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General Francisco Franco died in 1975. Photo: AFP

New mayors vow to rid Spain of Franco ghosts

On the 79th anniversary of the outbreak of the Civil War, Spain’s new mayors are making a dedicated push to rid the nation of the long shadow cast by fascist dictator Francisco Franco. READ

A blind man at the racetrack during the event in Jarama. Photo: Dani Pozo / AFP

Blind drivers get behind the wheel on F1 track

Scores of blind and partially-sighted people got behind the wheel Thursday and sped around a former Formula One racetrack in what organisers said was the first such rally in Spain. READ

Madrid City Hall has come under fire for a new website which corrects erroneous media reports. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Madrid press website slammed as 'totalitarian'

Madrid's new left-wing city hall drew fire on Thursday for launching a website to correct erroneous media reports about it, which critics and rivals branded a "totalitarian" affront to press freedom. READ

Fundació Puigvert surgeons using a surgical robot. Photo: Fundació Puigvert.

Spain performs first all-robot transplant in EU

Doctors in Barcelona have successfully conducted Europe’s first transplant completely performed by robotic surgery. READ

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at a state dinner on July 7th. Photo: Juan Carlos Rojas / AFP

Night drone mystery at Spanish royal palace

The privacy of Spain’s royal family is being invaded by unmanned aircraft which are using the cover of darkness to venture into airspace above King Felipe’s residence. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Top tips for taking the perfect Spanish siesta

Multiple scientific studies in recent years have proven that a short sleep after lunch provides health benefits, including stress reduction, and improves alertness and memory. READ

The Spanish town of Ador has made siestas compulsory. Photo: Jessica Jones/The Local

Spanish town brings in compulsory siesta law

A Valencian town is living up to the Spanish stereotype by bringing in a law that ensures each citizen has the right to enjoy an afternoon kip. READ

Carlos and Andrés, the two Spanish officers who saved the newborn baby on Wednesday morning. Photo: Guardía Civil/Twitter.

Mother of abandoned bin baby arrested in Madrid

Police have arrested the mother of a newborn baby who was found alive on Wednesday after being dumped in a rubbish bin in Madrid. READ

Video

Bird selfie. Screengrab: Martin Lozano/YouTube

Seagull steals camera for amazing bird's eye selfie

A cheeky seagull in northern Spain stole a tourist's camera and flew off with it providing astonishing footage from the air as well as some rather amusing close-ups of the bird itself. READ

Football focus

Uruguayan star striker Christian Stuani is on his way to North East England. Photo: Eitan Abramovich/AFP

Espanyol star striker to head to Middlesbrough

English second tier outfit Middlesbrough have agreed a deal in principle to sign Uruguay international striker Christian Stuani from Spanish side Espanyol. READ

Features

The Local list

alobos Life/Flickr

Get your kit off! Spain's 10 best nudist beaches

Have you tried everything to combat the heat and nothing has worked? It might be time to strip off and head to one of Spain's best nudist beaches... READ

Gallery

Photo: Tinnyaw/Flickr

Top ten tricks to survive the Spanish summer

Summer is officially here and the mercury is rising - for those of you who can't get to a beach, The Local offers you our tips on keeping cool in the city. READ

My Spanish Career

Stephanie Schulz settled in Valencia four years ago. Photo: Agustin Millan

'Valencia is the perfect place to live and work'

In the latest instalment of My Spanish Career, The Local meets Stephanie Schulz, a German living in Valencia where she gives guided tours of the city. READ

Gallery

King Felipe celebrates one year on the Spanish throne on June 19th. Photo: Gerard Julien/AFP

In pics: King Felipe's first year on the throne

As King Felipe celebrates one year on the Spanish throne, The Local takes a look at what he has been up to during his first 12 months as Spanish monarch. READ

Passeig del Born in Barcelona. Photo: 1997 / Wikimedia Commons.

Six Spanish streets you have to walk down

To mark World Sauntering Day on Friday (yes, that is a real day), The Local counts down six of the loveliest streets to stroll down in Spain. READ

More News

Tourists relax on the beach in Barcelona. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Catalonia declares war on Airbnb type rentals

Tourists face a new tax for staying in private homes in Catalonia as part of a clampdown that will see severe restrictions placed on holiday rentals. READ

In pics: San Fermin

Bull-run festival comes to an end in Pamplona

Pamplona's San Fermin Festival ended with a rousing singalong in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The Local takes a look at some of the most striking images from the last few days of Spain's famous - and controversial - bull-running fest. READ

Demonstrators hold up traditionally pro-Catalan independence flags at a rally in Barcelona. Photo: Josep Lago / AFP.

