DigameXtra No. 2998 Wednesday, April 30th, 2025

On April 30, 2025May 1, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Next Public Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
DigameXtra will be closed.

Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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May Editor’s Holiday: Friday, 16 May.
DigameXtra will be closed.
Items scheduled for Friday, 16 May, will appear one day early, in the Thursday, 15 May issue. Submissions for the Thursday, 15 May issue must be received by 6pm Wednesday, 14 May.

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DigameXtra Welcomes Back A Sponsor

CasaCamino343 (formerly Casa Magel)

Welcome Aboard!

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What’s On

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Cata Junto al Mar Torrox Costa- the largest open-air Wine Tasting by the Sea in southern Europe: Thurs, 1 May
– At the Mirador del Faro from 12:00 noon. The wine tasting also includes a national contest of ham cutters.
– From this coming Tuesday April 22 and you can pick up the free tickets to attend the tasting in the offices of the Mayor in Torrox, in the mayor’s office of El Morche or in the building of Usos Múltiples of Torrox Costa (the library/tourist office by the bus station). As in previous editions, to facilitate the attendance of public coming from other parts of the Axarquia and the province of Malaga, of the 1,000 tickets issued, 400 will be reserved for the same day of the tasting, so that they can be collected by people arriving from outside.
– The day will feature ambient music and local DJs, as well as leading specialists who will explain both the characteristics of the Malaga wines to be tasted and the tasting process of each of the three varieties.

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Rescheduled Car Boot, El Pantano, Vinuela:
– Please note that our car boot sale normally scheduled for the first Sunday of the month has had to be changed due to unforeseen circumstances.
The new dates for our car boot are as follows: -WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY & WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE from 0900 – 1300.
Directions. A356, Km.30 (from Velez Málaga to Colmenar) overlooking the lake below Los Romanos.All our stallholders will be there plus new ones so we look forward to seeing you all and spending pleasant mornings with us For further information/bookings please contact Sandy on 633878471.

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Traditional Flamenco- 2 Events
Teatro del Soho CaixaBank, C/ Córdoba 13, Málaga 29001
– Wed, 30 April, 8pm. Aurora Vargas, Roots & Feelings
Voice & tapshoes: Aurora Vargas / Guitarist: Miguel Salado
Clapping and jaleos: Diego Montoya, Manuel Salado, Javi Peña. Info & tix (€18-28): https://teatrodelsoho.com/evento/aurora-vargas-raices-y-sentimientos/ & Video Link
– Thurs, 1 May, 8pm. Israel Fernández “Por amor al cante”
Advance tickets sold out for this show, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the box office the day of the show. Or check for advance tix from ticket reseller websites.
The tour of different theaters of the peninsula by the singer from Toledo and the veteran guitarist Antonio el Relojero, from the Madrid town of Colmenar de Oreja.
Info & tix (€25): https://teatrodelsoho.com/evento/israel-fernandez-por-amor-al-cante/ & Video Link 1 & Video Link 2

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X Dia de la Miel de Cana (molasses day)- Frigiliana: Sun, 4 May, 11am
The program includes:
Guided tour of the molasses factory at 11am.
Presentation of traditional recipes with cane honey.
Tasting of some specialties.
Musical and dance performances from noon.
While it is commonly called as cane or molasses honey, it can be found with other names, such as final honey, black honey or blackstrap molasses, all valid to refer to this product.

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Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja: Upcoming events
– Thurs, 1 May, 8pm. Diamantes del Flamenco
– Fri, 2 May, 8pm. Yerma
– Sat, 3 May, 8pm. Flamenco- Cafe del Mundo
C/ Granada 45, Nerja 29780 Tel: 952523863
Box office open 11am-2pm, M-F.

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Día del Níspero- Sayalonga: Sunday, May 4
The opening of the craft stalls and typical products will be at 12 noon. Also at that time will begin performances with the dance group Amanecer de Sayalonga and Corumbela, followed by the Rondalla de Sayalonga.
At 15:00 hours the Panda de Verdiales Primera de Comares perform, followed by the Coro Rociero La Blanca Paloma de Corumbela, and the Cuadro Flamenco de la Boterita. At 18:00 hours will be the concert Mecamela ‘Tribute to Camela’ and at 20:00 hours will continue with music djs A.Hierro and dj Sau.

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Harlem Globetrotters will be in Malaga on May 22:
Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena, Malaga
In the 2025 Harlem Globetrotters World Tour show, presented by Adeslas, basketball fans will enjoy a dizzying spectacle, full of magic, acrobatics and improbable baskets. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the players in person and live an unforgettable experience thanks to the Globetrotter Experience and the Magic Pass.
Info: https://www.malagadeporteyeventos.com/harlem-globetrotters-world-tour-2025/

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast

Warning Note: Possible high winds & waves, ends 6pm Tuesday (yesterday).

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Services Wanted/Offered

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Landlords, tell your renters about DigameXtra, where they can get overnight answers to questions about local stuff without having to call you!

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COMPARE FUNERALS

Compare Funerals cover the whole of Spain:
ruthforder@comparefuneral.org
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* 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
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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.
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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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CASACAMINO343 B&B

CasaCamino343: Our New B&B In Now Open!
Special 3 night break in the lovely mountains of Andalucia
– Casacamino343 (formerly Casa Magel) are once again offering our popular 3 night breaks, including breakfast and on one night, TBA, a delicious home made 3 course meal with wine or beer.
– We have moved across the village and now offer a fully licenced self contained 4 bedroom, 2 en-suite and 2 private bathrooms. The house has a fully equipped kitchen, dinning room, large living room. terrace with views to the mountains, set in an ancient olive grove on the outskirts of Valle De Abdalajis. From June our pool will be open.
– We are a 5 minute drive in to the pueblo of Valle De Abdalajis with supermarkets and bars. A very good restaurant is 10 minute walk away. The lakes of Ardales and the Caminito Del Rey are 30 minutes drive. Antequera and El Torcal are 30 minute drive and the Wolf park is 15 minute drive. Lots to do in the area, lovely walks and scenery.
– We can offer the whole house to a group of friends, ideal for birthdays and anniversaries or just a good time away. Or, come on your own and meet other people. We have a honesty bar or bring your own. No hard tracks to drive, very easy to find..
– The cost for 3 night B&B with 1 night 3 course meal with wine is €275.00 per room with 2 sharing.
CONTACT
Phone: 722879503 or 632298062
Email: casacamino343@yahoo.com
Website: www.casacamino343.com

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Buy / Sell / Trade / Rent / Wanted

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– Pair of stone horse and carts Measurements Length 115cms Width 45cms Price 120€ ( for the pair )
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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

Power Restored In Spain, Portugal But The Situation Reveals A Very Serious Underlying Problem:
– Here’s an excerpt from Michael Shellenberger at PUBLIC, who provided an uncomfortable truth about the unhinged liberals in Europe who have been hellbent on retiring fossil fuel power and nuclear generation plants, swapping for unreliable solar and wind:
“Despite all these warnings, political and regulatory energy in Europe remained focused on accelerating renewable deployment, not upgrading the grid’s basic stability. In Spain, solar generation continued to climb rapidly through 2023 and early 2024.
Coal plants closed. Nuclear units retired.
On many spring days by 2025, Spain’s midday solar generation exceeded its total afternoon demand, leading to frequent negative electricity prices.
The system was being pushed to the limit.
And today, at 12:35 pm, it broke.
Spain’s blackout wasn’t just a technical failure. It was a political and strategic failure.
Unless Spain rapidly invests in synthetic inertia, maintains and expands its nuclear fleet, or adds some other new form of heavy rotating generation, the risk of future blackouts will only grow worse.”
Read the in depth analysis: https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/power-restored-spain-portugal-net-zero-becomes-headache-brussels

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David Sánchez, Miguel Ángel Gallardo & Luis Carrero are going to trial- Judge to open oral trial against Pedro Sanchez’s brother: {Translation}
– The head judge of the Court of Instruction number 3 of Badajoz, Beatriz Biedma has initiated the opening of oral proceedings against the brother of Pedro Sánchez, David Sánchez Pérez-Castejón; the president of the Provincial Council of Badajoz and secretary general of the PSOE Extremadura, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, and the former advisor of Moncloa Luis Carrero, among others, for alleged crimes of administrative malfeasance and influence peddling.
– In a 70-page order issued on Monday, April 28, to which Europa Press has had access, Judge Beatriz Biedma establishes that the proceedings continue by the abbreviated procedure against the investigated David Sanchez, Miguel Angel Gallardo and Luis Carrero, among other charges of the Diputación de Badajoz.
– The investigator also establishes that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the accusations in this case be transferred so that “in the common term of 10 days they can request the opening of the oral trial, formulating a written accusation or dismissal of the case, or exceptionally, the practice of complementary diligences”. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1892770/la-jueza-propone-abrir-juicio-oral-contra-el-hermano-de-pedro-sanchez/

ANDALUCÍA

Power Update- The Government points out that especially in Eastern Andalusia there remain areas without light: {Translation, summary}
– The Government delegate in Andalusia, Pedro Fernandez, said that during the night of Monday and the early hours of Tuesday “power has been progressively restored throughout the territory” Andalusia, although “there are areas where electricity still does not reach, especially in the eastern part of the community.” “Residents still without power should remain attentive to the official channels of communication to follow the recommendations of the authorities”. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-gobierno-senala-todo-andalucia-oriental-siguen-zonas-luz-recomienda-no-usar-coche-apagon-20250429101412.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

The transport of Malaga on Tuesday after the blackout- the subway and train to Madrid, restored; Avant and Cercanías, out of service: {Translation}
– Public transport is gradually returning to Malaga after the blackout. In the early hours of the morning, the Metro was already operating normally, and the high-speed train service to Madrid is gradually being reinstated. Both the Cercanías and the Avant and Media Distancia trains are suspended, although Renfe has announced its intention to recover them throughout the day.
– The Malaga subway is the first of the services that works with total normality of those that depend on the light. At the stroke of 4 o’clock in the morning this Tuesday, it was already warning through its accounts in social networks that users could access the Metro from the beginning of the day.
– The high speed, that is, the AVE, AVLO, Iryo and Ouigo services to Madrid, are restored, as announced by the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente. Always, of course, from María Zambrano. For those departing from Seville, their connection to Cordoba will be made by bus, according to Renfe, which warns of a gradual restoration of the high-speed line.
– Neither the Avant trains connecting with Seville nor the Media Distancia trains are in service. The Malaga-Granada train cannot start service either due to infrastructure problems. Neither do the Cercanías trains in the early hours of the morning, due to lack of voltage. Once the service is restored, Renfe announced that the tickets for today’s Cercanías would be free.
– The airport operated Monday during the day and continue to operate this Tuesday. Aena indicates that at night the schedules have been adapted to the needs of rescheduled passengers and there have been no significant crowds in the terminals. They also remind that in Belgium there is a general strike, which may affect operations with Brussels and other airports in the country.
– Buses in Malaga are operating without major problems. Early in the morning traffic was intense in the access from Juan XXIII avenue to Manuel Azaña square, Blas Infante avenue, Guerrero Stracha avenue and Valle Inclán avenue. With fluid traffic for the rest of the roads. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/transporte-malaga-apagon-metro-tren-madrid-avant-cercanias_0_2003827602.html

ALMÁCHAR

Almáchar celebrates this weekend the Fiestas in Honor of the Santo Cristo de la Banda Verde, a tradition that dates back three centuries: {Translation, summary}
– Friday 2 to Sunday 6 May.
– The function of the Christ of the Green Band goes back at least three centuries ago when the earthquake of 1755 occurred, which caused several thousand victims in Portugal, Spain and North Africa and very high economic damages. Tradition has it that the inhabitants of Almáchar then made a promise to take him out in procession on the first Sunday of May. Nowadays, many people follow him in kilometers-long queues.
– The activities start on Friday, May 2nd at nine o’clock in the morning with the traditional ringing of bells. At 12:00 hours will be the descent of the Holy Christ from the chapel to the throne. At 18:00 hours in the Casa de la Cultura, the Lorena Diaz Musical Theater School will offer a musical theater. Until two in the morning, the attractions will have reduced price. At 20:00 hours will be the basketball game Memorial José Gámez between Montefaco Almáchar and Club Baloncesto Motril. “The lighting of the festivities is scheduled for 22:00 hours. From 23 hours, every night, the orchestras ‘D`Vertigo’ and ‘Metropolis’ will perform,” said the councilman of Fiestas. At 00:00 hours will be the election of King, Queen and Ladies of Honor and the children’s category. At 01:30 hours will be the performance of the group ‘Malamanera’. The night will continue with the orchestra D’Vértigo and DJ Baste.
– On Saturday, May 3, the activities will begin at the Casa de la Cultura with performances by the groups Ballet, Alegría, Revuelo and Alboroto. At 7:30 p.m. there will be the traditional race of ribbons on horseback with prizes for every five obtained. In the evening, there will be a fireworks show and the “Tribute to Estopa: Fuente de Energía”. The final touch will be provided by DJ Patore.
– On Sunday, May 4, at 18:00 hours will be the mass in honor of the Santo Cristo de la Banda Verde in which the Choir Luz de Luna will intervene. An hour later there will be a parade of the Agrupación Musical Las Lagunas de Mijas. At 19:30 hours, will be the procession. At 00:00 hours, there will be a concert by Jairo Cuevas, finalist of the program ‘Yo soy del Sur’ 2019 of Canal Sur. The night will continue with performances D’Vértigo and New Velada.
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/almachar-celebra-este-fin-de-semana-las-fiestas-en-honor-al-santo-cristo-de-la-banda-verde-una-tradicion-que-se-remonta-a-hace-tres-siglos/

MIGRATION IN SPAIN

Antonio Izquierdo- “Immigration has not rejuvenated the demographic pyramid of any country”: {Translation}
-Immigration has become, for years, one of the main problems in Spain according to CIS barometers. Along with housing or economic problems, becoming the first according to those surveyed in 2024, in the midst of the crisis due to the saturation of the reception centers in the Canary Islands and Melilla. An issue that “divides” and that is at the “center of the political debate”, as explained by
Antonio Izquierdo Escribano, PhD and Professor of Sociology at the University of A Coruña, with extensive experience in research on migration that led him to be the representative of Spain in the OECD from 1989 to 2008 as an expert on migration. The professor and writer escapes from common attitudes and offers a clear and forceful vision of the migration phenomenon in Spain: “There is not a single developed country in the world that has rejuvenated its demographic pyramid thanks to immigration”. “Germany continues to age, France continues to age, Argentina continues to age… for this not to happen, in technical terms, we would need to receive very large flows, like the ones we are receiving now, but for 30 or 40 years in a row. And that is not going to happen, there is no country that supports flows like the ones we are having for so long”, explains the professor, who, through data, shows how the synthetic fertility index -children per woman- of immigrants tends to be equal to that of the native population according to data from the last two decades.
– “That they have a positive contribution in many things, for example, in the composition of the economically active population, without any doubt. Now, is that going to sustain the pension system? Well, no,” Izquierdo asserts. The demographics expert stresses that what the system needs to be sustainable is “more contributors”, because, “if we have many immigrants who do not contribute, because they are irregular or have very low salaries, the pension system does not benefit from this”.
– Izquierdo explains that it is not precisely the poorest who migrate to the main European economies. “It is the middle classes who migrate, those who can overcome the obstacles to reach the country, and this requires intellectual and material resources,” the professor points out. However, few manage to remain middle classes in the countries to which they migrate. “They come to Europe to declassify themselves,” but the reality is that, either because of regulatory formalities or because of difficulties in getting their training approved, the vast majority are forced into lower-skilled jobs, which inevitably affects the number of children they have.
– Economic growth. “What we need to attract is qualified and experienced people with educational qualifications, and for that we need educational systems, housing systems and work systems that promote social mobility,” adds the sociologist. Because when these conditions do not exist, immigration drops and those with more possibilities look for opportunities outside the country. “Just like us, of course. Immigration doesn’t fall off the cliff, it doesn’t throw itself into ravines,” he stresses.
– You don’t have to leave Spain to see this phenomenon. A simple glance at the data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) shows how the number of people immigrating to Spain increased considerably during the period of the real estate bubble, with the increase in wages, but many of them returned and the flows decreased with the same intensity after the puncture and the crisis that succeeded it. It was not until 2018 that the threshold of 300,000 immigrants per semester that the country registered until 2008 was reached again.
– In the same way, the economic growth of the last years after the shocks of the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine caused immigration to clearly increase again. The latest INE data, corresponding to the second quarter of 2022 (provisional), estimate the arrival of 479,000 people in Spain, the record of the historical series. Migratory flows are concentrated in the main cities and urban centers, such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. The economic and growth engines that continue to absorb population, both native and foreign, while the so-called ’empty Spain’ remains deserted. A phenomenon not without its challenges, Izquierdo acknowledges, especially considering the speed with which it has occurred. Therefore, if Spain faces a scenario of greater fiscal pressure to maintain the current public pension model, immigrants will look for other places with greater economic dynamism, as has happened in recent history, both in our country and in the rest of the world.
– Beyond figures or degrees of qualification, for the professor of sociology, the fundamental thing is to consider what place we want immigration to have in our society. A discourse that does not fit with the times or the forms of politics, as shown by the constant reforms of the law on foreigners, without addressing an in-depth debate in which all sensitivities are involved. All this without taking into account the opinion of the immigrants themselves, as shown by the lack of surveys and data in this regard. The sociologist gives as an example the National Immigrant Survey (ENI), which has not been updated since 2007, or the lack of information on the situation of foreigners during the Covid-19 pandemic.
– “Because that costs money, research costs money if it is done well. And they are the ones who never give their opinion, those who are ignored by the surveys, those who do not vote,” Izquierdo asserts. “The CIS samples are only made for those who have Spanish nationality, in addition to a sample of 5.5% of the total for naturalized people – foreigners who obtain nationality – and that is all that is done,” he adds.
– These shortcomings are accompanied by the Spanish migratory model, where the lack of human and economic resources leads to problems derived from improvisation. This leads to cases such as those recently experienced in the Galician community, with the expulsion of immigrants transferred from the Canary Islands due to the crisis of the summer of 2024, with no guarantees or capacity for integration.
– In contrast to other models such as the German one, where a regulated process is carried out, with requirements such as a language qualification, but offering resources that allow them to work and be trained at the same time. On the other hand, the Spanish model, although it does not have the same capacity to compete to attract qualified immigrants as those of the United Kingdom or Germany itself, favors these people to fill less qualified and lower paid jobs. “We have to allow, as in Germany, that an immigrant can work legally and that there is a commitment from the employer so that he can train three or four days a week, or in the afternoons. But that has to be done,” Izquierdo insists. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/galicia/antonio-izquierdo-inmigracion-rejuvenecido-piramide-demografica-ningun-20250427203134-nt_amp.html

CANADA

Canada’s Liberals celebrate a stunning win and the populist challenger loses his seat:
– As Canada’s Liberals celebrated election victory in a stunning turn of fortune, the country would not know until later Tuesday whether the party of Prime Minister Mark Carney would have an outright majority or need help in Parliament.
– Populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre — in the lead until U.S. President Donald Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and annexation threats — was voted out of his Parliament seat in Monday’s election. That capped a swift decline in fortunes for the firebrand Poilievre, who a few months ago appeared to be a shoo-in to become Canada’s next prime minister and shepherd the Conservatives back into power for the first time in a decade.
– Poilievre, a career politician, campaigned with Trump-like bravado, taking a page from the “America First” president by adopting the slogan “Canada First.” But his similarities to Trump may have ultimately cost him and his party. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/canada-election-carney-trump-poilievre-7d42d2d93b98d471c2afb3cd602d117d

HEALTH

The €283 million plan to reduce 60% of the surgical waiting lists in Andalusia only manages to cut 5%: {Translation, summary}
– Andalusia’s €283 million plan to cut surgical waiting lists by 60% has crashed and burned, achieving a pitiful 5% reduction in patients waiting over a year- from 60,000 to 57,000- despite bold promises to eliminate such delays by 2023. Launched in 2022, the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) initiative aimed for 450,000 additional interventions: 135,000 surgeries, 270,000 consultations, and 45,000 tests. By June 2024, only 65% of these were completed (87,000 surgeries, 180,000 consultations, 33,000 tests), even after spending €183 million. The plan’s failure exposes deep flaws in the region’s healthcare system and the government’s mismanagement.
– Crippling inefficiencies, like Seville’s hospitals using just 60% of operating rooms during evening shifts, compounded by healthcare worker strikes and the complexity of surgeries, sabotaged progress. Worse, the government’s outsourcing of 40% of interventions to private clinics has drawn fierce criticism from the PSOE, who accuse the administration of diverting public funds to private interests while public hospitals deteriorate. Andalusia’s average surgical wait time of 171 days in 2024- far above Spain’s 110-day average- cements its status as a national laggard.
– Health Minister Catalina García’s claim that waiting lists have “stabilized” compared to pre-COVID levels is a feeble attempt to spin a catastrophic shortfall. The slight dip in patients waiting over 180 days (from 73,000 to 69,000) is a drop in the bucket against the plan’s lofty 60% target. This debacle lays bare the government’s inability to deliver on grandiose promises, raising serious questions about resource allocation, hospital management, and the creeping privatization of healthcare. Andalusians deserve better than a system that leaves them languishing on waiting lists while public funds prop up private clinics. The government must answer for this egregious failure. Source, Spanish: https://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/plan-283-millones-reducir-60-listas-espera-quirurgica-andalucia-logra-recortar-5_1_12249772.html

GASTRONOMIA

Where to eat in Sayalonga- restaurants, inns and bars in the village that is the ‘loquat paradise’: {Translation}
– Halfway between Algarrobo and Cómpeta lies Sayalonga, a village in the Turvilla River valley, where loquat cultivation has thrived for decades. Each year on the first of May, the village celebrates this fruit with a gastronomic and folk festival, offering free tastings of these tart yet sweet, exotic fruits.
– Sayalonga is particularly renowned for its octagonal cemetery, known as the Round Cemetery, and for having the narrowest alley in Axarquía, the Alcuza Alley. It’s also a great place to dine. Its bars and restaurants serve everything from traditional dishes like fennel stew to matured beef. There are even dishes tied to the village’s muscatel heritage, such as Sayalonga raisin chicken.
– Mesón Morisco, located in the main square, is a carnivore’s paradise, renowned for quality beef like Galician Blonde, Wagyu, and matured cuts, alongside lamb chops, pork ribs, and chicken skewers. Its extensive menu also includes salmon with orange, cod confit, vegan and gluten-free options, pizzas, and burgers, all enjoyed on a cosy terrace. Plaza Don Rafael Alcoba, 8. 29752 Sayalonga. Telephone 952 535 196.

– Jocavi, another main square gem, is a longstanding favourite in the region. Weekdays feature traditional Axarquía and Málaga dishes, while weekends offer varied Andalusian-inspired à la carte options, such as Málaga kid goat or gazpacho, maintaining a strong regional identity. Plaza Don Rafael Alcoba, 13, 29752 Sayalonga. Telephone: 951467449.

– Asador El Ruano, just outside Sayalonga’s centre on the Cómpeta road, excels in grilled meats, offering Galician Blonde beef burgers, pork knuckle, oxtail, and duck magret, with matured beef cuts as a highlight. Its menu extends to rice, pastas, fish, salads, and homemade desserts, making it a versatile stop. Pago El Ruano, s/n. Carretera de Cómpeta, 1, 29752 Sayalonga. Teléfono: 625 399 131.

– Casa Mari, on the A-7206 road, blends national and local flavours with dishes like Sayalonga raisin chicken, pork cheek in Pedro Ximénez, and fried kid goat, alongside paella and tripe, appealing to those seeking authentic Spanish cuisine. Carretera A-7206, s/n, 29752 Sayalonga. Teléfono: 952 535 293.

– Cafetería Ágora, also roadside, focuses on hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, and burgers, with “mogollones” and montaditos (tapas on toast) as staples, complemented by snacks like croquettes, nachos, and fried brie. Carretera A-7206, 17, 29752 Sayalonga. Teléfono: 660 631 413.

Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malagaenlamesa/donde-comer-malaga/donde-comer-sayalonga-restaurantes-mesones-bares-pueblo-paraiso-nispero-malaga-20250423133413-nt.html

SCIENCE

Is this proof we’re living in a ‘simulated universe’? Scientist’s theory points to possible clue:
– Are we living in “The Matrix” in real life? In the 1999 science-fiction film, Neo discovers that the universe is a simulation – but one scientist believes that the idea isn’t all fiction. Dr. Melvin Vopson, an associate professor in physics at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, believes that gravity is a sign that we are living in a virtual simulation and the universe is the “ultimate computer,” he alleged in a new paper.
– Dr. Melvin Vopson believes that the concept in “The Matrix” isn’t all fiction. In the research, published in AIP Advances, Vopson proposes the idea that gravity isn’t just a “pull” – it’s actually something that occurs when the universe is trying to keep its data organized. Forcing objects with mass to be pulled toward the Earth’s core is similar to how computers compress code, Vopson claimed. He added in the paper that gravitational pull is an “example of data compression and computational optimization in our universe, which supports the possibility of a simulated or computational universe.”
– “The universe evolves in a way that the information content in it is compressed, optimized and organized – just as computers and computer code do,” he told the Daily Mail. “Hence, gravity appears to be another process of data compression in a possibly simulated universe.” The gravitational attraction helps reduce “information entropy,” which essentially means how much information there is in an object in any given space, the study alleges.
– Gravity plays many roles in space, including the building of galaxies, putting planets into orbit around stars and influencing the motion of nearby objects. So, in Vopson’s theory, these objects may be pulled together because the universe is simply trying to keep everything clean and compressed. “To put it simply, it is easier to compute all the properties and characteristics of a single object in space, rather than multiple objects,” he told the Daily Mail. “That is why objects in space are pulled together.” “A super complex universe like ours, if it were a simulation, would require a built-in data optimization and compression in order to reduce the computational power and the data storage requirements to run the simulation,” he explained in a piece for The Conversation in 2023. “This is exactly what we are observing all around us, including in digital data, biological systems, mathematical symmetries and the entire universe.”
– “My findings in this study fit with the thought that the universe might work like a giant computer, or our reality is a simulated construct,” Vopson explained in a statement. “Just like computers try to save space and run more efficiently, the universe might be doing the same. It’s a new way to think about gravity – not just as a pull, but as something that happens when the universe is trying to stay organized.” Full article: https://nypost.com/2025/04/28/science/is-this-proof-were-living-in-a-simulated-universe-scientists-theory-points-to-possible-clue/

FINANCIAL

Official date to make an appointment for the income statement by phone: {Translation}
– This Tuesday, April 29th, the appointments to file the income tax return by telephone will be open. The campaign began on April 2, and taxpayers have until June 30 to file their income tax return. Although the telephone appointments will start on May 6. From the beginning of the month it can be done telematically through the Tax Agency’s web page, in May the option to do it by telephone is opened, and finally those who want to do it in person from June 2.
*How to request the telephone appointment for the income tax declaration*
– From tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29th, until June 27th, those who wish to make their tax return by telephone, will be able to make an appointment to do so. From May 6 onwards, they will start to be made. It can be requested by different means:
1. Through the Internet, on the Tax Agency’s website, using the NIF or NIE, Cl@ve, reference, electronic DNI or electronic certificate.
2. In the application of the Tax Agency.
3. At the automatic telephone number 91 535 73 26 or 901 12 12 24.
4. Or through the Renta appointment telephone number with personal attention 91 553 00 71 or 901 22 33 44. From Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 19:00 hours.
*Documentation to make the income tax return by telephone*
– Once the telephone appointment is requested, it will be the Tax Agency itself who will contact the taxpayer from the telephone number 810520052. In the event that the call cannot be answered, they ask that the appointment be cancelled 24 hours in advance. It is important to have all the necessary documentation and data at the time of the call:
1. Original DNI of the appointment holder and photocopy of the DNI of all those listed on the return.
2. IBAN number of the bank account.
3. The cadastral references of all the properties owned by the taxpayer or in which he/she resides as a renter or in other circumstances (IBI receipt).
4. Any supporting documents that could entitle the taxpayer to regional deductions and other tax benefits.
5. As well as the following documents if you have received any of these incomes and they do not appear imputed in your tax data: for work income, real estate capital, movable capital, economic activities or gains and losses from transferring the habitual residence, among others.
– You can check all the necessary documentation on the website of the Tax Agency, https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/cita.html
Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/como-cuando-pedir-cita-declaracion-renta-telefono_0_2003807019.html

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The Antikythera Mechanism – a 2,000-year-old Greek computer – was finally decoded by modern scientists, and what they discovered is deeply unsettling: Video Link

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National Geographic Photo of the Day: Click Here
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Click Here
Word of the Day: Click Here
Quote of the Day: Click Here
Fact of the Day: Click Here
Born Today: Click Here
Today in History: Click Here
Today’s Front Pages (New Link), worldwide: Click Here
Daily Mail UK- Daily Sudoku: Click Here

Cinesur El Ingenio Films schedule: You can find the film schedule at this link. Films tagged as (VOSE) are in the original language with Spanish subtitles.
https://www.cinesur.com/es/cine/mk2-cinesur-el-ingenio

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

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/
Local Weather: https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/torre-del-mar/306652/weather-forecast/306652
Bus Info: https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/our-destinations/regional
Currency Converter: https://www.x-rates.com/calculator/?from=EUR&to=GBP&amount=1
Internet Speed Test: http://beta.speedtest.net/
Local Bank Holidays: http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/spain/index.php UK Newspaper Front Pages and Worldwide Newspapers All On One Site: https://www.thepaperboy.com/uk/front-pages.cfm

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://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

DigameXtra is now on X (formerly Twitter) at @DigameXtra. I also post articles there that are too controversial for the daily newsletter. However, you need a free X account to visit the @DigameXtra page on X.

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DigameXtra No. 2997 Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 – Limited Post Blackout Edition, Full Issue Tomorrow

On April 29, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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*Subscribe to receive free daily issues by email. To subscribe, please send me an email with the message “subscribe me to DigameXtra” from the email account you want subscribed.

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*Send your submissions & subscription requests to digamextra@protonmail.com

Note: The submission deadline is 6pm for the next day’s issue.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Next Public Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
DigameXtra will be closed.

Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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Sánchez blames the blackout on a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts from which the cause is not yet known: {Translation}

– The power returned at around 4am Tuesday morning in Andalucia, northern regions recovered a couple of hours earlier .
– Sánchez blames the blackout to a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts from which the cause is not yet known. Says from Moncloa that all potential causes are being analyzed “without ruling out any hypotheses”;
– The president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has pointed out that the mass blackout that has left the Iberian Peninsula without light for a good part of this Monday has been due to the loss of 15 gigawatts of energy suddenly, which represents approximately 60% of the country’s demand at that time, although it has not clarified the cause of this event.
– In a statement from La Moncloa after the National Security Council meeting-the second of the day-Sánchez explained that, according to Red Electrica technicians, at 12.33pm “15 generation gigawats have suddenly lost the system in just five seconds”, although he has not been able to specify what has caused it. In any case, he stressed that “all potential causes are being analyzed, without ruling out any hypotheses.”
– The cause of the blackout “is something that specialists have not yet been able to determine, but they will,” said Sánchez, pointing out that competent state institutions and all private operators are working in a coordinated way “to know what has happened”, while indicating that at this time “almost 50%” of the electricity supply has been recovered. Source,Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-sanchez-achaca-apagon-perdida-subita-15-gigavatios-aun-no-conoce-causa-20250428230329.html

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Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Tap or click image for updated forecast

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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

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ARCHGROVE TRANSPORT SERVICES

Archgrove Services: A family run light haulage/transport company with bases in Archez, Spain and Cambridgeshire.
We are part of the ADH Storage and Transportation company and as such have storage available in Competa and Puente Don Manuel. Very reasonable rates.
We provide a one stop service for all your transport needs and pride ourselves on reliability, flexibility, good communication and a very much ‘can do’ approach. No job is too small and there is always a solution.
Our services include:
-Regular runs between UK and Spain
-Transport of personal property from full house moves to small single items
-Man & Van services
-Packing, including supply of packing materials
-UK Home shopping with UK delivery address
-Storage of property and vehicles in Spain
If we can be of service please contact Gail. We are on Facebook and always available to chat through your needs and provide a free no obligation quote if required.
UK: 0044 7846672013
Spain: 0034 951 066 093
Email: archgroveservices@gmail.com ; FB Link
Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.

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SPW CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

SPW Construction Services: Professional high quality building service, fully qualified tradesmen to all trades.
Extensions, retaining walls, driveways, swimming pools, damp problems, roofs, blocked drains.
Replacement kitchens and bathrooms, Tiling and terraces. Plumbing, electrics and plastering, painting.
Architect service, building licence applications.
Handyman service now available for those smaller jobs.
Water Deposit Installations: Due to the ongoing drought and current water restrictions SPW Construction are currently offering the following service.
– Supply and installation of new above or below ground water deposits. 1000 litres up to 25000 litres. Delivered and installed, all relevant plumbing. All work warrantied.
– We can also advise you or help to organise water deliveries from local suppliers.
Selling Your House? SPW Construction can offer you a bespoke package to prepare your house for sale.
Through our extensive relationships with Agents, buyers and sellers we understand what is required to present your home to potential purchasers.
Interior & Exterior decoration / Replacement bathrooms and Kitchens
Pool Reforms / Garden tidy
DAFO Compliance, septic tanks, solar installations, etc.
Roof checks / Damp proofing
For free consultation and estimate contact us on 622938440
or email: scottparkwilson AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk
Scott/Arenas. Home Page and FB-Link
Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.

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Buy / Sell / Trade / Rent / Wanted

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How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a 
single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/

Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
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Recommendations, Requests & Comments

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

Judge charges Pedro Sanchez’s brother with prevarication and influence peddling: {Translation, summary}
– The Badajoz judge investigating Pedro Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, for allegedly benefiting from a position at the Badajoz Provincial Council, supposedly created for him in July 2017, has issued an indictment against him, the step prior to putting him on trial. After an extensive investigation involving over a dozen witness and suspect statements, as well as the collection of substantial documentary evidence, supported by the Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit (UCO), the judge finds indications of malfeasance and influence peddling against the musician and brother of the Prime Minister, issuing an indictment for these offences.
– Among those indicted for malfeasance and influence peddling, the judge also includes Miguel Ángel Gallardo Miranda, leader of the Badajoz socialists. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/extremadura/juez-procesa-hermano-pedro-sanchez-prevaricacion-trafico-20250428103317-nt.html

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

New Home Development Plans Revealed: {Translation, summary}
– The bipartisan PP and GIPMTM government in Vélez-Málaga is prioritising urban development as the 2023–2027 municipal term nears its midpoint. The General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) awaits updates to comply with Andalusia’s LISTA legislation, with plans for around 25,000 new homes still pending.
– The Urban Planning Department has initiated projects for nearly 5,000 free-market homes across the municipality, reviving stalled developments in Benajarafe, Torre del Mar, Caleta de Vélez, and Lagos. These include 3,507 homes, with at least 408 designated as social housing (VPO), supported by urbanisation projects and partial plans.
– Councillor Celestino Rivas (PP) highlighted the urgent need to address housing demand, noting that increasing supply could stabilise prices. The Council is also promoting affordable rentals and selling three municipal plots for up to 295 VPO homes via Emvipsa.
– In the Camino de Torrox area, sectors VM13 and VM18 are set for 500 homes, an industrial estate, and a private hospital with HM Hospitales. Iberdrola is advancing real estate projects in sector VM16, north of the A-7 Motorway, aiming to unlock developments delayed for nearly two decades.
– Rivas emphasised that these projects, some dating back to 2004–2006, will boost local revenue through licences and taxes. Water supply plans for these developments have been approved with positive technical and legal backing. The Council is also progressing towards a new PGOU approval, adapting to regional law while leveraging valid reports from a 2021 initial approval. These efforts reflect Vélez-Málaga’s commitment to meeting housing needs and fostering economic growth in the Axarquía region. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/velezmalaga-impulsa-desarrollo-cerca-cinco-mil-nuevas-20250421233352-nt_amp.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.
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://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

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DigameXtra No. 2996 Monday, April 28th, 2025

On April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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*Subscribe to receive free daily issues by email. To subscribe, please send me an email with the message “subscribe me to DigameXtra” from the email account you want subscribed.

*By making a submission you are indicating you have read and agree to follow the rules. RULES PAGE LINK: https://digamextra.com/about/

*Send your submissions & subscription requests to digamextra@protonmail.com

Note: The submission deadline is 6pm for the next day’s issue.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Next Public Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
DigameXtra will be closed.

Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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PHOENIX CLUB

Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English.
We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips.
Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross. We would be happy to accept any greeting cards you may have to re-make into fantastic cards.
We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo.
***Trips/Events***
~All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity~
May
– 6th – Trip to Gib €22pp
– 15th – Craft Fair and Bake Sale at Chine, Caleta. If you would like to sell your wares, please contact us on the number below.
– 23rd – Trip to Almunecar. €20pp
June
– 10th – Trip to Gib €22pp
– 20th – Summer Solstice Luncheon and Dance at Pepe Molino, Almayate. 4 course meal with wine & live music @ 50€pp.
– 21st – Trip to Alfarnate and their Cherry Fiesta. €22pp
August
– 15th – Almunecar Fireworks Spectacular
– 22nd – A visit to Teba for their celebration of Sir James Douglas €22pp
September
– 2nd – Trip to Gib €22pp
– 19th – Trip to Mini Hollywood, price includes coach fare, entry and buffet lunch €65.
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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Frigiliana Dia de Pedal 2025: Thurs, 1 May
Inscriptions 10:00-12:00 at Parque Andalucia, activities start at noon
A day full of sports, fun and prizes!
Free Paella for all participants.
Balancing contest and other surprises.
Contests: Balance competition, Oldest bicycle, Most veteran cyclist, Most original entry.
T-shirts for the first 300 registrants.
Don’t miss it! Come with your bike, your family or friends and enjoy an unforgettable day.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI1YdClMytg/ & Video Link

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Ventana Abierta Jazz Club: Nuages Trio
Friday, 2 May 8pm
Dani Fernández (Clarinete & Saxo Tenor) – Juan Ramón Veredas (Piano) – Martín Veredas (Guitarra)
Nuages Trio was born from the shared musical quest of its three members, who explore a unique fusion of styles and sounds. While the distinctive character of this ensemble is rooted in the aesthetics of early jazz (with influences from 1930s swing and jazz manouche, represented by figures such as Django Reinhardt and Tchan Tchou Vidal), its members also share a deep admiration for classical music. Thus, elements of French Impressionism and late Romanticism intertwine with traditional jazz, shaping a distinct sonic identity.
Place: Hotel Plaza Cavana
Address: 3, Granada Street – Nerja
Price: 20’00€ – Armchair / 15’00€ – Stool
Booking: www.ventana-abierta.es / ventana.abierta.acp@gmail.com / 690073871

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Casa De Cultura- Almuñécar
Puerta De Granada, 19, 18690 Almuñécar
– Friday, 2 May, 8pm. Ancora Ensemble, conducted by Rafael Lamas, presents ‘The Four Seasons’. A special concert with Vivaldi and Piazzolla as protagonists. With Jesús Berrio on violin and Fabián Carbone on bandoneon. Video Link.
Info & tix: https://bravoentradas.es/

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast

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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

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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS AND 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 unrivaled 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 30 years in Nerja area.
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.

**********

BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

BluCee Real Estate:
– BluCee Real Estate have just attended a very busy exhibition at the International Property Show in Dubai, an exciting 3 days of speaking with buyers and investors from around the world. Michelle Conner gave a presentation on the stage, introducing people to the Spanish market and why they should choose BluCee Real Estate. We will have more exciting news from Dubai to share soon!
– In just a few weeks we will be off again, this time to A Place in the Sun London. It’s not too late to list your property with us and have it shown to thousands of serious buyers daily. If you’re looking for an agent to proactively market your property worldwide then contact BluCee Real Estate today.
– Nearly forgot to mention, our service might sound expensive but we are not! Our sales commissions are very competitive compared to other real estate companies.
– Please contact us for a free valuation or more information: info@blucee.com
Whatsapp 0034 711042727 / office 0034 951553890
Or you can come into our office and speak to us in person at Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29738, Málaga.
We look forward to helping you.
We cover the whole coast line and inland.
BluCee Real Estate are a DigameXtra sponsor so our contact details are shown here every day.

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For Sale, 2 items: Wooden Windows and Shutters
– 4x (2pair) wooden shutters varnished pine in good
condition, size 98×37 cm, €20 pair
– 4x windows (2pair) size 112×47 cm varnished pine with fittings and glass. Need cleaning and re-varnish €20 pair
Maggie, los Romanes. WhatsApp 722809426
Email: maggieculver77 AT yahoo D0T com

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For Sale: New Laptop, Acer Aspire 3 A315.
Very powerful business model. 15.6″ Full HD display.
Windows 11 Pro (UK), 16 Gb RAM, 512 Gb SSD. (Ready for Windows 12 when released.)
Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U, up to 4.4GHz
Spanish keyboard. HDMI, Ethernet, 3x USB 3.2, Wifi 6.
Price: €480 fully setup and ready to use. Naythan, Torrox Costa.
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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Recommendations, Requests & Comments

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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We meet every Tuesday at 7am at the Lux Mundi meeting hall in Torre del Mar.
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Link to website – https://axarquiabusinessnetworking.com/
Link to FB – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1103758531135273/

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Note to this weekend’s anonymous donor:
The reader who put a cash donation with no note into my mailbox this weekend needs to identify themselves if they wish to receive their posting privileges for 2025. Please provide your name (at least your first name and initial of last name so I can recognize your emails), the amount donated, what it was delivered in, and the day you made the donation so I can confirm it’s authenticity and get you on the current donor’s list. Thanks for the support!

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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 Admin’s Corruption Scandals Grow- Supreme Court has discovered endemic corruption system in Ministry of Transport during José Luis Ábalos’s leadership, a key figure in Sánchez’s government thru mid-2021: {Translation, summary}
– Initially focused on irregularities in COVID-19 medical supply contracts, the investigation has expanded to other ministries- now it’s Transport, and includes the appointment of Ábalos’s former partner to public companies, allegedly arranged by Ábalos and his advisor Koldo García.
– Judge Leopoldo Puente has ordered the Guardia Civil to examine road expansion contracts awarded from 2019 onwards, following testimony from businessman Víctor de Aldama. Aldama claims companies he represented secured contracts and paid him commissions, part of which were bribes to Ábalos and García. He provided documents with highlighted contract lists and handwritten notes confirmed to be García’s, supporting his allegations.
– Aldama stated that bribes started before the pandemic contracts, including monthly payments of €10,000 to García to ensure future contract awards. He admitted to keeping part of up to €4 million collected between 2019 and 2021, with the remainder given to Ábalos and García. The judge has tasked the Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit with verifying these contracts and identifying beneficiaries.
– The corruption allegedly began with a February 2019 official trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, organised by Aldama, which helped build trust with Ábalos and García. Aldama acted as a pseudo-official Spanish representative during the visit, which led to economic dealings and contracts related to the Tren Maya Verde infrastructure project in Mexico.
– Former Adif president Isabel Pardo de Vera is also under scrutiny for hiring Ábalos’s partner, who reportedly never attended work. Arrests and searches in early 2024, including of García and family members, yielded key evidence. The Supreme Court formally charged Ábalos in November 2024.
– This latest information has exposed a new branch in the government’s complex corruption network, involving rigged public contracts, bribery payments, and misuse of public appointments, spanning from 2019 through the pandemic period. Investigations continue with forensic and financial analyses to establish the full scope of the alleged system. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/juez-investiga-supuesto-sistema-corrupto-transportes-etapa-20250427170452-nt_amp.html

ANDALUCÍA

Junta’s Big Brother Plans Go Operational With Drone Teams & “Territory Surveillance”: {Translation}
– The Regional Ministry of Sustainability and Environment of the Junta has incorporated a new drone unit for the Environmental Agents, as a tool to reinforce the surveillance of the territory and to advance in the technification of the group.
– The new unit is integrated by technicians specialized in the handling of these aircrafts, which made the first tests back in 2022, although it has been consolidated recently. To this end, the agents who make up the unit have acquired the necessary training and skills for the professional use of unmanned aircraft in the performance of their duties- the EASA Operator certificate.
– This first level of operation was key in the process of initiation and training of the group, which allowed them to improve their skills, consolidate the unit and apply the use of drones to tasks such as the monitoring of works carried out in the natural environment, the control of administrative processes on the ground, the monitoring of wildlife censuses and the state of vegetation.
– As a result of the experience gained, it has been necessary to expand the operational capabilities, in order to carry out more effectively the tasks of the administrative police carried out by the Environmental Agents. For this reason, the Department of Sustainability and Environment has also promoted the obtaining of the No EASA certificate, which authorizes the use of aircraft excluded from Community regulations, such as those used in military, patrol and police surveillance operations. These are particularly suitable for the development of environmental control and territory surveillance functions {They have already been used to identify unregistered pools in the campo, and verify property lines, as previously covered in DigameXtra. A real shame they were not used to check the flood management channels before the recent floods. -Ed}.
– Obtaining this advanced certificate allows agents to incorporate new capabilities into their daily activities, such as support in emergency situations, including forest fires, floods and the search for missing persons, which broadens the scope of their interventions and improves their response capacity.
– This development is part of a broader strategy (Agenda 2030) to modernize the group through information technologies, digitalization and process automation. These tools facilitate the management and analysis of environmental data, streamline administrative tasks and allow access to advanced solutions from anywhere, which is essential for professionals who carry out a large part of their work in natural environments.
– {They neglect mentioning the potential abuses of this new “public trust” they’ve granted themselves without a public referendum: invasions of privacy on a massive scale and the inevitable data breaches & misuse of that data. Additionally, say goodby to the days when you could do reasonably harmless things unobserved in the campo and mountains. Soon they will be regulating, and eventually charging for, everything from camping to mushroom picking to arrowhead hunting, explaining that it’s for your own good- Agenda 2030 says so. Some may say that is a good thing, a nanny-state is best for the majority. I say it is the erosion of our culture being sold as protection against a non-existent threat. Rather than get the existing trusted systems working optimally, politicians & officials opt to blindly rush ahead to spend other people’s money to “improve” everything with new technology, that benefits the equipment vendors and politicians far more than the public. Another SNAFU! -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/nueva-unidad-drones-mejora-vigilancia-montes-malaga-20250421002733-nt_amp.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

Administrations maintain the barriers of the mandatory appointment and glass wall to attend to citizens in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– The sign at the entrance says it clearly: “By appointment only”. It is March 2025, but a visit to the administrations to complete bureaucratic formalities is like a return to the times of covid. First, the pandemic completely paralyzed the administration. Then, it returned in trickles under the commandments of social distancing. Or to put it another way: blocking any physical contact. Now, the wall that was erected between the citizen and the civil servants remains. In spite of the promises to eliminate the obligatory nature of these barriers- the PSOE and PP had it in their electoral programs.
– It is easy to confirm and only requires a tour of the offices of the various administrations in Malaga. It does not matter if it is at state, regional or local level. Pensions, digital certificates, work lives, self-employed registration or minimum vital income. These are some of the procedures that are carried out in these buildings. Posters pasted on the facade welcome citizens who come to carry out formalities. The following can be read in large letters: “This office only attends by appointment”. A phrase that hides many things. The main one, a radical change in the bureaucratic relationship between the citizen and the different administrations that was going to be temporary, but that already seems structural.
– A citizen used to enter the offices unrestricted, now there are separator posts, like those used in museums. The security guard gives passage depending on whether or not you have an appointment. “Do you have an appointment,” he asks. Upon refusal, he hands over a sheet of paper with the following heading: “You must make an appointment to be attended at the tax information service”. On the sheet also appears a QR code for its corresponding scanning. Although the security guard warns: “It is better to call, the code is giving errors”. Some enter, others are stranded at the door with a look of circumstance on their faces. The information officer has been replaced by security personnel. External employees are clearly performing a job that is not part of their duties. When asked about the situation, they prefer to remain anonymous. If the telephone system to make an appointment is often collapsed, and the alternative is to scan a QR code and it is not reliable either, frustration for the user is guaranteed. This malaise affects all levels: state, regional and local.
– The existence of a pre-pandemic and a post-pandemic reality is evident to the user. If the return to the way it was before has not taken place in the administrations, the question arises as to why. Civil servants defend themselves against any accusation that suggests less work effort or greater accommodation- the time they do not devote to face-to-face service is used to clear up files, which would accumulate more and more. Empty words. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/promesa-incumplida-cita-previa-eterniza-20250415192330-nt.html

