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The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Public Holiday: Friday, May 1st, is ‘Fiesta del Trabajo’ (Labour Day), a national holiday.
DigameXtra will be closed May 1st. Items scheduled for this holiday will be posted one day early on Thursday, April 30th. Time your submissions appropriately.
The next national public holiday after Labour Day is Saturday, August 15th, ‘Asunción de la Virgen’ (Assumption of Mary).
Torrox has a local holiday Wednesday, August 5th.
A link to check your local town holidays is in the ‘Useful Links, Info & Numbers’ section below.
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WHAT’S ON
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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Malaga Candlelight Tribute to ABBA and More: Fri, 24 April
String Quartet – Ensemble Résonance
Sala Fundación Unicaja Mª Cristina, Malaga
Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 45 minutes before, access will not be allowed after the start)
Age: from 8 years old. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility: enclosure enabled for people in wheelchairs
Seats are assigned on arrival based on the type of ticket you purchased
Program
Dancing Queen – ABBA
SOS – ABBA
Money, Money, Money – ABBA
Voulez Vous – ABBA
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
I Want to Break Free – Queen
Killer Queen – Queen
Waterloo – ABBA
Super Trouper – ABBA
Mamma Mia – ABBA
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
We Will Rock You – Queen
We Are the Champions – Queen
Gimme Gimme Gimme – ABBA
Info & tix: https://feverup.com/m/555765
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Friday Nights– Flamenco in Vélez-Málaga: Carmelina
Friday 24 April and all 5 Fridays in May at Peña Flamenca Niño de Vélez. Shows at 8pm, €15.
Every Friday, the Peña Flamenca Niño de Vélez hosts an evening dedicated to singing, guitar playing and dancing, featuring professional artists currently active in the world of flamenco. An unforgettable experience in a friendly and thoughtful format. Doors open: 6:30pm. Punctuality is recommended. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Bar service available with tapas and drinks. Contact phone number: 635 158 155
C/ Tejeda 10, Vélez-Málaga.
Info, map & tix: https://www.taquilla.com/entradas/carmelina
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Nerja Jazz Club Ventana-Abierta: Fri, 24 Apr, 8pm
Jose Carra Trio.
C/ Granada 3, Nerja
Info & reservations: 690073871
Web: https://www.ventana-abierta.es/proximos-eventos-upcoming.html
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Blue Angel– Elvis Tribute Show: Sat, 2 May, 8pm
Villa de Nerja Cultural Centre, C/ Granada 45, Nerja
This young man from Malaga, despite his youth, has been performing as Elvis Presley on major international stages for years, appearing at festivals in Finland, England, and Wales, and on various television channels. He won the 2024 “Best Elvis” international competition in Porthcawl, Wales. His show takes you on a journey through the 50s, 60s, and 70s, complete with costumes from each era of Elvis’s career, plenty of rock and roll, and many songs that the audience can sing along to with Angel and his powerful band. Info & tix (€18): https://www.giglon.com/todos?idEvent=blue-angel-elvis-tribute-show & Video Link
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Triana Romería: Sat & Sun, 2 & 3 May
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Romería El Valdés in Moclinejo: Sun, 3 May
On May 3, 2026, the town of Moclinejo will dress in celebration to host the 39th edition of the Romería El Valdés in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette. This traditional pilgrimage will be the heart of the town’s life, with activities including a solemn mass, the departure of the pilgrimage accompanied by music and songs, and a day filled with faith, tradition, and community spirit.
The event will feature special moments such as an equestrian show, flamenco performances, and the traditional horse ribbon race, along with many other activities for all audiences. Throughout the day, pilgrims will gather at Finca El Valdés to share laughter, food, and traditions in a day of joy and brotherhood.
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XXVIII Fiesta de la Naranja in Coin: Sat, 9 May
The orange harvest ends in May, which is why the orange festival is celebrated in this month. This celebration showcases and promotes both the wide variety of agricultural and food products produced in the town and its handicrafts. In addition, residents and visitors can enjoy free freshly squeezed orange juice and hervia soup, a typical dish of the town, throughout the day.
