Odds and ends

• AFP reports on Cuba’s role in the release of hostages held by Colombia’s FARC guerrillas; the Cuban ambassador to Venezuela was on the Venezuelan aircraft that entered Colombia to pick up the hostages. And in this Reuters report, Colombian officials and others speculate that the capture of a top ELN guerrilla leader may help to advance peace talks between the government and that group. Those talks have taken place in Havana, so far without result.

• From the St. Petersburg Times, more on the challenge to the Florida law restricting academic travel.

• In Toronto, a worthy charity in trouble: Not Just Tourists, a group that organizes delivery of suitcases full of medical supplies carried by Canadian tourists.

• Cardinal Ortega on the Church’s mission in Cuba. And the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is preparing a visit to Cuba next month.