TORROX

A 33-year-old man with 65% disability reported missing in Torrox: {Translation, summary}
– Miguel Richmond Lopez, a 33-year-old resident of the province of Valencia who suffers from a mental disability of 65%, disappeared last Friday, early in the afternoon, when he was with a group of travelers staying at the Costamar hotel in El Morche, in Torrox-Costa.
– As reported Sunday by the association SOS Desaparecidos in a message posted on their social networks, Richmon Lopez is 1.78 meters tall, is of normal build, has black hair, brown eyes, beard and mustache. When he was lost track of, the man was wearing black pants, a black T-shirt with a flower print and black sneakers.
– The group of people with mental disabilities, consisting of about 80 people, was staying at this hotel establishment when this man disappeared. He is a vulnerable person, as SUR has learned. The Guardia Civil and the Local Police of Torrox have launched a search to locate Miguel Richmond Lopez.
– The SOS Desaparecidos Association has provided the telephone numbers 649 952 957 and 617 126 909 and the email info@sosdesaparecidos.es so that those who have any clues about his whereabouts can provide them to family members and caregivers. You can also call the emergency service 112 Andalucía. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/denuncian-desaparicion-hombre-discapacidad-torrox-malaga-20250427112143-nt.html

NERJA

Body of Nerja resident missing in Maro for nearly a month found: {Translation, summary}
– A sad end to the search for Miguel Ramirez Fortes ‘Luis el Reloj’, the 66-year-old resident of Nerja and senile dementia disappeared in Maro last March 29. At noon this Saturday his body has been located by some hikers in the vicinity of the ravine of La Coladilla, in an area of difficult access, next to the Al-Andalus hotel and close to the site of the Cave of Nerja. The strong odor that it gave off was what led the hikers to the place where the body was found, which was among some bushes.
– In a first inspection of the lifeless body, no signs of violence have been appreciated, as this newspaper has been able to learn. Source & photo, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/hallan-cadaver-vecino-nerja-desaparecido-maro-mes-20250426190604-nt.html

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Nerja and Maro dress in color and tradition to celebrate the Day of the Cross with thirteen decorated crosses: {Translation}
– The Department of Popular Traditions, has announced the celebration of the Day of the Cross to be held next Saturday, May 3, with the installation of a total of thirteen crosses decorated by groups, associations and neighbors in different parts of Nerja and Maro.
– The Deputy Mayor, Ana Maria Muñoz, and the Councillor for Popular Traditions, Elena Galvez, have announced the details of the event, highlighting the festive, cultural and participatory value of this local tradition.
– The crosses will be located in Calle Diputación (CPA), Plaza Tutti Fruti (Entrepreneurs of the Plaza), Prolongación de Calle Antonio Millón, corner with Chaparil, Calle Chaparil (Peña Nerjeña), Calle Ingenio (Peña La Soléa), María Zambrano Square (Neighbors of La Maquinilla), Cristo Street (Neighborhood Association of Las Protegidas), Francisco Martín Paz Square, Jorge Guillén Street (Fuente del Badén Association), Bouganvilla Street (Sisters of the Good Samaritan), Algarrobo Urbanization (APCUN).
– In addition, two municipal crosses will be installed: one on the Balcony of Europe, prepared by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), and another in the Plaza de la Iglesia de Maro, by the Junta de Festejos.
– The City Council will award prizes ranging from 750 to 450 euros for the three best crosses, 375 to 150 euros for the three best arropias, and 225 to 110 euros for the artificial crosses.
– Councilwoman Elena Galvez thanked the collaboration of the Neighborhood Association of Las Protegidas in the preparation of the traditional ‘arropía’ (a caramel or taffy-like sweet), which will be offered in the municipal crosses along with the wine of the land. He also recalled that in both municipal crosses will be musical performances and other activities throughout the afternoon.
– Finally, the councilors have encouraged neighbors and visitors to enjoy this popular celebration that fills the streets of Nerja and Maro with color, music and coexistence. Source, Spanish: https://www.nerja.es/nerja-y-maro-se-visten-de-color-y-tradicion-para-celebrar-el-dia-de-la-cruz-con-trece-cruces-engalanadas/

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

Trapiche hosts on Saturday, May 17 the XXXI Outdoor Painting Contest Juan Jurado Lorca, for artists from all over the Spanish geography: {Translation, summary}
– The deadline for submission of works is already open to participants, by emailing: feriasyfiestas@velezmalaga.es Likewise, it will be possible to register on the day of the call at the time of sealing the support.
– The day of events, May 17, competitors must go to the Tenencia de Alcaldía de El Trapiche, between 8:30 and 9:00 am, with the material for their entry. It should be noted that paintings or drawings that do not have the corresponding stamp will not be admitted to the contest, in order to preserve the established rules. The support must be smooth, rigid and white, canvas or board type, measuring a minimum of 65 cm and a maximum of 81 cm. Style and technique applicable by the artists will be free, although “we will show special attention to the presence of motifs linked to recognizable urban environments of Velez-Malaga”. The delivery of works must be made from 13:00 to 13:15 hours on Saturday, May 17, without signature reflected.
– As for the list of prizes, the winner will receive a cash prize of 1,000 euros, with 750 and 400 euros for second and third place, and an endowment of 400 euros for the local prize, which will collect a contestant born or residing in the municipality. The jury, appointed by the Department of Popular Traditions, will decide the same day May 17 from 14:15 pm, in the park Jurado Lorca de El Trapiche.
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-trapiche-acoge-el-sabado-17-de-mayo-el-xxxi-concurso-de-pintura-al-aire-libre-juan-jurado-lorca-para-artistas-de-toda-la-geografia-espanola/

RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA

Local Police of Rincón de la Victoria will initiate a special surveillance campaign on motorcycles & mopeds: {Translation, summary}
– The action, which will start on Monday, April 28 and will last until June 28, will consist of the inspection of the mandatory elements that must be included in this type of vehicles, and the control of the mandatory documentation.
– Penalties in this type of vehicles can range from 200 euros if it is the approval and technical characteristics of the vehicle, or 1,000 euros for not having the compulsory insurance in force. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/la-policia-local-de-rincon-de-la-victoria-iniciara-una-campana-especial-de-vigilancia-de-ciclomotores/

GASTRONOMIA

‘Don’t buy these eggs’ warning signs pop up in Spanish supermarkets:
– For some days now, some supermarkets in Spain have been displaying warning signs with the following message: “Do not buy these eggs. Goodbye code 3”. The poster hanging from egg shelves is a form of protest against those companies and distributors that continue to sell eggs from hens that live in caged conditions. The campaign was launched by the animal welfare observatory (OBA), which has been trying to put an end to the sale of eggs from caged hens. The practice has started to decrease in Spain, but is still far from being completely eradicated.
– In total, there are four numbers: 0 indicates that hens have outdoor access and organic feed; 1 corresponds to free-range hens with outdoor access but no organic feed; 2 indicates hens reared on the ground, inside farms, but outside cages; and 3 indicates hens reared in small cages with virtually no space to turn, stretch or flap their wings.
– The reason why the OBA’s warning message is now reaching supermarkets is that many supermarket chains have publicly committed to stop selling code 3 eggs in 2025. However, the deadline has passed and so far only Lidl, Carrefour, Aldi and Ahorramás have kept their promise. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/the-warning-sign-arriving-spanish-supermarkets-dont-20250424062716-nt.html

HEALTH

Attention olive pollen allergy sufferers in Malaga- warning of the expected date of pollen emergence: {Translation, summary}
– The dynamic map of pollen levels in the air provided by the University of Cordoba, central node of the Spanish Aerobiology Network, shows an abrupt evolution in a single week with respect to the flowering of the olive tree. From being in green, low level, these days, to shoot to red in a generalized way, without intermediate step and, in addition, in a wide way throughout the Andalusian territory. The turning point is the last days of April and the first days of May.
– The entire province of Malaga enters this high level threshold, except for a narrow strip of land that, from Manilva to the Serrania de Ronda traces the imaginary line of the border with neighboring Cadiz. In this area, the concentrations color the map in yellow; that is, moderate levels of pollen in suspension.
– Antonio Picornell is a doctor and works in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Malaga, also associated with the aforementioned network. “Yes, this hatching is normal. It depends a lot on the prevailing wind and temperatures. Sometimes Levante enters and ‘washes’ the atmosphere, since the wind that enters the city comes from the sea and does not pick up pollen. However, if the wind changes and begins to enter from the interior, it brings all the pollen released by the olive trees,” he explains.
– Following the experience of other seasons, pollens will start to decline at the end of May but will still be active in June. May is traditionally an adverse month for those allergic to olive pollen.
– The hatching will also fully affect the provinces of Jaen, Cordoba, Granada, Seville and the westernmost area of Almeria.
– But what about other pollens? Plantain, plantago, amaranthaceae, grasses, alder, hazel, casuarina and birch are at low or very low levels. At moderate levels these days are the pollens of urticaceae and cypress (the latter, already in decline). In moderate levels with high peaks in specific areas is urtica membrenacea. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/atencion-alergicos-olivo-malaga-espera-eclosion-polen-20250423134057-nt.html

SPORT

Football News- Barcelona edge Real Madrid in extra time to win five-goal Copa del Rey final:
– Jules Kounde’s dramatic extra-time winner sealed a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title in a pulsating 3-2 victory over Real Madrid, inflicting a third consecutive El Clasico defeat on their grand rivals for the first time in two years. Full article: https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-copa-del-rey-barcelona-edge-real-madrid-in-extra-time-to-win-five-goal-copa-del-rey-final/2yoiWX8d/

TECH

Beware of spam blocking tools & apps (different from anti-virus tools, although sometimes included within those): {DigameXtra}
– There are now many so-called spam blocking tools & apps being promoted across the various media platforms. Examples include the “Robinson List” and “StopPublicidad”.
Once you register your email, phone and social media accounts these services claim they will block spam and other threats. And I am sure they are well intentioned, however…
– The problem with this is the same as with public agencies collecting your data, the stored information always gets exposed. Sometimes by hacker attack, often by corrupt employees at data storage facilities, and other times by human ineptitude, but the data always gets out and ultimately sold in huge credential dumps on the dark web. And in this particular case, all your private contact data is being stored together in a single account entry of those who claim to be protecting it, making the job of the data thieves very easy. No need to sort thru tons of data entries to extract your different accounts and their contact details when it’s all lumped together.
– While these anti-spam projects may be noble efforts, they ignore the primary flaw in all tech related security solutions- the human factor. As long as humans are involved in a process it is subject to corruption- greed, blackmail and extorsion will always create exploitable flaws. Even the most honest data center worker will reveal secret data to a crime group threatening their families.
– You can search for names, emails & phone numbers exposed in data breaches here: https://databreach.com/
The previous tool we used for this [haveibeenpwned.com] has become less effective and outdated over the years. (Note: Techies use the term “PWNED”, an intentional misspelling of “owned”)
– If you find an account of yours listed, the only fix is to change your passwords. Be aware the results of these breach searches may be from breaches before the last time you updated the corresponding account passwords, the dates are provided. In that case you have already done the fix.

SOCIAL MEDIA

What are your kids doing on social media? Here is the latest trend, simulated celeb sex chats! Meta allows Facebook & Instagram AI bots to engage in sick sex talk with kids — including in voices of Disney characters, celebs:
– Meta’s AI-powered chatbots on Facebook and Instagram are able to engage in graphic sex talk with users, even children, with the voices of Disney characters and celebrities, according to a bombshell report.
– AI using the personas of popular stars like John Cena, Kristen Bell, and Judi Dench were all capable of acting out sick fantasy chat with its users regardless of age, the Wall Street Journal found in tests of the software.
– One Meta staffer working to reel in the bots said there were clear instances that the AI companions were too quick to escalate sexual scenarios, according to the Journal.
“There are multiple… examples where, within a few prompts, the AI will violate its rules and produce inappropriate content even if you tell the AI you are 13,” one employee wrote in an internal note laying out concerns.
– The bots were all ready to engage in the sex talk despite Meta’s assurance to the celebrities — who were paid millions to use their likeness — that safeguards would be placed to prevent their voices from being used in any sexually explicit chats, sources told the WSJ.
– Meta slammed the WSJ testing — led by award-winning tech watchdog reporter Jeff Horwitz — as “manipulative,” claiming the results were not indicative of the average user.
– While accounts registered to minors can no longer access the sexual role-playing, the WSJ found the barriers can be bypassed and bots will still actively engage in such scenes if given simple prompts {Almost every pre-teen knows how to defeat the weak age verification system. -Ed.} . Meta still provides “romantic role-play” options for adult users, with the bots capable of engaging in paedophilic fantasies with personas like “Hottie Boy” and “Submissive Schoolgirl.”
– In the tests, the bots carried out full sexual fantasies with the knowledge that the acts were illegal if done in real life, such as a track coach having sex with a middle school student. Full article: https://nypost.com/2025/04/27/us-news/meta-allows-facebook-and-instagram-ai-to-engage-in-sick-sex-talk-with-kids-report/

TRAVEL

Ryanair’s rule that could cost each traveler up to 35 euros and that the airline will keep in place until November: {Translation}
– Ryanair has become one of the most popular airlines in Europe thanks to its competitive prices. At the same time, however, it has come under heavy criticism for charging extra for a number of things.
– One of these, however, will disappear in a few months. The Irish airline has already announced that it will implement an all-digital boarding pass system. As reported by the Mirror, this decision is based on the fact that the majority of Ryanair passengers (around 60%) already use the company’s app for check-in and boarding.
– In addition, the company wants to make a shift towards more “sustainable practices” {Meaning cost saving for them at your inconvenience! Be sure to let them know if you dislike their elimination of services and insistence of using their insecure, data leaking apps! -Ed.}. The exact effective date for Ryanair’s digital boarding pass system is November 3, 2025.
– The transition to digital-only check-in would mean the elimination of all check-in counters at airports. And while many Ryanair frequent flyers still opt for the physical boarding pass, one of the advantages of going digital would be the elimination of some of the hidden fees so often criticized by users. One such fee is the airport check-in fee, which forces all passengers checking in at the airport to pay an additional €35 (on flights departing from Spain). The only way to avoid this charge is to check in online or on the Ryanair app before your flight. Passengers who have booked a seat in advance can check in online up to 60 days before their scheduled departure.
– Passengers who opt for random seat assignment can check in from 24 hours before their flight until two hours before scheduled departure. If they do not check in online up to two hours prior to departure, they have up to 40 minutes before boarding begins to check in in person. If you do not check in at an airport counter or online at least 40 minutes before boarding, you may be subject to an extra charge of more than 100 euros. This charge also applies to passengers who arrive after the departure of their flight and wish to be included on a later flight.
– Another cost that Ryanair passengers should be aware of is the €20 fee for reissuing the boarding pass. If you have already checked in, but for some reason you need to have a physical boarding pass reissued, this will cost €20. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/viajes/norma-ryanair-puede-costar-hasta-euros-cada-viajero-aerolinea-mantendra-hasta-noviembre-5704372/

PETS

Assistance dogs aren’t just for the visually impaired- they now help others, but please don’t pet or offer them treats:
– Andalucía’s regional government has figuratively renamed guide dogs, replacing the word ‘guide’ with ‘assistance’, as part of a new decree that reviews the status of these dogs, the service of which will extend to other communities, beyond people with visual impairment. With the new regulation, which was published in the official BOJA gazette of the Junta on 16 April, assistance dogs will also accompany individuals with different degrees of functional and intellectual diversity. The decree will enter into force around the middle of June.
– The procedure for the recognition of the status of assistance dog will be initiated at the request of the user or their legal representative in the event that the interested party is a minor. The responsible institution will be the provincial authority. Applicants must accredit that they have a recognised degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%. The dog must also have been trained for the specific situation and needs of the user with whom it is to form the “bonding unit”, which will be accredited with a certificate from the training centre.
– Read all the details in English:
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/guide-dogs-are-longer-just-for-blind-20250425071949-nt.html P

THE REST OF THE STORY

Once Again ‘The Revolution Devours Its Own’ (Jacques Mallet du Pan quote) – Academic Left Pushes Back To Defend Science As Famous Lefty International Scholar Alan Sokal Denies Legitimacy Of The Trans Agenda: {Translation, summary}
– Alan Sokal (Boston, USA, 1955) {pic} became famous in 1996 for publishing a deliberately nonsensical article in the humanities journal Social Text. The text, which unabashedly argued that gravity is a social construct rather than a scientific reality, was intended to expose postmodern intellectuals, willing to publish anything flowery that apparently supported their prejudices.
– Almost thirty years later, this Professor of Mathematics at University College London and Emeritus Professor of Physics at New York University, believes that science, which should devote itself to seeking “the truth, however uncomfortable,” suffers even more ideological threats. Still controversial, he explained it in a conference given on Wednesday at the Ramón Areces Foundation in Madrid. He does not mince words, no matter who it may concern.
– There are biologists who in their public interventions upset scientific facts that they know perfectly well in order to support the cause of transgender people. I agree to protect these people from discrimination and harassment, but not to distort reality.
– The entire American medical establishment [the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or the American Psychiatric Association (APA)] says that sex is something “assigned at birth.” What the hell does that mean? In biology, sex is defined by reproductive capabilities. In mammals, each individual produces only one type of gamete. Those that produce eggs are called females and those that produce sperm are called males. Sex is a biological fact, not something assigned at birth. And to alter this in order to support a political cause is not justified. If a cause is just, it can be defended in full recognition of reality. If this cannot be done, then the cause is not just. I wrote an article about this with Richard Dawkins – one of the most famous biologists in the world – and it was rejected by the New York Times and the Washington Post. In the end, we published it in the Boston Globe.
– How can people trust vaccines, on which there is medical consensus, if something as simple as sex is misrepresented? {Well he certainly ain’t well informed on the vax situation, now is he? Vax damage lawsuit payouts are at record levels. Since 1988, the US vaccine court has awarded compensation to almost 10,000 people, totaling more than $5.2 billion dollars. Just goes to show experts in one field can be poorly informed in another, something all to common in politics. -Ed}
– The Presidents of biology societies in the U.S. wrote an open letter against Trump’s executive order on sex. These researchers use the words male and female hundreds of times in their scientific papers, but in their letter against Trump they say that sex is more than male and female. It is hypocritical and very dangerous for scientists, who should be dedicated to the search for truth, to disrupt scientific facts to support a political cause.
– Do you welcome the UK Supreme Court’s decision limiting the legal definition of woman to biological sex? Yes. It is a complicated decision, but it uses the legal principle that a term must have the same meaning when it is used many times in a law. Sex cannot mean both legally certified sex and biological sex. It would have strange results.
– In his talk he comes out against gender identity. Gender identity is an outdated, reactionary, anti-feminist concept that turns upside down what we learned 50 years ago from the feminist and gay movements. For example, a girl who likes to tinker with cars and repair engines is not a boy ‘in the wrong body’. She is a girl who has interests atypical for her sex. Similarly, a boy who is attracted to another boy is not a girl ‘in the wrong body’. He is a boy with interests atypical for his sex. And those interests should be respected. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/ciencia/alan-sokal-fisico-sexo-macho-hembra-ideologia-20250424170318-nt_amp.html

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Humour & Diversions Section

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

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100+ Historical Photos of Interest- How far the world has changed:
Can someone explain to me what are the rodent-looking beings escorting a pram of children from St. Margret Day Nursery in Battersea during the 1937 bus strike, at the 7:22 mark of this video? Video Link

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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/

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DigameXtra No. 2995 WEEKEND EDITION Friday, April 25th, 2025

On April 25, 2025April 24, 2025 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 Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
DigameXtra will be closed.
Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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What’s On

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Fiesta de la Morcilla 2025 en Canillas de Aceituno:
Sat & Sun, 26 & 27 April.
The black pudding festival as well as all its concerts are outdoors and free of charge. The town hall gives out free black pudding, beer, bread and sweet wine.
Saturday, April 26th
– Paella and beer tasting
– Music by Onda Sonora, Benito, Sixko Durán, Antonio Hierro DJ
Sunday, April 27th
– Tasting of black pudding, beer and local wine.
Music by Leo Música, Carlos Bravo, IPop
Info: https://saltillocanillas.com/noticias/fiesta-de-la-morcilla-canillas-de-aceituno/

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IV Aguacate Model Airshow
– From Friday April 25 to Sunday 27, the Real Aeroclub de Málaga will host at the La Axarquía – Leoni Benabú airport at El Trapiche the fourth edition of the International Festival Aguacate Model Airshow, already considered the most important unmanned aviation show in southern Spain. This is a private airfield near to the hamlet of El Trapiche, a district on the western edge of Vélez-Málaga.
– This event, which brings together amateurs, experts and radio control pilots from all over Spain and Portugal, will feature more than 140 model aircraft on display, including scale replicas that exceed 300 km / h and reach more than four meters in wingspan, many of them powered by aviation fuel.
– The festival will begin on Friday, April 25, with the reception of participants, checks and training from 12:00 noon until sunset. The highlight will be Saturday 26, when from 10:00 a.m. acrobatic maneuvers and synchronized flights can be seen throughout the day, using the 959 meters of runway of the airfield.
– The event will close on Sunday 27th in the morning with a series of free exhibition flights, in which pilots will be able to give free rein to their creativity and skill until early afternoon.
– Admission is free, and visitors will be able to enjoy not only the air show, but also an aeronautical flea market and various complementary activities for the whole family. Source: https://diario-axarco.webnode.es/l/el-iv-aguacate-model-airshow-aterriza-este-fin-de-semana-en-el-aerodromo-de-la-axarquia/

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Día de la Haba (bean)– Villanueva de la Concepción: Sunday, 27 April.
Activities include tastings of this legume, guided tours of the municipality, a market of local products and musical performances, among others.
– From 10.30 in the morning, the first stalls of the artisan market will begin to unfold, offering typical products of the area and handmade creations, among other proposals.
– An hour later, visitors will be able to enjoy the already popular photocall of the ‘Urban Knitting’, as well as an exhibition of crochet items handmade by residents of the municipality.
– From noon, music will take to the streets with the performance of the band of verdiales from Almogía ‘Los Azules’. At 12.30 p.m. a guided tour of the most picturesque corners of the municipality is planned, a perfect opportunity for residents and visitors to discover its history and beauty.
– Gastronomy will once again be the protagonist of the celebration, starting at 2:00 p.m., with a free tasting of broad beans. The party will continue with activities designed for all audiences. At 3:30 p.m. it will be the turn of the performances of the Municipal School of Guitar and Dance of Verdiales, Modern Dance and Flamenco.
– At 5:00 p.m. the group ‘La Taraská’ will liven up the meeting and, at 6:30 p.m., DJ Álex Barroso will be in charge of putting the finishing touch to the day. Info: https://www.malaga.es/comunicacion/2746/com1_md3_cd-51921/villanueva-de-la-concepcion-rinde-homenaje-a-la-haba-el-proximo-domingo-27-de-abril

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The pilgrimage in honor of the Virgen del Carmen in Torre del Mar already has a new date, May 25: {Translation, summary}
– The new date for the pilgrimage will be next May 25, 2025, and the proclamation will take place on May 23, as always, at 21:30 hours in the Paseo del Larios. We want to emphasize that all the programming remains the same, and will be updated with the new date changes, so we ask you to be attentive to the dissemination of these details. In addition, we have made every effort not to coincide with other events scheduled in the municipality, which explains the delay in the date. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/la-romeria-en-honor-a-la-virgen-del-carmen-de-torre-del-mar-ya-tiene-nueva-fecha-25-de-mayo/

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Services Wanted/Offered

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CÓMPETA SOLAR

Cómpeta Solar:
-Solar Electric (PV) (Self-Consumption)
-Grid Connected or Off Grid Solar Electric
-Solar Hot Water
-Solar Pool Heating
-Heat Pumps
-Installation and Repairs
Contact: James Bain, Competa
Tel: +34 652970608 (Spain)
Email: info AT competasolar DOT es
Web: www.competasolar.es
We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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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:
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, Mussaka), 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: 7pm 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
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And we welcome guests for the day. Email: jubileehousetorrox@gmail.com ; We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.

