Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy defended his government’s harsh austerity measures aimed at correcting the country’s grim economic forecast, a day after tens of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets to protest his handling of the country’s worst crisis in decades.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy today defended his government’s harsh austerity measures aimed at correcting Spain’s grim economic forecast, one day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in protest against his handling of the country’s worst crisis in decades.

At least 100,000 Spaniards angered by grim economic prospects and the 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.

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.

EXTRAVAGANT firework displays lit up the skies from Sydney to New York in a global New Year’s party as people around the world set aside their worries to welcome 2012.

THE global “Day of Rage” against the world’s financial system won some limited sympathy from political and economic leaders yesterday, after protests that were peaceful everywhere but Italy.

TAHRIR Square in Cairo, Green Square in Tripoli, Syntagma Square in Athens and now Zuccotti Park in New York — popular anger against entrenching the power elite is spreading around the world.

POPE Benedict yesterday urged 1.5 million young Catholics in an aerodrome near Madrid to spread the gospel to others seeking better values than modern society offers.

An estimated million young pilgrims braved searing heat followed by blustery rains in Madrid today to take part in a prayer vigil with Pope Benedict XVI, massing at a dusty airport field as the Catholic Church's youth festival neared its climax.

POPE Benedict denounced economic structures that put profits ahead of people yesterday at the start of a trip to recession-hit Spain where the costs of the pontiff’s visit have sparked violent protests.

Riot police in central Barcelona clashed today with protesters at one of the makeshift camps that have been erected in cities across Spain to protest against high unemployment and other woes.

THE ruling Socialist Party braced itself for stinging losses in regional and municipal elections amid unprecedented street protests that have caught the imagination of the nation.

Thousands of Spaniards have defied a ban on demonstrations and mounted a protest camp in the heart of the Spanish capital to express anger at political parties and the country’s handling of the economic crisis.

SPANIARDS held solemn ceremonies to mark the seventh anniversary of an Islamic terrorist attack that left 191 people dead on the Madrid commuter rail system.

Dazzling fireworks lit up Australia’s Sydney Harbour, communist Vietnam held a rare, Western-style countdown to the new year, and Japanese revellers released balloons carrying notes with people’s hopes and dreams as the world ushered in 2011.

SYDNEY’S Harbour Bridge exploded in a spectacular blaze of New Year fireworks yesterday as people around the globe began welcoming 2011 with a glittering array of parties.

REVELLERS worldwide met the new year with spectacular fireworks displays and joyful parties against a backdrop of tightened security.

CITIES around the world hosted fresh protests yesterday both in support of and opposed to Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week.

SHEPHERDS from across the world joined their Spanish colleagues to lead flocks of sheep through the streets of Madrid yesterday in defence of ancient grazing routes threatened by urban sprawl and man-made frontiers.

Shepherds from across the world joined their Spanish colleagues to lead flocks of sheep through the streets of Madrid today in defence of ancient grazing routes threatened by urban sprawl and man-made frontiers.

TWO more suspects have been charged in connection with the Madrid commuter massacre.

Two more suspects have been charged in connection with the Madrid commuter massacre.

WORLD leaders dressed in black joined Spanish royalty and families of the 190 victims of Madrid’s train bombings at a state funeral yesterday, honouring those killed in the nation’s worst terrorist attack.

World leaders dressed in black joined Spanish royalty and families of the 190 victims of Madrid’s train bombings at a state funeral today, honouring those killed in the nation’s worst terrorist attack.

Thousands of Spaniards have been marching through downtown Madrid to protest against the forthcoming visit of George W Bush.