News

Cuban President Raul Castro had his 81st birthday on Sunday amid official media silence, reported dpa news. His brother and chief advisor, Fidel Castro, will reach 86 in August.

Cuban customs announced on Sunday that it will begin charging a duty to all Cuban passengers for bringing non commercial amounts of food to the island. Do to shortages and prices being considerably higher than in many countries, Cubans coming home from abroad often bring back supplies for their families.

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue through Sunday in Western Cuba, (Pinar del Rio, Havana, Artemis, Mayabeque and Matanzas). The following notice was posted by the Cuban Civil Defense.

A new initiative to reform the Cuban Adjustment Act was introduced Thursday by Republican Representative David Rivera during a hearing of the immigration subcommittee of the Commission on Judicial Affairs of the US House of Representatives.

Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez on Thursday issued a statement to Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior demanding official explanations for her 19 consecutive denials of permission to leave the country.

A tremor measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale was felt on Thursday in the central Cuban province of Ciego de Avila. the phenomenon is new to residents of this part of Cuba.

Today begins 2012 hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, until November 30. The cyclonic period for this year is expected to be less active than normal.

The 62nd Hemingway International Tournament, which began on Tuesday in Havana and will run until Saturday, is being attended by enthusiasts from 17 countries – with the US being the country the most well represented at the event.