Cayo Esquivel, a small cay in northern Cuba, has a beach dotted with coconut trees and the foundations of old buildings. Until the early 60s it boasted dozens of summer houses and a couple of hotels, complete with verandas. Later, there was a campground. After that, there were tents for humble vacationers. In the end, disembarking was prohibited, even for the fishermen who ply the keys.

TEHRAN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that Iran is ready to boost ties with Cuba, state TV reported.

Electrical power was quickly restored after Hurricane Irma’s scrape along Cuba’s northern coast, much of the flood damage in Havana was cleaned up within weeks, and tourism facilities opened in time for the winter season.

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba has not provided a detailed breakdown of key economic activity in its annual statistical abstract for the first time this century, leaving would-be investors more in the dark than usual about the Communist-run economy.

They sailed on jam-packed ships, having sold everything to pay for passports and visas. The first thing they saw entering Havana harbor was El Morro castle. Beyond it was hope, but who knew what else.

Cuba ratificó su solidaridad con Venezuela, ante cualquier amenaza a su soberanía, durante la reunión sostenida en Chile entre los cancilleres Bruno Rodríguez, representante de La Habana, y Jorge Arreaza, por Caracas.

MIAMI – Three Cuban Catholic priests urged Gen. Raul Castro Wednesday to allow political, economic and social openings as the island prepares for a change in leadership.

MIAMI, Estados Unidos.- Tres sacerdotes de la Iglesia católica cubana han llamado este miércoles al general Raúl Castro, actual gobernante del país, a permitir una apertura en el país de cara a un cambio de mandato en la isla.

WASHINGTON. Five former American diplomats issued an appeal today to 12 heads of state and the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Dr. Luis Almagro saying that the murdering of “Venezuelans who demanded a return to the rule of law and democracy … will not be [resolved] without democratic governments [taking] every step needed to bring peace, justice and democracy to the Venezuelan people.” 

I almost feel sorry for The Miami Herald’s reporter Mimi Whitefield that has been assigned with the task of selling everything and anything from Cuba to the local readers.