DigameXtra No. 3181 WEEKEND EDITION Friday, February 6th, 2026

On February 6, 2026February 5, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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. Header photo: LucasAlbuquerque/Unsplash

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser 2025-2026 Results:
– Total donations received as of 05/2/26: 141 (last year 146 on 31/1/25), 70% of the 200 donation target.
– Donations were received from 2.78% of subscribers. This number will increase a bit as the stragglers get around to sending in their donations.
– Sincere thanks to all the donors! Donations continue to be accepted, info here: https://digamextra.com/donation-information/

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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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41 CLUB NERJA

41 Club Nerja Going From Strength to Strength:
– 41 Club Nerja is delighted to report that we really are going from strength to strength, our membership continues to grow and our doors are open for more new members to join our vibrant Club.
– Do you remember in your local communities all the events that the Round Table and 41 Club organised? Yes! that’s us!
– Do you love getting out and about in our beautiful Axarquia area and also like the idea of being with people who enjoy life and help the local community too? Well, that’s also us! So please come along, meet us, see how we do things, and you don’t even need to have been a member previously.
– We enjoy a wide variety of exciting activities, interesting meetings and tasty meals in many of the lovely restaurants we have in our local area. Our get togethers are attended by our members (who hail from ten different countries) as well as our partners, guests, friends and family too. We’re a very friendly bunch.
To get in touch you can
Email us: briankaret@sky.com
Phone Brian on +34 643510605
You can connect with 41 Club Nerja via Facebook.
Or visit our website to find out more at: https://41clubnerja.org/
We’d love to hear from you and we’d also love for you to come along and join in the fun!

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Asociacion El Valle Valentines Dinner Dance:
Asociacion El Valle are hosting Valentines Day Dinner and Dance on Saturday 14th February at Tu Punto de Encuentro, La Vinuela, with music by Second Time Around.
Members 25€pp Non members 30€pp.
Tickets by email from info@elvalleasociacion@gmail.com or
Visit Meson Sara 12.30 to 13.30 every Friday.

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Events Note: With more rain in the forecast, many events are having to cancel due to storms, I am hesitant to post any for this weekend.

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

Warning Note: Possible high winds & waves until 11:59pm Saturday.

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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.

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TONY ROAM TRANSPORT & REMOVALS

Tony Roam Transport & Removals Spain To UK To Spain:
Fortnightly Runs Spain to UK and Up to 4 weeks free Storage. Spain or UK.
18 years Removals To & Fro Spain / UK Spain.
Man & Van, Local & Long Distance Removals
No subcontracting, all collection and delivery in house.
Transportation, Removals & light haulage company that have scheduled trips all year from UK to Torrox and back every month.
Also additional unscheduled to suit your needs.
Full or part loads undertaken.
Dedicated Delivery Personal Service Full or Part loads up to 60 cubic meters up to 5.5 tonne.
Up to £25,000.00 insurance with British Insurance Company.
Evidence of insurance can be supplied by email on request.
Hard Copies always carried on the vans.
This and a current Operators licence are a legal requirement.
Our International Operators Licence No UKGB / OG2043664
We live just behind Torrox Pueblo in Spain and in South Wales UK and have vans going back and forth UK to Spain to UK by way of Santander or Bilbao / Portsmouth or Plymouth Ferry.
For more information and prices for all to see please visit our website http://www.tonyroamremovals.com
email ; tonyroam@btconnect.com
Spain 0034636393542 – UK 00447973362003.
Face book Tony Roam – WhatsApp Either Number
Our contact details are shown every day in the Sponsor’s Section.

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GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR

The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa: Now with Sunday Lunch!
Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, 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: 6:30pm to close, Wednesday thru Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday. For reservations call 642585049. https://la-casita-griega.business.site/ We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES & JUBILEE HOUSE

ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES IN THE AXARQUIA REGION:
Do you have health or mobility issues?
Would support enable you to remain independent in your own home?
Liz Brown, probably the only nurse registered to practice in Andalucia to hold the ENB 941 (Specialist qualification in care of the older person), together with her fully insured and police checked home care support team offers one-on-one support and companionship in the comfort of your own home. COE Malaga reg. 17425
HOME CARE/NURSE SUPPORT
Palliative care / Companionship / Health monitoring English Nurse / Hospital sitting / Respite at home / 24 hr live in care / Housekeeping / Correspondence & Communication / Medication collection & dispensing systems / Dressing, bathing & daily hygiene / Shopping & meal preparation / Fast response Falls Team / Provision of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists
Email: info@englishnurse.care ; Website: https://englishnurse.live-website.com/
Tel: 951550581 or 692419548
JUBILEE HOUSE – Close Care Unit in Torrox
5 ground floor individual units all en-suite
24-hour care at all stages from the English Nurse Care Team
Main language- English / Extensive sea views / Wheelchair accessible / Garden / Home cooking / Wifi / Air conditioning / Visiting physiotherapist, hairdresser, chiropodist and nutritionist
And we welcome guests for the day. Email: jubileehousetorrox@gmail.com
VACANCY- We are now able to accept a couple in spacious accommodation with en-suite facilities. Unique nurse-led facility, offering 1st class personalised care packages, tailored to individual needs. We support independent living. We have a dedicated, compassionate team of English speaking staff, visiting physio, chiropodist, hairdresser.
To discuss your requirements or to arrange to view our beautiful accommodation on Torrox Costa please call Liz (RGN/Enferma-Malaga College) on ‪+34 692419548
We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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DOCTORLAPTOP’S COMPUTER REPAIRS & SALES

DoctorLaptop’s Computer Repairs & Sales- Torrox Costa
Windows & Linux computers only. No phones or tablets. Be aware– due to the growth of AI and the tariff wars there is a worldwide shortage of RAM & SSD hard drives, this is driving up the prices of new computers significantly. If you plan on getting a new computer, sooner will be cheaper than later. I have new laptops in stock.
I don’t work on computers made before 2018 unless I have been servicing them annually.
Contact: doctorlaptop AT protonmail DOT com
or call 675 993 069 (no calls before 12noon, missed calls returned asap). Always include the make & model number of the device when requesting assistance.

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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED

Click on pics to enlarge

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

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

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For Rent: Long term rent of a two bedroom independent apartment in a villa near Arenas. Max two adults. Floor heating. 850€ per month, water and electricity included. For more information contact Madeleine whatsapp +34 699757798 or email: mvaderlind@gmail.com

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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SPAIN

Poverty levels are stagnating in Spain and the population that cannot afford unforeseen expenses rises to 36.4%: {Translation, summary}
– Spain’s AROPE rate for population at risk of poverty or social exclusion stagnated at 25.7 per cent in 2025, down just one point from 2024 and showing only a 0.1-point yearly drop per the INE Living Conditions Survey. While relative poverty risk fell to 19.5 per cent and severe material deprivation to 8.1 per cent, low work intensity held steady at 8 per cent. Inability to cover unexpected expenses rose to 36.4 per cent. Experts like EAPN-ES’s Ruth Caravantes call the stability bittersweet: it prevents rises amid tough contexts like housing costs, where over 40 per cent of renters are poor, but demands bolder anti-poverty measures. Child poverty improved slightly to 33.8 per cent AROPE (affecting 2.7 million minors), yet remains EU-worst; UNICEF warns Spanish policies are mostly ineffective and lack impact. Andalusia tops regional rates at 34.7 per cent; Basque Country lowest at 14.7 per cent. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/los-niveles-pobreza-se-estancan-espana-sube-36-4-poblacion-que-no-puede-afrontar-gastos-imprevistos_6930341_0.html

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Moroccans celebrate the government’s mass regularisation– ‘Long live Pedro Sánchez, my family wants to come to Spain’: {Translation, summary}
– Libertad Digital visited the Moroccan Consulate in Madrid to collect reactions from Moroccan citizens after the agreement between Pedro Sánchez and Podemos to regularise more than half a million undocumented immigrants. Most interviewees described Sánchez as “the best president for foreigners” and strongly supported the regularisation plan. Many of those already legalised did not speak Spanish, and reporters were unable to speak with any women, as their husbands prevented them from talking. Outside the consulate, dozens of families queued to handle identity documents, passports, or marriage paperwork.
– Several Moroccans admitted to working off the books in greenhouses and believed the new measure would help those already employed without papers. Others complained about “mafias” reselling consular appointments. One man criticised unaccompanied minors and argued that foreign offenders should be expelled to protect the new arrival’s community image, while two minors expressed gratitude to Sánchez for the support they received in Spanish care centres.
– “Thank you very much, Pedro Sánchez, the regulation of papers is good. My family wants to come to Spain, my parents, even my cousins,” said one Moroccan into Libertad Digital’s microphone. This is evidence counter to Pedro Sánchez’s claim his regularization decree would not create the “call effect”. Clearly it has, as the arrival date necessary to apply for residence papers was 6 months ago. New arrivals don’t qualify, but talk of relocating entire families grows. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/politica/2026-02-05/marroquies-celebran-la-regularizacion-masiva-del-gobierno-viva-pedro-sanchez-mi-familia-quiere-venir-a-espana-7354448/

ANDALUCÍA

The entire population of Grazalema (Cádiz) has already been evacuated to Ronda (Malaga) due to the storm: {Translation, summary}
– Grazalema in Cadiz province was fully evacuated on Thursday afternoon after over 600 litres per square metre of rain in one day, atop prior storms, saturated the aquifer and raised landslide risks from underground water pressure. Around 1,600 residents, 100 per cent of the population, were relocated to Ronda in Malaga as a precaution, gathering first at El Fuerte pavilion before dispersal to friends or family.
– Regional president Juanma Moreno called the move “sensible and timely”, citing gushing water through walls and electrical sockets amid record Cadiz rainfall. Mayor Carlos Javier Garcia noted underground caves eroding terrain, pending tests for safety. Ronda’s mayor Maripaz Fernandez pledged care for the fearful evacuees. No imminent danger exists, but officials prioritised prevention over potential street or home destruction from earth shifts. Tests will proceed without residents for clarity. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/cadiz-00351/noticia-totalidad-poblacion-grazalema-cadiz-ya-sido-desalojada-ronda-malaga-temporal-20260205201309.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

A new storm will arrive starting Saturday in the province of Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– Malaga province faces ongoing rainfall with no respite after Storm Leonardo, as AEMET warns of a new Atlantic front arriving this weekend, sustaining heavy precipitation through at least next Wednesday. Friday 6 February offers temporary stabilisation, with Leonardo shifting northwest to allow weaker, intermittent showers across Andalusia. However, experts caution that saturated soil has zero absorption capacity, amplifying risks of river swelling, overflows and flooding even from moderate falls, described as “rain on wet ground”.
– From Saturday 7 February, amid moderate forecast uncertainty, a fresh Atlantic storm will intensify rain and winds, particularly in the storm-battered southern third of Spain. New frontal systems crossing the Peninsula that day promise locally intense, persistent downpours, easing slightly Sunday but persisting into early next week.
– Malaga province reactivates alerts on Saturday 7 February: yellow for rain in Ronda and coastal phenomenon warnings along the shore. Rain continues weekend-wide and beyond without higher alerts for now.
– Grazalema’s crisis worsens, with orange alerts active on Saturday 7 February for up to 80 litres per square metre. Andalusia’s government has ordered complete evacuation of the Cadiz municipality due to persistent downpours and landslide threats from a saturated aquifer. Source, Spanish:
https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/02/05/nuevo-temporal-llegara-partir-sabado-malaga-126494545.html

NERJA

The storm demolishes the remains of the watchtower of the Molino de Papel in the area of Maro: {Translation}
– The strong westerly storm associated with the Leonardo storm has demolished this Thursday the last remains standing of the watchtower of the Molino de Papel, also known as the torre del río de la Miel, located in the natural area of the Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo and which dated from 1751. The fall of the structure, which has been badly deteriorated for decades, occurred after several days of strong waves and wind, which ended up defeating the remains of the tower, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) and listed since 2022 on the Red List of Heritage for its serious state of conservation. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/temporal-derriba-restos-torre-vigia-molino-papel-20260205135228-nt_amp.html

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Nerja opens the preliminary public consultation on the Municipal Plan for the Control and Ethical Management of Urban Cat Colonies: {Translation, summary}
– The Nerja Town Council has initiated the preliminary public consultation process for the approval of the Municipal Plan for the Control and Ethical Management of Urban Cat Colonies, with the aim of effectively and sustainably regulating the coexistence between citizens and cat colonies in the municipality. The deadline for submitting contributions will be 20 working days from the day following the publication of the draft document on the Transparency Portal of the municipal website.
– ‘This Plan aims to establish a framework for action based on criteria of animal welfare, public health and respect for the urban environment, in line with current animal protection regulations,’ said the Councillor for the Environment, Javier Rodríguez, who highlighted that among its objectives are the identification and control of cat colonies, the application of the CER (Capture, Sterilisation and Return) method, coordination with collaborating entities and authorised volunteers, and raising public awareness.
– Through this prior public consultation, the City Council invites citizens, associations, relevant groups and interested parties to contribute suggestions, opinions and proposals that will help define the general lines of the future municipal plan before the final text is approved. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/nerja-abre-la-consulta-publica-previa-del-plan-municipal-de-control-y-gestion-etica-de-colonias-urbanas-felinas/

SAYALONGA

Storm forces aerial search teams to withdraw from the search for the woman who fell into the river in Sayalonga: {Translation, summary}
– A major search is under way in Sayalonga, Málaga province, for Carolina, a 44 year old yoga instructor who disappeared on Wednesday after being swept away by the River Turvilla. She had reportedly jumped into the water to rescue one of her dogs during heavy rain brought by the Leonardo storm. The animal was later found alive, but Carolina remains missing.
– Her partner witnessed her fall near the washhouse bridge and alerted emergency services. Around fifty personnel from the Civil Guard, firefighters, volunteers, and local authorities are combing a seven kilometre stretch between Sayalonga and Algarrobo, supported by mountain and underwater rescue teams. A helicopter and drones were deployed but grounded due to strong winds and rain. The search area is difficult because of steep terrain and debris carried by the swollen river. Both mayors of Sayalonga and Algarrobo are present, joining relatives and friends awaiting news. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/mujer-desaparecida-rio-sayalonga-20260204220113-nt_amp.html

GRANADA

Sierra Nevada extends closure to this Friday due to the effects of the rains on the slopes:{Translation, summary}
– Sierra Nevada ski resort in Granada will stay closed Friday, the third straight day and seventh in eleven, after 200 litres per square metre of rain and snow since 27 January caused widespread damage amid ongoing storms. Key issues include water and mud flows ruining El Rio piste from near Loma de Dilar to Pradollano; puddles in Borreguiles and lift stations like Veleta and Emile Allais; heavy snow buildup above; water damage at Mirlo Blanco complex; and three avalanches near Ascensor plus affected Trampolin and Visera pistes. Preventive snow barriers channelled much water away, limiting worse harm. Teams are now draining pools and repairing surfaces for safety.
– Cetursa, the public operator, prioritises maintenance over reopening amid poor visibility and high winds. Daily snow reports and social media will update on weekend prospects once work advances. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-sierra-nevada-prolonga-cierre-viernes-efectos-lluvias-pistas-20260205115318.html

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The Alhambra and the Generalife of Granada reopen their doors this Friday after two days closed due to the Leonardo storm: {Translation, summary}
– The Patronato de lah Alhambra y Generalife has announced the complete reopening of its Monumental Complex as of this Friday, February 6, after the closure of its facilities during the day on Thursday and last Wednesday due to the weather forecasts associated with the Leonardo storm. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia…

ALMERIA

Gang brutally attacks a father and his son after a football match in Almería: {Translation, summary}
– A youth football match in Almería’s third division ended violently on 2 February when about twenty men of Maghrebi origin ambushed players and relatives near La Mojonera’s sports ground. After La Mojonera El Viso lost 2–3 to Las Norias, a player and his father were attacked with knives, beaten, and robbed of their phones and car keys. The father sustained a fractured jaw and required surgery, while the son suffered multiple bruises.
– During the same clash, the visiting coach was also threatened at knifepoint. Las Norias Club de Fútbol later expressed solidarity with the victims, warning that incidents of aggression have become recurrent and raise serious concerns about youth safety.
– Both clubs blame a violent group unconnected with the sport that “only seeks to harm” and denounced repeated failures of police protection. The local club claims the Sub-delegation of the Government in Almería ignored earlier warnings about this radical group, some of whose members allegedly have criminal records. Police have opened an investigation amid growing local alarm over insecurity around youth football venues. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/andalucia/2026-02-04/batalla-campal-en-almeria-20-magrebies-agreden-brutalmente-a-un-padre-y-su-hijo-tras-un-partido-7354296/

HEALTH

The Supreme Court exonerates the regional administration of all the adverse effects of the Covid vaccine if there was no malpractice– Uses the “no one forced you to take the shot” defence: {Translation, summary}
– The Supreme Court has overturned a 40,000 euro award against Extremadura’s regional government for a woman’s thrombosis 56 days after her 2021 Janssen Covid vaccine. The court ruled that administrations are not liable for rare vaccine side effects during the emergency pandemic context unless malpractice, breach of medical standards, or negligence is proven.
– The claimant suffered mesenteric thrombosis on 26 August, well beyond the 5-24 day window for known Janssen risks like thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, per the European Medicines Agency. Lower courts had imposed strict liability merely for administering the shot, but the Supreme Court stressed vaccination’s voluntariness: individuals accepted inherent risks amid the crisis, where not having offered it might have worsened overall harm. Liability persists only for service failures, not normal operations or progress risks. This sets a key precedent exonerating regions from blanket responsibility for vaccine adverse events. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariodesevilla.es/juzgado_de_guardia/actualidad/supremo-exculpa-administracion-autonomica-efectos_0_2005825050.html

RECALLS

Another Baby Formula Recall– Alert for possible presence of cereulide in infant formulas produced in France but widely distributed: {Translation, summary}
– The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has been made aware through the European Food Alert Network (RASFF) of an alert notification sent by the French health authorities, regarding the possible presence of cereulide in these products.
– Cereulide is a toxin that can cause sudden nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain between 30 minutes and six hours after ingestion. In young babies, it can disrupt the body’s sodium balance and lead to complications such as dehydration.
– Babybio Caprea 1 – Batch number and expiry date: 899014 and 28/07/2027; 911057 and 17/09/2027. 800gr.
– Babybio Optima 1 – Batch number and expiry date: 907179 and 01/10/2027. 800gr.
Source, Spanish: https://www.aesan.gob.es/AECOSAN/web/seguridad_alimentaria/alertas_alimentarias/2026_05.htm

FINANCIAL

Bitcoin crashes below $70K:
– Bitcoin crashed below the $70,000 price level on Feb. 5 as the leading cryptocurrency lost roughly 8% in value within the last 24 hours. The price crash is the worst since early November 2024. As of 10:30 a.m. EST Thursday, its price had dipped to $67,245.
– Ether also fell 8% in 24 hours to trade at $2,068.06. A dip below $2,000 would mark the first time since May 2025. BNB fell more than 9.5% to trade at $677.11. XRP fell as much as 15% to trade at $1.35. Full articles: https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/bitcoin-crashes-to-70k-millions-of-dollars-wiped-out & https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-prices-falling…

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Malaga water reserves: from drought to dangerous upper limits
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-goes-from-drought-reservoirs-guadalteba-already-20260205123817-nt.html
– Malaga– three earthquakes recorded in three hours {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/ronda/three-earthquakes-recorded-the-province-malaga-three-20260205101138-nt.html
– Granada’s Costa Tropical escapes the worst of Storm Leonardo despite road cuts and battering rain
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/minor-incidents-the-coast-after-the-squall-20260205115405-nt.html

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CHURCHES & WORSHIP

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

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NEW LIFE CHURCH

New Life Church
– Sunday Service:
Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us on Sundays at 11.00am. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards.
– Prayer Meeting:
You are also welcome to join our prayer meetings on Wednesday mornings at 11.00am for 1 hour, where we meet for prayer and worship.
– Jesus said: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6)
Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780. Directions: Click Here
Email: info@nlcnerja.com
Website: www.nlcnerja.com ; Facebook

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EL PUENTE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

El Puente Christian Fellowship (Vélez-Málaga): We are a friendly, multi-national, Bible believing community of Christ. We meet each Sunday at 11am to worship the Lord. We enjoy a time of worship with contemporary songs and traditional hymns, and a message brought to us by our Pastor, one of our members or a visiting speaker.
The church meeting hall is situated at: Res: El Olivar 5, 8 Bajo 1, Calle Arbequin, Velez Malaga 29700.
Full directions and further information can be found on our Facebook page, or you can contact us by email on elpuentechristianfellowship@gmail.com or by phone on 665626342.
For those who cannot join us in person, we aim to stream Sunday services via the Facebook page (subject to a good internet connection).

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DOG ADOPTIONS

Axarquia Animal Rescue – Voluntary Charity – non profit organisation:
CIF G93245116 ; Charity Number 10567 (Spain)
Email: axarquia-rescue@hotmail.com
Website: www.axarquiaanimalrescue.com
– Miga, female, 4 years old. Podenco/Black Lab cross. Medium at 20kg.
– Junior, male 2 years old, Kelpie, Small to medium at 15kg
Sadly, their owner has recently passed away, and both dogs are in need of a new home, or foster home by 4th March. They have lived together, with a cat, both are fully vaccinated and neutered. Fun loving, and eager to please, get on well with other dogs, and children that they have met.
Please take a look at our website, where you will find more information and photos, plus details of other dogs and pups that we have in our care. Our adoption costs are 110e for pups that have been fully vaccinated, rabies, chip and passport. 180e for older dogs that have all vaccinations, neutered and passport. This contributes towards their vet and care costs, and helps us to continue rescuing abandoned dogs and cats.

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

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More snow on the way as Met Office issues ANOTHER SNOW WARNING for parts of Greater Manchester!: Video Link

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Feb 5, 2026, 22:29 UTC

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Fun & Games

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

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/resumen/embalses

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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DigameXtra No. 3180 Thursday, February 5th, 2026

On February 5, 2026February 4, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser 2025-2026 Results:
– Total donations received as of 3/2/26: 140 (last year 146 on 31/1/25), 70% of the 200 donation target.
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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Concert- ‘London Blues Ten Believers’: Fri, 6 Feb, 7pm
J. Martín Recuerda Auditorium, Casa de la Cultura de Almuñécar
Address: Puerta de Granada 19, (18690) Almuñécar.
London Blues – Ten Believers arrives with a concert full of authentic blues, emotion and great musical quality. The band, made up of top-notch musicians, offers a journey through classic and contemporary blues, with guitars full of soul, a solid rhythmic base and an intense and elegant interpretation. After sharing the stage with legends such as Buddy Guy, Ronnie Wood or Alicia Keys, Ten Believers promises an intimate and vibrant evening for lovers of blues and live music.
Info & tix (€15): https://bravoentradas.es/es/events/london-blues-ten-believers

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Car Boot El Pantano, La Vinuela, Sunday, 8 February:
Weather permitting of course. We are all hoping the weather will be kind and look forward to seeing you all on the 8th.
For further information and stall enquiries please telephone me Sandra/Sandy on 633878471.
Directions: car park of El Pantano restaurant, Km 30 on the A356, overlooking Los Romano’s.

