After US President Joe Biden said he "stands with the Cuban people", President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US sanctions for the protests in the country.

Biden had said the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/down-with-communism-cuban-protesters-demand-freedom-food-and-covid-19-vaccines-397504"> Cuban</a> regime should hear its people and "serve their needs" as protests erupted against the government even as Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the US sanctions were responsible for the "policy of economic suffocation to provoke social unrest in the country."

Watch:

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US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had warned Cuba earlier while condemning&nbsp;the authorities the "targeting of peaceful protesters".

Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador&nbsp;offered medicines&nbsp;with coronavirus vaccines, however, he warned against "interventionist political management".

Obrador had called for the US economic sanctions to end as protesters came out on the streets on Sunday&nbsp;over the shortage of basic needs in the country. The Cuban President called for a "humanitarian gesture" as Cubans called President Miguel to step down.

People came out on the streets in Havana and several others places including Santiago as the country struggles amid the pandemic. It was the largest anti-government protest in decades as people chanted “Diaz-Canel step down”.

At least ten&nbsp;people were arrested by authorities.

Amid the volatile situation, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-warns-against-outside-interference-over-cuba-protests-397672">Russia's</a> foreign ministry said it is "unacceptable" for there to be outside interference in the internal affairs of the country.

The country has been hit hard due to the pandemic with the vaccine drive going at a slow rate even as the country's economy has contracted in the past year.

On Sunday, Cuba recorded &nbsp;6,923 COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths with hospitals under pressure to treat patients.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

After US President Joe Biden said he "stands with the Cuban people", President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US sanctions for the protests in the country. Biden had said the Cuban regime should hear its people and "serve their needs" as protests erupted against the government even as Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the US sanctions were responsible for the "policy of economic suffocation to provoke social unrest in the country.

After US President Joe Biden said he "stands with the Cuban people", President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US sanctions for the protests in the country. Biden had said the Cuban regime should hear its people and "serve their needs" as protests erupted against the government even as Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the US sanctions were responsible for the "policy of economic suffocation to provoke social unrest in the country." Watch: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had warned Cuba earlier while condemning the authorities the "targeting of peaceful protesters". Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered medicines with coronavirus vaccines, however, he warned against "interventionist political management". Obrador had called for the US economic sanctions to end as protesters came out on the streets on Sunday over the shortage of basic needs in the country. The Cuban President called for a "humanitarian gesture" as Cubans called President Miguel to step down. People came out on the streets in Havana and several others places including Santiago as the country struggles amid the pandemic. It was the largest anti-government protest in decades as people chanted “Diaz-Canel step down”. At least ten people were arrested by authorities. Amid the volatile situation, Russia's foreign ministry said it is "unacceptable" for there to be outside interference in the internal affairs of the country. The country has been hit hard due to the pandemic with the vaccine drive going at a slow rate even as the country's economy has contracted in the past year. On Sunday, Cuba recorded 6,923 COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths with hospitals under pressure to treat patients. (With inputs from Agencies)

Cuban President blames US sanctions for anti-government protests

Russia on Monday gave warning against "outside interference" in Cuba which saw thousands taking part in rare protests against the Communist government on the island. Cuba's capital Havana was rocked by the protests that saw citizens asking for food, vaccines and more. Cuba has not been able to control coronavirus within its own borders.

"We consider it unacceptable for there to be outside interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state or any destructive actions that would encourage the destabilisation of the situation on the island," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

She didn't explicitly say what she meant by outside interference but her comments are being interpreted as Russia's warning directed at the United States. Thousands of Cuban-Americans have taken to streets in America to show solidarity with those protesting in Cuba.&nbsp;

"We are closely following the development of the situation in and around Cuba," Zakharova said.

"We are convinced that Cuban authorities are taking all necessary measures to restore public order in the interests of the country's citizens and within the framework of the Constitution."

Cuba was an important Cold War ally of the Soviet Union and Moscow has continued to have good diplomatic relations with Havana since the 1991 collapse of the USSR.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Monday gave warning against "outside interference" in Cuba which saw thousands taking part in rare protests against the Communist government on the island.

Russia on Monday gave warning against "outside interference" in Cuba which saw thousands taking part in rare protests against the Communist government on the island. Cuba's capital Havana was rocked by the protests that saw citizens asking for food, vaccines and more. Cuba has not been able to control coronavirus within its own borders. "We consider it unacceptable for there to be outside interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state or any destructive actions that would encourage the destabilisation of the situation on the island," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. She didn't explicitly say what she meant by outside interference but her comments are being interpreted as Russia's warning directed at the United States. Thousands of Cuban-Americans have taken to streets in America to show solidarity with those protesting in Cuba. "We are closely following the development of the situation in and around Cuba," Zakharova said. "We are convinced that Cuban authorities are taking all necessary measures to restore public order in the interests of the country's citizens and within the framework of the Constitution." Cuba was an important Cold War ally of the Soviet Union and Moscow has continued to have good diplomatic relations with Havana since the 1991 collapse of the USSR. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia warns against 'outside interference' over Cuba protests

From a building facing Havana's iconic Malecon waterfront, pigeon keepers crane out of a window, intently watching the grey birds take flight. Mostly staying indoors due to the country's worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the coronavirus pandemic began in March last year, Cubans are increasingly breeding pigeons as a form of escape.

Cubans turn to pigeon breeding as an escape from COVID-19

Havana's main avenue on Monday saw a rainbow flag draped over a government building as lawmakers prepared a new code that could allow same-sex marriage in Cuba.

Gay pride flag unfurled on Cuban gov't building for first time

For decades, Cuban artist José Antonio Rodríguez Fuster has been creating artwork with mosaic tiles and now he has turned his neighbourhood in Havana into a giant open-air gallery.

Cuba artist hopes mosaics will bring back visitors

Zookeepers at Cuba's National Zoo in Havana are celebrating after four Bengal tiger cubs were born at the zoo, amongst them a rare white tiger.

Four Bengal tiger cubs born at Havana zoo

With Cuban flavor and in the best Celia Cruz style, the group "Los 3 de la Habana" is blasting Miami a week ahead of Election Day with 'The Trump Song', an earworm salsa beat with the lyrics "Oh my God, I'll vote for Donald Trump." The President himself has added the song to his campaign rally playlist and posted their video and thanked them on his official Youtube channel.

"The Trump Song": Earworm Cuban Salsa hit blasts in Miami ahead of Election Day

Havana was once dubbed the 'Paris of the Caribbean' for its beautiful architecture, vibrant arts scene, and flourishing nightlife. Now it even has its own Eiffel Tower.

Havana, the 'Paris of the Caribbean,' gets its own Eiffel Tower

82-year-old Feridia Rojas, a retired nurse, shuffles through the streets of Havana on shopping excursions, wearing a protective cardboard box to ward off the coronavirus, a novel twist in adhering to government-imposed protective measures.

Cuban pensioner wards off virus with cardboard box

To protect herself from the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Havana, Cuba, Retired nurse Feridia Rojas wears cardboard shaped into a house at a market. Watch report.

