966 for something special; and many more. You can get it shiny or black or a mix. I look forward to creating something very special for you. You want big sizes for men? No problem! – General Metals Markets Information: I am trading now more than 10 years in physical silver and gold. If you are interested, make an appointment. – Make an appointment by mail or phone. Mail: sscharler@gmx.de Call Svend Scharler: +34-606423869 I have my office and meeting point at the Axarquia Service Centre, local 101, 29793 Torrox Park. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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For Sale: New, Powerful Business Laptop Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Gen 8, Model 15AMN8 Windows 11 Pro in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD, 1920×1080 (TN) Processor- AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 2.8 to 4.3 GHz, 8 core, 8 thread, Hyperthreading. RAM- 16Gb high-speed LPDDR5 (soldered) SSD- 512Gb Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, Stereo Speakers. Battery- 10 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 1.62Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. 3 year factory warranty when registered online. Fully setup, updated and ready to use. Software- Chrome, Edge, VLC Player, Libre Office, WhatsApp, PDF Reader. Will update to Windows 12, full version. €480 cash, buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
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For Sale, 2 items: – Ikea two seat grey sofa 50€. – Three seat flowery sofa 60€ Both in good condition. Buyer collects Contact Madeleine, Arenas tel/ whatsapp: +34 699757798
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For Sale: Paperback books Large number of paperbacks all in very good condition to sell. Many authors Ian Rankin, Victoria Hislop, Michael Connolly & Santa Montefiore to name a few . €10 for 5 books, offers considered for bulk purchases. Ian, Torrox Park, Tel. 605361279
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For Sale: 2 Used Turntables Bang & Olufsen record players €50 each BEOGRAM 7000 and BEOGRAM 2200 Ann, Caleta annsobyjensen@gmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
News Note: Interesting how there is little news about Palestine or Ukraine anymore…it’s all about Iran & Lebanon at the moment. -Ed.
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SPAIN
Rent Increase Caps Return For Another 2 Years Unless Congress Nullifies Them Next Month: {Translation, summary} – The Sanchez administration has approved a second Royal Decree in response to the war in the Middle East, introducing a two-year freeze on rents as demanded by its junior coalition partner Sumar. – However, under Spanish law (Artículo 86 of the Constitución Española and Ley 39/2015), Royal Decree-Laws must be submitted to Congress for ratification within 30 days of their publication. If Congress does not validate it (by a simple majority vote), the decree-lose loses its validity retroactively, and its effects cease. The Government separated this housing measure into a second, standalone decree precisely to isolate it from the broader fiscal package, reducing the risk of the entire anti-crisis plan being rejected en bloc. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/gobierno-aprobara-limitar-precio-los-alquileres-un-decreto-separado-resto-medidas-guerra_6948616_0.html
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The government will cut VAT on petrol and electricity to 10% and reinstate part of the social safety net: {Translation, summary} – The government has approved a reduction in the VAT on fuels, from the current 21% to 10%. This measure, which will provide relief at the pump, is also accompanied by a reduction of the hydrocarbon tax to the legal minimum. – The package of measures also includes a significant 60% tax cut on electricity bills, mirroring the formula implemented after the invasion of Ukraine. The government has decided to reduce the VAT on electricity bills from 21% to 10%, cut the special electricity tax from 5% to 0.5% (the legal minimum), and suspend the production tax paid by electricity generating companies. Along the same lines, the government has also approved a freeze on the maximum price of butane and propane gas and reduced the VAT on natural gas, pellets, and firewood from 21% to 10%. – Beyond fiscal matters, the government plans to reinstate some of the social safety net measures that lapsed after failing to secure parliamentary approval at the end of last month. Specifically, the ban on cutting off basic utilities to vulnerable individuals will be reinstated, and the social electricity voucher, which provides discounts on electricity bills for low-income consumers, will be expanded. – Furthermore, the government has approved a Royal Decree agreeing to freeze rent prices for the next two years. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/gobierno-bajara-impuestos-las-gasolinas-factura-luz-recupera-parte-escudo-social_6948451_0.html
ANDALUCÍA
The regional government describes the central government as the “Government of delays” and points out that Malaga has been “abandoned”: {Trans., summary} – Carolina España {pic}, the Regional Minister for the Economy and spokesperson for the Regional Government of Andalusia, described the Spanish Government on Sunday in Málaga as the “Government of Delays”, referring to the General State Budget (PGE) and the problems with the rail network that are particularly affecting the province of Málaga, whilst expressing the view that she feels Málaga ‘has, to a large degree, been abandoned’. – The minister stated that the people of Málaga are set to experience an ‘unusual’ Holy Week, during which shops ‘will see a drop in sales’ and ‘will not be hiring staff’, whilst the hospitality sector ‘will suffer’ because ‘the Sánchez-Montero-Puente government has let Málaga down’ during this key period. She specified that this ‘rail chaos’ in ‘Andalusia and the rest of Spain’ is not limited to the high-speed network, but also affects local commuter services, such as the ‘numerous delays’ recorded in Seville ‘due to speed restrictions’ and the rail limitations between the cities of Córdoba and Málaga. For these reasons, the minister has called on the government to ‘acknowledge its mistakes’ and to “apologise” in relation to the AVE case in Málaga. She has also urged them to ‘pull together’ and implement measures ‘to compensate for the losses and damage caused’ with ‘speed’. She suggested that the central government should “reflect” on the matter, as she believes that “we are paying more taxes than ever and have the worst services”. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/malaga-00356/noticia-junta-define-ejecutivo-gobierno-retrasos-apunta-malaga-sido-abandonada-20260322135318.html
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Andalusian government assures that Andalusians will have water “without any restrictions” given the stability of the river basins: {Translation, summary} – The Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco {pic}, highlighted on Saturday that all of Andalusia’s river basins are in a normal state, as part of the celebrations for World Water Day, and therefore assured that all Andalusians will be able to access water “without any restrictions whatsoever”. Nevertheless, the Minister warned that this situation “must not lead to any complacency” regarding the responsible use of water. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/esandalucia/almeria/noticia-junta-asegura-andaluces-tendran-agua-ninguna-restriccion-estabilidad-cuencas-hidrologicas-20260322153534.html
