News

Havana’s summer temperatures have continued without abate and on Monday a record 35.6 Celsius (96 F) was set for the month of October. The previous record was set in 1925.

The land planted in Cuba’s world favorite tobacco fell by over 30 percent this year due to a 15 per cent drop in demand, reported the National Statistics Institute (ONE). The drop is attributed to the international financial crisis combined with growing prohibitions on smoking in numerous countries.

In five years Kendry Morales has gone from a budding star of the Cuban National Team to a 26-year-old fixture at first base for the Los Angeles Angels in the US Major Leagues.

HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 5 – Cuba ranked in 51st place on the Human Development Index list, according to a report by the UN Development Program (UNDP) released today. Cuba ranks fifth in Latin America after Chile, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina and Uruguay.

A medical brigade comprised of 62 clinical geneticists and other specialists traveled to Nicaragua, where it will carry out a genetic and diagnostic study of disabilities, reported IPS. Other brigades from Cuba have previously done similar research in Ecuador and Venezuela.

A total of 468 cases of influenza were reported in Cuba until this weekend, announced Luis Estruch, deputy minister of hygiene, epidemiology and microbiology of the Ministry of Public Health. According to the official, the A H1N1 virus has especially affected pregnant women, dozens of which are being treated in intensive therapy services.

The Honduras de facto government and the officers that put it in power celebrated the Day of the Soldier on Saturday with coup leader Micheletti heaping praise on the “courageous” military for perpetrating the coup that forced President Manuel Zelaya out of the country at gun point on June 28.

Fidel Castro expressed Cuba’s satisfaction with Rio de Janeiro being selected as the site of the 2016 Olympic Games. Only one other Latin American city, Mexico (1968), has ever been selected to host the event held every four years.