Cubans dons full-body cardboard shield | COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 Pandemic: Cubans dons full-body cardboard shield

Cuban opera singer Andrés Sánchez found a new audience on Sunday night to perform his arias for, since concert halls were shut down on the island as part of a lockdown due to the novel coronavirus.

Opera singer performs from his balcony in Havana

The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting growth in inequality in Communist Cuba as worsening shortages force most citizens to spend hours in line to purchase basic goods while the better-off are shopping online.

Online shopping highlights Cuba's inequality in time of coronavirus

The Silva twins were supposed to be on an international tour with their dance company last week, performing for large crowds to cheers and applause. Instead, they found themselves on their terrace, practising to the sound of the ocean in the light of the sunset, occasionally interrupted by their two rambunctious dogs.

Dance on rooftops, seaside sunsets: Cuban artists find inspiration in coronavirus quarantine

The family of Emilia Montoya, 79, sacrificed four white doves and two roosters, chanted in the African language Yoruba and pounded a wooden staff rhythmically on the floor in a ceremony to protect Montoya from coronavirus

With bird sacrifices and chants, Cuba's Santeria seek protection from coronavirus

With cries of "Viva Felipe!" and "Viva Espana!" Cubans greeted King Felipe in Old Havana, the first state visit ever by a Spanish monarch to Cuba, Spain's former colony turned Communist-run nation.

Earlier in the day, Felipe and his wife Letizia laid flowers at the monument in Havana to Jose Marti, a symbol of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain, before meeting with President Miguel Diaz-Canel in the Palace of the Revolution.

The king then held closed-door conversations with Diaz-Canel during which they agreed to further develop positive bilateral political and economic relations, according to Cuban state-run media. Spain is Cuba's third-largest trading partner and one of its top investors.

The visit illustrates the normalization of Europe's relations with Cuba even as the United States doubles down on a decades-old policy of seeking to force the government to reform by tightening its crippling trade embargo.

Some Spanish politicians and Cuban dissidents have criticized the trip, saying it legitimises Cuba's one-party system at a time of increased repression.

Yet many locals are grateful for what they see as a sign of support for the Cuban people, struggling with a crisis in the inefficient state-run economy in the wake of a decline of support from ally Venezuela and increased U.S. sanctions.

"Spain remains our parent nation and we identify a lot with it, so their visit is very important to us," said Havana resident Maria Pazos, whose paternal great-grandparents came from Catalonia. "It's also a reaffirmation that we are not alone, that we have support."

Historic and family bonds have long underpinned Cuban-Spanish relations, sometimes regardless of the political flavour of the moment. Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, for example, whose father was a Spanish immigrant, had surprisingly good relations with former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

The royal visit was timed so the couple could take part in the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Cuban capital by a Spanish conquistador. Havana was once one of the most important cities in the Spanish empire, providing a port for its treasure fleet.

Diaz-Canel's wife Lis Cuesta took Letizia on a tour of Old Havana that has received a facelift since the 1990s and is considered an architectural jewel due to its mix of colonial, Art Deco and neoclassical styles.

Felipe later joined Letizia at the cathedral, which previously housed the remains of explorer Christopher Columbus, whose encounter with Cuba in the service of the Spanish crown led to it being colonized by the Spaniards. The remains of Columbus were moved to Spain after Cuba became independent of that country in the 1890s.

With cries of "Viva Felipe!" and "Viva Espana!" Cubans greeted King Felipe in Old Havana, the first state visit ever by a Spanish monarch to Cuba, Spain's former colony turned Communist-run nation.

With cries of "Viva Felipe!" and "Viva Espana!" Cubans greeted King Felipe in Old Havana, the first state visit ever by a Spanish monarch to Cuba, Spain's former colony turned Communist-run nation. Earlier in the day, Felipe and his wife Letizia laid flowers at the monument in Havana to Jose Marti, a symbol of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain, before meeting with President Miguel Diaz-Canel in the Palace of the Revolution. The king then held closed-door conversations with Diaz-Canel during which they agreed to further develop positive bilateral political and economic relations, according to Cuban state-run media. Spain is Cuba's third-largest trading partner and one of its top investors. The visit illustrates the normalization of Europe's relations with Cuba even as the United States doubles down on a decades-old policy of seeking to force the government to reform by tightening its crippling trade embargo. Some Spanish politicians and Cuban dissidents have criticized the trip, saying it legitimises Cuba's one-party system at a time of increased repression. Yet many locals are grateful for what they see as a sign of support for the Cuban people, struggling with a crisis in the inefficient state-run economy in the wake of a decline of support from ally Venezuela and increased U.S. sanctions. "Spain remains our parent nation and we identify a lot with it, so their visit is very important to us," said Havana resident Maria Pazos, whose paternal great-grandparents came from Catalonia. "It's also a reaffirmation that we are not alone, that we have support." Historic and family bonds have long underpinned Cuban-Spanish relations, sometimes regardless of the political flavour of the moment. Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, for example, whose father was a Spanish immigrant, had surprisingly good relations with former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. The royal visit was timed so the couple could take part in the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Cuban capital by a Spanish conquistador. Havana was once one of the most important cities in the Spanish empire, providing a port for its treasure fleet. Diaz-Canel's wife Lis Cuesta took Letizia on a tour of Old Havana that has received a facelift since the 1990s and is considered an architectural jewel due to its mix of colonial, Art Deco and neoclassical styles. Felipe later joined Letizia at the cathedral, which previously housed the remains of explorer Christopher Columbus, whose encounter with Cuba in the service of the Spanish crown led to it being colonized by the Spaniards. The remains of Columbus were moved to Spain after Cuba became independent of that country in the 1890s.

'Viva Felipe!': Communist-run Cuba welcomes Spanish king

Cuba's 37th annual International Trade Fair of Havana opened on Monday (November 04), bringing together some 4,000 entrepreneurs from 60 nations around the world, amid strong sanctions from the US government to the local economy and government liquidity problems to pay foreign suppliers.

Cuba's annual International Trade Fair opens in Havana, amid US sanctions

The United States will suspend all scheduled flights to Cuba except to its capital Havana, authorities said Friday, as US President Donald Trump pushes to dismantle the rapprochement begun by his predecessor Barack Obama.

The suspension, which goes into effect December 10, was announced by the Department of Transportation and affects nine airports on the island nation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked the Transportation Department for the suspension as a means to "further the administration's policy of strengthening the economic consequences to the Cuban regime for its ongoing repression of the Cuban people and its support for (President) Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela."

The Trump administration accuses Cuba of aiding and abetting crisis-wracked Venezuela, which is Havana's closest ally.

Cuba rejected the measure and vowed that it would fail, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stating that "concessions will not be taken from us."

Trump has moved to roll back steps toward normal relations and business ties that were established under Obama, who made moves to diminish five decades of Cold War tension and sanctions between the neighbours.

American, Delta and JetBlue airlines will be affected by the deadline to halt operations to destinations such as Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city, as well as Camaguey and the sprawling mega-resort of Varadero.

