News Archives - Page 1182 of 1336

EU Prepares Decision on Cuba

The Committee for Latin America, a working group of the Council of the European Union (EU), is preparing this week the conclusions on the Cuba policy, which the foreign ministers of the 27 member countries should approve next June 14 in Luxemburg, the Brussels media reported. Spain’s intention during the presidency of the EU of changing the Common Position, in force since 1996, has come up against the opposition of the governments of Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Georgia TV Analyst on Cuba Visit

Georgia Govenor Sonny Perdue just completed a visit to Cuba to promote better trade relations between the two countries. He said he would lobby back home at the legislature to make increased business a future reality.

Parliament to Discuss New Provinces

The National Assembly of People’s Power (parliament) will discuss during its next regular session a bill for the division of Havana province, bordering on the Cuban capital, into two new territories: Mayabeque and Artemisa, reported IPS. The measure would attempt to make more efficient the administration of that area, one of the Caribbean country’s key agricultural regions.

Cuba Gets More Tourists, Less Income

Last year Cuba received 81,000 tourists more than in 2008 but revenues from the tourist industry decreased by 10 per cent, according to a report released by the National Office of Statistics (ONE). Canada continues at the head of the issuing markets, with 914,000 visitors, while the number of U.S. tourists increased 25 per cent, to surpass the figure of 52,000, including many Cuban-Americans visiting family.

Cuba’s Largest Reservoir Very Low

The Zaza Dam, Cuba’s largest reservoir with a capacity to hold 1.020 billion cubic meters of water, is barely storing 14 per cent of that volume due to the drought that is affecting the island since late 2008, reported the local press. The decrease in the water level has forced the authorities to speed up fishing in that aquifer to avoid the massive death of the fish because of lack of oxygen.

Zapatero to Talk with Pope on Cuba

Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will talk with Pope Benedict XVI on the human rights situation in Cuba when he meets with the Supreme Pontiff next Thursday in the Vatican, reported sources close to the Executive in Madrid. The dialogue will take place three weeks after the beginning of the talks between the Cuban government and the Catholic Church.

Acid Rain Increases in Cuba

Acid rain has increased in recent years in Cuba, affirmed Osvaldo Cuesta Santos, head of the Contamination and Atmospheric Chemistry Centre (CECONT) of the Institute of Meteorology. According to the specialist, 25 per cent of the precipitations in the island contain light to high levels of acidity. The most affected areas are located in industrial regions such as Moa, Cienfuegos and Havana.

Condoms in Cuba, Many Uses

“They are blown up and used as decorations for parties, filled up with booze and sneaked inside clubs and also used to keep money dry while swimming. The condom serves many purposes in Castro’s Cuba.”

HT Cuba Photo Contest Winners

In unison, the jury for the Second HT Photo Contest expressed its desire to congratulate the participants for their excellent submissions. The job of selecting was so painstaking that one of the 20 jury members said she’d prefer not to be a judge in the future to avoid the agony.

Cuba Caravan to Tour 130 Cities

The 21st United States-Cuba Friendship Caravan will tour 130 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico starting next July 3 to 22. The initiative of collecting humanitarian aid, coordinated by the Pastors for Peace religious organization, challenges the both the economic blockade on Cuba and the ban on travel that prohibits ordinary US citizens from visiting the Caribbean country without special US Treasury Dept. permission.