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.
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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Editor’s Holiday: Monday, 3 February, there will be no issue, DigameXtra & DoctorLaptop will be closed.
Posts scheduled for 3 Feb. will be posted on the following day.
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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS!
Donation info & instructions can be found in the Announcements Section here: https://digamextra.com/2025/01/23/digamextra-no-2934-thursday-january-23rd-2025/
Total Donations Received: 138 (2.8%)
4% target = 200 donations from 4955 subscribers
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NEW RULE: Anyone can read DigameXtra for free- on the website, or by email subscription. However, subscribers who wish to actively participate by making submissions will need to have donated at least €20 to the 2024 DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser. If you won’t make the effort to donate just 39 cents a week (€20/yr), then please refrain from making submissions, as I have supporters that require my attention.
The Submission Rules Page has been updated to reflect this change.
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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-make into fantastic cards.
We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo.
***Trips/Events***
~ All trips/events include a driver’s gratuity ~
February
– 4th – Trip to Gib €20pp
– 21st – A visit to Estepona Market and Orchid House
March
– 4th – Trip to Gib €20pp
– 21st – Trip to IKEA and Guzmans Garden Centre
For information call Gail on 951067723 / 626370695 (Whatsapp) email phoenixsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk check out our FB page.
We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/
Tap or click image for updated forecast
Warning Note: High winds and waves possible until 8pm Monday.
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NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town
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Services Wanted/Offered
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra.
Landlords, tell your renters about DigameXtra, where they can get overnight answers to questions about local stuff without having to call you!
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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS
Hanningtons Kitchens and Bathrooms: We have been installing kitchens and bathrooms here on the Costa for 13 years. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, highest standards of work and customer service.
Whether you are thinking of updating an existing kitchen or bathroom, or whether you wish to create the kitchen or bathroom you have always dreamed of, we are here for you, every step of the way.
With an unrivaled knowledge of the best local materials and suppliers we are able to work to all tastes and budgets.
Our full range of services includes:
– Installations and Refurbs
– Wall & Floor tiling
– Full range of Plumbing work including radiators and underfloor heating
– Solar Installation
– Design & planning ideas to get the look you are after
– Electrical works
– Alter / Install walls, dropped ceilings and hang doors
– Plastering, woodwork and floor levelling
Visit our FB page on the link below to be inspired
https://www.facebook.com/hanningtons.kitchens.and.bathrooms/
Call us : 669 665 156
Email us: hanningtons.bathrooms@gmail.com ; Our contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue.
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MANDY’S PAINTBOX
Mandy’s Paintbox: Painter for 30 years in Nerja area.
Painting work undertaken. Inside and outside, large or small. Furniture painted or sprayed. Kitchens, cabinets, wardrobes doors any colour any surface. Check out the before and after photos, all the furniture was spray painted. Call for advice. WhatsApp 680739577
Email: josiahamanda@gmail.com
My contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue. Here are “before” (left) and “after” (right) pics from my latest job.
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Buy / Sell / Trade / Rent / Wanted
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a
single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate:
*Are you thinking of selling?*
At BluCee Real Estate we use many different tools to demonstrate and promote our properties. Photographs, videos, drone footage, 360⁰ tours, targeted advertising, property exhibitions to name a few. We don’t sit and wait for buyers, we actively search for them.
Please contact us to find out what we will do to actively promote your property for sale.
We have a few places available on our artwork for our next property exhibition in Manchester. Contact us now to secure a place for YOUR property.
Nearly forgot to mention, our service might sound expensive but we are not! Our sales commissions are very competitive compared to other real estate companies.
Please contact us for a free valuation or more for information:
Website: http://www.blucee.com/ : Email: info@blucee.com
Whatsapp 0034 711 04 27 27 / Office 0034 951 553 890
Or you can come into our office and speak to us in person at Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29738, Málaga.
We look forward to helping you.
We cover the whole coast line and inland.
BluCee Real Estate are a DigameXtra sponsor so our contact details are shown here every day.
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For Sale: New Lenovo Ideapad 1, model 15ALC7, Gen 7
High Performance Business Grade Laptop
Windows 11 Pro (UK). 16Gb Hi-Speed RAM, 512Gb SSD.
15.6inch Full HD display. Spanish keyboard.
Proc: AMD Ryzen 5 5500u (2.1 to 4GHz), 6 core 12 threads.
SD card reader, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, HDMI, Wifi 6.
