DigameXtra No. 3213 Thursday, March 26th, 2026

On March 26, 2026March 25, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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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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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.

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Nerja Semana Santa Programme:
Fakebook link for info: https://www.facebook.com/AyuntamientoDeNerja

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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:
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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

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/

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https://www.cinesur.com/es/cine/mk2-cinesur-el-ingenio

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Petrol Prices, updated daily: These are the fuel stations in Malaga province with the lowest prices. The price data for 95 and 98-octane petrol and diesel fuel is updated every day. See it here:
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/updated-daily-these-20220314114157-nt.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

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
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Frigiliana: 952 533 231

Phone numbers for emergencies
Emergency Services.: 112
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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

Local/National News in English, The Sur: http://www.surinenglish.com/
Local Weather: https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/torre-del-mar/306652/weather-forecast/306652
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Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3212 Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

On March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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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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– 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.
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– 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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Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

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/

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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At His TED Talk, Bill Gates Explained That Vaccines, Healthcare & Reproductive Services Will Be Used To LOWER Population 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

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Last updated Mar 24, 2026, 23:47 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
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Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3211 Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

On March 24, 2026March 24, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST)
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Boozie brunch pool party with the Box Drum Band:
Sun, Mar 29. Doors open 11am.
Villa del Mar – Camping Nerja, Maro
Info & reservations: https://www.villadelmarnerja.com/event-details-registration/boozie-brunch-pool-party-with-the-box-drum-band

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XXXII Triathlon of Torre del Mar: Sun, 12 April
Info tel: 657219190

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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.
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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.
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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.
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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

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

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Mar 23, 2026, 17:15 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3210 Monday, March 23rd, 2026

On March 23, 2026March 23, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

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Clock Changes in Andalucia 2026: Daylight Savings Time (DST)
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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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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.

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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Latest AEMET Weather Alerts & Advisories For Andalucia: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town
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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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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.

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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, 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

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

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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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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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

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

Free Comic Strips provided by https://www.arcamax.com/comics

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This is why intelligent people are always alone: Video Link 1

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Five Signs Of A Genuinely Good Person: Video Link 2

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

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Last updated Mar 23, 2026, 01:23 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
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Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3209 WEEKEND EDITION Friday, March 20th, 2026

On March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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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

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!

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Almuñécar to host premiere of the Granada Hollywood Orchestra: Saturday 21 March, 7pm
Casa de la Cultura
Tickets cost €15, available at the Casa de la Cultura box office, Azulmarino Viajes Almuñécar and via https://www.giglon.com/todos?idEvent=premiere-de-la-granada-hollywood-orchestra-almunecar

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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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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

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Warning Note: Possible coastal high winds & waves until 8pm Friday.

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Latest AEMET Weather Alerts & Advisories For Andalucia: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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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
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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

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

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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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

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*

– Latest info on Salobreña’s new coastal park development
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/this-what-the-coastal-park-that-salobrena-20260319104323-nt.html
– Medical delays- Malaga hospital calls woman for gynaecological followup four years after first appointment
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-city/woman-summoned-almost-four-years-later-for-20260319101212-nt.html
– Parauta village calls for help to reopen main source of income: the Enchanted Forest {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/ronda/the-enchanted-forest-asks-for-help-its-20260319103917-nt.html
– US citizens in Malaga: Register to vote for 2026 midterms at local drop-in sessions in Fuengirola and Nerja
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/citizens-malaga-register-vote-for-2026-midterms-20260318110359-nt.html
– Vélez-Málaga tax office moves to new facilities
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/the-patronato-recaudacion-opens-new-office-velezmalaga-20260319124736-nt.html

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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
– 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.

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

Free Comic Strips provided by https://www.arcamax.com/comics

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Ojen, Spain Walking Tour – A Stunning Village Next to Marbella: Video Link

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Mar 20, 2026, 00:51 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3208 Thursday, March 19th, 2026

On March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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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: Thursday thru Sunday, 2 thru 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

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Cajiz will hold its 2026 Fair from 19 to 22 March:
– Thursday, March 19, Children’s Day, with the departure of Saint Joseph, a senior dinner in the official booth and the election of the Senior Queen and King
– Friday, March 20, featuring the procession of Saint Joseph through the streets of Cajiz, followed by the traditional running of the bulls. The day will continue with the opening of the official fair tent, musical performances from artist Manolo Lera, the selection of the Queen and Mister, and various DJ sets to liven up the night.
– Saturday, March 21, with a mass in honor of Saint Joseph, accompanied by the Cajiz Choir, and another procession of the patron saint. In the evening, there will be several musical performances, featuring artists Elisa Ariza, El Maúro, Electroduendes, and Fabio Collorichio, as well as DJ sets to keep the party going until the early hours.
– Sunday, March 22nd. The day will begin with the opening of the fairground booth, a performance by the Cajiz choir “Nuevo Amanecer,” and a large paella for everyone. Traditional activities will also take place, such as a ribbon race on horseback , children’s shows, the distribution of chocolate and sweets, and musical performances to close the event.

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Reopening Gala of the Lope de Vega Theater in Vélez-Málaga: Fri, 20 March
– 7:00 p.m. opening of doors
– 7:30 p.m. the official opening ceremony of the theater will take place
– 8:00 p.m. the gala will feature the participation of the Municipal Music Band of Vélez-Málaga, as well as different artists and formations of the municipality such as Choirs and Dances of Vélez-Málaga, Miguel Ángel Fernández, Cristina Gallego, Marta Sango, the Romero Peña Axarquía Choir, the Antonio Guerra Company, Séfora and Luli, Luisa Chicano, Cindindi and Fernando Gil.
To attend: the City Council has set up a system of free invitations. They can be collected from Tuesday, March 17 at 5:00 p.m. at the box office of the Lope de Vega Theater, with a maximum of two invitations per person being able to be withdrawn.

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Holy Week 2026 in Malaga- full schedules and itineraries (practical guide of daily activities):
– Very long, and in Spanish. Use a page translator, an AI chatbot, or open it in Google Translate to see it in English.
https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/semana-santa/2026/02/17/semana-santa-2026-malaga-horarios-itinerarios-126921111.html

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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Warning Notes: Possible coastal high winds & waves until 8pm Friday.

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Latest AEMET Weather Alerts & Advisories For Andalucia: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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English keyboard. 2hr battery. Slim & lightweight. DVD, HDMI, VGA, 2x USB3, 1x USB2, ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth, card reader.
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Total price: €200, ‘no-risk’ 7 day cash back guaranty. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

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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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

Sumar (communist) increases the pressure on the PSOE to freeze rents in the anti-crisis decree, but Sanchez admin maintains its reservations: {Translation, summary}
– The Spanish coalition government is facing internal disagreements over housing policy ahead of a key decree approval {Another royal decree bypassing Congress, since Sanchez {pic} can’t get anything passed in Congress with his minority coalition. -Ed.}
– Sumar, the junior coalition partner, is pushing for the inclusion of a rent freeze at contract renewal in the upcoming economic measures package responding to the Iran war. They consider this an “absolute priority” and express confidence it would gain parliamentary support. However, the senior partner, the PSOE, is reluctant to include this measure in the first decree, preferring to focus on issues more directly tied to the conflict’s economic impact. The PSOE leaves open the possibility of considering housing measures in future packages.
– The disagreement reflects differing priorities within the coalition. Sumar argues that housing affordability is a pressing concern for citizens, while the PSOE and the Ministry of Economy favour a more measured approach, citing lower inflation and the recent introduction of a new rent reference index limiting increases {This index is known as the SERPAVI plan, it only applies to large landlords with 10+ properties, in ‘stressed’ areas. -Ed.}.
– Negotiations continue, with Sumar optimistic about securing some limited anti-eviction protections for vulnerable groups. The Government hopes to approve the decree on Friday, with the understanding that further measures may follow. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/sumar-eleva-presion-sobre-psoe-para-congelar-los-alquileres-decreto-anticrisis-pero-moncloa-mantiene-sus-reservas_6947277_0.html

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Pedro Promises More Funds He Does Not Have- Sánchez announces another one billion euros in bilateral military aid to Ukraine by 2026: {Translation, summary}
– Pedro Sánchez has announced a one billion euro military aid package for Ukraine following a meeting with President Zelensky in Madrid, the Ukrainian leader’s fourth visit to Spain since the start of the war. The Spanish Prime Minister framed the support as integral to the strength of the European project and reiterated his backing for Ukraine’s EU membership. Alongside the military funding, Sánchez discussed promoting joint defence production with Ukrainian companies and committing to reconstruction projects including schools and demining.
– Zelensky expressed gratitude for Spain’s support, particularly for air defence systems, while noting that arms shipments, though reduced due to competing demands from the Middle East, continue to arrive.
– However, the announcement raises questions about fiscal credibility, as Sánchez’s government is currently operating without an approved budget, meaning the source of these promised funds remains unclear. {Without a budget, Sanchez only has 2 sources of funds, EU Recovery Funds intended for Spain to recover from the Covid crisis, or re-allocate funds already dedicated to other purposes. Either way he is stealing from the Spanish population to fund projects he created by Royal Decree– that do not have full Congressional approval. While we suffer with natural disasters, a collapse of Health Care, an obsolete power grid, decaying infrastructure and frequent train wrecks, Pedro is giving away huge sums to his corrupt political cronies that have no records of how the money is spent! Remember that at election time. -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/directo-sanchez-se-reune-este-miercoles-con-zelenski-cuarta-visita-mandatario-ucraniano-espana_6947408_0.html

ANDALUCÍA

With over 1,900 cases, Andalusia accounts for 27.76% of all missing persons in Spain: {Translation, summary}
– Andalusia leads the country in the number of active missing persons cases, with 1,908 reports accounting for 27.76% of the total in Spain, where there are currently 6,874 open cases. The province of Cádiz has the highest figure within the region, with 675 active searches for missing persons.
– The “2026 Annual Report on Missing Persons”, produced by the Ministry of the Interior, shows that three Andalusian provinces are among the top ten with the highest number of open cases this year. Almería ranks fifth with 348 missing persons under active search, whilst Málaga ranks ninth, with 274 reports.
– As for the gender of the missing persons, of the 1,908 cases recorded in Andalusia, 1,621 are men and 278 are women. For example, in Almería there are 309 men actively being sought and 39 women; Málaga has 226 men and 48 women; and Granada has 212 missing men compared to 57 women.
– The majority of missing persons in Andalusia are under 18 years of age, totalling 1,196 active cases. The remaining 712 cases involve adults. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/mas-1900-casos-andalucia-reune-2776-personas-desaparecidas-espana/202603181252503229877.html

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An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale in the Alboran Sea was felt in five Andalusian provinces and Ceuta: {Translation, summary}
– An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre in the Alboran Sea, struck in the early hours of Wednesday 18 March, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN). The tremor was felt in several towns across five Andalusian provinces, as well as in Ceuta, with no reports of damage to property or injury.
– The IGN reported on its website that the earthquake took place at 00:24 and reached a depth of 92 kilometres. Furthermore, the 112 emergency number of the Andalusian Emergency Agency (EMA) received more than thirty calls from various municipalities in Cádiz, Córdoba, Huelva and Málaga, with no incidents reported. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/almeria/seismo-magnitud-44-mar-alboran-deja-sentir-cinco-provincias-andaluzas-ceuta/202603180942113229650.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

A bird never before seen in Spain has been spotted in Málaga- a very rare Old World vulture: {Translation}
– It had never happened before. Spain has recorded, for the first time, the sighting of a lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), one of the most imposing and powerful scavenging birds of prey in the world. This is a unique and exceptional finding that took place in El Torcal de Antequera, in the province of Málaga.
– The author of this discovery is Miguel Martín García, a documentarian and photographer, who captured this historic image on 18 October 2025. After analysing the records, experts have determined that it is a specimen in its second year of life.
– The lappet-faced vulture, also referred to in Spain as the buitre orejudo (eared vulture), is a very rare species in Europe, as its natural distribution is located in Africa and parts of the Middle East. It lives mainly in arid areas, savannas and open spaces, so its presence in Spain represents an extraordinary phenomenon. This finding is even more significant because the lappet-faced vulture is endangered. According to BirdLife data, the global population is around 6,500 mature individuals.
– The lappet-faced vulture can reach up to three metres in length and feeds mainly on carrion, that is, dead animals. Its very powerful beak can open tough hides and access remains that other scavengers then make use of, so it is usually one of the first to feed on a carcass. That is one of the reasons why it has such an important role in the ecosystem. This animal helps to remove carrion and reduce health risks in the natural environment. Among its main threats are poisoning, human persecution, habitat loss and other factors linked to human activity. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/03/18/avistan-malaga-ave-vista-jamas-espana-buitre-128119808.html
More info: The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only extant member of the genus Torgos. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that family of birds. The lappet-faced vulture was formerly considered monotypical, but now is separated into two subspecies. The nominate race lives throughout Africa. The subspecies T. t. negevensis, differing considerably in appearance from African vultures is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. Full article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lappet-faced_vulture

