Cuba reform may permit foreign travel

<p style="text-align: justify;">Cuba says it is studying plans that would allow its citizens to travel abroad as tourists for the first time in more than 50 years.The proposed move is one of 313 reforms backed by the Communist Party Congress behind closed doors in April and published in new economic guidelines.Other reforms include legalising the private sale of property and cars and expanding private co-operatives. Read More

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Robles debuts with 13.35 victory in rainy Guadeloupe - IAAF

<p style="text-align: justify;">Posted by Matt -&nbsp; World record holder and Olympic champion Dayron Robles defied the rain and won his first outdoor 110m Hurdles race in 10 months to produce one of the highlights of 7th Grand Prix Région Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean on Saturday (7).USA’s two-time World Championships silver medallist Lashinda Demus set a world leading time in the 400m Hurdles with 54.92.Under a persistent rain that started early morning and fell throughout the competition, the Cuban star made his outdoor debut after a short two-race indoor campaign and won comfortably in 13.35 over USA’s John Yarbrough (13.47) and Tyron Akins (13.48). Read More

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Cuba's Hunt For Oil Raises Questions For U.S.

<p style="text-align: justify;">by Nick Miroff. May 9, 2011. In the deep waters off Cuba's north coast, a Chinese-built oil rig is due to begin drilling this fall in an area geologists believe may have huge beds of undersea crude.A significant find could transform Cuba's economy and possibly alter relations with the United States, but it may also present new environmental threats for the Florida coast.Mariel — the town 30 miles west of Havanna that was a departure point for more than 100,000 Cubans who left the island in the 1980 Mariel boatlift — is being remade into a servicing hub for the Cuban oil industry of the future. Read More

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Cuba publishes awaited details of economic changes

<p style="text-align: justify;">On Monday May 9, 2011, 9:09 am. HAVANA (AP) -- Cuba has made official what had been rumored for weeks: It is legalizing real estate and car sales and enacting other major changes.But the Communist Party's newly released economic guidelines give few specifics, meaning islanders must wait for the fine print when the strategy becomes law.The guidelines published Monday say the state ought to "establish the buying and selling of homes" for citizens. There is no mention of how the system will work, what restrictions will be imposed or taxes levied. The Parliament must still approve the changes. Read More

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Sí Cuba! Festival Performers in Los Muñequitos de Matanzas at Symphony Space on Saturday night

<p style="text-align: justify;">By JON PARELES. Published: May 8, 2011. Rhythm serves both gods and lovers in the music of Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, the venerable Cuban group that returned to New York City last week for the first time since 2002 with concerts at Symphony Space. Presented by the World Music Institute, the three shows were part of the citywide ¡Sí Cuba! festival.Chad Batka for The New York Times. The 15 drummers, singers and dancers of Los Muñequitos, which was formed in 1952 by dockworkers in the city of Matanzas, maintain deep Afro-Cuban traditions of incantation and party music. Read More

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The worlds longest son arrives in central Cuban province of Cienfuegos

<p style="text-align: justify;">CIENFUEGOS, Cuba, (acn) The World’s Longest Son (traditional Cuban musical style) arrived in the central Cuban province of Cienfuegos, the cradle of Cuba’s greatest ‘sonero’, Benny More, and guitar player and singer of the National Septet Ignacio Piñeiro, Rafael Ortiz.The traditional local band Los Naranjos, which after 85 years continues promoting this rhythm born in the eastern region of Cuba by the end of the 19th century, will be in charge of prolonging the longest Son in the world. Read More

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Sancti Spiritus to Welcome 497 Foundation Anniversary

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Enrique Ojito Linares. The 497 foundation anniversary of the central Cuban city of Sancti Spiritus will be celebrated next June 2 through 5.The boulevard attracts many visitors.The 497 foundation anniversary of the central Cuban city of Sancti Spiritus will be celebrated next June 2 through 5. Few days away from the celebration, local heritage authorities highlight the architectural and urban values of the city’s historic center. Read More

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Exhibition on Science Progresses Opens in Havana

<p style="text-align: justify;">A sample with the main Cuban progresses in the fields of health, science and environment opened Friday in EXPOCUBA exhibition site.Protecting the environment together with increasing the production of food, goods and material services is necessary for the development of the society, said the Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) Lina Dominguez. Read More

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Museum La Isabelica close to its 50th anniversary

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Museum La Isabelica, located close to the Gran Piedra, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, will become next 18 of May, 50 years old. Therefore, it will receive restoration actions in that mountain area.<br /> The institution, located in the old house of the estate, which carries the same name, is part of the Cuban south eastern area, with the French–Haitian coffee plantations ruins, which were declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. Read More

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Zacatecas Thanks Cuba for Operation Miracle

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Ileana Ferrer Fonte. 12:51Zacatecas, Mexico, May 8 (Prensa Latina) The Zacatecas state legislature thanked Cuba for its contribution to the Operation Miracle program, via which 4,800 patients have received free eyesight restoration surgery since 2007.Lawmaker Blas Avalos presented a certificate of recognition to Cuban Consul Luis Quirantes, conferred by the State Legislature. Read More

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