What Will Raul Do Next?

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July 2008
- Cuban Youth Prefer Facebook to Revolution
  
  Christian Science Monitor | Jul 26, 08 9:51 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Cuba's youth are restless, but many are more concerned about access to Facebook, flat-screen TVs, and trips abroad than political change, reports the Christian Science Monitor . Young people say that they pressured Raul Castro to allow cell phone and computer ownership, but they remain disillusioned about the prospects for greater change. More »
- Cuba Rebuilds Spy Network in Fla., Agent Says
  
  Miami Herald | Jul 5, 08 3:59 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Cuba has rebuilt its spy network in Florida to its highest level in 10 years, a US Army expert on Cuban agents tells the Miami Herald . The FBI rounded up more than a dozen spies in 1998, but they have all been replaced, bringing Florida’s spy population to around 210, Lt. Col. Chris Simmons said. His revelation is the first in recent years by a US official on Cuban spies. More »
June 2008
- Europe Votes to Lift Cuba Sanctions
  
  Agence France Presse | Jun 20, 08 8:20 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The European Union has agreed to lift sanctions against Cuba, much to the annoyance of the White House. "We see encouraging signs in Cuba and I think that we should show the population in Cuba that we are ready to work with them," an EU official tells the AFP. It's a largely symbolic victory for Cuba and Spain—which lobbied for the change—because sanctions have been suspended since 2005. More »
- Hard Workers in Cuba Will Finally Get Their Due
  
  Miami Herald | Jun 12, 08 4:42 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Raul Castro has ordered employers to create new salary structures that include extra pay for increased productivity—a bold departure, by Cuban standards, from Socialist orthodoxy, the Miami Herald reports. Under the current system, workers get a flat fee based on their job descriptions with no hope for incentives. Low productivity is common, and Fidel's brother is anxious to kick-start the economy. More »
- Cuban Prez OKs Sex Change Operations
  
  Reuters | Jun 6, 08 6:27 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Cubans can now have free sex change operations, Reuters reports. The latest legal change under President Raul Castro was pushed by his daughter, Mariela Castro, who heads a sex education center and says she has a 28-person waiting list. Cuba allowed a sex change 20 years ago, but sparked so much outcry that Havana canceled the program. More »
April 2008
- Raul Castro Empties Cuba's Death Row
  
  Reuters | Apr 29, 08 8:31 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - New Cuban president Raul Castro has commuted all but three of the country's death sentences to prison terms of 30 years to life, reports Reuters. Castro, who also has been gradually easing the country's restrictions on daily life, said the death penalty would remain on the books to deter "imperialist mercenaries." The three prisoners remaining on death row are charged with terrorist offenses. More »
- Cuba Loosens Limits on Home Ownership, Salaries
  
  Associated Press | Apr 12, 08 7:59 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Raul Castro continues to lighten up on some of Cuba's least popular restrictions, ending salary caps and allowing retiring state workers to take title to the homes they live in. Government employees, including members of the military, sugar and construction workers, doctors, and teachers, will now be able keep their places after retirement, and legally pass them on to their children, the AP reports. More »
March 2008
- Castro Lifts Hotel Ban for Cubans
  
  Reuters | Mar 31, 08 3:03 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Raul Castro has lifted a ban on Cubans staying at hotels designated for foreign tourists, Reuters reports. The prohibition, which had been criticized as "economic apartheid," had frustrated many Cubans since the country was opened up to tourism in 1990. "Cubans can now stay at our hotels," one hotel manager said. "Our doors are open to local tourism." More »
- Cuba Ends Cell Phone Ban
  
  BBC | Mar 28, 08 12:50 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Cuban government said today it will lift restrictions on mobile phones for the first time, the BBC reports—a sign new leader Raul Castro is following through on reform pledges. Cell phone service will be made generally available next week; service fees will have to be paid in foreign currency, however, effectively narrowing access to richer Cubans. More »
February 2008
- Cuba Signs Human Rights Pacts at UN
  
  BBC | Feb 29, 08 8:22 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Cuba yesterday signed a pair of legally binding human rights agreements, promising, among other things, to allow its citizens free speech, free association, and the right to travel, the BBC reports. Coming mere days after Raul Castro became president, the gesture could signal a shift in Cuba’s policy, though Cuba insists it is only “formalizing” rights Cubans have long held. More »
- Don't Expect Another Cuban Revolution
  
