Raul Castro announces spending cuts, but vows Cuba to be communist after he and Fidel are gone

HAVANA — Raul Castro announced Saturday that Cuba will cut spending on education and health care, potentially weakening the building blocks of its communist system in a bid to revive a floundering economy.

Cuba creates new office to fight corruption, keep better eye on government finances

HAVANA — Cuba established a new office of government finances on Saturday to stamp out corruption and keep better tabs on the communist state’s often mysterious spending patterns as the island struggles to keep its economy afloat.

China rebuffs US on North Korea’s future while it mulls possible meltdown

BEIJING — U.S. attempts to draw up a broad contingency plan in case North Korea’s government collapses are being complicated by China’s refusal to talk about potential chaos engulfing its dysfunctional neighbor.

Filipinos reunite in grief, set aside divisions to honor Corazon Aquino

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of Filipinos lined up in monsoon rains Saturday to pay their last respects to former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, putting aside deep divisions to honor the icon who ousted a dictator and sustained democracy against great odds.

Vietnam’s tussle with a Zen master raises questions about religious freedom

HANOI, Vietnam — Communist Vietnam’s sometimes edgy relationship with religious freedom is being tested in a dispute over a monastery inhabited by disciples of Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world’s most famous Zen masters.

China’s army called on to maintain social stability as it celebrates 82nd anniversary

BEIJING — China’s military celebrated its 82nd anniversary Saturday, with an editorial in the official paper calling on the armed forces to maintain social stability in the wake of unrest on the fringes of its territory.

Philippines mourns democracy icon, former President Corazon Aquino, dead at 76

MANILA, Philippines — Military honor guards carried former President Corazon Aquino’s flag-draped casket to a school gym Saturday for public viewing, as Filipinos mourned the beloved democracy icon who swept away a dictator and fought off seven coup attempts.

Arkansas governor says he’s optimistic about Cuba trade after traveling to communist country

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Gov. Mike Beebe said Friday he returned from a visit to Cuba optimistic that Arkansas can increase its agricultural exports to the communist country.

Philippine democracy icon, former President Corazon Aquino, dead at 76 after cancer bout

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Corazon Aquino, who swept away a dictator with a “people power” revolt and then sustained democracy by fighting off seven coup attempts in six years, died on Saturday, her son said. She was 76.

Cuba postpones key Communist Party congress, enters crisis mode as economy worsens

HAVANA — Cuba clicked into crisis mode Friday, postponing a key Communist Party congress aimed at charting a post-Castro future and announcing that its woeful economy is even worse than expected.

Cuba suspends Communist Party Congress; drops economic growth projections for year to 1.7 pct

HAVANA — Cuba on Friday suspended plans for a Communist Party congress and dropped economic growth projections in 2009 nearly a full percentage point to 1.7 percent as the island’s economy struggles through a “very serious” crisis.

Cuba turns off air conditioners, shuts factories, shortens workdays to save money in recession

HAVANA — It’s hard to find a spare tire in Cuba these days, or a cup of yoghurt.

Reformer in southern China seeks to battle corruption, revamp economy

GUANGZHOU, China — One of Wang Yang’s favorite slogans is “Free your thinking,” and many believe the economic reformer will soon be one of China’s top leaders unless he stumbles on his current job: running Guangdong — the nation’s richest province.

Defeat of Moldova’s ruling Communists thrusts enigmatic ex-Soviet republic into spotlight

CHISINAU, Moldova — It may be the most enigmatic corner of Europe: a hardscrabble communist holdout run by a dour president who still keeps a bust of Lenin on his desk.

Pro-West parties beat Communists in Moldova; Monitors say no vote fraud seen

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova’s pro-Western parties scrambled to forge a governing alliance Thursday after beating Europe’s last communist-run government in a parliamentary election praised by international monitors.

International monitors: No major fraud found in Moldova’s parliamentary election

CHISINAU, Moldova — International monitors who observed Moldova’s parliamentary election say the vote was run well and they did not find any evidence of major fraud.

Breakdown of seats in Moldova’s new parliament after 98 percent of votes counted

The breakdown of seats in Moldova’s 101-member parliament, based on more than 98 percent of votes counted. Pro-Europe parties won a combined 53 seats, defeating the ruling Communists with 48:

Albanian government presents draft law to legalize same-sex civil weddings

TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s governing Democrats have proposed a law allowing same-sex civil weddings in the small, predominantly Muslim country.

Near final results show pro-West parties win more votes than Communists in Moldova’s election

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova’s pro-Western parties scrambled to forge a governing alliance Thursday after beating Europe’s last communist-run government in parliamentary elections.

Partial returns show pro-Western parties win more votes than Communists in Moldova’s election

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova’s pro-Western parties said Wednesday they’ll forge an alliance after winning a narrow lead in parliamentary elections — a stinging setback to Europe’s last communist-run government.

Exit poll indicates pro-European parties have defeated ruling Communists in Moldova’s election

CHISINAU, Moldova — A leading exit poll predicted that pro-Europe parties will win enough combined votes to defeat Moldova’s ruling Communist Party in national elections Wednesday — raising the likelihood that the impoverished ex-Soviet republic will move closer to the West.

Widow of former Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping dies

BEIJING — Zhuo Lin, the widow of late Chinese paramount leader and economic reformer Deng Xiaoping, died Wednesday from an unspecified illness in Beijing. She was 93.

3 months after violent protests, Moldovans go to the polls in new parliamentary elections

CHISINAU, Moldova — Voting was brisk Wednesday in closely monitored elections that could shift the impoverished former Soviet republic of Moldova away from Russia and toward the European Union.

Moldovans to hold a new nationwide vote after uprising triggered in part by Twitter

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldovans go to the polls Wednesday, three months after protesters stormed the capital accusing the communist-led government of rigging nationwide elections — and used Twitter to rally support after cell phone networks went down.

Albanian election officials confirm prime minister’s re-election after recounts

TIRANA, Albania — Albanian officials confirmed Monday that Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s party has won re-election following a lengthy recount process.

3 months after post-election violence, Moldovans to hold another nationwide vote

CHISINAU, Moldova — Three months after their country was wracked by violent post-election protests, Moldovans vote again this week in a tightly contested ballot that could see the ex-Soviet republic remain in Russia’s orbit or edge closer to the European Union.

Taiwanese, Chinese leaders exchange direct messages for 1st time in 60 years

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Taiwanese and Chinese presidents swapped messages Monday, the first such exchange since the two sides split amid civil war 60 years ago.

NKorea open to new dialogue over nuclear tensions in apparent call for direct US talks

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea suggested a new dialogue to resolve tensions over its atomic weapons programs — an apparent invitation to the U.S. to engage in one-on-one talks after Pyongyang bolstered its negotiating power with nuclear and missile tests.

Raul Castro delivers sobering speech as Cuban economy falters, US relations change little

HOLGUIN, Cuba — Raul Castro said Sunday that the global economic crisis means tougher times ahead for Cuba, but the country has no one to blame but itself for poor farm production that leads to frequent shortages of fruits, vegetables and other basics.

Cuba Revolution Day is sobering celebration as economy falters, US relations change little

HOLGUIN, Cuba — Cuba’s economy has been hammered by the global credit crisis, U.S. relations have not improved much under President Barack Obama and economic reforms that were supposed to ease life on the island have been slow to come.