TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008
Fidel Castro Steps Down
Cuban President Fidel Castro announced that he is resigning.
The Cuban Parliament meets Sunday.
Castro's written announcement said,
“I will not aspire nor accept — I repeat I will not aspire or accept —
the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief,”
read the letter signed by Castro and published quietly overnight
without advance warning in the online edition of the Communist Party
daily Granma.
Read there translated letter here.
From The Miami Herald:
Miami Media CoverageCuban Media
Blogs
1.2 Million Cubans Living in the U.S.
Most are concentrated in a
handful of states, according to City University of New York (2000 Census data):
Florida 833,120
New Jersey 77,337
California 72,286
New York 62,590
Cuba StatsLife expectancy, literacy, infant mortality and such
from the CIA World Factbook.
Castro's RuleBorn
into a large, prosperous Cuban farming family in Mayari, near Brian,
Cuba, on August 13, 1926 or 1927, Castro attended Jesuit schools and
later studied law in Havana. During his student years, he was a
political activist. Upon receiving his degree in 1950, he established a
private law practice and joined the reformist Cuban People's Party. In
1952 he planned to run for a parliamentary seat. However, Gen. Batista
overthrew the government and canceled the election. Castro first
challenged the Batista regime in court, but in 1953 organized an
unsuccessful rebel force. Castro was arrested, tried and put in jail
until 1955. He next went to Mexico to organize a new force, one that
became known as the 26 of July Movement. In 1956 this group launched
its attack, again meeting a bloody defeat. Castro and his followers
next began a guerrilla war against the corrupt and by now very
unpopular Batista regime. They quickly built a large following, also
thanks to an effective propaganda campaign. On January 1, 1959, Castro
triumphantly took power.
Castro's government has been the target of
human rights groups complaints for decades.
Diplomatic links
The U.S. and Cuba do not have diplomatic relations, but they do have "interest sections" in each others' capitals.
U.S.-Cuba TradeDespite a 40-year
trade embargo, there is some trade currently going on between the U.S. and Cuba.
This list details exactly what agricultural goods can be shipped to Cuba.
As for cigars, not only are U.S. citizens prohibited from buying Cubans, they're not allowed to smoke them anywhere in the world.
Current Travel RulesThere are many restrictions on who can travel from the US to and from Cuba. You'll find the current U.S. government regulations regarding Cuba
here, with a summary of
travel and export rules here.
Posted at 7:40:52 AM
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