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This Happened

This Happened — March 21: Obama Goes To Cuba

Barack Obama visited Cuba on this day in 2016 as part of his efforts to improve relations between the United States and Cuba. The visit was the first by a U.S. president in nearly 90 years and came after the two countries had re-established diplomatic relations in 2015.


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What did Barack Obama do during his visit to Cuba?

During his visit to Cuba, Barack Obama met with Cuban President Raul Castro and other Cuban officials. He also gave a speech to the Cuban people, visited cultural sites, and attended a baseball game between the Cuban national team and the Tampa Bay Rays.

What were the goals of Barack Obama's visit to Cuba?

The goals of Barack Obama's visit to Cuba were to further improve relations between the United States and Cuba, promote greater economic ties between the two countries, and encourage greater political freedom and human rights in Cuba.

How have U.S.-Cuba relations evolved since Barack Obama's visit?

U.S.-Cuba relations have continued to evolve since Barack Obama's visit. In 2017, the Trump administration rolled back some of the Obama-era policies toward Cuba, but the Biden administration has signaled that it will seek to restore some of those policies. In 2021, the United States and Cuba held talks on a range of issues, including human rights, migration, and economic cooperation.

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Geopolitics

The Pope's Health Feeds Succession Rumors — And Deeper Questions About The Church

It is not only the health of the Pope that worries the Holy See. From the collapse of vocations to the conservative wind in the USA, there are many ills to face.

Photograph of Pope Francis holding his hand against his forehead.

October 4, 2023 - Pope Francis concelebrates the Holy Mass with the new Cardinals at the Vatican

Evandro Inetti/ZUMA
Gianluigi Nuzzi

Updated Dec. 4, 2023 at 6:05 p.m.

ROME — "How am I? I'm fine... I'm still alive, you know? See, I'm not dead!"

With a dose of irony and sarcasm, Pope Francis addressed those who'd paid him a visit this past week as he battled a new lung inflammation, and the antibiotic cycles and extra rest he still must stick with on strict doctors' orders.

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The Pope is dealing with a sensitive respiratory system; the distressed tracheo-bronchial tree can cause asthmatic reactions, with the breathlessness in his speech being the most obvious symptom. Tired eyes and dark circles mark his swollen face. A sense of unease and bewilderment pervades and only diminishes when the doctors restate their optimism about his general state of wellness.

"The pope's ailments? Nothing compared to the health of the Church," quips a priest very close to the Holy Father. "The Church is much worse off, marked by chronic ailments and seasonal illnesses."

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