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Photo: Don McCullough/Flickr

Drones could be used to patrol traffic hotspots on Spanish roads

Spain's highways agency is developing unmanned aircraft that could be ready to patrol traffic from as early as next year.

Startups

The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last year. Photo: Lluis Gene / AFP.

Madrid and Barcelona rank among top 15 startup cities across Europe

Rival Spanish startup hubs Madrid and Barcelona have crept into the top 15 cities of a new European startup ranking.

Photo: Lluis Gene/AFP

Police arrest treasurer of Catalonia separatist party in corruption probe

Spanish police on Wednesday arrested the treasurer of Catalonia's ruling separatist party on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for public works contracts.

Cristina Quicler / AFP

USA boosts its military presence at Spain base to avoid Benghazi repeat

A cooperation agreement between Washington and Madrid will fulfil the US need for a crisis-response force in reach of north African hotspots.

Guardia Civil / Ministerio Interior

Judge questions 'good Catholic girl' who converted into a 'bride of Isis'

Neighbours expressed shock at the transformation of a "good, quiet girl" from a Catholic family in a famous pilgrimage town into a radicalized "Isis bride" determined to travel to Syria.

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

Schools closed and roads flooded as fierce storms batter southern Spain

The south of Spain is most commonly associated with sun, sea and sangria, but this week much of it is under water as torrential rain pummeled Andalusia.

Archive photo: Shutterstock

Madrid metro workers call strikes during rush hours on Thursday

Madrid’s metro could grind to a halt on Thursday as workers have called several hours of strikes during the busiest hours of the day.

Startups

Photo: Indranil Mukherjee / AFP.

Tech-savvy Spaniards rank fifth in world for mobile commerce use

Spaniards are some of the world's top smartphone users and love buying through mobile apps, according to a new study by a Madrid startup.

Photo: AFP

Spain eases spending constraints as 'reward' following years of austerity

Spain's lower house has approved a 2016 budget designed to ease some spending restrictions after years of austerity, ahead of legislative elections due on December 20th.

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.

Features

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

Photo: Alameda County Community Food Bank / Flickr

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?

My Spanish career

Terry among the books at Desperate Literature. Photo: Sophia Smith Galer

'We keep a typewriter at the back for customers to punch out poems'

In this week’s instalment of My Spanish Career, The Local talks to Terry and Charlotte, the couple behind Desperate Literature, Madrid’s newest bibliophile hangout.

My Spanish career

$'It's possible to find great talent for a fraction of the cost of elsewhere'$

Thomas Evans (right) is the founder of Start Ups Made in Spain. Screen grab: Startups Made in Spain/YouTube

'It's possible to find great talent for a fraction of the cost of elsewhere'

The Local talks to Thomas Evans, the founder of Start Ups Made in Spain, about why Spain is becoming attractive for investors.

The Local list

The San Sebastian International Film Festival runs from September 18th and 26th. Photo: Gari Garaialde

Ten things you need to know about Spain's San Sebastián Film Festival

The Local counts down ten essential facts about the most important film festival in the Spanish speaking world, as it gets underway in the Basque seaside city.

More news

Photo: AFP

Death knell sounds for Eta four years after end of Spain violence

Four years after it renounced violence, the Basque terrorist group breathes its last without dissolving, while many hope a change in government in Madrid will finally turn the page on decades of conflict.

Startups

Inventor Iñigo Barrón with the Jetson surfboard. Photo: Jetson

Spanish surf dudes rule the waves with world's first jet-powered board

A pair of surfers turned entrepreneurs are hoping to ride on the wave of popularity as they launch their invention worldwide.

File photo: Shutterstock

Free Wi-Fi now offered to travellers at a dozen airports across Spain

From this week a dozen Spanish airports will offer travellers free Wi-Fi, a service that will be extended to all AENA operated airports by the end of the year.

Photo: Change.org

Wife sentenced to jail for snooping on husband’s emails wins appeal

Next time you are tempted to browse through your significant other’s emails or texts, be warned – you could end up being banged up in prison for breach of privacy.

Photo: AFP

Spanish woman, 22, held at Madrid airport on way to join Isis in Syria

A Spanish woman has been arrested at Madrid airport on her way to Turkey with the intention of crossing into Syria to join the Isis (Islamic State) terrorist group.

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From our other editions

Ena Kadic (left) and the Bergisel. Photo: APA/Hochmuth

Beauty queen dies after mountain fall

Former Miss Austria Ena Kadic has died in hospital from injuries sustained after she fell down a mountain while jogging in her home state of Tyrol.

Swiss federal elections

Toni Brunner, Swiss People's Party president, hailing the party's historic number of elected MPs. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Swiss national elections: 'return to normality'?

Is Switzerland now a divided country or were the results of Sunday’s national elections merely a return to normality?

File photo: DPA

Majority of public back Autobahn speed limit

A new survey published on Thursday shows that a majority of Germans are in favour of speed limits on the Autobahn – the country's highways which until now have been famously limit-free.