martes, 17 de marzo de 2009

Cuba to Show Oil Drilling Results at International Convention

HAVANA, Cuba, March 17 (acn) The current state and prospects of gas and oil drilling in Cuba is one of the main topics of the 3rd Earth Sciences Convention that began on Monday in Havana.

Nearly 800 experts from 40 Latin American, European and African nations are participating in the event and they will learn about the achievements of Cuban geologists over the last years as well as plans and new investments currently being carried out in this sector in the Caribbean archipelago.

In spite of the almost-50-year-old US economic blockade, Cuba has been working on the training of human resources necessary to develop this important sector of the national economy.

During the event, Cuban specialists will speak about their experiences in the search, exploration and exploitation of new oil wells as well as the use of new techniques.


(Expondrán resultados de la exploración petrolera en Cuba)

Russian Children in a Painting Contest on Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 17 (acn) Once again the children's painting contest "Cuba, my Love," was a great attraction among Russian children visiting the stand of the art and literature gallery of Moscow's Book Fair.

The second secretary of the Cuban embassy at the Russian Federation, Carlos Valdés, highlighted the cultural importance of this event, consisting of works done after reading works by National Hero José Martí, National Poet Nicolás Guillén, Juan Marinello and other authors,
all of them from Cuba, Prensa Latina news agency reports.

In the presence of over one hundred guests, the Cuban diplomat thanked parliamentarian Tatiana Smirnova, from the Russian Federation's Communist Party, leaders of the Russia-Cuba Friendship Association, and intellectuals for their presence, all of whom contributed to this
project.

Valdés recalled that Cuba has always counted on the support of the Russian people in the most important battles fought by the archipelago, like the struggle for the lifting of the US blockade and for the release of the Five Cuban antiterrorists unjustly jailed in the United States.

In particular, the Cuban diplomat highlighted the work of Alevtina Shárova, director of the Fire Bird Gallery, whose constant work, for decades, has made it possible for hundreds of children to become interested in Cuban culture.

Shárova said that children from Moscow and another 33 regions of Russia, as well as the Ukraine and Latvia participated in this second edition of "Cuba, my Love," which started in December, 2008.

(Niños rusos participan en concurso de pintura sobre Cuba)

Cuba Eliminates Mexico and Stays Alive in 2009 WBC

HAVANA, Cuba, March 17 (acn) Cuba avoided elimination from the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and sent Mexico home instead with a 7-4 win at the Petco Park in San Diego on Monday night.

After having lost to Japan 0-6 in the second-round opener on Sunday, the Cubans needed a victory to stay in the event and they succeeded thanks to good pitching performances by starter Norge Luis Vera and reliever Pedro Luis Lazo and an excellent 11-hit offense that was led by
Frederich Cepeda with three hi ts in four at-bats, including a three-run
double, four RBIs and a run.

Cuba scored in the first inning on a pair of two-out walks and Yulieski Gourriel’s run-scoring single that hit the mound and bounced into center field, then made it 2-0 two innings later by bunching three singles.

Mexico answered quickly, tying the score on a two-out RBI single by Freddy Sandoval in the third and Scott Hairston's bases-loaded groundout in the fourth.

But Cepeda broke the game open an inning later with a three-run double to center.

Cuba added two more in the seventh on a two-run triple by Yoennis Cespedes while Mexico closed out the scoring with solo homers by Jorge Cantu in the eighth and Christian Presichi in the ninth off Cuba’s Pedro Luis Lazo.

In addition to Cepeda, leadoff hitter Leonys Martin, making his first start of the tournament, and second baseman Hector Olivera had two hits each, as did Gourriel.

Now, Cuba will face the winner of Tuesday’s Japan-South Korea match in another elimination game on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, also on Monday, Venezuela became the first semifinalist of the tournament after a 2-0 hard-fought win over the Puerto Ricans, who will face the United States on Tuesday. The winner will advance to semifinals while the loser will exit the event.

(Cuba derrotó a México y continúa en el Clásico)