KAMPALA, Uganda, August 28, 2023/APO Group/ -- On August 26, a new edition of the Pan African Pyramidal Awards was held, the most prestigious recognition given by pan-Africanist organizations to the life and work of people and institutions in the world in favor of the true independence and development of the African continent. On this occasion, Fidel Castro Ruz, historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, received one of the awards corresponding to the year 2023 in honor of the blood of the more than two thousand Cuban combatants killed for the liberation of African lands, the contribution to the training of more than 34,000 Africans in Cuba, the health, education and other services have offered professionals and technicians from the island to millions of people on the continent; the example of resilience against the most powerful empire in the world, as well as the permanent political commitment to true African political and economic independence. Ambassador Tania Pérez thanked the recognition on behalf of the Cuban people and highlighted the historical contribution of Africa to the Caribbean island, throughout the formation of the Cuban nationality and the fight for true independence.
WOOOHOOO! The next Saudi Arabia! OPEC and BRICS here we come. They'll be rafting over from Miami in a few years time. You watch... 'Tremendously successful': Appraisal well spurs development plan review at Cuba oil discovery Melbana Energy ****-a-hoop at Alameda results, eyes earlier and quicker production Australian independent Melbana Energy has delivered with the appraisal well on its Alameda oil discovery on its Block 9 onshore Cuba and Unit 1B is being completed to allow for future production. Melbana’s executive chairman, Andrew Purcell, said that the appraisal well has been a “tremendous success” and gives the company more shorter-term production options to consider when finalising its field development plan. The Alameda-2 appraisal well successfully flowed 1903 barrels per day of oil at peak with an average stabilised rate of 1235 bpd. The operator noted that the recovered oil was “significantly lighter” at 19 degrees API and of a lower viscosity than other units in the Armistad formation. More than 1000 barrels of crude were trucked away during the test during which no formation water was observed. “What an excellent finish to an already successful appraisal well. Unit 1B has really delivered, as we hoped would be the case given the high fracture density and excellent permeability and porosity we observed in the logs when drilling through that unit,” added Purcell. “That it contains higher quality oil has implications for the value of the oil produced and the possibility of higher recovery rates than were assumed in our original resource estimates, too. Importantly, these results were obtained by perforating less than 20% of the total net pay for Unit 1B (when incorporating fractures) and the flow rate exceeded our expectations for a vertical test at such a shallow level.” The Alameda-2 appraisal well produced oil to surface from Unit 1A, achieved strong flow rates of a higher quality crude from Unit 1B, proved the existence of moveable oil from Unit 3 and confirmed a significant increase in logged net pay to 615 metres, according to Melbana. Further laboratory testing of Unit B’s oil’s properties is in progress to better understand its commercial and production characteristics. The Unit 1B section has now been completed for future production while Units 1A and 3 will be suspended for potential future development and production. Earlier and quicker production The field development plan for Block 9 is now being reviewed given these results support investigating earlier and quicker production from this Amistad formation. Going forward, the rig will next be prepared for a move to the Alameda-1 wellhead, located on the same pad. The next appraisal well, Alameda-3, will test the lower two geologically independent oil-bearing formations intercepted by Alameda-1 – designated Alameda and Marti, respectively. Melbana’s technical team has identified 19 structural prospects and leads within Block 9, a large onshore area of more than 2300 square kilometres located on the north coast of Cuba in a proven hydrocarbon system and along trend with the multi-BILLION barrel Varadero oilfield. The Australian company operates the Block 9 production sharing contract with a 30% interest. Melbana is being fully funded for its share of the appraisal costs by Angola’s state-owned Sonangol, which is farming in for the majority 70% stake.
Although I suppose they'll be complaining. Oh, fossil fuels. Dirty. Polluting. Everything Cuba produces. The same. Oh, sugar, bad. Fattening. Rum? Oh no. Drunkeness. Tobacco? Eeeek!!!! Nothing Cuban they like. Except the cha cha cha and the salsa. Just surprised they haven't found out that's bad for you yet.
