Odds and ends

• The Financial Times on what’s behind the current reform drive: crushing debt service costs.
• Speaking of debt, here’s a nice deal: South Africa canceled $137 million in Cuban debt and extended $30 million in new credit (Reuters, December 7).
• AFP: The University of Havana’s law school dean says that new economic policies call for new laws on state enterprises and private cooperatives.
• Cuba is continuing to import twice the rice it produces; desired production increases have not materialized, and Cuba’s cost per ton is seven times that of the compañeros vietnamitas (EFE, reporting on coverage in Trabajadores.)
• LA Times: Cuba is launching “Ecured,” a Wikipedia-like site from a “decolonized” perspective, but it’s not working so well so far. I can’t get access to it, and TMCnet.com reports that its problems have been chronic since yesterday’s launch.
• A Chicago alderman who traveled to Cuba is pushing for the Cubs to play in Cuba.
• The Economist on rumors that Cuba’s baseball federation “is seriously considering allowing its players to join professional leagues in other countries.”