Worldcrunch
-Analysis- BOGOTA — Cuba, in its effort to loosen the economy and move toward a partially free market system, may be borrowing a page from the history of another communist country, Vietnam. Starting in 1986, Vietnam implemented a series of economic reforms known collectively as Doi Moi. The changes were inspired by the industrialization drive […]
UNESCO DENOUNCES ISIS ATTACK ON ANCIENT CULTUREThe head of UNESCO called for an emergency meeting of the UN’s cultural agency after a five-minute video clip yesterday showed a group of ISIS militants destroying large statues and ancient artefacts in a museum in Mosul, Iraq. “This attack is far more than a cultural tragedy — this […]
Granma, February 3, 2015 HAVANA — Cuba’s Communist Party newspaper Granma has published the first photos of Fidel Castro in months, amid rumors that the health of the 88-year-old former Cuban leader has recently deteriorated. Granma“s front page Tuesday reads “More than three hours with Fidel.” In an article entitled Fidel es un fuera de […]
Havana — Photo: Angel Chevrestt/ZUMA HAVANA — When Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro announced the two countries would “normalize” relations between the two countries, most observers were quick to point out that this unexpected move would eventually benefit the Cuban economy by boosting the tourism industry, among other sectors. And according to Folha de […]
The imminent injection of wealth into Cuba as the U.S. embargo ends, and the measure of prosperity that should follow, may be the first steps toward its eventual democratization.
The Castro regime’s about-face to restore ties with the U.S. signals the communist economic system’s shameful failure. But politics is another matter.
Once the noise dies down over the deal with the U.S., Cuba’s educated populace may not take it so well when it realizes the communist regime will budge very little at home.
If nothing else, the United States and Cuba stand to earn plenty of cash with a future end to sanctions feeding booms of American exports, Cuban tourism and infrastructure development.
The United States and Cuba stunned the world by ending more than a half-century as sworn enemies. The presidents of the two neighbors Barack Obama and Raúl Castro announced Wednesday a deal to exchange prisoners on the road to restoring full diplomatic relations. This is how the Western Hemisphere and the wider world reacted: Cuba […]
A quick roundup of who has been saying what around the world.
Increasingly, the general American public and even anti-Castro businessmen now seem to agree that less hostility toward Cuba is the best road to take.
Polls show most Americans want U.S. ties with Cuba normalized, even as the forces still hold strong among those who prefer the status quo. Time may have come for change.
The capital’s unique harbor has driven Cuba’s economy for centuries. But with Brazil’s help, the building of a new commerical port of Mariel marks a turning point in the island’s history.
-Editorial- SAO PAULO — It’s the image that became the symbol of Nelson Mandela’s memorial in Soweto: the handshake between U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro. And it’s only fitting that this is the image that remains. The United States and Cuba have been living in open animosity since the Cold War. […]
HAVANA — Though propaganda from the Cuban regime claims otherwise, the everyday reality for Cuban women does not involve fighting economic aggression from the United States. Instead, they struggle to provide basic necessities such as food and clothes for their families — and occasional luxuries such as cosmetics — sometimes having to pay with their […]
Universal health care in Cuba has led to one of the lowest infant morality rates in the world. But as doctors flee to work abroad, the ones remaining complain of difficult working conditions.
Racotumomab, set to be available in several countries, can work with other therapies by activating the immune system to help reverse one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
HAVANA – Black-and-white images of Che Guevara and a clumsy Fidel Castro, dressed in military attire, leaning on his golf club a few feet away from the hole, gave way to many years of ostracism towards golf in Cuba. Cubans still don’t know why golf courses were suddenly converted into public institutions. Was it because […]
In the first interview with the foreign press since his victory, the new Venezuelan President tells Le Monde that he will carry on Hugo Chavez’s policies, both at home and abroad.
EFE, EL PAIS (Spain), EL UNIVERSAL (Venezuela) Worldcrunch CARACAS – Hugo Chavez is suffering from another severe respiratory infection said Venezuelan Minister for Communication and Information, Ernesto Villegas, in a video statement. “At the moment the respiratory function is getting worse because of the immunosuppressants. Currently, he has a new, severe infection,” said Villegas. “Right […]
It’s more about secret oil reserves than Cold War nostalgia.
