News

With its newly constructed facility having been inaugurated at the end of the last year, the Planetarium can now be visited by the public. This center for science and technology is located in the Plaza Vieja, close to the unique Camara Oscura viewing station— adds to the scientific patrimony in this historic part of the city.

In the Casa de Africa (157 Obrapia, in Habana Vieja) on February 18 at 2:00 p.m., a forum will be held with experts associated with the projects “Sitios de la Memoria” and “La ruta del esclavo” (The Slave Route). Both initiatives attempt to trace a map of slavery and the history of Cuba that are closest to historical truth.

While nothing like the storm that’s had the US eastern seaboard on hold, a light cold front is expected to move in to Cuba on Saturday bringing rain throughout the country and a high of only 20 C (68 F) in the capital and a low temperature of 17 C (62 F).

Cuba’s 19th International Book Fair got its official opening on Thursday evening attended by President Raul Castro and visiting Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov. Russia is this year’s special guest and a large delegation of publishers and artists are on hand to participate.

Resident of Cuba’s far eastern coastal town of Baracoa were greeted on Friday morning by trembling caused by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake off the coast that left no reported injuries or damage, according to Associated Press.

The US economic blockade on Cuba has lasted about a half century and one of its biggest supporters, Miami Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, threw in the towel on Thursday, saying he would not seek a tenth two-year term in office.

With 10 games to go in the 90-game regular season, three teams —Sancti Spiritus, Guantanamo and Villa Clara— are assured a ticket to Cuba’s baseball playoffs while eight others have a chance for the remaining five slots.

Another 200 doctors will join the Cuban doctors and medical staff working in Haiti on Friday, announced Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer. The new contingent of young physicians are graduates of the Havana based Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) and hail from 24 countries.

Jaime Castañeda of Colombia raced to victory in Stage 2 of the Vuelta a Cuba cycling event on Wednesday clocking 2:41.02 hours for the 111 kilometer trek from Guantanamo to Santiago de Cuba. Wilmen Bravo of Venezuela and Ryan Roth of Canada finished second and third.