Obama spars with Cuba's Castro over human rights in historic visitHAVANA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pushed Cuba to improve human rights during his historic visit to the Communist-led island on Monday, publicly sparring with President Raul Castro who showed flashes of anger and hit back at U.S. “double standards”.  Obama praised Castro for openly discussing their differences but he said a “full flowering” of the relationship would happen only with progress on the issue of rights. “In the absence of that, I think it will continue to be a very powerful irritant,” Obama said in a joint news conference with Castro that began with jokes but was tense at times.      “America believes in democracy. We believe that freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and freedom of religion are not just American values but are universal values,” he said. Both men’s remarks were broadcast live on Cuban state television from Cuba’s Palace of the Revolution in a room draped with the Stars and Stripes and the Cuban flag.   Castro countered that no country meets all international rights but appeared uncomfortable as he made the rare step of taking questions from journalists in a country where the media is state controlled. Obama, the first U.S. president to visit Cuba in 88 years, agreed in 2014 to improve relations with the former Cold War foe but he is under pressure at home to push Castro’s government to allow political dissent and to further open its Soviet-style economy. He said the two sides would hold talks on human rights in Havana later this year.  Opponents say Obama has given away too much as he improves ties, with too little from Castro in return, although the leading Republican candidate for the Nov. 8 presidential election, Donald Trump, said on Monday he would likely continue to normalize ties with Cuba if elected.  Castro, an army general who became president when his ailing older brother Fidel retired in 2008, had never before taken questions from foreign reporters on live Cuban television and was clearly irritated when asked about political prisoners in Cuba, demanding the reporter produce a list of those in jail. “Tell me now. What political prisoners? Give me a name, or the names,” Castro said. “And if there are these political prisoners they will be free before nightfall.”    Cuba says it has no political prisoners and that the dozens listed by dissident groups are instead common criminals.  Castro said Cuba has a strong record on rights such as health, access to education and women’s equality. His government criticizes the United States on racism, police violence and the use of torture at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba. Ben Rhodes, a senior Obama aide, later insisted that Cuba has political prisoners and said the U.S. government had shared lists of them with Cuba. He said Cuba has shifted from long prisons terms to short-term detentions of political opponents. Later in the evening, Castro sat between Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for a dinner of rum flavored soup and pork, at a table that also included the leaders’ top advisers. Obama’s ease with reporters’ questions contrasted with Castro’s manner. The tension was palpable as Castro declined to call on a slew of Cuban journalists who yearned for the rare chance to ask him questions. Fumbling with a headset providing translation, the 84-year-old leader scolded reporters when he was asked again about rights, saying he agreed to only take one question. Obama playfully encouraged him to address a second but Castro seemed reluctant as he obliged. “How many countries comply with all 61 human rights? Do you know? I do. None. None,” Castro said.     In another awkward moment, as the news conference ended, Castro lifted Obama’s arm in the air as if to form a victory salute. Obama resisted, letting his hand hang limp rather than form a fist.     As part of the diplomatic breakthrough in 2014, Cuba released 53 prisoners that the U.S. government considered political prisoners. But the dissident Cuban Commission of Human Rights and National Reconciliation says 79 are still behind bars, among about 40 held for peaceful political protest. “This list is here if they want to see it,” commission leader Elizardo Sanchez said on Monday. His list also includes armed anti-government militants, convicted hijackers, army deserters and spies, but Sanchez said they are political because they were denied due process. Castro offered Cuba’s recipe for better relations, saying the United States needs to lift its 54-year-old trade embargo on the island and hand back the Guantanamo Bay base to Cuba. Obama did not respond to the demand on Guantanamo Bay but said he was optimistic about the elimination of sanctions against Cuba. “The embargo’s going to end. When, I can’t be entirely sure,” Obama said.  Obama efforts to encourage Congress to rescind the embargo has been rejected by the Republican leadership. Thwarted, Obama has instead used executive authority to loosen restrictions on trade and travel. Obama said direct flights from the United States would start this year. He said regular tourism to Cuba could happen “very soon,” in comments to U.S. network ABC. A clutch of deals timed to coincide with the visit appeared to show the strategy was bearing commercial fruit, notably U.S. cruise company Carnival’s announcement on Monday that it would sail the first ship from the United States to Cuba in more than 50 years, in a deal that will bring in thousands of U.S. tourists at a time. About a dozen major U.S. brands have stuck deals or are in talks with Cuba. Ahead of the meeting with Castro, Obama said Google would provide more Wi-Fi and broadband access on the island. Google said later its efforts were in the “early stages.” politicsNews
