Latest news with #Cubans
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Radio Martí is alive and well and transmitting to Cuba from Miami. Here's how
On March 26, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees Radio and TV Martí reopened its doors amid a sweeping transformation of its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). In the face of staffing limitations, we recommitted to our core mission: delivering timely, accurate and uncensored information to the Cuban people. OCB is not just a media organization — it is a lifeline to truth for millions living under authoritarian control. What we achieved in the weeks that followed is a testament to our team's dedication and to the enduring value of public service journalism. Here's how we did it: Through careful analysis of audience patterns and programming needs, we realigned our content schedules to focus on high-impact time blocks. Our review of staff roles allowed us to reassign tasks more efficiently, and we adjusted work shifts to ensure full coverage with fewer hands. We relaunched Radio Martí with a dynamic, 24-hour format featuring original programming, trusted newscasts and curated evergreen content. Our technical and production teams were restructured and unified under a single editorial and operational vision. Since March, we have done more than resume operations — we have innovated. We launched Asuntos de Estado – State Affairs in partnership with the U.S. State Department's Media Hub of the Americas, bringing direct and transparent diplomatic insights to the Cuban public. Our collaboration with Trinity Audio, an AI-powered text-to-speech tool, surpassed 1.5 million plays in one year — clear proof of growing demand for our content. On May 20, we marked the 40th anniversary of Radio Martí. The celebration drew broad support: Miami U.S. Rep. Congressman Carlos Giménez submitted the date into the Congressional Record and Miami-Dade County issued an official proclamation delivered by Commissioner Juan Carlos 'JC' Bermúdez. We premiered two short documentaries that reflect the spirit of resistance and the enduring demand for freedom among Cubans. 'Ferrer, Portrait of a Dissident'chronicles over 20 years of activism by José Daniel Ferrer, one of the island's most prominent opposition figures. 'Ramón Saúl Sánchez and His Struggle' highlights the tireless work of the well-known Cuban exile leader and advocate for human rights and democratic change. Both films serve not only as tributes to individual courage but also as reminders of a broader movement that continues to push for liberty — on and off the island. We also resumed shortwave broadcasting to Cuba. On June 27, transmissions from the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in North Carolina returned to the air on three frequencies. This expanded reach is more than a technical achievement — it is a moral obligation to ensure our signal breaks through censorship barriers. Since the start of FY 2025, OCB has recorded over 622 million video views on Facebook, with 223.7 million meeting the 3-second industry engagement standard, and 65% of those views coming from Cuba. Our efforts are reaching those inside Cuba. In June alone, Facebook videos reached 100.7 million views, including 35.5 million 3-second views. On YouTube, we recorded 1.6 million views in June, with 51.3% of that audience in Cuba. Overall, YouTube has reached 19.4 million views this fiscal year, with 52% originating from inside the island. These figures are verified by Meta Business Suite's Professional Dashboard. None of this would have been possible without the consistent support of Cuban American elected officials who have fiercely defended OCB's mission. In President Donald Trump's National Security Memorandum, OCB's role was explicitly reaffirmed as a key component of the renewed Cuba Internet Task Force, charged with expanding online access to the Cuban population. That designation was not symbolic — it was strategic. The ability to inform, connect and empower a society isolated from the world begins with access to truth. OCB remains a vital actor in that effort. OCB has proven that with purpose, resilience and innovation, we can achieve extraordinary results. Our mission remains clear: to be a trusted source of information for Cubans, a platform for the voiceless and a force against censorship. Álvaro Alba is the deputy director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Click here to listen to Radio Marti online.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Miami through Pitbull's eyes: a guide to his favorite spots in the Magic City
Imagine if you could tour Miami with Pitbull. You'd probably hear your fair share of 'Dale!' Now you can discover the Cuban-American rapper's favorite spots. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of his album 'Dale,' he's teamed up with Apple Maps to create a guide to his favorite restaurants and small businesses, Pitbull's Miami Spots. Each spot is dear to his heart and he explains their significance to his career or his love of Miami on the Apple Maps tour. 'I never forget my roots or the people who helped me along the way,' Pitbull says on the tour. Mary's Cafe and Coin Laundry This is one of Pitbull's favorite hangouts, and he's not alone. Lots of people come here to do their laundry and have pan con bistec or a Cuban sandwich. It's just as good as any place in town claiming to have the best Cuban sandwich in Miami. 