Kerry urges ‘genuine democracy’ in Cuba as US raises flag |
- Kerry urges ‘genuine democracy’ in Cuba as US raises flag
- Thunderstorm halts play at PGA Championship
- Chrissy Teigen can’t decide between two Samsung phones (VIDEO)
- Guess how old they are? Koreans react to Malaysian female stars
- Wenger expects strong response against Palace after opening day defeat
| Kerry urges ‘genuine democracy’ in Cuba as US raises flag Posted: 14 Aug 2015 06:31 PM PDT
Leading a ceremony to mark the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Cold War adversaries, Kerry declared a new era in US-Cuban relations but pressed the Communist government on democracy and human rights. "We remain convinced the people of Cuba would be best served by a genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their leaders," he said in a one-party state where the media is tightly controlled and political dissent is repressed. "We will continue to urge the Cuban government to fulfill its obligations under UN and Inter-American human rights covenants," Kerry said, his words accurately translated into Spanish and broadcast live on Cuban state television. His comments drew a firm riposte from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who defended Cuba at a news conference with Kerry and criticised the United States' own record on rights, referring to racial strife and police brutality in America. Speaking later with reporters, Kerry said the US Congress was unlikely to lift a punishing economic embargo on Cuba unless human rights improved. "There is no way Congress is going to vote to lift the embargo if they're not moving with respect to issues of conscience," said Kerry, who in the first visit to Cuba by a U.S. secretary of state in 70 years met for about an hour with some of the country's most prominent dissidents. Cuba fiercely rejects such conditions and it declined to attend a US reception where the dissidents were present. Josefina Vidal, Cuba's lead negotiator in talks on restoring diplomatic relations, told Reuters that Cuba's sovereignty was not negotiable and Cuba has no interest in placating its enemies in the United States. "We are not going to make a decision to try to please or respond to people who don't want our well-being," Vidal said in an interview. "Cuba will never do anything, nor will it move its position one millimetre to try to respond." While the tone in US-Cuban relations has improved greatly since detente was announced in December, the blunt statements and rebukes underscored how far the two countries are from normal relations after decades of hostilities that outlived the Cold War. Both sides stressed yesterday that the path toward normalisation of overall relations would be lengthy and suffer occasional setbacks. Cuba wants the United States to end its economic embargo of the island, return the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in eastern Cuba and halt radio and television signals beamed into Cuba. The United States is seeking the return of fugitives granted asylum in Cuba and backs the claims of Americans whose property was nationalised in the years after Fidel Castro seized power in a 1959 revolution. Sun shines on seaside ceremony The sunlit ceremony at the embassy overlooking the Malecon, the broad esplanade along Havana's seafront, was a major symbolic step on a path that opened last December when President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro announced they would seek to normalise ties. Three retired Marines who last lowered the flag in 1961 took part in the ceremony, handing a new flag to the Marine Colour Guard. As the flag was raised, there were loud cheers and applause from the crowd of US and Cuban dignitaries and longtime proponents of US-Cuban engagement, and from people watching from neighbouring balconies. The United States and Cuba formally renewed diplomatic relations and upgraded their diplomatic missions to embassies almost four weeks ago. While the Cubans celebrated with a flag-raising in Washington on July 20, the Americans waited until Kerry could travel to Havana. He took advantage of his trip to reassure Cuban dissidents of continued support from Washington. "Kerry's message was that the United States would continue to support democracy and pressing the subject of human rights in Cuba," said Martha Beatriz Roque, one of 75 former political prisoners jailed in what is known as the Black Spring of 2003. But dissidents were not invited to the flag-raising in deference to the Cuban government, drawing sharp rebukes from opponents of the opening to Cuba, who say Havana has made no concessions in exchange for diplomatic ties. "Secretary Kerry's visit is especially insulting for Cuba's dissidents," said Jeb Bush, a Republican candidate for next year's US presidential election. He is also a former governor of Florida, home to the biggest Cuban emigre population. "That courageous Cubans whose only crime is to speak out for freedom and democracy will be kept away from the official ceremony opening the US Embassy is yet another concession to the Castros," Bush said. — Reuters  |
| Thunderstorm halts play at PGA Championship Posted: 14 Aug 2015 06:26 PM PDT