Cash-strapped Cuba depends heavily on tourism earnings to fund its government, the only one-party Communist state in the Americas.

Havana already has trimmed its 2019 tourism target by 15 per cent to 4.3 million visitors.

The United States still maintains its economic embargo on Havana, which only can be ended by the US Congress.

But it has allowed exceptions, such as cruise ship visits, which must have an educational underpinning in order to go to the island.

Some 900,000 tourists visited the island on cruise ships last year, and almost 40 per cent were American, according to official data.

The charter flights on which many Cuban-Americans travel to Cuba from Miami are not affected by the change.

Commercial flights to Cuba began under the Obama administration in 2016.&nbsp;

The United States will suspend all scheduled flights to Cuba except to its capital Havana, authorities said Friday, as US President Donald Trump pushes to dismantle the rapprochement begun by his predecessor Barack Obama.

The United States will suspend all scheduled flights to Cuba except to its capital Havana, authorities said Friday, as US President Donald Trump pushes to dismantle the rapprochement begun by his predecessor Barack Obama. The suspension, which goes into effect December 10, was announced by the Department of Transportation and affects nine airports on the island nation. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked the Transportation Department for the suspension as a means to "further the administration's policy of strengthening the economic consequences to the Cuban regime for its ongoing repression of the Cuban people and its support for (President) Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela." The Trump administration accuses Cuba of aiding and abetting crisis-wracked Venezuela, which is Havana's closest ally. Cuba rejected the measure and vowed that it would fail, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stating that "concessions will not be taken from us." Trump has moved to roll back steps toward normal relations and business ties that were established under Obama, who made moves to diminish five decades of Cold War tension and sanctions between the neighbours. American, Delta and JetBlue airlines will be affected by the deadline to halt operations to destinations such as Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city, as well as Camaguey and the sprawling mega-resort of Varadero. Cash-strapped Cuba depends heavily on tourism earnings to fund its government, the only one-party Communist state in the Americas. Havana already has trimmed its 2019 tourism target by 15 per cent to 4.3 million visitors. The United States still maintains its economic embargo on Havana, which only can be ended by the US Congress. But it has allowed exceptions, such as cruise ship visits, which must have an educational underpinning in order to go to the island. Some 900,000 tourists visited the island on cruise ships last year, and almost 40 per cent were American, according to official data. The charter flights on which many Cuban-Americans travel to Cuba from Miami are not affected by the change. Commercial flights to Cuba began under the Obama administration in 2016.

United States to end scheduled flights to all Cuban airports except Havana

Hundreds of tourists from the deck of a cruise ship waved goodbye to Havana on Wednesday (June 05) in what could be the last trip for U.S. cruise operators after the administration of United States' President Donald Trump slapped new travel bans on Cuba.

Rough waters for Cuban tourism after Trump travel ban

Cuban police on Saturday broke up an unauthorised pro-LGBT rights march in Havana, held as an alternative to the government-sanctioned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cuba-suspends-gay-parade-216962">Gay Rights parade</a> that authorities cancelled earlier in the week.

To the cries of "Yes we can!" the demonstrators, several waving rainbow flags and carrying signs with slogans like "Diverse Cuba," managed to march a mere 400 meters along Havana's downtown Paseo del Prado before being dispersed by police.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists, numbering around 100, were protesting the cancellation of the parade against homophobia organised by the government's National Center for Sexual Education (Cenesex), an office under the Ministry of Health, and held for the past ten years.

The colourful parade, or "conga," used to kick off activities educating people about homophobia and transphobia that is nevertheless taking place.

At least three protesters who refused to obey orders to leave were arrested, according to AFP journalists.

Laydel Alfonso, a 31-year-old restaurant waiter who marched with his face concealed by a silver mask and waving a rainbow flag, was upset that police had broken up the march.

"I don't believe this is right because we're doing nothing wrong," he told AFP.

In a first for Cuba, where there is tight government control, the march was organised on social media.

Cenesex is led by lawmaker Mariela Castro, the daughter of former president Raul Castro, who at the age of 87 is still the first secretary of the island's ruling Communist Party.

Earlier in the week, Cenesex announced that the official march was cancelled due to unspecified "new tensions in the international and regional context." The office urged people to respect the official calls for unity.

Cuban police on Saturday broke up an unauthorised pro-LGBT rights march in Havana, held as an alternative to the government-sanctioned Gay Rights parade that authorities cancelled earlier in the week.

Cuban police on Saturday broke up an unauthorised pro-LGBT rights march in Havana, held as an alternative to the government-sanctioned Gay Rights parade that authorities cancelled earlier in the week. To the cries of "Yes we can!" the demonstrators, several waving rainbow flags and carrying signs with slogans like "Diverse Cuba," managed to march a mere 400 meters along Havana's downtown Paseo del Prado before being dispersed by police. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists, numbering around 100, were protesting the cancellation of the parade against homophobia organised by the government's National Center for Sexual Education (Cenesex), an office under the Ministry of Health, and held for the past ten years. The colourful parade, or "conga," used to kick off activities educating people about homophobia and transphobia that is nevertheless taking place. At least three protesters who refused to obey orders to leave were arrested, according to AFP journalists. Laydel Alfonso, a 31-year-old restaurant waiter who marched with his face concealed by a silver mask and waving a rainbow flag, was upset that police had broken up the march. "I don't believe this is right because we're doing nothing wrong," he told AFP. In a first for Cuba, where there is tight government control, the march was organised on social media. Cenesex is led by lawmaker Mariela Castro, the daughter of former president Raul Castro, who at the age of 87 is still the first secretary of the island's ruling Communist Party. Earlier in the week, Cenesex announced that the official march was cancelled due to unspecified "new tensions in the international and regional context." The office urged people to respect the official calls for unity.

Cuban police break up unauthorised LGBT rights march in Havana

Cuban authorities on Tuesday announced that the most important event of the gay community in Cuba will be suspended and will not take place this year.

Cuba suspends gay parade

The number of people killed in the powerful tornado that ripped through part of Havana last week has risen to six, authorities said Sunday.&nbsp;

Public Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda said in state media that "sadly, two people have died among the 13 who were in critical condition." The earlier death toll was four.

The storm which hit Havana area towns including Regla, Guanabacoa, San Miguel de Padron and 10 de Octubre late January 27, has been confirmed as an F4 storm, with F5 the strongest.&nbsp;

Its powerful winds overturned trees and homes and cars, and several areas a number of blocks wide were all but wiped off the map.

The number of people killed in the powerful tornado that ripped through part of Havana last week has risen to six, authorities said Sunday. Public Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda said in state media that "sadly, two people have died among the 13 who were in critical condition.

The number of people killed in the powerful tornado that ripped through part of Havana last week has risen to six, authorities said Sunday. Public Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda said in state media that "sadly, two people have died among the 13 who were in critical condition." The earlier death toll was four. The storm which hit Havana area towns including Regla, Guanabacoa, San Miguel de Padron and 10 de Octubre late January 27, has been confirmed as an F4 storm, with F5 the strongest. Its powerful winds overturned trees and homes and cars, and several areas a number of blocks wide were all but wiped off the map.