Two molotov cocktails hurled at the Cuban embassy building in another terrorist attack in Washington DC USA yesterday evening. Fortunately none of the staff were injured. This follows the attack in 2020, when the same building was sprayed with machine gun bullets. United States failing once again in its duty to protect the safety of diplomats on its soil. Imagine for just a moment that there was any sort of incident involving the infamous US embassy in Havana - centre of provocation and the handing over of cash and items such as satellite phones etc to encourage supposed 'dissidents'. The US would have no option but to order immediate air strikes, invasion and goodness knows what else. The attacks on Cuban diplomatic staff and buildings don't even rate a mention in the media here, by way of contrast. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino...n-embassy-dc-no-significant-damage-rcna117164
Terrorist attack against the Cuban Embassy in the United States Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba During the night of September 24, 2023, a terrorist attack occurred against the premises of the Cuban Embassy in the United States, when an individual threw two Molotov cocktails from the sidewalk over the perimeter fence of the facility, which hit the front wall of that diplomatic mission. There were no injuries to the personnel who were present at that headquarters. At the request of the Cuban diplomatic mission, officers of the United States Secret Service arrived at the building and had access to its facilities to verify the violent action perpetrated. Anti-Cuban groups resort to terrorism due to the moral bankruptcy of their hatred against Cuba and the impunity they believe they enjoy. On a regular basis, in the official exchanges between the Embassy and the Department of State, we have warned that the permissive behavior of United States law enforcement agencies in the face of violent actions can encourage the commission of acts of this nature. It is the second violent attack against the diplomatic headquarters in Washington, since April 2020. On the night of that day, an individual of Cuban origin, standing in the middle of the street in the US capital and using an assault rifle, fired a burst of thirty cartridges against the building. Fortunately, there was no damage to the personnel inside the property on that occasion, but there was considerable material damage. After three years, the perpetrator still awaits trial and the United States government has refused to classify the incident as a terrorist act. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requires the United States, as a receiving country, to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of the mission against intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns this terrorist action and hopes that the United States Government will act in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, in the interest of avoiding the repetition of these events. The Ministry warns once again about the message that is being conveyed regarding the attitude of the US government in the face of threats of this type against the Cuban diplomatic headquarters, but also against those of other countries in the city of Washington D.C. It also warns against the double standards used by the US government's supposed commitment against terrorism.
Cuba update - or what I did on my holidays. Things are tough. There's no denying it. Things were tough last year and this year is worse. Prices are sky high. 700 pesos for 1 measly pound of beans! 700! People's wages are between 3 and 5000 pesos a month. Cooking oil. There is a shelf behind the counter in the shop where the expensive stuff is. Bottles of aged rum, bottles of imported scotch whisky. In the middle and in pride of place, 1 single 1 litre bottle of vegetable oil. That is how the availability of cooking oil is. For tourists, things are OK. The prices are even cheap. Before, for many years the peso was pegged at 20 to 1 US Dollar. That was how it was for decades. There was a convertible peso that had the same value as the dollar. The CUP (national peso) and the CUC (convertible peso) ran side by side. Tourists used the convertible and Cubans used the national. It worked quite well. If entrance to the dance costs 10 pesos, then it is 50c US for the Cuban and $10 for the tourist. Perfectly fair. But then there were people complaining about it. It is tourist apartheid. The Cuban is not living like tbe tourist lives. Some fine shops don't want CUP, they only take CUC and that means the Cuban can't shop there - unless they have family or friends in the exterior. So they decided to unify the currencies. Originally the dollar was fixed at something like 35 peso. That was the government rate. But when the street rate was double that and more, they caved in and upped it to 120 to the dollar, which is where it remains today. Tourists do still pay more because prices are in pesos everywhere. But the hotels and restaurants etc change the money at the government rate of 120 only. Same if you take money out of an atm. But on the street, the rate is now 252 and rising. I've seen sellers asking 260. For the Pound I was getting 280 and upwards. Dollars (US and the colourful plastic Canadian) and Euros are well known and easily exchanged - pounds less so, especially in the countryside. Some prices: 20 Rothmans - 150 pesos 20 National Fags - 110 Can of national beer - 250 Can of cola or lemonade - 200 Two scoop ice cream in waffle cone - 100 Slap up omelette and tropical fruit breakfast with a coffee and a glass of guava juice - 750 Glass of cold sugar cane juice - 10 (s) or 20 (l) So as you can see, cheap for the tourist. The breakfast is only about £2.50 for example. Fags about 40p per pack and beer 80p per can. But the big problem is transport. There is no petrol. None. 1 man told me he hadn't seen any since June. There's a little on the black market. They say around $10 per litre. State users have special cards that get 'authorised' to allow a purchase of 20 litres no more. Tourists can rent cars there, but they also get limited to 20 litres. I'm not sure how often. If you want a tourist taxi for a longish journey, you need to book it and pay the previous day. When it's all confirmed, the driver can start looking for the old combustible. If he can't find it, your journey is cancelled. When cars go out from the west (havana etc) where availability is marginally better, they take cans of petrol with them in the boot for the journey back. Availability in the east is nil. Travelling is very expensive of course. I was quoted $400 for a 350 mile ride from Holguín to Santa Marta for example. The Via Azul buses are a good alternative - $42 for the same journey. They're reliable and quite comfortable, but booking is a time-consuming and very Cuban experience. Suffering worst are some of the old people. So many people have left. Everyone near enough seems to want to leave. Well not everyone. I had a nice rum drinking night out with an old boy who'd been in the MinInt - the interior ministry - for all his working life. He'd had the opportunity to go to the US 40 years ago through family connections, but refused it. He wasn't sorry. He loves Cuba. His proudest work moment was when he was guarding an airport at Moa, where Fidel was visiting. Someone tried to come through the door he was guarding and he'd been ordered not to let anyone through so he held it closed. The person the other side pushed and shoved the door in a little tug of war and eventually came through. Of course it was Fidel....
