Cuba will try to recover one of its traditional citrus areas with the planting of 30 new hectares in the area of Ceiba, in Caimito, southwest of the Cuban capital, the local press reported. This region’s crops were devastated by Huanglongbing (Yellow Dragon), a plague that destroyed 40-year-old plantations. The plan comprises extending the planting to 3,000 hectares by 2015.
Read MoreThe infestation rate of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the city of Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second most important city, still stood at 0.6 in late July, a figure that is much higher than the acceptable 0.05, reported IPS. The presence of the insect, which transmits dengue and other diseases, is concentrated in deteriorated water deposits. The Cuban health authorities have only reported 67 cases of dengue this year.
Read MoreSpanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero affirmed in statements to the Japanese national press club that “there should be a demanding dialogue” regarding Cuba since “it has been demonstrated that only a dialogue will work, and we are going to maintain that policy.” Zapatero, who ruled out a trip to the island, called on the European Union to reflect on its ties with the Caribbean island nation, which will be assessed next October.
Read MoreThe subsistence of persons in Cuba “depends primarily on the black market and not on the state economy,” according to the conclusions of a survey carried out by the independent Cubabarómetro pollster, which is coordinated by oppositionist Darsi Ferrer. The study, which is based on a sample of 381 inhabitants of the island’s capital, suggests the application of “liberalizing measures that have an influence on the conversion of the underground economy” into a new private economy of small businesses.
Read MoreFormer Cuban President Fidel Castro assumed the responsibility for the marginalization against homosexuals in the 1960s, although he affirmed he doesn’t have “that type of prejudice,” in statements published today by Mexico’s La Jornada daily. Castro justified that “great injustice” with the fact that he was involved in other political questions, such as the Missile Crisis.
Read MoreThe governments of Cuba and China will increase their cooperation in the area of security, Zhou Yongkang, member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, affirmed during a meeting in Beijing with Abelardo Colomé Ibarra, the island’s minister of the interior. Both nations maintain trade relations valued at more than 1.5 billion dollars.
Read MoreFormer Cuban President Fidel Castro visited for the second time in less than two months the National Aquarium, on this occasion accompanied by U.S. journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, Julia Sweig, specialist at the U.S. Council for Foreign Relations, and Adela Dworin, president of the Cuban Hebrew Community. The delegation saw the dolphin show, spoke with the board of directors and dolphin trainers, in addition to exchanging opinions on the international situation.
Read MoreThe month comes to a close on Tuesday with three tropical cyclones simultaneously churning in the Atlantic. The latest, Fiona, is expected to take a similar path as Hurricane Earl making it of little threat to Cuba but dangerous for island countries in the eastern Caribbean.
Read MoreMexico’s La Jornada newspaper publishes an extensive interview on Monday with former Cuban President Fidel Castro. The leader of the Cuban revolution discloses details of his illness that saw him on the brink of death four years ago.
Read MoreHurracane Earl has picked up steam on Monday morning as it crosses the northern Leeward Islands and heads for the Virgin Islands. It is not expected to threaten any part of Cuban territory.
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