ALMÁCHAR

Almáchar condemns the neglect of transport services and demands to be included in the Consortium to prevent a ‘two-tier’ Axarquía: {Translation}
– Almáchar Town Council has welcomed the inclusion of Vélez-Málaga in the Málaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium, describing it as a significant step forward for transport in the region. However, the council has criticised the fact that inland municipalities remain excluded, which exacerbates regional inequality.
– “We are no longer just talking about transport; we are talking about equality and the future for our towns,” the council emphasises, warning of a “two-speed” Axarquía in which some municipalities are moving towards a modern, subsidised model whilst others continue to face significant shortcomings.
– In this regard, the mayor of Almáchar, Antonio Yuste, has complained that the change to the bus route amounts to “a step backwards of 30 years”. Over a year ago, the direct connection via the Benamocarra road was scrapped, now forcing residents to take a longer route via El Borge, Cútar and Benamargosa. “Today, to get to Vélez-Málaga, our residents have to take an unnecessary detour when, via the Benamocarra road, they could be there in just 20 minutes,” said the mayor. This situation has led to a considerable increase in journey times, directly affecting workers, students and the elderly.
– The Town Council has also highlighted the lack of response from the relevant authorities. A viable and well-founded technical proposal for the reorganisation of routes has been submitted, but it has not been answered, nor have the repeated requests for meetings, the last of which was in November, received a response to date.
– “We are still treated as second-class towns within our own region,” the council claims, arguing that this institutional silence reinforces the inequality faced by inland municipalities. In light of this situation, Almáchar Town Council is calling for immediate inclusion in the Metropolitan Transport Consortium, as well as urgent improvements to connections with Vélez-Málaga, the Regional Hospital and Málaga city centre, alongside fair and subsidised fares and a genuine commitment to transport in rural areas as a tool to combat depopulation. “Public transport is key to ensuring opportunities and retaining the population. Without services, our villages have no future,” they warn.
– Finally, the Council insists that it does not question the progress made by other municipalities, but makes it clear that “Almáchar is not asking for privileges. It is demanding what is rightfully its due”. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/almachar-denuncia-abandono-transporte-exig-inclusion-consorcio-evitar-axarquia-dos-velocidades/

MIDDLE EAST

The shocking moment Wednesday morning when an Israeli missile destroys an apartment building in Beirut: Video Link

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The US and Israel bomb the world’s largest gas field, and Iran launches attacks against Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain + Trump says US doesn’t need the Strait of Hormuz, he may leave that job to those who actually need it: {Translation, summary}
– The US and Israeli war against Iran is escalating. After more than two weeks of crossfire, Washington and Jerusalem bombed several areas of the South Pars gas facilities in southern Iran on Wednesday. These facilities are part of the world’s largest gas field and are shared with Qatar. The Iranian military threatened to attack energy infrastructure linked to the US and Israel, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that attacks on his infrastructure could have “uncontrollable consequences.” Shortly afterward, Iran made good on its threat, attacking Qatar ‘s main liquefied natural gas refinery, a jet fuel depot in Saudi Arabia, and a liquefied gas refinery in Bahrain. Israel, for its part, continued its attacks on Lebanon while simultaneously dismantling the Iranian regime. The latest casualty was Iranian Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib.
– Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump asserted that his country does not need the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil passes. In this regard, he threatened to relinquish control of the strait to the countries that depend on it and that have not heeded his call to guarantee the safety of ships in the face of Iranian attacks. “I wonder what would happen if we ‘killed’ what’s left of the Iranian terrorist state and let the countries that use it—not us—be responsible for the so-called ‘strait.’ That would make some of our unresponsive ‘allies’ get their act together —and fast!” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/eeuu-israel-atacan-mayor-yacimiento-gas-natural-mundo-que-comparten-iran-qatar_6947714_0.html & Video Link

GASTRONOMIA

Bassk Cheesecakers, the traditional Basque cheesecake lands in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– Basque entrepreneurs Kepa and Txomin Jauregui have brought their artisan cheesecake to Malaga, opening BASSK Cheesecakers on Especería Street, near the Plaza de la Constitución. Their creamy, low-sugar Basque cheesecake, made with care, real cream cheese, and no shortcuts, is available in classic and chocolate versions. Jumbo slices are 4.5 euros, whole cakes 25 euros, with a metal gift box coming soon. The bright 40-square-metre shop, decorated in blue and white, features a large street-facing display counter and offers eat-in or takeaway options, plus speciality coffee. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Following successes in San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Valencia, they chose Malaga for its growing gastronomic scene. They personally manage all outlets to ensure a consistent experience and have no plans for franchising or new flavours. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malagaenlamesa/bassk-cheesqueria-tarta-queso-vasca-llega-malaga-20260316140326-nt_amp.html

HEALTH

Poor Response To Doctor Recruitment Program– Only 20 candidates have applied for 62 available paediatrics positions: {Translation}
– The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) has opened the allegations and claims period for its first merit-based competition to fill healthcare positions in areas of Andalusia that are hard to staff. This process aims to reinforce primary care in territories where it has historically been difficult to attract and retain professionals.
– The call includes 187 posts: 125 for family medicine and 62 for paediatrics. However, the number of applications received reflects an imbalance between the two specialities. According to Europa Press, there were 133 applications for family medicine, a figure close to the total number of posts offered, but for paediatrics, only 20 candidates applied for the 62 positions available, indicating difficulties in filling many of these vacancies.
– The procedure was a merit-based competition, with no competitive examination phase {Yikes!}. It primarily values professional experience, which accounts for 60 per cent of the score, alongside other merits making up the remaining 40 per cent. Specific weight is also given to previous experience in posts considered hard to fill, to encourage permanence in these destinations. According to the regional administration, removing the competitive examination phase responds to the need for greater agility and effectiveness in selection processes, especially in contexts where ordinary systems have failed to fill vacancies. {Lowering standards instead of offering competitive wages- the socialist solution. Meanwhile all these politicians use private healthcare services at taxpayer expense. FUBAR! -Ed.} It is also part of a broader strategy to guarantee equitable access to healthcare, regardless of patients’ place of residence.
– In this latest phase of the process, candidates can submit allegations to the provisional lists published, allowing for possible errors to be corrected before the final resolution. Subsequently, the posts will be allocated, and permanent statutory staff will join the offered destinations.
– Despite these measures, the data reveals the persistence of structural difficulties, particularly in primary care paediatrics, where a shortage of professionals is one of the challenges facing the Andalusian public health system. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/sas-abre-plazo-alegaciones-concurso_0_2006216603.html

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Minister of Health Mónica García asserts amidst the health worker’s strike that the Framework Statute is “closed”– “It has reached its legal and jurisdictional limits.”: {Translation, summary}
– Health Minister Mónica García has declared the new Framework Statute for healthcare workers “closed,” refusing further amendments despite an ongoing national doctors’ strike. She insists the draft, expanded from 80 to 117 articles since 2023 through extensive negotiation, has reached its “legal and competency limits.” García delegates responsibility for any improvements to regional governments and points to future legislation as the proper avenue for further change, while praising the current bill as the most significant reform in decades.
– This inflexible stance is criticised for ignoring the core grievance of striking doctors, who demand a statute tailored to their unique professional needs. The minister’s claim that “dialogue” has been exhausted rings hollow when the primary demands remain unmet. By washing her hands of the matter and passing the buck to already overburdened regional administrations, she displays a troubling abdication of leadership. Arrogantly closing the door on negotiation while a health service struggles under monthly strike action prioritises political expediency over practical solutions and patient care. The result is a broken dialogue and a minister seemingly content to let the conflict fester, leaving unresolved the very real issues facing medical professionals.
– Political groups are demanding an agreement to halt the strike. However, for the PP, Junts, the PNV, and Vox, the minister’s efforts are proving insufficient. The PP deputy Elvira Velasco stated that Mónica García’s “arrogance and lack of dialogue” are hindering the possibility of reaching agreements and demanded that she find a solution. “The responsibility for reaching an agreement lies with you (Minister Mónica García),” agreed the PNV spokesperson, Joseba Andoni Agirretxea, who warned of the impact of doctors being on strike every month. “Healthcare systems cannot afford this, and patients do not deserve it,” he added. “You and the Government have doctors on a war footing,” lamented the Junts deputy Pilar Calvo, who reproached the minister for telling the autonomous communities to solve problems when the framework statute directly affects their areas of responsibility. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/monica-garcia-asegura-plena-huelga-que-estatuto-marco-esta-cerrado-ha-llegado-sus-limites-legales-competenciales_6947073_0.html

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Average delay to be seen in primary care when setting the appointment in Malaga is 8.7 days– The SAS Retirees Group claims the wait in health centers on the Costa del Sol is more than ten days, and the scheduling is ‘rigged’: {Translation, summary, explainer}
– A report by retired Andalusian Health Service professionals reveals average waits of 8.7 days for primary care appointments in Malaga province, with peaks of nearly 11 days on the Costa del Sol. One in five patients fails to secure any appointment. The group criticises “inadmissible delays” harming patient safety and saturating emergency services, pointing to poor queue management and labour conditions driving professionals away.
– The Junta de Andalucia disputes these figures, claiming the provincial average is 2.6 days, in line with the regional 2.3-day average. Officials attribute improvements to the “back office” system, which manages all appointment requests within 72 hours, alongside administrative modernisation and staff reinforcement.
– The stark disparity between the retired professionals’ findings and official data highlights ongoing tensions over healthcare quality assessment. While the Junta defends its management, the independent report suggests systemic issues persist, with accessibility problems and HIDDEN APPOINTMENTS undermining confidence in primary care services. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga-capital/estudio-situa-demora-media-citas-atencion-primaria-20260318134928-nt_amp.html
– {Explainer- ‘Hidden Appointments: The retired health professionals’ report uses the term “hidden appointments” (or appointments that “have remained hidden”) to describe a specific phenomenon they observed in the booking systems of Andalusian health centres. Here’s what they mean:
– The observed pattern- The researchers noticed that on the same day, in the same health centre:
*Some patients could get appointments for that same day or the next day.
*Other patients were told they would have to wait 15 days or longer.
*Sometimes no appointments were shown as available at all.
*Then, mysteriously, appointments would “appear” for certain patients who called at the “right time.”
– How the researchers believe this happens:
*The group suggests that not all available appointments are actually placed into the general booking pool where patients can access them fairly. Instead appointments are held back from the main system.
*They are released selectively – perhaps to patients who know when to call, who insist enough, or who have inside knowledge.
*There is no queue management – when an appointment does become available (due to a cancellation or release), it isn’t automatically offered to the person who has been waiting the longest.
– The group calls for “transparency and data availability” to understand:
*Where these suddenly appearing appointments come from.
*Why they weren’t available to all patients from the start.
*How the system can be reformed so that when an appointment becomes available, it is automatically offered to the patient who has been waiting the longest
– In essence, they are alleging that the appointment booking system is manipulated or poorly managed in ways that create unfairness and mask the true scale of access problems, while the Junta’s “back office” system claims to manage all requests within 72 hours. Refs: https://revistalugardeencuentro.com/2026/03/18/el-grupo-de-jubilados-y-jubiladas-del-sas-en-malaga-presentan-un-nuevo-informe-sobre-la-demora-en-citas/ & https://cadenaser.com/andalucia/2026/03/18/colapso-silencioso-en-la-sanidad-malaguena-esperar-mas-de-una-semana-para-ver-al-medico-ya-es-la-norma-ser-malaga/ -Ed.}

