Politics:
President Barack Obama met with President Raul Castro last week for the second time this year, on the margins of the annual UN General Assembly in New York. This followed steps by the U.S. Administration to further ease restrictions on individual U.S. citizens’ travel and doing business in the island country. They discussed a range of topics, including improved cooperation, steps toward normalization of relations, and rights. AP has more details here, and you can read here the full transcript of Obama’s speech at the UN.
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has arrived in Cuba for a two-day visit. One focus of the trip will be on the embargo. The official, the second most senior U.S. official after John Kerry, to visit the island country this year, visited its Special Enterprise Zone, an area developed by the port of Mariel, near Havana, to attract foreign investment. Read BBC’s report to learn more details about the visit.
Travel:
Starting from October 5, Victor, an on-demand charter service, will offer private jet services flying from 19 U.S. cities to Cuba. Customers can book flights using their smartphones. Victor is partnering with leading Cuba travel specialist Cuba Education Travel (CET). More details here.
Cuba is the subject of CNN travel host Anthony Bourdain’s opening episode for his hit TV show Parts Unknown, Season Six. Bourdain revisited the country this year after first visiting it a few years ago, and the episode aimed to capture the anticipatory mood in Cuba as relations with the U.S. warm up. Learn more here and watch the full episode on CNN.
Culture:
Rolling Stone frontman Mick Jagger was said to be in Cuba scouting possible venues for the British rock band’s Latin American tour in 2016, says the Guardian, citing a report by Cuban newspaper Granma. Read more here from the Guardian’s story.