Havana - Among the first aspects that surprise visitors to Cuba is the impressive quantity of vintage cars driven on the streets, most of them in excellent condition. Many of them are of American origin, particularly Ford and Chevrolet 1940s and 1950s models.

Havana - It started as a small neighbourhood market located half a block from Cathedral Square in Old Havana; seventy years later it is still the world’s most famous Cuban restaurant visited by great personalities from Nobel laureates to renowned politicians.

Havana - The Hotel “Ambos Mundos” (Both Worlds) located on Bishop’s Street in Old Havana is known for its “Mojito” cocktails, but mainly for having been during seven years the residence in Cuba of Ernest Hemingway, 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Colombia's FARC rebels released hostage Kevin Scott Sutay Sunday. Sutay is a former United States Army private who was kidnapped in June after wandering into "the conflict zone."

Havana - The “Plaza de la Catedral”, located not far from Old Havana’s Main Plaza, is the best known square in Havana and is considered one of the most beautiful and harmonious in Latin America. The mansions surrounding the plaza date from the XVIII century.

Havana - President Raul Castro, president of Cuba signed law 313 in September creating a "Special Economic Zone" in the port of Mariel located 45 km west of the capital Havana. Foreign companies who invest in the zone will not pay the usual taxes and tariffs.

Havana - Revolution Square in Havana is the political and administrative center of Cuba. The most important structures in the Square are a 109-meter tall star-shaped tower, and the statue of José Martí, Cuba's national hero and acclaimed poet and journalist.

New York - Oscar Hijuelos, the first Latin-American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, died Saturday in Manhattan. He was 62 years old.

Havana - The Plaza de Armas (Main Square) in Old Havana is the original site of the founding of the city of Havana. The Square was built in 1519; it holds important historical monuments, and it is surrounded by impressive buildings of baroque architecture.

Havana - The Tropicana Club in Havana, Cuba, has been operating in the Marianao district since 1939. Known worldwide as "Paradise under the Stars," the cabaret is famous for the talent of its artists and the grace and sensuality of its showgirls.

The President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, has rejected mediation which US civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson has agreed to be a part of over a rebel-held hostage.

Panama City - Few visitors would come to Panama City and miss seeing one of its major attractions. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, saving almost 13,000 km from a journey through the Strait of Magellan in the southern tip of South America.

American swimmer Diana Nyad, 64, made it onto dry sand in Key West on Monday after swimming more than 100 miles from Cuba.

Six potential Republican candidates for President of the United States in 2016 will appear at an event in New York City next month. The six include Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker and Rick Synder.

Havana - Cuba opened its first English bookstore, cafe, and literary salon Friday offering islanders and tourists a place to hang out and choose from 300 books, just about what you'd find in the lobby of a bed and breakfast in the United States.

Washington - Federal employees were told to identify U.S. stations but not to make offers of government-funded news to domestic media.

Panama City - A North Korean flagged ship travelling from Cuba and bound for North Korea was seized at the port of Colon on Monday 15. The vessel was carrying undeclared war material, reported the president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli.

On Wednesday July 10, a spending bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee. It's actually being called The "Jay-Z, Beyonce" bill. The bill's name was given by Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY).

Caracas - In defending his government's decision to offer asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, Venezuela's president slammed the United States for its hypocrisy in calling for Snowden's extradition while harboring the hemisphere's most notorious terrorist.

Rapper Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) took part in a demonstration in London on June 15, which briefly displayed the conditions select detainees must endure at Guantanamo Bay.