Cuba Journal 
According to a report by Reuters, Priceline Group Inc is eyeing growth in Cuba in light of new rules the US announced Friday that ease trade and investment restrictions with the island nation. Priceline, the world’s most profitable digital travel services company, is evaluating rules related to US companies setting up bank accounts and offices … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Can they happen? By Peter Quinter Op-Ed Contributor Since I first moved to Florida in 1981, worked as an attorney at U.S. Customs in 1989, and been a private attorney for one of the largest law firms in Florida since 1994, I have been intrigued by the international relations between the United States and Cuba. … Read more
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
