The number of people registered as unemployed in Spain edged down by a little under 5,000 in March, the first reduction for the month in five years, official figures revealed today.

Spain now has a record five million people registered as unemployed as the country remains stuck in recession.

The number of people registered as unemployed in Spain is bordering on five million as the country remains mired in recession.

Public transport workers in the Greek capital walked off the job today in a 24-hour strike, causing traffic jams around Athens, while a doctors’ strike has left hospitals functioning with emergency staff.

The number of people registered as unemployed in Spain has fallen, bringing some cheer as the country looks to emerge from recession in 2013.

The number of people registered as unemployed in Spain is edging toward five million as the country’s recession shows few signs of abating and its banks struggle to deal with a property market crash.

Lebanese police have clashed with about 100 Egyptians who were trying to storm their embassy in Beirut, security officials said.

Spain says the number of people filing for unemployment benefits stood at a 15-year high at the end of 2011.

Hundreds of Spanish civil servants chanted protests in central Madrid today as they took part in a one-day strike over wage cuts aimed at reducing the country’s huge deficit.

More than 20,000 protesters marched through Athens in a challenge to Greece’s harsh austerity measures today, but this time the demonstrations ended peacefully.

Thousands of protesters gathered in central Athens today as unions held a general strike against cuts, two weeks after violence outbreaks left three people dead.

THE Greek parliament approved new spending cuts and taxes yesterday aimed at defusing the country’s debt crisis, while protesters opposed to the measures fought with police outside.

Greece agreed tough new spending cuts today aimed at dealing with its massive debt crisis even as mobs protesting against them fought running battles with riot police in Athens.

Violent protests against planned new spending cuts ripped through Athens today with riot police having to use tear gas against crowds.

The US has condemned the coordinated bomb attacks in Baghdad today that have killed at least 121 people.

At least 18 people were killed when three car bombs exploded in quick succession across Baghdad today, Iraqi officials said.

Spain’s government defended a plan to fight soaring unemployment by shutting the door on foreign workers, fending off criticism that the idea is mean-spirited and futile.

Authorities raided a sugarcane plantation in north-eastern Brazil and freed 61 workers found living in debt slavery, the government said today.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had lunch with steel workers on Monday to mark Labour Day as the country’s rapidly expanding economy faces a growing shortage or skilled staff.

Thirteen Saudis who allegedly mistreated their domestic help have been banned from importing foreign maids.

Angry demonstrators set fire to Lebanon’s Labour Ministry in Beirut today after soldiers shot and killed five people and wounded 12 others during protests against the government’s economic policies, security and hospital officials said.

Anti-government protesters stormed Lebanon’s Labour Ministry today, hours after Lebanese soldiers shot and killed three people and wounded 12 others in clashes with stone-throwing demonstrators.

A farm worker was beaten and then killed by being thrown into a lion enclosure, it was claimed in Cape Town, South Africa, today.

Italian police today arrested six alleged Red Brigades terrorists suspected of killing a Labour Ministry consultant in 1999 – the first attack by the left-wing terrorist group in more than a decade, news reports said.

A parcel bomb exploded at an Italian Labour ministry building in Rome today, causing no injuries, while similar packages rigged to blow up were found in another Rome office and in a Sardinia police station.

The Argentine government is poised to inject £16.9m into Aerolineas Argentinas to pay back salaries and help save it from possible bankruptcy.

Hundreds of Marks & Spencer staff have been demonstrating outside the company's flagship Paris store to protest at the closure of 18 shops in France.