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Refugee crisis

Cayetano Luis Martínez de Irujo. Photo: Ho / Pool / AFP.

Spanish aristocrat welcomes Syrian refugee families to live in his palace

An aristocrat from one of Spain's wealthiest families has thrown open the doors of his estate to welcome two refugee families after they fled war-torn Syria.

Catalan independence debate

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

Catalan independence parties look set to win the most seats in election

Pro-independence parties that want Catalonia to break away from Spain are on course to win the most seats in regional parliament elections at the end of the month, a poll published on Monday showed.

Refugee crisis

A group of refugees walk towards the Hungarian-Austrian border. Photo: Attila Kisbenedek / AFP

Spain warns of jihadist infiltration threat with 'avalanche' of refugees

Spain's interior minister on Monday called for tighter controls to prevent members of the armed jihadist group Isis from infiltrating the "avalanche" of refugees arriving in Europe from Syria.

Archive photo of a flood near Malaga. Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP

Costa del Rain: Southern Spain on alert for torrential rain and flooding

Latest: Flights have been diverted, roads closed, and streets swamped, killing one man, as much of southern Spain was put on alert for torrential rain.

Police fired rubber bullets during the riot at an internment centre in Valencia. Archive photo: Josep Lago / AFP

Cops injured during riot at migrant detention centre in eastern Spain

Five police officers were hurt during a riot overnight at a detention centre for undocumented migrants in eastern Spain, police said Monday.

The woman was arrested for recruiting for Isis. Photo: AFP

Woman arrested in Catalonia for recruiting people to fight for Isis

The 19-year-old woman was arrested in the coastal Catalan town of Figueres on Monday morning by Spain’s National Police.

My Spanish career

Frankie Sikes set up a 'mindful walking' retreat in Asturias. Photo with sloth: Frankie Sikes.

'Hiking alone in the mountains and forests has a deeply positive effect'

In this week's instalment of 'My Spanish career' The Local talks to Frankie Sikes, a therapist, trainer and the founder of rather a unusual walking retreat in northern Spain.

Refugee crisis

The EU has asked Spain to take 15,000 refugees. Photo: Christof Stache/AFP

Spain under pressure from Brussels to accept around 15,000 refugees

The European Commission will on Wednesday ask Spain to accept 15,000 refugees, 12 percent of the total, as the country’s government argued it did not have the means to take any more migrants.

The crash occured on Saturday evening. Photo: Vanessa Casteleiro / AFP

12-year-old girl becomes seventh victim of A Coruña rally crash

The child died on Sunday night from head injuries sustained when a rally car came off at a curve and ploughed into spectators.

The two men were extradited from Spain to face charges in the US

Narco brothers 'Benny' and 'Angel' extradited from Spain to USA

Two Pakistani brothers have been extradited to New York to face charges that they conspired to smuggle heroin into America and sell missile launchers to Colombian rebels, prosecutors said.

Features

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.

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.

More News

Some 20 people were reported to be hurt and several were taken to hospital, at least two of whom were "very seriously" injured. File photo: Contando Estrelas/Flickr

Pregnant woman among 6 dead as rally car slams into crowd in Spain

Six people including a pregnant woman were killed on Saturday when a rally racing car hurtled off the road and ploughed into a crowd of spectators in northern Spain, police said.

Photo: Jose Jordan/AFP

Spain arrests 'Syria-bound' teenage girl who preached jihad online

Spanish police said they arrested an 18-year-old Moroccan woman on Saturday accused of preparing to travel to Syria to join the jihadist group Isis

Refugee crisis

Photo: AFP

Real Madrid football club join drive to help refugees based in Spain

Spanish giants Real Madrid will donate €1 million (US$1.1m) to help support projects for refugees in Spain, the club announced on Saturday.

Refugee crisis

British Prime Minister David Cameron and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP.

UK and Spanish PMs hold Madrid talks over deepening refugee crisis

British Prime Minister David Cameron promised that Britain will accept thousands more Syrians from refugee camps and provide an extra £100m financial aid package on Friday while his Spanish counterpart insisted that “people trafficking mafias must be stopped”.

Photos: AFP.

Everyday Spaniards to star in 'Life in a Day' in Spain on the big screen

Got any plans on October 24th? The celebrated film director, Isabel Coixet, wants people across Spain to contribute to a documentary that will capture one day of life in Spain.

The Local list

Spanish uses lots of English words, but not in the way you might think. Photo: Elliot Brown/Flickr

Ten brilliant Spanish reinventions of everyday English words

The English language is sweeping across Spain, but not always in the way you might expect. The Local looks at how Spaniards are taking English words, changing their meanings and using them in a way that would have Shakespeare turning in his grave.

Catalan independence debate

The Catalan president, Artur Mas, will seek reelction on November 27th. Photo: AFP

Artur Mas: parliament majority is all we need to declare independence

Catalonia's president vowed Friday to begin seceding from Spain if pro-independence parties win a majority of seats - not votes - in regional parliament elections set for later this month.

Travelers wait at the Barcelona airport. Photo: Lluis Gene / AFP.

Travellers face delays as train and airport workers strike across Spain

With train workers and airport luggage handlers going on strike starting on Friday, weekend travelers will face some obstacles in getting to their desired destinations. Here’s what you need to know.

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 following 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.

Read older articles »

From our other editions

Migrant crisis

Photo: Paul Gillingwater

3,650 migrants arrive on trains in one day

A total of 3,650 migrants reached Vienna by train Monday, this year's biggest daily number, Austrian police said, after Hungarian authorities allowed people stuck in makeshift refugee camps to leave Budapest despite many not having EU visas.

Refugee crisis

A refugee sits by his tent in Calais. Photo: Philippe Huguen/AFP

Expats in Switzerland mobilize for refugees

Moved by the tragic images in recent days of the plight of Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe, some expats in Switzerland are taking matters into their own hands to try and help, finds The Local.

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.

First Dane in space

Andreas Mogensen: the first Dane in space. Photo: European Space Agency

Denmark’s first astronaut prepares for blast-off

Andreas Mogensen will make Danish history when he leaves Earth on Wednesday morning for a ten-day mission at the International Space Station. Follow the livestream here.

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.

The Local List

Ten Italian lifestyle habits to adopt immediately

The Italians have certain things sussed when it comes to well-being. From coffee culture to shopping at markets, we've picked up habits that have enhanced our lives here. Whether you live in Italy or not, here's a list of ways you too could adopt an Italian lifestyle.

This man, clad in a black jacket, was the man a former neighbour identified as possibly being Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow - CCTV footage

Norwegian was terrorist in Kenya mall attack

Norway's security services have confirmed that Hassan Dhuhulow, a Norwegian man of Somali decent, was one of the terrorists behind a brutal attack on a Nairobi shopping centre in 2013.

Refugee crisis

Asylum seekers in Halmstad, Sweden earlier this year. Photo: Anders Andersson/TT

How to help refugees if you live in Sweden

As images of a dead Syrian child washed up on a Turkish beach spark debate around the world, The Local looks at some of the ways you can help refugees if you live in Sweden, which is continuing to take in more asylum seekers than any other EU nation.

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