U.S. lifts Cuba travel restrictions

Per The Washington Post, U.S. President Barack Obama is reversing several policies involving the United States' relationship with Cuba, following up on campaign promises to Cuban-Americans in Florida that changes would come.

Obama has lifted travel restrictions, eased trade embargoes, and will encourage companies to build satellite and communications infrastructure between the two nations, per the Post.

Floridian Twitterers were quick to respond to the policy changes:

1. 
   michi421 (Miami, Fla.) Well, it's about time! RT @miamiherald Some travel restrictions to Cuba will be lifted. http://tr.im/iIPO 13 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   BettinaInclan (Miami, Fla.) and it starts... On Monday, the Obama will lift some travel and gift restrictions for Cuban Americans.... 13 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   cubanmike82 (Miami, Fla.) Time to plan a trip to Cuba! http://tinyurl.com/dk67my 13 Apr 2009 from web
4. 
   induce1 (Miami, Fla.) Even though I'm not even cuban, this obama/Cuba thing got me feeling emotional/happy/content in my choice/excited for the future. 13 Apr 2009 from txt
5. 
   jodybrewster (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) Holy [expletive], Obama eases restrictions on Cuba! Ok maybe Rudo is right 13 Apr 2009 from web
6. 
   Nardo58 (Cape Coral, Fla.) @ricksanchezcnn It's time now,1962 Cuban Missle Crisis has long passed,lets start with a new era of relationship with Cuba and it's citizens 13 Apr 2009 from web in reply to ricksanchezcnn
7. 
   LuieT (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) 60 plus years of failed policy and now? CHANGE! President Obama kept his words and we are seen it now! As a Cuban-American in SouFla,Yeah 13 Apr 2009 from web

U.S. lifts Cuba travel restrictions

Featured TwitPic: Front row at World Baseball Classic

"Sitting front row at world baseball classic with sdsf t shirt on. These players know the science of sport. #wbc" (Japan vs. Cuba in San Diego, Calif., posted by @sdsciencefest, March 15, 2009)

Featured TwitPic: Front row at World Baseball Classic

Castro's Cuba cabinet changes

Per El Pais, Cuban President Raul Castro has thrown out two political "heavyweights" in a wide-ranging cabinet re-shuffle. The BBC Español website offers analysis and comment about the changes. Both sites are in Spanish.

In Cuba itself, there are a restrictions on internet access, and so it's not always easy to identify legitimate Twitter users. However, other people have been tweeting their reaction to the changes in Cuba's political landscape:

@bloggerscuba (La Habana, Cuba) GOBIERNO: Ascensos y caídas en el aparato estatal: El gobierno de Cuba realizó hoy uno de los mayores cambios en.. tinyurl.com/bg68fa (GOVERNMENT: rise and fall in the State: The Cuban government today made a major change in...)

@bloggerscuba Also has other tweets with commentary and thoughts on the new cabinet line-up.



@bloggingsbyboz (Arlington, USA) Media claim the Cuba cabinet change is a power grab by Raul. Obviously.




@KanyMa Cuba with 8 new ministers. Change in sight?




@thebodybreaks How Will Cuba Shake Up Play in U.S.?: Raul Castro's leadership shake-up raises question about successor, Cuba-US.. tinyurl.com/cj9zgo



And although "Raul Castro" has his own twitter account, it seems unlikely he's using it, but take a look and decide for yourself!

@raulcastro (Havana, Cuba)

Castro's Cuba cabinet changes

Panel urges Obama to re-establish ties with Cuba

Per CNN, a Washington think tank has suggested that President Barack Obama re-establish relations with Cuba. The group—made up of 19 academics, opinion leaders and diplomats—proposed lifting travel restrictions to Cuba, allowing U.S. residents to send money to people in Cuba and enabling Cubans to travel in the U.S. under certain requirements, according to the article.

Twitter users commented:


kristinquintas (Miami, Florida): Think tank urges Obama to ease U.S. policy on Cuba..http://tinyurl.com/aq43ls (expand) What are ur views

josephchez (California): We've had a 50 yr ecomomic boycot on Cuba, while doing bussiness with other communist countries. President Obama, tear down the wall!





MMHollywood (Austin, TX): Do it OBAMA ... http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/27/us.cuba.relations/index.html

Panel urges Obama to re-establish ties with Cuba

Michelle Bachelet meets Fidel Castro

Per The Telegraph, Chilean president Michelle Bachelet visited Fidel Castro in Cuba on Tuesday, and found him in good health condition, refuting rumors of complications after an intestinal surgery. 

Latin American tweets helped tell the story.

@edouardose (Brazil): Raúl Castro confesó que Fidel recibió a Cristina y a Bachelet porque son mujeres http://tinyurl.com/cjfrx3 (raul castro confessed that Fidel received Bachelet and Cristina because they are women)


@Chuqui (Santiago, Chile): Bachelet fue trotando, sí, TROTANDO a ver a Fidel Castro tal como los peregrinos van a la Meca. Verguenza ajena. (Bachelet was jogging, yes, jogging to see Fidel Castro as the pilgrims going to Mecca. Embarrassment of others)


@DMonKaZ (Lima, Peru): Fidel Castro con una casaca Adidas http://ping.fm/5FKA2 (wearing a adidas suit)

Michelle Bachelet meets Fidel Castro