Anna Allen appearing on Spanish programme, Pasapalabra. Screen grab: YouTube/bogo xoer.

Exposed: actress who faked Oscar glory

The invented life of a Spanish actress has been revealed after Spanish media discovered she had not actually attended the Oscars, but used Photoshop to place herself on the red carpet. READ 2 comments

Spanish Property of the Week

Villa Paula in the Collserola Natural Park Photo: Lucas Fox

For Sale: Soprano's favourite Barcelona view

A spectacular villa in the hills overlooking Barcelona, that once sheltered the President of Catalonia as he attempted to flee Francoist forces, and was a favourite haunt of Montserrat Caballé has come on the market. READ

Alexis Tsipras photographed in Athens on February 28th. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP

Tsipras comments 'not the done thing': Germany

Germany on Monday angrily denounced Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for accusing eurozone partners Spain and Portugal of undermining his negotiations with Brussels, saying he had been out of line. READ

A man working on solar panels in Spain. Photo: Cesar Mano/AFP

Raise green taxes, Spain told by OECD

Spain needs to do more to protect the environment, including scrapping harmful subsidies, according to a new report. READ

Hugh Jackman appearing as a hologram in a Madrid press conference for his new film, Chappie. Screen grab: YouTube/Flicks Extras

Hologram Hugh woos in first ever virtual junket

Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman discussed his latest film in Madrid over the weekend in the world's first ever holographic press conference, which could revolutionize the film industry in austerity hit countries. READ

My Spanish Career

Lance Tooks has written whole works in Madrid bars

'It's queso manchego that has kept me here'

In the latest installment of My Spanish Career, The Local meets Lance Tooks, a writer and illustrator of graphic novels and a resident of Madrid's Barrio de Las Letras who is keeping the storytelling tradition alive. READ

Photo: Flickr/YourWayMagazine

Eurovision song unveiled and it's 'a cry of pain'

Spain's national public broadcaster has released the much anticipated song, Amanecer (Daybreak), which will be sung by Edurne in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. READ

The new Huawei's device "Talkband B2", shown during a press conference in Barcelona on March 1st, the eve of the 2015 Mobile World Congress opening.Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Could 2015 be the year of the smartwatch?

Defying scepticism and geek-stigma, mobile phone firms are determined this year to sell you a wristwatch wirelessly connected to your mobile phone. READ

Mariano Rajoy speaking at a PP rally on Sunday. Photo: Cristina Quicle / AFP

Rajoy hits back at Greek PM in austerity row

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Sunday called on his Greek counterpart to get "serious" about his country's debt-wracked economy, after Alexis Tsipras accused eurozone partners of undermining its negotiations with Brussels. READ

Photo: Jorge Guerrero / AFP

Barça close in on Madrid at top of La Liga

Barcelona moved to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were on target in a 3-1 win at Granada on Saturday. READ

Features

My Spanish Career

Samantha Chappell is an English primary school teacher in Oviedo

'There is joy in learning something new yourself'

Samantha Chappell took a sabbatical from a publishing job in London to spend a summer living in the northern city of Oviedo. She loved it so much that eight years later she is still there and has discovered her vocation. READ

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

More News

Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP

Bailed-out Spanish bank reports profits jump

Bailed-out Spanish financial giant Bankia announced Saturday an 83 percent jump in its 2014 net profits to €747 million, though the group remains under investigation for an ill-fated 2011 stock listing. READ

Photo: AFP

Catalonia prepares ahead of independence vote

The wealthy Catalonia region is strengthening its tax office and expanding its network of foreign missions in defiance of the central government, as it prepares for possible secession from Spain. READ

Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Spain's anti-austerity party opens books

Podemos, the new anti-austerity party that is leading Spanish opinion polls, published its accounts Friday in a fresh bid to show that it is not financed by foreign governments. READ

Photo of a couple watching TV: Shutterstock

Prime time TV brought forward - to 10.15pm

Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE, has announced it is bringing forward its prime time slot to 10.15pm, allowing Spaniards to get to bed earlier. READ

Pablo Iglesias at a rally in Madrid on Wednesday. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Podemos gives up EU seats to run at home

