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☆ Cuban clock maker keeps on ticking despite economic woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HAVANA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Cuban watchmaker Ernesto Barrios saw an opportunity to make up for lost time two years ago after authorities lifted a ban on private companies that had been in place since shortly after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. "We don't have to import any of our materials," he said. "Years ago there was a great diversity of Russian watches in Cuba and today that watch market is empty," he said. His "Made in Cuba" watches, he said, are on display in various hotels in Havana, as well as in some stores in the Cuban capital. Reporting by Nelson Acosta, editing by Dave Sherwood and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ernesto Barrios, Fidel Castro's, Luz, Barrios, Nelson Acosta, Dave Sherwood, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuban, Cuba, wristwatches, Havana, Soviet Union

[1/6] A man works on a pole to restore electricity after a storm knocked down power cables in Sao Paulo, Brazil November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Carla Carniel Acquire Licensing RightsSAO PAULO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Half a million residents of Sao Paulo remained without electricity on Monday three days after a storm knocked down power cables, leaving much of Brazil's largest city in the dark. The storm snapped branches and knocked down hundreds of trees that fell on overhead power lines in many streets of the city, initially cutting off 2.1 million customers in Metropolitan Sao Paulo, energy distribution company ENEL said. But what is shocking is that year after year there is not enough investment in burying the power cables. Reporting by Camila Moreira, Alberto Alerigi and Leticia Fucuchima in Sao Paulo; Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carla Carniel, Sao Paulo, ENEL, Denilson Laurindo, Thiago Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Flavio Dino, Alexandre Vieira Monteiro, Camila Moreira, Alberto Alerigi, Leticia Fucuchima, Anthony Boadle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, SAO PAULO, Metropolitan Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Friday, Brazil's, Thomson Locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sao, Brazil's, Metropolitan Sao, Morumbi, Brasilia

"Giselle," the Romantic ballet whose title role Alonso is best known for and performed through her 70s, will cap a special gala on Oct. 28, the anniversary date, at the National Theater of Cuba. "Ballet was never (for the) elite in Cuba," said Leonardo Vinageras, a Havana resident and ballet aficionado who attended a recent anniversary event. A ballet dancer warms up backstage before performing "Giselle" during the 27th Alicia Alonso International Ballet Festival of Havana, at the National Theatre, in Havana, Cuba, October 30, 2022. Alonso founded her namesake National Ballet Academy in Cuba in 1948 soon after becoming a star in the New York company that would become the American Ballet Theatre. Inspired by Fidel Castro, Alonso identified herself with his 1959 revolution and moved permanently to Cuba, becoming allies in popularizing ballet with strong government support for the renamed National Ballet of Cuba.

Persons: Alicia Alonso, Giselle, Alonso, Leonardo Vinageras, Alexandre Meneghini, King Louis XIV, Viengsay Valdés, Carlos Acosta, José Manuel Carreño, Fidel Castro, Grettel Morejon, Anett Rios, Alien Fernandez, Richard Chang, David Sherwood, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Ballet, Communist, National Theater of Cuba, Company, of, National Theatre, REUTERS, Bolshoi, Mariinsky, National Ballet of, National Ballet Academy, New York, American Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Havana, of Havana, National Ballet of Cuba

An Indigenous named Raimundo Praia from Mura people looks on in a deforested area of a non-demarcated indigenous land in the Amazon rainforest near Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil, August 20, 2019. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Brazil Potash Corp FollowBRASILIA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court has overturned an injunction suspending the license for Canadian firm Brazil Potash Corp to build Latin America's largest fertilizer mine in the Amazon rainforest. She also ruled that a license must come from federal environmental agency IBAMA and not state agency IPAAM. Brazil Potash on Wednesday declined to comment on the ruling, which was based on an appeal by the state environmental agency IPAAM. Brazil Potash says it would have minor environmental impact because salt separated from the potash at a processing plant would be returned underground.