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They treated ingrown toenails and prescribed medication at a hairdressing salon- two fake chiropodists jailed in Málaga: {Translation, summary}
– A court in Málaga has convicted two women of impersonating podiatrists. They treated ingrown toenails and prescribed medication in a hairdressing salon without holding the required university degree. The court deemed it proven that one defendant diagnosed ingrown toenails, performed treatments, and prescribed drugs, activities strictly reserved for qualified podiatrists.
– Each received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on condition they do not reoffend. They must also pay legal costs and 3,000 euros compensation to the podiatrist’s association. The court found that the business owner allowed the premises to be used for these practices, which were advertised on social media. The association welcomed the ruling, stressing the health risks of professional intrusion and reaffirming its commitment to public protection. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/unas-encarnadas-recetaban-medicamentos-peluqueria-falsas-podologas-malaga_0_2006216673.html

PRODUCT ALERT

Food alert due to the presence of salmonella in chicken burgers: {Translation, summary}
– The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) informs of the alert notification due to the presence of salmonella in a prepared hamburger. Specifically, it is the Burkebab product (chicken burger) from the Simon’s Food brand.
~The data of the products involved are~
-Product Name: Deep-Frozen Burkebab
-Brand Name: Simon’s Food
-Product appearance: bag with three units.
-Best before date: 01/2027
-Freeze date: 27/01/2026
-Unit weight: 240 grams.
-Temperature: deep-frozen.
– People who have products affected by this alert in their homes are recommended to refrain from consuming them. In the event of having consumed any of the products of the affected batches and presenting any symptoms compatible with salmonellosis (mainly diarrhoea and/or vomiting accompanied by fever and headache), it is recommended to go to a health centre. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sociedad/alerta-salmonela-hamburguesas-pollo-20260317204051-nt_amp.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Storm damage aid: application window open for businesses in Andalucía under Royal Decree-Law 5/2026
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/aid-for-damage-caused-the-rains-andalusia-20260318100434-nt.html
– Vélez-Málaga joins Malaga metropolitan transport consortium: bus fares to drop by 80 per cent from 1 May
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/velezmalaga-joins-malaga-metropolitan-transport-consortium-bus-20260318132153-nt.html
– Granada airport expands international reach: new flights to Porto, Paris, and Nantes confirmed for 2026
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/the-twelve-destinations-fly-from-grenada-the-20260318102725-nt.html
– New pirate-themed playground opens on Almuñécar’s Paseo del Altillo {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/this-the-new-playground-almunecar-with-giant-20260316100355-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
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Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3207 Wednesday, March 18th, 2026

On March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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Live Music at the The Cruzcampo Factory, Malaga:
Fri, 20 March, 5pm. Pop FM Band
C/ Trinidad Grund, 29, Distrito Centro, 29001 Málaga
You can enjoy the concerts while you dine or have tapas. The menu is designed to pair with the Stout, IPA or Malagueta beers that they offer daily.
Next event: Mr. Miranda Band on 2 April.
Website in English: https://lafabricadecerveza.com/en/malaga-events/

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XIV Malaga Artisan Goat Cheese and Wine Market of the Axarquía (Torre del Mar): Sun, 22 March, 10am-6pm
Located at Paseo Larios in Torre del Mar
More than 50 stalls, featuring food tastings, culinary competitions and live music, featuring local Verdiales groups.

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Sold Out: Concert in Alhaurín de la Torre– Verso Libre Gospel Band: Fri, 20 March, 8pm at Centro Cultural Vicente Aleixandre

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

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Warning Note: Possible coastal high winds & waves until 11:59 Thursday. Note, AEMET shows this alert for Friday, not Wednesday or Thursday as weather.com has posted. See it using the link below.

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Latest AEMET Weather Alerts & Advisories For Andalucia: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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For Sale: Heavyweight Dolly/Trolley Cart.
80L x 50W x 30H. Great for moving really heavy things!
40€. Nick, La Herradura
Email: keelsway at yahoo dot co dot uk

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For Sale: New, Budget Friendly Laptop, €420 cash. Only one left! Don’t wait!
Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 (15IAN8)
Windows 11 in UK English; Keyboard is Spanish
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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 by next week.
Buyer collects.
Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

A technical report points to a ‘running rails’ voltage drop 22 hours before the Adamuz accident, an indicator of possible track damage, plus possible fudging of welding records: {Translation, summary}
– A technical report included in the documentation, in the draft phase, of the Commission for the Investigation of Railway Accidents (CIAF) on the train accident that occurred in the Cordoba town of Adamuz points to a voltage drop compatible with track damage 22 hours before the derailment of the Iryo train, which in seconds collided with the Alvia. In the accident, 46 people died and there were more than 120 injured on the afternoon of Sunday, January 18.
– As confirmed by sources close to the investigation, the CIAF collects the report with this hypothesis, pending confirmation, “from the records of the electrical signals of the track circuits in the area, which is maintained by Hitachi”, which is in charge of the signaling system.
– In relation to the circumstances of the track, the CIAF has also informed the Civil Guard about the expansion of details on the “different inconsistencies” detected in the welds of the train tracks as they pass through Adamuz. In this case with “possible modifications in the welding records and signatures that seemed not to be original”, something that the Benemérita analyzes further, according to the sources.
– {Note: The third rail (or overhead lines) is the main power source for the train’s motors. However, the running rails (the tracks the train wheels sit on) serve a completely different but equally vital electrical purpose: they provide the circuits of the signalling system. -Ed.}
Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/cordoba/un-informe-tecnico-apunta-una-caida-tension-22-horas-antes-accidente-adamuz-compatible-con-rotura-via_6946759_0.html

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Yolanda Díaz defends that her gov’t paid trip to the Oscars ceremony was to support and support Spanish cinema: {Translation, summary}
– The second vice president of the government, Yolanda Díaz, has assured that her trip to the United States to attend the Academy Awards, for which the film ‘Sirat’ by filmmaker Oliver Laxe was nominated, was a gesture to defend artistic creation and recalled that the Galician Minister of Culture, José López Campos, also attended and was right to do so. ‘Sirat’ was Spain’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
– Yolanda Díaz’s taxpayer-funded trip to the Oscars has been fiercely criticised, with the PP condemning it as a costly and frivolous indulgence. Spokesperson Alicia García launched a scathing attack, highlighting the “more than 7,000 euro” cost and the use of business class while many Spaniards struggle to “fill their fridge.” García mockingly suggested Díaz expected to win an “Oscar for the non-existent seat in Castilla y León,” branding her actions “bogus communism” and “as fake as your feminism and your pacifism.”
– PP officer Rosa María Gallego echoed this, noting Díaz chose the “American luxury of the red carpet” while her political fortunes waned in Spain. The PP further questioned Díaz’s role in government, stating she is “humiliated,” “neither decides nor gives orders,” and that her proposed measures last no longer than “a coffee in the Council of Ministers.” García concluded that the Spanish people “say no to Yolanda and no to Sánchez.” Díaz’s defence, that the trip was to “defend artistic creation,” does little to mitigate the perception of a tone-deaf misuse of public funds. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/yolanda-diaz-defiende-que-su-viaje-ceremonia-los-oscar-fue-para-apoyar-respaldar-cine-espanol_6947239_0.html

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

Wave of home invasions & robberies in rural homes and farms of Valle-Niza and Almayate Alto- “We have been with this scourge for six years”: {Translation, summary}
– The most recent incidents took place last Saturday night, from 20.20 until after 23.00 hours. The residents, alerted by security cameras and warnings in WhatsApp groups, detected the hooded men by the river and organised themselves to watch over the houses. On a farm inhabited by two people in their eighties, the daughter activated the alarm from Vélez-Málaga, deterring the assault, although the intruders had already forced the entrance. “We were all on alert, with more than twenty neighbours out on the street and positioned at the houses,” Ruiz told this newspaper, while stating that “if they touch one neighbour, they touch us all.”
– In images from the security cameras on the neighbours’ farms, to which SUR has had access, four individuals can be seen, wearing balaclavas and armed with sticks and other tools.
– Long-standing resident Esther Ruiz denounces six years of recurrent robberies affecting crops and homes, and criticises poor policing resources and geolocation problems on damaged rural tracks. She warns that criminals now enter occupied houses, sometimes armed, and notes that more locals are seeking firearms licences out of fear. This episode revives a climate of “panic” dating back to 2020, with repeated waves of violent robberies in several villages of the Axarquía. Residents demand specialised rural policing, local wardens, and stronger preventive measures while continuing to coordinate their own night patrols. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/robos-valleniza-almayate-viviendas-fincas-20260316141811-nt_amp.html

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A five-star campsite-resort with 214 bungalows and 110 plots is planned in Vélez-Málaga: {Translation, summary}
– Vélez-Málaga City Council has begun processing a plan to build a five-star camping resort, Alannia Costa del Sol, with a 23.6 million euro investment proposed by Servicios Turísticos Marjal. Set on an unused 77,563 m² estate near Campiñuela Baja, the complex would include 214 bungalows, 110 camping plots, leisure facilities such as pools and a spa, and 266 parking spaces.
– Designed to integrate with its surroundings, it will feature themed zones, green areas, and pedestrian spaces. As an extraordinary action on rural land, it requires municipal authorisation under Andalusia’s sustainability law. The project began administrative processing in January 2022 and is pending public consultation and sectoral reports. The site belongs to Sociedad Azucarera Larios Inmobiliaria, which collaborates with the developer. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/proyecto-velez-campingresort-cinco-estrellas-bungalows-20260309104435-nt_amp.html

CAJIZ

Cajiz hosts the commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ with “El Paso”: {Translation, summary}
– Considered the oldest representation of the Passion of Christ in Andalusia and an event declared of Tourist Interest by the Provincial Council of Malaga. This popular work consists of 36 scenes that take place in a natural setting with scenographic booths built for the occasion, which recreate spaces such as Herod’s Palace, the Judgment Hall, the Well of the Samaritans or the Garden. {Scenographic booths are immersive, three-dimensional customized environments that combine theatrical design techniques with commercial architecture to create memorable visitor experiences. -Ed.}
– The play will be performed in two sessions, on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, April 3 and 4, 2026 respectively, both at 11:30 a.m. El Paso de Cajiz has more than 200 amateur actors, residents of the town and other towns, who actively participate in this staging that every year excites those who attend the event. In addition, the representation includes the act of the Resurrection , being the only Andalusian Paso that interprets this religious painting, which adds a distinctive element within the biblical recreations of Holy Week. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/cajiz-revive-en-semana-santa-el-paso-la-representacion-de-la-pasion-de-cristo-mas-antigua-de-andalucia/

ANTEQUERA

The Regional Government and the City Council of Antequera show their united rejection of the green hydrogen plant of La Joya H2: {Translation, summary}
– The City Council of Antequera and the Department of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Andalusian Regional Government have expressed opposition to the installation of a mega–green hydrogen and photovoltaic energy production park planned on about 400 hectares on the slopes of El Torcal. The project has also faced strong rejection from local residents, who have submitted around 2,000 objections against the plant.
– The mayor of Antequera, Manuel Barón, was unequivocal in stating that “the City Council was the first to file objections against this project; it makes no sense whatsoever.” He also stressed that “we are not against green hydrogen—in fact, the Puerto Seco will have its own production—but we are not going to allow 400 hectares to be installed at the foot of a World Heritage Site. I’m sorry, but no. We will mount a firm opposition using all legal means at our disposal.” Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/antequera/junta-ayuntamiento-antequera-muestran-unidos-planta-hidrogeno-verde-joya_0_2006206495.html

