The U.S. will remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a prisoner release deal. Havana welcomed the move but criticised ongoing U.S. sanctions.
President Joe Biden is to remove the US designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as part of a prisoner release deal.
"An assessment has been completed, and we do not have information that supports Cuba's designation as being a state sponsor of terrorism. The Government of Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future," the White House said on Tuesday.
Speaking about Biden’s policy towards Cuba, the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that “it focused on achieving practical results with respect to human rights in Cuba and reunify Cuban families, strengthen cultural and educational ties between Cuba and the United States, enable remittances to flow more freely to the Cuban people, and increase support for independent Cuban entrepreneurs.” Right after the statement from White House, Cuba announced its intention to release 553 prisoners detained for "diverse crimes".
The deal for the release of prisoners in Cuba was reached within “a dialogue between the government of Cuba and the Catholic Church.”
With this regard White House official said: “We have been informed by the Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Francis that the Cuban government will soon begin releasing a substantial number of political prisoners.”
There is hope that the list will include participants in massive anti-government protests four years ago. Human Rights Watch reported more than 1,000 individuals in Cuba met the definition of political prisoners.
The island nation was placed on the list on Jan. 11, 2021, during the first Trump administration. The White House said at the time its aim was “denying the Castro regime the resources it uses to oppress its people at home and countering its malign interference in Venezuela and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.”
Cuba welcomed Washington's announcement Tuesday as a step in the "right direction," but lamented it was still under US sanctions in place since 1962.
Country’s foreign ministry said in press release: "Despite its limited scope, this is a decision that points to the right direction and is in line with the sustained and firm demand by the government and the people of Cuba."
"The decision announced today by the United States, rectifies, in a very limited way, some aspects of a cruel and unjust policy… The economic warfare is still in place and persists in posing a major obstacle to the development and recovery of the Cuban economy, with a high human cost for the population; and continues to be an incentive for emigration," it added.
Cuba has been one of just four nations designated as state sponsors of terrorism, along with North Korea, Iran and Syria. Designation implicates sanctions laws that penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with state sponsors in addition to the four main categories of sanctions including restrictions on US foreign assistance, a ban on defence exports and sales, certain controls over exports of dual use items, and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.
Power is gradually being restored in parts of Havana after a nationwide blackout left millions without electricity. The outage, caused by a grid collapse on Friday evening, affected around 10 million people, with some areas seeing progress while large portions of Cuba remain in the dark.
Cuba’s power grid has collapsed, causing a nationwide blackout and internet disruptions.
Cuba has granted early release to 553 prisoners as part of a deal mediated by the Holy See during the final days of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s presidency.
Widespread blackouts lasting more than 20 hours a day are crippling Cuba, as fuel shortages and outdated infrastructure disrupt the country’s energy supply.
Harvard University’s endowment is in advanced talks to sell about $1 billion in private equity fund interests, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
China, Russia and Iran held a joint meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday, focusing on Iran’s nuclear programme.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.
South Korea’s data protection authority said Thursday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user information and prompt content abroad without user consent during its initial launch in the country.
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Harvard University’s endowment is in advanced talks to sell about $1 billion in private equity fund interests, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.
South Korea’s data protection authority said Thursday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user information and prompt content abroad without user consent during its initial launch in the country.
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday before he was overpowered by teachers, police said.
Harvard University’s endowment is in advanced talks to sell about $1 billion in private equity fund interests, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
China, Russia and Iran held a joint meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday, focusing on Iran’s nuclear programme.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.
South Korea’s data protection authority said Thursday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user information and prompt content abroad without user consent during its initial launch in the country.
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
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