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Photo: Pedro Armestre/AFP

Antonio Banderas lands Spanish Goya gong

Spanish police thriller "Marshland" picked up 10 trophies at the Goya Awards, Spain's version of the Oscars, which honoured Antonio Banderas with a lifetime achievement award. READ

21/10 Gallery: Hits and misses of Antonio Banderas »

Photo: Dominique Faget/AFP

Madrid locals curse pollution 'beret'

Locals call it the "beret": a grey layer of exhaust fumes that blots out Madrid's blue skies on still days. For asthma sufferer Conxi Grau, it feels more like a tight scarf. READ

Photo: Cesar Maso/AFP

Atletico thrash woeful Real in Madrid derby

Atletico Madrid blew the La Liga title race wide open by extending their unbeaten run over Real Madrid to six games this season with a 4-0 thrashing of the European champions on Saturday. READ

Spanish face of the week

Photo: Angel Diaz/AFP.

Minted! King Felipe is on the money

It´s a face we all know already, but from this week expect to see it a lot more as the new coins bearing his image are brought into circulation. King Felipe VI is our Face of The Week. READ

Football focus

Photo: Fadel Senna/AFP

Sergio Ramos ruled out for five weeks

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will be out of action for five weeks, coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Friday. READ

In pics

Photo: Cristina Quicler/AFP

Flamenco as you've never seen it before

The International Flamenco Fashion Show 2015 has brought high fashion to the dresses of Spain's most beloved dance. The Local takes a peek at the changing face of flamenco stlye. READ

Fernando Ruenes and Pablo Alonso. Photo: Republished from Cadena Ser.

PP youth leaders quit over Nazi salute photo

Regional leaders of Nuevas Generaciones (New Generations), the youth wing of Spain’s ruling Popular Party (PP) have resigned after a photograph was made public showing them holding up a Francoist flag and making Nazi salutes. READ 4 comments

Podemos member, Juan Carlos Monedero, pictured during a party meeting in Madrid on November 15, 2014. Photo: Dani Pozo/AFP.

Podemos number 3 admits tax dodge

A leader of Podemos has decided to "voluntarily update" his tax situation and pay income tax on a payment he received from the Venezuelan government two years ago. READ

A man walks along a snow covered street in the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz following heavy snow storms in northern Spain. Photo: Ander Gillenea/AFP.

Cold snap is causing chaos across Spain

Spain is currently in the grip of a cold snap that is causing chaos throughout the country. READ

A man holds a banner during a demonstration staged in support of the independence of the Western Sahara in Madrid on November 16, 2014Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

W. Sahara activist fears torture if deported

Campaigners on Thursday demanded that Spain halt the deportation to Morocco of a man who fears being tortured there after being sentenced over unrest in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. 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

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

Nuns visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. Photo: Gerard Julien / AFP

Row rumbles over Cordoba´s Mezquita

The Spanish city of Cordoba boasts that different faiths have long co-existed there, but locals are now squabbling over its star tourist attraction: a cathedral that was once a mosque. READ 2 comments

Cyber attack:Shutterstock

Spain has most cyber-attacks after USA and UK

Spain was the victim of over 70,000 cyber-attacks in the past year alone, according to the country’s foreign ministry. READ

Photo: Barcelonarent.info/Prestige Real Easte

Princess to sell mansion to pay court bond

A Spanish court on Thursday authorised Princess Cristina, the sister of Spain's King Felipe VI, and her husband to sell their seven-bedroom Barcelona mansion for just under €7 million ($8 million) to pay a court bond. READ

Video

Photo of a microphone: Shutterstock

Mayor’s wife sings cringeworthy tribute

It might not be something likely to catch on with Michelle Obama or Samantha Cameron anytime soon, but one politician’s wife in Spain decided to show support, during a local council meeting, through the medium of song. READ

Fran Rivera in the ring, Malaga, August 2012. Photo: Jorge Guerrero / AFP

Fancy an affair? Matador is cheaters' choice

A bullfighter has been voted the man unfaithful wives in Spain would most like to have an affair with, beating Hollywood actors George Clooney and Brad Pitt. READ

Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP

Shiver me timbers! Bardem in Pirates 5

Javier Bardem has been confirmed as the latest addition to the fifth outing of Pirates of the Caribbean. The Local takes a look at five essential films to reacquaint you with one of the most acclaimed Spanish actors of all time. READ

Photo of Euros:Shutterstock

Spain well on road to recovery, says EU

Spain´s economy is set to improve this year, with a better than expected growth predicted by the European Commission. READ

The big freeze

A stranded car on a road near Burgos. Photo: Cesar Manso/AFP

Hundreds stranded as snow cripples Spain

Various rescue operations have taken place in northern Spain to free people trapped in their vehicles in the snowy weather while 28 provinces remain on alert for freezing temperatures. READ

Syrian refugees are attended to by members of the red cross in Malaga in April 2014. Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP

Refugee centres 'too overcrowded': Amnesty

Amnesty International slammed Spain on Wednesday over conditions in overcrowded refugee centres where it says hundreds of Syrians fleeing war are awaiting asylum. READ 3 comments

Photo showing armed Somali pirate, January 2010. Photo: Mohamed Dahir/AFP

Six Somali pirates jailed in Spain

A Spanish court on Wednesday convicted six Somalis for piracy and sentenced them each to 16 and a half years in jail for attacking a Spanish tuna trawler off the coast of Somalia in 2012. READ

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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

Orianne Collins in happier times — before the operation that went awry. Photo: AFP

Phil Collins' paralyzed ex-wife files legal suit

The Swiss former wife of British rock star Phil Collins has filed a criminal complaint after a cervical hernia operation performed by a hospital in Switzerland left her paralyzed. 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

Photo: Colourbox

Half of Danes want to limit Muslims in Denmark

Depending on who you ask, the fact that 50 percent of Danes want to limit the number of Muslims in the country is either "common sense" or a sign of waning tolerance. READ

A view of the streets of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe. Photo: Chris Chabot/Flickr

Ten facts you definitely didn't know about Paris

You might think you know the City of Light, but think again. Here are ten zany facts about Paris that we'd wager even the locals don't know. From terraces to condom machines - our friends behind the Smarter Paris app have found some wacky stats. READ

Roberto Calderoli made the comments about Cecile Kyenge (pictured), then Italy's integration minister. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

'Not racist' to call black person orangutan

Italy's deputy Senate president describing a black minister as an "orangutan" does not amount to racism, senators have decided. 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

Flags at Arlanda Airport during Obama's visit. Photo: TT

Stockholm set to become US clearance airport

The Swedish government is looking into the possibility of making Stockholm's Arlanda a 'US preclearance' airport, simplifying travel between the two countries. READ