EUROPE

The EU thinks they have convinced Zelenskyy to resume the passage of Russian oil to Hungary so that Orbán will lift the veto on the 90,000 million for Kiev; then Zelenskyy sabotages the deal with delays & unrealistic demands: {Translation, summary}
– The European Union has reached an agreement with Ukraine for President Zelenskyy to accept a European mission overseeing Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. The aim is to convince Hungary and Slovakia to lift their veto on 90 billion in EU aid to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027. The deal follows Russian attacks that disrupted oil supplies to both countries. The EU has offered Ukraine technical and financial support to restore flows while maintaining energy security across Europe.
– Hungary remains sceptical, with Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto calling the arrangement a coordinated political manoeuvre between Kyiv and Brussels and demanding an immediate resumption of supplies. The Druzhba pipeline, a major Soviet era network, remains vital for Hungary and Slovakia, though the EU is pursuing alternatives. Viktor Orban has used the issue to block aid, while Zelenskyy insists Ukraine remains a reliable energy partner despite ongoing Russian attacks. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/ue-convence-zelenski-que-deje-pasar-petroleo-ruso-hacia-hungria-para-que-orban-levante-veto-los-90-000-millones-para-kiev_6947034_0.html
– Update: In a letter to the EU released on Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said repair work on the pipeline was nearing completion and that the pumping station was expected to be restored in 1 to 1.5 months, “in the absence of any further attacks by Russia.”
{So this is all a smokescreen– Zelenskyy basically said all battles must end for him to complete the pipeline repairs and let it flow. He wants aid to continue his war effort, but won’t let the pipeline resume until the battles end. Hungary and Slovakia see right thru this pretence. -Ed.} Update Source: https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/ukraine-accepts-eu-offer-help-restore-druzhba-pipeline/

MIDDLE EAST

Trump fumes at NATO for refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, and embraces going it alone, plus updates on new US attacks on the Strait with 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs, and troops in amphibious launch ships on the way:
– President Donald Trump said Tuesday NATO and most other allies have rejected his calls to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, grousing that he has been unable to rally support behind his war of choice in Iran that he insists he’s conducting for the good of the world, even if it doesn’t appreciate his effort. Trump, who has been pressing allies to help safeguard the critical waterway to ease a chokepoint on the region’s oil exports, fumed that the U.S. is not getting support “despite the fact that we helped” NATO “so much,” and said that it was in allies’ interest to prevent Iran from securing a nuclear weapon.
– Trump’s indignant response to allies’ refusal to get involved in the war underscored that the conflict — now in its third week and causing reverberations across the global economy — is one the international community is looking to the U.S. leader to sort out himself after he launched it without consultation.
– “You would have thought they would have said, ‘We’d love to send a couple of minesweepers.’ That’s not a big deal,” Trump said. “It doesn’t cost very much money. But they didn’t do that.” While he expressed resentment at traditional U.S. allies, Trump insisted he’s OK with the solidifying dynamic of the conflict, which, for better or worse, will rest largely on his shoulders alone. “We don’t need any help, actually,” Trump told reporters as he hosted Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin for a St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House.
– Trump complained that NATO allies have counted on tens of billions of dollars in U.S. backing for Ukraine to fend off Russia’s invasion, but could not return the favor to help the U.S. and Israel in its efforts to defang Iran, which has posed a threat to the Middle East and beyond for years. The U.S., he added, has spent hundreds of billions fortifying Europe and Asian defences.
– UPDATE, US bombs the Strait of Hormuz: Later Tuesday, the U.S. military announced it had fired multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the strait. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles targeted at the sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait, according to U.S. Central Command. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nato-strait-of-hormuz-europe-4e0cf38708e9c3ba8ea2a36148620067

U.S. Sends Something POWERFUL Toward the Strait of Hormuz…Iran’s Worst NIGHTMARE!: The Military Show YouTube Channel. Video Link

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Iran keeps up attacks on neighbours after Israel kills 2 of its top officials:
– Israel killed two senior Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership as it faces its greatest test in decades, and Iran responded Wednesday with renewed missile and drone attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbours and Israel.
– Iranian missile attacks were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones, while air defences could be heard targeting incoming fire over Qatar’s capital, Doha. In the United Arab Emirates, explosions rang out early Wednesday morning in Dubai, followed by a missile alert.
Full article: https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-17-2026-35d15d7cbcfa65fd7d180c28d38e7f31

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Nerja City Council promotes a new training course with paid employment internships: {Translation, summary}
– The course offers 15 places and is aimed at unemployed people from Nerja and Maro registered with the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE). The course will focus on basic operations in lodging establishments, an occupation formerly known as housekeeping. This initiative is part of the EnRuta programme, is funded by the European Social Fund+ and will be taught at the Training and Employment Centre.
– The Councilor for Employment has encouraged the residents of Nerja and Maro in a situation of unemployment to inform themselves and register for this training itinerary, whose application period will remain open until March 31. In total, 15 places will be offered and interested people must be registered as job seekers with the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE). For more information, please contact the Training and Employment Centre. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-ayuntamiento-de-nerja-impulsa-un-nuevo-curso-de-formacion-con-practicas-de-empleo-remuneradas/

HEALTH

The strike in Andalusia causes more than 53,600 appointments suspended on its second day: {Translation, summary}
– The first day of the second week of the strike called by health professionals in Andalusia against the Framework Statute resulted in the suspension of 53,651 medical appointments. Of these, 30,684 corresponded to Primary Care and 22,967 were registered in hospitals, including 980 postponed operations .
– According to data provided by the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), under the Ministry of Health, Presidency and Emergencies, the values by provinces were as follows: Almeria, 25%; Cádiz, 21.95%; Córdoba, 14.04%; Granada, 21.81%; Huelva, 27.36%; Jaén, 16.08%; Malaga, 23.18%; and Seville, 24.34%. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/huelga-andalucia-provoca-mas-53600-citas-suspendidas-segunda-jornada/202603171157383229173.html

SCAMS

Warning issued about a phishing scam impersonating “Mi Carpeta Ciudadana” to steal bank details: {Translation, summary}
– ‘Following a thorough review, it has been determined that, in accordance with the decisions of the relevant authorities, you are entitled to a sum of €283.70 (for individuals) or €541.30 (for businesses), which is now available to you,’ reads the email, shared by the cybersecurity firm ESET.
– ESET has uncovered a sophisticated phishing campaign impersonating the Spanish government’s ‘Mi Carpeta Ciudadana’ portal. Victims receive emails claiming they are entitled to a payment of up to 541 euros and are directed to a fraudulent website that closely mimics the official site. Although the site displays a security padlock, this only indicates encryption, not legitimacy. Victims are then systematically tricked into providing personal details, their IBAN, and ultimately their online banking password. If two-factor authentication is enabled, criminals use the phone number obtained to call and request the verification code, claiming it is needed to process the supposed payment. ESET stresses the importance of recognising these tactics and using security software to filter such emails. Anyone who has interacted with the fake site should seek guidance from the official Cybersecurity Helpline (by phone- dial 017, or WhatsApp +34 900 116 117, no charges, every day 8am-11pm). Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/ciberseguridad/noticia-alertan-campana-phishing-suplanta-carpeta-ciudadana-robar-datos-bancarios-20260317131506.html

OTHER

Identity of street artist Banksy revealed in new investigation:
– An in-depth investigation by Reuters has found the anonymous street artist Banksy is Robin Gunningham, a Bristol-born man, citing New York court records of a 2000 vandalism arrest.
– Banksy-world insiders and experts say the artist’s anonymity has been central to his influence and the high market value of works such as Girl with Balloon. Full article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-17/banksy-real-identity-revealed-in-new-investigation/106462888

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Free golf session offered to women at Axarquía golf course {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/free-golf-session-offered-women-axarquia-golf-20260317161737-nt.html
– Work to Axarquía desalination plant “is hoped” to start ‘by the end of next year’, while Minister Montero says, “this is what we want to see as soon as possible” {A 2yr delay is ‘as soon as possible? So what she’s really saying is it won’t even be started until after the 2027 elections, when she’s out of office and it’s someone else’s problem! -Ed.}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/work-axarquia-desalination-plant-start-the-end-20260316155225-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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Last updated Mar 17, 2026, 23:21 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3206 Tuesday, March 17th, 2026

On March 17, 2026March 17, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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WHAT’S ON

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HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY– 17 MARCH, 2026

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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
– 19th – Table Top Sale – Call if you have something to sell.
– 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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Father’s Day in Spain (Día del Padre) in 2026: This is on Thursday, March 19. It is a fixed annual date that coincides with Saint Joseph’s Day (San José), honouring the father figure of Jesus in the Catholic tradition. While not a public holiday nationally, it is a key cultural day often celebrated with family meals.

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Blues Concert On Sale Now- The Mama Paula Blues Band, Sat, 11 April, 7:30pm, with very special guests Dr. Paul Moonlight Blues on Harp + Richard Ray Farrell on Guitar & Vocals.
Salon Varietes Theater, Fuengirola
Info & tix (€20): https://salonvarietestheatre.com/live/show-details.php?id_show=837 & Video Link

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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Warning Note: Costal high winds & waves possible until 11:59pm Thursday.

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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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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

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AXARQUIA SILVER & GOLD TRADE

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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)
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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 later in the week.
Buyer collects. Only 2 in stock.
Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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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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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

Butane cylinder price hike due to the war in Iran: {Translation, summary}
– This past Monday the new revision of the price of butane was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The increase is considerable, taking into account that the last increase, last January, was 0.7%. The increase that will be applied from this Tuesday, March 17, will be almost 5%, adding 0.77 euros, resulting in a new price of 16.35 euros. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/economia/mibolsillo/subidon-precio-bombona-butano-martes-guerra-iran-20260316131011-nt_amp.html

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The near-impossible task of booking an appointment to apply for a pension or register for unemployment benefits: {Translation, summary}
– The moment to retire has arrived for many Spanish workers, yet securing an appointment with the Social Security to process their pension has become impossible. Government offices, with insufficient staff and mounting tasks, are leaving thousands unable to complete the necessary paperwork. This crisis, born from mandatory online bookings introduced after the pandemic {Which is actually in violation of national laws requiring access to all, including those without smartphones or digital skills. -Ed.}, now also affects the SEPE unemployment agency, where similarly dire delays threaten citizens’ financial rights.
– An OCU (Organisation of Consumers and Users) investigation across 26 provinces found the situation unacceptable. In more than half of attempts, appointments were unavailable locally. Granada, Tarragona, Valencia and Zaragoza yielded no slots whatsoever. Even where appointments exist, waits are excessive: 28 days in Bilbao, over 23 in Malaga and 20 in Murcia. For urgent unemployment claims, delays of up to 32 days in places like Oviedo can result in lost benefits, forcing vulnerable citizens without digital skills into impossible online procedures.
– The OCU demands an end to compulsory advance appointments for urgent cases, priority attention for the vulnerable, human support desks with assistance for people without digital skills or devices, and a binding commitment to resolve urgent procedures within five days. Photo: Antonio López. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/economia/tarea-imposible-pedir-cita-jubilarse-apuntarse-paro-20260316095122-ntrc_amp.html

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Three out of four Spaniards warn of the deterioration of democracy in the country, according to the CIS (Spanish Centre for Sociological Research): {Translation}
– Three out of four Spaniards believe that democracy is currently suffering serious deterioration in Spain and 90% believe that social conflict and polarization are on the rise, according to a study on “Fears in today’s society” conducted at the end of February by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS).
– The survey, released this Monday and reported by Europa Press, indicates that 76.6% of those interviewed believe that there is currently ‘a lot or quite a bit’ of deterioration of democracy in Spain, compared to 20.2% who do not perceive this deterioration or consider it irrelevant. Furthermore, 82.4% of those who see this deterioration admit that this situation worries them ‘a lot or quite a bit’, compared to 16% who do not attach importance to it.
– In another question, nine out of ten respondents (89.8%) believe that social conflicts (violence, polarization and confrontations) are on the rise in today’s society, and only 9% actively denied it.
– The CIS survey specifically asked whether the media is contributing to increased fear and anxiety in society, and 77.1% of respondents believe so, compared to 20.1% who think otherwise. It did not mention whether politicians or other groups also influence societal fears. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-tres-cada-cuatro-espanoles-alertan-deterioro-democracia-pais-cis-20260316143222.html

