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An aeroplane takes off at Palma de Mallorca airport. Photo: Toni Marimon / AFP.

British holidaymakers abandon son in Mallorca following family row

A British couple have been handed a one year jail sentence after pleading guilty to abandoning their son on the island of Mallorcafollowing a row and attempting to fly home.

The two leaders last met in Madrid in April 2013. Photo: AFP

Prime ministers of UK and Spain publish joint call for EU reforms

The pair have penned a joint article ahead of David Cameron meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister in Madrid on Friday.

Catalan independence debate

Pro-independence Catalans hold up the Catalan flag during a rally. Photo: Josep Lago / AFP

Spanish PM defends reforms that will counter Catalan separatism

Judicial reforms could see the suspension of leaders who push ahead with independence, a move branded as 'echoing the inquisition'.

Migrant crisis

Syrain refugees arriving at a camp in Serbia. Photo: Aris Messinis / AFP

Hundreds across Spain clamour to welcome refugees into their homes

At least a dozen cities across Spain have said they will form a network of places where refugees can be welcomed into the homes of volunteer citizens.

The Local list

A Spanish Red Cross volunteer comforts a refugee after the death of his friend in at Tarifa's harbour. Photo: Marcos Moreno /AFP.

Six simple ways to do your bit and help refugees if you live in Spain

While Spain faces pressure to take a bigger share of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at Europe's borders, The Local takes a look at ways that individuals can make a difference.

Migrant crisis

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has urged world powers to help end the war in Syria. Photo: AFP

Rajoy horrified by drowned toddler image and calls for Syria solution

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday urged world powers to help end the war in Syria after the "horrifying" sight of a dead Syrian toddler on a Turkish shore.

"If Spain has granted asylum to descendants of Sephardic Jews, then why not also to Spanish Muslims?" Photo: Thegiantvermin/Flickr

What Don Quixote has to say to Spain about today's migrant crisis

Patricia E Grieve, of Colombia University explains what Spaniards can learn from their literary classic about today's migrant crisis.

The base will permanently house 2,200 Marines. Photo: AFP

Spain approves permanent base for US Marine rapid reaction force

The Spanish Senate on Tuesday approved the establishment of a permanent force of 2,200 US Marines based in southern Spain, who can be swiftly deployed to crises in Africa.

$Foot fracture forces Chris Froome to withdraw from the Tour of Spain$

Chris Froome is out of the Tour of Spain. Photo: Jose Jordan/AFP

Foot fracture forces Chris Froome to withdraw from the Tour of Spain

Tour de France winner Chris Froome has become the latest high-profile casualty in Spain's Vuelta after withdrawing before the start of Thursday's 12th stage due to a broken bone in his foot.

The man has already received several calls about the advert. Photo: neetalparekh/Flickr

'I'll give you €5,000 if you will give my son a job', says desperate father

Despite its strengthening economy, Spain retains one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU and one pensioner has taken drastic measures to get his son a job.

Features

There is even an art to tasting the grape itself. Photo: AFP

Grape Escape: Discovering the art of winemaking in the vineyards of La Rioja

There's more to wine than tasting it as Sophia Smith Galer discovered on a trip to the rustic vineyards of the Rioja region.

The two-michelin starred Atul Kochar will open Benares in Madrid. Photo: Benares

Michelin-starred Indian chef opens up new restaurant in Madrid

He became the first Indian chef to earn a Michelin star and is widely regarded as one of the best chefs in London. The Local talks to Atul Kochhar as he prepares to launch his new restaurant Benares in Madrid.

The Local list

Pimientos de padron - like playing Russian Roulette with a spicy pepper. Photo: The Table Hopper / Flickr

Thirteen mouthwateringly delicious reasons to be a vegetarian in Spain

Long feared by vegetarians as the land of jamón, Spanish cuisine also boasts a host of delicious traditional alternatives. Foodie experts, Devour Spain, share their tips for the best vegetarian food in Spain.

Vogue Like a Painting merges high fashion with high art. Photo: Sara Houlison

Madrid's traditional museum scene receives a haute couture makeover

Madrid’s museums are moving away from the traditional to embrace new artistic forms and the latest brings a touch of haute couture to the capital's celebrated art scene.

The Local list

Spain is the biggest exporter of wine in the world. Photo: LexnGer/Flickr

Ten interesting facts you probably didn't know about Spanish wine

It was the Romans' favourite drink, a muse to Picasso and fell victim to the fascist regime of dicator Francisco Franco. Wine blogger Timmer Brown lifts the lid on everything you (probably) didn't know about Spanish vino.

More News

Rajoy has said elections will take place in December. Photo: AFP

Spain's general election will be in December 'most probably' on 20th

Spain’s general election will “most probably take place on December 20th” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Thursday.

