Government

Dissident dies, tanks roll

January 20, 2012

Orlando Luis Pardo tweeted there was movement of tanks via rail from Via Blanca (Paso Superior) on the outskirts of Havana. Is this movement in response to yesterday’s death of dissident Wilman Villar Mendoza after his hunger strike? The same occurred when dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo death was announced in 2010.

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US int’l broadcasting to Cuba

January 17, 2012

Kim Andrew Elliott, an audience research analyst in the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau and former producer/host of VOA’s Communications World (1995-2002), recently offered his thoughts about US international broadcasting to Cuba: Cuba needs some source of independent, outside news. It is impossible to get an adequate estimate of audience size in Cuba, but two percent [...]

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Defense cooperation between South Africa and Cuba

January 14, 2012

South Africa and Cuba signed a memorandum Jan. 10 to put a stamp on the cooperation between the two country’s armies. Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu signed the memorandum of understanding with [Division General] Ulises Rosales del Toro, the vice-president of Cuba’s council of ministers. The two countries have already worked together in the past, but [...]

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Cold War Shortwave

January 12, 2012
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Cuba & Venezuela will jointly build coastal patrol boats

January 11, 2012

An agreement has been signed between the Venezuelan Defense Ministry and Cuban Transportation Ministry to jointly build patrol boats for the Venezuelan Navy in Puerto Cabello (Carabobo), announced Admiral Diego Alfredo Molero Bellavia (Commander General, Venezuela Navy). The project has been under development for six years. These Págalo class patrol boats (built by the Dutch [...]

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Key political risks to watch

January 4, 2012

Reuters‘ near term alert to key politcal risks to monitor in Cuba: Resolution of outstanding short-term debt. Signs of increased interest in foreign investment. U.S. inspection of drilling rig. Results of Repsol’s exploratory well. U.S. pressure to stop the drilling. Furthermore, on international relations: A planned Papal visit in March and improved ties with Brazil are bright [...]

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