Senate report says Bush policies led to prisoner abuses at Gitmo and in Iraq and Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — The brutal treatment of prisoners by the military at Guantanamo Bay, Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and Afghanistan was systematic and a direct result of the CIA’s early use of harsh interrogation tactics, according to a Senate report. The 232-page report released Tuesday by the Senate Armed Services Committee came less than a week after President Barack Obama released the Aug. 1, 2002 memo that justified the use of severe methods by the CIA.

Fidel Castro says President Obama ‘misinterpreted’ Cuban president’s sentiments toward US

HAVANA — Fidel Castro says President Barack Obama “misinterpreted” his brother Raul’s remarks regarding the United States and bristled at the suggestion that Cuba should free political prisoners or cut taxes on dollars people send to the island.

‘Dear Pineapple?’ ‘Dummy Ruiz?’ Dominican Republic considers banning bizarre names

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — “Dummy Ruiz?” ”Dear Pineapple?”

‘Dear Pineapple?’ Dominican Republic considers ban on bizarre names

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Names like “Dummy Ruiz” and “Dear Pineapple” may become a thing of the past in the Dominican Republic as officials consider a ban on odd names.

US Senate Republican leader McConnell demands Obama explain where Gitmo detainees will go

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — President Barack Obama came under fire Tuesday for including $80 million to close Guantanamo in a massive funding request to fight America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $83.4 billion request to Congress was submitted on April 9, when lawmakers were on break over the Easter holidays.

Mich. man convicted of defrauding Defense Department caught in Bahamas after 21 years on run

RICHMOND, Va. — After 21 years on the run, a Michigan man convicted of defrauding the Defense Department returned to a Virginia courtroom Tuesday to face a charge of failure to appear at his 1988 sentencing, federal prosecutors said.

Miami’s Little Havana unusually quiet after Obama talks of restoring relations with Cuba

MIAMI — Just a few years ago, any U.S. president who suggested restoring relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuban government would have been loudly called a communist or worse on the streets and airwaves of Miami. Protests would have sprung up, and Cuban-Americans who offered their support would have feared being blacklisted.

Miami’s Little Havana unusually quiet after Obama talks of restoring relations with Cuba

MIAMI — Just a few years ago, any U.S. president who suggested restoring relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuban government would have been loudly called a communist or worse on the streets and airwaves of Miami. Protests would have sprung up, and Cuban-Americans who offered their support would have feared being blacklisted.

Dominican Republic mulls ban on bizarre names including ‘Rambo Weed’ and ‘Dear Family Perez’

Dominican Republic mulls ban on bizarre names

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic is considering a ban on unusual monikers following an increase in the number of names based on car brands, intimate body parts and other things. The names range from the bizarre — “Dear Pineapple”, “Iloveyou Lover” — to the commercial — “Mazda Altagracia” and “Toshiba Fidelina.”

Global weather celsius

Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius, precipitation in centimeters and weather conditions as recorded for the previous day and forecast for the current and following day in each city as of 0100 GMT:

Cruise passenger missing off Bahamas after falling overboard; Coast Guard suspends search

MIAMI — The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 39-year-old man who went overboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship off the Bahamas.

Global Weather-Celsius

Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius, precipitation in centimeters and weather conditions as recorded for the previous day and forecast for the current and following day in each city as of 1900 GMT: