In Cuba, black market thriving

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA - Want some paprika-infused chorizo sausage? How about a bit of buffalo mozzarella? Or maybe you just need more cooking oil this month, or a homemade soft drink you can afford on paltry wages. Perhaps you are looking for something more precious, such as an imported air conditioner or some hand-rolled cigars at a fraction of the official price. In a Marxist country where virtually all economic activity is regulated, and where supermarkets and ration shops run out of such basics as sugar, eggs and toilet paper, you can get nearly anything on Cuba's thriving black market - if you have a "friend," or the right telephone number. Read More

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Director of Habana Blues film is in Havana

<p style="text-align: justify;">July 3, 2011. Benito Zambrano, the director of the famous movie Habana Blues is back in Cuba to musicalize his new film called "La Voz Dormida" and counts with the collaboration of the Cuban Juan Antonio Leyva.Benito Zambrano studied at the International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños. He is from Andalusia and has said he is always looking for an excuse to come to Cuba. Read More

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Minnesota mean at heart of government shutdown

<p style="text-align: justify;">By JAMES HOHMANN | 7/3/11 7:09 AM EDT. APPLE VALLEY, Minn.—There once was a time when Minnesota held an exalted position in American politics. It was known as a model of good government, the kind of place that sent poets to the Senate and produced politicians with nicknames like “The Happy Warrior.” For the second time in six years, the state’s leaders failed Friday to agree on a budget in time to avert a government shutdown, marking Minnesota as one of just five states where government has ground to a halt in the last decade—and the only one where it’s happened twice. Read More

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Editorial: Southwest Florida International Airport taking off to Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">Posted July 3, 2011 at 6 a.m.This could be the start of something big.Southwest Florida International Airport has been named as one of a dozen additional U.S. airports for flights to and from Cuba.The other 11 include Tampa and Fort Lauderdale; Miami International is already cleared along with Los Angeles (LAX) and New York City (JFK). For now, the special designation includes flights for only humanitarian, religious and other special reasons.We like that federal officials are thinking ahead and recognizing the power and people of Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Read More

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Cuban rafters rescued by cruise ship repatriated

<p style="text-align: justify;">CBS-4. Seven rafters who were rescued by a cruise ship Friday afternoon on its way back to Port Everglades were repatriated to their country, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Oasis of the Seas was making its way back to Port Everglades when a small raft was spotted. The ship approached the raft and rescued seven people. Read More

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Cuba's tweeters gather to squawk about poor Internet

<p style="text-align: justify;">02-Jul-11, 9:47 AM | Reuters. HAVANA - Members of Cuba's small Twitter community gathered on Friday for the first time to put faces to names in a meeting where political viewpoints were off limits but complaints about the island's poor Internet connections were not.About 50 people showed up at a civic center in the Cuban capital for the event -- called #TwittHab -- organized by Leunam Rodriguez, a student and reporter at the state-run Radio Cubana. Read More

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Cuban Medicaments Marketed in 40 Countries

<p style="text-align: justify;">2011.07.02 - 11:47:56 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. Havana, Cuba.- Havana’s Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) markets its products and services in 40 countries, as informed in this capital during a meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the institution.The CIGB’s deputy director general, Francisco Machado, explained that medicament sales are based on a quality system to meet the demands of clients, in terms of human health, agricultural and livestock productions, aquiculture and the environment. Read More

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Cuba to Host Int'l Convention on Environment

<p style="text-align: justify;">The 8th International Convention on Environment and Development will be held July 4-8 in Cuba with experts from Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Norway, United States and Ecuador. Cuban experts will present the results of various projects and research and will exchange their experiences and ideas with experts from other countries in the event, to be held at the Havana International Conference Center. Read More

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Cuba and the Philippines Mark 65th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

<p style="text-align: justify;">2011.07.02 - 11:53:46 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. Havana, Cuba.- Representatives of the governments of Cuba and the Philippines cancelled on Friday in this capital a postage stamp allegorical to the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.During the ceremony, held at the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Wilfredo de Leon, charge d’affaires of Philippines to Havana, highlighted the historic friendship that has united the two peoples, and said that the stamp will be part of his country’s documentary heritage. Read More

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US issuing licences for increased Cuba travel

<p style="text-align: justify;">Saturday, July 02, 2011. HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — Washington has begun issuing travel licences that promise to bring thousands more US visitors each year on legal trips to Cuba, just 90 miles off Florida but off-limits to most Americans.Nine tour operators have been granted licences to run so-called people-to-people exchanges since May, said a US Treasury Department spokesperson who was not authorised to be quoted by name on the matter. Read More

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