Persons: Raimundo, Ueslei Marcelino, IPAAM, Jaiza, Alexandre Silveira, Silveira, Soares, Joenia Wapichana, Sergio Mura, Stan Bharti's Forbes, Governor Wilson Lima, Anthony Boadle, Marguerita Choy, Bill Berkrot, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brazil, Corp, Federal Regional Tribunal, Reuters, Mines, Energy, Funai, Capital, Stan Bharti's Forbes & Manhattan Group, Thomson Locations: Raimundo Praia, Mura, Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil, BRASILIA, Manaus, , Brasilia, Autazes, Amazonas, Toronto

☆ Mexico will help, provide oil to Cuba, Lopez Obrador says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Chile's President Gabriel Boric (not pictured) deliver a statement to the media at La Moneda government palace in Santiago, Chile, September 10, 2023. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Mexico will help Cuba, including providing it with oil, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday. Mexico began regularly shipping crude oil to Cuba at the end of the first quarter of this year. "However we can help the people of Cuba, we're going to do it," said Lopez Obrador in a regular press conference. He said Mexico did not have to request permission from any foreign government to aid Cuba, which he said suffered from an "inhumane and unjust" embargo.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Gabriel Boric, Ivan Alvarado, we're, Lopez Obrador, Fidel Castro's, Ana Isabel Martinez, Anthony Esposito Organizations: La, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Thomson Locations: Santiago , Chile, MEXICO, Mexico, Cuba, Mexican, United States

☆ Cuba warns of worsening blackouts as fuel crisis bites
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Marc Frank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Power blackouts in Cuba are expected to increase significantly due to a lack of fuel, officials warned in a nationwide TV broadcast, worsening the country's plight as it deals with food and medicine shortages. The Communist-run island has been mired in crisis and plagued by blackouts and shortages of food, medicine and fuel since the pandemic. Cuba says U.S. sanctions are largely to blame for the crisis, depriving the country of foreign exchange to import most of its fuel, food and other supplies. Cuba has also seen regular crude and fuel imports from Russia and Mexico, according to shipping data. "Cuba has bought more crude and fuel this year, compared with last year.

Persons: Vicente de la O Levy, Jorge Pinon, Pinon, Fidel Castro’s, Marc Frank, Nelson Acosta, Marianna Parraga, Rami Ayyub Organizations: Energy, Mining, Communist, Gross, Communist Party, University of Texas, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Havana, Washington, Venezuela, Russia, Mexico, Austin ., United States

The Supreme Court last week voted against establishing a cut-off date for new reservations on lands Indigenous people did not live on by Oct. 5, 1988 when the Constitution was enacted. The offensive could deepen a divide between a conservative-led Congress and a Supreme Court that many lawmakers criticize for judicial over-reach. Across Brazil, Indigenous communities claim land that farmers have settled and developed, in some cases for decades. "If the government wants to demarcate (Indigenous lands), it must know that it will have to pay," he said. The farm lobby is confident it can muster the votes for the legislation it seeks.

Persons: Agriculture Pedro Lupion, Adriano Machado, Pedro Lupion, Marcos Rogerio, Lupion, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Anthony Boadle, Barbara Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: Front, Agriculture, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Justice Committee, Supreme, Indigenous Peoples, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA

But “Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. “I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving." In the days after the indictment, calls for his resignation began, starting with members of the New Jersey congressional delegation (sans Rep. Bob Menendez Jr., the senator's son) and expanding to include New Jersey Gov. Absent from the initial push for Menendez's departure was Senate Democratic leadership and Booker, who works with Menendez on a regular basis representing New Jersey. A dozen more U.S. senators added their calls for their New Jersey Democratic colleague to leave.

Persons: Sen, Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, lauding, Booker, Menendez, ” Booker, underscoring, “, Nadine, Bob Menendez Jr, Phil Murphy, John Fetterman of, Eric Holder –, Nancy Pelosi, Fidel Castro, Tom Malinowski Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, New Jersey Gov, Democratic, California Democrat, New Jersey Democratic, Tom Malinowski , New, Tom Malinowski , New Jersey Democrat, MSNBC Locations: New Jersey, Jerseyans, Egypt, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, California, Union City , New Jersey, Cuba, Tom Malinowski ,, Tom Malinowski , New Jersey