Info & map: https://coin.es/evento/xxviii-fiesta-de-la-naranja
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Frigiliana’s Solidarity Spring Festival: Sat, 9 May
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Dreambeach Costa del Sol presents its daily program and activates the sale of individual tickets- On Sale Now
Dreambeach Festival- Costa del Sol (Velez-Malaga): 31July – 1 Aug
European electronic music– a program that ranges from techno to drum & bass, passing through various registers of the electronic spectrum, the festival consolidates a diverse lineup that connects with both the general public and scenes such as breakbeat or more underground electronic music. Info & tix: https://www.dreambeach.es/
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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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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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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate – Your Property Experts in Southern Spain:
Property Wanted – Irish Buyers Seeking Home in Spain
BluCee Real Estate is currently working with motivated Irish clients who are actively searching for their ideal property in Spain.
Requirements:
– Minimum 3 bedrooms
– Swimming pool
– Walking distance to shops and restaurants
– Good location with amenities nearby
– Prefer a coastal home
Budget: Up to €425,000
These buyers are in a strong position and ready to proceed quickly for the right property.
If you are considering selling and your property matches this criteria, we would love to hear from you.
Listing with BluCee Real Estate gives you access to a wide network of qualified international buyers and targeted marketing both locally and abroad.
Please contact us today to discuss your property.
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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TAOGARDEN MASSAGE
Taogarden Massage – Torrox Costa:
Taogarden Massage is a space dedicated to holistic wellbeing in Torrox Costa, where I combine more than 25 years of experience with holistic massage techniques, drainage, Reset Fisiológico®, Thai Foot, the Face to Face facial massage, the Regenerative Technique and Maderoterapia MMC, as well as personalized treatments aimed at deep relaxation and body balance. Each session is tailored to the individual, in a calm, respectful and professional environment.
Location: Herbolario Naturísima, Costa del Oro, Block 5, Torrox Costa
Opening hours: every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Phone / WhatsApp: +34 610 520 624
Email: torrox2024@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaogardenMassage
Book your appointment and discover an authentic and carefully curated wellbeing experience.
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COMPARE FUNERALS
Compare Funerals cover the whole of Spain:
ruthforder@comparefuneral.org
* Direct Cremation €2,250
* Collection of deceased and conveyance to Funeral Home
* Supply of coffin
* Preparation and care of deceased
* Registration of death and certification of all legal documentation
* Cremation and any doctor’s fees
* Supply of Urn
* Delivery of Urn and associated paperwork to family (death certificate, cremation certificate etc)
This plan is exclusive to a number of provinces, please ask advisor for more information.
Contact Ruth Forder on 0034 693 715 718 ; funeralplansbyruthforder.com
Your questions answered by Ruth from Compare Funerals Spain
– Why should I have a funeral plan? Having been funeral planning for over 10 year I’ve experienced some very sad and upset families when nothing is in place. A Spanish funeral plans will ensure that all costs are covered for your funeral service. Getting a prepaid plan will help you feel assured that your family will not be under any financial strain when it comes to paying for your funeral. A plan also means you can have peace of mind that everything has been organised in advance, so your loved ones do not have to make any difficult decisions.
– Why choose Compare Funerals? There seems to be a gap in Spain between independent funeral directors, offering plans at a good price but lacking the security of an established Trust or ability to cover a client overseas and Providers who seem to charge more than necessary. We want to be right in the middle and offer the best of both worlds. Our best-priced plan is only 2,250€ and does the essentials.
– Can I do a payment plan? All our plans are payable in full or over up to 5 years interest FREE. The interest free periods are based on initial deposit. The higher the deposit the less your monthly repayments will be.
– Can I transfer the plan? The answer is YES. You could name 2 people on one plan however if you had a friend/family member pass away we can transfer the plan into a 3rd party’s name.
– What happens if I move? All our plans offer the equivalent service in Spain (including the islands), Portugal, Republic of Ireland and the UK. If you moved to the UK, we would transfer the plan to one of our many partners at no extra cost to you.
– Is paperwork included? Yes, your family will receive a death certificate in Spanish and an international certification in English. We also provide a cremation certificate that allows the ashes on board a plane.
