Recent Articles
February 2012
Jeff Franks, Reuters
Feb 3 (Reuters) - Cuba is opening the door to private management of some state-run cafes and food service outlets in an apparent test of further reforms aimed at keeping the island one of the world's last communist countries.
Roots of Hope inspires a new generation to help Cubans find freedom
February 6, 2012
Carmen Pelaez, The Miami Herald
As I was lining up in the corrals before our run in the ING Miami Half Marathon for a fundraiser for Roots of Hope, a U.S. college network of students and their supporters who are helping find ways to connect with young Cubans on the communist-controlled island, I felt kind of helpless.
Joshua Goodman, Bloomberg
Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Cuba’s best-known pro-democracy blogger said she was denied permission to leave her country after Brazil granted her a visa ahead of President Dilma Rousseff’s state visit to the communist island last week.
Oldest woman in Cuba celebrates her 127th birthday
February 3, 2012
BBC News
As she was born in 1885, Juana Bautista de la Candelaria Rodriguez had to spend more than half her life without electricity or running water.In the year of her birth Cuba was still a Spanish colony, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York harbour and the first automobile was patented.
Orlando gets permission for Cuba flights
February 3, 2012
AP, Miami Herald
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando International Airport has received permission to offer air service to Cuba.Airport officials said Wednesday that their application was approved by federal authorities.
There are no scheduled flights at this time.
Cuban women on a protest march say police harassed and detained them
February 3, 2012
Juan Tamayo, El Nuevo Herald
Cuban dissidents say police beat, groped and detained seven women who tried to stage a march in the central city of Santa Clara to demand the release of an opposition couple jailed since early January.
Private Cuban video shows corruption cases
February 2, 2012
Juan Tamayo, El Nuevo Herald
The Cuban government is summoning top loyalists to private showings of a video on the evils of corruption, singled out by ruler Raúl Castro in many speeches as the main threat to the survival of the revolution.
Dissident blogger says Cubans wanted more from Brazilian visit
February 2, 2012
Matthew Bristow, Miami Herald
HAVANA -- Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez said her compatriots had hoped for more from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who avoided criticizing the human rights situation on the communist island during a state visit to Havana this week.
Cuba says imports from US down sharply in 2010; trade with Venezuela nearly doubled
February 1, 2012
The Washington Post
HAVANA - Cuban imports from the United States fell sharply in 2010 while the country increasingly turned to trade with ally Venezuela, according to newly released government statistics.
Cuba oil: Offshore exploration brings hopes and fears
February 1, 2012
BBC News
Some 50km (31 miles) off the northern coast of Cuba workers have begun drilling deep beneath the waves, exploring for oil reserves that could transform the island's future.
The Huffington Post - Blog
This past weekend, Mitt Romney did what every politician does when they campaign in South Florida, take advantage of our Cuban American hospitality and give us empty rhetoric in return.
Pavel Vidal Alejandro, From the Island
A central piece in the recent reform of the Cuban economic model is the opening to a small-scale nongovernmental sector: self-employed workers, private micro businesses and small farmers. In addition, a future expansion to include cooperatives has been announced beyond, the agricultural sector where it has always existed. This part of the reform is connected to another decision by which employment in the governmental sector is reduced by more than one million workers in order to increase productivity of state companies and make structures of the different ministries more efficient. Authorities plan that by 2015 more than 35% of the workforce will be employed in the private and cooperative sector.
Brazil's Rousseff meets with Fidel Castro in Cuba
February 1, 2012
Jeff Franks, Reuters
(Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met with Fidel Castro, the revolutionary hero of her youth, and held talks with his younger brother, President Raul Castro, on Tuesday in a visit to strengthen financial ties with communist-led Cuba.
January 2012
Juan Tamayo, El Nuevo Herald
Cuba’s Communist Party Sunday cleared the way for a long-term renovation of its Central Committee that might hint at the island’s future leaders, while Raúl Castro issued a strong call for openness within the party and mass media — but only up to a point.
The hypocrisy of America's Cuba policy
January 30, 2012
Roland Martin, CNN
(CNN) -- For more than 50 years, the United States has had an embargo against the island of Cuba, all because we supposedly hate communism and believe the nation 90 miles from our borders should institute democracy.