At one point, the indictment said, Menendez Googled the phrase "price of a kilo of gold." "People are salivating at the opportunity to have an open Senate seat, which might lead to an open congressional seat, which might lead to an open state Senate seat, which might call into question who might be the state Senate president," Harrison says. Democratic members of Congress from neighboring states – including a Latina, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called on Menendez to resign. "It is hard for me to believe that Sen. Menendez can be effective in his job, given these allegations. But I think I want to get back and talk to my colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee before I recommend a path forward for Sen. Menendez,” Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, told MSNBC in an interview on Sunday.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Cuomo, Anthony Weiner wasn't, Weiner, –, Nancy Pelosi, Sen, Bob Menendez, Jersey pols, Brandon Rottinghaus, Menendez –, Menendez, Nadine, Fidel Castro, Menendez's, Robert Menendez Jr, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Murphy, Brigid Harrison, Harrison, Alexandria Ocasio, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, John Fetterman of, Donald Trump, ” Sen, Chris Murphy, Mark Kelly, Pelosi, didn't, Joe Biden, James Traficant, Traficant, Gary Condit, Chandra Levy, Condit, George Santos, ” Santos, they’re, ”, Rottinghaus Organizations: Democratic, New, Twitter, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, University of Houston, Foreign, Prosecutors, Foreign Relations, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Gov, Democratic Party, Montclair State University, Latina, Connecticut Democrat, MSNBC, United State Senate, Arizona Democrat, CBS, James Traficant , Ohio Democrat, House, Capitol Locations: New York, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Jersey, New Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, Cuba, Alexandria, Cortez, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Arizona, James Traficant , Ohio, California, Rock Creek

MIAMI (AP) — When Félix Llerena arrived in Miami in 2017, he quickly got involved in the city’s politically active community of Cuban exiles. He's more skeptical of the former Republican president. Both sides will have to respond to a Trump criminal trial next year in South Florida on charges that he mishandled classified information. The GOP has been winning in Florida since 2016, when Trump flipped a state that twice went for Democrat Barack Obama. “What the Democrats have lost are the younger Cuban American voters,” said Dario Moreno, a political science professor at Florida International University.

Persons: Félix Llerena, Donald Trump, He's, Joe Biden's, that's, ”, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Democrat Barack Obama, DeSantis, Dario Moreno, Univision's Jorge Ramos, “, Fidel Castro, Castro, Llerena, Fidel, Television Marti, Barack Obama, Obama, ” Llerena, Biden, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence Organizations: MIAMI, Cuban, Republican, Democratic, Cuban American voters, Republican Party, Miami, Democrats, Trump, Florida Gov, GOP, Democrat, Florida Democratic Party, Dade, Cuban American, Florida International University, Llerena, Television, U.S . Commission, Versailles, U.S, Ukraine, Biden, Republicans Locations: Miami, Cuban, Cuban American, United States, South Florida, Dade County, Florida, Washington, Cuba, U.S, “, Havana, Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua, Texas

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a press conference at a hotel after the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, September 11, 2023. In part, that reflects the choppier waters the 77-year-old Brazilian leader now navigates, as Beijing and Washington flirt with a new Cold War while war rages in Ukraine. Even before he took office, Lula was greeted like a rock star last November at the U.N. climate change conference in Egypt. The closer ties to Beijing could complicate Brazil's relationship with Washington, including access to key technology, Shannon added. "Brazil is rapidly wasting its soft power by trying to be an international player with an outdated agenda," he said.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Anushree, Pope, Jair Bolsonaro's, Lula, Oliver Stuenkel, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Thomas Shannon, Porter, Shannon, Nicolas Maduro, Gabriel Boric, Rubens Barbosa, Putin, Maduro, Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United Nations General Assembly, U.S, General Assembly, Amazon, International Criminal Court, ICC, Arnold, Security, Mercosur, Venezuelan, Foreign Ministry, South, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Rights BRASILIA, Brazil, China, Beijing, Washington, Ukraine, Sao Paulo, Egypt, U.S, Rio de Janeiro, Russia, South Africa, Shannon, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brasilia, Brazilian, London, South American

☆ Rifle, fur hat, drones: North Korea's Kim returns with gifts from Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves as he boards his train at a railway station in the town of Artyom outside Vladivostok in the Primorsky region, Russia, September 17, 2023. Following are some of the items he is bringing back to the "friendship" museum, where gifts received by the North's three generations of leaders are kept. GIFTS FROM RUSSIAAfter his summit with Russian President Putin, Kim received a Russian-made rifle "of the highest quality," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Kim received a fur hat from Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, where he inspected Russian nuclear bombers, fighter jets equipped with hypersonic missiles and a warship. And Comrade Kim Jong Un liked it,” Matsegora said.

