According to US Census data, Miami is home to the largest Cuban community outside of the island nation; the New York metropolitan area is in second place, with a population of over 141,000 Cubans. So New York City’s embrace of Cuban culture is no surprise, but the city’s ability to put on the upcoming “¡Sí […]
Around midnight on February 2 Manuel Farfan Carriola was slain on his way home from work. His four bodyguards were also killed, and several police officers were wounded in a gunfight with the assailants. Early blame for the murder of Carriola, a retired general and recently appointed police chief of Nuevo Laredo, is going to […]
Last Friday US Border Patrol observed Mexican smugglers using a catapult to hurl pot from across a small part of the Sonora Desert that included the international border with Arizona. USBP contacted their Mexican colleagues who promptly broke up the operation. In all, law enforcement seized 35 pounds in marijuana, a 10-foot tall catapult, and […]
The President’s annual State of the Union Address traditionally focuses largely on domestic issues, and this year’s was no exception. But every speech the Executive gives is carefully crafted to touch upon a wide range of issues and, to some extent, to gracefully address contentious issues that are the source of party divisions. Although Cuba […]
I had the privilege on Friday of attending a Pacific Council on International Policy luncheon discussion with US Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg, a thoughtful and intelligent State Department appointee who holds the position of Hillary Clinton’s top deputy. In the discussion a guest asked the Deputy Secretary an interesting question: why did […]
The government of President Rene Preval and its Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) prevented many candidates, political parties from taking part in the Nov. 28 Haitian elections, including philanthropist Wyclef Jean, and popular party Fanmi Lavalas of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Ironically, his administration seems currently engaged in a desperate battle for survival, some last grand stand to keep his […]
London’s Tate Modern is one of the most renowned art museums in the world. And right now Tate is exhibiting the work of Gabriel Orozco, a 48-year-old Mexican artist. Orozco garnered international acclaim in 1993 when he reconfigured a junked Citroen by carving the icon of French industry into three parts, making the vehicle appear […]
Following the eight year Presidency of Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva, Brazil has come to embody both the transformation of Latin America and the rising clout of developing world. Through a combination of heterodox public policies, ‘soft’ diplomacy and the internationalization of brand Brazil, the nation has finally shed its tragic nickname of the ‘country […]
As the ousting of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali sent shock waves and fear through the Arab world, ex-dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier stunned the Western world with his surprised return on Jan. 16, 2011, developments that left political pundits puzzling. “It’s such a critically important moment for Haiti and this guy to drop in from […]
In a political climate marred by corruption, where 13 out of 15 ministry buildings collapsed while officials worked, government response was virtually nonexistent on Jan. 12, 2010. Although world leaders pledged support and huge sums of money, Many were dubious about the promised aid ever making it to Haiti given the frail political state of […]
Even prior to the January 2010 earthquake, more than 500,000 orphan children wander the streets of Haiti’s cities day and night. Known as the “soulless” and forgotten by their own people, they do what they must to survive each day. Children of Haiti follows three teenage boys as they reflect on their country and their […]
Mexico produced a record 25 million tons of tortillas last year. But given that tortillas are a staple of Mexican diet the country is still reliant on imports. Spikes in global corn and fuel prices, not to mention rising electricity prices in Mexico, have many worried about pass-on price hikes. So far, the increases have […]
Even as Washington refrains from commenting substantively on recent developments in Cuba, Fidel Castro continues to provide timely reflections on occurrences in the United States (not to mention internationally), underscoring his persisting importance as a public figure. The juxtaposition is striking: the open, transparent, democratic administration of the United States sneakily avoids the topic of […]
Haitians reflect on a disastrous year Port-au-Prince, Haiti— Year 2010 was arguably the longest of Haiti’s 206-year history, reflect some historians on the plurality of unprecedented events taken place in the country starting on January 12. Some recalled with up most clarity and disbelief as global television screens bled horrific images of apocalyptic episodes seared […]
Home away from home “Welcome to the home of your ancestors,” declared Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade in October 2010, welcoming 163 young Haitians to the campuses of many leading Senegalese universities, including the School Polytechnique of Tièce, the Faculty of Agronomy of Bambay and Cheikh Anta Diop University in downtown Dakar. “Your ancestors left here by physical […]