News stories by Patricia Grogg, page 4

HAVANA, Jul 23 (IPS) - "The basic objective of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is people's welfare, and I think that in this we have many affinities with what the Cuban government wants," Regula Bäbler told IPS.

HAVANA, Jul 11 (IPS) - More than 100 non-farming cooperatives this month joined the independent sector of the Cuban economy, which includes self-employed workers and farmers granted public land to work, as part of the policy outlined by the government for modernising the management of state property.

HAVANA, Jul 10 (IPS) - Rather than talk about forecasts for hurricanes at the start of this year's season, Cuban meteorologist José Rubiera prefers to discuss the importance of reducing the country's vulnerability and improving preparedness.

HAVANA, Jul 03 (IPS) - As two separate trials of foreign businessmen continued amid extreme discretion, the Cuban government passed new anti-corruption measures, apparently indicating the Raúl Castro government's desire to avoid loose ends with this thorny problem.

HAVANA, Jun 18 (IPS) - Jokes, songs, crude gestures and epithets that degrade people of African descent are still common in Cuba, despite the fact that the constitution prohibits discrimination based on skin colour, and in spite of more recent political measures, activists say.

HAVANA, Jun 10 (IPS) - The new cyclone season in Cuba is forecast to be highly active, and it announced its arrival with intense rains that caused rivers to burst their banks and flooded extensive areas in the western province of Pinar del Río.

HAVANA, Jun 03 (IPS) - A biometeorological forecast model developed in Cuba to sound the alert on weather conditions that exacerbate chronic diseases like asthma, hypertension and vascular disorders could also help predict the impacts of climate change on health.

HAVANA, May 28 (IPS) - Cuba will continue to prioritise public Internet access over connectivity in private homes, as indicated by a government announcement Tuesday that 118 new public cyber salons would open nationwide as of early June.

HAVANA/BOGOTA, May 27 (IPS) - Colombian government and guerrilla delegates have announced an agreement on the question of land reform – an important step in the peace talks that began six months ago in Havana.

HAVANA, May 22 (IPS) - When Gabriela Blanco tells other Cubans that she works in an organic vegetable cooperative and is getting ready to study agronomy at the university, she gets surprised looks.