(Reuters) – The United States and Cuba agreed yesterday to restore diplomatic ties thatPresident Barack Obama and Cuban president Raul CastroWashington severed more than 50 years ago, and President Barack Obama called for an end to the long economic embargo against its old Cold War enemy.After 18 months of secret talks, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in a phone call on Tuesday on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of Embassies in each other’s countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce.The two leaders made the announcement in simultaneous televised speeches. The Vatican and Canada facilitated the deal.Obama’s call for an end to the economic embargo drew resistance from Republicans who will control both houses of Congress from January and who oppose normal relations with the communist-run island.Obama said that he was ending what he called a rigid and outdated policy of isolating Cuba that had failed to achieve change on the island.His administration’s policy shift includes an opening to more commerce in some areas,Air Max 97 Silver Bullet For Sale, allowing use of U.S. credit and debit cards, increasing the amount of money that can be sent to Cubans and allowing export of telecommunications devices and services.RESTRICTIONS REMAINTravel restrictions that make it hard for most Americans to visit will be eased, but the door will not yet be open for broad U.S. tourism on the Caribbean island.His announcement also will not end the U.S. trade embargo that has been in force for more than 50 years. That is codified in legislation and needs congressional approval. Obama said he would seek that approval but will likely face a struggle.Obama said the opening was made possible by Havana’s release of American Alan Gross, 65, who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years. Gross’ case had been a major obstacle to improving relations.Cuba is also releasing an intelligence agent who spied for the United States and was held for nearly 20 years, and the United States in return freed three Cuban intelligence agents held in the United States.Cuba and the United States have been ideological foes since soon after the 1959 revolution that brought Raul Castro’s older brother, Fidel Castro, to power. Washington broke diplomatic relations with Havana in 1961 as Cuba steered a leftist course that turned it into a close ally of the former Soviet Union on the island, which lies just 90 miles (140 km) south of Florida.The hostilities were punctuated by crises over spies,CHeap NFL Jerseys China, refugees and the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. After the demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Washington was increasingly alone in its efforts to squeeze Cuba. Raul Castro, who took over from Fidel Castro when his brother retired in 2008, has maintained a one-party political system.CRITICS CHALLENGE OBAMAObama said Cuba still needed to enact economic reforms and uphold human rights among other changes, but he said it was time for a new approach.Americans are largely open to establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of more than 31,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China,000 adults conducted between July and October. Around one-fifth of those surveyed said they opposed such a move, while 43 percent said the United States should restore relations with Cuba and around 37 percent said they were unsure.Critics said Cuba should not be rewarded, having yet to change,Adam Joseph Duhe Dolphins Jersey, and the path to completely normal ties is strewn with obstacles, in particular lifting the embargo that the White House said Obama would like to see dismantled by the time he leaves office in 2017.Although a growing number of U.S. lawmakers favour more normal ties, those lawmakers are still mostly Democrats,Cheap Air Max 90 Kpu Sale, and after big midterm election gains in November, Republicans will control both houses of Congress in the New Year.Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban American Republican, will be incoming chair of a key Senate Foreign Relations panel and said he was committed to doing all he could to “unravel” the plan. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, both set to hold senior foreign policy positions, said the policy shift reflected “America and the values it stands for in retreat and decline.”Whatever the criticism at home, Obama’s move was made with the political liberty of a president who, midway through his second term, no longer faces an electorate.CUBAN AMERICANS SPLITNews of the changes rippled fast through the 1.5 million-strong Cuban American community in the United States, hailed by some who are keen to

