Welcome to DigameXtra !
The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Top banner image: formato digital.
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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Editor’s Holiday: DigameXtra will be closed on Monday, 24 March. Posts scheduled for 24/3 will appear the following day.
What’s On
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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PHOENIX CLUB
Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English.
We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips.
Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross. We would be happy to accept any greeting cards you may have to re-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~
March
– 21st – Trip to IKEA and Guzmans Garden Centre €20
April
– 2nd – Trip to Gib €22pp
– 25th – Trip to Colamares Castle AM and Benalmadena Marina PM. 25€pp, includes guided visit to the castle.
May
– 6th – Trip to Gib €22pp
– 23rd – Trip to the interesting street market in Almunecar. €20pp
June
– 3rd – Trip to Gib €22pp
– 21st – Trip to Alfarnate and their Cherry Fiesta. €20pp
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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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/
Tap or click image for updated forecast
Warning note: High winds and waves until 9pm Tuesday. Also, heavy rains possible until 23:59 Monday.
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NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town
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Services Wanted/Offered
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra.
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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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.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate have just returned from a very successful weekend at the A Place in the Sun Live Manchester, UK:
This year 50% of the people we spoke with are looking to relocate or retire to Spain either now or in the near future. We along with our friends at Help At Hand Spain, who offer visa and immigration support, were happy to help them start realising their dream.
If you are thinking of selling, now is a very good time to contact us for a free valuation of your property.
Our office speak native/fluent Spanish, English, Polish, German, French and Dutch.
In April and May we will be attending property exhibitions in Dubai, Madrid, and London. Birmingham, Dublin, Germany and Poland after the summer months.
At BluCee we go above and beyond for you during the sales process, don’t just take our word for it – see our reviews on Google and Facebook.
Pass by our office to have a no obligation chat!
Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29740
We are open Monday and Friday 09.30 to 17.30 hrs.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 09.30 to 20.00 hrs.
For an appointment outside of our opening times or for one of us to view your property please contact us info@blucee.com or 0034 711 04 27 27
Website: www.blucee.com
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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Great Deals From Upcycling Nerja:
– Used Microwave / grill. Infiniton. Price 35€
– Used Microwave. LG. Price 25€
– Solid pine chest of drawers. Natural wood stained Medium color Olive green color Bronze handles Measurements 90 x 38 x 71cms Price 130€
contact Jackie, nerja 672170429
upcycling nerja at gmail dot com
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For Rent, Torrox Costa Long Term:
We have a 112sqm, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 3rd floor, furnished flat, with south facing terrace, lift, private secure garage parking, common pool and garden area.
Available now for long term rent only. €950pcm + electricity
Contact Ray on 0034 608 568 602, WhatsApp or phone
Email: raycraig at live 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
Sanchez asks to rearm Europe now so as not to “depend on others”; Von der Leyen raises to “more than 3%” the defence investment required from member states: {Translation}
– The convulsive situation on the international chessboard with the war in Ukraine, Putin’s ambitions and Trump’s uncertain support mean that the European Union (EU) has to consider drastic measures in its defense policy. This was stated this Sunday by Pedro Sánchez, who called for Europe to rearm in order to avoid depending on others. “In view of what we have seen, we had better start to depend a little more on ourselves and a little less on others,” said the President of the Government at a party event in Santiago de Compostela.
– Sánchez explained that Spain, due to its geographical position, has “different needs” to those of countries further east, but he clarified that “this does not mean that they are contradictory” or “that they are incompatible”. “On the contrary, we all contribute, between all of us, to improve the security of Europe. And that is the approach that Spain has to take, the approach that Europe is going to take,” said Sánchez, who recalled that the EU faces challenges such as cybersecurity, climate change or ‘the terrorist threat’ from failed states, ”which is a real threat.”
– Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Sanchez recalled that this country “never represented a problem for Russia”, which leads Spain to be “on the side of the attacked, not the aggressor”, compared to “some other countries that are”. The president has demanded “a just and lasting peace, which is definitive” and “not to reward the aggressor”. “Because if the aggressor is rewarded we are paying for future aggressions, as has happened in the past,” he said. Sanchez says that Spain should be in the peace talks “not as listeners, but to contribute from the leadership.” “And that is why I defend that Spain must defend Europe so that Europe can defend itself,” he said. “We all contribute, between all of us, to improve the security of Europe. And that is the approach that Spain has to take, the approach that Europe will take,” he said.
– According to the president, this position will have “greater legitimacy” if “the focus of what is important” is not lost, which is “to grow, reindustrialize, create jobs and redistribute growth so that there is a social model, ‘which is what Putin does not want’.
– Von der Leyen wants more. Just this Sunday, the president of the European Commission, German Ursula von der Leyen, has raised the bar on the investment that EU countries should devote to their defense. “The NATO secretary is talking beyond 3%,” Von der Leyen said in response to a journalist at a press conference, later recalling that ”some countries have already done their homework but others have not.” The President of the Commission insisted that in order to achieve these objectives, “nothing is off the table. I am open to whatever is necessary,” she said.
– Von der Leyen did not rule out that other options put forward by the Member States could be explored, but insisted that her efforts will focus first on presenting the legislative proposal for this instrument and for the rest of the measures in the plan, with which Brussels hopes to mobilize up to 800 billion euros to boost the continent’s defense. “Now I am focusing on the legal proposal, which will be delicate enough,” the German politician has said.
– Elon Musk wants the U.S. out of NATO. In this context, the advisor to the US Presidency, the tycoon Elon Musk, has advocated to take the United States out of NATO and thus avoid “paying for the defense of Europe”. Musk has made this statement as he usually does, through a message on the social network X (formerly Twitter), which he owns. The billionaire has responded to a message that read “Let’s get out of NATO, now!”. Musk replied to the message with a blunt “we really should” get out of NATO. “It makes no sense for the U.S. to pay for Europe’s defense,” he has argued. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5689341/0/sanchez-pide-rearmar-ya-europa-no-depender-otros-von-der-leyen-eleva-mas-3-inversion-exigira/
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Will Andalucia Receive A Flood Of New Arrivals If Catalonia Requires Speaking Catalan To Be A Resident?: {Translation}
– Catalan legislators are considering requiring residents to be able to pass a Catalan language test. There are many Andalucia natives living in Catalonia who will be unable to pass such a test. “Deporting people from an autonomous community because they do not know Catalan does not seem reasonable or sensible to me. It is nonsense. Sanchez demonstrates once again that he is capable of anything to secure the 7 votes he needs to stay in power.” –Juanma Moreno, President of Andalucia. Ref: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/moreno-pregunta-expulsar-inmigrantes-no_0_2003484132.html &
X Link
AXARQUÍA
Local residents and politicians oppose plans for first wind farm in Axarquía’s Rincón de la Victoria, Moclinejo and Totalán- Eight 206 metre tall towers:
– Projects for large solar and wind farms have generated a great deal of opposition in several Andalusian provinces in recent years, despite the public administrations making a firm commitment to their development as an alternative to fossil fuels. Although its steep terrain makes it a much less feasible area for the installation of wind farms, the Axarquia area has not escaped this fever for clean energy.
– According to the project currently processed by the Junta de Andalucía, Arena Green Power has proposed to install eight large wind turbines in a rural area that includes part of the municipalities of Rincón de la Victoria, Moclinejo and Totalán. However, the initiative has already met with the “outright rejection” of the residents and town halls of these three municipalities, as reflected in several initiatives promoted on social media.