Around 300 flamingos were killed by giant hail stones. Screen grab: Cayetano Sanchez/YouTube

Hundreds of flamingos battered to death during giant hailstone storm

Hailstones the size of golf balls killed around 300 flamingos in one of Spain's most important bird reserves as storms caused damage across Spain.

Syrian refugees arriving on the island of Lesbos. Photo: Achilleas Zavallis / AFP

Images of drowned toddler spark soul searching over refugee crisis

Spain called for a "fair" distribution of refugees among EU member states as heart-rending pictures of drowned Syrian children hit home the plight of refugees fleeing civil war.

The police have confiscated so much marijuana that storage has become a problem. Photo: AFP

Police file complaint as confiscated cannabis puts station on 'high' alert

Police in a Catalan town are complaining that they are "feeling the effects of smoking something illegal" due to the huge amounts of confiscated weed stored in the station.

The man kept the money credited to his account in error. Barbara Friedman / Flickr

Spaniard arrested for keeping cash after €60k bank error in his favour

A Spanish man has been arrested after failing to report and instead withdrawing funds when his bank account was credited €60,000 in error.

An Italian woman was horrified to find that a naked photo of her was being used to promote nudist resorts. Photo: Life/Flickr

Italian woman sues after Spanish nudist beach photos appear online

An Italian woman has brought a civil lawsuit in Spain against dozens of naturist websites which used a naked photo of her as promotional material. 2 comments

2 comments

Spain continues to lead the way in organ donations. Archive photo: Shutterstock

Spain breaks its own record to stay global leader in organ transplants

Spain has remained world leader when it comes to the number of transplants carried out for the 24th year running, new figures have revealed.

Juan Pablo Riesgo, the Secretary of state for employment announced the results on Thursday. Photo: Ministerio de Empleo

Spanish unemployment creeps up for the first time in seven months

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits went up during August as temporary seasonal jobs came to an end.

The building where Ayoub El Khazzani allegedly lived in Algeciras. Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP

Police search home of France train suspect's parents in southern Spain

Police in Spain on Tuesday searched the family home of an alleged jihadist accused of launching a foiled attack on a French express train last month.

Migrant crisis

Syrain refugees arriving at a camp in Serbia. Photo: Aris Messinis / AFP

Madrid and Barcelona residents to welcome refugees into their homes

Madrid will join Barcelona to form a network of cities where residents can register to welcome into their homes some of the hundreds of thousands of desperate migrants arriving in Europe.

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From our other editions

Migrant crisis

Photo: Jody Manning

20,000 protest in Vienna over migrant treatment

Around 20,000 people demonstrated in Vienna on Monday against ill-treatment of migrants after the bodies of 71 refugees were found in an abandoned truck last week, police said.

Photo: Verein Street Parade, Zurich

One million throng Zurich techno party

Around one million people thronged the streets of a sun-drenched Zurich on Saturday to take part in the city's annual techno Street Parade, organizers said.

The Local List

Don't let their confidence fool you: Germans aren't always the best at English. Photo: DPA.

7 ways Germans get English totally wrong

As much as English-speakers might feel insecure about their Deutsch skills when faced with Germans' comparatively widespread grasp of English, Germans themselves often mess up English - in some pretty hilarious ways.

As of Tuesday, it will be possible to get one of these without giving up your current citizenship. Photo: Colourbox

Denmark officially ushers in dual citizenship

After years of lobbying by expat groups within Denmark and the organization Danes Worldwide, dual citizenship will finally become a reality on Tuesday.

French farmers' protest

A convoy of tractors runs in a street of Paris on Thursday. Photo: AFP

French farmers' tractor protest rolls into Paris

UPDATED: Up to 1,700 tractors along with thousands of furious farmers descended on Paris on Thursday in a show of force to raise attention to their plight. Motorists have been told to stay off the roads.

Mayor Arturo Cerulli converted to Islam 27 years ago. Photo: Arturo Cerulli

Muslim mayor refuses to take in refugees

UPDATED: A Muslim mayor in the Tuscan seaside community of Monte Argentario has provoked a political outcry for refusing to accept any refugees.

The Storskog border station between Norway and Russia. Photo: Cornelius Poppe/NTB scanpix

Snowden may get freedom prize at border

The Norwegian academy which gave Edward Snowden a free speech prize is planning to hold a "symbolic ceremony" for the whistleblower at the country's far-northern border with Russia.

Centre Party leader Annie Lööf. Photo: Maja Suslin/TT

Swedish party in U-turn on Nato membership

Sweden's opposition is moving towards a unified front on Nato membership after Centre party bosses announced they would advocate joining the defence alliance on Tuesday.