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Andalusia capitals work to eliminate burka: {Trans., summary} – The debate has spilled into the plenary halls of local councils on an issue that neither the central nor the regional government seems willing to address. Two Andalusian capitals, Granada and Córdoba, have banned the burka or niqab in municipal buildings. Seville has joined this measure, which, although supported by a majority of the council (PP and Vox), remains uncertain given doubts about its legal framework. Municipalities in Almería, such as Níjar, have also taken similar steps, while El Ejido and Roquetas de Mar have followed Seville’s lead, requesting that the central government regulate the issue. However, it was the town of Coín in Málaga that first took this action 16 years ago . – The head of Social Inclusion for the Andalusian Regional Government, Loles López, stated a few days ago that “I can’t understand how, hiding behind religious freedom, anyone can say yes to the burka. Gender violence and the burka represent the subjugation of women, and in Spain, we must work every day for women’s freedom and equality.” The People’s Party (PP) is seeking a national Organic Law to ban both garments. It wants to follow the example set in France and continued in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/andalucia-quita-burka_0_2006252895.html
VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA
Vélez-Málaga will become part of the Metropolitan Transport Consortium from May 1st: {Trans., summary} – The municipality of Vélez-Málaga will become a full member of the Málaga Metropolitan Area Transport Consortium (CTMAM) on May 1st. Thanks to this integration into the Consortium, it is expected that a total of 33,000 people in Vélez-Málaga will benefit from the green transport card . – The integration of the municipality of Vélez-Málaga into the Consortium will significantly reduce the fares paid by travelers for their journeys, with the savings being greater for groups that have additional discounts, such as travelers who are part of large families, those under 30 years of age and those under 15 years of age, adding the bonuses of the Junta de Andalucía with the aid of the State. – Thus, taking into account the current discounts, the fare for a trip from Vélez-Málaga to Málaga will drop from €3.96 to €0.95, allowing the average user to save more than €1,500 per year. Meanwhile, a trip to Rincón de la Victoria will see its fare decrease from €2.37 to €0.71, resulting in annual savings of over €850. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/velez-malaga-pasara-a-formar-parte-del-consorcio-de-transporte-metropolitano-a-partir-del-1-de-mayo/
EUROPE
Rutte defends the US’s ‘crucial’ offensive against Iran because Trump ‘is making the world a safer place’: {Trans., summary} – NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte defended on Sunday the “crucial” operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, despite the doubts it has raised even among the American public, arguing that it is making the world a “safer” place against the “existential threat” posed, in his view, by Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. “I know there is a lot of debate in the US and Europe about whether the President’s campaign against Iran was necessary, and let me tell you that it is: it is crucial that the President and the US do this to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, because they pose a threat,” he said in an interview with Fox News. – Rutte did not address Trump’s criticism of the Atlantic Alliance, whose member states the US president described this week as “cowards” for refusing to support a naval mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and he defended the ‘element of surprise’ employed by the US and Israel in attacking Iran in the midst of nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-rutte-defiende-crucial-ofensiva-eeuu-contra-iran-porque-trump-haciendo-mundo-mas-seguro-20260322171406.html
MIDDLE EAST
Trump threatens to attack Iran’s power plants if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours: {Translation, summary} – US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday via Truth Social, threatening to destroy the country’s power stations, beginning with the largest, unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully opened without threats. This follows recent US strikes that weakened Iran’s ability to disrupt navigation in the strait, including an attack on an underground arsenal storing anti-ship missiles. – The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of global crude exports pass, has seen sharply reduced traffic due to Iranian Revolutionary Guard actions targeting vessels benefiting the US and Israel, causing oil prices to surge. Trump called on NATO allies and Asian partners like Japan and South Korea to provide military support, though none has yet agreed. Iran responded through its Armed Forces spokesman, warning of retaliatory strikes on US energy infrastructure, desalination plants, and IT facilities linked to the US and Israel if its power stations are hit. The ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, triggered by the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, nears its one-month mark with no clear end in sight. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/internacional/trump-amenaza-atacar-centrales-electricas-iran-abre-estrecho-ormuz-48-horas_2026032269bfc9bee89622081d471472.html
In response…
Iran threatens to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and punish the region after Trump’s ultimatum: {Translation, summary} – Iran has threatened to “completely” close this strategic waterway and destroy US economic interests in the region, after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz to traffic, warning that otherwise he could order attacks on Iranian power plants. – Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Joint Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, warned that if Washington follows through on its threat, they will adopt a series of immediate “punitive measures ,” including the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attacks on energy and information technology infrastructure in Israel, companies in the region with US participation, and power plants in countries hosting US military bases. “Everything is prepared for a major jihad with the objective of completely destroying all US economic interests in the region,” he declared. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/guerra-iran-directo-ultima-hora-israel-trump-eeuu-nuclear-ormuz_6949068_6.html
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Israel orders IDF to ‘immediately destroy’ all Litani River bridges to curb Hezbollah terrorists: – Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, after an assessment of the situation in Lebanon with top-ranking Israel Défense Forces staff on Sunday, said he and the prime minister have ordered the IDF to “immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani river” to prevent the movement of Hezbollah terrorists and weapons to the south. On March 18, the IDF destroyed two bridges over the Litani after destroying one on March 13, reportedly the first targeting of Lebanese state-owned infrastructure since the start of hostilities. – Katz also ordered the IDF to speed up the destruction of homes in southern Lebanese villages to eliminate terrorist infrastructure, following a similar model used by the Israeli army in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. Full article: https://nypost.com/2026/03/22/world-news/israel-orders-idf-to-immediately-destroy-all-litani-river-bridges-to-curb-hezbollah-terrorists/
SPORTS
Tennis News- Sebastian Korda stuns Carlos Alcaraz in Miami: – World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz experienced another early loss at the Miami Masters. The Spaniard fell to Sebastian Korda {pic} 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes in the third round. Full article: https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/…
HEALTH
News Note: Sorry, this Agenda 2030 foolishness is one of my pet peeves, thus the long article and explainer comment.
