Strongest Tornado in 8 Decades Hits Cuba; 3 Dead, 172 Hurt

MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN and ANDREA RODRIGUEZ / The Associated Press Jan 28, 2019 The twister with estimated winds of 200 mph touches down in Havana, leaving collapsed homes and no power or water service in its wake. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Cuba to Update Soviet-Era Constitution

ANDREA RODRIGUEZ / The Associated Press May 28, 2018 As they try to adapt to new times, officials say they will maintain a Communist Party-led system in which freedom of speech and other rights are limited by “the purposes of socialist society.” Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Airliner With at Least 110 Aboard Crashes in Cuba

ANDREA RODRIGUEZ and MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN / The Associated Press May 18, 2018 The Boeing 737 went down Friday at Jose Marti International Airport while on a short-hop flight to the eastern city of Holguin. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Cuba Still Too Risky for U.S. Diplomats, According to Rex Tillerson

JOSH LEDERMAN and MATTHEW LEE / The Associated Press Jan 8, 2018 Even though the FBI is casting doubt on "sonic attack" allegations, the secretary of state says diplomats will be "in harm's way" if they return to Havana. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Trump to Partly Roll Back Obama’s Cuba Policy

By Andrea Germanos / Common Dreams Jun 16, 2017 The previous administration's measures are branded a failed "appeasement" effort. (Update: The president has announced the change in a Miami speech.) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The U.S. Terrorized Cuba, Not the Other Way Around

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Mar 21, 2016 "Once again, history won't keep its mouth shut. Little by little, the truth comes out, and our policy in Cuba gets exposed for the sham it is." That's Truthdig's editor in chief writing about Cuba for the Los Angeles Times in this column first published on July 14, 1998. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

John Kerry to Attend Embassy Reopening in Cuba on Friday

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Aug 14, 2015 The U.S. secretary of state will attend a flag-raising ceremony at the American Embassy in Cuba on Friday and promote the effort to rebuild ties between the Caribbean island country and the United States after more than half a century of enmity. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. to Open Embassy in Havana

Roisin Davis / Truthdig Jul 2, 2015 Wednesday's announcement by President Obama has been hailed as the most significant step so far in ending half a century of discord between the two countries. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Open Veins, Healing Wounds in Latin America

Amy Goodman / Truthdig Apr 17, 2015 For the first time in more than half a century, the presidents of the United States and Cuba have had a formal meeting. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Castro Emerges for Talk Show Stint

Staff / Truthdig Jul 13, 2010 Cuba's former President Fidel Castro hasn't exactly been courting the limelight in recent years, owing to his ailing health and subsequent transfer of power to his brother Raul, but he rallied and made a rare cameo appearance Monday on a Cuban talk show. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

American News Ticker Goes Dark in Havana

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2009 After vexing Cuban officials (and citizens, no doubt) for three years, a U.S. government-sponsored electronic billboard that featured news and information blips tailored for a Cuban audience from an American-friendly angle has been switched off in the interest of changing the diplomatic tone between the two countries. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Cuban Government Makes Raul Official

Staff / Truthdig Feb 25, 2008 Cuba's National Assembly has named Raul Castro president and successor to his brother Fidel. Raul has essentially been running the country since Fidel had major surgery in 2006. Although he was expected to throw a bone to a younger generation of leaders, Raul named another septuagenarian veteran of the revolution his vice president. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )