On November 3, the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of an annual resolution which calls for an end to the United States embargo imposed on Cuba. Speakers present at the gathering emphasized the urgency of ending the restrictive economic policies which bring crippling challenges to the island, especially considering the impacts of COVID-19
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On September 25, people in Cuba voted on a proposed referendum by the government to approve a new “Family Code” legalizing same-sex marriage and the promotion of women’s rights, according to Reuters. BBC News says that two-thirds of the Cuba’s population voted to approve the law, which includes the legalization of same-sex marriage, permits gay or lesbian couples to adopt children or have surrogate pregnancies, and codifies the equal sharing of domestic rights and responsibilities.
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The 20th anniversary of 9/11 and simultaneous failed withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has renewed American discussion on the War on Terror. Public consensus seems to be that this conflict has ended, as few troops remain stationed in the Middle East, and the Biden administration has pivoted its foreign policy focus to Asia.
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The United States halted the issue of visas to Cuban citizens, including the family reunification program among many Visa programs, in an announcement on September 29 made by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Read MoreThe 24 students who took part in the spring break seminar jumped at the opportunity to visit Cuba before it was altered by political and economic reforms or, worse, closed off to American visitors by the Trump administration.
Read MoreOn October 27, a vote of 191 to 2 gave Cuba its widest margin of favorable votes since the resolution was undertaken by the U.N. in 1992. The second abstaining vote, aside from the United States, was Israel, who continued to vote in line with its Western ally.
Read MoreApproximately 100 Cuban doctors remain stranded in Colombia and continue efforts to gain entry into the United States. The standstill proceeded their desertion of a medical mission in Venezuela.
Read MoreAs the United States prepares for the six-day Papal visit to New York, Washington, and Philadelphia, security for the Pope has become a rising priority. Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), told the Washington Post, “The Pope is a very passionate man,” adding that some of the Pope’s methods make him difficult to protect.
Read MoreOn March 2, the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute and the School of Diplomacy brought together a group of experts to analyze the opening of relations between Cuba and the United States, and the role played by the Vatican.
Read MoreThe United States ended a fifty-year stalemate in November 2014 when President Obama announced an effort to reestablish diplomatic ties with Cuba.
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