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Protestors holding a banner reading "it is now" during the "March for Change" of political party, Podemos, on January 31st, 2015. Photo: Gerard Julien/AFP.

Podemos leap ahead in new poll

A new poll has revealed that more Spaniards plan to vote for left-wing protest party, Podemos, than the traditional opposition party, the Socialists (PSOE) hearalding the end of Spain's traditional two-party system. READ

In pics

Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP

Bizarre Spanish fashions you shouldn't try at home

With the Autumn/Winter fashion weeks about to take place and highstreet brands Zara and Mango conquering the world, Spain is, in many respects, a trailblazing fashion force. There are some looks, however, that should stay strictly within Spain’s borders. READ

UK elections

British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) and leader of the opposition Labour Party Ed Miliband (R) and British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (C). Photo: Dan Kitwood/POOL/AFP

Why most UK expats will shun general election

The deadline for registering to vote in the UK general elections is fast approaching, but not all UK expats will be casting their vote. We talked to Brits around Europe about why they will be voting – or not. READ

File photo of a motorbike protest: Shutterstock

Hells Angels: 55 charged in crime probe

Over 50 members of the Majorcan chapter of the notorious biker gang have been charged for crimes ranging from prostitution to drugs trafficking. READ

Photo of Rome: Shutterstock

Lost in Sistine Chapel: Gran found after 3 days

An elderly Spanish woman spent three days wandering lost on the streets of Rome after she became separated from her family during a tour of the Sistine Chapel. READ

File photo of the Cofrentes nuclear power plant in Spain. Photo of a Spanish nuclear power plant: Shutterstock

Nuclear reactor shut down after blackout

The Vandellos II nuclear power plant, in northeastern Spain, was closed on Tuesday after suffering an electricity failure caused by high winds. READ

People sledging after heavy snowfall in Burgos on January 22nd 2015. Photo: Cesar Manso/AFP

Wrap up warm! Cold front hits Spain

Cold weather is set to sweep across Spain and continue over the weekend and into next week. READ

Rescued migrants aboard a Red Cross boat last August. Photo: Marcos Moreno/AFP

Police arrest ten in people smuggling ring

Police have arrested ten suspected members of a ring that smuggled Algerian migrants by boat into Spain, charging around €600($680) per person to make the dangerous crossings in which two people died. READ

Josep Maria Bartomeu, President of Barcelona FC, photographed in January. Photo: Lluis Gene / file / AFP

President of Barça charged with tax fraud

A Spanish judge charged the president of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, with tax fraud linked to the signing of Brazilian star Neymar. READ

Barcelona fashion week

Models take to the runway for Yerse during 080 Barcelona fashion week. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP.

Russian supermodel, 9, misses Spain catwalk

Kristina Pimenova, who has been modelling since the age of three, had to miss out on Barcelona fashion week after "bureaucratic errors" prevented her from taking to the catwalk. READ

Features

Madrid Podemos rally

Photo: Pedro Armestre/AFP

Young and old, rich and poor join left-wing march

Not just young radicals: Spaniards of all ages and backgrounds came out in their thousands to support a left-wing political party currently making waves in Spain. The Local caught up with some of them to find out why they are such big fans of Podemos. READ

Opinion

Photo of a lady in Spanish glasses: Shutterstock

The five strangest things about Spaniards

After two years at the helm of The Local Spain, George Mills is moving on. Here he reflects on some of the most puzzling aspects of life in a country he believes is one of the greatest places to live in the world. READ 2 comments

My Spanish Career

Joel Serra moved to Spain after stints with the Australian Government and consulting with KPMG. Photo: Aldo Chacon

'I want to be known as a gonzo chef'

Chef, entrepreneur, Pilates instructor: meet Barcelona-based New Zealander Joel Serra — a man with many pots on the stove. READ

Photo: Steve Optix

Spain in stats: a portrait of a nation

From a very low crime rate to the largest wealth divide in the European Union, here are ten key statistics that shine a light on modern Spain. READ

The Local list

How many lives does an Iberian cat have? Photo: James Whitesmith

Top ten: must-know Spanish superstitions

If you're the kind of superstitious soul who never walks under a ladder and is always confused about whether black cats are meant to bring bad luck or good, then read on for the lowdown on all the strangest Spanish superstitions. READ

More News

Photo of a baby: Shutterstock

Benidorm mother sells baby for €5,000

A judge in Benidorm has given a mother a one year suspended sentence for attempting to sell her baby to a childless couple in 2008. READ

