Cuban-Born UPS Driver Goes Viral
We’re friends with Yoel and Mari and couldn’t be more excited that his immigrant story is being shared nationally, and beyond. 
El Bocadito: We’re leading with the story about Yoel Diaz and Marissa Daniella going viral because it’s a killer story and because we’ve been friends with Mari and Yoel long before they became the latest viral sensation. Yoel is a sweet, thoughtful human being. He’s genuinely filled with gratitude for his experiences in the U.S. I recall driving him and Mari around in Boston, without cameras recording at all. He was in genuine awe as we navigated the city’s crooked streets. It was inspiring and we are excited that his immigrant story is being shared with the country. Oh, and his bald head inspired our CALVO Y GUAPO t-shirt, which (plug coming in 3, 2, 1…) is available this season in our holiday store 🎄🕎🎉.
Next up, in a continuation of “duh… what did you expect” news; Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel went to Russia and unveiled as monument with Vladimir Putin. A monument. A f&$king monument. Then he met with China’s leader, Xi Jinping and mutually shared their support of each other’s nations. Hello. “I just called to say I love you.” Oh and I also just called to remind everyone that in the vacuum of relations with the United States, the bad guys will happily take our spot. Look at history and today. Duh. Duh. And, duh. There’s this and more below. And, duh.
By the way, none of the opinions in any of the stories shared on this page represent ours; we’re just sharing them with you. If you are a journalist or you have seen a story that you’d like us to consider for future weekly news roundups, please send us a note and a link to the story here.
China’s President Xi Jinping arrives to attend the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC summit, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Cuban counterpart pledged mutual support over their fellow communist states’ “core interests” Friday, Nov. 25, 2022 at a meeting further hailing a return to face-to-face diplomacy by Beijing. (Jack Taylor/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Cuban counterpart pledged mutual support over their fellow communist states’ “core interests” Friday at a meeting further hailing a return to face-to-face diplomacy by Beijing. Read more at abcnews.com.
February 10, 2023
Samuel Riera’s Art Brut Cuba opens channels for Outsider Artists to sell their art when they otherwise couldn’t earn a living from their work.
A UPS driver went viral after his wife filmed him opening his first paycheck in the United States. Yoel Diaz told CBS News he was so excited because he could barely fill his refrigerator before immigrating from Cuba. Photo: CBS News.
A UPS driver went viral after his wife filmed him opening his first paycheck in the United States. Yoel Diaz told CBS News he was so excited because he could barely fill his refrigerator before immigrating from Cuba. Read more at cbsnews.com.
Havana’s modern “international” architecture has Cuba’s urban planners worried.
Photo: Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel unveiled a monument in a north Moscow square on Tuesday to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, pledging to deepen their friendship in the face of U.S. sanctions against both countries. Read more at reuters.com.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Earlier this week, United Airlines resumed its commercial passenger flights between the United States and Cuba after more than a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. The US carrier now offers two daily flights to Havana International Airport (HAV), one from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and one from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Read more at simpleflying.com
Photo: CNN
The shark turns and swims directly at me. There is only open water between us, no cage to protect against the approaching bull shark, the species considered by many scientists to be the most aggressive in the world. Read more at cnn.com.
Coast Guard officials said once the migrants were aboard the cutter, everyone received food water, shelter and basic medical attention. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard
Coast Guard crews repatriated 65 Cuban migrants back to Cuba on Thursday after multiple interdictions off Florida’s coast. Read more at cbsnews.com.
Cuba’s political opposition has accused the government of blocking or spooking its candidates for local elections this Sunday, and is calling on Cubans to abstain from voting. Municipal elections, held every five years, are one of few opportunities ordinary citizens on the island have to directly participate in the electoral process. Read more at aljazeera.com.