| foreignpolicy.com – With President Donald Trump singling out “the communist and socialist dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela” in his State of the Union address and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson |
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Tim Golden and Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica
It was a cool night for Havana, with the temperature falling into the mid-70s, and the diplomat and his family were feeling very good about their assignment to Cuba. They were still settling into their new home, a comfortable, Spanish-style house in the lush enclave that had been called “el Country Club” before wealthy families abandoned it in the early years of the revolution. “We were just thrilled to be there,” the diplomat recalled. “The music, the rum, the cigars, the people — and a very important moment for diplomacy.”
by Trump to pick Mexico expert as next assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Franco Ordoñez, McClatchy News
WASHINGTON–President Donald Trump will nominate intelligence and Mexico expert Kimberly Breier to be assistant secretary of the State Department’s Western Hemisphere Affairs, two sources with knowledge of the White House selection process have told McClatchy.
by Fidel Castro’s son commits suicide: Cuban state-run media
Reuters
HAVANA (Reuters) – The son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on Thursday after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported.
by Cuba protests US internet task force
Michael Weissenstein, ABC News
Cuba is protesting the creation of a U.S. task force on increasing internet access on the island — a measure that is part of President Donald Trump’s hardening of U.S. policy on Cuba.
by Raúl Castro’s son can’t be Cuba’s next president. But what about his daughter?
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald
After months of speculation about who will succeed Cuban leader Raúl Castro, something became clear this week: Castro will not be able to pass the government leadership to his son, Col. Alejandro Castro .
by HAVANA (CBSMiami) — Cuba’s nominating commissions have chosen their candidates for their next parliament – the group which will select the island nation’s next president this year.
Like what you read? We would appreciate it if you shared!by Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald
The U.S. State Department has changed its travel alert system and now recommends American citizens “reconsider” visiting Cuba. It had previously issued a warning advising Americans not to travel to the island.
by Abigail Williams and Tracy Conners, NBC News
It’s not just the U.S. State Department that is baffled by the health problems of diplomats who’ve worked in Cuba. The Canadian government said Wednesday it also has no idea who or what is behind the mysterious ailments.
Like what you read? We would appreciate it if you shared!by Reuters
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria sent 2.1 million barrels of crude oil to Cuba last year and will ship the same amount in 2018, an official at state energy firm Sonatrach said on Wednesday, helping Cuba to offset lower supplies from the island’s closest ally, Venezuela.
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