Cuba to chart economic future at party congress

HAVANA (AP) — Communist Party leaders say Cuba should balance its budget, repay billions of dollars in debt and stop propping up failing state-run companies, according to a document being circulated ahead of a major summit designed to save this cash-strapped island from financial ruin.

The 32-page paper, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, was handed out to local party activists Monday during a speech by President Raul Castro, in which he announced that Cuba would hold a make-or-break Communist Party Congress next April.

The document also recommends ending an unusual dual-currency system and seeking new ways for individuals to buy and sell private …

EU haggles over safety net for Greece

Eurozone leaders will Thursday thrash out how to throw Greece a financial lifeline, with Germany demanding that aid has to be a last resort and must involve the International Monetary Fund.

Spain and Greece countered Germany's stance by calling on EU governments to use an existing euro50 billion ($67 billion) bailout fund to offer cheap loans to Greece or other struggling eurozone governments.

The euro currency was trading near a 10-month low as European Union leaders headed into a summit dominated by Greece's debt crisis. Athen's financial woes have undermined the euro and raised fears that the trouble will spread to other troubled euro governments such as …

Obituaries

AUDREY HIGDON

(Age 84) Passed away on Friday, July 13, 2007, fromMyelodysplastic Syndrome, a disease of the bone marrow. Beloved wideof the the late Richard Higdon: loving mother of Dan Higdon(Lisa) ofGrasonville, Maryland and John Higdon (Valerie) of Santa Rosa,California. Mrs. Higdon is also survived by two sister: Naomi Abergof Green Bay, Wisconsin and Phyllis Schmidt of Longmont, Coloradoand five grandchildren, Craig Higdon, Meredith Higdon, Steve Higdon,Mark Higdon, and Paul Higdon.

A graveside memorial service will be held at Skylawn MemorialPark in San Mateo on Friday, July 27, at 11 a.m.

In Lieu of flowers , donations in Mrs. Higdon's name may be …

AP source says coach Don Nelson is expected to leave the Golden State Warriors on Monday

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — AP source says coach Don Nelson …

Bank of China reaffirms Royal Bank of Scotland tie

State-owned Bank of China reaffirmed its strategic partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland on Monday following the British government's bailout of the ailing lender.

"We will maintain strategic partner relations with RBS and jointly push forward the development of this strategic partnership," the Bank of China said in a statement posted on its Web site.

A consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland paid US$3.1 billion for a 9.6 …

Joy of healing - Preetha Reddy ; Preetha Reddy, 53, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, loves art and has even trained in the fine arts. But the healing provided by her chain of hospitals gives her even more pleasure.

Preetha Reddy, 53, Managing Director, Apollo HospitalsEnterprise, loves art and has even trained in the fine arts. But thehealing provided by her chain of hospitals gives her even morepleasure.

"Seeing a critically ill patient turn the corner and recovermakes my day," says the daughter of Apollo Hospitals founder DrPrathap C. Reddy. "We are focusing on better processes in healthcaredelivery, asking all the time how we can make it all smarter,quicker, more cost effective with better …

Spelling Trophy Won With 'Serrefine'

WASHINGTON - Evan O'Dorney always eats fish before his spelling bees. The brain food apparently has served him well: He's the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion.

The 13-year-old from Danville, Calif., aced "serrefine" Thursday night to become the last youngster standing at the 80th annual bee. He won a tense duel with Nate Gartke of Spruce Grove, Alberta, who was trying to become the first Canadian to win the bee.

Evan won a trophy and a $35,000 prize, plus a $5,000 scholarship, a $2,500 savings bond and a set of reference works. He said he knew how to spell the winning word - a noun describing small forceps - as soon as the pronouncer said it.

Evan said …