But it's fair to say the vast majority, and the young people especially, want out. Miami is calling. The route is via Nicaragua (which doesn't demand visas for Cubans) then up through Mexico and across the border with the coyotes. Dangerous and often deadly. People are murdered or die in the desert. Women get raped. Some get kidnapped and held for ransom from the US family waiting them. Still the young people I spoke to say it's their 'dream' to leave. One girl told me that if everyone could leave easily then Diaz Canel (the president) and Raúl would be left in Cuba alone. That is the sort of sentiment I am sorry to say. It's not just food, it's every aspect. There's no dentists in the main. There's no anaesthetic or the other disposable equipment they need. You can have treatment without anaesthetic or you can try to buy some on the black market. Same with tbe doctors and the hospitals. They're lacking simple things like syringes and those puffer things to measure blood pressure. The situation is really desperate. The United Nations voted again this year unanimously (except usa and Israel) to condemn the economic and financial blockade of Cuba. Trump made it worse, Biden has done nothing to ease it. They want to starve Cubans into submission. As an example of the far reaching tentacles of the blockade, all of the British tourists on my flight are now BANNED from visiting tbe USA. The visa waiver scheme for brits no longer applies to us and we must go to the US embassy in London for an interview and the possible issue of a special visa should we want to visit there. That is because we have committed the atrocity of holidaying in Cuba - an official "state sponsor of terrorism" and fully paid up member of the "axis of evil".
People's justice in action. Cellphone snatcher gets thrown in a skip and detained to await the arrival of officers. British cities would be a lot better if citizens had this attitude. https://www.reddit.com/r/cuba/s/yC9NAewUJn
Miami and the wormery are so well infiltrated, they don't know who to trust. Turns out the former US ambassador to Cuba was on the right side of history too, bless him! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67619011 Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, is accused of helping Cuba gather intelligence against the US since 1981. Mr Rocha referred to the US as "the enemy" and claimed his work as a secret agent "strengthened the Revolution", according to court papers. Rocha praised the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as “Comandante”, branded the US the “enemy” and bragged about his service for more than 40 years as a Cuban mole in the heart of the State Department and elite US foreign policy circles, the complaint says. Good man, good man!
http://www.cubanews.acn.cu/culture/23141-havana-hosts-british-culture-season Havana Hosts British Culture Season Havana, Dec 4 (ACN) The 4th British Culture season opened Monday in Havana with several actions including music concerts, theater plays and book launches. This year the season is dedicated to what is known as Fantasy Literature and particularly to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit marking the 50th year of his death, according to PL news. British ambassador to Cuba George Hollingbery said that the program includes workshops, concerts, films and theater plays. The official opening of the event is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5th in Havana’s Historic Castle Castillo de la Real Fueraz, on the bay area. The local theater company “La Colmenita” will bring the play “Cinderella according to The Beatles,” while the Cuban Cinemateca will exhibit the Lord of the Rings in its large version at the 23 and 12 Movie Theater.
