News

A deficit in rainfall since November 2008 in different regions of Cuba has made it necessary to supply water to 500,000 persons, informed the Civil Defense authorities. The year 2009 was reportedly the fourth driest in the last 109 years.

The vaccination campaign directed to protect the most vulnerable ten percent of the Cuban population is now approx. a third completed with 373,438 vaccinated since it began earlier in the month. The vaccines were donated by the World Health Organization. The Cuban health authorities have warned that the virus is present on the island and the campaign is to lower risks.

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale was felt in four eastern Cuban provinces (Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Guantanamo and Holguin) on Monday night, informed the National Seismological Service. It was the 23rd tremor registered in 2010.

Spanish singer-songwriter Joaquín Sabina affirmed he would not sign any document condemning the Cuban government for the human rights situation in the island. “I will not sign any manifesto or letter against Cuba while there exist things like Guantánamo (prison camp) or the (economic) blockade,” said Sabina in statements to the press in Mexico.

First on Friday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton actually blamed Cuba for the continuation of Washington’s half century economic blockade on the island. Then, in an interview published by Spain’s El Pais daily, First Vice President Maria Teresa Fernandez seconded Clinton’s demands on Cuba.

The chief of the General Staff of the Cuban Armed Forces, Alvaro López Miera, arrived Sunday in Russia heading a military delegation from the island with the aim of reviewing the state of bilateral cooperation in that area, reported the Cuban press. In September 2009 the two countries signed an agreement to modernize the Cuban army.

The Police in the Cuban capital blocked the weekly march of the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) on Sunday reported IPS news service. The women are carrying out an ongoing protest demanding the release of their husbands and relatives which they claim are held as political prisoners.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that Cuba’s leaders Raul and Fidel Castro do not want Washington to lift the economic blockade on the island, in place for a half century. However, the Obama administration and Congress have the power to end the blockade independent of whether the Cuban leaders really want that to occur.