Tsvangirai-Mbeki talks leave MDC with hope for Zimbabwe election outcome; Cuba lifts restrictions on buying consumer electronics, hotel stays...

11 April :: Tsvangirai "optimistic" after meeting with South Africa pres. Thabo Mbeki; opposition, some int'l observers accuse regime of intimidation tactics, including arrests, paramilitary sweeps, confiscation of property; ruling Zanu (PF) party has ceded to perception it could not have won majority, is pressing MDC to accept runoff vote... Cubans now able to buy cell phones, computers, or DVD players, or stay at hotels previously reserved for international tourists; while critics say the new rules are merely superficial changes, the gov't of Raúl Castro, which has announced no intentions of seeing through any deep political transition, says it hopes the new freedoms will allow for more pervasive economic reform over time; for most Cubans, the newly available items are stratospherically expensive, but access may be the most important change... Difference deepen within top ranks at Pentagon regarding Iraq troop reductions; Pres. Bush has committed large numbers of troops to Afghanistan, while Iraq field commander says he does not expect further cuts in troop levels or stabilization of situation in Iraq for several months... Sen. John McCain reported likely to forego private funding for his general election campaign, opt for public financing; move "severely limits the amount of money [McCain] can raise and spend", but his campaign is reportedly urging supporters to donate to the RNC, which can recieve more than ten times the donation per individual that any one candidate can; both Democrats have raised more than twice what McCain has so far, a likely motive for the decision; McCain has also reversed his position on public assistance for homeowners hit by the collapsing sub-prime mortgage market, after coming under heavy criticism for perceived "indifference" to working people's hardships...

FIdel Castro steps down as Cuban leader after 49 years in power; France, US, UK officially recognize Kosovo...

19 February :: At 81, Fidel Castro has announced his retirement as head of state, potentially opening door to political reform, after 49 years under the regime he founded when his revolution took power in 1959; Cuban exiles have expressed little enthusiasm as in past, due to his brother's apparently firm hold on power... US, France, UK, officially recognize new Kosovo independent state, with Sec. of State Rice saying the US "has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state"; Spain, however has rejected the Kosovo declaration, its foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos saying "The government of Spain will not recognize the unilateral act proclaimed yesterday by the assembly of Kosovo", due to perceptions that Kosovo's regional assembly declaring independence without Serb approval could lead to similar actions in Spain's Basque region, or in Catalunya; EU in Brussels voted to allow member states to choose their own position toward Kosovar independence, has made no official joint declaration...

SPECIAL NEWS ALERT: Fidel Castro retires from Cuban leadership, potentially opening way for reform

Fidel Castro has announced he will retire from leadership of the Cuban government; in a letter published by the official state newspaper, Granma, he wrote that he "will not accept, I repeat, I neither want nor will accept, the position of president of the Council of State and commander in chief"; the move comes after nearly 50 years in power, and more than 18 months after a severe but undisclosed intestinal ailment forced him to cede power to his brother, Raúl...

Reaction to the news of Castro's official retirement was muted in Cuban expat capital Miami, as many say Castro has effectively transferred his regime to his brother, that Raúl has shown no signs of true democratization or reform; in summer 2006, when it was announced Castro would cede power to his brother temporarily, demonstrations were larger, celebratory, rumors circulated that led to reports Castro had already died; by now it seems the population has largely adjusted to Fidel Castro no longer being the true head of the regime, with his brother and allies firmly in power...

On 20 February last year, Fidel Castro was named anew to the Cuban Parliament, but he did not state at that time whether he was planning to leave power or not, leaving control of the government in his brother's hands; his announcement came just 5 days before the Parliament is to name a new central leadership council, including the role of head of state, embodied until now by Castro as president and commander-in-chief...

9/11 Comm. says CIA tape destruction impeded probe; US army unit refused combat orders fearing their anger could lead to massacre...

22 December :: The two chairmen of the investigatory commission for the 9/11 attacks, Lee Hamilton and Thomas Kean, have said their review of classified evidence suggests the CIA made a concerted effort to "impede" the inquiry by hiding evidence of abusive interrogation techniques; according to Reuters, "Among statements that the memo suggested were misleading was a June 2004 assertion by John McLaughlin, deputy director of central intelligence, that the CIA had "taken and completed all reasonable steps necessary to find the documents in its possession, custody or control" in response to the panel's requests and "has produced or made available for review" all such documents"... Democracy Now reports "After an IED attack killed five more members of Charlie 1-26, members of 2nd Platoon gathered for a meeting and determined they could no longer function professionally. Several platoon members were afraid their anger could set loose a massacre"; the action is described as "mutiny", but framed as a responsible attempt to ensure that the revenge instinct not be permitted to filter into their battlefield performance, report based on a 4-part Army Times series, aimed at showing the war from the soldiers' perspective... "Secretive" Russian oil firm Gunvor denies Pres. Putin has any stake in its ownership, saying he is "not a beneficiary", that "None of the shares of this organisation are held by President Putin or anyone allied by him", though media reports suggest he may be hiding a $40 billion fortune; reports based on research by a Russian political analyst have suggested that a "non-transparent scheme of successive ownership of offshore companies and funds", leading to accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein, gives 75% ownership to Putin... Havana-based blogger sneaks critical articles onto restricted web through luxury hotel internet cafes, putting herself at risk of persecution, having to spend nearly a week's wages for the 30 minutes of access to post her stories... Guardian reporting that UK "Ministers have been instructed to factor into their calculations a notional 'carbon price' when making all policy and investment decisions covering transport, construction, housing, planning and energy"; move means global warming risk will be considered in long-term economic measures for UK gov't projects, for first time...

Cuban gov't hints Castro may be retiring permanently; Hamas leadership floats peace deal with Israel, no talks as yet...

19 December :: Cuban gov't announces official consideration of Fidel Castro's retirement; ailing leader will likely not return to power, leading to wide-ranging speculation about successor to the world's longest ruling dictator; no timetable has been set for his official withdrawal from public life... Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who served as PM in their short-lived elected gov't of the Palestinian Authority, has said he is open to negotiating a permanent ceasefire with Israel; Israel has reacted with caution and has given no indications of accepting the offer, as various figures cite past refusals by Hamas to recognize Israel or honor negotiated settlements...

HRW says killing of peacekeepers in Darfur is war crime; Democrats plan to stall funding for Bush war budget...

2 October :: HRW says killing of 10 African Union peacekeepers, civilian police in Darfur is war crime, calls on Khartoum, gov't forces in region to aid investigation, punish those responsible... WSJ reports "Frustrated by the stalemate over Iraq, House Democrats spelled out a strategy that would stall action on President Bush's 2008 war budget and rely on incremental funding to sustain troop operations in until next spring"... Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh has reported "intensification" of White House planning for war with Iran; according to Hersh "What had been presented primarily as a counter-proliferation mission has been reconceived as counterterrorism", with focus now shifted toward attacks on Revolutionary Guard facilities, supplies and infrastructure... Cuban doctors have reportedly provided eye surgery to the man responsible for killing Ernesto "Che" Guevara, through a program by which Cuban physicians provide eye treatment across Latin America... 'The Caucus', a NY Times blog reports "Senator Barack Obama today will propose setting a goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world, saying the United States should transform its nuclear posture and dramatically reduce nuclear stockpiles to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism"... US pending home sales index fell to record low in August, amid spreading mortgage crisis, index now 21.5% lower than just 12 months ago, 16% lower than two months ago...