News

Cuban health authorities announced over the weekend that a vaccination campaign against the A H1N1 flu virus will begin on April 1 and extend through April 20, reported IPS. The target group is approximately 10 percent of the total islands population of 11.2 million, zeroing in on those considered most vulnerable to the illness including pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses or immune system deficiencies, and the country’s health and education personnel.

Representatives of the Cuban opposition welcomed with satisfaction the announcement that the U.S. government will revise the aid programs for the dissidence in Cuba based on the veto imposed by Senator John Kerry to the 40 million dollars to be given for this purpose, reported IPS quoting the Miami-based El Nuevo Herald. “There has not been a transparent administration of the immense amount of resources,” affirmed Manuel Cuesta Morúa, who on the other hand questioned the need for a foreign government to back the dissidence.

The European Union (EU) policy toward Cuba is “interventionist and discriminatory” and it should change it without expecting anything in return from the Raúl Castro government, to “return to the normal state in which we were in 1995,” diplomat Carlos Alzugaray affirmed to Spain’s RTVE. Alzugaray, who 15 years ago was the island’s ambassador before the European bloc, rejected the EU’s criticism of the death of oppositionist Orlando Zapata and assured that the Cuban authorities would not give in to hunger strikes.

Ariel Borrero hit a two-out, two-run single to break open a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth to put Villa Clara in the drivers seat with a three game to two lead over Industriales as the teams head to Santa Clara for game six of the Cuban Baseball League championship series on Tuesday.

Industriales pounded out 20 hits on Saturday to breeze to a 11-1 win over Villa Clara to even their best-of-seven championship baseball series at two games each. Arley Sanchez pitched six shutout innings to get the win.

Cuban female cyclist Yumari Gonzalez won a silver medal in the Scratch event at the World Cycling Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. Meanwhile, in the 500-meter Time Trial, Cuba’s Lisandra Guerra qualified for the second round but was then eliminated and finished ninth.

Industriales brought its fans to their feet time and time again with five home runs on Friday in a 12-6 route over Villa Clara in game three of their best-of-seven championship baseball series.