ANDALUCÍA

Moreno announces “free, high-quality, and unlimited” Wi-Fi in all Andalusian public hospitals, and reveals it is part of the Agenda 2030 ‘Internet of Things’ as public hospitals become ‘smart centers’: {Translation, summary}
– The president of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, announced on Monday the first “free, high-quality, and unlimited” Wi-Fi network in all Andalusian public hospitals. This project has involved an investment of €18.5 million to install 18,000 access points with state-of-the-art Wi-Fi technology. “It is proven that being connected is very important and, above all, being connected helps to make the days and hours in hospitals go by better; to reduce the isolation that often occurs in a hospital and to share concerns with those you feel closest to: friends, family…”, Moreno explained.
– With the collaboration of Telefónica, Vodafone and Innovasur, the president of the Junta explained that the free wifi network in hospitals, with which it will be possible to download movies, listen to music and make a video call, for example, represents “a revolution” for both patients and healthcare professionals, since it turns hospitals into “smart centers” because they have more and more technology that works with wifi.
– “This is what’s called the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT), which allows information screens, electromedical equipment, and even ultrasound machines to be connected to sensors and the central data centers. This means moving towards a much more digital healthcare system, resulting in a more efficient and innovative service,” President Moreno stated. {Explainer for the following paragraph: Andalucía Vuela is a strategic initiative by the Agencia Digital de Andalucía (Andalusian Digital Agency) aiming to make the region an 100% digital, inclusive, and competitive territory. It focuses on fighting depopulation and reducing the digital divide through digital training for citizens and enhancing Wi-Fi infrastructure. -Ed.}
– Regarding Andalucía Vuela, the Andalusian president noted that its rollout in the region has been a significant milestone. “This network is already present in 10,500 public buildings, 430 health centers, schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, and courthouses. It has a total of 122,000 connection points throughout Andalusia,” Juanma Moreno explained in his address. In fact, there are already 376,000 registered users since its launch.
– In a press release, Vodafone Spain announced the completion of its WiFi rollout in eight major hospitals within the Andalusian Health Service (SAS).The Málaga Regional University Hospital now has over 430 WiFi access points across its five locations. “The complexity of the hospital environment demanded meticulous planning to ensure continuity of care at all times.” To guarantee uninterrupted operation, the infrastructure has thirteen redundant servers active 24/7. In the event of a failure, the others automatically take over. Furthermore, data travels through encrypted and independent channels to prevent unauthorized access. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/esandalucia/sevilla/noticia-moreno-anuncia-wifi-gratis-calidad-limite-tiempo-todos-hospitales-publicos-andaluces-20260316131728.html

AXARQUÍA

Funding for the Axarquía desalination plant pits the National Government against the Regional Government: {Translation, summary}
– The desalination plant in Vélez-Málaga should have been completed years ago. While Montero blames the Andalusian regional government for delays, she fails to acknowledge that the central government has been equally slow to act on water infrastructure across Spain.
– The 200 million euro federal financing of the Vélez project is not a gift to Andalusia, as Montero suggests, but an advance that local irrigators will ultimately have to repay through higher water bills.
– The central government’s decision to build a plant that falls under regional competence represents political point-scoring rather than effective long-term planning. Montero’s demand that the regional government provide land rings hollow when the central government has itself failed to invest adequately in Malaga’s water needs during the worst drought in decades. The national government has spent years promising action while delivering little, and this announcement comes suspiciously close to elections. Meanwhile, essential water infrastructure projects worth billions remain unfinished or unfunded across Andalusia. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/axarquia/2026/03/13/montero-destaca-ahorrar-200-millones-127918855.html

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The Axarquía region is recovering from drought, with the Viñuela reservoir system now operating normally: {Translation, summary}
– The La Viñuela reservoir now stands at nearly 90% of its total capacity, with almost 147 cubic hectometres accumulated. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has held telematic meetings of the Drought Management Committee of the Andalusian Mediterranean Basins, at which the formal proposal to move to a situation of normality in those systems that did not yet have this classification was approved. The Viñuela-Axarquía system is confirmed by technical reports to be above the thresholds established in the Special Drought Plans for normality. This progress will allow, in the coming days, the official declaration of the end of the drought throughout the regional area. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/la-axarquia-supera-la-sequia-con-el-sistema-vinuela-en-situacion-de-normalidad/

MALAGA PROVINCE

Periana, the village in Málaga with a free natural spa featuring healing waters that hardly anyone knows about: ‘It exudes a sense of calm’: {Translation, summary}
– One of the most important natural spas in Andalusia is located in a town in the province of Málaga with a population of just 3,000. This is the Baños del Vilo, an authentic Arab spa situated 2.5 kilometres from Periana, which can still be visited today to enjoy its healing waters completely free of charge. The sulphurous waters that spring from this spa meant that, for centuries, Periana became a prime tourist destination, attracting a flood of visitors who came to bathe in these mineral-medicinal waters.
– In the 1990s, Periana Town Council reclaimed the site and, since 2003, the surrounding area has been restored and holiday apartments have been built around the perimeter.
– However, these baths are not exclusively for guests staying at these apartments; they can be visited completely free of charge and without the need to book in advance. As such, anyone visiting this natural site can bathe in its sulphurous waters, which spring naturally at a constant temperature of 21 degrees and are renowned for their healing properties for skin conditions. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/03/16/periana-pueblo-balneario-malaga-natural-gratis-aguas-curativas-nadie-conoce-banos-vilo-dv-128033822.html

ALGARROBO

Algarrobo Town Council is organising a photography competition to capture the ‘Essence of Algarrobo’: {Translation, summary}
– The Town Council of Algarrobo, through its Department of Culture, has launched a photography competition to highlight the identity, landscapes and heritage of the municipality. The initiative invites residents and visitors to capture the ‘Essence of Algarrobo’, showing through photography what makes the area unique. The participation period runs from 11 March to 16 April. The contest encourages participants to share their vision of Algarrobo through images reflecting its landscapes, traditions, culture and local life. Prizes will be awarded to the three best photographers. The council aims to encourage creativity, promote citizen participation and disseminate the scenic, cultural and heritage wealth of the municipality. Check with Town Hall for rules and entry forms. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-ayuntamiento-de-algarrobo-convoca-un-concurso-fotografico-para-capturar-la-esencia-algarrobena/

TORRE DEL MAR

A repeat offender who caused widespread public alarm in Torre del Mar has been arrested and deported: {Translation, summary}
– The National Police have arrested and deported a 45-year-old Romanian repeat offender who had caused social alarm in Torre del Mar. The man, settled in the town since 2021, had an extensive criminal record and recently caused damage to parked vehicles, generating concern among residents. His obscene and aggressive behaviour was frequently reported, with social media posts urging police action.
– Officers from the Vélez-Málaga police station’s Local Immigration and Borders Brigade worked since October to secure judicial authorisation for his deportation, as he had ongoing cases in courts across Vélez-Málaga, Málaga capital and Barcelona. His record included robbery with violence, burglary and criminal damage. Following administrative procedures and police operations involving several brigades and the Unit Attached to the Courts of Málaga, he was deported to Romania in February, ending the unease in Torre del Mar. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/detenido-y-expulsado-del-pais-delincuente-multirreincidente-sembro-alarma-social-torre-del-mar/

EUROPE

The Belgian Prime Minister calls on the EU to ‘normalise relations with Russia’– ‘No one dares to say it out loud’: {Translation, summary}
– Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has called for the EU to normalise relations with Russia to regain access to cheaper energy, arguing that without US support, Europe cannot militarily or economically pressure Moscow, making a negotiated agreement the only viable option. He claimed other European leaders privately agree but will not say so publicly.
– His remarks contradict the EU’s official policy of isolating Russia and avoiding energy imports that could fund its war in Ukraine. The EU’s Energy Commissioner swiftly rejected the idea, warning against indirectly financing Russia’s invasion. Belgium’s own Foreign Minister also distanced himself, stressing that necessary dialogue with Russia is not the same as normalising relations. Both Belgian officials reaffirmed their country’s continued support for Ukraine. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/primer-ministro-belgica-dice-que-ue-debe-normalizar-relaciones-con-rusia_6946530_0.html

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European Commission rejects resuming purchases of Russian energy and warns– “We will not import a single molecule again”: {Translation, summary}
– The European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jorgensen, ruled out on Monday the possibility of resuming energy purchases from Russia after the Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, suggested over the weekend that Europe might reconsider its energy relations with Moscow should an agreement be reached to end the war in Ukraine. “In the European Union, we have decided that we do not want to import Russian energy,” the Commissioner stated on his arrival at the Energy Council meeting in Brussels, where ministers are discussing the current surge in energy prices and possible EU responses.
“Europe cannot indirectly contribute to financing Russia’s brutal and illegal war. For too long we have depended on Russian energy, which has allowed Putin to blackmail us with energy and use it as a weapon against us. We are determined to stay the course on these issues,” he remarked. He therefore argued that the EU must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and stay the course on its energy policy. ‘The message is very clear: in future we will not import a single molecule from Russia,’ he stressed.
– For her part, Sweden’s Energy Minister, Ebba Busch, has also rejected any possibility of resuming energy relations with Moscow and has insisted that the EU must not return to relying on Russian gas despite the current context of high prices.
– Her Belgian counterpart, Mathieu Bihet, however, has not commented on De Wever’s statements, although he has defended the need to “create energy production capacities on European soil”, as well as the promotion of nuclear energy as a possible way to lower prices and guarantee supply. ‘We welcome the European Commission’s note of support on SMRs (small modular reactors) and the President’s remarks last week at the European nuclear energy summit in Paris, where she stated that it was a strategic mistake to abandon nuclear energy and turn the page on it,’ he said. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/economia/energia-00341/noticia-bruselas-rechaza-reanudar-compras-energia-rusa-avisa-no-volveremos-importar-molecula-20260316122556.html

WORLD

Cuba suffers a total blackout of the electrical system:
– A new total disconnection of Cuba’s National Electric System (SEN) occurred this Monday, March 16, 2026. It is the sixth nationwide blackout in the last 18 months. The power outage left the entire country without electricity, reported the state-run Electric Company (UNE) on its social media. According to the entity, “the causes are under investigation,” and “emergency protocols” have begun to be activated in an attempt to restore the SEN.
– However, authorities warned that normalizing the power supply could take numerous hours due to the condition of the infrastructure and the scale of the breakdowns. Currently, nine of the 16 thermoelectric units that make up the national system are out of service. These plants represent around 40% of the country’s electricity generation, so their shutdown reduces the system’s capacity to meet domestic demand.
– Before today’s collapse, the National Electric Power System (SEN) had already suffered five other total failures in just over a year. The first occurred on October 18, 2024; the second on November 6, 2024, associated with the passage of Hurricane Rafael; the third on December 4, 2024; the fourth on March 14, 2025; and the fifth on September 10, 2025, when an unexpected shutdown at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant caused the system to disconnect. Full article: https://havanatimes.org/news/cuba-suffers-another-national-electrical-collapse/

HEALTH

Doctors are back on the streets in the second week of this year’s strike: “I feel completely unrepresented by this minister”: {Translation, summary}
– Hundreds of doctors began a second national strike in Spain this Monday, protesting outside the Ministry of Health in Madrid. They demand a dedicated statute to end compulsory 24-hour on-call shifts, which are poorly paid and do not count toward pensions. The strike committee, comprising several major medical unions, accuses Minister Monica Garcia of avoiding dialogue and dismissing a recent ministry announcement of an agreement with a small medical worker’s union as a “trick” to demobilise them.
– Doctors of all ages and ranks, including trainees and students, participated, expressing exhaustion and disillusionment. Key demands include better pay and conditions for on-call work, recognition of resident doctors as trainees rather than cheap labour, and the ability to maintain a work-life balance. The minister has insultingly suggested the strike has political motivations, a claim the doctors deny, insisting on their serious and justified grievances. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/los-medicos-vuelven-calle-segunda-semana-huelga-ano-me-siento-cero-representada-por-esta-ministra_6946518_0.html

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Two ministers living in isolation bubbles blame each other, while ignoring the reality of the healthcare disaster– That they are both to blame!:
– Minister of Health, Presidency & Emergencies of the Andalusian Regional Government, Antonio Sanz, accuses National Minister of Health, Mónica García, of causing Andalusia to lose more than half a million medical procedures due to her “arrogance”.
– Minister Sanz has accused Minister García of making Andalusia lose more than half a million medical acts and 77 million euros in the two strikes that to date have been supported by the doctors of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) to protest against the Framework Statute. In statements to the media in Seville, Sanz regretted García’s “arrogance and arrogance” on the day on which the second full strike week begins, from March 16 to 20, framed in a calendar of mobilisations that will last until next June if there is no agreement with the Ministry before.
– For the Andalusian minister the situation is “unsustainable and unacceptable” and he has reproached the “abandonment of responsibilities” of the Minister of Health that, ultimately, “we suffer” the autonomous communities. “Andalusia supports doctors, we understand them,” said Antonio Sanz (who has zero medical training) as he criticised the head of the Government for not caring about patients. “We communities suffer a strike in which we have nothing to do.” {Clearly Sanz is disingenuous in his attempts to deflect responsibility– he, along with Minister García, both refuse to address the claims of the majority medical workers, rather they negotiate with small unions and claim they are working with the entire industry when they are not. Both continue to repeat failed proposals as if they were new solutions while avoiding the only real solution: higher wages and better working conditions for medical staff. It makes one wonder if they are they waiting for the unpaid robot doctors to eventually fill these vacancies? -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/esandalucia/sevilla/noticia-sanz-acusa-ministra-hacer-perder-andalucia-mas-millon-actos-medicos-soberbia-prepotencia-20260316110529.html

