Cuban and US religious leaders expressed their commitment to continue working for the normalization of relations between the two countries, and the return home of three Cuban antiterrorist fighters imprisoned in US jails.

The label behind the Buena Vista Social Club worldwide sensation,World Circuit Records is set to release 'Cha Cha Cha', a compilation of the hits of Cuban singer Abelardo Barroso with Orquesta Sensacion from 1950s Havana. Barosso died in 1968.

Cuba's Minister of Culture, Julian Gonzalez Toledo, answered questions to the portal CubaSi in October, about the effects of the US blockade on the arts and literature in Cuba and the policy towards Cuban artists who live abroad.

The economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba in the field of plastic and applied arts (visual arts not including cinema) has caused losses estimated at more than two billion dollars over the past year; however the Cuban creators are highly demanded by the US people.
The US Treasury Department took action to prevent attendance of Cuban artists at fairs and international exhibitions organized in the United States, where they would show the work of our best contemporary artists; and to prevent works being sent to auction houses whose headquarters are located in the US, despite the existence of the Bergman Amendment, related to the Cuban art acquisition.

The premiere of 'Never ever Neverland' a documentary by the Cuban filmmaker Marina Ochoa on the exodus of more than 14,000 Cuban children who travelled alone to the United States between 1960 and 1962, was premiered by the Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematographic Industry to celebrate the Day of the Cuban Culture in October.

After more than half a century, the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the U.S. on Cuba continues to affect and increasingly damages diverse spheres of national culture.

The 24th London Latin American Film Festival runs from 14th to 23rd November offering, as always, a unique and eclectic mélange of feature films, documentaries and shorts, in the sumptuous comfort of the Bolivar Hall; and the University College London/Institute of the Americas.

Cuba has selected the Cuban film Conducta (Behavior), by Ernesto Daranas, to run as a candidate for the Oscars in Hollywood, and the Goya Awards in Spain.

Composed by Descemer Bueno and interpreted by Gente D Zona and Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias, the single Bailando gets to this internationally renowned contest with mentions in the categories of Recording of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Urban Performance and Best Urban Song.
Santiago de Cuba musician Eliades Ochoa and his Patria Quartet will compete in Best Traditional Tropical Album with the CD El Eliades que soy, produced in Cuba by Bis Music, the record label of Artex S.A, as informed by the contest's official site.
Also represented in the annual competition for the most important awards in the Latin sound context will be troubadour Pablo Milanes with this CD Renaciendo, competing in Best Album by a Singer-Songwriter.
Another member of the island's New Song Movement will be present through the nomination of Ojos Color Sol in Song of the Year, a piece in which Silvio Rodriguez cooperated with the Puerto Rican group Calle 13.
The 15th edition of the annual Latin Grammies will take place on November 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena of Las Vegas, in the United States.

The Jewish Community Center of Cuba held a cultural gala for peace on Sunday in an action calling for a better future for all nations of the world.

Cuban rock duet Buena Fe finally performed in Miami-Dade auditorium, USA, this week despite protests and attempts to stop it going ahead by local anti-Castro groups.

Hilda Oates, an actress who since the 1960s had a long and influential career in various theatre groups and in cinema, the winner in 2004 of the National Theatre Prize, died last week at age 89.

A fascinating and touching documentary (with english subtitles!) about the Comparsa 'El Alacrán' in El Canal barrio, Havana city founded in 1908. Comparsas are AfroCuban carnival music and dance groups – but more than that – this one is very much embedded in and formed by its local barrio or neighbourhood, with involvement of all ages. It follows the dedicated work of director Santos Ramirez ("Santico") to maintain this cultural form and knowledge of its history.

Benny More – el barbaro del ritmo – Cuban master of many musical styles – listen to this recording for Radio Progreso in Havana from the 1950s

WRESTLING
Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez triumphs once again winning gold medal in the 130kg final of the World Wrestling Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. López, two-time Olympic champion, defeated Turkish Riza Kayaalp 2-0 in the Greco-Roman style fight for the gold medal, securing his fifth world championship title, having won in Budapest 2005, Baku 2007, Herning 2009, and Moscow 2010.