Cuba to devaluate the Cuban Convertible Peso since March 14

<p style="text-align: justify;">An accord issued by the Central Bank of Cuba explains with details the procedure which settles a new exchange rate of convertible peso to USA dollar. The document adds this is a discreet step towards the improvement of the economic balance of currencies of the country, since it constitutes an encouragement of the exporting activity and the replacement process of importations. Read More

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Benicio del Toro debuts as director in Havana film

<p style="text-align: justify;">Mar 14, 2011.Oscar winner Benicio del Toro makes his directorial debut in Havana with a segment in the movie 'Seven days in Havana'.In the lead up to the actor Benicio del Toro's directorial debut, he elaborates that directing was not that much different from acting. Read More

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Spanish Supreme Court Confirms Ownership Of Havana Club Trademark By Havana Club Joint Venture, Pernod Ricard

<p style="text-align: justify;">Madrid, March 14, 2011. The Spanish Supreme Court has just confirmed its previous decision from February 3, 2011 concerning the Havana Club case. Upon a further request from Bacardi, the Supreme Court has restated that the trademark Havana Club belongs to Havana Club joint venture (created between Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI) and Corporación Cuba Ron) and that Bacardi has no right to claim ownership of the trademark in Spain.Havana Club joint venture has always successfully defended its ownership on the Havana Club trademark, registered in over 120 countries. Read More

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21c exhibit celebrates depth of island's art, Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">Sarah Lyon prepares the exhibit of Cuban art at 21c Museum Hotel last month. Nearly 100 works are on view through July. (By Kylene Lloyd, The Courier-Journal) Paintings of Cuban leaders are parts of the exhibit. The show represents the works of more than 40 artists. (Kylene Lloyd) When the eighth Havana Biennial art exhibit opened in November 2003, throngs of curators, gallerists and collectors descended on Cuba. Among them were Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown of Louisville, who accompanied other collectors on a trip organized by the Speed Art Museum. Read More

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Cuba portrayal wrong

<p style="text-align: justify;">The StarPhoenix March 14, 2011.Re: Tourists milked dry (SP, March 8). We, too, have just returned from a two-week vacation in Cuba, and our Cuba is nothing like the one Aeneas Precht writes about.Where he vacationed in Cuba, I don't know, but Varadero is where we go each year. No beggars, and the citizens are friendly.Cubans are a very family-and friend-oriented society. Perhaps Precht misread the closeness of hugs and cheek-to-cheek greetings of the Cuban people as begging, I don't know. Read More

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U.S. Demands Contractor’s Release from Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">The White House is demanding Cuba release the U.S. contractor recently sentenced to prison for 15 years. Alan Gross was convicted on Friday for crimes against the state and was cited as a prime example of the United States' attempt to overthrow the government. Read More

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Calle Ocho ends

<p style="text-align: justify;">MIAMI (WSVN) -- An annual South Florida block party has come to an end.Tons of people from across the globe attended Calle Ocho on Southwest Eighth Street between 11th and 27th Avenues, Sunday.The annual street festival was filled with plenty of Latin food, drinks, music and dancing. "I'm 100 percent Cuban, and this is what Cubans do: Calle Ocho. You've got to make it here. This is what we do. I love it," said Natasha Gainza, who attends Calle Ocho every year. Read More

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U.S. rejects conviction of contractor by Cuba, demands his release

<p style="text-align: justify;">By LESLEY CLARK. MiamiHerald.com. Washington called on Cuba to release U.S. contractor Alan Gross after he was sentenced to 15 years for crimes against the state.-- A U.S. contractor accused by Cuba of plotting to “destroy the revolution” was convicted of crimes against the state Saturday and sentenced to 15 years in prison, prompting protests from the White House and fury in Miami. Read More

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President Correa applauds Pablo Milanes in Quito

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Rose Ana Berbeo.Quito, Mar 13 (Prensa Latina) Fans of Pablo Milanes filled the Agora auditorium in Quito on Saturday night, and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa sat in the front row to enjoy the concert by one of the Cuban founders of the Nueva Trova or New Song Movement. Read More

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More Self-Employed Workers in Matanzas, Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">Havana, Mar 13 (Prensa Latina) Matanzas is among the Cuban provinces with the highest number of self-employed people who have obtained licenses to operate their own micro-businesses, according to a source from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.More than 113,000 people have been authorized to work by themselves in Cuba. Now, with the new economic model they can also enjoy the benefits of social security. Read More

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