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Hiking Event- Trail through the Molinos Río Turvilla Archéz-Canillas Albaida area: Sun, 08 Feb, 2026, 9am
Pre-registration required. The route begins in Árchez and follows a varied circular walk through market gardens, mills and irrigation channels, with views of the foothills of the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park. It partly coincides with Stage 7 of the Gran Senda de Málaga and runs alongside the Turvilla or Cajula River. Highlights include the Mudejar bell tower of the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, old mills such as Doña Fidela and the historic Matías Mill, metal walkways above an irrigation channel, waterfalls, and a Roman bridge and road. The walk climbs to the village of Canillas de Albaida, passing its main square and church, before descending via the Hermitage of San Antón and returning carefully to Árchez on sandy paths. The route combines cultural heritage, water features and rural scenery.
Event organised by Turismo Activo Málaga Natural Guia and collaboration with Club Deportivo Gente y Movimiento.
For any questions please contact the organisers:
María José: 653827096 or WhatsApp.
Juanfra: 654088199 or WhatsApp.
Full info: https://www.malaganaturalguiada.com/ublog.php?nid=1053

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Ardales celebrates its XXIX Fiesta de la Matanza with tastings, music and a market: Sun, 8 Feb
The day will feature a market of pork and other local products as well as handicrafts. The program also includes musical performances and tastings of stew in the Ardaleño style, cured meats and wine.
The program also includes charanga, batucada and verdiales parades, as well as a dance area. Live music will arrive from four in the afternoon with the performance of Triana, a pioneering group of Andalusian rock, and the Andalusian rock band La Mala Hora. There will be guided tours of the urban area of the municipality and the Prehistory Center, the Castle of the Peña de Ardales, which houses the Museum of History and Traditions, and the Mudejar Church.
In addition, an exhibition of local crafts and gastronomy will be installed on the courts of the Municipal Sports Centre, while in the Plaza San Isidro there will be an area dedicated to the agri-food companies of the region.

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

Warning Note: Possible high winds & waves until Thursday, 8pm.

Image source: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

BluCee Real Estate – Your Property Experts in Southern Spain:
**Property Search**
We are actively looking for properties for our clients. If you have a property that fits these requirements, please contact us.
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Visit us: Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar 29738, Málaga
BluCee Real Estate – Helping You Sell with Confidence
Proud sponsors of DigameXtra – our contact details can be seen every day in the Sponsor’s Section.

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TAOGARDEN MASSAGE

Taogarden Massage – Torrox Costa:
Taogarden Massage is a space dedicated to holistic wellbeing in Torrox Costa, where I combine more than 25 years of experience with holistic massage techniques, drainage, Reset Fisiológico®, Thai Foot, the Face to Face facial massage, the Regenerative Technique and Maderoterapia MMC, as well as personalized treatments aimed at deep relaxation and body balance. Each session is tailored to the individual, in a calm, respectful and professional environment.
Location: Herbolario Naturísima, Costa del Oro, Block 5, Torrox Costa
Opening hours: every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Phone / WhatsApp: +34 610 520 624
Email: torrox2024@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaogardenMassage
Book your appointment and discover an authentic and carefully curated wellbeing experience.

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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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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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SPAIN

Feijóo accuses Sánchez of wanting to ‘expropriate’ landlords’ right to collect rent with his social shield decree: {Translation, summary}
– People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticised the Spanish Government’s proposed anti-eviction decree during a visit to the Fribin meat company in Binéfar. He accused the executive of trying to “expropriate landlords’ rights” by forcing them to forgo rental income instead of assuming responsibility for social policy failures. Feijóo argued that the state, not private citizens, must assist vulnerable families unable to pay rent or household expenses.
– He described the decree as proof of the Government’s “abdication” of social responsibilities, specifically accusing it of lying to pensioners by bundling pension increases with housing measures in the omnibus decree to use as a shield, deflecting blame for its lack of effective public housing policy and social sensitivity. In an omnibus bill retirees would naturally pass pension increases, often not aware that passing it would also involve landlord protection laws.
– Responding to Sumar MP Lara Hernández’s (communist) denial of an illegal squatting problem on Carlos Alsina’s Onda Cero radio programme, Feijóo called it an insult to thousands affected and insisted expropriations have no place in a Western democracy like Spain. He cited 80,000 landlords unable to collect rent and over 40,000 illegally occupied properties. Feijóo claimed Spain needs 700,000 more homes, with this Government creating the worst housing crisis since the property bubble, elevating housing to Spaniards’ top concern. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/aragon/noticia…

AXARQUÍA

More than a dozen roads in the Axarquía affected by landslides: {Translation}
– Heavy rain and strong gusts of wind associated with Storm Leonardo have caused significant disruptions across the Axarquía region, where more than a dozen roads have been affected by landslides and falling rocks, requiring the intervention of the Provincial Fire Consortium of the Málaga Provincial Council.
– So far, fire service crews have operated on at least thirteen roads, many of them inter-municipal routes, where rockfalls have invaded the carriageway, obstructing or halting traffic. The incidents have been spread across municipalities such as Vélez-Málaga, Nerja, Torrox, Almáchar, El Borge, Moclinejo, Arenas, Alcaucín, Cútar, Sayalonga and Totalán.
– Among the affected roads in the region are the MA–3104 (from MA–3111 to La Breña), MA–3106 (from Cútar to El Borge), MA–3109 (from El Borge to Almáchar), MA–3110 (Olías to Totalán), MA–3111 (from Olías to MA–3105), MA–3112 (from MA–3109 to MA–3116), MA–3114 (from Moclinejo to Almáchar), MA–3117 (from MA–3119 to El Valdés), MA–3203 (from N–340 to Cajiz), MA–4104 (from A–7205 to Alcaucín), MA–4110 (from Corumbela to Daimalos), MA–4111 (from Vélez–Málaga to Arenas), and MA–6102 (from N–340 to Río de la Miel, in Nerja).
– The Provincial Fire Consortium has also intervened on Lope de Vega Street in Vélez–Málaga to remove roof tiles at risk of falling.
– The Consortium advises residents to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow instructions from emergency services while the adverse weather conditions persist. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/mas-de-una-decena-de-carreteras-axarquia-afectadas-por-desprendimientos/

MALAGA PROVINCE

The number of flood alert points rises to a dozen after 12 hours of continuous rain in the province of Malaga: {Translation}
– These are persistent, continuous rains with considerable volumes. The cumulative effect that had been expected is beginning to be felt in the river channels as the day progresses. In some parts of the province, more than 100 litres per square metre have been recorded during the first twelve hours. The battle against Storm Leonardo is being fought much more in inland areas than on the coast, where, for now, it is passing only lightly. By midday, nine monitored channels were already showing complications. To these must be added others without gauges, such as those in the Verde system (the Guadaiza, Guadalmina and Guadalmansa, for example, also swollen).
– Given this situation, the authorities are recommending that all possible caution be taken as the hours go by. By midday, there were already three points at red alert level: the Guadiaro in Cortes de la Frontera, once again at its highest recorded level; the Guadalteba in Teba; and the Guadalhorce in Archidona. In the case of the river that flows through Ronda, it exceeded 578 cubic metres per second and a depth of 4.64 metres at the diversion to the Majaceite. The Guadalteba, in turn, carried 173 m³/s and a depth of 3.21 metres, while the upper section of the Guadalhorce reached 365 m³/s and 5.25 metres.
– At orange alert level were the Genal in Jubrique and the Grande in Las Millanas, Tolox. Already at yellow level were the Guadalhorce itself at the Paredones weir (Álora, where the channels divide for irrigation and Málaga city) and Cártama. In this latter locality, although still far from the nightmare levels experienced last Christmas, the tendency is for the situation to worsen within a few hours. Close monitoring will be needed, as well as of the Campanillas and the Turón, which are also at yellow threshold. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/suben-decena-puntos-alerta-riadas-tras-doce-horas-lluvia-malaga-20260204125144-nt_amp.html

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TORROX

City Council of Torrox informs about preventive measures in the face of the rainy season, road closures announced: {Translation, summary}
– The Torrox Town Council reports that since the early hours of Wednesday, 4 February, and as a result of the continuous rainfall affecting the municipality, there have been occasional rises in rivers and streams, as well as small landslides in various parts of the municipal area.
– In view of this situation, and with the primary aim of ensuring safety, the Town Council has implemented preventive measures that include cutting off access to rivers and streams, as well as the temporary closure of certain roads and paths affected by landslides or considered to be at risk, as in Barranco Plano, the Güi River or El Peñoncillo. The Torrox Local Police are carrying out signage, monitoring and closure of these access points, acting progressively and in coordination as the episode of rain continues to develop.
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/ayuntamiento-torrox-informa-sobre-medidas-preventivas-ante-temporal-lluvias/

NERJA

The Junta reactivates the process to regulate access to the Chíllar River in Nerja: {Translation, summary}
– The Chíllar River in Nerja has remained closed to the public since August 2023 due to overcrowding and environmental concerns, though some visitors still trespass despite fines. The Junta de Andalucía has reactivated proceedings to regulate controlled access to the middle and upper sections, reopening the process for private management following the rejection of previous bids in 2025. The model seeks to emulate the Caminito del Rey system, granting a concession for tourism use of the hydraulic public domain. The company Iniciativas Turísticas Ardales S.L.U. has renewed its proposal, and other firms may apply within a month.
– The municipal closure order stays in force while environmental, safety, and infrastructure conditions are reviewed. Ecologists, meanwhile, strongly oppose charging visitors up to twelve euros, urging a permanent ban and accusing the authorities of turning a protected site of great natural value into a commercial venture. Local hikers suggest that creating proper trails, limiting access to off-trail areas, and allowing free access during limited days/hours is a better approach, and ask why no EU Recovery Funds are available for these projects. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/junta-reactiva-proceso-regular-acceso-rio-chillar-nerja-20260204100409-nt_amp.html

GRANADA

The Sierra Nevada ski resort closes again this Thursday due to the effects of the storm: {Translation, summary}
– Sierra Nevada ski resort in Granada will stay closed Thursday due to storm Leonardo’s impact on ski slopes, with forecasts of heavy rain, zero visibility, and hurricane winds persisting. This marks the sixth closure in ten days since 27 January, when successive storms first forced shutdowns, including five days by Wednesday amid extreme conditions.
– Tuesday saw delayed opening after Monday’s 120 km/h gusts, while last week brought three straight closures. Avalanche risk remains very high, prompting extreme caution against mountain travel.
– Aemet has issued a yellow wind warning for Thursday in Granada’s Nevada and Alpujarras zone, down from Wednesday’s orange alert for up to 100 litres per square metre of rain in 12 hours. Cetursa, the resort’s public operator, confirmed the ongoing adverse weather. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-estacion-esqui-sierra-nevada-vuelve-cerrar-jueves-efectos-borrasca-20260204150208.html

EUROPE

The new Czech government of populist prime minister Babiš survives parliamentary no-confidence vote:
– The new Czech government of populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš survived on Wednesday a parliamentary no-confidence vote called by the opposition over the handling of a dispute with the country’s president. Only 84 opposition lawmakers in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament voted in favour of dismissing the three-party coalition government. At least 101 votes were needed to oust the government at the end of a two-day debate. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/czech-no-confidence-vote-babis-president-74b5d7a0b954574cb222ea5cdc139e7a

UKRAINE WAR

EU countries close the agreement to deliver another 90,000 million euros to Ukraine through a new debt issue: {Translation, summary}
– EU countries have agreed on a legal framework to deliver 90 billion euros in aid to Ukraine through a new joint debt issue, similar to that used during the Covid pandemic. The agreement, reached by ambassadors from 24 member states, excluding dissenting Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, allocates 60 billion euros for defence production, prioritising European industry, and 30 billion for financial and humanitarian support.
– The European Parliament is expected to approve the measure in February, with Kyiv receiving funds by late March. Non-EU partners may take part under specific bilateral or defence agreements, though defence purchases must primarily come from EU or Ukrainian firms. The funding will be subject to strict conditions, including anti-corruption commitments. {What a joke, Ukraine can’t account for hundreds of billions in funds and weapons as it is, despite repeated commitments to transparency and after multiple high-level corruption scandals. If you are forcing Ukraine to spend the money buying euro-made military supplies anyway, why give them the money at all, just ship the supplies directly. Oh, but then there is no way for middlemen to collect their vig. -Ed.}
– Cyprus’s finance minister said the plan underscores Europe’s determination to support Ukraine’s sovereignty while ensuring transparency and responsible use of EU resources under international law. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/los-paises-ue-cierran-acuerdo-para-entregar-ucrania-90-000-millones-euros-traves-una-nueva-emision-deuda_6930012_0.html

UK

The former Prince Andrew moves to King Charles III’s private estate after Epstein document uproar:
– The former Prince Andrew has moved out of his long-time home on crown-owned land near Windsor Castle earlier than expected after the latest release of documents from the U.S. investigation of Jeffrey Epstein revived questions about his friendship with the convicted sex offender.
– The 65-year-old brother of King Charles III, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, left the Royal Lodge in Windsor on Monday and is now living on the king’s Sandringham estate in eastern England, Britain’s Press Association reported. British media reported that Mountbatten-Windsor will live temporarily at Wood Farm Cottage while his permanent home on the estate undergoes repairs. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/epstein-andrew-royal-lodge-1443dd1cac502d230cf446a32c2a0c59

HEALTH

Mammogate Update- The Patient Ombudsman takes the case of the screenings to the State Attorney General: {Translation, summary}
– The Patient Advocate Association has asked Spain’s Attorney General to reopen the case on breast cancer screening errors in Andalusia, after the Seville Prosecutor’s Office dropped it for lack of criminal evidence against former regional health officials Jesús Aguirre and Catalina García. President Carmen Flores urges an audit to determine the scale of the problem across the region, citing the legal duty to report potential offences. The association requests that the case be combined with a UGT complaint concerning 3,000 women in Huelva affected by similar screening failures. It stresses that cancer prevention programmes must be implemented without delay, as neglect causes both suffering and public expense. The group appeals to the Attorney General to act to protect citizens’ health and lives, arguing that government inaction and irresponsibility endanger the public and violate the authorities’ obligation to ensure preventive healthcare. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/defensor-paciente-lleva-caso-cribados_0_2005816249.html

CONSUMER INFO

If you have a HUAWEI smartwatch, this is of interest to you– you will no longer be able to make payments with your device in Spain: {Translation, summary}
– HUAWEI smartwatch users in Spain can no longer make contactless payments after Quicko Wallet, the European payment platform supporting the service, ceased operations. The Polish financial regulator revoked Quicko’s licence on 21 January, forcing the company to halt all operations across the EU. The reasons for the withdrawal remain undisclosed. As a result, payment functions on HUAWEI devices have been deactivated in Spain and other European countries. Quicko has reassured users that their funds remain safe and will be refunded, with instructions to be sent by email shortly. – HUAWEI has confirmed it was an external service provider and that the closure stems from a regulatory decision outside its control. The firm stresses its full legal compliance and commitment to user experience, adding that it is working with new international partners to restore secure and reliable payment options on its wearables as soon as possible. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/tecnologia/fabricantes/relojes-huawei-fin-pagos-quicko-wallet-espana_6929970_0.html

TECH

Telegram attacks Sánchez over new social media regulations– ‘These are steps towards total control’: {Translation, summary}
– Telegram founder Pavel Durov has sharply criticised Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s new digital regulations, calling them a threat to privacy and free expression that could turn Spain into a surveillance state. He argued that under the guise of protection, the measures expand state control over citizens and tech platforms. Durov condemned mandatory age verification for social media, warning it could erode anonymity and enable mass data collection. Although aimed at child protection, Durov warns that it would involve strict controls such as the use of ID cards or even biometric data for every user.
– He also decried criminal liability for executives, saying it would foster over-censorship and endanger free debate. Further, he warned that penalising “algorithmic amplification” of harmful content would allow governments to manipulate online visibility, and that monitoring “hate footprints” could be used to silence dissent. Praising Telegram’s encryption and independence, Durov urged users to demand transparency and defend their rights before it is too late. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/telegram…

SCAMS

Sentimental deception as a method to empty accounts of vulnerable women in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– A 45 year old man and his partner have been arrested in Málaga for allegedly running a long-term romance scam that defrauded women in vulnerable emotional situations. The suspect is accused of manipulating his victims psychologically, gaining their trust through online relationships before requesting money under false pretences such as personal crises, investments, or emergencies.
– One woman in Mislata reportedly transferred 70,000 euros over two years without ever meeting him. The couple allegedly fabricated elaborate stories, including claims of kidnapping and imprisonment, with the man’s partner posing as a relative to reinforce the lies.
– Investigators found that the proceeds, totalling over 100,000 euros, were mostly spent on drugs, risky trading, and luxury items. The man faces charges of continuous fraud, money laundering, and gender based violence, while his partner has been charged with fraud. Police are continuing the investigation and appealing for further potential victims to come forward. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo…

TRAVEL

Renfe cancels all railway services in Andalusia except for Cordoba-Madrid, Jaén-Madrid and C1 lines in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– Wednesday morning several rail services had already been suspended, including all local Cercanías services in the Seville area, as well as the C2 line in Malaga, Malaga-Alora, and the C-1a Cadiz Las Aletas-University line.
– Regarding Media Distancia services, all trains in Andalusia have been cancelled except Jaen-Madrid and Granada-Almeria, and local trains from Cordoba between C.U. Rabanales and Cordoba J.A. have also been eliminated.
– The same has happened with Avant trains, where all Andalusian services between Seville-Cordoba-Malaga, Seville-Cordoba-Granada, and Malaga-Granada have been cancelled.
– For high-speed and long-distance services, the Madrid-Seville/Malaga AVE has been suspended between Cordoba and Malaga, and between Cordoba and Seville, with only the Madrid-Cordoba stretch guaranteed. Passengers from Madrid or Villanueva heading to final destinations in Andalusia have no guaranteed connection beyond Cordoba.
– Likewise, the Almeria-Madrid Intercity and Alvia Almeria-Granada-Madrid trains have been cancelled.
The Algeciras-Malaga Alvia (departing Algeciras at 13.10 and Malaga at 14.40) and Ronda-Antequera (departing Ronda at 14.45 and Antequera at 14.00) have also been suspended.
– The Cadiz-Madrid Alvias are not running, suspended on the Cadiz-Cordoba stretch, nor the Cadiz-Barcelona service with the Cadiz-Linares section cancelled. The Almeria-Madrid trains have also been suppressed. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia…

CANCEL CULTURE / #MeToo

Twist in the Errejón case- Mouliaá withdraws her accusation of alleged sexual abuse: {Translation, summary}
– Spanish actress Elisa Mouliaá announced on Wednesday that she is withdrawing the sexual assault allegation she had maintained against former MP Íñigo Errejón. In a statement on social media, she clarified that her decision was not a retraction but “a boundary”, explaining that she felt alone in pursuing the case, as no other alleged victims had come forward. Mouliaá stated that she could not continue “bearing everything” alone and would withdraw from the judicial process with her conscience clear, asserting that she neither sought money nor publicity.
– Her original complaint sought a three-year prison sentence and 30,000 euros in compensation for alleged abuse in October 2021.
– Errejón’s defence expressed trust in the justice system and confirmed his intention to proceed with his slander lawsuit against Mouliaá to prove his innocence.
– Meanwhile, the popular prosecution, led by Adive, will maintain its case against Errejón despite the withdrawal of both Mouliaá and the Prosecutor’s Office. Adive argues that the alleged acts seriously affected sexual freedom and must not go unpunished. The judge has already ordered an oral trial, set bail at 30,000 euros, and heard extensive testimony during thirteen months of investigation. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-mouliaa-anuncia-retira-acusacion-contra-errejon-presunto-abuso-sexual-20260204154811.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Palm trees felled in Salobreña as more storms forecast {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/salobrena-fells-palm-trees-prevent-them-from-20260204101830-nt.html
– Spain rail crisis: Minister of Transport cannot guarantee date for Malaga-Madrid line reopening
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/puente-does-not-dare-give-date-for-20260204080433-nt.html
– Andalusian regional government gives green light to 581 new homes in Vélez-Málaga
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/andalusian-regional-government-gives-green-light-581-20260204111254-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

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Chaos in Spain! Storm Leonardo brings flooding in Andalusia, emergency evacuations: Video Link

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Feb 4, 2026, 21:56 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/resumen/embalses

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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Mandy’s Tel: 680739577

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Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade +34-606423869

FB Page & Home Page

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

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

DigameXtra No. 3179 Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

On February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

SUBMISSIONS INFO & RULES PAGE LINK

DONATIONS INFO PAGE LINK

*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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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor

Home Page and FB Page

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

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Broken Link: There have been problems with the link to the Junta’s Official Reservoir Stats website. Sometimes, in some browsers, it works, other times it refuses to connect. I find it works best with Firefox browser. As a few things have changed in that website recently, I suspect it continues to be worked on and that is the reason for this intermittent connectivity issue. https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/resumen/embalses

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Posting Today’s Issue 2 Hours Early Due To Approaching Storm: Power may cut out at some point.

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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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Free Concert in Nerja- John and Lynne Ward bring the sounds of the Suffolk coast: Thurs, 5 Feb, 7pm
Museo de Nerja, Plaza de España, Nerja. Info: 952527224

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Iznate Carnival 2026: Sat, 7 Feb
The municipality of Iznate is all set for its big Carnival celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, 7 February, starting at 4:30 p.m.
*Key points of the event*
Grand Costume Contest: With categories for children (with gifts for all participants), teenagers and adults.
Cash prizes: Prizes of up to €200 in drinks will be awarded to the best groups.
Performances: The day will feature performances by ‘Los ladrones del tiempo’ and ‘Maestros de la costura’.
Info: 952 509 776

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X Cross Country- Villa de Torrox: Sun, 8 Feb, 10:30am
Rio Torrox.
Tel: 952539927. Email: deportes@torrox.es
Info & reg: https://web.faalive.com/inscriptions/158

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

Warning Notes: Possible high winds & waves until 11:59pm Thursday. Possible heavy rain until 11:59pm Wednesday.

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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.

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COMPARE FUNERALS

Compare Funerals cover the whole of Spain:
ruthforder@comparefuneral.org
* Direct Cremation €2,250
* Collection of deceased and conveyance to Funeral Home
* Supply of coffin
* Preparation and care of deceased
* Registration of death and certification of all legal documentation
* Cremation and any doctor’s fees
* Supply of Urn
* Delivery of Urn and associated paperwork to family (death certificate, cremation certificate etc)
This plan is exclusive to a number of provinces, please ask advisor for more information.
Contact Ruth Forder on 0034 693 715 718 ; funeralplansbyruthforder.com
Your questions answered by Ruth from Compare Funerals Spain
– Why should I have a funeral plan? Having been funeral planning for over 10 year I’ve experienced some very sad and upset families when nothing is in place. A Spanish funeral plans will ensure that all costs are covered for your funeral service. Getting a prepaid plan will help you feel assured that your family will not be under any financial strain when it comes to paying for your funeral. A plan also means you can have peace of mind that everything has been organised in advance, so your loved ones do not have to make any difficult decisions.
– Why choose Compare Funerals? There seems to be a gap in Spain between independent funeral directors, offering plans at a good price but lacking the security of an established Trust or ability to cover a client overseas and Providers who seem to charge more than necessary. We want to be right in the middle and offer the best of both worlds. Our best-priced plan is only 2,250€ and does the essentials.
– Can I do a payment plan? All our plans are payable in full or over up to 5 years interest FREE. The interest free periods are based on initial deposit. The higher the deposit the less your monthly repayments will be.
– Can I transfer the plan? The answer is YES. You could name 2 people on one plan however if you had a friend/family member pass away we can transfer the plan into a 3rd party’s name.
– What happens if I move? All our plans offer the equivalent service in Spain (including the islands), Portugal, Republic of Ireland and the UK. If you moved to the UK, we would transfer the plan to one of our many partners at no extra cost to you.
– Is paperwork included? Yes, your family will receive a death certificate in Spanish and an international certification in English. We also provide a cremation certificate that allows the ashes on board a plane.

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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED

Click on pics to enlarge

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

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

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Now including pic. For Sale: TV, Philips 50” Ambilight. Only selling TV, including the remote control. There is no stand; we had it mounted on the wall. Stands can be bought on Amazon, etc. Excellent condition. Reason for sale: We upgraded to a larger model. Only available for pick-up. Asking 180€.
See details & photo: https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/818e1f7a#google_vignette
Ingrid, Algarrobo Costa
Email: 147udahl@gmail.com

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For Sale: New Powerful Laptop- Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15
Windows 11 Pro. System, UK English. Keyboard, Spanish.
15.6″ Full HD IPS LCD (1920 x 1080) display with Acer BluelightShield to reduce blue light exposure.
512Gb SSD MVMe; 16 Gb RAM
AMD Ryzen 5 5625U (2.3 – 4.3GHz), 6 core, 12 threads
3x USB 3.2; 1x USB-C; Wifi 6; HDMI 2.1; Bluetooth 5.1; Ethernet
Weight: 1.8kg. Mfg. date: 15Mar25 (Win 12 ready)
Ref: https://store.acer.com/en-gb/acer-aspire-go-15-laptop-ag15-42p-silver
Price: €420 cash, a very good price for a solid, mid-line laptop! DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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News Note: Everything in the local press today is about the impending storm. Today I get us updated on the recent social media & tech topics.