– As an alternative, residents have suggested the renovation and extension of the photovoltaic solar park located in Moclinejo. “Why build a new wind farm less than two kilometres away? This makes us suspect that perhaps the project is driven by subsidies from the EU, which could disproportionately favour the creation of projects over more sustainable reforms,” they said. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/neighbourhood-and-political-rejection-the-project-for-20250307075321-nt.html
MALAGA PROVINCE
Aemet extends the yellow alert for rains until Tuesday in Malaga, Costa del Sol, Axarquia and more: {Translation, summary}
– The storm ‘Jana’ and the rains do not give truce to Malaga. After this Saturday the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) reduced the orange alert level to yellow due to the considerable decrease in rainfall, the alarm will remain in this state until Tuesday.
– This warning is motivated by the forecast of accumulated up to 40 liters per square meter in 12 hours and up to 15 liters in an hour in some areas. The rains, accompanied by storms, will largely affect the capital of Malaga, the Costa del Sol, Axarquia, the Guadalhorce and Ronda as reported by the Aemet. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/aemet-extiende-alerta-amarilla-martes-malaga_0_2003488540.html
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Malaga reservoirs add up to 63 cubic hectometers in a week and double their reserves in a year; La Viñuela has 41.53 hm³, reaching 25.27% of its capacity, triple of this day last year: {Translation}
– In total, the reservoirs have reached this March 9 a capacity of 236.97 cubic hectometers (hm3), which represents a significant increase over last week. On March 2, reserves stood at 173.19 hm3. This rise of 63.78 hm3 in just seven days, according to Hidrosur data, confirms the positive impact of recent rains on water resources in the province.
– Moreover, if compared to the same day of the previous year, the increase is even more remarkable. On March 9, 2024, the reservoir volume was 99.76 hm3, which means that the current reserves more than double those of a year ago, reflecting a clear improvement in the water situation with an increase of 137.21 hm3.
– Among the reservoirs with the largest volume, the Conde de Guadalhorce stands out, which is at 88.99% of its capacity, accumulating 59.17 hm³. Exactly one year ago, this reservoir had only 12.97 hm³, an increase of more than 46 hm³ in only 12 months. At the other extreme, the Guadalhorce reservoir, with 23.54 hm³, continues to be the one with the lowest percentage of fullness, at 18.72% of its total capacity. However, it also shows an improvement with respect to the 15.49 hm³ it registered on the same date in 2024.
– Another key data is the reservoir of La Viñuela, which supplies the Axarquia region, one of the areas most affected by the drought in recent years. It currently has 41.53 hm³, reaching 25.27% of its capacity, a significant growth compared to the 14.10 hm³ it had a year ago. This reservoir has tripled its volume, which is an important relief for the region.
– The Guadalteba reservoir, for its part, has gone from 31.04 hm³ in 2024 to 42.00 hm³ at present, a significant increase that reflects the effect of the rains on its recovery.
– Forecasts indicate that the reservoirs will continue to receive contributions due to runoff from the rains fallen in recent days. This scenario, added to the possibility of new rainfall in the coming weeks, allows us to look with greater optimism at the evolution of water resources in the province. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/embalses-malaga-suman-63-hectometros_0_2003487726.html
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The A-397 remains cut by the serious damage of the storm: {Translation, summary}
– The A-397 road, which is the main connecting route of the region of the Serrania de Ronda with the Costa del Sol, remains closed to traffic due to severe damage caused by torrential rains of the storm this weekend.
– The heavy rainfall yesterday produced a landslide and damage to the deck of the viaduct located at kilometer 31 of this road. The road maintenance team blocked the intersection access to Benahavis and the junction with the road to Igualeja (MA-7304).
The fall of stones from the slope located on the left side of the road has caused the breakage of the existing dynamic mesh on a supporting wall and the invasion of these blocks on the roadway. Given the volume and weight of the rocks, part of the outer roadbed has collapsed. This has left the road with only one lane, and that is currently impassable due to the accumulated earth and rocks.
– The Regional Ministry of Development, Territorial Planning and Housing has ruled out the possibility of an alternative detour due to the terrain and, for the moment, an alternative passage on the roadway itself is not possible until the affected section of the viaduct is freed and repaired, in addition to ensuring the stability of the slope once the fallen material is removed.
