Cuba

Latest news on cuba

Ferocious Hurricane Ike threatens Cuba and Gulf

HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled toward Cuba as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm on Sunday and was forecast to sweep into the central Gulf of Mexico as a large and powerful storm echoing Hurricane Gustav.

Update on CIA drug plane owned by ?Donna Blue Aircraft, Inc?

Here's an update on the strange story of the Gulfstream II jet filled with 3.7 tons of cocaine that crashed in the Yucatan last year. The Mexico City newspaper El Universal reports that European Parliament was investigating the circumstances surrounding the plane, which had previously been used by the CIA for "extraordinary rendition" flights. The daily said it had obtained documents from the United States and the European Parliament which "show that that plane flew several times to Guantanamo, Cuba, presumably to transfer terrorism suspects." It said the European Parliament was investigating the private Grumman Gulfstream II, registered by the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, for suspected use in CIA "rendition" flights in which prisoners are covertly transferred to a third country or US-run detention centers. Last October, the Austin American Statesman reported the plane had previously flown to Guantanamo Bay. Here's a Chicago Public Radio story from October 31, 2007 about the crashed CIA drug plane. The crashed drug plane also has been linked to a Bush fundraiser. Mad Cow Morning news has been covering stories about the CIA and drug smuggling. The plane was owned by Donna Blue Aircraft, Inc. Mad Cow visited Donna Blue's offices and took photos of what appears to be a sham company. Here's a photo of some unmarked police cars parked in front Donna Blue Aircraft's empty suite: Drug plane used for US rendition flights Is this a video of the plane? (from this German website)...

Deep South Storms: Katrina Pain Index, Gustav in Cuba, Banksy in Alabama.

Remember all those photos of Banksy works in New Orleans that circulated around the 'net last week? Looks like he's in Alabama and other parts south this week. Above, an image snapped in Birmingham (Wooster Collective via Siege). (1) Shaker Redstar at the shakesville blog has "been working in disaster recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans and the Gulf Coast since 2005." As the region geared up for Gustav during Labor Day weekend, Shaker compiled a "by the numbers" list that illustrates the lasting impact of the previous and far more devastating big storm: .008. Percentage of the rental homes that were supposed to be repaired and occupied by August 2008 which were actually completed and occupied ? a total of 82 finished out of 10,000 projected. 1. Rank of New Orleans among U.S. cities in percentage of housing vacant or ruined. 1. Rank of New Orleans among U.S. cities in murders per capita for 2006 and 2007. 4. Number of the 13 City of New Orleans Planning Districts that are at the same risk of flooding as they were before Katrina. 10. Number of apartments being rehabbed so far to replace the 896 apartments formerly occupied and now demolished at the Lafitte Housing Development. 11. Percent of families who have returned to live in Lower Ninth Ward. 17. Percentage that wages are up in the hotel and food industry since before Katrina. 20-25. Years that experts estimate it will take to rebuild the City of New Orleans at current pace. Katrina Pain Index. (via Siege) (2) Reuters: "Cuba said on Monday more than 90,000 houses were damaged or destroyed when Hurricane Gustav tore through the western province of Pinar del Rio on Saturday with 150-mile-per-hour (240-kph) winds." (via Ned Sublette) (3) Residents of New Orleans who evacuated for Gustav won't be able to go home until tomorrow at the earliest (NOLA.com, via Ned Sublette)....

After Cuba, Gustav Heads to the U.S.

Powerful Hurricane Gustav heads for the U.S. after destroying homes in Cuba.

Gustav Slams Cuba as Cat 4 Storm; Many Evacuated

Gustav slams Cuba as Category 4 hurricane; forecasters say it could reach Category 5

Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba

Hurricane Gustav, now a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, lashes Cuba with torrential rain after churning up the Caribbean.

Cuba detains leading punk rocker

One of the Cuba's leading punk rock musicians, Gorki Aguila, is arrested by the authorities and faces charges of "dangerousness".

Storm hits Cuba on way to Florida

Tropical Storm Fay drenches Cuba and is forecast to strengthen as it heads towards Florida.