Also, an update on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and testimony is under way in the EPA hydrofracking meeting in Binghamton.
View full sizeManuel Cardenas repairs shoes in La Habanera state-run workshop in Havana, Cuba, on Monday. Raul Castro's government announced Monday it will layoff at least half a million state employees by mid-2011 and reduce restrictions on private enterprise to help them find new jobs.From BBC News:
Cuba has announced radical plans to lay off huge numbers of state employees, to help revive the communist country's struggling economy.
The Cuban labor federation said more than a million workers would lose their jobs -- half of them by March next year. Those laid off will be encouraged to become self-employed or join new private enterprises, on which some of the current restrictions will be eased.
» Read the story: Cuba to cut one million public sector jobs [BBC News]
» Cuba to cut 500,000 government workers, reform salaries [The Associated Press]
» Fidel Tells the Truth in Cuba [Newsweek magazine]
» Cuba -- on the verge of change or more mixed messages? [Dallas Morning News]
» The Cuban model [GlobalPost.com]
Gulf oil spill update:
» BP resumes drilling relief well in Gulf as step toward permanent seal [CNN U.S.]
» Gulf oil spill: compensation should cost less than $20B [The Guardian]
» Gulf of Mexico Spill May Defy Darkest Predictions [The New York Times]
» NOAA: Although Much Larger, Gulf Spill Was Less Devastating Than Exxon-Valdez [Business Insider]
In other news:
» Fort Drum soldier pleads guilty to stabbing two soldiers to death [Watertown Daily Times]
» Testimony under way at Binghamton EPA hearing [pressconnects.com]
» Tea Party toasts their primary man: Carl Paladino [centralny.ynn.com]
» New manufacturing research institute launches [Central New York Business Journal]
» Anthony Picente calls for 2011 salary freeze for all Oneida County employees [Utica Observer-Dispatch]
» 'Raptor' monitors visitors at C-NS High School [CNYcentral.com]
» Cayuga County chamber launches shop-local promotion [The Auburn Citizen]