RIP Alejandro Díaz Albert Aged 28, Ale was married and had a one year old daughter. He was from Holguin province. He drowned in the Rio Grande whilst trying to cross over from Mexico into the United States. “He left Matamoros on Thursday (December 21) around 3:30AM, but the ‘Migra’ from Mexico fell behind them and they jumped into an area they didn’t know. One of the group said that Díaz dropped his backpack, went to pick it up and they didn’t see him again.” A woman who was a member of the group of migrants who crossed said: “We were in a camp in Matamoros with some rustic tent houses. We went out and on the way we picked up those eight Cubans who are from Holguín. We joined together and there were 11 Cubans in total. “The police on the US side warned the Mexicans and an Immigration van was coming at us at full speed. We got scared, we had to divert from the path and go down a ravine. At that time it was like every man for himself. Everyone with their backpacks we jumped into the river and we started swimming. I think that boy (Díaz) didn’t know how to swim and I think desperation sank him, I don’t know.” Firefighters from Brownsville, Texas, USA recovered Ale's body from the river. "I'm mad with grief. What sad news, my god. The grandson of Rosario, my neighbour and friend, was the boy who drowned in the Rio Bravo. I know all his family. My god, what pain." Options for the family are the possibility of a humanitarian visa “so that some of them can come to the funeral and say goodbye.” However, “this procedure is carried out through local congressmen; for example, his parents or his wife could come.” The other option is to “cremate the body and send the ashes to Cuba,” a situation that the family is considering. The rescue coordinator, Francisco Ponce, said that after recovering the body of the Cuban migrant, the authorities found another person dead on the banks of the Rio Grande. It is long, long past time that these murderous immigration laws were overturned. Alejandro is one of many who have died. It is time it was stopped.
Worms will be worms. Amongst the Cubans I've known in the UK, almost invariably the 'political' ones who are claiming asylum here, are low class, badly educated, sociopathic semi-nuts. They got opressed by the cops in Cuba and now - surprise - they're getting opressed by the cops in Britain! Who'd have thought. I knew one from west Hampstead. His nickname was 'Papito' - little daddy. He was a short arse, aggressive shítbag. I only knew him because the mother in law was friends with his mother in Habana. He caused no end of trouble from smashing up his lovely girlfriend's flat and holding her neighbours kidnapped with a knife, to slashing her car tyres and fighting (with knife) against a touring Cuban salsa group. They were chasing him and going to kill him but he escaped in a car. You know the problems for Cubans on internationalist missions in the exterior if there are scandals. They can get suspended for many months and not go overseas again for a long time. That did not matter. They were so mad they wanted Papito blood. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because I see in my Cuban news feed that another counter-revolutionary worm has managed to make the news for a second time in Leicester. First time around was: "An asylum seeker who doused his lover in boiling hot water scarring her upper body will be able to stay in Britain. Luis Driggs-Gonzalez, 38, who came to Leicester from Cuba, poured a kettle over his 30-year-old girlfriend, stripping the skin from her neck, shoulders and chest. Prosecutor Gareth Underhill told Snaresbrook Crown Court that the attack happened at the woman’s east London home, in October. A statement from Chelsea & Westminster Hospital’s burns unit said she sustained nine per cent burns to her upper back, right shoulder and breasts, leaving her with permanent scars. The court heard that Driggs-Gonzalez also attacked Miss Massara, on May 10, last year, pushing her in the face. Judge Murray Shanks jailed Driggs-Gonzalez, from Jay House, in London Road, Leicester, for six years. Unbelievably he will not be expelled from Britain after jail, after claiming to be a “political activist” who faces torture if he returns to Cuba. So even though there is no torture in Cuba (except of course at the US Guantánamo torture camp), they decided not to send him back home. Instead he does his prison time. What terrible oppression he's suffered! A political prisoner of the British! Freedom!!! Well it appears he did get freed, only to instantly get opressed again! This week he's back in court and this time; CUBAN REFUGEE PUT UP OBSCENE POSTERS OF WOMAN OUTSIDE HER WORK A Cuban ‘political activist’ stuck up posters of a naked woman in the shower outside her home and the bank where she worked, a court heard. Luis Driggs-Gonzalez, 52, was caught on CCTV sticking up the posters with obscene handwritten notes. He described her words written next to it calling her ‘a whore with chlamydia and gonorrhoea’ and ‘a nasty bitch.’ Driggs-Gonzalez was jailed for six years in 2010 for pouring a kettle full of boiling water over a former… This appears to only be reported on one site and you have to pay £5 to do that. Sod that. So I don't know if they'll send him back to clink or maybe this time send him back - although the UK is very welcome to keep him as long as you don't deny him his freedoms and let him run wild as he likes. Otherwise it's oppressive. Maybe you could send him to Rwanda?
