Communist Party delegates gave their blessing to a sweeping slate of economic changes designed to breathe life and a bit of free-market spirit into Cuba's moribund economy, and also voted in a new party leadership at a historic summit.

FIDEL CASTRO resigned five years ago from all his official positions, including head of Cuba’s Communist Party, a pre-eminent job in the island’s political pantheon that he was thought to still hold.

SCOTTISH authorities have defended the doctor who said Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi had three months to live, after US senators asked them to release the Libyan’s medical records.

Panicked residents of Vanuatu raced for higher ground after a powerful earthquake rattled the South Pacific island nation and generated a small tsunami today.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown described himself as a “penitent sinner” today after personally apologising to a voter he described as a “bigoted woman”.

Gordon Brown will try to draw a line under the damaging Downing Street bullying row today after he flatly dismissed claims he intimidated junior staff.

CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat counterpart, Nick Clegg, both called on 10 Downing Street yesterday to look into allegations of bullying of staff.

Conservative leader David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat counterpart Nick Clegg both called on 10 Downing Street today to look into allegations of bullying of staff.

The brother-in-law of a Chinese dissident who has called for sweeping political reforms and an end to Communist Party dominance said a verdict would be handed down on Friday.

Israel’s Holocaust memorial has posthumously recognised a prominent Spanish diplomat – who was the grandfather of the Oscar-nominated British actress Helena Bonham Carter – for his role in saving hundreds of Jews during the Second World War.

FIVE British embassy hostages who were kidnapped in Ethiopia were on their way to being reunited with friends and family last night after leaving Eritrea, the Foreign Office said.

Ethiopia today accused bitter rival Eritrea of orchestrating the kidnapping of five Europeans and eight Ethiopians, describing it as an act of terrorism.

Five freed British Embassy hostages are to be reunited with family and loved ones after being kidnapped in Ethiopia and held captive for 13 days by an armed rebel group, officials said today.

Fidel Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, rebuffed repeated US attempts to oust him and survived communism’s demise almost everywhere else, temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul last night because of surgery.

Four of the five people killed in yesterday’s two-car collision in Co Donegal were Latvian nationals, it emerged today.

Iraqi militants claimed today they took a Japanese security contractor hostage after ambushing a convoy of foreigners and Iraqi troops in western Iraq.

FOR once, Munster rugby star Jim Williams led the way out onto a crowded Limerick arena without feeling any pressure.

Survivors fought over packs of noodles in the quake-devastated streets of Indonesia’s Banda Aceh, while tons of aid was left stranded in the airport as government troops searched for vehicles and fuel to transport it.

Nuclear rivals India and Pakistan expelled each other’s top diplomats today, virtually slamming the door on hopes for a dialogue to settle the long-standing Kashmir dispute.

The anti-Taliban opposition in northern Afghanistan was given warning of the US-led attacks.