News Archives - Page 1260 of 1351

New Lab for US-Americas Policy

It’s increasingly clear that what has occurred in Honduras marks a setback – whatever might happen before January 27. Taking office on that date will be Porfirio Lobo Sosa, the right-wing winner of the dubious presidential elections that left this Central American country with almost no country in the world recognizing it.

Lobo Sosa will begin his term in the aftermath of the June 28 coup that turned the clock back on the consolidation of the democracy on the Latin American continent.

Two Related Remembrances in Cuba

For years, deserved tributes have been made to those unjustly killed medical students who didn’t have a chance to defend themselves nor a way of preventing their murders. But the black members of the Abakua association did indeed have a choice. They had the option of not getting involved with the incident, of not challenging the colonial authorities – yet they decided to act.

Cuba Poetry Fest On Despite Rebuff

The OMNI-Zona Franca poetry performance collective made its traditional pilgrimage on Thursday to the Sanctuary of San Lazaro, in the Havana suburb of El Rincon, during which time there were no reported attempts to interfere with or obstruct them. On December 11, the OMNI-Zona Franca collective was expelled from its headquarters in the Alamar Gallery under government order.

New Cuba Currency, Not Yet

Martinez spoke to quash rumors on the island on an imminent change of local currency. Cuba currently has two national currencies in circulation the CUC, that equals US $1.25, and the CUP regular peso which is worth 5 cents of a US dollar. Most Cubans hope to see a single currency that is the same one that people earn with their salaries. At present they get paid in CUP but must purchase numerous basic consumer goods in the CUC hard currency.

Cuba Wins Battle over Cohiba Brand

After 12 years of legal battling, a U.S. federal judge ruled in favor of the Cuban state-run Cubatabaco Company in its litigation against the U.S. General Cigar Company, which has commercialized the Cohiba brand since 1997 in the United States, reported IPS. Cubatabaco forms part of a joint venture between the island and Britain’s Imperial Tobacco.

Tackling Cuba’s Food Service Blues

In a previous piece I wrote about the many tasks that a State gastronomy, or food service, worker has to perform in this country in order to carry out their job. This isn’t an isolated instance. The service and the quality of the products that are offered by the State food establishments leave much to be desired, although we should recognize that things have improved in relation to the decade of the nineties.

Cuba Comedy Group Nos y Otros Doc.

An entire generation of Cubans spent afternoons and evenings at the Creative Youth Center, but not only with Nos y Otros. It was there that we also sang to the rhythm of guitars, read poetry, had exhibitions and heard theatrical monologues. It was, like its name implies, the perfect place for young artists who hardly had opportunities in theaters or the “grand” cultural centers. Today it no longer exists. Now it’s a rum museum.

Credit Suisse Fined over Cuba Embargo

The US government levied a huge fine of US $536 million on Credit Suisse Bank for carrying out transactions that violate the US embargoes against Iran, Libya, Sudan, Burma and Cuba.

Reduced Housing Plan Nearly Reached

Cuban authorities hope to complete a reduced housing construction plan by the end of the year. At the end of November, 29,703 houses were completed of the programmed 32,000. Cuba suffers from a prolonged housing shortage especially in the capital. Before three hurricanes caused severe devastation in the second half of 2008, the new housing construction goal had been 100,000 per year.

Int. Support for Cuban Agriculture

International cooperation is supporting more than 60 production projects of the non-governmental National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), announced Mario La O Sosa, head of the International Relations and Cooperation Projects Department of that organization. According to the official, that backing “has allowed for the implementation of irrigation systems, the repair of machinery and technological transfer.