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Photo: AFP

Uber to start from scratch in Spain in bid to overturn car-sharing ban

The car-sharing app was banned in December 2014 but is hoping to make a comeback in Spain.

Photo: Guardia Civil

Mystery deepens as bizarre space objects plummet to earth in Spain

Rocket fuel tanks, chunks of satellites or something else entirely... In just over one week, three mysterious objects have fallen from the sky onto the country's southeast,

Football

Photo: RFEF

England fans mock Spain's 'paella vomit' strip ahead of Alicante clash

The two national teams are set to face each other in a friendly on Friday, but England has been mocking Spain’s new kit for its resemblance to a regurgitated version of Spain’s national dish.

Video

Screen grab: Moloka'i SUP Center/YouTube

Lost whale calf spotted swimming alone off Barcelona beach has died

UPDATED: A young whale that appeared off the beach in Barcelona had to be put down by vets on Friday after becoming so weak because it had lost its mother.

The Local list

How many lives does a Spanish cat have? Photo:Richard / Flickr

Unlucky for some: Ten of the strangest Spanish superstitions

Did you know that Tuesday 13th in Spain is considered unlucky? Read on for the lowdown on all the strangest Spanish superstitions.

Photo: Jessica Jones

Madrid bans cars from parking in city centre in bid to curb pollution

The Spanish capital has already cut the speed limit on its roads as air pollution levels have soared over the last few days.

AFP

Sacked Vatican priest urges change in 'new manifesto for gay liberation'

More than a month after the Vatican fired high-ranking priest Krzysztof Charamsa for his very public coming-out, he says he has no regrets and is planning a book about his experience.

Catalan independence debate

AFP

Fitch downgrades Catalonia to junk bond status over secession drive

The ratings agency has cut Catalonia's rating by two notches after the parliament of Spain's wealthiest region voted to start a secession process.

Catalan independence debate

Photo: Lluis Gene / AFP

Catalonia lawmakers reject Artur Mas leadership bid for second time

Artur Mas has failed in his second attempt to win re-election as the region’s president after he was denied support from the anti-capitalist CUP party.

Photo: Karen Bleier / AFP.

Facebook is spying on Spaniards for political views ahead of election

Facebook has admitted that it is tracking political opinions posted by Spaniards to gather data about the upcoming election.

Features

Opinion

Photo: Simon Paulin/Imagebank Sweden

The end of the expat? Europe's cities fight for 'Inpats'

Mention expats and many minds are drawn to stereotypes of workers sent abroad for three years to live in a compound and sip gin. But today’s mobile professionals aren't posted overseas – they just get up and go, writes The Local's Managing Editor James Savage.

Gallery

Photo: auroland2014/Instagram

10 stunning autumn shots of Spain

At this time of year Spain puts on a splendid show of autumn colours. Here are some of our favourite photos taken by The Local readers.

Refugee crisis

Photo: Pro-Activa Open Arms

'Women put their babies into our arms begging us to keep them safe'

As more and more refugees crowd into rubber dinghies to reach Europe, a Spanish volunteer lifeguard tells The Local how he's swapped the tourist packed beaches of Catalonia to go on patrol in Lesbos.

Startups

Trying an IoT device at the 2015 Internet of Things Solutions World Congress in Barcelona Photo: Josep Lago / AFP

Inside the Spanish startup world: 13 takeaways from the ecosystem

Just what is going on in the Spanish startup scene? The Local takes a look.

The Local list

Photo: Alameda County Community Food Bank / Flickr

Six unmissable dishes from Toledo, Spain's 2016 Capital of Gastronomy

Toledo has been chosen as Spain's Capital of Gastronomy for 2016 due to its "creative combination of cultural and gastronomical heritage". So what is so tasty about Toledo?

More news

Alfonso Basterra and Rosario Porto were sentenced to 18 years. Photo: AFP

Spanish pair get 18 yrs for murder of their adopted Chinese daughter

An estranged Spanish couple have been sentenced to 18 years in prison for drugging and suffocating their 12-year-old adopted Chinese daughter, in a case that has drawn the attention of Beijing.

The Local list

Photo: TechNopal/Flickr

Top ten most romantic nicknames to woo your Spanish sweetheart

Are you a fatty, half an orange or just somebody's darling? The Local gives you the most affectionate names to call your loved one.

Refugee crisis

Photo: AFP

EU border agency struggling with less than half the requested guards

EU countries have provided the bloc's Frontex border agency with less than half the personnel it has requested to deal with a record influx of migrants, the agency's deputy head has said.

Photo: Sergio Cambelo/Flickr

Madrid cuts speed limit for the first time ever in bid to reduce pollution

Madrid’s city hall has cut the speed limit for vehicles on the city’s roads in an attempt to cut pollution, which has soared above recommended levels in recent days.

Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP

Repsol in the red as Spanish giant hit by losses on lower oil prices

Spanish oil giant Repsol said on Thursday it swung into the red in the third quarter due to lower oil prices and one-off provisions caused by its decline in North America.

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From our other editions

The Local List

Freyung Christmas Market. Photo: Vienna Unwrapped

Nine of the best Vienna Christmas markets

Despite unseasonally mild temperatures for November, the Christmas spirit descends on Vienna this week with many of its advent markets opening. Use our list of the best markets in the city and surrounding area to cherry pick your festive shopping and socialising in the run up to Christmas.

Lorange Institute's buildings overlooking Lake Zurich. Photo: Lorange Institute of Business Zurich

Chinese acquire private Zurich business school

One of Asia’s top business schools has acquired a management school in the canton of Zurich and plans to train hundreds of Chinese managers starting later this month.

Refugee crisis

Syrian refugee Oman holds three-month-old Shima in Passau near the German-Austrian border. Photo: DPA.

Germany sends Syrians back to EU borders

Germany is once again sending Syrian refugees back to the EU country where they first arrived, in line with the so-called Dublin regulations, the government confirmed on Tuesday.

The study found that people who took a Facebook break felt happier and were less sad and lonely. Photo: Iris/Scanpix

Drop Facebook and be happy: Danish study

The Copenhagen-based Happiness Research Institute has a simple formula for increasing your happiness, social activity and concentration, but it might not be something you’re willing to do.