Welcome to DigameXtra !

The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia

Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop. Top banner image: formato digital.

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.

**********

DigameXtra Featured Sponsor

Website

**********

ANNOUNCEMENTS

**********

Happy Valentines Day

***********

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.
Ref: https://www.foro-ciudad.com/malaga/torrox/calendario-laboral-2025.html#google_vignette

**********

What’s On

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra! 

**********

Valentines Day at Robert’s Top, Almunecar: Fri, 14 Feb, 10pm
“Gringos” band will be playing your fav rock covers.
Robert’s Top, C/ Livry Gargan 1, Almunecar. Info: FB

**********

Concert- Sergey Belyavsky, pianist extraordinaire:
Sat, 1 March, 8pm, €15. Teatro Ciudad de Marbella
Plaza Ramon Martinez, 3, Marbella 29603.
Info & tix: https://www.mientrada.net/evento/teatro-marbella-sergey-belyavsky/
Video Link

**********

Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

Tap or click image for updated forecast

***********

NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town
**********

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!

**********

CÓMPETA SOLAR

Cómpeta Solar:
-Solar Electric (PV) (Self-Consumption)
-Grid Connected or Off Grid Solar Electric
-Solar Hot Water
-Solar Pool Heating
-Heat Pumps
-Installation and Repairs
Contact: James Bain, Competa
Tel: +34 652970608 (Spain)
Email: info AT competasolar DOT es
Web: www.competasolar.es
We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

**********

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.

**********

GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR

The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar –Torrox Costa:
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. 

 

************

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
englishnurse@rocketmail.com
Tel: 951550581 or 692419548
JUBILEE HOUSE – Close Care Unit in Torrox
VACANCY: Due to a successful rehabilitation we will have vacancy from 21st November in one of our ensuite units for a long stay English speaking guest. Please contact Liz on 692419548.
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. We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section. 

***********

DOCTORLAPTOP’S COMPUTER REPAIRS

DoctorLaptop’s Computer Repairs & Sales- Torrox Costa (near the bus station): Computers only, Windows / Linux / Mac. No tablets or phones. 
I don’t work on dinosaurs computers made before 2018 unless I have been servicing then annually. 
Contact: doctorlaptop AT protonmail DOT com
Or call 675 993 069 (no calls before 12noon, missed calls returned asap). More info on my website. All work by appointment only, no drop-ins please. Appointments are only available 2pm-8pm, Sunday thru Thursday. Closed Fridays & Saturdays. Always include the make & model number of the device when requesting assistance. My contact details can be found everyday at the bottom of the Sponsor’s Section.

February is computer clean-up month: DoctorLaptop’s full maintenance service for laptops & mini-PCs, only €40. Full size towers €50. Remember, no computers made before 2018 serviced unless I have been servicing then annually.

***********

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.

**********

COMPARE FUNERALS SPAIN

 

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.
We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section. 

**********

For Sale: LG monitor, 38cmX30cm, good condition, 15€.
Jill, Algarrobo 695463385. Can also meet in Caleta de Velez.

***********

For Sale: IKEA Godmorgon bathroom cabinet
H: 96cm, W: 70cm, D: 14cm. Mirrors on the outside and inside
4 glass shelves. €30. Good condition, buyer collects. Pam, Torrox.
Email: pamhalmstad at gmail dot com
Whatsapp: +46 703770153 

**********

For Sale: Outdoor rocker chairs with cushions.
Height approx 87 cms, width 62 cms, rocker length 97 cms.
Graphite grey and in good condition.
50 euros each or 90 euros for both
Christine, Caleta de Velez. WhatsApp 622166122 

**********

SOLD- For Sale: New Lenovo Ideapad 1, Gen 7
Business Grade Laptop. Only €380
Windows 11 Pro (UK). 8Gb RAM, 512Gb SSD.
Naythan

**********

For Sale: New Lenovo Ideapad 1-15ALC7, Gen 7. Only €420.
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 

**********

For Sale: New Laptop, Acer Aspire 3 A315. Only €480
Very powerful business model. 15.6″ Full HD display.
Windows 11 Pro (UK), 16 Gb RAM, 512 Gb SSD
Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U, up to 4.4GHz
Spanish keyboard. HDMI, Ethernet, 3x USB 3.2, Wifi 6.
Price: €480, fully setup and ready to use.
Naythan, Torrox Costa.
Email: doctorlaptop@protonmail.com 

