News stories by Patricia Grogg, page 19

Intellectuals and artists concerned about continued racial discrimination in Cuba are attempting to revive the Cofradía de la Negritud (CONEG), a 'brotherhood' or association of black people aimed at raising awareness of the problem.

Without fanfare or major explanations, the Cuban government has begun to dismantle the system of mandatory rural boarding school for students in the last three years of high school – one of various reforms aimed at improving the quality of education that will start to be implemented at the start of the next school year in September.

Arnoldo Ramón Virgilio’s legs are of little use to him, but he has a way with words that more than makes up for any physical limitations. He’s one of the outpatients at the 'América Labadí Arce' Medical and Education Centre, which provides health care and rehabilitation for the disabled in this city in eastern Cuba.

Cuba and the United States are poised to resume talks on migration issues any time now, although the five Cuban agents imprisoned in the U.S. remain 'a formidable obstacle' to normalising bilateral relations, according to Cuban parliament president Ricardo Alarcón.

Izet Samá has no regrets about her decision to devote every waking hour to her mission as pastor of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church, guiding a small congregation in the Cuban province of Havana.

For decades, Fidel Castro has been the most vociferous opponent of an eventual return by Cuba to the Organisation of American States (OAS), which he has referred to as a 'colonial ministry,' 'odious,' 'shameless' and 'rotten.' 'The OAS was the accomplice to all of the crimes committed against Cuba,' he also wrote.

Mercedes Toyo has finally started to smile again after many years of tears and violence. But the bad memories linger. 'Now I’m being courted by a 50-year-old man who tells me I’m too wary, that I don’t let anyone get too close,' she told IPS in the living room of her house.

Bolstered by international support for its demand for an end to the embargo, Cuba could sit down with the United States to talk about a number of matters of mutual interest while it awaits the lifting of the web of restrictions that have weighed on its economy for nearly half a century.

The global recession poses new economic threats to Cuba, hitting its principal exports and reducing its chances of obtaining external financing, although officials seem confident that the situation will remain within manageable limits.

Seven Democratic congresspersons from the U.S. concluded that it is possible to talk about any issue with Cuba and that 'it is time' to do so, at the end of a five-day visit during which they met with both Raúl and Fidel Castro.