The Pope’s Mass in Cuba

The Pope’s Mass in Cuba

Early Sunday morning, Cubans quietly flocked to the Plaza de la Revolución in the dark to receive Pope Francis homily.  17 years ago Pope John Paul II delivered his famous mass in the same location;  except today, Cuba is in a state of historical transition as the island nation restores relations with the US, an … Read more

Obama Administration Releases Details of Amendments to the Cuba Sanctions

Obama Administration Releases Details of Amendments to the Cuba Sanctions

Today, the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Treasury are announcing additional revisions to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), building off the changes put into place by Treasury and Commerce on January 16, 2015 and further delivering on the new direction toward U.S. relations with Cuba that … Read more

How Re-Designating Cuba Under “Trading with the Enemy Act” Helped Ease the Embargo

How Re-Designating Cuba Under “Trading with the Enemy Act” Helped Ease the Embargo

On September 11, President Barack Obama extended Cuba’s status as an “enemy” under a 1917 law called the Trading with the Enemy Act.  North Korea was removed in 2008 – Cuba is the only country with this special designation. Ironically, by extending Cuba’s designation as an enemy, Obama preserved his executive authority to chip away at … Read more

BREAKING: US Moves to Reduce Cuba Sanctions

BREAKING: US Moves to Reduce Cuba Sanctions

According to a report from Reuters, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Friday issued regulations easing restrictions on American companies seeking to do business in Cuba and opening up travel in the latest action to weaken the U.S. trade embargo amid warming relations with the island nation. The rules, effective on Monday, Sept. 21, address … Read more

BREAKING: Verizon Announces First US-Based Roaming Service in Cuba

BREAKING: Verizon Announces First US-Based Roaming Service in Cuba

Verizon is the first U.S.-based wireless company to offer roaming in Cuba through the company’s Pay-As-You-Go International Travel option, starting next week. “Our customers are citizens of the world, and we want them to seamlessly enjoy a great Verizon experience wherever they travel,” said, Javier Farfan, vice president of cultural and segment marketing for Verizon. … Read more

Pope’s Cuba Schedule Includes A Lot Of Praying

Pope’s Cuba Schedule Includes A Lot Of Praying

September 19 (Rome, Havana) 10.15am – Departure from Rome for Havana. 4.05pm – Arrival ceremony at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport. Speech by pope. September 20 (Havana) 9am – Mass in Havana’s Revolution Square. Homily by Pope. Recitation of the Angelus. 4pm – Courtesy visit with Cuba’s President Raul Castro in Havana’s Palace of the … Read more

Sony Music in Licensing Deal with Cuban Government

Sony Music in Licensing Deal with Cuban Government

EGREM (Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales) and New York-based Sony Music International announced yesterday an exclusive licensing deal to distribute EGREM’s state-owned inventory of Cuban recordings.  The music collection is the largest catalog of Cuban music in the world and encompasses audio and audiovisual recordings produced by EGREM since the 1960s. Sony Music Entertainment’s … Read more

1st Annual Pilar Regatta from Key West, FL to Veradero, Cuba set for December

1st Annual Pilar Regatta from Key West, FL to Veradero, Cuba set for December

The racing and sailing community has been on the forefront of newsworthy events that characterize the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba – not surprising considering Cuba’s 3,000 miles of coastline and 4,200 islets and keys. The first annual Pilar Regatta will set sail from Key West, Fla., to Veradero, Cuba, Dec. 3, … Read more

Cuban Delegation Issues Press Release from the First Meeting of the Cuba-US Steering Committee

Cuban Delegation Issues Press Release from the First Meeting of the Cuba-US Steering Committee

The first meeting of the Cuba-US Steering Committee took place on September 11, 2015.  The committee stems from an agreement by both countries to discuss next steps in the process towards the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States. The Cuban delegation was presided over by Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Director General of the … Read more