News

With the arrival of President Barack Obama there is “less tension” and “less rhetoric against Cuba,” admitted Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez in statements to the press in Tokyo. Nevertheless, Rodriguez recalled that the US economic blockade on the island “remains intact and is fully applied,” and he expressed his government’s will to talk with the United States at whatever level.

Two of the five Cubans imprisoned in the United States charged with conspiracy to commit espionage will receive new sentences today in a court in the city of Miami, reported IPS. Cuba’s authorities consider the men, known internationally as the Cuban Five as heroes in the struggle against terrorism.

The 2009-2010 Cuban Baseball Season reached a third of the its 90 games over the weekend with Sancti Spiritus surprisingly leading the Western Division with Industriales and Pinar del Rio close behind. Last seasons league champion Havana Province team is in fifith place. In the East, Cinderella Guantanamo remains comfortably on top with Villa Clara (last season’s runner-up) second and Ciego de Avila third.

Cuba is asking Japan to intercede in its attempt to normalize relations with the United States. Japanese Foreign Minister Kastuya Okada received the request from her Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez. The Cuban official is in Japan to commemorate the 80th anniversary of bilateral ties between the Asian nation and Cuba.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez thanked Cuba for its collaboration in the planting of clouds to face the drought that has affected power generation in that South American country. The president also announced that he will arrive in Havana on Friday for the Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).

Antonio Castro, a doctor and one of Fidel Castro’s children, was elected to a vice presidents post of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) on Sunday in Lausanne, Switzerland. Castro is the team doctor of the national Cuban Baseball Team traveling with the squad to international tournaments around the world.

An anonymous US State Department official was cited by The Voice of America as informing on the delayed talks but gave no reason. The first round of negotiations took place last July.

The Czech Republic has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Cuban government. However, in January 2010, Spain takes over the helm of the 27 nation EU for a sixth month term and the possibility of improved ties with Cuba are expected to get a higher profile during that period.