~Forcing Agenda 2030 On The Public By Not Mentioning Available Alternatives! You do have other options if you insist!~
SAS will exchange text messages for Whatsapp notifications– a private company and a notoriously insecure service the gov’t CANNOT REQUIRE you to use!: {Trans., summary, explainer} – The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) is replacing traditional SMS with WhatsApp as the main channel for communicating with citizens. Text messages previously used to arrange appointments and send health alerts will now be delivered via WhatsApp. This change, announced by Health Councillor Antonio Sanz, forms part of the SAS digital transformation process and represents one of its most visible updates. The Junta is choosing WhatsApp because it offers a more direct, immediate, and modern method of communication that better matches current user habits. The new system will progressively replace SMS in all interactions with health service users, enabling faster and more user-friendly delivery of appointment reminders, health notifications, and other essential messages.This initiative sits within the Andalusian Government’s wider strategy of digital transformation and administrative simplification. The councillor emphasised that technology serves as a tool to make healthcare more accessible and efficient, rather than an end in itself. WhatsApp communications are one-way from the SAS to patients and do not include interactive features such as virtual waiting rooms or other advanced functionalities mentioned in the broader plan. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/sas-dara-salto-whatsapp_0_2006239975.html – {The decision by the Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS) to replace traditional SMS with WhatsApp for sending appointment reminders and health alerts raises serious concerns about patient autonomy, privacy, and security. The government cannot force any citizen to use WhatsApp, a private app owned by Meta, as acceptance must remain voluntary according to national data laws; many older people, those without smartphones, or individuals wary of big tech may prefer or require alternative channels like plain SMS or email to avoid exclusion from essential public health communications. WhatsApp, despite end-to-end encryption claims for messages, remains inherently insecure for sensitive medical notifications: it is vulnerable to account hijacking, phishing scams (as repeatedly warned about by the SAS itself in recent fraud alerts), metadata collection by Meta, and potential future policy changes that could compromise user data. Relying on a commercial platform controlled by a foreign corporation for official government healthcare interactions risks creating dependencies, amplifying privacy breaches under the GDPR, and exposing vulnerable patients to heightened fraud attempts in an environment already plagued by impersonation scams mimicking the SAS. This move prioritises convenience and cost savings over robust, impartial, and truly secure public infrastructure, potentially eroding trust in the health system rather than enhancing it. – CAN SAS DO This?: The Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS), as a public body under the Junta de Andalucía, possesses the administrative authority to implement changes in its communication methods, including transitioning from SMS to WhatsApp for sending appointment reminders and health notifications. This forms part of the approved Estrategia de Salud Digital de Andalucía 2030 (ESDA), backed by regional government decisions, protocols with the Agencia Digital de Andalucía, and an initial budget of over 316 million euros. Public health services in Spain’s autonomous communities have broad discretion in modernising administrative processes, provided they comply with data protection laws (GDPR/Ley Orgánica de Protección de Datos) and ensure accessibility. Ref:https://www.sspa.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/todas-noticia/los-andaluces-podran-utilizar-su-tarjeta-sanitaria-virtual-en-el-telefono-movil-desde-el-26-de-marzo – HOWEVER: Under Spanish national law, no one can be forced to own a smartphone or use specific digital services (such as WhatsApp) to access public services, including healthcare from the Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS). The key legal framework is Ley 39/2015, de 1 de Octubre, del Procedimiento Administrativo Común de las Administraciones Públicas (LPACAP), particularly Artículo 14. This principle extends to healthcare notifications and access. – The SAS’s shift to WhatsApp for appointment reminders and alerts is actually a progressive, OPTIONAL enhancement, with alternatives like phone calls, the ClicSalud+ portal, email, or in-person services remaining available if you insist– they won’t volunteer this info and may even deny it exists until you ask for the manager. Official announcements (e.g., from March 2026) confirm the Tarjeta Sanitaria Virtual and WhatsApp are tools for convenience, explicitly noting compatibility with the physical card and making no indication of mandatory smartphone use. -Ed.}
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Andalusia has the lowest rating for the public healthcare system, with 38.8% of positive reviews: {Trans., summary} – According to the Ministry of Health, the results of the 2025 Health Barometer, prepared by the Ministry and the Centre for Sociological Research, confirm that public opinion of the health system is deeply linked to the performance of each autonomous community – Andalucía emerges as the weakest performing region in Spain’s public health system, with only 38.8% of residents expressing a positive assessment, far below the national average of 51.6% and sharply behind leaders such as Cantabria. The data underline significant territorial inequality linked to devolved healthcare management. – In Primary Care, although national satisfaction is high, Andalucía ranks among the lowest performing regions, alongside Valencia and Galicia. It also records the longest waiting times to see a family doctor, averaging 11.16 days, well above the national figure and more than double that of the Basque Country. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/andalucia/2026/03/20/andalucia-andalucia-registra-valoracion-baja-sanidad-publica-128219705.html
TECH
DIGI Internet Users Alert: DIGI released new router updates this weekend. Your internet speed may be slow until you re-boot your router. Turn off your router using the power button, and also the additional ‘router power supply’ box if you have one, wait 2 minutes, then restart them to install the updates. Be patient, it may take a few minutes for the updates to install before you can again connect to your wifi. -Ed.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
