Sep 20 Pope Francis holds mass in landmark visit to Cuba By Andrew Mach Pope Francis began the first full day of his landmark visit to Cuba on Sunday with an outdoor Mass at Revolution Plaza, attended by President Raúl Castro and other leaders. Continue reading
Sep 19 Ahead of pope’s visit, Obama and Raul Castro speak by phone By Julie Pace, Associated Press President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro had a rare phone call Friday ahead of Pope Francis' impending visit to both their nations. Continue reading
Sep 18 U.S. eases rules for travel, business in Cuba By Bradley Klapper, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Obama administration eased rules Friday for U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Cuba or do business with its growing ranks of independent entrepreneurs, hoping to spur greater economic freedom and democracy on the island. Continue reading
Sep 17 U.S., Cuba to resume mail service this year By Bradley Klapper, Associated Press The United States and Cuba should be able to transform their new diplomatic relationship into a deeper commercial partnership before the end of the year, with direct postal service to begin and an agreement on regularly scheduled commercial flights between… Continue reading
Sep 11 Cuba to pardon 3,500 ahead of Pope visit By Jaclyn Diaz Cuba has declared it will pardon over 3,500 prisoners in the next 72 hours as a humanitarian gesture ahead of Pope Francis’s visit to Cuba next week. Continue reading
Aug 23 A summer of political wins propels Obama to a busy fall By Julie Pace, Associated Press After a string of sunny seasons gripped by controversy, crises and plummeting popularity, the summer of 2015 has been among the most productive stretches of Obama's presidency. Continue reading
Aug 21 Attorney: Hunger-striking detainee at Guantanamo ‘shockingly thin and frail’ By Phil Hirschkorn The lawyer representing Tariq Ba Odah, a detainee at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who began a hunger strike in 2007, said Friday that his client had lost more than half of his body weight and appears "shockingly… Continue reading
Aug 15 Watch 5:37 U.S. blocks release of hunger-striking Guantanamo Bay detainee By PBS News Hour The U.S. government is opposing the release of Guantanamo Bay detainee Tariq Ba Odah, who has been on a hunger strike for eight years and is among the 52 who have been cleared for release from the prison. On Friday,… Continue watching
Aug 15 Defense Department looking at alternatives to Guantanamo Bay By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Defense Department is taking another look at the military prison in Kansas and the Navy Brig in South Carolina as it evaluates potential U.S. facilities to house detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, part of the Obama… Continue reading
Aug 15 After ceremonial flag raising, real talk of diplomacy begins in Cuba By Bradley Klapper, Michael Weissenstein, Associated Press A jubilant flag-raising at the reopened U.S. Embassy in Havana is giving way to serious talk about the road ahead in improving relations between the United States and Cuba. Continue reading