'This spot's the real Miami—cafecito strong, abuelas louder, and hustle in the air. I grew up seeing magic in places like this, where every stain on the floor tells a story. Dale, if you wanna know the city's heartbeat, start here. No failures, only cafecito,' says Pitbull on the Apple map. Miami Coral Park Senior High Before he was Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull was just Armando — a student at this Southwest Miami high school. 'That's where I went from being a Cuban kid with three strikes to Mr. Worldwide,' the artist says of his alma mater. The hallways were his first stage. Versailles Pitbull has a special connection to this longtime Miami dining institution on Calle Ocho. 'My uncle Juan Pérez-Cruz designed the Versailles mirrors,' Pitbull proudly says in the text that accompanies the guide. La Carreta There are nine La Carretas around town. Pitbull probably likes the one on Calle Ocho, with its elegant rooster at the entrance. Domino Park There are things that never change in Miami, like the sound of the dominoes in Domino Park, says Pitbull of this spot in the heart of Little Havana. That park is where 'tradition and community' come together, he notes. Jose Marti Park Before the Miami River got trendy, Pitbull and his family used to hang out in this park. 'This park is my family's thriving and surviving. Resilience isn't a word here; it's the air,' says Pitbull. Pitbull Stadium Florida International University's stadium is now Pitbull Stadium, thanks to a major partnership with the university. He donates $1.2 million annually and gets to host 10 events a year. 'It's proof that with hard work and passion, anything is possible here in the 305,' he says. SLAM Academy Pitbull's impact goes beyond music. He founded Sports Leadership and Management Charter School (SLAM) in Little Havana to give back to the next generation — and it's expanded to West Palm Beach and even Nevada. Big Cypress Distillery Located in South Miami-Dade, this is where Voli 305 Vodka — a brand Pitbull has a stake in — is made. 'You can taste the soul of Miami in every drink,' says the rapper. Florida Keys When Mr. 305 wants to unwind, he hits the road to the Florida Keys. Key Largo is his go-to escape — a mix of ocean breeze, mangroves, seafood, and fan love. 'It's the kind of place that recharges you with positive energy.' Other Apple Maps guides include: Los Angeles Spots by Becky G; Miami Spots by Camila Cabello, Puerto Rico Spots by Young Miko, and Mexico City Spots by Enrique Olvera.
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida should listen to Miami archbishop: Detained migrants need spiritual comfort
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski is raising a powerful moral question: Should the hundreds of people detained inside the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center — many awaiting deportation — be denied spiritual comfort as they face sudden family separation, isolation and the end of their life in America? His answer, and ours, is clear: No. Whether undocumented or facing criminal charges, these detainees deserve access to prayer, confession and Mass — just like inmates in state and federal prisons across the United States. As Wenski says, it's the humane thing to do. We agree. Yet state officials have ignored the letter from Wenski requesting that priests be allowed inside the detention facility at the edge of the Everglades. So Wenski — the leader of 1.3 million Catholics in South Florida — recently made an unannounced visit to Alligator Alcatraz, riding up in a Harley-Davidson as part of the Knights on Bikes, a religious motorcycle ministry. Clad in denim and a leather vest, he and 25 riders showed up to make the point that religion must be allowed inside the tents of this controversial pop-up facility because it is the right and humane thing to do. These detainees are experiencing one of the darkest times in their lives. There's no denying it. They deserve more than due process. They deserve compassion. Barred from going inside last weekend, Wenski and the other bikers knelt outside the barbed wire as the archbishop led a prayer for the people inside. 'Common decency demands that chaplains and pastoral ministers be able to serve those in custody — for their benefit and for the benefit of the staff,' he told reporters. 'The people detained here are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of anxious family members.' He's absolutely right. Backed by decades of advocacy immigrants, Wenski's call to conscience deserves full support — and a swift positive response. Spiritual care isn't a luxury. It's a human need, especially when people are facing exile, fear and profound loss. Yes, supporters of mass deportation may argue that religion has no place at Alligator Alcatraz. That those who end up there deserve no special treatment or comfort because they are undocumented. But to deny access to chaplains is to strip those detained of their dignity — and reduce them to something less than human. Wenski's unexpected appearance at Alligator Alcatraz was more than a photo op. He used his standing as the highest-ranking Catholic in South Florida to defend those inside. For Wenski — long known for his activism during his early years in the Miami clergy — this was a continuation of his long record of championing Haitians, Cubans and all immigrants in Miami-Dade. He also condemned the cruel rhetoric used by some politicians, who have described the detainees as being guarded by 'pythons and alligators.' He called it plain mean. He's right. He's also right to fight for spiritual care inside Alligator Alcatraz. Reports from visitors describe overcrowded, sweltering tents, people held in cages and limited medical access. In this bleak scenario, faith can bring peace of mind and human comfort — and it doesn't interfere with the government's immigration enforcement. We support Wenski's call for humanity and spiritual guidance at Alligator Alcatraz. Wenski is showing moral and spiritual leadership. We should listen.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