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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, 3 items: Throws / Tablecloths / Fabric
– Luxurious throw with tassels at the corners 175cm x 146cm, 15 euros
– Upholstery fabric for use as a throw or tablecloth or for cushions. Fruit, trees and text on warm beige background, 200cm x 135cm, 10 euros
– Fabric for use as a tablecloth or for cushions, etc. Tan and gold-beige stripes, 227cm x 127cm, 5 euros
I can meet on the coast between Torrox and Almunecar.
Zena, La Herradura, 958 640 623, zenawoodward@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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SPAIN
What is the ‘prioridad nacional’ (national priority) that has become a key election talking point in Spain?: {DigameXtra}
– In the context of the upcoming Spanish regional and general elections, the ‘prioridad nacional’ (national priority) is a policy concept championed by the far-right Vox party that has become a key and highly controversial election talking point. It argues that Spanish citizens should have preferential access to public resources, including social housing, welfare benefits, subsidies, and even non-urgent healthcare, over foreign residents, particularly those living in Spain without legal status. Vox frames this as ‘common sense’ to protect the struggling welfare state and prioritise ‘our own people first’.
– The term became a national flashpoint after the centre-right People’s Party (PP) included it in a coalition agreement with Vox to form a government in the region of Extremadura in April 2026. While the PP has tried to reframe the concept as being based on legal ‘arraigo’ (local residency ties) rather than ethnicity, its adoption of Vox’s language has sparked fierce accusations from the Socialist government (PSOE) and left-wing groups that the policy is xenophobic, racist, and violates the Spanish Constitution by creating first- and second-class citizens. This has exposed deep divisions within the centre-right and forced it into a difficult political position as it negotiates with Vox for power in several other regions ahead of the next general election. Refs:
https://www.lavozdelsur.es/actualidad/politica/vox-introduce-prioridad-nacional-en-debate-politico-pp-se-enreda-consigo-mismo_356404_102.html &
https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pp-vox-llevan-congreso-prioridad-nacional-apuntan-limitar-servicios-sociales-estructurales_1_13160378.html
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Goodbye to putting the shopping bag on the seats- The DGT fines up to 200 euros for carrying loose objects in the car: {Trans., summary}
– The gesture of leaving a handbag, rucksacks, suitcases or other objects on the car seats can prove costly. These must go in the boot, under penalties that can reach up to €200. Drivers and passengers should therefore bear this in mind before tossing shopping bags onto the rear seats, if they wish to avoid paying such a fine.
– The Directorate General for Traffic (DGT) specifies that in passenger cars, loads must always go in the boot, or on roof racks and trailers if these are available. ‘Only in extreme cases’ may they be placed in the seat area. One must also ensure that under no circumstances may these reduce the driver’s vision, and that the load is secured.
– This warning comes to prevent the so-called elephant effect. This occurs when there is an object, or person, not secured in the car, and in the event of sudden braking, if they are at the rear, they strike the front seats. The force with which they would hit would be equivalent to their weight multiplied by the speed at which one is driving.
– Furthermore, under no circumstances may this luggage compromise the vehicle’s stability, inconvenience passengers or interrupt the mobility or vision of the person driving in general. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/dgt-sanciona-200-euros-objetos-sueltos-coche_0_2006567416.html
AXARQUÍA
VOX reports that farmers in the Axarquía region are still without water despite the reservoirs being full: {Trans., summary}
– Antonio Sevilla, VOX candidate for the Andalusian elections, accompanied by Antonio Ureña, number three on the list, visited various citrus, mango and avocado farms in the Axarquía region this Wednesday to learn firsthand about the situation facing farmers in the area.
“Today we are in the Axarquía region, on the ground, visiting farms and speaking face to face with those who sustain this land: our farmers,” Sevilla said, conveying the concerns expressed by citrus and subtropical producers about the ongoing problems they face despite the rains this year.
– The VOX leader emphasized that, “paradoxically, in a rainy year, the biggest problem continues to be water.” In this regard, he explained that farmers are complaining that, despite the La Viñuela reservoir being over 90% full, they are still being required to mix the stored water with treated wastewater, a situation which, in his opinion, directly harms the quality of their crops. “They want water, they want real water,” Sevilla stated, warning that this situation could lead to a decline in product quality and, consequently, reduced competitiveness for farmers in the region. He also criticized the lack of water infrastructure and held the Andalusian government responsible for failing to implement the necessary measures over the years to ensure effective water management in the Axarquía. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/vox-denuncia-en-la-axarquia-que-los-agricultores-siguen-sin-agua-pese-a-que-los-embalses-estan-llenos/
MALAGA CITY
The San Diego Comic-Con in Malaga is October 1-4, 2026; early release tickets on sale today: {Trans., summary}
– Countdown to the second edition of the San Diego Comic-Con Málaga. The convention goes on limited sale this Thursday, April 23, an exclusive pre-sale, of course, it will not be for everyone. This ticket sale is exclusively for fans who attended the event in 2025, thus being a way to reward last year’s attendees.
