Latin America

Now that diplomatic ties are officially restored between Cuba and the United States and the two countries will open their respective embassies later this month, many are asking what’s next to move ahead on the long road towards a normalization of relations.

Tens of thousands of Greeks have protested against further austerity cuts ahead of a key referendum on a new European bailout. The demonstrations come as the country confirms it will not meet the deadline for a $1.8 billion loan repayment due by 6 p.m. Eastern time tonight.

USA Baseball announced the roster of its team to take part in the Toronto Pan American Games baseball tournament from July 11 to 19. The final Cuban roster is still pending last minute changes.

On Friday (June 26) the Supreme Court held that same-sex couples will no longer be denied the freedom to marry guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The ruling, which pleased the Obama administration, is light years ahead of the Cuban legislation.

Delegates from Cuba and the European Union met in Brussels on Thursday (June 25) to discuss the EU’s concerns about the observance of human rights in Cuba in the context of the EU’s “common position” toward the island.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will arrive in Cuba on June 25, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Friday. From Havana, Wang will go on to Brasília, to attend a China-Brazil Coordination Committee meeting.

Marcelo Odebrecht, president of the Brazilian company Odebrecht, was placed in preventive custody this morning as part of a crackdown dubbed Operation “Lava Jato” (Car Wash), investigating fraud and billion-dollar embezzlements in contracts between the country’s construction companies and the State oil corporation Petrobras.

The fourth round of talks between Cuba and the European Union (EU) concluded today in Brussels with progress on issues of cooperation and trade, although less progress on political dialogue, EU sources reported.