Havana
latest news & developments
South Africa’s dangerous drift away from sovereignty and nationhood
Transnational commitments are celebrated, while attachment to the nation‑state is treated with suspicion
The dark side of Cuban cigars
”I’m always scared,” said Pedro as he deftly twisted large tobacco leaves to make fake famous name Havana cigars in a clandestine workshop.
It’s time to let Cuba in from the cold, and Obama is the perfect man to do it
A visit to Havana by a black president ending the US policy of isolation would be as magical as events of 50 years ago.
As hard times bite, Cubans show little appetite for celebration
The revolutionary leader said history would judge him, but the daily struggle is testing even his most loyal supporters.
Cuba celebrates 50 years of Communism
On January 1, Cuba celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Communist revolution, which ushered in decades of enmity with the United States.
Ike slams Cuba, Haiti death toll passes 600
Hurricane Ike raged over Cuba early on Monday, pummelling the island with gale force winds and rain after killing dozens in beleaguered Haiti.
Human rights situation in Cuba ‘very unfavourable’
A Cuban group painted a grim picture of the human rights situation in the island nation, saying in a report it was ”very unfavourable”.
Cuba approves first therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer
Cuba has approved what is believed to be the world’s first registered lung cancer vaccine and is offering it to Cuban and foreign patients.
Activists hold large gay rally in Cuba
Cuba’s gay community celebrated unprecedented openness — and high-ranking political alliances — with a government-backed campaign against homophobia on Saturday. The meeting at a…
Cuba looks to golf to boost tourism
The only time Cuba’s Fidel Castro is known to have played golf was in 1961, in a stunt thumbing his nose at the United States. Now that Fidel has handed over power to his…
Cuba looks to golf to drive its tourist economy
Johan Vega knows the Havana Golf Club well. Too well. He has played every bunker, green and fairway thousands of times and the course has become monotonous. Golfers like to…
Cuba’s pressure-cooker pace of change
It took Fidel Castro four decades to accept limited economic reform in communist Cuba, but it has taken his brother, Raul Castro, the President since February, just weeks to…
Cuba ends ‘tourism apartheid’
Cubans for the first time can check into the island’s swank tourist hotels that until now had been exclusively reserved for foreigners, as President Raul Castro continues to…
Cuba eases curb on sale of TVs and computers
Cuba has eased restrictions on the sale of computers, DVD players and other electrical goods, in the first sign of economic liberalisation since Fidel Castro retired last month.…
Castro stepping down as Cuba’s leader
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that he will not return to lead the country as president or commander-in-chief, retiring as head of state 49 years after he…