Cuban Government Blocks Several Guests From Entering Cuba For The Oswaldo Payá Award / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 21 February 2017 – The Cuban government has mobilized in the last hours to prevent several guests from arriving in Havana to attend to Oswaldo Paya Award ceremony, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, at 11:00 am. Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon has been the most recent to make public that Cuban immigration authorities did … Continue reading “Cuban Government Blocks Several Guests From Entering Cuba For The Oswaldo Payá Award / 14ymedio”

Donald Trump: “Cuba Was Very Good To Me” / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Miami, 16 February 2017 — US President Donald Trump referred to the Cuban-American community during a press conference on Thursday, stating “Cuba was very good to me” and said that he was referring to the role in the US elections of the “Cuban-American people.” Trump won the Florida vote in last November’s election and … Continue reading “Donald Trump: “Cuba Was Very Good To Me” / 14ymedio”

The Student Who Did Not Want To ‘Ride With Fidel’ / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Excobar

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 16 February 2017 — David Mauri Cardoso, a 24-year-old from Cienfuegos, dreamt of being lawyer but could not successfully pass a test of dishonesty. In appearance it was a test of Spanish, but what was being evaluated was his capacity to fake it. Along with 30 other young people, who had not … Continue reading “The Student Who Did Not Want To ‘Ride With Fidel’ / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Excobar”

A Million Dollar Business Run by Fidel Castro’s Son / Juan Juan Almeida

Juan Juan Almeida, 6 February 2017 — Officials, students, athletes, workers, members of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, foreign journalists and even tourists. Almost all have been victims of a flagrant, illicit operation authorized by the Cuban government. It is a business that involves millions, one that the Castro family is not inclined … Continue reading “A Million Dollar Business Run by Fidel Castro’s Son / Juan Juan Almeida”

Fidel Castro’s Ashes and Che’s Bones Compete to Attract Visitors / 14ymedio

14ymedio, 10 February 2017 – The fight for popularity between Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara continues even after the death of both leaders. According to an article in last Saturday’s official newspaper Granma, some 150,000 people – both Cubans and foreign tourists – have visited Fidel Castro’s tomb in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. The mausoleum … Continue reading “Fidel Castro’s Ashes and Che’s Bones Compete to Attract Visitors / 14ymedio”

Police Search Home of Cuban ‘YouTuber’ / 14ymedio

14ymedio Havana, 8 February 2017 – Officers from Cuba’s National Revolutionary Police searched the home of ‘YouTuber’ and activist Alexei Gamez, in Jagüey Grande in the province of Matanzas. According to Eliecer Avila, leader of the Somos+ (We Are More) Movement, the agents entered the house in the morning and have not allowed access to … Continue reading “Police Search Home of Cuban ‘YouTuber’ / 14ymedio”

Video Room Fits in a Container / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Santiago de Cuba, 31 January 2017 — The movie theater with cushy chairs, carpets and a purring projector is a thing of the past. Now, the films are broadcast on huge flat-screen TVs or inside a container for the transportation of goods, such as the one located on San Miguel Street at Victoriano Garzón Avenue … Continue reading “Video Room Fits in a Container / 14ymedio”

Guanabo, the new ‘Costa del Sol’ / 14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez

14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez, Havana, 31 January 2017 – With an indigenous name and sands full of memories, Guanabo is the beach east of Havana that in recent months has experienced a quiet transformation. Many repatriated Cubans, foreign residents on the island, and local entrepreneurs have bought homes just a few yards from the sea to revive … Continue reading “Guanabo, the new ‘Costa del Sol’ / 14ymedio, Marcelo Hernandez”

Amnesty International Calls For Release Of Cuban Opponent Eduardo Cardet / EFE, 14ymedio

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 1 Februday 2017 — The global organization Amnesty International on Tuesday called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of Cuban dissident Eduardo Cardet, who has been detained for two months accused of the crime of assault. Amnesty International believes that Cardet, the national coordinator of the illegal Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), is a prisoner of … Continue reading “Amnesty International Calls For Release Of Cuban Opponent Eduardo Cardet / EFE, 14ymedio”

‘Nobody’ By Miguel Coyula Wins Best Documentary Prize in Dominican Republic / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 30 January 2017 — The documentary Nobody, by Cuban director Miguel Coyula, has won the award for Best Documentary in the Tenth edition of the Dominican Global Film Festival (FCGD). The poet Rafael Alcides stars in the documentary and develops “an imaginary conversation with Fidel Castro” culminating in the death of the former president last November. … Continue reading “‘Nobody’ By Miguel Coyula Wins Best Documentary Prize in Dominican Republic / 14ymedio”

Fidel Castro Will Have A Square In Moscow / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Moscow, 30 January 2017 — According to Russian news agency Tass, sources at the Moscow City Council have reported that a square in the northwest of the city will be named after the late Cuban ex-president. In the first moment, shortly after Fidel Castro’s death, Moscow’s Interdepartmental Commission chose two sections of a street … Continue reading “Fidel Castro Will Have A Square In Moscow / 14ymedio”

Why We Don’t Have A Lech Walesa In Cuba / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya

14ymedio, Miriam Celaya, Havana, 27 January 2017 — I recently had the opportunity to participate as guest in a forum held at Florida International University. Among other topics, the issue of labor rights in Cuba and the role of journalism in the defense of these rights were discussed. At first glance, the proposal does not … Continue reading “Why We Don’t Have A Lech Walesa In Cuba / 14ymedio, Miriam Celaya”

“That day, like the kids, I went out to play,” says El Sexto / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 27 January 2017 — Since late last November Danilo Maldonado, El Sexto, has lived a nightmare. He passed from one police station to another until he reached the dreaded Combinado del Este jail in Havana. His crime: to write on several walls a graffiti that read “He left,” a few hours after the … Continue reading ““That day, like the kids, I went out to play,” says El Sexto / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”

Juvenile, Always Juvenile / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 27 January 2016 — An old Soviet joke from the time of Leonid Brezhnev relates his attempts to enthuse young people to celebrate the six decades of the October Revolution in the autumn of 1977. The septuagenarian leader entrusted to his friend, Aleksei Kosygin – who had a reputation of being a … Continue reading “Juvenile, Always Juvenile / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”

Only 45% Of Cuban Teens Watch National Television / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 23 January 2016 — New technology and the consumption of audiovisual material a la carte are gaining ground among Cuban teenagers. Only 45% of teenagers claim to watch national television, according to a study conducted in November 2015, which the official Press has reported on this week. Research was conducted through a questionnaire … Continue reading “Only 45% Of Cuban Teens Watch National Television / 14ymedio”