Sixty-one-year-old American swimmer Diana Nyad ended her bid Tuesday to swim the Florida Straits from Cuba to the United States. Nyad was attempting to become the first person to make the 165-kilometer crossing without the benefit of a shark cage. According to her Twitter account, Nyad was forced to end her attempt at the record-setting […]
Nyad Swimming North in Record Cuba-Florida Bid
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 5:00 pm (UTC-5)
Veteran U.S. endurance swimmer Diana Nyad is making her way through calm waters as she attempts to set a new world record with a swim between Havana, Cuba and the Florida Keys. Nyad, who is nearly 62 years old, is hoping to accomplish what she failed to do at 28 – complete the estimated 60-hour […]
U.S. Swimmer Attempts To Swim From Cuba to Florida
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
American endurance swimmer Diana Nyad is attempting to become the first person to swim between Havana, Cuba and the Florida Keys without a shark cage. Nyad began her 166-kilometer swim across the Florida Straits Sunday evening. Nyad called the swim a “symbolic moment” for increasing understanding between the United States and Cuba. The marathon swim […]
Cuba Rejects Appeal From Jailed US Contractor
Posted August 5th, 2011 at 4:45 pm (UTC-5)
Cuba’s Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of jailed U.S. contractor Alan Gross, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in March for crimes against the communist state. The court on Friday rejected an appeal from Gross, who was arrested by Cuban authorities in December 2009 for bringing communications equipment into the country. The […]
Cuba Rejects Appeal from Jailed US Contractor
Posted August 5th, 2011 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
Cuba’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from jailed U.S. contractor Alan Gross, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in March for crimes against the communist state. Cuban authorities arrested Gross in December 2009 for bringing communications equipment into the country. Gross was working for a private firm that was contracted by the […]
Cuban National Assembly Meets
Posted August 2nd, 2011 at 4:20 am (UTC-5)
Cuban President Raul Castro discussed sweeping reforms when he addressed the National Assembly Monday in one of its twice-yearly sessions. Mr. Castro discussed possible migration reform. Officials said Cuba is considering the elimination of the “white card” – a form used for requesting permission to leave the island nation. The travel restrictions have been in […]
US Airline Flight Diverted to Cuba
Posted July 31st, 2011 at 11:25 pm (UTC-5)
A United Airlines flight travelling between Washington’s Dulles International Airport and Cancun, Mexico was diverted to Havana, Cuba after a strange odor was detected on board. The Airbus 320, carrying 135 passengers and five crew members, landed in Havana Sunday after the crew noticed a burning smell in the cockpit. A United Airlines spokesman said […]
Officials: Cuba Approves Havana-Tampa Flights
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 7:15 pm (UTC-5)
Officials in Tampa say Cuba has authorized air service between that city and Havana and that charter flights to the Caribbean island could begin as early as September 10. The flights would be on ABC Charters of Miami. The chief executive officer of Tampa International Airport said in a statement Wednesday that accessing “this vital […]
Cubans Urged to Be Patient on Free-Market Reforms
Posted July 26th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Cuba has marked the 58th anniversary of the failed attack on army barracks that sparked the beginning of the overthrow of the government of U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. The official celebration was held in the city of Ciego de Avila Tuesday. Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, who spoke at the event, said the city […]
US Contractor Appeals 15-Year Sentence in Cuba
Posted July 23rd, 2011 at 3:15 am (UTC-5)
A U.S. contractor has appealed his 15-year jail sentence in Cuba. On Friday, Alan Gross told the communist country’s Supreme Court he meant Cuba no harm while working on telecommunications equipment. He says he was only trying to improve Internet service for a small Jewish community. He was detained in late 2009 while working on […]
