CUBA: Women Combating Shortage of Decent Housing

Juana Hilda Naranjo no longer worries when it rains. For the last three years she has been living in a modern apartment out of reach of the water and wind, thanks to the efforts of the Taller de Transformación (Transformation Workshop) in the poor, predominantly black Havana neighbourhood of Pogolotti.

COLOMBIA: Possible ELN Ceasefire, 11 FARC Hostages Killed

While there appears to be progress in ongoing talks here towards a ceasefire between the Colombian government and the insurgent National Liberation Army (ELN), it was confirmed Thursday that 11 lawmakers taken hostage in 2002 by Colombia's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), had recently been killed.

ENVIRONMENT-CUBA: The Fragile Smile of the Dolphin

The dolphin’s friendly smile might be nothing more than a beautiful but sad memory by the end of this century if nothing is done about the threats faced by these marine mammals.

ENERGY-CUBA: A Light at the End of the Tunnel

The government announcement that electricity supplies in Cuba now exceed demand during the hours of peak consumption was received with a collective sigh of relief by Cubans, who have not forgotten the frequent and lengthy blackouts that occurred, especially during the summertime, two or three years ago.

CUBA: Sugarcane – Source of Renewable Energy, But Not Ethanol

Like other Latin American countries, Cuba is focusing on the development of renewable energy sources. But unlike Brazil, a leader in biofuels, this Caribbean island nation has ruled out the production of ethanol fuel based on sugarcane, because of President Fidel Castro's opposition to using food crops to produce biofuel on a large scale.

ENVIRONMENT-CUBA: Guantanamo’s Two-Faced Climate

Nature is hard to pin down in Guantánamo. The salty and eroded soils and infrequent rains in the south mark a clear contrast with the lush green of the northern coast of Cuba's eastern-most province.

ENVIRONMENT-CUBA: From Dump to Growing Garden

When Irania Martínez said she would make that rubbish dump productive, people said she was crazy. Today the greenery, hundreds of trees and sense of order that reigns in the place confirm that she is in her right mind, and the project is a model that could spread all over the country.

Guantánamo's Two-Faced Climate

The fight against desertification is bearing fruit in the semiarid region of the Cuban province of Guantánamo.

CUBA: Children Use Art to Learn About Hunger

A Cuban child is drawing a train, heavily loaded with emergency food supplies that are about to be airlifted and dropped into areas where hunger is just a normal part of life. The drawing will be entered in an annual international competition called "WFP in Action," organised by the World Food Programme.

CUBA: Soldiers Accused of Hijacking Could Face Death Penalty

Two Cuban soldiers who attempted to hijack an airplane to fly to the United States are both wounded and awaiting trial, Cuban President Fidel Castro announced Tuesday, while accusing the United States of fomenting illegal emigration.

COLOMBIA: Talks with ELN Enter Complex New Phase

The Colombian government and the insurgent National Liberation Army (ELN) have launched a complex new round of preliminary talks in the Cuban capital, hoping to agree on an agenda for formal peace negotiations.

ENERGY-CUBA: Looking to Windward

Cuba is interested in developing wind power and other renewable energy sources to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for generating electricity, without setting aside its hopes for new oil finds.

CARIBBEAN: Keeping a Look-Out for Tsunamis

Fear of a tragedy similar to the one caused in Asia by the tidal wave in the Indian Ocean just after Christmas in 2004 has alarms buzzing in the Caribbean, where moves are afoot to establish an Early Warning System (EWS) for tsunamis.

CUBA: Growing Old Without a Staff to Lean On

Josefa Martínez, a Cuban woman in her forties, looked after her mother until she died, but she herself will not be so fortunate. "It was my decision not to have children and to dedicate myself entirely to my profession. Now I wonder, who will take care of me when I'm over 70 and no longer strong?"

CUBA-VENEZUELA: Making Biofuels Without Wasting Food

The governments of Cuba and Venezuela are planning to move forward together on biofuels production, but they will rely on producing alcohol from sugarcane, in order to spare food crops.

FOOD-CUBA: Anxious About What to Eat

One of the main worries of the average Cuban family is food, which costs about two-thirds of their income, according to several studies.

COLOMBIA: Government, ELN Continue Talks Under Wraps

Delegates of the Colombian government and the insurgent National Liberation Army (ELN) are continuing their talks in Havana, but this time without any speeches or statements to the press, in contrast to previous meetings.

MIGRATION-LATIN AMERICA: No Destination

José Cruz left Cuba on Dec. 30, but he never reached his destination. "I'm desperate - I haven't heard anything from him," said his brother Roger, who did not provide details on how and where José travelled.

CUBA: Versatile Sugar Provides Food, Fuel, Electricity

The Cuban government is making another effort to boost generation of electricity from sugarcane biomass to meet the high electricity demand of the sugar industry itself, and gradually increase its contribution to the national grid.

POLITICS-CUBA: Opposition Sets Course Due North

Splintered and voiceless, Cuba's dissident movement has failed to unyoke itself from U.S. policy towards this socialist country, whose future has been the focus of the most diverse speculation since President Fidel Castro became ill.

ECONOMY-CUBA: Nickel Still Number One

Nickel retained its first place among Cuban exports in 2006, its earnings boosted by unprecedented high prices on the international market, although output was lower than the government had hoped.