– A specialist team with drones will assess the top of the mountain, and specialists will also be on hand to analyze in detail the state of the slope in order to act as quickly as possible. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/1874825/de-momento-no-se-abre-la-a-397-permanece-cortada-por-los-graves-danos-de-la-borrasca/
MALAGA CITY
Bank security questioned as robberies on the rise, including from safety deposit boxes & exploding ATMs: {Translation}
– An attempted robbery at a bank in the capital of Malaga has been thwarted early this morning by two National Police officers when they surprised two thieves inside the bank, who were caught removing the contents of locked safety deposit boxes.
– The incident occurred after three o’clock on Saturday morning after the BBVA security service in Madrid warned of the presence inside an office, located at Avenida de Andalucía 16, near the center, of two men who were collecting cash. After setting off the internal alarms, the employees from the capital of Spain were able to observe through the installed cameras how two people were inside the bank, so they immediately alerted the National Police of Malaga, who sent a private company security patrol to check whether or not a robbery was being committed. The pair of agents, one of them a police officer in training, after entering with their service weapons surprised the two individuals inside, causing a struggle with one of them, who was finally arrested, while the second thief managed to flee the bank. Sources consulted indicated that up to that moment the criminals had removed about one million euros from the safety deposit boxes.
– It is now being investigated whether the perpetrators of the attempted robbery managed to enter the bank after the office closed at noon on Friday or had hidden themselves inside before the closing. The police are now making inquiries to locate the second thief, who could belong to a gang from Eastern Europe.
– It so happens that a few meters from where this attempted robbery took place, on Avenida de Andalucía, there was another robbery, at ING bank, also during the early hours of the morning. On that occasion it was a gang that caused an explosion in the ATMs of the bank, seizing the banknotes that were inside. That event occurred at around 00.30 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2023 after two loud explosions that alarmed the whole neighborhood and caused significant damage. The gang was arrested weeks later. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/1874590/frustran-un-robo-de-un-millon-de-euros-de-las-cajas-de-seguridad-de-un-banco-de-malaga/
TORRE DEL MAR
Sicily Gelati sorbet from Torre del Mar, judged among the five best in the world: {Translation, summary}
– The ice cream parlor Sicilia Gelati, located on Paseo de Larios in Torre del Mar, has reopened its doors this season with a new award that keeps it in the Olympus of the sector. Earlier this year, the sorbet of Sicilia Gelati was ranked fifth place in the world. It did so at the SIGEP World fair in Rimini, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. This is the reference event for the foodservice community, which attracts international professionals in the ice cream sector, among many others. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-sorbete-de-sicilia-gelati-de-torre-del-mar-entre-los-cinco-mejores-del-mundo-de-la-mano-del-maestro-juanma-guerrero/
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They rescue in Torre del Mar a minor who had been trapped in the washing machine: {Translation, summary}
– Firefighters have had to rescue a child under 8 who had their legs trapped inside a washing machine. The event took place on the afternoon of this Sunday, March 9 in Torre del Mar.
– Firefighters have successfully managed to carefully remove the minor from the front loader washing machine, using tools to open the washing machine from the top. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/los-bomberos-rescatan-a-una-menor-que-habia-quedado-con-las-piernas-atrapadas-en-la-lavadora/
EUROPE
Chaos in Romania’s capital after far-right Calin Georgescu barred from presidential redo:
– Chaos broke out in Romania’s capital Sunday evening as incensed supporters of the far-right populist Calin Georgescu protested the electoral body’s decision to reject his candidacy in a presidential election redo. He won the first round of last year’s race before a top court annulled the election.
– Georgescu reacted to the decision Sunday by calling it “a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide!” “I have one message left! If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall! This is just the beginning. It’s that simple!” he said in a post on X. “Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!”
– The 62-year-old Georgescu filed his candidacy on Friday in the capital, Bucharest. The Central Election Bureau, also known by its Romanian acronym BEC, had 48 hours to register or reject it.
