News Archives - Page 1252 of 1368

Omara Portuondo Sings Saturday in NY

Cuban singer Omara Portuondo will offer a concert on Saturday at the Town Hall Theater in New York, reported IPS. The concert is being produced by Anschutz Entertainment Group Live (AEG Live).

Bishops ask Gov. to Avoid Prisoner Deaths

The Permanent Council of the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops asked the island’s government “to take the adequate measures” to avoid the death of political prisoners such as Orlando Zapata, buried yesterday in his hometown of Banes, in the Caribbean country’s eastern region. The bishops also called for the creation of “conditions for dialogue and ideal understanding to avoid reaching such painful situations that benefit no one and make many suffer.”

Clinton Demands Release of Prisoners

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated her government’s demand to the Cuban authorities for the release of the more than 200 political prisoners in the island in statements made before the U.S. Congress, during which she lamented the death of dissident Orlando Zapatero.

“Chamaco” Impacts in Havana

Juan Carlos Cremata wanted to take advantage of the occasion to exhibit his latest independent production, “Chamaco” (in what he called a “dress rehearsal with the public” and not a premier, because it still lacks a few post-production details). (12 photos)

Cuba and Brazil Expand Cooperation

The governments of Cuba and Brazil signed a dozen agreements in areas such as communications, health, maritime transportation and agriculture, which will strengthen bilateral relations, reported IPS. One of the contracts signed sealed the International Economic Association between the Quality Cuba S.A. and the Works and Infrastructures Company, in charge of the reconstruction of the port of Mariel, 30 miles west of Havana.

Spain’s President Demands Release of Cuba’s Political Prisoners

Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero demanded from “the Cuban regime the release of prisoners of conscience and respect for human rights” in a speech to that European country’s Congress. The demand by the Spanish president, whose country is presiding over the European Union this semester, came after the death of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata on the 85th day of a hunger strike.

Santiago Wins, Makes Cuba’s Playoffs

Santiago de Cuba defeated Las Tunas again on Wednesday in a lopsided 13-6 game to win the last ticket to the 2009-2010 Cuban Baseball Playoffs to begin on this coming weekend.

Raul Castro Speech at Cancun Summit

Cuba supported the creation of a new political consensus mechanism between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean without the tutelage of the United States or Canada. The following is the complete speech by Cuban President Raul Castro pronounced in Cancun on February 23.

Cuba Dissidents Farewell to Striker

Several dozen anti-government opponents gathered Wednesday at the headquarters of the Ladies in White, a Cuban dissident group, in the capital, to hold a “symbolic wake” for Orlando Zapata, a political prisoner who died on the 85th day of a hunger strike. The official government website cubadebate.cu posted a statement by President Raúl Castro Wednesday, who regretted Zapata’s death, but denied the allegations that prisoners are mistreated in Cuba.

Castro Comments on Dissident’s Death

Cuban President Raul Castro expressed regrets Wednesday for the death of prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo on Tuesday. According to the official website, Cubadebate.cu, President Castro said that in Cuba “there are no tortured, there weren’t any tortured, and there wasn’t an execution. That happens at the [US] Guantanamo Naval Base.”