***********

News & Articles

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

**********

SPAIN

Princess Leonor, about to arrive in Brazil, Elcano’s first international stopover after 23 days sailing the Atlantic: {Translation, summary}
– Princess Leonor and her midshipmen and midshipwomen mates left the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on January 23rd and are scheduled to arrive in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, this Friday, February 14th. This will be the first international stopover for the training ship.
– As planned, the ship will land on Valentine’s Day. The future officers will set foot on Brazilian soil tomorrow and will remain in the state of Bahia until February 19, from where they will sail to Montevideo (Uruguay). Colorful and warm, Salvador da Bahia is located on a peninsula with beaches such as Porto da Barra, bathed by the ocean.
– On board the ship she studies subjects such as Navigation, Astronomy, Meteorology, Amphibious Operations, Combat Support and Services and Maneuvering. In addition, the King and Queen’s daughter and her companions learn to sail in the traditional way with sail priority.
– This long voyage of Elcano has a duration of 140 days at sea and a route of 17,000 nautical miles. Of this schedule, the training ship has already completed 33 days of sailing and two stopovers.
– It should be remembered that the ship Elcano is a Spanish embassy at sea and that Leonor, due to her status as next in line to the throne, exercises a symbolic role of ambassador. The following ports will be: Montevideo (in Uruguay), Punta Arenas and Valparaiso (in Chile), El Callao (in Peru), Panama City, Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta (in Colombia) and Santo Domingo (in the Dominican Republic). From there, it will sail to New York (United States). From the city of skyscrapers, Leonor returns to Spain by plane. In Gijón, she will board the training ship again. Source, Spanish: https://www.eleconomista.es/informalia/casas… 

MALAGA PROVINCE

State of the reservoirs in Malaga province on Thursday, February 13, 2025: See the latest stats for all Andalucian provinces here. http://www.redhidrosurmedioambiente.es/saih/parte/diario/embalses

***********

24 Aesthetic Medicine Clinics in Malaga dismantled for using illegal substances: {Translation, summary}
– The Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME) has once again brought to the table a serious problem affecting public health: professional intrusion and the lack of regulation in the aesthetic medicine sector. During a press conference in Malaga {pic}, within the framework of the 40th National Congress and the 24th World Congress of Aesthetic Medicine, which will take place from February 13 to 15 at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos (Fycma), the organization has warned that 65% of medical-aesthetic treatments in Spain are performed by people without the appropriate qualifications.
– Added to this is another worrying fact: 20% of the procedures are carried out in unauthorized places, such as hairdressing salons, private homes and even cafes and boats, where events known as ‘Botox Parties’ are held. These practices pose a great risk to patients, who may suffer complications due to the application of products without sanitary control or in inadequate hygienic conditions.
– In Malaga, the situation is no less alarming. The Central Operative Unit (UCO) has recently dismantled 24 clinics that carried out treatments with illegal substances. In total, four people were arrested and 41 investigated for crimes of fraud, professional intrusion and criminal organization, which shows the magnitude of the problem in the province. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/… 

************

Ambrosia beetle puts Malaga growers on alert- avocado trees affected: {Translation, summary}
– The ragweed beetle, the Euwallacea fornicatus, is a species of insect that especially affects fruit trees, such as avocado, a plant that proliferates in the region of Axarquia. The Junta de Andalucía has carried out more than 900 actions in the provinces of Malaga and Granada in recent years to try to control this insect which was declared a pest in December last 2024.
– Officials have explained that these insects are engaged in digging holes in the branches of trees, where it houses a fungus that affect the plants, causing their death. After the affectations suffered in both Andalusian provinces, the Board announced that it will compensate the destruction of avocado crops affected by the ambrosia beetle.
– It is the females of this species that initiate attacks on trees. They expel the sawdust out of the tree, along its bark and base. Small entrance or exit holes appear. The entrance holes are perfectly round and about 0.85 millimeters in diameter. Spots appear on the outer bark that may be moist and dark or dry and light-colored. Dry or wet exudate in the form of “sugar volcanoes” are created as well as Gummosis (dried resin) on the outside of the bark. Insect droppings when the level of infestation is high may appear as long “matchsticks”. Regressive wilting results with eventually the death of the trees. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/afecta-escarabajo-ambrosia-aguacates-malaga_0_2003329768.html