ANDALUCÍA

Andalucia suspends classes this Wednesday except in Almería due to ‘unprecedented’ rainfall and activates the UME: {Translation, summary}
– The Andalucian Government will suspend face-to-face classes in all provinces except Almería this Wednesday due to a powerful storm affecting the region. President Juanma Moreno announced in Seville that the Flood Risk Emergency Plan has been raised to operational level 2, enabling the use of extraordinary resources from local, provincial, and national administrations, including the Military Emergency Unit. Schools and secondary institutes will switch to remote learning, as they have the necessary digital facilities. Universities, which have organisational autonomy, are encouraged to decide whether to continue in person or online.
– Almería is excluded for now, since current conditions do not indicate strong winds or heavy rainfall, though it remains under review. Moreno also declared that day centres for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as outdoor sports activities in the seven affected provinces, will be suspended as a precaution. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/andalucia/andalucia-suspend…

AXARQUÍA

AEMET raises the rain warning for this Wednesday in the Axarquía to orange due to accumulated rainfall that may locally exceed 120 litres: {Translation, summary}
– Storm Leonardo has placed the Axarquía and much of Andalucía under orange warning for Wednesday 4 February, owing to exceptionally heavy and persistent rainfall, with AEMET forecasting up to 90 litres per square metre in 12 hours and more than 120 locally in 24 hours.
– Andalusian President Juanma Moreno has mobilised the Military Emergency Unit and ordered an ES-ALERT message from 8:00 p.m. to residents in high-risk areas. AEMET also warns of a strong maritime storm with westerly winds of 60 to 75 km per hour and waves exceeding 5 metres, lasting until Thursday noon. The heaviest rain is expected in Grazalema, the Serranía de Ronda, and the Strait of Gibraltar, where totals could reach 200 to 250 litres in 24 hours.
– Persistent rainfall, strong gusts, and falling temperatures will continue through Thursday and Friday, with possible renewed intensification from a new Atlantic depression over the weekend. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/aemet…
Image: https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and

MALAGA CITY

Malaga activates the emergency plan and closes parks and other public spaces: {Translation, summary}
– In view of the forecast of heavy rainfall and coastal phenomena, Malaga City Council will activate the Local Civil Protection territorial emergency plan tonight at 11 p.m., in the Pre-emergency phase, operational situation 0. The measure, which will remain in force throughout Wednesday, includes the temporary closure of parks, museums, sports facilities and cultural and social facilities throughout the city.
Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/provincia-de-malaga/malaga-activa-plan-emergencia-cierra-parques-otros-espacios-publicos/202602031916423206792.html

UKRAINE WAR

Russia bombards Ukraine with drones and missiles a day before planned peace talks:
– Russia carried out a major attack on Ukraine overnight in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday was a breach of its commitment to hold off on attacks on energy infrastructure, a day before representatives of the two countries were due to attend U.S.-brokered talks on ending the 4-year-old all-out war.
– The bombardment included hundreds of drones and a record 32 ballistic missiles, wounding at least 10 people. It specifically took aim at the power grid, Zelenskyy said, as part of what Ukraine says is Moscow’s ongoing campaign to deny civilians light, heating and running water during the coldest winter in years.
– “Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said. Temperatures in Kyiv fell to minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) during the night and stood at minus 16 C (minus 3 F) on Tuesday. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine…

HEALTH

Mammogate Update– AMAMA describes the dismissal of the complaint against senior officials as ‘a shame’, ‘There has been negligence and the evidence is there.’: {Translation, summary}
– Ángela Claverol, president of Amama which exposed failures in Andalucía’s breast cancer screening programme affecting 2,317 women, described the Andalusian Public Prosecutor’s Office dismissal of three complaints against five senior officials from Health, Presidency, and Emergencies as a “disgrace” and “sadness”. Speaking to Europa Press, she insisted negligence was evident from 110 compensation claims by women at BID RAD 3 stage, regretting her association’s lack of a dedicated legal team.
– The complaints, filed last October by the Patient Association, including sixteen affected women with their personal cases, and left wing parties Adelante Andalucía and Izquierda Unida, targeted a former Health councillor, deputy councillor, and Andalusian Health Service manager.
– Prosecutors found no unifying criminal pattern in errors like the missed follow-ups for “inconclusive” cases, communication lapses, and data gaps, but referred cases to provincial offices in Jaén, Córdoba, Sevilla, Málaga, Granada, and Almería for individual probes closest to victims, prioritising privacy over broader scrutiny. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/noticia-amama…

TECH

Musk Merges xAI with SpaceX to Pursue Solar-Powered Computing in Space:
– Elon Musk announced Monday that SpaceX has acquired his artificial intelligence company xAI, saying the merger will allow both ventures to expand beyond Earth by harnessing solar energy in space. In a blog post, Musk argued that the world’s growing demand for computing power will exceed Earth’s energy capacity and that datacenters in orbit, powered by the Sun, will offer a limitless alternative. He predicted that within a few years, space-based computing will become cheaper than Earth-based systems.
– Musk described plans for Starship rockets to launch every hour, each carrying 200 tons of equipment to build orbital datacenters powered by solar arrays, adding the equivalent energy needed to support massive AI workloads. He also proposed lunar factories to manufacture satellites for deep-space deployment. Critics noted that Starship remains experimental, the scheme ignores maintenance realities, and Musk sidestepped ethical and regulatory issues surrounding space-based AI infrastructure.
– {Note: Musk’s Tesla company is already semi-merged with SpaceX. Tesla stockholders recently invested $2 billion in SpaceX. When merger rumours first surfaced last week, there was speculation that Tesla could be included in a three-way combination. That didn’t happen, and it couldn’t easily happen, given Tesla’s public shareholder base and the fiduciary complications of merging a public company into a private one. [Ref: https://electrek.co/2026/02/02/spacex-bails-out-xai-in-mega-deal-heres-what-it-means-for-tesla/ ] }
Full article: https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/03/musk_spacex_xai_merge_hallucination_burning_man/

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Musk’s SpaceX and xAI merge to make world’s most valuable private company:
– SpaceX confirmed the deal to acquire xAI, a smaller firm known for its Grok chatbot, posting a memo from Musk about the merger on its website. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, a source familiar said it valued xAI at $125bn (£91bn) and SpaceX at $1tn, making it the most valuable private company ever.
– In his memo, Musk said the combination would form an “innovation engine” putting AI, rockets, space-based internet, and media under one roof. Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq6vnrye06po

SOCIAL MEDIA

Spain looks to ban social media for under-16s, joining others in Europe:
– {Excuse me, they tried to do this in Spain with porn websites last year, and their age verification scheme was a complete failure. Repeating the same action for social media, and expecting different results, well, you know what they say about that. Our leaders seem to be technical idiots and have no business wasting their time, and our money, on their hair-brained schemes! SUSFU! Age barriers will never work. They need to wake up to the fact that social media is inherently dangerous. The only workable solution is to ban social media for all. Then everyone can create their own registered websites (eliminating anonymous posts), with posts uncensored by big-tech (supports freedom of speech), and be responsible for what they post (accountability for posting criminal content). This problem has been well known by big-tech since the My Space days, but there is just too much money to be made ~~presenting~~ exploiting dangerous technologies to enslave the sheeple zombie mobile addicts. Same deal with AI. One proposed solution is to allow both social media & AI access, but only at official terminals (like in public libraries or the old internet cafes) with users presenting ID and signing in to gain access. These sessions would be logged and traceable should criminal activity be detected. -Ed.}
– Spain plans {…to try…} to ban social media access for children under 16, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Tuesday, in a move designed to shield young people from the harms of online content.
– Sánchez chided the world’s biggest tech companies in a speech at a Dubai summit for allowing illegal content such as child sex abuse and non-consensual sexualized deepfake images and videos to proliferate on their platforms, saying that governments also needed to “stop turning a blind eye.”
– Spain joins a growing number of countries, including Australia and France, which have taken or are considering measures to restrict minors’ access to social media. In January, France approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, paving the way for the measure to take effect at the start of the next school year in September. The bill would also ban the use of mobile phones in high schools.
– Denmark has introduced similar legislation to ban access to social media for users under 15, while the U.K. said last month it would consider banning young teenagers from social media, as it tightens laws designed to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/spain-social-media-ban-children-under-16s-77ac5a2e2078f175bd61dbfb5ad9deb7

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Musk attacks Sánchez for restricting minors’ access to social media– “Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and a traitor to the Spanish people”: {Translation, summary}
– The Government announced on Tuesday that it will attempt to pass a law or decree to increase oversight of digital platforms in order to penalise those that fail to remove content inciting hatred or that even manipulate their algorithms.
– The owner of the social network X, Elon Musk, lashed out at the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, on Tuesday over the measures announced by the Spanish Prime Minister to increase control over digital platforms in order to sanction those that do not delete content inciting hatred or that manipulate their algorithms. “Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and a traitor to the Spanish people”, the magnate wrote in a message posted on social media.
– Musk quoted a post in which Sánchez outlined the announced proposals, including the prohibition of access to social networks for those under 16 years of age.
– In the message, the owner of SpaceX and Tesla referred to the President of the Government as “Dirty Sánchez”, alluding to the slang term for a peculiar coprophilic sexual practice. Finally, he added a poo emoji. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/musk-arremete-contra-sanchez-por-limitar-acceso-menores-las-redes-dirty-sanchez-es-un-tirano-un-traidor-los-espanoles_6929547_0.html & X Link

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

Hate AI? Firefox Browser Will Provide AI Kill-Switch From Late February:
– Aware of the strong feelings about AI – both positive and negative – Mozilla recently said that Firefox would become an AI browser, but promised that AI would be optional. Now the organization is making good on that promise.
– Starting with Firefox 148 – which is due for release later this month – Mozilla will feature the AI kill switch that users have been hoping for. But in addition to the option to disable everything in one feel swoop, there are also finer controls.
– Once you set your AI preferences in Firefox, they stay in place across updates. You can also change them whenever you want.
– {Note: Video says these new controls are available now, this is false. Firefox 148 has not yet been released in Europe. -Ed.}
Full article: https://betanews.com/article/mozilla-is-keeping-its-promise-and-letting-firefox-users-disable-all-ai-features/ & Video Link

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FINANCIAL

Gold set for biggest daily gain since 2008, silver also rebounds:
– Gold and silver prices rebounded sharply on Tuesday after a steep selloff over the previous two sessions, with the bullion on track for its biggest daily rise since November 2008 as bargain hunters stepped in amid resilient underlying fundamentals.
– Spot gold rose 5.2% to $4,906.82 per ounce by 01:31 p.m. ET (1831 GMT), recovering from Monday’s low of $4,403.24 but still trading below last week’s record high of $5,594.82.
– Silver surged 4.8% to $83.23 an ounce on Tuesday, after a record 27% one day decline on Friday and falling a further 6% on Monday. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/gold-rebounds-more-than-3-after-sharp-selloff-2026-02-03/

RELIGION

The Christ who ‘flies’ over the faithful in a temple in Benagalbón (Rincón de la Victoria): {Translation, summary}
– The statue of Christ, installed in 2005 in the Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria, has become the visual and spiritual centre of this historic sanctuary. Suspended above the presbytery, it creates a powerful axis that connects the modern sculpture with traditional elements such as the Virgin of the Candelaria and the frescoes of Francisco Hernández depicting the Annunciation, Purification, and Assumption. The harmony between these works produces an atmosphere of quiet reverence and artistic balance.
– The church itself, dating from the 16th century, retains its simple architectural character, refined by successive restorations. Warm wooden ceilings and the soft light filtering through oval windows enhance the space’s tranquillity, allowing the suspended figure of Christ to appear almost weightless. Together, the statue and its setting invite contemplation, offering a dialogue between faith and form that reaffirms the church as both a place of worship and a work of art. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/cristo-vuela-sobre-fieles-templo-benagalbon-axarquia-malaga-20260128112721-nt_amp.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– EU warns Spain over banned double tourist rental registry: May 2026 deadline set
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/european-agency-challenges-the-governments-single-housing-20260202124201-nt.html
– Salobreña announces plans for new 22-kilometre-long cycle route, ‘Ruta de las Frutas Tropicales’ {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/salobrena-creates-circular-cycling-route-through-the-20260129103534-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

*********

EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Feb 3, 2026, 22:32 UTC

**********

Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/resumen/embalses

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 and FB Page

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Mandy’s Tel: 680739577

Home Page

Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade +34-606423869

FB Page & Home Page

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

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How to Subscribe and make submissions: Click Link

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

DigameXtra No. 3178 Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026

On February 3, 2026February 2, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

SUBMISSIONS INFO & RULES PAGE LINK

DONATIONS INFO PAGE LINK

*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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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser 2025-2026 Results:
– Total donations received as of 31/1/26: 139 (last year 146 on 31/1/25), 70% of the 200 donation target.
– Donations were received from 2.78% of subscribers. This number will increase a bit as the stragglers get around to sending in their donations.
– Sincere thanks to all the donors! Donations continue to be accepted, info here: https://digamextra.com/donation-information/

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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-cycle into fantastic cards.
We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo.
Trips/Events
~All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity~
February 2026
– 12th – Presentation of our annual donations to La Cruz Roja and AVISA, the Interpreters Association at the Comarcal Hospital
March
– 3rd – Trip to Los Boliches Market, Fuengirola. €20pp
– 12th – Table Top Sale
April
– 7th – Easter trip to Gibraltar, €20pp
– 26th/29th April – Mini break to Cadiz. Staying in the 4* Senator Spa Hotel. 3 nights, 4 days. Price includes ½ board Accommodation, wine with meals, drivers tip and 2 trips to Medina Sidonia and Jerez. €415 pp based on 2 sharing a double room. Single Occupancy €585. Deposit €150 pp non refundable unless the club cancels the trip.
Travel Insurance required. For information call Gail on 951067723 / 626370695 (WhatsApp). Or 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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Archidona– III Feria del Aceite, Productos Locales y Sabor a Málaga: Saturday, 7th, and Sunday, 8th of February
Location: Plaza Ochavada in Archidona
Info & programme: https://feriadelaceite.somostuayuntamiento.com/

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Nerja Jazz- Alejandro Escalara Trio: Fri, 13 Feb, 8pm
Ventana Abierta Jazz Club, Hotel Plaza Cavana
C/ Granada 3, Nerja
Res: 690073871 & Video Link

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Malaga Guitar Experience: 13-15 Feb, Free entry
Auditorio Municipal Príncipe de Asturias, Torremolinos.
Info: https://www.last.fm/festival/4982386+M%C3%A1laga+Guitar+Experience+2026
FB Link

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La Caleta Carnival 2026: Sunday, 15 Feb, from 12pm.
Pre-registration at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Colonias del Puerto, Caleta de Velez
The event will feature brass bands, drummers, dance groups and various surprises throughout the day.

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Small Forest- Contemporary landscapes at the Eldevenir art gallery in Torrox: Until March 24.
Painter from Granada Irene Sánchez Moreno displays 25 works of recent production and under the title of Little Forest.
Location: Avenida Isaac Albéniz, 3, 3º A1. 29770 Torrox. Visits are arranged by appointment via email eldevenir@gmail.com. More information at http://www.eldevenirartgallery.com

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

Warning Note: Possible high winds, waves, and heavy rain until 11:59pm Wednesday.

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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.

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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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REDWELL INFRARED HEATING SYSTEMS

Redwell Infrared Heaters for Inside
Manufacturer warranty 10 years
ONLY products from Germany and Austria
Product Range:
– Wall and ceiling infrared heaters
Mirror, Pictures, Glass, white & color
– Mobile Heaters, free standing on wheels
– Under table Heaters
– Analog & Digital Controlling Systems, Thermostats Systems
– LED Light Frames, 2 year warranty
For 20 years we have supported clients in Spain with the highest quality Infrared Heating Systems available on the market.
Request information without any obligation.
Location:
Axarquia Service-Center, Postbox 028
Dipl.-Ing. Svend Scharler
29793 Torrox Park, Malaga
E-mail: sscharler@gmx.de Web: https://redwell.com/
Office: 952539742 ; Mobil: 606423869. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS & BATHROOMS

Hanningtons Kitchens and Bathrooms: We have been installing kitchens and bathrooms here on the Costa for 13 years. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, highest standards of work and customer service.
Whether you are thinking of updating an existing kitchen or bathroom, or whether you wish to create the kitchen or bathroom you have always dreamed of, we are here for you, every step of the way.
With an unrivalled knowledge of the best local materials and suppliers we are able to work to all tastes and budgets.
Our full range of services includes:
– Installations and Refurbs
– Wall & Floor tiling
– Full range of Plumbing work including radiators and underfloor heating
– Solar Installation
– Design & planning ideas to get the look you are after
– Electrical works
– Alter / Install walls, dropped ceilings and hang doors
– Plastering, woodwork and floor levelling
Visit our FB page on the link below to be inspired
https://www.facebook.com/hanningtons.kitchens.and.bathrooms/
Call us : 669 665 156
Email us: hanningtons.bathrooms@gmail.com ; Our contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue.

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MANDY’S PAINTBOX

Mandy’s Paintbox: Painter for 34 years in Nerja area. NEW JOB PHOTOS.
Painting work undertaken. Inside and outside, large or small. Furniture painted or sprayed. Kitchens, cabinets, wardrobes doors any colour any surface. Check out the before and after photos, all the furniture was spray painted. Call for advice. WhatsApp 680739577
Email: josiahamanda@gmail.com
My contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue. Here are “before” (left) and “after” (right) pics from my latest job.

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BUY / SELL / TRADE / RENT / WANTED

Click on pics to enlarge

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

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

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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

BluCee Real Estate – Your Property Experts in Southern Spain:
Why stay local when you can go…to Texas!
BluCee Real Estate
International buyers, local expertise.
We’re excited to announce that on 28th-29th March 2026, we’ll be in Texas, introducing local properties to a brand-new audience of American buyers.
Local homes. Global marketing.
Thinking of selling? Let’s talk. Contact us before 20th March 2026 and we’ll saddle up and promote your property in Texas.
A free, honest property valuation. No pressure, just professional advice.
Email: info@blucee.com Web: www.blucee.com
WhatsApp: +34 711 04 27 27
Office: +34 951 55 38 90
Visit us: Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29738, Málaga
BluCee Real Estate – Helping You Sell with Confidence
Proud sponsors of DigameXtra – our contact details can be seen everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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AXARQUIA SILVER & GOLD TRADE

Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade– Unique Handcrafted Coin Rings & Much More:
***Services Offered***
– Buying all kind of Silver and Gold:
Silver coins and Gold coins, bullions and bars.
Jewellery and cutlery (no collector prices!).
– Selling handcrafted Coin Rings and Jewellery: Handcrafted rings, made from silver or gold.
There are many options possible– I will handcraft your individual silver or gold ring. Choose, for example: a coin from your year of birth; a custom present for a friend; choose a JFK ½ Dollar coin; or a $1 Dollar coin from 1921 is available. I have silver from Spain; 100 Pesetas coins from 1966 for something special; and many more. You can get it shiny or black or a mix. I look forward to creating something very special for you. You want big sizes for men? No problem!
– General Metals Markets Information:
I am trading now more than 10 years in physical silver and gold. If you are interested, make an appointment.
– Make an appointment by mail or phone.
Mail: sscharler@gmx.de
Call Svend Scharler: +34-606423869
I have my office and meeting point at the Axarquia Service Centre, local 101, 29793 Torrox Park. We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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For Sale: Large decorative clock. 90cm x 90cm, perfect working order. €30
Contact Annabel, Canillas de Aceituno
Tel. 642107522; Whatsapp: +44 7811466233
For pickup in Canillas de Aceituno but can meet elsewhere.

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For Sale: TV, Philips 50” Ambilight. Only selling TV, including the remote control. There is no stand; we had it mounted on the wall. Stands can be bought on Amazon, etc. Excellent condition. Reason for sale: We upgraded to a larger model. Only available for pick-up. Asking 180€.
See details & photo: https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/818e1f7a#google_vignette
Ingrid, Algarrobo Costa
Email: 147udahl@gmail.com

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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SPAIN

All Hail King Pedro & His Royal Decrees! – Sanchez Abandons The Democracy He Falsely Claims To Support– Will Try To Enact By Royal Decree At Least 10 Measures Congress Won’t Pass: {Translation, summary}
– Pedro Sánchez’s Government, paralysed by a divided Parliament, plans to rule largely by royal decree in 2026 to avoid new defeats in Congress. Ministers have been told to advance every pending reform that can bypass parliamentary approval. This strategy, now being used to launch an extraordinary regularisation process for over half a million immigrants that is still facing significant hurdles, will now drive key domestic policies.
– By decree, like some sort of emperor, the Executive intends to raise the minimum wage, redefine the rules preventing employers from offsetting the wage rise through bonuses, tighten digital timekeeping, and extend flexible retirement. It will also allow workers on long-term sick leave to return to work gradually on reduced hours, revise maternity pension supplements, and possibly approve the Statute of Interns without debate. Structural measures on dismissals, the diesel tax, and state housing policy may follow the same path. These are massive and numerous changes he intends to force on the population without the approval of our representatives!
– Critics accuse Sánchez of undermining democracy by systematically substituting decrees, no less than 10 separate decrees, for the process of parliamentary law, a tactic seen as an attempt to project strength after repeated legislative failures. Opposition parties, employers, and trade unions denounce this as authoritarian drift and proof of political isolation. Even within the coalition, partners like Sumar and Podemos reject some initiatives, which intensifies the Prime Minister’s reliance on administrative decrees. Labour and fiscal reforms thus risk being imposed from above rather than debated in Parliament, deepening public distrust and fuelling claims that the Government governs without a mandate. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/economia/sanchez-tirara-reales-decretos-lanzar-medidas-esenciales-20260201004615-ntrc_amp.html

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The new state registry collects 300,000 tourist and seasonal rentals in its first year, denies 84,250 registrations: {Translation, summary}
– The national Digital One-Stop Shop for Lettings has completed its first year of operation, introducing obligatory registration for all tourist, seasonal, and room rentals advertised online. Andalusia has taken a leading role, with 66,643 approved registrations, the highest figure in Spain. Alongside Catalonia and Valencia, it represents most of the country’s legalised short-term lettings, reflecting its strong tourist economy. Nationwide, almost 300,000 short-term rentals have been registered, and 400,000 applications submitted in total.
– About one in five requests were rejected, often because community property rules prohibit tourist rental use.
– Tourist flats dominate the system across nearly all regions and account for almost 90% of registration requests in Andalusia. Property owners or authorised managers must obtain a Unique Rental Registration Number (NRUA), display it clearly in online listings, and renew it annually each February. Renewals now require owners to submit contract and occupancy data, allowing authorities to ensure compliance and revoke codes if properties are misused or rules breached. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/nuevo-registro-estatal-recoge-300-000-alquileres-turisticos-temporada-su-primer-ano-deniega-84-250-inscripciones_6927534_0.html

ANDALUCÍA

Another week of rain, orange and yellow alerts for Wednesday, red alerts in Cadiz, see image: {Translation, summary}
– Wednesday and Thursday will once again be very adverse days, with widespread and persistent rainfall. During these two days, Granada, Jaén, Málaga and Cádiz could see between 30 and 50 l/m2 of rainfall, with even higher values around the Strait and in the border area between Cádiz and Málaga, where up to 80 l/m2 could be reached in just 24 hours.
– The episode will not end with the passing of the working week. During the weekend, Atlantic fronts will continue to pass through, maintaining persistent rainfall in Andalucia, especially in the western provinces. In some exposed areas on the Atlantic side, models do not rule out total accumulations exceeding 250 l/m2. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/…

