Havana Hotel

Rescuers combed through what remained of a luxury Havana hotel Saturday, as the death toll after a powerful blast due to a suspected gas leak climbed to 26, authorities said.

Eight people were killed and about 30 hurt in a powerful explosion that partly destroyed a five-star hotel under refurbishment in central Havana Friday, the government said, doubling the confirmed death count.

Starwood Hotels on Tuesday took over management of a luxury hotel in central Havana, becoming the first big American hospitality chain with a presence on the island since the Cuban Revolution a half-century ago.

Americans travelling to Cuba later this month are being moved out of Havana hotels to make room for President Barack Obama's entourage and being sent tantalisingly close to a place US law effectively forbids them from visiting: the beach.

French climber Alain Robert, popularly known as "Spiderman", took his climbing career to new heights when he scaled Cuba's landmark Hotel Havana Libre.

Rescuers combed through what remained of a luxury Havana hotel Saturday, as the death toll after a powerful blast due to a suspected gas leak climbed to 26, authorities said.

Eight people were killed and about 30 hurt in a powerful explosion that partly destroyed a five-star hotel under refurbishment in central Havana Friday, the government said, doubling the confirmed death count.

Starwood Hotels on Tuesday took over management of a luxury hotel in central Havana, becoming the first big American hospitality chain with a presence on the island since the Cuban Revolution a half-century ago.

Americans travelling to Cuba later this month are being moved out of Havana hotels to make room for President Barack Obama's entourage and being sent tantalisingly close to a place US law effectively forbids them from visiting: the beach.

French climber Alain Robert, popularly known as "Spiderman", took his climbing career to new heights when he scaled Cuba's landmark Hotel Havana Libre.