We will get reaction from former and speak with Peter Kornbluh coauthor of, back channel to cuba the Hidden History of negotiations between washington and havana. Then swedish prosecutors have dropped part of their Sexual Assault inquiry against wikileaks founder Julian Assange, but the most serious part of the investigation remains in place. Though he has never been formally charged. Now britain has announced plans to challenge ecuadors decision to provide him asylum in its london embassy. The statute of limitation has run out. It is regrettable it is come this far and raise questions about how the prosecution is dealt with the case. Amy we will look at how u. S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning could face indefinite solitary confinement of poor leavenworth for having an expired tube of toothpaste in an issue of vanity fair featuring Caitlyn Jenner. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Today the United States and cuba are taking the next step in restoring diplomatic relations with each other. Secretary of state john kerry arrived in havana this morning to attend a ceremony marking the reopening of the u. S. Embassy there. Joining him are three marines who lowered the flag at the embassy in 1961, after the two countries cut off ties when fidel castro toppled the u. S. Backed government of Fulgencio Batista. The same marines will raise the flag over the embassy. We will have more after headlines. The Greek Parliament passed a daybreakon deal around this morning after contentious allnight debate. The draft terms of the agreement include harsh austerity measures. It does not include any debt relief. Widerogram passed by margin. The Prime Minister tsipras faced a growing rebellion within his own leftleaning cerise a party which came to power promising to fight against austerity. Nearly a third of syriza lawmakers voted against the bill, including former finance minister yanis varofakis, who blasted the vote as humiliating and nonviable. Officials say tsipras is planning to hold a vote of confidence next week and some suspect the government could be toppled. One of the dissenting syriza lawmakers criticized his own party during the debate. Izaand what is the syr government doing echo their now introducing another lovely bailout. What kind of government is this . For whatever the greek people vote for, no matter what they fight for what the outcome of referendums is, it is still the bailouts always win. It is and then, the annulment of democracy, the dictatorship of the eurozone over the neocolony called greece. Amy meanwhile, the terms of greeces bailout, which will be the third in five years, are also facing growing criticism from european institutions, who say they have serious concerns about greeces longterm sustainability. In a new analysis, both the European Commission and the European Central bank advocate for debt relief measures, which have been opposed by germany. Meanwhile, economics Nobel LaureateJoseph Stiglitz has spoken out about puerto ricos debt crisis, as dozens protested in new york city in the latest action against hedge funds that have bought up the islands debt. And then oped in the wall street journal, stiglitz compared the crisis in puerto rico to that in greece, writing greece chose to join the eurozone; puerto rico never chose to become an unincorporated u. S. Territory. The u. S. Must take responsibility for its imperialist past and neocolonial present. At a protest thursday outside the manhattan offices of hedge fund paulson co, protesters echoed the call for the United States to acknowledge the role of colonialism in puerto ricos debt crisis. Pretty regard as an economic crisis with a 72 billion debt being charged to puerto rico come to the people come despite puerto rico being a colony of the United States and the debt is owed u. S. Operations. Were here to protest the actions of shareholders such as paulson, who is one of the major shareholders taking money from puerto rico today. Amy britain has announced plans to challenge ecuadors decision to provide asylum to wikileaks founder Julian Assange in its london embassy. On thursday, hugo swire of the British Foreign office said in a statement ecuador must recognize that its decision to harbor mr. Assange more than three years ago has prevented the proper course of justice. In response, ecuadors Foreign Ministry released a statement saying it is saddened assanges confinement has lasted so long, adding that its government had offered 31 times to facilitate an open judicial process in sweden. This comes just a day after swedish prosecutors dropped part of their Sexual Assault inquiry against assange, but the most serious part of the probe remains in place. Although, the swedish government has never charged him with a crime. Well have more on Julian Assange later in the broadcast. Japanese Prime Minister shinzo abe has expressed profound grief for japans actions in world war ii. Echoing apologies made by previous japanese leaders, his remarks were closely watched by china and south korea which , endured Japanese Occupation and colonial rule. As japan marks 70 years since it surrender following u. S. Nuclear bombing of a russian a and nagasaki, abe pledged japan would never wage a war again. Quick never again repeat the devastation of war, aggression, war, we shall never again resort