Topic: Cuba

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Briefing
Five things to know about Freedom House's latest global rankings

A look at the 2012 Freedom House ranking of 197 countries according to their relative freedom.
Sixth Summit of the Americas: 8 things to watch

Yes, the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena will debate drug policy and Cuba. Here are eight other topics to be discussed at the Summit.
Catholicism in Latin America: 5 key facts

Pope Benedict XVI began his second trip to Latin America on March 23, with stops in Mexico and Cuba. Here is a brief history of the Catholic church in the Americas.
Baseball spring training: The facts, from history to cheap seats

Spring training is when players shed the winter rust by limbering up on warm, sun-baked diamonds, sign autographs galore, and provide hope that this may be their team’s year. As preseason games between major-league teams begin on Saturday, here are a few facts to give you some background on spring ball.
5 countries with the longest ongoing US sanctions

Sanctions are once again leading the news with trade embargoes tightening around Iran and debates over whether to loosen US restrictions on Cuba and Myanmar.

All Content

Syrian forces and pro-Assad militia could face prosecution for Houla massacre, UN says

Over 100 people were killed in the Syrian town last week. Human rights experts also claim that Syrian authorities ordered the torture of civilians, including children.
Repsol 'almost certain' to end offshore oil drilling in Cuba

Spanish oil company Repsol announced its potential withdrawal from exploration in Cuba, after spending close to $150 million on a dry well. What does this mean for Cuba?
Subtropical Storm Beryl: Dixie beachgoers batten down for big Memorial Day soak

It’s not the way Memorial Day event organizers from South Carolina to Florida wanted the unofficial summer kickoff to go, with Subtropical Storm Beryl bearing down, threatening beach barbecues, but sparing the big NASCAR race.
Culture Cafe
Documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles discusses his film 'Salesman'

The filmmaker says humanizing the experience of people in a documentary is essential.
Latin America Monitor
Look who got a US visa: Raúl Castro's daughter

Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Raúl Castro, will travel to California this week on a US visa to attend a conference. But many Cuban scholars were denied entry, writes a guest blogger.
Carlos Fuentes: Tribute to a Mexican literary and political icon

Carlos Fuentes belonged to a generation of Latin American writers who were both literary and political, author and social commentator. Fuentes was a public intellectual.
Latin America Monitor
Nicaragua divided over death of revolutionary leader

Tomás Borge was the last living founder of Nicaragua’s Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN).
Latin America Monitor
Press freedom falls in Latin America, French journalist missing in Colombia

Freedom of the press is under threat in much of the Americas, according to a Freedom House report.
Briefing
Five things to know about Freedom House's latest global rankings

A look at the 2012 Freedom House ranking of 197 countries according to their relative freedom.
Greek 'island of the blind'? More like 'island of welfare cheats'

On a Greek island, at least 600 are suspected of falsely claiming to be blind to get disability money. It's part of the rampant fraud that prompted Athens to halt payments to 200,000 last week.
Honor in the Dust

The historical lessons of Gregg Jones's exhaustively researched book about the US's campaign in the Philippines deserve to be remembered.
Latin America Monitor
'Una Noche' actors go missing: Why do Cubans defect?

In part because the US makes it easy. The 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act and the 'wet-foot, dry-foot' policy of the '90s have eased the way for Cubans to immigrate, writes a guest blogger.
Backchannels
The hawkish bits of VP hopeful Marco Rubio's foreign policy speech

Senator Marco Rubio's foreign policy speech yesterday, taken by many as part of a campaign to be Mitt Romney's running mate, points to a politician who favors foreign interventions.
Biden calls out 'shallow and dangerous, back to the future' Romney foreign policy

President Barack Obama will gladly stack accomplishments such as killing terror mastermind Osama bin Laden against Romney's rhetoric, Biden said in remarks prepared for delivery at an overtly partisan campaign event on Thursday.
Marco Rubio: America must lead world, and Obama doesn't get it

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, said to be on Mitt Romney's list of possible running mates, said Wednesday the US must exercise strong leadership, for the world's sake. Overall, his eagerly awaited speech on foreign affairs treaded lightly on Obama's policies.
Arizona immigration law: Mexico gets involved in US Supreme Court case

The Arizona immigration law threatens Mexico-US relations, says a brief submitted on behalf of Mexico and 16 other countries ahead of Wednesday’s oral argument at the Supreme Court.
Latin America Monitor
Ecuador: easy base for terrorists and criminals?

The Ecuadorean Constitution calls for 'universal citizenship,' granting free mobility – with or without a passport. But lax regulations are raising fears of easy access for terrorists or organized crime.
Secret Service scandal sheds light on sex tourism in Latin America

Large events like the Summit of the Americas and upcoming Olympic games in Brazil can drive up the demand for prostitution and sex trafficking.
Imagining Cuba after Chávez

Venezuela provides Cuba with up to $15 billion a year, which helps offset the US embargo. But there is the real possibility Chávez may not win or survive another six-year term as president.
Drug policy and Cuba headline Summit of the Americas (+video)

The Sixth Summit of the Americas saw what Mexico's Calderón called a 'radical' change: candid conversation about differences over drug policy and Cuba.
Latin America Monitor
Americas Summit: Will there be consensus on Cuba?

Cuba, as always, was not invited to the Summit of the Americas in Colombia this weekend. But its participation at future meetings could become a major issue.
Sixth Summit of the Americas: 8 things to watch

Yes, the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena will debate drug policy and Cuba. Here are eight other topics to be discussed at the Summit.
Can Colombia's Santos unify the Americas?

Building consensus is important as the Americas struggle with high crime and violence. At this weekend's Summit of the Americas in Colombia, all eyes are on President Santos.
Global News Blog
Soccer player defects from Cuba, requests asylum in US

Soccer player defects: A Cuban national soccer player disappeared while his team was playing in an Olympic soccer tournament in Tennessee.
Decoder Wire
What Ozzie Guillen got right about Fidel Castro

OK, Ozzie Guillen was undeniably insensitive to the Cuban-American community when he said he respected Fidel Castro as a survivor. But he didn't get the facts wrong.