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Cuban president vows to defend socialism

Havana is ready and willing to start a dialogue with Washington, Cuban President Raul Castro said in a speech to parliament Saturday, but warned that political and regime change are not up for negotiation. “They didn’t elect me president to restore capitalism in Cuba, nor to surrender the revolution,” Castro said to loud applause. “I was elected to defend, maintain and continue perfecting socialism, not to destroy it.” He added that those expecting political change after the death of former President Fidel Castro and his generation were “condemned to fail.” Castro ceded the presidency to his younger brother, Raul, last year but has retained leadership of the Communist Party, the only legal political party in Cuba.

Sudanese lawyer calls woman’s flogging punishment ‘degrading’

The lawyer for the woman who faces 40 lashes for wearing clothes that Sudan deemed indecent called the law "degrading." “They ought to stop it,” Nabil Adib said on Thursday. “It is quite unnecessary and degrading

Iraq FM: U.N. sanctions need to end

Nearly two decades after the first Gulf war and six years after Saddam Hussein was removed from power, Iraq still is subject to 73 United Nations resolutions. Now Iraq’s foreign minister says his country “will not regain full sovereignty and independence without getting rid of these resolutions.” Speaking to reporters in Washington, Hoshyar Zebari said Monday that Iraq has paid “billions” of dollars under Chapter 7 of the U.N. sanctions placed on Iraq as a result of the 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait and subsequent war

Pakistan says Taliban leader will talk to U.S.

Pakistan’s military has declared that not only is it in contact with Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar but that it can bring him and other commanders to the negotiating table with the United States.

Report: British embassy staffers held in Iran over unrest

Eight local staff members of the British embassy in Tehran have been arrested in connection with the country’s post-election unrest, Iran’s government-funded Press TV reported Sunday. Asked about the arrests of the local staffers, an official at the embassy would only say, “They couldn’t come to the office today.” The person asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The embassy’s official response was that it had seen the reports and were following up on them, a spokesman said

Late Alves free-kick gives Brazil victory

A stunning free-kick from Barcelona full-back Daniel Alves with just two minutes remaining proved enough to give Brazil a narrow 1-0 victory over host nation South Africa in Thursday’s second Confederations Cup semifinal in Johannesburg. With the match heading for extra-time, substitute Alves smashed home a vicious strike from the edge of the area, after a foul on Ramirez by Aaron Mokeona, as Dunga’s side secured a clash with the United States — whom they have already beaten in the group stages — in Sunday’s Ellis Park final.

Controversial Peruvian lands law suspended

Peru’s Congress voted Wednesday to suspend indefinitely a controversial law that has created tension between President Alan Garcia’s government and indigenous communities in the Amazon, the state-run Andina news agency reported. The vote to suspend the Forestry and Wildlife Law and repeal another related law came days after clashes between indigenous citizens and national police left more than 30 dead and 50 wounded in northwest Peru.

Ruling party surges ahead in India election

The party of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was surging ahead in its bid for re-election as a major opposition party conceded defeat during vote count Saturday. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was leading in 252 of the 543 federal parliamentary boroughs by early afternoon. Congress workers were quick to assemble at the residence of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi, who heads the party, to celebrate with drumbeats and fireworks

GM Cuts Deals and Sheds Dealers As Bankruptcy Draws Near

General Motors appears to be on a fast road to bankruptcy . Chief executive officer Fritz Henderson has already described a bankruptcy filing as ‘probable’ as the U.S

Tevez inspires crucial Man Utd victory

First half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and the inspirational Carlos Tevez saw Manchester United close on the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over local rivals Manchester City on Sunday.