U.S. cuts staff in Cuba over mysterious injuries, warns travelers (Advisory: Strong language in paragraph 16 may be offensive to some readers) By Arshad Mohammed and Sarah Marsh WASHINGTON/HAVANA (Reuters) - The United States on Friday cut its diplomatic presence in Cuba by more than half and warned U.S. citizens not to visit because of mysterious  attacks  that have caused hearing loss, dizziness and fatigue in U.S. embassy personnel. The U.S. embassy in Havana will halt regular visa operations for Cubans seeking to visit the United States and offer only emergency services to U.S. citizens, steps that may further erode the U.S.-Cuban rapprochement begun by former President Barack Obama. The partial evacuation, while depicted as a safety measure, sends a message of U.S. displeasure over Cuba s handling of the matter and delivers another blow to Obama s policies of engagement with Cold War foe Cuba. The Communist Party-run Cuban government was already dealing with several delicate matters - the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a steep decline in aid from important socialist ally Venezuela and political transition as President Raul Castro steps down next year. Cuba s Foreign Ministry chief for U.S. Affairs Josefina Vidal said:  We consider the decision announced today by the U.S. government through the State Department is hasty and will affect bilateral relations.  Vidal, in a briefing on state-run television, said Cuba was still keen to cooperate with U.S. authorities to clarify what happened. Officials in President Donald Trump s administration  stressed the United States was maintaining diplomatic ties with Cuba. Twenty-one U.S. embassy employees in Cuba have been injured and reported symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues, and difficulty sleeping, the State Department said.  Until the government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba, our embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel in order to minimize the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm,  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a  statement. The Cuban government has denied any role and is  investigating. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been looking into the incidents, a U.S. law enforcement official said, but so far has not determined the cause.  A senior State Department official said neither the U.S. nor Cuban governments had been able to identify who was responsible but stressed that  the government of Cuba is responsible for taking all appropriate steps to prevent attacks on our diplomatic personnel in Cuba.  In a travel warning, the State Department bluntly said  because our personnel s safety is at risk, and we are unable to identify the source of the attacks, we believe U.S. citizens may also be at risk and warn them not to travel to Cuba.  A State Department official said most visa processing had been suspended in Havana.  Cuban applicants for nonimmigrant visas may apply at another U.S. embassy or consulate overseas.  The State Department said the attacks on U.S. embassy personnel had occurred at  U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens.  No tourists are known to have been injured in the attacks. Canada said it has no plans to change its travel advice for Cuba or to remove any Canadian staff from its embassy there, though some staff have experienced some unusual symptoms, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday. Diana Rodriguez, 52, who sells handicrafts in Old Havana, said she had a visa appointment in October so she could visit family who live in Florida.  I won t ever go there now,  she said furiously.  This is a really strong blow that affects regular Cubans on the street. It s just unheard of. What is going on with this man? Neither Bush nor his father were such sons of bitches.   Trump in June vowed to partially roll back the detente with Cuba agreed by his Democratic predecessor, Obama, and called the Cuban government  corrupt and destabilizing  in his address to the United Nations General Assembly this month. Engage Cuba, a Washingon-based lobbying group, said the decision was  puzzling  given that American travelers had not been targeted. It said halting the visa process in Cuba and discouraging Americans from going there  will divide families and harm Cuba s burgeoning private sector, civil society groups and efforts to improve human rights on the island.   I haven t felt in danger at all. The people are very friendly, it s a very safe culture ... I don t feel threatened at all here, I think its a really safe place to be,  American visitor Joey Branch said. U.S. lawmakers took positions on the issue that appeared to reflect their wider perspective on engagement with Havana. Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat who favors normalization, suggested the attacks may be an attempt to undermine this.  Whoever is doing this obviously is trying to disrupt the normalization process between the United States and Cuba.  Someone or some government is trying to reverse that process,  Leahy said in a statement.  Marco Rubio , a Florida Republican and frequent critic of the Cuban government, called for harsher measures.  