– In order to purchase them, attendees will have to have their 2025 Registration ID and an account created in Ticketmaster with the same email that was used in the San Diego Comic-Con Malaga in 2025. Tickets can be purchased in advance from 10am on Thursday, April 23 at Ticketmaster. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/04/22/san-diego-comic-con-malaga-venta-entradas-donde-129391242.html
NERJA
Big Lottery winner still a mystery in Nerja: {Trans., summary}
– La Bonoloto awarded a prize of €5,557,897.33 in Nerja on Tuesday night, and from now on, all that remains is to put a face to the new millionaire. The ticket was validated at authorised lottery outlet number 50,465, located at central Plaza de la Ermita, number 25, a historic business that has distributed the largest prize in its trajectory of more than six decades.
– From first thing this Wednesday, Nerja has spoken of nothing else. Who is the new millionaire? Social media are ablaze, with comments of all kinds. A simple message saying ‘Thank you’ in a Facebook comment has sparked rumours about the winner’s identity. The person concerned has denied it. The lottery outlet run by Pepe Som and Lucía Román is a hive of activity. Neighbours and customers come and go, asking who the lucky person is. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/busca-afortunado-nerja-bonoloto-deja-millones-euros-20260422124527-nt_amp.html
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Restoration of the old Nerja quarry is progressing with the removal of machinery: {Trans., summary}
– The Nerja Councillor for the Environment, Javier Rodríguez, has announced the start of a new phase in the waste removal efforts at the “Orlando” quarry , following the completion of preliminary site preparation work . In this context, the company Materiales de Construcción Orlando, SL has begun removing its disused machinery from the site , an essential step to continue the restoration process of this former mining operation .
– Rodríguez has positively assessed this progress, emphasizing that “after the completion of these works, the company Materiales de Construcción Orlando, SL will proceed to the removal of accumulated rubble and waste, as well as the execution of earthworks aimed at the regeneration of the land.”
– After this plan was finally approved by the regional government, which granted the necessary permits to carry out the work, it’s expected to be completed within three months. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/avanza-la-restauracion-de-la-antigua-cantera-de-nerja-con-la-retirada-de-maquinaria/
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Nerja begins pest control and rodent control work: {Trans.}
– The Health Councillor of Nerja, Javier Rodríguez, has announced the start of pest control work in the town centers of Nerja and Maro, as well as in residential areas, the industrial park, and municipal buildings. The work includes inspecting all the drains in the municipality to ensure thorough control of potential infestations.
– “These treatments, essential for preserving the health and well-being of the population, may cause occasional inconveniences to residents,” the councilor pointed out, adding that “therefore, we ask for the public’s understanding and request that any incidents be reported as soon as possible through the Citizen Service Office, in order to resolve them effectively.”
– Rodríguez also indicated that these actions will be carried out throughout the year, intensifying especially during the summer season, coinciding with a greater influx of people in the town. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/nerja-inicia-los-trabajos-de-desinsectacion-y-desratizacion/
ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE
Fiesta de la Cachorreña- Alhaurín el Grande, Sat, 25 April: {Trans., summary}
– The Fiesta de la Cachorreña takes place this Saturday in Alhaurin el Grande, Malaga. The event celebrates two traditional 19th-century dishes: cachorreña (a soup of tomato, onion, garlic, potatoes, bread, cod and orange) and mojete (a salad of orange, boiled potatoes, cod and olives). The programme includes free tastings, wine sampling, traditional children’s games, craft market, dance shows and flamenco performances. A solidarity bar will support the local cancer charity Un Si Por La Vida. The day opens at 12:00 with the market, followed by a guided wine tasting at 12:30. At 13:00, a dance show by Pepa Manzanares dance academy takes place. The dish tasting follows at 14:00. At 14:30, Laura Gonzalez performs flamenco fusion. At 18:00, the ‘Alhaurin Flamenca’ fashion parade presents new collections from local designers including Garcia Galiano, Jose Cebrian and Lucia Sarhan.
Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/04/22/degustaciones…
GRANADA
They are organizing a guided tour of the Alhambra gardens on April 27th to mark Historic Gardens Day: {Trans., summary}
– The gardens of the Alhambra in Granada will host a guided tour on 27 April, which will cover the Paseo de los Nogales (Walk of the Walnut Trees), the Generalife, the Patio de la Acequia (Courtyard of the Irrigation Channel), the Paseo de las Adelfas (Walk of the Oleanders), the Gardens of San Francisco, the Patio de los Arrayanes (Courtyard of the Myrtles), the Patio de los Leones (Courtyard of the Lions), the exit to the Partal via the Rauda (Royal Cemetery), and the Paseo de las Torres (Walk of the Towers).
– The event will run from 11:00 to 14:00 and will be guided by technical staff from the Gardens, Woods and Orchards Service of the Alhambra and Generalife Trust. The registration application form to attend the tour will open on the Trust’s website Thursday, 23 April, at 12:00.
Info & tix, when it is posted: https://alhambra-entradas.org/en
Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-organizan-visita-guiada-jardines-alhambra-27-abril-motivo-dia-jardines-historicos-20260422173650.html
IMMIGRATION IN SPAIN
Does Spain’s New Regularization Policy Play Into The Hands Of The Conservative Right?: {DigameXtra Editorial}
– The right wing parties oppose this mass regularization and seek to minimize irregular immigration.
– The new regularizarion will grant 1 year, renewable residence permits to half a million or more successful applicants.
– If the left should lose the upcoming 2027 national elections, or if the right win their court challenges, the new Royal Decree allowing mass regularization could be overturned.
– Should the Royal Decree be overturned, the administration in power will have a list of most immigrants illegally residing in Spain, including addresses and contact info. Conservative authorities may decide to reverse the regularization process by not renewing the annual residence permits and set a deadline for illegal immigrants to leave Spain. This will be easily enforcable as they already will have the list to work from. All aid and access to public services could be denied, encouraging irregular immigrants to leave Spain. They could be offered a few hundred euros and a free plane ticket to help them on their way home, from where they could reapply to immigrate thru legal means. Other EU members may even be willing to help finance these return trips if it helps keep their borders secure.
– Thus, conservatives will have a mechanism to purge the country of what they see as a troublesome intrusion and burden, something that has been on their agenda for years. In addition, removing half a million users of the social and health services would help a new administration relieve the currently overburdened system, helping them achieve their campaign promises to shorten waiting lists, improve services and create new jobs. This power to manipulate (threaten) immigrants by requiring certain behaviors has already been recognized in Catalonia. The Catalan government is preparing a law that would allow it to expel legalized immigrants who do not learn Catalan. Immigrants will have to renew their permit within a year, and one of the conditions for integration will be knowledge of Catalan.
– The conservatives opposed to the regularization will have the support of most of the EU, who see this Royal Decree as opening a migration gateway to their countries. Sure, the Spanish residence permits are for Spain only and are not supposed to allow immigrants access to other EU countries. But hey, they arrived in Spain Illegally, demonstrating they will have no issue illegally relocating to other EU countries if that becomes their new objective.
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Why does Sánchez want to regularize as many criminals as possible?: {Trans. in full}
– The recent instruction from the Government to prison facilities to urgently facilitate the regularisation of as many pre-trial detainees as possible raises deep concern about Pedro Sánchez’s true motives. By urging prisons actively and swiftly to process regularisation applications for foreign prisoners, the Executive not only stretches the limits of administrative discretion but also engages in an inversion of values that undermines public trust in its institutions.
– In an unprecedented decision, the State appears to have decided that detention is not only no barrier to granting residency rights, but, paradoxically, it’s a priority gateway for processing. At the heart of the conflict lies the application of the 20th and 21st additional provisions of the regularisation decree. Under the proposed rules, the essential requirement for gaining regularisation is the absence of a criminal record.