obama stars cuba castro human rights historic visithavana reuters president barack obama pushed cuba improve human rights historic visit island monday publicly sparring president raul castro showed flashes anger hit back double standards obama praised castro openly discussing differences said full flowering relationship would happen progress issue rights in absence i think continue powerful irritant obama said joint news conference castro began jokes tense times america believes democracy we believe freedom speech freedom assembly freedom religion american values universal values said both men remarks broadcast live cuban state television cuba palace revolution room draped stars stripes cuban flag castro countered country meets international rights appeared uncomfortable made rare step taking questions journalists country media state controlled obama first president visit cuba years agreed improve relations former cold war foe pressure home push castro government allow political dissent open economy he said two sides would hold talks human rights having later year opponents say obama given away much improves ties little castro return although leading republican candidate presidential election donald trump said monday would likely continue normalize ties cuba elected castro army general became president ailing older brother fide retired never taken questions foreign reporters live cuban television clearly irritated asked political prisoners cuba demanding reporter produce list jail tell what political prisoners give name names castro said and political prisoners free cuba says political prisoners dozens listed dissident groups instead common criminals castro said cuba strong record rights health access education women equality his government criticizes united states racism police violence use torture guantanamo bay naval base cuba ben rhodes senior obama aide later insisted cuba political prisoners said government shared lists cuba he said cuba shifted long prisons terms detention political opponents later evening castro sat obama first lady michelle obama dinner rum flavored soup pork table also included leaders top advisers obama ease reporters questions contrasted castro manner the tension capable castro declined call slew cuban journalists earned rare chance ask questions tumbling headset providing translation leader scored reporters asked rights saying agreed take one question obama playful encouraged address second castro seemed reluctant obliged how many countries comply human rights do know i none none castro said in another awkward moment news conference ended castro lifted obama arm air form victory salute obama resisted letting hand hang limp rather form fist as part diplomatic breakthrough cuba released prisoners government considered political prisoners but dissident cuban commission human rights national reconciliation says still behind bars among held peaceful political protest this list want see commission leader lizard sanchez said monday his list also includes armed militants convicted hijackers army deserters spies sanchez said political denied due process castro offered cuba recipe better relations saying united states needs lift trade embargo island hand back guantanamo bay base cuba obama respond demand guantanamo bay said optimistic elimination sanctions cuba the embargo going end when i entirely sure obama said obama efforts encourage congress rescind embargo rejected republican leadership thwarted obama instead used executive authority loose restrictions trade travel obama said direct flights united states would start year he said regular tourism cuba could happen soon comments network abc a clutch deals timed coincide visit appeared show strategy bearing commercial fruit notably cruise company carnival announcement monday would sail first ship united states cuba years deal bring thousands tourists time about dozen major brands stuck deals talks cuba ahead meeting castro obama said google would provide broadband access island google said later efforts early politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Obama spars with Cuba's Castro over human rights in historic visitHAVANA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pushed Cuba to improve human rights during his historic visit to the Communist-led island on Monday, publicly sparring with President Raul Castro who showed flashes of anger and hit back at U.S. “double standards”.  Obama praised Castro for openly discussing their differences but he said a “full flowering” of the relationship would happen only with progress on the issue of rights. “In the absence of that, I think it will continue to be a very powerful irritant,” Obama said in a joint news conference with Castro that began with jokes but was tense at times.      “America believes in democracy. We believe that freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and freedom of religion are not just American values but are universal values,” he said. Both men’s remarks were broadcast live on Cuban state television from Cuba’s Palace of the Revolution in a room draped with the Stars and Stripes and the Cuban flag.   Castro countered that no country meets all international rights but appeared uncomfortable as he made the rare step of taking questions from journalists in a country where the media is state controlled. Obama, the first U.S. president to visit Cuba in 88 years, agreed in 2014 to improve relations with the former Cold War foe but he is under pressure at home to push Castro’s government to allow political dissent and to further open its Soviet-style economy. He said the two sides would hold talks on human rights in Havana later this year.  Opponents say Obama has given away too much as he improves ties, with too little from Castro in return, although the leading Republican candidate for the Nov. 8 presidential election, Donald Trump, said on Monday he would likely continue to normalize ties with Cuba if elected.  Castro, an army general who became president when his ailing older brother Fidel retired in 2008, had never before taken questions from foreign reporters on live Cuban television and was clearly irritated when asked about political prisoners in Cuba, demanding the reporter produce a list of those in jail. “Tell me now. What political prisoners? Give me a name, or the names,” Castro said. “And if there are these political prisoners they will be free before nightfall.”    Cuba says it has no political prisoners and that the dozens listed by dissident groups are instead common criminals.  Castro said Cuba has a strong record on rights such as health, access to education and women’s equality. His government criticizes the United States on racism, police violence and the use of torture at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba. Ben Rhodes, a senior Obama aide, later insisted that Cuba has political prisoners and said the U.S. government had shared lists of them with Cuba. He said Cuba has shifted from long prisons terms to short-term detentions of political opponents. Later in the evening, Castro sat between Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for a dinner of rum flavored soup and pork, at a table that also included the leaders’ top advisers. Obama’s ease with reporters’ questions contrasted with Castro’s manner. The tension was palpable as Castro declined to call on a slew of Cuban journalists who yearned for the rare chance to ask him questions. Fumbling with a headset providing translation, the 84-year-old leader scolded reporters when he was asked again about rights, saying he agreed to only take one question. Obama playfully encouraged him to address a second but Castro seemed reluctant as he obliged. “How many countries comply with all 61 human rights? Do you know? I do. None. None,” Castro said.     