Until those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice, the U.S. should immediately expel an equal number of Cuban operatives, downgrade the U.S. embassy in Havana to an interests section, and consider re-listing Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism,  Rubio said in a statement. American Tour Operators in Cuba, which counts more than 50 U.S. companies, criticized the travel warning.  The motivation for the U.S. government to issue today s Travel Warning for Cuba is difficult to understand given that the facts and circumstances of these mysterious incidents have never posed a tangible threat to American visitors in Cuba.    American Airlines and United Airlines, both of whom have applied for additional flights to Havana, said the travel warning would not affect their current operations to Cuba. JetBlue Airways said it would waive change and cancellation fees for Cuba flights booked on or before Sept. 29.  Airbnb spokesman Nick Papas said its operations in Cuba would continue. Cuba reported four million arrivals last year, of which 285,000 were Americans. worldnews
cuts staff cuba mysterious injuries warns travelers advisory strong language paragraph may offensive readers by arched mohammed sarah marsh reuters the united states friday cut diplomatic presence cuba half warned citizens visit mysterious attacks caused hearing loss dizziness fatigue embassy personnel the embassy having halt regular visa operations cuban seeking visit united states offer emergency services citizens steps may erode rapprochement begun former president barack obama the partial evacuation depicted safety measure sends message displeasure cuba handling matter delivers another blow obama policies engagement cold war foe cuba the communist cuban government already dealing several delicate matters aftermath hurricane irma steep decline aid important socialist ally venezuela political transition president raul castro steps next year cuba foreign ministry chief affairs josefina vital said we consider decision announced today government state department hasty affect bilateral relations vital briefing television said cuba still keen cooperate authorities clarify happened officials president donald trump administration stressed united states maintaining diplomatic ties cuba embassy employees cuba injured reported symptoms hearing loss dizziness headache fatigue cognitive issues difficulty sleeping state department said until government cuba ensure safety diplomats cuba embassy reduced emergency personnel order minimize number diplomats risk exposure harm secretary state rex tillerson said statement the cuban government denied role investigating the federal bureau investigation looking incidents law enforcement official said far determined cause a senior state department official said neither cuban governments able identify responsible stressed government cuba responsible taking appropriate steps prevent attacks diplomatic personnel cuba in travel warning state department bluntly said personnel safety risk unable identify source attacks believe citizens may also risk warn travel cuba a state department official said visa processing suspended having cuban applicants nonimmigrant visas may apply another embassy consulate overseas the state department said attacks embassy personnel occurred diplomatic residences hotels frequented citizens no tourists known injured attacks canada said plans change travel advice cuba remove canadian staff embassy though staff experienced unusual symptoms spokesman foreign affairs minister christian ireland said friday diana rodriguez sells handicrafts old having said visa appointment october could visit family live florida i ever go said furiously this really strong blow affects regular cuban street it unheard what going man neither bush father sons pitches trump june vowed partially roll back delete cuba agreed democratic predecessor obama called cuban government corrupt stabilizing address united nations general assembly month engage cuba lobbying group said decision puzzling given american travelers targeted it said halting visa process cuba discouraging americans going divide families harm cuba burgeoning private sector civil society groups efforts improve human rights island i felt danger the people friendly safe culture i feel threatened i think really safe place american visitor joey branch said lawmakers took positions issue appeared reflect wider perspective engagement having senator patrick leaky democrat favors normalization suggested attacks may attempt undermine whoever obviously trying disrupt normalization process united states cuba someone government trying reverse process leaky said statement marco rubio florida republican frequent critic cuban government called harsher measures until responsible attacks brought justice immediately expel equal number cuban operatives downgraded embassy having interests section consider cuba state sponsor terrorism rubio said statement american tour operators cuba counts companies criticized travel warning the motivation government issue today travel warning cuba difficult understand given facts circumstances mysterious incidents never posed tangible threat american visitors cuba american airlines united airlines applied additional flights having said travel warning would affect current operations cuba jetblue airways said would waive change cancellation fees cuba flights booked airing spokesman nick papal said operations cuba would continue cuba reported four million arrivals last year americans worldnews