TORROX

Torrox hosts on February 15 and 16 the fourth Extreme 4×4 Meeting of off-road vehicles: {Translation, summary}
– Torrox celebrates this weekend the fourth Extreme 4×4 Meeting that will serve as a prelude to host, on 15 and 16 March, one of the tests of the Andalusian Championship calendar of this discipline. This is an off-road sport that combines speed with overcoming obstacles and involving off-road vehicles and SSV of Spain and Portugal.
– About a hundred participants will gather at the Meeting Torrox Extreme 4×4 that starts on Saturday with a route, and on Sunday will feature an exhibition that will bring together many people in the off-road circuit prepared for it in the area of Calaceite. The Councillor for Sports, Jose Manuel Fernandez, explained that the Saturday afternoon rutómetro “will cover 41 kilometers of municipal lanes while on Sunday we will enjoy the off-road circuit”.
– The route will start about 17.00 hours and whose estimated time end will be 22:30. When the vehicles arrive at the end of the route, different activities, gymkhanas and camping areas have been prepared, while on Sunday the exhibition will take place.
– The vehicles participating in this meeting are grouped into five categories according to their level of preparation: Super Proto, Proto, Extreme, Improved and Promotion. This season, the Extreme 4×4 Championship is presented with two days of endurance stages and more hours of competition, and the event Torrox hosts this weekend is prior to one of the tests of the Andalusian Championship calendar that will come to the municipality torroxeño on 15 and 16 of next March.
Info: http://www.torrox.es/home/eventos/173443967387524030/2025/02/15
Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/torrox-acoge…

NERJA

A car fire blocks Frigiliana / Nerja road: {Translation}
– The fire of a car at kilometer 0 of the regional road that connects the A-7 highway with Frigiliana, at about 15:00 on Thursday, has caused a huge traffic jam on Avenida Alcalde Antonio Villasclaras, the main access to Nerja.
– The alarms rang about 15.00 hours, when for reasons that are unknown and are under investigation, a car traveling down the road, downhill, had begun to burn, near the rural hotel Almazara. Its occupants have been able to get out of the vehicle unharmed and alerted the emergency services.
– The agents had to temporarily cut the access to the neighboring town of Frigiliana, due to the virulence of the flames, and to the highway, so there have been significant delays in the area uphill for almost an hour.
– The vehicle was completely burnt on the side of the road. It had to be removed from the area by a crane. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/sucesos/incendio-coche-provoca-colapso-acceso-nerja-20250213190053-nt.html 

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

Vélez-Málaga presents a shock plan to solve “the great proliferation of rats”: {Translation, summary}
– Velez-Malaga suffers an excess of rodents that are generating a problem in the living conditions of the neighbors. Therefore, it has presented a shock plan to solve “the great proliferation of rats”. This was announced Wednesday by the councilman of the Historic Center and responsible for Health of the Environment Area of the City Council, Juan Fernandez Olmo. The rat extermination plan has already been implemented in the coastal area of the town and now will be developed in the town center.
– As for the plan designed to eliminate rodents, Fernandez Olmo has clarified that the rat extermination will undertake “a second round in those most troubled areas of the municipality”. Specifically, this second action will consist of a maintenance plan. The action period will be extended until March 31, 2025.
– The councilman mentioned another of the measures adopted and integrated into this shock plan of pest control. “There will be one day a week dedicated to responding to the requests for rat removal services made by the citizens of our municipality that come to us through different channels,” said Olmo, mentioning channels such as GECOR, mail and other application options.
– The rat extermination plan will be directed mainly to the gray (or sewer) rat, which has its habitat in the sewage network, although work will be done in garden areas, plots, parks or other places where the presence of field rats or common mouse is more prevalent. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/velez-malaga/velez-malaga-presenta-plan-choque_0_2003327013.html

EUROPE

Trump gives green light to tariffs on the “brutal” EU as a response to VAT: {Translation}
– The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has just signed this Thursday in the Oval Office of the White House the executive orders for the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” on countries that tax American products. Those that make up the European Union (EU), described by the president as “brutal” in their trade relations, will be affected by this decision in response to the value added tax (VAT) levied on all products.
– The aim of this new episode of the tariff war is to match the tariffs that these nations apply to ‘made in USA’ exports. In that sense, Trump has pointed out that US allies are usually “worse” than “enemies” at the trade level, in a clear reference to the EU. On the repercussions that this new wave of tariffs will have, the US president has acknowledged that “prices could go up”.
– In any case, the US government considers VAT as a tax, “and it will not be accepted to send goods through another country to avoid them,” added Donald Trump. For the moment, however, he has avoided setting a date for this new measure, which will probably be used as a pressure measure in future negotiations with Brussels. For the US president, these “reciprocal tariffs” aim to “restore fairness and level the playing field”. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/economia/trump-luz-verde-aranceles-reciprocos-paises-gravan-20250213195201-ntrc.html 

