In Cuba, the home of salsa, young people are being seduced by a music phenomenon from a place that could hardly be more geographically -- or ideologically -- remote.

K-pop, the South Korean sensation that has already swept over much of the rest of the world, has made it to the shores of a communist isle that once banned the music of the Beatles.

"I am myself (with) K-pop. I can free myself," said afficionado Mikel Caballero, a 17-year-old who like many of his peers, spends hours each week perfecting the carefully choreographed paces of South Korean sensations like BTS and Blackpink.

Since Cubans gained access to the mobile internet just five years ago, much has changed in a nation where the one-party state nevertheless retains a firm grip on many aspects of life.

There are ride and food-delivery apps, social media, and access to some entertainment sites such as YouTube.

Some Cubans now celebrate Halloween, one of the most quintessential festivals of the United States -- which has held sanctions against Caribbean nation for more than six decades.

- 'I like everything' - 
 
Caballero's friend Samyla Trujillo has been a K-pop devotee for the last four of her 14 years on Earth. 
"When I saw BTS... I told myself: 'I want to dance like them," Trujillo told AFP, her hair dyed bright red in homage to the fashion of her idols.

"And then, when they showed me Blackpink, I thought: 'Ooh, they're girls, I want to be like them!"

She has posters and T-shirts plastered with K-pop artists' faces, and watches K-dramas with subtitles.

In the house she shares with her grandmother in the capital Havana, Trujillo regularly transforms the lounge into a dance floor for her and Caballero to practice the steps for their K-pop routines.&nbsp;

It is serious business: one day, Trujillo -- who was in a traditional Caribbean dance troupe as a child -- hopes to become Cuba's first home-grown K-pop idol. 
For Trujillo and Caballero both the dream is to go to Seoul one day. "I like everything from there," the 17-year-old told AFP with bright eyes.

Cuba has diplomatic ties with fellow-communist nation North Korea, but not with its democratic neighbor to the south.

- 'Completely new' - 
 
Alejandro Achin, 21, said K-pop "is a completely new experience" for Cubans, who are "used to always the same rhythm, the same routine" of salsa and Reggaeton.

In 2019, Achin realized a personal dream of performing in Seoul after winning an amateur K-pop competition with his group in Havana. 
For Hohyun Joung, who teaches at a South Korean cultural and language center which opened its doors in the Cuban capital last year, K-pop has a universal appeal that transcends politics.

"In Korean songs... most of them express the concerns of young people, what they think, their concern about the future," the South Korean national told AFP.

The center where she teaches with four Cubans has 150 students and not enough space to admit more as the appetite for everything South Korean just keeps growing.

Student Ia Gonzalez, 20, has been learning Korean at the center for several months and gets excited every time she recognizes a word in some of her favorite K-pop songs.

"Korean is not difficult. There are difficult parts, but when you really love what you're doing, you invest impetus and passion and you can learn," she told AFP. 
&nbsp;

In Cuba, the home of salsa, young people are being seduced by a music phenomenon from a place that could hardly be more geographically -- or ideologically -- remote.

In Cuba, the home of salsa, young people are being seduced by a music phenomenon from a place that could hardly be more geographically -- or ideologically -- remote. K-pop, the South Korean sensation that has already swept over much of the rest of the world, has made it to the shores of a communist isle that once banned the music of the Beatles. "I am myself (with) K-pop. I can free myself," said afficionado Mikel Caballero, a 17-year-old who like many of his peers, spends hours each week perfecting the carefully choreographed paces of South Korean sensations like BTS and Blackpink. Since Cubans gained access to the mobile internet just five years ago, much has changed in a nation where the one-party state nevertheless retains a firm grip on many aspects of life. There are ride and food-delivery apps, social media, and access to some entertainment sites such as YouTube. Some Cubans now celebrate Halloween, one of the most quintessential festivals of the United States -- which has held sanctions against Caribbean nation for more than six decades. - 'I like everything' - Caballero's friend Samyla Trujillo has been a K-pop devotee for the last four of her 14 years on Earth. "When I saw BTS... I told myself: 'I want to dance like them," Trujillo told AFP, her hair dyed bright red in homage to the fashion of her idols. "And then, when they showed me Blackpink, I thought: 'Ooh, they're girls, I want to be like them!" She has posters and T-shirts plastered with K-pop artists' faces, and watches K-dramas with subtitles. In the house she shares with her grandmother in the capital Havana, Trujillo regularly transforms the lounge into a dance floor for her and Caballero to practice the steps for their K-pop routines. It is serious business: one day, Trujillo -- who was in a traditional Caribbean dance troupe as a child -- hopes to become Cuba's first home-grown K-pop idol. For Trujillo and Caballero both the dream is to go to Seoul one day. "I like everything from there," the 17-year-old told AFP with bright eyes. Cuba has diplomatic ties with fellow-communist nation North Korea, but not with its democratic neighbor to the south. - 'Completely new' - Alejandro Achin, 21, said K-pop "is a completely new experience" for Cubans, who are "used to always the same rhythm, the same routine" of salsa and Reggaeton. In 2019, Achin realized a personal dream of performing in Seoul after winning an amateur K-pop competition with his group in Havana. For Hohyun Joung, who teaches at a South Korean cultural and language center which opened its doors in the Cuban capital last year, K-pop has a universal appeal that transcends politics. "In Korean songs... most of them express the concerns of young people, what they think, their concern about the future," the South Korean national told AFP. The center where she teaches with four Cubans has 150 students and not enough space to admit more as the appetite for everything South Korean just keeps growing. Student Ia Gonzalez, 20, has been learning Korean at the center for several months and gets excited every time she recognizes a word in some of her favorite K-pop songs. "Korean is not difficult. There are difficult parts, but when you really love what you're doing, you invest impetus and passion and you can learn," she told AFP.