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The Andalucian countryside on the edge- heavy rains bring agricultural activity to a complete standstill: {Translation, summary}
– Persistent rainfall has brought farming activities in Andalucia to a near standstill, according to Asaja Andalucía president Ricardo Serra. Fields are waterlogged, sowing is delayed or lost, and harvesting has slowed sharply after consecutive storms. Around half the wheat area has not been planted, and the crops already in the ground have spent weeks under water, leaving their fate uncertain. Potato and sunflower sowing are also halted. Citrus harvesting, which had been ahead of schedule, is now badly affected.
– Farmers are waiting for dry weather to resume fieldwork, but Serra warns that if rain and high temperatures continue, fungal damage could worsen and recovery will be harder. Asaja has urged temporary relief from certain EU regulations under the Common Agricultural Policy to give growers more flexibility. Until conditions improve, large areas of farmland across Andalusia remain paralyzed. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/campo-andaluz-vilo-lluvias-intensas-frenan-completo-actividad-agricola/202602021305313205744.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

Malaga Reservoir Levels 2/2/26:
Source (New link, the previous link no longer works, this has now been updated in the LINKS Section as well): https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/resumen/embalses

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Government to Create 21 New Judicial Posts in Málaga Province in 2026: {Translation, summary}
– The Spanish Government will create 21 judicial posts in the province of Málaga in 2026, marking the largest annual expansion of the local judiciary to date. The new positions will reinforce the Provincial Court and courts of first instance across several municipalities, including Fuengirola, Marbella, Torremolinos, Estepona, Vélez-Málaga and Torrox. Government Sub-delegate Javier Salas highlighted the measure as evidence of the administration’s commitment to improving public services and modernising justice.
– At national level, 500 judicial posts will be created this year, 95 of them in Andalusia, through the new Justice Efficiency Law, which replaces single-judge courts with collegiate courts of first instance, reducing costs from 260 million to 55.7 million euros. Andalusia’s judicial structure will expand by 9.4 percent, the largest increase among regions. A separate parliamentary bill foresees the creation of 2,500 judges and prosecutors within three years to further strengthen the justice system. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-gobierno-creara-una-nueva-plaza-judicial-en-velez-malaga-y-otra-en-torrox/

COSTA DEL SOL

Five people convicted of 16 robberies in homes in Torrox, Nerja and other municipalities on the Costa del Sol, sentences halved due to court mismanagement: {Translation, summary}
– The Provincial Court of Málaga has sentenced five individuals for sixteen burglaries committed across several Costa del Sol towns, including Mijas, Marbella, Torrox and Nerja. Two were organisers who broke into occupied homes during 2020 to steal jewellery and valuables, while a third knowingly sold the stolen goods through a Málaga jewellery shop. Police later seized watches, rings and cash. One burglary in Mijas yielded nearly 186,000 euros in jewellery, and another in Torrox about 25,000 euros in assorted luxury items. Two defendants received four-year prison sentences for participating in a criminal group and burglary, while the remaining three were punished for handling stolen goods, receiving terms of fifteen to twenty months. The court acknowledged procedural delays as a mitigating factor, ordered compensation for victims, and suspended the enforcement of the shorter prison sentences for two years, provided the defendants do not reoffend during that period.
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/condenadas-cinco-personas-robos-viviendas-torrox-nerja-y-otros-municipios-costa-del-sol/

ALGARROBO

A 77-year-old woman found dead in Algarrobo Costa who lived with her son “in unsanitary conditions”: {Translation, summary}
– On Friday night, the Civil Guard found the body of a 77-year-old woman in a house in Algarrobo Costa that was in ‘unsanitary conditions’, with faeces and urine inside.
– The elderly woman lived in the house with her son, who was caring for her. Officers have launched an investigation to determine whether there were any deficiencies in the woman’s care, analysing both the condition of the property and the care provided in the days prior to her death. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, so it is believed that death may have occurred several days before it was discovered. It was neighbours in the area who raised the alarm when they noticed a strong smell coming from the house. The autopsy will officially confirm the cause of death, although initial investigations point to a natural death and there are no signs of violence, according to the Civil Guard.
– Although a homicide is not being investigated, the son of the deceased is under investigation and could face charges for alleged neglect, depending on the final results of the proceedings. No arrests have been made at this time. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/encuentran-muerta-a-una-mujer-de-77-anos-en-algarrobo-costa-que-vivia-con-su-hijo-en-condiciones-insalubres/

MIJAS

A 79-year-old kamikaze on the AP-7: thirteen kilometres in the opposite direction to avoid paying the toll in Calahonda, in Mijas: {Translation, summary}
– A nearly 80 year old man drove 13 kilometres the wrong way at high speed along the AP-7 between Calahonda (Mijas) and Marbella late last night. The driver, a Moroccan resident of Madrid, apparently turned around at the toll station to avoid paying the nine-euro fee, triggering a highly dangerous situation. Several motorists alerted Emergency Service 112 Andalucía as the vehicle sped towards Cádiz on the wrong carriageway. Witnesses described how drivers were forced into sudden evasive manoeuvres to prevent collisions. The Guardia Civil de Tráfico intercepted the car at kilometre 1,038 without any resulting injuries or accidents. Although the man tested negative for alcohol and drugs, he is under investigation for reckless driving. Witnesses expressed shock that he endangered lives simply to avoid a minor toll payment, a decision that could have resulted in tragedy. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/provincia/kamikaze-octogenario-ap-7-calahonda-mijas_0_2005785295.html

USA

Epstein Files- 3,000,000+ new pages released, national security adviser to Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has resigned:
– Three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos were posted publicly on Friday. The release came six weeks after the department missed a deadline signed into law by US President Donald Trump that mandated all Epstein-related documents be shared with the public.
– Slovakian national security adviser Miroslav Lajcak {pic} has resigned after new files related to Jeffrey Epstein showed the pair had exchanged emails talking about young women.
– British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that the former Prince Andrew should testify before a U.S. congressional committee, following new revelations about Andrew’s links to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. New files related to Epstein published by the U.S. Justice Department on Friday included emails that showed King Charles’s brother maintaining regular contact with Epstein for more than two years after he was found guilty of child sex crimes. The files also include pictures appearing to show Andrew crouching over and touching the waist of an unidentified woman lying on the floor. Her face was blacked out in the redacted images.
– Epstein made $75,000 (£55,000) of payments to accounts connected to Lord Mandelson (who resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday evening, February 2, 2026, citing a desire to prevent “further embarrassment” to the party), bank statements released in the files suggest. Between 2003 and 2004, Epstein appears to have sent three separate $25,000 payments referencing Lord Mandelson.
– More details are sure to be released as researchers get a chance to review the massive data dump. While there are hundreds of Trump mentions, none implicate him in any wrong doing so far.
Ref 1: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevnmxyy4wjo
Ref 2: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-starmer-says-ex-prince-andrew-should-testify-before-congress-over-epstein-2026-01-31/
Ref 3: https://www.reuters.com/world/slovakia-national-security-adviser-resigns-over-epstein-files-denies-wrongdoing-2026-02-01/

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Famous names in Epstein’s new papers, and Fergie’s marriage proposal: {Translation, summary}
– The US Department of Justice released over three million pages of Jeffrey Epstein files last Friday, a month past deadline, including 180,000 uncensored images detailing his ties to prominent figures.
– Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces renewed scrutiny over Epstein dinner invitations at Buckingham Palace, photos with an unidentified woman, emails about a “beautiful” Russian woman, and sending pictures of daughters Eugenia and Beatriz.
– Elon Musk exchanged emails from 2012-2014 planning island visits and parties, later denying he attended.
– Bill Gates features in Epstein’s 2013 notes alleging extramarital relations, aid with “Russian girls”, and include Gate’s emails asking Epstein for advice on antibiotics for treating the STD’s he gave to his wife after getting STDs from a russian girl. These emails suggest Gates wanted to slip these drugs to his wife without her knowledge.
– Mette Marit of Norway shared flirty emails from 2011-2014 post-Epstein’s conviction.
– Sarah Ferguson accepted Epstein’s funds, and even proposed marriage after his release. She wrote: “You are a legend. I really don’t have the words to describe my love and gratitude for your generosity and kindness. I am at your service. Just marry me.” This was sent January 2010 — approximately six months after his 2009 release from jail following his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
– Sergey Brin visited Epstein’s island and corresponded with Ghislaine Maxwell.
– Richard Branson emailed warmly about Epstein’s “harem” after a business meeting. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/internacional/duque-hombre-invisible-todos-los-senalados-los-nuevos-papeles-epstein_6928807_0.html
Additional ref on Ferguson quote: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/prince-andrews-ex-wife-sarah-ferguson-told-epstein-just-marry-me-after-he-was-released-from-jail/articleshow/127843847.cms
NOTE: Supposedly the public can view all the newly released Epstein files here, but I couldn’t get in. AI tells me the website may be overwhelmed by demand for the new data, and says many others are also experiencing trouble accessing it. https://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-releases-epstein-records-provided-by-the-department-of-justice/

SPORTS

Tennis News- Carlos Alcaraz is proclaimed the youngest player in tennis history to win all four Grand Slams: {Translation, summary}
– Carlos Alcaraz has closed a historic cycle in his career by conquering, for the first time, the Australian Open, thus completing the Grand Slam, the set of the four major tennis tournaments. With this victory, the young Murcian joins his new title to those already obtained in Roland Garros (2024 and 2025), Wimbledon (2023 and 2024) and the US Open (2022 and 2025), consolidating his name among the greats of the sport.
– With just 22 years and 272 days, Alcaraz becomes the youngest player in history to complete the Grand Slam, surpassing the record that had stood for 87 years of Don Budge, who achieved the feat at 22 years and 363 days in 1938. Now, the Spaniard enters the list of legends along with figures such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic, becoming the ninth man to do so. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariodesevilla.es/deportes/carlos-alcaraz-proclama-jugador-joven_0_2005784888.html

SCAMS

DGT is not sending this email warning of an outstanding fine: {Translation, summary}
– Several users have reported receiving fraudulent emails posing as traffic fine notifications from Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT). The DGT confirms it has not sent these messages, which are part of a phishing campaign designed to steal personal and financial data.
– The emails typically come from non-official addresses and use urgent language to pressure recipients, such as threats that the fine will increase to 400 euros if unpaid within 24 hours. Authorities, including the DGT and the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), have repeatedly warned about such scams spread through email or SMS. The phishing links lead to imitation DGT websites that request sensitive information.
– Anyone who has clicked on these links or provided data is urged to contact their bank immediately, preserve evidence of the scam (take screenshots), and file a report with the relevant security or law enforcement authorities to help prevent further fraud. {And also get the device cleaned by an experienced professional to remove all malware clicking the link may have installed. No, simply running Malwarebytes and CCleaner will not disinfect it if you clicked the link. By clicking it, you gave it permission to install, so it is now seen as a “legit” file by consumer level malware removal tools. Advanced tools, and experience using them, are required to remove the infections you invited in. DoctorLaptop can do this on Windows computers, and I can refer you to a qualified tech for other devices on request. -Ed.} Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/motor/dgt-no-esta-enviando-este-correo-electronico-que-advierte-una-multa-pendiente-pago_6928076_0.html

SPACE

SpaceX plans to launch one million satellites to power orbital AI data centre:
– Elon Musk’s SpaceX has filed plans with U.S. regulators to launch up to one million satellites into low-Earth orbit. Together, these satellites will act as an orbital data centre to power artificial intelligence.
– SpaceX currently operates between 9,300 and 9,600 of the 14,000 or so active satellites that are orbiting Earth; those SpaceX satellites provide the company’s Starlink Internet service to millions of customers worldwide. The scale of the new proposal is far and away the largest of any planned satellite constellation. Including this filing, there are an estimated 1.7 million proposed satellites worldwide, according to a social media post from astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who tracks satellite constellations via his blog.
– “I think it is going to be extremely difficult to operate such a huge number of satellites safely,” McDowell says. “This is a factor-of-100 increase over the already large number extant today, so a factor of 10,000 in the number of close approaches in the absence of careful station keeping.”
– SpaceX offers few details about the satellites, such as their size, specific orbits or even cost. But the company does say it plans to stick the satellites in “largely unused orbital altitudes” within an altitude range of 500 to 2,000 kilometres.
The spacecraft would be positioned to maximize time in the sun so that they could run on solar power. That’s a major argument in favour of orbital data centers that has been frequently cited by AI leaders.
– Despite SpaceX’s bullishness on the potential for AI, the proposal has been met with concern by some in the astronomy community. Peter Plavchan, a professor of astronomy at George Mason University, wrote in a social media post that whoever can occupy most of the usable orbits around Earth first will effectively prevent any other company or nation from hosting satellites in those orbits. “It’s the ultimate first-mover territorial claim strategy in lieu of off-world space regulations,” Plavchan wrote. Full article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacex-plans-to-launch-one-million-satellites-to-power-orbital-ai-data/

NATURE

Bones of the smallest dinosaur in the world found in Burgos; it did not exceed 30 centimetres in height: {Translation, summary}
– The Archaeological and Paleontological Collective of Salas (CAS) has found at the Vegagete site, near Villanueva de Carazo (Burgos), about 800 bones, corresponding to six individuals, of what is the “smallest dinosaur in the world”, which did not exceed 30 centimetres in height.
– It is the ‘Foskeia pelendonum’, the “smallest known ornithopod species”. The name of the new species is a tribute to the Pelendones, a Celtiberian tribe that inhabited the area; it also refers to its unique way of feeding.
Specifically, the 800 fossilised bones, “the vast majority fragmented and incomplete”, are in a good state of preservation. Their small size made the research task difficult, but they were able to identify about 350 that belonged to six individuals, from calves to adults, which would form a small herd. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/ciencia/laboratorio/noticia-hallan-burgos-huesos-dinosaurio-mas-pequeno-mundo-no-superaba-30-centimetros-altura-20260202145111.html

FINANCIAL

The Ibex-35 breaks an all-time record and exceeds 18,100: {Translation, summary}
– This Monday, the Madrid Stock Exchange reached a historic milestone. The Ibex 35 exceeded the 18,100-point threshold for the first time. Specifically, the stock market closed the session at 18,115.2 points, after a 1.31% rise, driven mainly by the strong performance of the banking sector and steel companies. Source, Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/espana/2026/…

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Slump in commodities rattles global markets- Gold down to €3966, Silver down to €68.35:
– Commodities markets slumped on Monday, led by deep losses in gold, silver, oil and industrial metals, as a selloff unleashed by President Donald Trump’s choice of Kevin Warsh for the next U.S. Fed chair sent precious metals tumbling for a second session. Gold slid 5% to its lowest in more than two weeks, while silver fell more than 7%. Gold and silver had jumped 30% and 71% to record highs in January before they started dropping. The decline began on Friday, with the steepest one-day drop in spot gold since 1983, for a fall of more than 9%, while silver plunged 27% in its largest daily decline on record.
– Losses spilled over into equity markets as investors ditched other assets to cover any precious metals losses. Global stocks fell for a third straight day, led by steep declines across Asia and in Europe, where basic resources stocks came under heavy fire. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/slump-commodities-rattles-global-markets-2026-02-02/

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Feb 2, 2026, 20:10 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/resumen/embalses

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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Axarquia Silver & Gold Trade +34-606423869

FB Page & Home Page

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

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DigameXtra No. 3177 WEEKEND EDITION Friday, January 30th, 2026

On January 30, 2026January 29, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

SUBMISSIONS INFO & RULES PAGE LINK

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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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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor

Home Page and FB Page

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

I can only produce DigameXtra with the financial support of my readers. Once a year, during the year end holidays, I do an 8 week fundraiser to help pay production expenses throughout the whole year. This year’s goal is to receive donations from 4% of subscribers. This “4% Club” finances DigameXtra for the 96% group that don’t donate. Which group will you belong to? The generosity of the 4% Club members is greatly appreciated.

Just like your morning coffee,
what would you do
without your morning DigameXtra?

– Holiday Donation Info, 2 Methods –

DigameXtra subscribers must donate at least €20 (39 cents per week) to gain annual submission posting privileges.

#1. You may drop cash donations off in person and say hello, by appointment, or place them in my mailbox beside my door anytime. Please be sure to include your name on the envelope so I can put you on the list of subscribers with submission posting privileges for 2025-2026! Due to health reasons, unannounced drop-ins are inconvenient for me. But if I am expecting you, no problem! My mailbox has the name HARRIS on it. Email me for map and directions. Cash donations are strongly preferred.
#2. Alternatively, you may send me an Amazon ES (Spain) “eGift card” by email. You need to have an Amazon.es account. The only info you need is my email address and your name (the sender’s name). Remember, this is an “eGift card” you buy that Amazon.es emails directly to me, don’t buy a plain “gift card”. Use the link provided below to access the “eGift card” purchase page.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND AMAZON UK eGIFT CARDS. NO BANK TRANSFERS OR PAYMENT APPS.
Here is the Amazon.es eGift Card Link, (NOTE: YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY AMOUNT YOU LIKE ON THE FORM, THE DEFAULT IS €60):
https://www.amazon.es/Cheques-Regalo-Amazon-es-mail-Amazon/dp/B07SS5PFJK/?th=1&gpo=60
On the eGift card purchase form, enter the DigameXtra email as the recipient, as shown below in Spanish and with English translation.
Para/For : digamextra@protonmail.com

Please do not ask me about gaining posting privileges by making small donations of under €20, several times a year. Several people promised to do that for each of the last two annual fundraisers, and not a single one followed up.

Total Donations Received As Of Today: 136

Target, 4% of subscribers = 200 donations

This year’s fundraiser will be extended until the end of January. This will give readers who have been out of town for the holidays a chance to get their donations in. The very modest target is donations from 4% of subscribers, currently the tally is just over 2.7%. Thanks again to those that have donated, it is much appreciated!

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Editor’s Holiday:
DigameXtra will be closed Monday, 2 February

Items scheduled for posting on Monday, 2 Feb, will appear the following day, Tuesday, 3 Feb.

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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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41 CLUB NERJA

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Tolox- 10th Cata del Mosto: Sat, 31 Jan
Tolox will hold its tenth Must Tasting on Saturday, 31 January, to celebrate local winemaking. Starting at 13:00 in the Plaza Alta, an expert jury will select the best musts of the harvest. This will be followed by a public tasting of the contest entries paired with local produce. From 16:00, music by the group Aguardiente will entertain the crowd. Officials presented the event, noting its aim to promote the area’s artisanal wine tradition, sustained by family wineries.
Info: https://www.tolox.es/15586/cata-de-mosto-en-tolox

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The Killer Rockets live at La Cochera: Sat, 31 Jan, 23:30
Paseo Andres Segovia 45, La Herradura.
Info: https://lacochera.club/en/event/the-killer-rockets-26/
Band: https://www.instagram.com/thekillerrockets/

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Malaga- Free concert by the Municipal Band:
Sunday, 1 Feb, at 12 noon at the Museum of Malaga
The recital will be conducted by Miguel Etchegoncelay {pic}, invited by the Municipal Band, who will offer the programme Souvenirs, with a variety of international music, with special emphasis on pieces of French origin. It will begin with a performance of the 7th Orchestral Suite Scènes d’Alsace composed by Jules Massanet, divided into four movements (1. Sunday morning; 2. In the tavern; 3. Under the lime trees; and 4. Sunday evening), which evoke a France at the time after the tragedy of the Franco-Prussian War. It will continue with Thierry Deleruyelle’s Keystone, in which music becomes a metaphor for the history, architecture and cultural life of a community. The concert will conclude with a performance of Marcel Poot’s humorous suite Tartarín de Tarascón, a suggestive and theatrical work marked by humour.

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Caleta de Vélez prepares for its VII Solidarity March for the benefit of AVOI and ADAPA: Sun, 1 Feb
– The march will consist of a walk from the Fishermen’s Market along the promenade, followed by a refreshment station and a day of coexistence with live performances, raffles and activities for the whole family. The day will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will culminate with a paella for the participants who register for march bibs.
– In addition, there will be a blood donation and recruitment of bone marrow donors this Friday 31/1, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Deputy Mayor’s Office.

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XIV The Philharmonic By The Sea – Nº 4: Fri, 6 Feb, 7pm
Auditorio Edgar Neville, C/ Pacífico 54, Málaga 29004
Info, map & tix: https://www.mientrada.net/evento/14-filarmonica-frente-al-mar-4/

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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Warning Note: Possible high winds & waves until 8pm Thursday 29/1/26

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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.

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TONY ROAM TRANSPORT & REMOVALS

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GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR

The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa: Now with Sunday Lunch!
Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, 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

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DOCTORLAPTOP’S COMPUTER REPAIRS & SALES

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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, reduced: Beautiful pair of comfortable armchairs, recently reupholstered, like new condition. Only 80 Euros.
Jill, Algarrobo 695463385. Can also meet in Caleta or El Ingenio.

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For Sale: Brand New Powerful Business Grade Laptop
HP 15-FD0079NS
Special features for seniors: Large characters on keys + extra large touchpad.
15.6″ premium FHD Intel iRISxe display, 250 NIT.
Windows 11 Pro installed in English; Keyboard is Spanish.
1000Gb SSD M.2 hard drive, lots of room for large media collections.
16Gb ram, extra fast at 3200MHz.
Intel i5-1334U processor, 10 cores/12 threads, up to 4.6GHz!
Wifi 6, USB 3.2 x 2; USB-C x 1; HDMI; Dual speakers.
Battery, 7hrs, with fast-charge. Weight 1.59kg, 18.6mm thick.
Price €450 cash. DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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SPAIN

Puente says that almost 400,000 rail joints remain to be renewed on the Madrid-Sevilla line but gives no details about the Adamuz welding: {Translation, summary}
– Óscar Puente {pic, is that not the worst neck-beard you’ve ever seen?} informed the Senate that nearly 400,000 rails on the Madrid-Sevilla high-speed line, including the Adamuz accident section, await renewal in phases out of 1.6 million total, with 71,000 already replaced and 123,732 in progress. He detailed targeted interventions for wear, ripples, and cracks rather than complete track removal, confirming aluminothermic welds passed inspections four months prior. However, Puente offered no specifics on the suspected cause: a welding failure between a new rail and one from 1989.
– He faced fierce criticism from PP, Vox, and Junts senators demanding his resignation over partial renewals, poor maintenance, ignored warnings, and corrected errors like the ultrasonic inspection date (September, not November as Puente previously claimed). PP’s Antonio Silván accused Puente of “changing versions like a jacket,” lying about infrastructure state, and incompetence– “The president of the CIAF has said it clearly, everything seems to indicate that the main cause of the breakage was a weld. That is, the infrastructure. That is, Adif and, therefore, your Ministry and, therefore, you,” underlined Silván, who said that Puente should conclude his Senate appearance this Thursday “with three words”: “I present my resignation.” Junts mocked, “Minister, what time do you resign?” Puente dismissed demands as “unjust,” claiming he did “everything humanly possible,” snapping finally, “What you say matters nothing to me. I annoy you because I do my job well.” “If I am a socialist, it is because I do not like injustices and that I resign is quite unfair,” Puente added. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/puente-dice-que-quedan-por-renovar-casi-400-000-traviesas-linea-madrid-sevilla-pero-no-detalla-sobre-soldadura-adamuz_6927396_0.html

ANDALUCÍA

The Andalusian countryside takes tractors to the streets to protest against Mercosur and CAP cuts: {Translation, summary}
– Farmers across Andalusia joined a national protest against the Mercosur trade agreement and planned cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy, organising marches and tractor demonstrations in almost all provincial capitals. Demonstrations in Granada, Córdoba, Málaga, Huelva, Almería, Cádiz and Jaén blocked traffic, disrupted bus routes and even halted the Metro in Granada, although actions in Seville and Madrid were suspended because of severe weather.
– Protesters denounced trade deals with Mercosur and Morocco that, they argue, allow imports that fail to meet EU standards, creating unfair competition and threatening food sovereignty and sustainability. They also criticised the future CAP framework for expected funding cuts between 2028 and 2034, as well as high production costs, low farm incomes and growing bureaucracy. Banners accused European negotiators of treating agriculture as a mere bargaining chip in international agreements. Farmer organisations further warned of serious risks to strategic Andalusian sectors, including livestock, citrus and table olives.
Source, Spanish: https://www.elconciso.es/agricultura/campo-andaluz-saca-tractores-calle_0_2005760736.html

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Coag Andalusia warns of the “fraud” of allowing the entry of imported organic products that do not comply with EU standards: {Translation, summary}
– Coag Andalusia warns that proposed changes to the European Organic Production Regulation would seriously weaken guarantees for organic produce in the European Union. The organisation criticises plans that would allow imported products to be sold as organic without fully complying with the strict rules demanded of European farmers, arguing that this creates unfair competition and deceives consumers. It insists that the EU organic logo and ECO label must be reserved exclusively for products that meet Regulation 2018/848, and that the current system of equivalence for third countries is unreliable.
– Coag also denounces the heavy reliance on private certifiers outside the EU, calling instead for reinforced public controls at entry points and independent audits. It stresses that the hard won reputation of European organic farming, built by producers under demanding public supervision, must not be diluted by regulatory relaxation driven by trade liberalisation priorities. Source, Spanish: https://www.elconciso.es/agricultura/coag-andalucia-fraude-productos-ecologicos-importados-normas-ue_0_2005737329.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

Photo Galley of Strom Damages on the Coast, Torrox to Espepona, 35 Photos:
https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/efectos-temporal-malaga-imagenes-20260128142109-ga_amp.html

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Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo recover the telecommunications system after five days without services: {Translation, summary}
– Officials report that on the morning of Wednesday, January 28, the telecommunications service has returned to normal.
– “In the 21st century and with the infrastructures that exist, it is not normal that these outages have not improved. In addition, this is a situation that has been repeated for almost three years. What is not normal is that we are without coverage every month for four or five days, without internet and, therefore, without some basic services,” said the councillor.
– According to the mayor of Alfarnate, Juan Jesús Gallardo, the main problems encountered by citizens were telecare, lack of communication and the electronic malfunction of the clinical service for requesting appointments to visit the health centre. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/provincia/alfarnate-alfarnatejo-recuperan-sistema-telecomunicaciones_0_2005741840.html

NERJA

A dozen residents of Nerja are cut off after the storm- “We can’t go out, we need help”: {Translation, summary}
– Mud, rubble and flood debris carried by the stream in the Río de la Miel hamlet have completely blocked the ford that provides vehicular access, leaving the only track unusable. The material has clogged the drainage system and buried the concrete crossing, so even though the track itself is in good condition, residents cannot reach it.
– The obstruction appeared after Storm Kristin and persists despite an initial municipal clearing operation, because the critical plug remains in the river channel. In addition, the storm has caused structural and safety risks near at least one home, where a large tree now hangs partially uprooted and threatens to collapse onto the house. The same episode has also damaged the local electricity infrastructure, cutting power and preventing repair crews, insurance assessors and specialist companies from entering while the crossing remains blocked by the accumulated sediment and fallen tree. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/decena-vecinos-nerja-incomunicados-borrasca_0_2005761581.html

UK

China to relax travel rules for British visitors, UK says:
– China has agreed to allow British citizens to travel to the country for up to 30 days without a visa, Downing Street has said. {No mention if this will be a reciprocal agreement, as most Chinese need visas for even short UK visits. Ref: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y/china}
– There is no date for when the visa agreement will be in force but the government is hoping this will happen as soon as possible.
– Hundreds of thousands of British people could potentially benefit from the change, with around 620,000 travelling to China in 2024 according to the Office for National Statistics. Downing Street said it would bring the UK into line with 50 other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c150yv75pn7o

HEALTH

Bent Doctor Busted For Malpractice– Dr. Almudena Ramón and her husband sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding patients with false spinal cord treatments, more cases under investigation:
– Valencia’s Provincial Court sentenced doctor Almudena Ramón and her husband Eduardo Ruiz to three and a half years in prison for defrauding spinal cord injury patients. The couple exploited Ramón’s scientific prestige from her CSIC career to promote unauthorised “Spinal Regenerativa Therapy” (TRM) through their CIMERM centre, advertised as a four-phase clinical treatment. The critical third phase, a cell transplant, lacked clinical evaluation, preclinical research, and Spanish medicines agency authorisation, facts the accused fully understood. They preyed on desperate patients with severe lifelong paralysis, who paid for the initial phase but were then told they were unsuitable for subsequent stages including the transplant. Ramón controlled patient selection as medical director. The court highlighted how professional credibility lent false legitimacy to the scam. Victims will receive compensation from 425 to 8,937 euros each, plus a 2,700 euro fine.
– Additional charges are pending regarding cases involving spinal cord injury patients treated by Almudena Ramón and Eduardo Ruiz at IMED hospital in Elche. These are separate from the Valencia conviction and remain under investigation in Court of Instruction 2 of Elche. Similar fraudulent practices were alleged: promoting the same unauthorised TRM therapy, collecting initial payments, then excluding patients from further phases. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/comunidad-valenciana/valencia/condenan-tres-anos-prision-doctora-almudena-ramon-su-marido-por-estafar-pacientes-medulares-con-falsos-tratamientos_6926623_0.html

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Virgen de la Victoria Hospital Staff- Management “Putting Lives at Risk” in Emergency Department: {Translation, summary}
– The Staff Council of the Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital has demanded the immediate resignation of the hospital’s Management, citing an “untenable” crisis in its Emergency Department. They state that severe overcrowding is endangering patient safety and staff health, as professionals are forced to manage excessive workloads with insufficient resources, compromising care quality. The council asserts this is not a temporary issue but the direct result of management failures, requiring urgent structural solutions. They warn against normalising the situation, arguing it signifies a grave deterioration of the public healthcare system. The council emphasises this is a structural crisis demanding an immediate administrative response.
– The statement issued insists that the collapse is not an isolated incident nor attributable to exceptional circumstances. “The saturation of the emergency department is not occasional nor inevitable: it is the direct consequence of management decisions that are putting lives at risk,” the union representatives underscore. Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/malaga-sanidad/denuncian-colapso-urgencias-hospital-virgen-victoria-exigen-dimision-gerencia/202601281444223202872.html

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

When Gov’t Agencies Transfer Administrative Tasks To AI There Is No More Accountability To Citizens– “Don’t blame us, AI did it!” – And Andalucia is leading the pack: {Translation, summary}
– Andalusia has been chosen to lead Eunomia.AI, a major European Digital Europe project that will define how Generative Artificial Intelligence is safely used in public administrations. Through the Digital Agency of Andalusia, the region will coordinate a large European consortium and host part of a sovereign GenAI infrastructure at the University of Granada, aimed at cutting costs and avoiding duplicated investment.
– Eunomia.AI will be integrated into numerous Andalusian public services to speed up procedures, simplify paperwork, improve citizen assistance through multilingual virtual assistants and enhance transparency and legal certainty.
– The initiative fits into the Andalusian Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030 and is supported by the Andalusian AI Centre in Granada, which manages dozens of practical AI use cases. Altogether, these efforts position Andalusia as a leading southern European region in digital transformation, reinforcing both regional technological capacity and Europe’s strategic autonomy in advanced AI solutions.
– {Yikes! Error-prone AI should NOT be trusted to interpret law! When will these politicians, who clearly are not well informed on AI topics, but support anything related to Agenda 2030, ever learn? AI cannot think or reason, it simply recognizes language patterns, summarizes the info it finds, and feeds that back to the user. No common sense, originality or practical/situational reasoning like a human has, and that law interpretation demands. Fixing the errors and damages “law focused AI” will inevitably make will require far more resources than if humans were doing these “legal-logic intensive” tasks to begin with. And the citizens will no longer be able to hold officials accountable for procedural or administrative errors that harm them– “Don’t blame us, AI did it!” I suspect that some enterprising insurance seller will eventually offer “AI Damage Protection” coverage. -Ed.}
Source, Spanish: https://www.elconciso.es/coyuntura/andalucia-proyecto-europeo-ia-generativa_0_2005760534.html

TRAVEL

Nobody at the wheel– autonomous driving arrives in Malaga: {Translation}
– After more than eleven million kilometres of testing globally and an initial deployment on our continent through France, Germany and Italy, Tesla is bringing its autonomous driving system (‘Full Self-Driving Experience’) to five Spanish cities. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Malaga have been the five cities chosen to carry out the first public tests of this system in our country. In addition, users who wish to do so will be able to experience this technology in action for themselves, as the American firm has enabled a series of “test drives” in the selected cities.
– This test, open to the public, will be available from January 26 to April 30, by appointment through a specific portal created by Tesla so that users can book their session. Tesla has been advocating for autonomous driving of vehicles for years, because for the firm it is the way to go to reduce the accident rate, reducing, according to the brand, up to seven times the probability of suffering a serious accident compared to traditional human driving.
– Tesla’s autonomous driving system has been improving by leaps and bounds in recent years, moving from a ‘brain’ with simple programming to a much more complex and advanced system, capable of analysing, understanding and reacting to complex traffic situations. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving is capable of dealing with roundabouts, speed bumps, pedestrians, traffic jams, double rows, busy streets, and traffic lights. Nothing to do with the current adaptive cruise controls with semi-autonomous driving systems.
– Despite the improvements of this system, the experience is announced with the word ‘supervised’ in parentheses. European legislation, much stricter than that of other countries, does not allow autonomous driving without supervision, with the pilot being ultimately responsible at all times. Tesla continues to work to demonstrate to European bodies that its cars are capable of achieving autonomous driving without the need for supervision. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/motor/volante-conduccion-autonoma-llega-malaga-20260128121057-nt_amp.html
Tesla test drive reservations: https://www.tesla.com/es_ES/drive
{When they contact you, be sure to request a ‘Full Self-Driving Experience’ test drive, not a standard test drive.}
More info on test drives in Malaga, in English:
https://en.hwlibre.com/Full-supervised-self-driving-in-Spain:-this-is-how-the-tests-are-going-and-the-path-towards-its-official-arrival/

SPORTS

Tennis News- Australian Open 2026 Results: Use this link to see full results and schedule.
https://ausopen.com/results#!All

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Marbella’s reservoir dumps 20 times Costa del Sol’s demand into the sea; La Concepción releases 28,000 litres per second as heavy rains push dam to safety limit {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/concepcion-reservoir-throws-times-the-costa-sols-20260129101418-nt.html
– Benalmádena to host 25th Drag Queen Gala
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/benalmadena-torremolinos/costa-sol-town-host-25th-drag-queen-20260129114046-nt.html

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CHURCHES & WORSHIP

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

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NEW LIFE CHURCH

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EL PUENTE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

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DOG ADOPTIONS

Axarquia Animal Rescue – Voluntary Charity – non profit organisation:
CIF G93245116 ; Charity Number 10567 (Spain)
Email: axarquia-rescue@hotmail.com
Website: www.axarquiaanimalrescue.com
– Alfie, 4 years, large. Alfie is a strong dog, he loves people, but hates cats. Good with other dogs, and just wants to please.
– Morcilla, 16 months, Griffon Cross, Medium. Very friendly and affectionate, good with other dogs and cats.
Both dogs have been fully vaccinated and neutered.
Please take a look at our website, where you will find more information and photos, plus details of other dogs and pups that we have in our care. Our adoption costs are 110e for pups that have been fully vaccinated, rabies, chip and passport. 180e for older dogs that have all vaccinations, neutered and passport. This contributes towards their vet and care costs, and helps us to continue rescuing abandoned dogs and cats.

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

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Spain Hit by Kristin Storm! Winds of 130 km/h, Huge Waves and Flooding in Andalusia: Video Link

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Spain NOW! 150 Km/h Winds SLAMS Andalusia! Storm Kristine Causes Wind Storms & Flooding: Video Link

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Jan 29, 2026, 20:34 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

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. 3176 Thursday, January 29th, 2026

On January 29, 2026January 28, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Just like your morning coffee,
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– Holiday Donation Info, 2 Methods –

DigameXtra subscribers must donate at least €20 (39 cents per week) to gain annual submission posting privileges.

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Editor’s Holiday:
– DigameXtra will be closed Monday, 2 February.
Items scheduled for posting on Monday, 2 Feb, will appear the following day, Tuesday, 3 Feb.

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DigameXtra Introduces A New Sponsor
Taogarden Massage – Torrox Costa
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Postponed– Car Boot El Pantano, La Vinuela, Sunday 1st February:
Unfortunately I’m having to cancel our market for this Sunday, 1st February due to the weather forecast and reschedule it for SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY weather permitting of course. We are all hoping the weather will be kind and look forward to seeing you all on the 8th.
For further information and stall enquiries please telephone me Sandra/Sandy on 633878471.
Directions: car park of El Pantano restaurant, Km 30 on the A356, overlooking Los Romano’s.

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The School of Drummers of Malaga will accompany San Antón this Sunday in the pilgrimage that Árchez dedicates to its patron saint:
***Festival in Honour of San Antón – Árchez***
Sunday, February 1st
– 09:00: Rocket shots announcing the festival.
– 11:00: Inauguration of the craft and ‘Sabor a Málaga’ product market (Paseo del Río Turvilla).
– 12:00: Rociera mass in honour of San Antón with the Municipal Choir of Árchez (Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación).
– Post-Mass: Pilgrimage procession with the Málaga Drummers School. Statue of San Antón carried by oxen and accompanied by horsemen.
– Following Procession: Traditional blessing of animals.
– 14:00 / Midday (festive area start): Tastings of cured meats and paella (Tent at the fairground next to Río Turvilla). Charity bar (Association Vamos Higinio Stop – AME). Music by Antídoto quartet, Leo Música en Vivo, and Temporada Nostalgia 2026.
– 17:00: Horseback ribbon race with prize-giving.
– 18:00: Concert by Óscar El Ruso (Free entry, under tent, until full capacity).
– After Concert: Music continues with Antídoto quartet, Leo Música en Vivo, and Temporada Nostalgia 2026.

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Flamenco Show- Carmelina: Fri, 6 Feb, 8pm
Venue: Peña Flamenca Niño De Vélez, Vélez Málaga.
Flamenco show by the dancer Carmen Camacho, will be accompanied by the voices of Fabiola Santiago and Rosa Linero, together with the guitar of Francis Martin.
C/ Tejeda 10, 29700 Vélez Málaga
Info & tix (€15): https://tickets.taquilla.com/events/carmelina-carmen-camacho-fabiola-santiago-rosa-lineros-francis-martin/sessions/06-02-2026-20-00-pena-flamenca-nino-de-velez

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

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AEMET Weather Warnings In Andalucia For Thursday, 29 Jan
Orange & Yellow alerts for heavy rain & high winds, especially in coastal areas. Source:
https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and&p=&l=

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Price €450 cash. Factory warranty upon registration.
DoctorLaptop, Torrox Costa. Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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SPAIN

Hazte Oír, a conservative, Catholic-oriented pressure group in Spain will take the PSOE and Podemos’s regularisation of immigrants to the Supreme Court: {Translation, summary}
– The association Hazte Oír will appeal to the Supreme Court to halt the fast track immigrant regularisation promoted by the PSOE and Podemos, seeking its precautionary suspension. It alleges the measure is an “electoralist” and “arbitrary” attempt to artificially alter the social composition to influence elections, calling it an “instrument of partisan advantage” and a “purchase of wills.” It argues such a significant policy requires strict constitutional justification. While regularised immigrants cannot vote nationally without citizenship, the group contends institutions must not manipulate the electorate. It has two months from the measure’s official publication to file the appeal, promising an “immediate legal response” if the government proceeds. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/espana/hazte-oir-llevara-tribunal-supremo-regularizacion-inmigrantes-psoe-podemos_202601286979cf91cb7db20040b9c009.html

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Pension Increases Put On Hold– The Executive is working on “different scenarios” to revalue pensions after the fall of the omnibus decree: {Translation, summary}
– Government Spokesperson Elma Saiz {pic} stated that the Government is analysing scenarios to provide certainty to pensioners after Congress overturned a decree containing the 2026 pension increases, with votes against from the PP, Vox, and Junts. Opposition parties objected not to pension increases, but to various other measures in the “omnibus” social decree, dooming the whole package.
– This pension funding part of the decree is only necessary because the government continues to fail to pass a annual budget– the way it is nornally funded and increased. They now say they will refile individual “single purpose” decrees for pension funding and to stiffen squatter laws.
– Saiz emphasised the need to support over 10 million pensioners now left in uncertainty. Saiz criticised the PP’s “significant irresponsibility” for this action and noted ongoing dialogue with Junts. The rejected decree also included other social measures: early retirement for forestry workers, extended storm aid, more primary care doctors, and protection from evictions. Saiz accused the PP of repeating last year’s behaviour, when it also voted against a similar decree, forcing the pension rise to be approved separately. When questioned, she confirmed the Government still intends to present the General State Budget within the year’s first quarter. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/economia/laboral-00346/noticia-gobierno-trabaja-diferentes-escenarios-revalorizar-pensiones-decaer-decreto-omnibus-20260128093425.html

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Ábalos resigns his seat in Congress: {Translation}
– Former Socialist minister José Luis Ábalos resigned his seat in Congress on Wednesday after losing his appeal against the ruling by Supreme Court judge Leopoldo Puente that sent him to provisional detention in the “Koldo case”.
– As he explained on social media, he believes that, in his current legal situation, about to take the stand in the dock, he can no longer maintain his seat as a member of parliament. Ábalos, who was currently part of the Mixed Group in Congress, had already been suspended from his parliamentary rights, without salary or voting rights, since his prosecution was confirmed. He will now be replaced by another PSOE candidate for Valencia. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-abalos-renuncia-escano-congreso-20260128130054.html

ANDALUCÍA

Storm Kristin leaves a thousand incidents in Andalucia, road and power cuts, and hundreds of evacuations: {Translation, summary}
– Storm Kristin is causing widespread disruption across Andalucia, with heavy rain and wind prompting orange weather warnings throughout, and red alerts in two Almería districts. Authorities have declared a flood emergency. Nearly a thousand incidents have been reported, including one fatality in Torremolinos after a falling palm tree. The provinces of Cádiz, Seville, Málaga, and Jaén are worst affected. As a precaution, classes are suspended in 77 municipalities, and 250 people were evacuated from San Roque, Cádiz. Over twenty roads are closed due to flooding, ice, or snow, primarily in Cádiz. River levels are critically high, with the Guadalquivir and Guadiana at red alert, 13 others at orange, and 27 at level 1. Emergency officials warn that further rainfall will cause levels to rise, requiring continued high vigilance across the region. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/temporal-kristin-deja-un-millar-incidencias-andalucia-cortes-carretera-luz-cientos-desalojos_6926927_0.html

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The government says that some 170,000 people are affected by lack of electricity supply in Andalucia: {Translation}
– The delegate of the central government in Andalucia, Pedro Fernández {pic}, has stated that, at this time, there are about 170,000 people in the community who are affected by lack of electricity supply due to the incidents that the storm of rain and wind is causing. At a press conference this Wednesday in Granada, Fernández said that there are “conversations with the supply companies” and that the replacement tasks are being carried out in the “most immediate way possible so that, as soon as possible, normality is restored”.
– He explained that there are people affected by this lack of electricity supply in the eight provinces. Fernández has indicated that the fall of trees or some objects as a result of the strong wind have affected some electricity supply lines. Source, Spanish: https://www.teleprensa.com/articulo/granada/gobierno-afirma-que-170000-personas-estan-afectadas-falta-suministro-electrico/202601281212342326595.html

CALETA DE VELEZ

VOX will demand that Minister Marlaska explain in Congress the impunity of drug traffickers in the port of Caleta de Vélez: {Translation}
– Confronting the images seen in recent hours in the port of Caleta de Vélez, where a drug speedboat took shelter from bad weather with total impunity despite the presence of Civil Guard officers, the VOX Parliamentary Group in Congress will demand that the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, appear to explain how such a thing could happen.
– Patricia Rueda {pic}, a national deputy for VOX from Málaga, has denounced that the drug traffickers “are laughing at the people of Málaga, they are laughing at the Spanish people, they are laughing at an Interior Minister who abandons the Civil Guard, they are laughing at a criminal government that takes resources away from our Civil Guard, from our state security forces, and in this way sides with the criminals.”
“We will continue fighting for the Civil Guard to be provided with more human and material resources, because it cannot be that criminals laugh at the people of Málaga and at the Spanish people,” Rueda insisted.
– To conclude, the deputy from Málaga recalled that what was seen in the port of Caleta de Vélez “is similar to what has been seen in recent months across the entire province of Málaga, especially on the Costa del Sol, where the presence of drug speedboats on the coasts and shootings in municipalities like Marbella or Fuengirola are now commonplace.” Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/vox-exigira-a-marlaska-que-explique-en-el-congreso-la-impunidad-de-los-narcos-en-el-puerto-de-caleta-de-velez/

NERJA

Nerja Town Council will renovate the lower viewpoint of the Balcón de Europa: {Translation}
– The Local Governing Board has adopted an agreement approving the basic project for the renovation and restoration of the lower viewpoint of the Balcón de Europa, the site of the former Rey Alfonso Restaurant. The project has been drawn up by the municipal architect, Beatriz Pérez, and has a base tender budget of €291,369.15. The project will be co-financed by the Town Council and the Regional Government of Andalusia, through the Tourist Municipality grant.
– The mayor of Nerja, José Alberto Armijo, stressed that ‘this will be one of the most important projects carried out in recent years at the Balcón de Europa’, as it will restore this tourist enclave to its original state in the 1960s, recovering the public use of the lower viewpoint of La Reola.
– The project involves the removal of all the layers superimposed on the concrete structure, including exterior carpentry, as well as floor, wall and ceiling coverings, in addition to the layout and facilities of the former restaurant.
– Following approval by the Governing Board, an application will be made for a Tourist Municipality grant of €91,396.15, as well as the corresponding authorisations from the Regional Delegations of Culture and the Environment of the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the procedures for the final approval of the project and the drafting of the necessary specifications for the tendering of the works will be initiated. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-ayuntamiento-de-nerja-rehabilitara-el-mirador-bajo-del-balcon-de-europa/

ALMUÑÉCAR

Two narcolanchas style boats left adrift by storm in Almuñécar: {Translation, summary}
– Early on Wednesday morning, the Civil Guard received a report of two high-powered semi-rigid boats near La Herradura beach. Witnesses reported seeing up to five drug smuggling boats, but only two had problems, according to municipal sources. The boats reached the bay to try to shelter from the storm, but ended up stranded near the beach, with one of them capsizing.
– This drug boat, just over twelve metres long and with four engines of more than three hundred horsepower, spilled fifty drums of petrol. Its occupants transferred to another boat that was better equipped with a deck, and the stranded boat was seized by the Civil Guard when it reached the shore without occupants and was subsequently towed away. No drugs were found, suggesting these boats purpose was to supply fuel to other boats.
– The Local Police and Civil Guard have collected the petrol cans, while the second drug boat remains in the area just over fifty metres from the shore, being monitored by officers at the scene. It is likely that, like the first, it is loaded only with petrol cans.
– The Civil Guard, which has already removed the boat stranded on the beach, has deployed an operation in the area to try to locate the alleged owners of the boats and clarify the facts. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/andalucia/granada/dos-narcolanchas-quedan-deriva-por-temporal-almunecar_6927068_0.html

TRAVEL

New passport rules for Britons with dual citizenship: Video Link

SPORTS

Tennis News- Australian Open 2026 Results: Use this link to see full results and schedule.
https://ausopen.com/results#!All

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OTHER

Famous Up Helly Aa festival sets Shetland’s skies ablaze:
– The annual Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland, saw Vikings and hundreds of torchbearers ignite the night in Europe’s largest event of its kind. This deep-rooted Norse tradition features a “Jarl Squad” who spend a full year building a Viking longship replica, ‘Skyldulid,’ and crafting intricate costumes. The festivities commence with a vibrant daytime parade, where the squad proudly displays their handmade regalia to cheering crowds. As darkness falls, the main torchlit procession begins, with the squad joined by over forty other groups and a Junior Jarl Squad. The climax arrives as more than a thousand flaming torches are hurled at the longship, reducing it to a spectacular blaze. Following the burn, the squad sings in community venues. The celebrations, which attract global visitors and continue into a local holiday, are a powerful testament to unique community spirit and heritage.
Source, & 14 photo gallery: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8p2rjeyveo

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Strong winds force closure of Spain’s Sierra Nevada ski resort
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/the-wind-forces-the-closure-the-sierra-20260128101238-nt.html
– Malaga-Madrid high-speed train line could remain suspended after 2 February
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/the-reopening-the-highspeed-train-between-malaga-20260127153544-nt.html
– Malaga province’s reservoirs set for their best record in last ten years {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malagas-reservoirs-the-way-their-best-record-20260127085447-nt.html
– Work on Malaga’s third hospital begins on Wednesday
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-city/work-malagas-third-hospital-begins-tomorrow-20260127085523-nt.html
– Strong crosswinds force diversion of numerous flights bound for Malaga
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/malaga-city/strong-crosswind-forces-diversion-numerous-flights-malaga-20260127133427-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Jan 28, 2026, 15:05 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

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. 3175 Wednesday, January 28th, 2026

On January 28, 2026January 27, 2026 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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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

Just like your morning coffee,
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– Holiday Donation Info, 2 Methods –

DigameXtra subscribers must donate at least €20 (39 cents per week) to gain annual submission posting privileges.

