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Upcoming Holidays: Friday, 28 February is Andalucia Day, a public holiday.
DigameXtra will be closed. Posts scheduled for Friday, 28 February will be posted one day early, on Thursday, the 27th.
After Andalucia Day, the next national public holidays are the 17th (Holy Thursday) & 18th (Good Friday) of April.
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Carnival of Vélez-Málaga: Thurs – Sun, 20 -23 Feb.
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COMPARE FUNERALS
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ruthforder@comparefuneral.org
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* Delivery of Urn and associated paperwork to family (death certificate, cremation certificate etc)
This plan is exclusive to a number of provinces, please ask advisor for more information.
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– Why choose Compare Funerals? There seems to be a gap in Spain between independent funeral directors, offering plans at a good price but lacking the security of an established Trust or ability to cover a client overseas and Providers who seem to charge more than necessary. We want to be right in the middle and offer the best of both worlds. Our best-priced plan is only 2,250€ and does the essentials.
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– What happens if I move? All our plans offer the equivalent service in Spain (including the islands), Portugal, Republic of Ireland and the UK. If you moved to the UK, we would transfer the plan to one of our many partners at no extra cost to you.
– Is paperwork included? Yes, your family will receive a death certificate in Spanish and an international certification in English. We also provide a cremation certificate that allows the ashes on board a plane.
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Buy / Sell / Trade / Rent / Wanted
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How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a
single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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Great Deals From Upcycling Nerja
– Lovely solid hardwood round table with 4 matching chairs beautiful decorative metal detail . Measurements diameter 120cms height 82cms price 225€ (possibly from salablanca)
– Ikea Hemnes bedside table natural wood (waxed) grey color bronze handle measurements 46 x 35 x 70cms 40€
– Ikea Hemnes drawers natural wood (waxed) grey color bronze handles measurements 118 x 50 x 95cms Price 130€
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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.
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Super 8 Conversion: Does anyone know if there is any place near Torre/Velez/Caleta to get Super 8 film reels converted to DVD? The fellow who used to advertise this service on Digamextra has closed down. Tom, Almayate. Email: criaderodelasartes@gmx.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
Minimum monthly wage will now be be taxed after it is increased to €1,184 euros in 2025: {Translation, summary}
– The Council of Ministers has approved the increase in the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI) to 1,184 euros gross per month in 14 payments, an amount which for the first time will not be exempt from taxation and which has generated conflicting positions within the coalition Government.
– The Government has given the green light to an increase of 4.4% (or 50 euros more per month) of the SMI which will have retroactive effect as from January 1st and which was agreed by the Ministry of Labor and the trade unions, but not by the employers.
– In the press conference after the Council of Ministers, the Second Vice-President 
and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, defended this increase which helps to reduce inequality and which will benefit 2.4 million salaried workers, 12.9% of the total.
It “suits Spain very well” to raise the SMI, since it is allowing “the robust growth that it has today” and facilitates that the country “walks in the right direction”, remarked the second vice-president, who added that this “is a success story”.
– This new minimum wage (16,576 euros gross per year) will not be exempt from personal income tax as it has been until now.
Even so, many of the recipients of the minimum wage will continue without paying tax, something that will depend on their personal situation: a taxpayer with a partner and a child under three years of age will not pay any income tax, just as now, but if he is single and has no children, 300 euros a year will be withheld, almost half of the 700 euros by which his remuneration will be increased.
– The spokesperson of the Government, Pilar Alegría, has defended that the collection “is for the benefit of improving public policies and public services” of which all citizens “make use”.
– In response to the Treasury’s decision, the Sumar party has presented a bill in the Congress of Deputies to ensure that the SMI is exempt from personal income tax.
Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1864816/el-salario-minimo-comenzara-a-tributar-tras-la-subida-a-1184-euros-para-2025/
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Transparency International ranks Spain below Rwanda or Saudi Arabia in Corruption Perceptions Index: {Translation, summary}
– Spain is in the middle of the table with 56 points, behind countries such as Grenada, Botswana, Rwanda or Saudi Arabia, but ahead of others such as Italy, Poland, Greece or Slovakia. Although Transparency International has not registered in Spain a significant setback at the legislative level and in the anti-corruption framework, the reality is that the organization has not perceived a “substantial progress” in these areas either.
– For the NGO, the lack of progress at the national level, coupled with the dismantling of structures at the regional level, explains the four-point drop with respect to the last report. These symptoms extend across the continent, especially in Western Europe, where the capacity to fight corruption “is falling dangerously”. Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/internacional/transparencia-internacional-alerta-niveles-extremadamente-elevados-corrupcion-20250211093621-nt.html
AXARQUÍA
Two men stabbed in separate brawls in Rincón de la Victoria and Torre del Mar: {Translation, summary}
– Two men were stabbed in separate brawls that occurred last weekend in two localities of the Axarquia, specifically Rincon de la Victoria and Torre del Mar. In chronological order, the first of the events took place last Friday night in the central Avenida del Mediterráneo in the town of Rincon.
