CUBA: Changing Slowly... 50 Years After Bay Of Pigs; Rare Congress To Discuss Plans.

GUARDIAN/ R. CARROLL/ Longish Web Read

    Fifty years after the Bay of Pigs, Cuba is trying to change the economy because its Fidelismo socialist model apparently no longer works.
    This week for 4 days, the Communist party holds its first congress in 14 years to enact changes to the economy...and society.
    A western diplomat observed about the changes: "It's all about cutting rights and welfare and putting greater emphasis on personal responsibility and hard work."
    "This congress is huge. It will put the seal on a series of reforms and decide strategy for the next five to 10 years," said pro-Castro analyst Stephen Wilkinson.

VENEZUELA: Chavez Is A Twitter Success.

GUARDIAN/ RORY CARROLL/
      Since April, President Hugo Chavez has attracted more than 720,000 followers on Twitter...and is adding some 2,000 everyday. Why? Much of  his Twitter popularity is because it allows the public to bypass bureaucrats and go straight to a staff of  200 who process and respond to complaints and help requests. "This telephone is close to melting. Now I am aware of many things going on here," said Chávez. "Twitter has become a fundamental instrument for Chávez," said Carlos Romero, a political analyst at the Central University of Venezuela. "It has tremendous propaganda value and is part of his charisma mechanism."

ECUADOR: Sibling Rivalry Turns Ugly As Correa Brothers Battle It Out.

GUARDIAN/ Rory Carroll /

CARROLL:   "When ambitious siblings vie for political power there are two extremes. There is the Roman way: Romulus kills Remus for control of the city. There is the Labour way: David and Ed Miliband wish each other luck in the party leadership race.
Somewhere in between – call it the third way – is Ecuador, where President Rafael Correa and his brother Fabricio battle for influence through public insults and metaphorical daggers. Fabricio has just launched a political party to try to wrest control of the South American country from his younger brother and apparent nemesis, turning a family feud into a political soap opera."