Archive for the ‘Latest News’ Category

May 14, 2013

‘Yankees of Cuba’ to play games in Miami, Tampa

Jorge Ebro, Miami Herald – The idea came from a comedian, but it’s far from being a joke. Some of the best baseball players who have donned the Industriales uniform will visit Miami at the end of July to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the most loved and hated team… read more »

May 7, 2013

Cuban VP Says Controlling the News is an Illusion

EFE- Cuba’s vice president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, says that any attempt to silence the vast flow of news over today’s technologies is an “impossible illusion” and instead urged discussion and debate, state television said Monday. “The news today comes from all sides, good and bad, manipulated and truthful, it circulates over… read more »

May 7, 2013

Federal appeals court: Florida law prohibiting hiring of companies tied to Cuba is unconstitutional

Patricia Mazzei, Miami Herald- A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a ruling that struck down a Florida law prohibiting the state and local governments from hiring companies with business ties to Cuba. The ruling continues to block the 2012 law from taking effect. The law “conflicts directly with the… read more »

May 2, 2013

TIA restores seasonal flights to Holguin, Cuba

Drew Harwell, Tampa Bay Times – Three months after the flights were suspended, Tampa International Airport announced Thursday it would host new seasonal flights to Holguin, Cuba. Starting next month, ABC Charters will fly once a week to the east Cuban beach town, about 500 miles from Havana, airport officials… read more »

May 1, 2013

Bolivian President Evo Morales expels USAID

BBC- Bolivian President Evo Morales has said he will expel the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Mr Morales accused the agency of seeking to undermine his government. USAID had been working in Bolivia for almost five decades, with the biggest part of its funding going to its counter-narcotics and… read more »

April 25, 2013

Castor’s stance on Cuba elicits jeers, but then supporters rally

Jane Meinhardt, Tampa Bay Business Journal – A revolting response to Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s stand on the embargo against Cuba and her recent trip to the island galvanized hundreds of area residents — especially Patrick Manteiga, publisher of La Gaceta. A person described as the self-appointed leader of a minority pro-embargo group pinned… read more »

April 25, 2013

US welcomes Venezuela’s appointment of envoy

AFP – The United States voiced hope Wednesday for a “productive” relationship with Venezuela as it welcomed the appointment of a new envoy to Washington by the successor of leftist leader Hugo Chavez. President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday named ruling lawmaker Calixto Ortega as the charge d’affaires at the embassy in Washington after the… read more »

April 24, 2013

Castor to Obama: Reform “outdated” Cuba embargo, travel ban

William March, Tampa Tribune - U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa, fresh back from a trip to Cuba, has told President Barack Obama in a letter that the U.S. travel ban and trade embargo against Cuba are outdated, unproductive and harmful and should be reformed. In the four-page letter, Castor never… read more »

April 19, 2013

Honduras’ top money-laundering prosecutor killed

Associated Press- Honduras’ top anti-money-laundering prosecutor has been shot to death, a prosecution spokesman said Friday. Spokesman Carlos Vallecillo says prosecutor Orlan Arturo Chavez was killed in his truck as he returned from the National University, where he also taught. Vallecillo said the killing was carried out in a manner… read more »

April 18, 2013

Secretary of State: No swap of Cuban spies for Alan Gross

Juan O. Tamayo, Miami Herald – Secretary of State John Kerry has declared the U.S. government will not swap five Cuban spies held in the United States for American Alan Gross, serving a 15-year prison term in Havana, but is pushing to win his release as a “humanitarian gesture.” “They… read more »