– A 28-year-old man was seriously injured and had to be taken to the emergency 
room of the nearby health center of Rincon de la Victoria, after being stabbed in the course of a fight in which half a dozen people were involved. The incident took place outside a hairdresser’s shop. Sources confirmed that there was a stab wound victim, who was evacuated to the health center. No further information has been released about his state of health, although there was no fear for his life.
– The second of the events took place just 24 hours later, in this case in the middle of Torre del Mar, in the Avenida de Andalucía, next to the Burger King. Four young people were involved in the fight, resulting in a stab wound, 20 years old. The injured young man was evacuated by emergency medical staff to the Hospital Comarcal de la Axarquia, with a guarded prognosis, although his life was not in danger. Those involved have been identified, but not yet arrested, as there are several security cameras in the vicinity. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/dos-hombres…
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National Geographic includes three villages in Axarquía among the best in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– In the prestigious National Geographic’s list of the 11 most beautiful villages in the province of Malaga we find Frigiliana, Sedella and Competa. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/national-geographic-incluye-a-tres-pueblos-de-la-axarquia-entre-los-mejores-de-malaga/
MALAGA PROVINCE
The Malaga cheese market returns to Coín: {Translation, summary}
– Next Sunday, February 16, the Malaga Cheese Market returns to Coín, offering an exceptional gastronomic experience and the opportunity to discover some of the high quality cheeses and dairy products produced in the province. The event will be held at the Guadalhorce Agroalimentary enclosure in Coín, as usual, next to La Trocha Shopping Center, in the morning hours, from 9:00 to 14:30 hours.
– Once again in Coín, some of the most outstanding cheese dairies of the province will gather to present to the public their most refined products, ranging from the most traditional and classic options to the most innovative, exotic and avant-garde ones. This initiative is promoted by the Malaga Cheese Association and highlights the work of ten dairies in the province.
– This time will be a dozen Malaga cheese factories that will be during this 
gastronomic day in the Malaga Cheese Market, showing, offering samples and selling their products. These will be Quesos Montes de Málaga de Colmenar, Quesos Cabraline de Antequera, Quesos El Alcornocal de Cortes de la Frontera, Quesos El Arquillo de Campillos, Quesos El Pastor Del Torcal de Antequera, Quesos El Pastor del Valle de Alhaurín el Grande, Quesos Flor Bermeja de Casabermeja, Quesería La Hortelana de Coín, Quesería Rey Cabra de Cuevas del Becerro and Quesos Santa María del Cerro de Villanueva de Concepción.
– All of them are artisan cheese dairies that present their most outstanding products, offering visitors the opportunity to taste new flavors and experiment with different textures. Some of these dairies are small family businesses that have been progressing and developing in the industry, and an additional factor to highlight is that they produce their cheeses with milk from their own goats. Full article: https://www.malagahoy.es/la-farola/plan-gastronomico-domingo-mercado-quesos-malaga-coin_0_2003314247.html
NERJA
Cycling News- La Cueva de Nerja will host the end of the first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía: {Translation, summary}
– The Town Hall of Nerja (Málaga) and the Nerja Cave Foundation have presented the first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía ‘Ruta del Sol’ of this year 2025 in which this sporting event celebrates its 100th anniversary. In this initial section, to be held on Wednesday, February 19, the participants start from the town of Torrox and arrive at the site of the cave of Nerja.
– The Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía turns one hundred years old in this 2025, a centenary that demonstrates the historical importance of a sporting event that runs through the autonomous community in different sections.
– This year it will be held in five different stages, starting in Torrox on Wednesday, February 19 and ending in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz) on Sunday, February 23, five consecutive days in which more than 820 kilometers will be covered in total.
– The first stage takes place in the Axarquia, in Malaga, with a duration of 162.6 kilometers of route that, starting from the town of Torrox, passes through different enclaves such as Lagos, Mezquitilla, Algarrobo, Sayalonga, Archez, Salares, Sedella, Frigiliana or Nerja, and ends at the site of the natural monument Cueva de Nerja. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/…
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Four arrested for stealing more than two thousand euros in Nerja restaurants: {Translation, summary}
– The Civil Guard, in ‘operation Koffer’, have arrested four people for thefts in public establishments in the Axarquia town of Nerja. The investigation began late last December after receiving several reports of thefts in restaurants in the easternmost coastal town of the province. Doors were forced open. Once inside the premises, they stole the cash in the cash register and quickly left the premises to avoid being caught. In the four robberies committed a total of 2,350 euros was stolen.
– The corresponding steps were taken to identify and locate the perpetrators, and four people were arrested for the crimes of robbery with force. Two of the detainees had numerous police records for similar acts and had already been arrested last year.
Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/cuatro-detenidos-robar-dos-mil-euros-restaurantes-nerja-20250211111924-nt.html
UK
UK’s proposed assisted dying law to be changed to remove judge sign-off:
– Britain’s proposed new assisted dying law for terminally ill people will be amended to remove the requirement that a High Court judge sign off on each case, lawmaker Kim Leadbeater said on Tuesday.
– Under the proposals, mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less left to live would be given the right to choose to end their lives with medical help after approval by two doctors and a judge.