Persons: Kim Jong, Putin, Kim, Dmitry Peskov, Oleg Kozhemyako, Sergei Shoigu, Alexander Matsegora, It’s, Kim Jong Un, ” Matsegora, Yuri Gagarin, Kim Il Sung, Jimmy Carter, Francois Mitterrand, Michael Jordan, Madeleine Albright, Fidel Castro, Propaganda, Kim Dae, Kim Jong Il, Chung, yung, Jack Kim, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Russian, North, TASS, Moscow, WHO, U.S, Hyundai, Hyundai Group, Thomson Locations: Artyom, Vladivostok, Primorsky, Russia, Russia's Primorsky Krai, Rights SEOUL, Russian, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Russia's, Khasan, North Korea, Paris, North, Cuban, South, North Korean, Seoul, Melbourne

☆ Cuba says its citizens were recruited to fight with Russia in Ukraine — but the government is only cracking down now 'because they got caught,' former counterintelligence officer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Lauren Steussy | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Cuban government says it's cracking down on efforts to recruit citizens to fight with Russia. But Cuba experts say it's likely that Cuba, a longtime Kremlin ally, was involved in these efforts. AdvertisementAdvertisementAndrés Albuquerque, a Miami-based political analyst, said it's also possible Russia worked alongside the Cuban government to recruit citizens. The recruitment in Cuba — as well as similar efforts in June in Kazakhstan — comes as Russia faces a manpower crisis. Just this past June, Cuba's Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera met with his Russian counterpart, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in Moscow.

Persons: Chris Simmons, Simmons, they've, Cuba didn't, it's, Putin, Albuquerque, Cuba —, Fidel Castro, Álvaro López Miera, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu Organizations: Service, Cuban, Russia, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense Intelligence Agency, NPR, Defense, Western Military District, New York Times, Times, Kazakhstan —, Cuba's Army, Russian Locations: Cuban, Russia, Cuba, Kremlin, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Albuquerque, Miami, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, War, Moscow

[1/2] Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva meets Davi Kopenawa, chief of the Yanomami, after a ceremony to commemorate Amazon Day, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, September 5, 2023. Environmentalists say Indigenous groups are the best guardians of the rainforest and deforestation data shows that the forests on their reservations are the best conserved. Lula, who pledged to legalize the greatest number of reservations possible, has so far signed decrees recognizing eight Indigenous territories since taking office in January. The Supreme Court, however, is expected rule that the cut-off date for claiming ancestral lands that were not lived on in 1988 is unconstitutional for denying recognized Indigenous rights. The reservations legalized by Lula on Tuesday are the Acapuri de Cima and the Rio Gregorio Indigenous territories in the states of Amazonas and Acre, respectively.

Persons: Marina Silva, Davi Kopenawa, Ueslei Marcelino, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Cima, Sonia Guajajara, Guajajara, Anthony Boadle, Sandra Maler Organizations: Amazon, REUTERS, Rights, Rio, Indigenous Peoples, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, Rio Gregorio, Amazonas, Acre

☆ AOC says the US should apologize for its history of interventions in Latin America: 'It's very hard for us to move forward when there is this huge elephant in the room'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said the US has to reckon with its history of interventions in Latin America. "I believe that we owe Chile, and not just Chile but many aspects of that region, an apology," Ocasio-Cortez told the publication. "I don't think that apology indicates weakness; I think it indicates a desire to meet our hemispheric partners with respect." "It's very hard for us to move forward when there is this huge elephant in the room and a lack of trust due to that elephant in the room," she continued. "Latin America, I believe, due to its proximity, was absolutely unique in US interventionism during the cold war, and that was under [secretary of state] Henry Kissinger and President Nixon," the congresswoman said.

Persons: Cortez, Alexandria Ocasio, New York Democrat —, Salvador Allende, —, Jacobo Árbenz, João Goulart, Fidel Castro, Castro, Henry Kissinger, Nixon, Augusto Pinochet, We're Organizations: Guardian, Service, New York Democrat, US, Operation Condor Locations: Latin America, Wall, Silicon, Alexandria, Chile, Cuban, Cuba, America, United States, Brazil, Colombia

☆ Bill Richardson, U.S. diplomat and troubleshooter, dead at 75
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

As a congressman in 1994, Richardson visited reclusive communist-ruled North Korea to discuss a nuclear accord struck by Clinton. As Richardson was traveling to the country, North Korea shot down a U.S. military helicopter that had entered its territory, killing one pilot and capturing the other. Richardson stayed for weeks to negotiate, flying home with the dead pilot's remains while the surviving pilot was released soon thereafter. In 1996, Richardson negotiated the release of an American named Evan Hunziker, jailed on spy charges in North Korea. Richardson later attended a prep school in Massachusetts, where he became a star baseball pitcher with dreams of a professional career.

Persons: New Mexico Bill Richardson, Gus Ruelas, Bill Richardson, Richardson, Mickey Bergman, Bergman, Bill Clinton, you've, You've, Barack Obama, Obama, Danny Fenster, Clinton, Evan Hunziker, Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, William Blaine Richardson, Will Dunham, Lucia Mutikani, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: University of Southern California's Schwarzenegger Institute for State, Global, REUTERS, Rights, New, Richardson Center, U.S, Richardson, Democratic, U.S . House, Representatives, United Nations, Foreign Policy, Cuban, Citibank, Tufts University, State Department, Thomson Locations: New Mexico, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Chatham , Massachusetts, Mexican, American, United States, North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Cuba, New Hampshire, Iowa, Korean, Kuwait, Iraqi, Miami, Pasadena , California, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Massachusetts, Washington

☆ Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson dead at 75
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Uwa Ede-Osifo | Associated Press | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bill Richardson, the former New Mexico governor, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of Energy under President Bill Clinton, has died. Mickey Bergman, Vice President of the Richardson Center, commented in a statement on Saturday, "Governor Richardson passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. "There was no person that Governor Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom. Richardson came to New Mexico in 1978 and chose to run for political office in the state because of its Hispanic roots. Rep. Gabe Vasquez shared a heartfelt message calling Richardson a "titan in New Mexico and abroad."

Persons: Bill Richardson, Bill Clinton, Richardson, Mickey Bergman, Governor Richardson, Bergman, Brittney Griner, Griner, Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, Kim Jong, " Richardson, William Blaine Richardson, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Richardson's, Gabe Vasquez, Vazquez, Sen, Ben Ray Luján, Luján Organizations: New, United Nations, Energy, Richardson Locations: New Mexico, U.S, Moscow, Bangladesh, North Korea, Sudan, Colombia, Iraq, Congo, Zaire, Afghanistan, Pasadena , California, Mexico City, American, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Mexico

Brazilian indigenous peoples gather as the Supreme Court on weighing the constitutionality of laws to limit the ability of Indigenous peoples to win protected status for ancestral lands, in Brasilia, Brazil August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRASILIA, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to rule next week against attempts by the country's powerful farm lobby to limit land claims by Indigenous peoples to areas they occupied before 1988. Lawyers and Indigenous rights advocates believe a majority of the nine-member court will vote by Wednesday to reject the date restriction on the grounds it is unconstitutional. Congress has pushed ahead with bills allowing Indigenous reservations only on land that was occupied by native communities when Brazil passed its Constitution in 1988. Indigenous leaders say the Supreme Court decision is vital for the resolution of some 300 pending land recognition claims that would protect their communities from land-grabbers and invasions by illegal loggers and wildcat gold miners.