Catalan parties form pact for independence

Parties seeking independence for Catalonia have forged an alliance for September regional elections that they hope will boost their drive to break away from Spain, sources said on Wednesday. READ

Gallery

Spain has some delicious cooling treats to enjoy this summer. Photo: ClubMedUK/Flickr

Top 10 Spanish treats to keep you cool in summer

As Spain swelters under record-breaking temperatures The Local brings you our list of the best Spanish treats to cool you down as the mercury rises. READ

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Federico Parra / AFP.

Venezuela: Spanish law 'violates human rights'

Nicolás Maduro - the president of Venezuela who has established rule by decree in his own country twice - denounced Spain’s controversial "gag law" because it violates human rights and resembles a dictatorship. READ

Greece bailout

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy will submit Greek debt deal to parliament. Photo: Thierry Charlier/AFP

Rajoy to submit Greek debt deal to parliament

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday he will submit the eurozone deal on Greece's debts to parliament to ensure support for his country's multi-billion-euro contribution. READ

Carlos and Andrés, the two Spanish officers who saved the newborn baby on Wednesday morning. Photo: Guardía Civil/Twitter

Hero cops save newborn baby dumped in trash

Spanish police have rescued a week-old baby who was dumped in a backpack inside an underground rubbish container near Madrid. READ

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (left) with Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias in November 2014. Photo: Dani Pozo/AFP

Tsipras says Europe 'can change' if Podemos wins

Greece's Prime Minister said Europe "can change" if "forces similar to Syriza" win in the upcoming Spanish elections, while Podemos distanced itself on Tuesday from its Greek ally. READ

A ferris wheel looms over book stalls at Semana Negra book festival. Photo: David Busto Méndez/Flickr

Crime literary fest draws crowds to northern Spain

Many English-speakers may not have heard of the Semana Negra book festival held every year in Gijón, on the northern Spanish coast, but it draws writers like Ian Rankin and dwarfs many a prestigious litfest. READ

Members of the Spanish Civil Guard. Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP

Officer asks government for Mecca travel grant

A Muslim Civil Guard officer has asked Spain's Interior Ministry for a grant to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, just as his colleagues have been funded for Christian holy trips. READ

Read older articles »

From our other editions:

Photo: Wiener Linien

New design for U5 metro line presented

Vienna’s planned new turquoise U5 metro line will be driverless and fully automated - with the first section operational in 2023. READ

Photo: Mateusz Atroszko

Teen falls ill after eating drug-laced meal in Zurich

A family night out turned into a drama when a teenager had to be hospitalized after getting high on a cannabis-laced vegetarian meal at Zurich’s Kaufleuten club. READ

Merkel attempts to comfort a crying Reem during their encounter. Photo: Norddeutsche Rundfunk/Screenshot

Merkel brings Palestinian refugee child to tears

Chancellor Angela Merkel was almost lost for words on Wednesday when a Palestinian girl among a group of schoolchildren she was meeting confronted her about the fact that she and her family were close to being deported from Germany. READ

The Danish Way

Photo: Colourbox

Danes have the right approach to discipline

Opinion columnist Jessica Alexander and her Danish husband had very different thoughts about how to raise their children but the American transplant eventually adopted 'The Danish Way' and thinks all parents should too. READ

The cover of men's magazine Lui, features Marie de Villepin, the daughter of an EX-French Prime Minister. Phot: Screengrab Lui.

Ex-French PM's daughter in topless photo shoot

The ex-French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin might want to avoid looking at the news in France on Friday because his topless daughter is all over it. He's not the first French politician to perhaps feel a little embarrassed by their offspring's antics. READ

Italy's Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan has come under fire after the country's public debt hit a new record in May. Photo: Eric Piemont/AFP

Italy's public debt hits new record

The amount of public debt racked up by the eurozone’s third largest economy reached a new record of €2.2 trillion in May, up by €23.4 billion in a month, the Bank of Italy said on Tuesday READ

Hilde Krohn Huse hanging from a rope. Photo: Hilde Krohn Huse

Norway artist's naked tree stunt goes awry

A Norwegian contemporary artist has confessed to being left hanging naked in a tree for three and a half hours after an video art installation she filmed in a Norwegian forest went wrong. READ

Villa Sjötorp. Photo: Courtesy of Rädda Villa Sjötorp Facebook group

Huge Swedish house for sale for just one krona

A grand French Renaissance style house in Gävle, 160km north of Stockholm, is up for sale for one krona ($0.11). The catch? The buyer must renovate it and move in. READ

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