– However, under an interpretation of extreme legal formalism that radically defies the most basic common sense, the Government has included pre-trial detainees in this process. It must be recalled that, under Article 503 of the Criminal Procedure Law (LECrim), pre-trial detention is ordered only when a judge finds reasonable indications of a crime and serious risks of flight, destruction of evidence, or reoffending. Therefore, granting regularisation to someone whom the judiciary itself holds in custody because of their procedural dangerousness constitutes an institutional disloyalty that sits uncomfortably within a rule-of-law state.
– The seriousness of this measure goes far beyond mere bureaucratic management. By granting a residence card to a pre-trial detainee, the Government is in effect interfering with the State’s future capacity to deport. In Spanish and EU case law, holding legal residence is the cornerstone on which established ties (‘arraigo’) are built. Once an individual obtains this status, their administrative deportation (under Article 57.2 of the LOEx) or judicial deportation (under Article 89 of the Criminal Code) becomes an enormous challenge for the courts, which must weigh the legal bonds already created.
– In practice, the Government is granting legal protection to individuals who still have to answer for serious crimes before the courts, thereby disabling the border protection and public security tools that the law provides for offenders.
– This approach also creates a reverse discrimination that is ethically hard to justify. While thousands of foreign nationals scrupulously abide by the law, queue for hours at overcrowded immigration offices, and provide employment contracts to demonstrate their willingness to integrate, the Ministry of the Interior mobilises public resources to assist those in prison.
– In Spain in 2026, complying with the law now leads to a slower and more tortuous bureaucratic path than breaking it. Immigration policy must be based on the principle of legality and on setting an example. Facilitating regularisation inside prisons breaches both principles and sends a message of laxity that irregular immigration gangs will soon capitalise on as a renewed ‘pull factor’.
– On the international stage, with this decision Spain places itself on the fringes of European responsibility. In the midst of implementing the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, the decision to regularise hundreds of thousands of people (including those with police records and ongoing legal proceedings) undermines mutual trust among Schengen Area partners. The free movement of people requires a degree of uniformity in security controls that Spain, unilaterally and capriciously, seems willing to sacrifice.
– Finally, the Government’s persistence with this approach (despite the alarm caused among prison officers, security forces and judges) forces us to question Pedro Sánchez’s ultimate motives. Having ruled out the hypothesis of technical incompetence, given the clarity of the warnings received, only two explanations remain for such a large-scale operation.
– The first is purely electoral and rests on a deliberate search for polarisation. By provoking the opposition with measures that defy the common sense of conservative and liberal voters, the Executive seeks to mobilise its own base by contrast, shifting the debate to the extremes in order to conceal other governance failings and its many corruption scandals.
– The second explanation, even more troubling, points to a desire to disrupt the social order. By eroding the concepts of citizenship, legality and border control, the Government is facilitating a de facto constitutional mutation. The mass regularisation of people in uncertain legal proceedings is not an act of humanity, but an instrument of social engineering designed to weaken the basic consensus on which the political system of 1978 rests. A country that abandons the distinction between the immigrant who comes to contribute and the one who is under judicial suspicion is, ultimately, abandoning its own sovereignty and the protection of its citizens.
– The Government must immediately reverse these instructions. If it does not, it will make it clear that its goal is the demolition of legal certainty in Spain and the creation of social conflict. Source, Spanish: https://www.elespanol.com/opinion/editoriales/20260421/quiere-sanchez-regularizar-mayor-numero-posible-delincuentes/1003744214615_14.html
UKRAINE WAR
The EU approves the loan to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia with Hungary’s permission: {Trans., summary}
– EU countries gave final approval on Wednesday to a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the twentieth sanctions package against Russia, after Hungary lifted its veto. The decisions were adopted by EU ambassadors and will be confirmed by written procedure on Thursday. Hungary’s veto followed Ukrainian president Zelenski’s announcement that repairs to the Druzhba pipeline supplying Hungary had been completed. Orban had linked the veto to this issue. He had previously committed to the loan but backtracked before the election. The approved amendment allows the European Commission to issue debt for the loan, with the first disbursement expected in the second quarter of the year.