AI is notoriously unreliable, yet Spanish doctors are being encouraged to adopt it in managing patient cases– what could go wrong?: {Translation, summary} – César Dilú Sorzano, a member of the Digital Health Group of the Spanish Society of General Practitioners and Family Physicians (SEMG), has highlighted that generative artificial intelligence (AI) can save between one and two hours of administrative work per day for the family doctor, who can use that time to offer more personalized care to the patient. – “Artificial intelligence will not replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will have a clear competitive advantage,” said the expert, who is participating this Friday and Saturday. – Dilú will give a plenary lecture and a practical workshop focused on the application of generative AI and telemedicine in primary care consultations, with the aim of “evolving from a specific use of AI towards its integration as an assistant in the consultation, a change already possible with accessible tools and basic training in clinical ‘prompting’.” – To this end, data from a national survey conducted by SEMG of 652 physicians will be presented, revealing a significant training gap. While 97 percent of family physicians consider AI training a priority, 82 percent have not received any training in the last five years, and 73.7 percent identify this lack of training as the main barrier to its adoption. – In this upcoming workshop, Dilú will guide participants in using AI tools applied to daily practice. Participants will learn to use ChatGPT, Google NotebookLM, Perplexity, and Claude for tasks such as supporting differential diagnosis, writing clinical reports, providing patient health education, consulting updated guidelines, and preparing clinical sessions. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/viruji/ia-puede-reducir-dos-horas-diarias-trabajo-administrativo-medico-familia/202603210939423231631.html – {I test all the popular AIs regularly, and those listed above are among the least reliable! All AIs have well documented histories of suffering hallucinations and providing flawed responses; in some documented cases they have even encouraged users to commit suicide! Their websites all include warnings that the results may be incorrect and all results need to be checked for accuracy! If a doctor takes the time to verify AI results, this will be more time consuming than if they didn’t use it at all! So many doctors will skip this critical stage of its deployment. Who will be held responsible when a doctor gives a patient AI advice that leads to significant harm, the doctor or the AI? If they want to introduce AI into the providing of medical services it needs to be a dedicated specialty that the doctor specialist is thoroughly trained to utilize safely, not something every over-worked family practice doctor defers to, or supposedly masters in a 2hr workshop. If you want to try a reasonably accurate health related AI, check this out:https://science.naturalnews.com/AI.html-Ed.}
NATURE
Giant ‘praying mantises’, capable of devouring lizards and frogs, have arrived in Spain: {Trans., summary} – Andalusia and the Costa del Sol are particularly exposed to the spread of two invasive Asian mantis species, Hierodula tenuidentata and Hierodula patellifera. Their expansion across Mediterranean climates is accelerating due to warming temperatures and dense urban development, both of which are characteristic of southern Spain. – These large and highly fertile predators pose a serious threat to local biodiversity by preying on native mantises, essential pollinators such as bees, and even small vertebrates like lizards and frogs common in the region. These larger mantis species have the ability to thrive in gardens, parks, and coastal urban areas allowing them to establish quickly along the southern coastline. Although feral cats may reduce their numbers, they also harm native species, worsening ecological imbalance. Experts warn that biodiversity-rich areas in Andalusia are especially vulnerable and call for public involvement in identifying and removing egg cases during winter to slow their spread and protect fragile ecosystems. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/medio-ambiente/2026/03/22/llegan-espana-mantis-gigantes-capaces-127196940.html
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
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Next Public Holidays: April 2026 2 April, Maundy Thursday 3 April, Good Friday 5 April, Easter Sunday Thus, in April 2026, there is a long weekend break for Easter, DigameXtra will be closed: Thursday, 2 April thru Sunday, 5 April.
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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST) Start DST: Sunday, 29 March 2026 = 1 hour forward End DST: Sunday, 25 October 2026 = 1 hour backward
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41 CLUB NERJA
41 Club Nerja Going From Strength to Strength: – 41 Club Nerja is delighted to report that we really are going from strength to strength, our membership continues to grow and our doors are open for more new members to join our vibrant Club. – Do you remember in your local communities all the events that the Round Table and 41 Club organised? Yes! that’s us! – Do you love getting out and about in our beautiful Axarquia area and also like the idea of being with people who enjoy life and help the local community too? Well, that’s also us! So please come along, meet us, see how we do things, and you don’t even need to have been a member previously. – We enjoy a wide variety of exciting activities, interesting meetings and tasty meals in many of the lovely restaurants we have in our local area. Our get togethers are attended by our members (who hail from ten different countries) as well as our partners, guests, friends and family too. We’re a very friendly bunch. To get in touch you can Email us: briankaret@sky.com Phone Brian on +34 643510605 You can connect with 41 Club Nerja via Facebook. Or visit our website to find out more at: https://41clubnerja.org/ We’d love to hear from you and we’d also love for you to come along and join in the fun!
Cool & The Celt at Siddhartha on the Rock, Competa: Sunday, 22 March, from 4.30pm This will be a fun afternoon in Competa. Lots of Celtic songs and tunes with some American stuff and something to dance to. Call 952516748 or 628177424 for your table or just come along for a drink.
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SERVICES WANTED / OFFERED
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TONY ROAM TRANSPORT & REMOVALS
Tony Roam Transport & Removals Spain To UK To Spain: Fortnightly Runs Spain to UK and Up to 4 weeks free Storage. Spain or UK. 18 years Removals To & Fro Spain / UK Spain. Man & Van, Local & Long Distance Removals No subcontracting, all collection and delivery in house. Transportation, Removals & light haulage company that have scheduled trips all year from UK to Torrox and back every month. Also additional unscheduled to suit your needs. Full or part loads undertaken. Dedicated Delivery Personal Service Full or Part loads up to 60 cubic meters up to 5.5 tonne. Up to £25,000.00 insurance with British Insurance Company. Evidence of insurance can be supplied by email on request. Hard Copies always carried on the vans. This and a current Operators licence are a legal requirement. Our International Operators Licence No UKGB / OG2043664 We live just behind Torrox Pueblo in Spain and in South Wales UK and have vans going back and forth UK to Spain to UK by way of Santander or Bilbao / Portsmouth or Plymouth Ferry. For more information and prices for all to see please visit our website http://www.tonyroamremovals.com email ; tonyroam@btconnect.com Spain 0034636393542 – UK 00447973362003. Face book Tony Roam – WhatsApp Either Number Our contact details are shown every day in the Sponsor’s Section.