K-pop seduces youth in communist Cuba, birthplace of salsa

The Pentagon declined to comment after reports emerged on Thursday (June 8) that China is planning to build a secret surveillance base just off US shores in Cuba.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials familiar with classified intelligence, that the base would allow Chinese authorities to eavesdrop on electronic communications across the southeastern United States. The region includes the US Southern and Central Command headquarters, both in Florida.&nbsp;

The report cited unnamed US officials as saying that China will pay Cuba "several billion dollars" to be able to construct the facility.&nbsp;

If it happens, a base in Cuba would emerge as a massive challenge for the US as it would be just 150 kilometres off the south coast of Florida. It would be the most direct challenge yet to the continental United States.&nbsp;

John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement: "I cannot speak to this specific report, but we are well aware of – and have spoken many times too – (about) the People’s Republic of China's efforts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in this hemisphere."&nbsp;

"We monitor it closely, take steps to counter it, and remain confident that we are able to meet all our security commitments at home, in the region, and around the world," he said.&nbsp;

<h2>Strained US-China ties&nbsp;</h2>

This development comes amid strained US-China relations over a range of issues, including America's support for self-ruled Taiwan, which China says it is determined to reunite with the mainland.&nbsp;

The ties further weakened with the recent unfolding of the spy balloon saga. Earlier this year in February, a suspected Chinese spy balloon was spotted in the US airspace, and later was shot down by fighter jets. The US also shot down "unidentified objects" at two other different locations afterwards.&nbsp;

The US claimed that it was capable of gathering intelligence and is believed to have transmitted it back to Beijing in near-real time, an allegation denied by Beijing.&nbsp;

As&nbsp;quoted by the report, a US Defense Department official on grounds of anonymity said, "We are not going to comment on those specific reports."&nbsp;

"On a broader level, we are very aware of the PRC's attempts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in the western hemisphere," the official said.&nbsp;

"We will continue to monitor it closely, and remain confident that we are able to meet all our security commitments at home and across the region," the official added.&nbsp;

In recent times, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pushed a rapid expansion of the country's security presence around the world, aiming to match the broad presence of the US military on all continents.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Pentagon declined to comment after reports emerged on Thursday (June 8) that China is planning to build a secret surveillance base just off US shores in Cuba.

