After the country’s second major rail disaster in a year, Spaniards were confronting questions about the safety of their once-vaunted rail system.

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The accident, the second in less than a year on the same busy rail line, was one of the deadliest in the country’s history.

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Residents say a proposed Chinese car plant in northern Spain will create new jobs. Others say it’s a long-term risk, distilling a debate about the costs and perks of ties to China.

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Since high school students began protesting in France in September, they’ve been joined by young demonstrators in at least seven other European countries.

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