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GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR
The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa: Now with Sunday Lunch! Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, Moussaka), cheese (Feta Psiti, Feta Saganaki, Hallumi), vegetables (Greek salad, Hummus, Eggplant cream, Mezze, Tzatziki) or sea fruits (prawns or octopus), all of this accompanied with our special Greek pita bread. For dessert… HOMEMADE BAKLAVA! We offer a lovely meal time in a quiet and exquisite atmosphere, accompanied with the best Greek music. See you soon!Hours: 6:30pm to close, Wednesday thru Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday. For reservations call 642585049. https://la-casita-griega.business.site/We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES & JUBILEE HOUSE
ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES IN THE AXARQUIA REGION: Do you have health or mobility issues? Would support enable you to remain independent in your own home? Liz Brown, probably the only nurse registered to practice in Andalucia to hold the ENB 941 (Specialist qualification in care of the older person), together with her fully insured and police checked home care support team offers one-on-one support and companionship in the comfort of your own home. COE Malaga reg. 17425 HOME CARE/NURSE SUPPORT Palliative care / Companionship / Health monitoring English Nurse / Hospital sitting / Respite at home / 24 hr live in care / Housekeeping / Correspondence & Communication / Medication collection & dispensing systems / Dressing, bathing & daily hygiene / Shopping & meal preparation / Fast response Falls Team / Provision of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists Email: info@englishnurse.care ; Website: https://englishnurse.live-website.com/ Tel: 951550581 or 692419548 JUBILEE HOUSE – Close Care Unit in Torrox 5 ground floor individual units all en-suite 24-hour care at all stages from the English Nurse Care Team Main language- English / Extensive sea views / Wheelchair accessible / Garden / Home cooking / Wifi / Air conditioning / Visiting physiotherapist, hairdresser, chiropodist and nutritionist And we welcome guests for the day. Email: jubileehousetorrox@gmail.com VACANCY-We are now able to accept a couple in spacious accommodation with en-suite facilities. Unique nurse-led facility, offering 1st class personalised care packages, tailored to individual needs. We support independent living. We have a dedicated, compassionate team of English speaking staff, visiting physio, chiropodist, hairdresser. To discuss your requirements or to arrange to view our beautiful accommodation on Torrox Costa please call Liz (RGN/Enferma-Malaga College) on +34 692419548 We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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DOCTORLAPTOP’S COMPUTER REPAIRS & SALES
DoctorLaptop’s Full Maintenance Clean & TuneUp, €65:Common consumer level anti-virus programs are ineffective against today’s AI generated malware! Identity theft & home title theft are on the rise in Malaga– Every week I see a few clients with hacked computers who thought, “Well, it seemed to be running ok”. Today’s malware doesn’t slow your computer, regular servicing is really your only defence. Learn to do it yourself, or leave it to a pro. Take responsibility for your digital security or you’ll only have yourself to blame when your accounts get hijacked. DoctorLaptop’s Computer Repairs- Torrox Costa. New laptops in stock! Windows & Linux computers only. No tablets or phones. I can refer you to a reliable Apple/mobile/tablet tech on request. I don’t work on computers made before 2019 unless I have been servicing them annually. Contact: doctorlaptop AT protonmail DOT com or call 675 993 069 (no calls before 12noon, missed calls returned asap). Always include the make & model number of the device when requesting assistance.
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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace? Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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For Sale, 2 items: – 2 Disney ‘Mickey Mouse’ cups,‘Art Collection’ limited collector’s edition, brand new, in original round boxes with certificate. Nice present for Disney fans: €10 each. – Hair Curler/Straightener Set for different styling applications, never used, €15. Marlene, Torrox, E-Mail: marlenewoerner@web.de Tel./WhatsApp 606 423 369 (can meet in Torrox or Cómpeta)
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For Sale: New, Budget Friendly Laptop, €420 cash. Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 (15IAN8) Windows 11 in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish Display- 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) TN 250nits Anti-glare Processor- Intel i3-N305, up to 3.8GHz, 8 core, 8 thread 8Gb RAM (soldered), 256Gb SSD Card reader, HDMI, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, Wifi 6, no ethernet (use a USB adapter) Slim & lightweight- 1.5Kg, only 17.9 mm thick. Battery- 8 hour, supports Rapid Charge Boost (get 2 hours of runtime with a 15-minute charge). 3 year factory warranty when registered online. A good laptop for the average user: email, web-surfing, message/chat, streaming video, doc & photo editing. Not intended for advanced video editing or 8-way Zoom meetings. I’ll have 2 powerful business-grade laptops for those purposes next week. Buyer collects. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
Socialist Bombshell– Sanchez’s PSOE Received €250mil In Illegal Campaign Funding From Venezuela’s Socialists: {Trans., summary} – Businessman Victor de Aldama has handed over to a judge an envelope containing 250 million dollars in oil quotas from Venezuelan state company PDVSA, alleging they were intended to finance the Socialist International and Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE. Aldama testified before Judge Ismael Moreno, who is secretly investigating alleged illegal PSOE financing, confirming the envelope was given to him by Delcy Rodriguez, Nicolas Maduro’s former number two, during her January 2020 visit to Spain. Aldama claims former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero allegedly channelled these funds through Russian bank accounts using oil industry front men to convert the certificates to cash. – Legal sources describe Aldama’s statement and the envelope’s delivery as “a bomb” for Moncloa with significant implications for the investigation. The handover follows a previous attempt postponed after details leaked. Sanchez allegedly became president of the Socialist International in November 2022 with funds from the Venezuelan regime. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/2026-03-19/la-declaracion-de-aldama-sobre-los-cupos-de-petroleo-de-250-millones-de-dolares-pdvsa-es-una-bomba-para-moncloa-7376439/
