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Archive - Aug 2, 2011

Lorne Gunter: Cuba needs a day at the mall

<p style="text-align: justify;">Lorne Gunter. Aug 2, 2011. Reuters. A new day in Havana. Since taking over from his brother Fidel as head of the Cuban government in 2008, Raul Castro has slowly nudged his socialist country towards freer markets and more personal liberties. Monday, he and the Cuban parliament took yet another step down that road. Read More

Alicia Alonso, the Bolshoi at Her Feet

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Heidy Morin Rueda. 02 de agosto de 2011, 00:13.Moscow, Aug 2 (Prensa Latina) Director of the Cuban National Ballet, prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso, described her return to Moscow, where she will be honored, as "returning to the heart of a flower". In remarks to journalists, together with eight new figures of the company that she manages and Bolshoi dancers Svetlana Zajarova and Andrei Uravov, she highlighted the influence of the Russian school on the world and in particular on Cuban ballet. Read More

Puerto Rico Alert to Passing of Tropical Storm Emily

<p style="text-align: justify;">By: Ileana Ferrer Fonte. martes, 02 de agosto de 2011. 09:48San Juan, Aug 2 (Prensa Latina) Governor Luis Fortuño announced Monday night the shutdown of all state offices except for those essential in case of emergency, as Tropical Storm Emily passes near Puerto Rico. Emily, located about 250 miles south of this Caribbean island, also led the government to decree a price freeze for basic products, including gasoline. Read More

Cuba approves economic reform plan

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Cuban National Assembly has approved Communist Party proposals to overhaul the country's state-dominated economy and lift some restrictions on citizens' personal lives, according to state-run media. The plan, which includes more than 300 points, was first approved at a Communist Party congress in April and would end the socialist society built under Fidel Castro's leadership. Read More

Cuba revising travel policies: Raul Castro

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Marc Frank. HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba will revise its travel and immigration rules as part of a broader reform of its economic and social policies, Cuban President Raul Castro said on Monday.He spoke after the Cuban Parliament approved Communist Party proposals to overhaul the country's stagnating, state-dominated economy and lift some restrictions on citizens' personal lives. Read More

Gazprom Neft, Petronas Sign PSA With Cuba On 4 Off-Shore Blocks

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Alexander Kolyandr, Dow Jones Newswires. AUGUST 1, 2011, 8:17 A.M. ET. MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--Russian oil producer OAO Gazprom Neft (SIBN.RS), which is controlled by state gas company OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS), said Monday it has signed a product-sharing contract on four blocks in the Gulf of Mexico off-shore Cuba with Petronas (6033.KU), the Malaysian national oil company, and Cubapetroleo (Cupet), the Cuban national oil company. Read More

Cuban lawmakers meet to consider economic changes

<p style="text-align: justify;">Monday, Aug. 1, 2011 11:36 a.m. MDT. By Peter Orsi, Associated Press. HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba's parliament began one of its business-packed twice-yearly sessions on Monday, a gathering that might enact some of the reforms that the government has promised in efforts to revive the stalled economy with a dose of private enterprise. General guidelines for the reforms were approved by the Communist Party at a summit in April, but there has been relatively little action since. The party is not a lawmaking body, so it is up to parliament to turn the recommendations into reality. Read More

Jamaican minister discusses efforts to update agriculture

<p style="text-align: justify;">A Jamaican minister and a Chinese delegation visit, and a conference on the Cuban economy begins this week. By MIMI WHITEFIELD. MiamiHerald.com. The green of Jamaica’s green, black and gold flag symbolizes agriculture and hope for the future.But Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s new minister of industry, investment and commerce, said last week there’s still work to be done in linking the crops Jamaican farmers produce to valued-added processing. Read More

'Iran, Cuba stand against US extremism'

<p style="text-align: justify;">Mon Aug 1, 2011 10:3AM. Senior Iranian lawmaker Hossein Sobhani Nia, A senior member of Iran's Majlis (parliament) has urged the people of Iran and Cuba to continue with their firm resistance against the US extremism. In a meeting with president of the Cuban National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon in Havana on Monday, a member of the Majlis Presiding Board Hossein Sobhani Nia praised Cuba's resistance against the US imperialism over the past 50 years under the leadership of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and President Raul Castro. Read More

Cuba's Creole Choir to qawwali at surging WOMAD 2011

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Jan Harvey. MALMESBURY. Mon Aug 1, 2011 9:06am EDT. MALMESBURY (Reuters) - Anyone who complains that WOMAD is "too safe" must have missed the mosh pit that appeared at the front of gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello's late Sunday set, where the frenetic dancing of the band's teenage fans briefly descended into cheerful anarchy. But this was still a more civilized event than most. When one evacuee rescued from the front row by security realized she was missing a bag, the crowd politely broke off their revelry to help her retrieve it. Read More