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Madrid Otaku Festival Draws Anime Lovers To Unite

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jWoman with Harley Quinn cosplay. Credit: carloshep0 @ pixabay

This weekend, Madrid Otaku 2025 has taken over the Pabellón de Cristal in Casa de Campo, turning it into a colourful wonderland of cosplay, manga, games and Japanese pop culture. With thousands in costume, fan stalls and thematic stages, the event has grown to become one of Spain’s major anime gatherings.

Attendees arrived early Saturday in full regalia. Sakura-coloured wigs, cat ears and dramatic capes filled the halls. The cosplay competition’s stage flickered with LED lights and smoke machines, as contestants delivered choreographed performances based on beloved anime and comic book franchises. Judges awarded prizes for accuracy, creativity and presence. By midday the prize winners had been announced, cheered like rock stars by a packed floor .

Across the exhibition area, dozens of vendors were selling everything from imported vinyl figures and limited-edition posters to homemade fan art and fluffy keychains. A popular manga library allowed fans to swap and share favourite issues. Workshops run by cosplay professionals offered tips on sewing, prop-making and wig styling, often with queues spilling into corridors.

Fans embraced panel discussions. One session delved into the global rise of anime, presenting its spread from niche communities to mainstream appreciation. Another explored Japanese music culture through J-pop and visual icons; attendees in glittery outfits watched as music videos played and lyrics were analysed.

Food trucks on the terrace offered ramen bowls, takoyaki and bubble tea, satisfying both cosplay participants in costume and casual fans wandering for breaks. Nearby, a gaming lounge hosted tournaments in Smash Bros, Street Fighter and classic arcade titles, and cheers echoed around the hall as players duelled for supremacy.

Families brought children to learn about Japanese traditions. Some attended calligraphy workshops where artists wrote names in kanji. Others stepped into a VR booth playing rhythm games. Students of animation showed short films in a cosy cinema corner, greeted with applause.

Day two promised even more. A closing gala tonight featured live music, guest DJ sets and an after-party open to ticket holders.

Organisers say attendance is up 15 per cent on last year. That surge reflects Madrid’s growing appetite for Japanese pop culture, where Otaku culture is no longer fringe but mainstream. Press coverage notes the festive tone, friendly, inclusive, joyful, and the way genres merge: cosplay meets music, art meets fandom.

Fans appreciate the detail. One cosplayer quoted by a reporter said it took three months to sew the costume and sculpt the staff. Such dedication reveals a creative culture that values craft over consumption.

Madrid Otaku 2025 wrapped yesterday night. Exhibitors began packing, costumes vanished, halls empty. But the energy remains in the city streets, cafés, subway cars and parks filled with fans, comparing photos and planning meet-ups for next year.

Otaku Festival shows how diverse cultural passions can find public space and respect. Add it to your calendar for next year: once you step inside, you find yourself part of a world that is both global and local, playful and earnest. And when the costumes come off, the friendships made often stay on.

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Inma’s Racing Heart

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Inma from Archez. Credit: Locos de la Colina Facebook page.

Sometimes, running means more than running.

In just six months, Inma from Archez (a small village in the Axarquia region) has completed over 50 races across Andalusia. But what truly makes Inma stand out is her total commitment to causes that matter.

Inma wears her club’s colours (Locos de la Colina club in the Axarquia region) not just for sport, but for solidarity. Over the past few months, she’s taken part in charity races supporting cancer patients, working with organisations that fund research and assist families through the toughest of times.

She’s run for children with special needs, helping raise money for therapies and treatments to improve their quality of life. And she’s supported awareness for rare diseases, giving voice and visibility to families too often left unheard.

Each race she’s run has symbolised far more than participation, far more than endurance and competitive spirit. We’re talking about hope, compassion, and the belief that sport can be a powerful force for doing good.

All in all, Inma reminds us that running isn’t just about crossing finish lines: it’s about showing up for others. Empathy can go hand in hand with a passion for sport — that’s the real lesson.

And that makes Inma not just a runner, but also an inspiration.

Read here more news from Axarquia.

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Bazlama Buzz: Mayor Hooked On Turkish Cuisine

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Mayor of Estepona José María Garcia Urbano cuts the red tape again at Bazlama. Credit: EWN

Bazlama officially swung open its doors on Tuesday, July 15, to a huge crowd of fascinated new diners, eager to see what all the buzz was about. Mayor of Estepona, José María Garcia Urbano, was among them to cut the ceremonial ribbon and try out the flatbreads everyone has been talking about.

Co-Founder Sarah Moravvej explained, “We came across Bazlama in Istanbul and loved the food, the experience, and the whole concept. We felt it was something which was missing on the Costa del Sol.”

“Turkish food and hospitality are exceptional and deserve to be better known, and the Bazlama brand is amazing at transporting you to Turkey and delivering not just delicious Turkish cuisine but a true cultural experience.”

