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Students demonstrating against the Constitutional Court decision to suspend the vote last October Lluis Gene / AFP

Court bans Catalan independence vote

Spain's Constitutional Court on Wednesday unanimously ruled that a referendum on secession called by the wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia in November was illegal, confirming an earlier decision to temporarily suspend the vote. READ

The Local Video

Photo: The Local

Brooms up! Quidditch casts its spell over Spain

Just when you thought Harry Potter fever had well and truly died down, students in Spain are breathing life into a sport that many thought could never leave the pages of the bestselling books. READ

The Local list

Photo of tired woman at work: Shutterstock

Ten phrases you'll only hear at work in Spain

Late breakfasts, long lunches, and remember to always blame the intern – Spanish office etiquette may not be quite what you are used to. Here's The Local's guide to the ten catchphrases all foreign workers need to know. READ

Dominique Faget/AFP

Telefonica profits plummet a third in 2014

Spain's Telefonica on Wednesday reported a 34.7 percent plunge in profits to €3.0 billion euros ($3.4 billion) in 2014, citing Venezuela's economic crisis and other exceptional costs. READ

Migrants sit atop border fence attempting to cross into Melilla on Feb 10. Photo: Angela Rios/AFP

Amnesty slams Spain for migrant care in enclaves

Amnesty International slammed Spain for its unlawful treatment of migrants and asylum seekers seeking to cross into the country through the north African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. READ

Carlos García Preciado has been arrested in Rome. Photo: Spanish Interior Ministry.

Eta fugitive on run for 15 years arrested in Rome

An Eta terrorist sentenced to 16 years in prison has been arrested in Rome, after being on the run since 2000, Spain’s Interior Ministry has announced. READ

State of the nation debate

Spanish politician Celia Villalobos allegedly playing Candy Crush during the state of the nation debate. Screen grab: LaMarea/YouTube

Speaker played Candy Crush during PM address

While in the speaker´s chair Celia Villalobos was caught on camera appearing to play Candy Crush during the Prime Minister's speech at Tuesday's state of the nation debate. READ

State of the nation debate

Mariano Rajoy during the state of the nation debate on February 24th. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou /AFP

'Spain has achieved the impossible,' insists Rajoy

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy defended his record during a key debate in parliament on Tuesday ahead of a series of elections in which he anti-austerity Podemos party is tipped for strong gains. READ

State of the Nation

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during a visit to a Ford factory near Valencia on February 5th, 2015. Photo: Jose Jordan/AFP

'Spain to create half a million jobs in 2015': PM

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy predicted on Tuesday that Spain's economy, the eurozone's fourth largest, could grow by 2.4 percent in 2015, raising the previous 2.0 percent forecast. READ

Photo of a man on a phone: Shutterstock

Catalonia struck by wave of 'virtual kidnappings'

Police in Catalonia have issued a warning about a spate of recent "fake kidnappings" during which parents receive phone calls telling them their children have been abducted, when no actual kidnapping has taken place. READ

Features

My Spanish Career

Samantha Chappell is an English primary school teacher in Oviedo

'There is joy in learning something new yourself'

Samantha Chappell took a sabbatical from a publishing job in London to spend a summer living in the northern city of Oviedo. She loved it so much that eight years later she is still there and has discovered her vocation. READ

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 2 comments

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

More News

Nazi row

Revellers dress up during Tenerife's famous carnival. Photo: AFP

Spanish politician wears SS uniform to carnival

The ruling Popular Party (PP) in the Basque Country has apologized after one of its councillors wore a Nazi costume to Tenerife’s carnival. READ

A photo of an Islamic State sign:Shutterstock

Spain breaks up jihadist cell that recruited women

Spain said on Tuesday it had broken up an online network accused of recruiting young women to join Islamic State militants fighting in Iraq and Syria and arrested four suspects. READ

Photo of an earthquake sign: Shutterstock

Jokes shake Spain in earthquake aftermath

When an earthquake shook the country on Monday Spaniards flocked to social media to make fun of the big drama surrounding the little tremor. READ 2 comments

Alonso was taken to hospital on Sunday after crashing at the Barcelona circuit. Photo: Quique Garcia/AFP

