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Airbus's new A400M production programme has been beset by problems. Photo: Christina Quicler/AFP

Black boxes of crashed military plane found

Spanish authorities on Sunday found the two cockpit recorders of the Airbus A400M military plane that crashed near Seville airport, killing four people, as Britain, Germany and Turkey grounded their models of the aircraft. READ

Smoke rises from the wreckage of the crashed plane. Photo: Christina Quicler/AFP

Military plane crashes in Spain, at least four dead

At least four people were killed when an Airbus A400M military transport plane crashed during a training flight near Seville in southern Spain on Saturday, officials said. READ

Video

Photo of a man pretending to be superman: Shutterstock

Wannabe superman fined for car window stunt

A man who pulled out his best superman moves on a motorway in Spain has been fined for not wearing his seatbelt, as has the driver of the car used in the stunt. READ

UK General Election

Mariano Rajoy and David Cameron meeting in Madrid in April, 2013. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP

PM congratulates Tory win amid hopes for same

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has congratulated David Cameron on the victory of the Conservative party, in a result that he will hope can be replicated in Spain later this year. READ

Football focus

Cristiano Ronaldo's team Real Madrid is one of the giants who profited from the old system on television rights. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP

Greedy footballers' strike threat 'harms' game

Government slams Spain's top footballers as they threaten to strike over the sharing of riches from television contracts with Spain's smaller, poorer clubs. READ

Gallery

Photo: Kent Wang / Flickr Creative Commons.

Basque restaurant is numero uno in Europe

A Basque country restaurant was chosen as the best restaurant in Europe this year in Opinionated About Dining's annual rating. The Local took a look at Spain's enticing eateries that made the cut. READ

UK General Election

The deputy prime minister and his wife at the voting booth on Thursday. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP

Five reasons why we will miss Señora Clegg

As the Liberal Democrats take a thorough beating in the UK General Election, The Local bids farewell to the real star of British politics (and the only Spaniard), the deputy Prime Minister's wife Miriam González Durántez. READ

Elections

Pablo Iglesias, the leader of Podemos, who top Spanish voter intentions according to a new poll. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP.

Winds of change blow in Spain as elections near

The two-party system that has marked Spanish politics since its transition to democracy is over. And the winds of change are blowing. READ

The Local list

Photo: Peter Zuco/Flickr

7 reasons why Spain's the best place on earth

Don't get us wrong, Spain isn't perfect. It has struggled out of a crippling economic crisis as well as having high pollution levels and a perpetually corrupt political system. But despite all that, it is still the best place to live in the world. And here is why: READ

Abou, aged 8, was curled up inside a suitcase. Photo: Guardia Civil

Border X-ray reveals boy, 8, smuggled in suitcase

An eight-year-old was discovered hiding in a suitcase as a woman attempted to smuggle him into Spain at the Ceuta border. READ

Features

The Local list

HAT terrace, one of Madrid's newest rooftop bars. Photo: Jessica Jones/The Local

Top ten: Madrid's best rooftop bars

As the temperatures rise in the Spanish capital, Madrileños look upwards, heading to one of the city’s rooftop bars in the hope of catching some of that elusive breeze. Here's our pick of the very best. READ

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

More News

A photo of a nurse tending a patient:Shutterstock

Is NHS depriving Spain of its own nursing staff?

Spain needs 140,000 more nurses to meet the European Union average, yet it is losing more and more each month to the NHS. READ

A man walks past a mural in Hernani. Photo: Ander Arrizurieta / AFP

Eta killer arrested after being spotted at bullfight

A suspected member of the Basque separatist group Eta was arrested in Mexico when he went to see much anticipated bullfight by José Tomás. READ

Protesters at a branch of Spanish optician Multiópticas protesting against the company's latest ad. Photo: Yolanda Dominguez

Feminists protest against 'sexist' optician advert

Feminists in Spain have protested against an advert that they claim objectifies women into nothing more than "pieces of meat". READ

