Fidel Castro said US President Barack Obama “misinterpreted” his brother Raul’s sentiments toward the United States.

The US and at least seven other countries are boycotting the United Nations’ first global racism conference in eight years today, fearing demands to denounce Israel and ban criticism of Islam.

Barack Obama has defended his brand of world politics, saying he “strengthens our hand” by reaching out to enemies of the US and making sure the nation is a leader, not a lecturer, of democracy.

President Barack Obama offered a spirit of co-operation to America’s hemispheric neighbours at a summit, listening to complaints about past US meddling and even reaching out to Venezuela’s left-wing leader.

The US and Cuba, trading their warmest words in half a century, built momentum towards renewed ties, with President Barack Obama declaring he “seeks a new beginning” – including direct talks – with the island’s communist regime.

Fidel Castro said US rules allowing unlimited family travel and remittances to the island were “positive, although minimal”.

Venezuela rejected Mexico’s demand for an apology today in a spat between President Hugo Chavez and Mexican leader Vicente Fox, calling it an unjustified ultimatum and saying Venezuela was recalling its ambassador.

US president George Bush and fellow leaders at the Summit of the Americas prepared today to debate whether to rekindle languishing talks on a hemispheric-wide free trade bloc, as protesters set fire to businesses and clashed with police.

A CROWD of 10,000 protesters chanting “Get out Bush!” swarmed the streets of the Argentine resort of Mar Del Plata yesterday, hours before the hemisphere’s leaders sat down to debate free trade, immigration and job creation.

Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Roque says US president George Bush should not attend the Summit of the Americas in Argentina this weekend, because he was neither liked nor respected in Latin America.

Brazil and Venezuela have agreed to build a $2.5bn (€2bn) oil refinery, the highlight of a South American summit to boost trade and co-operation.

Foreign ministers of the 19-nation Rio Group political bloc closed a round of talks in Argentina yesterday by declaring the “war on poverty” as the chief issue on the hemispheric agenda ahead of a Summit of the Americas in November.

Swedish authorities were braced for more trouble at a European Union summit today after more than 70 people were injured in two days of rampages between anti-EU protesters and police.

Two Ottawa women have been arrested for throwing teddy bears in Canada's House of Commons.

Anti-capitalist protestors in Quebec have fought running battles with Canadian police and soldiers during the opening day of the Summit of the Americas.

Police stood guard along a concrete and chain-link security wall and shop windows were boarded in Quebec today, but there was little sign of expected protests on the first day of the Summit of the Americas.

A bomb scare at the White House has proved to be a false alarm.

Police arrested six people they said were planning violence at this weekend’s Summit of the Americas and yesterday showed off small explosives and weapons they seized.