– With the process of political scrutiny underway, Leadbeater said she wanted to scrap the need for authorisation by a High Court judge, with each case instead considered by a panel of experts, including a senior legal figure, psychiatrists and social workers. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-proposed-assisted-dying-law-be-changed-remove-judge-sign-off-2025-02-11/
MIDDLE EAST
Trump says Hamas should free all hostages by midday Saturday or ‘let hell break out’:
– U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Hamas should release all hostages held by the militant group in Gaza by midday Saturday or he would propose canceling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and “let hell break out.” Trump cautioned that Israel might want to override him on the issue and said he might speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
– But in a wide-ranging session with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expressed frustration with the condition of the last group of hostages freed by Hamas and by the announcement by the militant group that it would halt further releases. “As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time. I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday,” Trump said. He said he wanted the hostages released en masse, instead of a few at a time. “We want ’em all back.”
– Trump also said he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they don’t take Palestinian refugees being relocated from Gaza. He is to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday.
– The comments came on a day of some confusion over Trump’s proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza once the fighting stops.
He said Palestinians would not have the right of return to the Gaza Strip under his proposal to redevelop the enclave, contradicting his own officials who had suggested Gazans would only be relocated temporarily. In an excerpt of an interview with Fox News channel’s Bret Baier broadcast on Monday, Trump added that he thought he could make a deal with Jordan and Egypt to take the displaced Palestinians, saying the U.S. gives the two countries “billions and billions of dollars a year.”
– Asked if Palestinians would have the right to return to Gaza, Trump said: “No, they wouldn’t because they’re going to have much better housing.” “I’m talking about building a permanent place for them,” he said, adding it would take years for Gaza to be habitable again.
– In a shock announcement on Feb. 4 after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Trump proposed resettling Gaza’s 2.2 million Palestinians and the U.S. taking control of the seaside enclave, redeveloping it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-palestinians-would-not-have-right-return-gaza-2025-02-10/
SPORTS
World Athletics wants to use cheek swab tests to decide female athlete eligibility:
– The “pre-clearance requirement” is one of several changes that will further tighten regulations concerning the eligibility of transgender and difference of sex development (DSD) athletes.
– In March 2023 World Athletics banned transgender athletes who had gone through male puberty from competing in the female category in international competition.
– However, following recommendations from the World Athletics council the governing body is now set to revise its eligibility regulations for male-to-female trans athletes on the basis of fresh evidence it said shows there was a “significant performance gap before the onset of puberty”.
– World Athletics said the cheek swab test would look for the SRY gene, which is “almost always on the male Y chromosome” and “is used as a highly accurate proxy for biological sex”. The proposals developed by a World Athletics working group on gender diverse athletes will now go through a consultation period from 10 February until 5 March. Full article: https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/cj91dr17d1no
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
EU to mobilise €200 billion for AI investment- wants to ‘supercharge’ AI development in EU:
– Europe will mobilise €200bn euro for investment in artificial intelligence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced at the AI Action Summit in Paris today. Of this, €20bn will be earmarked for AI gigafactories , which, according to the Commission, is needed to allow for “collaborative development” the most complex AI models.
– {AI gigafactories require insane amounts of electricty & water! Look for them to be located near nuclear power plants. In the USA the AI gigafactories are building their own mini-nuke power plants, integrated into the facilities for their exclusive use, and always near a large water supply they soon degrade by discharging heated water from their cooling systems. -Ed}
– The announcement comes on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on Sunday of a €109 billion investment plan for AI projects in France in the coming years. Macron said the investment is “the equivalent for France of what the US has announced with ‘Stargate’,” referring to OpenAI’s $500-billion programme.
– Von der Leyen said that she wants “AI to be a force for good and for growth”. “We are doing this through our own European approach – based on openness, cooperation and excellent talent. But our approach still needs to be supercharged. This is why, together with our member states and with our partners, we will mobilise unprecedented capital through InvestAI for European AI gigafactories,” she added. Full article: https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/02/11/eu-to-mobilise-200-billion-for-ai-investment
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WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab explains to the World Governments Summit 2025 the future of AI & globalism he has planned for us- “Governments in the Intelligent Age”: Video Link
OTHER
Private Plane Owned by Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil Involved in Fatal Arizona Crash:
– A private plane owned by Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil collided with another private plane in a fatal incident in Scottsdale, Arizona on Monday. One person was killed, and several others were left injured in the incident.
– Neil was not on the plane, but his girlfriend Rain Andreani was among the several 
injured who were taken to a local hospital. A statement regarding the incident was posted on the Mötley Crüe X account on Monday. “At 2:39 p.m. local time, a Learjet aircraft Model 35A owned by Vince Neil was attempting to land at the Scottsdale Airport. For reasons unknown at this time, the plane veered from the runway causing it to collide with another parked plane,” the statement read.
– “On board Mr. Neil’s plane were two pilots and two passengers. Mr. Neil was not on the plane. Vince’s girlfriend, Rain, was taken to hospital following the crash. More specific details regarding the collision are not available as this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is an ongoing investigation.” Full article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/…
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Humour & Diversions Section
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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/
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