From NPR Dec 9

By Nick Miroff

Cuba has some the most extensive coral reefs in the hemisphere, but political strains between Washington and Havana largely have kept American scientists away.

A new partnership for marine research is trying to change that at one of Cuba’s most remote places, far from people and pollution.

Off central Cuba’s southern coast, hundreds of tiny islands stretch into the Caribbean. They are ringed with narrow beaches and…

From Reuters

A U.S. judge Tuesday reduced the prison terms of two convicted Cuban spies in the latest twist of a high-profile espionage case that has strained already hostile ties between Havana and Washington.

U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard cut the sentence of Ramon Labanino, also known as Luis Medina, from a life term to 30 years, an assistant to the judge told Reuters.

In a separate later ruling, Lenard reduced the sentence…

Cuba Headlines has a piece on the artists’ trip to Madison and their exhibit in the DiRicci gallery.

An exhibiton of the Cuban art is underway in Wisconsin. It is about an exhibition of 25 pieces made by the Cuban artists Orestes Larios Zaak and Gregorio Perez, is exhibited until next 24 of November in Madison, capital city of the US state of Wisconsin.

The exhibition, made by these creators from the Cuban…

Orestes Larios, María Ofelia and Gregorio Perez arrived on Nov 2.  Susan Kepecs writes a great piece in The Isthmus describing their visit, it’s significance and the their artwork.

Finally, here’s some change we can believe in. The U.S. blockade on Cuba is alive and well, but Obama’s given us wiggle room. For the first time since the start of W’s second term, Cuban artists can get visas to visit the States.…

That great whoosh you heard up in the northern midwest was caused by the flood of Madisonians making way last weekend to the Cardinal returning in full splendor: with a face lift and with our very own Ricardo Gonzalez back at the helm. If you haven’t done so already,  check out this very good review by Susan Kepecs in the Isthmus

This weekend the Cardinal Bar, with Gonzalez back at the…

Britain’s Royal Ballet with their principal dancer, Cuban-born Carlos Acosta, comes to Havana and performs with the National Ballet.  This article from the Observer explores the significance of ballet in Cuba, its history after the revolution and the role played by Alicia Alonso, now 90, as it reports on the week long series of performances and celebrations occasioned by the meeting of these two companies.

The week-long tour is a massive…

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Cuba should consider putting more of its state-run economy in the hands of producers, as President Raul Castro has done with agriculture, the country’s top economic commentator said on Tuesday.

Ariel Terrero, during his regular Tuesday appearance on state-run television, did not call for private management, but suggested that sectors such as food services and retail could perform better if they were run in a new way.

“In the…

All of us who have celebrated many an event at the Cardinal can breathe a sigh of relief: the Cardinal is taking after the phoenix.   Our man in Madison, Ricardo Gonzalez, will be taking back the helm at the Cardinal Bar.    The story is here at the Isthmus (emphasis added).   It is well worth a read.

Cancel the wake. “The Cardinal Bar will live,” says Ricardo Gonzalez. As of Tuesday morning, the…

From El País (translation mine)

The United States and Cuba have concluded their first meeting this Tuesday on migration  issues with a favorable outcome described by both sides as “fruitful.”  This first encounter  addressed ways to achieve a safe, legal and orderly flow in the migration between both countries.

“The U.S.  sees these conversations as a means to achieve practical and positive results that will contribute to bringing about accords” on matters…

From Voice of America News

U.S. lawmakers have heard testimony about continuing weaknesses in U.S.-government funded television broadcasting to Cuba. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) updated members of Congress on steps taken by the Broadcasting Board of Governors and its Office of Cuba Broadcasting on recommendations to deal with management, morale and other problems.

Since its inception in 1990, TV Marti has been the subject of controversy over cost, contracting, internal management and…