What is happening Santiago de Cuba? | ALL THE DETAILS • Due to the long power cuts and the unavailability of fuel and other situations arising from the current economic crisis, various people went out into the street and there was a demonstration. • What were the demonstrators asking for? – The persons demonstrating were asking for electricity and food. A few isolated shouts of "Patria y Vida" (a counter revolutionary slogan) were heard from small groups among the demonstrators, but this wasn't followed by tbe majority. •. Was there a police presence at the demonstration? – Yes, various agents of the PNR were present to control the situation and avoid any violent events. No police intervened in the demonstration as can be seen from videos and photos online. They only stewarded the demonstration and spoke directly to citizens only in the exercise of their duties, but allowing the demonstration to take place in total liberty. • Were government authorities present? – Yes, the first secretary of the party in the province, Beatriz Urrutia and other officials arrived to talk with the demonstrators and hear their demands. •. Have there been calls for violence? – Not on the part of the demonstrators in Santiago de Cuba, but yes on the part of the media.and spokespersons who seek social destabilisation and violence between Cubans. And also by users under false and anonymous profile names in various social media groups. • Is the demonstration continuing ? – Various reports indicate that no, although videos and photos of what happened continue to appear on social media. INFÓRM YOURSELF with precisión.
Direct flights between UK and Cuba could be reinstated within weeks Hopes have been raised that new direct flights between the UK and Cuba could launch at the beginning of May. The Ministry of Tourism for Cuba has announced weekly flights will operate from Manchester and Gatwick. On its Facebook page, the Ministry said the first flight will leave Gatwick for Cayo Coco on 5 May, while a weekly Manchester to Holguin (pictured) service will operate on Sundays, starting on 10 May. If the flights go ahead, they would see the re-introduction of direct flights to the Caribbean island from the UK since TUI announced last November it would suspend sales to Cuba as part of a review of its long-haul programme. TUI’s review put an end to the only direct UK flight, from Manchester to Varadero, which will cease at the end of April 2024 and will not resume next winter. Cuba specialist Cuba Holidays has given more details on its Facebook page, saying the first direct flight will be on 5 May from Gatwick to Cayo Coco, with flight number Q41295 departing at 11:30 and flight Q41296 departing Cayo Coco at 16:30. It adds the Manchester-Holguin flight Q41280 will depart 11:45, beginning Friday 10 May, with flight Q41280 returning at 23:00, arriving Manchester at 11:45 the following day. Cuba Holidays says flights will be on Airbus A330-343 aircraft, operated by Spanish company Euro Airlines. It added flights are scheduled for one year, with the option to continue. The Ministry of Tourism for Cuba has directed people to bookings@irontravel.co.uk for more information. However, the company website is not yet fully operational.
Congratulations Mr Putin, sir! We salute your marvellous election victory and thankyou for your friendship and support. Good old Vlad! Riding to the rescue in the nick of time... Russia Promises Cuba a Stable Supply of Petroleum, Wheat and Basic Necessities Havana, 14 March 2024 — Being a key partner and reliable ally of the Kremlin has its advantages. Cuba knows this well all too well. During an intergovernmental meeting in the Russian capital on Friday, Russia committed to prioritizing “the supply of hydrocarbons, wheat and fertilizers” as part of its alliance with the island. Cuba’s state news agency, Prensa Latina, reported that the Cuban delegation, headed by Minister of Foreign Commerce Ricardo Cabrisa, was informed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Chernishenko that the island would be receiving new loans intended to “guarantee the stable supply of oil, petroleum products, wheat and fertilizers, an issue that is extremely important to Cuba.” The high-level meeting, which the news agency described as “plenary” in nature, was preceded by meetings of seventeen working groups that make up the Cuban-Russian intergovernmental commission. “With no other partner country in Latin America does Russia have such a long and diverse experience in the commercial and economic sphere as with Cuba,” Chernishenko stated. “We value the special nature of bilateral relations, which are not affected by external conditions.”