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: U.S. cuts staff in Cuba over mysterious injuries, warns travelers (Advisory: Strong language in paragraph 16 may be offensive to some readers) By Arshad Mohammed and Sarah Marsh WASHINGTON/HAVANA (Reuters) - The United States on Friday cut its diplomatic presence in Cuba by more than half and warned U.S. citizens not to visit because of mysterious  attacks  that have caused hearing loss, dizziness and fatigue in U.S. embassy personnel. The U.S. embassy in Havana will halt regular visa operations for Cubans seeking to visit the United States and offer only emergency services to U.S. citizens, steps that may further erode the U.S.-Cuban rapprochement begun by former President Barack Obama. The partial evacuation, while depicted as a safety measure, sends a message of U.S. displeasure over Cuba s handling of the matter and delivers another blow to Obama s policies of engagement with Cold War foe Cuba. The Communist Party-run Cuban government was already dealing with several delicate matters - the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a steep decline in aid from important socialist ally Venezuela and political transition as President Raul Castro steps down next year. Cuba s Foreign Ministry chief for U.S. Affairs Josefina Vidal said:  We consider the decision announced today by the U.S. government through the State Department is hasty and will affect bilateral relations.  Vidal, in a briefing on state-run television, said Cuba was still keen to cooperate with U.S. authorities to clarify what happened. Officials in President Donald Trump s administration  stressed the United States was maintaining diplomatic ties with Cuba. Twenty-one U.S. embassy employees in Cuba have been injured and reported symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues, and difficulty sleeping, the State Department said.  Until the government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba, our embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel in order to minimize the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm,  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a  statement. The Cuban government has denied any role and is  investigating. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been looking into the incidents, a U.S. law enforcement official said, but so far has not determined the cause.  A senior State Department official said neither the U.S. nor Cuban governments had been able to identify who was responsible but stressed that  the government of Cuba is responsible for taking all appropriate steps to prevent attacks on our diplomatic personnel in Cuba.  In a travel warning, the State Department bluntly said  because our personnel s safety is at risk, and we are unable to identify the source of the attacks, we believe U.S. citizens may also be at risk and warn them not to travel to Cuba.  A State Department official said most visa processing had been suspended in Havana.  Cuban applicants for nonimmigrant visas may apply at another U.S. embassy or consulate overseas.  The State Department said the attacks on U.S. embassy personnel had occurred at  U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens.  No tourists are known to have been injured in the attacks. Canada said it has no plans to change its travel advice for Cuba or to remove any Canadian staff from its embassy there, though some staff have experienced some unusual symptoms, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday. Diana Rodriguez, 52, who sells handicrafts in Old Havana, said she had a visa appointment in October so she could visit family who live in Florida.  I won t ever go there now,  she said furiously.  This is a really strong blow that affects regular Cubans on the street. It s just unheard of. What is going on with this man? Neither Bush nor his father were such sons of bitches.   Trump in June vowed to partially roll back the detente with Cuba agreed by his Democratic predecessor, Obama, and called the Cuban government  corrupt and destabilizing  in his address to the United Nations General Assembly this month. Engage Cuba, a Washingon-based lobbying group, said the decision was  puzzling  given that American travelers had not been targeted. It said halting the visa process in Cuba and discouraging Americans from going there  will divide families and harm Cuba s burgeoning private sector, civil society groups and efforts to improve human rights on the island.   I haven t felt in danger at all. The people are very friendly, it s a very safe culture ... I don t feel threatened at all here, I think its a really safe place to be,  American visitor Joey Branch said. U.S. lawmakers took positions on the issue that appeared to reflect their wider perspective on engagement with Havana. Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat who favors normalization, suggested the attacks may be an attempt to undermine this.  Whoever is doing this obviously is trying to disrupt the normalization process between the United States and Cuba.  Someone or some government is trying to reverse that process,  Leahy said in a statement.  Marco Rubio , a Florida Republican and frequent critic of the Cuban government, called for harsher measures.  