***********

Trump Announces Start Of Ukraine Peace Talks After Call With Russian President Putin:
– US President Donald Trump says he had a “productive” call with Vladimir Putin, where both agreed to start talks on a Ukraine ceasefire. He later spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, promising to stop Russian aggression, but concerns are growing that the US might pressure Ukraine into concessions like ceding land or dropping its NATO bid. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called pre-2014 borders unrealistic and warned that insisting on them would prolong the war. The US also won’t support Ukraine’s NATO membership in a peace deal, expecting Europe to take on more financial aid. European leaders worry that a rushed US-Russia deal could favour Moscow, while Ukraine insists that any talks must align with its interests.
Source & Video Link: https://youtu.be/1HhDYkwNZ9c?si=fFIx5RchdYsrt2QG

**********

Europe demands role in Ukraine talks after Trump-Putin call:
– European leaders insisted they shouldn’t be sidelined after US President Donald Trump said he’d agreed to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
– The US president swept aside three years of US policy that nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Kyiv at the table. But it also left out Nato allies in Europe with a stake in the resolution of a conflict raging on their borders, who feared the more conciliatory American stance amounted to a giveaway to the Russian leader.
– US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Nato allies America wouldn’t contribute troops to secure a peace, called eventual Nato membership for Ukraine unrealistic and said the government in Kyiv would probably have to accept the loss of some territory.
– European officials got no advance warning of Trump’s call with Putin, according to one official. In comments at the Munich Security Conference on Thursday, others called it a sell-out, saying they feared the US was giving in to Putin’s key demands without getting anything in return. Full article: https://www.luxtimes.lu/europeanunion/europe-demands-role-in-ukraine-talks-after-trump-putin-call/40548929.html

**********

Donald Trump wants Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for continued US support:
– Washington will provide Ukraine with a post-war “security shield” if Kyiv hands over rare earth minerals, US President Donald Trump’s transport secretary has said. Scott Bessent {pic}, the first cabinet-level official on Donald Trump’s team to visit Kyiv, was speaking after Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, said he hoped to reach a ceasefire agreement later this week. The US President, who wants a rapid end to the war with Russia, has said he wants US$500 billion (NZ$886 billion) in rare earth minerals for continued US support.
– Bessent told reporters that the minerals are part of a “larger peace deal that Trump has in mind”, adding that his first visit to Ukraine showed that the war was a top priority for the Trump administration. “By increasing our economic commitment through a partnership with the government and people of Ukraine, that will provide – once this conflict is over – it will provide a long-term security shield for all Ukrainians,” Bessent said.
– Zelenskyy told reporters that he hoped a deal could be reached at the Munich Security Conference later this week.
Full article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/donald… 

**********

Update- The US confirms that Trump will negotiate with Putin and Zelenski and that NATO’s allies WILL have a role: {Translation, summary}
– U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth {pic} confirmed Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump will negotiate directly with his counterparts in Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, with NATO allies playing a role, though he did not clarify whether at the negotiating table.
– “Trump called both Putin and Zelenski, both of them. Any negotiation will be with both,” said the Pentagon chief in statements at the end of the meeting of allied defense ministers in Brussels marked by Washington’s decision to start a process ‘immediately’ with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. In any case, he has not detailed whether he will sit down both at the same time.
– In this regard, Hegseth assured that European NATO members “will play a role”, although he did not clarify whether they will be present at the negotiation, which in principle is limited to Trump and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Thus, he said that the “central” part of the agreement will be with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, although he recognized that the outcome of the process “affects many people”.
– On the security guarantees that may be offered to Ukraine or military support to Kiev during the negotiations themselves, the US defense official argued that future military aid “will be on the table”, either to increase or reduce it, something that he has advanced that Washington will use as a “carrot or stick” to advance the agreement with Ukraine and Russia. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/internacional/… 