A concise and excellent statement in response to the US Embassy in Cuba tweeting that the Cuban government should respect human rights. “If the US government had a minimal and honest concern for the welfare of the Cuban population, it would remove Cuba from the arbitrary list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism; it would put an end to the persecution of fuel supplies that the country needs to import; it would stop pursuing every financial transaction of Cuba in the world; it would put an end to the rude persecution against Cuba’s medical co-operation programmes in the world; it would stop intimidating businessmen, visitors, artists and any person who feels the interest and the right to interact with the Cuban people.”
Ay caramba! El Donal Trump has put out a video where he says that when (I don't think it's if) he is president again, he's going to do a bit of regime change in Cuba. "I want to express my admiration and support for all of the brave people of Cuba, who are standing up against the vile communist regime," Trump said in the video post. "It’s not easy, and we appreciate it, and it’s gonna be changed." "Under Cuba’s brutal and corrupt dictators, the Cuban people are suffering terrible food shortages, energy blackouts, poverty, political repression and religious persecution," he added. Unfortunately there wasn't time for Mr Trump to consider what part 62 years of economic war against the island might have played. "I want the people of Cuba to know that we are watching what is happening in Santiago very closely, we are watching it every single minute of the day," Trump said. "We are with you.". (Shudder) "Under my administration, we will return to being very strong on the oppressors. Unlike Crooked Joe Biden, who has been very weak on the communists, I stand with the Cuban people," Trump went on to say. "He does not stand with them, he doesn’t care about them, he couldn’t care less. I echo your call for the release of political prisoners in Cuba and for the free and fair election that we have to have." "You have to have free and fair elections," he said. "Our country has some problems with that also, by the way.". (Cough, papers shuffling, speaker feedback) Most of all, I share your vision for a Cuba that is safe, prosperous and free. Gawd bless the Cuban people and Gawd bless America.". But mostly America. Will he bomb? Will he invade? Well it's been tried before and didn't work out very well for the imperialists. It's very easy for them to get in. To land. Anyone can do that. The problem is getting out again. He who comes will be staying...
4 April 2024 — Thank you to China for some very timely help. A donation of 68 tons of rice from China landed this Wednesday at the José Martí International Airport in Havana. The aid is part of a program to send a total of 408 tons of the product this April to the Island – 1% of the 36,000 tons consumed per month – distributed over six flights, and another 20,000 tons throughout the year by sea. The Cuban authorities, who met with several representatives of China to receive the shipment, said that the rice will be delivered “immediately” to the population. This, along with the arrival by air of the first tons of the grain – and not by sea, as usual – shows that the “aid program” is an urgent measure to alleviate the Island’s food crisis, something in which Beijing seems to be willing to collaborate. The official press also reported that China will send donations of powdered milk and flour – two of the products whose disappearance from the Cuban markets has forced the authorities to offer statements on several occasions – although the quantities were not revealed.
BRAVO CUBA! / THE BEST RUM Cuba’s rum, by winning the most prestigious international competitions, leaves far behind its competitors. Bravo Cuba! This April 13 in London, Cuban rum "Eminente Gran Reserva Edition N°1" won the award for the BEST SPIRIT IN THE WORLD at the London Spirits Competition 2024, a competition involving beverages from more than 80 countries. In the world. Of all spirits. Take THAT snobby scotch swillers. Take THAT gourmet gin gulping laydeez. Eminent Gran Reserva Edition N°1 won the Gold Medal of the competition, BEST Rum of the Year, BEST Spirit of the Year and BEST Quality Spirit. These victories of the famous Cuban rum were joined by another of the island spirit, the Eminent Ámbar Claro, clinching a silver medal. London Spirits Competition is an international spirits competition organized by the Beverage Trade Network. The event aims to recognize, reward and help promote the successful brands that tick the boxes: quality, value and packaging. In this edition, the 10 countries with the highest number of nominations for the London Spirits Competition 2024 were the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, USA, France, Netherlands, Mexico, Croatia, Poland and India. (Bacardi 'rum flavored' muck - DNS)
A Chamamé is a type of folkloric music and dancing from North Eastern Argentina. It is a cultural patrimony official of UNESCO. Very traditional. Here is a very nice Chamane for Cuba with a very good cartoon video to enjoy. The man is a brave Argentinian sailor, but he gets swept out to see and ends up in Cuba socialista. The land of Fidel. He is worried because of all the bad things he has seen in the press. But then he sees how the cubans are happily working for the future, free of iliteracy and with the arms in the hands of the people. So he returns home in his canoe to tell the truth. Death to the yankees and Viva Fidel!