Photo of the Rock of Gibraltar: Shutterstock

Gibraltar chief calls for dialogue with Spain

Gibraltar chief urges reconcilitation with Spain: "If Obama and Cuba can reach an agreement, why can´t we?" READ 3 comments

People wait in line outside a government employment office in Madrid. Photo: Sabastien Berda/AFP

Latest figures: jobless rate slows

Spain's jobless queue in the traditionally tough month of January shrank compared to a year earlier at its fastest rate in 16 years, government data showed on Tuesday. READ

Photo of students: Shutterstock

Old woman leaves fortune to local children

The heiress of a flour fortune has left €10 million to the children of her village so they will all have the chance of continuing their studies. READ

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last week, Photo Josep Lago / AFP

Spanish parties strike pact against jihadism

Spain's leading political parties signed a rare pact on Monday to fight Islamic extremism with new anti-jihadist laws in the wake of last month's deadly attacks in Paris. READ

Fabian Picardo at his office in Convent Place, Gibratar. Photo: Marcos Moreno/AFP

Gib chief to defy Spain with Madrid speech

Gibraltar´s Chief Minister will deliver a speech in Madrid on Tuesday defying a ban from the Spanish government. READ

Penelope Cruz at the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar party. Photo: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez/AFP

Penélope Cruz to pay tabloid over topless pics

Spanish actress Penélope Cruz was ordered to pay the editor of a Danish tabloid 25,000 kroner (€3,350) after she lost a court battle over topless photos. READ 2 comments

A reported 88 fatalities occurred on Spanish roads in the first month of this year. Photo of a traffic jam: Shutterstock

Road deaths in January reach three-year high

Spain's roads are getting more dangerous, new data shows, with the number of road deaths in January up 42 per cent on last year. READ

Spain's Budget minister, Cristobal Montoro. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP.

Spanish minister rejects easing Greek debt rules

Spain's Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro on Monday rejected any notion of the European Union "changing the rules" over Greece's bailout, noting Spain had respected similar austerity imposed by international creditors. READ

Photo of two glasses of sparkling wine: Shutterstock

Backlash over 'not Catalan' cava salesman

A man has found himself in hot water after his branding strategy – to advertise cava as "not Catalan" so that "people who aren’t fans of Catalan separatists" will buy it – went viral. READ

Read older articles »

From our other editions:

The Local List

Photo: Shutterstock

Nine things to know before dating an Austrian

A recent article on The Local noted the fact that almost one third of Austrians are single, and seemed to hit a nerve amongst our expat readers, with many writing in to tell us about their experience of relationships with Austrian men and woman - both good and bad. Here's a list of nine things to know before dating an Austrian. READ

Photo: Valais cantonal police

French teen dies in avalanche near Verbier

UPDATE: A 17-year-old French girl died following an avalanche that on Thursday swept five backcountry skiers down a mountainside in the Vallon d’Arby area near Verbier in the canton of Valais, police said on Friday. READ

Sheikh Abdel Moez al-Eila preaching at Berlin's al-Nur mosque. Photo: Memri TV/YouTube

'Wives can't refuse sex', imam tells Berlin mosque

A preacher at a mosque in Berlin's southern Neukölln district has told worshippers that women should be confined to their homes and submit whenever their husbands demand sex. READ

The government has set a goal of doubling the amount of organic farming by 2020. Photo: Johan Gadegaard/Scanpix

Denmark launches 'most ambitious' organic plan

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries is behind a new strategy to double organic farming and serve more organic food in the nation's public institutions. READ

IN PICTURES

No room on the escalator at Châtelet Metro station during Thursday's chaos.

Paris commuters face chaos as strike goes on

UPDATED: Commuters in Paris faced continued travel chaos on Thursday after train drivers on the RER held a wildcat strike following a violent attack on one of their colleagues. Drivers said they will not return to work meaning more bedlam for workers heading home after work. READ

The mother-of-three is believed to have left Italy in December to join the extremist group Isis. Photo: al-Furqan Media/AFP

Mother flees Italy with son, 6, to join Isis

A woman has left her family home in northern Italy to join jihadist group Isis in Syria, taking her six-year-old son with her, Italian media reported on Friday. READ

Hussein Abbas on the front line in Iraq. Photo: Screen grab from TV2 report

14-year-old Norwegian found fighting in Iraq

A 14-year-old boy from Norway has been discovered fighting in Iraq against the militant Islamic group Isis, Norway’s TV2 reported on Monday. READ

Video

Photo: The Local

Is this the toughest gym class in the world?

The Local watched in awe as pupils at a school in Stockholm plunged into the icy waters of a local lake as part of their gym class. Does this make them the toughest kids in the world? READ