Doctor Alina Gonzalez, 57, looks after some of Cuba’s 2,000 centenarians. The island’s 11.2 million people have an average life expectancy of 79.5 years — comparable to that of rich nations. Since 1962, a US embargo has made daily life in Cuba hard, even for doctors like herself. Complications have increased in recent months after the US tightened trade restrictions further.
Beatriz Estevez, 29, gave up her law studies and turned to the arts. The streets of Old Havana are now her everyday stage where she performs as a living statue. Her character the ‘silver fairy’ has become an almost permanent fixture there. For those like Beatriz who work in the tourism sector in Cuba, opportunities are rife. On average, self-employed Cubans can make up four times as much as state employees.
As Havana turns 500 years old, AFPTV speaks to Cubans who reflect on how the capital has impacted their lives. Once in a while actress Beatriz Estevez turns into a statue of a fairy in the streets of the capital, as she believes “we are more than what is typically known about Cuba”.
Spain’s King Felipe VI begins an unprecedented visit to Cuba to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the capital Havana at a time of increased tensions between the island nation and the United States. IMAGES
The vintage urban panorama of Havana is changing with “almendrones” – those old and classic cars – making way for “motorinas”, electric motorcycles. Since customs authorized their import in 2013, the eco-friendly bikes have become an important part of Cuba’s urban transportation, even more so now as Cuba is feeling the effects of an acute fuel shortage that emerged from pressure and fines imposed by Washington on tankers moving oil from Venezuela.
It is the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana, and despite White House moves to keep U.S. residents from going, it’s still legal for Americans to visit Cuba, and, reports Michael Weissenstein, the Associated Press news director for the Caribbean, well worth the effort.
On #MyFavoriteTrip: a tourist’s reminiscence about a Cuba tour.
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Cuba Gooding Jr. pleads not guilty to new misconduct claim; James Cromwell arrested at Texas A and M regents protest; Recording Academy to honor Dr. Dre for trailblazing production work. (Nov. 1)
Cuba Gooding Jr. appeared in court Thursday to plead not guilty to a new sexual misconduct charge. Gooding’s criminal case now includes allegations from three women, growing in recent weeks from a lone allegation that led to his arrest in June. (Oct. 31)
Here’s the latest for Thursday, October 31st: House approves impeachment rules; Cuba Gooding Jr. pleads not guilty; Hong Kong Halloween protest; U.S. Senate staffers and their pets at Capitol Hill Halloween parade.
Highlights of this day in history: A Cold War crisis over Cuba leads to brink of nuclear war; Shah of Iran allowed into U.S. for treatment; ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd killed; Last victim slain in D.C. sniper shootings; Cellist Pablo Casals dies. (Oct. 22)
Highlights of this day in history: A Cold War crisis over Cuba leads to brink of nuclear war; Shah of Iran allowed into U.S. for treatment; ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd killed; Last victim slain in D.C. sniper shootings; Cellist Pablo Casals dies. (Oct. 22)
Cuba Gooding Jr. pleads not guilty to sexual misconduct indictment; Felicity Huffman starts serving prison time in college scam; Vietnam bans animated ‘Abominable’ over South China Sea map. (Oct. 16)
Here’s the latest for Tuesday, Oct. 15th: Hunter Biden addresses Trump accusations; Cuba Gooding Jr. pleads not guilty; Convictions of Catalan separatist leaders lead to clashes in Northeastern Spain; France’s lower house of Parliament approves IVF bill.
Cuba Gooding Jr.’s groping trial set to begin on Thursday; Ozzy Osbourne says he’s “not dying,” postpones his 2020 European shows; Kurt Cobain’s “Unplugged” sweater, guitar, head to auction. (Oct. 10)
Hundreds of women marched through Mexico City on Saturday to demand a complete end to the country’s ban on abortion. They chanted calls for greater women’s rights and held up green hankerchiefs bearing the slogan “Legalise Abortion”.
Many areas of Mexico have highly restrictive laws on abortion. In Mexico City it’s been legal since 2007 to abort within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. And lawmakers in the southern state of Oaxaca voted just last week to follow suit. But in the rest of the country it’s against the law, except in the case of rape.
Saturday’s rally was aimed at pressurising the authorities to make it legal everywhere in Mexico. The march was mostly peaceful, although a small group of demonstrators broke away and vandalised a number of stores.
Elsewhere in the region, three Central American countries have total bans on abortion: El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. Argentina came close to decriminalising abortion last year for any pregnancy up to 14 weeks after a measure passed in the lower house of Congress. The Senate voted it down under heavy opposition from conservative groups.
Along with Mexico City, Cuba and Uruguay are the only places in the region where women can undergo abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy regardless of the circumstances.
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Highlights of this day in history: JFK and Nixon participate in TV’s first presidential debate; Cuba ends Mariel boatlift; Composer George Gershwin, poet T.S. Eliot and tennis star Serena Williams born; ‘West Side Story’ hits Broadway. (Sept. 26)
It’s an international fad, but in Cuba it bears its own special flavour: more and more youngsters sport a trimmed beard, but without the political significance given by Fidel Castro and his “bearded” rebels during the 1959 revolution.
Highlights of this day in history: First steps toward building the Berlin Wall during the Cold War; Cuba’s Fidel Castro born; Spain’s Cortez captures what’s now Mexico City; Director Alfred Hitchcock born; Baseball’s Mickey Mantle dies. (Aug. 13)
Judge allows Cuba Gooding Jr. groping case to go forward; Wayne Newton sued over claims his pet monkey bit and injured a girl; Krysten Ritter welcomes new baby boy. (Aug. 9)
Cubans are able to have WiFi in their homes, another step forward in the diffusion of the internet, which Cuba’s Vice-Minister of Communications says is a tool to defend the revolution.
Highlights of this day in history: President Harry Truman orders desegregation of U.S. Military; Cuba’s Fidel Castro attacks Moncada barracks; Argentina’s Eva Peron dies; Playwright George Bernard Shaw and rock star Mick Jagger born. (July 26)
For decades, their songs were banned, and even called the “music of the enemy.” But Cuba’s rockers have finally found their place in a nation where salsa, rumba and reggaeton usually reign.
Highlights of this day in history: An assassination in Europe sparks World War I; Elian Gonzalez and his father leave for Cuba; Boxer Mike Tyson disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear; Richard Rodgers and Mel Brooks born. (June 28)
Lawyers for Cuba Gooding Jr. are providing a court with video they say will show the actor did not grope a woman at a New York City bar. The prosecution, meanwhile, presented the court on Wednesday with a deposition from Gooding’s accuser. (June 26)