PORT-OF-SPAIN: President Barack Obama says the United States is seeking a ``new beginning with Cuba.'' The president made the remark in Trinidad on the first day of a summit of Western Hemisphere democracies. He said the United States is ready to engage with the Cuban government but cautioned the country would not simply talk for the sake of talking. Obama noted ``decades of mistrust'' and said he wants to talk with Cuban leaders about human rights, democratic reform and economic issues. The United States has announced eased restrictions on travel and finances to the Cuba, and Cuba has signaled willingness to talk with the new administration.
BEIRUT: Thousands of people converged Saturday on central Beirut to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese former premier Rafiq Hariri.Waving Lebanese flags and carrying pictures of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered under sunny skies in Martyr's Square where members of the parliamentary majority were to address the crowd. The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri's killers to justice. It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June that will pit Western-backed political parties against a Hezbollah-led alliance backed by Syria and Iran.Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others. The assassination was widely blamed on then Lebanese power-broker Syria, which has denied any involvement. The attack on the Beirut seafront was one of the worst acts of political violence to rock Lebanon since t...
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