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Albert Rivera, leader of Ciudadanos. Photo: AFP

Ciudadanos gains as Podemos wanes

The latest poll shows that newest political party, Ciudadanos – Citizens – which expanded from a regional Catalan party to a nationwide force early this year is now more popular than Podemos. READ

Wine production

Vinyards in Samaniego, La Rioja. Photo: Cesar Manso / AFP

Wine: China overtakes France but Spain reigns

China now has the second-largest wine-growing area in the world after Spain, pushing France into third place, according to figures released Monday by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. READ

San Antón church in Madrid offers free wifi. Photo: Sara Houlison.

Woofs and wifi: Is this world's coolest church?

Nestled among the trendy cafes and shops of Madrid's Chueca neighbourhood is a church like no other, where you can browse the internet, confess via your iPad and bring along your pet poodle. Is San Anton the coolest church in the world? READ

Mariano Rajoy at a press conference in Seyne-Les-Alpes following GermanWings crash. Photo: Boris Horvat / AFP

PM: Recovery threatened by political instability

Spain's economic recovery is being threatened by political instability and the crisis in debt-plagued Greece, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Monday. READ

A naval vessel christening ceremony in the Navantia shipyard near Cadiz. Photo: Jorge Guerrero / AFP.

Spain's arms firms fail to meet grade on ethics

Spanish defence companies failed to make passing grades in an analysis of ethics and corruption standards released by Transparency International UK on Monday. READ

Nepal Earthquake

A Nepali woman pictured among the devastation of Kathmandu after Saturday's earthquake. Photo: Prakash Singh/AFP

Spaniards still missing in Nepal after earthquake

Over 100 Spaniards are still unaccounted for after Saturday’s earthquake in the Himalayan nation, which left over 3,000 people dead, as the Spanish air force launches an evacuation mission for Spaniards trapped in the country. READ

Photo of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia: Shutterstock

Sagrada Familia mass for Germanwings victims

Over 1,000 people are expected to attend a memorial service to the victims of Germanwings flight 9525 in Barcelona’s iconic cathedral on Monday evening, just over a month after the disaster. READ

My Spanish Career

Delfin Mocache from Equatorial Guinea set up Diario Rombe in Valencia. Photo: Agustin Millan

'I've made a few enemies, even in Spain'

In the latest instalment of My Spanish Career The Local talks to Delfin Mocache, editor of Diario Rombe, one of the few media that openly criticises the political regime in his home country of Equatorial Guinea. READ

Marc Marquez during Argentina Grand Prix. Photo: Juan Mabromata / AFP

Broken pinky disaster for Marquez in MotoGP

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez's participation in next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix is in doubt after he broke a finger during a crash in training, Spanish media reported on Saturday. READ

Photo: AFP

Spain royals 'no longer untouchable'

A new tell-all book that details what led to Spanish king Juan Carlos giving up the throne would never have been published just a few years ago in a Spain still deferential to the royal family, experts said. READ

Features

An independent book shop in Barcelona. Photo: Lluis Gene / AFP

Happy book day! Top ten Spanish literary gifts

To mark Spanish book day, The Local gives you the ultimate list of Spain-related books that make excellent gifts. READ

Gallery

Women wearing traditional Sevillana dresses pose during the Feria de Abril, or April Fair. Photo: Cristina Quicler / AFP.

All the fun of the fair: Seville's Feria de Abril

Each year, tens of thousands flock to Seville to partake in the colourful Feria de Abril with carriage rides, tapas, bullfights and lots and lots of dancing. READ

Gallery

The Alhambra fortress in Granada. Photo: Bernjan/Flickr

Ten best UNESCO world heritage sites in Spain

As Benidorm mades a bid to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and earn a place alongside some of Spain's most celebrated destinations, we take a look at some of the country's best. READ

Gallery: Almodóvar's most iconic leading ladies

Pedro Almodóvar at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

Almodóvar unveils cast for latest film 'Silencio'

Celebrated Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar has unveiled the cast for his next film, Silencio, including his two new "chicas Almodóvar". READ

In pics

Tonymadrid Photography and Bryan Ledgard

Battle of the cities: Madrid vs Manchester

In a vicious war of words, "ugly" Manchester has been pitted against "miserable" Madrid. Who will be victorious in the battle of the cities? The Local finds out... READ

More News

The VIcente Calderon stadium on the banks of the river in Madrid. Photo: Javier Soriano / AFP

Ban on skyscraper plan for Atletico stadium

A Spanish court has blocked plans to build 2,000 flats on the site of Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium. READ

Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who was filmed dancing at Seville's April Fair this week. Photo: AFP

Dancing deputy kicks up her heels at Seville fair

It seems no one can resist the fun of Seville's April fair, not even deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who was filmed getting her groove on this week. READ

A Socialist town hall candidate has been ordered to take down campaign posters in which he appears naked. Photo: laSexta Noticias/Twitter

Is Spanish politics all about stripping off?