Stereo speakers w/ Dolby. HD webcam with blocker.
Slim-line, light weight at 1.6kg. Heavy duty hinges.
Rapid-Charge 9hr battery, 2hr charge in 15mins!
Fully setup, updated and ready to use.
Website: https://psref.lenovo.com/Product/IdeaPad_1_15ALC7
Price €420. 1yr factory warranty upon registration.
Naythan, Torrox Costa.
doctorlaptop@protonmail.com
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For Sale, 3 items: Camping Gear
– 2x tents. 1 is with a pump €95; the other is a normal tent €60.
– Camping cart €60.
All excellent condition used once.
Call Amanda, Nerja. 680739577
Josiahamanda@gmail.com
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Recommendations, Requests & Comments
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them.
Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
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Make your annual DigameXtra donation now!: All the details are in the Announcements section at the top of the issue. If you want to be able to make submissions you’ll need to do this. -Ed.
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Community Compost Project: Hello everyone, I have been thinking for ages that I would like to participate in creating a community compost heap. I hate throwing away all my vegetable waste (and other things). I would like to help create a compost heap, but has to be on Torrox costa, don’t have a car or other means of transport. If other people are interested we could begin to investigate what is possible.
Info on another community doing this: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/23/no-council-lorries-no-bonfires-how-community-composting-took-off-in-an-english-village
Contact Christine, Torrox Costa.
Email: chris.fitzwater47 AT gmail D0T com
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Donations: Hello DigameXtra readers, Not much time left in Naythan’s Holiday Fundraiser to support him and his untiring efforts to bring us local news and provide a platform for our community. Given the number of readers I’d say that it is a little shameful that so few have contributed, so STEP UP or forever feel guilty of taking advantage of him and those who do support him!! It’s a small price for us. Nick, A loyal (non-commercial) reader.
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Musicians Wanted: Seeking classically trained musicians to play in an ensemble, for pleasure! I am living in Nerja and have space where we could meet. I also have access to a piano and would like to play sonatas. Good sightreading abilitiy and some technical proficiency is necessary!
Roberta, Nerja, +34 642551181
Rmail: Rabbina2 AT aol D0T com
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News & Articles
(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }
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SPAIN
Sanchez says he will “look for votes even under rocks” after his blackmail fiasco, holding pension increases and DANA relief hostage unless other unrelated items in the omnibus package are also approved: {Translation, summary}
– The President of the Government, without a hint of modesty, continues to twist the arguments to justify what happened this week in Congress, when his omnibus decree that mixed all kinds of issues in an attempt to convince his partners failed, leaving on hold from the increase in pensions to transport subsidies, in addition to the anti-eviction decree.
– At the closing of the XV Regional Congress of the PSOE of the Canary Islands, which has re-elected Ángel Víctor Torres as leader despite his indictment in the Koldo plot, Pedro Sánchez has backed this minister and has once again set himself up as the defender of pensioners despite the fact that it was his government who chose to include the increase in an omnibus law in an attempt to blackmail the rest of the parties. After the failure of his maneuver, Sánchez has insisted on presenting himself as the victim of a “negationist coalition” formed by PP and Vox, whom he now tries to blame for what happened.
– “In a Parliament as fragmented as the one we have, I am going to look for votes 
and support even under the stones to revalue pensions for our retirees. I will look for votes even under the rocks for young people to have free public transport. And I will look for votes even under the stones so that those affected in La Palma and Valencia have the aid they deserve and need”, said the president after the Government lost the vote in Congress on Wednesday and without referring to how it will do it: the PP has already agreed to vote in favor of a decree containing the pension measure exclusively. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/2025-01-26/un-exaltado-sanchez-dice-que-buscara-votos-hasta-debajo-de-las-piedras-tras-el-fiasco-de-su-chantaje-7211884/
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A magistrate dismantles the three “fallacies” used by the Government to justify its radical judicial reform: {Translation, summary}
– Luis Sanz {pic, finally someone who knows how to properly tie a necktie!}, vice-president of the Civic Platform for Judicial Independence, member of the Judicial Association Francisco de Vitoria and magistrate of the 
Provincial Court of Madrid, has expressed his concern about the reforms promoted by the Government in matters of justice, describing them as a direct threat to judicial independence. During an interview in the program La trinchera en Llamas of esRadio, Sanz harshly criticized initiatives such as the “democratization” of the access to the judicial career and the weakening of the public’s involvement in the system.