Death toll in Cuba tornado rises to six

A rare and powerful tornado that struck Havana killed three people and left 172 injured, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said early Monday.

Diaz-Canel, who toured the darkened streets of Havana in the pre-dawn hours visiting emergency crews, wrote on Twitter that damage to the Cuban capital from the late Sunday tornado was "severe."

The tornado overturned vehicles, uprooted trees, knocked down lampposts, and left part of the city in the dark.

In the city's Luyano neighbourhood storm debris -- including parts of a balcony ripped off an old building -- &nbsp;blocked the streets, AFP photographers reported.

As emergency sirens blared across the city, firefighters and ambulances rushed about on rescue missions, their flashing lights giving light to blacked out areas.

"Aas of now we mourn the loss of three human lives and 172 injured people are receiving aid", Diaz-Canel tweeted.&nbsp;

He added that several emergency teams were working hard to restore power to blacked-out areas.

At the Hijas de Galicia maternity hospital staff were forced to evacuate the building due to storm damage.

The tornado, spawned by a powerful storm that originated in the Gulf of Mexico, hit western Cuba with winds of up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour.

People described the tornado as having "the sound of a jet engine," and reported feeling changes in the environmental pressure when it arrived, Armando Caymares with the Institute of Meteorology said.

The tornado "caught me in the street, in the car with my wife and children," actor Luis "Panfilo" Silva wrote on his social media account.

"I had to dodge fallen trees, flooded areas and strong winds until I managed to get home. We experienced great fear," he wrote.

A rare and powerful tornado that struck Havana killed three people and left 172 injured, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said early Monday. Diaz-Canel, who toured the darkened streets of Havana in the pre-dawn hours visiting emergency crews, wrote on Twitter that damage to the Cuban capital from the late Sunday tornado was "severe.

A rare and powerful tornado that struck Havana killed three people and left 172 injured, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said early Monday. Diaz-Canel, who toured the darkened streets of Havana in the pre-dawn hours visiting emergency crews, wrote on Twitter that damage to the Cuban capital from the late Sunday tornado was "severe." The tornado overturned vehicles, uprooted trees, knocked down lampposts, and left part of the city in the dark. In the city's Luyano neighbourhood storm debris -- including parts of a balcony ripped off an old building -- blocked the streets, AFP photographers reported. As emergency sirens blared across the city, firefighters and ambulances rushed about on rescue missions, their flashing lights giving light to blacked out areas. "Aas of now we mourn the loss of three human lives and 172 injured people are receiving aid", Diaz-Canel tweeted. He added that several emergency teams were working hard to restore power to blacked-out areas. At the Hijas de Galicia maternity hospital staff were forced to evacuate the building due to storm damage. The tornado, spawned by a powerful storm that originated in the Gulf of Mexico, hit western Cuba with winds of up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour. People described the tornado as having "the sound of a jet engine," and reported feeling changes in the environmental pressure when it arrived, Armando Caymares with the Institute of Meteorology said. The tornado "caught me in the street, in the car with my wife and children," actor Luis "Panfilo" Silva wrote on his social media account. "I had to dodge fallen trees, flooded areas and strong winds until I managed to get home. We experienced great fear," he wrote.

Three dead, 172 injured in Havana tornado

The Recording Academy recently announced the first group of artists to perform at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Grammy nominees Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Dan + Shay, Janelle Monae and Kacey Musgraves will perform at this year's award ceremony, reported Variety.

Cabello will make her Grammy performance debut at the award ceremony where she has been nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance `Havana [Live]`&nbsp;and Best Pop Vocal Album 'Camila'.

Cardi B is nominated for Record of the Year `I Like It`, Album of the Year `Invasion of Privacy`, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Maroon 5 `Girls Like You`, Best Rap Performance `Be Careful`, and Best Rap Album `Invasion Of Privacy`.

Mendes will also be performing at the Grammy for the first time, where he`ll be vying for Song Of The Year `In My Blood`&nbsp;and Best Pop Vocal Album Shawn Mendes.

Two-time nominee Monae is nominated for Album Of The Year `Dirty Computer`&nbsp;and Best Music Video `Pynk`.

First-time Grammy nominees Dan + Shay are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance `Tequila`.

First-time nominee Malone has received four nominations, Record Of The Year `Rockstar` with 21 Savage, Album Of The Year `Beerbongs &amp; Bentleys`, Best Pop Solo Performance `Better Now`, and Best Rap/Sung Performance `Rockstar`.

Musgraves is up for four awards: Album of the Year `Golden Hour`, Best Country Solo Performance `Butterflies`, Best Country Song `Space Cowboy`, and Best Country Album `Golden Hour`.

The big night will be hosted by Alicia Keys at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which will air on CBS on February 10, 2019.

The Recording Academy recently announced the first group of artists to perform at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Grammy nominees Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Dan + Shay, Janelle Monae and Kacey Musgraves will perform at this year's award ceremony, reported Variety.

The Recording Academy recently announced the first group of artists to perform at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Grammy nominees Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Dan + Shay, Janelle Monae and Kacey Musgraves will perform at this year's award ceremony, reported Variety. Cabello will make her Grammy performance debut at the award ceremony where she has been nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance `Havana [Live]` and Best Pop Vocal Album 'Camila'. Cardi B is nominated for Record of the Year `I Like It`, Album of the Year `Invasion of Privacy`, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Maroon 5 `Girls Like You`, Best Rap Performance `Be Careful`, and Best Rap Album `Invasion Of Privacy`. Mendes will also be performing at the Grammy for the first time, where he`ll be vying for Song Of The Year `In My Blood` and Best Pop Vocal Album Shawn Mendes. Two-time nominee Monae is nominated for Album Of The Year `Dirty Computer` and Best Music Video `Pynk`. First-time Grammy nominees Dan + Shay are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance `Tequila`. First-time nominee Malone has received four nominations, Record Of The Year `Rockstar` with 21 Savage, Album Of The Year `Beerbongs & Bentleys`, Best Pop Solo Performance `Better Now`, and Best Rap/Sung Performance `Rockstar`. Musgraves is up for four awards: Album of the Year `Golden Hour`, Best Country Solo Performance `Butterflies`, Best Country Song `Space Cowboy`, and Best Country Album `Golden Hour`. The big night will be hosted by Alicia Keys at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which will air on CBS on February 10, 2019.

Cardi B, Shawn Mendes to perform at Grammy Awards 2019

Havana floods as large waves crash over sea wall

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/cuba-defends-controversial-arts-decree-but-seeks-consensus-on-norms-182401">Cuba</a>'s government admitted on Friday that it won't be able to pay all its debt commitments in 2019, blaming Hurricane Irma and the United States sanctions for its woes.

"In 2019, we'll have less credit than the amount of debt we're planning to pay," said finance minister Alejandro Gil during a parliamentary session.

