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Police officers block a street during the operation in Mataro, northern Spain. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain arrests suspected Isis recruiters

UPDATED: Spanish police on Tuesday arrested a man and a woman suspected of recruiting jihadists and launching terror threats against Spain and France, the country's interior ministry said.

Zaragoza, the capital of the Aragon region. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP

Aragon: a bellwether for general elections

Aragon is to Spain like Ohio is to the United States: for more than 30 years this northeastern region has always voted for the winner of general elections, and this year should prove no exception.

Christmas 2015

Princesses Leonor and Sofia of Spain. Photo: Casa Real

Spain's little princesses star in oh-so-cute royal family Christmas card

Leonor and Sofia, the daughters of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, take the spotlight in this year’s royal Christmas card, but have not escaped ridicule on social media.

Spanish matador Alberto López Simon in Madrid in October. Photo: AFP

Spanish bullfighting should have Unesco protection: pro-bulls group

The Spanish tradition of bullfighting is under serious threat and needs greater legal protection if it is to survive, the members of a new group from the southern Spanish city of Seville argue.

African migrants at the Hoya Fria temporaty detent

Spanish coastguard rescues dozens of migrants off Canary Islands

A Spanish coast guard ship rescued 47 African migrants on Monday from a boat found adrift off the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, officials said.

The drones are currently too large for many of the sewerage tunnels in Barcelona. Photo: FFC

Sewer drones set to take over one of the smelliest jobs in Barcelona

The job of sewer workers in Barcelona could be about to become much easier with the aid of a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles tasked with inspecting the city's vast network of underground tunnels.

Photo: AnimaNaturalis

In pics: Protesters strip for 'blood-soaked' anti-leather demo in Spain

Nearly 200 protesters stripped off and covered themselves in fake blood in Barcelona this weekend to protest against the use of animal skins in clothing.

The Three Kings parade in Madrid in January 2015. Photo: AFP

Spain: 'Wise Man' quits Christmas parade after shouting fascist slogan

A businessman in southern Spain has been forced to resign from his plum role in a local Christmas parade after he filmed himself yelling a fascist slogan and then shared the footage on WhatsApp.

Spanish police at the house of a Moroccan woman suspected of recruiting for Isis. File photo: AFP

Spanish anti-jihadist hotline turns up 29 'suspects' in first 24 hours

Spain's intelligence agency received a "multitude" of calls during the first 24 hours of a new campaign in which Spaniards can anonymously report people they suspect of jihadist activity.

Photo: AFP

Struggle of Spanish firm Abengoa puts thousands of jobs at risk

As Spain's flagship renewable energy giant Abengoa teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, concerns mount over the fate of thousands of employees and its numerous projects around the world.

Features

Opinion

Photo: Simon Paulin/Imagebank Sweden

The end of the expat? Europe's cities fight for 'Inpats'

Mention expats and many minds are drawn to stereotypes of workers sent abroad for three years to live in a compound and sip gin. But today’s mobile professionals aren't posted overseas – they just get up and go, writes The Local's Managing Editor James Savage.

Gallery

Photo: auroland2014/Instagram

10 stunning autumn shots of Spain

At this time of year Spain puts on a splendid show of autumn colours. Here are some of our favourite photos taken by The Local readers.

Refugee crisis

Photo: Pro-Activa Open Arms

'Women put their babies into our arms begging us to keep them safe'

As more and more refugees crowd into rubber dinghies to reach Europe, a Spanish volunteer lifeguard tells The Local how he's swapped the tourist packed beaches of Catalonia to go on patrol in Lesbos.

Startups

Trying an IoT device at the 2015 Internet of Things Solutions World Congress in Barcelona Photo: Josep Lago / AFP

Inside the Spanish startup world: 13 takeaways from the ecosystem

Just what is going on in the Spanish startup scene? The Local takes a look.

The Local list

Six unmissable dishes from Toledo, Spain's 2016 Capital of Gastronomy

Toledo has been chosen as Spain's Capital of Gastronomy for 2016 due to its "creative combination of cultural and gastronomical heritage". So what is so tasty about Toledo?

More news

"This is the most valuable treasure (not pictured above) that has been found in the history of humanity," said Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos. Photo: Pixabay

Colombia finds Spanish treasure galleon, ending 300-year mystery

Colombia says it has found the shipwreck of a storied Spanish galleon, the San Jose, laden with gold, silver and precious stones, three centuries after it was sunk by the British in the Caribbean.

People waiting in line at a government employment office on Paseo de las Acacias in Madrid. Photo: Sebastien Berda / AFP

As Spanish polls near, the disillusioned jobless struggle on

Gema Martin remembers with a touch of nostalgia the time when she had medical insurance, holidays... in other words, a job.

Spanish civil guards arrest a man accused of collaborating with the Islamic State in Pamplona earlier this week. Photo: Ander Gillenea/AFP

Spain arrests two prison inmates for spreading Isis propaganda

Two prisoners at a Spanish jail were arrested today on suspicion of spreading propaganda for the Islamic State group, including videos of executions, while on prison leave, the interior ministry said.

Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Arise Dame Ana Botin! Santander chief awarded honours by Queen

Ana Botín, the Executive Chairman of Banco Santander, has been appointed an honorary Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for services to the British financial services sector.

Video

Screen shot: AJ+

Eduardo Scissorhands? Hairdresser styles with swords and fire in Spain

Would you let this unconventional Spanish hairdresser get his hands on your locks?

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From our other editions

The exciting moment when the ribbon was cut. Photo: Kurier/Juerg Christandl

Police break up rowdy 'escalator party'

What began as an ironic party to celebrate the opening of a new escalator at a Vienna metro station ended with a group of students being reported to the police for disorderly behaviour.

X-ray image showing how bags of cocaine were swallowed by drug smugglers. Photo: Vaud cantonal police

Vaud police crack Nigerian cocaine ring

Police in the canton of Vaud have arrested a dozen people linked to an African smuggling ring suspected of bringing dozens of kilograms of cocaine into Switzerland.

The Local List

The erotic Christmas market in Hamburg. Photo: DPA

Germany's 7 quirkiest Christmas markets

If traditional Christmas markets, stocked with Glühwein, Lebkuchen and cutesy carol services don't quite do it for you anymore - we bring you the German markets that go that extra mile to give you something unique.

EU Referendum

PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen held a late night press conference after his 'yes' camp suffered a clear defeat. Photo: Søren Bidstrup/Scanpix

Danes reject EU justice rules in referendum

Voters in eurosceptic EU member Denmark on Thursday solidly rejected a government proposal to beef up their participation in the bloc's justice cooperation.