Jan 12 Cuba releases 53 prisoners as part of historic deal with U.S. By Bradley Klapper, Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press HAVANA — Cuba has completed the release of 53 political prisoners that was part of last month's historic deal with the United States, the Obama administration said Monday. The move clears a major hurdle for the normalization of ties between… Continue reading
Jan 09 Watch 5:34 News Wrap: Legal challenge to Keystone XL fails in Nebraska By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, the House of Representatives voted again to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline after the Nebraska Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to the pipeline’s route. Also, Islamic cleric Mustafa Kamel Mustafa was sentenced… Continue watching
Jan 07 How communism turned Cuba into an island of hackers and DIY engineers By Jenny Marder Just outside Havana, in the childhood bedroom of illustrator Edel Rodriguez, a washing machine engine welded to a boat propeller has become a makeshift fan. This kind of cobbled-together contraption is common in Cuba. So are stoves that run on… Continue reading
Jan 07 Photo essay: The bizarre, brilliant and useful inventions of Cuban DIY engineers By Travis Daub, Jenny Marder Long walled off from world trade and modern technology, Cuba has developed a robust culture of DIY engineers who turn household items into useful inventions. Water pump motors propel bicycles, clothes dryers are repurposed into coconut shredders. Cuban artist Ernesto… Continue reading
Jan 07 Obama starts 2015 on an upswing, but can it last? By Julie Pace, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s approval rating is creeping upward. The economy is growing. And a flurry of aggressive executive actions on domestic and foreign policy have energized the West Wing. Continue reading
Dec 30 Watch 8:24 U.S. diplomat: No illusions about Cuba's willingness to allow freedoms By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Dec 30 Why Republicans should thank Obama for opening up Cuba By George C. Lodge George Cabot Lodge asks why Republicans want to deny the Cuban people the better life that he predicts will come with U.S. investment in their country and deny American business new opportunities. Continue reading
Dec 25 Watch 5:15 News Wrap: Pope Francis laments suffering from Ebola, terrorism at Christmas By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, Pope Francis decried the persecution of Christians and others by the Islamic State and grieved the suffering of those stricken by Ebola or affected by war or terrorism in his Christmas Day remarks at the… Continue watching
Dec 24 U.S. to pay Alan Gross $3.2 million after 5 years in Cuban jail By Douglass K. Daniel, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A former subcontractor freed last week after five years in a Cuban jail will receive $3.2 million from the federal government as part of a settlement with the Maryland-based company that employed him at the time of his… Continue reading
Dec 23 Watch 7:00 Will American baseball get more Cuban imports? By PBS News Hour How will opening the door to normal relations with Cuba affect the world of professional baseball, a game that so many Cubans love? Hari Sreenivasan speaks with Jim Litke of the Associated Press to understand the possible implications. Continue watching