"There will be a level of debt that we won't be able to pay next year and this will affect the performance of the economy."

"There is a high level of debt in the economy that creates daily tensions."

"We've been looking for specific solutions but it's affecting the harmonious performance of the economy."

Gil insisted that Cuba's new loans would be marginally lower than the existing debts it will pay off, meaning that "we won't be increasing our level of debt."

Cuba recently defaulted on a part of its debt with Brazil and is behind in reimbursing another portion related to the construction of a port and purchase of food.

Havana blames these delays on the effects of Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in early September 2017, and a hardening US embargo that hinders its international financial transactions.

Cuba's government has said the economy grew by 1.2 per cent in 2018.

Cuba's government admitted on Friday that it won't be able to pay all its debt commitments in 2019, blaming Hurricane Irma and the United States sanctions for its woes.

Cuba's government admitted on Friday that it won't be able to pay all its debt commitments in 2019, blaming Hurricane Irma and the United States sanctions for its woes. "In 2019, we'll have less credit than the amount of debt we're planning to pay," said finance minister Alejandro Gil during a parliamentary session. "There will be a level of debt that we won't be able to pay next year and this will affect the performance of the economy." "There is a high level of debt in the economy that creates daily tensions." "We've been looking for specific solutions but it's affecting the harmonious performance of the economy." Gil insisted that Cuba's new loans would be marginally lower than the existing debts it will pay off, meaning that "we won't be increasing our level of debt." Cuba recently defaulted on a part of its debt with Brazil and is behind in reimbursing another portion related to the construction of a port and purchase of food. Havana blames these delays on the effects of Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in early September 2017, and a hardening US embargo that hinders its international financial transactions. Cuba's government has said the economy grew by 1.2 per cent in 2018.

Cuba says unable to pay off debt commitments in 2019

Hollywood star Will Smith runs Havana marathon in Cuba

Cuba has a new leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel. But former President Raul Castro remains in a position of control over the key drivers of the country’s economy.

For the first time in almost 60 years, a Castro is no longer Cuba’s head of state. On April 19, Miguel Diaz-Canel was sworn in as Cuba’s president, elevated from his previous role as first vice president.

He has promised to modernize the country’s social and economic model, including dismantling its dual-currency system and leveraging the internet for greater good, but he also committed to retaining its socialist trappings.

However, many Cubans are skeptical of how much good Diaz-Canel could bring them and, in fact, are worried about making ends meet in the new regime, according to experts who spoke to Knowledge@Wharton.

The dual currency system has a Cuban convertible peso (CUC) that is pegged to the dollar, and a Cuban peso (CUP) that is worth 1/24th of the CUC. The Cuban peso is used to pay state salaries and to set most domestic prices, while the convertible peso is used by tourists and multinational firms.

Diaz-Canel has limited powers because his predecessor Raul Castro will continue to head the Communist Party of Cuba and control the military that runs much of the country’s businesses.

Raul Castro fought with his brother Fidel in the revolution that swept them into power in 1959 and served as Cuba’s president for a decade after Fidel Castro stepped down in 2008.

Among the other challenges that Diaz-Canel will face is an increasingly complicated relationship with the US, as the Trump administration has moved to roll back Obama-era policies that promoted renewed relations and business engagement with the island nation.

More of the same

“While there is a change of leadership in name, there may not be that much of a change in philosophy,” said Gustavo Arnavat, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, and a former Obama administration official who represented the US at the Inter-American Development Bank.

Arnavat noted that Diaz-Canel has stressed that continuity will be the theme for the transition. “Things will continue in the same direction as laid out by Raul Castro in the last 10 years or so,” he said. “There is no great optimism that Miguel Diaz-Canel is going to be a major reformer who will [bring] a new day of liberties — both commercial as well as political — on the island.”

Diaz-Canel’s ascension as president is not exactly “a major event,” but he will be the face of many economic changes that will “impoverish Cubans,” according to Lillian Guerra, professor of Cuban and Caribbean history at the University of Florida. “It represents an effort on the part of Raul to shift blame for a number of policy changes that are coming down the pike that will be tremendously unpopular,” she said. “This is a strategic move and a pragmatic move, [but] it is not a shift towards liberalization. On the contrary, it is an effort to ensure continuity and stability.”

Cuba has undergone numerous transitions over the last 25 years, including the end of the Soviet bloc, Fidel Castro’s illness, his transfer of power to Raul and his subsequent death in 2016, noted Richard Gioioso, professor and director of the Latin American studies program at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “The system has proven itself to be adaptable and resilient,” he said. “I’m not convinced that leadership will really change since Raul will sit atop the Communist Party.”

Arnavat, Guerra and Gioioso discussed the challenges facing Diaz-Canel and Cubans on the Knowledge@Wharton show on SiriusXM channel 111.

Harsh times ahead

Diaz-Canel inherits all of the challenges that Raul Castro was facing, such as a stagnant economy and unhappiness among Cubans over their standard of living, Arnavat noted. “They are expecting structural reforms that will allow them to have better lives,” he said.

Guerra highlighted two major changes that will hit Cubans hard in the Diaz-Canel presidency. One is the end of the dual-currency system, which “will impoverish Cubans even further because those items and goods sold in pesos, which is what they get paid in, will now be sold in dollars,” she said.

The other is Diaz-Canel giving effect to Raul Castro’s threat since 2011 to end the ration system that enables Cubans to get subsidized bread, rice and other food items. “Most Cubans get most of their calories from the rations they have been getting since 1962,” although it has been “highly diminished” over the years as the government discontinued rations for several food items, Guerra said. “Cubans have been terrified of this process. Diaz-Canel will be the face of that.”

Reining in entrepreneurs

The Cuban state has wrestled with the rise of the entrepreneurial class in the country after 1992 when it first allowed people to be self-employed because the state couldn’t provide full employment, said Guerra. “The Cuban state has seen the entrepreneurial sector as its primary rival for the tourist dollar but also as a competitor for control of public discourse,” she added.

In 2017, Raul Castro also attempted to rein in the entrepreneurial class by declaring a moratorium on further licensing for self-employed workers. “He declared it had been an error to expand [the entrepreneurial] sector to the degree that it had,” Guerra noted. Cuba’s parliament last July passed updated economic guidelines that said a “concentration of property and financial and material wealth” wouldn’t be permitted in the non-state sector, the Miami Herald reported.

Expanded internet access helped grow the entrepreneurial class, especially in tourism with the growth of Airbnb and bed-and-breakfast businesses. But the state also saw it as a threat, Guerra explained. Raul Castro has responded by threatening to “increasingly police the internet, and shut down bloggers,” she said. “He would do whatever it took — in fact, he used the word censorship — to ensure that there would be control of information.”

Crimps on real estate

The end of the dual currency system will also hurt Cuba’s real estate market, and that is also a matter of concern for many Cubans, said Gioioso. Investors including Cuban Americans in South Florida and elsewhere in the US, in addition to Cubans living in Spain and Mexico, have thronged Cuba’s real estate markets, and “a significant amount of [that] foreign investment is through irregular ways,” he added. Without the dual currency system, much of the foreign investment that was possible through the dollar-linked CUC will face constraints, he said.