– What about Slovakia and Czechia? Neither country is objecting to the loan’s passage, though their positions are not ones of active support. Slovakia has explicitly withdrawn its veto, and Czechia is not participating but is also not blocking the process. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/mundo/ue-aprueba-prestamo-ucrania-sanciones_0_2006569680.html
MIDDLE EAST
Iran seizes ships in Hormuz as US talks falter after ceasefire extension:
– Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz hours after President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire, as confrontations at sea continued under the truce. Both ships were managed by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
– Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the vessels, identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, were operating without proper authorization and had tampered with navigation systems, accusations that could not be independently verified. The ships had earlier reported coming under fire near the strait, underscoring the increasingly volatile conditions in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. The Guard attacked a third ship, identified as the Euphoria, which had become “stranded” on the Iranian coast, Iranian media reported.
– Despite heavy U.S. strikes that officials say severely degraded Iran’s conventional navy, Tehran maintains maritime capability through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ fleet of fast-attack boats used for harassment and boarding operations in the narrow strait. Full article: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/iran-seizes-ships-hormuz-us-talks-falter-after-ceasefire-extension
USA
The Southern Poverty Law Center that ended the Ku Klux Klan paid millions to neo-Nazis to justify its own existence:
{Trans., summary}
– A federal grand jury in Alabama has indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for allegedly running a fraud and money laundering scheme. Between 2014 and 2023, the organisation, which publicly poses as a hate group watchdog, secretly diverted more than three million dollars to violent supremacist factions including the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party.
– The Department of Justice has charged the SPLC with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Instead of dismantling extremist groups, the SPLC allegedly paid informants to stoke racial hatred, thereby manufacturing the very extremism it claimed to oppose. To conceal the money trail, the NGO created a network of shell companies and used prepaid cards. The hypocrisy is stark: the SPLC deceived donors into believing their contributions would eradicate intolerance, while the funds actually supported radical leaders, including organisers of the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville.
– The SPLC has attempted to justify its actions as necessary infiltration for intelligence gathering, but former employees have described a systemic culture of racism and sexism within the organisation, labelling its “hate map” a lucrative fundraising scheme. The FBI has since cut ties, condemning the SPLC as a partisan defamation machine that fomented rather than fought hatred. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/internacional/estados-unidos/2026-04-22/la-asociacion-que-acabo-con-el-ku-klux-klan-pago-millones-a-neonazis-para-justificar-su-propia-existencia-1b-7392480/
FASHION
From Manuela Villena to Lourdes Montes, the best flamenco looks of celebrities at the Sevilla April Fair 2026:
– Flamenco dancers show off their finest attire and, whether or not they follow the season’s trends, they demonstrate that the traditional dress is more alive than ever. Celebrities and influencers are a testament to this and also attend the April Fair in their best flamenco outfits. See the full photo gallery here: https://www.diariodesevilla.es/wappissima/moda-flamenca/manuela-villena-lourdes-montes-mejores-looks-flamenca-famosas-feria-abril-2026_0_2006568866.html
HEALTH
Doctors defy the minister and maintain the national strike- these are the dates on which it will affect Andalusia: {Trans., summary}
– Negotiations between medical strike committees and Spain’s Health Ministry have stalled again after the 17 April meeting yielded no substantial progress. Unions confirm continued action, including further strike days from 27 to 30 April. Key demands include a specific statute for doctors, a 35-hour week, professional classification reflecting training and responsibility, and flexible retirement. The Ministry’s proposal is rejected as lacking legal certainty and effective commitments. The strike, now exceeding 14 months, continues across the country including Andalusia. Doctors apologise to patients but insist the action aims to guarantee safety and quality care. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/medicos-desafian-ministra-mantienen-huelga-es-fecha-que-afectara-andalucia/202604220914253248052.html
SPACE
Breakthrough in the search for life on Mars– NASA rover finds wealth of organic molecules, some of which have never been detected on the Red Planet:
– NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has discovered what NASA is calling “the most diverse collection of organic molecules ever found on the Red Planet.” As many as 21 different carbon-containing molecules were identified in a Mars sample analysed by the rover, and seven of those have never been detected on the planet before. The discovery is another step towards confirming whether or not Mars could ever have hosted life, or whether it still does today.
– Planetary scientists say that, billions of years ago, Mars was much warmer and wetter than it is today. It had a thicker atmosphere and had lakes and rivers flowing with liquid water, the evidence of which can still be seen today.