The Pentagon declined to comment after reports emerged on Thursday (June 8) that China is planning to build a secret surveillance base just off US shores in Cuba. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials familiar with classified intelligence, that the base would allow Chinese authorities to eavesdrop on electronic communications across the southeastern United States. The region includes the US Southern and Central Command headquarters, both in Florida. The report cited unnamed US officials as saying that China will pay Cuba "several billion dollars" to be able to construct the facility. If it happens, a base in Cuba would emerge as a massive challenge for the US as it would be just 150 kilometres off the south coast of Florida. It would be the most direct challenge yet to the continental United States. John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement: "I cannot speak to this specific report, but we are well aware of – and have spoken many times too – (about) the People’s Republic of China's efforts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in this hemisphere." "We monitor it closely, take steps to counter it, and remain confident that we are able to meet all our security commitments at home, in the region, and around the world," he said. Strained US-China ties This development comes amid strained US-China relations over a range of issues, including America's support for self-ruled Taiwan, which China says it is determined to reunite with the mainland. The ties further weakened with the recent unfolding of the spy balloon saga. Earlier this year in February, a suspected Chinese spy balloon was spotted in the US airspace, and later was shot down by fighter jets. The US also shot down "unidentified objects" at two other different locations afterwards. The US claimed that it was capable of gathering intelligence and is believed to have transmitted it back to Beijing in near-real time, an allegation denied by Beijing. As quoted by the report, a US Defense Department official on grounds of anonymity said, "We are not going to comment on those specific reports." "On a broader level, we are very aware of the PRC's attempts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in the western hemisphere," the official said. "We will continue to monitor it closely, and remain confident that we are able to meet all our security commitments at home and across the region," the official added. In recent times, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pushed a rapid expansion of the country's security presence around the world, aiming to match the broad presence of the US military on all continents. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China to establish 'spy base' in Cuba off southeastern United States: Report

Pakistan has recorded its first “suspected” case of Omicron variant of COVID-19, the health authorities informed on Thursday.

The patient is a 57-year-old woman from Karachi city who is unvaccinated. The infected woman had been admitted for treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital.&nbsp;

The authorities have said that the patient has no travel history, reports Geo News.

The health officials said that the patient has not been showing any symptoms of the virus and has been sent home to isolate.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-omicron-threat-as-big-as-the-hype-read-what-who-experts-say-434393">Is Omicron threat as big as the hype? Read what WHO experts say</a>

“We have not yet conducted a genome study but the way the virus is behaving, it seems likely that it is the Omicron variant,” said Sindh health minister Azra Pechuho in a video statement.&nbsp;

"Omicron is very transmissible but deaths or serious [conditions] have not been seen in recent reports coming from South Africa (where the variant was first detected). There is no cause for concern. We are conducting a genomic study which will take one or two weeks,” she added.

After South Africa reported its first Omicron case to the World Health Organisation, the Pakistan government on November 27 placed a complete ban on travel from six south African countries — South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia — and Hong Kong in the wake of the variant's discovery.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/omicron-may-cause-third-wave-in-india-by-february-scientist-warns-434873">Omicron may cause third wave in India by February, scientist warns</a>

This&nbsp;travel ban&nbsp;was later extended to nine more countries — Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland and Zimbabwe.

Apart from that, Cuba also reported its first Omicron case. The patient is a health worker and had recently travelled recently from Mozambique.

Cuban health officials identified 18 people the traveller may have been in contact with since arriving in Cuba, but all were asymptomatic and had tested negative for the virus, reports Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan has recorded its first “suspected” case of Omicron variant of COVID-19, the health authorities informed on Thursday. The patient is a 57-year-old woman from Karachi city who is unvaccinated.

Pakistan has recorded its first “suspected” case of Omicron variant of COVID-19, the health authorities informed on Thursday. The patient is a 57-year-old woman from Karachi city who is unvaccinated. The infected woman had been admitted for treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital. The authorities have said that the patient has no travel history, reports Geo News. The health officials said that the patient has not been showing any symptoms of the virus and has been sent home to isolate. Also read | Is Omicron threat as big as the hype? Read what WHO experts say “We have not yet conducted a genome study but the way the virus is behaving, it seems likely that it is the Omicron variant,” said Sindh health minister Azra Pechuho in a video statement. "Omicron is very transmissible but deaths or serious [conditions] have not been seen in recent reports coming from South Africa (where the variant was first detected). There is no cause for concern. We are conducting a genomic study which will take one or two weeks,” she added. After South Africa reported its first Omicron case to the World Health Organisation, the Pakistan government on November 27 placed a complete ban on travel from six south African countries — South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia — and Hong Kong in the wake of the variant's discovery. Also read | Omicron may cause third wave in India by February, scientist warns This travel ban was later extended to nine more countries — Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland and Zimbabwe. Apart from that, Cuba also reported its first Omicron case. The patient is a health worker and had recently travelled recently from Mozambique. Cuban health officials identified 18 people the traveller may have been in contact with since arriving in Cuba, but all were asymptomatic and had tested negative for the virus, reports Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan, Cuba report first Omicron Covid variant cases

Canada: Diplomats sue govt over mystery illness in Cuba

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K-pop seduces youth in communist Cuba, birthplace of salsa

China to establish 'spy base' in Cuba off southeastern United States: Report

Pakistan, Cuba report first Omicron Covid variant cases

Canada: Diplomats sue govt over mystery illness in Cuba