In Mexico City, two icons of Cuban repression are banished
But for all the radical chic they inspired, and despite the swooning of countless Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Yet even after all these years, they are still celebrated as Advertisement When Castro and Guevara came to power in Cuba in 1959, they quickly consolidated their control through terror. Political opponents were hauled before kangaroo courts and executed at what became known as 'el paredón,' the wall where executions took place. Those they killed, recounted ' At the Havana fortress of La Cabaña, Guevara personally oversaw mass executions. 'A revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate,' Even after the revolution's early days, This month — July — evokes a particularly On July 13, 1994, more than 70 Cubans crowded onto an old tugboat, the '13 de Marzo,' and set out from Havana under cover of night, desperate to reach Florida. Seven miles off the Cuban coast, they were intercepted by government vessels. The security boats rammed the tug repeatedly, smashed its hull, and trained high-pressure hoses on the passengers — Advertisement The tugboat massacre is only one entry on the long list of A row erupted after the sculpture was removed from the park in Cuauhtémoc last week. Among those complaining was Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who insisted that the 'historic moment' represented by the statues merited a public tribute of memory. As the Mexican journalist Carlos Bravo Regidor Symbols matter. Statues and monuments help shape a society's collective memory, and to enshrine Castro and Guevara in bronze was to enshrine the lies they told and the suffering they caused. Their sculptures on a bench in the heart of Mexico's capital was a declaration that their partnership was something admirable and worthy of commemoration, perhaps even something to emulate. In reality, it was a partnership in despotism, and it brought misery to millions. Rojo de la Vega's order to cart away the monument was an act of moral hygiene. May the removal of the statues in Mexico City be only a prelude to the removal of their dictatorship in Havana — and to the day when the Cuban people can finally breathe free. Advertisement Jeff Jacoby can be reached at
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Fidel Castro's grandson slammed for flaunting lavish lifestyle amid Cuba's economic crisis
At a time when Cuba is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, Fidel Castro's grandson, Sandro Castro, is drawing widespread criticism for showcasing his extravagant lifestyle on Instagram. According to El País, the 33-year-old, who has over 1.2 lakh followers, regularly posts clips of himself cruising in luxury cars through Havana, partying on yachts with bottles of Cristal beer, and hosting high-end gatherings at his private club, EFE Bar. In one recent video, Sandro appeared to mock the ongoing blackouts in Havana, where residents are often left without electricity for up to 20 hours a day. In another clip, he called Cristal beer 'medicine that must never be missing from his bar.' He also filmed himself urging US President Donald Trump to 'give opportunity and life to the migrant,' at a time when Cuba is witnessing one of its largest exoduses in modern history. Sandro Castro is the son of Alexis Castro Soto del Valle, one of Fidel Castro's five sons from his second marriage. Fidel Castro, who led the Cuban Revolution and ruled for nearly five decades, was known for promoting values of austerity, discipline, and sacrifice. His grandson's public displays of wealth stand in stark contrast to the ideals the former leader propagated. Born when Fidel Castro was 65, Sandro was raised in the elite gated community of Punto Cero in Havana, far removed from the economic hardships faced by most Cubans. According to the Daily Mail, Sandro also frequently shares videos from El Patrón, a countryside resort that charges around $100 a night—more than four months of the average Cuban salary, which is just $16.50 a month. Cuba is currently facing an unprecedented financial crisis, marked by severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. Inflation is soaring, and the island nation's import-heavy economy has suffered a 30% drop in foreign currency revenue in recent years, as per a Reuters report published in July. Amid this turmoil, videos of Sandro's lavish parties, where entry fees reportedly touch 1,000 Cuban Pesos and table reservations cost up to 15,000 CUP, have triggered anger and disbelief among citizens. This isn't the first time Sandro has sparked backlash. In 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he went viral for a video shot inside a luxury Mercedes-Benz. After facing online outrage, he later clarified that the car belonged to a friend and he was merely 'testing it out.'