– The Minister of Justice, Felix Bolaños, defended these measures under the argument of “facilitating access to judges for all types of people” and consolidating a thousand substitute judges, which, according to the minister, would “democratize justice”. However, Sanz qualified this narrative as misleading. “The competition for access to the judicial career is a tough, demanding competition, which seeks, through merit, ability and objectivity in the selection, to get the best professionals. It is a competition comparable to those of State bodies such as notaries, registrars or diplomats. But, what a coincidence, these are not to be touched or changed. The only concern is to ‘democratize’ the positions of judge”, he pointed out.
*The fallacies used to justify the reform*
– Sanz dismantled three fallacies that, according to him, the Government uses to defend these reforms. “First, that ‘all judges are children of judges’. Well, no. In the last promotion of 137 judges, five are children of judges and 72 have no relatives. Second, that ‘they are all male chauvinists’. Of those 137 judges, 92 are women and 45 are men. Third, that ‘they are all rich’. The judicial career is composed of diverse social classes. In the last promotion, 34.3% of the judges come from families without higher education,” he explained.
– Regarding the consolidation of a thousand substitute judges through the so-called fourth shift, Sanz expressed his concern about the lack of guarantees in this process. “The fourth shift currently exists, but under some important requirements. It is a way of access for professionals with ten years of practice, but also through a demanding entrance test that values their merits. Now, the intention is to lower the standards of difficulty of this test and introduce a thousand substitute judges ‘through the back door’,” he warned. In addition, he criticized the lack of solutions by the Government to address the shortage of judges in a structural way: “It is curious because they claim a lack of judges, but they are the same ones who have not wanted to solve this problem for years”. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/politica/2025-01-26/un-magistrado-desmonta-las-tres-falacias-que-utiliza-el-gobierno-para-justificar-su-reforma-judicial-7211846/
AXARQUÍA
The Provincial Council will invest one million euros to improve the recreational area of La Viñuela reservoir: {Translation, summary}
– The Diputación de Málaga will invest one million euros in the adaptation and 
improvement of the recreational area of La Viñuela, next to the reservoir. This action is part of the Environmental and Recreational Project developed by the Provincial Institution around the reservoir, which will begin with the reforestation and planting of almost 35,000 trees and shrubs.
– The president of the Diputación de Málaga, Francisco Salado, has explained that, since its construction, the perimeter of the reservoir has served as a recreational area that brings together many people at all times of the year. In fact, there are two areas where visitors congregate: the recreational area of La Viñuela, in the municipality of the same name, and the recreational area of Las Mayoralas, in Periana. “They are very busy spaces, which have facilities and furniture that are very deteriorated by use. So what we intend is to renovate and improve these recreational areas, which are located in a natural environment of great scenic and environmental wealth,” he added. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/la-diputacion-invertira-un-millon-de-euros-en-la-mejora-del-area-recreativa-del-embalse-de-la-vinuela/
IRELAND
Thousands in Ireland still without power after Storm Éowyn, as more wild weather wallops UK, France:
– Ireland called in help from England and France as repair crews worked to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people after the most disruptive storm for years. Even as the cleanup continued, more wet and windy weather hit the U.K., Ireland and France on Sunday.
– More than 1 million people in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland were left without electricity after Storm Éowyn (pronounced AY-oh-win) roared through on Friday.
– In Ireland, which suffered the heaviest damage, the wind snapped telephone poles, ripped apart a Dublin ice rink and even toppled a giant wind turbine. A wind gust of 114 mph (183 kph) was recorded on the west coast, breaking a record set in 1945.
– The state electricity company, ESB Networks, said that more than 300,000 properties in Ireland still had no power on Sunday, down from 768,000 on Friday. The Irish military was also helping out, but the company said that it could be two more weeks before electricity is restored to everyone. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/ireland-uk-storm-eowyn-cleanup-dec911dfa61e0a0c6e9fcd18ccdd72a5
SPORTS
Tennis News- Australian Open Update- Final results here: https://ausopen.com/results#!All
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Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev in 3 sets for his second Australian Open title in a row:
– There’s all sorts of ways beyond merely the score to measure just how dominant Jannik Sinner was while outplaying and frustrating Alexander Zverev during the 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory Sunday that earned the 23-year-old Italian a second consecutive Australian Open championship.