Persons: Adriano Machado, Juliana de Paula, Cristiano Zanin, Zanin, Anthony Boadle, Cynthia Osterman, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Environmental, ISA, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, Santa Catarina

"We understand there is a crisis, and the need for banking, but this is our money," Hernandez said. Her business had already adopted electronic banking but she often needs quick access to cash to pay for emergencies on job sites, she added. Rodriguez said he and many other entrepreneurs began using electronic banking long before the new measures were announced to comply with tax laws that have evolved with the growing private sector. But for many smaller businesses and mom-and-pop stores in Cuba, the formalities of doing business, like paying taxes, remain novel concepts, he said. Cuban officials have said the new banking measures are necessary for transparency, to assure transactions are recorded and taxes are paid.

Persons: Alberto Quinones, Yulieta Hernandez, Hernandez, Fidel Castro, Leonardo Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Ronald Venero, Nelson Acosta, Anett Rios, Carlos Carrillo, Dave Sherwood, Marc Frank, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Cuban, Havana, Santiago de Cuba

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro talks with media upon his arrival at Brasilia International Airport, Brazil June 30, 2023. A congressional inquiry surrounding those riots, along with police investigations overseen by the Supreme Court, have steadily deepened Bolsonaro's legal exposure since he begrudgingly left office. The Supreme Court declined to comment. The police access to the Bolsonaros' phone and bank records capped a day of setbacks for the former president. Later on Thursday, news magazine Veja reported that Bolsonaro's former right-hand man Mauro Cid planned to confess his involvement in crimes related to the alleged sale of jewelry gifted by foreign governments.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Ueslei Marcelino, mulled, Bolsonaro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, begrudgingly, Justive Alexandre de Moraes, Michelle Bolsonaro, It's, Walter Delgatti, Mauro Cid, Cezar Bitencourt, Bitencourt, Veja's, Paulo, Cid, Ricardo Brito, Anthony Boadle, Gabriel Stargardter, Brad Haynes, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Brasilia International, REUTERS, Rights, Supreme, Defense Ministry, Estado, Estado de S, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, Brazilia, Estado de

☆ Lea Salonga on the groundbreaking representation of Broadway’s ‘Here Lies Love’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Ann Bindot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“Here Lies Love” arrives onto Broadway, though, at a moment of greatly increased visibility, representation and empowered Filipino identity. Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images“Here Lies Love” is an immersive experience that invites show-goers to the dancefloor, literally, imbuing the proceedings with a fun, nightclub-meets-karaoke vibe. That’s what I remember.”When the Marcoses fled to Hawaii in 1986, having been granted asylum by the United States, Salonga was celebrating her 15th birthday in Manila. The cast of "Here Lies Love" performing onstage. Watching “Here Lies Love” over two decades later, the emotion returned, packing an even stronger punch.

Persons: —, Lea Salonga, Kim, Salonga, Tony, ”, Imelda Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos, Aurora Aquino, Benigno “ Ninoy ” Aquino, Corazon Aquino, Marcoses, Corazon’s, Benigno “ Noynoy, Corazon III, Imelda, Andy Hernandez, Conrad Ricamora, Ninoy Aquino, she’s, “, ’, ’ ”, I’ve, ” Salonga, …, “ I’m, Willa Kim, Will Rogers, ” Lea Salonga, Jonathan Pryce, Sonia Moskowitz, Marcos, “ Laban, John Nacion, Jose Llana, ‘ We’ve, I’m, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Romualdez Marcos Jr, Ferdinand, Moses Villarama, Apl.de.Ap, H.E.R, Jo Koy, Jose Antonio Vargas, David Byrne —, Fatboy Slim, Moammar Gadhafi, Fidel Castro, Ronald Reagan, Castro, Gadhafi, Billy Bustamante, Matthew Murphy, Evan Zimmerman Organizations: CNN, New York, Broadway, San Francisco Bay Area, Manila International, Getty Locations: United States, Miss, ”, New, London, American, San Francisco Bay, Philippines, Manila, Mindoro, New York, ‘ Miss, New York City, Hawaii, “, Virginia

Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara said more Indigenous people felt comfortable identifying themselves as such. Tebet told reporters the new population numbers will allow for improved budget funding for policies to help Indigenous communities, in education but mainly in health services and basic sanitation to make up for government neglect. Half of Brazil's Indigenous communities live in the Amazon region, some 867,900, with the highest urban concentration in the city of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state. But the main reason for the exponential growth in numbers, besides higher fertility rates among Indigenous communities, is the rise in visibility of Brazil's Indigenous movement, he said. "When you have strong Indigenous leaders bringing positive connotations to being Indigenous, this encourages people to begin identifying themselves," Barros said by telephone.

