Page 61 - Patrick Oppmann News Today

Though be the head of the government here in cuba, john, raul castro remains the powerful first secretary of the communist party and we just heard moments ago that he remain head of the cuban armed forces. while raul castro is stepping back, hell be looking very closely over this officials soldier and make sure he not betray the revolution. and now we have for the first time, and most peoples memory, a president whos last name is not castro. >> major milestone. raul castro stepping back but not ...

President miguel diaz-canel sworn in as the countrys new president. he ran unopposed if you can say he really ran and he was raul castros hand picked successor. joining me is patrick oppmann, a major transfer of power, patrick. >> reporter: absolutely. happening right before our eyes, history seems to take a long time to take place here, john. think 60 years of a leader named castro. the only president that most cubans have ever known. were looking at live picture of a man named miguel diaz-cane...

Its unclear how clear a leader he will be. he says he will follow a close example set by fidel and raul. this island is still grappling from the fall of the soviet union. the economy here is very much struggling. so many cubans are still left with the question of whether a new leader for their island will bring new ideas. patrick oppmann, cnn, havana. lets go to the middle east. syrian government troops advance in eastern ghouta. well have a live report from the region, after this. and sometim...

Jason carroll, cnn, pittsburgh. the first time in almost six decades, the next cuban president will not be a castro. cubans chose a new national assembly on sunday. many voters are skeptical that life in cuba will not be much different. our patrick oppmann has more from havana. >> reporter: cubans on sunday came out to vote as part of a process that is expected to lead to the beginning of the post castro era on the island. this is how it works. there are not direct elections to pick a new pres...

Appreciation for the u.s. and a little bit less poppy. >> patrick oppmann. we appreciate it. i want you to look at this picture, lets pull this picture up. this is a hero, this is an american hero. this is someone given everything of this country, hes tearing up of all this country means to him. now the president asked, why do we need more haitian in this country. this is a haitian, a powerful moment from the west point graduation after this haitian immigrant is in tears. i want to point this ...

[ speaking foreign language ] you dont have to speak spanish to understand what theyre saying and the outrage here because salvadorans feel close with the united states who have 200,000 salvadoreans in the united states with temporary protection status that are now facing deportation about 18 months. salvadoreans while aware of their countrys problems, this is a poor country, terrible gang violence here, but its a beautiful place. behind me is an absolutely spectacular scene, a volcano outside o...

To come home. they send money back here. sit is vital aid. as well as they provide services in the u.s. they do the jobs that americans dont want to go, construction, agricultural jobs. when you drive around el salvador, it is not unlike america. you see american flags. just about everybody has family in the u.s. last night the u.s. ambassador to el salvador tweeted out that she loves the country. its a beautiful country. her job and the job of diplomats around the world has gotten a lot tougher...

Its kind of hard to believe, but its been a year since cuba dictator fidel castro died. where do u.s. relations stabbed. and whats going to happen when raul steps down supposedly next year. patrick oppmann, our man in havana. thankful for you, my friend. >> buenos dias. safe to say nearly every cuban remembers where they were exactly a year ago saturday when the news came out that fidel castro had died. whether cubans support him or hate him, castro forever changed the history of this island, an...

Well. cuban/u.s. relations have improved so much under barack obama. have suffered as president has increased sanctions on the island. its now much more difficult for cubans who want to travel to the u.s. and for americans hoping to visit cuba, there are increased restrictions. there are also those mysterious sonic attacks on u.s. diplomats that caused the u.s. to issue a travel warning. and withdraw about half the staff from the u.s. embassy here. now the cuban government is denying that those ...

To breathe a sigh of relief, but the officials people they are getting closer to a pop rescue. >> hopefully, there is good news soon. patrick oppmann in havana, thank you so much. the u.s. issued a warning to the palestinian liberation organization. state department officials saying if they dont, quote, get serious about peace talks about israeli, unquote, they will close the palestinian offices in washington. the organization was put on notice last week after secretary of state rex tillerson ...