Extra headliners this week

Picture of the week

A man holding a skeleton on fire performs during the annual Caribbean festival in Santiago de Cuba. (AP Photo / July 9, 2009)

Brazil to help finance Cuba port project

From Reuters: While visiting Havana this week, the Brazilian Industry and Trade Minister announced that his government had already approved $110 million (and foresees approval of another $190 million) to go toward helping the Cuban state rebuild Mariel harbor—the well-known site of a 1980 Cuban exodus to the United States.

Cuba wants Mariel to be equipped to handle shipments from around the world, including the United States, and to serve as logistics center for its still-nascent offshore oil industry. It estimates that the project will cost up to $2 billion: Brazil’s dedicated $300 million could go a long way toward that end.

New York Philharmonic may perform in Cuba

From the New York Times: The headline says it all. The visit would take place in late October following concerts in Vietnam.

The Philharmonic traveled to North Korea in February 2008, drawing wide publicity and some criticism. However, the Cuba trip has already been run by Vice President Biden’s office, which expressed its approval.