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BOOK RELEASE BY BERKELEY FENNE – “THE RECTIFIER”

THE RECTIFIER – A NOVEL WITH A LOCAL CONNECTION By Axarquia Resident, Berkeley Fenne
After serving in Afghanistan, Bosnia and for the British Government, ex-SAS Army Captain, Stuart Reece, wanted nothing more than to retire to his villa and enjoy a peaceful life, basking in the beauty of southern Spain and spend some time researching the locations where he served and the ‎drug trade from Afghanistan. On one such fine day, he is shot, he survives the attempt to eliminate ‎him. Reece is now determined to find the hitman. He later discovers that what he had begun to ‎uncover was only the tip of the iceberg. Reece starts chasing an international drug trafficking ‎business and all of its tentacles. Thus begins the race to reach the roots of all evil. Travelling ‎through southern Spain to the Balkans, eastern Europe and into Asia, he realises that the hunt was ‎leading him back to where traumatic memories of war and violence had scarred him, in ‎Afghanistan. With the events unfolding, ‘The Rectifier’ brings light to the underworld drug ‎trafficking business, terrorism, and how greed for power and money can shift even those that are ‎our protectors into traffickers and criminals.
The Rectifier is the first of a Trilogy of Stuart Reece thriller books. ‎
Berkeley Fenne A retired senior company director latterly a business consultant, he had provided ‎guidance and support to a variety and diverse range of companies. He designed and delivered a ‎business improvement programme with accompanying reference manual, which inspired the ‎beginning of fiction novel writing. Fenne is a Spanish resident, appreciating the opportunity to write ‎in the pleasant surroundings of southern Spain.
Available from: Amazon Books – Pegasus Publishing – berkeleyfenne@gmail.com

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Great Deals From Upcycling Nerja
– Desk top table. Measurements 120 x 80 x 75cms. Price 40€
– HAG office chair Elevate your office space with the blueHag H04 Credo Adjustable Ergonomic Office Swivel Chair. This chair boasts a range of features including a high back, chair gas lift, and tilt control to ensure maximum comfort during long hours of use. The padded seat and posture curved back provide additional support, while the adjustable seat slide angle. Sun fade to headrest. Everything works on chair. Price 35€
– IKEA adum rug Measurements 133 x 195cms Price 20€ contact Jackie, nerja 672170429
upcycling nerja at gmail dot com

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Recommendations, Requests & Comments

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

The Senate approves the motion of the PP to force the government to present budgets: {Translation, summary}
– The Senate has given the green light this Tuesday to a motion of the Popular Party that urges the Government to comply with its constitutional duty to present the General State Budget for 2025. The Popular Party announced this weekend its intention to extend the pressure already initiated in Congress to the Executive to move forward with the public accounts, something that has taken place in the plenary session held this morning.
– “The inability to present a budget on time is a reflection of a government without direction, without cohesion and without strategy,” insisted Alicia Garcia {pic}, the popular spokeswoman in the Senate. The text registered by Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s party in the Upper House points out that presenting a general budget “is an inexcusable duty of the Government, not only before the Cortes Generales, but before the whole of Spain”.
– In this context, the PP has obtained the support of Vox and UPN, as usual in the votes in the Senate, in addition to Asociación Socialista Gomera, while some partners of the Government as Junts, PNV and Compromís have abstained. Even the senator of Más Madrid, formation that is in the Government, has also abstained – for its part, the PSOE, ERC and EH Bildu have voted against.
– “The General State Budget is the main law of a Government and the one that defines how public resources are going to be invested, how tax burdens are going to be distributed and what the economic, social and institutional priorities of a legislature are”, also reads the motion promoted by the conservatives. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/nacional/pp-acepta-incorporar-enmienda-izquierda-confederal-mocion-20250422161043-ntrc_amp.html

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Your internet data is never fully deleted- US offices of WhatsApp & Google provide the deleted data from Spain’s Attorney General’s supposedly “wiped & reset” mobiles and Supreme Court orders the UCO (Unidad Central Operativa) to analyze it: {Translation, summary}
– The Supreme Court has received the information it requested from WhatsApp about the state attorney general, Álvaro García Ortiz {pic}, ordering the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard to analyze it for a month under secrecy, as it agreed a day earlier regarding the data sent by Google.
– This is stated in a new order where, as in the one signed on Wednesday, the magistrate Angel Hurtado says that the request for information he had made to both companies seems to have been “successful”.
– It should be recalled that the magistrate requested these data after the UCO found that García Ortiz had deleted his WhatsApp messages and deleted his Google email account.
Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-supremo-recibe-tambien-informacion-whatsapp-fiscal-general-ordena-uco-analizarla-20250424131008.html

ANDALUCÍA

Murders, Dismemberments, Torture, Beheadings & Sex Slaves- Violent Week In Western Andalucia, mainly Malaga & Mijas- Just The Headlines:
– They find the body of a man in Mijas: tied, handcuffed, with a hood on the head and signs of having been burned, this is the second similar Murder in Mijas in the last 48 hours.
https://www.abc.es/espana/andalucia/malaga/hallan-cadaver-hombre-mijas-atado-capucha-cabeza-20250423232609-nts.html
– They stop a man with an ax in Malaga and find a dismembered body at home
https://www.abc.es/espana/andalucia/malaga/detienen-malaga-hombre-hacha-hallan-cadaver-descuartizado-20250423160909-nts.html
– They seek the ex -partner of the deceased woman in Cartaya as alleged perpetrator of a macho crime
https://www.abc.es/espana/andalucia/huelva/detenido-matar-mujer-martillazos-municipio-onubense-cartaya-20250424085257-nts.html
– Man arrested for beheading his mother in Malaga: ‘I heard voices telling me that I had to kill her’ & “I was sick of her nagging”
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-city/the-man-arrested-for-beheading-his-mother-20250424062923-nt.html
– Two guns found in gutted wreckage of car used in murder of British man riddled with bullets in Mijas
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/mijas-fuengirola/two-guns-found-wreckage-gutted-car-used-20250422191411-nt.html
– Fake hotel with a nightclub exploited 28 sex slaves in Malaga; had become a ‘prison’ for the women, indebted to a network of pimps from Spain and Colombia
https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1891646/simulaba-ser-un-hotel-con-sala-de-fiestas-pero-explotaban-a-28-esclavas-sexuales-en-malaga/
– Work to identify the handcuffed corpse found in Mijas in a state of decomposition (Second handcuffed corpse in Mijas in a week)
https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/1891722/trabajan-en-identificar-el-cadaver-maniatado-hallado-en-mijas-en-estado-de-descomposicion/
– Sentenced in Cadiz to 19 years in prison for raping and beating his 83-year-old mother
https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/cadiz-00351/noticia-audiencia-cadiz-condena-19-anos-carcel-hombre-violar-pegar-madre-83-anos-20250424141305.html

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

Cockroach disinfection plan throughout the municipality of Vélez-Málaga: {Translation, summary}
– Thursday morning the Disinfestation Plan of the municipality in 2025 began, with a series of actions with continuity solution and reiterated over time in different locations of the municipality.
– The municipal mayor has been in the neighborhood of Arroyo San Sebastian, one of the sites where they will, in the coming days, start the intensive work of disinfestation, specifically aimed at the cockroach population. To undertake the same will be “a coordinated work between the environmental staff and cleaning, in order to cause the least inconvenience to our neighbors,” stressed Fernandez Olmo. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/medio-ambiente-inicia-un-plan-de-desinsectacion-en-todo-el-municipio-de-velez-malaga/

UKRAINE WAR

Trump on latest Russia strikes on Kyiv, ‘Vladimir, STOP!”:
– President Donald Trump turned his criticism on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday after Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, saying “Vladimir, STOP!” “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing,” Trump wrote in a social media post a day after saying Ukraine’s leader was hampering peace talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
– Trump’s rare rebuke of Putin followed his criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday for saying Ukraine would not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea – a longtime Kyiv stance. “This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia,” Trump said in a social media post. Trump, who argued with Zelenskiy in a disastrous Oval Office meeting in March, said Crimea was lost years ago “and is not even a point of discussion.” Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-russia-strikes-kyiv-vladimir-stop-2025-04-24/

USA

Trump orders Justice Dept. to investigate sex changes as “genital mutilation”: {Translation, summary}
– “It is a serious crime to perform, attempt to perform or conspire to perform female genital mutilation on persons under the age of 18,” states the memorandum, which warns that such practices can carry penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment per case. In addition, it has called for an investigation into whether manufacturers and distributors of puberty blockers, sex hormones and other drugs engage in misleading advertising or have omitted adverse effects in their marketing communications.
– A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment beyond the memo, which cited a January executive order from President Donald Trump that suspended federal funding to health care providers offering gender transition treatments. That order has been challenged in court. Medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, assert that gender-affirming care, including surgical procedures for appropriate patients, constitutes medically necessary treatment. Health care providers offering these services obtain informed consent, following established clinical guidelines. {Since when can minors give informed consent? They can’t vote, drink or consent to sex, but they consent to having body parts removed? What depraved mind came up with that? Adults can do as they want, but please leave the children intact. There are far too many cases of gender-change surgery regret, and once it’s done the child victims will never go back to original, they are condemned to a lifetime of medical misery. -Ed.}
– In addition to initiating criminal actions, Bondi also directed the Civil Division of the Department of Justice to initiate actions related to gender affirming care. For example, he directed the Consumer Protection Division that it should investigate any wrongdoing by drug manufacturers or distributors who make false claims regarding puberty blockers, sex hormones and other drugs. Source, Spanish: https://www.elcorreo.com/internacional/eeuu/trump-ordena-investigar-cambios-sexo-mutilacion-genital-20250423233927-ntrc_amp.html

HEALTH

Private health services perform more than 40% of surgical interventions in Spain, 30% of the emergency procedures & 70% of the mental health- More than half of hospitals in Spain are private: {Translation, summary}
– The private healthcare sector carried out, taking into account substitute agreements and the public network, a total of 2,178,862 surgical interventions in 2022, which represents 41.6% of operations in Spain; the sector also expects to reach 50% of these interventions by 2030.
– In addition, the private sector has 431 private hospitals (56% of the total number of hospitals), which corresponds to a total of 49,837 beds (31% of the total in Spain).
– Geographically, Catalonia, Madrid and Andalusia remain the autonomous communities with the highest number of private beds, accounting for 56.4% of private hospitals and 63.3% of the beds available in the private sector.
– Private healthcare services account for 70% of hospitals specializing in mental health and addiction treatment, as well as 51% of outpatient mental health centers. In addition, more than 50 percent of the clinical psychology and psychiatry units integrated in hospitals are located in private centers. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5703569/0/sanidad-privada-realiza-mas-40-las-intervenciones-quirurgicas-espana-atiende-33-las-urgencias/

SPORT

Tennis News- Carlos Alcaraz will not play Mutua Madrid Open: (Translation, summary}
– Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz will not play the Mutua Madrid Open, the fourth Masters 1000 of the season to be held at the Caja Mágica, due to a muscular problem suffered last Sunday in the final of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Conde de Godó and in order to “not take risks” and avoid “being ‘screwed’ (jodido) for longer”, hoping to be in Rome and with no doubt that he will be there to defend the title at Roland Garros. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/deportes/tenis-00166/noticia-carlos-alcaraz-no-jugara-mutua-madrid-open-20250424124240.html

TECH

WhatsApp Adds Advanced Chat Privacy to Blocks Chat Exports and Auto-Downloads:
– WhatsApp has introduced an extra layer of privacy called Advanced Chat Privacy that allows users to block participants from sharing the contents of a conversation in traditional chats and groups. “This new setting available in both chats and groups helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy,” WhatsApp said in a statement.
– The optional feature, when enabled, prevents others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for artificial intelligence (AI) features. However, it’s worth noting users can still take individual screenshots, or manually download the media. The popular messaging service said the feature is “best used” when engaging in sensitive conversations with groups where it’s possible that users may not know everyone closely.
– The feature, WhatsApp said, is rolling to all users who are on the latest version of the application. Full article: https://thehackernews.com/2025/04/whatsapp-adds-advanced-chat-privacy-to.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 (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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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://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

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DigameXtra No. 2994 Thursday, April 24th, 2025

On April 24, 2025April 23, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

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Dream Theater announces a surprise concert in Fuengirola: 40th Anniversary Tour
On sale TODAY, Thursday, 24 April at 10am. This will sell out fast.
Tues, 10 June 8pm. Marenostrum Fuengirola
Experience Dream Theater in a truly unforgettable night in a one-of-a-kind setting: Fuengirola, on Spain’s Costa del Sol. On Tuesday, June 10, Dream Theater will perform one of the most special shows of their career at an incomparable venue: Marenostrum Fuengirola, right by the Mediterranean Sea and at the foot of the historic Sohail Castle. A unique evening, and a chance to experience the band’s 40th Anniversary Tour, featuring a full set with no opening acts, the return of Mike Portnoy, and a show designed to make history.
Info & tix (€66-88): https://ticketgate.es/es/events/z-on-tour-dream-theater-en-fuengirola-40th-anniversary-tour & Video Link

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Ayurveda Marbella Summit 2025: Sat, 3 May
Palacio de Congresos, Marbella
The Ayurveda Marbella Summit 2025 is a unique event organized by ANS Holistic Medicine Clinic, bringing together experts from around the world to explore traditional Indian medicine, yoga, and self-discovery methods. The program includes lectures, workshops, consultations with top doctors from India, and a concert program.
Info & tix (€5 & up): https://ayurvedasummit.org/en

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast

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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

BluCee Real Estate:
We are proactive, dynamic and creative. Listing properties for sale is our speciality and our passion.
Not only do we advertise on the leading major property websites, we attend international property exhibitions and are very active on social media.
50% of our buyers are Spanish and the other 50% are from all corners of the world. We do not focus on a particular nationality, we focus on selling!
Would you like a free realistic valuation?
Contact us, as we have the capability to take on more properties to advertise.
We speak Spanish, English, French, Dutch, German and Polish, and would love to speak with you!
info@blucee.com ; 0034 711042727 / 0034 951553890 ; Web: http://www.blucee.com/
Or pass by our office to have a no obligation chat!
Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29740
From 09.30 to 17.30 hrs, Monday and Friday.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 09.30 to 20.00 hrs.
For an appointment outside of our opening times please contact us.
We cover the whole coast line and inland.
BluCee Real Estate are a DigameXtra sponsor so our contact details are shown here every day in the Sponsor’s Section.

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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: IKEA Ektorp armchair, as shown with cover. Very good condition. 125 euros ONO
Buyer to collect. Irene, La Vinuela.
Email: irenegrant69@gmail.com

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Recommendations, Requests & Comments

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

Feijóo warns Sánchez that it is a “cacicada” (arbitrary action) to approve a 10,471 million euro military plan without Congress: {Translation}
– The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo {pic}, has warned this Wednesday that it is an “undemocratic cacicada” to approve a Defense plan without authorization from Congress, after the head of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, has advanced an investment plan in defense and security of 10,471 million euros to reach 2% of GDP in military spending this 2025. In addition, and after Sumar’s criticism of the spending plan, he has asked the second vice-president of the Government and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Diaz (Sumar), to leave the Government if she does not support it.
– “In a Government there are no partisan or personal positions. If someone does not agree with the decision that the Council of Ministers is adopting, she should leave. Or at least, should be dismissed and not stay for attachment to the position,” said Feijóo during his speech at a breakfast briefing organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Spain.
– Feijóo, the head of the opposition (PP) pointed out that it is “unprecedented” in Spanish democracy for the President of the Government to present a plan “against the decision of the Government” and that he does so without “parliamentary authorization, despite the fact that this means not complying with article 4 of the National Defense Law”.
– In Feijóo’s opinion, appearing in Congress – as Sánchez has announced he will do – “does not replace the obligation to submit the increase in military spending to the authorization of the Congress”, especially when the parliamentary groups approved on March 26 that “any defense plan be submitted to the vote” of the Parliament.
– Feijóo has also indicated that Sánchez’s plan is “pure improvisation” because it “transforms conjunctural spending into structural spending” when “defense spending has come to stay.” “Military spending is structural. It is permanent. It cannot be treated as a rearrangement of unrelated items,” he has said.
– Feijóo has charged hard again against Sánchez for not even wanting to have the endorsement of Parliament for his Defense plan, something that, in his opinion, evidences a “contempt for legality and Parliament”. “No law exempts defense spending from the supervision of the Congress. Even more so for a Government that has spent the entire legislature without budgets”, he has asserted, to warn that ‘moving billions of euros without authorization from Congress is an anti-democratic ploy unbecoming of a European country’.
– The leader of the PP has stressed that it is not a “plan of Spain” and “it is not even a plan of the Government” but “it is a plan of Mr. Sánchez, which does not bind Spain”. “And it does not bind it because Spain has not approved that plan. And, moreover, it cannot bind it because it does not ask for authorization from the Congress to sign it”, he said, “what Sánchez presented is his ‘survival plan’ and ‘a mockery to the Spaniards”. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1891124/feijoo-avisa-a-sanchez-que-es-una-cacicada-aprobar-un-plan-militar-sin-el-congreso/

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Sánchez, the only leader of the major countries that will not go to the funeral of Pope Francis: {Translation, summary}
– The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will not attend the funeral for Pope Francis on Saturday in Rome. The attending Spanish delegation headed by the King and Queen, Felipe and Queen Letizia, will include the Vice-Presidents María Jesús Montero and Yolanda Díaz, the Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, and the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
– It turns out that Sánchez had some long standing conflicts with the Pope. Sánchez has previously clashed with the Church in Spain over religious instruction in schools and euthanasia, among other issues. In July 2020, he claimed that Pope Francis had intervened to help the government carry out the controversial exhumation of the body of Francisco Franco, Spain’s ruler from 1939 to 1975, from the Valley of the Fallen on Oct. 24, 2019.
Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/sanchez-unico-lider-los-grandes-paises-que-no-acudira-funeral-papa-francisco-5702970/
Additional ref: https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/10/24/pope-francis-meets-with-spains-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez/

MALAGA PROVINCE

The heat prevails in Malaga- the temperature will reach 30C Saturday: {Translation, summary}
– This weekend we expect the terral to enter the scene and raise the temperature to 30 degrees for the first time so far this year. This is expected to happen in the capital on Saturday, as well as in coastal areas where the influence of the warm west is usually noticed (Velez-Malaga, Estepona, etc).
– As reported by José Luis Escudero, head of the weather blog of SUR. es, yesterday (Tuesday) the spring terral was already protagonist in the usual areas and reached “maximum summer temperatures”. On the other hand, in coastal and inland areas where they had poniente, but without terral, were between 4 and 7 degrees less.
– As for the evolution predicted by Aemet, the whole week will remain without probability of showers and with temperatures above the usual values for this time of the year. At the moment, between Wednesday and Friday there will be no terral, but moderate levante on the coast, so the daytime temperatures will drop slightly: between 23 and 25 degrees are expected.
– Saturday is when a new peak is expected, with 30 degrees expected in the city of Malaga and other coastal areas. Nighttime lows will also be very mild, between 16 and 19 degrees.
– The terral is a dry land-wind blowing from the Spanish peninsula outward in all directions toward the ocean; a cool, strong descending wind in clear weather.
– The levante is a warm wind that blows from the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic Ocean. The Levant is also called the eastern Mediterranean, where the sun rises (“levantar” is the Spanish verb meaning “to rise”).
– When the wind blows from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, it has the lovely name of poniente (“poner” in Spanish means “(to) lay down”, where the sun sets). Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/calor-impone-malaga-sabado-llegara-grados-20250423101516-nt.html

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New home sales in Malaga record their best February since 2013: {Translation, summary}
– Nothing stops the real estate market in Malaga. Not even the rise in prices, which continues unstoppable. Home sales and purchases continue to rise in this 2025. Specifically, during the month of February in the province 3,165 homes were sold, representing an increase of 26.34% over the same month of 2024, according to data published Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This implies, moreover, that in Malaga the growth of home sales and purchases practically doubles that registered in Spain as a whole, which was limited to 13.9%, to almost 60,000. The Costa del Sol province is also the fifth in Spain in number of real estate transactions after Madrid, where 7,000 in February, Barcelona, with nearly 6,500, as well as Alicante (4,656) and Valencia (3,516). Malaga is ahead of entire autonomous communities in home sales, such as Castilla-La Mancha (2,936) or Castilla y León (2,843).
– But what is particularly striking is the evolution of new home sales and purchases in the province. Firstly, because this last February they have shot up by more than 70% compared to the same period in 2024, to 1,184, when in the country as a whole new home transactions have increased by 21%, i.e. three times less than in Malaga.
– Secondly, because this is the best data of sales and purchases of brand new apartments for a month of February since 2013, when the figure was 1,216. But at present, unlike a decade and a half ago, transactions with second-hand apartments continue to exceed, and by far, those of new homes: they are about 2,000 sales and purchases compared to the 1,184 cited, in that order. In any case, transfers of used homes have registered a not inconsiderable increase of 9.2% from one year to the next.
Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/ventas-viviendas-nuevas-malaga-registran-mejor-febrero-20250423101954-nt_amp.html

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Malaga reservoirs status on Wednesday, April 23, 2025:
Source: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/embalses-malaga-23abril-20250421000000-nt.html

NERJA

The City of Nerja sells a municipal plot on Romeral Calle Bajo to promote housing construction: {Translation}
– The Local Government Board has approved the dossier, the regulatory specifications of the procedure and the contract for the sale of a municipal plot located on Calle Romeral Bajo, in order to promote the construction of 10 new homes in the municipality.
– The councilman of Urban Planning, Alberto Tomé, explained that the plot, located in the SUP-8 sector, has an area of 2,086.04 square meters and has been sold for a total of 760,170 euros. Iva included, having the company awarded a period of 10 days to submit the required documentation.
– For its part, the Councilor for Economy and Finance, Angela Diaz, stressed that, in addition to promoting the construction of housing, the sale of this plot will allow the City Council to allocate the funds obtained to finance important municipal projects that will benefit the community.
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-ayuntamiento-vende-una-parcela-municipal-en-calle-romeral-bajo-para-fomentar-la-construccion-de-viviendas/

UKRAINE WAR

Trump’s “final offer” for peace requires Ukraine to accept Russian occupation:
– The U.S. expects Ukraine’s response Wednesday to a peace framework that includes U.S. recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and unofficial recognition of Russian control of nearly all areas occupied since the 2022 invasion.
– The one-page document the U.S. presented Ukrainian officials in Paris last week describes this as President Trump’s “final offer.” The White House insists it’s ready to walk away if the parties don’t make a deal soon.
– Trump’s proposal would require major concessions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who previously ruled out accepting Russia’s occupation of Crimea and parts of four regions in eastern Ukraine.
– And while Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered to freeze the current front lines in order to reach a deal, he has previously rejected other elements of the U.S. framework, such as a European peacekeeping force on Ukrainian territory.
– A source close to the Ukrainian government said Kyiv sees the proposal as highly biased towards Russia: “The proposal says very clearly what tangible gains Russia gets, but only vaguely and generally says what Ukraine is going to get.”
– What Russia gets under Trump’s proposal
* “De jure” U.S. recognition of Russian control in Crimea.
* “De-facto recognition” of the Russia’s occupation of nearly all of Luhansk oblast and the occupied portions of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
* A promise that Ukraine will not become a member of NATO. The text notes that Ukraine could become part of the European Union.
* The lifting of sanctions imposed since 2014.
* Enhanced economic cooperation with the U.S., particularly in the energy and industrial sectors.
– What Ukraine gets under Trump’s proposal
* “A robust security guarantee” involving an ad hoc group of European countries and potentially also like-minded non-European countries. The document is vague in terms of how this peacekeeping operation would function and does not mention any U.S. participation.
* The return of the small part of Kharkiv oblast Russia has occupied.
* Unimpeded passage of the Dnieper River, which runs along the front line in parts of southern Ukraine.
* Compensation and assistance for rebuilding, though the document does not say where the funding will come from.
– Other elements of the plan
* The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — the largest such facility in Europe — will be considered as Ukrainian territory but operated by the U.S., with electricity supplied to both Ukraine and Russia.
* The document references the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, which Trump has said will be signed on Thursday. Full article: https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/trump-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-crimea-donbas

