A group of Haitian American leaders, state and local officials met late Tuesday night to map out humanitarian relief efforts as the extent of the damage from a devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti became clearer.
Read MoreThe Cuban authorities evacuated around 30,000 persons in the eastern region of Baracoa, Guantanamo in the face of the threat of a tsunami after yesterday’s strong earthquake in Haiti, the island’s state-run press reported today. Up to now there have been no reports of a rise in sea level in that area of the country and an alert established by the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was cancelled.
Read MorePedro also asked who exactly had made the decision about distributing the scant resources for apartment building repairs – but he didn’t receive an answer; the delegate talked the whole time using the impersonal “they,” without directly identifying anyone.
Read MoreThe current artic cold front appears to have peaked early Tuesday, with low temperatures dropping to as low as 3.7 Celsius (39 F) at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport south of the capital. Nonetheless, the warming on Wednesday is only expected to be slight.
Read MoreThe powerful 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday afternoon led to a Tsunami warning on the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cuba and Haiti itself to be posted by The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center; but later in the evening the alert was canceled. The Cuban Civil Defense System is closely following the after events of the quake whose center was located at only 22 kilometers west of Port au Prince, Haiti.
Read MoreOne of Monday’s wire service stories reporting on the Cincinnati Reds signing of Cuban phenom pitcher Aroldis Chapman has questioned my own doubting of Chapman’s prospects, especially in the light of the $30 million windfall now being thrown at the 22-year-old former Holguín fast-baller. I do not claim to have a crystal ball. I do not have the trained eye of the big league scouting director. But I do know something about the recent past history of Cuban League baseball and its many talented performers.
Read MoreA total of 44 sugar factories should start operating in January as part of the 2009-2010 sugar harvest, which the authorities have previewed as modest since it is expected to produce 1.5 million tons.
Read MoreThe lack of liquidity in hard currency is the principal economic problem in Cuba, affirmed the island’s Economy Minister Marino Murillo. According to the official, the government’s strategy involves the substitution of imports and giving priority to sectors such as tourism, telecommunications and civil aeronautics.
Read MoreSome 5,000 persons were taught to read and write in Uruguay between 2007 and 2009 thanks to the Cuban literacy program, reported Ulma Carneiro, an official from the Ministry of Social Development. It is estimated that 179,000 persons still don’t know how to read and write in that South American country.
Read MoreThese mechanisms take the form of Report-back Assemblies (Asambleas de Rendición de Cuentas), biannual meetings in which local delegates (previously elected by community residents) meet with their constituencies. These neighborhood delegates report on policies implemented by the Municipal Assembly (city council) and steps being taken to resolve problems identified by the community. Alternately, residents can present new concerns to these representatives.
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