Cuba economy czar: Reforms entering critical phase

Communist-led Cuba's experiment with limited capitalism is entering a crucial and transformative phase this year with the decentralization of bloated state-run businesses, the island's economic czar said Tuesday.

Castro speech scolds islanders for bad behavior

Raul Castro spent the lion's share of a prominent speech Sunday scolding his countrymen for all kinds of bad behavior, everything from corruption and theft to public urination and the odoriferous practice of raising pigs in cities.

Cuba's Raul Castro backs asylum offers for Snowden

Raul Castro stood shoulder-to-shoulder Sunday with Latin American countries willing to take in NSA leaker Edward Snowden, but made no reference to whether Cuba itself would offer him refuge or safe passage.

Cuban parliament opens 2-day session

Cuba's parliament is meeting in one of its twice-annual legislative sessions.

Cuba: Flap over late cultural figure's estate

A dispute is brewing in Cuba over the estate of a prominent intellectual after authorities carried out a surprise search of his home last weekend.

Cuba announces shakeup of party leadership

Cuba's president has announced the removal of former Parliament chief Ricardo Alarcon and several other leaders from the Communist Party's powerful Central Committee.

AL JAZEERA

Slow pace of reform troubles Cubans

It is an uncanny thing when you are in Cuba. With no cameras around, most Cubans on the street will speak freely about their frustrations and complaints after more than 50 years of socialist revolution. If the camera goes on, however, almost everyone demurs.

CARIBBEAN CRM CENTRAL

Is Cuba Ready for a BPO Revolution?

The establishment of Cuba as an Nearshore services base for US corporations is not as outrageous as we might have thought only a year ago.

FLORIDA KEYS KEYNOTER

Key West flights to Cuba?

There are just three cities in the U.S. that have flights departing for Havana, Cuba, and Key West would like to be the fourth -- or at least the fifth

NPR

Author Tells Of A 90s Cuba

Whether at the beach, poolside, or on a city rooftop, summer is a great chance to grab a cool drink and relax with a good book. That's why throughout the hottest months Tell Me More has been recommending great reads. This week we speak to Cuban American author Achy Obejas. Obejas' latest book, Ruins, is an insightful look at Cuba in the mid-90's.

THE INDEPENDENT

Cuba is opening its doors to investment

For a communist country, Cuba has marketed itself pretty well over the years. It's almost impossible to hear the island's name without thinking of white rum, cigars, salsa, Ernest Hemingway and streets lined with battered 1950s American cars.

THE GUARDIAN

Che Guevara's daughter recalls her revolutionary father

Aleida Guevara talks about having to share her 'Papi' with the world – and her dislike of the commercialisation of his image

PR NEWS WIRE

Spanish court to hear Bacardi appeal on Havana Club

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, today announced the Supreme Court of Spain has decided to hear its appeal in the case involving trademark rights to the Havana Club rum brand. The decision by the Spanish Supreme Court is a critically important and successful step in the case, as the Court is highly selective in what cases it reviews.

EL MUNDO

Cuban exile recalls Watergate role (Spanish)

"Yo quería derribar a Castro y desgraciadamente derribé al presidente que nos estaba ayudando, a Richard Nixon". Eugenio Rolando Martínez se define a sí mismo como un frustrado. A sus 86 años no se arrepiente de su pasado como 'fontanero' del 'Watergate' pero lamenta haber perdido esa y otras muchas batallas.

CUBAENCUENTRO

Cuba: Requiem for spelling (Spanish)

Miles de estudiantes están a punto de ser universitarios, gracias a la 'ahudasia ingreible y marabillosa' del sistema educacional

DIARIO LAS AMERICAS

Cuba postpones debt payments (Spanish)

Cuando la falta de liquidez obliga al gobierno a posponer el pago de sus deudas a corto plazo, Cuba no puede darse esta vez el lujo de importar el 80 por ciento de los alimentos que consume, como lo hizo el pasado año.

REUTERS

Swine flu virus hits Royal Ballet on Cuba visit

Five members of Britain's Royal Ballet came down with the H1N1 swine flu virus during their just-ended visit to Cuba, but all have recovered, a spokeswoman for the dance company said on Monday.

LA JORNADA

Cuba faces financial 'black hole' (Spanish)

El presidente cubano Raúl Castro avanzó un paso más en el alivio del control centralizado sobre el gasto en divisas, al entregar su manejo a los ministerios a partir de julio; sin embargo, surgió al mismo tiempo un agujero negro de cientos de millones de dólares de cuentas sin pagar acumuladas en los últimos siete meses

COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Traveler Challenges U.S. Policy on Cuba Spending,

A New York man says the federal government unconstitutionally fined him $9,000 for refusing to fill out a form stating whether he had spent money in Cuba. Zachary Sanders claims the policy forces travelers to incriminate themselves. The Bush administration rejected his appeal and increased his fine on its last day in office.

EL NUEVO HERALD

Cuba denies exit to 600 with U.S. visas (Spanish)

REUTERS

Brazil's Petrobras weighs Cuba oil prospects

Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras PETR.SA PBR.SA has completed seismic work in its leased Cuban offshore bloc and is studying whether to drill a well, the head of its Cuban operations said on Wednesday.

EFE

Colleague of priests slain in Cuba says he’s scared

Spanish priest Isidro Hoyos, a friend and compatriot of two priests murdered this year in Havana, told Efe that the crimes had very similar characteristics and do not seem to be a “coincidence,” and he added that he is scared.

NOTIMEX

NOTIMEX: Cuba to decentralize agro commerce (Spanish)

Autoridades cubanas anunciaron que a partir del 1 de agosto próximo entrará en vigor la descentralización en la comercialización de productos agropecuarios, en un nuevo esfuerzo por aumentar la producción de alimentos en la isla.

EFE

Birthrate Increase in Cuba in 2009

Cuba's birthrate has been decreasing steadily for years provoking a population decrease. Aging and reduced fertility are the chief causes of the continued decline in the Cuban population