– In its decision, the BEC cited the country’s Constitutional Court ruling last year to cancel the election, arguing it was ordered due to “the candidate’s failure to comply with electoral regulations.” “It would be unacceptable for the restarted election process to consider the same individual as eligible for the presidency,” BEC said. The decision can be appealed before the Constitutional Court within 24 hours.
– Hundreds of protesters gathered outside BEC’s headquarters to express anger over its decision with many waving Romanian flags and chanting: “The last resort is another revolution!” Some protesters threw broken paving stones and other objects at the scores of riot police dispatched to the area, overturned a news vehicle and set a bush ablaze. {Some sources report this is a low estimate, with unverified social media videos showing violent protests with thousands. -Ed.} Full article: https://apnews.com/article/romania-georgescu-election-d0541a5bc20ddf7be0689d1813f9495c & X Link 1 & X Link 2
CANADA
Ex-central banker to replace Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister after winning Liberal Party vote:
– Former central banker Mark Carney {pic} will become Canada’s next prime minister after the governing Liberal Party elected him its leader Sunday.
– Carney, 59, replaces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remains prime minister until his successor is sworn in in the coming days. Carney won in a landslide, winning 85.9% of the vote. Carney navigated crises when he was the head of the Bank of Canada and when in 2013 he became the first noncitizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694.
– “The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about it. If they succeed they would destroy our way of life,” Carney said. “In America health care is big business. In Canada it is a right.” Carney said America is “a melting pot. Canada is mosaic,” he said. “America is not Canada. And Canada will never, ever will be a part of America in any way, shape or form.”
– “These are dark days, dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust,” Carney said. “We are getting over the shock but let us never forget the lessons. We have to look after ourselves and we have to look out for each other. We need to pull together in the tough days ahead.” Trump has postponed 25% tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico for a month, amid widespread fears of a broader trade war. But he has threatened other tariffs on steel, aluminum, dairy and other products.
– {How soon until Trudeau announces his new position (reward), with a large salary boost? Will it be at the UN, WHO, some big-pharma corp., or perhaps the board of directors at a military contractor? -Ed.}
Full article: https://apnews.com/article/canada-liberals-prime-minister-carney-trudeau-trump-1547a81c8c3ff498438f10bddd178116
GASTRONOMIA
The four worst brands of “premium” chocolates, according to the OCU: {Translation, summary}
– A bonbon should ideally be made with 100% cocoa butter, a more expensive and higher-value fat. However, most brands are resorting to other types of fats, which are cheaper and are used mainly in the filling: costs are reduced but quality is lost in exchange. Also, a common practice is to substitute for sugar, the main sweetener, with glucose and fructose syrups, which are cheaper, but have a negative effect on flavor. A panel of professional pastry experts has assessed the color, surface gloss, thickness of the chocolate layer, filling, flavor and texture and found that some products have defects: matte surface, white spots of fat, thick chocolate layers, excess sweetness and fatty fillings.
– Nestlé Red Box. The OCU points out that its fame is at odds with its quality. Instead of using cocoa butter, a fat with peculiar characteristics, which melts at body temperature, these famous chocolates mix cocoa butter with palm fat, shea, anhydrous milk fat and butter.
– Lindt Lindor. The Lindt assortment, with its creamy filling gets a bad rating. The sugar used has not been a problem since it is of the highest quality. But not so with the fats: instead of just cocoa butter, Lindor uses coconut oil, palm kernel oil and anhydrous milk fat. Too many poor-quality fats for chocolates costing €37.45/kg, they point out.
– Gyulian SeaShell. In this case, it is not the composition that is the worst, but the tasting: the experts did not like the appearance or the taste, perhaps due to an excess of sweetness or a poorly achieved texture. In terms of price, it is one of the highest: 32.6 euros/kg.