Total Donations Received As Of Today: 131

Target, 4% of subscribers = 200 donations

This year’s fundraiser will be extended until the end of January. This will give readers who have been out of town for the holidays a chance to get their donations in. The very modest target is donations from 4% of subscribers, currently the tally is just over 2.5%. Thanks again to those that have donated, it is much appreciated!

**********

Editor’s Holiday:
– DigameXtra will be closed Monday, 2 February.
Items scheduled for posting on Monday, 2 Feb, will appear the following day, Tuesday, 3 Feb.

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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

**********

Competa Solidarity Race: Fri, 30 Jan, from 10am
“Day of Peace & Non-Violence”
Source: https://turismocompeta.com/es/agenda/eventodetalle/245/-/carrera-solidaria

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Torrox El Sereno hiking route: Sat, 31 Jan, from 7am
Linear route through the Sierra Huétor Natural Park
Distance: 15 km ; Elevation difference: 450 M
Level: Intermediate
Info: 952539927. Email: deportes@torrox.es

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San Antón 2026 Concert in Árchez: Sun, 1 Feb, 6pm
Music by Oscar el Ruso, free.
At the Fairgrounds (Turvilla River Esplanade).
Tel: +34 951463281

**********

X Cross Country- Villa de Torrox: Sun, 8 Feb, 10:30am
Rio Torrox.
Tel: 952539927. Email: deportes@torrox.es
Info & reg: https://web.faalive.com/inscriptions/158

*********

Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast with more details

Warning Note: Possible heavy rain & high winds until 11:59pm Wednesday.

**********

AEMET Weather Warnings In Andalucia For Wednesday, 28 Jan
Orange & Yellow alerts for heavy rain & high winds, especially in coastal areas. Source:
https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?k=and&p=&l=

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Submissions for posting in sections below
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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/

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

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RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUESTS, COMMENTS & SUBSCRIBER SOAPBOX

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

**********

SPAIN

Keys to the extraordinary regularisation of 500,000 immigrants approved by the Government: deadlines, beneficiaries, impact…: {Translation, summary}
– The Council of Ministers has approved the royal decree which reforms the immigration law to regularise the situation of approximately 500,000 immigrants in Spain. The measure originated from a Popular Legislative Initiative registered with the Congress and subsequently advanced to the parliamentary review stage by all parties except Vox. Now, by approving it via royal decree after reaching an agreement with Podemos, the initiative will not have to pass through the Lower House.
***Who will be able to benefit?***
– On the one hand, all those persons who, as of 31 December 2025, have been living in the country for at least five months; and, on the other hand, those who have submitted an application for international protection before the same date.
***What other requirements must be met?***
– Applicants must not have a criminal record “nor pose a threat to public order”, as stated by the Government.
***When will it come into force?***
– As it is a royal decree, already approved by the Council of Ministers, the measure will come into force as soon as it is published in the Official State Gazette.
***What deadlines is the Government working to?***
– The intention is for the period to apply for papers to be open from “early April, once the mandatory procedures for processing the Royal Decree are completed”, until the coming 30 June. “The very admission for processing of the application will allow the applicant to work on a provisional basis from the first day in any sector and any part of the country,” explained the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations and Government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, this Tuesday.
***How long does the permit last?***
– When that application is accepted for processing, “a provisional residence permit will be granted which allows for legal work and access to other fundamental rights, such as healthcare. And after review, “if the resolution is favourable, a one year residence permit will be granted, at the end of which an ordinary permit may be requested in accordance with the standard immigration regulations.” In the event the regularisation includes minor children, its validity will be five years until the ordinary permit.
***What reasons does the Government give for bypassing Congress?***
– The Government justifies the approval of the measure by royal decree on the grounds that, following its taking into consideration, the ILP “has remained blocked for too many months” in Congress. “Given the social urgency and the broad political, economic and social consensus for the measure, the Government has examined the regulatory route to give people who are in our country the opportunity to live with equal rights and opportunities. It is not an alternative to Parliament, it is a Government response within the constitutional framework and fully compatible with the legislative debate,” argues the administration.
https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/claves-regularizacion-extraordinaria-500-000-inmigrantes-aprobada-por-gobierno-plazos-beneficiarios-impacto_6926288_0.html

And since the Sanchez administration has tried to dodge getting full congressional approval to pass this “decree”, the inevitable challenges have already been announced!

Feijóo will denounce the regularisation of migrants as contrary to the European pact & VOX plans a Supreme Court challenge: {Translation, summary}
– PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo will convey his party’s strong opposition to the Spanish government’s extraordinary regularisation of over half a million migrants at an upcoming European People’s Party summit. The PP condemns the urgent decree, bypassing Parliament, as frivolous timing to distract from recent fatal train accidents and as a violation of the EU immigration pact.
– They argue it will create a damaging “call effect” attracting hoards of new migrants, it will strain public services, and is a left-wing political ploy that may ultimately backfire, driving disgruntled supporters to the far-right party Vox. While Vox plans a Supreme Court challenge, the PP will first critically analyse the decree’s text. Feijóo has labelled the policy “ridiculous,” pledging a complete overhaul if he gains power, and will also discuss Venezuela and Mercosur agreement conditions at the EPP meeting. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-feijoo-denunciara-cumbre-ppe-regularizacion-migrantes-considerar-contraria-pacto-europeo-20260127191124.html

AXARQUÍA

The Guaro River is flowing strongly again in Periana and replenishing the reserves in La Viñuela: {Translation, summary}
– The Birth of the Guaro River has ‘burst forth’ again in Periana this Monday, 26 January, as a consequence of the abundant rainfall recorded in the last few weeks in the Alta Axarquía region. This is the second similar episode in less than a year, after the one that occurred in March 2025, and it constitutes a new and significant contribution to the La Viñuela reservoir, the main water reserve for the district.
– According to Diario Sur [ https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/vuelve-reventar-nacimiento-rio-guaro-periana-tras-lluvias-malaga-20260126133408-nt.html ], this natural phenomenon, popularly known as “the Guaro has come out” (ha salido el Guaro), occurs when the underground aquifers reach their maximum saturation level and water emerges suddenly from the spring, increasing the river’s flow abruptly. The effect is especially visible at the mine adit where the boreholes are located that supply water to Periana for consumption and irrigation.
– Thanks to this new contribution, the La Viñuela reservoir has exceeded 80 cubic hectometres and is close to 49% of its capacity, more than double the water stored a year ago, which provides direct relief for farmers and irrigators in a district harshly affected by drought. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/rio-guaro-vuelve-a-brotar-con-fuerza-periana-refuerza-reservas-vinuela/

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Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo isolated by a massive breakdown that leaves 1,400 residents without communication: {Translation, summary}
– The towns of Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo in Malaga have been completely cut off from landline, mobile, and internet services since last Friday due to a network fault during scheduled work, affecting 1,400 residents. This outage, described by mayors as causing “genuine anguish”, has paralysed economic and social activity. Essential services are disrupted, including the medical clinic, telecare for the elderly, cash machines, and card payments. The mayor of Alfarnate reports such outages occur almost monthly, hindering municipal, pharmacy, and restaurant operations. Both mayors cite a feeling of abandonment due to poor communication from operators and demand structural fixes. The incident underscores the fragility of rural infrastructure, jeopardising healthcare and isolating the communities. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/alfarnate-y-alfarnatejo-aislados-por-una-averia-masiva-que-deja-sin-comunicacion-a-1-400-vecinos/

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The Eastern Health Area of Malaga Axarquía will make improvements in six health centres: {Translation, summary}
– Six health centres in the East Malaga Axarquia Health Management Area will undergo renovations with an approved investment of nearly 100,000 euros. The works at the centres in Benamargosa, Torre del Mar, Vélez Sur, Viñuela, Torrox and Almayate will include repairing and remodelling toilets for staff and patients—adapting them for reduced mobility—along with repairs to consulting rooms, skylights, and roofs. Area Manager Miguel Moreno stated this fulfils the commitment to strengthen Primary Care, improving conditions for both patients and professionals. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-area-sanitaria-este-de-malaga-axarquia-realizara-mejoras-en-seis-centros-de-salud/

MALAGA PROVINCE

125 people investigated for crimes against territorial planning and urban planning in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– In 2025, Málaga’s Environmental Prosecutor’s Office and the Guardia Civil’s Seprona unit conducted Operation ‘Murus’ against planning crimes. The investigation targeted 125 individuals and entities, including developers and technicians, for illegal construction on rustic and sometimes protected land. Authorities documented 62 criminal planning offences and 154 administrative infractions, such as unauthorised works and non compliant projects.
– Illegal activities included building houses in restricted areas, placing unauthorized prefabricated homes, constructing pools disguised as agricultural water storage ponds, building recreational barbecues without permission, and converting agricultural sheds into dwellings. All case files were forwarded to the prosecutor, and administrative complaints were sent to the relevant town councils for disciplinary action. The operation involved collaboration with local and regional Andalusian government services. Source, Spanish: https://www.teleprensa.com/articulo/malaga/investigadas-125-personas-delitos-ordenacion-territorio-urbanismo-malaga/202601270927372325166.html

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Fake nurse arrested in Malaga who worked in both public and private healthcare: {Translation, summary}
– National Police in Malaga have arrested a 49-year-old man for posing as a nurse using fraudulent documents to secure both public and private healthcare contracts since July 2020. The investigation, prompted by the Andalusian emergency services and the local nursing college, found he had no university nursing degree or professional registration. He falsified a degree from the University of Malaga, forged registration certificates- even using another nurse’s valid number- and later invented a career as an Air Force nurse, all disproven by authorities. His actions, undertaken in Malaga and Almeria, risked patient safety. After his arrest and invocation of the right to silence, he was released pending court proceedings, where he faces potential prison and fines if convicted. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/falso-enfermero-malaga/

CALETA DE VELEZ

The crew of a drug boat greet the camera while taking shelter from the storm in Caleta de Vélez: {Translation, summary}
– Video released by a Guardia Civil union shows the crew of a narcotics speedboat inside Caleta de Velez port in Malaga, where they sheltered from a storm. Filmed overnight, the individuals mockingly waved at the camera. The union identifies the vessel as drug-trafficking linked and notes the complete absence of any officers, interpreting the act as a brazen display of impunity. The images show traffickers using public infrastructure as a secure refuge. Police sources call it a disgrace, signalling deep agent frustration and questioning the efficacy of regional counter-narcotics operations. The incident exemplifies the trade’s geographical spread along the coast, a shift facilitated by an extensive network of young fuel suppliers known as ‘petaqueros’. These individuals have colonised the shoreline to provide logistical support, indicating a significant change in the operational landscape and the pervasive challenge faced by authorities. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/velez-malaga/tripulantes-narcolancha-saludan-camara-resguardan-temporal-caleta-velez_0_2005740560.html

MIDDLE EAST

Israel recovers the body of the last hostage remaining in Gaza: {Translation, summary}
– The Israeli Army has confirmed the identification of Sergeant Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer, as the final hostage whose remains were in the Gaza Strip following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. His body was located in a Muslim cemetery in Gaza City after intensive search operations. Gvili fell in combat at Kibbutz Alumim on 7 October, after which his body was taken to Gaza.
– The military states this concludes the return of all hostages. Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants kidnapped 251 people and killed approximately 1,200 during their incursion. The return of 28 deceased captives was a commitment under the initial US-brokered truce, with Hamas blaming Israeli bombardment rubble for delayed handovers. Concurrently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to reopen the Rafah crossing for pedestrian traffic once this last search operation was complete. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/mundo/israel-recupera-cadaver-ultimo-rehen_0_2005736401.html

HEALTH

Getting an appointment at a primary care centre in Malaga– the average wait is over 9 days, and often no appointments are available at all– no wonder the Emergency Units are overwhelmed and new medical workers refuse to work here!: {Translation}
– Securing an appointment in Primary Care is no easy task. The average delay to be seen by a family doctor is 9.27 days in the province of Malaga. That is, if one manages to get an appointment, as in six out of ten attempts none appears available. These are the main conclusions of the ‘Report on the Situation of Delays in Primary Care in Malaga’, produced by a group of retired professionals from the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), in light of the worrying “deterioration” they claim to observe in the public health system. As current patients and former workers, they decided to take action and, given the scarcity of public data on waiting times, have set out to create a “kind of observatory” to measure and publicise the state of accessibility to Primary Care in the province. To this end, they have carried out a first pilot, with wide participation from group members, in which they directly checked the real availability of appointments and the delay offered to the user at the time of request.
– This first study, to which La Opinión de Malaga has had access, is based on 253 real appointment requests made through the official SAS telematics platforms between 15 and 18 December. Regarding the representativeness of the sample, the authors note that valid data was obtained from 63 Primary Care centres in the province 78% of health centres and 8% of clinics, which equates to an estimated population coverage of 78.5%, that is, around 1.15 million people over the age of 13.
– One of the report’s most concerning findings is the closure of appointment diaries, as the results show that in 60% of cases, when requesting an appointment, the application returns a message stating that it cannot be managed at that time and offering as the only alternative the possibility of receiving a call within a maximum of 72 hours to be assigned an appointment, without specifying a date. For the authors, this message creates a feeling of “helplessness and insecurity” and pushes many users to turn to Emergency Services, with the consequent saturation of these, or to resort to private healthcare. “This diary closure is practically widespread across the entire province, except in the La Vega/North Malaga district. It is a common practice and is of particular relevance in the Malaga and Guadalhorce Valley districts where it reaches 70% of cases,” they highlight in the report, which concludes that six out of ten patients do not have access to an appointment when they request one.
– In those cases where an appointment is available, the average delay to be seen by a general practitioner is 9.27 days, with the mode, the most frequent value, being 14 days. “Delays reach unacceptable levels,” argue the authors.
The same document recalls that the Forum of Primary Care Physicians states that the acceptable delay should not exceed 48 hours and that the “quality standard” is ‘zero delay’, understood as the system’s capacity for a patient to be seen by their own doctor on the same day they request it, or at most within 24 to 48 hours.
– However, according to the study’s results, the reality in the province is far from these recommendations. None of Malaga’s six Health Districts meets the criterion of not exceeding 48 hours when requesting an appointment, and only three of the 26 basic health zones included in the pilot, Álora, Nerja and Torrox, have an average waiting time of less than 72 hours.
– In the city of Malaga, the situation is especially unequal. Of the 26 health centres analysed, only two, El Perchel and Puerta Blanca, have average delays of less than three days, while 13 of them exceed a 7 day wait. The maximum delay reaches 23 days at the Puerto de la Torre health centre.
Furthermore, the report also notes that seven health centres in the capital had no appointments available at the time of the study.
– The centres with the highest average delays are the Portada Alta health centre (16.5 days), Carlinda health centre (15.33 days), El Cónsul health centre (15 days), Huelin health centre (15 days), Delicias Malaga health centre (14 days), Miraflores de los Ángeles health centre (14 days) and Nueva Malaga health centre (14 days). The report also points out the incongruity that in the same centre, and within such a short observation period, delays of zero days can coexist with waiting times exceeding a week, even up to 15 days, and cases where it directly offers no available appointments. “This fact reflects the non existence of queue management, and of management in general, and makes obtaining an appointment depend more on chance than on service planning by those responsible,” they highlight.
– As a final conclusion, the authors maintain that these results are indicative of a “very poor quality of care” and “significant accessibility difficulties”, which pose a “risk to patient safety”. They also argue that these obstacles to accessing Primary Care are one of the causes of the saturation of hospital Emergency Services and the “gradual disaffection with public healthcare”.
– Last November, the SAS retirees’ group already published a manifesto of complaint, signed by 748 retired professionals, in which they warned of the “evident and progressive deterioration” suffered by public healthcare and which also included a series of improvement proposals. Their objective as a group, they state, is to monitor and, where appropriate, denounce the situation of deterioration, raise awareness among the general population and current officials, offer advice, and participate in campaigns and mobilisations focused on defending a public, universal, and quality healthcare system in Andalusia. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2026/01/27/cita-atencion-primaria-malaga-demora-centro-salud-126111801.html

TRAVEL

Train Fiasco Continues- Puente now admits that old rails were retained during the renovation of the Adamuz section where the Iryo train derailed: {Translation, summary}
– The Minister for Transport, Óscar Puente, has changed his story regarding the Adamuz train crash, conceding that the recently modernised line included original track from 1989-1992. The accident was caused by the fracture of a weld connecting a new rail laid in 2025 with one over three decades old—a standard industry practice, he claims.
– The official investigation confirms an old rail section was involved. Adif, the infrastructure company, insists the correct welding procedure for joining the two different rail types was followed. There is also conflicting information about whether the final ultrasonic inspection occurred in September or November.
– The political opposition accuses Puente of spreading falsehoods and demands his resignation. He denies lying, calls any discrepancy a mistake, stresses the track segment passed seven recent inspections without providing any proof, and vows that anyone at fault will face consequences after the technical investigation is complete. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/puente-admite-conservaron-railes-antiguos_0_2005737846.html

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Adif locates a new track break in Córdoba, forcing speed restrictions: {Translation, summary}
– The Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif) has located a new track break in Córdoba, about 15 kilometres from the capital. As confirmed by the Ministry of Transport on Monday, the incident has forced the establishment of a Temporary Speed Restriction (LTV) at that point, pending replacement of the part.
– Specifically, the break affects a switch point. These parts are very large, over 50 metres long, and must be transported by rail, so replacing them requires special permits. Furthermore, the work can only be carried out during night-time maintenance. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/andalucia/2026/01/26/adif-localiza-nueva-rotura-via-cordoba-126103782.html

SPORTS

Tennis News- Australian Open 2026 Results: Use this link to see full results and schedule.
https://ausopen.com/results#!All

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SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Organic farmers face eviction and loss of EU project as 400 contracts terminated by Larios
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/organic-farmers-face-eviction-and-loss-project-20260126171449-nt.html
– Alhambra palace wall collapses during heavy rainfall
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/the-alhambra-will-check-its-walls-after-20260127102827-nt.html
– Lutz, the homeless Canadian who was attacked in Salobreña {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/they-hit-they-left-laughing-and-was-20260122113616-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

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

Phone numbers for emergencies
Emergency Services.: 112
National Police: 091
Guardia Civil: 062
Ambulance: 061
Fire Station (Bomberos): 080
Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112

Local Police
Torrox: 952 539 828
Nerja: 952 521 545
Frigiliana: 952 533 126
Torre del Mar: 952 549 238

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

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

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DigameXtra No. 3174 Tuesday, January 27th, 2026

On January 27, 2026January 26, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

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AEMET Weather Warnings For Tuesday, 27 Jan
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For Sale, 2 items: Reduced for quick sale
– 2 x Home Avant Fan heaters, vgc, €10 each
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Buyer collects, John, Los Romanes. 697737176

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For Sale: Two beautiful carved wood and leather Spanish chairs. Excellent condition. €30 each or €50 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

A photograph posted by Óscar Puente confirms that he lied; the new Adamuz track broke at the junction with an old one from 1989: {Translation, summary}
– Óscar Puente, Spain’s Transport Minister, has unleashed a barrage of deceptions over the train derailment, eroding any pretence of transparency. He lied that track sections were not considered as a cause from the start, despite experts targeting them immediately. He vaunted complete renewal of the accident stretch with over 700 million euros poured in. But the Ministry’s own photographs prove that the exact place of the accident is just at the junction of the old rails from the late 1980s with the renovated one and that the derailment did not occur in a completely renovated section. Maintenance neglect? “Never in doubt,” he said, brushing off material stress signals inspectors have identified as pre-existing the derailment. Alerts? He flipped the script, saying Adif and Renfe called 112 first; records prove 112 contacted them first. Daily exploratory machine checks on conventional lines? Debunked by drivers. With credibility in tatters, Puente now blasts the Press for “hoaxes”, aping Sánchez’s favourite strategy. Source, Spanish: https://www.larazon.es/economia/foto-puente-confirma-que-via-nueva-partio-union-antigua-casi-40-anos_2026012569767de4c48f6b4ee36d11f2.html

ANDALUCÍA

Andalucia will control the ‘over-occupancy’ of homes with inspections and fines of 20,000 euros: {Translation, summary}
– The new Andalucian Housing Law, effective from 24 January, defines an overcrowded dwelling as one occupied by more people than its floor area, number, and size of rooms permit, violating minimum habitability standards and posing a real health and safety danger. It grants town councils new powers to intervene. Upon detecting or receiving a report of overcrowding, councils can immediately launch an investigation and, with judicial authorisation, require entry into a property.
– The law establishes that responsibility lies with the property owner or landlord who has facilitated or consented to the overcrowding through wilful or negligent action or omission; an owner unaware of the situation is not liable. Permitting such illegal overcrowding is classified as a serious infringement, carrying fines of between 6,000 and 20,000 euros. The inspection process and the administration of these penalties are now the formal responsibility of the town councils under this legislation. Source, Spanish: https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/andalucia/2026/01/25/ayuntamientos-andaluces-controlaran-exceso-residentes-sobreocupacion-ley-vivienda-126074050.html

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The Junta rejects the Mercosur trade agreement without measures in favour of the Andalucian countryside: {Translation, summary}
– The Andalusian Government firmly rejected the EU-Mercosur trade agreement unless robust safeguard measures protect the interests of the regional countryside and farmers, preventing long-term harm to the sector. Minister Ramón Fernández-Pacheco highlighted this after the European Parliament’s narrow vote last Wednesday—by just ten votes—to refer the pact to the Court of Justice of the European Union over compatibility doubts with EU law, effectively suspending ratification, however, provisional application remains possible via the Commission.*
– He argued the deal cannot proceed without guarantees against imports of products using banned pesticides, ensuring equal environmental standards and competition for Andalusian farmers and livestock producers. This position is echoed by key agrarian organisations—Asaja, COAG, Cooperativas Agroalimentarias, and UPA—which have scheduled protests on 29 January in cities like Málaga and Córdoba. They condemn the agreement for treating agriculture as a bargaining chip, exacerbating challenges from CAP budget cuts, soaring production costs in energy and fertilisers, and mounting bureaucracy that threatens the sector’s structure and future.
{* The Commission retains authority under Article 207 TFEU and the Common Commercial Policy to implement provisional application for the trade plan before full ratification, if it deems basic conditions are met. This stems from the treaty text and past practice (e.g., EU-Canada CETA). Parliament’s CJEU referral delays but doesn’t revoke this power; the Commission decides unilaterally, subject to Council notification. Critics argue it’s politically risky amid farmer protests, but legally possible to implement without overriding the Parliament vote against, using its parallel authority via a limited Commission/Council approval. Ref: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/593489/EPRS_BRI(2016)593489_EN.pdf}
Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/andalucia/junta-rechaza-acuerdo-mercosur-medidas-favor-campo-20260124234205-nt_amp.html