USA

‘Building 7 Controlled Demolition?’ Republican Senator Plans Shock 9/11 Hearings, Says ‘My Eyes Have Been Opened’:
– Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is raising eyebrows after revealing on Benny Johnson’s conservative podcast that he’s pushing for a congressional hearing to examine the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. Johnson, who serves on the the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, raised questions about the World Trade Center Building 7’s collapse, saying the documentary film, Calling Out Bravo 7 has sparked “an awful lot of questions.”
– “Well, start with Building 7,” Sen. Johnson told Johnson. “Again, I don’t know if you can find structural engineers other than the ones that have the corrupt investigations like NIST that would say that that thing didn’t come down in any other way than a controlled demolition.” “Who ordered the removal and the destruction of all that evidence? Totally contrary to any other firefighting investigation procedures. I mean, who ordered that? Who is in charge? I think there’s some basic information. Where’s all the documentation from the NIST investigation?” the Wisconsin lawmaker continued.
“Now, there are a host of questions that I want and I will be asking, quite honestly, now that my eyes have been opened up,” he added.
– Johnson said he plans to work with former Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), who recently appeared on Tucker Carlson’s podcast to discuss 9/11, “to expose what he’s willing to expose.”
– The senator’s comments prompted Johnson to ask: “So we may actually see hearings about this?” “I think so,” the senator replied while referencing previous efforts to obtain unredacted FBI files on behalf of 9/11 families. “We want to get those answers, those documents for the families,” the lawmaker replied. “Hopefully, now with this administration, we can find out what is being covered up.”
– Sen. Johnson expressed optimism that the Trump administration will authorize the release of 9/11-related documents, despite prior unsuccessful efforts to declassify them. “We want those made available in terms of what happened. What did the FBI know that happened? So we had engaged with that. It was on a bipartisan basis. We wanted to get those answers, those documents for the families,” Sen. Johnson said. “Again, we didn’t get squat from the FBI. So hopefully now with this administration, I think President Trump should have some interests being a New Yorker himself.”
– “What actually happened in 9/11? What do we know? What is being covered up? My guess is there’s an awful lot being covered up in terms of what the American government knows about 9/11,” he added. Very interesting to say the least…
Full article: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/building-7-controlled-demolition-republican-senator-plans-shock-911-hearings-says-my-eyes & X Link

TECH

Just another business expense- The European Union fines Apple 500 million euros and Meta 200 million in separate digital cases:
– European Union watchdogs fined Apple and Meta hundreds of millions of euros Wednesday as they stepped up enforcement of the 27-nation bloc’s digital competition rules.
– The European Commission imposed a 500 million euro ($571 million) fine on Apple for preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store.
– The commission, which is the EU’s executive arm, also fined Meta Platforms 200 million euros because it forced Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads {…and also allowing Meta full access to the user’s computer data} or paying to avoid them {ads & data collection}. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-meta-european-union-facebook-technology-7924bfffe1da801a5023057faa9a511b

FINANCIAL

Gold soars to a new high as economic uncertainty deepens:
– The going price for New York spot gold hit a record $3,424.24 per troy ounce – the standard for measuring precious metals – as of close Monday. That’s about $1,097 higher than a year ago.
– The price of spot gold is up more than 30% since the start of 2025, per the data firm FactSet. By contrast, the stock market has tumbled. The benchmark S&P 500 is down over 12% this year.
– Gold futures also reached a record early Tuesday, briefly surpassing the $3,500 mark for the first time before falling back below $3,400 by late afternoon. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/gold-prices-new-record-trump-tariffs-0082e0040fb6095497ba93ee6454255b

RELIGION

Who Chooses the Next Pope- and Who Chose Them?:
– With Francis’ death on Monday, at age 88, up to 135 eligible cardinal electors will decide on his successor. One hundred and eight – or 80% – of them were appointed by Francis during his papacy. It’s a fact that has left some wondering if the late Pope essentially “packed the court” to guarantee a continuation of his legacy. But experts suggest it’ll be as difficult to predict as Francis’ own election was.
– “It’s very simplistic to say cardinals just vote along ideological lines as though they’re part of political parties,” Pattenden says. “That’s not how the Vatican works.”
Pattenden also points to an Italian proverb: “After a fat Pope comes a thin one.” “The idea of that is essentially that the cardinals very often focus on what they didn’t like about the previous Pope, all the things they thought were his faults and flaws, and they look for someone who remedies those.” The first question on cardinals’ minds will be whether they want change or continuity.
– This conclave is already likely to be different from those in the past, however, Pattenden says. Firstly, it’s the largest number of eligible cardinal electors—in fact, it’s the first time that the number of eligible electors at a conclave has exceeded the traditional cap of 120, although Pattenden says it’s unlikely that the cap will be enforced. Secondly, the cardinals now are more geographically diverse than ever.
– Francis prioritized inclusion within the Vatican, Pattenden explains, and so in appointing cardinals, he looked across the world, often to small Catholic communities that had not been represented before: He felt that “it shouldn’t just be the case that big, well-established, rich, old Catholic communities get representation all the time,” but ideologically, “Francis can’t necessarily have known how all of these new cardinals will think, certainly their colleagues won’t know—they may not even know themselves.”
– Carlos Eire, a professor of history and religious studies at Yale University, however, thinks it’s likely that those Francis appointed will indeed lean ideologically left, noting that Francis did not appoint many conservative bishops to the College of Cardinals and that, while geographic diversity was a priority of his, theological diversity was not. Francis, for example, appointed American Robert McElroy in 2022, who is known for his advocacy on immigration and the environment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics, while reportedly bypassing more conservative archbishops. “When it comes to religious issues,” says Eire, “it is also highly likely that they will lean away from traditionalism.” Full article: https://time.com/7279520/francis-appointed-cardinals-elect-new-pope-vatican-conclave-court-packing/

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Humour & Diversions Section

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Last updated Apr 23, 2025, 14:35 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://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

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

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DigameXtra No. 2993 Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

On April 23, 2025April 22, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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*Subscribe to receive free daily issues by email. To subscribe, please send me an email with the message “subscribe me to DigameXtra” from the email account you want subscribed.

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*Send your submissions & subscription requests to digamextra@protonmail.com

Note: The submission deadline is 6pm for the next day’s issue.

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Next Public Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
DigameXtra will be closed.
Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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Bands & Acts: Please submit your gig promos. Your music is your business, you need to get as much exposure as possible, don’t rely on venues to promote you! Most FB posts on local event pages only have a few likes, if any at all, so obviously are not reaching many people. And it is the same few persons giving the likes week after week. DigameXtra posts provide way better exposure than you’ll get in any FB posts!!! A donation of just €20 will allow you to post your gig schedule once a week for the remainder of this year. What are you waiting for?

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Fiesta de la Primavera- Nerja: Sat, 26 April
The Spring Festival of Nerja will be held next Saturday, April 26, in the Plaza Giner de los Rios.
The performances will begin from 16:00 hours with the Opening Group, followed at 17:00 h. by Promesas Flamencas, La Banda. At 19:00 h. will be the turn of the group Remembow and the artist Álvaro Guerra. After their performances, there will be a break to enjoy the Final of the Copa del Rey, which will be broadcast live. The party will continue until 00:00 h. with the music of DJ Fran.

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Benamargosa Fiesta del Campo: Sun, 27 April from 12 noon
There will be 16 stalls located in different parts of the old town, with tastings of products and typical foods of this village of the Axarquia. Among others the zoque, baticate, guacamole, ensaladilla cateta, frito moruno and callos.
You can also buy sausages and meat products, sweet wine from Comares, extra virgin olive oil from the Axarquia, subtropical, jams, breads and sweets. The municipal workshop also offers handicrafts made by the participants.
At 12:30 there will be an official tour of the gastronomic stands in the old town, with tastings of typical products and dishes. The music will be provided by the Panda de Verdiales Arroyo Conca. At one o’clock in the afternoon will take over the Rompeolas Orchestra in the Miguel Martin Pavilion located on Avenida de Andalucía. The institutional act will take place at 14:30 hours. There will be paella tasting. At 16:00 hours, Sergio Perez will perform; at 18:00 hours, the Azahar Dance Group of Benmargosa and at 19:30 hours, Sombra y Luz. At 21:30 hours, will take the stage ‘Sara de las Chuches’ and Dj Nico will play music until the scheduled closing at one o’clock in the morning.

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Nerja Dia Del Residente- Foreign Residents Day:
Sunday, April 27, at Plaza de España
The event will begin at 12:00 hours with the traditional concert of Nerja’s music band, followed by a wide range of cultural activities to enjoy family and community.
Info: https://www.diadelresidente.com/es/info/

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ON SALE NOW- Bad Religion: Wed, 15 May, 6pm
Plus 4 support acts Agnostic Front, Strung Out, Crim & Belvedere.
Sala Paris 15. C/ La Orotava 25-27, Polígono Industrial San Luís, Malaga
Info & tix (€57): https://paris15.es/event/bad-religion/ & Video Link 1 & Video Link 2

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Benalrock Music Festival 2025- Rincón de la Victoria:
The 14 hour event will be held on Saturday, May 17 at the Benagalbón esplanade.
It will begin at 12.00 hours with cover bands Metal Gods (Video Link) and Abelito y Terrones. Headliner acts start at 17.00 hours with seven groups- Cometa Diablo, Belinte, Sibelclan, Los Turistas, Los Habitantes, Soberbia Ninguna and The Stone Bobbers. The culmination of this musical day will be ExtremoPuro, a tribute to Extremoduro that is scheduled to begin its performance at 00.00 hours.
{Sorry for the poor poster quality, it’s the best I found. -Ed.}
Info & map: https://www.turismoenrincon.es/eventos/benalrock-festival-2025/

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– Lovely large blue rug Measurements 240 x 165cms Price 50€
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{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }

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SPAIN

Sumar, IU and Podemos parties reprimand Albares for his support of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Sahara: {Translation}
– Sumar, Podemos and IU have criticized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, for supporting the autonomy plan for Western Sahara proposed by Morocco and his lack of transparency for meeting last week, in the middle of Holy Thursday, with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Burita. At a press conference on Monday, the general coordinator of Sumar, Lara Hernandez, has reprimanded the Foreign Minister for that meeting with the Moroccan government, which does not obey the necessary transparency that should be in the Executive, and has launched that the position of the PSOE does not represent the whole of the coalition government.
– In fact, he pointed out that there will be pressure on the socialist wing of the Executive in Congress, pointing out that it will be the plurinational parliamentary group that will agree on a response in the form of parliamentary initiatives to the summit between Albares and his Moroccan counterpart.
Hernandez has criticized that Albares met by “surprise” with the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, in which both boasted of the relations between the two countries following the abandonment by the PSOE of Western Sahara, instead supporting the autonomy plan of Morocco.
– The general coordinator of Sumar said that her formation is a firm defender of all the “oppressed” peoples and are on the side of the Saharawis, defending their right to free self-determination which has a high consensus among the Spanish society. Moreover, she said that the defense of human rights is a “red line” in international politics and accused the PSOE of leaving the general consensus of support for the sovereignty of Western Sahara, failing to comply with the mandate of the UN. In this way, the leader of Sumar has insisted that the only valid position is the rejection of the autonomy plan for the former Spanish colony that Rabat postulates.
– Additionally, the secretary of Organization of IU, Eva García Sempere {pic}, has expressed the “firm repulsion” and “rejection” of the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with his support to the “illegitimate” proposal of autonomy plan for Western Sahara, proposed by Rabat and that only responds to the “expansionist” interests of Morocco. She also explained that this autonomy plan was already a failure when it was presented in 2007, given that it is a “unilateral” proposal of Morocco and that it did not have the support of the Polisario Front, the legitimate representative of the Saharawi people. She also criticized the fact that the plan ignores the “UN mandates” and the recognition of the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people, who must freely choose their future through a referendum. “Morocco has no legal, political or even moral legitimacy to put forward its expansionist plan based on the symptomatic violation of human rights and the plundering of the resources of the Saharawi people”, she added.
– Therefore, she declared that the government “has to choose” whether it is with international law, the United Nations and the Saharawi people, or bets on those who suffocate a “brave” people, too often “forgotten and betrayed”. “The Saharawi people are not, and cannot be, a bargaining chip to improve relations with the Government of Morocco,” García Sempere concluded.
– For his part, the Secretary of Organization of Podemos, Pablo Fernandez, reiterated his criticism of the position of the PSOE on the Sahara and expressed the support of his formation to the right of self-determination of the Saharawi people. “The Spanish people have a debt with the Saharawi people and Spain and this government should work on this referendum of self-determination,” he said to regret the position of Foreign Affairs and the unilateral turn of the PSOE to support the position of Morocco. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-sumar-iu-podemos-reprenden-albares-apoyo-plan-autonomia-marruecos-sahara-20250421134626.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

Third shooting in less than a week in Malaga- a man dies of a shot in the middle of the street in Mijas: {Translation}
– A man has died on Monday night by gunshot in a shooting that occurred on a street in the town of Mijas in Malaga, sources close to the investigation have confirmed.
– From Emergencies 112 Andalusia have indicated that about 20.10 hours have received several calls warning that detonations had been heard as gunshots on the public road, on a street in the Sitio de Calahonda. At that moment, 112 have given notice to the health services, the Local Police and the Civil Guard, which is carrying out actions to clarify the facts.
– This is the third shooting in less than a week in the province of Malaga, after the one that occurred on Holy Thursday in the capital and the one that took place on Good Friday in Marbella, in the vicinity of a nightclub. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5702628/0/un-muerto-durante-un-tiroteo-plena-calle-mijas/

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14,500 people in Malaga province waiting for driving licence practical test, waits of 2 to 3 months after passing written test:
– According to calculations by the APAE provincial association of driving schools in Malaga, at the moment there are around 14,500 people in the province waiting to take the practical test to obtain their driving licence. The organisation estimates that it can take between two and three months from the time a student passes the theory test until they can take the practical test for the first time. Moreover, if the student does not pass the practical test the first time, they will have to wait between one and two months more before being able to take it again.
– The origin of this problem lies in the lack of traffic examiners – a limitation that affects the whole of Spain and especially areas where the population has grown a lot in recent years, such as Malaga. “This is a lifelong problem. In Malaga, we have the same examiners as ten years ago, despite the population growth that has taken place in that time and with the added bonus that then there were 16 tests a day and now there are 12, because of the way of examining has changed, with longer exams for better quality,” said the president of the employers’ association. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/waiting-take-the-driving-test-burden-driving-20250421081636-nt.html

MALAGA CITY

Cañete La Real (Málaga) values its gastronomy and meat products at the Pavo Fair: {Translation}
– Cañete la Real (Málaga) celebrates this weekend, from 25 to 27 April, the ninth edition of the Turkey Fair, declared a Festival of Provincial Tourist Singularity and which aims to highlight the gastronomy of the municipality and its meat products, especially those derived from the turkey industry. This town has several poultry farms of this type.
– The provincial deputy Maria del Carmen Martinez stressed that this event, organized by the City Council of Cañete la Real with the support of the Diputación de Málaga, also helps to promote tourism in Cañete la Real making known its historical and cultural heritage.
– The fair has an extensive program of activities that will begin on Friday 25, at 17.30 hours, with the ratification of the twinning with Sant Sadurní d’Anoia and the creation of the Twinning Day.
– This will be followed by a lecture on romantic banditry and the figure of José María ‘El Tempranillo’, which will be given by José Antonio Rodríguez Martín.
– Saturday April 26 activities will start at 12.00 am with the opening of the gastronomic craft market, which will consist of numerous stands that will show and put on sale all kinds of products made in the environment. The epicenter of the fair will be the Plaça de la Pau, where from 1 p.m. attendees will be offered a free tasting of meat products, as well as a cava tasting organized by the Municipal Corporation of Sant Sadurní D’Anoia. The afternoon will be enlivened with a fashion show of designers Tere Perujo, María José Perujo, Pedro López and Carmen Beltrán, the exhibition of the municipal flamenco dance academy and the performances of the group ‘Malamanera’ and the dj Juan Espinosa.
– Sunday, April 27, at 11.00 am, will be the opening of the market and there will be a tasting of bread with oil cañetero. Then will take place the historical reenactment ‘In the mountains I command’, set in the adventures of the famous bandit Jose Maria the ‘Tempranillo’ during the first half of the nineteenth century. At 2 p.m. a new free tasting will be offered, in this case of products and dishes in which turkey meat will be the protagonist. In the afternoon, a brass band will liven up the atmosphere for the concert that the group ‘Salistre’ will offer from 17.30 hours. The fair will conclude with the music of DJ Juan Espinosa from 19.00 hours.
– Finally, they have pointed out that there will also be guided tours of the Castle of Hins Canit and during the weekend will be enabled a toy library service in the municipal sports pavilion from 15.00 to 20.00 hours. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/malaga-00356/noticia-canete-real-malaga-pone-valor-gastronomia-productos-carnicos-feria-pavo-20250422121048.html

TORROX

Several dozen dolphins put on a feeding display close to Torrox/Nerja shoreline:
– A large pod of dolphins, estimated to contain around thirty cetaceans, surprised bathers and walkers at midday this Monday who were on or passing by Wilches beaches, on the border between the Costa del Sol municipalities of Nerja and Torrox.
– Although it is not uncommon to see pods of dolphins near the coast of Malaga province, especially when out at sea sailing in boats, it is not so common to see them hunting and so very close to a beach, chasing a large shoal of fish, which they cornered against the shoreline, giving themselves a real ‘feast’, as SUR has been able to witness and record.
– Some of the fish being chased jumped out of the water, being picked up and returned to the sea by some of the eyewitnesses of this true spectacle that nature and the sea offered at around noon this Easter Monday. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/watch-around-dolphins-put-show-close-shore-20250421150620-nt.html & Video Link

NERJA

Nerja’s OMAC modifies its schedule to provide better attention to citizens: {Translation, summary}
– The new opening hours of the OMAC (Oficina Municipal de Atención al Ciudadano/Municipal Office of Citizen Services) in Nerja will be from Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 14:00 hours and from 18:00 to 20:00 hours, with the aim of providing a more accessible service to all residents of the municipality.
– The Maro office will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 18:00 to 20:00 hours. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/la-omac-de-nerja-modifica-su-horario-para-brindar-una-mejor-atencion-a-la-ciudadania/

GASTRONOMIA

Is This The Best Breakfast In Malaga?: {Translation, summary}
– The renowned buffet at the Boho Club hotel in Marbella offers a wide variety of fresh and local products for all types of customers, whether or not they are staying at the hotel.
– Diego and his team get going very early. Before six in the morning they turn on the stoves in the kitchen of the Boho Club Hotel, in Marbella, to start preparing the dishes that the guests will enjoy hours later. Iberian ham from Jabugo, oil from Fuente de Piedra, honey from Istán. And so on to complete a long list of products and dishes that have made it the best hotel breakfast in Spain.
– The Boho Club breakfast, which this year has been distinguished during the celebration of Madrid Fusion, is buffet style and is open to anyone, regardless of whether or not they are staying at the hotel. The products are divided into different islands: breads, cereals, cold meats and cheeses, savory and sweet. It costs 35 euros and includes, in addition, a plate of eggs a la carte that can range from the typical omelet to a benedict or a full English breakfast.
– Among the savory items that are never lacking are tomatoes and mushrooms, bacon and sausage, scrambled eggs, baked beans and omelet. And among the sweets they offer apple crescents, chocolate braids, ensaimadas, napolitanas, croissant or cinnamon rolls, all in mini format. To drink: Different types of specialty coffees and milks, juices and a wide variety of teas.
– The hotel’s executive chef, Diego del Río, reveals that breakfast is mainly characterized by the quality of the products, most of which are local and zero kilometer. “We have maintained a close relationship with our suppliers for more than 20 years, which allows us to offer fresh seasonal food every day of the year”, he summarizes.
– The menu – the hotel points out – “goes beyond the simple act of eating; it is a carefully designed ritual to start the day with energy and pleasure”. It is a culinary proposal that combines Andalusian roots with international touches, reflecting a creative approach committed to the local environment. “Every corner of the buffet is designed to provide an exceptional experience,” they summarize. Among his clients the European public stands out, although on weekends they have many locals who come attracted both by the products and by the tranquility that is breathed in his terrace outdoors.
– In addition to the dishes mentioned above, the chef highlights the wide variety of healthy products (including a granola that they prepare with organic oats and honey from Frigiliana) or the pastries that they receive daily from France. In addition, he advances that for next summer he is going to elaborate new egg recipes such as Turkish style eggs with yogurt cream and a majado of herbs. One more reason to pay them a visit. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malagaenlamesa/jamon-iberico-jabugo-miel-istan-mejor-desayuno-20250416000958-nt.html

TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

META (Fakebook, Instaspam & NutzApp) proudly announces the restart of user data collection for AI training in the EU, and how to opt out, the official announcement :
– Today, we’re announcing our plans to train AI at Meta using public content – like public posts and comments – shared by adults on our products in the EU. People’s interactions with Meta AI – like questions and queries – will also be used to train and improve our models. This training, which follows the successful launch of Meta AI in Europe last month, will better support millions of people and businesses in the EU by teaching AI at Meta to better understand and reflect their cultures, languages and history.
– Beginning this week, people based in the EU who use Meta’s platforms will start receiving notifications, in-app and via email, to explain the kind of data we’re going to start using, how this will improve AI at Meta and the overall user experience. These notifications will also include a link to a form where people can object to their data being used in this way at any time. We have made this objection form easy to find, read, and use, and we’ll honor all objection forms we have already received, as well as newly submitted ones.
– As we’ve previously mentioned, we do not use people’s private messages with friends and family to train our generative AI models. Additionally, public data from the accounts of people in the EU under the age of 18 is not being used for training purposes. Full article: https://about.fb.com/news/2025/04/making-ai-work-harder-for-europeans/

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Meta reverts to AI training on Facebook and Instagram posts despite legal pushback, industry analysts outraged :
– Tech giant Meta plans to restart training its AI on EU citizens’ social media posts, the company announced on Monday, claiming the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has “affirmed” the legality of its approach. {This is false, META made some changes but these have not been officially accepted as compliance by any EU regulator. META just assumes their changes are good enough. Another case of them doing whatever they please, and then wait to see if trouble develops. If so, they pay the fine as a business expense and carry on as if nothing happened. -Ed.}
– Meta halted its AI rollout in June following “intense engagement” with the Irish Data Protection Commission (IDPC) and complaints filed with data privacy watchdogs, known as DPAs, all over Europe.
– The company recently launched text-only AI features in Europe, and, on Monday, announced a new opt-out mechanism which it claims legally allows Facebook and Instagram content to be used to train its AI models.
– Beginning this week, EU users will receive a notification “to explain the kind of data we’re going to start using,” which will link to an easy-to-find form allowing users to object to their data being used, Meta said in a blog post. “We welcome the opinion provided by the EDPB in December, which endorsed compliance in line with our original approach,” a Meta spokesperson {deceptively} told Euractiv.
– The referenced EDPB opinion says that AI training on personal data could potentially be legal under a flexible GDPR exception, which allows a data processor’s “legitimate interest” to trump a data subject’s rights not to have their data processed.
– The practice will be challenged by privacy activists. The NGO Noyb filed 11 complaints with Meta the last time they started training on user posts, and a Noyb spokesperson said the practice is still unlawful, citing the need for prior user consent. The spokesperson disputed Meta’s claims about the EDPB opinion. It “simply stated that if you follow the law, the processing of personal data is lawful. But “European users’ fundamental right to data protection overrides Meta’s ‘legitimate interest’ for this extremely broad processing activity,” they said. “We have already filed complaints against Meta for this unlawful processing, and will be following up with the supervisory authorities,” the Noyb spokesperson added. Full article: https://www.euractiv.com/section/tech/news/meta-resumes-ai-training-on-facebook-and-instagram-posts-after-legal-pushback/

FINANCIAL

Special Tax deduction of up to €1200 for women with children under three years old:
– Must be filed by 30 June. Read the full article in English translation here: English version
Original, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/declaracion-renta-hacienda-avisa-devolvera_0_2003783703.html

