Cuba records 695 forest fires in drought season

<p style="text-align: justify;">15:37, July 19, 2011. The Forest Rangers Corps said Monday Cuba registered a record high of 695 forest fires as over 20,000 hectares were blackened by forest fires from January to May, Cuba's drought season. The drought has been worsened by the lack of rain, which also caused the surge in forest fires this year. Read More

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Attractive Ecotourism Options in Cuban Peninsula

<p style="text-align: justify;">Walks on crags, caverns and tropical rainforests with high biodiversity are now attractive ecotourism options in the Cuban peninsula of Guanahacabibes, a Biosphere Reserve. On the way to Las Pelas Cave, the visitors can see a forest with over 200 year-old trees and a great variety of birds like Tocororo (Cuban Trogon), Cartacuba (Cuban Tody) and Thrush, Director of the National Park located in the area Lazaro Marquez told Prensa Latina. Read More

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No doubt Chavez will run in 2012 vote, aide says

<p style="text-align: justify;">CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — An aide to Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez said Monday that there is no doubt the president will run for re-election next year despite his struggle with cancer. The remark by Finance Minister Jorge Giordani came as Chavez was in Cuba undergoing cancer treatment."There's no doubt he's going to be there in the 2012 elections, and afterward for many more years," Giordani said in an interview on state television. Read More

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FAO Convokes to Emergent Meeting to Face Droughts

<p style="text-align: justify;">The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization convoked Monday an emergency meeting to be celebrated on July 25, to face the droughts affecting several regions of the world. FAO officials stated the meeting was requested by France, a country now at the head of the Group of 20.The request responds to the urgent need to evaluate and coordinate international help to mitigate the food crisis hitting the African Horn countries. Read More

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Peruvian President-Elect Ollanta Humala Arrived in Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">2011.07.19 - 09:18:24 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala was welcomed at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport by the cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla. HAVANA, Cuba.- Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala arrived in Havana early on Tuesday morning for a working visit at the invitation of Cuban president Raul Castro. Read More

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India-Cuba joint discovery in biomedical sciences wins award

<p style="text-align: justify;">New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) A joint discovery in biomedical sciences by a Bangalore-based company Biocon Limited and Havana-based the Centre of Molecular Immunology (CIM) has won the Cuban Academy of Sciences award.CIM and Biocon have succeeded in manufacturing biological therapeutic molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies, under stringent regulatory standards and marketing them in India and other countries, said a Cuban embassy press release. The joint research has led to the identification of a novel approach to control inflammation, which could help in tackling several autoimmune diseases, said the statement. Read More

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Michael Moore to present new Cuban film

<p style="text-align: justify;">U.S. documentary filmmaker Michael Moore will present a new Cuban film in Michigan, Cuban media reported. Habanastation, directed by newcomer Ian Padrón, premiered Saturday in Havana. The film is about two Havana youths from different backgrounds sharing an adventure. Padrón was invited by Moore to participate in the film screening in Michigan. Read More

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Angolan airline opens Havana route

<p style="text-align: justify;">Angolan flag carrier TAAG opened a new route from Luanda to Havana, state news agency Angop reported. Cubana de Aviación is already flying the route.The first flight reached Havana on July 13, with 249 passengers. TAAG uses a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Read More

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Obama threatens veto of tighter curbs on Cuba travel

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Emile Schepers. July 18 2011. In a move that took some Cuba-watchers by surprise, President Obama has threatened a veto of a House bill if it includes tightened restrictions on Cuban-American travel and aid to Cuba, among other things. The president issued the warning in a Statement of Administration Policy on HR 2434, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2012.Earlier, the Obama administration had lifted restrictions on the ability of Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba or to send money to their relatives in the island. Read More

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Humala due in Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">AFP/Lima. Peru’s president-elect Ollanta Humala arrives in Cuba early today at the invitation of President Raul Castro, official state media reported.Humala’s arrival comes at the same time Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is in the Cuban capital for chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Humala was once seen as an ally of Chavez-style politics but has recently played down his ties to the Venezuelan. Read More

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