One day in January, I took my canoe for a ride. They told me to take care, because a storm is coming and I could be lost. But I'm a brave sailor of my region and a connoisseur of the delta waters. I set off with the last sunset light, but soon it was as dark as a wolf's mouth, I was going to go back But the river current pushed me to the ocean. And discouraged, seeing no more coast, I began to count the stars and think. I was thinking about how little a man is worth when he's so alone, but then I had an idea, I'll do a feat like Vito Dumas, I'll be like Marco Polo and when I return to my homeland all the women will want to kiss me! And after a few days of sailing I was happy because I already believed I was Christopher Columbus, then I saw a spot on the horizon that wasn't a whale, but was land, damn it, what joy! When I stepped to the shore and sniffed to see if it was my homeland, then I saw a peasant with a rifle, I asked him If La Cambicha ranch was far away, he replied kindly: "You are in Cuba, a socialist country, the land of Fidel!" I wanted to go back because of what I read in the press, but then I saw the Cubans working happily for the future. Today the land is everyone's, there are no illiterates and every child knows that whoever comes to Cuba to make war can't leave. Because those rifles that yesterday were aimed at the oppressed people Are the ones that today defend them and are in the hands of the people and their Revolution. And with my canoe I left Cuba and had my eye on my homeland again, And to my region I must be faithful and that's where I will end up. Death to the Yankees, Viva Fidel!
Ah, so payment is to be in meat for the grinder: Cubans lured to Russian army by high pay and passports I'm very interested in how your deranged warblings are going to spin this...
"allegedly joined the Russian army" according to the spun warblings of: "a pro-Ukrainian platform" What the flippety heck is the BBC doing launching an 'investigation' into this anyway? How is that informing, educating and entertaining? How is that an appropriate use of the licence fee? They can't wait to write something bad about Cuba. How about launching some more investigations into the Indians perhaps who are fighting for Russia. In March 2024, India said it had uncovered a "major human trafficking network" which lured young men to Russia with the promise of jobs only to force them to fight in the war. Auntie Beeb not got anything to say about India? No? How about Nepal then? Or Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Congo, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrygstan, Germany, Serbia, Hungary, Spain, Libya, Turkey, Lebanon and Iran? All of them have citizens fighting on the Russian side according to Wikipedia. Not going to do one of your special 'investigations' into any of them, then? Just Cuba is it. Right. Yes, it is true it appears that a very few were tempted to go via a clandestine human trafficking ring. But immediately upon discovering this 8 months ago in September 2023:- Cuba arrests 17 for trafficking men to fight for Russia in Ukraine "Cuban authorities have arrested 17 people on charges related to a human trafficking ring that allegedly lured young Cuban men to fight in Ukraine with the Russian military." and "Cuban prosecutor Jose Luis Reyes said those involved in the scandal could be punished with up to 30 years in prison, a life sentence or the death penalty, depending on the severity and type of crimes, which range from human trafficking, fighting as mercenaries and hostile action against a foreign state." "Cuba has no part in the war in Ukraine and it rejects the use of its citizens as mercenaries." https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023...rafficking-men-to-fight-for-russia-in-ukraine Meanwhile, the British government has no such reservations about mercenaries and you might like to put your own warbling spin on articles such as this about BRITISH mercenaries fighting for Russia https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13242743/British-traitors-fighting-Ukraine-Putin.html But perhaps the Brits might even start blowing each other up because there are even a contingent of regular British uniformed army types and special forces over there blasting away:- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ldiers-on-ground-ukraine-german-military-leak https://www.declassifieduk.org/polish-minister-saw-uk-special-forces-operating-in-ukraine/ I'll wait.
IT'S A RECORD BREAKER! (record breaker!) NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL WORLD RECORD - SMASHED!!! In Greece in 2017 they managed a very creditable 1102 dancers in a huge Cuban rueda de casino (casino wheel) dance. Which was very creditable. a good effort. Then in Tenerife Spain in 2019 they did 1250 dancers Then in Venezuela in 2022 they trumped that with a massive 1595 casineros! But then yesterday in La Habana they had a proper baile with (count 'em) a total of 2946 dancers. Nearly DOUBLE the previous record.
