Cuba official says state worker layoffs have begun

<p style="text-align: justify;">HAVANA. The Associated Press. January 3, 2011, 7:16PM ET. The head of the Cuban Workers Confederation says the first layoffs have begun in the cuban government's program to cut the jobs of 500,000 state workers.Cuban state-run media quotes Salvador Valdes as saying the initial layoffs are occurring in the sugar, agriculture, tourism, health and construction sectors. Read More

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Music research program on Cuba for US residents and legal trip

<p style="text-align: justify;">Friends: I am once again organizing legal (for U.S. citizens and legal residents) percussion/dance/music research programs to Cuba. The program is open to anyone from around the globe. Dates are: March 20 - April 3, 2011, June 19 - July 3, 2011. Much more information can be found at http://chucksilverman.com/ena.html and via email. Please do contact me with any questions. Read More

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Cuba's Santeria priests release annual forecast predicting change,'reorganization' for 2011

<p style="text-align: justify;">JENNY BARCHFIELD. Associated Press. HAVANA (AP) - Cuba's Santeria priests say 2011 will be a year of change and "reorganization," characterized by growing economic openness and threats of war and coup d'etats. Read More

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Cuba’s economic reforms get Catholic nod

<p style="text-align: justify;">January 3 2011 at 10:22am.AFP.After decades of roller-coaster relations between communist Cuba's government and the Roman Catholic church, Havana on Sunday won the Catholic hierarchy's warm approval of its limited economic reform plans. Read More

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Is Cuba set for major changes in 2011?

<p style="text-align: justify;">By Michael Voss. Latin America &amp; Caribbean. 2 January 2011 Last updated at 19:39 ET. BBC News, Havana It remains unclear whether Cuba's fledgling private sector will take off or stagnate in 2011. Mirkeyis Calvo used to work in a state-run restaurant. Now she has converted the front room of her suburban Havana home house into "Miky's Cafe". Read More

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Florida UMs build on ties with Cuban church

<p style="text-align: justify;">John Michael De Marco, Jan 3, 201. By John Michael De Marco. Special Contributor. LAKELAND, Fla.—Key leaders in the partnership between United Methodists in Florida and the Methodist Church in Cuba say plans are under way to strengthen the connection, including sending mission caravans to the island and a visit from Cuban Bishop Ricardo Pereira. Read More

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President of Haiti grateful with Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">By AIN / [email protected] / Monday, 03 January 2011 12:14. Cuba has been aiding Haiti long before the devastating earthquake and the current cholera strike. President Rene Preval thanked Cuba for its support of the Haitian people in the fight against cholera and sent a congratulation message to the people of Cuba on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.Cuban Doctors Save 250000 People in Haiti Read More

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Cuba with its Lowest Infant Mortality Rate Ever

<p style="text-align: justify;">Escrito por Dayami Interián García. 3 de enero de 2011, 09:30Havana, Jan 3 (Prensa Latina) Cuba closed the year 2010 with an infant mortality rate of 4.5 per 1,000 live births, the lowest ever registered in the country, according to a Granma newspaper report Monday. Read More

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Cuba tobacco company sues U.S. store over name

<p style="text-align: justify;">Cuba's government-owned tobacco company is suing Houmani in federal court in Detroit, claiming the name of his four shops, La Casa De La Habana, is illegal because it's too similar to its own franchised shops, known around the world as La Casa del Habano. Cuba, however, believes the shop has too much common with its own famous cigar business. Cubatabaco's lawyer, David Goldstein of New York, said in court that a trademark must be protected or "what I have is a worthless piece of paper." Read More

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Brazil to increase Haiti aid via Cuba

<p style="text-align: justify;">Brazilian cooperation with Cuba in Haiti was at the top of the agenda during a meeting between Cuban First Vice President José Ramón Machado and new Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Machado attended the inauguration of Rousseff Jan. 1 in Brasilia; the Cuban meeting with Rousseff was one of seven bilateral meetings the new president held Jan. 2. During the meeting with Rousseff, the two countries decided to increase aid for Haiti, which is battling a cholera epidemic. Read More

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