Workers in Spain have been staging a general strike. Flights, public transport and some television broadcasts have been disrupted, and factories closed. Spanish police say they have made more than 50 arrests. Gavin Hewitt has this report.
Workers took to the streets in many Spanish cities and towns, urging others to join a general strike. There were attempts to block roads and to force businesses to close. Transport was badly disrupted, but support for the strike was
patchy
. The protest was against reforms making it easier to hire and fire workers, but many of those demonstrating were also angry with austerity. This is a critical time for Spain. It is the country that is currently causing greatest concern within the eurozone.
The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has returned home following a further course of cancer treatment in Cuba. In a televised speech, Mr Chavez appeared
animated
and said the radiotherapy had gone well, but he would return to Cuba on Saturday for further treatment. Last month, he had a second tumour removed from his pelvic region.
Football's world governing body Fifa has welcomed the approval of a law by Brazil's lower house of parliament which will allow the sale of alcohol in stadiums during the 2014 World Cup. Brazil currently bans alcohol sales in stadiums.
BBC World News
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West African leaders have told the mutinous troops who led last week's coup in Mali to restore constitutional order within 72 hours or face sanctions. The West African leaders resorted to meeting in Ivory Coast after earlier plans for talks with the coup leaders in the Malian capital Bamako were abandoned. Thomas Fessy has more.