A crackdown on errant real estate market practices could hurt some powerful interest groups, too. Guerra said that after Cuba legalized real estate sales in November 2011, remittances from Cubans living overseas jumped, and currently account for more than a billion dollars annually. Much of that money found its way into real estate purchases.

Cuba’s generals and CEOs of state corporations that work with foreign investors also invested in real estate because “they needed someplace to put their millions,” she added. “At all levels, this appears very much like a traditional military dictatorship. So, there is a lot to be worried about here.”

Resetting ties with the US

Diaz-Canel will also have to think of new ways to engage with the Trump administration, said Arnavat. “If he wants to have a better relationship with the U.S., he has to figure out a way to give something to Donald Trump that will be of interest in order for Trump to be able to open up again and want to do a deal with Cuba.”

The Trump administration’s rhetoric over unwinding Obama’s pro-Cuba gestures has not been matched with action, apart from a few rollbacks. Some 80-90% of the more liberal regulations introduced under Barack Obama remain in place, said Arnavat.

Gioioso said the Obama administration brought optimism among Cubans about how openness with the US would create better bilateral relations and increase tourism revenues to Cuba.

However, Trump’s rollback of some of the Obama-era normalization policies “creates more confusion than anything else,” and the outlook on that front will depend on how the Trump administration articulates its Cuba policy, he added.&nbsp;

Diaz-Canel’s ability to correct any of Cuba’s woes is limited. Guerra noted that as head of the army, Raul Castro is also CEO of GAESA, the army’s business conglomerate. GAESA controls roughly 60% of the country’s economy through its various arms, including the Gaviota hotel chain and TRD, the military retail chain.

“These are state companies that work with foreign investors in a neo-liberal trade regime of assembly plants and free trade zones on the island that take advantage of poor and very cheap labor,” Guerra said. “And they also rake in billions of dollars in tourism. The real power resides in who controls the economy and who controls the military, and that remains Raul Castro.”

(This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/">Fair Observer</a>. Read the original <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/latin_america/cuba-raul-castro-miguel-diaz-canel-world-news-34099/">article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Cuba has a new leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel. But former President Raul Castro remains in a position of control over the key drivers of the country’s economy

Cuba has a new leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel. But former President Raul Castro remains in a position of control over the key drivers of the country’s economy. For the first time in almost 60 years, a Castro is no longer Cuba’s head of state. On April 19, Miguel Diaz-Canel was sworn in as Cuba’s president, elevated from his previous role as first vice president. He has promised to modernize the country’s social and economic model, including dismantling its dual-currency system and leveraging the internet for greater good, but he also committed to retaining its socialist trappings. However, many Cubans are skeptical of how much good Diaz-Canel could bring them and, in fact, are worried about making ends meet in the new regime, according to experts who spoke to Knowledge@Wharton. The dual currency system has a Cuban convertible peso (CUC) that is pegged to the dollar, and a Cuban peso (CUP) that is worth 1/24th of the CUC. The Cuban peso is used to pay state salaries and to set most domestic prices, while the convertible peso is used by tourists and multinational firms. Diaz-Canel has limited powers because his predecessor Raul Castro will continue to head the Communist Party of Cuba and control the military that runs much of the country’s businesses. Raul Castro fought with his brother Fidel in the revolution that swept them into power in 1959 and served as Cuba’s president for a decade after Fidel Castro stepped down in 2008. Among the other challenges that Diaz-Canel will face is an increasingly complicated relationship with the US, as the Trump administration has moved to roll back Obama-era policies that promoted renewed relations and business engagement with the island nation. More of the same “While there is a change of leadership in name, there may not be that much of a change in philosophy,” said Gustavo Arnavat, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, and a former Obama administration official who represented the US at the Inter-American Development Bank. Arnavat noted that Diaz-Canel has stressed that continuity will be the theme for the transition. “Things will continue in the same direction as laid out by Raul Castro in the last 10 years or so,” he said. “There is no great optimism that Miguel Diaz-Canel is going to be a major reformer who will [bring] a new day of liberties — both commercial as well as political — on the island.” Diaz-Canel’s ascension as president is not exactly “a major event,” but he will be the face of many economic changes that will “impoverish Cubans,” according to Lillian Guerra, professor of Cuban and Caribbean history at the University of Florida. “It represents an effort on the part of Raul to shift blame for a number of policy changes that are coming down the pike that will be tremendously unpopular,” she said. “This is a strategic move and a pragmatic move, [but] it is not a shift towards liberalization. On the contrary, it is an effort to ensure continuity and stability.” Cuba has undergone numerous transitions over the last 25 years, including the end of the Soviet bloc, Fidel Castro’s illness, his transfer of power to Raul and his subsequent death in 2016, noted Richard Gioioso, professor and director of the Latin American studies program at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “The system has proven itself to be adaptable and resilient,” he said. “I’m not convinced that leadership will really change since Raul will sit atop the Communist Party.” Arnavat, Guerra and Gioioso discussed the challenges facing Diaz-Canel and Cubans on the Knowledge@Wharton show on SiriusXM channel 111. Harsh times ahead Diaz-Canel inherits all of the challenges that Raul Castro was facing, such as a stagnant economy and unhappiness among Cubans over their standard of living, Arnavat noted. “They are expecting structural reforms that will allow them to have better lives,” he said. Guerra highlighted two major changes that will hit Cubans hard in the Diaz-Canel presidency. One is the end of the dual-currency system, which “will impoverish Cubans even further because those items and goods sold in pesos, which is what they get paid in, will now be sold in dollars,” she said. The other is Diaz-Canel giving effect to Raul Castro’s threat since 2011 to end the ration system that enables Cubans to get subsidized bread, rice and other food items. “Most Cubans get most of their calories from the rations they have been getting since 1962,” although it has been “highly diminished” over the years as the government discontinued rations for several food items, Guerra said. “Cubans have been terrified of this process. Diaz-Canel will be the face of that.” Reining in entrepreneurs The Cuban state has wrestled with the rise of the entrepreneurial class in the country after 1992 when it first allowed people to be self-employed because the state couldn’t provide full employment, said Guerra. “The Cuban state has seen the entrepreneurial sector as its primary rival for the tourist dollar but also as a competitor for control of public discourse,” she added. In 2017, Raul Castro also attempted to rein in the entrepreneurial class by declaring a moratorium on further licensing for self-employed workers. “He declared it had been an error to expand [the entrepreneurial] sector to the degree that it had,” Guerra noted. Cuba’s parliament last July passed updated economic guidelines that said a “concentration of property and financial and material wealth” wouldn’t be permitted in the non-state sector, the Miami Herald reported. Expanded internet access helped grow the entrepreneurial class, especially in tourism with the growth of Airbnb and bed-and-breakfast businesses. But the state also saw it as a threat, Guerra explained. Raul Castro has responded by threatening to “increasingly police the internet, and shut down bloggers,” she said. “He would do whatever it took — in fact, he used the word censorship — to ensure that there would be control of information.” Crimps on real estate The end of the dual currency system will also hurt Cuba’s real estate market, and that is also a matter of concern for many Cubans, said Gioioso. Investors including Cuban Americans in South Florida and elsewhere in the US, in addition to Cubans living in Spain and Mexico, have thronged Cuba’s real estate markets, and “a significant amount of [that] foreign investment is through irregular ways,” he added. Without the dual currency system, much of the foreign investment that was possible through the dollar-linked CUC will face constraints, he said. A crackdown on errant real estate market practices could hurt some powerful interest groups, too. Guerra said that after Cuba legalized real estate sales in November 2011, remittances from Cubans living overseas jumped, and currently account for more than a billion dollars annually. Much of that money found its way into real estate purchases. Cuba’s generals and CEOs of state corporations that work with foreign investors also invested in real estate because “they needed someplace to put their millions,” she added. “At all levels, this appears very much like a traditional military dictatorship. So, there is a lot to be worried about here.” Resetting ties with the US Diaz-Canel will also have to think of new ways to engage with the Trump administration, said Arnavat. “If he wants to have a better relationship with the U.S., he has to figure out a way to give something to Donald Trump that will be of interest in order for Trump to be able to open up again and want to do a deal with Cuba.” The Trump administration’s rhetoric over unwinding Obama’s pro-Cuba gestures has not been matched with action, apart from a few rollbacks. Some 80-90% of the more liberal regulations introduced under Barack Obama remain in place, said Arnavat. Gioioso said the Obama administration brought optimism among Cubans about how openness with the US would create better bilateral relations and increase tourism revenues to Cuba. However, Trump’s rollback of some of the Obama-era normalization policies “creates more confusion than anything else,” and the outlook on that front will depend on how the Trump administration articulates its Cuba policy, he added. Diaz-Canel’s ability to correct any of Cuba’s woes is limited. Guerra noted that as head of the army, Raul Castro is also CEO of GAESA, the army’s business conglomerate. GAESA controls roughly 60% of the country’s economy through its various arms, including the Gaviota hotel chain and TRD, the military retail chain. “These are state companies that work with foreign investors in a neo-liberal trade regime of assembly plants and free trade zones on the island that take advantage of poor and very cheap labor,” Guerra said. “And they also rake in billions of dollars in tourism. The real power resides in who controls the economy and who controls the military, and that remains Raul Castro.” (This article was originally published on Fair Observer. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: What to expect from a post-Castro Cuba