to any sort of threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. We shall abandon colonial rule forever and respect the right selfdetermination of all peoples throughout the world. Amy despite his pledge, Prime Minister shinzo abe has pushed for a rewriting of japans pacificist constitution to allow japanese troops to fight abroad for the First Time Since world war ii. In germany, migrants are experiencing an increasing number of hate crimes. In the first half of this year, the interior ministry recorded more than 200 attacks on the housing of refugees who are seeking asylum in germany. Activist groups say there have also been nearly 50 attacks on individual migrants. Nearly 180,000 people have applied for asylum in germany this year, with the Largest Group being syrians. The interior minister has called the pattern of crimes unacceptable. Cox at the same time, we also know there is a growing number of attacks against asylumseekers and institutions for asylumseekers, less so but in other places. That is undignified for our country. We will work against this with all the strength of the rule of law and political power that we have. Amy in texas, police are investigating the murder of a 22yearold African American transwoman. Her decomposed body was discovered in late july in a field in northeast dallas. It has taken Police Two Weeks to identify her. Schuler is at least the 13th transgender woman to be murdered this year. In ohio, a new video has surfaced of 37yearold African American woman Ralkina Jones pleading with cleveland jail authorities to administer her medication only hours before she was found dead in her cell. Jones was arrested after a dispute with her exhusband in late july. When she entered jail, she told authorities she needed to take her three medications the generic version of the sedative xanax, the adhd medicine adderall and the antiepilepsy drug. She was found dead in her cell two days later. In the video released tuesday, Ralkina Jones tells a jail guard its important for her to have her medication administered correctly because, i dont want to die in your cell. Im not asking for an exception to the role. I dont want to die in your cell. [inaudible] i have a brain injury. Amy california governor jerry brown has signed into law two measures on Police Accountability introduced earlier this year. The first measure bans the use of grand juries in deciding whether to indict Police Officers who kill people while on active duty. The second measure affirms peoples right to film the police. Other measures such as the use of Police Body Cameras are stalled in the state legislature. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Supreme Court has declared the Death Penalty unconstitutional. In 2012, the governor signed legislation abolishing the Death Penalty in the state. But the law exempted inmates who were already on death row. On thursday, the states Supreme Court voted 43 in favor of a an argument that executions carried out after the abolition of the Death Penalty represents cruel and unusual punishment. The decision spares the lives of 11 people currently on death row. In ecuador, indigenous groups organized nationwide strikes and demonstrations thursday to protest president Rafael Correas efforts to change the constitution so he can seek a fourth term in office. Leader of the protest rop protee out. We will defend ourselves will stop this has been resistance and today have come together under the flag of resistance. Amy meanwhile, in paraguay, an 11yearold girl has given birth after she was denied an abortion at 10 years old. Her pregnancy Drew International attention after paraguay, which bans abortion except in cases that endanger the life of the mother, refused to allow her to have the procedure. Her stepfather has been accused of raping the girl, resulting in the pregnancy. The nonprofit behind the beloved Childrens Program sesame street has announced it will be airing the program on the Premium Cable Network hbo for the next five seasons. After 9 months, the episodes with be reaired on pbs, which has been home to the show for the last 45 years. In news from the campaign trail, former Vice President al gore is reportedly considering joining the 2016 president ial race. Gore lost the 2000 election to george w. Bush, despite winning the popular vote. The speculation about a potential run in 2016 surface as both democratic and republican candidates are soapboxing at the iowa state fair today and into the weekend. And 21 youth in the United States have sued the Obama Administration over Climate Change. The federal lawsuit argues Climate Change violates the public trust doctrine, requiring the government to protect resources essential to the survival of future generations. In the suit, the 21 youth demand the court order federal agencies to develop a plan to decrease concentrations of carbon in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million by the year 2100. Renowned scientist james hansen, who is a coplaintiff on the suit, argues that it is essential to reduce carbon levels to this target in order to avoid catastrophic impacts of Climate Change. