Briefly

CUBA

Raul Castro retires as head of party

The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, or PCC, Raul Castro, has announced he is retiring as head of the party. "As for me, my task as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Party concludes, with the satisfaction of having fulfilled (my mission) and confidence in the future of the country," Castro said after presenting the key report on the opening day of the PCC's 8th Congress. Castro's retirement was to take effect on Monday, the last day of the Congress, when the party's new leadership will be elected. He was elected to the top position of the PCC in April 2011 at the PCC's 6th Congress, succeeding his older brother and ex-president Fidel Castro, who had held that position since the founding of the party in 1965.

CYPRUS

Four foreign ministers in wide-ranging talks

Cyprus has hosted a meeting of foreign ministers, including its own, and those of Greece, Israel and the United Arab Emirates in a two-day meeting on regional issues and collaboration, the country's Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said on Saturday. At the meeting he and his counterparts discussed issues ranging from the situation in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, to energy, civil protection, genetics and molecular medicine, he said.

AFGHANISTAN

50 die in fighting as US prepares to withdraw

More than 50 people, most armed insurgents, were killed in 24 hours in Afghanistan, following Washington's decision to pull out its forces from Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday. In the latest wave of violent incidents on Saturday, Taliban militants attacked a security checkpoint outside Taluqan city, Takhar Province, early in the day, killing four pro-government militiamen and wounding five others, provincial police said.