Persons: Vanderlecia Ortega dos Santos, Vanda, Ueslei Marcelino BRASILIA, Sonia Guajajara, Guajajara, Simone Tebet, Tebet, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's, Jair Bolsonaro, Lula, Leonardo Barros, Barros, Anthony Boadle, Aurora Ellis, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brazilian Institute of Geography, Teatro, REUTERS, Ueslei, IBGE, Government, Indigenous, Federal University of Viçosa, Thomson Locations: Belem , Para, Brazil, Belem, Portugal, Venezuela, Manaus, Amazonas, Minas Gerais

☆ Cuba condemns EU Parliament resolution calling for sanctions against president
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HAVANA, July 12 (Reuters) - Cuba's National Assembly said on Wednesday it "strongly condemns" a resolution by the European Parliament, which criticized the country's human rights record and called for EU sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other top officials. "The European Parliament lacks the moral, political and legal authority to judge Cuba," Cuba's parliament said in a statement. The European Parliament resolution proposes "autocratic regimes should not participate in such summits" and strongly condemns Cuba's human rights record, saying this could jeopardize a 2016 cooperation deal between Cuba and the EU, its top trade partner. The European Parliament resolution said it "deeply deplores" this comment. In May, Borrell said the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, will visit the island in November to evaluate the consequences of the 2021 protests.

Persons: Miguel Diaz, Fidel Castro's, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Eamon Gilmore, Nelson Acosta, Sarah Morland, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: National, Cuban, EU, of, Caribbean, Communist, Cuba's National Assembly, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, America, Caribbean, Brussels, Caribbean States, United States

☆ Cuba calls US nuclear submarine in Guantanamo Bay 'provocative escalation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA, July 11 (Reuters) - Cuban authorities on Tuesday said the U.S. recently had a nuclear-powered submarine at its military base at Guantanamo Bay and called the action a "provocative escalation" of tensions weeks after Washington alleged that there was a Chinese spy base on the island. Washington did not confirm that there was a submarine at the naval base. It said Cuba was looking to distract from the two-year anniversary of largest street protests seen in Cuba since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Critics have said the Guantanamo Bay prison has been used for arbitrary detention and torture of people suspected of terrorism. In June, Havana and Beijing rejected reports citing U.S. officials alleging that China was using Cuba as a spy base.

Persons: Washington, Fidel Castro's, William LeoGrande, Critics, Nelson Acosta, Sarah Morland, Matt Spetalnick, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Washington, U.S . State Department, State Department, House, U.S . Department of Defense, Washington's American University, Reuters, United, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, U.S, Guantanamo, Chinese, Cuba, Cuban, China, Washington, Havana, Beijing, United States, Caribbean

☆ Cuba says US responsible for 2021 protests, biggest in decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] People clash with plain clothes police during protests against and in support of the government, amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Havana, Cuba July 11, 2021. "The United States has a direct responsibility for the disturbances of July 11 and 12, 2021," the Communist Party-run Granma newspaper said in a front-page editorial ahead of the anniversary of the protests. The U.S. State Department said it was not behind the 2021 protests and reiterated calls for the immediate release of some 700 Cuban political prisoners. "More than anything, this editorial reflects the state of relations between the United States and Cuba," said Arturo Lopez-Levy, a foreign relations expert at the Autonomous University of Madrid. Two years after the protests, some Cuban emigres have called for events to commemorate the date.

Persons: Alexandre Meneghini, Fidel Castro's, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Arturo Lopez, Levy, Lopez, Nelson Acosta, Sarah Morland, Matt Spetalnick, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Communist Party, White, Cuba, U.S . State Department, Cuban, European Union, Autonomous University of Madrid, Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, HAVANA, United States, Washington, U.S, Cuban

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