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Sánchez has not set a date for the budget (actually, in Sept. 2025, he promised to have it done this month) and is focusing on measures related to the Iran crisis– ‘We are now focusing on what is important and urgent’: – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced at the European Council summit that the government is not currently planning to present the General State Budget, prioritising instead the response to the Middle East crisis. Sánchez emphasised the escalating gravity of the situation and Spain’s commitment to renewable energy as a safeguard against energy price volatility, criticising some EU governments for undermining green policies. The government will propose measures on Friday to address both immediate and structural impacts of the conflict, focusing on energy transformation. Sánchez called for European unity, asserting that Spain’s stance—rooted in international law and peace—should guide the EU. He urged leaders to uphold shared values to end the war swiftly, warning that the crisis is already affecting Europe. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/sanchez-no-pone-fecha-los-presupuestos-se-enfoca-las-medidas-por-guerra-ahora-estamos-importante-urgente_6947914_0.html
ANDALUCÍA
Election Time Gifts To Buy Votes? Moreno announces that public nursery schools will be free for one-year-olds from the 2026/27 academic year: {Trans., summary} – The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno (PP), announced this Thursday that, starting from the academic year 2026/27, free provision will be introduced at nursery schools run by the regional administration and affiliated centres for one-year-old children. – Juanma Moreno’s announcement of free nursery places for one and two-year-olds in Andalusia is a textbook example of election-time vote buying. The president explicitly frames the policy as fulfilling an “electoral commitment” from 2022, with implementation timed for maximum political effect ahead of future elections. – By promising families savings of up to 2,640 euros per child annually, the measure directly purchases voter loyalty using public funds. The scheme targets working families struggling with economic pressures, offering financial relief in exchange for political support. Moreno’s aim to increase enrolments from 38,000 to 64,000 children creates a expanded constituency financially dependent on the administration’s generosity, ensuring their continued electoral backing while the government presents itself as the benefactor of struggling households. Source, Spanish: https://www.teleprensa.com/articulo/sevilla/moreno-anuncia-gratuidad-escuelas-infantiles-publicas-ninos-ano-partir-curso-2026-27/202603191042322371852.html
MALAGA CITY
Has it really come to this…civic workers on hunger strike? Sanitation workers in Malaga begin a hunger strike after 49 days of occupational strike: {Trans., summary} – The workers of the sanitation network service in Malaga have begun a hunger strike this Thursday after 49 days of strikes without progress in the negotiation with the concessionaire company (FCC-Aqualia) to demand better wages and decent working conditions. This measure comes “after not receiving any kind of response from either the City Council or the company”, said Diego Rico, FCC-Aqualia union delegate, who highlighted the work carried out by sanitation workers, responsible for the maintenance of sewage and rainwater networks. – “We work 365 days a year, in morning, afternoon and night shifts, even on holidays and weather alert situations. We are necessary, but our working conditions and salaries do not reflect that commitment,” he stressed. It has also denounced decades of delay in labor improvements , including working conditions, work-life balance and remuneration. – The deputy spokesperson of Con Málaga – a confluence of IU and Podemos – Toni Morillas, has expressed her support for these workers and has pointed out that the staff has been pushed to start the hunger strike “under the threat by the company of a collective dismissal”. “It cannot be that there are workers who do not even receive the national minimum wage”, denounced Morillas, who referred to the “absolutely precarious” conditions of these employees and urged the mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, to “assume the negotiation in the first person” to reach an agreement. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/trabajadores-saneamiento-malaga-inician-huelga-hambre_0_2006228197.html
NERJA
Nerja Town Council is planning a new roundabout on Avenida de Pescia: {Trans., summary} – The Nerja City Council plans to build a new roundabout at the junction of Avenida de Pescia and a future road near the Health Centre. Mayor José Alberto Armijo announced the project after a meeting with the designer and infrastructure officials. The aim is to improve road safety and traffic flow, specifically to ease congestion on Calle San Miguel. The roundabout will provide smoother access to the new Health Centre, a planned car park, and a transport interchange. Councillor Alberto Tomé stated the project is part of a wider infrastructure plan and will include new signage, lighting, drainage networks, and retaining walls. The project will proceed to technical review and tendering once the design document is formally submitted. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-ayuntamiento-de-nerja-proyecta-una-nueva-glorieta-en-la-avenida-de-pescia/
VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA
VOX Vélez-Málaga is calling for urgent solutions to end the isolation of La Zorrilla during floods of the River Benamargosa: {Trans., summary} – VOX Vélez-Málaga has submitted a motion urging immediate action to address the recurring isolation of La Zorrilla residents whenever the River Benamargosa floods after heavy rain. The area, home to around thirty households, faces severe access issues, as essential services are located across the river. The only alternative is a 20-kilometre detour, disrupting daily life for residents, farmers, and those accessing local land. – VOX criticises the lack of administrative response, arguing that ensuring connectivity and access to basic services is a government obligation. The motion highlights risks to emergency services and calls for technical studies, elevated access points, and a contingency plan with alternative routes and emergency protocols. The group demands realistic, immediate solutions to a long-standing issue, stressing that rural residents should not be disadvantaged by their location. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/vox-velez-malaga-reclama-soluciones-urgentes-para-acabar-con-la-incomunicacion-de-la-zorrilla-durante-las-crecidas-del-rio-benamargosa/
IZNATE
Iznate is cutting back on fireworks during the Viernes de Dolores festivities and banning their use by members of the public, limited pyrotechnic displays will continue, schedule posted: {Trans., summary} – Iznate Town Council has restricted pyrotechnics during its Patron Saint Festivities to minimise noise-related disruption, particularly for those with health issues, children, and animals. Rockets, traditionally used to announce events, will be replaced by church bells for the Septenary’s start on Saturday, 21st at 20:30. Private use of firecrackers remains banned. – Scheduled displays include a rocket salute on Thursday, 26th at 12:00; pyrotechnics on Friday of Sorrows from 09:30 to 12:00, during the afternoon procession, and a 23:30 fireworks show; on Saturday, 28th at 14:00 and 18:00–20:00; and on Easter Sunday from 12:30 to 14:00. The Council urges residents to support these measures, ensuring traditions are upheld while protecting vulnerable groups. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/iznate-reduce-los-cohetes-en-las-fiestas-del-viernes-de-dolores-y-prohibe-su-uso-por-particulares/
SEVILLA