– police searching for Taylor’s weapon The police have managed to make two arrests in connection with last Thursday’s Plaisance, East Coast Demerara bloodbath, which left two persons dead, and two others nursing gunshot wounds about the body.Troy Collymore, 35, and Anthony Taylor, 24, were shot dead when bandits stormed into the Datt’s Drug Store located near the Plaisance line top.The police in a press release had stated that Taylor who resided at Sussex Street was a member of the gang and was accidentally slain by his own associates.Also injured are Noel Phillips and Lloyd Harris, who are being treated at the GPHC and Woodlands Hospital respectively.Police sources yesterday told Kaieteur News that two suspects who both hail from Plaisance were taken into custody following a raid on a house in the community yesterday morning.Kaieteur News was told that officers suspect that one of the men who is said to be in his mid twenties’ may have the gun which Taylor is suspected to have used during the robbery.When contacted yesterday, relatives of the two young men are denying that the men had anything to do with the robbery/murder at Plaisance.However, sources within the force are adamant that the men are in some way connected to the attack.The police now believe that wanted bandit Tyrone “Cobra” Rowe is the suspected mastermind behind Thursday night’s shooting that claimed the two lives.This newspaper was reliably informed that three gunmen, believed to include Taylor and Rowe, went to the drugstore which is owned by Chandrika Datt, to rob him.It is believed that the gang sent someone to make a purchase to distract their victim.It is also believed that Collymore, who was in the drugstore, was shot after he stood in front of Datt, while one the gunmen accidentally killed Taylor.The bandits were able to relieved Datt of an estimated $329,000 in jewellery and eight laptop computers.They also escaped with $600,000 worth in jewellery and an undisclosed sum of cash from Noel Phillips.Shots were fired indiscriminately by the bandits as they tried to make good their escape.A woman who was in proximity to the drug store said she heard about 15 gunshots.Police said that they recovered several .45 spent shells at the scene.Police had recently issued a $1M reward for 19-year-old Rowe, who is wanted for questioning in relation to murder and armed robberies.Taylor was incarcerated for two years for wounding, and was also detained last month when police searched his home for Rowe.*********************Le Repentir still a bugbear – Councillor– much needed assistance still requiredThe support of private individuals and business entities is still being sought to help address the state of the Le Repentir Cemetery, which according to Councillor, Ranwell Jordan has become nothing less than a bugbear.Jordan, who is Chairman of the Committee set up just over a year ago to oversee the restoration of the cemetery, disclosed during an interview with this newspaper that earnest efforts are still being made to restore the facility. However,cheap nfl jerseys, he noted that without relevant support the plans proposed by the Committee may be long in coming.Aside from works that were undertaken by the prisoners from the Georgetown Prisons to clear some sections of the cemetery of overgrowth, no further tangible works have been engaged. In fact, the efforts of the prisoners, according to Jordan, were diverted to other sections of the city, effectively putting on hold the rehabilitation works. “We have not been able to continue with the work because the prisoners were asked to do other drainage works that were felt to be important as well. We are hoping that the prisoners will be able to get back on stream with the works they had begun in the cemetery.”At the moment, the committee has been able to solicit financial support to the tune of about $100,000,NFL Jerseys From China, which is being kept in a bank account specifically intended to fund the cemetery restoration.? However,Jerseys From China, much more funds will be required, Jordan noted. “We definitely need to develop our plans if the cemetery restoration will materialise. Although we have less than the desired amount in the bank, we will somehow have to improve on what we have.”According to Jordan, it is expected that by the end of the next committee meeting that sufficient information will become available on how much needed support could be acquired.“We had a meeting a few weeks ago and we are to hold another in order to take certain decisions to get some works done. We have not been able to supply information that was requested from persons overseas who are interested in giving some assistance in clearing sections of the cemetery. I am hoping that by our next meeting, which should be in another week, we

Kervin Crawford,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China, Election Agent of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), said,Adam Shaheen Jersey, today, “So far we’re having a fair turnout”.She added that the party encountered some hiccups in the morning. One involved a Presiding Officer,Huarache Shoes For Men, Mrs Pamela Mootoo,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, who was fired on the spot by the Returning Officer, Alfa Mohammed for “deliberately issuing electors with tendered ballots. Those ballots would not be counted”, she said.Mootoo gave ten voters tendered ballots.Crawford went on to explain that a tendered ballot is issued if “somebody come and behave bad and you want to get rid of them,Air Max 97 Undefeated Uk, you give them a tendered ballot”.Mootoo was the presiding officer at a polling station at Eversham, Corentyne.“It was [quite] a scene so the Returning Officer intervened and she was dismissed on the spot, for not observing protocols on the Elections Act”.This situation was repeated at the Glasgow Primary School where the Returning Officer,Nike Air Max 95 Sale, Parvattie Ganga Persaud, issued voters with nine tendered ballots. She too was fired on the spot.Crawford added that yet another hiccup was that another person, Cornell Mearz, of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, who wanted to vote at the Overwinning Primary on the East Bank of Berbice “by proxy for another person.”However the proxy did not assent to any such request, so when the person turned up his name was already scratched off. He appeared to have voted. “It means the PPP was forging people’s signature on proxy certificate”, she added.“We expect some more hiccups which we would not disclose at this time”. Crawford also dispelled allegations of APNU’s supporters “intimidating PPP supporters” in the New Amsterdam Multilateral School Compound.“That is all false and we reject such a statement”.

West Demerara police are investigating a robbery which was committed on an Uitvlugt Estate worker,Wholesale Jerseys From China, Paul Lowtan,Air Max 95 Sale, who was robbed on Sunday evening by a lone gunman.The incident occurred at around 21:00 hours on the Uitvlugt Public Road while Lowtan was making his way home from work.This newspaper was told that Lowtan was approached by the man,NFL Jerseys China, who enquired something about the daily operations of the Uitvlugt Estate. Reports are that as Lowtan turned around to respond,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the man pulled out a handgun and ordered Lowtan to hand over his valuables.Lowtan surrendered an undisclosed sum of cash and a quantity of jewellery he was wearing at the time. The gunman then made good his escape on a bicycle.Investigations are ongoing.