– Trapa Sublimes. Although no syrups are used, this product does use butter, coconut and sunflower oil instead of just cocoa butter. The result has disappointed OCU tasters. In its favor, it has a somewhat more affordable price than the previous ones: 17.8 euros/kg. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sociedad/peores-marcas-bombones-ocu-20250304200837-nt.html
HEALTH
Covid, five years later, according to experts: “It has practically disappeared, but the flu is back”: {Translation, summary}
– Five years ago, the population incorporated all these words into their everyday language. Fear was rife. The troops of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) in their PPEs were infecting old people’s homes and the streets of Malaga. It was in mid-March. That virus killed more than 3,000 people in the province and left around 320,000 infected.
– Five years later, statistics and professionals confirm that, fortunately, SARS-CoV-2 is no longer what it was. It is now just another pathogen among the many that cause respiratory infections, AND IS EVEN LESS DANGEROUS THAN INFLUENZA OR RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV), responsible for bronchiolitis.
– “At present, Covid is anecdotal, it has practically disappeared,” says the head of the Preventive Medicine Service of the Regional Hospital, Salvador Oña. He explains that during the pandemic, the pathogen displaced influenza viruses. But now that the world health crisis is over, the germs are readjusting and the epidemiological scenario is back on track. “The flu is back, but not worse than before,” says the physician. “And Covid is just like any other flu virus; it does not generate respiratory complications as it did during the pandemic, when many patients needed respirators,” he adds.
– The report of the Regional Ministry of Health on respiratory infections for the week of February 17-23 shows that in hospitals – where the most serious cases arrive – of the samples taken, 18.2% were positive for influenza, 13.8% for RSV and 2.3% for Covid. The remaining balance corresponded to other pathogens. The percentages give an idea of how insignificant the coronavirus has been in this autumn-winter season and justify the oblivion of the pandemic.
– “Covid is at the moment like a cold and much less serious than the flu. Of course, this past season it was preferable to catch Covid than the flu,” summarized a health worker.
– The surveillance system confirms that the first two, influenza and RSV, have a seasonal behavior: they increase during the cold season and begin to retreat as temperatures begin to rise, as has been happening for several weeks, while SARS-CoV-2, has no seasonality, because in fact there have been peaks at times with different temperatures.
– Data and professionals confirm that Covid has had this past flu season even less incidence than RSV. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/covid-cinco-anos-expertos-pandemia-malaga-gripe_0_2003474064.html
TECH
Unauthorized IPTV streaming services blamed for infecting over a million customer’s devices with malware, ransomware & data/password theft tools:
– {You aren’t still using pirate subscription streams & apps to view UK TV are you? Safe, legit options for international programs & live sports are available from your internet provider. If your ISP (internet service provider) lacks the programming options you want, find a different internet provider that has them. In today’s market we have many ISP options, each with its unique packages of safe, legit IPTV offerings. Buying IPTV service subscriptions from market traders (who obviously can’t afford the huge licencing fees involved with providing these services legitimately) or random social media posts, or using dodgy apps, is more risky than ever! Ransomware and password theft have greatly increased with the rise of AI. This is responsible for today’s tidal wave of identity theft and illegal property deed transfers. Often these pirate IPTV vendors are unaware the services they are re-selling have been compromised at the source, and of course they will never take responsibility if you suffer damages as a result of using them. Saving a few bucks a month with low budget services just ain’t worth the risk. Also, using an illegally modified Firestick for these purposes can infect your computers via the shared router. -DoctorLaptop}
– Microsoft has disclosed details of a large-scale malvertising campaign that’s estimated to have impacted over one million devices globally as part of what it said is an opportunistic attack designed to steal sensitive information.
– The tech giant, which detected the activity in early December 2024, is tracking it under the broader umbrella Storm-0408, a moniker used for a set of threat actors that are known to distribute remote access or information-stealing malware via phishing, search engine optimization (SEO), or malvertising.