PETS

The first dog bakery opens in Malaga- ‘Dulces para Perros’: {Translation, summary}
– They have been open for just over a month, this curious and charming bakery dedicated exclusively to dogs: ‘Dulces para Perros’ (Sweets for Dogs). It is a unique bakery that breaks with the traditional idea of pet food, betting on a handmade pastry and designed so that our faithful friends can also enjoy a first class dining experience.
– Located at Avenida de los Guindos 29, local 18B, Dulces para Perros is a small but cozy store, decorated with care and designed so that both animals and people feel at ease from the first moment. Its window display may remind you of a traditional bakery. However, what is offered in its showcases is very different: they are sweets made especially for dogs, with natural ingredients, no additives, no gluten and no added sugars, cakes, cupcakes and sweets with flavor and without risks. One of the most striking elements in this bakery is the variety of products available, all handmade in-house. Among them are the canine cakes, with original flavors such as chicken with carrot or liver, carefully decorated with ingredients that are one hundred percent suitable for dogs. You can also find cupcakes, cookies and homemade sweets, designed to satisfy the palate of each animal.
– The elaboration of these products follows strict quality criteria: they do not contain salt, preservatives or sugars, and all the colorants used for decoration are of natural origin. In addition, it has been taken into account that each dog has its own food preferences, so the establishment offers tastings so that they can try before choosing their favorite treat.
– What about cats? Although Sweets for Dogs is mainly focused on dogs, cats also have their space in this unique business. For them, specific products have been designed, such as tuna cakes, also made with natural ingredients and without harmful components for their health.
– Another of the outstanding features of Sweets for Dogs is its personalized pastry service. If a pet’s birthday or special occasion approaches, the on-site team can prepare a custom cake, allowing owners to choose both the base and the filling and decoration of the cake. An option that makes this bakery an ideal place to celebrate important moments with four-legged companions. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/la-farola/abre-malaga-primera-pasteleria-perros-dulces_0_2003773008.html

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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/

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DigameXtra No. 2992 Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025

On April 22, 2025April 21, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

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Next Public Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
DigameXtra will be closed.
Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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What’s On

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Daphne JazzNova Brasilian Project: Fri, 25 April, 8pm
Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja, C/ Granada 45, Nerja
Daphne Pelet and Nicky Vargas have returned from their journey through Brazil, from Rio to Sao Paulo, from Salvador de Bahia to Fortaleza. They come loaded with new energy and many influences, which they transfer to a show presented in quartet format, with two guitars and percussion accompanying Daphne’s unmistakable voice.
Info & tix (€15): https://www.giglon.com/todos?idEvent=daphne-jazznova-brasilian-project

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46th Cultural Week of Benagalbón: April 25 to May 4
With about 40 activities such as the concert of young performers, the pilgrimage, the costume verbena or the concert of the Rincon de la Victoria music band.
Source: https://www.rincondelavictoria.es/documents/34929/488998/triptico_semculben.pdf/6ea576ec-ca8c-0941-6a6c-c383e164e9e5

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Dia del Pipeo de Casarabonela: Sat, 26 April
Plaza de Casarabonela
The day is dotted with unforgettable moments: from the culinary exhibitions that show live the preparation of pipeo, to the opportunity to taste for free this emblematic dish, accompanied by homemade sweets and the aroma of traditional coffee. There is also plenty of music. Different performances enliven the main square, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere where generations, accents and emotions are mixed. The rhythm of the orchestras and cover bands turns the whole town into a stage full of life, dance and celebration. Info, Spanish: https://www.i-sierradelasnieves.com/sabores-con-historia-asi-se-vive-el-vi-dia-del-pipeo-en-casarabonela/

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Eco-Tourism Event- Feria del Espárrago y de la Agricultura Ecológica (Asparagus and Organic Farming Fair): Sunday, 27 April. Sierra de Yeguas (Malaga)
A celebration that highlights local products and sustainable farming. During this event, visitors can discover the quality of asparagus and other organic products, as well as participate in activities, talks, and workshops on responsible agricultural practices. An ideal event for food, nature, and sustainability enthusiasts, aiming to promote the importance of organic production.
At 12:00 hours will take place the official opening of the fair that will feature about 70 stalls, about thirty more than in the previous edition, in which neighbors and visitors, in addition to purchasing the star product of the event, will also have the opportunity to buy extra virgin olive oil, cheese, sausages, sweets, honey, as well as other products, both made in this town and nearby.
– The XXIII Asparagus and Organic Farming Fair will include tasting of asparagus, which on this occasion will be in paella and marinated, starting at 13:00 hours.
– There will also be music provided by the orchestra La Tentación. Source: https://www.ecoturismo.com/noticias/portada/1425-la-xxiii-feria-del-esparrago-y-la-agricultura-ecologica-se-celebra-en-sierra-de-yeguas-malaga.html

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Solidarity Walk will be held Sunday, April 27th and will go from El Morche to Lagos:
The walk (III Marcha Solidario Pueblos Hermanos) will start at 11:30 a.m. from Plaza María Zambrano and is scheduled to arrive at Río Lagos around 1:30 p.m., where a day of solidarity will be held with performances by DJ Worzel, Coro Agua Salá and Coro Brisas de Lagos, music and a bar service organized by AVOI.

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Torre del Mar- Romeria: Sunday, 27 April
– Sunday, April 27, will begin at 08:00 hours with the departure of the wagon of the Virgin, accompanied by rockets. We will arrive at the Church of San Andrés at 08:30, where the pilgrimage mass will be celebrated at 09:30. Then the journey will begin with the parade of horses and the traditional romero breakfast at C/Duque de Ahumada.
– At 15:30 hours the Equestrian Art Fantasy Show, a show that comes from the province of Cordoba and will feature the participation of about eight riders and several horsewomen.
– A popular paella for 1,000 people provided by the Brotherhood of the Pollinica and Rocio.
– From 17:00 hours the concert of the group Azúcar Moreno.

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The Blue Horses on International Jazz Day:
Wed, 30 April, 8pm
Villa de Nerja Cultural Cente, C/ Granada 45, Nerja
It is an innovative jazz band, led by Inoidel González and Pablo García Vega, who fuse classic elements of the genre with contemporary and dynamic touches. Their performances stand out for the freshness and spontaneity of their repertoire, creating an enveloping atmosphere of joy in each concert. Influenced by the great geniuses of jazz, they add a distinctive fresh and modern style. Their way of interpreting music has captured the attention of diverse audiences, making them a reference in the current jazz scene.
Info & tix (€15): https://www.giglon.com/todos?idEvent=the-blue-horses-dia-internacional-del-jazz & Video Link

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May Dates- Ventana Abierta Jazz Club:
C/ Granada 3, (hotel plaza cavana), Nerja
Info & tix: https://www.ventana-abierta.es/jazz.html

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SPAIN

News Note: Looks like I was ahead of the curve on the Morocco issue, or maybe they read DigameXtra. Just 2 hours after I published yesterday’s DigameXtra article on the Spain / Morocco situation, ABC.es posts these next 2 articles, at 4am, as their top headlines! Spooky! It’s like they are replying to me in the middle of the night. -Ed.

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Jemad creates a working group on Moroccan risks for Spain: {Translation, summary}
– Lopez Calderon (current Chief of the Defence Staff of the Spanish Armed Forces) is well aware that this decision may be frowned upon by the Government of Pedro Sanchez that maintains a policy of appeasement with the authorities in Rabat that had its critical point with the 180 degree turn of the Spanish position on the Sahara. However the Jemad (Chief of the Ministry of Defence) considers that the obligation at the head of the Defense General Staff is to foresee all the scenarios that may arise in security and defense matters.
– The first meeting of the new Jemad working group was attended by the head of the Operations Command and the second Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces. Some sources claim that within the military leadership there were those who considered it a mistake to proceed without “permission”, without having received orders from the political leaders; that is, from the Government, which, as is public and notorious, does not want anything to be done that could upset the authorities of the Alaouite Kingdom.
– The Jemad’s philosophy is just the opposite of this approach, as he considers that the Armed Forces, and especially the Defence Staff, are precisely to have foreseen all the circumstances and possible reactions to any scenario, especially with a country like Morocco, which is particularly sensitive for our security. Therefore, according to his criteria, in this matter it is mandatory to carry out a serious and rigorous planning work. Then, according to the laws by which Lopez Calderon is governed, it is the Government of the day who has the responsibility to make the decisions it deems appropriate, but with all the information on the table.
– In private conversations, most of the military leadership agrees that Lopez Calderon has done the right thing, of course for the prestige and operability of the Armed Forces but also to defend in the best possible way the interests of Spain, and therefore of its Government.
– The critical moment in relations with Morocco came in May 2021 when Morocco allowed the illegal entry into Spain of some 5,000 people in a single day, causing an unprecedented crisis. As if that were not enough, a year later it became known that the telephones of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and several ministers had been spied on with the Pegasus spying program and evidence suggests Morocco was the likely culprit.
– With this background, and the geographical situation of Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish autonomous cities that Morocco claims as its own, it is surprising that the creation of this working group within the Defense Staff can be criticized. Similarly, it is worrying that the Department of Homeland Security team that also analyzes the risks Morocco poses to Spain now has such a low profile.
– “Detecting, evaluating and designing responses to possible dangers are not hostile actions, but the obligation of a serious country such as Spain,” conclude the sources consulted by ABC.
Photo: The Chief of Staff of the Defense (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, together with the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and senior officers of the Navy. By Tania Sieira.
Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/jemad-crea-grupo-trabajo-sobre-riesgos-marruecos-20250421165716-nt_amp.html

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Security Forces arrest jihadists in Spain at the highest rate since 11-M (2004 Madrid train bombing): {Translation, summary}
– What has happened to increase police activity in the last three years? First of all, we must remember that Spain is at level 4 out of 5 of terrorist alert, which implies that there is a high risk of an attack. What’s more; since 2015, when the Plan for Prevention and Protection against Terrorism was reformed, it has never gone below that level 4. That year there were 75 arrested, but from then on that figure began to fall, with some peak as in 2019, when there were 58 arrested.
– However, the sources of the fight against terrorism consulted by ABC explain that the important rise began in 2023, with the brutal attack of Hamas against Israel and the no less forceful response of the Hebrew State, of unprecedented harshness and that still continues. That war conflict, with a major destabilizing potential in the area, and the burning of Korans in northern European countries, caused a strong shock on the network, especially in closed forums of the ‘dark web’, where calls for revenge and attacks against Hebrew and American interests around the world have been constant ever since.
– “The Gaza conflict has multiplied by far the intensity of the threat at a global level, and also in Spain”, explain the sources consulted, who also cite as catalysts the Islamist regime that has settled in Syria, in addition to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the situation in sub-Saharan Africa, although in this case with a much lower incidence than the first of the conflicts mentioned.
– One of the data that most attracts the attention of the experts consulted by ABC is that the age of the detainees has been greatly reduced. “Some 20 percent of those arrested are under 22 years of age and most of them were born or are in legal status in Spain. This should make us reflect, because the integration processes are not as successful as could be expected in a society like ours,” they explain.
– Many of the detainees, moreover, are lone actors who self-train to the point of becoming very active disseminators of terrorist propaganda and in many cases swear allegiance to Islamic State. “Their danger is high for two reasons: first, because they are very difficult to detect, acting from home, with hardly any relations with the outside world, with anonymous profiles and moving mainly in the ‘dark web’; and second, because the attacks they imagine are of an extraordinary simplicity, but no less lethal for that. A simple kitchen knife- there is the case of Algeciras (Cadiz); or a hit-and-run that happened in Torre Pacheco (Murcia), for example, are enough to kill. Preventing these attacks is very complicated and that is why the Security Forces are very proactive and act as soon as we detect a significant increase in the radicalism of an individual,” explained the sources consulted.
– In any case, it is striking that so far no weapons have been seized in anti-terrorist operations, except for materials for making explosives as happened with a young man in Seville, who had even tested some devices he had designed, and, of course, manuals of all kinds.
– The threat to our country is high, and Spain is cited in the propaganda as Al Andalus, a land that the jihadists consider as their own. However, the level of aggressiveness against us is much lower than what happens with countries such as the United States, Israel or France, which are very much targeted by Daesh and Al Qaeda, much more so after the Gaza war. It is striking, moreover, the number of attacks in Germany, in addition to great lethality.
– The sources consulted affirm that for Spain, and in general for the West, the great threats continue to be the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. The first of the terrorist organizations, weakened by the loss of the caliphate, now acts in different franchises in different areas, while the second has settled in Afghanistan and some parts of Pakistan. The most dangerous Daesh faction for our interests is the ISKP (Islamic State of the Province of Khorasan), also based in the first of the two countries mentioned above, due to its capacity to send fighters. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/fuerzas-seguridad-detienen-yihadistas-mayor-ritmo-11m-20250420171141-nt_amp.html

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More than half of private universities fail to comply with the requirements of the new government decree: {Translation, summary}
– Nearly half of Spain’s private universities fail to meet the requirements set by a new government decree aimed at regulating higher education standards. This decree, which came into effect in 2023, establishes stricter criteria for university operations, including faculty qualifications, research output, and infrastructure.
– The Spanish government enacted a new decree to ensure higher education quality and to bring private universities in line with public ones. The decree outlines specific requirements regarding teaching staff, research activities, and physical resources.
– According to an internal report by the Ministry, about 50% of private universities in Spain do not comply with the new standards. The most common deficiencies include:
*Insufficient number of full-time professors with doctoral degrees.
*Lack of adequate research activity and publications.
*Inadequate facilities and resources for students.
– Public universities generally meet the requirements, particularly in terms of research and faculty qualifications. The report suggests that private institutions lag behind, especially in research output and permanent staff. These shortcomings could impact the value of degrees from non-compliant universities and raise concerns about educational quality. The government may impose sanctions or even close programs that fail to adapt.
– Some private universities argue that the decree is too rigid and does not account for their unique educational models. They claim that the new rules could threaten their viability and reduce educational diversity. The Ministry plans to conduct further inspections and may enforce corrective measures. The government emphasizes its commitment to maintaining high standards in higher education. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/sociedad/mitad-universidades-privadas-incumplen-requisitos-nuevo-decreto-20250421183808-nt_amp.html

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“N” takes over as the first letter on new car number plates in Spain:
– On Monday 14 April Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) issued the first number plate with the letter N – 0000 NBB – assigned to a Seat Ibiza registered in Castellón, after two and a half years of cars being registered with the letter M. Curiously, the last number plate with the letter M, 9999 MZZ, was also assigned on Monday to another Seat Ibiza in Castellón. In both cases the vehicles are owned by a leasing company.
– The M has been with us for more than two and a half years. On 2 September 2022, the first vehicle with the letter M, 0000 MBB, was registered. The DGT estimates that the N will be with us until at least 2027. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/the-new-change-the-number-plate-starts-20250416071844-nt.html

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The majority association of prosecutors demands Attorney General García Ortiz abstains from making an appointment that could benefit him: {Translation, summary}
– The Association of Prosecutors (AF) has sent this Monday a letter to the Attorney General of the State, Álvaro García Ortiz, in which they tell him to abstain in the proposal for the appointment of the new prosecutor for crimes against the Public Administration that is scheduled to take place in the Fiscal Council tomorrow. For the AF it is a position whose functions are directly related to crimes such as the disclosure of secrets for which the Attorney General himself is charged in the Supreme Court, so it considers that there is a personal interest that should lead him to step aside.
– How Ortiz responds is yet to be known. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/asociacion-mayoritaria-fiscales-exige-garcia-ortiz-abstenga-20250421094348-nt_amp.html

MALAGA CITY

Warmer weather arrives in Malaga this week: {Translation, summary}
– In the capital of Malaga spring time arrives, with maximums that will rise from the 22C degrees on Monday to 26C of the weekend, according to the Aemet. The minimums will continue to rise slightly from 15C to 18C degrees. The heavens will be sunny with some high clouds of little significant evolution. Likewise, rainfall is not expected. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/andalucia/llega-calor-andalucia-semana-provincias-subiran-temperaturas-20250421123805-nts.html

GRANADA

Secret shooting range discovered in Granada where firearm-trafficking gang tested weapons of war:
– An illegal shooting gallery has been discovered in Granada in a joint operation involving Spain’s National Police force and the Guardia Civil. It is the first of its kind found in Spain. The criminals had built the rudimentary facility over several nights to hide and test the firearms that they would later sell to other gangs.
– The details of Operation Topera-Tuti were presented on Wednesday 16 April at a press conference. It is a major case that has dismantled a “highly dangerous” criminal organisation allegedly dedicated to the trafficking of weapons of war, with branches in Granada, Cordoba and Jaen.
– The gang allegedly acquired the weapons in Spain and then resold them to drug trafficking gangs “to commit extremely serious crimes”. The sale prices ranged from 6,000/7,000 euros for a pistol to 10,000/11,000 euros for an assault rifle.
– Some of the buyers had used them in shootings in Andalucía, and this is how the investigators learned that the ammunition had been supplied in Granada. Investigators seized three assault rifles, a submachine gun, six handguns, a semi-automatic shotgun, a bulletproof vest, a pistol-to-submachine gun conversion kit, two dummy pistols, a pistol barrel, a dummy grenade, an air rifle, various assault rifle, submachine gun and high-capacity pistol magazines, as well as a large quantity of metallic and non-metallic ammunition.
Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/clandestine-shooting-gallery-discovered-granada-where-criminal-20250417051128-nt.html

UK

Legal definition of woman is based on biological sex, UK supreme court rules:
– The UK supreme court has issued a historic and definitive ruling that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer only to a biological woman and to biological sex. In a decision that delighted gender-critical activists, five judges ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 did not include transgender women who hold gender recognition certificates (GRCs).
– The judgment could have far-reaching ramifications and lead to greater restrictions on the access for trans women to services and spaces reserved for women. It prompted calls for the UK’s laws on gender recognition to be rewritten.
The UK government said the ruling brought “clarity and confidence” for women and those who run hospitals, sports clubs and women’s refuges. A spokesperson said: “We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.” Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/16/critics-of-trans-rights-win-uk-supreme-court-case-over-definition-of-woman

RELIGION

Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas, dead at 88 after long respiratory crisis:
– Pope Francis, who became the first South American and first Jesuit to ascend to the most powerful position in the Catholic Church, has died at age 88 — just one day after Easter Sunday. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, confirmed the beloved pontiff’s passing on Monday after a prolonged battle with double pneumonia.
Full article: https://nypost.com/2025/04/21/world-news/pope-francis-first-pontiff-from-the-americas-dead-at-88-after-respiratory-crisis/

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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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DigameXtra No. 2991 Monday, April 21st v1.1, 2025

On April 21, 2025April 21, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

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Next Public Holiday: Thursday, 1 May is Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
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Items scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, will appear in the Friday issue.

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PHOENIX CLUB

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Periana’s Días del Aceite Verdial 2025:
Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27
– Periana’s greenish olive oil is very famous. This olive oil is made with olives of the Verdial variety. Of the 1000 varieties of olives grown in the world, the Verdial de Vélez is only grown in the Axarquia region. It is an olive that stays green for a long time and is harvested very late, from January to March.
***Program of activities***
– Saturday, April 26, the San Isidro Cooperative will invite all to a miller’s breakfast. An hour later, the guide Antonio Lopez and the Periana Club will carry out a route through the ancient olive trees. At 12.00 there will be an oil tasting in the María Zambrano auditorium, given by Alfredo Rivera, director of Labsur Laboratories. Then, at 13.00 there will be a show cooking offered by Sabor a Málaga. In the evening, at 20.00 hours, will be inaugurated the square Mayor Rafael Torrobia dedicated to the former alderman of this municipality from 2015 until his sudden death in 2024. From 23.00 hours there will be music with the Millenium orchestra and a dj in the Plaza Alfonso XII.
– On Sunday, April 27 at 10.00 am there will be distribution of welcome gifts in the square of the day center. At the same time, there will be a miller’s breakfast in the Plaza Alfonso XII. Half an hour later will start the parade of the Municipal Band of Periana. From 11.00 a.m. the folkloric performances by Abraham Oritz and the Panda de Verdiales de Periana will begin.
Source: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/axarquia/2025/04/10/periana-despedira-mes-abril-xxiv-116265199.html

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Upcoming events: Casa De Cultura- Almuñécar
Puerta De Granada, 19, 18690 Almuñécar
– Friday 25 April, 7pm. Oniria, with Virginia Abril, new show for the flamenco program of Almuñécar.
– Sunday, 27 April, 7pm. The Mediterranean Chamber Orchestra closes its concert season. The Orchestra will open the concert with the spectacular Symphony No. 9 in C Major MWV 9 by F. Mendelssohn and will close it with the most famous work by the English Gustav Holst, St Paul’s Girls’ School.
– Friday, 2 May, 8pm. Ancora Ensemble, conducted by Rafael Lamas, presents ‘The Four Seasons’. A special concert with Vivaldi and Piazzolla as protagonists. With Jesús Berrio on violin and Fabián Carbone on bandoneon. Video Link.
Info & tix: https://bravoentradas.es/

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Lux Mundi Ecumenical Centre, Torre del Mar
Hours: Wednesday & Friday 10.00 – 13.00. Info tel. 952 543 334
*** May etc. events & excursions***
– Every Tuesday – Axarquia Business Networking group 19.00.
– Spanish. Wednesday and Friday 10.00 – 13.00.
– Wednesdays- Art group, with the crochet & craft group 10.00 – 13.00.
– Shop Wednesdays and Fridays 10.00 – 13.00.
– Thursday Spanglish. – Conversation between Spanish and English 16.30 -17.30
– Thursday – NA English 19.00 to 20.30.
– Friday – Conversation group 10.00 – 11.00.
– Friday – Coffee Morning 10.00- 13.00.
– Saturday – English Catholic Mass 16.00.
– Monday 12th – Monday Club 11.00 – 1.30.
– Thursday May 15th visit Ubrique with its leather museum.
– Friday 30th Taizé Prayer for Unity, St Andrés Church Torre del Mar 20.00
COMING EXCURSION
– Thursday, 19th June – Visit Benalmadena- Sea Life, Old Town and Butterfly House.

