Cuba calls relaxed rules blow to U.S. conservatives

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA (Reuters) – Steps by President Barack Obama to relax restrictions on Cuba are not a major change in policy, but do mark a defeat for those who want a hard line on the island's leadership, a Cuban government website said.Obama issued an executive order on Friday loosening limits on U.S. travel and money remittances to the Caribbean nation, extending his efforts to reach out to its people.In the first reaction from Cuba's government, the website http://www.cubadebate.cu said the move showed many people in the United States favor a softening of Washington's decades-old trade embargo and policy of isolation toward the island. Read More

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Cuban Cyclists to the San Luis Tour in Argentina

<p style="text-align: justify;">2011.01.15 - 12:51:50 / [email protected]. Havana, Cuba.- Cuban cyclists, headed by Arnold Alcolea, left for Argentina on Friday to participate in the traditional San Luis Tour from January 17th through the 23rd.Together with Alcolea, two times consecutive champion of the Tour of Cuba (2009 and 2010), will be cyclists Yasmany Martinez, Yennier Lopez, Lisuandi Alonso, Alien Garcia and Pedro Portuondo, the Jit Web site reported.The Cuban sextet will be directed by trainer Cecilio Mera, with the support of mechanic Nelson Socorro and physiotherapist Luis Orlando González. Read More

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Daylight filters through the Cuban doorway

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Doug Newhouse, 15 January 2011. US President Barack Obama yesterday directed that regulations governing the eligibility of US airports to serve as points of 'embarkation and return' for licensed charter flights to Cuba should be modified to allow all US international airports to apply to provide these services - provided they have adequate customs and immigration services in place. Read More

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