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Juan welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Today, the United States and cuba are taking the next step in restoring diplomatic relations with each other. Secretary of state john kerry arrived in havana this morning to attend a ceremony marking the reopening of the u. S. Embassy there. Joining him are three marines who lowered the flag at the embassy in 1961, when the u. S. Cut off ties to cuba after fidel castro toppled the u. S. Backed government of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. These same marines will raise the flag over the embassy. Ahead of his trip to havana, john kerry appeared on the spanishlanguage tv network, univision, and said the United States will continue to push for changes in cuba. I think that as we begin the process compared to the 54 years of what has been going on, which is no progress, we will begin to. Ee transformation take place more people will travel, the rowley more exchange, more families will be reconnected. And hopefully, the government of cuba itself will make decisions that will begin to change things. I dont think you can measure a month and a half since we conclude of the agreement to actually open the embassy to 54 years. That just doesnt work. Now, our spokesperson for the state department spoke out publicly from the podium of the state department criticizing those people that move on sunday, and we will continue to speak out. Our preference is for a democracy, for a full embrace of the freedom of the cuban people to choose their future. And that is what we stand for. Juan also set to speak at the u. S. Embassy in havana today is openlygay cubanamerican poet richard blanco, who read a poem at president obamas inauguration after the 2012 election. Cuban dissidents will not be at the flag raising ceremony, but kerry says he will meet with them separately this afternoon. The New York Times reports a second flagraising will take place at this reception which will take place at the official residence of jeffrey delaurentis, the top american diplomat in cuba until an ambassador is nominated and confirmed. Republican president ial candidate and florida senator marco rubio called the decision not to invite dissidents to the embassy a slap in the face. He said in a Statement Cuban dissidents are the legitimate representatives of the cuban people and it is they who deserve americas red carpet treatment, not castro regime officials. Amy meanwhile, on thursday, Cuban Revolutionary leader and former president fidel castro celebrated his 89th birthday. He met with two close allies, bolivian president evo morales and venezuelan president nicolas maduro, as celebrations were held throughout the country. Has been a father for cuba in the entire world. Historically, he has been a man since he was born. Today he turns 89 years old. He is been an honest man. And all that he is done has been for the social wellbeing of cuba and the rest of the world. Amy well, for more, we go now to havana, cuba, where we are joined by dr. Carlos Alzugaray Treto, a former cuban diplomat who served as ambassador to belgium and luxembourg, and head of the Cuban Mission to the european union. Scholar and writer and former Havana University professor. In washington, d. C. , were joined by Peter Kornbluh, director of the cuba documentation project at the National Security archive at George Washington university. Coauthor of the book, back channel to cuba the Hidden History of negotiations between washington and havana. Mother jones has just published the epilogue to an updated version of his book to be which includes the secret story of how obama used backchannel diplomacy to normalize diplomatic relations. Welcome both of you back to democracy now lets begin in havana. About the talk reaction right now in havana to this day of the u. S. Embassy raising the u. S. Flag over the embassy for the first time in more than half a century. Amy, they keep are having me. It is great to be once more with democracy now i think how we are looking at it is trying to get an answer to the question is, what kind of change this represents. Is this only a change of tactics to can it does to continue to try to overthrow the cuban government by different means . The Roberta Flack killing me softly with your song. On the other hand, we are seeing an important change of strategy by which the u. S. Now is saying, ok, there is a legitimate government in cuba, everybody in the world has no more relation with cuba, we should go for that because that is how we best serve american interests in cuba in terms of trade and changes and even the interest of the cubanamerican community. And saying the American Government by sending mr. Kerry to cuba, he is an important political figure, to raise the flag, i think they are pointing in a second direction, the direction they want normal relationship with the cuban government. And this is welcome news. Flag could have been raised on july 20 when the American Embassy started to become an embassy. They couldve sent an undersecretary, but they prefer to say, ok, lets wait until secretary kerrys very tight schedule permits for him to go to havana and do it. And i think we appreciate in cuba he is doing it. This is, in a want to address the criticism from marco rubio, i think this is an eminently intergovernmental affair. And what this situation we, thets is that now embassy, the relationship with the cuban government, the american relationship with the becomes centerrnment stage, which is how it s