That means ancient Mars could theoretically have had the right conditions for life to emerge. Full article: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/nasa-mars-curiosity-mary-anning-organic-molecules
TRAVEL
The Ministry of Transport does not yet date for the return of high speed rail to Malaga: {Trans., summary}
– The Málaga-Madrid high-speed rail line is expected to reopen from Monday 27 April, but no official confirmation has yet been given. Adif told operators they could run trains from that date, and private operators have trains available. Renfe, however, has very few direct tickets on sale for that day. The reopening follows a landslide on 4 February. Services will initially run on a single track with speed restrictions, extending journey times to around three hours. Double track may be restored in June, but full repairs will take until the end of the year. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/alta-velocidad-malaga-madrid-volvera-lunes-lenta-20260421185348-nt_amp.html
NATURE
Monkeys have found a bizarre natural supplement to counteract human junk food:
– Gibraltar macaques have been observed eating soil, perhaps to cope with the negative effects of human junk food, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
This strange new habit seems to help the monkeys digest treats taken from tourists that would otherwise cause an upset stomach – for instance, when these lactose-intolerant animals pilfer ice cream. “Foods brought by tourists and eaten by Gibraltar’s macaques are extremely rich in calories, sugar, salt and dairy,” said lead author Dr Silvain Lemoine, a biological anthropologist from the University of Cambridge.
– “This is completely unlike the foods typically consumed by the species, such as herbs, leaves, seeds and the occasional insect. Soil-eating may allow them to keep consuming food that has negative digestive effects but is as delicious for them as it is for us.”
– A team of researchers monitored the 230 macaque inhabitants of Gibraltar and found that each monkey ate dirt 12 times per week, on average. Geophagy – deliberately eating soil – was 40 per cent less common during winter than in summer months, when there were more tourists. And the scientists found that monkeys with more contact with humans – which therefore ate more junk food – were also more frequent soil-eaters. Full article: https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/monkeys-gut-supplement-soil-junk-food
OBITUARIES
Traffic’s Dave Mason has died, aged 79:
– Dave Mason, the co-founder of rock band Traffic who also collaborated with Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac and many other A-list musicians, has died aged 79.
– A statement from his representative said he died peacefully on Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada, having settled in the US in 1969. “Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved,” the statement added.
– Born in Worcestershire in 1946, Mason had an unusual tenure in Traffic: a frontman who wrote and performed some of their biggest hits, but who hopped in and out of the lineup. He published his memoir Only You Know & I Know in 2024, and continued to tour until 2025, when he announced his retirement following a spell of ill health. Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/apr/22/dave-mason-co-founder-of-traffic-solo-career-dies-aged-79 & Video Link
SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES
*Click links to read the English language articles*
– Spanish grocery prices rise at more than double the pace of salaries
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/spanish-grocery-prices-rise-more-than-double-20260422151457-nt.html
– Shocking video: 167,000 tonnes of rubble dumped in the Axarquía
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/shocking-video-167000-tonnes-rubble-dumped-the-20260422123218-nt.html {pic}
– Investigation under way after Axarquía (Moclinejo) councillor steps down following arrest
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/investigation-under-way-after-axarquia-councillor-steps-20260421152313-nt.html
– Petrol station workers across Spain call strike on peak May bank holiday dates– The strike the CCOO and the UGT unions have called will take place between 12pm and 4pm on 30 April and during the 24 hours of 3 May
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/petrol-station-workers-across-spain-call-strike-20260422161134-nt.html
– Fuengirola reschedules Nordic festivities for this Saturday
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/mijas-fuengirola/fuengirola-reschedules-nordic-festivities-for-this-saturday-20260421115536-nt.html
– Chemsex is spreading in Malaga: a phenomenon driven by loneliness and desire to ‘escape’
https://www.surinenglish.com/lifestyle/health/chemsex-spreading-malaga-phenomenon-driven-loneliness-and-20260420171152-nt.html
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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)
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How to check your town’s holiday calendar for 2026:
Visit this website, and click on your town to see your town’s 2026 holiday calendar
https://calendariolaboral.lavanguardia.com/andalucia/malaga/
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
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
Local/National News in English, The Sur: http://www.surinenglish.com/
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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/
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