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The judge passes the buck to the higher courts, archives the case for the emergency Health contracts of the SAS denounced by the PSOE: {Translation, summary}
– The Sevilla instructional section has provisionally shelved the SAS emergency contracts case, absolving current manager Valle García Sánchez and predecessors Miguel Ángel Guzmán and Diego Vargas. Admitted in Oct 2024 via PSOE/Podemos querellas, it alleged procedural abuse in 2020-2021 pandemic contracts and 2024 extensions.
– The court ruled actions compliant with emergency decrees and Public Sector Contracts Law, rejecting prevarication, arbitrariness, or public harm. Procurement involved prior SAS providers with no challenges, and extensions ensured service continuity amid delays. Intervention objections lacked criminal weight. {Notably, per El País and ABC reports, the investigator avoided the issue of possible bribes used to secure contracts, focusing only on legality (El País, 24 Jan 2026; ABC, 25 Jan 2026) -Ed.}.
– Thus the judge has washed his hands of the politically delicate matter, and it will certainly be appealed to a higher authority.
[UPDATE: The PSOE of Andalusia has confirmed that it will appeal the judicial decision that closes the investigation into the emergency contracts of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) during the Covid pandemic. Ref: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/psoe-recurre-archivo-contratos-emergencia_0_2005734006.html]
Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/andalucia/juez-archiva-causa-contratos-emergencia-sas-denunciados-20260125200350-nt_amp.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

Málaga begins a rainy week with a yellow alert in Ronda and Axarquía this Tuesday: {Translation, summary }
– The province of Málaga is heading into a week which, according to forecasts from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), is expected to be a washout. As such, a yellow warning for rain has already been activated for Tuesday in Ronda and the Axarquía, and for wind in the Serranía, the Costa del Sol and the Guadalhorce. Therefore, the coming days will be marked by unsettled weather.
– In the case of the Axarquía, where there is also a rainfall warning on Tuesday, Aemet forecasts an accumulation of up to 20 litres per square metre in one hour and 50 in 12 hours. The risk remains between 6:00 and 17:59 hours, the same as in the Ronda region.
– Meanwhile, on the Costa del Sol and in the Guadalhorce Valley, Tuesday’s meteorological warning is for wind, from 9:00 hours until 20:00, with gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour. Westerly winds with gusts of up to 70 km/h are expected. Wednesday and Thursday all indications are that the rains will continue, being locally heavy and persistent. And for Friday, the forecasts indicate overcast skies, but without significant rainfall. In principle, for the weekend, no showers are expected, but rather skies with cloudy intervals. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/provincia/malaga-semana-lluviosa-alerta-amarilla-ronda-axarquia-martes_0_2005728554.html

ALMUÑÉCAR

A dozen cars appear with flat tires in the neighbourhood of Los Marinos de Almuñécar: {Translation, summary}
– The upper area of the Sexitano neighbourhood has dawned this Sunday with an unpleasant surprise for the owners of parked vehicles, who have found damage caused during the early morning. Indignation and discomfort spread among the residents of the upper part of Los Marinos. According to the affected themselves, during the early hours of this Saturday to Sunday, one or more unknown persons have proceeded to puncture the tires of at least a dozen vehicles that were parked in the area.
– The facts, carried out at night and treacherously, were discovered in the early hours of this morning, causing a great stir in the neighbourhood. The situation is not only an economic damage for the owners of the cars, but also a serious logistical inconvenience on a day of rest. Civil Guard agents have moved to the scene Sunday morning to carry out the first investigations, collect testimonies and take charge of the investigation. At the moment, no information has been released about the identity of the author or authors of these acts of vandalism. Source, Spanish: https://www.almunecarcomunicacion.com/una-decena-de-coches-aparecen-con-las-ruedas-pinchadas-en-el-barrio-de-los-marinos-de-almunecar/

MADRID

Sign of the Times– Thought you’d seen the end of shanty towns in Spain? From the outskirts to the streets of Madrid, slums are reappearing with permanent settlements in the heart of the capital’s urban area: {Translation, summary}
– The current situation in Madrid is characterised by a proliferation of small, itinerant informal settlements, dispersed across city streets, parks, and underpasses, rather than concentrated in large shanty towns. These encampments, made from plastic, cardboard, and tents, house a diverse international population facing bureaucratic hurdles, often a lack of legal papers preventing formal work. – While official figures note 1,015 people sleeping rough at the end of 2025, concentrated in districts like Centro, the true scale is difficult to quantify due to the transient nature of these settlements. Residents, including individuals from Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Mali, and elsewhere, frequently reject hostel accommodation citing safety concerns, preferring the relative peace of the streets despite the cold.
– The city council has announced plans to dismantle illegal settlements, such as one near the M30 in Ventas, but as one is cleared, others appear or residents simply relocate. The municipal procedure involves social intervention offers, often refused, followed by joint operations with police and cleaning services for dismantlement. However, as residents state, when evicted, they simply find another place, highlighting a persistent cycle of displacement with no clear solution for those with nowhere else to go. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/madrid/extrarradio-las-calles-todo-madrid-chabolismo-resurge-con-asentamientos-estables-plena-zona-urbana-capital_6923673_0.html

MIGRATION IN SPAIN

The number of irregular migrants in Spain grows by almost 700% between 2017 and 2025, from 107,000 to 840,000, according to Funcas: {Translation, summary}
– According to estimates from the Funcas analysis centre, the irregular migrant population in Spain grew by nearly 685% between 2017 and 2025, reaching approximately 840,000 people. This figure represents 17.2% of the non-EU foreign population in the country. The vast majority (90.4%) are from the Americas, with Colombians, Peruvians, and Hondurans being the largest groups.
– The increase is attributed to strong growth in migration from non-EU countries since 2017. The estimate predates a May 2025 reform easing regularisation based on roots. While this reform aims to regularise 900,000 foreigners by 2027, Funcas warns that without changes to broader migration patterns, the irregular population may only stabilise, not fall. The centre criticises a lack of strategic planning in Spanish migration policy, noting a reliance on continuous ‘extraordinary’ regularisations through roots provisions since 2005, which fail to prevent large increases during periods of high migration. While easier regularisation can aid integration, Funcas argues for a comprehensive strategy linking migration to economic needs and labour shortages, which would promote regular arrivals, reduce long periods of irregularity, and improve the socio-economic integration and contributions of migrants. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/epsocial/migracion/noticia-migrantes-situacion-irregular-espana-crecen-casi-700-2017-2025-107000-840000-funcas-20260126133823.html

TECH

Endesa won’t pay hackers to protect customer’s credentials– The perpetrator of the Endesa hack steps up the pressure, announces the publication of data on 300,000 customers: {Translation, summary}
– The hacker known as Spain claims to have hacked Endesa, obtaining over 1TB of data on more than 20 million people. After announcing the breach on a dark web forum in January, he has published a sample of 300,000 client records to pressure the energy company for a response, extending his deadline to early February. Endesa had previously notified clients of unauthorised access to its platform, confirming the potential theft of sensitive data including contact details, ID documents, and bank IBANs. While no misuse is yet detected, the company warns the data could be used for identity theft, phishing, or spam. Spain states he is giving Endesa extra time to respond before selling the complete dataset. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/ciberseguridad/noticia-autor-hackeo-endesa-presiona-anuncia-publicacion-datos-300000-clientes-20260126133401.html

SCAMS

Warning about calling phone numbers you find on the internet– Telephone fraud with 807 payment numbers is on the rise, “They can cost up to 50 euros per call”: {Translation, summary}
– The OCU has denounced companies linked to Phone Renove S.L. for placing sponsored online ads that mislead consumers. These ads show standard geographical numbers, implying calls are free, but then redirect to premium-rate 807 numbers costing up to 50 euros per call, whilst impersonating customer service lines. The OCU states that Phone Renove operates this numbering through various commercial entities. It has requested the CNMC to investigate these practices for violating the ban on using 807 numbers and to implement user protection measures. The consumer organisation also advocates for mandatory express consumer authorisation for premium-rate services, regulations to identify number owners, and stronger oversight to prevent such fraudulent use. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia-y-finanzas/crecen-los-fraudes-telefonicos-con-las-numeraciones-pago-807-pueden-tener-un-coste-hasta-50-euros-por-llamada_6925726_0.html

TRAVEL

More Damaged Train Tracks Discovered– Adif finds a break in the Barcelona-Madrid AVE track and causes delays in the service: {Translation}
– A break detected in the high-speed track as it passes through the Espluga de Francolí (Tarragona) has forced Adif to reduce the speed of trains at 80 kilometres per hour during a section of the route, which is causing delays of up to an hour in the service. As confirmed by sources from the Ministry of Transport, the incident does not endanger the circulation of convoys and the due interventions have already been carried out on Sunday night, when it was notified. {Excuse me, it is impossible to replace sections of train rails, and test these, overnight. What type of quick fix was applied, and is it safe? -Ed.} This new incident is in addition to the reduction in the speed of AVE or Iryo trains on several sections of the route between Barcelona and Madrid, which causes the journey to take up to an hour longer than planned and has caused significant delays throughout the weekend. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/crisis-ferroviaria-directo-una-ruptura-via-ave-barcelona-madrid-altura-tarragona-obliga-adif-reducir-velocidad-80-km-h_6925805_6.html

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Even More Train Troubles– Was It sabotage? Transport does not rule out “sabotage” in the two Adif control centre failures this Monday in Rodalíes and hopes to “normalise” the service in two days: {Translation}
– The shadow of sabotage once again hovers over a breakdown in Rodalíes, in this case, the two crashes of Adif’s control system early this Monday morning which has contributed to further aggravate the chaos of the Catalan commuter network. This occurring just as it began to restore its service after five days paralysed for safety reasons, due to the risk of falling slopes and rocks such as those that last Tuesday caused two derailments, in one of which the driver of a train died.
– The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, referred to the “Hypothesis” of “sabotage” as the cause behind the two computer failures which have occurred in just two hours. In an interview on TVE, he also hoped that Rodalies can return to “normality” in the next two days. “There is talk of possible sabotage,” said Puente about the fall of the control system at seven in the morning, which has recovered and has fallen again just an hour later. “It is one of the hypotheses, but I don’t want to say anything until I receive some confirmation”, said Puente, who in May last year denounced another sabotage in a major copper theft which forced the suspension of the circulation of the Madrid-Seville High Speed line and which finally turned out to be a common copper robbery. However, the minister has insisted on the idea of sabotage in Rodalies. “It is one of the hypotheses because everything has gone normally and there have been two falls in a short time. But we’ll see what happened.” Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/transportes-no-descarta-sabotaje-las-dos-caidas-adif-este-lunes-rodalies-espera-normalizar-servicio-dos-dias_6925734_0.html

FINANCIAL

Gold blasts to record high as investors flock during global uncertainties:
– Gold has soared to an unprecedented high, breaching the €4,300 per ounce mark on Monday, as investors flock to buy the precious metal amidst escalating global uncertainties.
– Spot gold XAU rose 1.98 per cent to €4,560 per ounce by 3.23am GMT, after touching €4,570 earlier. US gold futures GCcv1 for February delivery gained 2.01 per cent to €4,555 per ounce. Full article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gold-price-record-graph-gram-b2907432.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– AI fuelled Big Brother is watching you in Nerja Centre– now using AI to control & monitor traffic (Photo: E. Cabezas/SUR)
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/eastern-costa-sol-town-uses-control-traffic-20260123160140-nt.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

Last updated Jan 26, 2026, 15:31 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

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. 3173 Monday, January 26th, 2026

On January 26, 2026January 25, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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This year’s fundraiser will be extended until the end of January. This will give readers who have been out of town for the holidays a chance to get their donations in. The very modest target is donations from 4% of subscribers, currently the tally is just over 2.5%. Thanks again to those that have donated, it is much appreciated!

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Editor’s Holiday:
– DigameXtra will be closed Monday, 2 February.
Items scheduled for posting on Monday, 2 Feb, will appear the following day, Tuesday, 3 Feb.

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WHAT’S ON

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PHOENIX CLUB

Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English.
We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips.
Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross. We would be happy to accept any greeting cards you may have to re-cycle into fantastic cards.
We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo.
***Trips/Events***
~All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity~
February 2026
– 3rd – Trip to Gibraltar, 20€pp
March
– 3rd – Trip to Los Boliches Market, Fuengirola, 20€pp
– 12th – Table Top Sale
April
– 7th – Easter trip to Gibraltar, 20€pp
Coming Soon: a train trip from Algeciras to Bobadilla. Call for information
For information call Gail on 951067723 / 626370695 (Whatsapp) email phoenixsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk.
Check out our FB page too.
We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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Rincón de la Victoria announces the programming of the Candelaria fair with more than 50 activities:
– Thursday 29 January: Traditional lunch for seniors, with performances by castanet group (Rocío Borrezo), women of Benalbina, and José Ortíz. (Dedicated to seniors.)
– Thursday 29 January to Monday 2 February: Main fair activities (over 50 total), including local groups, artists, traditional games, music (Triana, Tamara Jerez, Mecamela), children’s events, religious acts (Torre de Benagalbón).
– Friday 30 January, 19:00: Procession of Our Lady of Candelaria (streets of Torre de Benagalbón).
– Monday 2 February, 19:00: Procession of Saint Joseph (streets of Torre de Benagalbón).
Full programme: https://www.rincondelavictoria.es/sites/default/files/2026-01/Programacion%20completa%20Feria%20Benagalb%C3%B3n%202026_0.pdf

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Danzad Malditos Presents- The Loons at Sala Trinchera:
Thur, 29 Jan, 9:30pm
La Trinchera Room. C/ Parauta 25, Malaga
Shinding Magazine describes them as “the prefect marriage between Garage/Psych and British Underground with influences from Love and passed through the blender of The Pretty Things played with a special style and skill”. In three and a half minutes The Loons are able to transmit more soul and Psych/Garage than many bands in their entire career.
16+ show. Info & tix (€18.50): https://entradium.com/en/events/danzad-malditos-presenta-the-loons-en-sala-trinchera-29-01 & Video Link

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Jamsters at the Carpinteria: Fri, 30 Jan, 10pm
La Carpinteria Bar, Competa
Info & map: https://allevents.in/nerja/jamsters-at-the-carpinteria/200029532401744

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Carnaval Velez-Malaga 2026: 5-8 Feb
– After the presentation of the advertising poster, by Rafael Jurado, the Teatro del Carmen will host the proclamation on Thursday, February 5 at 9:00 p.m., by Darío Quintana.
– On Friday 6, it will be the turn for the traditional Contest of Groups and Murgas, from 9:30 p.m.
– On Saturday we will tour the city in parades, departing at 5:00 p.m. from the Cruz del Cordero. Registration, at 4:00 p.m. at the same location. 5,400 euros in prizes will be awarded among all categories.
– The finale will be “Carnival Sunday”, with a performance by local groups and the usual popular paella, with a symbolic cost of 2 euros and whose proceeds will go to ANNE Axarquía, at the San Francisco market from 1:00 p.m.
Info: https://velezmalaga.es/index.php?mod=noticias&id=8430

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Carnivals of Algarrobo and Mezquitilla 2026:
It will be on Saturday, February 7 in Algarrobo from 4:30 p.m. and in Mezquitilla on Sunday, February 8 from 11:00 a.m.

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Nerja Jazz- Alejandro Escalara Trio: Fri, 13 Feb, 8pm
Ventana Abierta Jazz Club, Hotel Plaza Cavana
C/ Granada 3, Nerja
Res: 690073871 & Video Link

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Malaga Guitar Experience: 13-15 Feb, Free entry
Auditorio Municipal Príncipe de Asturias, Torremolinos.
Info: https://www.last.fm/festival/4982386+M%C3%A1laga+Guitar+Experience+2026
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How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a 
single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/

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

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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

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AXARQUIA SILVER & GOLD TRADE

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For Sale: Two lovely night tables. 25€ per or 45€ for both or best offer. The width is 50 cm and the height is 60 cm, which I suspect is typical for night tables. I’m on the Punta de la Mona in La Herradura but I can meet you at a convenient location if you’re interested. Whatsapp or email me for questions or to purchase the night table. First come, first served.
Michelle, La Herradura
+1 541 399 2799; michellerabin@gmail.com

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For Sale, 2 items:
– Inversion table, helps with back issues, like new, never used, folds flat for storage, brand is Homcom. €85 ono
– 5x Various handluggage cases. I have 5 in total, all expandable apart from one, sizes on photos, all good condition, zips wheels and handles working 10e per case.
More photos on request.
Cathy 664136624, Velez Malaga, cathyws@hotmail.co.uk
Can meet El Ingenio, Torrox or Caleta/Torre

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When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them. Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.

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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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AXARQUÍA

Six health centres in the Axarquía renew their dental equipment: {Translation, summary}
– The Junta de Andalucía, via the Servicio Andaluz de Salud, has invested 369,000 euros to upgrade dentistry equipment in six Axarquía health centres: Vélez-Málaga Sur, Vélez-Málaga Norte, Torrox, Torre del Mar, Algarrobo, and Benamargosa. Funded by the Ministry of Health’s MINAP plan, nearly 300,000 euros bought dental chairs, autoclaves, materials, furniture, and an orthopantomograph; the rest adapted consulting rooms. This enhances Primary Care bucodental services, improving diagnostic precision, treatment safety, and comfort.
– Part of Andalucía’s Integral Bucodental Health Plan, it stresses oral health’s role in general wellbeing, per WHO guidelines, aiding eating, speaking, and social life. Goals include cutting bucodental disease morbidity, bolstering child care, and promoting public health equity through better infrastructure. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/nueva-inversion-salud-bucodental-axarquia-seis-centros-20260115131137-nt_amp.html

MALAGA PROVINCE

Ardales takes to the Andalusian Ombudsman the situation of the Emergency Department in the municipality’s health centre: {Translation, summary}
– Ardales Mayor Juan Alberto Moral has escalated a complaint to the Andalusian Ombudsman over the municipality’s unsustainable funding of its A&E on-call doctor service, costing over 50,000 euros annually from local budgets despite it being the regional government’s responsibility. Describing the situation as “unsustainable,” Moral demands the Junta de Andalucía immediately take over this essential service, vital for residents. The Town Council has covered costs out of duty but warns it compromises other basic needs. Despite repeated meetings and requests to health authorities, no satisfactory response has come. Moral praises citizen mobilisation via the North Zone Health Platform for highlighting the issue affecting the wider area. He vows continued institutional pressure, insisting Ardales (pop. 2,524) deserves stable, properly funded A&E care as a legal right, not reliant on local patience or unfulfilled promises. The move reflects growing exasperation with the regional government’s inaction on health obligations. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/provincia/ardales-lleva-defensor-pueblo-andaluz-situacion-urgencias-centro-salud_0_2005717536.html

TORROX

The Coastal Path takes a leap in Torrox with the award of the bridge over the river: {Translation, summary}
– Torrox Council has awarded a 1.173 million euro contract (VAT excluded) to Asturian firm Media Madera Ingenieros Consultores for constructing a 165-metre wooden pedestrian footbridge over the Torrox River estuary, the largest in the Axarquía and second longest in Málaga province. Spanning between the Lighthouse and El Peñoncillo, it will connect key Torrox-Costa spots like Castillo Bajo-Conejito and El Peñoncillo, closing a historic gap in the Senda Litoral coastal path.
– Designed for minimal environmental impact and universal accessibility, the bridge forms part of Diputación de Málaga’s ambitious 180 km project, now over 90% complete despite eastern challenges. Mayor Óscar Medina calls it strategic for coastline transformation, boosting quality of life, sustainability, and tourism. Execution is expected within several months, unblocking years of delays and advancing continuous coastal walks towards Nerja. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/senda-litoral-salto-torrox-adjudicacion-puente-sobre-rio-20260120112401-nt_amp.html

NERJA

New Nerja health centre to be ready in April:
– The Andalusian regional government’s spokesperson for health and consumer affairs in Malaga, Carlos Bautista, visited the construction site of the new health centre in Nerja on the eastern Costa del Sol on Tuesday 20 January, which is scheduled to be completed in April.
– The new health facility will serve more than 25,000 residents of Nerja and Frigiliana, with double the surface area of the current centre; 4,520 square metres on three floors, plus a basement. Along with state-of-the-art equipment, the health centre will have 26 standard consultation rooms, five multi-purpose rooms, five paediatric rooms, minor surgery rooms, dentistry, physiotherapy, radiology and critical care. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/new-nerja-health-centre-ready-april-20260122123516-nt.html

GRANADA

20 Year Granada Local Police Recruitment Scandal- Leaders Summoned in Rigging Probe: {Translation, summary}
– The investigation into alleged irregularities in Granada’s Local Police recruitment reveals a two-tier criminal network, operating at least since 2007, to rig promotions and new-entry exams. The UDEF identifies leaders including former Local Police chief José Manuel Jiménez Avilés and Inspector J.J.M.J., with a second tier of officers and a psychologist who helped direct the scheme. Eight officers were summoned to testify in late 2024, with more than forty investigated; many were detained briefly but released.
– Charges include prevarication, influence peddling, disclosure of secrets, fraud, and bribery, among others. The plan aimed to control new entrants and internal promotions by manipulating examination boards and leaking questions, often in exchange for promotions or favors for relatives and allies. The group reportedly used secure, in-person handovers of questions and developed methods to avoid evidence. The UDEF notes the SIPLG union as a tool for the operation. The investigation suggests the scheme extended beyond Granada to other municipalities, with the potential for long-term influence on police leadership and careers through a cycle of favours and promotions. Source, Spanish: https://www.granadahoy.com/granada/siete-detenidos-caso-amanos-policia-local-udef-granada_0_2005702895.html

UK

UK to create new ‘British FBI’ police service:
– Britain’s government said on Saturday it will create a new National Police Service, described as a “British FBI”, to modernise policing and deal with terrorism, fraud, organised crime and other complex criminal activity. The new force will bring together the work of the National Crime Agency, which investigates serious organised crime such as drug smuggling and people trafficking, with other country-wide roles like counter-terrorism and national road policing.
– Once appointed, its chief – the National Crime Commissioner – will be the most senior officer in the country. Currently, the head of London’s Metropolitan Police is Britain’s highest-ranking law enforcement official. Creation of the National Police Service will form part of major police reforms the government is due to unveil on Monday, which it is casting as the biggest shake-up in policing since Robert Peel established the first professional force in 1829. “The current policing model was built for a different century,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood {pic}, the UK’s interior minister, said in a statement.
– Mahmood said the shake-up would allow local forces to focus on dealing with everyday offences, such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, and catching criminals in their areas. It is also expected that, as part of the changes announced on Monday, the government will cut the overall number of forces in Britain {Yikes!} in a move to save money and reduce crime. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-create-new-british-fbi-police-service-2026-01-24/

SPORTS

Tennis News- Australian Open 2026 Results: Use this link to see full results and schedule.
https://ausopen.com/results#!All

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UFC News- Paddy Pimblett takes a beating at the hands of Justin Gaethje in thrilling 5 round UFC interim title fight:
– England’s Paddy Pimblett vowed “you haven’t seen the last of me” after defeat to American Justin Gaethje in their UFC interim lightweight championship thriller in Las Vegas.
– Gaethje got the nod from the judges after a relentless five-rounder, winning via unanimous decision as the scores came back 48-47 (3 rounds to 2), 49-46 (4 rounds to 1), and 49-46 (4 rounds to 1), with Pimblett’s seven-bout winning run in UFC ended.
– Gaethje is now interim champion for the second time and will face Spain’s Ilia Topuria once Ilia returns from a personal break. Full article: https://www.skysports.com/mma/news/19828/13498711/paddy-pimblett-beaten-by-justin-gaethje-in-thrilling-ufc-interim-title-fight-but-vows-to-come-back-better

TECH

Massive breach exposes 149 million Instagram, Gmail, OnlyFans passwords:
– Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler exposed a staggering 149,404,754 unique logins and passwords—spanning 96 GB of unencrypted data—left openly accessible in a cloud repository. The breach stemmed from infostealer malware harvesting credentials from infected devices. The database grew during a month-long delay before the hosting provider suspended it, despite Fowler’s prompt report; the operator’s identity and intent remain unknown.
– Affected services included social media (17M Facebook, 6.5M Instagram, 780k TikTok, numerous X/Twitter accounts), entertainment (3.4M Netflix, plus HBO Max, Disney Plus, Roblox), dating/OnlyFans, and financial/crypto (420k Binance, banking logins). Email providers were hit hardest: ~48M Gmail, 4M Yahoo, 1.5M Outlook. Government (.gov) domains from multiple countries were also compromised, highlighting risks even cybercriminals face.
– {DoctorLaptop Note: I keep telling computer users their devices can be infected and they won’t notice any problems. You must have your computers regularly serviced by a pro to avoid these data & credential thefts. This type of malware easily evades consumer level anti-virus software. But very few listen, and only contact me after they have suffered a hack or identity theft. Not a lot I can do after the fact besides remove the malware– your data & credentials have already been stolen. Your best defence is an annual service maintenence. Will you let laziness & penny-pinching expose you to these threats? Evidently most people will.}
Full article: https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/massive-breach-exposes-149-million-instagram-gmail-onlyfans-passwords-how-to-stay-safe-11769238285603.html

SPACE

When to see the Snow Moon in Malaga- date and time of the February full moon: {Translation, summary}
– The Snow Moon or Ice Moon is one of the first astronomical phenomena that will take place in 2026. This name is given to the first full moon of February, which corresponds to the second of the year. And it will be observable from Málaga next Sunday, 1 February.
– The time at which it will reach its apogee will be at 22:09, although it will be appreciable as soon as it begins to get dark. The moonrise on 1 February will take place at 17:11.
Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/ver-luna-nieve-malaga-fecha-hora_0_2005704784.html

CANCEL CULTURE / #MeToo

Spanish Prosecutor’s Office closes the sexual assaults case against Julio Iglesias for the “lack of competence” of the National Court: {Translation, summary}
– The complainants, who cannot appeal the decision, will be able to “reproduce their complaint before the corresponding judicial bodies”.
– The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National High Court has agreed to close the investigation by understanding that there is “Lack of jurisdiction of the Spanish courts and therefore the lack of competition of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National High Court to hear the pre-procedural investigation of the facts denounced”. According to the decree, the alleged episodes would have occurred in the Caribbean.
– At this point the Public Prosecutor’s Office highlights everyone involved resides outside Spain, the alleged victims are foreign nationals, and ‘the events are attributed to countries that are fully competent’ to investigate them.
Source, Spanish: https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/sociedad/fiscalia-cierra-caso-julio-iglesias-falta-competencia-audiencia-nacional/202601231826383200045.html

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– British woman Victoria, local hairdresser and beautician, stabbed to death by her ex-partner in Alhaurín el Grande
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/guadalhorce-valley/british-woman-stabbed-death-her-expartner-alhaurin-20260124203821-nt.html
– Seven restaurants in Malaga province among top 100 in Spain according to The Fork– El Alimentario in Torre del Mar ranks 18th to lead the Malaga selections
https://www.surinenglish.com/lifestyle/seven-restaurants-malaga-among-spains-favourites-according-20260121143900-nt.html
– Snow Arrives in Malaga, in photos: 23 photo gallery {pics}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/snowy-scenes-around-malaga-province-20260124124922-ga.html

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HUMOUR & DIVERSIONS SECTION

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EXCHANGE QUOTES FROM Xe.com

Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies

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Last updated Jan 25, 2026, 12:18 UTC

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

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. 3172 WEEKEND EDITION Friday, January 23rd, 2026

On January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 By naythandoctorlaptop

Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

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DigameXtra subscribers must donate at least €20 (39 cents per week) to gain annual submission posting privileges.