Bazlama is a family business, run by a mother-and-daughter team, drawing from recipes passed down through generations. They work hard to retain family values and make every guest feel like they are being welcomed into a traditional Turkish home. The love and generosity you feel at Bazlama restaurants is something special.

The breads that impressed José Maria García Urbano.
The breads that impressed José Maria García Urbano.
Credit: EWN

The new restaurant in El Paraiso, located on Calle Isla Verde 12, Benamara, close to the Senator Banús Hotel, is Bazlama’s first European venture, introducing its celebrated all-you-can-eat Turkish breakfast to the continent. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, the restaurant serves a scrumptious breakfast banquet featuring traditional breads, cheeses, jams, hot dishes like menemen scrambled eggs, and the signature bazlama flatbread. Guests can also enjoy gozleme and mezze set menus, paired with Turkish tea, drinks, and cocktails. The authentic flavours, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including organic produce from a small family farm in Estepona, which create a healthy and delicious dining experience.

The opening has brought 19 new jobs to the area, with plans for more as Bazlama extends its opening hours. Committed to sustainability, the restaurant plans to implement a waste-free model by partnering with local charities. Since its inception in Cesme, Turkey, in 1992, Bazlama has expanded to six locations in Turkey and one in Dubai, with a London branch on the cards for the near future. The Costa del Sol outpost is a big step in the brand’s international expansion, offering a cultural adventure through dishes like acuka spicy red pepper spread and stuffed gozleme.

Sarah and her sister Salmeh have joined the brand’s strong female leadership, and they invite guests to experience Turkish hospitality and become part of the Bazlama family. To reserve a table, call 951 830 136 or follow @bazlamakahvalti on Instagram and Facebook.

José María García Urbano, mayor of Estepona comes to Bazlama.
José María García Urbano, mayor of Estepona comes to Bazlama.
Credit: EWN

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Man With Highest IQ Claims Jesus Will Return

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Dr YoungHoon Kim. Credit: X @yhbryankimiq

Dr YoungHoon Kim, officially recognised as having the highest IQ in the world at 276, has gone viral for claiming that Jesus Christ will return within our generation.

The South Korean quantum physicist made the bold religious statement via X (@yhbryankimiq), citing divine revelation and scientific theory, including Einstein’s relativity and quantum physics, as evidence.

Who is Dr YoungHoon Kim?

As of 2024, Kim holds the official title of “World’s Highest IQ Person Now,” verified by the Official World Record®, the World Memory Championships, and the World Memory Sports Council, which is in partnership with Guinness World Records.

His high-range IQ score has been confirmed through various accredited tests and organisations, including:

  • GIGA Society (1 in a billion)
  • Olympiq Society (1 in 3 million)
  • Mega Society (1 in a million)
  • Triple Nine Society (1 in 1,000)
  • Mensa (1 in 50)

Dr Kim is founder and CEO of NeuroStory, a deep-tech healthcare company backed by the South Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups, focusing on brain health and AI solutions. He also leads the United Sigma Intelligence Association (USIA) – a global nonprofit think tank including public intellectuals like Noam Chomsky, Steven Pinker, and Yuval Harari.

He currently collaborates with research labs at Cambridge and Yale, and serves in leadership roles at the Lifeboat Foundation, Complex Biological Systems Alliance, and International Longevity Alliance.

Kim has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates in cognitive science and psychology and is an honorary professor at several institutions.
He also holds high-ranking positions in mind sports, such as:

  • Deputy President of the World Memory Championships
  • Council Member of the World Mind Sports Council
  • Known as “The 2nd Tony Buzan,” succeeding the inventor of Mind Maps.

“Jesus will return in our generation”

His bold statements, posted on X and YouTube, have gone viral with millions of views, shaking up both religious and scientific communities. In several posts, Kim has declared:

“I am the man with the highest IQ in the world, YoungHoon Kim… Jesus Christ will return in our generation. This is a truth revealed to me by God, the Father and the Holy Spirit.”

“From the world’s highest IQ record holder: Heaven is real. Hell is real. God is real. That’s not belief. That’s not religion. That’s not a message from a church. That’s the ultimate truth of the universe.”

“Christian Manifesto – from the world’s highest IQ record holder: 1. Jesus is God. 2. The Bible is 100% true. 3. The afterlife exists 100% 4. Heaven is real. Hell is real. 5. Evolution is a scam. 6. Feminism is a fraud. 7. Homosexuality is sin.”

Linking religion with science and quantum theory

Kim says Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum physics support his beliefs.

“Einstein showed that time moves differently depending on speed and gravity… Quantum physics teaches that what we believe and observe can shape what becomes real.”

He suggests Jesus’ prophecy about returning during “this generation” refers to eternity rather than human perception of time.

In another post, Kim explains:

“Science says that when the brain stops, our consciousness disappears. Well, quantum physics says that information never disappears. Never. It just changes form.”

The idea that the universe may be a simulation, popularised by some scientists, is also believed by Kim.

“Some scientists and philosophers believe that our world could be a simulation created by a higher-dimensional being, which I believe.”

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