Yet another Spanish politician has bared all on a campaign poster, in a trend that is increasingly sweeping Spanish politics. READ

Screen grab: Campaña CIEs / Youtube

Shocking footage of police beating deportee

A video filmed secretly by a passenger shows Spanish police beating up a man being deported against his will from Madrid to the Dominican Republic. READ

A Greenpeace environmentalist at the oil slick off Gran Canaria. Photo: Greenpeace / Pedro Armestre

Dolphins affected in Canary Islands oil spill

An oil slick has reached Canary Islands beaches from the Russian trawler Oleg Naydenov which sank off the Canary Islands earlier last week. READ

Eurovision Song Contest

Photo: Flickr/YourWayMagazine

Face of the week: Edurne

Could this be the year Spain wins Eurovision for only the third time since the contest began? Spain's fate rests with Edurne, the blonde bombshell who is hoping to enrapture Europe with her pop power ballad, Amanecer. READ

Photo of a scientist: Shutterstock

A quarter of Spaniards believe Sun orbits Earth

A new study into Spaniards' scientific awareness has revealed they have some serious gaps in their knowledge. READ

Mediterranean migrant crisis

A child being rescued by the Italian navy in June 2014. Photo: Marina Militare

EU leaders triple rescue mission funds

European leaders agreed on Thursday to triple the funding for the EU's Triton mission in the Mediterranean, but stopped short of providing answers to where rescued boat migrants should be resettled. READ

A man walks past JP Morgan Chase Building in New York. Andrew Burton / Getty Images N America / AFP

Spain rejects extradition of 'London Whale' trader

Spanish authorities have refused to extradite a former JPMorgan bank trader to the United States where he faces criminal charges in the massive "London Whale" fraud scandal. READ

Participants in Pamplona's famous running of the bulls. Photo: AFP.

Pamplona sees red over 'Strictly Come Running'

Ernest Hemingway would have turned in his grave over plans for a celebrity reality TV show based on Pamplona's famous San Fermin fiesta. READ

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From our other editions:

A screen grab from the video.

Racist outburst prompts civil courage debate

A video of a man hurling racist abuse at a Somali passenger on a tram in Vienna has caused outrage on social media and provoked a discussion about moral courage. READ

Salt aims to shake up Swiss mobile market

A Swiss Orange has turned into Salt — but this is no magician's trick. READ

Defence minister Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: DPA

G36 rifle 'has no future' in German army

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the controversial G36 rifle 'has no future in the German Army,' signalling the end of a two decade relationship between the army and the dodgy weapon. READ

Food and Agriculture Minister Dan Jørgensen was behind the ban. Photo: Sonny Munk Carlsen/Scanpix

Denmark officially bans bestiality

As of Tuesday it is no longer legal to have sex with animals in Denmark, bringing the country's bestiality laws in line with its neighbours. READ

Photo: Richard Pohle/AFP

British expats left in lurch by NHS clampdown

British people living in France and other European countries could be forced to take out private health insurance, due to the latest clampdown on expats using the UK's National Health Service. READ

The Local List

Top ten problems of growing up multilingual

Growing up speaking more than one language is not always a blessing. Photo: Shutterstock

EU's crazy homeopathy cure for Norway fish

Norwegian vets are up in arms about a “scientifically illiterate” European directive that mandates the use of homeopathic medicines as the first line of treatment for organic farmed fish. READ

The Local List

Swedes eat crayfish in August. Only in August. Photo: Carolina Romare/imagebank.sweden.se

My Swedish habits that foreigners just don't get

Do the Swedes have certain habits you just can't work out? Here, The Local's Emma Löfgren, who has recently returned to Sweden from the UK, lists some of the Nordic traits that leave her foreign friends bemused. READ