The zero break points Sinner faced. Or the 10 he accumulated. The 27-13 advantage in points that lasted at least nine strokes. Or the way Sinner accumulated more winners, 32 to 25, and fewer unforced errors, 27 to 45. The way Sinner won 10 of the 13 points that ended with him at the net. Or the way he only let Zverev go 14 of 27 in that category, frequently zipping passing shots out of reach.
– Well, here’s is one more bit of evidence: what Zverev said about Sinner. “I’m serving better than him, but that’s it. He does everything else better than me. He moves better than me. He hits his forehand better than me. He hits his backhand better than me. He returns better than me. He volleys better than me,” Zverev said. “At the end of the day, tennis has five or six massive shots — like, massive factors — and he does four or five of them better than me. That’s the reason why he won.” Full article: https://apnews.com/article/australian-open-men-final-sinner-zverev-df0c51779000913e5c6a19725e085829
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
China Completely Transforms The AI Industry Overnight, And For The Better! DEEPSEEK AI Changes Everything: {DigameXtra}
– China released an AI as good as those based in the West last week. What sets it apart is that DEEPSEEK has a huge financial advantage over the competition, it has operating expenses of only one percent of what Americian OpenAI’s ChatGPT costs to run.
– Unlike the AI tools available until now, Deepseek AI is open-source (publicly published, free to view). Much to the chagrin of AI tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, Deepseek is giving away the AI methods, codes and algorithms big tech companies had wanted to keep secret to exploit as their next golden goose. DEEPSEEK even offers a free chat-style tool on their website, with premium services also available. {I tried it and found Deepseek as good as the others, plus, with the “reasoning engine” included, I like Deepseek the best. More on this game-changing “reasoning engine” below. -Ed.}
– Deepseek is a startup operated out of China, so it is subject to that country’s laws and content censorship requirements. For example, it would not answer questions about the Tiananmen Square protests.
– One major component of the new Deepseek that sets it apart from OpenAI’s ChatGPT, GROK, Apple Intelligence & META AI, is its exposed “reasoning engine”, the logic-chain used to determine the final answer in plain English. Each step in the logic chain that Deepseek AI follows to create its reply to your prompt is shown in the reply as a preface. You can follow the logic chain to confirm that not only the facts, but also the reasoning, is acceptable to you. Other AIs only provide a few links to sources it used, but you have no idea how it developed the answer it provides, so it is hard to verify the accuracy of answers.
– Read an article in plain English with more details: https://venturebeat.com/ai/why-everyone-in-ai-is-freaking-out-about-deepseek/
DEEPSEEK website: https://www.deepseek.com/
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Humour & Diversions Section
Free Comic Strips provided by https://www.arcamax.com/comics
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Last updated Jan 26, 2025, 21:15 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
Useful Links, Info & Numbers
2025 Holiday Calendars by town, click/tap to view:
Algarrobo
Competa
Malaga
Nerja
Rincon
Torrox
Velez-Málaga
For other towns in Malaga Province, visit this website, click your town, then look for the post named “Calendario Laboral de ‘Your Town‘ 2025 “, click that to see calendar.
https://www.foro-ciudad.com/malaga.html
Petrol Prices – Updated daily: These are the fuel stations in Malaga province with the lowest prices. The price data for 95 and 98-octane petrol and diesel fuel is updated every day. See it here:
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/updated-daily-these-20220314114157-nt.html
Weekly Markets
Monday: Torrox Costa
Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena
Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa
Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana
Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria.
Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa
Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231
Phone numbers for emergencies
Emergency Services.: 112
National Police: 091
Guardia Civil: 062
Ambulance: 061
Fire Station (Bomberos): 080
Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police
Torrox: 952 539 828
Nerja: 952 521 545
Frigiliana: 952 533 126
Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Local/National News in English, The Sur: http://www.surinenglish.com/
Local Weather: https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/torre-del-mar/306652/weather-forecast/306652
Bus Info: https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/our-destinations/regional
Currency Converter: https://www.x-rates.com/calculator/?from=EUR&to=GBP&amount=1
Internet Speed Test: http://beta.speedtest.net/
Local Bank Holidays: http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/spain/index.php UK Newspaper Front Pages and Worldwide Newspapers All On One Site: https://www.thepaperboy.com/uk/front-pages.cfm
Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/
DigameXtra is now on X (formerly Twitter) at @DigameXtra. I also post articles there that are too controversial for the daily newsletter. However, you need a free X account to visit the @DigameXtra page on X.
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DigameXtra Sponsors
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Home Page – Based in Torrox Costa, near the bus station.
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