Total Donations Received As Of Today: 124

Target, 4% of subscribers = 200 donations

This year’s fundraiser will be extended until the end of January. This will give readers who have been out of town for the holidays a chance to get their donations in. The very modest target is donations from 4% of subscribers, currently the tally is just over 2.4%. Thanks again to those that have donated, it is much appreciated!

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2026 HOLIDAY INFO

Work calendar for towns in Malaga for 2025 and 2026– public holidays and long weekends:
– Visit this website, then scroll down to the section titled “2026 Malaga working calendar: public holidays and long weekends” and choose your town to see the 2026 calendars: https://www.lavanguardia.com/calendario/andalucia/malaga/#lv-2026-titulo

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Editor’s Holiday:
– DigameXtra will be closed Monday, 2 February.
Items scheduled for posting on Monday, 2 Feb, will appear the following day, Tuesday, 3 Feb.

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WHAT’S ON

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!

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41 CLUB NERJA

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California Motor Show in Vélez-Málaga: 3 Shows, 23-25 Jan.
Exhibition Centre – Vélez-Málaga
Av. del Rey Juan Carlos I, 48, 29740 Vélez-Málaga
Don’t miss the California Motor Show, a unique spectacle that fuses the action of the big screen with the indomitable power of the most impressive vehicles. We are Film & TV Specialists and we bring the magic of cameras directly to the track. Witness controlled destruction and mastery behind the wheel with our themed Monster Trucks, directly inspired by your favourite movies and series. Gravity-defying jumps and stunts!
Info, map & tix (€12-15): https://www.enterticket.es/eventos/california-motor-show-en-velezmalaga-849007 & Video Link

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Jazz Concert– Daniel Torres Quartet: Sat, 24 Jan, 8pm
Centro Cultural Vicente Aleixandre
C/ Jabalcuza 9, Alhaurín de la Torre 29130
Info, map & tix (€5): https://www.mientrada.net/evento/alhaurin-torre-daniel-torres-quartet/ & Video Link

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Benamargosa celebrates San Sebastián, patron saint of the town, Sat, 24 Jan:
The festivity will take place on Saturday, January 24. The religious acts will begin at 12:00 with the mass in which the Choir of the Cathedral of Malaga will participate, the procession will begin at 18:00 hours. Throughout the day there will be gastronomic tastings and musical performances.

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The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa: Now with Sunday Lunch!
Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, 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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NEWS & ARTICLES

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

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Special News Edition- Aftermath of Trump’s Speech At WEF Conference In Davos

Donald Trump Reads The Riot Act To EU Leaders At Davos– And The Mainstream Media Covers It Up Even Though It Leads To A Greenland Agreement Hours Later– “Without us, right now you’d all be speaking German and a little Japanese perhaps…but how ungrateful are they now,” says Trump: {DigameXtra Exclusive}
– In a 90 minute speech at Davos, Trump dressed down European leaders, calling them out by name and mentioning their failures and disloyalty to “the country that saved them in WWII.” “If it were not for America, all you Europeans would be speaking German, and a bit of Japanese perhaps,” said Trump. “…we want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it. We’ve never asked for anything else.”
***Selected quotes***
EUROPE
– “…certain places in Europe are not even recognizable, frankly, anymore. They’re not recognizable and we can argue about it, but there’s no argument. Friends come back from different places — I don’t want to insult anybody – and say ‘I don’t recognize it,’ and that’s not in a positive way. That’s in a very negative way. I love Europe and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”
NUCLEAR ENERGY
– “I’ve signed an order directing approval of many new nuclear reactors. We’re going heavy into nuclear. I was not a big fan because I didn’t like the risk, the danger. But the progress they’ve made with nuclear is unbelievable, and the safety progress they’ve made is incredible.”
GREEN ENERGY / CHINA / WIND POWER
– “Because of my landslide election victory, the United States avoided the catastrophic energy collapse which befell every European nation that pursued the Green New Scam. Perhaps the greatest hoax in history, the Green New scam.” “China makes almost all of the windmills, and yet I haven’t been able to find any wind farms in China…They make them. They sell them for a fortune. They sell them to the stupid people that buy them, but they don’t use them themselves. They put up a couple of big wind farms, but they don’t use them. They just put them up to show people what they could look like. They don’t spin, they don’t do anything. China goes with the coal. They go with oil and gas. They’re starting to look at nuclear a little bit and they’re doing just fine. They make a fortune selling the windmills and I think really that’s one that they wouldn’t be surprised if it stopped. They are shocked that it continues to go. They were very friendly with me. They’re shocked that people continue to buy those damn things. They killed the birds. They ruined your landscapes. Other than that, I think they’re fabulous. By the way. Stupid people buy them.”
EUROPE
– “And we believe deeply in the bonds we share with Europe as a civilization…They have to get out of the culture that they’ve created over the last 10 years. It’s horrible what they’re doing to themselves. They’re destroying themselves, these beautiful, beautiful places. We want strong allies, not seriously weakened ones.”
DENMARK & GREENLAND
– “…no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States. We’re a great power much greater than people even understand. I think they found that out two weeks ago in Venezuela. We saw this in World War Two when Denmark fell to Germany after just six hours of fighting and was totally unable to defend either itself or Greenland. So the United States was then compelled. We did it. We felt an obligation to do it, to send our own forces, to hold the Greenland territory and hold it we did. At great cost and expense. They didn’t have a chance of getting on it, and they tried. Denmark knows that. We literally set up bases on Greenland for Denmark. We fought for Denmark. We weren’t fighting for anyone else. We were fighting to save it for Denmark. Big, beautiful piece of ice. It’s hard to call it land. It’s a big piece of ice. But we saved Greenland and successfully prevented our enemies from gaining a foothold in our hemisphere. So we did it for ourselves also. And then after the war, which we won, we won it big. Without us, right now you’d all be speaking German and a little Japanese perhaps. After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But we gave it back. But how ungrateful are they now?” “We need it for strategic national security and international security. This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. That’s our territory.”
UKRAINE / NATO
“What does the United States get out of all of this work? All of this money other than death, destruction, and massive amounts of cash going to people who don’t appreciate what we do, they don’t appreciate what we do. I’m talking about NATO, I’m talking about Europe. They have to work on Ukraine. We don’t. The United States is very far away. We have a big, beautiful ocean separating us. We have nothing to do with it.
GREENLAND / NATO
“So what we have gotten out of NATO is nothing except to protect Europe from the Soviet Union and now Russia. I mean, we’ve helped them for so many years. We’ve never gotten anything except we pay for NATO, and we paid for many years until I came along, we paid for, in my opinion, 100 per cent of NATO because they weren’t paying their bills. And all we’re asking for is to get Greenland, including right title and ownership, because you need the ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease. Legally, it’s not defensible that way. Totally. And number two, psychologically, who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease, which is a large piece of ice in the middle of the ocean, where if there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice? Think of it. Those missiles would be flying right over the centre of that piece of ice. {pic} All we want from Denmark, for national and international security and to keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay, is this land on which we’re going to build the greatest golden dome ever built. “
CANADA / MISSILE DEFENCE
“We’re building a golden dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also. But they’re not. I watched their prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful, they should be grateful to us. Canada, Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that Mark [Carney], the next time you make your statements.”
INGRATITUDE
“But now what I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection. It’s a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades. But the problem with NATO is that we’ll be there for them 100 per cent. But I’m not sure that they’d be there for us if we gave them the call: ‘Gentlemen, we are being attacked. We’re under attack by such and such nation.’ I know them all very well. I’m not sure that they’d be there. I know we’d be there for them. I don’t know that they’d be there for us. With all of the money we expend, with all of the blood, sweat and tears, I don’t know that they’d be there for us.”
“So we want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it. We’ve never asked for anything else. And we could have kept that piece of land and we didn’t sell. They have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember.”
INTEREST RATES
“You know, the dropping of the interest rates … we should be paying a much lower interest rate than we are. We should be paying the lowest interest rate of any country in the world, because without the United States, you don’t have a country…without us, most of the countries don’t even work.”
DEFENDER OF EUROPE
“And then you have the protection factor. Without our military, which is the greatest in the world by far, without our military, you have threats that you would never… you wouldn’t believe. You wouldn’t believe. You don’t have threats because of us, and that’s because of NATO.”
Read the full speech here: https://globalnews.ca/news/11623027/read-full-transcript-donald-trump-speech-davos/
Watch the full speech here, official White House source: https://youtu.be/prdSj9caeQw
Watch some of the best clips in this 12 minute video: https://youtu.be/-ALaxOyGS6I

Majority of Russian attack missiles would pass over Greenland

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MALAGA PROVINCE

Malaga leads the rise in housing prices in Andalusia with a rise of 62% in five years: {Translation, summary}
– A typical property of 90 square metres has gone from costing 191,866 euros to 310,858 euros in Malaga, which is a 62.02% increase, according to the report prepared by the real estate portal pisos.com on the evolution of the sale price between 2020 and 2025.
– The situation is even more alarming for those looking to acquire a property in the capital of the Costa del Sol, as its price has soared by 67.44% since 2020. Thus, it has gone from being worth 209,292 euros to being marketed for an average cost that rises to 350,430 euros. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/malaga-lidera-encarecimiento-vivienda-andalucia_0_2005699109.html

TORROX

The new hiking season of ‘Andando por Torrox’ begins on January 26: {Translation}
– On January 26, a new edition of the ‘Andando por Torrox’ program will begin, featuring five hiking trails through different parts of the municipality, which will take place on the last Monday of each month between January and May.
– This program, organized by the Sports Department’s School for Seniors, is open to families, seniors, and the general public. Participants may also bring their pets along. The routes will take place in the afternoon, with information provided in a timely manner through the various official channels of the Sports Department.
– The program will begin on January 26 with a circular route around the town center of Torrox. It will continue on February 23 with a route from El Morche to Lagos along the Coastal Path; on March 23 with a walk through the historic center; on April 27 with a route from the lighthouse to Tajo Virgen; and it will end on May 25 with a route from the Convent of Las Nieves to the lighthouse. Completely free of charge. Those interested in registering or obtaining more information should contact the Sports Department at the Municipal Sports Center, or call 95 253 99 27 or send an email to deportes@torrox.es
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/la-nueva-temporada-de-andando-por-torrox-comienza-el-proximo-26-de-enero/

ALHAURÍN DE LA TORRE

What happened in the wild boar hunt of Alhaurín de la Torre? Organizers claim 20 or more kills, officials verify only 4: {Translation, summary}
– On 17 January, La Torre Hunting Society of Alhaurín de la Torre held a wild boar drive in Sierra Llana (MA-10769) with 75 authorised posts for around 100 hunters and 9 dog packs, authorised by the Junta due to overpopulation causing urban incursions and road risks. Within the open season under the technical plan approved by Málaga’s environmental delegation, the event ran from 8am to 4pm, though actual hunting occurred 11am-4pm amid social customs like shared meals.
– Around 20 boar were reported felled, but official count by authorised veterinarian Juan Ignacio Arias Velasco was 4, as most fell in inaccessible terrain. {Very sloppy hunting! How do they know the animals are dead if they can’t recover them? Are there a dozen or more badly wounded, very angry jaboli now cruising the countryside? If the boars fell in accessible areas, how far away were the hunters shooting from? Long distance shots are less accurate, and increase the likelihood of only wounding the target. Injured animals get infections more easily, and spread these to the pack. Clearly a poorly organized affair. -Ed.} Safety measures included signage, personnel, and a Town Hall ban on all activities in affected areas to protect hikers in this popular zone. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/interior/paso-batida-jabalies-alhaurin-torre-20260121145318-nt_amp.html

EUROPE

Trump cancels tariff threat, says NATO’s Rutte agreed to Greenland deal ‘framework’: {Summary of 2 articles}
– On a whirlwind trip to the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland (Wednesday night), Trump backed down from weeks of ‍rhetoric that shook the NATO alliance and risked a new global trade war. Instead, Trump said, Western Arctic allies could forge a new deal that satisfies his desire for a “Golden Dome” missile-defence system and access to critical minerals while blocking Russia and China’s ambitions in the Arctic.
– “It’s a deal that everybody’s very happy with,” Trump told reporters after emerging from a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “It’s a long-term deal. It’s the ultimate long-term deal. It puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and to minerals.”
He added: “It’s a deal that’s forever.”
– A NATO spokesperson said seven NATO allies in the Arctic would work together to ensure their collective security.
– Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the US and NATO had “formed the framework ‍of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” and that “based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”
– NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday praised his “very good discussion” on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump to address tensions around Greenland and stressed the importance of strengthening security in the Arctic in the face of perceived threats from Russia and China. He emphasized that during his conversation with Trump, he discussed how the seven Arctic nations that are members of NATO—the United States, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway—can “defend themselves against Russia and China.” “What we discussed yesterday, and it was a very good discussion, is how we can do that. How can we get these countries, collectively, to ensure that the Arctic remains secure and that the Russians and Chinese stay out?” he explained. However, he acknowledged that “this isn’t all about Greenland or the Arctic,” given that “it’s primarily about how to protect ourselves against adversaries.” “Our main enemy, for NATO, is Russia. Of course, China is massively strengthening itself, so we shouldn’t be naïve about China, but our main adversary is Russia,” he argued.
Full articles: https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260121-trump-cancels-tariff-threat-says-nato-rutte-agreed-greenland-deal-framework & https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-rutte-ensalza-discusion-trump-groenlandia-pide-reforzar-artico-frente-rusia-china-20260122085950.html

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Europol busts massive synthetic drug production network:
– Europol has reported the break-up of a major synthetic drug supply network. Authorities called it is the biggest such operation they have ever undertaken, and a “major blow” to organized crime.
– The bust, which was coordinated in Poland and involved police from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, targeted some 24 industrial-scale labs and netted roughly 1,000 metric tons of precursor chemicals used for making drugs such as MDMA and methamphetamine. In Germany alone, authorities seized more than 800 kilos of synthetic drugs and some 160,000 litres of toxic chemical waste.
– Europol said it identified 50 delivery locations, dismantled 24 “industrial-scale” laboratories and found 16 storage locations in the operation. It also seized around €500,000 (roughly $580,000), 3.6 tons of drugs and 982 litres of liquid narcotics. Full article: https://www.dw.com/en/europol-busts-massive-synthetic-drug-production-network/a-75595738

USA

Trump’s proposed Greenland deal may give US control of land around military bases– “We will get this done,” NATO secretary general Rutte vows:
– Greenland would have to give the US control of some of its land as part of a framework deal announced by President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, according to sources and reports. US military bases in Greenland — a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark — would be considered sovereign US territories under the terms of the proposed deal, The Telegraph reported.
– The deal would allow the US to perform military operations, gather intelligence and train soldiers without obtaining permission from the Danes — and potentially allow the US to expand into and develop land in mineral-rich parts of the Arctic island.
– A European official told The Post that Rutte proposed Denmark transferring to the US sovereignty over Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland. The strategically important installation has been under US control since a 1951 defence agreement with Denmark, but the land legally belongs to the Danes.
– Denmark would also give the US sovereignty over “small pockets” of land for the construction of new US military bases, according to the New York Times.
– The compromise, if finalized, would fall short of Trump’s original goal of “Complete and Total Control” of Greenland, which the president argued was necessary for US national security. The expansion of US territory, however, would mark the first time that’s happened since World War II, when the Northern Mariana Islands were taken from Japan.
– The proposed deal mirrors a 1960 pact between the United Kingdom and Cyprus, which grants the UK sovereignty over two military bases on the Mediterranean island.
– “There’s a lot of work to be done. We’ll do it step by step, but of course, working fast, but also with thoughtful diplomacy,” Rutte said of the next steps, during an interview with Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier. “We will get this done,” the NATO secretary general vowed. Full article: https://nypost.com/2026/01/21/us-news/…

MIDDLE EAST

Trump unveils ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos ceremony, claims Gaza war ‘down to little fires’:
– President Trump unveiled his international Board of Peace during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Thursday, expanding on his vision for a global body to rival the United Nations and claiming that Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip was all but over. “They’re down to little fires,” Trump said of the situation in the Palestinian enclave, which has been shattered by more than two years of fighting. “We can put them out very easily.”
– “I think the combination of the Board of Peace with the kind of people we have here, coupled with the United Nations, can be something very, very unique for the world,” Trump went on. “Together we are in a position to have an incredible chance — I don’t even call it a chance, I think it’s going to happen — to end decades of suffering, stop generations of hatred and bloodshed and forge a beautiful, ever-lasting and glorious peace for that region.”
– A resolution blessing the board’s role in supervising a transitional Palestinian government replacing Gaza’s Hamas rulers as well as an international peacekeeping force was ratified by the United Nations in November. The 20-point plan ultimately calls for Hamas to lay down its arms, something the terror group has so far refused to do. Full article: https://nypost.com/2026/01/22/us-news/trump-unveils-board-of-peace-during-signing-ceremony-in-davos/

HEALTH

Spanish Doctors Launch Indefinite Strike Against Mónica García’s Marco Statute from 16 February: {Translation, summary}
– The refusal by Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García to accept demands from the medical sector has provoked major unions – CESM, SMA, Metges de Catalunya, Amyts, SME, and O’MEGA – to announce an indefinite doctors’ strike commencing on 16 February. Following last week’s brief two-day stoppages as a prelude, the action features weekly disruptions each month: from 16 to 20 February, 16 to 20 March, 27 to 30 April, 18 to 22 May, and 15 to 19 June. This calibrated approach heightens pressure on the ministry to revise the Marco Statute draft, properly acknowledging the profession’s distinctive training, high responsibility levels, and challenging working conditions. A nationwide rally of physicians from every autonomous community is planned for Madrid on Saturday 14 February to directly confront García. Though tensions run high, the unions maintain an outstretched hand for renewed negotiations aimed at forging agreements that enhance professionals’ labour standards. Source, Spanish: https://www.vozpopuli.com/sanitatem/los-medicos-convocan-una-huelga-indefinida-y-aumentan-la-presion-sobre-monica-garcia-por-el-estatuto-marco.html

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Health chaos- hospitals run out of injectable amoxicillin with Mónica García at the head of Health: {Translation, summary}
– Spain endures a severe shortage of injectable amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (1,000 mg/200 mg), essential for hospital treatment of serious infections such as pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal issues, skin infections, and osteomyelitis in adults and children. Produced by Reig Jofre, the 100-vial format is unavailable from 19 January to at least 16 February, nearly a month without this key antibiotic.
– Okdiario reports a lack of foresight, coordination, and political reaction from the Ministry of Health under Mónica García {pic} has turned a potential incident into structural dysfunction amid staff shortages and pressures. Aemps acknowledges the issue but promotes equivalent substitutes, which experts say demand clinical tweaks and risk chain reactions in an overburdened system. Official claims downplay severity, placing extra strain on doctors, hospital pharmacists, and patients facing disrupted care. Source, Spanish: https://gaceta.es/espana/caos-sanitario-los-hospitales-se-quedan-sin-amoxicilina-inyectable-con-monica-garcia-al-frente-de-sanidad-20260121-1545/

RECALLS

French dairy giant Lactalis recalls Picot brand baby formula in 18 countries due to toxin:
– French group Lactalis on Wednesday announced a worldwide recall of batches of infant formula over worries they contained a toxin. The countries concerned are: Australia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Greece, Kuwait, Madagascar, Mexico, Monaco, Spain, Peru, Taiwan and Uzbekistan.
– “Lactalis Nutrition Santé (LNS) is voluntarily recalling six batches of Picot brand infant milk, available in pharmacies and supermarkets, due to the presence of cereulide in an ingredient sourced from a supplier,” it said in a statement.
– The recall involves Picot Nutrition Quotidienne first-stage formula in 400, 800 and 850 grams, along with Picot Nutrition Quotidienne second-stage baby milk in 800 and 850g. Picot AR second-stage 800g formula completes the six batches recalled. {I checked a few sources, but didn’t find any specific batch numbers for the recall. Best to err on the side of safety and return these items regardless of batch numbers. -Ed.} Full article: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260122-french-dairy-giant-lactalis-recalls-baby-formula-in-18-countries-due-to-toxin
Additional ref: https://www.just-food.com/news/lactalis-recalls-baby-formula-over-presence-of-cereulide-toxin/

SUR in ENGLISH HEADLINES

*Click links to read the English language articles*

– Andalusian Harley Davidson rally returns to Benalmádena in March {pic}
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/benalmadena-torremolinos/andalusian-harley-davidson-rally-returns-benamadena-march-20260121120438-nt.html
– Granada’s Costa Tropical set to get its first five-star hotel, in La Herradura
https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/almunecar-town-council-signs-the-licence-for-20260116095056-nt.html

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Fun & Games

Useful Links, Info & Numbers

Andalucia Reservoir Data, updated daily:
https://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

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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