Jamaican minister discusses efforts to update agriculture

<p style="text-align: justify;">A Jamaican minister and a Chinese delegation visit, and a conference on the Cuban economy begins this week. By MIMI WHITEFIELD. MiamiHerald.com. The green of Jamaica’s green, black and gold flag symbolizes agriculture and hope for the future.But Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s new minister of industry, investment and commerce, said last week there’s still work to be done in linking the crops Jamaican farmers produce to valued-added processing. Read More

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'Iran, Cuba stand against US extremism'

<p style="text-align: justify;">Mon Aug 1, 2011 10:3AM. Senior Iranian lawmaker Hossein Sobhani Nia, A senior member of Iran's Majlis (parliament) has urged the people of Iran and Cuba to continue with their firm resistance against the US extremism. In a meeting with president of the Cuban National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon in Havana on Monday, a member of the Majlis Presiding Board Hossein Sobhani Nia praised Cuba's resistance against the US imperialism over the past 50 years under the leadership of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and President Raul Castro. Read More

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Cuba's Creole Choir to qawwali at surging WOMAD 2011

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Jan Harvey. MALMESBURY. Mon Aug 1, 2011 9:06am EDT. MALMESBURY (Reuters) - Anyone who complains that WOMAD is "too safe" must have missed the mosh pit that appeared at the front of gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello's late Sunday set, where the frenetic dancing of the band's teenage fans briefly descended into cheerful anarchy. But this was still a more civilized event than most. When one evacuee rescued from the front row by security realized she was missing a bag, the crowd politely broke off their revelry to help her retrieve it. Read More

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Is change coming to Cuba?

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Craig Mauro in Americas.On Mon, 08/01/2011 - 12:48.Many will be watching Cuba’s National Assembly meeting on Monday closely to see if the one-party legislature gives final approval to a set of potentially transformative economic changes. This past April, in its first congress in 14 years, the country’s Communist Party proposed several new laws that the legislative body is now considering. Among the changes on agenda is allowing Cubans to buy and sell real estate for the first time in more than 50 years of communism. Read More

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Caribbean on Alert for Tropical Storm

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Osmany González Tocabens.12:41Fort-de-France, Aug 1 (Prensa Latina) Martinique and the rest of the Windward Islands were on alert Monday due to an approaching tropical system very likely to become a hurricane. On Monday morning, the storm was 300 kilometers southeast of the capital, where it began raining more heavily early Sunday. An 80 percent probability existed for the low-pressure area to become a tropical storm or a low-intensity hurricane in the next 24 hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported on Monday. Read More

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Havana Fortress: Old Routes and New Stories

<p style="text-align: justify;">31 de julio de 2011. Por Lianet Arias Sosa. Havana, (Prensa Latina) At the entrance of Havana Bay there is an image that dazzles the eyes and brings memories of old roads and new stories about the Fortress, commonly known as the Morro Castle, with its emblematic lighthouse and lights.This military fortress was built four centuries ago to safeguard the city of San Cristobal de La Habana from pirates and corsairs, so common during colonial times. Read More

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Cuba: Parliament's Ordinary Session to Focus on Process to Update Economic Model

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 1 (acn) The current process to update the national economic model is the center of attention during the Seventh Ordinary Period of Sessions of the Seventh Legislature of the Cuban National Assembly (Parliament) that takes place on Monday at Havana's Convention Center. After four days of work by the 12 standing commissions of this legislative body,the 614 members of the Cuban Parliament are expected to support the Guidelines of the Social and Economic Policy approved last April at the Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC). Read More

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Cuba to host hip hop symposium

<p style="text-align: justify;">IANS India Private Limited.By Indo Asian News Service. IANS. Havana, Aug 1 (IANS/EFE) Cuba will host an international hip hop symposium that will be attended by musicians from Canada, the US, France, Haiti and Colombia, state media reported Sunday, citing organisers. The symposium will be held Aug 17-21.The US rap group Intikana, Canadian performers Lu Piensa and Vox Sambox, Haitians Makendi and Edu and Colombians Jaison and Lucia will be among those participating in the event, the Juventud Rebelde newspaper said. Read More

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Havana will become the world’s circus capital

<p style="text-align: justify;">By cubarte.cu / radioangulo.icrt.cu / Saturday, 30 July 2011 10:28. Havana will be the capital of circus from August 8 through 14 with two events: the 10th Circuba Festival and the Fourth Erdwin Fernández Memorial Clown Competition. The clown gathering is schedule to take place at the Trompoloco and Azul tents, and the Astral and Karl Marx Theaters with competitors coming from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Venezuela. The Brazilian delegation includes trapeze performer and television actor Marcos Frota, known in Cuba for his performance in TV soap operas, who will be one of the festival’s jury members; and a renowned gymnastic duo specialized in aerial nets. Read More

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Cuba pursues harder line on US-funded dissidents: media

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA -- Cuban lawmakers are seeking tougher punishment for anyone who takes U.S. government funds aimed at promoting democracy, state media reported Saturday. The reaction followed a decision last week by U.S. Senator John Kerry to end his personal hold on US$20 million in democracy promotion funds earmarked for Cuba. Read More

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