Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:people/antonio_rodrigueztag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/06/21/Cuban_dissidents_face_official_criticism_921d

Under the wary eye of Cuba's Communist authorities, opposition bloggers on Thursday kicked off a three-day event promoting Internet use to discuss the island's problems.

2012-06-21T23:01:39ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/03/29/Spaniards_stage_general_strike_over_54a9

Recession-hit Spaniards staged a 24-hour general strike and took to the streets Thursday in anger over labour reforms, austerity cuts and soaring unemployment.

2012-03-29T13:47:31ZAFP Global Editionby Gabriel Rubiotag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/03/29/Spaniards_launch_strike_over_labour_67b3

Spaniards launched a 24-hour general strike Thursday, slashing services to protest a new law facilitating lay-offs at a time of towering unemployment, recession and austerity cuts.

2012-03-29T07:38:59ZAFP Global Editionby Gabriel Rubiotag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/02/18/Real_Madrid_points_clear_e8eb

Real Madrid went 13 points clear of Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday as Karim Benzema grabbed a double in a 4-0 win over 10-man Racing Santander.

2012-02-18T22:16:50ZAFP Global Editionby Tim Hanlontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/10/16/Humble_Levante_split_mighty_Barca_4ac2

Unfancied Levante defeated 10-man Malaga 3-0 on Sunday to sit level with Spanish and European champions Barcelona at the top of La Liga and nip ahead of Real Madrid.

2011-10-16T22:22:06ZAFP Global Editionby Dermot Ledwithtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/10/15/Messi_outshines_Higuain_Barca_stay_6c70

Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win over Racing Santander on Saturday, a victory which preserved the Spanish and European champions' one-point lead over Real Madrid in La Liga.

2011-10-15T22:03:35ZAFP Global Editionby Dermot Ledwithtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/09/11/Real_Betis_joint_after_Mallorca_a946

Racing Santander and Levante shared the points in a 0-0 draw Sunday as both sides remained winless while Betis saw off Mallorca to join Real Madrid and Valencia at the top of the Spanish league table.

2011-09-11T22:26:21ZAFP Global Editionby Dermot Ledwithtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/08/27/Soldado_late_show_fires_Valencia_3173

A dramatic late double strike saw Roberto Soldado complete a hat-trick as Valencia beat Racing Santander 4-3 having appeared to be heading for defeat as the new La Liga season finally got underway on Saturday.

2011-08-27T22:21:21ZAFP Global Editionby Tim Hanlontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/07/16/Peru_halt_resurgent_Colombians_Copa_afe9

Peru, dreaming of a first triumph in 36 years, will try to halt a resurgent Colombia on Saturday in their Copa America quarter-final meeting.

2011-07-16T05:11:13ZAFP Global Editionby Jose Luis Encinatag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/14/Civil_union_debate_roils_Peru_ab3f

Debate over civil unions for gays has divided Peru's socially conservative electorate ahead of next month's presidential vote, drawing particularly fierce opposition from the Catholic church.

2011-03-14T14:30:39ZAFP Global Editionby Luis Jaime Cisnerostag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/01/17/Philadelphia_police_arrest_serial_killer_60bc

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) -- Philadelphia police on Monday arrested a suspect they believe is the "Kensington strangler" serial killer linked by DNA evidence to the sexual assault and murder of at least three women.

2011-01-18T00:26:46ZReuters US Online Report Domestic NewsJon Hurdletag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/07/15/Grim_Sleeper_suspect_assaulted_county_6951

`Grim Sleeper' suspect punched by another inmate at county jail, sheriff official says. A sheriff's spokesman says the man charged in the "Grim Sleeper" killings was attacked by another inmate at the Los Angeles County jail.

2010-07-15T09:40:55ZAP NewsStafftag:www.blnz.com,2009:2009/07/17/Miami_Beach_castle_fire_4178

Medieval-style Miami Beach 'castle,' with its suits of armor and pub-like bar, damaged by fire. A waterfront mansion known as the "North Bay Road Castle" for its quirky medieval decor was engulfed in flames on Friday in a morning blaze that authorities said spread quickly throughout the sprawling home.

2009-07-17T21:03:17ZAP NewsStaff