– “The attacks originate from illegal streaming websites embedded with malvertising redirectors (fake popups & error messages)…,” the Microsoft Threat Intelligence team said. “The campaign impacted a wide range of organizations and industries, including both consumer and enterprise devices, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack.” Full article: https://thehackernews.com/2025/03/microsoft-warns-of-malvertising.html
SPACE
How and where to see the ‘Blood Moon Eclipse’ scheduled for this March: {Translation}
– This coming week, specifically in the early hours of Thursday, March 13 to Friday, March 14, an eclipse will be visible in Spain that will give rise to the phenomenon known as the ‘Blood Moon’.
In our country the eclipse can be seen partially and in its final phase. The phenomenon will begin on the night of March 13 and will reach its maximum point on March 14 at 07:54 a.m. (peninsular time).
– It will be more visible in the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and a large part of central and western Spain, while in the Balearic Islands and the Mediterranean coast, it will be partially visible.
Experts expect the eclipse to last approximately five hours. The totality phase, that is, the one in which the Moon will be completely covered, will last a little more than an hour.
– The moon turns reddish (hence its nickname), because the longer waves of light are filtered out, precisely in red and orange tones, and the shorter wavelengths, such as blue and violet, are blocked.
– The next eclipse will be seen between September 7 and 8, and will be visible from Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia, Africa and Antarctica. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5689398/0/como-donde-ver-eclipse-luna-sangre-previsto-para-este-marzo/
FROM THE “WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING” DEPARTMENT
High school track runner bludgeoned with another runner’s baton in the middle of a relay at State Indoor Championships:
– Kaelen Tucker was on the second leg of the 4x200m relay at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, when she got smacked in the head. Tucker suffered a concussion and a potential skull fracture.
– “When we got to the curve she kept bumping me in my arm and when we got off the curve I finally passed her and that was when she hit me with the baton,” Tucker said. The girl’s mother said neither the runner nor the coach apologized for the incident.
It’s unclear if Trucker will file charges. Source: X Link
SCAMS
Openbank warns its customers of attempted scams through Bizum: {Translation, summary}
– Bizum has become almost an everyday tool. Its immediacy and convenience have led to an increase in the number of users, mainly individuals but also merchants and other businesses, as more and more entities are accepting payments through this platform. This has also led cybercriminals to focus on this application as a new scenario to try to pull off scams.
– For this reason, Openbank, a subsidiary of Banco Santander, has alerted its customers to a new scam being carried out through Bizum. They pose as buyers interested in acquiring products offered on second-hand platforms and ask for your mobile number to make a first payment through Bizum. But what they actually do, as explained by the bank, is send you a request to send money, with the excuse that you have to accept it because their Bizum is “different”. If you accept, you will be the one who is paying the scammer.
– It is crucial to check every notification in your bank’s app before accepting any operation. And of course, not to share your phone number with strangers without first verifying their identity. {This is misleading, if they know your name they can find your mobile number, and if they know your mobile number they can look up your name. Remember the “White Pages” and “reverse searches”? These still exist, but are now online. There are publicly available directories of mobile phone numbers in Spain and abroad. Just do a search for “mobile phone directories in Spain”. -Ed.}
– In case of selling items on second-hand platforms, it is recommended that the payment is made through the application itself, as they usually have protection mechanisms for the buyer and seller. In addition, it is also reminded from the bank that to receive a Bizum you do not have to do anything.
– In case of doubt or if you have suffered any fraud attempt, you can contact and report it to Openbank at the e-mail: [ayuda@openbank.es]. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sociedad/openbank-alerta-estafas-bizum-clientes-20250309203829-nt.html
OTHER
The WEF’s Jane Goodall believes the world would be a better place if the human population was reduced by 93%, down to 500 million people: X Link
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Fun & Games
National Geographic Photo of the Day: Click Here
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Click Here
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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
Useful Links, Info & Numbers
2025 Holiday Calendars by town, click/tap to view:
Algarrobo
Competa
Malaga
Nerja
Rincon
Torrox
Velez-Málaga
For other towns in Malaga Province, visit this website, click your town, then look for the post named “Calendario Laboral de ‘Your Town‘ 2025 “, click that to see calendar.
https://www.foro-ciudad.com/malaga.html
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/
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