Electing Barack Obama president could significantly change the balance of power in Cuba and among Latinos in the U.S. because Cuba would be forced to deal with the first American administration in decades poised to strengthen ties with the country's military government, the director of the University at Buffalo's Caribbean Studies Program said today.

On September 21, the 141 King Long (Golden Dragon) luxury buses made by Xiamen King Long Auto were loaded onto a freight ship at Xiamen Dongdu port. This is the first big batch of King Long buses exported to the Cuban market and also the biggest-ever order from South America for King Long buses, said a Xiamen newspaper.

In June, European Union member states are expected to consider whether to normalize relations with Cuba. This follows a call by the EU's Commissioner of Development to permanently lift diplomatic sanctions. In 2003, a Cuban government crack down on dissidents prompted Brussels to freeze relations with Havana. All high level visits were halted and Cuba told the EU it did not need its aid. The EU temporarily suspended its actions 2005, but now Europeans will debate a permanent thaw.

Reuters gushes as citizens of the island prison get to line up and wait to get a crack at buying a cell phone. Oh joy. They'd have ordered them online except hardly anyone has a computer. All I know is the fellow in orange may want to make calling a fashion consultant his first priority.

A Sudanese terrorism suspect held by the U.S. military in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has become the latest detainee to declare he will boycott a U.S. military court that will try him for war crimes.

President Bush has rejected the idea of meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro, saying such talks would be embracing a "tyrant."

The leadership change in Cuba has sparked a debate in the United States as to whether there should be greater engagement and dialogue between the two estranged nations. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, some U.S. legislators, both Democrat and Republican, are warming to the idea of direct talks between Washington and Havana.

Raul Castro, Cuba's first new president in nearly half a century, crushed hopes that a new generation might begin shaping the country's future by surrounding himself with elderly military men and promising to defer to his ailing brother Fidel and the Communist Party's old guard on every major matter.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has reacted to former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s announcement that he will not return to political leadership ”as the end of an epoch and the beginning of the end of another Communist dictatorship.”

President Bush says Cuban President Fidel Castro's decision to step down should be the start of a democratic transition on the island. Cuba's Communist party newspaper published a quote from Mr. Castro Tuesday, saying he will not accept another term as president. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has more on Mr. Bush's reaction.

Fidel Castro resignes as Cuba's president, ending his nearly 50-year rule of the Caribbean nation, quotes Granma news paper of Cuba. VOA's Sean Maroney reports with details from Washington.

Amid speculation whether Fidel Castro will be the President again, Cubans elects a new Parliament on Monday where by 5th March a new President will be named.