Less than half an hour after play was halted because of lighting in the area, fierce winds began to buffet the course. Officials said the second round would resume at 7am (12:00 GMT) today. Sweden's David Lingmerth was the leader in the clubhouse on seven-under 137, with Australians Matt Jones and Jason Day at nine under on the course when play was halted. Day had four holes left to play while Jones had six remaining. England's Justin Rose was eight-under and heading to 18 when the horn sounded. ― AFP |
| Chrissy Teigen can’t decide between two Samsung phones (VIDEO) Posted: 14 Aug 2015 06:26 PM PDT LOS ANGELES, Aug 15 — Model Chrissy Teigen's ad for Samsung's latest phone is pretty funny. The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are featured as well as the popular Instagram app. Teigen recently kicked up a fuss on Instagram about its policy on women's nipples showing up on the app, with any picture being deleted on the site if it featured women's bare chests. To prove a point, she posted up a few topless photos of herself in protest which were quickly taken down. She wonders out loud in the video whether Instagram would censor the nipples of her dog and why her husband, singer John Legend, has two phones. It's one of the funnier phone ads this year and a very current take on social media happenings. |
| Guess how old they are? Koreans react to Malaysian female stars Posted: 14 Aug 2015 06:25 PM PDT Duration: 3:29, Published 15 Aug 2015 A group of South Koreans attempted to guess the age of Malaysian female stars like Nora Danish and Shila Amzah in this video by KoreanStarTV. |
| Wenger expects strong response against Palace after opening day defeat Posted: 14 Aug 2015 06:21 PM PDT
Wenger's side make the short trip to south London with the embarrassment of last weekend's shock 2-0 home loss against West Ham still fresh in their minds. Heading into the new Premier League campaign, Wenger's squad were widely tipped as genuine title contenders after winning the FA Cup and defeating champions Chelsea in the Community Shield. But a miserable debut from Petr Cech, the veteran goalkeeper signed from Chelsea and hailed as the last piece in Wenger's title jigsaw, and lacklustre displays from the majority of his new team-mates, allowed West Ham to shatter the optimism surrounding the Gunners. Faced with a tricky clash against a Palace side who started with a 3-1 win at Norwich and have caused numerous problems for the top teams at Selhurst Park in recent years, Wenger acknowledges Arsenal could suffer another blow to their title bid unless they raise their performance levels significantly. Yet the Arsenal manager is sure that belief among his squad remains intact and he has backed them to rebound with a win that will set the tone for the rest of the season. "Every defeat makes you a bit smaller, but it is our job to take it in perspective with 37 games to go," Wenger said. "We have the history behind us from the second half of the campaign last year which shows we have the quality to always respond and to be consistent, so let's focus on our quality. "Defeat is part of the season and of course that was not planned, but we know it is how we respond to these kind of things that will make our season." Fragile Following Sunday's loss, Wenger found himself in the familiar position of having to defend his football philosophy as angry fans questioned the way their physically fragile players were bullied by West Ham. But the Frenchman, whose club last won the title in 2004, said: "We have a big following and disappointed people are emotional, that is understandable and it hurts us as well to disappoint people who have a high level of expectation. "We have analysed what happened to us, but we don't have to go overboard with what happened. It is a defeat and it hurts, but that shouldn't take our belief in our potential away. "A strong season is down to the way that you respond to disappointment so we will focus on our next game. We will prepare for that." Wenger is boosted by the return of right-back Hector Bellerin after a thigh strain ruled him out last weekend. Chile forward Alexis Sanchez could start having stepped up his training this week after an extended break following the Copa America. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew believes Yohan Cabaye would have slotted straight into Arsenal's starting line-up if the France midfielder had signed for the Gunners. Cabaye made a surprise move to Palace from Paris Saint Germain in July but was close to joining Arsenal two years ago when he was at Newcastle. The playmaker has already made a good impression at Palace, scoring in last week's win at Norwich, and Pardew says he could easily hold his own in a squad of Arsenal's quality. "Two years ago Yohan wouldn't play (for Newcastle) at Manchester City because he thought he was going to Arsenal so it's quite ironic he's now here with us at Crystal Palace," Pardew said. "He's a fantastic player, we're honoured to have him and he's definitely the level of Arsenal players. "I don't think Arsene Wenger or anyone at Arsenal would disagree with that. "We have a player who could definitely play in their team and that's a nice feeling for us." ― AFP |
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