Photo of Spanish factories: Shutterstock

Spain is most polluted country in Europe

A new report from the European Environment Agency has revealed that Spain exceeded safe pollution levels 150 times last summer, putting people at risk of breathing problems and lung disease. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Spain rated world's most tourist-friendly country

For the first time, Spain made it to the top of the charts in a world ranking of tourism and travel released on Wednesday, beating Switzerland to the top spot. READ

The chimps at Mallorca's Safari Park. Photo: Glem Bowman / Flickr

Escaped chimp found drowned after mate shot

The tragic end for Mallorca’s runaway apes has raised questions about ethics of keeping such primates caged. READ

Photo: Rick Diamond for Cirque du Soleil/AFP

Roll up! Cirque du Soleil seeks to conquer Europe

With somersaulting lizard-men and a soaked contortionist hand-standing in her underwear, international circus troupe Cirque du Soleil seeks to reconquer Europe with its latest tour launching in Madrid on Wednesday. READ

Pablo Iglesias, leader of Podemos, presented the party's political programme in Madrid on May 5th. Photo: Dani Pozo/AFP

Podemos ditch radical and swerve to the center

Spanish protest party Podemos has ditched its most radical policies and seems to be shifting towards the centre as it struggles to maintain momentum ahead of elections, analysts say. READ

Photo of a shark: Shutterstock

Magaluf 'shark' terrifying tourists was tuna fish

Holidaymakers panicky about a 'sighting' of a great white shark in shallow waters off the popular resort of Magaluf can be assured; It is safe to get back in the water. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Could iPlayer access be extended across EU?

The European Commission presented a plan for making the internet and digital content more ‘border-free’ on Wednesday, suggesting ways to loosen up restrictions that often see music, movies and other services blocked when users travel across countries. But could such a plan succeed? READ

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From our other editions:

Photo: Saatchi + Saatchi

Magazine printed with HIV+ blood ink

An Austrian magazine has used ink infused with the blood of three HIV+ people to print a special edition of their current issue. READ

All victims are believed to be adults. Photo: Michael Buholzer/ AFP

Shooting in Switzerland leaves five dead

UPDATED: A Swiss man killed three in-laws and a neighbour in a town near Zurich before turning his gun on himself, police said on Sunday, sending shockwaves through the normally tranquil nation. READ

Photo: DPA

Germany braces for longest-ever rail strike

German train drivers found themselves under fire from industry and the government on Monday after announcing their longest walkout in the history of rail operator Deutsche Bahn. READ

Only Norway, Finland and Iceland topped Denmark in the report. Photo: Colourbox

Denmark world's fourth best place to be a mother

Denmark has been among the top ten countries in Save the Children's annual global scorecard since 2000 and moved up two spots in this year’s ranking. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Trial after Frenchman dies downing 56 shots

The owner of a bar in France will stand trial on Monday charged with “manslaughter” over the death of one his patrons, who died breaking the bar’s record for the number of shots downed in one evening. It comes as France moves to get tough on binge drinking. READ

The statue is located under the portico of the Loggia dei Militi in Cremona. Photo: David Nicholls/Flickr

Tourists break priceless statue for 'selfie'

Two tourists in Cremona, northern Italy, are in hot water with police after breaking off a piece of the city’s priceless statue of Hercules while trying to take a selfie. READ

Arnulf Øverland, who in 1933 was the last person to be prosecuted for blasphemy in Norway. He was acquitted. Photo: Aage Storløkken/NTB Scanpix

Norway ends blasphemy law after Hebdo attack

Norway has scrapped its longstanding blasphemy law, meaning it is now legal to mock the beliefs of others, in a direct response to January’s brutal attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. READ

The Local List

Medieval town Ystad is located in southern Sweden. Photo: Shutterstock

Six cute Swedish towns you've never heard of

The streets of Stockholm and Gothenburg are often jam-packed with tourists, but further afield there are plenty of adorable Swedish towns you've probably never heard of, but which all offer some unique experiences. READ

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