News

Cuba’s new school year (2011-2012) begins next Monday, September 5th.

The Ladies in White, a group of dissident Cuban women, has once again asked the Catholic Church to intercede on its behalf with the government of Raul Castro. The women have turned anew to Cardinal Jaime Ortega asking that he convince the authorities to put a stop to the “repudiation rallies” and other pressures against them.

Among the topics discussed by Balaguer were the VI Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba held last April that centered on economic reforms and the upcoming National Conference (scheduled for Jan. 2012) to address other political and social issues.

Paraguay has embarked on a national literacy campaign and will use the Cuban method for teaching to read and write called “Yo si puedo” (Yes I Can).

Tropical Storm Katia is on the verge of becoming a hurricane but is still far off in the central Atlantic. Forecast cones of the weather system thus far show it not being expected to touch land anywhere in the Caribbean.

The weather over this period will be influenced by an area of weak pressure gradients, which — together with a flow of damp air from the south — will produce isolated storms and rain, with these being more likely in the afternoons. Maximum temperatures will fluctuate around 32°C (90 F), while the minimum temperatures will range between 24°C (75 F) and 25°C (77 F).

Tropical Storm Katia was born southwest of the Cape Verde Islands on Monday. It is the eleventh TS in the current season that ends on Nov. 30th, notes the Cuban Weather Service (INSMET) on Tuesday.

The United States youth baseball team had an easy time on Sunday defeating Cuba 9-0 in the final game of the IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship 2011.

Cuba plays the USA in the final game of the 16-U Baseball World Championship on Sunday afternoon. Both squads have identical 5-1 records. The finals rivals are a rematch of the 2009 tournament when the US scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Cuba 7-6.

Hurricane Irene is a shade weaker as it moves closer to a possible landing in North Carolina, reported the Cuban Weather Service (INSMET) on late Friday afternoon.