Podemos, the new anti-establishment party in Spain, has said it will replace its European members of parliament so that its leaders can run in elections at home. READ

"The most dangerous walkway in the world" reopens in March. Photo: caminitodelrey.info

What's on in Spain: March 2015

Whether it is a trip to see the tongue-in-cheek send up of politicans at Las Fallas before a spectacular flaming finale in Valencia or braving the dizzying heights to walk the renovated Caminito del Rey, there is plenty going on across Spain in the run up to Easter. READ

Photo of tourists in Barcelona: Shutterstock

The strange consular requests of Brits abroad

The British Foreign office has released a list of the strangest requests it receives from Brits abroad, from a chef to make the perfect haggis to advice on how to treat a cat’s infected paw. READ

Ukraine crisis

Pro-Russian separatists ride tanks in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk on February 21, 2015. Photo: Vasily Maximov/AFP

Spaniards arrested for fighting for Russia

Police on Friday arrested eight Spaniards who were "inspired by the International Brigades" and had returned from fighting alongside pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, sources close to the investigation said. READ 6 comments

Photo of a priest: Shutterstock

Priests defend secrecy in sex abuse confessions

Spain's bishops conference on Thursday defended the right of priests to maintain the secrecy of the confessional booth even in cases of serious crimes such as the sexual abuse of children. READ

Former Spanish Prime Minsiter Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero attends a press conference at the National Hotel in Havana, Cuba. Photo: Yamil Lage/AFP

Spain blasts ex-PM meeting with Castro

Spain's conservative government reacted angrily on Thursday to a visit by former Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to Cuba and his meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro, calling it disloyal. READ

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From our other editions:

Simon Bacher. Photo: Sue Bacher

UN weighs in on 'unjust' disabled access case

The United Nations has asked Austria for an explanation after a British woman complained that her 25-year-old disabled son has been left stranded in their home every time there is bad weather because of bureaucratic red tape. READ

Dmitry Rybolovlev with unidentified woman at Monaco football game last year. Photo: AFP

Swiss businessman charged in art fraud case

A prominent Swiss businessman was on Saturday charged in connection with an alleged art fraud targeting Russian oligarch and football club owner Dmitry Rybolovlev. READ

This Week in History

Franz Kafka. Photo: DPA

Kafka's Metamorphosis: 100 years of perplexity

100 years ago, Franz Kafka published The Metamorphosis, now seen as one of the most significant works of 20th century German literature. The Local speaks to the academic who has reinterpreted it for a modern audience. READ

For the second time this week, passengers are paying the price for SAS conflicts. Photo: Nikolai Linares/Scanpix

New SAS strike cancels Copenhagen flights

Just three days after a strike by the baggage crew, SAS's cabin personnel has now walked out on the job leading to a fresh round of flight cancellations on Friday. READ

At least five drones were detected flying over specific areas of Paris on Monday night into Tuesday. Photo: Rahims/FLickr

Drones fly over Paris landmarks during night

Paris police were hunting on Tuesday for clues after several drones were flown over specific Paris landmarks in the early hours of Tuesday, including the Eiffel Tower and the American Embassy. READ

Video

Dino Ferrari with the giant catfish. Photo: Sportex Italia

Purrfect catch: Italian twins land giant catfish

Twin Italian brothers came within a whisker of a European record when they reeled in a catfish weighing 127kg in northern Italy’s River Po – with just a fishing rod. READ

Norwegian is increasingly hiring crews from low cost countries such as Thailand and Eastern Europe. Photo: Norwegian Air Shuttle

Norwegian faces first ever pilot strike

Norwegian Air Shuttle could see its first ever strike by pilots on Sunday, if it fails to end more than three months of fruitless negotiations and strike a deal with unions. READ

The balloons that Sarah Ericsson had up in her window. Photo: Private

Swede's 21st balloons dubbed 'IS' propaganda

After Sarah Ericsson hung up balloons in the shape of the number '21' for her birthday, her home was paid a visit by Swedish police who thought they stood for 'IS' and had been put up by supporters of the Islamic State extremist group. READ