***********

Dozens hurt in car ramming attack in Munich before German election:
– At least 30 people were hurt when a car driven by an Afghan asylum seeker ploughed into a crowd in Munich on Thursday in what the state premier said was probably an attack, putting security back in focus before next week’s federal election.
– At least 30 people were injured, some of them seriously, according to the latest police report. Police said a white car had approached police vehicles that were accompanying a demonstration of striking workers, before speeding up and slamming into people. One shot was fired at the suspect and it was unclear if he was wounded, police added. Officers detained the 24-year-old driver. They said his motive was unclear.
– Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann said the suspect had been known to police for drug and shoplifting offences. His asylum application had been rejected, said Herrmann, but he had not been forced to leave due to security concerns in Afghanistan.
– Immigration and security issues have dominated campaigning ahead of the February 23 election, especially after other violent incidents in recent weeks, with polls showing the centre-right conservatives leading followed by the far right. In December, six people were killed in an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg and last month a toddler and adult were killed in a knife attack in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg. Immigrants have been arrested over both attacks.
– Conservative Friedrich Merz, frontrunner to be Germany’s next chancellor, said safety would be his top priority. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/several-injured-after-car-drives-into-people-munich-bild-reports-2025-02-13/

USA

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as US Health Secretary:
– The Senate on Thursday confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Trump’s health secretary, putting the prominent vaccine skeptic in control of $1.7 trillion in federal spending, vaccine recommendations and food safety as well as health insurance programs for roughly half the country.
– Nearly all Republicans fell in line behind Trump despite hesitancy over Kennedy’s views on vaccines as the Senate voted 52-48 to elevate the scion of one of America’s most storied political — and Democratic — families to secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. Democrats unanimously opposed Kennedy. Photo: Rod Lamkey. Full article: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-02-13/robert-f-kennedy-jr-confirmed-health-human-services 

ENERGY CRISIS

Spain reduced its gas imports by 28% in 2024 but together with France and Belgium brought 85% of gas imports from Russia to the EU: {Translation, summary}
– The EU reduced its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024 by 19% and, within it, Spain was one of the countries where they fell the most, by 28%, although it continued to be one of the main entry routes for gas arriving from Russia. Specifically, together with Belgium and France, it was the destination of 85% of Russian natural gas arriving in the EU, according to last year’s balance sheet drawn up by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
– Last year, the main supplier of LNG to the EU was the United States, which accounted for 46% of the imports. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5682026/… 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

AI Action Summit- UK and US refuse to sign inclusive AI statement:
– The UK and US governments refused to sign a joint international declaration on inclusive and sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) as the AI Action Summit drew to a close.
– A total of 61 countries – including France, China, India, Japan, Australia and Canada – have signed a Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet at the AI Action Summit in Paris, which affirmed a number of shared priorities.
– This includes promoting AI accessibility to reduce digital divides between rich and developing countries; “ensuring AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy, taking into account international frameworks for all”; avoiding market concentrations around the technology; reinforcing international cooperation; making AI sustainable; and encouraging deployments that “positively” shape labour markets.
– While the UK and US governments have not immediately outlined the exact reasons for their refusal to sign the statement, a spokesperson for prime minister Keir Starmer has said the government would “only ever sign up to initiatives that are in UK national interests”. During the summit, US vice-president JD Vance said that “excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry”, adding that “we need international regulatory regimes that foster the creation of AI technology rather than strangle it”. Full article: https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366619274/AI-Action-Summit-UK-and-US-refuse-to-sign-inclusive-AI-statement

