AFP - The European Union officially lifted its sanctions against Cuba, the Slovenian presidency of the bloc said Monday, in the hope of encouraging democracy on the island in the post-Fidel Castro era.

AP - An American soldier was killed and five others wounded Monday when they came under fire southeast of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Witnesses and local police said the Americans were ambushed after a meeting with Iraqi municipal officials.

AP - European Union nations approved new sanctions against Iran on Monday, including an assets freeze of the country's biggest bank.

AP - Men and women can openly study and party together for the first time in years at Basra University, free from the threat of Shiite gunmen enforcing extreme Islamic views.

AP - Zimbabwe's opposition leader has fled to the Dutch Embassy saying he feared for his safety, while police on Monday raided his party's headquarters and took about 60 people away.

AFP - A coalition of Christians, atheists and gay groups will stage a protest against Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Australia for World Youth Day next month, organisers said Monday.

AFP - Gunmen shot dead eight members of a Shiite Muslim tribe in northwest Pakistan, the latest attack in a wave of sectarian violence in the region, officials and residents said on Monday.

Reuters - Zimbabwe's MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai will urge Africa this week to pile pressure on President Robert Mugabe to solve the country's political crisis after the opposition pulled out of a presidential run-off vote.

AP - Mexican soldiers captured at least 10 suspected members of a Tijuana-based drug cartel in a raid on a child's baptism party in this border city, officials said Sunday.

AFP - Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren-Mercedes team have reacted angrily to a controversial race-wrecking penalty imposed on the British driver during the French Grand Prix here.

AP - Facing strong U.S. pressure and global dismay over oil prices, Saudi Arabia said Sunday it will produce more crude this year if the market needs it. But the vague pledge fell far short of U.S. hopes for a specific increase and may do little to lower prices immediately.

AP - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of Zimbabwe's violence-wracked presidential runoff Sunday, declaring that the election was no longer credible and the loss of life among his supporters was simply too high.