Times Square lit up on Sunday night with the best of musical talent wowing the crowds of Manhattan, New York City.&nbsp;

The crowd went crazy when singers Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello,&nbsp;Kelly Clarkson, Kane Brown, BTS, Fitz and The Tantrums, Khalid with Marshmello, Charlie Puth, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Portugal, The Man, and Hailee Steinfeld, Nick Jonas took centre stage at&nbsp;Dick Clark&#39;s New Year&#39;s Rockin&#39; Eve With Ryan Seacrest.&nbsp;

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5... 4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinEve</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hello2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hello2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/RjLarD1uOT">pic.twitter.com/RjLarD1uOT</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947695901862117376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It was quite something to watch Mariah Carey return to the stage after last year&#39;s mishap. She sang not one, but two songs for the freezing crowd on New Year&#39;s Eve. She performed a medley of&nbsp;&quot;Vision of Love&quot; and &quot;Hero&quot; and even made the crowd&nbsp;burst into laughter with a joke at her expense saying to the audience that the night was a &quot;disaster&quot; because she didn&#39;t have her hot tea.

&quot;They told me there would be hot tea,&quot; she said.

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Happy New Year!!!! &hearts;????? <a href="https://t.co/7QMeQa5THV">pic.twitter.com/7QMeQa5THV</a>
&mdash; Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/947714634534006784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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???????????? 
Festive even in single digits! See you tonight, everybody!! <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYRE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinEve</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyNewYear?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyNewYear</a> <a href="https://t.co/edR6fYSvbv">pic.twitter.com/edR6fYSvbv</a>
&mdash; Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/947608101179441153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Let&#39;s hear it for <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCarey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariahCarey</a> LIVE in Times Square... take two! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinEve</a> <a href="https://t.co/9czbB366Hl">pic.twitter.com/9czbB366Hl</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947690589331505152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Camila Cabello song danced to &quot;Havana&quot; while Shawn Mendes sang his hit song &quot;There&#39;s Nothing Holding Me Back&quot; At the Rockin&#39; Eve stage in Los Angeles.&nbsp;

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Half of my ?? is still with <a href="https://twitter.com/Camila_Cabello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Camila_Cabello</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAMILAxRockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAMILAxRockinEve</a> <a href="https://t.co/fxizvMK0XG">pic.twitter.com/fxizvMK0XG</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947669042814423040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Impossible not to turn into ?????? when <a href="https://twitter.com/Camila_Cabello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Camila_Cabello</a> is performing! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinEve</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAMILAxRockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAMILAxRockinEve</a> <a href="https://t.co/01M8MQ71T3">pic.twitter.com/01M8MQ71T3</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947661895418253312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&#39;There&#39;s Nothing Holding Me Back&#39; from <a href="https://twitter.com/ShawnMendes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShawnMendes</a>! ?? He&#39;s back on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinEve</a> stage! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinShawn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinShawn</a> <a href="https://t.co/mdczfJ0883">pic.twitter.com/mdczfJ0883</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947664280211439616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Stringin&#39; his way into 2018 ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/ShawnMendes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShawnMendes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinShawn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinShawn</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Bn9EakuzU">pic.twitter.com/5Bn9EakuzU</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947665526288822272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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To add to the list,&nbsp;singers Kelly Clarkson, Kane Brown, BTS, Fitz and The Tantrums, Khalid with Marshmello, Charlie Puth, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Portugal. The Man, and Hailee Steinfeld were also seen&nbsp;on the stage in Los Angeles.

