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...

Putin may have amassed secret $40 billion fortune while 'fighting corruption'; new ANC leader Zuma may face corruption charges...

21 December :: Guardian reports Russian pres. Vladimir Putin may be hiding secret $40 billion fortune in accounts in Switzerland, Lichtenstein, that struggle for control of state-run assets brewing amid rival Kremlin factions; Putin fortune would be major news, as he has long claimed his attacks on political rivals were part of anti-corruption crusade against billionaire 'oligarchs'; according to the UK-based paper, "Citing sources inside the president's administration, [Russian political expert Stanislav]Belkovsky claims that after eight years in power Putin has secretly accumulated more than $40bn (£20bn). The sum would make him Russia's - and Europe's - richest man"; much of the wealth is related to his stake in state-owned businesses, a serious ethical and international relations concern, considering strong-arm tactics used by Russian energy exporters against EU market in recent years... After struggle in South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, new leader Jacob Zuma has been informed he may face criminal charges for corruption alleged during his tenure as deputy to Pres. Thabo Mbeki... Documents reveal fmr UK PM Tony Blair put intense pressure on his top prosecutor to halt an investigation into alleged bribes paid by arms firm BAE to Saudi princes; reports suggest the Saudi regime threatened to suspend diplomatic relations with Britain if the investigation was not ended, that Blair continued to press Lord Goldsmith even after the attorney general refused to suspend the search for evidence... US Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) has withdrawn from the race for his party's nomination to run for president, and endorsed fmr. Mass. gov. Mitt Romney...