GRANMA (CUBA), LA NACIÓN (COSTA RICA), SBS (AUSTRALIA Worldcrunch HAVANA – Cuban President Raúl Castro’s reelection for a second term Sunday was no surprise. But Cuba is still absorbing the unexpected announcement that it would be Castro’s final five-year mandate, and his naming of a much younger government minister to be his No. 2, and […]
LA PRENSA, NEWS24 (Venezuela) Worldcrunch CARACAS– President Hugo Chavez tweeted early Monday that he is now back in Venezuela as Vice President Nicolas Maduro confirmed it to a local TV station at 2:30am local time, says News24. Chavez profusely thanked Raul and Fidel Castro, and all Cubans, for “so much love” during his time there. […]
Worldcrunch The Venezuelan government has posted the first photographs of President Hugo Chavez since his cancer surgery more than two months ago in Cuba. In the images you can see Chavez lying down, surrounded by his two daughters, with signs of a tracheal breathing tube. (source: Venezuelan government) There has been much speculation about the […]
-Editorial- BUENOS AIRES – There is much to criticize the Cuban government about, but its decision to allow its citizens to travel abroad without the infamous “white card” exit visa, deserves applause. Since January 14, Cubans are allowed travel abroad, just like citizens of any other democratic country – with a valid passport and a […]
EL ESPECTADOR, EL MUNDO, EL TIEMPO (Colombia) Worldcrunch BOGOTA- Colombia’s FARC rebels have announced the end of a two-month unilateral ceasefire after the Colombian government refused to join the truce. Photo: FARC flag via Wikipedia The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, declared the ceasefire when peace talks with the government began on Nov. […]
EL NUEVO HERALD (Cuba), CLARIN (Argentina) Worlcrunch HAVANA – After remaining cholera-free for more than a century, Cuba is suffering its second bout of cholera in six months. The disease has infected more than 50 people in Havana, the government admitted, and, according to non-confirmed information, one death. In July, three people died of cholera […]
EFE, GRANMA, PRENSA LATINA (Cuba) Worldcrunch HAVANA- Effective from midnight local time on January 14, thanks to a new reform by the Cuban government, Cuban citizens are now allowed to apply for passports, without having to apply for special exit visas. Photo: Rindo75 via Wikipedia First announced in October, these new regulations include an extended […]
Worldcrunch CARACAS – Thursday was supposed to be the day Hugo Chavez was inaugurated for a fourth term as Venezuela’s president. But the ceremony has been postponed as he is recovering from a reported “severe” lung infection after his latest cancer surgery in Havana, Cuba. Though Chavez has not been seen in public for more […]
BBC, EL NACIONAL, EL UNIVERSAL, ULTIMAS NOTICIAS (Venezuela) Worldcrunch CARACAS- After a three-hour debate, the Venezuelan National Assembly has approved the request of President Hugo Chávez to postpone the inauguration for his new term in office, which was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 10. Photo: Wilson Dias/ABr via Wikipedia According to the BBC, the Venezuelan constitution […]
TELESUR, ULTIMAS NOTICIAS, EL NACIONAL (Venezuela), BBC (UK) Worldcrunch CARACAS – Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro has told Latin American TV network teleSUR that he had visited President Chavez twice in the past days and that he had shown “gigantic force” as they spoke of political issues. Chavez is currently in Havana, Cuba, where he […]
HAARETZ (Israel), THE GUARDIAN (UK) Worldcrunch Syria’s ambassador to Venezuela has denied allegations Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad is considering seeking political asylum in Latin America. On Tuesday, Israeli newspaper Haaretz suggested President Assad’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad had previously held meetings in Venezuela, Cuba and Ecuador in order to ensure the President’s safe […]
EL UNIVERSAL, EL TIEMPO, EL COLOMBIANO (Colombia), EUROPA PRESS (Spain) Worldcrunch RICAURTE– In the deadliest exchange since peace talks began in October, the Colombian army reports that it has killed 20 FARC rebels, including Guillermo Pequeño, leader of the mobile unit of the group, Colombian daily El Universal was reporting Monday. Commander of the Colombian […]
LE NOUVELLISTE (Haiti), CNN, THE MIAMI HERALD (US) Worldcrunch Hurricane Sandy has torn across the Caribbean, leaving 21 people dead in its wake, and is expected to make landfall in New England early next week. Forecasters warned that the late-season storm could wreak havoc along America’s east coast, making landfall sometime before Halloween, provoking many […]
A Die Welt exclusive explores declassified German documents 50 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
GRANMA (Cuba), AP Worldcrunch HAVANA – Cuba’s Foreign Ministry has announced that it will no longer require its citizens to apply for an exit permit before travelling abroad. Starting January 14 next year, Cubans will no longer have to go through a lengthy and expensive process – citizens have to pay between $150 and $200 […]
CNN, WASHINGTON POST, USA TODAY (USA), BBC NEWS (UK) Worldcrunch Photo: Diana Nyad MIAMI – US Swimmer Diana Nyad ended her bid to cross from Cuba to Florida after suffering severe jellyfish stings, reports CNN. The endurance swimmer, who will turn 63 on Wednesday, was pulled from the water early Tuesday morning, reports CNN. A […]
LE MONDE, FRANCE TV (France) Cuba’s dreams of winning Olympic gold in the pole vault today were left in shatters – after Lázaro Borges’ pole snapped into pieces. The 26-year-old slammed the pole into the ground when attempting to clear a height of 5.35 meters but ended up awkwardly crashing into the mat when the […]
Exclusive: Alina Fernandez doesn’t expect to ever again see – or even speak with – her famous father, Fidel Castro. As Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba, Fernandez tells La Stampa that she doubts a late-in-life conversion for her father. “He assumes
In 1998 when Pope John Paul II made a historic trip to Havana, Vatican diplomacy was on full display. Pope Benedict XVI’s arrival in Cuba, after a visit to Mexico, reminds us that the influence of the Catholic Church is based above all on its vas