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The Nursing Director of the Malaga Clinical Hospital resigns, returns to his previous position as ward supervisor of the Oncohematology Service: {Translation, summary}
– The director of Nursing of the Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital (El Clinico), Pablo Fernández Plaza, has resigned after five and a half years in office. The professional has alleged “personal reasons” despite his transferring to another hospital position, as health sources have confirmed to La Opinión de Málaga. Fernández Plaza assumed command in 2020, in full covid-19 pandemic, one of the most critical moments that has passed through the Malaga hospital, as well as the rest of the health centers. Until that moment, he held the position of supervisor of the Oncohematology Service, a position that he is now returning to. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/fotos/malaga/2026/03/16/director-enfermeria-hospital-clinico-malaga-pablo-fernandez-128045115.html

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

When is a game not just a game? Pokémon GO players were duped into feeding data to train AIs:
– Pokémon GO, launched in 2016, did more than transform mobile gaming; players were also contributing to the training of advanced artificial intelligence. In 2024, Niantic revealed its work on Spatial Intelligence, a model that refines the placement of digital elements in real-world settings. Its spin-off division, Niantic Spatial, has used data gathered from players of Pokémon GO and Ingress, amounting to 30 billion urban images captured through their cameras.
– These images are now training AI systems used in Coco Robotics’ delivery machines, deployed in cities including Los Angeles, Miami, and Helsinki. Niantic Spatial’s leaders, John Hanke and Brian McClendon, explained that the technology enabling Pikachu’s realistic movements parallels that guiding autonomous delivery robots. By comparing live camera input to vast spatial and visual databases, Coco robots can navigate streets safely and accurately, showcasing how a mobile game’s global user base became an unexpected force in robotics innovation.
Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/videojuegos/no-solo-capturabas-pikachus-tambien-entrenabas-una-ia-niantic-usa-camara-pokemon-go-para-guiar-robots-reparto_6946503_0.html
Additional ref, English: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/pokemon-go-ai-mapping-22/

SCIENCE

A Catalan study claims that the Pyramids of Giza were not built by the Egyptians– they are said to be 12,000 years old: {Translation, summary}
– A recent study by Catalan researcher António Ambrósio proposes that the Pyramids of Giza may be around 12,000 years old, far older than the accepted dating of 2600–2500 BC. Published on Academia.edu and not yet peer reviewed, the research argues that these monuments might have been built by an advanced civilisation preceding ancient Egypt. Supporting evidence includes the absence of royal mummies, granite cuts difficult to achieve with known copper tools, and erosion on the Sphinx consistent with ancient heavy rainfall.
– Ambrósio’s theory aligns with ideas previously advanced by authors such as Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock, and Robert Schoch, who also question Egypt’s traditional chronology. The study points to the pyramids’ precise astronomical alignment as a sign of sophisticated knowledge. Altogether, it challenges the mainstream view that the Egyptians constructed the monuments, suggesting instead the legacy of a forgotten and technologically capable civilisation that predates recorded history. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/ciencia/un-estudio-catalan-asegura-que-las-piramides-giza-no-fueron-construidas-por-los-egipcios-tendrian-12-000-anos-antigueedad_6946723_0.html

SPACE

The official Spanish website for the Trio of Eclipses offers information regarding these rare events:
– Spain will see three consecutive solar eclipses: on August 12, 2026, August 2, 2027, and January 26, 2028. Two of them will be total eclipses and one annular.
– The official website for the Trio of Eclipses offers extensive information on these events: technical aspects, viewing, and planning trips to prime viewing locations. [ https://www.trioeclipses.es/ ] You can choose the display language in the upper right corner of the page.

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– New pet ownership regulations and dog leash laws in Almuñécar: a guide to fines and compliance
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/new-pet-ownership-regulations-and-dog-leash-20260313131256-nt.html
– Malaga-Madrid AVE travel alert: Adif confirms high-speed line closed until after Easter 2026
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-will-remain-without-direct-highspeed-connection-20260316130118-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Mar 17, 2026, 00:31 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra No. 3205 WEEKEND EDITION Friday, March 13th, 2026

On March 13, 2026March 15, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Next Editor’s Holiday: Monday, 16 March.
Next Public Holidays:
2 April, Maundy Thursday
3 April, Good Friday
5 April, Easter Sunday
Thus, in April 2026, there is a long weekend break for Easter: Thursday thru Sunday, 2 thru 5 April.

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DigameXtra Will Be Closed Next Monday, 16/3/26, For An Editor’s Holiday

Items scheduled for Monday 16/3, will be posted the following day, Tuesday 17/3. Please time your submissions appropriately.

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WHAT’S ON

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41 CLUB NERJA

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Villanueva del Rosario celebrates its Tapa Route this weekend: Sat, 14 March & Sun, 15 March, from noon.
11 participating establishments. Tapa & drink €3.50

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Live Music in El Morche by Jose Cortes: Spanish acoustic guitar
Sat, 14 March, 6:30pm
Banaka La Taberna, Playa de El Morche
Web: FB Link

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La Cala de Mijas Lions Club- Second Edition of the Waiters’ Race: Saturday, 28 March, from 11am
Visit the artisan market stalls, where a variety of handcrafted goods and local products will be on offer.
At 3pm local waiters and waitresses take on the ultimate hospitality challenge, a race during which local waiting staff will demonstrate their skills in the art of correctly carry a tray of food and drinks with one hand.

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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Latest Weather Alerts & Advisories For Andalucia: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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DOCTORLAPTOP’S COMPUTER REPAIRS & SALES

DoctorLaptop’s Full Maintenance Clean & TuneUp: 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”. Take responsibility for your digital security or you’ll only have yourself to blame when your accounts get hijacked.
If you rely on your computer and want it running at peak performance, free of malware, password stealers, data collectors and trackers, an annual professional servicing is necessary. You wouldn’t drive your car till it runs out of oil before servicing it, would you? I do the most comprehensive cleaning and tune-up possible: verify all System files replacing any found to be corrupt, test all hardware and do hard disk sector repairs if needed, use 5 tool malware/adware/spyware/tracker removal protocol, clean out junk files/logs/history/etc., update Windows+all drivers+programs and finally optimize your settings and registry for fastest overall performance.
Heavily infected comps, computers taking more than 2 minutes to startup or shutdown, or showing error messages– those need a repair, not a maintenance service, ask for rates. HDD hard disks of 1000Gb or more add €10.
DoctorLaptop’s Computer Repairs- Torrox Costa
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 then 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

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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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Note from DoctorLaptop: I have a fresh stock of new laptops arriving next week– 2 business, 1 mid-line & 1 budget model. I won’t be restocking again until after the summer. Prices for computers are outrageously high at the moment, but I managed to get a decent discount on the lot, so these will be reasonably priced. Details here once I have them. -Naythan

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

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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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

Eating out in Spain costs 40% more than in 2021, the cost of living has risen by 20% in the same period: {Translation, summary}
– Eating in Spain is now 40% more expensive than in 2021, according to a report by EAE Business School, while the overall cost of living has risen 20%. Food inflation has become structural over the past decade, decoupling from the general CPI. Despite a moderation to 2.9% in 2025, a “step effect” means high prices from 2023-2024 are here to stay due to permanently changed labour, energy and climate costs. Recent geopolitical tensions, particularly the Middle East war, are exacerbating the trend by driving up oil, gas, transport and fertiliser costs, which pressure food prices.
– The impact is unequal; food inflation acts as a regressive tax, penalising low income households who spend nearly 20% of their income on food, compared to 5% for wealthier families. Regional disparities are stark, with poverty rates exceeding 30% in food producing areas like Extremadura. The crisis is causing a nutritional fracture, as families swap high quality protein for cheap, processed carbohydrates, with the healthy basket rising 40% more than a basic one. This risks long term public health costs.
– Compounding these issues, the food distribution sector is highly concentrated, with five operators controlling over half the market, a structure which helped contain the initial inflationary shock through efficiencies but now contributes to price setting. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/comer-cuesta-espana-un-40-mas-que-2021-castiga-tres-veces-mas-los-hogares-ingresos-bajos_6945003_0.html

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The Sanchez Shell Game- paying for new things with previously allocated funds- The Government cuts aid to farmers for wolf damage to give it to the electric car dealers: {Translation, summary}
– The Government of Pedro Sánchez has cut the budget item for compensation to farmers for wolf damage to direct it instead to the Moves III Plan, which includes aid for electric cars. This is reflected in the files of budget modifications for 2025, sent to the budget office of Congress, to which Libertad Digital has had access.
– The total amount amounts to 20 million euros, a considerable figure for those who live from livestock farming and which the Autonomous Communities will now have to compensate with their own budgets. The deputy and spokesperson for Agriculture of the PP, Milagros Marcos, declares to this newspaper that “the Government is taking the money of the farmers”.
– The most affected regions are Castilla y León, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria, where wolf attacks have grown by more than 60% on average, despite which the Ministry of Ecological Transition still does not allow the control of its population. Marcos recalls that the European Commission has opened a file against Spain for failing to comply with EU regulations in this regard.
– To try to dodge the lack of General State Budget, the Government resorts to accounting manoeuvres to be able to modify different economic items and thus make up for its parliamentary minority. This time, to continue promoting the green policies of which it boasts, even if it is at the cost of harming the primary sector.
– Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/libremercado/2026-03-12/el-gobierno-recorta-las-ayudas-a-ganaderos-por-danos-del-lobo-para-darselas-al-coche-electrico-7372979/

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Sánchez calls for bringing forward the entry of the digital euro while Sweden defends cash in the midst of uncertainty: {Translation, summary}
– Pedro Sánchez is urging the EU to accelerate the digital euro’s launch to 2028, a year earlier than planned. In a letter to the European Council President, he framed this as crucial for European “financial sovereignty,” reducing dependence on foreign payment infrastructures, and shielding EU businesses from extraterritorial sanctions. He envisions the digital euro not merely as a payment tool but as a strategic asset. However, this timeline is deemed “ambitious” by ECB sources, who note that a two-year preparation period for banks and businesses is typically required after legislation is finalised. The legislative process is still ongoing, with parliamentary positioning expected in May and trilogue negotiations later in the year. The ECB’s own roadmap targets a 2029 issuance if rules are adopted in 2026. The push for a digital euro has raised concerns, particularly in Spain. Associations like Denaria warn it threatens cash, which they argue is essential for national security, privacy, and resilience during system failures. This worry is amplified by contrasting advice from Sweden’s central bank, which recently recommended households keep cash reserves due to the vulnerabilities of a highly digitalised payment system in an unstable world, suggesting a divergence in views on the future of money. These concerns are validated by evidence from major digital economies: a Bloomberg article from June 2025 reported that more than half of all fraud cases in India now occur in digital transactions, with its UPI system logging over a million cases of “hustle and con” annually through phishing and SIM card cloning. {Now add in the huge digital crypto currency thefts and frauds; the digital financial losses are staggering! Cash is king! Say NO to digital cash and digital ID! A lost freedom is rarely regained. -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/libremercado/2026-03-12/sanchez-pide-adelantar-la-entrada-del-euro-digital-mientras-suecia-defiende-el-dinero-efectivo-en-plena-incertidumbre-7372848/