Burqa Bans Expand– Seville City Council has approved a ban on the burqa and niqab in municipal buildings: {Trans., summary} – The Seville City Council has approved a proposal to restrict access to municipal buildings for individuals wearing full-face coverings including the burka and niqab. The Vox initiative, supported by the Popular Party, passed despite opposition from PSOE and Con Podemos-IU. The measure aims to ensure visual identification of individuals conducting administrative procedures with legal effects, managing personal data, or receiving direct citizen services. Proponents cite the 2015 Citizen Security Law and argue that full-face coverings complicate identity verification and security in public buildings. – Implementation awaits a legal report determining whether the measure has sufficient support within current regulations. Opposition councillors criticised the proposal as addressing a non-existent problem in Seville and potentially discriminatory, though similar measures have been approved in other Spanish cities including Córdoba, Toledo, and Talavera de la Reina. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/politica/2026-03-19/el-ayuntamiento-de-sevilla-aprueba-prohibir-el-burka-y-el-niqab-en-edificios-municipales-7377452/
EUROPE
Portuguese Government approves bill to speed up deportations, sending it to Parliament for final approval: {Trans., summary} – The Portuguese Government has approved a new proposed law to accelerate the deportation of irregular migrants. The legislation extends the maximum detention period from two to eighteen months and introduces longer re-entry bans for those forcibly returned. It also ends the “voluntary departure notification,” a separate 20-day notice period that previously preceded forced removal procedures. The government considers this two-stage process redundant and incompatible with ensuring effective returns. – The bill further includes measures to prevent asylum claims from being used as delaying tactics to postpone expulsion. The Minister of the Presidency cited a recent case where Moroccan migrants used such legal measures to avoid deportation after their detention period expired. – This proposal, which follows a 2025 law that reformed residence permits and limited family reunification, now requires approval from the Assembly of the Republic before becoming law. The Government maintains that those who enter through legal channels will be welcomed and supported, but those who choose illegality must face consequences. Source, Spanish: https://www.teleprensa.com/articulo/internacional/gobierno-portugal-aprueba-ley-acelerar-deportacion-migrantes-irregulares/202603191757262372535.html
USA
The FBI admits it is buying location data to track US citizens: – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has started buying location data on Americans, Kash Patel, FBI director, said under oath at the Senate intelligence committee worldwide threats hearing on Wednesday. – Patel’s admission came in response to a question from the senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who is a long-time opponent of the warrantless surveillance of Americans. Wyden told Patel that his predecessor, Christopher Wray, testified in 2023 that the FBI did not at that time purchase location data derived from internet advertising, although he acknowledged that it had done so in the past. – “Is that the case still?” Wyden asked. “And if so, can you commit this morning to not buying Americans’ location data?” “We do purchase commercially available information that’s consistent with the constitution and the laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and it has led to some valuable intelligence for us,” Patel responded. – “So you’re saying that the agency will buy Americans’ location data,” Wyden said. “I believe that that’s what you’ve said in kind of intelligence lingo. And I just want to say as we start this debate, doing that without a warrant is an outrageous end run around the fourth amendment. It’s particularly dangerous given the use of artificial intelligence to comb through massive amounts of private information.” “This is exhibit A for why Congress needs to pass our bipartisan, bicameral bill, the Government Surveillance Reform act,” Wyden said, referring to legislation he is working to pass to rein in surveillance. – While law enforcement must get a judge-authorized search warrant to obtain location data directly from telecom companies, government agencies have instead been able to buy such information from private data brokers. Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/18/kash-patel-fbi-location-data
MIDDLE EAST
Iran’s attacks in the Gulf have exhausted the patience of Arab countries, which are threatening to respond to any further aggression: {Trans., summary} – Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US and Israeli targets have strained relations with its Persian Gulf neighbours, who have endured strikes on their energy infrastructure since the conflict began. Twelve countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, issued a joint statement demanding Iran cease its offensives, which Tehran claims target only Western interests. The signatories affirmed their right to self-defence, with Saudi Arabia hinting at possible military action if attacks continue. – The response follows Iran’s missile and drone strikes on regional energy sites—including Qatar’s Ras Laffan refinery, Saudi Aramco facilities, and UAE oil fields—as well as an attack on Israel’s Haifa refinery. Despite the ultimatum, Iran has escalated its rhetoric, warning that its retaliation is ongoing and threatening to destroy US, Israeli, and allied energy infrastructure if further attacks occur. Iranian officials described their recent actions as merely “a fraction” of their capability, promising an “unrestrained” response to any new aggression. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/las-represalias-iran-golfo-acaban-con-paciencia-los-paises-arabes-que-amenazan-con-responder-nuevos-ataques_6948290_0.html
GASTRONOMIA
The Ultimate French Toast– Dani García, a chef from Malaga, and his recipe for French toast without frying in oil or butter, nor air-fryer or oven, “There’s no better recipe than this one.”: – Too long to post here. See full article & recipe translated to English here: Article Link ; Video Link
HEALTH
NIMBY – Locals Don’t Want the New Hospital- petition against the new hospital in Málaga submitted: {Trans., summary} – A neighbourhood group in Málaga has handed in over 8,000 signatures against the new Virgen de la Esperanza mega-hospital planned next to the Civil Hospital. They say the project is too big, too slow to build and too expensive, especially on land that can flood because it lies in the bed of a stream. The group argues that the tall, vertical design will worsen traffic, delay ambulances and make evacuations harder in fires or floods. They also fear years of noise and disruption, as the works will coincide with metro construction, in a very dense district that already has heavy traffic, pollution and almost no green spaces. They warn that access roads will need major upgrades, turning local streets into busy highways. In their view, it would be better and quicker to create new public healthcare capacity in another, safer and less crowded location. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/entregan-8-100-firmas-tercer-hospital-malaga-terrenos-civil_0_2006230003.html