Alonso gives a 'thumbs up' from hospital bed

Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is making a "solid recovery" from a spectacular crash in testing, his McLaren team said Monday blaming the accident on "gusty winds". READ

Photo of Madrid's financial district: Shutterstock

Scared investors dump Catalonia for Madrid

Madrid received almost five times the foreign investment of Catalonia in 2014, with analysts saying the region's growing independence movement may have turned off many potential investors. READ

Photo of an earthquake being measured: Shutterstock

Central Spain rumbles as earthquake hits

An earthquake with a magnitute measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was felt from Madrid to Murcia on Monday afternoon. READ

Luis de Guindos and Yanis Varoufakis at the Eurogroup meeting last Friday. Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP

Spain leads tough stance on Greece

Spain is enforcing the hard line against Greece during negotiations between Eurozone finance ministers, it has emerged. READ

Photo of a Madrid Metro sign: Shutterstock

Madrid Metro fires head of security for gay gaffe

Madrid Metro has sacked its head of security over a memo warning staff to be suspicious of gays, as lobby groups called on the public transport company to launch an LGBT inclusion campaign. READ

My Spanish Career

Inés Diarte divides her time between Madrid and Paris. Photo: Elena Martin

'In Spain I found a new and marvellous energy'

In the latest instalment of My Spanish Career, The Local chats to Inés Diarte a sculptor whose work is exhibited at Art Madrid 2015 this week. READ

A policeman speaks to Alejandro Gonzales-Davidson in a restaurant in Phnom Penh where he was arrested on Febraury 23rd. STR/AFP

Spanish eco-warrior arrested in Cambodia

A Spanish environmental activist was arrested in Cambodia Monday and will shortly be deported, officials said, a move described by a rights group as the government's latest attempt to stifle dissent READ

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From our other editions:

The Local List

Photo: APA/epa

Ten phrases you’ll only hear at work in Austria

Austria is one of Europe’s smaller countries, but also one of the richest and most stable in the EU, with low unemployment. Austrians are known for their love of gemütlichkeit - a word encompassing coziness, security and friendliness - and this can mean some baffling conversations for those new to doing business with Austrians. READ

The accident happened at 6.45am on Friday. Photo: Michael Buholzer/AFP

Updated: several injured in train collision

Two trains slammed into each other in the Swiss town of Rafz north of Zurich early on Friday, leaving passengers injured and train carriages upturned, police and media said. READ

Jabbed! Photo: DPA

Measles kill toddler as Berlin school closes

UPDATE: Health authorities in Berlin announced a toddler has succumbed to measles. Earlier, a school in a Berlin suburb was closed because of a pupil infected with the disease. The capital is battling its most serious outbreak since 2001. READ

Copenhagen shootings

Men take part in Friday prayers at the Islamic Society of Denmark before Omar El-Hussein's burial outside of Copenhagen. Photo: Jens Alstrup/Denmark

Copenhagen gunman's burial attracts hundreds

At least 500 people turned out Friday as the gunman who killed two people in twin attacks in Copenhagen nearly a week ago was laid to rest. READ

At least five drones were detected flying over specific areas of Paris on Monday night into Tuesday. Photo: Rahims/FLickr

Drones fly over Paris landmarks during night

Paris police were hunting on Tuesday for clues after several drones were flown over specific Paris landmarks in the early hours of Tuesday, including the Eiffel Tower and the American Embassy. READ

Opinion

Alleged Isis militants stand next to an Isis flag atop a hill in the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab. Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP

Could Isis terrorists really invade Italy?

Italy has been on heightened alert since an Isis video warned that Libya could be used as a springboard for attacks in the country. But how big is the threat? READ

An autopsy room. Photo: Shutterstock.

Norwegian's Filipina wife charged with murder

The Filipina wife of a Norwegian man found dead in his bedroom last summer has been charged by police for pre-meditated murder after an autopsy report revealed signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. READ

Missan is turning 30 this spring. Photo: Private / TT

Is Sweden's Missan the world's oldest living cat?

Missan, 29, may be the world’s oldest cat, according to its Swedish owner who says that aside from suffering from some minor back and kidney problems, there is no reason why her furry friend won't make it to the grand age of 30. READ