Viewing from May 2015

Cuba Finally Removed from US List of Sponsors of Terrorism

News from Cuba | Friday, 29 May 2015

The government of President Barack Obama took a historic step forward Friday by removing Cuba from its list of countries that, according to Washington, sponsor terrorism. U.S State Department Press Officer Jeff Rathke announced the decision: “The 45-day notice to Congress has expired, and the Secretary of State decided to terminate ... read more

US Takes Cuba off Terror List, Paving Way for Normal Ties

News from Cuba | Friday, 29 May 2015

The State Department removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a largely symbolic step clearing the way for normalizing diplomatic relations 54 years after the U.S. severed ties after Cuba’s communist revolution. Removal from the list, announced by the department on Friday, came as a matter of course ... read more

Miami Five Campaign celebrations and archive

Campaign News | Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Cuba Solidarity Campaign is putting together an archive of the history of the Miami Five campaign in Britain and we need your help! We will be celebrating and sharing all the work over the years at the CSC AGM on Saturday 13 June in London. We want you to tell us about ... read more

Cuba's medical system is recognized as one of the best in the world. | Photo: Granma

Cuban life expectancy among the highest in world at 78.45 years

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Cuban officials with the Center for the Study of Population and Development, known as CEPDE, revealed Monday that life expectancy in Cuba, already one of the highest in the world, now reaches 78.45 years. Juan Carlos Alfonso Fraga, director of CEPDE, said the figure represents an increase of nearly half a ... read more

Stunning 36 percent rise in US visits to Cuba since January

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 26 May 2015

The thaw in relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led to a stunning 36 percent increase in visits by Americans to the island, including thousands who are flying into Cuba from third countries like Mexico in order to sidestep U.S. restrictions on tourism. The dramatic rise was seen in the ... read more

US Interests Section in Havana

US, Cuba push to finalise talks on re-establishing Embassies

News from Cuba | Friday, 22 May 2015

US and Cuban officials were trying Thursday to complete talks to re-establish embassies in each other's capitals after a half-century interruption. Many differences appeared close to being resolved.The top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson, was meeting with her Cuban counterpart, Josefina Vidal, at the State Department, though officials ... read more

Guinea President Thanks Cuba as Medics Prepare to Return Home

News from Cuba | Friday, 22 May 2015

The African leader praised Cuba for the “invaluable aid” to Guinea in the midst of such a complex crisis Guinea's President Alpha Conde met Thursday with a group of Cuban doctors who are returning home after they accomplished their mission in the African nation in the battle against the Ebola crisis. The ... read more

Cuba and the United States begin third round of talks

News from Cuba | Thursday, 21 May 2015

Talks continue in advancing the process of reestablishing diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies WASHINGTON.— The Cuban and U.S. delegations will resume bilateral talks today, to be held at the Department of State in Washington, to continue advancing in the process of reestablishing diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies. Both ... read more

Ukrainian Scientists Call for Resumption of Cuban Medical Program for Chernobyl Children

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Participants at a scientific conference in Kiev urged the Ukrainian government and parliament to do what is necessary to resume the Cuban medical care of the children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. The forum, which marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of the medical program, was hosted by ... read more

Benicio del Toro on US-Cuban normalisation: 'Let rip. I think it's great'

News from Cuba | Monday, 18 May 2015

Benicio del Toro, the Oscar-winning actor who played Che Guevara in a controversial biopic of the iconic revolutionary, has called on the US and Cuba to accelerate the process of normalisation of relations between the two countries. “Let rip. I think it’s great,” said del Toro in an interview at the ... read more

Statement by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Relations

News from Cuba | Friday, 15 May 2015

Third round of Cuba-US talks due on Thursday 21 May On Thursday, May 21, the third round of conversations between Cuba and the United States regarding the process of reestablishing diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies in both countries, will be held in Washington. This encounter will be a continuation of ... read more

US to study Cuba's lung cancer vaccine: What the world can learn from Castro's health service

News from Cuba | Friday, 15 May 2015

Shut off from the West for 55 years, Cuba was forced to come up with many of its own medical breakthroughs - and excelled in doing so American researchers are about to be given access for the first time to a breakthrough lung cancer vaccine developed in Cuba, in what could ... read more

Cuba Solidarity Campaign 2015 AGM

News from Cuba | Thursday, 14 May 2015

This year’s AGM will focus on the changes in Cuba-US relations and how they challenge campaigning against the blockade The Cuba Solidarity Campaign’s Annual General Meeting for 2015 will take place on Saturday 13 June, from 10am – 4pm at Hamilton House, the headquarters of the National Union of Teachers in ... read more

As Second Earthquake Strikes, Cuban Doctors Arrive in Nepal

News from Cuba | Thursday, 14 May 2015

Cuban internationalists arrive in Nepal A Cuban brigade that specialises in dealing with major epidemics and disasters have set up a field hospital outside of Kathmandu. The team of Cuban doctors arrived in Nepal Tuesday, the same day that a second deadly earthquake rocked the country and stunted rescue efforts. On Tuesday, ... read more

Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade 2015 Report

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 13 May 2015

26 young activists visit Cuba for May Day Twenty-six young activists from across the British trade union movement visited Cuba to enjoy the May Day celebrations and offer their solidarity to the Cuban people as part of the Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade, organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC). Delegates ... read more

Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade 2015 Report

Campaign News | Wednesday, 13 May 2015

26 young activists visit Cuba for May Day Twenty-six young activists from across the British trade union movement visited Cuba to enjoy the May Day celebrations and offer their solidarity to the Cuban people as part of the Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade, organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC). Delegates ... read more

Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade 2015 Report

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 13 May 2015

26 young activists visit Cuba for May Day Twenty-six young activists from across the British trade union movement visited Cuba to enjoy the May Day celebrations and offer their solidarity to the Cuban people as part of the Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade, organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC). Delegates ... read more

François Hollande of France Meets Fidel and Raúl Castro in Cuba

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 13 May 2015

President François Hollande of France has called for an end to the United States trade embargo against Cuba, where he met with Fidel Castro in the first visit by a Western head of state to Havana since the United States announced plans in December to re-establish diplomatic relations with the ... read more

Cuba will come off the terrorist list, but the blockade will remain intact

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 13 May 2015

ON April 14, President Barack Obama notified the U.S. Congress of his decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. From that date, the government must allow a period of 45 days for Congressional and public comment, before Cuba’s removal from the list becomes effective. Two weeks ... read more

Raul Castro: Cuba, US to Exchange Ambassadors on 29 May

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Speaking to reporters in Havana’s airport to see off visiting French President Francois Hollande Tuesday, Cuban leader Raul Castro said his country would exchange ambassadors with the United States at the end of May. The Cuban president confirmed that once the U.S. removed Cuba from its list of State Sponsors of ... read more

Cuban medical brigade arrives in Nepal

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Cuban medical brigade that travelled to Nepal to attend to victims of the recent earthquake. Photo: Jorge Luis GonzálezThe 41st Brigade of the Henry Reeve International Contingent specializing in disaster situations and large-scale epidemics - made up of 49 collaborators, including 25 doctors of various specialties - arrived in Kathmandu, ... read more

French President Calls for End of US Blockade Against Cuba

News from Cuba | Monday, 11 May 2015

Francois Hollande is in Cuba for an official visit, becoming the first French president to visit the island. French President Francois Hollande, in Cuba for an official visit Monday, is calling for an end to the U.S. blockade on the island. "Anything France can do to make sure ... the opening ... read more

Hundreds march against homophobia

News from Cuba | Saturday, 9 May 2015

More than 1,000 people from LGBTQI communities marched through the streets of Havana Saturday in a proud display of their sexual and gender identities.The 8th Cuban Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was particularly important this year for the 20 couples that participated in a symbolic gay wedding. Gay marriage is ... read more

Trade relations with the United Kingdom advance

News from Cuba | Friday, 8 May 2015

“We understand the importance of foreign investment for the Cuban economy, thus I consider that there is much more to be done,” expressed Lord Hutton of Furness. Photo: CubadebateThe Chairman of the Cuba Initiative, Lord Hutton of Furness, informed that Cuba and the United Kingdom signed investment deals worth approximately ... read more

Respect, include, accept - Mariela Castro launches International Day Against Homophobia events

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Mariela Castro Espín, director of Cene?sex, highlighted the importance of informing and educating the Cuban population in the need to accept and respect free and responsible sexual orientation and gender identity.The 8th Cuban Day against Homophobia and Transphobia began this Tuesday with a press conference and the inauguration of the ... read more

Gerardo addressing the conference in Havana

Gerardo Hernández: Without solidarity, we would not have returned

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Gerardo Hernandez, in his remarks at the International Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba on 2 May in Havana, said that without the battle of the solidarity movement, the release of the anti-terrorists would not have been possible. After receiving an award from the Cuban Workers Central Trade Union, Gerardo began his ... read more

Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, secretary general of the Cuban Workers Federation

May Day speech by Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, secretary general of the Cuban Workers Federation

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 5 May 2015

"The Cuban working class, with our entire people, have convincing reasons to joyfully celebrate International Workers Day. Columns of manual and intellectual workers, students and soldiers - united, combatative and colorful - will march through plazas and streets throughout the length and breadth of our country, representing their unions and ... read more

The blockade remains intact

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 5 May 2015

By Sergio Alejandro Gómez for Granma InternationalSome 53 years after President John F. Kennedy signed Decree no.3447, on February 3, 1962, formally establishing the U.S. blockade of Cuba, Granma spoke with Professor Rodolfo Dávalos about this hostile policy which remains intact."THE majority of Cubans support Castro," was the opinion expressed ... read more