Indian minister to co-chair Indo-Cuba JCM in Havana

India's Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma will co-chair the Indo-Cuban Joint Commission Meeting in Havana on February 12-13. The Joint Commission will review and expand cooperation in areas such as Information Technology, Biotechnology, Energy, Sports and Science and Technology. Read More

---

Argentina donates Cuba 250,000 books

Argentine government donated Cuba 250,000 books, within a collection of five anthologies, as a token of the close ties of friendship between both countries. Aique Group Editor director Teresita Valdettaro, which is in charge of donating the copies, told media representatives accredited to be at 16th International Book Fair that anthologies have 50,000 volumes each. Read More

---

Trip to Cuba was an eye-opener for Champion

He was pitching coach for Team USA. In two decades in the minor leagues, Chicago White Sox minor-league pitching coordinator Kirk Champion has seen plenty of pressure situations. But even Champion wasn't prepared for the lofty status baseball holds in Havana, Cuba. Champion was pitching coach last summer when Team USA nailed down a spot at the 2008 Summer Olympics by beating Cuba in the championship game of the Tournament of the Americas regional qualifier. Read More

---

Half million of Latin Americans recover vision in Cuba

Over half a million of Latin Americans recovered their vision thanks to an ophthalmologic program Operacion Milagros developed between Cuba and Venezuela since 2004. Among those receiving the benefits there are 306 thousand Venezuelans and 100 thousand Cubans, expressed the Island Deputy Foreign Minister Yiliam Jimenez to the full session of the 9 International Meeting on Globalization and Development Problems. Read More

---

Russian tourists flocked to Cuba in 2006

Cuba confirmed in 2006 its leading position as Russia's chief tourist destination in Latin America and the Caribbean. Carlos Oscar Hernathendez, representative of Cuban Ministry of Tourism in Russia, said last year the island registered a growth of 34.5% (27,842 visitors) while some 30,000 tourists are expected to visit Cuba in 2007, reports PL news agency. Read More

---

Cuba cycling tour, backwards more exciting

Organizers of the 2008 Cycling Tour to Cuba are studying the possibility to dispute the race from west to east, to restore the emotion lost in the last years. Jose Pelaez, president of the Cuban Cycling Federation, admitted this choice is quite attractive since cycling is more passionately followed in the eastern provinces, since the event traditionally ends in the western part of the country, especially in the capital. Read More

---

Cuba records warmest january in 15 years

To the delight of snowbirds and the unease of climate watchers, the ongoing winter season continues to be marked by unusually high temperatures in all three regions of the Cuban archipelago. Read More

---

Caravan to Cuba calls for volunteers

Each year the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba directly challenges the United States government by openly traveling to island nation. A delegation from Santa Cruz makes the trip each year. This is the call for "Caravanistas" for the summer 2007 caravan. Read More

---

Students' Cuba trip up against the clock

FIFTY of his students are planning to go to Cuba next month, but Silver Heights Collegiate band instructor Blaine Workman is starting to worry that some may not have their passports in time. "All the reports I'm hearing are of delays," said Workman. With 21,000 applications a day -- 60 per cent more passport applications than the system is designed to handle -- Passport Canada has warned it can take 60 days to process applications. Read More

---

Cuba expert brings slide show in Vancouver

Travel writer Christopher Baker, author of the Moon Cuba Handbook, will present an evening of Cuban culture at which he will deliver an extensive talk and slide show on his recent journeys and experiences in Cuba. The show will be held at 7:30 p.m. on March 1 at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Larch and Second Avenue. Read More

---