Cuba celebrates ballet legend Alonso's 90th b-day

<p style="text-align: justify;">By JENNY BARCHFIELD, Associated Press. HAVANA – Cuba feted the 90th birthday of dance legend Alicia Alonso with a ballet and music-filled gala dedicated to the island's prima ballerina assoluta.The audience at the gilded Gran Teatro in Old Havana broke into a standing ovation when the sprightly diva&nbsp; considered a living legend of international ballet and a national treasure in her native Cuba — swept in and took the place of honor ahead of Monday night's performance on the eve of her birthday. Read More

---

Cuban Rock Art Images Preserved

<p style="text-align: justify;">Escrito por Yoama Chappottin Ford.Lunes, 20 de diciembre de 2010. 18:35By Adalys Pilar Mireles. Pinar del Rio, Cuba, Dec 20 (Prensa Latina) Cuban speleologist preserved rock art images in caves of this province with advanced computer techniques that allow visualizing faint traces inside the rocks. In the past two decades, these artistic demonstrations have been damaged, perhaps because of the rapid climate change, told Prensa Latina the president of the local caving committee Hilario Carmenate. Read More

---

Cuba cardinal says he hopes government will fulfil promise to free 11 jailed dissidents

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Canadian Press By The Associated Press.Mon, 20 Dec 11:51 PM EST. HAVANA - The Roman Catholic Cardinal who helped broker a deal with Cuba to free dissidents jailed in a 2003 crackdown says he hopes the government will make good on its pledge to release the last 11 remaining in prison.Havana Archbishop Jaime Ortega says "hope springs eternal" that Havana will honour its "formal promise" to free them. Read More

---

Canadians praise Cuban police cooperation with Toronto drug ringleader's case

<p style="text-align: justify;">Arrest capped a 6-year investigation into the case of a massive marijuana plantation inside a brewery<br /> A leader of a huge marijuana-producing operation in Canada was arrested in Havana on Dec. 13 and taken back to Canada, The Toronto Star reported Tuesday.Robert Derosa, 51, was seized as he prepared to board a plane to Ecuador, the paper said. He was sought on an Interpol warrant. Read More

---

U.S. allowing Cuban peso remittances

<p style="text-align: justify;">Efe: Easing restrictions on remittances, the U.S. Department of Treasury now allows U.S. residents to wire Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) to family members on the island, a Western Union executive told efe. Read More

---

Salvadorian Terrorist Goes to Trial in Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 20 (acn) The trial of Salvadorian Francisco Chavez Abarca on terrorism charges started this Monday at 9.30 AM at the Crimes against State Security Court in Havana city. Read More

---

Ontario man arrested in Cuba in Molson grow-op case

<p style="text-align: justify;">Globe and Mail Update. Published Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 2:02PM EST. BARRIE, Ont. — Provincial police have arrested another man in a years-long investigation into a massive marijuana grow-op uncovered in a former Ontario brewery. Read More

---

In Cuba, Questions About Economic Change Persist

<p style="text-align: justify;">Ray Suarez's three-part Cuba series begins Monday night on the NewsHour.When I returned from Cuba recently, I was struck by the intense level of curiosity about the place, and the air of mystery the United States trade embargo and travel ban have created around a place 90 miles from the U.S. mainland."What was it like?" "Was it easy to get around" "Were you followed? Or were you just able to go about your business?" Read More

---

Mexicans to Enjoy Some of the Best of Cuban Cinematography

<p style="text-align: justify;">2010.12.18 - 12:04:08 / [email protected]. Havana, Cuba.- The First International Film Festival of Mexico City (FICCMexico), to be held from February 4th through the 13th, 2011, and in which 130 films will be presented, will have Cuba as Guest of Honor.Some 30 works, between feature films and shorts, animated films and documentaries made between 1961 and 2009, make up the retrospective that Cuba will take to the event, the Prensa Latina news agency reported. Read More

---

New Book on Che to be launched in Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 20 (acn) "Ernesto Che Guevara, preludio de una leyenda" (Ernesto Che Guevara, prelude of a legend) by Heberto Norman Acosta, will be launched this Thursday at 11 AM at the ALBA Cultural House.The book deals with the arrival of the youngster that later became the legendary Cuban-Argentinean guerrilla to Costa Rica and his journey to the Jacobo Arbenz’s Guatemala in December 1953. Read More

---