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Sanchez’s Truck-Banner Defamation Lawsuit Fails, Billed €2000 in court costs: {Translation, summary}
– The Supreme Court has ordered the PSOE to pay 2,000 euros in costs to the Central Electoral Commission after dismissing the party’s lawsuit against Hazte Oír. The socialist party had challenged the Commission’s decision to allow the association’s lorry, which displayed messages critical of Pedro Sánchez and his wife during the 2024 European election campaign, as well as denouncing images of the couple as pigs wallowing in mud. The PSOE argued that the campaign violated electoral law by seeking to harm its electoral prospects and benefit far-right parties.
– However, the court ruled that the messages, while harsh, fell within the bounds of freedom of expression and did not constitute an unlawful solicitation of votes. It noted that the campaign had begun months before the election and continued afterwards, undermining any claim of a direct electoral link. The court also warned that restricting such citizen expression during campaigns would lead to the absurd outcome of silencing political participation guaranteed by the Constitution. The PSOE now has five days to appeal the costs assessment. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/espana/psoe-obligado-pagar-2000-euros-junta-electoral-fracasar-demanda-camion-hazte-oir-sanchez-begona-gomez_2026031269b2eb73e1ff634075e60047.html

ALMÁCHAR

Almáchar pays tribute to women with a unique cultural exhibition: {Translation, summary}
– The town of Almachar in Spain’s Axarquia region will host an “Exhibition Equality in Homage to Women” from 20th March to 3rd April 2026 at the Centre for Art Development. Curated by Antonio Montes, the opening event on 20th March at 6.00 pm will feature poetry readings by international authors from Mexico, Colombia, Spain and Costa Rica, a dance performance by the Herencia Latina group, and a screening of “Stories of Great Women” highlighting female contributions across society. The exhibition will be open weekdays from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm, offering visitors an opportunity to reflect on women’s role in society. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/almachar-rinde-homenaje-a-la-mujer-con-una-exposicion-cultural-unica/

CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO

Registration is now open for the 7th “El Saltillo” Urban Race in Canillas de Aceituno: {Translation, summary}
– The seventh ‘El Saltillo’ Urban Race has been presented in Canillas de Aceituno, a qualifying event for the 34th Malaga Provincial Athletics Circuit. Organised by the town council with support from the Malaga Provincial Council and the Andalusian Athletics Federation, the race will take place on Saturday 20th June at 7.30 pm. Sports Councillor Alvaro Hurtado announced that registrations are open until 16th June via the federation website or town council sports department, with fees of 5 euros for youth categories and 8 euros for others. The Provincial Circuit, organised by the Malaga Provincial Council, offers cross country, track and popular races throughout the year, attracting nearly 8,000 participants and combining both popular participation and federated athletes in an accessible competition. Info & reg: https://web.faalive.com/ch/2026/14230/vii%20carrera%20popular%20el%20saltillo-canillas%20de%20aceituno

ENERGY CRISIS

Iran’s war causes the loss of 10 million barrels of oil per day, the largest supply collapse in history: {Translation, summary}
– The International Energy Agency reports that the Middle East conflict has caused the largest supply interruption in oil market history, with the equivalent of 10 million barrels per day lost through the Strait of Hormuz. Flows through this critical chokepoint have plummeted to less than 10% of pre-crisis levels, when 20 million barrels daily passed through, representing 20% of global supply. The IEA has slashed its 2026 supply growth forecast by more than half after estimating an 8 million barrel per day production collapse in March.
– Alternative pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE offer some relief but remain vulnerable to Iranian attacks and have limited capacity. Asian nations are hardest hit, with China, India, South Korea and Japan heavily dependent on this route. In response, IEA member countries will release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, the largest such action since 1974, though the agency warns this is only temporary. The conflict’s ultimate impact depends on both attack intensity and the duration of the Strait’s closure. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/economia/guerra-iran-provoca-perdida-10-millones-barriles-diarios-petroleo_2026031269b29d36e1ff634075e59ea9.html

SPORTS

Tennis News- BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells schedule & scores:
https://bnpparibasopen.com/scores

GASTRONOMIA

Best Restaurants & Street Food in Malaga:
From juicy espetos on the beach to classic tapas in the old town, we show real places, real prices, and real flavours of Málaga.
Video Link

TECH

The “Google Maps” for human organs is now available online- it allows you to explore them in unprecedented detail: {Translation, summary}
– The Human Organ Atlas is a new open access 3D portal that enables interactive exploration of intact human organs from complete structure down to near cellular level. Developed by an international team led by University College London, it uses Hierarchical Phase Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT) at the European Synchrotron, a technique 100 billion times brighter than hospital CT scanners. This achieves resolutions below one micron, bridging a long standing gap between radiology and histology.
– Accessible via standard web browser without specialised software [ https://human-organ-atlas.esrf.fr/ ], the Atlas currently features 56 organs from 25 donors, including brain, heart, lungs and kidneys, with datasets up to 14 terabytes. The multiscale imaging reveals microscopic structures previously invisible, supporting research into diseases like Covid-19 vascular injuries and heart disorders. Beyond biomedical research, the resource is designed to advance medical AI development by providing scarce high quality 3D data, and to serve education and public engagement. The collection will expand with more organs and samples, fostering an open global community for anatomical discovery. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/salud/actualidad/…

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sánchez plagiarises Maduro and the Kirchnerists with his ‘hate meter’ to censor social media: {Translation, summary}
– Pedro Sánchez has unveiled Hodio, a tool to measure “hate speech and polarisation” on Spanish social media, promising public results to expose those who “do business with hate.” Critics, however, draw direct parallels with censorship mechanisms in Venezuela and Argentina.
– In 2017, Nicolás Maduro’s regime enacted a law against hate, punishing “incitement” with up to 20 years in prison, forcing media to promote state-approved messages, and ordering swift content removal from social platforms under threat of blocking.
– Similarly, Argentina’s Kirchnerist government created the Nodio Observatory to combat “disinformation and symbolic violence,” a move widely condemned as a censorship tool aimed at controlling the press and online discourse.
– Sánchez’s Hodio forms part of a broader regulatory package targeting digital platforms, including banning under-16s from social media and criminalising algorithmic amplification of illegal content. Positioning himself as a victim of online hate, Sánchez argues the digital realm must have rules and that networks must be held accountable. Yet opponents see Hodio as the latest iteration of a familiar strategy used by autocratic and populist leaders to silence opposition under the guise of combating hatred. Source, Spanish: https://okdiario.com/espana/hodio-sanchez-plagia-maduro-kirchner-odiometro-censurar-redes-sociales-16402849

OTHER

Morrissey cancels Valencia gig after ‘loud’ city prevents him from sleeping– Controversial former Smiths frontman said lack of rest has left him in ‘catatonic state’:
– The former Smiths frontman, 66, was due to play in the Spanish city on Thursday (12 March), but he pulled the plug after struggling to get any sleep “due to festival noise, loud techno singing and megaphone announcements” through the night, which he said has left him in “a catatonic state”.
– He wrote on his blog Morrissey Central: “Tonight’s scheduled show in Valencia has been rendered impossible due to sleep deprivation. Morrissey drove from Milan to Valencia but has been unable to rest in Valencia due to noise.” The singer, who said he was experiencing “indescribable hell”, wrote in a follow-up post: “The show is not cancelled. Circumstances render the show impossible,” adding in a third: “It will take me one year to recover. And that is an understatement.”
– According to Morrissey fan site Morrissey-Solo, the singer has cancelled 111 shows and postponed 100 more since 2012. The Valencia show is the sixth concert he’s cancelled in 2026, having called time on dates in North American cities St Petersburg, Rancho Mirage, San Diego, St Louis, and Atlanta earlier this year. Full article: https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/morrissey-cancel-valencia-tour-smiths-b2937316.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Police investigation uncovers warehouse full of Nazi propaganda in Granada town
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/german-investigation-uncovers-warehouse-full-nazi-propaganda-20260312100530-nt.html
– Malaga Metro workers’ strike causes crowds at stops and long delays
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-city/crowds-stops-and-long-waits-the-first-20260312102953-nt.html
– Work begins on second phase of Salobreña promenade
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/work-begins-the-remodelling-the-second-phase-20260312100952-nt.html
– Costa Tropical’s Miradores y Acantilados de Torrenueva Costa suspension bridge route recognised at national awards ceremony {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/torrenueva-costa-obtains-the-first-blue-trail-20260311104626-nt.html

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CHURCHES & WORSHIP

Churches: Please submit your posts on Thursdays only, before 6pm.

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NEW LIFE CHURCH

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EL PUENTE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

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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
– Junior, 2 year old Kelpie, sadly needing a new home due to the death of his owner. Great with other dogs, cats and children. Small to medium.
– Monty, 7 year old Dalmatian mix, he has been in kennels for the last 5 years of his life, loves people, but not so keen on smaller dogs or cats – Preferred as an only dog.
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.

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

Free Comic Strips provided by https://www.arcamax.com/comics

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Iznájar- Breathtaking, Hidden Gem of Inland Andalusia:
Iznájar is a picturesque white village in southern Spain, located in the province of Córdoba within the autonomous region of Andalusia. Perched dramatically on a hilltop overlooking the vast Iznájar Reservoir, the town is known for its stunning panoramic views, traditional architecture, and tranquil rural atmosphere. Video Link

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Mar 12, 2026, 20:20 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade +34-606423869

FB Page & Home Page

Home Page – Based in Torrox Costa, near the bus station.

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DigameXtra No. 3204 Thursday, March 12th, 2026

On March 12, 2026March 11, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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DigameXtra Will Be Closed Next Monday, 16/3/26, For An Editor’s Holiday

Items scheduled for Monday 16/3, will be posted the following day, Tuesday 17/3. Please time your submissions appropriately.

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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Periana’s Ruta de la Tapa: Fri – Sat, 13 – 14 March
Each tapa will cost €2.50. There will be a raffle for vouchers to be used at participating establishments, as well as a giveaway of t-shirts.

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‘Sabor a Málaga’ – Vélez-Málaga: Fri – Sun, 13 – 15 March
Located at Calle Canalejas
30 provincial producers, plus live cooking demonstrations, workshops, and tastings.
– On Friday the 13th, the fair will open with culinary demonstrations by local chefs, such as Chin Chin Puerto and the teams from Los Pablos, Ménade, and Esto es Jauja. Later, visitors can sample oils, olives, and other traditional snacks. The day will include live music, performances by Nahuel & Darío and the “Dreams and Dance” dance academy, and will conclude with a show and plenty of fun.
– Saturday the 14th will continue with the brass band “Y quiénes somos” (And Who Are We), a presentation of new culinary offerings such as those from Chiringuito Varela, workshops and tastings of Malaga cheeses , and spaces to enjoy provincial and local cuisine. The afternoon will include dance performances by the Cristina Gallardo Dance Academy, flamenco singing and folksy performances by “Rincón Marengo,” and a concert by the Cristo del Mar Bugle and Drum Band from Vélez-Málaga.
– Sunday the 15th will be dedicated to children, with cooking workshops, the Holy Week Get-Together, “My Noe’s Delights,” a traditional Malaga spoon, a little chefs’ hour, and visits from children’s favorite characters. Visitors can also sample stews, homemade croquettes, and other products while enjoying live music and performances such as that of the group “Por Derecho.” Throughout the three days, the fair will offer a complete gastronomic and cultural experience, where quality, tradition, and innovation come together with music, dance, and family entertainment.

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La Térmica Village- Nerja: Saturday, March 14th
Plaza de España. 5pm to 11pm
It will feature performances by Kiki Morente, Maximiliano Calvo, El Nieto Manuel and Derek Van Den Bulke, within a program that will combine live concerts, creative workshops, food trucks and a design market.