  New York Times | Feb 25, 08 2:45 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - You won't see him wearing fatigues and making fiery speeches, but Raul Castro is expected to hew closely to brother Fidel's line. Cuba's new president is a pragmatic military man who lacks his brother's charisma and ego, the New York Times reports. Fidel is still party leader, and 31 Castro allies were reelected in uncontested races to top government positions along with him. More »
- Raul Castro Is New Cuban Prez
  
  Miami Herald | Feb 24, 08 1:33 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Raul Castro will succeed long-ruling brother Fidel as the president of Cuba, reports the Miami Herald , after members of the National Assembly voted today. The current defense minister and first VP of the national committee, 76, was the only candidate endorsed by a nominating committee, and his ascent is expected to keep the country on its Communist path, reports the AFP. More »
- Cuba Takes a Swing at Golf
  
  Wall Street Journal | Feb 23, 08 12:17 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Nearly a dozen tony golf-resort projects funded by Spanish, British, and Canadian consortiums are under way in Cuba as acting President Raul Castro tries to lure foreign tourists—and their cash—back to the struggling island nation by creating a new Caribbean golf destination, reports the Wall Street Journal. Castro took over for his ailing brother, Fidel, in July 2006; he's expected to be named president tomorrow. More »
- Fidel Looking Forward to 'Vacation'
  
  Associated Press | Feb 22, 08 2:48 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Fidel can't wait to retire. The soon-to-be-former dictator published a new newspaper column today, telling Cuba he was relieved to be rid of his exhausting presidential duties. “The night before, I slept better than ever,” Castro wrote. But he couldn’t give up his newspaper gig because, “I didn't have the right to keep silent for so long.” More »
- Dems Square Off in Texas
  
  CNN | Feb 21, 08 9:06 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Hillary Clinton tonight declared that "actions speak louder than words" as she sought to stem Barack Obama's political momentum in a Texas debate. She razzed him for using another politician's words in recent speeches—calling it "change you can Xerox"—and called his health plan inadequate. Obama objected to the "let's get real" theme of Cllnton's overall message, saying it implied that his millions of supporters are "delusional." More »
- Steely Raúl's Time Is Now
  
  Times (UK) | Feb 20, 08 9:37 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Castro brothers overthrew a dictatorship and won a revolution together, but while charismatic Fidel was the public face giving passionate seven-hour speeches, steely Raúl quietly got it done—ruthlessly sending dissenters to the firing squad, earning him the nickname "the Prussian." As Fidel fades, writes the Times of London, 76-year-old Raúl will finally step into the spotlight. More »
- Fidel Faithful Likely to Keep Power
  
  New York Times | Feb 20, 08 7:19 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Life went on as normal in Havana after Fidel Castro announced his resignation yesterday, and Cuba experts aren't sure how much real impact his decision will have, the New York Times reports. Cuba's National Assembly is due to choose a new Council of State on Sunday and power is expected to remain in the hands of Castro's inner circle. More »
- South Florida Quiet After Castro Resigns
  
  Miami Herald | Feb 19, 08 5:16 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Few South Florida Cubans bothered to celebrate Fidel Castro's retirement today, the Miami Herald reports. Exile leaders dismissed the power shift to Castro's brother Raul as politics as usual for the island nation. "Just because he has given up a title, doesn't mean he has given up power,'' lawmaker Mario Diaz-Balart said.

News Sections

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Stories

Cuban Youth Prefer Facebook to Revolution

Cuba Rebuilds Spy Network in Fla., Agent Says

Europe Votes to Lift Cuba Sanctions

Hard Workers in Cuba Will Finally Get Their Due

Cuban Prez OKs Sex Change Operations

Raul Castro Empties Cuba's Death Row

Cuba Loosens Limits on Home Ownership, Salaries

Castro Lifts Hotel Ban for Cubans

Cuba Ends Cell Phone Ban

Cuba Signs Human Rights Pacts at UN

Don't Expect Another Cuban Revolution

Raul Castro Is New Cuban Prez

Cuba Takes a Swing at Golf

Fidel Looking Forward to 'Vacation'

Dems Square Off in Texas

Steely Raúl's Time Is Now

Fidel Faithful Likely to Keep Power

South Florida Quiet After Castro Resigns