°µºÚ±¬ÁÏ

Carlos Alfonso, a singer and songwriter for the group Síntesis, explains how Cuban music is influenced by various countries in West Africa.

In this episode recorded live in Havana, Cuba, Síntesis' members discuss the West African influences in their music and their efforts to give a voice to the voiceless.

In a special World Cafe session recorded in Havana, the young Cuban singer speaks with host David Dye about her burgeoning career, musical family and favorite Latin music.

Dancer Carlos Acosta left Cuba and went on to become a star with London's Royal Ballet. With the help of a renowned British architect, he hopes to return to his homeland and revive a long-abandoned, landmark ballet school. But his plans are facing opposition, including from the original architect.

In a land of mainly fried and mildly spiced foods, Cedric Fernando is hoping to perk up the Cuban palate by opening the island nation's first Indian restaurant. But he's still got a business back in London, just in case.

The endurance athlete, who turns 63 on Wednesday, has been trying to become the first person to make the swim without the protection of a shark cage. This was her third recent attempt.

Cuba is one of the world's last remaining communist states. Cuba's allies in China and Vietnam also maintain firm one-party rule, but have prospered by introducing market principles to their economic models.

Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya was killed in a car crash last month. Witnesses say it was an accident. But the government is using the case for propaganda purposes, Paya's family suspects a government conspiracy, and a Spanish activist has been jailed.

When a prominent Cuban singer opened a restaurant and cabaret, he believed he was following President Raul Castro's cry for more small business. But local authorities shut it down without warning. What happens next is seen as a test of Castro's commitment to economic changes.

The comments are surprising because the two countries haven't had diplomatic ties for five decades.