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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Latest Weather Alerts & Advisories For Andalucia: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town
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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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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

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TAOGARDEN MASSAGE

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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: DoctorLaptop Refurbished Linux Laptop
Acer, model F5-571, with Intel i5 5200U processor
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!
It cannot run Windows, but I can install any version of Linux you like. Make an appointment to come inspect it, and if you want it, leave me a €50 deposit and inform me of which Linux distro you’d like, and I will have it ready in 2 or 3 days.
The buyer should have at least a minimal familiarity Linux, the price does not include lessons.
Total price: €250, ‘no-risk’ 7 day cash back guaranty. Contact: DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

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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NEWS & ARTICLES

(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

Sanchez announces another €2.5 billion in new spending without explaining how he will fund it without a budget: {Translation, summary}
– The Spanish government has announced a 2,559 million euro scholarship package for the upcoming academic year, calling it a historic investment and the ninth consecutive annual increase since 2018. However, with no clear funding mechanism, the announcement risks being another political gesture rather than a credible commitment. The plan includes new Luisa Medrano mobility grants and expanded aid for working students and those with disabilities.
– While the government claims nearly one million students will benefit, the lack of a formal 2026 budget raises doubts about delivery. The doubling of travel aid for Ceuta and Melilla students and the first update to asset thresholds in a decade are positive but insufficient without sustainable ongoing financing. Meanwhile, textbook funding stagnates at 58.5 million euros. Sánchez’s tendency to announce ambitious initiatives without secure funding risks leaving students and families facing unfulfilled promises once again. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/gobierno-aprueba-2-559-millones-para-las-becas-proximo-curso-con-mejoras-para-los-jovenes-que-trabajan-estudian-vez_6944222_0.html

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Sánchez announces the launch of the ‘Hodio’ tool to measure the reach of hate speech on social networks: {Translation, summary}
– Pedro Sánchez has announced the launch of ‘Hodio’, a government tool designed to systematically track, measure, and expose hate speech across digital platforms in Spain. The system, officially named the ‘Hate and Polarization Footprint’, claims to use transparent, academically validated methods—combining quantitative data analysis and expert review {Who’s expert?}—to assess the presence, amplification, and societal impact of online hate, with no details of where this new technology will come from. He claims results will be published publicly to name-shame platforms that fail to act, turn a blind eye, or profit from hate, while also pushing for age verification systems to block under-16s from social media and criminalizing algorithmic manipulation that spreads illegal content {That will require all users to have the highly contested and widely unpopular digital ID. Say NO to DIGITAL ID! -Ed.}
– Yet, enforcement remains a glaring weakness. While the tool aims to quantify hate speech trends and pressure platforms into accountability, it lacks binding legal mechanisms to force compliance from global tech giants like Meta or X (Twitter). Sánchez’s examples—such as the disputed claim of a 50% surge in hate speech on X after Musk’s takeover or the Torre Pacheco racial backlash—illustrate the urgency, but his proposals rely on voluntary cooperation and untested regulatory frameworks. Without EU-wide alignment, strict penalties, or real-time moderation mandates, the initiative risks becoming another unenforced declaration, leaving hate speech to fester while platforms face no real consequences. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/epsocial/igualdad/noticia-sanchez-anuncia-puesta-marcha-herramienta-hodio-medir-alcance-discursos-odio-redes-20260311100838.html

MALAGA CITY

Soles de Málaga 2026- 12 Hours of Music and Solidarity to Support Vulnerable Communities: {Translation, summary}
– The Soles de Málaga Charity Festival returns on 18 April, offering 12 hours of live music from 12:00 to 00:00 at La Malagueta Bullring. Organised by the Fundación El Pimpi, the event features performances by Seguridad Social, Broken Peach, SuperHeavySound, and others, hosted by Belinda Washington and Ángel Rielo. All proceeds will support local charities AFESOL, Nuevo Futuro, Prolibertas, Fundación Betania, and ALAS Málaga, which aid vulnerable groups in mental health, foster care, social reintegration, and child protection.
– The festival includes a grassy track area with shade, food, and drink stalls. Solidarity passes cost 25 euros for adults and 5 euros for children under 10. The event combines entertainment with philanthropy, reinforcing its reputation as a key cultural and charitable fixture in Málaga. Info & tix (€25): https://entradium.com/events/festival-soles-de-malaga-2026

NERJA

Public Review Period Opens For Nerja Parking Project: {Translation, summary}
– Mayor of Nerja, José Alberto Armijo, has, on the proposal of the Councillor for Urban Planning and Infrastructure, decreed the public exhibition of the Draft Project and Feasibility Study for the concession of construction and operation works of a car park building, with 847 spaces, to be located on plot SG-EC.2 of the General Urban Development Plan next to the new Health Centre, in the area of Avenida de Pescia.
– Both documents, which include all the required municipal technical and legal reports, will be on public display through an announcement in the Official Bulletin of the Province of Málaga and on the virtual noticeboard of the Town Hall for a period of one month, starting from the date of their publication. They will also be available to interested parties on the Municipal Electronic Headquarters. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/nerja-somete-a-exposicion-publica-el-anteproyecto-y-el-estudio-de-viabilidad-del-nuevo-edificio-de-aparcamientos-con-847-plazas/

CÓMPETA

The A-7206 road between Sayalonga and Cómpeta will reopen this Thursday after a month cut off by a landslide:
{Translation, summary}
– The Regional Government of Andalusia will temporarily reopen the A-7206 road between Sayalonga and Cómpeta on Thursday 12 March, following a month-long closure due to a landslip caused by February’s heavy rains. Traffic will initially be restricted to a single lane with alternating flow controlled by traffic lights while work continues to stabilise the hillside. The works, which include geotechnical investigations with boreholes and monitoring instruments, began shortly after the closure and are expected to last approximately 40 working days in total. The closure has significantly impacted several inland villages, including Sayalonga and Cómpeta, forcing residents onto lengthy alternative routes. Once completed, the investigations will inform the final reconstruction of the road. Authorities urge caution in the affected area. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/junta-trabaja-contrarreloj-reabrir-carretera-a7206-sayalonga-20260305225001-nt_amp.html

EUROPE

Ursula von der Leyen Backtracks– now says EU ‘will always defend’ international order: {Translation, summary}
– Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, declared before the European Parliament that the EU will “always defend” the UN Charter and international law, just days after stating the bloc “can no longer trust” a rules-based global system. She framed the EU as a “peace project,” reaffirming its “unwavering commitment” to these principles, despite growing scepticism. Her earlier remarks provoked backlash, with European Council President António Costa emphasising the need to uphold a rules-based order amid US challenges to global stability.
– Von der Leyen also condemned Iran’s regime as founded on “repression, violence, and fear,” expressing support for Iranians seeking freedom. She balanced realism with idealism, insisting that acknowledging global realities does not weaken Europe’s resolve to pursue its {Agenda 2030-2050} vision. The speech concluded with a reaffirmation of the EU’s solidarity with Cyprus, underscoring its strategic priorities amid shifting international dynamics. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-von-der-leyen-dice-ahora-ue-siempre-defendera-orden-internacional-20260311093118.html

UK

Britain is ejecting hereditary nobles from Parliament after 700 years:
– Centuries of British political tradition will end within weeks after Parliament voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the unelected House of Lords.
– On Tuesday night members of the upper chamber dropped objections to legislation passed by the House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their aristocratic titles.
– Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the change put an end to “an archaic and undemocratic principle.” “Our parliament should always be a place where talents are recognized and merit counts,” he said. “It should never be a gallery of old boys’ networks, nor a place where titles, many of which were handed out centuries ago, hold power over the will of the people.”
– The House of Lords plays an important role in Britain’s parliamentary democracy, scrutinizing legislation passed by the elected House of Commons. But critics have long argued that it is unwieldy and undemocratic. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/uk-house-of-lords-hereditary-peers-expelled-535df8781dd01e8970acda1dca99d3d4

USA

Video clips from yesterday, Wednesday, 11 Mar, 2026

Trump Warns Spain Again– “They’re not cooperating at all”: Video link (36 sec.)

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Trump Answers Reporters Questions On Iran, Spain, USA: Video Link (5min 40sec)

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HEALTH

This is what happens when gov’t agencies investigate themselves– The Eastern Malaga-Axarquía Health Area closes the investigation opened on the Laboratory of the Axarquía Regional Hospital: {Translation, summary}
– The Eastern Malaga-Axarquía Health Area has closed an investigation into its own Hospital Laboratory regarding allegations of using expired reagents. The investigation was opened after a trade union, CSIF, publicly claimed that practices like relabelling reagents could compromise patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. The Laboratory head refuted the claims, citing automated controls and strict protocols, and noted the lab’s accreditation by the Andalusian Health Quality Agency. Unsurprisingly, the internal inquiry found no wrongdoing.
– This case highlights the fundamental inadequacy of having one health agency investigate another within the same management structure. It is a clear conflict of interest, lacking the necessary independence and objectivity. The investigation was conducted by the very body responsible for the laboratory’s operation, making a truly impartial assessment impossible. Such internal reviews are inherently flawed; they serve more as a mechanism for public reassurance than a genuine pursuit of accountability, and they cannot provide the credible, external oversight required when serious questions about patient safety are raised. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-area-sanitaria-este-de-malaga-axarquia-archiva-la-investigacion-abierta-sobre-el-laboratorio-del-hospital-comarcal-de-la-axarquia/

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Pedro and Silvia, two patients suffering from long COVID. “I’m no longer able to remember very basic things, I lose track of time.”: {Translation, summary}
– At a press conference marking six years since the WHO pandemic declaration, long covid sufferers and the CSIF union presented survey data revealing that while 62% of over two million Spanish patients were infected at work, only a fraction have received occupational disease recognition. Patients described debilitating symptoms including extreme fatigue, brain fog, and memory loss, with over half receiving no specific treatment.
– The testimony powerfully illustrates the system’s failure to support these patients. Pedro Sanchez-Vicente, a former sales representative now reliant on oxygen, described losing basic cognitive function and his former life. He criticised the “absolute denial of the system,” forcing patients to fight for sick leave extensions while hoping in vain that time will heal them. He called for research, resources, and information, particularly criticising the lack of knowledge in Primary Care. Silvia Amaya, infected at her care home, added her voice to those feeling “invisible,” recounting how her pleas for masks were dismissed as alarmist and how she was abandoned by a collapsed health service, ultimately resorting to private care. The accounts reveal a profound inadequacy in recognising and treating those made chronically ill by their work during the pandemic. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/pedro-silvia-dos-pacientes-que-sufren-covid-persistente-ya-no-soy-capaz-recordar-cosas-muy-basicas-pierdo-hilo_6944747_0.html

FINANCIAL

The daily Euribor soars to 2.5% in the face of tension in the Middle East and registers its highest rise since June 2008: {Translation, summary}
– The twelve-month Euribor has seen its sharpest daily rise since the 2008 financial crisis, reaching 2.552% due to Middle East tensions, the fourth largest increase on record. This surge impacts both daily and monthly rates, the latter being key for mortgage calculations. The last comparable rise was in June 2008, with this week’s increase at 18.5 basis points.
– Fears of an energy crisis and rising inflation may force the European Central Bank (ECB) to resume interest rate hikes from the current 2%, though no change is expected at the 19 March meeting. Markets previously anticipated stable rates for 2026, but energy volatility has altered expectations. Economist Olivia Feldman warns that prolonged conflict and inflation could prompt further hikes, with Goldman Sachs forecasting two possible increases in late 2026.
– The monthly Euribor average is now 2.29%, potentially the highest since March 2025, following eleven consecutive daily rises and a 0.33 percentage point increase since US-Iran strikes on 28 February. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/euribor-mayor-subida-desde-crisis-2008_6944171_0.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– The giant Río de la Toba waterfall in Granada province that tourists are flocking to {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/the-municipality-granada-which-grandiose-waterfall-that-20260311110014-nt.html
– Spain backs European army as Middle East and Ukraine crises escalate
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/spain-shows-its-willingness-push-for-the-20260309140540-nt.html
– Despite the new Endesa electrical substation in Torrox-Park, that was built without ever resolving the community rejections, regular power cuts continue affecting residents and businesses in Torrox
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/regular-power-cuts-affecting-residents-and-businesses-20260310175935-nt.html
– Broken track caused Adamuz train crash, black boxes reveal
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/broken-track-caused-adamuz-train-crash-black-20260311144352-nt.html
– Spain’s wholesale electricity prices surge 700% in one week as Middle East war hits energy markets
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/war-the-middle-east-sends-electricity-prices-20260309121903-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

Free Comic Strips provided by https://www.arcamax.com/comics

*********

EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Mar 11, 2026, 18:23 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231

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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://torrox-computer-pc-repair-service-by-doctorlaptop.webnode.page/

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DigameXtra Sponsors

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Home Page and FB Page

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Home Page and FB Page

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Mandy’s Tel: 680739577

Home Page

Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade +34-606423869

FB Page & Home Page

Home Page – Based in Torrox Costa, near the bus station.

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How to Subscribe and make submissions: Click Link

https://digamextra.com/about/

DigameXtra cannot be responsible for incorrect info in reader or sponsor posts or event announcements. Always confirm the details to avoid disappointment.