Thousands of Spaniards angered by their grim economic prospects and political handling of the international financial crisis turned out for street demonstrations in the country’s cities today, marking the one-year anniversary of a movement that inspired similar pressure groups in other countries.

GREEK Prime Minister George Papandreou appointed a new finance minister in a crisis reshuffle to try to push through harsh economic reforms and avoid a default that could cause global economic turmoil.

PORTUGAL elected its conservative president to a second term yesterday, exit polls indicated, delivering a harsh political setback to the minority Socialist government, which is struggling to contain an acute economic crisis.

BRITAIN’S new coalition government set out plans yesterday to reform the electoral system and cut state interference in people’s lives, while tackling a record budget deficit.

Soldiers closed dozens of shops in Venezuela today trying to prevent price rises after the country devalued its currency.

THE release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi removes the sharpest thorn in Britain’s relations with Libya and boosts the prospects for British companies there.

A SOUTH AFRICAN judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma yesterday, clearing the way for him to become the country’s next president.

VOTER outrage over alleged corruption and dirty tricks have left Brazil’s president facing a tough runoff for a second term, after his main rival staged a surprise comeback.