Until those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice, the U.S. should immediately expel an equal number of Cuban operatives, downgrade the U.S. embassy in Havana to an interests section, and consider re-listing Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism,  Rubio said in a statement. American Tour Operators in Cuba, which counts more than 50 U.S. companies, criticized the travel warning.  The motivation for the U.S. government to issue today s Travel Warning for Cuba is difficult to understand given that the facts and circumstances of these mysterious incidents have never posed a tangible threat to American visitors in Cuba.    American Airlines and United Airlines, both of whom have applied for additional flights to Havana, said the travel warning would not affect their current operations to Cuba. JetBlue Airways said it would waive change and cancellation fees for Cuba flights booked on or before Sept. 29.  Airbnb spokesman Nick Papas said its operations in Cuba would continue. Cuba reported four million arrivals last year, of which 285,000 were Americans. worldnews
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: cuts staff cuba mysterious injuries warns travelers advisory strong language paragraph may offensive readers by arched mohammed sarah marsh reuters the united states friday cut diplomatic presence cuba half warned citizens visit mysterious attacks caused hearing loss dizziness fatigue embassy personnel the embassy having halt regular visa operations cuban seeking visit united states offer emergency services citizens steps may erode rapprochement begun former president barack obama the partial evacuation depicted safety measure sends message displeasure cuba handling matter delivers another blow obama policies engagement cold war foe cuba the communist cuban government already dealing several delicate matters aftermath hurricane irma steep decline aid important socialist ally venezuela political transition president raul castro steps next year cuba foreign ministry chief affairs josefina vital said we consider decision announced today government state department hasty affect bilateral relations vital briefing television said cuba still keen cooperate authorities clarify happened officials president donald trump administration stressed united states maintaining diplomatic ties cuba embassy employees cuba injured reported symptoms hearing loss dizziness headache fatigue cognitive issues difficulty sleeping state department said until government cuba ensure safety diplomats cuba embassy reduced emergency personnel order minimize number diplomats risk exposure harm secretary state rex tillerson said statement the cuban government denied role investigating the federal bureau investigation looking incidents law enforcement official said far determined cause a senior state department official said neither cuban governments able identify responsible stressed government cuba responsible taking appropriate steps prevent attacks diplomatic personnel cuba in travel warning state department bluntly said personnel safety risk unable identify source attacks believe citizens may also risk warn travel cuba a state department official said visa processing suspended having cuban applicants nonimmigrant visas may apply another embassy consulate overseas the state department said attacks embassy personnel occurred diplomatic residences hotels frequented citizens no tourists known injured attacks canada said plans change travel advice cuba remove canadian staff embassy though staff experienced unusual symptoms spokesman foreign affairs minister christian ireland said friday diana rodriguez sells handicrafts old having said visa appointment october could visit family live florida i ever go said furiously this really strong blow affects regular cuban street it unheard what going man neither bush father sons pitches trump june vowed partially roll back delete cuba agreed democratic predecessor obama called cuban government corrupt stabilizing address united nations general assembly month engage cuba lobbying group said decision puzzling given american travelers targeted it said halting visa process cuba discouraging americans going divide families harm cuba burgeoning private sector civil society groups efforts improve human rights island i felt danger the people friendly safe culture i feel threatened i think really safe place american visitor joey branch said lawmakers took positions issue appeared reflect wider perspective engagement having senator patrick leaky democrat favors normalization suggested attacks may attempt undermine whoever obviously trying disrupt normalization process united states cuba someone government trying reverse process leaky said statement marco rubio florida republican frequent critic cuban government called harsher measures until responsible attacks brought justice immediately expel equal number cuban operatives downgraded embassy having interests section consider cuba state sponsor terrorism rubio said statement american tour operators cuba counts companies criticized travel warning the motivation government issue today travel warning cuba difficult understand given facts circumstances mysterious incidents never posed tangible threat american visitors cuba american airlines united airlines applied additional flights having said travel warning would affect current operations cuba jetblue airways said would waive change cancellation fees cuba flights booked airing spokesman nick papal said operations cuba would continue cuba reported four million arrivals last year americans worldnews