https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed This year, Spain is once again the world leader when it comes to the number of Blue Flag beaches. Find out which new beaches have been given this award in 2026. https://www.thelocal.es/20260506/spain-crowned-country-with-most-blue-flag-beaches-in-2026 Wed, 06 May 2026 14:45:28 +0200 spain-crowned-country-with-most-blue-flag-beaches-in-2026 After standardising chargers for mobile phones, from Tuesday new computers sold in EU countries must also use the USB-C charging point, as the latest phase of EU anti-waste legislation comes into force. https://www.thelocal.es/20260428/eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:16:33 +0200 eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Experts are warning the general population in Spain that pollen levels are expected to be much higher this year after abundant rainfall these past few months. Here's everything you need to know about hay fever in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20220531/pollen-allergies-in-spain-what-you-need-to-know Tue, 31 May 2022 16:29:18 +0200 pollen-allergies-in-spain-what-you-need-to-know Every winter, storms wipe out swathes of the picturesque Spanish coast, undoing summer reconstruction work and threatening the foundations of the country's vital tourism industry. https://www.thelocal.es/20260403/spain-rethinks-how-to-turn-tide-against-beach-erosion Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:17:57 +0200 spain-rethinks-how-to-turn-tide-against-beach-erosion Conservation measures have helped the Spanish brown bear population go from 70 three decades ago to more than 400 currently, with the animals now venturing into areas where they hadn't been seen in more than a century. https://www.thelocal.es/20260326/spains-brown-bear-population-grows-above-400 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:14:46 +0100 spains-brown-bear-population-grows-above-400 A new pilot programme launching this year will mean people in Spain will receive financial compensation for recycling their second-hand clothes in special containers. https://www.thelocal.es/20260310/eu-to-pay-people-in-spain-to-recycle-used-clothing Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:22:26 +0100 eu-to-pay-people-in-spain-to-recycle-used-clothing Environmental pollution is linked to several mental health disorders in Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned, arguing that enforcing legislation would result in Europeans being both less depressed and less anxious. https://www.thelocal.es/20260305/pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:10:55 +0100 pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems You don't have to travel all the way to Japan to see blossoms. If you want to plan ahead and book a trip to the Spanish countryside to see it in all its springtime glory, here are of some of the best places to visit during the floral season. https://www.thelocal.es/20230321/in-pics-the-best-places-to-see-spring-blossom-in-spain Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:37:29 +0100 in-pics-the-best-places-to-see-spring-blossom-in-spain Spain urged the EU to keep a 2035 ban on new petrol cars, a letter showed Friday, as Brussels looked set to replace it with a less ambitious 90-percent emission-reduction target. https://www.thelocal.es/20251213/spain-urges-eu-to-keep-combustion-engine-ban-as-rethink-on-the-cards Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:38:30 +0100 spain-urges-eu-to-keep-combustion-engine-ban-as-rethink-on-the-cards About 400 storks have been found dead along a river near Madrid, officials said Tuesday, raising concerns that a highly infectious strain of bird flu may be circulating. https://www.thelocal.es/20251210/spain-fears-bird-flu-outbreak-after-hundreds-of-storks-die-near-madrid Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:02:58 +0100 spain-fears-bird-flu-outbreak-after-hundreds-of-storks-die-near-madrid Spanish authorities said Saturday they are investigating five laboratories in an effort to find the source of an African swine fever outbreak that has unnerved Europe's leading pork-producing nation. https://www.thelocal.es/20251206/spain-not-ruling-out-lab-leak-as-cause-of-swine-fever-outbreak Sat, 06 Dec 2025 09:01:40 +0100 spain-not-ruling-out-lab-leak-as-cause-of-swine-fever-outbreak Spain's pork industry is "very concerned" by a growing African swine fever outbreak among wild boars that has sparked jitters about the world's third-largest producer of the meat and its derivatives. https://www.thelocal.es/20251203/spanish-pork-producers-very-concerned-by-african-swine-fever Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:39:03 +0100 spanish-pork-producers-very-concerned-by-african-swine-fever Spain has found another seven dead wild boars infected with African swine fever near Barcelona, increasing the outbreak's total to nine cases, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.es/20251203/spain-detects-seven-new-african-swine-fever-cases Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:26:35 +0100 spain-detects-seven-new-african-swine-fever-cases Spain on Monday deployed more than 100 troops to help contain an outbreak of African swine fever outside Barcelona that has sparked fears for the country's powerful pork export industry. https://www.thelocal.es/20251201/spain-deploys-army-after-african-swine-fever-outbreak Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:00:48 +0100 spain-deploys-army-after-african-swine-fever-outbreak Here's everything you need to know about the African swine fever disease found in Spain recently, from whether it affects humans to restrictions on outdoor activities and the impact on the pork industry. https://www.thelocal.es/20251201/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-african-swine-fever-outbreak-in-spain Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:05:24 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-the-african-swine-fever-outbreak-in-spain Winter is coming and that means it’s more difficult for stray or abandoned animals to find food to survive the cold. This prompts many to want to do more to help and leave food out, particularly for stray cats. https://www.thelocal.es/20251121/can-you-feed-stray-cats-in-spain Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:41:30 +0100 can-you-feed-stray-cats-in-spain The hunting season is underway in Spain so this is recommended reading for anyone who likes to take a walk or lives in rural areas. https://www.thelocal.es/20200918/how-to-stay-safe-during-this-years-hunting-season-in-rural-spain Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:00:52 +0200 how-to-stay-safe-during-this-years-hunting-season-in-rural-spain Spanish authorities on Monday announced a cull of more than 120 cows infected in the country's first outbreak of highly contagious lumpy skin disease, which has struck cattle on a farm. https://www.thelocal.es/20251007/spain-culls-cattle-to-contain-first-outbreak-of-lumpy-skin-disease Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:06:39 +0200 spain-culls-cattle-to-contain-first-outbreak-of-lumpy-skin-disease These magical-looking creatures have once again appeared in Spanish waters, causing fears for swimmers due to their venomous stings. Here's everything you need to know about them. https://www.thelocal.es/20250826/what-to-know-about-the-appearance-of-blue-dragons-at-beaches-in-spain Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:46:20 +0200 what-to-know-about-the-appearance-of-blue-dragons-at-beaches-in-spain Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has slammed the fact that budget flights between destinations in Europe are still often significantly cheaper than travelling by train. https://www.thelocal.es/20250822/unfair-budget-flights-in-europe-up-to-26-times-cheaper-than-train-routes Fri, 22 Aug 2025 18:32:46 +0200 unfair-budget-flights-in-europe-up-to-26-times-cheaper-than-train-routes