Husband of top Cuban blogger challenges wife’s assailants to verbal street duel

Cuban blogger’s husband out to avenge her assault

Delegation of 8 American scientists arrive in Cuba for short visit of ’science diplomacy’

US scientists visit Cuba for ’science diplomacy’

Too many idle hands on Cuba’s state farms: Report

HAVANA - One of the major ills of Cuba’s state-run agricultural enterprises is “the excess of non-productive personnel”, Communist Party daily Granma reported.

Cuban weekly warns of more austerity

HAVANA - The weekly publication of Cuba’s only legal labour union says residents of the communist-ruled island will have to get used to belt-tightening “with intelligence” amid a severe recession and little prospect of improvement in the short term.

State Department ‘deplores assault’ on Cuban blogger who claims harassment by state security

US State Dept ‘deplores assault’ on Cuban bloggers

Vatican official says he would like Roman Catholic Church to have more access to Cuban media

Vatican official seeks more access to Cuban media

Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez says she is briefly detained, harrassed by state security agents

Cuban blogger says she is briefly detained

EU urges Cuba to carry out democratic reforms

HAVANA - Cuba must carry out democratic reforms in the country as a step to normalise relations with the European Union (EU), an official of the 27-member bloc said.

EU commissioner says Cuba should offer gestures to show it’s serious about human rights

EU leader: Cuba must make human rights gestures

Russia to prospect for oil in Cuba

HAVANA - Russian and Cuban governments have signed four agreements for oil exploration and production on the Caribbean island, official media reported.

Cuba to host international folklore conference

HAVANA - Cuba will host the 39th Conference of Organisations for Folklore Festivals November 8-15.

Juanita Castro’s autobiography a commercial stunt in bad taste: Cuba

HAVANA - Cuba has said the autobiography of Juanita Castro, in which she revealed her association with the CIA and her estranged relationship with her elder brothers Raul and Fidel Castro, is “a commercial venture in bad taste and of low morality”.

Cuba slashes purchases from US in 2009 by 37 percent

HAVANA - Cuban purchases from US companies will total some $580 million by the end of 2009, down 37 percent from last year, the head of the state corporation Alimport said.

Cuban tourism booms for sixth year in a row

HAVANA - Cuba has seen two million tourists coming from all over the world to the country’s tourist destinations for sixth year in a row, a tourism ministry report said.

AP Interview: Foreign Minister says Cuba prepared for talks with the US ‘on any level’