Cuba in the Dark: When the Lights Go Out, the Party Office Lights Up

Куба в темноте, vigiljournal.com

Seven million people without electricity. The storming and arson of a Communist Party office. Students on a sit-in strike. Havana frantically calling Washington. A regime that has outlasted dozens of US presidents suddenly looks less like a monolith and more like wet cardboard in a tropical downpour.

Morón is Burning, and It's Not a Metaphor

The Ghost of Freedom: Tanker Sea Horse Challenges US Naval Blockade – Then Loses Its Nerve

призрак свободы, vigiljournal.com

It nearly made it. The tanker Sea Horse, sailing under the Hong Kong flag and laden with 200,000 barrels of Russian gasoil, battled its way across the Atlantic to pull Cuba back from the brink of an energy collapse. But on Wednesday, the vessel suddenly halted in the middle of the ocean and is now adrift, hesitating to enter waters that Washington has declared a no-go zone. This is no mere commercial voyage. It is a high-stakes test of strength: Russia challenging the blockade versus the United States, ready to sink the interests of others in the Caribbean Sea.

The Daring Tanker: Russia Challenges Trump off the Coast of Cuba

Прорыв блокады, vigiljournal.com

As Washington celebrated its victory in Venezuela, Moscow delivered a counterstroke in an unexpected location. The tanker Sea Horse, carrying nearly 200,000 barrels of Russian fuel, has set course for Cuba, directly challenging Donald Trump's personal embargo. This is more than a commercial transaction; it is a geopolitical duel in the Caribbean Sea, with the survival of the Island of Freedom hanging in the balance.

US open to address differences with Venezuela: Kerry

США и Венесуэла, vigiljournal.com

The Secretary of State, John Kerry, said the United States remain open to address their differences with Venezuela in an attempt to find common areas.

During his participation in the Washington Conference of the Council of the Americas, organized by the Council of the Americas and the State Department, Kerry said, that his work as head of the US State Department is to promote a more productive relationship between the two countries.

US excludes from the sanctions list people and companies linked to Cuba

The US Treasury Department on Tuesday excluded many people and companies linked to Cuba from its list of sanctions, as part of the process of rapprochement initiated by the United States and Cuba after half a century of isolation.

In a brief statement, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury reported that from the sanctions list 6 persons, 28 companies and 11 naval vessels have been removed, including vessels operating under Cypriot flag.

In almost all cases the changes have affected tourist operators and shipping companies based in Panama.

Interview with the member of Saint-Petersburg's Government, Chairman of Saint-Petersburg's Committee on External Relations Alexander Prokhorenko

Александр Прохоренко

- Alexander Vladimirovich, our journal is devoted to the issue of cooperation between Saint-Petersburg and Latin American countries. What can be the basis for such active development of our relations, to your mind?

Santos threats undermine peace dialogue with FARC

Кастро и Сантос

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA (15 Aug/2013)-the leader of the guerrillas of the FARC, Timoleón Jiménez, "Timochenko", said that the threat of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to give low (kill him) if the army finds it harms the peace process.

"The death threats and the orders of execution without any kind of trial do not serve to intimidate us, nor do they help to build the atmosphere of reconciliation necessary to find an exit," said the insurgent leader in a letter published on Thursday by the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia (FARC) on its internet site.

Russian Navy ships arrive in Cuba

Корабли ВМФ России

HAVANA, CUBA (03/AGO/2013.) - Ships of the Russian Navy arrived on Saturday in Havana to meet a program of activities, stated the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (FAR).

The naval vessels fired in salute 21 gun salute, while the FAR responded with an artillery battery from the Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabaña.

During the visit, the head of the Russian ship and crew visited the Head of the Revolutionary Navy, the President of the Provincial Assembly of Popular Power in Havana and Granma Naval Academy.