Cuba

White House denies having role in Jay-Z, Beyonce Cuba trip

U.S. President Barack Obama's spokesman on Thursday denied any White House role in allowing a visit to Cuba by rapper Jay-Z and pop star Beyonce last week, after the hip hop mogul released a song that suggested he had presidential permission for the trip.

"I guess nothing rhymes with Treasury (Department)," Jay Carney said to laughter among reporters.

"I am absolutely saying the White House, from the president on down, had nothing to do with anybody's personal - anybody's travel to Cuba," Carney added. "That is something that Treasury (Department) handles."

Jay-Z hit back at critics of his trip in a rap entitled 'Open Letter,' released on the Internet on Thursday, saying he was a "boy from the 'hood but I got White House clearance."...more    

Beyonce, Jay-Z Cuba visit licensed by US Treasury Dept: source

Miami: A visit by American pop star Beyonce and rapper husband Jay-Z to Havana last week was a cultural trip that was fully licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department, a source familiar with the itinerary said on Monday. The longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba prevents most Americans from traveling to the communist-led island without a license granted by the U.S. government. Three Cuban-American members of Congress, all Republicans from...  

Cuban revolution video game 'Gesta Final' lets users play Che Guevara

Gesta Final starts with the user joining the 82 rebels who in 1956 sailed to Cuba from Mexico aboard the Granma. ...  

Cuba to host Montecristo Golf Cup in April

Cuba will host the 5th Montecristo Golf Cup from April 25 to 27 at the Caribbean resort of Varadero, 87 miles east of Havana, tourism authorities announced. ...  

Mourning Venezuelans parade Chavez's coffin, prepare for vote

Weeping and shouting, a sea of Hugo Chavez's supporters paraded his coffin through the streets of Caracas on Wednesday in an emotional outpouring that could help his deputy win an election and keep his self-styled socialist revolution alive. ...  

Cuba: Fidel Castro surprises with Parliament appearance

Retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro made a rare public appearance Sunday by joining the opening session of the National Assembly, state media reported amid speculation the gathering could give clues on planning for a future leadership succession. ...  

We hold festivals for people, not Cuba or N Korea: Mamata

Countering criticism that her debt-strapped government was squandering funds by organising fairs and festivals, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday hit back at the Marxists, saying her regime will continue celebrations for people, not for North Korea or Cuba. ...  

Venezuela's sick President misses own inauguration bash

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez remained on his sickbed in Cuba on January 10 while thousands of supporters rallied in his honor on the day he should have been sworn in for a new six-year term in the South American OPEC nation. The postponement of the inauguration, a first in Venezuelan history, has laid bare the gravity of Chavez's condition after complications from a fourth cancer operation in his pelvic area....  

Venezuela President battles severe lung infection

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is being treated for "respiratory deficiency" after complications from a severe lung infection, his government said, pointing to a deepening crisis for the ailing 58-year-old president. Chavez hasn't spoken publicly or been seen since his December 11 operation in Cuba, and the latest report from his government on January 3 night increased speculation that he is unlikely to be able to be sworn in for another...  

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez in stable condition

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in stable condition and spent December 31 with his daughters, the cancer-stricken leader's son in law said in an appeal for supporters to ignore rumors about his condition. Chavez has not been seen in public nor heard from in more than three weeks. The vice president said on December 30 that the 58-year-old was suffering a third set of complications after surgery in Cuba on...  

Ailing Chavez names potential successor

Caracas: Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez returned to Cuba on Sunday for more surgery after a recurrence of cancer led him to name a successor for the first time in a sign the disease may force an end to his 14-year rule. Supporters prepared to gather in city squares across the South American country, shocked and saddened by the news from the 58-year-old socialist leader, who made the announcement in a...  

Hurricane's death toll rises to 65 in Caribbean

Pott-Au-Prince (Haiti): As Americans brace for Hurricane Sandy, the Caribbean is still suffering. Officials say storm-related death toll has risen to 65 as of early Sunday. Haitian authorities have reported 51 of those deaths. Continued rains have added to the initial jolt of the hurricane. The country is especially vulnerable due to its ramshackle housing and flood-prone hillsides, as well as the fact 370,000 people are still living in emergency...  

Fidel Castro reportedly makes first public appearance in months

Havana: Fidel Castro has appeared in public for the first time in months, a top hotel executive told The Associated Press on Sunday, challenging persistent rumors that the aging revolutionary is near death. The 86-year-old leader dropped off a Venezuelan guest at the Hotel Nacional on Saturday afternoon, then stayed for about half an hour to chat with hotel staff, commercial director Yamila Fuster said. "Fidel Castro was here yesterday,...  

Portable incubators in 4 states protect babies

Bangalore: Portable incubators are providing a new lease of life to hundreds of newborns. Priced at a reasonable Rs 15,000, these incubators have been installed in hundreds of hospitals and ambulances across four states. A woman, Katyayini gave a premature birth to a child, who weighed 1.4 kg. The doctors advised the 23-year-old mother to keep the baby in an incubator till he gained weight. "He sleeps well in this...  

TN: Baby dies in incubator, family alleges rat bite

Chennai: The family of a 12-day-old baby girl who died on Sunday at the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children here was shocked when they were given her body with a portion of her face missing. The premature baby had been kept in the incubator till it died, which is why the family was shocked to see the bite marks on its tiny face. When a nurse allegedly...  

Cuba's Ramirez wins flyweight boxing gold

London: Flyweight Robeisy Ramirez won Cuba's second Olympic boxing gold medal of the games on Sunday, capping a stellar run through the tournament with a 17-14 victory over Mongolia's Tugstsogt Nyambayar. The 18-year-old Ramirez won Cuba's 34th Olympic boxing gold, second only to the US team's 48. Ramirez got his toughest test of the tournament from Nyambayar, who fell just short of winning only the third gold medal in Mongolia's...  

Wrestler Lopez Nunez wins gold for Cuba

London: Cuba's Mijain Lopez Nunez won gold for Cuba in the men's 120 kg Greco-Roman wrestling on Monday, beating Estonia's Heiki Nabi on points in the final. Lopez Nunez won 3-0 as Nabi claimed Estonia's first medal in London with silver. World champion Riza Kayaalp of Turkey beat Lopez Nunez to the world title last year but was forced to settle for bronze, beating Guram Pherselidze of Georgia 3-0. In...  

Olympics: Uchimura adds gold with world titles

London: Bronze medal around his neck, Danell Leyva applauded as Kohei Uchimura took the top spot on the podium. Hey, no shame finishing behind a guy who might very well be the best gymnast of all time. Uchimura added Olympic gold to the world titles he's won the last three years, and it was never much of a contest. All but wrapping up the gold midway through the meet, the...  

First US cargo ship arrives in Cuba in 50 years

Havana: The freighter Ana Cecilia, which sailed on last Wednesday from Miami to Cuba with a cargo of goods considered humanitarian aid, docked Friday in the port of Havana to inaugurate a service of regular shipments without precedent in the last 50 years. The ship's arrival in Havana Bay occurred at dawn on Friday, one day behind schedule due to administrative problems with the documentation needed for docking at the...  

Paraguay under pressure after president impeached

Asuncion: Paraguay's new president said on Saturday he would ask his impeached predecessor to help quell regional tensions after Argentina withdrew its ambassador in protest at what it said was a coup and Brazil recalled its top diplomat for consultations. Paraguay's South American neighbours and key trading partners are taking it to task for the unprecedented speed with which its opposition-dominated Congress removed President Fernando Lugo on Friday, saying he...