There also Imagine Dragon, Alessia Cara among a few others who performed.&nbsp;

Nick Jonas hit the Times Square stage with an amazing medley of &quot;Home,&quot; &quot;Close&quot; and &quot;Jealous.&quot;

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/nickjonas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nickjonas</a> is heating up Times Square with his medley of &#39;Home&#39; &#39;Close&#39; and &#39;Jealous&#39; ??????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RockinEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RockinEve</a> <a href="https://t.co/cpWTI7sU6i">pic.twitter.com/cpWTI7sU6i</a>
&mdash; New Year&rsquo;s Rockin&rsquo; Eve (@NYRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRE/status/947684603602464769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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The list of star performers was pretty long for New Year's Eve party at Times Square where hundreds gathered to enjoy music with family and friends

Times Square lit up on Sunday night with the best of musical talent wowing the crowds of Manhattan, New York City. The crowd went crazy when singers Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello, Kelly Clarkson, Kane Brown, BTS, Fitz and The Tantrums, Khalid with Marshmello, Charlie Puth, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Portugal, The Man, and Hailee Steinfeld, Nick Jonas took centre stage at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM #RockinEve! #Hello2018 pic.twitter.com/RjLarD1uOT — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 × It was quite something to watch Mariah Carey return to the stage after last year's mishap. She sang not one, but two songs for the freezing crowd on New Year's Eve. She performed a medley of "Vision of Love" and "Hero" and even made the crowd burst into laughter with a joke at her expense saying to the audience that the night was a "disaster" because she didn't have her hot tea. "They told me there would be hot tea," she said. Happy New Year!!!! ♥????? pic.twitter.com/7QMeQa5THV — Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) January 1, 2018 × ???????????? Festive even in single digits! See you tonight, everybody!! @NYRE #RockinEve #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/edR6fYSvbv — Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) December 31, 2017 × Let's hear it for @MariahCarey LIVE in Times Square... take two! #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/9czbB366Hl — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 × Camila Cabello song danced to "Havana" while Shawn Mendes sang his hit song "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" At the Rockin' Eve stage in Los Angeles. Half of my ?? is still with @Camila_Cabello. #CAMILAxRockinEve pic.twitter.com/fxizvMK0XG — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 × Impossible not to turn into ?????? when @Camila_Cabello is performing! #RockinEve #CAMILAxRockinEve pic.twitter.com/01M8MQ71T3 — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 × 'There's Nothing Holding Me Back' from @ShawnMendes! ?? He's back on the #RockinEve stage! #RockinShawn pic.twitter.com/mdczfJ0883 — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 × Stringin' his way into 2018 ?? @ShawnMendes #RockinShawn pic.twitter.com/5Bn9EakuzU — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 × To add to the list, singers Kelly Clarkson, Kane Brown, BTS, Fitz and The Tantrums, Khalid with Marshmello, Charlie Puth, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Portugal. The Man, and Hailee Steinfeld were also seen on the stage in Los Angeles. There also Imagine Dragon, Alessia Cara among a few others who performed. Nick Jonas hit the Times Square stage with an amazing medley of "Home," "Close" and "Jealous." .@nickjonas is heating up Times Square with his medley of 'Home' 'Close' and 'Jealous' ??????#RockinEve pic.twitter.com/cpWTI7sU6i — New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018 ×

Watch stars light up Times Square in New York with music and fun

Cuba took another step on Sunday toward the end of the Castro era, with millions of residents placing paper ballots in cardboard boxes for ward delegates to municipal assemblies.

The vote comes the day after the first anniversary of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro&rsquo;s death and precedes another election early next year for provincial and national assembly deputies.

The new national assembly, where 50 percent of the deputies must be ward delegates elected on Sunday, is expected on Feb. 24 to select a new president to replace Raul Castro, Fidel&rsquo;s 86-year-old younger brother, who has said he will step down after serving two five-year terms.

The Castro brothers have headed the government since the 1959 revolution.

Raul Castro will remain head of the Communist Party until 2021, the only legal party in Cuba.

Nearly 27,000 candidates are running for 12,515 ward positions in Sunday&rsquo;s election, the only part of the electoral process that is contested publicly and with direct participation by ordinary Cubans.

The results will be announced on Monday.

The candidates for the provincial and national assemblies are nominated by commissions composed of representatives of Communist Party-controlled organizations, such as the trade union federation, then presented as a slate for a public vote.

Those slates have had the same number of names as seats in previous elections. Fifty percent of those names must be ward delegates.

The electoral cycle comes at a tricky time for the Caribbean nation as the revolutionary generation passes, an economic reform program appears stalled, aid from key ally Venezuela shrinks, and the Trump administration threatens.

Yet candidates debated none of these issues before Sunday&rsquo;s vote.

First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is expected to succeed Castro, lauded the electoral process and refused to speculate about his future.

&quot;Today is a day to talk about what we are doing and Fidel,&quot; he told reporters after casting his ballot.

Asked about relations with the United States, he said Cuba remained interested in improving them, but reiterated its position that negotiations would have to be based on mutual respect and equality and without dictates.

&quot;The future depends on them, not us,&quot; he said.

Campaigning is prohibited in Cuba, and candidates for the ward posts were nominated at neighborhood meetings based on their personal merits, not policy positions. They need not belong to the Communist Party, and many candidates are independents, but only a few government opponents have ever competed.

&quot;I am happy to vote, but I must say, like most young people I do not think it makes any difference,&quot; said a young woman, who requested anonymity because she holds an important government job.

She added that there was an ongoing discussion on how to reform the electoral process and make government more responsive.

This year a coalition of opposition groups ran more than 160 pre-candidates, but most were blocked by state security from nomination meetings, and none are running on Sunday.

The vote precedes another election early next year for provincial and national assembly deputies

Cuba took another step on Sunday toward the end of the Castro era, with millions of residents placing paper ballots in cardboard boxes for ward delegates to municipal assemblies. The vote comes the day after the first anniversary of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro’s death and precedes another election early next year for provincial and national assembly deputies. The new national assembly, where 50 percent of the deputies must be ward delegates elected on Sunday, is expected on Feb. 24 to select a new president to replace Raul Castro, Fidel’s 86-year-old younger brother, who has said he will step down after serving two five-year terms. The Castro brothers have headed the government since the 1959 revolution. Raul Castro will remain head of the Communist Party until 2021, the only legal party in Cuba. Nearly 27,000 candidates are running for 12,515 ward positions in Sunday’s election, the only part of the electoral process that is contested publicly and with direct participation by ordinary Cubans. The results will be announced on Monday. The candidates for the provincial and national assemblies are nominated by commissions composed of representatives of Communist Party-controlled organizations, such as the trade union federation, then presented as a slate for a public vote. Those slates have had the same number of names as seats in previous elections. Fifty percent of those names must be ward delegates. The electoral cycle comes at a tricky time for the Caribbean nation as the revolutionary generation passes, an economic reform program appears stalled, aid from key ally Venezuela shrinks, and the Trump administration threatens. Yet candidates debated none of these issues before Sunday’s vote. First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is expected to succeed Castro, lauded the electoral process and refused to speculate about his future. "Today is a day to talk about what we are doing and Fidel," he told reporters after casting his ballot. Asked about relations with the United States, he said Cuba remained interested in improving them, but reiterated its position that negotiations would have to be based on mutual respect and equality and without dictates. "The future depends on them, not us," he said. Campaigning is prohibited in Cuba, and candidates for the ward posts were nominated at neighborhood meetings based on their personal merits, not policy positions. They need not belong to the Communist Party, and many candidates are independents, but only a few government opponents have ever competed. "I am happy to vote, but I must say, like most young people I do not think it makes any difference," said a young woman, who requested anonymity because she holds an important government job. She added that there was an ongoing discussion on how to reform the electoral process and make government more responsive. This year a coalition of opposition groups ran more than 160 pre-candidates, but most were blocked by state security from nomination meetings, and none are running on Sunday.

Cuba holds municipal elections on road to Castro era's end

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