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A Year In, Raúl's Cuba In Midst of New Revolution

Fidel's younger brother raises country's global profile, begins reform

(Newser) - Today marks the first anniversary of Raúl Castro's rise to the top of Cuban politics, and as the Miami Herald reports, he has lots to celebrate. Latin America's continuing leftward shift has seen regional leaders cozy up to Fidel's brother, and Russia has used Cuba to expand its presence...

Russian Warships Dock at Havana Bay

(Newser) - Russian warships arrived in Havana yesterday for the first time since the end of the Cold War, the London Times reports. The visit comes at the end of a 3-month South American tour that Russia expected would raise hackles in the US. “I guess they’re on R&R,...

Hurricanes Smoke Cuban Cigar Biz

Double blow from Gustav, Ike to cost billions

(Newser) - Back-to-back blows from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have the Cuban tobacco industry reeling, reports the Miami Herald. Hurricane Ike alone destroyed half of this year's tobacco plants, more than 3,000 tobacco-drying barns and nearly 9,000 homes for workers. The destruction occurred just days after Gustav had already wreaked...

Cuban Prez OKs Sex Change Operations

Daughter Mariela, who heads sex ed center, pushed for change

(Newser) - Cubans can now have free sex change operations, Reuters reports. The latest legal change under President Raul Castro was pushed by his daughter, Mariela Castro, who heads a sex education center and says she has a 28-person waiting list. Cuba allowed a sex change 20 years ago, but sparked so...

Robert Vesco, Rogue Financier, Dies in Cuba

Fugitive from justice, fraudster died in November in Havana

(Newser) - Robert Vesco, the American financier who fled the country amid accusations that he had swindled $200 million from unsuspecting investors, died in Havana last November, according to a relative. Vesco, who died at 71, had lived in Cuba since the 1980s and had served time in jail there for defrauding...

Don't Expect Another Cuban Revolution

Raul is no Fidel, but is expected to stay on brother's course

(Newser) - You won't see him wearing fatigues and making fiery speeches, but Raul Castro is expected to hew closely to brother Fidel's line. Cuba's new president is a pragmatic military man who lacks his brother's charisma and ego, the New York Times reports. Fidel is still party leader, and 31 Castro...

Fidel Looking Forward to 'Vacation'
Fidel Looking Forward
to 'Vacation'
Feb 22, 2008 2:48 PM CST

Fidel Looking Forward to 'Vacation'

Former leader mocks US in post-presidential newspaper column

(Newser) - Fidel can't wait to retire. The soon-to-be-former dictator published a new newspaper column today, telling Cuba he was relieved to be rid of his exhausting presidential duties. “The night before, I slept better than ever,” Castro wrote. But he couldn’t give up his newspaper gig because, “...

Fidel Faithful Likely to Keep Power
Fidel Faithful Likely to
Keep Power
Feb 20, 2008 7:19 AM CST

Fidel Faithful Likely to Keep Power

Cubans unsure if leader's resignation will change anything

(Newser) - Life went on as normal in Havana after Fidel Castro announced his resignation yesterday, and Cuba experts aren't sure how much real impact his decision will have, the New York Times reports. Cuba's National Assembly is due to choose a new Council of State on Sunday and power is expected...

Cuba's Underground Housing Boom
Cuba's Underground Housing Boom
Jan 28, 2008 2:58 PM CST

Cuba's Underground Housing Boom

Socialist system camouflages complicated black market

(Newser) - A  booming black market in real estate is operating in Cuba, even though the government owns most property. Prices are soaring as property changes hands in a complex, illegal system called permuta, reports the New York Times. Housing swaps are permitted in Cuba, with government approval; permuta involves trading up...

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