Summary

  • US President Barack Obama is first sitting US president to visit Cuba in 90 years

  • Mr Obama addresses Cubans at El Gran Teatro de La Havana, with President Raul Castro in attendance

  • Final day also sees US president meet civil society activists and attend a baseball game

  • The White House first announced restored diplomatic ties in July 2015

  • On Monday the two leaders sparred over human rights issues but hailed progress in diplomatic relationship

  1. 'Long and complex path' ahead - Castropublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Obama and Castro

    Raul Castro went on to say a "long and complex path stands ahead" but the two presidents have started building the first steps to build a new type of relationship that has never existed between Cuba and the US.

  2. Castro calls for 'civilised co-existence'published at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Raul Castro

    President Castro is speaking about his government's requirements for the full normalistion of relations. He says more must be done to lift the trade blockade and he condemns the "occupation" of the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base.

    He says the two countries have "profound differences" that should be respected, but that they should "exercise the art of civilised co-existence".

    "Both countires can cooperate and coexist in a civilised manner...and contribute to peace security stability and development and equility in our continent and around the world," he says.

  3. Presidents make statements - livepublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro are making statements in Havana. Click here to watch live.

  4. US and Cuba to share agricultural research and ideaspublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    A farmer tends a pair of oxen pulling a cart in a field in Cuba

    US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the US and Cuba will share agricultural research and ideas - a move designed to help US farmers better understand the Cuban market. 

    Mr Vilsack is in Cuba as part of President Barack Obama's visit to the island.

    Agricultural exports to Cuba have fallen to their lowest levels since 2002, making the US Cuba's fourth-largest supplier behind the European Union, Brazil and Argentina. 

  5. See Havana through the eyes of a dancerpublished at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

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  6. How easy is it to get online in Cuba?published at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

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  7. Raining on Obama's paradepublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Heavy rains met Obama as he arrived in Cuba. Alex Deakin from BBC Weather reports about what to expect for the rest of the visit.

    Media caption,

    Brighter skies for rest of rainy Obama Cuba trip

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  8. What books can people in Cuba read?published at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

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  9. Ted Cruz criticism of Cuba visitpublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Ted CruzImage source, AP

    US Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz, the son of a Cuban immigrant, has been highly critical of President Obama's visit to the communist island.

    In a column published in Politico magazine ahead of the visit, external, Mr Cruz said the trip would send a message to political prisoners in Cuba that the world had forgotten them.

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  10. Michelle Obama speaks to female studentspublished at 17:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    While her husband takes part in official talks, Michelle Obama has been meeting female students to discuss girls' access to education in Cuba.

    Michelle Obama listens during a Let Girls Learn event at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, 21 March 2016Image source, AP
    Michelle Obama listens during a Let Girls Learn event at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, 21 March 2016Image source, AP
  11. Cubans 'feel less restricted'published at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Tom Geoghegan
    BBC News, Havana

    Arturo and friends discuss President Obama's visit in old Havana

    In a backstreet of Old Havana late on Sunday, two men lying back in their chairs discussed Mr Obama with a man leaning out of a balcony above them. But they weren't not talking politics, they were laughing about the Cuban comedy that featured the US president.

    The two men on the street agreed the state visit is a “beautiful thing” and one of them, Arturo, said the improvement of life in Cuba depends very much on the country’s relationship with the US.

    He said one of the key changes since the historic joint announcement 16 months ago is that Cubans feel less restricted now in their hearts and minds.

    “Legally there were no limitations but you felt limited inside. Now it’s more relaxed.”

  12. What do countries have to gain?published at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Jon Sopel
    BBC North America Editor

    A young woman takes pictures of a vintage car in a street in Havana, Cuba (20 March 2016)Image source, EPA

    It's the economy where there are massive gains to be had. Under the new openness in relations, 110 flights a day will be able to come to Cuba from the US.

    That is going to lead to an explosion in tourism on the island. Say each plane averages just 100 passengers. Then that is 10,000 extra tourists a day, 70,000 a week - potentially an extra three million visitors a year.

    Read more from Jon Sopel here.

  13. 'Cuba and US are amiguitos'published at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

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  14. Six sticking points holding back US-Cuban relationspublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    President Obama & President Castro shaking hands at the UN. Headquarters late last year.Image source, Getty Images

    BBC Monitoring has identified six sticking points holding back the full normalisation of US-Cuban relations:

    1. Embargo 
    2. Human rights 
    3. The Cuban Adjustment Act, which gives Cubans a unique fast track to permanent residency in the US
    4. Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base
    5. Media control
    6. International relations

    Read more here.

  15. White House posts video on Cuba visitpublished at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    A video on the official White House Facebook , externalpage recaps on President Obama's first few hours in Cuba on Sunday. It has got more than 20,000 'likes' in less than an hour.

    screenshot of Facebook videoImage source, White House
  16. Image of Obama and Castro is latest iconic moment for Cubapublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

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  17. People asked to stay insidepublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Dissident media outlets say it should not be surprising there are fewer people out today compared with Pope Francis' visit in September, BBC Monitoring reports.

    There has been a strong police presence in the streets since yesterday, as seen in pictures being shared online, and people have been asked to stay inside. Also it's important to note that Pope Francis was in Cuba to celebrate open air religious services.

    People kept off the streets during President Obama's visitImage source, Getty Images
  18. US Senator who helped bring thaw still hopes for free speech improvementspublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Senator Patrick Leahy (centre)Image source, Getty Images

    For over two decades, US Senator Patrick Leahy has been visiting Cuba to push for a thaw in US relations with the island nation.

    Mr Leahy is still frustrated by the continued crackdown on political dissidents, but explains to BBC's Laura Trevelyan why it was "foolish" for US and Cuba to be cut off for so long. Watch more

  19. Airbnb flies into Cubapublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    As Cuba opens up to visitors from the US and elsewhere, The BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports on one American company aiming to take advantage of a shortage of places for tourists to stay.

    Media caption,

    Cuba: Airbnb cashes in on surge in tourism

  20. Dissidents 'surrounded by police'published at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    From BBC Monitoring in Miami, journalist Ivan Hernandez Carrillo has reported on Twitter that the headquarters of Cuba dissidents Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) are being surrounded by the police, preventing people from exiting and accessing it.

    screen grab of tweetImage source, twitter