Business & Economy

Cuba Confirms Elimination of Hard Currency CUC

The point man of the Cuban economy, VP Marino Murillo, confirmed Friday that the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) will be eliminated in the process to reestablish a one-currency system on the island. No date or timeline was given for its disappearance.

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Cuban Pianist Robert Fonseca Reaches New Heights

The latest album of Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca, “Yo” (I) , is among the 10 best musical productions of 2013 in the U.S., according to a survey by The Washington Post. The musician announced on its Web site several tours during March and April next year, in Australia , New Zealand , Hong Kong , France and the UK.

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Cuban VP Marino Murillo Reappears

After days of rumors about the possible defection of Cuban Vice President and economic reforms chief, Marino Murillo Jorge, the official was reported present during a session this week of the Council of Ministers in the Cuban capital.

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New Homes Shoot-Up for Cuba’s Military

The Cuban government has set an ambitious construction project in motion. Headed by the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the project is aimed at building thousands of homes for military officers and civilian employees in urban areas.

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Cuba Eases Restrictions on Car Sales

The Council of Ministers of Cuba decided at its current meeting to open up the retail sale of new and used motorcycles, cars, vans and minibuses. Cubans with well-off relatives in the United States and other countries will be a considerable percentage of those able to take advantage of the relaxing of restrictions.

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FIART Crafts Fair Opens in Havana

Cuba’s largest artisans fair, FIART, opens Monday to the public in its new location at the fortress overlooking the Havana harbor entrance. It will run through December 22. [The fair was scheduled to open Sunday but was put off a day for the national mourning declared for the death of Nelson Mandela.] (21 photos)

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Advertising on Cuban Television

De tarde en casa (“Afternoon at Home”) is the name of a Cuban television program aired every Sunday at 5 in the afternoon and hosted by Rakel Mayedo. I’ve seen the program a couple of times and found it interesting every so often because of the guests invited on the show. But on this occasion I was totally bewildered.

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US-Cuba Trips Face New Crisis

The roast pork will have to wait. Some of the people who had planned to travel from the U.S. to Cuba in December to celebrate Christmas, bid farewell to 2013 and spend the school holidays with their relatives will be unable to do so “until further notice.”

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Embargo Forces Cuba to Cease Consular Services in the USA

The Cuban Interests Section in Washington announced the suspension of its consular services in the USA over the inability to get a bank to service their accounts in the country. It warned of the “negative consequences” the situation will have for Cubans, Americans and exchanges with the island.

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