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Another Huge SAS Malpractice Payout: {Trans., summary} – The Andalusian Health Service has agreed to pay 1.25 million euros in compensation to the parents of a child who suffered severe brain damage due to medical negligence during his birth in a Seville hospital. The baby required resuscitation shortly after delivery and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. A medical report concluded that inadequate monitoring during labour and a failure to perform an emergency caesarean section, despite signs of foetal distress, were decisive factors. The out-of-court settlement, paid by the health service’s insurer, will compensate for the irreversible injuries. The agreement includes a request for a judicial resolution to formally close the case with no legal costs for either party. {Note: The SAS has now dropped its malpractice insurance coverage in favour of ‘self-insurance’; the last annual premium, for 2025, was reportedly over €31mil. Now the public will have to pay for the frequent malpractice awards, instead of the insurance companies. Who the heck approved that- another hand in the taxpayer’s pocket? BOHICA! -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/padres-son-indemnizados-1250-000-euros-supuestas-deficiencias-medicas-parto/202603191057133230353.html
TECH
This Android bug makes VPNs ‘unusable’ – and Proton VPN is blaming Google: – A serious Android bug is rendering VPN apps “unusable,” leaving users unprotected against online threats. The issue was first reported to Google back in August 2025 and it is affecting many of the best VPNs. Mullvad and Proton VPN have both alerted Google to the bug, with the latter calling Google out on social media. – The bug stops a VPN from being able to connect to a server, meaning users can’t access the internet through a VPN connection. There’s still no fix, and because the issue is at the Android system level, VPN companies can’t deploy a fix themselves. Proton VPN said Android 16 is affected and “only Google has the access to diagnose” the problem. Google has not replied to the reports since August 2025. At the time of writing, no fix has been released. {Note: Google does not want you using a VPN. A VPN hides your real IP address, so your internet activity cannot be associated with you. That makes the tracking data far less valuable when Google sells it. -Ed.}Full article: https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/vpns/this-android-bug-makes-vpns-unusable-and-proton-vpn-is-blaming-google
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
AI is homogenizing the way people write and think: {Translation, summary} – A study from the University of Southern California warns that AI chatbots are standardising the way people communicate and think, threatening human cognitive diversity and creativity. Researchers argue that as billions rely on the same large language models (LLMs) for writing and reasoning, individual expression and collective innovation decline. LLMs reproduce biases from dominant Western languages and ideologies, narrowing perspectives and encouraging conformity. – Even non-users may feel social pressure to adopt machine-shaped discourse. The team notes that while LLMs can enhance individual productivity, group creativity suffers, and linear reasoning becomes overvalued at the expense of intuitive thinking. The study emphasises that developers should integrate real-world linguistic and cultural diversity, ensuring models reflect the full range of human perspectives. Diversifying both AI systems and user engagement, the researchers conclude, is essential to preserve humanity’s adaptive intelligence and collective problem-solving ability. {No! That would validate Ebonics and other linguistic perversions. Maintaining the long established classic methods and forms facilitates creativity within a common framework encouraging universal comprehension. Diversifying for the sake of diversity is inviting chaos and ignorance. -Ed.}Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/viruji/ia-homogeneizando-forma-que-personas-escriben-piensan/202603192009583230968.html
SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES
*Click links to read the English language articles*
Churches: Please submit your posts on Thursdays only, before 6pm.
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NEW LIFE CHURCH
New Life Church – Sunday Service: Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us on Sundays at 11.00am. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. – Prayer Meeting: You are also welcome to join our prayer meetings on Wednesday mornings at 11.00am for 1 hour, where we meet for prayer and worship. – Jesus said: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6) Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780. Directions: Click Here Email: info@nlcnerja.com Website: www.nlcnerja.com ; Facebook
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EL PUENTE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
El Puente Christian Fellowship (Vélez-Málaga): We are a friendly, multi-national, Bible believing community of Christ. We meet each Sunday at 11am to worship the Lord. We enjoy a time of worship with contemporary songs and traditional hymns, and a message brought to us by our Pastor, one of our members or a visiting speaker. The church meeting hall is situated at: Res: El Olivar 5, 8 Bajo 1, Calle Arbequin, Velez Malaga 29700. Full directions and further information can be found on our Facebook page, or you can contact us by email on elpuentechristianfellowship@gmail.com or by phone on 665626342. For those who cannot join us in person, we aim to stream Sunday services via the Facebook page (subject to a good internet connection).
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DOG ADOPTIONS
Axarquia Animal Rescue – Voluntary Charity – non profit organisation: CIF G93245116 ; Charity Number 10567 (Spain) Email: axarquia-rescue@hotmail.com Website: www.axarquiaanimalrescue.com – Patch & Oreo are 2 brothers, 6 months old, and fully vaccinated. Beautiful playful pups, in a foster home with other dogs and children, happy, sociable, and love everyone they meet, the perfect family pets. Please take a look at our website, where you will find more information and photos, plus details of other dogs and pups that we have in our care. Our adoption costs are 110e for pups that have been fully vaccinated, rabies, chip and passport. 180e for older dogs that have all vaccinations, neutered and passport. This contributes towards their vet and care costs, and helps us to continue rescuing abandoned dogs and cats.
Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily: The direct link to the old familiar chart page no longer works. Here is the new way to access it. This link takes you to the map version. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/visor/visorE ; to see the chart version click this link, then in the menu bar click Data (Datos) > Reservoirs (Embalses) > Breaking News (Datos de ultima hora)
Weekly Markets Monday: Torrox Costa Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria. Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Phone numbers for emergencies Emergency Services.: 112 National Police: 091 Guardia Civil: 062 Ambulance: 061 Fire Station (Bomberos): 080 Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police Torrox: 952 539 828 Nerja: 952 521 545 Frigiliana: 952 533 126 Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.
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