Tuesday, December 23th, 2014

As Obama makes history over Cuba, will the Castros be the real winners?

After 50 years of fractious hostility, America has thrown a dramatic lifeline to the island’s bankrupt economy   To the astonishment of even the most seasoned and wired-in of Cuba hands, the half century-long cold (and hot) war between the US and Cuba is over. In what will rank alongside Nixon’s opening to China and Reagan’s embrace of Gorbachev, Obama… [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

U.S. co-opted Cuba's hip-hop scene in failed attempt to spark unrest in communist nation

An Associated Press investigation revealed a secret operation to infiltrate Cuba’s underground hip-hop scene was ill-conceived and put innocent Cubans at risk. RAMON ESPINOSA/AP Cuban fans sing during a hip-hop concert in Havana on Nov. 30. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that a U.S. agency infiltrated Cuba's hip-hop scene and recruited unwitting rappers to spark a youth movement… [Read Full Article]

Monday, December 15th, 2014

NYT: Time for U.S. to engage with Cuba

Ernesto Londoño from the New York Times tells Amanpour why the newspaper thinks the U.S. should end its Cuba embargo   Click to view video.   [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, December 09th, 2014

Vietnam Welcomes America with Open Arms

By Llewellyn King No grunt slogging through the jungles of Vietnam could imagine that in 2014, 41 years after the end of the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese would be welcoming back Americans as investors, tourists, advisers and protectors. Next year is a big year in Vietnam. It is the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, on April 30, 1975.… [Read Full Article]

Monday, December 08th, 2014

36 Hours in Phnom Penh

Click on photo above to view video. On Norodom Boulevard, one of Phnom Penh’s oldest arteries, a huge, new LED screen dramatically outlines the tiered eaves of the Buddhist temple Wat Langka in shadow. Around the corner, the recently erected, towering statue of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, founding father of modern-day Cambodia, looks on as teenagers dressed like K-pop… [Read Full Article]