It provides municipal services to more than 800 cities and towns in Spain and to the millions who use the Madrid metro system.

FORBES: Rafael Del Pino y Calvo-Sotelo

Like the pre-election bombings in Madrid's train system last year, those today were timed to capitalize upon and affect a major political event: the G-8 summit meeting being hosted by Britain at Gleneagles, Scotland.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: War footing

Ms Schavan said Germany would expand educational exchanges with Spain and help Madrid develop its own dual system.

BBC: Germany to help Spain give skills to jobless youths

The system developed in Madrid makes use of a unit comprised of three accelerometers and three gyroscopes, which keep track of the speed and direction of a vehicle at all times.

BBC: Spanish scientists develop more accurate sat-nav system

Moody's downgraded 28 Spanish banks, reflecting the agency's view that Madrid's ability to provide support to the local banking system has declined.

WSJ: U.S. Stocks Close Higher

Serious reform of the health-care system, where much of the money sent from Madrid to regional governments is spent, is barely even being talked about.

ECONOMIST: The euro crisis

Ron Madrid, an expert on non-lethal warfare, says that a new laser-warning system has proved particularly effective in reducing casualties at checkpoints in Afghanistan and Iraq.

ECONOMIST: Monitor