A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Havana who asked not to be named said that the Cuban government will shortly start transferring political prisoners back to their home provinces so that they can be nearer to their families. There’s also been an agreement to admit a number of inmates who have serious health problems to hospital. It’s the first sign of the movement on the issue by the Cuban authorities and has raised hopes that some prisoner releases could follow.

South Korea has confirmed it's to seek a new resolution against North Korea at the UN Security Council over evidence that it sank one of its warships, the Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. Further measures to be announced on Monday are expected to include banning North Korean ships from South Korean waters.

Voting has ended in Ethiopian first parliamentary election since a disputed poll 5 years ago which resulted in post-election violence. Members of the opposition coalition say some voters have been intimidated and forced to support the ruling party. But the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who’s been in office nearly 20 years has rejected the allegations. Preliminary results are expected on Monday.

At the Cannes Film Festival in France, a work from Thailand on reincarnation has won the Coveted Palme d'Or prize for best film. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is based on a book written by a Buddhist monk. A French film, Of Gods and Men, took the runner-up Grand Prix Award.