U.S. Election 2008

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro said on Thursday his country could talk to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, in Havana's latest overture to the incoming Democratic administration in Washington.

HAVANA (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Thursday his country was open to talks with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, Havana's latest overture toward the incoming Democratic administration in Washington.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state Democratic Sen. Malcolm Smith has won the support of three dissidents who flirted with backing the Republicans, giving the Democrats control of the state Senate for the first time since 1965, an Albany-based spokesman for Smith said on Thursday.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama said on Wednesday struggling automakers have put forward a "more serious" restructuring proposal to Congress but withheld judgment on the plans until hearings are held.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US State Department has asked some 170 ambassadors to tender their resignations in a routine move before Barack Obama is inaugurated as president, an official said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States will quickly feel a change in attitude from Moscow if President-elect Barack Obama transforms Washington's policies toward Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A top Republican lawmaker was left red-faced after twice hanging up the phone on president-elect Barack Obama -- fearing he was a prank caller trying to catch her out on a radio show.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. Barney Frank said on Thursday he and Sen. Christopher Dodd are urging President-elect Barack Obama to retain Sheila Bair as the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and possibly give her a larger role to regulate mortgages.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama should start soon to loosen five decades of trade curbs on Cuba and begin a comprehensive review of U.S. policy toward the communist-run island, U.S. business groups said on Thursday.

TAIPEI (AFP) - The de facto US envoy to Taipei said Thursday he believes President-elect Barack Obama will not change Washington's policy on Taiwan since its "consistency" has aided the island's recent prosperity.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he hopes to see positive developments in Moscow's relations with Washington following the election of Barack Obama as the next United States president.

TAIPEI (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will uphold Washington's stance on Taiwan, meaning strong informal ties with the island China claims as its own despite formal relations with Beijing, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has done too little to fight the spread of weapons of mass destruction, U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden said on Wednesday, as he got a congressional report warning of their pressing threat.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush's outgoing administration promised Wednesday to leave options open at next week's UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland on president-elect Barack Obama's possible environment plans.

CHICAGO (AFP) - Barack Obama on Wednesday named New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as his commerce secretary, dubbing him a top "economic diplomat" who would help lead the United States out of the financial crisis.