The non-partisan human rights group Freedom House recently released a statement asking President-Elect Barack Obama to re-examine the United States’ hardline position against travel to Cuba. Doing this would help advance human rights and democracy efforts in the dictator-ruled Caribbean island.

Although Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega has completed his U.S. sentence for drug racketeering and money laundering, his trials are far from over.

Now France wants to try him on charges of laundering $25 million in cocaine profits through three major French banks and investing in three lavish Paris apartments with drug cash. But Noriega refuses to go down without a fight.

On January 14, a federal appeals court will hear arguments on Noriega’s claim that as a POW he should be sent back to Panama, 19 years after a U.S. invasion removed him from power.