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For Sale: New NorthFace Summit Series jacket, black medium size. Fleece lined – reason for sale too small. €40. Contact Maggie, Los Romanes
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SPAIN

Rapid judgements against squatters do not result in faster evictions: {Translation, summary}
– Under the new legislation, crimes such as home invasion and illegal occupation, specifically cases where there is no contract or any authorization for the occupant to reside in the property, will be processed more swiftly. The reform establishes a maximum period of 15 days for the accused to appear before a judge, followed by a sentence within three days. This accelerated procedure is designed to provide quicker relief to property owners affected by illegal occupation.
– However, legal experts caution that this increased speed may not translate into practical effectiveness. Alegría Cuevas, a lawyer at Le Morne Brabant Abogados, points out that the law’s requirement for a prior conciliation or mediation session before filing a civil eviction claim could actually delay the overall eviction process. This additional step may prolong the recovery of properties, especially in civil cases where occupants claim social vulnerability.
– Moreover, while the criminal procedure has been streamlined, its success depends heavily on the courts’ capacity to meet these tight deadlines.
Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5702197/0/abogados-alertan-consecuencias-juicios-rapidos-okupas-no-agiliza-desahucios-los-retrasa/

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Council of Europe reprimands Spain for failing to comply with recommendations to prevent corruption among senior officials:
– Europe’s leading human rights organisation and democracy watchdog – the Council of Europe – with 46 member states, including the EU’s 27 nations, has called on Spain to improve regulation of conflicts of interest among the country’s high-ranking, government officials, as well as their meetings with lobbyists, their privileges and the revolving doors that occur when they leave their public duties to work in the private sector. This has been stated in a report published on Wednesday by Greco, the Council of Europe’s group of states against corruption, in which Spain is criticised for a “poor implementation” of the recommendations that the organisation made in 2019 to Spain.
– The criticism was made because Sanchez {pic} has only managed to partially implement 13 of the recommendations while six have not been implemented at all. This has led Greco to include Spain in a non-compliance procedure and a request that the Spanish government reports on progress in this area for the next full meeting of the group, its 100th session.
– As a result of these failures the Council of Europe has called on the Spanish authorities to pay more attention to preventing conflicts of interest among senior officials, as well as to increase transparency in the executive functions of senior government officials, including their advisors. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/spain-reprimanded-for-failing-comply-with-recommendations-20250417051351-nt.html

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What Kind Of Con Job Is This? The Investigated State Attorney General Is Allowed To Appoint Who Will Investigate & Prosecute Him: {Translation, summary}
– The Attorney General of the State, Álvaro García Ortiz {pic}, will propose this Tuesday in the Plenary of the Fiscal Council the appointment of the coordinating prosecutor for crimes against public administration who will be in charge of setting criteria- among others- on the crime of disclosure of secrets for which he himself is being investigated.
– Last month the FA- the majority association of the prosecutors- expressed its opposition to García Ortiz presenting his proposal for appointment to the position of coordinating prosecutor for crimes against public administration. “In the current legal procedural situation of the state attorney general, and making clear- as we have always done- our utmost respect for his right to the presumption of innocence, it is simply inconceivable that this can be allowed,” the association said last March in a statement.
– For the FA, “it is not acceptable” that García Ortiz is going to decide the appointment of “the person who will be in charge of unifying the criteria of action of the Public Prosecutor’s Office on crimes such as, for example, the violation of secrets”, for which he is being investigated in the Supreme Court.
– The FA also described this position as “unnecessary and disturbing because of its possible collision with the competences of other organs of the Public Prosecutor’s Office”. “We call attention to this intolerable mockery of our institution and society as a whole at a time when the investigation of various proceedings affecting the environment of the Government itself is public,” it said. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-garcia-ortiz-propone-martes-nombramiento-fiscal-fijara-criterio-delito-investigado-20250420095954.html

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DigameXtra DeepDive- Spain continues to actively support the Moroccan regime- caught in spying operations in Spain, prime source of illegal migration, and a major source of the drugs entering Spain costing taxpayers millions to combat- and deny old friend Algeria, who supplies Spain most of its gas, and poses no direct immigration or contraband threat?: {DigameXtra}
– Spain’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara over Algeria’s support for an independent Western Sahara- despite Algeria’s key role as a gas supplier for Spain, and ignoring Moroccan activities detrimental to Spain- reflects a convoluted and highly suspect balancing act.
– In 2022, Spain shifted its long standing position by endorsing Morocco’s “Western Sahara autonomy” plan. A misleading name as Morocco has no plans for any meaningful Western Sahara autonomy. Rather, Morocco wants to control it more than ever, and currently exercises control over about 75% of the territory, which it refers to as its “Southern Provinces of Morocco”. Morocco claims this proposal to be “the most serious, realistic and credible” path to resolving the Western Sahara dispute. This marks a break from Spain’s previous support for an Algerian supported, UN-backed referendum proposing independence for the region. Spanish government propaganda framed the policy change as a way to “close a crisis with a strategic partner,” emphasizing the importance of stable relations with Morocco and dismissing the value of its long term relationship with, and energy supply reliance on, Algeria.
– Algeria, which supports Western Sahara’s right to self-determination, strongly opposed Spain’s policy shift. In response, Algeria suspended a 20-year friendship treaty with Spain and restricted trade, though it continued gas exports due to binding contracts and its reputation as a reliable supplier. Algeria remains Spain’s main source of natural gas, accounting for roughly a quarter of imports as of early 2023. Algeria has already revealed it has plans to move away from supplying gas to Spain when current agreements expire, diverting those supplies to Italy rather than continuing supplying disloyal Spain. (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/energy/international-relations/algeria-threatens-to-cut-off-gas-supplies-to-spain/35234)
– Independent investigations by Amnesty International, the European Parliament’s Pegasus inquiry, and major media outlets have reported that Morocco likely used NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware to target Spanish officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and senior ministers.
– Do not forget that Arabic language news outlets & social media commonly carry content promoting the re-conquest of Al Andaluz, and that there have recently been several instances of jihadi organizers arrested in Andalucia! (Refs: https://theworld.org/stories/2017/08/25/isis-says-it-wants-re-build-muslim-caliphate-spain & https://jcpa.org/article/al-qaeda-the-next-goal-is-to-liberate-spain-from-the-infidels/)
– Refs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sahara_conflict
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/spain-to-reopen-investigation-into-hacking-of-premiers-phone/
https://guardian.pressreader.com/article/281990381100230
https://www.newarab.com/news/spain-probes-rabats-possible-use-pegasus-pm
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/spanish-ministers-once-targets-of-moroccan-spyware-forgive-and-forget/
https://www.echoroukonline.com/the-makhzens-new-espionage-scandal-in-spain
https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2024/07/24/es-marruecos-una-amenaza-real-para-la-ciberseguridad-de-espana/

MALAGA PROVINCE

When is the date of the next bridge in Malaga? All of 2025’s remaining holidays: {Translation}
– With Easter Week over, after a four-day long weekend (with the holidays of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, April 17 and 18), there will be those who are wondering when the next one will be. Another holiday is coming soon, although this time there will be no option to enjoy a long weekend.
– Next week, May 1, is a national holiday, Labor Day. Although this time it falls on a Thursday, so there is no long weekend. It will not be until summer, in the month of August, when the people of Malaga will have a long weekend. Nothing to do with the Fair of the capital, with local holiday on Tuesday, August 19, but with the previous Friday, August 15, Day of the Assumption of the Virgin, which is also a national holiday. Falling at the beginning of a weekend, it will be possible to enjoy a three-day long weekend.
– In total there are 12 public holidays in the calendar, to which two local holidays are added. These are usually chosen by the town councils of the municipalities to coincide with their own festivities, a fair or the day of the patron saint. In the case of the capital, they are August 19 and September 8, the day of the patron saint, the Virgen de la Victoria. Here you can consult the holidays of the 103 localities of the province of Malaga.
***Next long weekends in 2025***
– The first one arrives in August, as just indicated, on Friday, August 15. For the inhabitants of Malaga capital, there is a long weekend at the beginning of September, on Monday 8, the day of the patron saint of the city, the Victoria.
– The next one comes in October, with the day of the Pilar, October 12. In 2025, falling on a Sunday, the holiday is moved to Monday 13, again with a 3-day long weekend.
– December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception, is Monday, offering a 3-day long weekend.
***Other holidays in 2025***
– November 1, All Saints’ Day, is a holiday, although on this occasion, as it falls on a Saturday, the holiday is not moved.
– The same happens on December 6, Spanish Constitution Day, which also falls on a Saturday.
– Christmas Day, December 25, which falls on a Thursday. This brings the 2025 holiday calendar to an end. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/fecha-proximo-puente-malaga_0_2003764020.html

MALAGA CITY

Easter Week Malaga Resurrection Sunday 2025: Video Link

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

This has been Good Friday in Vélez-Málaga:
-See 28 image gallery by Ignacio Martín here:
https://www.malagahoy.es/velez-malaga/sido-viernes-santo-velez-malaga-semana-santa_3_2003770919.html#slide-1

RECALLS

Salmonella detected in batch of DIA chicken burgers sold in Andalucia:
– The Spanish agency for food safety and nutrition (Aesan) has warned of the presence of salmonella in a batch of the chicken burger meat product of the Selección de Dia brand.
– The product involved is:
Name: Burguer meat de pollo.
Brand name: Selección de Dia.
Appearance of the product: packaged in a plastic tray with 6 units of 90g.
Lot number: 250969. Expiry date: 19/04/2025.
Unit weight: 540 grams. Temperature: Refrigerated.

SPORT

Tennis News- Rune defeats Alcaraz to win Barcelona Open:
– Holger Rune {pic} beat world number two Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 on Sunday to win the Barcelona Open for the first time. Full article: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250420-rune-defeats-alcaraz-to-win-barcelona-open

TECH

DoctorLaptop’s Tips #117
How to migrate from an iPhone to an Android phone:
– Migrating from an iPhone to an Android phone is now a streamlined process, thanks to dedicated apps and cloud services that help transfer your essential data- contacts, photos, messages, calendars, and more. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth transition.
1. Prepare Both Devices
– Fully charge both your iPhone and your new Android phone.
– Ensure both devices are connected to Wi-Fi.
– Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version to ensure compatibility.
2. Use a Migration App
– Most Android phones (especially Google Pixel and Samsung devices) prompt you during setup to transfer data from an iPhone. You can use the included cable (Lightning to USB-C/USB-A with an OTG adapter) or opt for a wireless transfer. {pic}
3. Choose What to Transfer
– The migration tool or app lets you select what to move: contacts, photos, videos, messages, calendar events, and more.
– If you’re using a Google Pixel, it can even suggest Android versions of your iOS apps.
– Samsung users can use the Smart Switch app for a similarly comprehensive transfer, even after initial setup.
4. Transfer via Cloud Services (Optional)
– If you prefer, you can use Google Drive on your iPhone to back up contacts, calendar, and photos. After signing into your Google account on the Android device, this data will sync automatically.
– For files not covered by migration tools, upload them to Google Drive or Dropbox on your iPhone and download them on your Android.
5. Disable iMessage and FaceTime
– Before removing your SIM card from the iPhone, turn off iMessage and FaceTime in Settings. This prevents missing future SMS/MMS messages on your new Android phone.
6. Final Steps
– Log into your Google account on the Android device to access synced data.
– Download any additional apps from the Google Play Store.
– Check that all your important data has migrated successfully.
7. Closing comment
– By following these steps and using the recommended apps or cloud services, you can efficiently transfer your data and start using your new Android device with minimal hassle. See the reference article for more detailed, step by step instructions with photos.
Ref: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-move-iphone-to-android-phone/

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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://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

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DigameXtra No. 2990 Easter Long Weekend Edition Wednesday, April 16th, 2025

On April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

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Both are national public holidays. DigameXtra will be closed these days.
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DigameXtra Welcomes A New Sponsor
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Presenting his new book “The Rectifier”
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Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Periana’s Días del Aceite Verdial 2025:
Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27
– Saturday, April 26, the San Isidro Cooperative will invite all to a miller’s breakfast. An hour later, the guide Antonio Lopez and the Periana Club will carry out a route through the ancient olive trees. At 12.00 there will be an oil tasting in the María Zambrano auditorium. At 13.00 there will be a show cooking offered by Sabor a Málaga. At 20.00 hours, will be an inauguration ceremony for the Mayor Rafael Torrobia Square. At 23.00 hours there will be music with the Millenium orchestra and a dj in the Plaza Alfonso XII.
– On Sunday, April 27 at 10.00 am there will be distribution of welcome gifts in the square of the Day Center. At the same time, there will be a miller’s breakfast in the Plaza Alfonso XII. Half an hour later the parade of the Municipal Band of Periana. From 11.00 a.m. the folkloric performances by Abraham Oritz and the Panda de Verdiales de Periana will begin.
Source: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/axarquia/2025/04/10/periana-despedira-mes-abril-xxiv-116265199.html

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Radiole Gala: Saturday, May 3 at the Andalusia Paseo, Vélez-Málaga
From 1:30pm the Radiole gala will offer a large repertoire of first class artists, mainly flamenco, Sevillanas, Copla, Rumba & Pop. Free entry, no invitation required.
The event was scheduled for last February, on the occasion of Andalusia’s Day, but was postponed due to rain.

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Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.

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Great Deals From Upcycling Nerja
– Chairs. 2x Nardi 4 position reclining patio chairs Price 45€ (the pair)
– Coffee table. Drawers open both ways. Measurements 110 x 60 x 45cms Price 65€.
– Ikea white glass top table 75 x 75 x 45cms Price 15€
contact Jackie, Nerja 672170429
upcycling nerja at gmail dot com

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For Sale, 2 items :
-1 flexible tube for the swimming pool, 10 m x 38mm. Bought a few weeks ago at Sanaxa, but it’s too long for our pool. Never used, €10.
– A set of 7 light switches and 9 sockets of BJC. Very good condition, €15 for the lot.
Contact: Marc Schoeters, Puente Don Manuel,
Phone number 0032 477328725
Email: schoeters.marc@telenet.be

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Wanted: Property to rent. I am seeking a property for long term rental in or near Caleta de Velez. It should have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and air conditioning.
John, Caleta de Velez. Tel: (WhatsApp) 608097587
Email: johnasq AT gmail D0T 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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ANDALUCÍA

‘It’s a crime’- Solar park boom threatens Andalucia’s olive growers:
– In the Andalusian village of Lopera, olive trees owners struggle against expropriation and to prevent the installation of photovoltaic plants forcing thousands of trees to be uprooted. At his farm in southern Spain, Francisco Campos looked worriedly at a green sea of centuries-old olive trees that he fears will face the axe to make way for a proposed solar park. “Cutting down olive trees to install solar panels is a crime,” the 64-year-old farmer told AFP in Lopera, a town of whitewashed buildings with 3,600 residents in the sunny southern region of Andalusia, Spain’s olive-growing heartland.
– Renewable energy firms such as Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas have requested permission to build multiple solar farms near Lopera, which farmers say will affect up to 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of property. The businesses negotiated agreements to lease the bulk of the land required for their projects but encountered significant opposition from hundreds of small landowners.
– This prompted the regional government of Andalusia to announce it will expropriate some land needed for the plants, declaring them to be in “the public interest”.
– Campaigners predict that the eight solar projects planned for the area will require the removal of nearly 100,000 olive trees. The regional government puts the figure significantly lower, at 13,000.
– “Is it in the public interest for them to take my land and give it to a company so that the company can profit? This has no benefit for us,” said Campos. “Our way of life is going to be destroyed,” he added. Full article: https://www.thelocal.es/20250414/its-a-crime-solar-park-boom-threatens-spains-olive-tree-growers

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Our leaders really do live in an alternate reality- Moreno defends the “enormous effort” of the Junta to improve healthcare and asks for “patience” in the face of “noise from Madrid”: {Translation, summary}
– “There is still a long time to go before the elections”, which will be held in Andalusia, if the timetable is adhered to, in June 2026. This is what the president of the Junta, Juanma Moreno {pic}, has assured in relation to the situation of Andalusian public health, who is committed to moving away from the “noise” of Madrid and focusing on the improvements that, he admits, still need to be made in the community.
– It has been during the inauguration of a new health center in Jaen, and just days after the demonstrations throughout Andalusia in defense of public health, where Moreno has assured that this is an “absolute priority” of his government, which will continue to work “tirelessly” so that Andalusians “have the best possible system”.
– In this regard, the president of the Junta has stressed the “enormous effort” that his Executive has made in the last six years, with the implementation of 69 new health infrastructures, something that “is unprecedented”, including seven hospitals, five day hospitals, 18 health centers, 25 early childhood care centers and nine clinics.
– “It seems little to us”, said Moreno, who even so has been convinced that ‘no one can deny that we have made progress’, and this, in large part, thanks to the investment of the Executive in health, which this year amounts to 30% of the budget of the community. And the fact is that the money, he stressed, “is important”.
– For all these reasons, he has asked that the “noise stays in Madrid”, because in Andalusia “we have another way of understanding politics and another way of being, we are sensible, serene and peaceful” and so “we want to continue being”. And it will be when the polls are taken out when the citizens “decide which option they choose”. Until then, he concluded, “there is no one left over here” to continue improving healthcare. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5698878/0/moreno-defiende-enorme-esfuerzo-junta-para-mejorar-sanidad-pide-paciencia-frente-ruido-madrid/

TORROX

The PP of Torrox maintains its position of not applying the increase in the garbage fee “imposed by Pedro Sanchez to all of Spain”: {Translation}
– The Popular Party of Torrox maintains its position of “not applying the ‘tasazo’ imposed by the Government of Pedro Sanchez to waste collection to all municipalities in Spain”. The general secretary of the popular Torroxeños, Paola Moreno {pic}, said that “we refuse to apply this ‘tasazo’, as have other municipalities in Spain governed by the PP, of around 200 euros per house on average.”
– Moreno explained that, until the entry into force of this measure, the cost of the collection and treatment of waste was covered by the municipalities, but with the implementation of Law 7/2022 it is mandated to pass this cost on to residents in municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, “something that in Torrox we refuse as we have been defending in the media, we would not apply any increase”.
– The councilor of Finance in the Torrox City Council has commented that all possible options have been considered, “but we considered that, since the Popular Party is in government we have frozen all taxes, the best measure was to leave things as they were and not raise the garbage rates already paid by our citizens applying this ‘tasazo’ that Pedro Sanchez imposed on all municipalities in Spain, and that seems to us a nonsense.” Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-pp-de-torrox-mantiene-su-postura-de-no-aplicar-la-subida-de-la-tasa-de-basura-impuesta-por-pedro-sanchez-a-toda-espana/

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

National Police dismantle Velez-Malaga cannabis club: {Translation, summary}
– Agents of the National Police have dismantled in Velez-Malaga (Malaga) a cannabis center that functioned as a point of sale of narcotic substances. The investigators have proceeded to the arrest of three people, aged 23, 28 and 43, for their alleged responsibility in a crime of drug trafficking. The premises were seized 6971 grams of marijuana buds, 140 grams of CBD {Why? CBD is legal in Spain. -Ed.}, 832 grams of hashish, 875 cigarettes containing marijuana or hashish, as well as tools for their weighing and preparation, in addition to 367 flowering marijuana plants. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/agentes-de-la-policia-nacional-desmantelan-en-velez-malaga-un-club-cannabico-que-funcionaba-como-punto-de-venta-de-sustancias-estupefacientes/

EUROPE

Dutch Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders’ message to Pedro Sanchez, Macron & Scholz- “Your time is over and woke is over!”: X Link

UK

Going to the UK? Forget about carrying beef, sheep or pig meat or dairy products as new restrictions due to FMD now apply: {Translation, summary}
– The British Government has banned since last Saturday the entry of these items into the country from the European Union: sandwiches, cheese, cured meats such as ham, raw meats or milk, to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) after the growing number of cases throughout Europe.
– Specifically, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the British Government (Defra) has extended this measure in the run-up to Easter, since this decision came into force last Sunday, which will not be able to enter the country with beef, sheep or pig meat or dairy products for personal consumption, regardless of whether they are packaged or if they have been purchased in a duty-free store, as reported in a statement. A limited set of exemptions to these rules has been established, such as a limited amount of infant milk, medicinal foods and products such as chocolate, sweets, bread, cakes, cookies and pasta are allowed.
– In this context, travelers entering the country with these items must hand them over at the border or they will be confiscated and destroyed, as well as facing fines of up to £5,000 (over €5,800).
– The British government had already banned personal imports of cattle, sheep and other ruminants and pork and dairy products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria earlier this year in response to confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in those countries.
– FMD poses no risk to humans and there are no cases in the UK, but it is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas, and the outbreak in Europe presents a significant risk to farming businesses and livestock, according to the UK Department. The British government justifies this action as this disease can cause significant economic losses due to production shortages in affected animals, as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and dairy products.
– The new restrictions apply only to travelers arriving in Great Britain and not in Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/turismo/nacional/noticia-viajas-reino-unido-olvidate-llevar-jamon-maleta-nuevas-restricciones-fiebre-aftosa-20250415142508.html

HEALTH

Brussels authorizes the Alzheimer’s drug Lecanemab for certain patient groups: {Translation, summary}
– The European Commission (EC) has authorized this Tuesday the use of the drug lecanemab in the European Union to treat mild cognitive impairment in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, under strict conditions, with clear risk mitigation requirements and only for certain groups of patients. “It will be used in people who have only one copy or none of the ApoE4 gene and who have beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. It is the first drug of its kind to be authorized in the EU,” the European Commission said.
– The green light from Brussels comes after the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended last November the approval of lecanemab, under the trade name Leqembi, after previously advising against it on the grounds that the side effects did not outweigh the delay achieved in cognitive impairment.
– However, after re-examining the drug in a smaller population, the EMA concludes that for that patient profile “the benefits of Leqembi in slowing the progression of disease symptoms outweigh its risks” provided that “risk minimization measures” for the most serious side effects are taken at the same time.
– As a requirement for this treatment to be administered, patients will have to undergo MRI scans before taking the first, fifth, seventh and fourteenth doses of the drug, and at any other time if they show symptoms of the described brain inflammation, such as headache, dizziness or nausea. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/salud/bruselas-autoriza-farmaco-lecanemab-contra-alzheimer-ciertos-grupos-pacientes-5701360/

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Is Covid Rewriting the Rules of Aging? Brain decline alarms doctors as millions of long-Covid patients continue to struggle with cognitive difficulties:
– Five years after the pandemic’s start, millions of Americans are still struggling with long-lasting symptoms of Covid-19. Cognitive difficulties are among the most troubling and common symptoms in people both old and young. These ailments can be severe enough to leave former professionals like Ken Todd unable to work and even diagnosed with a form of mild cognitive impairment.
– I first spoke with Todd, a 56-year-old former Showtime executive in New York City, in 2022 for a column on long-Covid patients grappling with crippling fatigue. Todd says he stopped working in 2023. When he tried to apply for jobs he realized he just didn’t have the physical or mental stamina. “It just exacerbated my symptoms,” he says.
– Todd was diagnosed with a form of mild cognitive impairment in February. Now, he is pursuing cognitive rehabilitation to learn strategies to compensate for his cognitive deficiencies, along with other therapies. “We have not talked about regression,” says Todd. “But we need to keep monitoring it.”
– Our exchange raises a troubling question: Are long-Covid patients’ cognitive symptoms getting better or regressing? And are those patients being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, more at risk for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later? I posed these questions to the doctors and scientists who see and study these patients. Most agree that long-Covid patients experience cognitive issues and other neurological symptoms likely fueled by brain inflammation.
– It remains unclear if these changes will persist or worsen over time. But there are some disturbing signals that they could, at least in a certain subset of patients. And there is some evidence that the age when you got Covid-19 may be an important factor. Studies have found that older people who have Covid-19 are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s sooner than if they haven’t had it. Covid may be accelerating the process in people already at risk of dementia, or contributing to it.
– In younger people such as Todd, complaints of brain fog and cognitive difficulties may be intertwined with, or stem from, other common long-Covid symptoms, such as fatigue and pain, doctors say.
– Dr. Gabriel de Erausquin, a neurologist at University of Texas Health San Antonio, recently published a study that found the risk of moderate to severe cognitive impairment in older adults with long Covid was double that of younger ones. For those long-Covid patients over 57, the symptoms associated with cognitive difficulties look much like early dementia, he says. “It doesn’t look in older adults that this is a reversible process,” says de Erausquin. “If you look at the tests they have the profile of a person with very early Alzheimer’s disease. Do they have Alzheimer’s disease? We don’t know.”
– A February study his group published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that after cognitive rehabilitation about half of patients reported an improvement. But about one-third of the 70 patients didn’t have a significant difference in objective measures of memory. Some long-Covid patients do show improving cognitive symptoms though recovery isn’t linear, says Dr. Igor Koralnik, chief of neuro-infectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. “There are bumps on the way especially if they develop another episode of Covid,” says Koralnik. For some long-Covid patients, neurological symptoms seem to get worse with time. Image source: https://nortonhealthcaremedicaljournal.scholasticahq.com/article/81031-long-covid-the-silent-pandemic
Full article: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/is-covid-rewriting-the-rules-of-aging-brain-decline-alarms-doctors-6ed3dfaa

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Miscommunication between hospital staff regularly puts patients at risk, a new world-wide, 11 year study says:
– Poor communications between health care workers contributed to 25% of hospital incidents that put patients’ safety at risk, researchers reported Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. What’s more, miscommunication was the sole cause of patient endangerment in 1 out of 10 cases, researchers found. These cases included medication errors and medical errors that resulted in health-threatening events or near-misses, researchers said.
– “Poor communication is a substantial cause of patient safety incidents,” concluded the research team led by Jeremy Howick, a professor at the University of Leicester Medical School in the U.K. “Our findings highlight the crucial need for health care professionals to develop and maintain effective communication skills to foster strong relationships with their peers and their patients,” the team added.
– On average, about 1 in every 20 patients is exposed to preventable harm in health care, researchers said in background notes.
– For their paper, researchers pooled results from 46 prior studies involving nearly than 68,000 patients from Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. The studies were published between 2013 and 2024.
– Results showed that poor verbal, written, electronic and non-verbal communication was a factor in a quarter of cases where patient safety was threatened.
– More research is needed to figure out why such poor communication exists, and how it can be improved to protect patients, researchers said. “Health care professionals seeking to enhance their own communication skills may be guided by published reports of communication interventions designed to improve patient safety,” researchers wrote. “These interventions offer standardized approaches to verbal communication between health care professionals, and between health care professionals and patients.” However, more research is needed “to optimize and develop such interventions further, and to identify which interventions are most effective at improving patient safety,” researchers added. Full article: https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/04/15/uk-miscommunication-health-professionals-patient-rick-study/1391744733384/

