Favored Santiago de Cuba wakes up Saturday in the tough position of having to win four of five games to make it to the semifinals of the Cuban Baseball Playoffs. The defending champions lost at home by a score of 8-3 on Thursday and then 3-1 on Friday. Pinar del Rio and Habana have 2-0 leads over Sancti Spiritus and Isla de la Juventud, while Ciego de Avila is 1-0 over Holguin.
Read MoreThe US government has imposed a US $110,000 fine on the Dallas, Texas based Varel Holdings Oil Company for exporting technology to Cuba. The Obama administration is the 11th consecutive US government to enforce an economic blockade on Cuba and punish US companies that try to subvert it.
Read MoreMiguel Diaz Canel Bermudez, an electronic engineer with a military and Communist Party background, has been chosen by the Cuban Council of State to replace Juan Vela Valdes as the country’s minister of Higher Education.
Read MorePinar del Rio and La Habana, the two favorites to win their Western Division quarterfinal playoffs got off to good start at home on Wednesday. On Thursday, while the Eastern Division kicks off with Santiago de Cuba hosting Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila at home against Holguin.
Read MoreHavana Times recently reached its six-month birthday and the scope and reach of the site has been far greater than I ever imagined, at least at this stage. It was originally conceived of as an alternative site that would update a few times a week, with reports, photos and opinions rarely seen in other Cuban media, including a novel section of diaries from Havana.
Read More“I think the Department of State’s attitude is very contradictory with the wish expressed by President Obama for a rapprochement with Cuba,” wrote Rodríguez. The folksinger said he felt as discriminated against by the Obama administration “as by other US governments.”
Read MorePortland, Oregon resident Dr. Charles Grossman, 94, has traveled to Cuba, willing to take on the system in Washington that wants to keep him from visiting a friend. The US blockade and travel ban on Cuba are considered by detractors as relics of the Cold War similar to the occasional islander found in the Pacific that didn’t know World War II was over.
Read MorePortland, Oregon Doctor Charles Grossman, 94, is willing to defy the US government travel ban on Cuba to visit a friend on the island. Currently the US House of Representatives has a bill before it (HR 874) that would repeal the travel ban on Cuba; the only country Washington maintains off-bounds for its citizens.
Read MoreThe Cuban Baseball Playoffs begin on Wednesday. Havana Times will be bringing our readers an exclusive playoff diary from Cuban baseball expert Peter C. Bjarkman who not long ago gave us excellent on-the-scene coverage of the 2nd World Baseball Classic from Mexico, San Diego and Los Angeles.
Read MoreCuba is “a complete destination,” said Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero when inaugurating in the Caribbean country’s capital the FITCUBA 2009 Tourism Fair, which is being attended by professionals from 58 countries. He said the island offers safety, cultural diversity, nature, numerous events and health tourism, and nautical activities.
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