In another awkward moment, as the news conference ended, Castro lifted Obama’s arm in the air as if to form a victory salute. Obama resisted, letting his hand hang limp rather than form a fist.     As part of the diplomatic breakthrough in 2014, Cuba released 53 prisoners that the U.S. government considered political prisoners. But the dissident Cuban Commission of Human Rights and National Reconciliation says 79 are still behind bars, among about 40 held for peaceful political protest. “This list is here if they want to see it,” commission leader Elizardo Sanchez said on Monday. His list also includes armed anti-government militants, convicted hijackers, army deserters and spies, but Sanchez said they are political because they were denied due process. Castro offered Cuba’s recipe for better relations, saying the United States needs to lift its 54-year-old trade embargo on the island and hand back the Guantanamo Bay base to Cuba. Obama did not respond to the demand on Guantanamo Bay but said he was optimistic about the elimination of sanctions against Cuba. “The embargo’s going to end. When, I can’t be entirely sure,” Obama said.  Obama efforts to encourage Congress to rescind the embargo has been rejected by the Republican leadership. Thwarted, Obama has instead used executive authority to loosen restrictions on trade and travel. Obama said direct flights from the United States would start this year. He said regular tourism to Cuba could happen “very soon,” in comments to U.S. network ABC. A clutch of deals timed to coincide with the visit appeared to show the strategy was bearing commercial fruit, notably U.S. cruise company Carnival’s announcement on Monday that it would sail the first ship from the United States to Cuba in more than 50 years, in a deal that will bring in thousands of U.S. tourists at a time. About a dozen major U.S. brands have stuck deals or are in talks with Cuba. Ahead of the meeting with Castro, Obama said Google would provide more Wi-Fi and broadband access on the island. Google said later its efforts were in the “early stages.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: obama stars cuba castro human rights historic visithavana reuters president barack obama pushed cuba improve human rights historic visit island monday publicly sparring president raul castro showed flashes anger hit back double standards obama praised castro openly discussing differences said full flowering relationship would happen progress issue rights in absence i think continue powerful irritant obama said joint news conference castro began jokes tense times america believes democracy we believe freedom speech freedom assembly freedom religion american values universal values said both men remarks broadcast live cuban state television cuba palace revolution room draped stars stripes cuban flag castro countered country meets international rights appeared uncomfortable made rare step taking questions journalists country media state controlled obama first president visit cuba years agreed improve relations former cold war foe pressure home push castro government allow political dissent open economy he said two sides would hold talks human rights having later year opponents say obama given away much improves ties little castro return although leading republican candidate presidential election donald trump said monday would likely continue normalize ties cuba elected castro army general became president ailing older brother fide retired never taken questions foreign reporters live cuban television clearly irritated asked political prisoners cuba demanding reporter produce list jail tell what political prisoners give name names castro said and political prisoners free cuba says political prisoners dozens listed dissident groups instead common criminals castro said cuba strong record rights health access education women equality his government criticizes united states racism police violence use torture guantanamo bay naval base cuba ben rhodes senior obama aide later insisted cuba political prisoners said government shared lists cuba he said cuba shifted long prisons terms detention political opponents later evening castro sat obama first lady michelle obama dinner rum flavored soup pork table also included leaders top advisers obama ease reporters questions contrasted castro manner the tension capable castro declined call slew cuban journalists earned rare chance ask questions tumbling headset providing translation leader scored reporters asked rights saying agreed take one question obama playful encouraged address second castro seemed reluctant obliged how many countries comply human rights do know i none none castro said in another awkward moment news conference ended castro lifted obama arm air form victory salute obama resisted letting hand hang limp rather form fist as part diplomatic breakthrough cuba released prisoners government considered political prisoners but dissident cuban commission human rights national reconciliation says still behind bars among held peaceful political protest this list want see commission leader lizard sanchez said monday his list also includes armed militants convicted hijackers army deserters spies sanchez said political denied due process castro offered cuba recipe better relations saying united states needs lift trade embargo island hand back guantanamo bay base cuba obama respond demand guantanamo bay said optimistic elimination sanctions cuba the embargo going end when i entirely sure obama said obama efforts encourage congress rescind embargo rejected republican leadership thwarted obama instead used executive authority loose restrictions trade travel obama said direct flights united states would start year he said regular tourism cuba could happen soon comments network abc a clutch deals timed coincide visit appeared show strategy bearing commercial fruit notably cruise company carnival announcement monday would sail first ship united states cuba years deal bring thousands tourists time about dozen major brands stuck deals talks cuba ahead meeting castro obama said google would provide broadband access island google said later efforts early politicsnews