SPAM CALLS

Companies will not be able to make commercial calls to Spain’s residents from mobiles in 3 months: {Translation}
– Companies and public entities will be prohibited within three months from making commercial calls via cell phones under a ministerial order, already signed, which includes a package of measures to prevent identity theft scams that are carried out via telephone or mobile messaging (SMS).
– However, commercial calls can be made from a 900 or 800 number, numbers that until now were only assigned to receive them, by virtue of an order of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and for the Civil Service, which will come into force within 20 days of its publication this week in the Official State Gazette (BOE). Its head, Óscar López, explained, in statements to journalists, these measures, which include the obligation established for telecommunications operators to block calls and SMS with numbers that have not been assigned to an end customer or an operator. It is assumed that if there are no real customers behind the call, it is an indication that they are trying to take advantage of identity theft.
– In addition, telecommunications operators will also have to block calls of international origin that pretend to have originated from a Spanish number, except those of roaming customers.
This measure is set taking into account that fraudulent calls usually come from foreign countries, such as the Netherlands or the United Kingdom, from where calls with Spanish numbers are simulated.
– On the other hand, operators will be obliged to block messages that, instead of a telephone number, are assigned to an alphanumeric code, provided that their owners are not registered with the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). In this regard, the CNMC will have to create a database in which any public or private entity that wants to use this type of messages with an alphanumeric code must be registered in this database.
– This order will come into force within 20 days of its publication in the BOE, although some of its measures will be mandatory in a longer period of time, taking into account the technical complexity required to apply them. Thus, for example, with regard to the measures on messages with alphanumeric code, these will come into force 15 months after the publication of the order.
– Failure to comply with these measures is classified in the General Telecommunications Law as a serious infringement and is liable to a fine of up to 2 million euros, as explained to journalists by the Secretary General for Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure and Digital Security, Matías González Martín. According to González Martín, when the order began to be processed at the beginning of last year, 50% of frauds were committed by means of these practices that are affected by the order, which is in line with measures that have already been implemented in France, Germany and Belgium, as well as in Finland. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1865371/las-empresas-no-podran-efectuar-llamadas-comerciales-desde-moviles-en-3-meses/

TRAVEL

Ryanair’s warning to Andalusia if it is fined for charging carry-on baggage fees, Facua Sevilla responds by demanding even larger fines: {Translation}
– Irish flag carrier Ryanair has warned the Junta de Andalucía of a “breach of European Union (EU) law” if the Consejería de Salud y Consumo finally sanctions the airline for charging a hand luggage surcharge. “This is only a preliminary decision by a local authority. If the Seville Consumer Service imposes a fine on Ryanair, as it has threatened to do, it will act in breach of EU law just as the Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy, has done,” the company says in a statement.
– The airline assures that if this sanction is put into effect, “it will appeal any fine before the Spanish and EU courts”. The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs had announced that it will sanction the airline for charging a surcharge when traveling with hand luggage, following complaints filed by Facua Seville on behalf of five partners. As confirmed by sources of the Ministry to Europa Press, Wednesday, the disciplinary proceedings are still in process, so the amount of the economic penalty imposed, amounting to 46,250 euros for “serious” infringement, is only a proposal, as it may vary between now and the end of the processing.
– In this regard, Facua Sevilla has filed allegations requesting that the infringement be increased to “very serious”, which would raise the amount of the fine to the range of between 60,001 and 1,000,000 euros. “The proposed resolution cites up to 22 court rulings in which the illegality of these practices has been determined,” as indicated by the association in a note.
– The consumer organization has argued in its writings that these charges are an “abusive” practice that violates the Air Navigation Act, which states that “the carrier shall be obliged to carry free of charge in the cabin, as hand luggage, objects and packages that the passenger carries” and only provides as an exception “safety reasons, linked to the weight or size of the object in relation to the characteristics of the aircraft”. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/andalucia/aviso-ryanair-andalucia-multan-recargo-equipaje-mano-20250213115850-nt.html 

**********

CHURCHES & WORSHIP

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

**********

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

**********

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. 

**********

By supporting our sponsors you help support DigameXtra!

DigameXtra Sponsors

Home Page

Home Page 

Home Page

FB Page

Home Page  and  FB Page

FB Page

Home Page

Home Page & FB Page

Get Windscribe Pro or Free Versions Here

Home Page and FB Page

FB Page

Home Page

Home Page

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

************

How to Subscribe and make submissions: Click Link

https://digamextra.com/about/

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

ATTENTION! New EU internet privacy laws are now in effect, known as the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). I have to inform you that the DigameXtra archive saves follower’s email addresses in the WordPress server. By subscribing/following you implicitly accept this; if you make submissions you acknowledge that anyone can view old issues online and see your contact info as you provided and you accept this. If you don’t want me saving your email address do not subscribe/follow, you can unsubscribe and remove yourself from this list using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every subscription issue. Takedown notices must include proof of ownership as well as the date and issue number of the DigameXtra issue containing the infringing content.  These may be submitted to digamextra@protonmail.com. Proper takedown notices will be complied with immediately. All images have been credited or copied from what I believe to be copyright free sources.

©DigameXtra.com 2015-2025. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to republish any DigameXtra.com content. Sharing content for personal use is permissible as long as it is source credited to https://digamextra.com.