WORLD IN BRIEF : CUBA : Top Radio Director Defects to the U.S.

The program director for Cuba’s largest radio network announced his defection to the United States, saying that conditions in his homeland are rapidly deteriorating and that the government could soon fall. Romel Iglesias Gonzalez, 47, who worked with government-controlled Radio Progresso for 23 years, entered the United States this month on a tourist visa, accompanied by his wife. He announced his defection in Miami. Iglesias is the second high-profile Cuban defector in less than 48 hours. A Cuban air force pilot flew his MIG-23 into Miami on Wednesday and asked for political asylum.