SPORT

Tennis News- Carlos Alcaraz debuts at the Conde de Godó 2025 with a hard-fought victory over Quinn:
– Carlos Alcaraz successfully started in the Conde de Godó 2025 with a good victory against Ethan Quinn with a score of 6-2 and 7-6(6) in 1 hour and 49 minutes of battle. Despite not being his most brilliant match, the current world number two fulfilled his role as the favorite against a rival who put up a fight, especially in the second set, when he had the opportunity to force a third set. The Spaniard salvaged the situation with spectacular points. Full article: https://www.puntodebreak.com/en/2025/04/15/alcaraz-impresses-in-his-debut-in-barcelona

FINANCIAL

Finally- a major crypto developer admits what the rest of us tech nerds knew all along, you can’t expect privacy from a decentralized system, including blockchain:
– Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said privacy should be a top priority for developers, warning that assumptions about transparency and good intentions in global politics are overly optimistic.
– In an April 14 blog post, Buterin argued that privacy is essential to maintain individual freedom and protect against the growing power of governments and corporations. He criticized the idea that increased transparency (the whole point of blockchain) is inherently beneficial, saying it relies on assumptions about human nature that are no longer valid. “These assumptions include believing that global political leadership is generally well-intentioned and sane, and that social culture continues to progress in a positive direction,” Buterin wrote. “Both are proving to be increasingly untrue.” Buterin claimed there was “no single major country for which the first assumption is broadly agreed to be true.”
– Buterin only expects the need for privacy to increase as technology develops further, with brain-computer interfaces potentially allowing automated systems to peer directly into our brains.
– Another issue is automated price gouging, with companies charging individuals as much as they expect them to be able to pay. Full article: https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/ethereum-co-founder-vitalik-buterin-privacy-freedom

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If you are a housewife, this is the €500 monthly Social Security retirement benefit you may qualify for:
– Read full article in English on Google Translate here. Article Link

RELIGION

Italian teen set to be first millennial saint was ‘ordinary child’, says mother:
– Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who built websites to spread his faith, will be proclaimed the Catholic Church’s first saint of the millennial generation this month, elevating him to the same level as Mother Teresa and Francis of Assisi. There is no doubt he was special, his mother Antonia Salzano Acutis told Reuters. But in many ways, she said, he was like any other teen.
– Acutis, who learned several computer coding languages and developed websites for his parish and the wider Church, died from leukaemia aged 15 in 2006.
– As his reputation for devotion grew and he was moved along the official path to sainthood, his body was moved to the hill town of Assisi in central Italy, in line with his last wishes. There, he was entombed with a wax mould of his likeness placed over his body, wearing his track top, jeans and trainers. Ever since, crowds have been gathering at the clear-sided casket.
– Tens of thousands more are expected to attend the canonization service in St. Peter’s Square on April 27. Vatican officials hope Pope Francis, who is still recovering from a serious bout of double pneumonia, will preside.
But, away from all the ceremony and veneration, the heart of his appeal was that he lived the same life as others who were teenagers in the 2000s, struggling to fit in at school, his mother said.
– “Carlo was an ordinary child like (others). He used to play, to have friends, and to go to school. But his extraordinary quality was the fact that he opened the door of his heart to Jesus and put Jesus in the first place in his life.”
“He used this skill to spread the good news, the Gospel,” she added. “He wanted to help people to have more faith, to understand that there is an afterlife, that we are (pilgrims) in this world.”
– Acutis’ reputation grew further with the recording of miracles reported after his death and attributed to his intercession with God. Church officials say there was the healing of a 4-year-old Brazilian boy with a serious pancreatic malformation and of a 21-year-old Costa Rican woman who was near death after a bicycle accident. The mothers of the boy and the woman had both prayed to Acutis for help, Vatican authorities said. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italian-teen-set-be-first-millennial-saint-was-ordinary-child-says-mother-2025-04-15/

CANCEL CULTURE

Johnny Depp Returns to Hollywood as ‘Day Drinker’ Starts Filming in Spain:
– Lionsgate has started production on “Day Drinker,” sharing a first-look image at Johnny Depp as he makes his return to Hollywood following high-profile legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard.
– The film from “500 Days of Summer” and “Snow White” director Marc Webb re-teams Depp and Penélope Cruz for a fourth time after previous collaborations on “Blow,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Murder on the Orient Express.” Madelyn Cline also stars in the film. Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto and Anika Boyle round out the cast. “Day Drinker” tells the story of a private-yacht bartender (Cline) who encounters a mysterious, onboard guest (Depp). They soon find themselves entangled with a criminal figure (Cruz) and connected in ways no one saw coming.
– The film, which begins production in Spain, is produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, who produce the “John Wick” franchise for Lionsgate, among others. Full article: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/johnny-depp-day-drinker-first-look-1236368998/

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Local Police
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DigameXtra No. 2989 Tuesday, April 15th, 2025

On April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 By naythandoctorlaptop

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DigameXtra Holiday Schedule:
– Thursday, 17 April 17 is Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday)
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Iznate Fiesta Patronales: Sunday, 20 April
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Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.

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For Sale: Daybed, very good condition, seldom used, mattress 90×190, can be disassembled for transport. 100 euros ONO. Buyer to collect, Irene, La Vinuela.
Email: irenegrant69@gmail.com

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Editor’s Note: Several readers have asked why I have cut back “For Sale” posts, limiting them to DigameXtra donors. There are 2 primary reasons.
1. Due to new laws that would require that I keep track of each seller’s activity thru the year and monitor their activity to ensure the law’s limits on sales activity are respected, and to make reports to the Treasury as required. This law went into effect in early 2024, but is now actually being enforced in 2025. I am happy to do this for the 153 donors of at least €20 to the 2024 fundraiser, but not the other 4830 subscribers. The bookkeeping time is simply prohibitive. Read about the new requirements in the article linked below.
2. Unfortunately, those readers who refuse to donate also often refuse to read and follow the submission rules. They often send in confusing submissions, full of typos and without any proper punctuation (as if it were a WhatsApp message) while neglecting to include mandatory info. This then requires I start a chain of emails with them to collect all the required info. It could take 3 or 4 emails before I had everything I needed to post it as apparently they would only read the first line or 2 of my reply to their submissions before providing an incomplete response. This was time consuming and frustrating. It was certainly not an efficient use of my time, and it was clearly reflected in my blood pressure readings, so that had to end.
***Article on the new sales regulations***
“Do you have to declare the taxes on sales on websites offering second-hand items for sale?”: {Translation}
– From January 1, 2024, according to EU Directive 2021/514, second-hand goods buying and selling platforms, such as Vinted, Wallapop and the like, are obliged to share information with the Treasury on some of the users in Spain who sell on them. However, they will only have to do so in the case of sellers who make more than 30 transactions in a year or have made more than €2,000 in profits from their sales made during that period.
– Thus, those who make occasional use of the platform to get rid of some items they have in their home, will not have any problem under normal conditions to get rid of the items, since they will usually be sold at a price below cost, which has no tax relevance deriving from the consumption itself. However, the tax authorities will keep an eye on those who carry out a large number of transactions or make a profit from these transactions.
– This directive is mainly focused on all those people who make this type of purchase and sale operations their livelihood, i.e., who are engaged in the purchase and sale of different items and introduce them in the market, being, therefore, an economic activity. It also affects those people who, even though they have a main source of income, resort to this type of platform to earn extra money. In both cases a profit is obtained and, therefore, it will have to be taxed.
– When do profits from second-hand sales have to be declared? In this way, those users who make sales through second-hand platforms and obtain profits will have to pay taxes on them, whether they do so as individuals or as part of their economic activity. In the latter case, it will be necessary to register with the Tax Authorities using forms 036 or 037, and if it is a private activity, it will be necessary to take into account the tax obligations with respect to Personal Income Tax (IRPF).
– To understand it better, if a person buys a cell phone for 300 euros and, after not using it, sells it in a few months for 200 euros, he has a loss derived from consumption and will not have to pay anything, while if he buys it for the same amount, but then manages to sell it for 500 euros, he has a profit of 200 euros that will have to be taxed at 19% in his IRPF declaration.
– It is important to take into account the tax obligations of each person, which must be monitored individually by the platform/website posting the adverts. {Businesses that sell used items are not included as they are responsible for their their own sales & tax records. -Ed.} If a user does not declare the profits obtained from the sale of a product on this type of platform, he may face a claim from the Tax Authorities, which will require him to pay the unpaid amount and a fine of between 50% and 150% of what he has failed to declare. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/renta-2024-2025-beneficios-vender-articulos-web-segunda-mano-r-5264321/

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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

Vox announces a new complaint from a coalition of right leaning parties against Begoña Gómez, Aldama, Koldo García and Javier Hidalgo for the rescue of Air Europa: {Translation}
– The national spokesman of Vox, Mr. José Antonio Fúster {pic}, announced this Monday that the formation has filed a complaint against Begoña Gómez, Mr. Víctor de Aldama, Mr. Koldo García and Mr. Javier Hidalgo for crimes of influence peddling, prevarication and bribery, in connection with the rescue of the airline Air Europa in 2020. Vox also includes in its complaint the Vice-President of the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), Mr. Bartolomé Lora.
– As stated in a communiqué released this Monday, Vox has been “forced” to file a new complaint as a result of the revelations of the report of the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil which was submitted last week to the investigation of the Koldo case. Along with the PP, Manos Limpias, Hazte Oir, Iustitia Europa and other organizations, Vox is represented as a popular accuser in the case.
– So the formation has accessed the aforementioned report of the UCO, which contains new details about the circumstances in which the rescue of Air Europa took place. The document points out that Ábalos mediated so that a press release on the rescue was published and that, in exchange for interceding in favor of the company, he enjoyed without paying the rent of a luxury villa in Marbella in August 2020.
– He also reveals that, according to Aldama’s messages, Globalia’s CEO, Javier Hidalgo, called Begoña Gómez in a moment of desperation in view of the difficulties that Air Europa was going through.
– José Antonio Fúster has made the following interpretation of the Guardia Civil’s statement: “These messages show that these people, including the wife of the President of the Government, promoted the government’s decision -the rescue of Air Europa- using and abusing their predominant position”. The spokesman stressed that Air Europa enjoyed an “advantageous situation with respect to other companies”. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5700796/0/vox-anuncia-una-querella-contra-begona-gomez-aldama-koldo-garcia-javier-hidalgo-por-rescate-air-europa/

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Feijóo says that Sanchez must resign, “The government is surrounded by rot.”: {Translation}
– The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo {pic}, said Monday that the head of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, should resign due to the “rational indications of criminal behavior” in his environment and give the voice to the citizens at the polls. In his opinion, the Government is “surrounded by rottenness” as reflected by the “summaries” that are being investigated and the “devastating” report of the Central Operative Unit (UCO), which places his wife, Begoña Gómez, in the rescue of Air Europa.
– “Something smells rotten in national politics. The Government is surrounded by rottenness that is installed in the summaries of the Spanish courts,” Feijóo told the media before attending the match between AD Torrejón CF and Real Madrid in the framework of the ‘Torrejón City Tournament’ of children’s category soccer.
– The president of the PP has assured that “the Government’s agenda is full of scandals” that seem to “never end” and for which “it cannot rest a single day”. In addition, he said that “it has no parliamentary majority, no budget, no housing plan, no defense plan” and no “plan against tariffs”. “The Government of our country does not govern”, he emphasized. According to Feijóo, the Government of Sánchez “has no time for the problems of the people because it is obsessed with what is happening in Waterloo, in the Plaza de Castilla, in the National Court and in the Supreme Court”. “And this atmosphere is unbreathable”, he has proclaimed.
“DEVASTATING” UCO REPORT
– That said, he has put the focus on the latest report of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard that places Begoña Gómez in the rescue of Air Europa, and that, in his opinion, “accredits rational indications of criminal conduct” in the environment of Pedro Sánchez. “Any decent president, faced with a report of these characteristics, would have left and would have given voice to the citizens of his country”, he stressed.
– In addition, he has denounced that from the Government have been dedicated “public companies to hire people with whom the ministers have fun”. “A government cannot use Adif, Ministry of Transport, and Tragsatec, Ministry of Agriculture, to hire people who do not go to work and yet serve in privacy to members of the government,” he said.
– Feijóo has stressed that “never ever in the history of Spain has there been conduct with rational indications of crime as serious as what is happening in the Moncloa Palace at the moment” and “no President of the Government in the whole Spanish democracy has been involved in his privacy with behaviors that are transferred in the reports of the Guardia Civil and in summaries”.
“THIS IS ANTI-POLITICS”.
– After assuring that “this is anti-politics”, the president of the Popular Party has insisted that Sánchez “should simply leave and give voice to the citizens of his country” because “he has no time for the problems of the people”. The head of the opposition has stressed that there is “hope” and that it is necessary in Spain a “clean” policy, a “decent” government and a “blameless” president. “We return once again to convey to all citizens that we know what our mission is, that we know what our obligation is and that we are going to continue, first, telling people what is happening in Spain. Secondly, being respectful with the presumption of innocence of everyone, but clarifying what the summaries say and telling the people what the Government wants to hide”, he warned.
ABSENCE OF JÉSSICA RODRÍGUEZ IN THE SENATE
– Faced with the fact that Jéssica Rodríguez, the ex-partner of former Minister José Luis Ábalos, has not attended this Monday to the Senate investigation committee on the ‘Koldo case’ alleging health reasons, Feijóo has defended that the Upper House cites “a person who has had two contracts in two ministries without going to work” and that “in addition it is accredited that she has had an intimate relationship with a minister of the Government of Spain”.
– “You will understand that we had not seen this in democracy. We are beginning to consider that what is absolutely exceptional is normal”, he said, to reiterate that these are facts that ‘would make any government of the European Union fall’. Feijóo also criticized the fact that Congress is paralyzing “undemocratically” the Conciliation bill that the PP presented a few months ago and that includes a series of proposals such as a bank of hours, flexible working hours and free nursery schools financed by the autonomous communities and the Executive.
– Feijóo has assured that it is a lack of respect on the part of the Government to the Cortes Generales that those laws that do not interest them are not processed and that the norms that are approved in the Upper House are paralyzed in Congress. “We are facing a democratic anomaly. The legislative power commands, orders and legislates, and the executive, executes”, he has indicated. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-feijoo-dice-sanchez-debe-irse-indicios-delito-entorno-gobierno-rodeado-podredumbre-20250414115416.html

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Ábalos’ ex-partner alleges health issues and does not attend the Senate’s investigation commission: {Translation, summary}
– Jéssica Rodríguez {pic}, the ex-partner of the ex-minister José Luis Ábalos, has not attended this Monday her appearance in the Senate investigation commission on the ‘Koldo case’, citing health reasons.
– Rodriguez was summoned to appear for her links with the main investigated of the alleged corruption scheme and for her hiring in two public companies, Ineco and Tragsatec, after recognizing as a witness in the Supreme Court that she was hired and paid by both companies but without having done any work.
– The president of the commission, the PP senator Eloy Suárez, informed at the beginning of the session that Rodríguez had just communicated “a few minutes ago” that “she did not appear alleging a question regarding her state of health and she has presented some documentation”.
– After gathering the committee to analyze the situation, Suarez said that the legal services of the Senate will formally check in the coming days if the medical report submitted by Rodriguez “conforms to what is a clinical report that exempts the possibility of appearing”. “If the report is true or valid, she will be summoned again,” he said, adding that if the report is not valid, they will communicate it to the Prosecutor’s Office ‘for insufficient failure to appear’ and he recalled that not appearing is punishable by the Penal Code as a crime of disobedience.
– PP sources have indicated that Jéssica Rodríguez has sent a letter to the commission in which “she ratifies everything she declared last February 27th in the Supreme Court”. “I do not change my mind, I do not have two versions of what I was already asked before the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court. What I said that day is strictly true, and I ratify it in its entirety, both in this document, as if I had gone to the Delorme Commission,” Rodriguez says in the document, according to the same sources. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-expareja-abalos-alega-cuestiones-salud-no-acude-comision-investigacion-senado-20250414111234.html

TORROX

Torrox is processing land on the coast to build a second swimming pool and covered pavilion: {Translation, summary}
– Torrox wants to continue improving its sports infrastructure. About to inaugurate its new soccer field in El Morche, on the coastal strip, after three decades of waiting, the PP government team in the Torroxeño City Council, with absolute majority, has already set two new projects: a second pavilion and indoor swimming pool on the coastal strip. Thus, the Councillor for Sports, José Manuel Fernández, explained that they are working on obtaining additional land for these new sports facilities to start developing the projects.
– Specifically, the action is being promoted for development in the environment of La Charca, next to the supermarket El Jamón, in Torrox-Costa. This is a general sports system, on private land- the City Council is trying to reach an agreement with the owners. To do this, the Consistory is processing the modification of the current urban planning through an innovation of the PGOU before the Junta de Andalucía.
– In addition to the new soccer field of El Morche in Santa Rosa, Fernandez has referred to the upcoming completion of the works of the roofs and bleachers of the indoor pool Maria Pelaez de Torrox, something “that will allow us to offer greater comfort to spectators and users of the facilities, which will also be able to host new official sports competitions.”
– The Consistory has presented the new guide of facilities and activities 2025 shows the strength and the rise of sport in Torrox.
– In the guide there are more than twenty facilities and tracks for the practice of sports such as soccer, basketball, handball, swimming, tennis, paddle tennis, skating, volleyball, karate, gymnastics, archery or petanque, as an example. Likewise, all the contact details of the more than 30 clubs and associations of different sports disciplines in the municipality of Torrox appear.
– Among the most important events and competitions listed in the calendar are the Elite Functional Challenger Torrox Crossfit from 25 to 27 April in the sports area of Ferrara; a stage of the Tour of Spain swimming on May 3 next to the viewpoint of the lighthouse of Torrox Costa; the concentration of the national beach soccer team in Ferrara from 21 to 25 May; the championship of Andalusia of this same modality from 13 to 15 June; the tournament of beach handball ‘Diego Carrasco’ from 20 to 22 June; the national beach soccer league from 26 to 29 of the same month and in two other weekends in July; or the championship of Andalusia beach volleyball on August 9. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/torrox-busca-suelos-costa-construir-segunda-piscina-20250413211016-nt_amp.html

EUROPE

More EU ‘Agenda 2030’ Regulations On The Way- This time the target is disposable containers: {Translation}
– The European Union is moving forward with its strategy to reduce waste and its next measure will directly affect the hotel and catering industry. From the middle of next year, hotels, restaurants and cafeterias in Spain and the rest of the member countries will not be able to offer certain products in disposable packaging. The measure, framed within the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), seeks to minimize the use of single-use plastics, which are considered highly harmful to the environment.
– The Polish media Polski Observator has advanced that the new regulation will prohibit the use of individual containers of milk and sugar with coffee {Will you need to supply your own cup to even get a take-away coffee? -Ed.}, in addition to affecting other products such as portions of jam, butter or sauces that are usually served in catering businesses. The regulation also provides for the elimination of small bottles of shampoo and shower gel in hotel rooms.
– This initiative has not been slow to generate reactions. While some sectors applaud the reduction in the use of plastics, others warn of the inconvenience this will have on the daily operations of hospitality businesses. “Eliminating individual portions of jam or butter means that guests will have to use shared containers,” criticize some industry representatives, who fear that this measure could affect hygiene and customer experience. Some sectors are warning of the inconvenience this will have on the day-to-day operations of catering businesses.
– The regulation is part of the European Union’s ambitious plan to achieve a more sustainable economy (Agenda 2030), although opinions are divided. While the authorities defend that these restrictions will contribute to a significant reduction in waste, many voices in the hospitality sector question their real effectiveness. “The new rules will not lead to a real reduction in waste, but will only cause logistical difficulties,” claim some critics.
– With the implementation date drawing ever closer, establishments will have to adapt to the new regulations, which will mean changes in the way they offer certain products to their customers. Despite the protests, Brussels remains firm on its path towards a more sustainable Europe, and the disappearance of these disposable containers from Spanish restaurants already seems inevitable. Source, Spanish: https://www.lasprovincias.es/sociedad/acerca-nueva-prohibicion-union-europea-desapareceran-restaurantes-20250331011050-nt.html

ENERGY CRISIS

Back to Russian gas? Trump-wary EU has energy security dilemma:
– More than three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s energy security is fragile. U.S. liquefied natural gas helped to plug the Russian supply gap in Europe during the 2022-2023 energy crisis.
– But now that President Donald Trump has rocked relationships with Europe established after World War Two, and turned to energy as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, businesses are wary that reliance on the United States has become another vulnerability.
– Against this backdrop, executives at major EU firms have begun to say what would have been unthinkable a year ago: that importing some Russian gas, including from Russian state giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM), opens new tab, could be a good idea. That would require another major policy shift given that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 made the European Union pledge to end Russian energy imports by 2027.
– Europe has limited options. Talks with LNG giant Qatar for more gas have stalled, and while the deployment of renewables has accelerated, the rate is not fast enough to allow the EU to feel secure. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/back-russian-gas-trump-wary-eu-has-energy-security-dilemma-2025-04-14/

SPANISH ROYALS

Princess Leonor completes half of her trip aboard the Elcano- See full photo gallery:
https://www.abc.es/espana/casa-real/imagenes-princesa-leonor-completa-mitad-viaje-bordo-20250414105702-ga.html

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

The ‘chatbots’ of AI become almost human, almost real: they pass the Turing test: {Translation}
– The line between human and artificial is fading, and the world has just crossed a threshold of no return. A study from the University of California at San Diego has confirmed what many feared: two artificial intelligence systems have not only passed the Turing test, but have done so with disturbing mastery.
– These chatbots, designed to converse like people, have fooled human beings so effectively that, in some cases, they were perceived as more “real” than flesh-and-blood interlocutors. The finding is not just a technical breakthrough; it is a mirror reflecting a future in which the distinction between machine and human mind could become irrelevant.
– The Turing test, proposed in 1950 by the visionary Alan Turing, was for decades considered the great challenge of artificial intelligence: if a system can converse indistinguishably from a human being, then it has reached a level of intelligence comparable to our own. For years, attempts to overcome it were clumsy, predictable, easily detectable. But now, with models like GPT-4 and other advanced systems, the barrier has fallen. In the experiment, volunteers interacted with chatbots and humans without knowing who was who. The results were revealing: participants correctly identified other humans only 63% of the time, while the bots went undetected with alarming naturalness. The key was their ability to replicate not only the reasoning, but the imperfection, emotionality and even calculated silences that characterize human dialogue.
– The implications of this achievement are profound and multifaceted. On the one hand, it promises revolutionary advances in fields such as customer care, assisted psychotherapy or personalized education, where virtual assistants could offer more empathetic and tailored responses than ever before. But it also opens up an abyss of risks. What happens when a machine can impersonate a person with total conviction? Mass disinformation, digital fraud and psychological manipulation take on a new dimension. If social networks are already a battlefield of narratives today, what will it be like when indistinguishable bots can infiltrate political debates, personal relationships or even legal proceedings? And on a more philosophical level, will our very humanity change if we can no longer trust that there is someone like us on the other side of the screen?
– The study is not only a technological milestone; it is a call for urgent reflection. Legislators, companies and society must decide how to regulate these capabilities before their indiscriminate use turns them into double-edged weapons. In the meantime, one certainty is clear: the future of communication no longer belongs exclusively to humans. Machines have learned to speak our language, with all its nuances, its white lies and double meanings. And that changes everything. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1886716/los-chatbots-de-ia-se-vuelven-casi-humanos-casi-reales-pasan-el-test-de-turing/

SPACE

James Webb telescope captures ‘engagement rings’ of stellar couple “in unprecedented detail”: {Translation, summary}
– An international scientific team, including researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), has obtained an image of the planetary nebula NGC 1514 thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which reveals, “with an unprecedented level of detail”, its dust rings.
– NGC1514 was one of the first nebulae studied by the astronomer William Herschel (1738-1822), who observed with his telescope, the largest in the world at that time, what looked like a blurry cloud similar in appearance to the planet Neptune, the IAC said in a statement on Monday.
Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5700879/0/telescopio-james-webb-capta-los-anillos-compromiso-una-pareja-estelar-con-un-nivel-detalle-sin-precedentes/

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